Chapter 188 New Heavenly Rules: To Become an Immortal, First Be a Human.
As the saying goes, when the emperor is angry, millions of corpses will be killed.
When the Nine Heavens Immortal Emperor was enraged, even the Supreme Immortal Realm, which controlled the laws of heaven and earth and could create all things at will, was nothing more than a withered leaf in a storm.
The clouds above and below were silent as cicadas in winter. Bi Tao suppressed the metallic sweetness in her throat, and for a moment, she felt flustered and fearful.
The Azure Emperor spends most of his time sitting in the Star Dial and rarely travels in the Nine Heavens, but his majesty is in no way inferior to that of the Earthly Emperor. All the hundreds of thousands of immortals in the seven departments of the Heavenly Realm are in awe of him, and even Bitao holds him in high esteem and has a deep faith in him.
His sudden outburst of anger was like a stern, usually quiet elder in the family suddenly losing his temper. When children are yelled at, their first reaction is, of course, fear.
But Bitao is no ordinary "child." She is the most mischievous and troublesome among the children, and naturally, she is also the most daring.
The metallic taste in her throat had not yet completely dissipated. Having just been promoted to the rank of Grand Immortal, the arrogance that came with the power to "control everything" from the laws of heaven and earth made her sit up straight again, staring directly at the azure sky, and said: "Most immortals are also born of parents, with clans and relatives. Why can't they be swayed by their relatives? Why can't they have selfish desires?"
"All things in heaven and earth take the condensation of human form as the ultimate goal of cultivation. Immortals are born in human form, just like humans. Humans are always subject to circumstances, and no one can never make mistakes. If a sin does not warrant death, then it does not warrant death."
As soon as Bitao finished speaking, all the immortals above and below the clouds held their breath in worry for her.
They never expected that Bitao would be so arrogant. The Emperor rebuked her sternly, but instead of admitting her mistake, she dared to talk back!
Da Ju couldn't help but speak up, coughing lightly and giving Bi Tao a wink, signaling her to shut up quickly.
Qingming has never been a good-natured person. He never was.
Among all the ancient immortals in the Nine Heavens, Qingming is the most rigid and steadfast.
Mingguang only resembled him by a fraction, yet he was already famously short and clumsy.
Bitao and Qingming arguing is like a small boat hitting an iceberg at sea.
Moreover, after Qingming has been guarding the sundial for so many years, Daju suspects that his "humanity" has been completely erased, and he has become a living "heavenly rule".
Isn't Bitao already "violating the heavenly rules" after just being promoted to the rank of Grand Immortal?
As expected, it was too late for Bitao to shut up. Qingming spoke again, and his pressure was so great that it almost formed a tangible net, enveloping everyone. The little fairies below the clouds all resisted with their spiritual power, and the immortals above the clouds, including Bitao, also found it difficult to breathe.
"In order to pass on their divine power, the ancient gods created immortal positions. All immortals should emulate the ancient gods and be ready to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the people in times of crisis."
"If the immortals' selfish desires run rampant, and when the people are in trouble, those who cling to their immortal positions and fear death, ignoring the suffering of the common people, how can they be worthy of being called immortals? Those who are swayed by personal feelings and harm others for their own benefit should be severely punished as a warning to others!"
As Qingming's voice fell, all the immortals solemnly bowed their heads and knelt in submission.
In the lower realms of imperial power, there is a saying: "When the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die."
Even the Celestial Emperor of the Heavenly Realm can still kill whoever he wants. Bitao has no doubt that if Qingming were to kill any of the immortals above or below the clouds at this moment, they would surely die.
Qingming relied not on imperial power, nor even on the so-called inheritance and discipline of the ancient immortal clan, but on an absolute and irresistible power.
Even with only a fraction of this power leaking out, it was enough to make Bitao almost unable to lift her head, as if her throat was being gripped by an invisible hand.
However, even in this situation, Bitao was still not convinced.
As if courting death, he retorted to Qingming: "In ancient times, Penglai and Kunlun rose from the heavens, bringing human desires into the celestial realm tens of thousands of years ago. The Emperor, who sits day and night in the star dial, should know that the prayers of all realms flow from the star dial to the celestial realm, and the prayers of the people are human selfish desires."
"The pure energy flowing within the star dial nourishes and shapes all the immortals of the Nine Heavens. The positions of the immortals in the Nine Heavens are all shaped by the selfish desires of the common people, yet the Emperor does not allow the immortals to have selfish desires? He wants the immortals to emulate the ancient gods by offering sacrifices to the star dial at any time to save the common people, but what if... the common people do not need it?"
Qingming sat cross-legged, looking at Bitao with a deep frown.
The immortals were stunned and paled upon hearing this.
Bitao continued, "The Emperor sits in the star dial, listening to the will of all living beings. For thousands of years, he has remained silent and still. Has he ever heard the prayers of all living beings, asking the immortals to die for the sake of all living beings?"
Qingming pursed his lips and remained silent.
Bitao had already sensed that something was wrong, but she still intended to reveal her true thoughts and everything she had felt after receiving the hearts of all living beings to the heavens.
Her tone was no longer so rebellious and radical, but clear and logical: "In the beginning of the ancient chaos, the six realms were intertwined. Humans, demons, immortals, the underworld, monsters, and beasts mingled in the myriad realms. The human race was in decline. At that time, the common people lived on the brink of death. Naturally, they hoped that the gods they worshipped had no selfish desires or ulterior motives, and were wholeheartedly dedicated to the continuation of their race. They were willing to sacrifice themselves so that they could live and kill all heretics that threatened their lives."
"But now the six realms are divided. Demons, monsters, and beasts are in the Upper Clarity Realm, while humans, the underworld, and immortals are under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Clarity Realm. Furthermore, the Dao Lords of the Jade Clarity Realm can transform into all things, and are immortal and indestructible, guarding the human world."
"Human life is vibrant, and the star realm continues to evolve. There are no great demons or monsters that frequently emerge to destroy the world, nor are there any fallen immortals who slaughter people, accumulating mountains of corpses and seas of blood to refine magical artifacts."
"Among all the realms, the star realm with the biggest problems is Ziwei Star, which attempted to ascend to immortality. The Reincarnation Bridge broke, leaving hundreds of ghosts stranded in the human world. The most serious one is the star realm that is still competing. The vitality of the people has been plundered, and the celestial positions involved have not yet been thoroughly investigated."
"I have participated in three competitions and personally experienced these three realms. Even when the world is in chaos, the people in this star realm still have a way to survive. Humans are the most tenacious race in the world. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, they will not give up. And the reason why they still live in ignorance and happiness even when their life force is taken away and they can only maintain it until they die in their twenties or thirties is because they have all five senses and seven emotions."
"For immortals, the five aggregates of birth, old age, sickness, death, unfulfilled desires, encountering those they hate, and separation from those they love, which are like poison to them, are all the same immortal desires that they and their races have."
Bitao looked at Qingming, then surveyed the immortals above the clouds, and said, "What all living beings in the myriad realms seek now is no longer survival, but rather the petty scheming of the human world, a few taels of silver, and the guiding light that illuminates their way home at night."
"They grieved over poverty and hardship, were saddened by separation from loved ones, suffered from unrequited love, and rejoiced in the desires of family and human relationships."
"They no longer need gods who sacrifice themselves for them; they only hope that the gods they believe in can understand their insignificant desires."
"Why would the Emperor stop immortals from indulging in selfish desires? If immortals don't understand the selfish desires of mortals, how can they truly empathize with and fulfill the wishes of all living beings?"
"Your Majesty, as the Celestial Emperor of the Nine Heavens, possesses the power of thunder and lightning, capable of instantly annihilating any rebellious Celestial Emperors. But Your Majesty, can you stop the wishes of all living beings?"
Bitao concluded by saying, "If even the nine celestial positions cannot understand the wishes of all living beings, then over time, all living beings will no longer believe in or need of deities."
"At that time, what will become of the celestial positions in the Nine Heavens, which exist because of the worship and offerings of the people?"
"I'm afraid the only outcome will be the fall of immortals and the collapse of the world, a final farewell to the universe."
The hundreds of thousands of immortals in the heavens and earth are, to put it nicely, donkeys derived from the consciousness of the Heavenly Dao; to put it bluntly, they are "house slaves" created by all living beings in the myriad realms.
However, the immortals have been living in the heavenly realm for too long and have gained too much power, so they have forgotten that the will of the heavenly way is the will of all living beings.
They obtained their "golden bodies" through the faith and offerings of the people, gained the ability to summon wind and rain and turn beans into soldiers, and obtained the power to reward good and punish evil. If they remain aloof and "unaware of the mundane world," they will eventually be rejected by all living beings.
Of course, Bitao didn't say those harsh words later, fearing that some of the immortals who were born high and mighty and looked down on others wouldn't be able to accept it.
Bitao's voice was neither intense nor loud.
After it landed, not even the thin mist above the clouds stirred.
It struck the heads of the immortals like a heavy hammer or a booming bell, even more imposing than the Azure Emperor's oppressive aura.
Some people understood it completely, some frowned and pondered deeply, and of course, some people could not accept such "absurd words" that went against tens of thousands of years of tradition, and felt that Bitao was just exaggerating.
Qingming, who was directly opposite her, listened to what she had said and his initial harshness disappeared.
Bitao stared intently into his bright, dazzling crimson-gold eyes, but found no fluctuation in them to match the sudden emotional turmoil he had displayed earlier.
After Bitao spoke her mind, she felt that something was wrong no matter how she analyzed the situation.
The Azure Emperor merged with the yin-yang sundial of the Milky Way, gaining profound insight into all things and seeing for thousands of miles. His words became law, and his speech could even influence the fate of immortals; the Eastern Lord was a living example of this.
Many ancient immortals in the celestial realm had not been able to obtain a single word from him for thousands of years. How much special must Qingming have for her to reveal his personal feelings to her?
How angry must someone be to question someone so vehemently?
He wouldn't care if his own son was dying, just because of a few minor immortals from the ancient immortal clan whose names he might not even remember? Just because the aggrieved party, Bitao, was "merciful and magnanimous," he said he would give those minor immortals a lenient sentence?
How is this any different from a deity who has sat on a high platform for tens of thousands of years without speaking or moving suddenly becoming concerned about whether the incense burner in front of him is placed correctly?
Moreover, he had already displayed his divine power and posed questions, only to be completely refuted by Bitao, who then listed a whole host of "fallacies" as evidence. Shouldn't he be even angrier?
The brief silence in the azure sky left all the immortals in a state of heightened anticipation.
Especially the peach blossom that "angered the emperor's face".
After a long pause, Qingming finally spoke and asked Bitao another question. His tone still showed no sign of anger or offense.
"According to you, if we don't curb the selfish desires of the immortals, and if every immortal is consumed by the five afflictions, and everyone lives only for their own selfish desires, disregarding the common people, what will become of them?"
Bitao licked her lips, knowing that what she was about to say would cause a tremor in the heavens, but that was her intention.
It was a method she had thought of long ago that could completely resolve the conflict between the ancient immortal clan and the merit-based immortal position.
So she took a deep breath and uttered her most arrogant words of the day: "Then let them descend to the mortal realm and experience all the suffering and poisons of the human world. If they want to become immortals, they must first become human."
As expected, as soon as Bitao finished speaking, all the immortals above and below the clouds fell silent for a moment, and then, like a tsunami and a raging storm, they were completely overturned.
The whispers turned into loud rebuttals and rebukes, and even the immortals in the clouds changed color.
Zhu Ming, standing under the clouds, rubbed his face, feeling that his years of planning might all be in vain.
He was defeated by that audacious and reckless Bitao!
She's determined to cut off all the "way out" of immortals and turn the entire celestial realm upside down before she's satisfied!
Qingming remained silent for an even longer time this time.
Even Da Ju, who had been clearly protecting Bi Tao, showed an expression of unbearable disapproval this time.
Even if Bitao manages to preserve her status as a Celestial, her path to immortality will likely be fraught with difficulties because of her "outrageous words."
The ancient immortal clan has existed since the beginning of the celestial realm, for hundreds of thousands of years. She, a mere wild immortal who has only condensed her spirit, wants to uproot this foundation of hundreds of thousands of years with a single word, sending them to the mortal realm to "become human" first. This is simply...
Da Ju glanced at Bi Tao's unrepentant and stubborn expression, and he simply couldn't find any words to describe her.
"Daringly audacious" doesn't even begin to describe it.
He only hoped that Qingming would punish him leniently, as Daju truly believed that Bitao was a worthy successor to the Fengdu Emperor.
When all the immortals were arguing wildly below the clouds, and even some of Bitao's supporters began to "bite back" at Bitao, the Azure Nether Emperor finally spoke up.
Qingming said, "Good, good saying: if you want to become an immortal, first be a human."
As soon as Qingming spoke, all the immortals fell silent.
They all thought that this was a sign that Qingming had completely lost his mind, like the eerie calm before a storm.
However, Qingming's next words were: "Kunyi, convey my decree that from this day forward, all the immortals in the Nine Heavens, including the Star Gods, except for those competing in the mortal realm this time, will be sent in batches to the myriad realms to undergo the tribulation of 'being human,' and personally hear the voices of all living beings."
"Let's start with those sinful immortals imprisoned in the Prison Palace."
If Bitao's statement, "To become an immortal, one must first be a human," was a shocking and defiant statement against the celestial positions of the Nine Heavens, then...
So, when the Azure Emperor ordered the immortals to go in batches to "experience the tribulations of humanity and personally hear the voices of all living beings," it was as if he had unleashed a thunderous explosion in the heavens that could shake the entire celestial realm.
"Your Majesty!" The two immortals from the Dou Department above the clouds exclaimed in unison.
Qingming, however, kept his eyes straight ahead. The Myriad Realms Heavenly Dao Kunyi beside him spoke calmly and accepted the order, cutting off the next words of the two immortals from the Dou Department: "We will obey the Emperor's order."
If there is still a possibility of reversing Qingming's words, then the fact that the Heavenly Dao of the Myriad Realms accepted the order is tantamount to acknowledging Qingming's words.
The two celestial masters who govern all the immortals in the heavenly realm both had the power to make their words law, and this matter became an indisputable "new heavenly rule".
Above the clouds, due to the "new regulations being implemented," the clouds and mist surged, transforming into an invisible pressure that pushed towards the heavens.
All those who vehemently resisted and clamored for the celestial position were crushed by this invisible pressure, their throats filled with blood and their meridians blocked, leaving them no choice but to submit to the rules.
Qingming looked at Bitao, who was still in shock, and spoke again: "Immortal Bitao obeys the order."
“…Yes!” Bitao hurriedly changed from a sitting position to a half-kneeling position.
She was greatly shocked, so much so that she felt dizzy and disoriented.
She raised a suggestion: "Above, it's defying the Supreme Ruler; below, it's going against the wishes of the immortals. How did it all become the new Heavenly Rules in the blink of an eye?!"
Is the Azure Emperor so easy to persuade?
Instead of testing her with an illusionary scenario like in the debate, she simply touched her upper and lower lips, and Qingming, the leader of the ancient immortal clan, agreed to the reform of the inheritance that had continued for hundreds of thousands of years.
Bitao was starting to doubt whether she possessed some kind of bewitching magic that could surpass even that of an immortal.
Qingming said, "Since you are compassionate and willing to forgive the mistakes of the immortals, then you will personally send the first batch of immortals to the mortal realm to undergo tribulations."
Bitao quickly replied, "Yes! I will obey Your Majesty's command!"
"But if these sinful immortals have gone through the tribulation of being 'human' and still do not repent or understand the prayers of the common people, then they are unfit to be immortals. At that time, you will be held responsible."
"Yes," Bitao replied.
After Qingming finished speaking, he ignored the hesitation of the immortals above the clouds and appeared at the Heavenly Gate below the clouds in a flash.
The two Shangqing Realm Emperors, who had been waiting for a long time, bowed respectfully to Qingming, and then the three of them transformed into spirits and departed.
Above the clouds, Bitao's emotions were even more turbulent than the clouds themselves.
Kunyi said, "You won the first place in the third competition. The Grand Immortal has already been certified. The selection of an immortal position should wait until the third competition is over."
"Since the Emperor has appointed you to a public post, you should prepare carefully."
After Kunyi finished speaking, she disappeared into the clouds in an instant.
As soon as the two immortals left, all the other immortals looked at Bitao.
The expressions on everyone's faces were indescribable.
However, apart from the two old-fashioned immortals of the Dou Department who withdrew their appreciation for Bitao and returned to disliking her excessive arrogance, most of the other people looked at Bitao with concern for her, but also with a hint of admiration.
"You really are..." Da Ju pointed at Bi Tao, tapping her finger repeatedly, and said, "Are you all brats and idiots?"
Bitao didn't answer; her thoughts were in complete disarray.
She rose, supporting herself on her knees, and bowed to the immortals above the clouds, saying, "Today, Bitao has attained the rank of Grand Immortal, thanks to the guidance of all of you immortals. Immortals..."
"Hmph!" Doubu Zhongtai Liuchun Sikong Xingjun snorted coldly, interrupting Bitao, "We are not worthy of instructing the immortal Bitao!"
Beside him, the Star Lord of the Underworld, with an extremely unpleasant expression, opened his mouth as if to say something unpleasant, but was pulled back by the Star Lord of the Sixth Pure.
The two quickly disappeared into the clouds.
Xuanjia finally waited until the debate ended, then immediately ran to Bitao's side and hugged her tightly.
Her body was trembling slightly; clearly, the emperor was more worried than the eunuch, and she was afraid for Bitao.
Bitao hugged Xuanjia and stroked her long hair to comfort her: "It's alright, look how scared you are. Emperor Qingming is very receptive to advice, would he kill me just because I said a few words?"
The black armor was buried in Bitao's neck. She was thinking, "The Azure Emperor didn't kill you, but the next immortal from the Nine Heavens will kill you!"
However, Xuanjia spoke too slowly, so he expressed his worry with his teary, round eyes.
However, Bitao was not afraid of Xuanjia's worries. Her proposal had already become a set of heavenly rules. It was the Qingming Emperor and the Kunyi of the Myriad Realms Heavenly Dao who changed the heavenly rules. What did it have to do with her, a mere immortal?
Moreover, Qingming's decision to have her personally escort the sinful immortal to the mortal realm for tribulation was tantamount to granting her power. Although there was a seemingly threatening statement at the end, "You are the only one to be held accountable," it was actually a form of protection, as if he were telling Bitao, "I will always be watching over you."
Bitao needs an absolutely quiet and private environment to properly ponder Qingming and Kunyi's true intentions.
Bitao boasted of her exceptional skills. Now that she had reached the Taixian realm, she could manipulate the laws of heaven and earth, and even if the Star God came, she could fight him for several rounds.
Bitao smiled and said to Xuanjia, "Don't worry, fighting is not allowed in the Nine Heavens right now."
After calming Xuanjia down, Bitao saw that the Six Ding and Six Jia Gods of the Ministry of War were about to walk towards her, but they were forcibly pulled away by the Yin Goddess.
The current Bitao is indeed not suitable for "contamination". With the new heavenly rules in place, she, as the instigator, will surely be attacked by the immortals.
However, the head of the Eastern King Duke floated over, circled the peach three times, and tsk tsk tsk tsk...
"This is incredible! How come I never noticed before that you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, actually had the ability to bewitch the emperor's heart?"
"With just a few words, the Azure Nether Emperor established new heavenly rules. Can the Taiqing Realm still contain you?"
Bitao looked at Dongwanggong. Things were different now; her divine eyes could now see directly into the laws of heaven and earth.
She stared at the Eastern King Duke for a moment, and from the Eastern King Duke's head down... it was Penglai.
Of course, it doesn't mean that a mountain grows under a person's head.
Instead, the peach blossoms could penetrate his body and see through his limbs and torso, all of which were refined into the mountains and rivers of Penglai.
It turns out that the ancient legends about the Eastern King Duke are true. When the Penglai Realm was destroyed, the Eastern King Duke sacrificed himself to fight back. From then on, he transformed into the Penglai Immortal Island, and only his head remained to become an immortal.
Dongwanggong clicked his tongue again, pointed at Bitao's mouth, and gestured for her not to go around talking nonsense.
After the Eastern King Duke left the clouds, the other immortals also left one after another, until only one great chariot remained.
The giant torch and the peach blossom descended from the clouds together in a "loving" manner.
Beneath the clouds, Bitao's attendants had been waiting for her for a long time, and there were originally many of her protectors. However, due to the new heavenly rules, now only a fraction of them remained, yet it was still a magnificent sight.
Upon seeing Bitao and the Emperor of Fengdu descend from the clouds together, the immortals watching from afar displayed a variety of expressions.
Da Ju, being somewhat overly "intimate," patted Bi Tao on the shoulder and said to her in front of everyone, "Your two fathers are following Ming Guang's orders to investigate the theft of the Star Realm's life force, so they can't come to give you a congratulatory gift for your advancement. I can't reveal what kind of advancement gift they prepared for you, but after the third competition, Fengdu welcomes you to come and play anytime."
After Daju finished speaking, he transformed into ghostly energy and dissipated in the heavens.
Bitao remained composed, respectfully saying, "Respectfully seeing off the Emperor." However, doubts arose in her heart.
When did her relationship with Daju become this good? Today, not only Qingming and Kunyi, but even Daju's attitude is strange...
Zhan Kui ran straight over and bumped into Bi Tao, interrupting her thoughts.
He picked her up and started braying like the donkey that Bitao had created.
Fortunately, her voice became much more pleasant because of that Xuanmen patriarch, Yu Junlang; otherwise, her voice might not even sound as good as a donkey's bray.
The other servants also gathered around. Bitao put her arms around Cuiwei and several female immortals, and nodded to Physician Wu and the others.
Then she returned to her Palace of the Common People with a large entourage.
Throughout the entire process, no one came forward to question or criticize Bitao.
Even the comments on Yin Han Gu are "clean" because the immortals who can look directly at the laws of heaven and earth can trace the source of spiritual energy. Speaking ill of Bi Tao now is tantamount to provoking her in front of her.
Nobody dares.
Bitao returned to the Cangsheng Palace, comforted the servants who were worried about her, and then immediately went back to her room.
She had no time to think about the attitudes of the immortals today and eagerly entered the Silver River Net.
Three days have passed since she was promoted to the rank of Grand Immortal through debate.
More than thirty years have passed in the lower realm.
Thirty years, converted into the lifespan of an ordinary person in the third competition, is already a lifetime for an ordinary person.
Mingguang and the others had long since become ordinary people.
Following Mingguang's perspective, Bitao traced back to the past, and when she discovered that Mingguang's temples were streaked with gray, she couldn't hold back her tears.
At this moment, Mingguang was riding a tall horse, his entire body covered in silver armor, galloping through the night. His figure was as majestic and imposing as ever, and his demeanor was as icy and aloof as ever.
He led his men and broke through the restrictions of the Shenhong Kingdom's imperial palace.
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