I have Immortality In The Cultivation World

Granted!

The Heavenly Emperor immediately approved.

He decreed that the Demon-Subduing Marshal would muster a hundred thousand celestial soldiers, in collaboration with the dragon-subduing imperial envoy, to lay siege to Shang Shui and intimidate the dragon clan into submission!

The marshal received the decree and immediately mustered the celestial soldiers.

Aside from the Demon-Subduing Marshal, the army consisted of a second-rank vice marshal, third-rank chief commander, vanguard general, and guard commander amongst a total of nine Heavenly Monarchs, with hundreds of deities of the fourth, fifth, and sixth ranks.

Each commanded their own soldiers, standing high above the clouds.

Boundless and endless, they obscured the sun and covered the sky.

Not counting the lesser deities guarding the palaces and gates, the number of a hundred thousand was the limit for the Heavenly Court, and it was the first time since its establishment that they had all gathered together.

It was high noon.

A multicolored celestial cloud rose into the sky, revealing Zhou Yi riding on a yellow ox at the front of the formation.

The Demon-Subduing Marshal stepped forward and bowed, "Greetings, Imperial Envoy."

"Greetings, Imperial Envoy."

The remaining Heavenly Monarchs and hundred thousand celestial soldiers shouted in unison, their commanding presence shaking the heavens.

Since its foundation, the Heavenly Court governed the military with the civil, and though the Demon-Subduing Marshal was a first-rank official, magnificent in his bearing, he still had to address a minister from the Ministry of War as a superior. There were two reasons: he was a Loose Cultivator without any backing, and only a minister had the authority to deploy troops.

Zhou Yi, appointed as the imperial envoy, wielded the Heavenly Emperor's Jade Decree and the Ministry of War's documents to command the hundred thousand celestial soldiers, so the Demon-Subduing Marshal dared not show the slightest defiance.

Indeed, in the face of battle, to execute a general on the pretext of setting an example would at most result in a reprimand from the Heavenly Court!

Though the identity of a Heavenly Master was loathed by man and ghost alike, it carried great righteousness, and with few exceptions in the ranks of the Heavenly Court's powerhouses, ordinary deities might scorn and ridicule but dared not truly provoke one.

"Move out, troops!"

Zhou Yi did not belabor the point and, with a gentle pat on the ox's horn, the auspicious multicolored cloud flew westward.

The hundred thousand celestial soldiers followed closely behind, the green cloud spanning the firmament and moving with great haste under the empowerment of the military formation.

Several days later.

They reached the midstream of Shang Shui.

This was where the Dragon Palace was located, once the cave dwelling of a True Dragon.

The celestial soldiers besieged the Dragon Palace, making it impossible for anything to escape through the water. Each commander took their position and activated the Formation Flags to seal the heavens and the earth.

Zhou Yi gestured with his hand, and the vanguard general immediately stepped forward to challenge the enemy.

"You serpents and worms, will you not come forth and kneel before the Heavenly Court's Imperial Envoy?"

The voice reached the Dragon Palace, where the dragon clan, having already noticed the attack from the Heavenly Court, showed no panic and merely sent a shrimp soldier to deliver a message.

"Our king is currently hosting a banquet for dragons from the Four Seas and has no time to attend to you."

The shrimp soldier had barely finished speaking when it sensed a terrifying mana pressure, scaring it into turning and diving back into the water, not daring to reappear.

The vanguard general said, "Imperial Envoy, the dragon clan dares to disrespect the Heavenly Court. This general wishes to lead ten thousand soldiers into the Dragon Palace!"

The Heavenly Court had ruled Dongsheng Divine Continent for a hundred years, and the Cultivation World had all submitted, developing an arrogance and haughtiness. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire

What of the True Dragon's descendants? The Heavenly Court had Immortals and True Gods sitting in judgement!

"The Shang Shui Dragon Palace, having been established over generations by True Dragons, is protected by layers of formations. General, you may not be able to break through," Zhou Yi said. "The way I see it, we just need to do such and such..."

After hearing his plan, the generals revealed looks of surprise, and the Demon-Subduing Marshal cautioned,

"Could this not entirely provoke the Shang Shui Dragon Palace?"

"The dragon clan of Shang Shui deliberately released malevolent dragons to cause disaster, provoking the Heavenly Court time and again. What is there to talk about provocation?"

Zhou Yi took out the Heavenly Emperor's Jade Decree from his sleeve and ordered, "Marshal, take this decree to the River Lord's residence, as well as to the Mountain Gods and Land Spirits on both banks, and cast spells to impart dreams to the mortals along the banks, making sure not to harm any living beings during the river diversion!"

"As you command."

The Demon-Subduing Marshal bowed to receive the order and transformed into a beam of light to depart.

The Shangshui River God was a seventh-rank official with considerable influence outside the Heavenly Court; however, faced with a first-rank marshal and the Heavenly Emperor's Jade Decree, he dared not delay in the slightest.

As night fell.

The mortals on both banks received divine dreams, visited in turn by the River God, Mountain Gods, and Land Spirits, informing them that Shang Shui would soon change its course.

In essence, they conveyed that the Heavenly Emperor pitied the mortals within the Shang Shui region, hence dispatched a hundred thousand celestial soldiers and heavenly generals to dig a new river channel to create a concave-shaped water region, turning thousands of miles into fertile plains and lush pastures.

That same night, three Heavenly Monarchs set out.

The chief commander went to the east side of Zhouxi Mountain, brandishing a flying sword to split the mountain, directing the celestial soldiers to excavate a thousand miles to the north.

The vanguard general flew to the side of Rao Mountain, the divine light falling and cutting the mountain in two, instructing the celestial soldiers to dig the river channel to the north.

The guard commander flew north to Yang Mountain, kneading and adjusting the earth's veins east and west, with the celestial soldiers casting spells to excavate, connecting the new river channels from east to west.

Over the course of the night.

Shang Shui diverted its course from Zhouxi Mountain to the north, turning east at Yang Mountain, flowing southward after a thousand miles to join Rao Mountain, and continuing to flow into the Eastern Sea through the old river channel.

Key parts of the water flow were stabilized with spells, ensuring no breaches of the riverbanks.

Once Shang Shui flowed for a hundred years, the new river channel would be completely stable, no longer requiring the River God's protection.

...

At dawn.

In the Dragon Palace.

The Hall of True Dragons.

The Shangshui Dragon Lord Ao Tu sat at the head, smiling as he watched the clam spirit dance.

Gathered on either side were various mythical beasts and demons—dragons, phoenixes, qilins, Bai Ze, Zhongming, and so on—all with noble lineage and profound auras.

One creature, with the head of a bird and the body of a dragon, raised its cup and laughed, "That despicable Heavenly Master leads a hundred thousand celestial soldiers, yet doesn't dare set foot inside the Dragon Palace. This is truly a boost to the prestige of our demon clan!"

This Demon God was known as the Dragon Bird, whose descendants occupied Qi Wu Mountain and were killed by disciples of Severing Heaven Sect.

Dragon Bird dared not harbor resentment towards Severing Heaven Sect, let alone defy the top disciples of the Three Sects, and could only hold back its grudge. Now, learning of Zhou Yi's downfall, it immediately thought of seeking revenge.

"Dear brother, the reason that Heavenly Master encircles without attacking is that he dares not attack!"

Ao Tu confidently declared, "The Dragon Palace has the formations and prohibitions set by our ancestors. We are secure and have nothing to worry about. Let us feast and be merry to our hearts' content. Could it be that the cur really intends to starve us out?"

The qilin next to him agreed, "With the hundred thousand celestial soldiers unable to break through for so long, they will lose face and eventually will have to send emissaries to negotiate!"

"It should have been this way from the start!"

Bai Ze said with resentment, "That Heavenly Emperor really is good for nothing, accepting enormous benefits from our demon clan yet saying he can do nothing in return."