Chu Country.

At this time, Abnormal Soldiers roamed the Central Plains. These so-called Abnormal Soldiers either possessed unusual innate bloodlines, were birthed from their resonance with the Great Dao, or attained enlightenment in the acquired realm.

Because the world was different, the people of this era could easily perceive the Great Dao.

Perhaps this was related to the methods of cultivation practiced by the Witches.

Witches did not use talismans, scriptures, nor did they follow strict hand gestures, arrays, or prohibitions.

Instead, they simply sought to comprehend the natural world, its totems, Divine Strike, and so on.

The cultivation pathways in this realm were not without merit; at the very least, those who trained in them became exceptionally strong.

Take, for instance, this man named Meng Ban.

Yunmeng Marsh, night.

Pale moonlight bathed the silent forest. Each ancient emerald tree stood upright, while partridges called from the treetops, adding an eerie coldness to the scene.

Beneath the trees stood two men. One wore pristine white robes, his gaze radiating warmth and kindness, resembling the gentle brilliance of sunlight.

The other had a rugged appearance, with a thick beard and eyes that gleamed like bronze.

The forest grew atop the marshland; vapor lingered in the air, refracting the light into an unsettling kaleidoscope of colors.

The wind stirred lightly, the rippling waters reflecting shimmering glimmers.

"Senior, allow me to demonstrate,"

The burly man looked at Song Lin and then pulled a jade disc from his chest pocket. He bit his finger and inscribed strange totems onto the jade disc before burying it underground.

The jade disc promptly sank into the earth. This was the Witch's Sinking Jade Sacrifice of Chu Territory.

Glug-glug-glug…

Water bubbles churned where the jade disc had sunk, forming a spring.

Green waves of water spread across the entire marshland.

Meng Ban let out a long howl, his tone winding and resonant, shaking the surroundings.

Splash!

From within the water burst forth a figure, its dragon-headed form atop a human body. This divinity stepped on two white dragons, had serpents coiled through his ears, green skin, and golden pupils.

He stood at ten zhang tall, radiating an aura of majesty as oppressive as a prison, inspiring awe and reverence.

Song Lin could sense that this deity's cultivation was likely at the Primordial Spirit level—astonishing for what appeared to be a mere River Lord.

"Hail, Great Wave." Meng Ban performed three bows with nine prostrations. The deity nodded slightly but kept its gaze locked on Song Lin.

Meng Ban turned to Song Lin, his tone somewhat flaunting as he said, "This is the legendary Great Wave, my chief deity."

Meng Ban had once fallen into the great marsh and was subsequently saved by Great Wave. Since then, he became Great Wave's Witch, acquiring a share of its divine power.

Afterward, he had encountered Song Lin, who gave him a stern lesson.

Today's boasting seemed to be his way of saying he now had powerful backing.

Great Wave walked slowly toward Song Lin, then knelt on one knee and said, "Hail to the East Lord."

"Haha, no need for such formalities; the East Lord is a thing of the past. From now on, call me Pure Yang,"

Song Lin laughed openly.

He had already embraced the identity of the East Lord.

The sun itself symbolizes the East Lord, and in the world, only he and Candle Dragon wield the power of the sun. Since Candle Dragon remains unrecognized by the divine pantheon, who else qualifies as the East Lord if not himself?

Beside them, Meng Ban was stunned. He never imagined this man before him was truly the East Lord, while he had taken him for a mere mortal.

When Great Wave saluted, Meng Ban hurriedly followed suit.

The three of them arrived beneath the marshlands to the white jade palace.

"Mortals claim the Eastern King, and we divinities speculate that it could be the East Lord. We observed him distantly before but were unsure. Now, with today's meeting, it is indeed Lord East Lord."

Great Wave's voice was hoarse, its speech punctuated with glugging sounds deep in its throat.

"Haha, strong foes surround us; it's inconvenient to reveal oneself for now."

Song Lin spent ten years building his reputation. Yet, during this time, he refrained from privately forming connections with other deities, intent on assuaging Candle Dragon's faction's suspicions.

Now that the time was ripe, he prepared to establish his own power.

Great Wave was originally from Ba Country. He had long forgotten his real name, having fallen into the great marsh where his soul transformed into a ghost-god.

"What plans does Pure Yang have?"

Great Wave asked.

"How many deities do you know?"

"Not many. I mainly know water deities, such as those overseeing Da Chuan, Great Wave, Han Lady, Xiangg Jun, Lady Xiangg, Huai River, Quchi, Xuanming, and Wangliang."

Although I am not familiar with all, the nature of water systems means they intertwine. Locating them should be relatively easy.

"Are they still alive?"

"Uncertain. Some should remain while others may have been displaced."

With the resurgence of mountain and sea demon beasts, many divine territories had been seized by others.

Song Lin had observed this during his travels across the world.

The Taiyi Divine System held few deities to its name.

Donghuang Taiyi, East Lord, Lord Yunzhong, Supreme and Minor Fate Officers, along with the various water gods.

That was essentially the roster.

Apart from Donghuang Taiyi being singular, many Small Thousand Worlds likely possessed their own versions of this lineup.

"With that in mind, secretly contact the displaced gods. If necessary, reach out to those not displaced as well."

"Understood,"

Great Wave did not ask too many questions.

Soon, the matter was decided.

Song Lin planned to recreate reality.

Since the Palace of the Polestar and the Nine Tripods could be summoned, why not create a Yunmeng Marsh version of the Heavenly Court?

Besides, Taiyi was not one to involve himself in administrative matters. He likely wouldn't mind Song Lin becoming master of the Heavenly Court. At that time, Taiyi could assume a position akin to one of The Three Pure Ones.

He aimed to establish a Heavenly Court that would put an end to the current chaotic ecosystem. He anticipated opposition from some deities, so his first course of action was to rally wandering gods—the homeless ones would surely agree.

Year 45 of Taiyi.

Song Lin reached out to deities such as the drowning victims, Great Wave, Da Chuan, Han Lady, and others, while Yaoji focused on contacting mountain ghosts, mountain goblins, Great Witches, and other mountain deities.

The Chu Land Divine System revered ghosts and drew close to witches, giving rise to such peculiar divinities.

During this period, he found time to meet King of Chu and recommended his disciple from Wei Country, Wu Qi, to assist the king in implementing political reforms.

Yes, Song Lin was preparing to unite the world.

Only by uniting the world could the collective power be sufficient to establish the Divine Court. Once the Divine Court was successfully formed, it could remain for potential use in the distant future.

Since the Chu Land Divine System was the focus, naturally, the Chu Country would unify the world.

"A hundred years; we have ample time. Within a century, unify the world. In the meantime, construct straight roads, undertake large-scale construction, and discretely reshape the terrain,"

Inside a grass-thatched cottage, Song Lin addressed a young scholar.

"Understood, Master!"

Time flew swiftly.

With Song Lin and Wu Qi providing guidance, Chu Country, already powerful, grew increasingly prosperous. The surrounding minor nations could scarcely withstand them and were swiftly annexed.

While the Human Clan waged its large-scale campaigns, Song Lin slowed his efforts in contacting deities and dedicated himself to meditating upon the Great Dao in Wushan.

In this realm, portions of the Great Dao were dominated by Candle Dragon, making enlightenment particularly challenging.

"Should I comprehend other aspects of the Dao instead?"

Water, mountains, plants?

Or perhaps seize the opportunity to slay some formidable demon beasts and extract insights from their Dao?

Alternatively, locate other powerful deities to exchange knowledge?

"Pure Yang Lord, a divine beast named Lu Wu has crossed the northern border,"

At this moment, the White Ape delivered news.

"Oh? Lu Wu?"

Song Lin's eyes lit up. Lu Wu, reputed as the Heavenly Emperor's steward, wielded the ability to control climatic conditions. Presently, he should be an ordinary divine beast, offering a potential source for Dao enlightenment—or a candidate for future stewardship in the Heavenly Court.

...

Real World.

West.

Boom!

A vast mountain soared skyward, towering ten thousand li high. Yin Wind stretched endlessly, forming a balance with the luminous Kunlun in the distance.

"It's almost complete!"

Cheering erupted among the demons.

The Heavenly Court's prototype had taken shape.

Taishi Demon Emperor officially christened it the Immortal Emperor Court.

Of course, for now, this was merely a skeleton framework, and much work remained.

This development reached Song Lin.

"Where is Spirit Treasure Celestial Master?"

"He ventured into the Great Desert with Lingying Heavenly Master in search of Xiezhi," Shi Yinhua replied.

"Chiyou, accompany my avatar to the Northwest and stir up trouble," Song Lin instructed.

"Understood!"

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