Chapter 1744

"As for the Four Sages from before, although they were our enemies, their crimes did not warrant death. It would be better to seal them away forever in the Fire Cloud Cave. What do you all think?"

"We leave it entirely to the Ancestor's discretion!"

The crowd naturally had no objections — in any case, the enemy had not been suppressed by them.

Only Tongtian and Shennongshi wore somewhat complicated expressions.

No matter what, Yuanshi and Taishang were his elder brothers; now that they had been sealed, he naturally could not remain unmoved.

As for Shennongshi, his previous incarnation was the Red Cloud Ancestor. Seeing his two enemies Zhunti and Ji Yin sealed away, he could not help feeling elated.

Zhang Taixuan gave a sweep of his sleeve, and at once the Four Sages fell into the Fire Cloud Cave.

"No!"

The Four Sages grew greatly alarmed and tried to flee, but they felt a burst of mysterious light rise up from the Fire Cloud Cave. No matter how they attacked, they could not budge the mysterious light in the slightest; instead, the more they exerted their strength, the weaker they grew, gradually showing signs of falling from the Primordial realm.

"Taixuan Ancestor, we are willing to serve at your command. Please let us out...."

Ji Yin bowed and saluted, then kowtowed toward the heavens.

Zhunti, too, wore a face of utter devotion and followed suit in bowing.

Taishang Laozi sighed: "Fellow Daoists, why must it come to this? A decision made by a Sage will not be changed in the blink of an eye. We should just stay quietly here."

Zhunti and Ji Yin glared at him furiously.

How could they not know this reasoning!

It was simply that a sliver of fantasy still lingered in their hearts. Now that Laozi had shattered that fantasy, he had naturally struck a raw nerve.

"Old friend Red Cloud!"

Zhenyuanzi appeared on the battlefield, looking toward Shennongshi with delight in his eyes.

"Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi, it has been long!" Shennongshi laughed freely. "It has been ages since we last met. Once matters are settled, why don't we have a small gathering at Wuzhuang Temple?"

"I would gladly do so!"

Zhenyuanzi, in high spirits, stepped to one side and then saluted Zhang Taixuan.

"Zhenyuanzi greets Taixuan Ancestor. Many thanks to the Ancestor for helping my old friend escape his cage."

Zhang Taixuan smiled and said: "No need for such courtesy. Shennongshi has rendered great merit to our human race and naturally deserves a reward."

His gaze fell upon the assembled Sages.

"The great matters have been dealt with. What follows are the small ones. The matter of the Heavenly Court — how should it be handled?"

Tongtian cupped his hands: "We leave it entirely to Taixuan Ancestor's discretion. We shall naturally carry it out."

Nuwa, Fuxi, Shennong and the others echoed in agreement.

"We shall naturally carry out the Ancestor's decree."

Zhang Taixuan felt inwardly gratified, yet also a touch speechless.

You are all Sages — how have you turned into echoers?

"Yun Xiao, you shall be the Sovereign of the Three Realms!"

"Huang Di, Fuxi, Shennong — you shall be the Three Emperors, assisting Yun Xiao in governing the Three Realms. Henceforth, the Three Realms shall take the human race as primary and all other races as auxiliary. Any with outstanding character, regardless of origin or race, may become Immortals or Gods."

"Tongtian, Nuwa, Qiong Xiao, Bi Xiao, Zhao Gongming — each of you shall dispatch an incarnation to preside over Reincarnation. From now on, without decree from the Heavenly Court, those with divine powers may not interfere with the Six Paths of Reincarnation or disrupt the order of Heaven and Earth."

"The Ancestor is most wise!"

Zhao Gongming asked: "Ancestor, only I do not know — if an Immortal or God wishes to reincarnate, how should it be handled?"

"Submit a memorial to the Heavenly Court; only after the Four Emperors approve may the reincarnation proceed."

"We have taken note." The crowd responded in unison, their hearts solemn.

With this, the Six Paths of Reincarnation had truly become stricter than ever before.

PS: The Three Sovereigns are quite muddled in history; here I have taken Huang Di, Shennong, and Fuxi as the three.