Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
River Palace’s main hall.
The eight Gods sat down with a spread of delicacies before them.
Of course, they were a level lower than the fine wine and food that Mountain God Huo had served before. After all, Fang Yuan had just became a River Earl and did not have much time for accumulation. However, the Gods did not eat much; instead, all their focus was placed on the two Mountain Gods that had come last.
The Mountain Gods of Mount Peace and Mount Cloud Top seemed like barbarians with their tiger skin loincloths and overbearing actions. “River Earl Surging Waters, you and Mountain God Huo killed the Heaven Immortal of the Spiritual Flying Sword Sect, Bai Jianfei, and created huge trouble. That’s why you have to find us for help, right?”
“We don’t care if you’re in trouble, but trying to drag us into it, you have ill intentions!”
…
Once the two Mountain Gods sat down, they immediately exposed what Fang Yuan and Mountain God Huo had planned, creating uproar among the four River Gods.
“What? They actually killed Bai Jianfei?”
The three siblings were shocked as they looked at each other. “Even if we worked together in our deity territories, we might not be able to deal with a Heaven Immortal. He’s a grade higher than us!”
“Good kill!” The tanned god, River Earl Jing, burst into laughter as he clapped his hands. “The Spiritual Flying Sword Sect is so rampant, they deserve this retribution!”
He looked toward Mountain God Huo and Fang Yuan, his gaze filled with admiration, and gave a thumbs-up. “I’ve long thought about giving them some payback, but to think that the two of you took action first. You’re true men!”
“Hmph! River Earl Jing! Don’t think we don’t know that you did something dirty to the Spiritual Flying Sword Sect because of an aquatic treasure. Not only were you injured by Bai Jianfei, your treasure was also taken. Because of this, you were deeply disgraced!”
Mountain God Peace scoffed, “That was your private grudge. However, this time, it isn’t only one person’s matter when the Immortal Dao is angry.”
“The Immortal Dao is angry?” After hearing that, Mountain God Huo instantly revealed a cold smile. “Then wouldn’t our Divine Dao be angry? Bai Jianfei attacked my palace first and wanted to snatch my treasure, obviously harboring evil intentions. I was aligned with the heavens in killing him, so who can fault me?”
He was also determined, so he waved his hand and an image appeared. It was shockingly the scene of Bai Jianfei attacking the Mountain God Palace.
Hearing that Bai Jianfei wanted to kill a God to snatch something, the River Goddess siblings did not take well to it. “He was truly brazen and lawless!”
With solid evidence, the two Mountain Gods had unnatural expressions but continued to refute stubbornly, “Even so, you didn’t have to destroy both his body and soul!”
They did not suspect that the evidence was faked because any false recording done with magical strength would be seen through.
Moreover, Mountain God Huo could swear on his Deity Position, and if it was false, he would immediately fall. With the heavens and the earth as witnesses, it was definitely real.
The eldest sister among the three siblings, River Goddess Flowing Sand said, “It appears… they didn’t do anything wrong!”
These Gods were below Heaven Immortals in rank. Although it was two versus one, they would have been the ones killed if they did not use their full strength, so there was no way to claim that they were too ruthless.
“Thank you for understanding, Goddess!” Mountain God Huo laughed bitterly. “Although the Heavenly Court won’t blame us, the Immortal Dao will definitely seek us for revenge privately. It won’t matter if they only come for the two of us, but if they’re determined enough, it’s possible that they’d sweep away the Divine Dao forces of the Three Mountains and Five Rivers. Therefore, I used this chance at the River Earl’s banquet to invite everyone here to discuss a plan.”
“In the end, this is still a problem that the two of you caused!”
Mountain God Peace and Mountain God Cloud Top’s eyes glimmered, harboring unknown motives.
Smack!
However, the sitting River Earl Jing could no longer take it. He ruthlessly slammed the wine goblet in his hand onto the table. “Even without this, the Immortal Dao would still go against us. The two of you nitpicking everything we say, could you have been bribed by the Immortal Dao?”
His appearance was fierce, his eyes were like bronze bells, and his glare was as sharp as a knife.
“Hey! Don’t think about slandering us!”
These two Mountain Gods were angered, and the illusion of mountains appeared behind each of them. Their magical strength vibrated, as if they were about to fall out and strike the next moment.
“Everyone!”
At this time, Fang Yuan flung his sleeves.
Buzz Buzz!
The River Earl Palace roared and the Surging Waters River water gushed over endlessly. It rotated around his body, and with unblockable power, he suppressed the uproar.
After all, he was the master of the land. In the Divine Dao, this represented power.
In his deity territory, the other Gods were naturally not his opponent.
However, the two Mountain Gods were fearless. They obviously had someone to count on, and it was enough for them to protect themselves. “What? River Earl, are you preparing to unfairly take sides?”
“How can you talk about fairness when it’s two versus one?” Mountain God Huo ridiculed
“Everyone that came is my guest, and there won’t be any fights. We’re here to discuss a strategy and not have internal strife. The Immortal Dao would treat us like a joke if so.”
Fang Yuan’s voice was clear and beautiful like jade.
“Then, based on your view, what should we do?” Goddess White Water suddenly asked after her pretty eyes wandered onto Fang Yuan.
“Our the Three Mountains and Five Rivers is a system in itself. If we can combine as one, we would be able to form a force capable of protecting ourselves!” Fang Yuan finally brought up his idea.
“Your meaning is… to form an alliance?!” River Earl Jing was slightly shocked.
“Yes!” Fang Yuan nodded.
“Then, how does this benefit us?” Immediately, the two Mountain Gods jumped out to strongly oppose. “You want us to together carry the burden of the disaster you created?”
“Don’t you know about the logic of being intimately interdependent?” Fang Yuan smiled. “Only when we eight Gods are one can we protect ourselves. Otherwise, would the Immortal Dao let go of the others if the two of us are gone?”
“Since it’s an alliance, we need an alliance leader!” Mountain God Peace pointed out. “I wonder if you have anyone in mind?”
This diversion strategy was excellent, as it was able to quickly calm down the four River Gods.
“The alliance leader will naturally need everyone’s recommendation!” Fang Yuan said confidently. “No matter who ends up in this position, they must take an oath on their Deity Position and the others will have to obey that person as subordinates! This way, the Three Mountains and Five Rivers can truly combine as one. Any God within the alliance territories will be able to unleash their full power without any deity territory restrictions!”
“What?”
At this time, even Mountain God Huo’s hands shook, as he had not thought Fang Yuan would be so ambitious!
Everyone knew that Earthly Gods could only be unrestrained in their own territory. Once they were out of their deity territory, their prowess would drastically drop.
For example, on Mount Huo, Mountain God Huo was boss. No need to mention one versus five, but at least if it was just the other two Mountain Gods, they would not be able to defeat him. However, with a change of location, he would definitely be thrashed if the two Gods worked together.
Using the same logic, Fang Yuan could suppress the whole scene just by slightly moving his magical strength in Surging Waters River. However, if it was another location, it would not be so simple.
This was the limitation of the deity territory!
What Fang Yuan wanted to do was remove these shackles. For example… combining the Three Mountains and Five Rivers into a body to form a new Deity Position.
This way, the Gods of the Three Mountains and Five Rivers would become this God’s subordinates, and they would be similar to God functionaries. By being in their deity territories, this God would still obtain the additional support of magical strength.
And because of this logic, after settling who the leader and subordinates were, each of the Gods would contribute part of their authority. Then Fang Yuan would once again divide and confer them authority so that they would immediately be able to unleash their peak powers within the Three Mountains and Five Rivers!
In fact… this is just a smaller scale Heavenly Court!
Fang Yuan was unusually clear about this. The Heavenly Court commanded the whole group of Gods, and the ones that truly obtained a heavenly conferment would possess great power no matter where they were.
This was because the Heavenly Court had gathered the realm’s beliefs and conferred corresponding positions. Thus, only the Gods that were acknowledged could perform at their peak anywhere they went.
In fact, Mountain and River Gods are also like this. With the Heavenly Court’s edict and mortals worshiping, no matter which Mountain God or River God, as long as they were at a place with worship, it would be their deity territory… and they would be able to unleash their peak power! However, this has no benefits to the Heavenly Court, so they are only willing to allow an Earthly God to be in charge of a region, not allowing them to walk the realm and unite.
Of course, a peak Earl Deity Position was equivalent to a peak Earth Immortal, but the intrinsic quality was still a level lower than Earth Immortals.
As for Excellency Mount Mang’s rank, that was an exception. Moreover, his true Deity Position was not a Heavenly Court conferred title, but the master of mountains, having the authority to take charge of Yin and Yang, life and death.
“Haha…” Mountain Gods Peace and Cloud Top froze before promptly laughing out loud. “You want to be the master of the Three Mountains and Five Rivers and make us your God functionaries? Subordinate? Dream on!!!”
“I only said… to choose an alliance leader, and we would willingly acknowledge allegiance to that person. I didn’t say that it was me!” Fang Yuan smiled weirdly. “However, since you two mentioned it, could it be you have your mind set on me?”
“Crazy! You’re crazy! This is completely going around the Heavenly Court and having underhanded secret dealings. We must report to the Heavenly Court! And Excellency Mount Mang!” Mountain God Cloud Top shouted.
“You also know about Excellency Mount Mang, so don’t you know the logic of getting amnesty after committing crime?”
Fang Yuan laughed loudly and waved his palm.
Rumble!
Powerful magical strength roared and gushed forward from all directions, completely sealing shut the River Earl Palace.
This behavior was similar to the Feast of Hongmen[1.Refers to an event in history where a banquet was set up to murder a guest.]—a cup shattering to signal 300 weapons to be taken out. Even Mountain God Huo was dumbfounded.
“You-You’re looking for death!” Mountain God Peace’s eyes sparkled. “If you want to become the alliance leader, we must willingly pledge allegiance and contribute our authority. Three River Goddesses, River Earl Jing, Mountain God Huo, don’t tell me you’re willing to be this person’s slave?”
“River Earl Surging Waters, you should release the restriction!”
The expression of the Three River Goddesses changed, not at all pleased. River Earl Jing also had a fighting stance, ready to fight the next moment.
“Haha… Don’t worry. Since I’m prepared to combine the Three Mountains and Five Rivers, I will inevitably obtain most of their acknowledgements. Only then would it be proper!”
Fang Yuan laughed loudly and looked at the Three River Goddesses, as well as River Earl Jing. “Swearing by the three rivers… did you forget what the Divine Dao oath you took when you ascended was?”
“What?” The Three River Goddesses expression changed greatly. “Are you the benefactor from back then?!”
