Chapter 207

The news of Xuantiandi rebuilding the Heavenly Court was like a bomb dropped into still water, instantly leaving everyone at a loss!

The news of Xuantiandi rebuilding the Heavenly Court was like a bomb dropped into still water, instantly leaving everyone at a loss!

We must not add extra words. Keep concise.

Let's craft: "The news of Xuantiandi rebuilding the Heavenly Court was like a bomb dropped into still water, instantly leaving everyone at a loss!"

The news of Xuantiandi rebuilding the Heavenly Court was like a bomb dropped into still water, instantly leaving everyone at a loss!

Are you kidding? The Heavenly Court has been gone for ages, yet someone suddenly appears claiming to be Xuandu's reincarnation and wants to rebuild the Heavenly Court...

Translation: "What a joke— the Heavenly Court has been gone for how many years? Now someone actually shows up claiming to be Xuandu's reincarnation, wanting to rebuild the Heavenly Court……"

We need to keep punctuation? We'll output as single line.

To be honest, lots of people think they're still dreaming, or maybe some cosplayer has lost it, taking roleplay too far.

Translation: "Frankly, many people thought they hadn't woken up, or maybe some cosplayer was going crazy, getting too deep into roleplay?"

So at first, nobody took it seriously—whether mortal or cultivator, everyone just treated it as a joke.

Translation: "So at first, nobody paid attention—whether mortal or cultivator, they just took it as a joke."

But once the Heavenly Court was officially set up and started governing, they stopped laughing, replaced by confusion and shock: "Oh come on, you're actually doing this?!"

Translation: "But as the Heavenly Court was formally established and began governing, they could no longer laugh… replaced by bewilderment and astonishment: 'Ah, this, you're serious?!'"

Just as the Heavenly Court's leadership was settled, a cultivator calling himself the Heavenly Master, acting on the so‑called Xuantiandi's orders, began enforcing the court's edicts.

Translation: "Just as the Heavenly Court's lineup was set, a cultivator calling himself the Heavenly Master, acting on the so‑called Xuantiandi's orders, began enforcing the Heavenly Court's edicts."

Regarding mortals, Xuantiandi appointed cultivators as officials and mortals as clerks, thoroughly eradicating bandits, outlaws, rebel armies and other forces entrenched within the realm.

Translation: "Toward mortals, Xuantiandi appointed cultivators as officials and mortals as clerks, thoroughly eradicating bandits, gangits, rebel armies and the like that held sway within the realm."

Note: "bandit" = bandits, "rebel army" = rebel armies. We'll keep.

They also punished corrupt officials, cut taxes to the minimum, and used the revenue solely to pay stipends to mortal clerks and for disaster relief, with the Heavenly Court itself taking no wealth from mortals.

Translation: "He also punished corrupt officials, slashed taxes to the minimum, and used the revenue solely to pay stipends to mortal clerks and for disaster relief, with the Heavenly Court taking none of the mortals' wealth."

After completing the domestic cleanup, Xuantiandi conducted a land survey so that tillers had their own fields, cracked down harshly on landlords and wealthy merchants, and finally dispatched heavenly officials to manage natural disasters—floods, droughts, locust plagues, and epidemics—that ordinary people could not solve; cultivators handled them with ease.

Translation: "After completing the domestic cleanup, Xuantiandi conducted land surveys, granting tillers their fields, and cracked down harshly on landlords and merchants… Finally, he sent Heavenly Officials to manage natural disasters across the regions—floods, droughts, locusts, plagues—problems mortals could hardly solve, which cultivators handled with ease!"

Thus, the entire populace, still in a daze, experienced a complete transformation of their lives: natural disasters vanished, man‑made calamities disappeared, and the days of lacking food and clothing were gone forever.

Translation: "Thus, the nation's populace, in a daze, welcomed an earth‑shaking transformation in their lives: no more natural disasters, no more man‑made calamities, and the days of lacking food and clothing were gone for good……"

Good grief, this is a real Heavenly Court!!!

Translation: "Good fellow, this is a true Heavenly Court!!!"

Now everyone is in an uproar, with regions across the land voicing their support; even if you aren't Xuandu's reincarnation, they accept you as the true Heavenly Emperor, and even Xuandu himself coming to dispel rumors would be useless.

Translation: "Now everyone was in an uproar, with wholehearted support from all regions; even if you weren't Xuandu's reincarnation, they acknowledged you as the true Heavenly Emperor, and even Xuandu himself coming to dispel the rumor would be useless!"

The people's standard of living rose visibly; ultimately, cultivation is the primary productive force, and bringing tens of thousands of cultivators down to the mortal realm is no less impactful than a mechanical deity smashing primitives…

Translation: "The people's standard of living rose visibly; ultimately, cultivation is the primary productive force, and you bringing tens of thousands of cultivators down to the mortal realm is no less than a mechanical deity smashing primitives……"

As for the cultivation world, you completely changed your stance, sending envoys with symbols of authority to order every blessed land and cavern to kneel and surrender, forbidding cannibalism and demanding they turn from evil to righteousness, or else you would dispatch a hundred thousand heavenly troops to raze their lairs.

Translation: "But toward the cultivation world, you completely changed your face, directly sending envoys with scepters to order every cavern heaven and blessed land domestically to kneel and surrender; from now on, no eating people, they must turn from evil to righteousness, or else you will dispatch a hundred thousand heavenly troops and generals to raze their nests!"

The cultivators who had been watching the spectacle now panicked; after emergency discussion, a pessimistic faction argued they should surrender, since even if you aren't Xuandu, you are still a true immortal descended to the world, and fighting would surely mean death.

Translation: "The cultivators who had been watching the spectacle now panicked; after urgent discussion, one pessimistic faction thought they should surrender, after all, even if you weren't Xuandu, you were still a True Immortal descended to the world, and fighting would surely be fatal."

Better to defect and lay down arms, surrendering with propriety, without losing the position of the Mad Monkey…

Translation: "Better to defect and lay down arms, surrendering with courtesy, still not losing the position of the Mad Monkey……"

But the war faction shouted: "Old traitor, shut your mouth! I see you've wasted seventy‑six years, just flapping your gums, aiding evil!"

Translation: "But the War Faction roared: 'Old thief, shut your mouth—I see you've wasted seventy‑six years, just flapping your jaws, aiding evil!'"

They pointed to the clause in your edict forbidding cannibalism and yelled: "How can we not eat people? Without eating people, how can we achieve immortality? This is clearly a wicked traitor's decree; we must not obey it! Everyone should grab their knives and march on Luoyang to sternly confront this false emperor who abstains from mortal food!"

Translation: "They pointed to the clause in your edict forbidding cannibalism and shouted: 'How can we not eat people? Without eating people, how can we achieve immortality? This is clearly the dark rebels' chaotic orders; we must not obey it! Everyone should raise their swords and march to the capital to give this False Emperor who abstains from mortal fire a piece of their mind!'"

Stirred by them, many in the surrender camp began to think: "Right, if we can't eat people, then none of us can become immortals, and if we don't become immortals, aren't we doomed to die of old age?"

Translation: "Stirred by them, many in the Surrender Faction also had second thoughts: 'Right, if we can't eat people, then we can't become immortals, right? If we don't become immortal, aren't we just going to die of old age?'"

Thus a counter‑heavenly uprising quickly formed; the heads of several blessed lands and caverns issued a joint declaration calling you a false emperor, a mere true immortal, as if you thought you were somebody important.

Translation: "Thus, a 'Heaven-defying Tide' quickly formed; the leaders of several cavern heavens and blessed lands domestically issued a joint statement declaring you a mere False Emperor, a mere True Immortal, really thinking you're somebody?"

Even many high‑rank cultivators who were just one step away from immortality began to forcibly break through, draining the spiritual energy of their blessed lands as the cost.

Translation: "Even many cultivators who were just one step away from immortality, at the cost of draining the spiritual qi of their cavern heavens, began frantically forcing a breakthrough!"

The wind fills the tower as the mountain rain approaches; an ultimate beggar‑style "Revolt Against Heaven" and "Chaos in the Heavenly Palace" are about to begin…

Translation: "The wind fills the tower as the storm approaches; an ultimate beggar‑version 'Heaven-defying War', 'Great Havoc in the Heavenly Palace', is about to unfold……"

The capital, in the imperial court.

Translation: "Capital City, Imperial Court."

"Your Majesty! No!"

Translation: "\"Your Majesty! No way! \"" (But we need to keep quotes? The line includes Chinese quotes. We'll keep English quotes.)

The various heavenly officials, long turned into brainless fans, earnestly advise:

Translation: "Having long become brain‑dead fans, officials of all ranks earnestly advised:"

"Since the previous Heavenly Court fell, all manner of rebels have refused to submit, and this has been going on for ages… Now that heaven has granted us a fine opportunity, Your Majesty, having returned for a second life, ought to strike down the many rebels with swift thunder before they can cover their ears—how can you indulge them?"

Translation: "\"Since the Heavenly Court's collapse, various rebels have refused submission, and this has long been the case…… Now heaven presents a fine opportunity; Your Majesty, having lived a second life, ought to crush the many rebels with swift, unstoppable force—how can you indulge them? \""

"Your Majesty, having undergone a second reincarnation, your cultivation is still shallow; if you do not annihilate the rebels with thunderous force, once some of them attain immortality, the Heavenly Court may face unspeakable horrors…"

Translation: "\"Your Majesty, having been reborn, your cultivation is still shallow; if you do not annihilate the rebels with thunderous force, once some of them attain immortality, the Heavenly Court may face unspeakable horrors……\""

"Yes, yes! Please, Your Majesty, reconsider!"

Translation: "\"Yes, yes! Please, Your Majesty, reconsider! \""

Faced with the officials' earnest pleas, the young Xuantiandi naturally knows they are right; the reason those blessed lands and caverns dare to openly challenge him is simply their strength.

Translation: "Faced with the officials' earnest advice, the young Xuantiandi naturally knew they were right—those cavern heavens and blessed lands dared to openly challenge him precisely because of their strength."

In the primordial immortal Dao realms, the only level that cannot be compensated by numbers is the "saint" realm; no amount of Golden Immortals can defeat a half‑saint, and no number of half‑saints can match a true saint's casual finger snap.

Translation: "In the Primordial Immortal Dao's realms, the only one that cannot be compensated by numbers is the 'Saint Realm'; no amount of Great Luo can defeat a Quasi‑Saint, and no number of Quasi‑Saints can match a Saint's casual flick of a finger."

Although true immortals are strong, there is no unbridgeable chasm between them and ordinary cultivators; if enough high‑rank cultivators possess good magic artifacts and unite, then many ants can bite down an elephant!

Translation: "True Immortals are strong, but there is no uncrossable chasm between them and ordinary cultivators; as long as high‑level cultivators are numerous enough, their magic treasures are good, and they are united, then many ants can kill an elephant!"

In my past life, the reason I could sweep through unopposed was mainly because I waged a "lightning war"; often the blessed lands hadn't even reacted before I went door‑to‑door wiping them out.

Translation: "In my previous life, the reason I could sweep all before me was mainly because I waged a 'Lightning War'; often, before the cavern heavens even reacted, I would go door‑to‑door wiping them out."

That is how his past‑life true‑immortal level produced those various unstoppable slaughter effects!

Translation: "Thus, this produced the effect of his previous life's True Immortal‑level sweeping victories!"

Therefore, in theory he should replicate his past life's "lightning war" in this life, using the swiftest means to subdue those man‑eating blessed lands.

Translation: "Therefore, in theory, he should replicate his previous life's 'Lightning War' this lifetime, using the swiftest means to subdue those man‑eating cavern heavens."

But… the young Xuantiandi clearly has another idea in mind…

Translation: "But…… the young Xuantiandi's mind clearly harbored another idea……"

"I have my own considerations; you need not urge me further!"

Translation: "\"I have my own considerations; you need not urge me further! \""

Xuantiandi said in a deep voice:

Translation: "Xuantiandi said in a deep voice:"

"I intend to wait until they are fully prepared, then strike with thunderous force to crush them, break their stubbornness, and intimidate all petty villains—whether mortal, cultivator, or even red‑dust immortals lurking among men—so they will willingly submit to me."

Translation: "\"I simply want to wait until they are fully prepared, then strike with thunderous force to crush the weak, break their stubbornness, and awe all petty scoundrels—whether mortal, cultivator, or even the Red Dust True Immortals lurking in the mortal realm—so they will willingly submit to me. \""

"A newly founded Heavenly Court needs a hard battle to establish its authority over the world!"

Translation: "\"A newly founded Heavenly Court needs a hard battle to establish its might before the world! \""

"Moreover, this is the perfect chance to lure out those monsters disguised as righteous cultivators and settle their debts! Under the Heavenly Court's rule, not everyone gets a chance to whitewash their sins…"

Translation: "\"Moreover, this is also the perfect chance to lure out those monsters masquerading as the righteous path and settle their sins! Under the Heavenly Court's rule, not everyone gets a chance to whitewash themselves……\""

Upon hearing this, many heavenly officials broke into a sweat, after all, how many man‑eating cultivators could truly reform?

Translation: "Upon these words, many Heavenly Officials broke into a sweat, for after all, how many man‑eating cultivators could truly reform?"

It's not all violent suppression; adding the Blood God Child's ideological imprint makes their "voluntary" redemption possible…

Translation: "It's not all violent suppression; adding the Blood God Son's ideological imprint makes the forced 'voluntary' whitening possible……"

And the reasoning the Heavenly Emperor spoke also left everyone in a brief silence:

Translation: "And the reasoning of the Heavenly Emperor also left everyone silent:"

Establishing authority is naturally needed, something everyone understands.

Translation: "Establishing might is naturally needed—everyone understands that."

But can our little pack of big and small cats really stand up to a host of blessed lands that are about to possess several true immortals?

Translation: "But, with our little pack of big and small cats, can we really stand against a host of cavern heavens and blessed lands that are about to have several True Immortals?"

That may sound harsh, but the truth is just that: in the Heavenly Court's fledgling stage, everything is a makeshift troupe, and you are the only true immortal…

Translation: "That's hard to say, but the truth is the truth: at the Heavenly Court's fledgling stage, everything is a makeshift troupe, and you are the only True Immortal……"

"Your Majesty!"

Translation: "\"Your Majesty! \""

Eventually, the Yellow‑Robed Heavenly Master stepped forward, and amid everyone's anticipation, he solemnly offered counsel to the emperor.

Translation: "After all, the Yellow Robe Heavenly Master stepped forward, and amid everyone's anticipation, he solemnly advised the Heavenly Emperor:"

"Your servant has only one question: if several rebel true immortals rise up together, how should we counter them?"

Translation: "\"I have only one question: if a few rebel True Immortals rise up together, how should we counter them? \""

Xuantiandi gave a faint smile.

Translation: "【Xuantiandi gave a faint smile.】"

"It's simple—I'll just break through!"

Translation: "\"It's simple—just breakthrough and it'll do! \""

In the next instant, your aura could no longer be concealed.

Translation: "In the next moment, your aura could no longer be hidden."

Nine‑fold… cough! True immortal cultivation!

Translation: "【Nine Turns…… cough! Heavenly Immortal cultivation!】"

It's a pity you don't have enough ink to compose a poem, so the lofty line "Having known the world's hardships from an early age" must regrettably remain beyond you…

Translation: "【It's a pity you don't have enough ink to write a poem, so that lofty line 'Having known the world's hardships since youth' can only regrettably elude you……】"

But never mind; the moment your true‑immortal cultivation became manifest, the officials' anxiety vanished completely, and their excited minds held only one thought.

Translation: "【But no matter, when your Heavenly Immortal cultivation showed itself, the officials' anxiety vanished completely, and their excited minds held only one thought.】"

Solid! Solid!

Translation: "【Steady spicy! Steady spicy!】" (Keep as is, it's slang but we keep.)

"A true immortal fighting a true immortal—that's just wanton slaughter!"

Translation: "【Heavenly Immortal versus True Immortal—that's just wanton slaughter!】"

Thus the officials all shouted, "Long live the Heavenly Emperor!"

Translation: "【Then the officials all shouted: 'Heavenly Emperor, ten thousand victories!'】"

And amidst the cheers, you only sighed, "Still too slow…"

Translation: "【And you, amidst the cheers, only sighed: 'Still too slow……'】"

【With your previous life's cultivation speed, plus the cultivation experience of a Profound Immortal level, theoretically, within three years of recovering your memory, you will be sufficient to rush up to Heavenly Immortal!】

【But actually, you have been practicing since age three up to your current twenty years, and it took nearly eighteen years to recover to Heavenly Immortal……】

【The cause of your sluggish cultivation, you analyzed for a long time, yet also failed to reach a reliable conclusion; clearly no external conditions have changed, and you even have more cultivation experience than in your previous life, yet the speed has not increased but decreased.】

【This is truly too strange, leaving you unable to figure it out after much thought: it's as if… as if your own aptitude had declined……】

【Faced with this strange performance, you couldn't help recalling your past-life observations: Central Province cultivators clearly have abundant resources, yet their cultivation speed is extremely slow, far inferior to the ascetics of the Western Wasteland's poor mountains and evil waters.】

【Back then you also discussed this with Jingxin, thinking that Central Province cultivators generally had inferior aptitude compared to those of the Western Wasteland, to the extent that Jingxin even brought forth a few points of the 'Western Wasteland superiority theory'……】

【Now it seems you are no different from Central Province cultivators…… What exactly is the cause of all this?】

【Driven by curiosity, you decided to replicate most of your past-life experiences, in order to find the cause……】

【Let's start… let's start by slaughtering cultivators……】

【……】

【In the third year of the Heavenly Emperor, the Heavenly Court dispatched envoys bearing the symbol of authority, acting under the command of the Mysterious Heaven Emperor, ordering the domestic Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands to actively surrender and enter the capital!】

【However, the rebels are wildly defiant, refusing to submit to imperial edicts; they not only refused to accept the edict and surrender, but instead insulted the Heavenly Court as a 'false regime' and the Mysterious Heaven Emperor as a 'false emperor', with extremely vicious attitude!】

【When the news reached the Heavenly Court, everyone thought the Heavenly Emperor would surely fly into a rage and immediately personally lead a campaign to avenge this shame.】

【Even several Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands gathered for this, top cultivators formed a killing formation, and they also brought out the sect-protecting treasures left behind by past True Immortals, setting up a trap capable of besieging and killing a True Immortal, just waiting for you to come and deliver yourself!】

【But oddly, you, this Heavenly Emperor, facing such madmen's insults, did not do anything angry; instead you remained calm and attended to state affairs, as if nothing had happened……】

【This strange reaction left the cultivators bewildered, only thinking you were afraid.】

【And since you're afraid, they will push their luck even further!】

【Anyway, the grudge is already set; it would be better to just kill you outright—a mortal slaying an immortal!】

【Taking advantage of your indifference, a full seven top cultivators began to forcefully break through……】

【In the sixth year of the Heavenly Emperor, seven True Immortal auras successively shot up into the sky, their immortal power deliberately sweeping over the capital, causing mortals to panic!】

【Without even a moment's pause, the seven True Immortals joined forces and arrived at the capital, standing in the void, their gazes cold and stern as they looked down upon the imperial palace……】

【Burn down the Heavenly Court, slay the false emperor—this very morning!】

【……】

(End of chapter)