Chapter 78: Paying Homage to the Heavenly Emperor

Nanlu was no longer the little human who had just been taken from his tribe, no longer the child who would be awed by places like the Azure Python Cliff. He couldn’t claim to be worldly, but he had visited several of the most powerful sites under heaven. Yet upon reaching the summit of Buzhou Mountain and beholding the palace destined to rule all beings, he was still deeply shaken.

Its magnificence might not surpass the Phoenix Immortal Palace, but its aura was that of dominance over all creation. The Phoenix Immortal Palace soared with pride, but Phoenix Mountain was inherently weaker by far; how could it compare to this Heavenly Palace, fused with the grandeur of Buzhou Mountain itself?

Looking up, Nanlu found the sun so close it seemed he could touch it with a leap. The dazzling sunlight shone upon the plaque above the foremost palace gate, upon which the words "Heavenly Court" radiated countless beams of light into the void.

There wasn’t a single guard to be seen, vast and empty. Nanlu paid this no mind; he was accompanying Fuxi, and everything was left to Fuxi. He merely followed in his footsteps.

Nanlu himself didn’t even know why he had followed Fuxi here. He wished to serve his people, but nothing was required of him, and here in the Heavenly Court, what could he accomplish with his abilities?

Fuxi, however, seemed quite pleased after meeting Nanlu at the mountain's foot. Along the way, he discussed many matters about the human race, telling of people Nanlu had never heard of, while Nanlu listened quietly.

He had even asked Fuxi about a transparent insect he’d seen, describing its appearance. Nanlu had only asked casually, but Fuxi explained its origins with perfect clarity. Nanlu was amazed; though he knew Fuxi was adept at divination, he hadn't expected him to deduce the insect’s nature from a mere description. He recalled the enigmatic woman he’d met in the endless twists and turns of Wujie Mountain. At the time, he’d thought her overly cautious, but now he truly understood the marvels of divination.

The woman, who called herself Northern Spirit, had said she would accompany Nanlu to Buzhou Mountain, but vanished upon arrival at its base. Nanlu was glad to see her go; he always kept his guard up around her volatile presence, and now, knowing her origins, felt even more uneasy.

At last, someone came to lead them inside. To Nanlu’s surprise, their guide was none other than Eighteen, who had once been imprisoned with him and later met him again in the Immortal Palace, even drawing his sword in anger on Nanlu’s behalf.

Nanlu saw him, and Eighteen saw Nanlu as well. Nanlu, delighted, was about to ask why he was here, but Eighteen had already turned to speak with Fuxi, immediately discerning that Fuxi was the principal guest. His ability to read people was truly remarkable.

He led Nanlu and Fuxi into the second tier of the palace, to a grand hall. Looking up at the plaque, Nanlu saw it was the Hall of Stars. Throughout, Eighteen—whose true name was Zang Feng—never once looked back at Nanlu, let alone spoke.

At first, Nanlu was puzzled, but then he understood. Though he didn’t know why Zang Feng had come to the Heavenly Court, he must have feared making a mistake, hence his caution.

Fuxi stood quietly in the center of the hall, calm and composed. Nanlu surveyed the hall carefully; his first impression was that it was a place for council. At the front, there were two seats: one deep black, adorned with starlight, the other radiant gold, exuding a domineering aura. Nothing else adorned the space, save for the ceiling, which resembled a starry sky and drew Nanlu into its depths.

For a moment, Nanlu felt himself adrift in the vast cosmos, unbound by heaven or earth, with stars scattered near and far, dreamlike and ethereal. He did not know how much time had passed before he suddenly awoke, his mind still lingering on the mysterious, boundless stars. Before him stood two figures.

One, robed in dark yellow, stood with such oppressive presence that Nanlu felt suffocated. At a glance, Nanlu knew this was the one who suppressed all beings with the sound of a bell, for his aura was identical—grand and domineering.

The other, clad in a black robe trailing the floor, stood beside him yet showed no hint of weakness, instead emanating a mysterious allure. When Nanlu looked into his eyes, he felt as if he were gazing at the starlight of the night sky: enigmatic, elusive, seemingly nonexistent, yet as if he had been seen through completely.

“Fuxi of the human race greets the Heavenly Emperor,” Fuxi said with a slight bow, his voice clear and neither servile nor arrogant.

The one he bowed to was the black-robed man Nanlu had noticed. Nanlu did not know how Fuxi identified him as the Heavenly Emperor, but after a brief moment of doubt, he laughed at himself inwardly. If he did not know, surely others would; he trusted Fuxi from the depths of his heart and followed suit with a bow.

After speaking, Fuxi stood silently, eyes half open, calm and poised.

Taiyi merely stood there watching. In front of outsiders, unless action was required, he never vied for attention.

Di Jun, however, wore a faint smile as he gazed at Fuxi. After a while, he suddenly said, “Do you know my origins?”

Nanlu was astonished. He had not expected the ruler of all living things to ask such a question. He now understood that many disliked having their origins divined.

Fuxi smiled slightly—his smile remarkably similar to Di Jun’s. He replied mildly, “I know a little.”

“Oh? Speak, let me hear it.” Di Jun folded his hands behind his back, his long black robe trailing on the ground.

“Born of chaos, awakened with heaven and earth, cultivated in the sun star, emerged when the Phoenix died and the Dragon King fell, and established the Heavenly Court,” Fuxi declared, showing not a trace of fear. Nanlu understood immediately that he was recounting Di Jun’s journey from birth to the present.

“You have left out the most crucial point—my original form,” Di Jun said with a smile.

“I cannot divine it.”

“You could, but you dare not speak.”

Fuxi fell silent. Nanlu wondered whether Fuxi could truly divine it, recalling that Fuxi had never mentioned the original forms of these two when introducing them. Perhaps he had foreseen this very scene and thus withheld the information.

Di Jun laughed. “I was born of chaos, shaped with heaven and earth, forged my body in the sun star. I am the first three-legged Golden Crow in the world, capable of devouring dragons and consuming phoenixes. What is there to hide?”

Nanlu listened, his heart filled with awe, especially at the words “capable of devouring dragons and consuming phoenixes.” Such arrogance and dominance! Not long ago, the Azure Dragon and Phoenix were the supreme beings of heaven and earth. Nanlu did not know them well, but he had spent enough time in the Phoenix Palace to sense its unmatched majesty.

With Di Jun, however, his words carried a breeze of ease and the shimmer of starlight, as if it were all perfectly natural.

Fuxi simply smiled and said nothing.

Di Jun looked at Fuxi, then turned away and said unhurriedly, “I hear you gained insight into the Eightfold Divination by observing the shell of the mysterious turtle. That is exceptional talent. I wish to take you as my disciple. Will you accept?”

Nanlu was shocked. He could not tell if Di Jun was joking or serious, nor could he see his expression. He worried for Fuxi.

Fuxi answered without hesitation, “Thank you for your kindness, Heavenly Emperor, but I cannot become your disciple.” His voice was as steady as before, neither joyful nor sorrowful.

“Oh? Why not?”

“My people need me.”

“You can care for your people as my disciple, and the Heavenly Court can assist you.”

Fuxi was silent. Standing beside him, Nanlu saw his eyes narrow and his expression stiffen.

Nanlu grew anxious, thinking, “Just accept. What’s the harm?” He was about to speak when Di Jun’s calm voice came again: “You refuse to be my disciple because you doubt the Heavenly Court’s endurance, fearing your people will suffer disaster when it falls?”

“Fuxi’s power is meager; I cannot divine the fate of the Heavenly Court.”

“Haha, then give me a reason today, or else I will exterminate your entire race.”

His voice was light as air, showing no force, yet it chilled Nanlu to the bone.