Chapter 1431: East Huang Villa

“This time, when I descended to the lower realms, I went to the Underworld and retrieved the Ascension Platform...” Chen Mobai recounted to Heavenly Monarch Kongming, wanting to ask how the quotas for ascension were managed in the past.

“Actually, leaving this item in the Underworld and not retrieving it was a deliberate act by the Lingkong Immortal Realm. The major Holy Lands within the Immortal Realm have intricate connections, and granting a quota to one while denying it to another would cause significant loss of face. Moreover, the previously established conditions for selecting cultivators for ascension were somewhat too simple for the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Heavenly River Realm.”

“Although several thresholds were later added, for powers with Seventh-tier True Immortal Dao Lord backgrounds, it was merely a slight inconvenience, completely insufficient to prevent their disciples from ascending.”

“Furthermore, once these individuals ascended, they were immediately granted official positions. However, the number of positions was limited. These cultivators, having acquired immortal substances and possessing extended lifespans, would remain in their roles for a very long time. This resulted in later arrivals effectively holding sinecures and also encroaching upon the examination slots for native immortal citizens, leading to significant conflict.”

“When the Ascension Platform was cast into the Underworld, the Heavenly Emperor was precisely troubled by the fact that all official positions in the Thirty-Three Dao Prefectures were full. He was overjoyed by this turn of events and contacted our Taixu lineage, using it as an opportunity to sever this path of ascension.”

Upon hearing Heavenly Monarch Kongming's explanation, Chen Mobai finally understood that the Ascension Platform's loss in the Underworld, and the subsequent lack of retrieval efforts from the major Holy Lands of the Heavenly River Realm or even the Lingkong Immortal Realm, was all at the Heavenly Emperor's behest. From then on, the only path to ascension and an official position became the most arduous one: enduring the Ninefold Heavenly Tribulation.

Naturally, ancient lineages of the Seven Creation Sages, such as the Taixu Misty Palace and the Medusa Palace, certainly possessed their own alternative paths. Therefore, despite having some reservations about the Heavenly Emperor's decision, they also expressed understanding. After all, the higher the threshold, the more it benefits class stratification.

“So, it seems I've done a disservice with good intentions,” Chen Mobai remarked, a bitter expression on his face after learning the truth. He had initially hoped to reopen the path to ascension for all Nascent Soul cultivators in the Heavenly River Realm and earn a good reputation. Fortunately, only a limited number of people currently knew about this matter, so it was still manageable.

“It's not entirely a bad thing,” Heavenly Monarch Kongming said, shaking his head as he analyzed the current situation of the Lingkong Immortal Realm for Chen Mobai. “Tens of thousands of years have passed since the Ascension Platform was lost in the Underworld. After the 'great waves washing the sand,' ninety-nine percent of the Nascent Soul cultivators who ascended have already turned to dust. Among the official positions in the Thirty-Three Dao Prefectures, some vacancies have appeared, particularly in the less developed areas. Most of the native immortal citizens are, frankly, quite useless. With the Three Realms' return to origin, it's precisely the right time to introduce some fresh blood from the Heavenly River Realm.”

Because they breathe immortal substances from birth, native immortal citizens have lifespans several times longer than beings from the Heavenly River Realm, making them generally lazy and lacking ambition. Previously, stimulated by the ascending cultivators from the Heavenly River Realm, many outstanding talents emerged among the native immortal citizens due to competition. However, since the loss of the Ascension Platform, it has become difficult for even one Void Refinement cultivator to appear in the Thirty-Three Dao Prefectures in a thousand years.

After all, achieving Void Refinement requires entering the Great Dao and enduring its trials. Success is a matter of capability; if one cannot succeed, no amount of time will enable them to achieve it.

“If the Heavenly Emperor is willing to reopen the Ascension Platform, he could learn from past lessons by raising the selection criteria, tightening the thresholds, and controlling the number of ascendants. Alternatively, he could directly abolish the rule of granting official positions upon ascension, allowing those who ascend to compete from the same starting point as the native immortal citizens.” Chen Mobai voiced his own ideas upon hearing this.

This would prevent the Lingkong Immortal Realm from returning to a stagnant situation where all official positions are filled, with no vacancies, and no hope for advancement for those below. All of these experiences could find parallels and lessons from the Immortal Sect.

“I will relay both matters you've mentioned to the Heavenly Emperor, Junior Martial Uncle,” Heavenly Monarch Kongming said, nodding. He wasn't particularly interested in these affairs, as the Taixu lineage remained transcendent regardless of what happened. However, since Chen Mobai had approached him, he was certainly committed to ensuring the matter was handled properly.

Shortly thereafter, Heavenly Monarch Kongming returned from the Purple Star Palace: “Junior Martial Uncle, after the Heavenly Emperor acquired the Beast Plate, he used the Great Dao of Destiny to deduce and indeed uncovered Wanling's past role in orchestrating the downfall of the Eastern Earth Imperial Court. He has now ordered Heavenly Monarch Beixuan of the Combat Department to apprehend him.”

Upon hearing this news, Chen Mobai couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Although he held a noble status as the Junior Disciple Brother of the Taixu True King, Dao Lord Wanling was a genuine Seventh-tier True Immortal. With their karmic ties already established, a confrontation was inevitable when future tribulations arose. By suppressing Dao Lord Wanling now through the Heavenly Emperor's intervention, Chen Mobai could finally lift a heavy burden from his mind. When Chen Mobai himself eventually merged with the Dao, even if Wanling were to be released, it would likely be the latter who worried about the former.

“Regarding the Ascension Platform, the Heavenly Emperor's intention is to leave that beneficence to the next ruler,” Heavenly Monarch Kongming said, revealing the second matter. Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai couldn't help but greatly admire the Heavenly Emperor's vision and methods.

Reopening the Ascension Platform would undoubtedly be an immense act of grace for all beings in the Heavenly River Realm. Even for the Heavenly Emperor himself, it would garner more popular support and prestige, perhaps even enhancing his Great Dao of Merit. However, for the sake of solidifying the next imperial succession, the Heavenly Emperor chose to forgo these advantages.

“This is a reward from the Heavenly Emperor. The Beast Plate can only be returned to you, Junior Martial Uncle, after Wanling is imprisoned in the immortal dungeon, convicted, and sealed,” Heavenly Monarch Kongming said, handing a jade slip to Chen Mobai, who took it with a curious expression. He discovered it was a deed, representing a cave mansion on a Seventh-tier spiritual vein within Miro Heaven.

“This was a former annex of one of the Heavenly Emperor's descendants, and also the first Human Emperor of the Eastern Earth Imperial Court to ascend. Unfortunately, during the struggle for the position of Crown Prince, he became a bit impatient, attempting to achieve Dao merging in one go, and ultimately perished under the impact of the Great Dao,” Heavenly Monarch Kongming explained. He added that the Heavenly Emperor had initially intended to bestow only some immortal stones and treasures, but under Kongming's persuasion, it was changed to this. Kongming knew that Chen Mobai did not have a cave mansion in Miro Heaven and had been staying long-term in an inn, which was extremely inconvenient.

“Each Seventh-tier cave mansion here in Miro Heaven is well-known and named; even I, Heavenly Monarch Kongming, couldn't simply arrange one for you. However, the Heavenly Emperor certainly has extras at his disposal. As expected, after I spoke, the Heavenly Emperor, recalling that Chen Mobai was from the Eastern Continent, directly bestowed this 'Eastern Emperor's Annex.'”

“Thank you, Heavenly Emperor; thank you, Martial Nephew,” Chen Mobai said with great joy, bowing towards the Purple Star Palace where the Heavenly Emperor resided, not forgetting Heavenly Monarch Kongming beside him. A Seventh-tier cave mansion would certainly not have fallen into his hands so easily without someone speaking on his behalf before the Heavenly Emperor.

“However, acquiring this Eastern Emperor's Annex might make you a target of the Purple Cloud Palace lineage. But Junior Martial Uncle, you already have existing ties with them, so you probably won't mind. Besides, I don't believe the Heavenly Consort would truly dare to act against you, knowing your identity,” Heavenly Monarch Kongming further reminded Chen Mobai. The primary reason the Eastern Emperor's Annex had remained vacant after that prince's death was that those capable of acquiring it did not wish to offend Dao Lord Qionghua, nor did they want to get entangled in the struggle for the Crown Prince's position.

Upon receiving the Seventh-tier cave mansion, Chen Mobai eagerly moved in. Heavenly Monarch Kongming, as the junior, naturally offered his assistance. For the housewarming celebration, Chen Mobai, having few acquaintances in the Lingkong Immortal Realm, set up just one table in the courtyard. Besides Kongming and Ji Yuhan from the Void Department, he also invited Xuansu and Wuwei from the Water Department, as well as Immortal Official Chenfeng, who had resigned from the Immortal Pond Palace. However, Immortal Official Chenfeng politely declined. He had the self-awareness that from the moment he resigned, his only desire was to retire peacefully and not get entangled in the upcoming turmoil of Miro Heaven.

Chen Mobai had also intended to invite the representative of the Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Sect in the Lingkong Immortal Realm. However, upon learning that they were not in Miro Heaven, he decided against it.

“Speaking of which, Daungmo is attempting to ascend to the Innate Taiji Great Dao this time. Do you think he'll succeed?” After a few rounds of drinks, Immortal Monarch Wuwei was the first to bring up the topic, which Chen Mobai had also been wanting to ask.

“I can only say that I hope he succeeds,” Heavenly Monarch Kongming replied cautiously. However, the implication of his words was clear: he was not optimistic.

After all, in the many years since the Three Realms were created, and after the Seven Creation Sages opened the Innate Great Dao, only the current Four Heavenly Kings have successfully ascended. Conversely, many, including those who were once sworn brothers with Kongming and even stronger than him, had perished on this very path.

For instance, the inaugural Pure Heavenly King, the senior disciple of the Benevolent Dao Ancestor among the Seven Creation Sages, was a manifestation of an innate spiritual bamboo. The Patriarch of the Pure Upper Palace in Western Continent established his lineage's Holy Land by obtaining the Dao heritage left on the withered bamboo at the birthplace of that innate spiritual bamboo. However, during his attempt to ascend to the Nirvana Great Dao, the innate spiritual bamboo turned to ashes. Saint Qianqiu was able to succeed him as the Pure Heavenly King primarily because the other three Heavenly Kings were all Innate Dao Lords, leaving him as the only suitable candidate to fill the vacancy. In this regard, the Lingkong Immortal Realm currently still prioritizes meritocracy. As long as one is as outstanding as Saint Qianqiu and directly merges with an Innate Great Dao, they are granted a position second only to the Heavenly Emperor.

“If Daungmo truly succeeds, will the Four Heavenly Kings become Five Heavenly Kings?” Wuwei asked with some curiosity. After all, official status in the Lingkong Immortal Realm is closely linked to cultivation, and in the perception of ordinary beings, an Innate Dao Lord is synonymous with a Heavenly King.

“That's unlikely,” Heavenly Monarch Kongming said, shaking his head. “After all, the Four Heavenly Kings are not just titles; they also come with fiefdoms. You can't just grant a title without any actual power or territory.” He understood the Heavenly Emperor's character: under circumstances where everything was running smoothly, he would not reform the current structure of the Heavenly Court's official positions.

“He'll likely promote Daungmo to one of the Eight Departments' Heavenly Monarchs first, as there's currently a vacancy in the Dragon Department. If he were truly to be enfeoffed as a Heavenly King, that would certainly be a matter for the next Heavenly Emperor,” Xuansu remarked calmly, his words striking home and causing everyone present to nod in agreement.

“We've strayed a bit far; who knows if Daungmo will even succeed, haha...” Wuwei, who had initiated the topic, couldn't help but laugh as he raised his wine cup. He certainly hoped Daungmo would succeed, just like Chen Mobai.

“Oh, by the way, what are your thoughts on the Heavenly Venerate matter?”