Using a paper puppet disguised as an old immortal, Li Changshou deliberately modified the image of the Great White Star, adding some flowing whiskers.

This way, when he didn’t want to speak, he could use the gesture of stroking his beard to add some body language.

Leaving the Great White Palace’s main gate, figures bowing their heads in greeting were everywhere.

Li Changshou summoned the celestial general guarding the palace and said gently:

“Go to the Jasper Pool and find Princess Long Ji. Have her bring people to make preparations at the South Heaven Gate.”

Although Long Ji was his disciple, when not speaking directly to her, Li Changshou would add the title ‘Princess’ when referring to Long Ji to others.

For the upcoming heaven-worshiping ceremony establishing the Shang nation, Heaven naturally needed to display some celestial phenomena and auspicious signs, and this was a good opportunity to let Long Ji practice.

Speaking of the Shang nation, Li Changshou instinctively thought of the Investiture of the Gods Catastrophe.

But the Investiture Catastrophe merely borrowed the chaos at the end of Shang, returning the karmic consequences of the catastrophe that originated from the human race back to humanity.

The true significance of establishing Shang lay in constructing a system separating immortals from mortals.

This was the foundation of Li Changshou’s proof of the Dao of Balance and could be considered a form of indirect cultivation.

Although in recent years, Li Changshou hadn’t spent too much energy on this matter, only making arrangements at the beginning;

But under the Heavenly Dao’s subtle promotion and Big Sister Kong Xuan’s protection, the Shang tribe had completed several transformations, satisfying the requirements for a ‘mortal foundation’ in the Three Realms system Li Changshou had designed.

Immortals and ghosts, demons and spirits.

Mortals received Heaven’s protection, immortals and gods acted according to Heaven’s will, demons and monsters didn’t disturb the mortal realm, and the Six Paths of Reincarnation maintained order.

This was the order of the Three Realms that Li Changshou personally promoted.

Li Changshou had several deeper meanings in doing this, though in his view he had nothing noble about him.

It was nothing more than for his cultivation.

Thinking of Divine Pangu’s mindset in willingly falling after creating Heaven and Earth, and the Ancestral Master’s courage in merging with the Dao to protect the Primordial Chaos and stop Senior Brother Lang, what he was doing was…

Insignificant, not worth mentioning.

Mm, he should think like this later, don’t mention Senior Brother Lang unnecessarily in his heart, and keep quotes praising Ancestral Master Dao constantly in mind, perhaps his merit golden body could still be salvaged.

Along the way, people asked after his well-being, and as he approached the Crystal Palace, he ‘happened’ to meet East Lord Wood who showed a worried expression and seemed preoccupied.

Li Changshou understood and actively stopped, waiting for Lord Wood to approach before smiling and saying: “What’s troubling Lord Wood? Why such a furrowed brow?”

East Lord Wood forced an ugly smile and sighed softly.

“Changgeng is the Western Teaching…”

Li Changshou silently gave a thumbs up in his heart.

As expected of an old minister of Heaven, not relaxing vigilance for nearly a hundred years—truly a model for us all.

“Lord Wood need not worry so,” Li Changshou said seriously, “You only need to stay by His Majesty’s side, what danger could there be?”

“Ah,” Lord Wood transmitted, “Just thinking of the Saints’ might makes me shudder.”

Li Changshou asked: “Has Western Teaching shown any movement recently?”

“Everything matches what Changgeng said before,” East Lord Wood said, “The Western Teaching has begun suppressing the Immortal Alliance and spreading rumors about Heaven throughout the Middle God Continent…

Only my part hasn’t come true yet.”

Li Changshou pondered inwardly, feeling he might have overestimated Lord Wood’s Dao heart.

Going on like this, if any demonic obstacles appeared, it would be rather counterproductive.

“Lord Wood,” Li Changshou said, “Let’s first enter the Crystal Palace, we shouldn’t keep His Majesty waiting. Lord Wood, please wait a few days, I’ll visit your mansion later and we can drink and talk.”

Lord Wood’s smile finally became naturally gentle. He and Li Changshou exchanged Daoist salutes, then simultaneously extended their left and right hands in invitation, entering the Crystal Palace together.

Thus it was:

Heaven’s prosperity at this time,

Lord Wood and Great White in harmony.

Let us leave aside Li Changshou entering the Crystal Palace to report to the Jade Emperor about the Shang nation’s establishment in South Jambudvipa today.

Instead, let us speak of the Jasper Pool, where the celestial general from the Great White Palace hurriedly came to report, and an immortal lady was sent to inform the celestial chamber where Long Ji lived and cultivated.

Long Ji had been lost in thought by the window facing the mirror-like water surface. She quickly walked to her dressing table, checked her makeup that had been prepared days in advance, and touched up her lips with the essence of sunset glow.

Her residence was one of the most elegant places in the Jasper Pool, with thirty-six mirror-like treasure pools behind her celestial chamber, not far from where Queen Mother resided.

Long Ji’s earlier trance wasn’t because she was thinking of anything in particular, just spacing out when she had nothing to do.

Shortly after, Long Ji emerged wearing a grey-white golden-threaded wide-sleeved long dress, the wide sleeves forming an auspicious crane pattern when closed. The grey-white dress concealed golden phoenix patterns and was itself a protective spiritual treasure.

Since Master had told her to dress well today, she had carefully adorned herself—hair bound in cloud-like buns emphasizing her slender neck, with light red pendants hanging from her earlobes like finishing touches, making her figure and appearance instantly captivating.

Flying forward on clouds for just a few li, two teams of immortal ladies arranged by the Queen Mother came forward carrying flower baskets, bowing to Long Ji in greeting and following behind her as they headed toward the South Heaven Gate.

This was today’s Heaven ‘award presentation’ team.

When Long Ji and several dozen immortal ladies reached the South Heaven Gate, she immediately saw her master and eagerly quickened her cloud speed.

But then Long Ji saw today’s commanding general, and instantly straightened her chest and raised her head, creating nearly perfect body curves, her expression serious, eyebrows clear, breathing even, her whole being tagged as ‘dignified’.

That general was naturally Quandong.

Behind Quandong and Li Changshou stood two figures. On the left was the Heavenly River Navy Vice Commander and Second Guard Commander of the Great White Palace, Ao Yi.

On the right was Heaven’s most unrestrained fellow, the Vice Commander who was on the edge of being dismissed from the Heavenly River Navy, Bian Zhuang, who would have to go home and inherit the family’s ‘chain business’ if he couldn’t do his heavenly duties well.

After passing his Golden Immortal tribulation, Ao Yi became increasingly magnificent. Even in human form, he had grown two inches taller, but his face remained that of a handsome youth. Now wearing armor and holding a sword, he was truly impressive.

Bian Zhuang currently stood there obediently with lowered eyes, not daring to breathe heavily, afraid of being suddenly called out by the Star-Lord.

Thinking about ‘Livestream’ effects every day instead of cultivation, his cultivation speed over these years could only be considered above average among Heaven’s generals. With Ao Yi as comparison in front and Golden Peng’s pressure behind, Bian Zhuang was extremely timid at this moment.

—This refers to being conscience-stricken.

Golden Peng had gone to reinforce the struggling Immortal Alliance, and Li Changshou hadn’t called him back this time.

Long Ji arrived on her cloud and gracefully bowed forward, asking in her skylark-like voice: “Long Ji pays respects to Master, and greets Marshal Quan.”

Quandong nodded with a smile, and Li Changshou said gently: “You’ll be troubled today. Follow behind Marshal Quan, and later when the Shang nation performs their heaven-worshiping ceremony, then scatter Heaven’s blessings.”

“Yes.”

Long Ji and the immortal ladies behind her answered in unison, following behind Li Changshou and Quandong, with large numbers of celestial soldiers and officers protecting their flanks as they flew out of the South Heaven Gate in an impressive procession.

The divine consciousness of more than ten paper puppets swept across, projecting half of South Jambudvipa into Li Changshou’s mind.

Nowadays, the Sea God Religion’s effect is increasingly minimal, the income of worship merit slowing down, seemingly ‘throttled’ by the Heavenly Dao, clearly intending to continue restricting his merit golden body.

Li Changshou also intended to find an opportunity to hand the Sea God Religion over to the Dragon Clan;

Best to wait until a dragon commits an offense, after Heaven punishes them, then give the Dragon Clan benefits by transferring the Sea God Religion to them, to change their fortune.

Give a beating with an iron rod and offer a sour date—a common way of torment.

South Jambudvipa was too vast, so vast that none of the previous Human Emperors of the human race had truly ‘unified the world’.

Today’s Shang nation was the same.

They rose from eastern South Jambudvipa, and after two hundred years of westward expansion, absorption, and conquest, they occupied the prosperous central region of South Jambudvipa, yet their territory only covered a quarter of South Jambudvipa.

Under their rule were countless beings, mortals as numerous as smoke and clouds, with innumerable cities and armies.

Today as the Shang tribe established the Shang nation, hundreds of surrounding nations sent envoys bearing tribute, collectively respecting the World Sovereign, the new generation’s Human Emperor.

From the mortals’ perspective, the Shang nation was unstoppable, able to destroy any city or nation at will, with only distance limiting their military campaigns.

In ordinary cultivators’ eyes, the Shang nation had gathered the momentum of a Human Emperor, supported by Heaven behind the scenes, considered Heaven’s ‘worship divine nation’.

Only those great powers and great divine beings who could truly comprehend the grand trends of Heaven and Earth knew the extraordinary significance of this Shang nation, and how the Human Emperor’s fortune was influencing the operation of the Heavenly Dao.

However, the Shang nation wasn’t purely ‘beneficial’.

First was the Shang nation’s system.

Shang’s predecessor was a small nation in East Victory Divine Continent. Only through Li Changshou’s arrangements and the Heavenly Dao’s protection did they reach today’s position, but their system still retained the structure of monarch, nobility, and slaves.

The Shang nation’s efforts largely came from war prisoners, and the mortals within their borders were divided into upper, middle, and lower classes based on birth, with slaves below even these ranks.

Compared to the many ‘systemically advanced’ cities of South Jambudvipa that had developed and evolved independently since ancient times, the Shang tribe’s path of conquest was large ‘barbarism conquering civilization’.

But it was precisely this strict hierarchical system, combined with the single path of advancement—military service—that maintained the Shang nation’s army’s strong combat effectiveness, allowing them to quickly advance into South Jambudvipa’s central region.

Under the Heavenly Dao’s behind-the-scenes promotion, today’s transformation from Shang tribe to Shang nation would also bring a series of reforms adapting to their current territory.

Of course, the Shang nation also had aspects that were more ‘enlightened’ compared to other nations and tribes.

The Shang nation revered ancestors and worshiped Heaven and Earth, not specific deities;

Within the Shang nation, there was no concept of male superiority over females—women could join military affairs and lead armies in battle. Though officials were mostly men, the priests, and diviners who held high influence in the Shang nation were all pure-bodied women.

Moreover, among Shang’s nobility, many households had women as ‘family heads’.

This stemmed from the Shang tribe’s worship of an ancestor.

Yes, it was You Qin Xuan Ya who had saved ‘Qi’ and his mother back then.

The monarch, divine authority, and nobility formed a system of checks and balances, ensuring internal clarity in the Shang nation and the ability to govern such vast territories.

Li Changshou observed all this but didn’t want to express any opinions.

Criticizing the Shang nation’s slave-nobility system in the Primordial Chaos… wouldn’t that be a bit excessive?

All things needed gradual development, with the Heavenly Dao arranging and advancing everything behind the scenes. He only needed to do appropriate things at appropriate points.

Right on schedule, the Heaven contingent had arrived above the magnificent Shang capital, remaining invisible.

The Shang capital had built a square high platform at its center, rising over several hundred zhang in a terraced pattern, each level filled with Shang nobles and generals. The four broad streets of the city and the rooftops around the platform were packed with kneeling mortal figures.

Outside the city in the fields, large numbers of slaves temporarily driven from the city were also obediently squatting in various places under military supervision, waiting for the ceremony in the city to end.

The Shang nation’s Dark Bird flags flew everywhere inside and outside the city, with countless mortals maintaining silence.

The Jade Emperor’s avatar Quandong transmitted to Li Changshou with feeling:

“Changgeng, mortals are largely ignorant, the path of education is long and arduous.”

Li Changshou transmitted back: “Your Majesty should proceed gradually. With Heaven established in the Primordial Chaos, as long as Your Majesty doesn’t lose the original intention of seeking welfare for all beings, humanity will naturally be at peace.”

“You’re even taking the opportunity to lecture me.”

Quandong shook his head with a smile, and Li Changshou hurriedly transmitted an explanation that he had no such intention.

To the west, at the highest point of the platform, priestesses wearing some ghost and monster masks completed an entire set of ceremonial dances. At the platform’s north, the Shang monarch wearing a black formal robe and holding a scepter ascended the steps.

Tang.

Li Changshou transmitted: “Your Majesty, this minor deity will act now.”

Quandong immediately nodded with a smile.

Then, Li Changshou waved his dust whisk, and a golden light flew down from the clear high sky, landing on Tang Tianyi’s head, illuminating the entire platform.

Tianyi’s lips revealed a slight smile as he continued climbing the steps steadily, his expression becoming more majestic.

Li Changshou frequently acted from the clouds, and the prepared celestial phenomena appeared one after another.

Thunder appeared in the four directions of Heaven and Earth, and the shadowy figures of the Five Directional Gods appeared.

When Tianyi reached the highest point of the ceremonial platform, he raised the scepter high with both hands and bowed forward.

Kong Xuan stood on the city wall wearing a light white dress embroidered with seven-colored divine birds. Her fair hand pointed forward, and the ethereal image of a divine phoenix appeared in the sky, circling the great city three times before soaring into the high heavens.

Brilliant lights filled the sky, streams of immortal light fell from the clouds, thirty-six immortal ladies circled and danced, and Long Ji stepped on auspicious clouds to slowly descend, bestowing a Human Emperor’s seal cast by Heaven.

Countless mortals inside and outside the city instantly gasped in amazement…

In Heaven, the Crystal Palace continuously trembled, and golden light flashed ceaselessly in the Nine Layers of Heaven;

Auspicious clouds spread throughout the Five Continents, sheets of golden light scattered everywhere, and all beings were silent.

In the Middle God Continent, Fire Cloud Cave displayed purple-tinged red surging fortune, and the foundation of human fortune became more stable from this point.

From this moment, the mortal Human Emperor of South Jambudvipa received his mandate from Heaven, mortals were fully incorporated into the Heavenly Dao system, South Jambudvipa received the protection of Heaven’s power, mortals needed to respect Heaven, and Heaven’s worship would prosper from here on.

In this matter, Li Changshou did much, but most of it was going with the flow, following the Heavenly Dao’s script to gain some merit for himself.

The major trends wouldn’t change, but small things could be altered.

Li Changshou had done several small things that influenced the Shang nation’s current situation.

Due to You Qin Xuan Ya’s influence, women’s status in the Shang nation was now equal to men’s—that counted as one thing.

Abolishing human sacrifice and having the Shang tribe use livestock for sacrifices from early on—counted as another.

Nothing more than small matters requiring minimal effort.

…

“Sigh.”

“Sigh.”

Outside the Shang capital, on top of a small mountain, two figures hiding in a formation concealing their forms gazed at the gorgeous lights and shadows of the mortal city.

Wine Nine wore short clothes and a short skirt, sitting on a stool with her chin propped in her hands, staring blankly into space.

He came, right? He should be in those clouds, right?

Beside her, the Seven Emotions girl wore a dress with gradients of seven colors, imitating Wine Nine’s posture with chin propped up, letting out a sigh.

“Copying me again,” Wine Nine’s lips twisted, “Who are you being now?”

“Little Love!”

The Seven Emotions girl answered with a grin, “Little Sorrow isn’t supposed to come out until next shichen, don’t be impatient.”

“What am I impatient about,” Wine Nine muttered.

“Impatient to pour out your troubles.”

“Pah!”

Wine Nine rolled her eyes, “This immortal lady is very happy, what troubles would I have? But… sigh, Master White said there might be a chance to see him appear today, but I still couldn’t see him.”

The Seven Emotions girl’s fingers gently tapped her cheek as she puzzled: “Aren’t you two close? Why not just go find him directly?”

“He’s been in seclusion before, where was the opportunity.”

Wine Nine snorted: “When this immortal lady makes her move, it’s nothing but success! What Privileged God of Heaven, all easily handled!”

The girl pondered for a moment, nodding quite approvingly: “Makes sense, after all, you have Junior Aunt’s domineering boost.”

“That’s right!” Wine Nine waved her small hand, then became somewhat lost in thought.

“Hey, hey, can we do that one again?”

Wine Nine blinked: “Which one?”

The Seven Emotions girl immediately put on a fierce expression: “All who snatch disciples from this Junior Aunt are! Wuu! Wuwu!”

Wine Nine’s pretty face turned red as she raised her hand to cover the girl’s mouth, exasperated and grinding her teeth as they scuffled within the formation.

Perhaps because Seven Emotions’ incarnation of ‘Love’ accidentally leaked some Dao charm, the longing in Wine Nine’s heart was stirred, and she quickly became dejected, her Dao heart somewhat unsteady.

Seemingly sensing that a relatively large crack had appeared in Wine Nine’s Dao heart, a faint shadow swiftly glided across the ground, silently floating to the mountaintop, diving toward Wine Nine’s shadow.

At this moment, Li Changshou sitting in the high sky slightly furrowed his brows and looked toward this mountaintop, divine light flashing in his eyes. The formation couldn’t hinder him at all as his gaze fell directly on that shadow.

He naturally knew Wine Nine was here and had planned to greet Junior Aunt Nine after finishing the current business.

He was also puzzled about how Wine Nine could establish such a deep friendship with Seven Emotions’ reincarnated form.

But those were matters for later.

That shadow seemed to be a heart demon’s shadow, quite similar to the situation when You Qin Xuan Ya encountered a heart demon at Crossing Immortal Gate long ago.

Li Changshou waved his dust whisk, about to send out a golden light to invoke Heaven’s punishment power to shatter this heart demon;

However, before Li Changshou could act, the girl beside Wine Nine let out a light “Oh?”, clapped and pulled her small hand, instantly dragging out a black shadow from behind Wine Nine.

“What’s this?”

Seven Emotions’ reincarnated form showed some curiosity, her wonderful eyes becoming prismatic.