I have Immortality In The Cultivation World Chapter 337

Chapter 337: Chapter 282: Lord of Yuntong River_2

Zhou Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, committing Prefect Zhao's name to memory.

In the twelve years since, the Imperial Court had not bestowed the title of the Earth God of Linyang. During that time, however, two oblivious spirits and monsters had secretly claimed the title in nearby villages.

Naturally, they ended up killed by an official encirclement, adding to Prefect Zhao's accomplishments in governance.

When ten years had passed, since the position of Earth God remained vacant, Prefect Zhao had not been relieved of his proxy duties, even up to the day he underwent tribulation to Solidify His Pill.

“This one also has a profound foundation within the court. A single county's Earth God, many Golden Core Cultivators are suitable for the job, yet no one could receive the appointment letter,” he mused.

Zhou Yi watched for a moment, until the Heavenly Tribulation dispersed and a clear and loud cry rang out.

“I, Zhao Tai, have today attained the Golden Core. Three months later, I will preach the law in Linyang County…”

His voice spread to the Xiao Xiang Pavilion, and in an instant, utter silence fell, followed by a burst of enthusiastic clamor. Regardless of whether Zhao Tai could see them or not, they all bowed in the direction of the voice, paying their respects.

“Congratulations, Prefect Zhao!”

“May Prefect Zhao's path be prosperous and everlasting!”

“With Prefect Zhao, Linyang County will have its blue skies…”

Scholars were adept at flattery, leaving no room for cultivators' affairs. Even if Zhou Yi lived another six thousand five hundred years, he would not learn their ways.

“Bad luck, let's go!”

Zhou Yi shook his head and transformed into a fleeing light, flying back to Wu Mountain.

With Zhao Tai's advancement to the Golden Core Realm and the support of his sect within the court, he would indeed become the supreme deity of Linyang County in time.

Back at Wu Mountain.

Before his fleeing light had even dissipated, Zhou Yi saw from afar the Spirit Ginseng child communicating with cultivators outside the temple.

The visitor was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm, clad in armor, draped in a cloak with a sash, holding a long spear about two meters, looking more like a martial general than a cultivator.

“People from the Yuntong Dragon Palace, what are they doing at Wu Mountain?”

For twelve years, Zhou Yi had occupied Wu Mountain. With the Yuntong River on its eastern border and since he had no love for the River Lord, he had never communicated with them.

Coexistence between humans and demons is common in the Dongsheng Divine Continent, perhaps due to abundant Spiritual Energy and plentiful Spiritual Objects. The two races had no deep-seated hatred, often seeing demons become disciples to humans and humans serve under Demon Kings.

Sensing the pressure of mana, the general looked up at the fleeing light and hurriedly bent over to salute.

“I am a General of the Yuntong River patrol, dispatched by the River Lord's orders to invite the Mountain God to a banquet at the Dragon Palace,” he said.

Zhou Yi thought for a while before nodding in agreement.

“Lead the way,” he commanded.

Yuntong River.

Dragon Palace.

Dragons are naturally inclined toward opulence, and every palace was built shimmering in gold.

The general led the way with Zhou Yi sweeping his Divine Sense around, and with a cursory investigation, he detected vulnerabilities within the Formation and Prohibition.

Predicting the world is difficult, fathoming a person's heart, even more so.

If by any chance the Yuntong River Lord went mad or colluded with an outside cultivator to trap Zhou Yi within a Formation and Prohibition for a killing, such instances were not uncommon in the Cultivation World.

Yuntong Hall.

After being announced by the general, loud laughter poured forth.

A burly, black-haired man six feet tall walked out from within and, after a hearty laugh, clasped his hands towards Zhou Yi, saying,

“I've long admired the Mountain God's reputation, and it's an honor to finally meet you. Please!”

“Please!” Zhou Yi replied.

He had heard that the Yuntong River Lord was a black Jiao, with his father being the Jishui Dragon Lord, and only now did he see his true form. Although he seemed rough and hearty, there was a blunt imitation radiating from within.

Hundreds of years Zhou Yi had lived, and he was familiar with more people than the River Lord had ever seen!

The guests took their seats.

Inside the hall, there were three other cultivators–two demons and one human–all within the Golden Core Realm.

“This is the Spring Mountain God Wolf Brother, Huai River God Tiger Brother, and Jiyun Temple's Abbot Hong Yun. We all practice within Qingyun Prefecture and it's proper for us to interact more,” introduced the Yuntong River Lord, Ao Xuan.

Zhou Yi greeted each one without being too enthusiastic or too aloof.

The auras of the Wolf Demon and Tiger Demon were filthy and turbid, clearly indicating their history of preying on blood.

Abbot Hong Yun's mana was particularly sinister, and Zhou Yi felt vaguely familiar with it, presumably because, like the Locust God Hong Luo, he came from the same sect.

After the introductions were made, it was time for a feast.

Three rounds of Spiritual Wine were consumed, and the atmosphere gradually grew lively, with conversation no longer being held back.

Zhou Yi subtly steered the conversation to inquire further about the Great Eternal Imperial Court and Dongsheng Divine Continent, learning more. Even though the status of a Golden Core Cultivator was not high, they had still stepped into the power hierarchy.

Be it through heritage or rumors, their understanding of the Imperial Court and the continent far surpassed that of ordinary mortals.

“In Dongsheng Divine Continent, the Great Eternal is actually considered second-rate, while the top sects and imperial dynasties have Returning Void Immortals in residence, and there are even legends of methods to ascend. They truly deserve the name of sincere Immortal Sects!”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi grew even more cautious in his actions.

If one truly relied on magical treasures and Divine Skills to act recklessly, hitting the small ones to provoke the bigger ones, one might inadvertently attract the attention of immortals who dwell in the world. There wouldn't be enough time to escape.

The banquet lasted three to four days, with several hundred jars of Spiritual Wine consumed.

With its abundance of Spiritual Objects, Dongsheng Divine Continent's wealth far exceeded that of other Golden Core Demon Kings across the Nine Continents, which allowed such indulgent eating and drinking.

That day.

At noon.

Ao Lie dismissed his shrimp soldiers and crab generals, and the dancing fish maidens and mussel beauties dispersed. With a wave of his hand, he set up a Formation and Prohibition that isolated sound.

“My fellow Daoists, have you heard about the grand plan of the Imperial Court?”

“I've heard a bit.”

Hong Yun, the monk with his chest bare, was in the midst of eating a raw deer leg, blood dripping, and chewing with large bites like a wild beast. After a few chews, he said, “My master mentioned that it seems the current Emperor has made up his mind to purge the official gods of the Imperial Court!”

Zhou Yi said with surprise, “How could he cleanse such an old problem that has persisted for a thousand years?”

After several days of interaction, he came to know that Hong Yun was from the sect of White Bone Daoist of Skull Mountain, just by the name one could tell it was a heterodox path.

The so-called old problem for a thousand years referred to the City God Temple of the Great Eternal. Unlike the River Lords and Mountain Gods, and Earth Gods, who changed every three to five hundred years, the lifespan of the yin gods in charge of the City Gods, who cultivated the Ghost Path, was long and extended.

Wish Power Beads enhanced the yin gods far more than living cultivators, to the point where some City Gods had been in their positions since the founding of the state.

A two thousand year old official god couldn't be touched even by the Emperor!

For example, the case with Linyang's Earth God a few years back, where the Earth God and Mountain God died and their paths were extinguished, and the River Lord was reprimanded by the Imperial Court. However, the City God of Qingyun Prefecture, who traded divine positions, was not affected at all, profiting off the Earth God's bribes for nothing!

“All past deeds are over and done with, and only crimes after the 85th year of the Yuan Ding era will be investigated,” said Hong Yun.

“His Majesty has widely recruited cultivators to establish the Inspection Bureau. In just two years, four mid-rank 3rd grade and twelve low-rank 3rd grade official gods have been slain!”

“Now, when the official gods of the Imperial Court hear the term 'Inspection Bureau,' they almost run for their lives!”

“The Emperor truly understands the thoughts of the official gods. The idea of 'not blaming the past' is just a ploy, but how many can resist making mistakes?”

With his increasing understanding of the Great Eternal Imperial Court and the difficulties in refining Wish Power Beads, Zhou Yi was almost certain that regardless of whether they were official gods or wild gods, they all must have practiced nefarious methods at one time or another.

Obtaining incense and wish power through proper channels was far too slow.

Creating a disaster out of the blue could yield as much as several decades past, and there were very few official gods who could restrain themselves.

As for the frequent natural disasters leading to sparse population and shallow wish power from the people, the gods and immortals didn't care at all. Even knowing that taking good care of the people and witnessing the population flourish would also enhance the incense and wish power, very few gods and immortals could achieve this.

Having birds in the forest is not as good as having one in hand. Snatching Wish Power Beads early on to achieve a breakthrough was the best strategy!

In recent years, Zhou Yi had concentrated on managing the people of Wu Mountain, paying little attention to messages from outside Linyang County. He asked, “I heard that the Imperial Clan co-governs the Great Eternal with the sects, so how could they allow His Majesty to act so arbitrarily?”

Before Hong Yun could reply, Ao Lie spoke in a deep voice.

“An elder from my clan transmitted a message that the Great Eternal Ancestor might have already passed the Ninety-Nine Heavenly Tribulations and achieved the status of an immortal…”

“Hiss!”

The Wolf Demon and Tiger Demon gasped in shock. Being background-less demons, they were unaware of such secrets.

“An immortal!”

After contemplating for a moment, Zhou Yi immediately realized the purpose of Ao Lie's feast, saying, “Does the Dragon King worry that after purging the official gods, His Majesty will turn to cleanse the wild gods?”

“Considering His Majesty's character, it is inevitable,” Ao Lie said.

“The official gods may harvest belief blatantly, but at least they have a veneer of legitimacy. We wild gods who dwell in the mountains and fields act willfully. In the eyes of His Majesty, we are even more deserving of death!”

Zhou Yi showed a worried expression on his face, but he was already considering fleeing to a different region to claim a divine position as the god of a mountain.

The area near Wu Mountain was scarcely populated, with thin incense and wish power. It was not a good spot and not worth getting tangled up in the turmoil of the Great Eternal Imperial Court.

Wild gods had been rooted in mountains, rivers, and streams since the time before the Great Eternal Imperial Court, with a history far longer than the Imperial Court. Even if the Emperor had the support of the Great Ancestor, it was not clear how much advantage he could gain, and a fierce clash was inevitable.

Rather than fighting for life, it was better to sit on a mountain and watch the tigers fight.

Once an outcome was reached, there would certainly be many divine positions missing within the territory of the Great Eternal. Then, it would be time to return and claim a spot!

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