Chapter 1534

Another way is to directly imprint the rules into heaven and earth, letting the Dao of Heaven enforce them.

The first method is manageable; as long as humans carry it out, there will always be loopholes to exploit.

The second method is troublesome.

The Dao of Heaven is heartless.

The Dao of Heaven is meticulous.

Even sages facing such rules would be at a loss.

Zhang Taixuan looked at Zhu Bajie and Sha Seng: "You committed offenses before the Heavenly Regulations were established, so punishing you feels like killing without teaching. Very well, Tang Xuanzang, I permit you to guide them back onto the righteous path after they have completed their karmic retribution through reincarnation."

Tang Xuanzang: "Thank you, Heavenly Venerable."

Zhu Bajie and Sha Seng exchanged a glance, then bowed respectfully: "Thank you, Heavenly Venerable."

With that, his form shifted, turning into a streak of light that plunged straight into the cycle of reincarnation.

Zhang Taixuan turned his gaze to the other immortals, settling on those spirit-beasts who had become immortals and had histories of consuming humans.

"You have rendered great service in quelling demons; your merits and karmic fruits are temporarily recorded. Return now to reincarnation." Zhang Taixuan waved his hand, and a mysterious light settled upon them all. "This divine radiance will preserve your true spirits from oblivion, enabling your return after the calamity ends. After reincarnation, if you wish to become a god, you may be enshrined according to your merits; if you seek freedom, you may reclaim your true spirit imprint from the Register of Deified Spirits."

"Thank you, Heavenly Venerable."

All of them were filled with joy.

Reincarnation had always been a terrifying prospect.

After all, without becoming a Jin Xian, one could not preserve the true spirit.

If one reincarnated too many times, they would no longer be themselves.

Now, with the Heavenly Venerable's intervention, there was no longer any problem.

More crucially, the thing they had longed for over countless eons was finally about to be realized—freedom!

This matter filled them with overwhelming joy.

Although their demon-quelling merits remained unrewarded, freedom was real and tangible.

"We bow our thanks to the Heavenly Venerable; we now depart for reincarnation."

All bowed, their forms turning to radiant light as they surged toward the underworld's cycle of reincarnation.

They could not wait a single moment longer.

The other Jie Sect immortals in the Heavenly Court grew envious.

They had never expected these fellow disciples to receive the Heavenly Venerable's promise so soon due to their sins.

This was sheer good fortune.

All could not help but turn their gazes toward Zhang Taixuan.

Zhang Taixuan naturally understood their thoughts and smiled: "You need not rush."

With a wave of his hand, each of them immediately felt a tremendous transformation in their divine bodies.

"It's a physical body! We have physical bodies!"

"Me too!"

"The Heavenly Venerable is incredible—just one wave of his hand, and so many of us now have physical bodies. Moreover, I feel this body holds immense potential, even stronger than before death. If we cultivate with it, we will surely reach higher realms."

"Thank you, Heavenly Venerable."

All quickly bowed.

Their admiration for Zhang Taixuan's divine power deepened immensely.

It was terrifying.

This art of manipulating creation and transformation might even replicate Nüwa's creation of humanity.

One wave of his hand, and so many divine bodies were forged.

It was simply unimaginable.

"Rise. Your tasks are not yet complete. If you wish to become a free cultivator, find someone to replace you as an immortal, and I shall remove your true spirit imprint; if you wish to remain an immortal, you may retain your destiny, merits, and karmic fruits. Moreover, with your prior demon-quelling merits, you may even advance further."

Upon hearing this, their expressions varied.

With physical bodies, their perception of destiny, incense offerings, and karmic fruits changed entirely.

Previously, without physical bodies, they had always felt incense offerings, destiny, and karmic fruits held little use—even after cultivating for countless eons, they could not raise their realm.

Now, with physical bodies, the feeling was utterly different.

Under the blessing of karmic fruits, destiny, and incense offerings, their cultivation speed surpassed what it had been before becoming immortals by more than a little.

The benefits of an immortal's position were immense for those with physical bodies.

At this moment, they finally understood why the cultivators who followed the Heavenly Venerable went to Lingshan to become Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Nothing else—because the benefits were enormous.

"Heavenly Venerable, can we truly continue serving as immortals?" someone asked cautiously.

Zhang Taixuan smiled: "Why not? Though you have not loved the people as your own children, you have fulfilled your duties faithfully over countless eons—your merits are great. Continuing as immortals is only fitting."

"Thank you, Heavenly Venerable. We wish to remain immortals, wielding our authority to assist you in governing the Three Realms."

Zhang Taixuan nodded: "Agreed."

In the end, only a tiny number of immortals were willing to forsake their immortal positions and destiny to become free cultivators below.

"Zhao Gongming, I appoint you as the Heavenly Emperor of this realm. Do you accept?"

"Thank you, Heavenly Venerable. Zhao Gongming accepts."

"Yunxiao, I appoint you as the Purple Micro Grand Emperor of the Northern Celestial Pole of the Middle Heaven. Do you accept?"

"Thank you, Heavenly Venerable. I accept."

"Biyu, I appoint you as the Heavenly Emperor of Gouchen Palace, to quell demons and monsters throughout the Three Realms, to instruct the demon immortals, and to allow all who possess noble virtue and perfected cultivation to ascend to immortality. Do you accept?"

Biyu froze.

She had never imagined that this matter would involve her as well.

She was only a Jin Xian.

Sitting in such a high position, could she really sit steady?

"Dao Lord brother, can I really do it well?"

Zhang Taixuan smiled and said: "Don't forget, behind you there is us."

Biyou heard this, a brilliant smile appearing on her face: "Since that is so, then Biyou thanks Dao Lord brother for the investiture."

As the words fell, she sensed a stream of fortune descend upon her; in an instant, her speed of cultivation increased countless times over.

Zhang Taixuan, in turn, performed the investiture, bestowing the positions of the Six Imperial Ministers upon San Xiao, Zhao Gongming, Biyou, and the Donghua Emperor.

"As for the remaining divine positions, those due for promotion shall be promoted, and where there are vacancies, select from among the ascended. This matter shall be left to you Six Imperial Ministers."

Zhao Gongming led the five others and hurriedly bowed: "We obey the Heavenly Worthy's decree."

While speaking, they saw a figure sneaking over.

"Taixuan brother, I found something good!"

Zhang Taixuan smiled and said: "It's the Flat Peach tree, isn't it?"

Su Xiao beamed with joy: "I knew I couldn't hide it from Taixuan brother."

At a thought, a shrunken version of a peach tree appeared in her hand.

"Flat Peaches that ripen once every nine thousand years, heh, it's just a pity there are too few, not enough for us to share." Su Xiao was somewhat regretful.

Zhang Taixuan smiled and said: "What's so hard about that?"

Taking the Flat Peach tree, with a casual shake, a single Flat Peach in his hand instantly transformed into over a thousand, falling before the crowd.

"This time the merit is complete; apart from the merit and fortune rewarded by the Heavenly Dao, these thousand Flat Peaches shall count as the reward."