This Human Immortal Is Too Serious-Chapter 352 - 350 Divine General Yi
Absolutely perfect.
Those were the two words that surfaced in Wu Wang’s mind—Absolutely perfect!
Zhong Cheng hadn’t deceived him; coming to the Heaven Palace had truly been the right move!
How long had it been since he arrived at the Heaven Palace? Wu Wang had only just arrived and hadn’t yet adapted to his confined activities. Yet, the Head Manager, with a flurry of maneuvers, had successfully arranged for Wu Wang to befriend the Young Master. Before the Heavenly Emperor, the atmosphere had been somewhat awkward. Wu Wang hadn’t known how to find a breakthrough, but the Head Manager immediately stepped forward and successfully became that breakthrough himself. Then, when arranging Wu Wang’s duties, the Head Manager painstakingly devised a brilliant idea, giving Wu Wang the chance for close contact with the Dao of Death.
Truly, just when Wu Wang thought the Head Manager had done more than enough, that this was surely his limit...
He delivered an ordinary Divine General named ’Da Yi’ right to him.
This Head Manager...
He always manages to come up with something new!
Wu Wang even wondered for a moment if this powerful Innate God connected to the Dao of Life, the Heaven Palace’s foremost auxiliary god, was the Human Domain’s true mole.
’Living beings, this is my final ripple!’
Wu Wang landed on the high platform. His hand, extended even before Da Yi announced his name, was already gripping the burly man’s arm, slowly pulling him up.
First, he needed to confirm if it was merely the same name.
A wisp of Divine Power, imbued with the esoteric principles of new life from withered wood, flowed into the burly man’s body. Wu Wang immediately frowned. The man had dozens of hidden injuries, and the meridians in his arms had withered. More strikingly, when Wu Wang’s Divine Power entered, it was repelled by a cluster of faint black Divine Light.
A Divine Curse?
"My Lord, you need not waste your Divine Power on me!" The burly man’s voice trembled as he explained softly, "I no longer have any value. I was just sitting by the roadside when I was inexplicably brought here."
Wu Wang smiled at him. "Meeting is destiny," he said gently. "Look at the position of my divine statue; you should realize I’m not faring too well in the Heaven Palace."
"Alas... My Lord..."
"It’s just a small injury," Wu Wang said, smiling confidently. "It can be healed slowly later. Do you still have family?"
"My family has already left me," Da Yi said, his voice calm as he gazed at his hand, which trembled from time to time. "I’ve lost everything I could lose."
Wu Wang asked with concern, "Did something happen?"
Da Yi’s eyes filled with sorrow. He lowered his head and remained silent.
"Let’s go." Wu Wang glanced around. Seeing how desolate the surroundings were, he reached out and took Da Yi’s wrist.
Regardless of whether this was the Divine General who shot the suns, he was, after all, of the same race and had become his first Divine General.
Da Yi asked, somewhat startled, "My Lord, where are we going?"
"To find a place to eat and drink! HAHAHAHA!"
Wu Wang laughed heartily, then looked up at the Young Master, a question in his eyes.
The Young Master retracted her Divine Light and suppressed her aura. Her face, veiled by a layer of mist, became indistinct as she leaped down lightly. Her boots, rarely touched by grime, landed on the ground, gathering a little dust, but she seemed unconcerned.
Wu Wang asked, "Are you accustomed to the clamor of living beings?"
"When I have no duties, I often use my Divine Power to condense incarnations and travel throughout the Nine Wildernesses." The Young Master tilted her head slightly, as if she had done something quite remarkable.
Wu Wang chuckled. "A truly dedicated Goddess of Living Beings."
A touch of honeyed sweetness quickly infused the Young Master’s smile.
Throughout, Da Yi remained bowed with his head lowered, not daring to look directly at Wu Wang or the Young Master. His posture was so natural it seemed to be the norm in this place.
Wu Wang called out to the Divine Guards who were keeping their distance, "Lead the way. Find a nearby place where I can drink and talk, and make sure no one disturbs me. I’m quite annoyed right now. If anyone without sense dares to show up and cause trouble, I don’t know what I might do."
The Divine Guard commander quickly agreed and turned to shout orders. The squad of Divine Guards split into two groups: one hurried towards the nearest bustling area, while the other converged around Wu Wang, protecting him closely.
Wu Wang rode a white cloud, advancing side-by-side with the Young Master. Da Yi followed two steps behind, maintaining his bowed posture.
The Emperor’s City operated on a strict hierarchical system. These Divine Guards were directly under the command of the Heaven Palace, their status above all other living beings in the Emperor’s City. In the Emperor’s City, being chosen as a Divine Guard meant one had ’made it.’
However, the strong among living beings had another path: becoming Divine Generals. They could be chosen by Divine Spirits based on their strength, pledge allegiance to a specific Divine Spirit, be infused with that Divine Spirit’s Divine Power, and thus possess formidable combat strength. They would then manage the Divine Spirit’s ’enterprises’ on the mortal plane, wielding considerable actual power and status, leading exceedingly comfortable lives. The Divine Generals of the powerful gods in the Heaven Palace formed the apex of the Emperor’s City’s pyramid.
"What exactly do Divine Generals do?" Wu Wang asked curiously.
The burly man, who had been following with his head bowed, was startled for a moment. He replied softly, "My Lord, Divine Generals are your envoys in the mortal realm, responsible for managing your affairs there."
"Oh," Wu Wang nodded in understanding. "So, watching over territory, seizing territory, and supervising followers as they pray to their god?"
Da Yi managed a slight smile. "My Lord, you’re correct. It’s mainly watching over territory and seizing territory."
"Gods can fight amongst themselves?" Wu Wang was slightly astonished.
"Mm," the Young Master began softly. Da Yi, who had been about to speak further, quickly lowered his head again.
The Young Master continued gently, "There are hundreds of Divine Spirits in the Heaven Palace; relations between them are certainly not peaceful. Most gods are usually asleep, but about twenty to thirty percent remain awake. Animosities exist between gods; however, in recent years, most have maintained a relative peace to suppress the Human Domain. Furthermore, the Emperor’s City influences the amount of Divine Power one can receive. The more followers one has here, the more Divine Power is generated, and consequently, the more Divine Power one is allocated in the Heaven Palace."
Wu Wang murmured, "So Divine Power is collected by the Heaven Palace and then redistributed?"
He was actually ’feigning ignorance’; the question just arose naturally from the context.
"Yes," the Young Master said. "The Divine Court and the Divine Pool exist for this very reason. Divine conflicts are heavily restricted. Unless the animosity and grievances are truly irreconcilable, initiating one is forbidden. Most conflicts manifest as wars between the respective Divine Generals and their followers; Innate Gods are not supposed to participate lightly. However, gods do occasionally intervene. Even if they win such a divine conflict, the Heaven Palace usually imposes a punishment."
"I understand." Wu Wang’s eyes gleamed.
The Young Master smiled. "Are you perhaps thinking of initiating a divine conflict? You currently have only one follower and one Divine General."
Wu Wang said, "I have quite a few adversaries in the Heaven Palace."
"That’s also true. They might indeed scheme against you secretly and bully your Divine General." The Young Master hummed thoughtfully for a moment but couldn’t devise a good solution.
Wu Wang asked, "Can’t I bring my Divine General to the Heaven Palace?"
The Young Master replied, "Not unless this Divine General holds an official post within the Divine Guard army and is constantly at the Heaven Palace’s beck and call. Otherwise, they are not permitted in the Heaven Palace."
Da Yi glanced at Wu Wang with some curiosity, then quickly lowered his head again, saying nothing.
Wu Wang suddenly felt curious and asked impulsively, "How many followers does a great god like you have now?"
"Not that many," the Young Master replied, her eyes crinkling in a smile as she lightly waved her hand. A series of continuous illusory images immediately materialized before Wu Wang.
It was the Young Master’s divine statue, visible even from a great distance here. Beneath it lay an exceedingly dense jungle. This jungle stretched as far as the eye could see. Each tree was comparable to the tall buildings of other regions, its boughs like corridors, its branches like streets. These boughs, branches, and the ground beneath were packed with treehouses. Furthermore, within the forest were dozens, even hundreds, of marketplaces enclosed by Barriers, so crowded with beings of the Hundred Races that it seemed congested.
"This... This you call ’not many’?" Wu Wang said through gritted teeth.
An irrepressible smile played on the corners of the Young Master’s lips.
"Huh?" Wu Wang exclaimed. "Why are there so many children here?"
"Hm? People here are fond of children, so they are diligent in procreation," the Young Master said, glancing sideways and lowering her voice. "I certainly haven’t misused my Great Dao."
Wu Wang generally understood. The Young Master’s divine statue is equivalent to having a ’fertility aura’; one touch, and twins or triplets are practically guaranteed. The Head Manager’s divine statue possesses a ’longevity aura,’ allowing followers to easily surpass their natural Lifespan limits. Any Divine Spirit whose Great Dao is related to living beings and benefits them can attract more followers, thereby obtaining more Divine Power. Over time, they accumulate greater strength. This is the tangible manifestation of the rise of the Dao of Life.
So, if I want to gather Divine Power in the Emperor’s City, what kind of ’gimmick’ do I need? What ’selling point’? My God of Spring’s divine authority is also related to living beings, but if it’s the power to rejuvenate withered wood whose Lifespan has ended, that seems rather useless... Ah, I have an idea!
Wu Wang’s eyes lit up. He almost turned to his first Divine General, whose true capabilities he had yet to grasp, and declared, "Spread the word: we can restore a being’s vitality and help them regain their former confidence!"
Wu Wang chuckled to himself as these thoughts raced, his mood becoming even more buoyant.
Da Yi, trailing behind, couldn’t help but look up at the dissipating illusion, his pupils suddenly contracting.
The Young Master?!
Da Yi was now utterly bewildered. After his arm was crippled, even though his original Divine Spirit had continued to support him, most people around him gradually grew distant. Eventually, he chose self-exile, leaving the protection of his original Divine Spirit. Wandering the streets previously, he had been found by a certain god who took him before that divine statue and casually said, "From now on, you are the first Divine General of this God of Spring."
Da Yi had sensed it then: this divine statue, a mere three hundred-plus measures tall, signified that the God of Spring held no standing in the Heaven Palace and had likely offended some powerful figures. He had become a tool to ’discipline’ this God of Spring. Yet, Da Yi could only obey. He feared that any rash action on his part would implicate his former companions...
But now, Da Yi was as if lost in a fog.
Who on earth was this God of Spring? And the goddess beside him, who had earlier radiated a powerful pressure but now concealed her form—so much so that one might unconsciously overlook her without careful observation—was none other than the Heaven Palace’s renowned goddess of procreation, the Young Master. The Young Master was chatting and laughing with the God of Spring; the two gods interacted with such remarkable ease. Their conversation wasn’t concealed, and they even occasionally mentioned the ’Human Domain,’ a forbidden topic. And those Divine Guard commanders—said to possess divine bloodlines, usually with the heads of tigers, lions, or leopards—would subconsciously tremble when this God of Spring merely glanced their way, clearly out of extreme fear.
「Ahead, familiar scenery pulled Da Yi from his reverie.」
They were heading towards the nearest prosperous Divine Realm—’Divine Realm’ being their term for the territory of each Divine Spirit.
And this nearest prosperous Divine Realm... wasn’t it the very place where he, with a heart resolved to die, had intended to make his final stand?
"My Lord, ahead is the gathering place for the followers of the Mirror God." The Tiger-headed Commander hurried over, bowing to Wu Wang. "We’ve already found lodging for you. You can proceed there at any time!"
"Mm, I’ve met the Mirror God before," Wu Wang said with a smile, stepping off the cloud.
The Tiger-headed Commander instinctively flinched back but then immediately froze. Wu Wang casually patted the arm of the towering being, chuckling. "No need to fear me. It’s not like I’m going to eat you, am I? I’ve just arrived in the Heaven Palace and am unfamiliar with this place. How about we say you’re treating me this once?"
"It would be my humble honor!" the Tiger-headed Commander exclaimed, bowing low, though his eyes betrayed a hint of panic.
He didn’t dare get too close to this God of Spring.
Da Yi, in the corner, looked as if he wanted to speak but hesitated. He felt too insignificant, and with the Young Master now speaking, he certainly wouldn’t dare interrupt.
The Young Master smiled. "Unlike the Human Domain, which uses currency, beings here in the Divine Realms value various precious materials. These include minerals for forging weapons and armor, or Beast Cores from ferocious beasts that can enhance spiritual power. It’s quite similar to the Northern Wilderness."
"Is that so?" Wu Wang immediately felt a surge of confidence.
Purchasing a territory the size of an ordinary Strong God’s domain here... wasn’t entirely out of the question.
「Later, atop a tall building constructed from massive stones.」
The prosperous areas were incredibly opulent, while the barren regions were like purgatories. Sitting on the top floor, Wu Wang held a wine glass, gazing at the Mirror God’s divine statue.
The entire Emperor’s City could be seen as a microcosm of the Heaven Palace’s order. True, Innate Gods protected a portion of living beings. But this palpable class divide, this clearly defined ’food chain,’ filled Wu Wang with a deep-seated weariness. The Heavenly Dao was surely not born to establish such an order.
The Young Master held her chopsticks, carefully studying the somewhat coarse Spirit Beast meat on the table. She frowned. Although she was keen to further explore the joys of eating, her palate... had become quite discerning.
Nearby, Da Yi sat with his head bowed, clearly ill at ease. His entire body was taut, like a string stretched to its breaking point.
"Speak up," Wu Wang said with a smile. "You’re my only Divine General for now. What plans do you have for us to develop our following?"
"Lord God!" Da Yi suddenly stood, his eyes filled with utter confusion. He whispered, "Why don’t you understand? I’m already a cripple!"
"A cripple isn’t useless. If you can’t fight, you can still offer advice and strategy." Wu Wang set down his chopsticks and retrieved several jade vials from his sleeve, lining them up. "There’s an old senior in the Human Domain named Shen Nong. These are Elixirs he personally refined. Never mind these injuries of yours; as long as you have a breath left in you, I can bring you back."
"This..." Da Yi looked somewhat dazed; these words were clearly beyond his understanding.
"I come from the Human Domain," Wu Wang said, his gaze sweeping over the empty seats around them. The Divine Guards had, of course, cleared this entire floor long ago.
Wu Wang smiled. "In the Human Domain, I also have some followers. But now, I am a Divine Spirit of the Heaven Palace, and you are my first subordinate here. As long as you serve me well and don’t betray me, I will not treat you poorly, nor will I allow other Divine Generals to bully you. Sit down and eat something. When I examined you earlier, I sensed an immense hunger. After you’ve eaten, if you want to speak of your past, I’ll listen. If not, then discuss with me how to increase my followers. Divine Power is a good thing, and I’d like to accumulate more of it. Is there anything worse than your previous circumstances? Lift your head. We of the Human race cannot always be bowing and scraping."
’We of the Human race...’
Da Yi looked up at Wu Wang. His eyes, full of the vicissitudes of life, were filled with confusion. But this confusion gradually receded, replaced by light, then by a sharp glint. He sat down, hands pressed to his knees, took a deep breath, then grabbed a roasted Spirit Beast leg from nearby and began to tear into it with gusto.
The Young Master, observing this, discreetly flicked out a wisp of Divine Light that entered Da Yi’s arm. In the next instant, the aura around Da Yi began to slowly intensify. The man himself was oblivious. His left hand, which had been constantly trembling, was now remarkably steady. A warm current swept through his body, activating his long-dormant warrior’s physique. His eyes reddened as he fiercely tore at the food in his hands, forcefully blinking back the tears that welled in his eyes. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
A short while later, the table was strewn with remnants.
Da Yi stood up, straightened his back, and announced in a resonant voice, "I have eaten my fill, My Lord!"
Wu Wang carefully assessed him. Judging by the intensity of his vital energy, this fellow’s physical strength was roughly equivalent to a late-stage True Immortal Realm Body Cultivation practitioner from the Human Domain. In this great city, devoid of Cultivation methods and reliant solely on divinely bestowed power and Bloodline Power, he could indeed be considered an expert.
Just as he was about to offer Da Yi some words of encouragement to lift his spirits, a sudden uproar erupted from below the tall building. A large contingent of beings from the Hundred Races, clad in bronze-colored armor, had tightly surrounded the structure.
"Are you all blind?!" The Tiger-headed Commander’s furious roar came from downstairs. "Do you know who’s up there? Do you recognize this insignia? You dare come here to cause trouble? Believe it or not, I’ll swallow you alive!"
Then, they heard a somewhat shrill male voice declare, "General, this is the Divine Realm of the great Mirror God! We suspect someone is here causing a disturbance and must go up to investigate!"
CLANG!
The Tiger-headed Commander had already drawn his long saber, his savage aura dominating the scene. "If you’re looking for death, I’ll oblige you!"
"Hey, don’t ruin my good mood with all this fighting and killing," Wu Wang called out, leaning out from the upper floor. "Let them come up."
The Tiger-headed Commander instantly shed his imposing demeanor, turned, looked up, and flashed a fawning, cat-like smile. "As you command, My Lord! I’ll have them come up right away."
Wu Wang thought for a moment, then added, "Also, go invite the Mirror God to come here. I have some business I’d like to discuss with her."
The Tiger-headed Commander’s legs nearly gave out. It’s over! he inwardly despaired.
The beings surrounding the building exchanged bewildered glances.
