Chapter Thirty-Two: The Divine Clan and the Demon Clan

The first great war between the Heavenly Court and the Wu Tribe ended in a blaze of glory.

Li Tian returned to the Heavenly Court and, once again, found himself idle, spending most of his days roaming with Nuwa and occasionally handling affairs as they arose.

As time passed, more and more powerful beings arrived at the Heavenly Court, each invited to attend the grand ceremony honoring Heaven. Now, throughout the vast wilderness, only the Heavenly Court and the Wu Tribe stood dominant. With Li Tian as the first disciple of the Sage, none of these mighty figures would dare slight the Heavenly Court.

As the date of the ceremony drew near, even the Wu Tribe sent a representative. The one who came was Houtu. Originally, with the pride of the Twelve Ancestor Witches, it was impossible for any of them to attend such a ceremony, especially since the Heavenly Court stood as their rival. Yet Houtu volunteered herself, and after much deliberation, Dijang finally agreed.

Time flowed swiftly. At last, under the gaze of countless beings, the grand ceremony that had been prepared for a thousand years was about to begin. All living creatures under the Heavenly Court rejoiced.

The ceremony was held in the plaza before the Palace of Mirages. The plaza, spanning a thousand miles, could easily accommodate tens of millions. Yet, today, only several million had come to witness the event.

Not just anyone could attend the ceremony; only the great powers of the world, their retinues and disciples, and the Heavenly Court’s denizens of Golden Immortal rank or higher were permitted.

Fuxi had originally suggested holding the ceremony atop Buzhou Mountain, gathering all immortals of the Heavenly Court, but Li Tian had long since made his own arrangements.

With the spread of cultivation methods, the Heavenly Court was now in a period of rapid expansion. Still, beings of Golden Immortal rank remained rare—barely numbering over a million. But as time went on, this number would surely grow.

As the appointed hour arrived, Li Tian donned a cloud-patterned imperial robe and, before the eyes of millions, ascended the altar constructed in advance. Several dozen maidens with graceful features followed behind, holding the long train of his robe.

Fuxi had stood upon the altar early, solemn in demeanor. When Li Tian appeared, Fuxi presented the prepared ceremonial text, holding it before Li Tian with both hands. Li Tian took it, and Fuxi stepped aside.

Li Tian scanned the text, then began to recite: “On this day, in the five million, one hundred sixteen thousand, eight hundred ninety-third year since the opening of the wilderness, beneath the heavens, I, the Supreme Sumeru Celestial Emperor, witness that since the world’s creation, all things have lacked order, chaos reigns... Now, I, the Supreme Sumeru Celestial Emperor, seek to establish the Heavenly Court, vowing to govern all beings for eternity, and entreat Heaven to grant its approval.”

The ceremonial text, numbering over a thousand words, was crafted by Fuxi. Li Tian himself could never have written something so eloquent. After reciting the final word, he laid the text aside and bowed to Heaven and Earth.

All those present, including the Three Pure Ones and Houtu, followed suit. Before the Heavenly Dao, even Hongjun would bow.

When the rites concluded, everyone sensed a vast consciousness descending from the void. Then, a massive golden orb of light fell from the heavens—far greater than the merit bestowed when Li Tian created written characters.

This merit split into several parts: seventy percent entered Li Tian, ten percent into Fuxi, five percent into Nuwa, and the remaining fifteen percent divided among the key figures of the Heavenly Court.

Fuxi, without hesitation, used the merit to enhance his cultivation. After a surge of spiritual energy, his realm advanced smoothly to the peak of Great Luo Golden Immortal.

Seeing this, Nuwa likewise converted her merit, breaking through to the late stage of Great Luo Golden Immortal.

The guests watched this unfold, stunned. So much merit?

Merit was known to all in the wilderness; everyone understood its value, and none would ever think themselves too meritorious.

Yet merit was notoriously difficult to obtain. Now Li Tian, doing nothing but reciting a ceremonial text, gained more merit in a single moment than most could hope to achieve in millennia of heroic deeds!

Countless eyes burned with envy; many among them had spent tens of thousands of years accumulating merit, yet what Li Tian gained was not even a millionth of what they possessed.

“Remarkable.”

Delighted by his bounty, Li Tian found himself with enough merit to advance to the peak of Quasi-Sage. However, further progress was impossible, so he had no intention of raising his cultivation.

Heaven’s descent of merit signaled its recognition of the Heavenly Court. Now, the conferral of divine titles could proceed openly.

“In the name of the Celestial Emperor, I hereby bestow upon Fuxi the title of Emperor Xi, and upon Nuwa the title of Empress Wa,” Li Tian declared, glancing at them.

“Thank you, Celestial Emperor!” Nuwa and Fuxi stepped forward, bowing formally. In this solemn setting, Nuwa’s etiquette was impeccable.

Li Tian nodded slightly, then turned to the assembly below and continued:

“I bestow upon Bai Ze the title of Lord Ze;
I bestow upon Ying Zhao the title of Lord Zhao;
I bestow upon Ji Meng the title of Lord Meng;
I bestow upon Ci Tie the title of Lord Tie;
I bestow upon Jiu Ying the title of Lord Ying;
I bestow upon Fei Dan the title of Lord Dan;
I bestow upon Fei Lian the title of Lord Lian;
I bestow upon Gui Che the title of Lord Che;
I bestow upon Qin Yuan the title of Lord Yuan;
I bestow upon Shang Yang the title of Lord Shang Yang.”

Ten lords in all, each originally one of the ten great demon saints in the ancient history of the wilderness. All were at the peak of Taiyi Golden Immortal, possessing formidable powers and unique talents, leaving no room for dissent.

“Thank you, Celestial Emperor!” The ten immediately bowed.

Li Tian nodded and continued. He went on to bestow two emperors, ten lords, thirty-six nobles, seventy-two marquises, one hundred and eight star guardians, and three hundred and sixty-five star envoys—all key figures of the Heavenly Court, each with their own divine powers and gifts.

“For now, these are the titles bestowed. Should others render great service to the Heavenly Court in the future, further honors shall be awarded!”

“Celestial Emperor is wise!” Those who had not received any rank were greatly encouraged, each secretly plotting to achieve merit and earn a title or a marquisate.

Li Tian watched the reactions, satisfied, and announced a decision he had long pondered: “From this day forth, all races under the Heavenly Court shall be divided into two: those who assume the form of innate Dao bodies shall be the Divine Race; the rest shall be the Demon Race!”

Such a division might weaken the sense of belonging among the lower ranks, but it was necessary. For once the separation was made, in time, ‘Divine’ and ‘Demon’ would become two entirely distinct groups. With a little guidance, the Divine Race would instinctively look down upon the Demon Race and care nothing for their fate.

Thus, the roots of the war between witches and demons would be severed.

Even when the Human Race arose and fought the Demon Race to the death, the Divine Race above might simply ignore them, and the Heavenly Court would not decline... As for the fate of the lowly demons?

Li Tian cared nothing for them, nor would he intervene.

He had long conceived this plan, weighing it for ages before finally deciding.

He feared no opposition.

For demons who failed to achieve true form were, in a sense, ‘defective goods.’ Cultivating to Celestial Immortal was already a near-impossible feat; to reach Golden Immortal, almost unimaginable!

By his deliberate arrangement, all those attending the ceremony were of Golden Immortal rank or higher, and all possessed innate Dao bodies.

Naturally, none would object; after all, everyone is selfish at heart.

If one were to divide people into classes, many would instinctively oppose it—but if you and your kind were placed at the highest tier, would you refuse?