Chapter 408: Di Jun: I

Taiyi paused in thought, then made a request to Xuanqing.

“If possible, when you retrieve the true soul of Donghua Emperor, could you please prioritize his identity as the [Eastern Azure Great Emperor] to bring him back?”

He knew well that Donghua Emperor had once ruled the Immortal Court and commanded ten thousand immortals—his pride was unimaginable.

But the [Eastern Azure Great Emperor] was different.

This was Donghua Emperor’s former alias in the Zhou Tian starry heavens.

Retrieving this identity would indirectly recover Donghua, while also giving him a face-saving exit.

If the [Eastern Azure Great Emperor], a fellow Zhou Tian star deity, was rescued by the Taiwei Heavenly Emperor and resumed his path, what does that have to do with my former Immortal Emperor?

This sounds far better than saying, “The former Immortal Emperor Donghua, dead and reborn, willingly serves under the new Heavenly Emperor.”

Yet, to Taiyi’s surprise, Xuanqing slowly shook his head after hearing the request.

“The plan to indirectly recover Donghua Emperor’s true soul through the [Eastern Azure Great Emperor] identity is unworkable.”

“Oh? Why is that?” Taiyi asked, startled, curiosity rising.

“Is there some hidden complication?”

This was the first time he’d heard of a being Xuanqing couldn’t retrieve.

Not only Taiyi was astonished—even other Taiwei deities present, such as Qishen, Yuan Huang, Wangshu, and Zhenyuanzi, turned to look at Xuanqing with puzzled expressions.

In their minds, [Dark Radiance Jidu Supreme Lord] Xuanqing was unquestionably the “First of Honghuang” in the field of “retrieval.”

And now he was saying “can’t retrieve”?

Meeting their probing, bewildered gazes, Xuanqing smiled faintly and said calmly:

“The reason is simple: the [Eastern Azure Great Emperor] identity and its office no longer belong to Donghua Emperor.”

“Therefore, attempting to recover Donghua Emperor’s true soul through this already-occupied channel is essentially an impossible task.”

“Huh?!!”

“Huh?”

At these words, not only Taiyi froze, but all other Taiwei deities turned to stare.

Who the hell would do something so vile?

Steal a dead man’s alias?

Only Taishang and Minghe knew the truth.

They both instantly thought of one name—Taiyi Zhenren.

Who else could pull off such a vile act—“strike while you’re down, seize your life, and steal all your legacy”—and do it so openly, so confidently, so that the victim couldn’t even protest?

Aside from their own Chan Sect members, who else?

After Taiyi Zhenren attained Luo Jinxian, he naturally absorbed one of Yuan Shi’s Nine Qi—the [Eastern Azure Great Emperor] office.

This not only laid a solid foundation for his future attainment of Yuan Shi, but also formally granted him Donghua’s great Dao inheritance.

Upon hearing this, the Taiwei deities calculated with their fingers, and the previously hidden heavenly fate became clear.

Everyone clearly saw that the [Eastern Azure Great Emperor] office had indeed been inherited.

“Given this, we must choose another plan,” Taiyi said with regret.

Nearby, [Flaming Supreme Lord] Yuan Huang said: “Donghua Emperor seems to have cultivated multiple great Daos. Since the [Eastern Azure Great Emperor], representing the Wood Yi Dao, is already taken, we could try another path—say, the [Pure Yang Dao].”

“This is reasonable,” Xuanqing nodded, his expression approving. He said slowly: “To successfully and completely retrieve Donghua Emperor’s true soul from the endless river of time and the void of annihilation.”

“And to ensure that, upon returning, he abandons his former Immortal Emperor’s arrogance, willingly cooperates with the Heavenly Court, jointly advances the Divine Sect’s grand cause, and—most importantly—gives him a less embarrassing way to return.”

“We might consider slightly modifying his primordial root and Dao origin.”

Here, Xuanqing looked at Taiyi and ventured: “For instance, we could attempt a clever fusion and reshaping of the Heavenly Emperor’s [Solar Dao] origin with Donghua Emperor’s [Pure Yang Dao] origin.”

“Thus creating an entirely new Dao—unique, yet intermediate between the two: the [Lesser Yang Dao]!”

“The [Lesser Yang Dao]?” Taiyi’s brow twitched again, his eyes darkening in thought.

“Yes! The [Lesser Yang Dao]!”

At once, Taishang perked up, smiling warmly:

“Your Majesty, consider: the Sun is utmost Yang, the Moon utmost Yin. Lesser Yang is Yang within Yin—Yang’s first stirrings, brimming with vitality. It carries the Sun’s blazing radiance yet retains the Pure Yang’s firmness and rectitude. Its Dao rhythm and status are extraordinary!”

“Later, let this Donghua Emperor, returned as the [Lesser Yang Dao] master, cooperate with you, who wields the [Solar Dao], becoming a vital figure among the future Divine Clan’s ‘Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.’”

“This would be perfectly legitimate, demonstrate Your Majesty’s vast magnanimity, and greatly aid your grand plan of ‘Divine Clan Unification!’”

“Jingyao speaks truly!” came the cool voice of [Lunar Supreme Lord] Wangshu.

In her beautiful eyes flickered a faint, elusive smile.

Wangshu immediately proposed a highly constructive “technical solution.”

“Actually, creating the [Lesser Yang Dao] is not difficult.”

“I recall Your Majesty possesses a primordial Fusang Divine Tree?”

Wangshu said: “This tree is formed from the essence of the Sun, closest to the Solar Dao’s origin.”

“We can use the [Primordial Fusang Tree] as a guide, aided by Jingyao’s special pills and Jidu’s power to reverse life and death—three forces combined.”

“This will surely succeed in altering Donghua Emperor’s primordial root, enabling his return to Honghuang as the new [Lesser Yang Dao]!”

“This… isn’t this a bit inappropriate?” Taiyi’s face showed hesitation.

The plan sounded perfect at first glance.

But he instinctively sensed something off.

Using the primordial Fusang Divine Tree as a catalyst to help Donghua Emperor alter his root…

Why did it feel so strange?

“I’m suddenly his senior by default—how can I be sure Donghua Emperor will cooperate willingly after returning?”

“Don’t worry—I’ll handle it!”

Zhenyuanzi, the [Saturn Supreme Lord], who had been dozing off, suddenly snapped awake.

His eyes lit up; he raised his right hand enthusiastically: “Your Majesty! This task was made for me!”

Seeing all eyes fixed on him, Zhenyuanzi grinned confidently.

He patted his chest cheerfully: “I specialize in the [Earth-Wood Dao]! So mastering the ‘grafting flowers and replacing trees’ technique is perfectly reasonable, right?”

“Modifying a primordial deity’s root using a primordial spiritual root? That’s my specialty!”

[White Supreme Lord] Qishen asked curiously: “Friend, you sound so certain—do you have any verified cases?”

“Yes! I have cases!”

Hearing this, Zhenyuanzi’s smile widened, his tone brimming with unmistakable pride.

“I’ve transformed many primordial deities into primordial spiritual roots. Now, reversing it—changing [Pure Yang] to [Lesser Yang]? Child’s play!”

The deities fell silent.

That case you mentioned… isn’t it yourself?

“Excellent!”

[Jupiter Supreme Lord] Fuxi clapped his hands in approval: “This method not only gives Donghua Daoist a fresh start, but also cleverly resolves the awkwardness and distance his former Immortal Emperor status might bring.”

“It allows him to integrate into the future Divine Sect system with a more transcendent and proactive posture. Marvelous! Truly marvelous!”

After uttering these polite words, [Jupiter Supreme Lord] Fuxi turned to Zhenyuanzi: “Earth and Wood—earth gives rise to wood. Let me assist you, how about that?”

He wanted to see what the transformed [Lesser Yang Emperor] would look like.

“Perfect!” Zhenyuanzi beamed.

With Fuxi’s “leading support,” everyone now grew animated.

“Let me show you my [Earth-Wood Sacred Canon]!” [Saturn Supreme Lord] Zhenyuanzi pulled from his sleeve a scroll radiating thick yellow-gold light and boundless Wood vitality. “Your Majesty, behold—this is the *Comprehensive Manual on Primordial Spiritual Root Grafting and Deity Root Reconstruction* (also known as *The Essence of the Earth-Wood Sacred Canon*), compiled by me over countless Yuan Hui!”

“It details exclusive methods to use Earth Mother Qi and Primordial Wood Essence to ‘gene-optimize,’ ‘upgrade Dao bodies,’ and even ‘reshape roots’ for deities of all types!”

“I guarantee Donghua Daoist’s [Lesser Yang Dao Body] will be stronger, more perfect, and more potent than his former [Pure Yang Immortal Body]!”

[Flaming Supreme Lord] Yuan Huang smiled, adding: “Since it’s the [Lesser Yang Dao], fire essence is essential.”

“I shall summon the essence of Southern Heaven’s Nanming Li Fire, combined with the Sun’s true flame, to refine Donghua Daoist’s Dao body, burning away all past dust, karma, and karmic debts, so he may return in the purest, strongest form possible!”

[Taiwei Chancellor] Nüwa took out a crystal-clear jade vial and a treasure seal shimmering with five-colored aurora, speaking softly:

“The Three Light Divine Water can cleanse the true soul and stabilize the spirit; the Nine Heavens’ Muddy Soil can reshape the body and nurture life. Though humble, I hope these may contribute a little to Donghua Daoist’s return.”

[White Radiance Supreme Lord] Qishen and [Void Radiance Yuebi Supreme Lord] Minghe spoke in unison:

“We too offer our aid—to restore part of the primordial merit and fortune lost during his fall and dormancy, helping him recover his vigor and return to peak strength!”

[Lunar Supreme Lord] Wangshu added calmly: “If Donghua returns as [Lesser Yang], mirroring Your Majesty’s [Solar Dao],”

“And with my [Lunar Dao] mediating between them, perhaps they may form a perfect Sun-Moon union—beneficial indeed.”

Taiyi looked at his usual “pranksters” or “prank-planners” among the Taiwei deities—now all eagerly contributing their ultimate skills and rare treasures for the sake of retrieving Donghua Emperor.

Taiyi looked at the group of Taowei colleagues who normally spent their days either “pulling pranks” or “preparing to pull pranks,” yet now, all of them were enthusiastically contributing their signature skills and rare treasures for the sake of “recovering Donghua Emperor.”

[Are you all this enthusiastic because you have some hidden agenda?]

After much thought, Taiyi ultimately agreed to the plan.

In the end, the outcome was good.

So Taiyi bowed deeply to the Taiwei deities and declared solemnly: “Your noble righteousness moves me deeply! Then I entrust this matter to you all! Whatever resources or permissions you need—I grant them fully!”

Thus, Taiyi bowed deeply again before the assembled Taowei deities and declared loudly: “Your noble righteousness moves me to the core! If this is the case, I entrust this matter entirely to you all! Whatever resources or permissions are needed—fully supported!”

“Then let’s begin at once!”

After finalizing the plan, the Taiwei deities immediately moved into action.

“Jidu Daoist, you lead the retrieval of the true soul!”

"Count Du, you shall lead the matter of retrieving the true spirit!"

"Brother Jingyao, the rebellious divine pill—this is up to you!"

"Brother Zhenxing, the earth and wood engineering must be perfected to the utmost!"

"Brother Yinghuo, control of the fire must be entirely in your hands!"

"Sister Nüwa, the Three Lights’ Soil of Life"

Emperor Taiyi assigned tasks to everyone.

Then he returned to the Sun Star and borrowed a branch from the Fusang Tree.

The combined divine powers of the Taiwei deities could accomplish nearly anything.

After nine days and nine nights of relentless effort, they finally succeeded.

"Everyone pay attention! My Tenfold Soul-Returning Pill is about to be completed—stand back!"

Taishang roared loudly, and the gods retreated.

BOOM!!

The alchemical furnace opened, and golden light blazed forth.

A perfectly round pill flew out and merged into a form and spirit already fully shaped.

That form was tall and slender, its face beautiful, like a celestial being, bearing a resemblance to Taiyi’s appearance.

This was Fusang Dadi, who embodied the [Lesser Yang Dao].

"Come!"

Xiang Xuanqing gestured, sending a thread of true soul into Fusang Dadi’s body.

"Reverse Wind, Return Fire!"

Yuan Huang reversed and refined his primordial essence.

"Transplant Flowers, Graft Trees!"

Zhenyuanzi and Fuxi followed closely, each pressing a talisman onto Fusang Dadi’s forehead!

Whoooosh~~~

Waves of scorching wind surged instantly!

"Quick, primordial merit!" Xiang Xuanqing called out.

"Got it!"

Qianti and Minghe rejoiced inwardly; they joined forces and channeled merit through the Merit Dao to infuse Fusang Dadi.

Instantly, Fusang Dadi’s entire body shone with golden radiance.

"I am Fusang Dadi!"

BOOM BOOM~~

In the Taiwei Constellation, a heavenly tone resonated.

Taiyi saw this and was overjoyed.

He stepped forward warmly, arms outstretched, greeting:

"Brother, your return is cause for celebration!"

Fusang Dadi opened his eyes, gazing at Taiyi, his face also filled with joy.

He excitedly uttered two words.

"Father!"

CRACK~~

Taiyi’s smile froze; he stood there petrified.

"What did you call me?" Taiyi’s eyes widened, his lips trembling.

Shhh shhh shhh~~~

Before anyone could react, Fusang Dadi’s form suddenly spun, splitting into ten—transforming from a handsome youth into ten boys.

They surrounded Taiyi, chanting in unison:

"Father!"

"Y-you-you!" Taiyi stammered, his face flushing crimson.

His expression grew flustered; he immediately covered his face with his sleeve and fled in panic.

【Big Brother, I need to enter seclusion for a while—you’ll have to be Emperor again!】

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