Zhang Jian nodded, this was about securing a position.
Having struggled up from the lower realm, he was naturally well acquainted with such matters.
Having someone trustworthy secure the Immortal Position first would ensure that once he returned, he wouldn’t be left in the cold.
This was different from just filling a role temporarily.
In the lower realm, Zhang Jian often encountered situations where he caused great trouble and would immediately find ways to adjust his position, letting others temporarily cover for him. Once the other took the fall, he’d come back to clean up, eliminating a competitor and settling back into the position, earning the trust of his superiors.
Or alternatively, knowing promotion was hopeless, he’d support a temporary stand-in to fill the position, thus temporarily securing a place for himself.
Many thoughts flashed through his mind, and Zhang Jian immediately nodded.
Not long after, the Water Virtue Star Monarch returned to the Pure Yang Immortal Sect, his face full of smiles, accompanied by many familiar Immortal Gods.
The area guarded by the Water Virtue Star Monarch was the seas of the Donghua Realm. The Immortals helped stabilize the situation, which went fairly smoothly.
Among the Immortals, Zhang Jian also saw the two Grand Marshals, Turtle and Snake, and the Grand General of Black Death from the Four Saints of Arctic.
The Eastern Defensive Yuanheng Celestial Monarch was nowhere to be seen.
A quick inquiry revealed that the Eastern Defensive Celestial Monarch had already fallen during the collapse of the space-time currents.
Zhang Jian sighed inwardly.
The Yuanheng Celestial Monarch was quite affable and a good person, yet had fallen this way, truly regrettable.
In the Immortal Hall, Zhang Jian saw Daoist Monarch Qingxia and Bai Hua Fairy.
These two female Immortals seemed to have joined the grand event of the Donghua Celestial Realm.
Clearly, this was attributed to the abilities of Daoist Monarch Qingxia.
This ’ancestor’ always seemed to have her hand in various affairs.
"Emperor!"
Bai Hua Fairy greeted Zhang Jian with a cheer, her mood seemingly very good.
Daoist Monarch Qingxia sat upright, seemingly not recognizing Zhang Jian, while Zhang Jian’s lips curled slightly as he stepped forward to greet Bai Hua Fairy.
"Fairy, your fortune is exuberant!"
Bai Hua Fairy’s enchanting eyes fell upon Zhang Jian, with a hint of surprise deep in her gaze.
This time accompanying the Immortal Gods of the Donghua Realm to guard the Central Palace, she indeed witnessed great creation, even acquiring an exotic treasure.
"Emperor, your insight is sharp!"
Bai Hua Fairy slightly lamented.
With rare leisure, the two were in very good spirits.
Daoist Monarch Qingxia’s gaze did not stray; she was conversing and trading with various Daoist Monarchs in the hall.
As the leader of the Lantai Daoist Palace, she had many resources at her disposal, but if not utilized, they remained limited in effect. What she needed was to maximize these resources, turning them into convenience for her cultivation.
After exchanging a few words with Bai Hua Fairy, Zhang Jian quickly integrated into the hall.
In the Immortal Hall, numerous Immortal Gods generally held vast connections, resources, or had powerful backgrounds. Since standing here, Zhang Jian naturally wouldn’t miss such an opportunity.
Zhang Jian was an official member of the Three Emperors and Five Elders Assembly, and being of Divine Body, many Immortal Gods recognized his potential and Dao practice, quickly becoming acquainted.
Once familiar, many things would become more convenient.
Soon after, Daoist Monarch Chunyang completed the reception of angels, and then descended with his true body to express gratitude, handling affairs for some of the fallen Immortal Gods, and announced that soon a celestial celebration would be held in the Donghua Celestial Realm, inviting all Immortal Gods to participate.
...
Before long, all the Immortals gradually dispersed.
Zhang Jian remained, meeting with Daoist Monarch Chunyang alone, proactively mentioning the integration of Earth Emperor Ancestral Qi into Donghua Celestial Realm.
In the grand hall, Daoist Monarch Chunyang smiled slightly.
"I thought Fellow Daoist Ling Yuan would endure a while longer before mentioning this to me!"
Zhang Jian remained solemn.
"The terms can be discussed, everything is negotiable!"
"No need to negotiate!"
Daoist Monarch Chunyang waved his hand, his eyes gleaming with surprise as Daoist Monarch Chunyang laughed and said.
"This is nothing major, I agree!"
"If Fellow Daoist Ling Yuan is willing, the position of Earth Sovereign of the Donghua Celestial Realm can also be entrusted to you!"
Zhang Jian was astonished.
Daoist Monarch Chunyang’s gesture was beyond his expectations, but he was also pleased, and he laughed.
"With kind intentions from Daoist Monarch, I appreciate it, but I dare not compete with Elder Lianshan for the position of Earth Sovereign!"
He also declined playfully.
It’s not that he looked down on the position of Earth Sovereign of the Donghua Celestial Realm, but his focus still needed to remain on the Central Celestial Realm.
Daoist Monarch Chunyang was not surprised, and he shared a laugh.
"After Fellow Daoist perfects Dao Qi, you may directly enter Pure Yang Immortal Sect’s Purple Mist Cliff; I will instruct the immortals of Donghua Realm to make arrangements for you!"
The goal achieved, Zhang Jian thanked him and took his leave.
Daoist Monarch Donghua looked at Zhang Jian’s departing figure, and moments later, several figures emerged from the side hall.
These were other members of the Eight Immortals.
Daoist Monarch Ningyang leaned on his iron cane, sipping from his wine gourd, laughed and said.
"It seems Dongbin has intentions of grooming this Heavenly Court junior!"
Daoist Monarch Chunyang smiled.
"Quite satisfactory, his character suits my taste!"
Uncle Cao of the Eight Immortals spoke.
"An Innate Divine always has extraordinary characteristics, with background, with creation, with destiny; it’s also forming a good bond for the juniors!"
The Eight Immortals nodded slightly.
As long as the Divine Body is cautious, does not fall, there will naturally be notable achievements.
However, they did not envy, as now with the successful dimension elevation of Donghua Celestial Realm, they have a celestial realm’s protection, and their creation wouldn’t be less than the Divine Body’s.
Though Donghua Celestial Realm was newly elevated, its vast origin could sufficiently allow them to rebuild their foundation with prospects of the Great Dao.
...
After the celebration, the Immortals returned to various realms via the cross-boundary grand array.
The Immortals needed time to digest the gains acquired during this period.
Zhang Jian was no exception.
However, he had an additional task: to quickly perfect the Earth Emperor Ancestral Qi, striving to fully develop the many inherent innate Dao Qi and postnatal Dao Qi affiliated with Earth Emperor Dao Qi.
Since Daoist Monarch Chunyang agreed, Zhang Jian naturally intended to excel thoroughly.
In the celestial realm, the ensuing millennia for Zhang Jian was exceptionally fulfilling.
Five hundred years ago, the Water Official Emperor Tianhe Master reincarnated to the lower realm and recommended Ling Yuan Emperor for the temporary Water Official Emperor Immortal Position, which the Celestial Court approved.
Ling Yuan Emperor was a subordinate of the Water Official Emperor and one of the three Great Emperors within the Three Primal Spirit Official Hall, ranked eighth; temporarily assuming the Water Official Emperor Immortal Position was not inappropriate.
Though some Immortal Gods opposed, the majority accepted it.
Subsequently, the Celestial Court issued a Golden Decree, acknowledging his role sitting in Donghua Celestial Realm’s ancestral aperture to suppress demons, contributing significantly to the realm’s elevation and granting many rewards.
However, the sequence was not elevated.
Zhang Jian was not surprised by this.
The promotion within the Immortal Realm was not easy.
Especially not in the high-tiered sequences.
But Zhang Jian knew this was inevitable, lacking neither merit nor qualifications; only the experience in operating the Immortal Position. Once he occupied the Water Official Emperor’s Position for several millennia, advancing to sequence nine would be a natural progression.
Concurrently operating the Water Official Emperor Immortal Position, Zhang Jian did not forget to continually cultivate, refining his Dao practice.
The great fortune from the Donghua Celestial Realm was enough for him to forge ahead triumphantly over the coming tens of thousands of years.
...
After three thousand years, Zhang Jian preliminarily perfected the three thousand Dao Qi and postnatal Dao Qi derived from Earth Emperor Ancestral Qi, promptly requesting a leave to enter the Donghua Celestial Realm.
Donghua Celestial Realm, after three thousand years of development, had already regained vitality, now a scene of thriving life.
Though Donghua Celestial Realm had recently ascended in celestial dimension, it still couldn’t compare with older celestial realms, but it attracted many independent cultivator Immortals from various celestial realms.
On Purple Mist Cliff, Zhang Jian stood firm, a purple-yellow dragon-shaped Ancestral Qi flew from his body, instantly merging into the Ancestral Qi ocean formed within Donghua Celestial Realm.
The Earth Emperor Ancestral Qi smoothly integrated deep into Donghua Celestial Realm, along with three thousand Dao Qi.
This promptly triggered transformations within Donghua Celestial Realm.