I have Immortality In The Cultivation World

The Heavenly Emperor was about to speak when Huayangzi from the position to the right stepped forward and, bowing respectfully, said.

"Your Majesty, the trouble with Shang Shui originates from the Dragon Palace. Slaying dragons only serves as a temporary solution and does not address the root cause. Moreover, ceaselessly killing members of the Dragon Clan and deepening enmity with the Dragon Palace will only lead to more disaster as malevolent dragons rebel!"

The Heavenly Emperor had yet to speak when Wuyazi from the Severing Heaven Sect on the left voiced his disagreement.

"According to the intention of the Eastern Emperor, are we to bow to the Dragon Clan? Such an act would damage the prestige of the Heavenly Court and undermine our rule over Dongsheng Divine Continent."

"Amitabha!"

Chan Master Faching of the Southern Emperor, of Buddhist origins, chanted a Buddha's name before speaking, "If today we submit to the Dragon Clan, tomorrow to the Phoenix Clan, and the day after to some beast. If we continue to retreat like this, will it not result in the Heavenly Court ruling over humans and the demon clans ruling over the Heavenly Court?"

The Heavenly Emperor sat at the highest seat, watching the three emperors in their standoff—not only was he not angry, he actually wore a slight smile.

The Investiture of the Gods was pushed forward by the Three Teachings, leading to key positions in the Heavenly Court being filled with disciples from all three. The Heavenly Emperor seemed more like a mascot sitting above them all.

Before ascending to immortality, heavenly immortals had no chance of resistance and had to obediently follow instructions.

Now, with the Three Teachings lacking patriarchal guidance and a hundred years having passed, cracks had already appeared. Generally, what the Severing Heaven Sect agreed upon, the Severing Heaven Sect and Buddhism would surely oppose, and vice versa.

Huayangzi said in a cold voice, "I have never spoken of submission, but of finding another way to solve the problem."

At the right moment, the Heavenly Emperor said, "Let my beloved subject elaborate further."

"To report back to Your Majesty, the malevolent dragons causing chaos must be slain to maintain the authority of the Heavenly Laws."

Huayangzi continued, "At the same time, another envoy from the Heavenly Court should be dispatched, carrying the dragon's head to Shang Shui, to intimidate the Dragon Palace and make the other dragons swear bloodline oaths, promising that any further malfeasance will result in their whole clan suffering the penalty of bloodline backlash!"

"This method is not bad..."

The Heavenly Emperor, with a profound gaze, inquired, "But who shall we send to the Dragon Palace?"

The generals who were just now righteous in their speech silently returned to their ranks, keeping their heads down and remaining silent.

The Shang Shui Dragon Palace has been home to true dragons for generations and, in terms of strength, is not weaker than the great teachings of the human race. With countless years of accumulated wealth, its depth is immense, and even without the suppression of a true dragon, it is not a place where a mere Heavenly Monarch can come and go freely.

There might not be a danger to one's life, since one has the backing of the Heavenly Court, but humiliation would likely be inevitable.

Moreover, after receiving the military order, one must make the Dragon Clan swear bloodline oaths, and failure to do so would be deemed incompetence.

Huayangzi spoke out, "Your Majesty, this person must hold a high position, or else they won't be able to represent the Heavenly Court in negotiations with the Dragon Clan. They also need to be tactful, versatile, and skilled in both strategy and scheming to resolve the crisis in Shang Shui!"

Hearing this, the deities cast an odd glance at Huayangzi, then turned their heads to look at Zhou Yi in the corner.

Zhou Yi was wearing a dark blue Taoist robe which, compared to the more imposing official robes in the hall, lacked a measure of prestige and authority. Further diminishing his stature by intentionally bowing and lowering his head made him seem all the more meek and lowly.

"My beloved subject, no one but you is suitable for this role. As the Heavenly Master, your position of Divine Enthronement is even more noble than mine by a fraction," said the Heavenly Emperor, also looking towards Zhou Yi.

"I hereby appoint you, my beloved subject, as the imperial envoy to pacify the dragons, with full authority over the Shang Shui Dragon Clan."

"Your servant obeys!"

Zhou Yi stepped out from the ranks, without question or refusal, and respectfully accepted the command.

This task of the imperial envoy to pacify the dragons, not listed by name on the Investiture of the Gods, was tailor-made for Zhou Yi—neither fat nor thin, neither tall nor short, any other person would be unfit. It was a hole dug precisely for the carrot that was Zhou Yi!

Rather than passing the duty back and forth, inciting displeasure amongst the gods and heavens, and ultimately being unable to avoid it, he might as well accept the task.

Even if he couldn't complete it, he'd merely suffer some humiliation and earn a reputation for incompetence.

Zhou Yi didn't care about any of this, just as, back in the day in the prison, he let the Dragon Whelp slap his face but still obediently went with a smile to deliver food.

When it was time to bow his head and endure, he never gave anyone a reason to be angry.

"What eventually became of that Dragon Whelp? It's been so long, I've almost forgotten, but likely he met an unpleasant end..."

As Zhou Yi reminisced about the past, the Heavenly Emperor continued with his duties.

It was only in the evening that the court was finally dismissed.

After respectfully seeing off the Heavenly Emperor, the deities scattered atop clouds, going their separate ways. Zhou Yi needed no spells; leaving the Overhanging Firmament Hall and taking a right, he was at the Heavenly Master's mansion.

...

The Heavenly Master's Mansion.

Zhou Yi had just sat down when he began contemplating how to deal with the crisis in Shang Shui.

"After the Heavenly Court took dominion over Dongsheng Divine Continent, because all official deities were enfeoffed humans, demon clans everywhere were restricted, and over the long run, resentment was bound to grow. Without sufficient strength to overthrow the Heavenly Court, they could only endure!"

"The Dragon Clan claims to be the Imperial Clan among demons, and when its subjects suffer injustice, it must make itself heard."

"Otherwise, once the people's hearts scatter, the troops will become impossible to manage!"

Based on this deduction, Shang Shui Dragon Palace intentionally released the calamitous dragon, violating the celestial laws. Their aim must be power!"

Zhou Yi's brows furrowed slightly. The gods of the Heavenly Court couldn't possibly fail to understand this matter, yet everyone knew that the Heavenly Court would never share power with the demon clans.

Although the three teachings may fight amongst themselves, they would unite extraordinarily against the demon clans when faced with them.

Those not of our kind, must have a different heart!

The cruelty of the clan conflicts in the Cultivation World far exceeds that of ideological disputes.

"So, the problem with Shang Shui Dragon Palace is entirely a dead knot?"

At that moment.

A voice came from outside the hall: "Paying respects to Senior Brother!"
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"Come in."

Zhou Yi waved his hand to open the prohibition, and seeing Bai Suixin enter, he smiled and said, "What brings Junior Brother Bai here?"

Bai Suixin casually took a seat and said, "Senior Brother, I just heard the news. That scoundrel, the Heavenly Emperor, wants you to deal with the Shang Shui dragon menace?"

Zhou Yi nodded and said, "That is indeed the case."

"Senior Brother, that scoundrel, the Heavenly Emperor, means no good. This matter is utterly unsolvable."

Bai Suixin waved his hand to set up an isolating formation and said, "There are a few calamitous dragons imprisoned in the heavenly prison. Before being sent to the Immortal Slaying Stage, I performed a Soul Search and wrested their souls, learning quite a few secrets about the demon clans."

Zhou Yi said, "Let's hear the details."

"After the establishment of the Heavenly Court, the dragon clan secretly approached the Heavenly Emperor, hoping to be enshrined as gods to manage the water veins."

Bai Suixin said, "At first, it seemed as if the Heavenly Emperor agreed. The dragon clan presented countless treasures as a token of gratitude. But after taking the benefits, that scoundrel, the Heavenly Emperor, went back on his word!"

"There was such an affair!"

Zhou Yi pondered for a moment and said, "Unfortunately, I have already accepted this task. Whether successful or not, I must make a trip to the Dragon Palace."

Bai Suixin said anxiously, "Isn't that just inviting humiliation for nothing, damaging Senior Brother's reputation?"

"It's fine."

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "With my reputation for greed and lechery, what more is there to tarnish? At most, I'll suffer a few verbal insults from the dragon clan. Surely they wouldn't dare to lay hands on me, would they?"

"Damn it!"

Bai Suixin cursed angrily, "Senior Brother, once you return from Shang Shui, take out your frustrations on those dragon whelps in the heavenly prison."

"Thanks for your concern, Junior Brother."

Zhou Yi clasped his hands and said, "Let's forget about taking revenge. You should be aware that with my current status, I am indeed walking on thin ice, daring not to make a single misstep. According to the laws of the Heavenly Court, abusing prisoners is also a serious crime!"

Prisoners in the heavenly prison are different from mortals; they are all cultivators or even true gods, and jailers are strictly forbidden from meting out private punishments.

"These gods of the Heavenly Court were all ennobled by Senior Brother, and even that bird seat of the Heavenly Emperor was ceded by you. But who could have thought, in just a mere hundred years, they would all turn out like this!"

Bai Suixin lamented deeply, sighing to the sky, "How could it come to this?"

"I was never interested in power to begin with, this is just right for seclusion and deep cultivation."

Zhou Yi said, "My remaining lifespan isn't much. If I diligently cultivate, perhaps there's a slim chance for Divinity Transformation!"

Bai Suixin's expression was filled with sorrow and anger, yet seeing Zhou Yi's demeanor, he found nowhere to vent.

After talking for a while longer, he transformed into a light and flew back to the heavenly prison, randomly selected a prisoner's name, and activated the thunderous prohibitions to help him suppress his inner demons!

Inside the Overhanging Firmament Hall.

Zhou Yi sat cross-legged, his face void of any unusual expression.

He had closed all the prohibitive formations, allowing any Divine Sense to probe and clearly see every action of Zhou Yi.

Rumors quickly spread throughout the Heavenly Court, such as the so-called First Disciple of the Three Teachings, Great Senior Brother, in charge of the Investiture of the Gods, was merely lucky. Now that the tide has receded, his true nature was suddenly revealed.

It was the Immortals who saw through Zhou Yi's nature, that's why they did not confer on him the position of the Heavenly Emperor.

The so-called concession of the Heavenly Emperor's position was just some people's bluster, utterly baseless!

Upon hearing such rumors, Zhou Yi dismissed them with a shake of his head and a smile, and a few days later he submitted a memorial to the Heavenly Emperor.

"Your subject requests to lead an army of a hundred thousand to subjugate Shang Shui Dragon Palace, assuringly obtaining the dragon clan's blood oath to uphold the majesty of the Heavenly Court and to protect the human race on both shores!"