Chapter 525
The members of the Tianzu, despite their varying ages and appearances, all shared the same long lifespan, and the concept of seniority was foreign to them.
In Tianren City, the only threats they faced came from the dangers outside the city and the natural disasters of this world.
They recognized only the strong, for only the strong could lead them against all that threatened their existence.
With Ying Bing gone, Jiang Yu became the most powerful among them.
"Then it's settled; from now on, we will all heed Jiang Yu's command and follow his lead!"
The vast majority of the Tianzu accepted Jiang Yu's position.
A very few still hoped that Ying Bing would return, but with that matter now uncertain, they naturally did not oppose Jiang Yu.
"Thank you for your trust; I shall not refuse," Jiang Yu said as he took his seat at the head of the table. He then asked, "What are your plans for the natural disaster in fifty years?"
The first elder to respond was a powerful Tianzu who had been born under a purple auspice and was the previous leader of the Tianzu.
He stroked his beard and said, "During the first natural disaster, the demons will be catalyzed by a strange force, as if they have become favored children of heaven and earth, greatly increasing their strength, which will also inflate their desire for slaughter."
"They will swarm together and launch a massive assault on Tianren City."
"At such times, we will go to the human city to intercept them, clearing them out before repairing the city walls."
"Leader Jiang Yu, during this period, please have the Divine Sword recognize you as its master; only then will the situation be easier to control, and fewer of our kin will perish in the disaster."
"At the same time, you should also go through some training, preferably in the human city, to understand how to fight against the demons. By the way, during your training, it will also be easier to master the Divine Sword."
The previous leader of the Tianzu was practically an exemplary NPC.
The main quest and side quests were all laid out clearly.
Jiang Yu heeded his advice.
Thus, he took the Divine Sword and, along with several other powerful Tianzu, left Tianren City to begin his journey.
In battle after battle, he was worshipped and revered, seen as a deity by the citizens of the human city.
Yet, the expressions on Jiang Yu's face grew fewer, and his smiles became increasingly distant.
After yet another victory over the demons, he and his kin soared into the azure sky, and his smile vanished in an instant as he murmured, "It seems the Divine Sword can absorb the awe of others, growing ever stronger..."
"The Tianzu are so powerful; the people of the earth city are merely slightly stronger ants. Why not completely become the masters of Tianren City, winning the hearts of the people from the other two cities, enforcing our will, and establishing a clear hierarchy?"
"Then the Tianzu will rise even higher, and the natural disasters will no longer be a cause for fear."
He turned to his companions among the Tianzu and asked, "Could you use the morning light tomorrow to dye me a bright yellow robe?"
---
**Chapter 595: Just Playing the Fool for Him**
In the shifting light, Jiang Yu had donned a yellow robe, sparking murmurs and causing those who saw him to lean back slightly.
The flow of time was different in the two worlds.
At this moment, in the imperial capital, it was already the morning of the third day.
Though the Tianren trials were important, state affairs still needed to be addressed. Emperor Jingtai had been busy until late into the night and awoke to find himself asleep in the imperial study.
Outside the study, the purple-clad eunuch, having heard the emperor stir, quickly handed him a warm towel to wipe his face.
"Your Majesty is awake."
"What news of the map of the nation?" Jingtai asked, his face still covered by the towel.
He had been sending people to keep watch over the map, ready to report any unusual movements.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has followed your instructions and is promoting the might of our Great Yu in Tianren City. It seems he is indeed mindful of the state," the purple-clad eunuch said, bowing his head.
"And how is he promoting it?"
Jingtai filtered out the flattery in the response.
"His Highness has already discussed with the other Tianzu about ascending to the throne."
The eunuch cleared his throat. "He wants to establish a new Great Yu!"
Jingtai: "?"
He rose and walked out of the imperial study with the eunuch, looking up just in time to see the map of the nation.
---
Meanwhile, Jiang Yu stood in the grand hall of the Tianzu, clad in his yellow robe.
"From now on, the Tianzu will have no leader, only an Emperor! This role will be held by the strongest among us, and the Divine Sword will symbolize the Emperor's authority."
From Jiang Yu's tone, it was clear he could hardly contain his excitement and his vision for the future.
"What’s the difference from a leader?"
Some Tianzu, who were only of blue auspice and thus unqualified to participate in discussions, were puzzled.
Tianren City had never had an emperor, and no one knew what that entailed.
"A leader only manages the affairs of the Tianzu, while the Emperor is the sovereign of Tianren City, responsible for all three cities. Anyone who wishes can compete with me; we can even have a dual-emperor competition."
Jiang Yu appeared generous and selfless.
"Responsible for all three cities? Does that mean we have to manage the mortals of the human city too?"
"Forget it, forget it; being an Emperor sounds too exhausting. I’d rather not."
"Since Jiang Yu is so magnanimous, let the capable take on more work. I think this heavy burden should fall on you."
The Tianzu waved their hands in unison; they were already inclined to follow Jiang Yu.
To them, whether Jiang Yu took on the additional responsibility of managing the earth city and human city made no difference; this reform merely meant that Jiang Yu's own burden would grow heavier.
They thought Jiang Yu was quite a good person.
"Jiang Emperor, the earth city is manageable; as long as we subdue the strongest there, it won't be hard to command the rest. But what about the human city?"
"Yeah, the human city is vast and lacks a leader, filled with scattered small villages. While they may respect the Tianzu, they might not necessarily submit."
"Even if they do submit, how do we manage them?"
Most of the Tianzu focused on their own concerns.
The reason they had chosen a leader in the first place was to have someone capable handle all matters, allowing them to live more easily.
Moreover, Jiang Yu's proposed methods were indeed beneficial for resisting natural disasters.
"We can let the people of the earth city manage things; we just need to be the deities receiving their worship."
Jiang Yu smiled. "As for the people of the human city... in fifty years, when the natural disaster strikes, they will have no means of self-preservation and will naturally seek to submit to our rule."
---
In the human city, in Wang Village.
Autumn had arrived, marking the harvest season, with a refreshing breeze sweeping through the wheat fields, stirring up waves of golden grain.
Villagers, armed with farming tools, gathered in groups to head to the fields for the autumn harvest.
However, upon their arrival, they spotted the village's blacksmith, Xiao Li, standing on the narrow path.
The village chief chuckled, "You’re here early; are you planning to harvest your own grain first? What are you waiting for?"
"I’m afraid I’ll finish too quickly, and before the sun is high, I’ll be done, leaving you all with nothing to do," Li Mo said, sweeping aside some weeds with a stick, resembling a lonely master of the martial arts.
The crowd chuckled, and a few children ran over to Li Mo, calling out "Little Li Brother," hoping to borrow his 'good sword' to play with.
"Well, I admit you have strength, but the old man is still sharper; my skills are far superior to yours."
"Then let’s have a contest! Let’s see who’s the real deal!"
Li Mo didn’t just laugh it off as usual.
"Let’s compete!"
"Little Li Brother, the village chief was the best wheat harvester in our village when he was young; you can’t win just with strength."
"Let’s see who’s the real deal!"
The villagers clapped and cheered.
The old chief and the young blacksmith each took up a sickle and dove into the wheat field, carving out a golden path where they could not see each other.
But gradually, the old chief stopped hearing Li Mo's voice, and he chuckled to himself, thinking the young man had probably fallen behind.
However, not long after, he heard the children outside shouting, "Little Li Brother wins!"
The old chief dropped his sickle and ran out, and sure enough, he saw Li Mo standing at the finish line, not a drop of sweat on him, his wheat-colored face beaming with joy.
"You can’t deny age... but you were just too fast."
"Yeah, Little Li Brother just burrowed through like a gopher, from start to finish in a flash."
The villagers gasped in amazement; even wild boars rooting through the fields couldn’t do it that quickly.
A powerful opponent (the village chief) + the doubts of the antagonists (the children) + the astonished onlookers = a spectacular display of prowess!
No one understands the art of showing off better than I do!
Li Mo was in high spirits, waving his hand, "Actually, it was the goddess who taught me a bit of martial arts; I practiced a little, and it turned out to be quite effective for harvesting."
"The goddess of the Tianzu taught you?"
"Ah, she can even wield a sickle?"
"Hmph, don’t just talk about sickles; she can even use a hammer. How else could she be the all-powerful Tianzu?"
Li Mo puffed out his chest and struck a proud pose.
"That’s right, that’s right! Little Li Brother, teach me too!"
"I want to learn too!"
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