Heaven Official's Blessing Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Heaven Official’s Blessing
Among the celestial deities, a notorious figure was known throughout the three realms as a cosmic joke.
Tradition claims that eight centuries ago, a nation named Xian Le once flourished within the Central Plains.
The ancient Xian Le nation boasted a vast domain, abundant resources, and content inhabitants. Its people cherished four unique treasures: astounding beauties, thriving arts and literature, immense wealth in gold and jewels, and, most importantly, their esteemed Royal Highness, the Crown Prince.
This particular individual, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince... could be described as rather peculiar.
The Emperor and Empress adored him, showering him with affection. They often proclaimed with immense pride, “In due time, our son shall ascend to become a wise sovereign, etching an honorable legacy for all future generations.”
However, regarding matters of royal privilege, such as riches, power, and honor, the Crown Prince showed no inclination.
His true passion, to echo his own frequent pronouncements, was this:
“My aspiration is to safeguard the common populace!”
.
The young prince dedicated himself to cultivation with great zeal. During this period, two brief anecdotes gained widespread popularity.
The first tale unfolds when he was seventeen.
In that year, the Xian Le nation orchestrated a grand Offering to the Gods ceremony.
Even though this practice had been discontinued for many centuries, survivors of ancient texts and oral histories allowed for an imaginative reconstruction of its former magnificence.
Throngs of people lined both sides of the main thoroughfare. Esteemed nobles occupied elevated structures, engaging in amiable conversation; meanwhile, the imperial guard, clad in gleaming armor, cleared the path. Young ladies performed graceful dances, their fair hands scattering flower petals like a gentle rain, creating a breathtaking spectacle that filled the sky. It left onlookers wondering whether the dancing maidens or the blossoms themselves held greater beauty. Melodious strains emanated from gilded carriages, permeating the entire Imperial City. Following the distinguished guards, sixteen magnificent steeds, adorned with golden harnesses, paraded abreast, drawing a majestic ceremonial platform.
Positioned atop this grand and elevated platform stood the focal point of universal attention: the chosen martial artist, poised to present a performance to appease the heavens. The role was to embody the first Martial God in a millennium, the Legendary Emperor Jun Wu, who had vanquished demonic beasts.
To be selected for such a performative tribute was considered the pinnacle of honor, and thus, the selection process was exceedingly stringent. This year, the honor fell upon His Royal Highness the Crown Prince himself. The entire nation felt assured that he would undoubtedly deliver the most spectacular performance since the dawn of time.
Yet, on that fateful day, the unforeseen occurred.
The procession of honor completed its third circuit around the city walls, traversing a section flanked by a dozen or more imposing ramparts.
At this precise moment, the divine warrior atop the grand platform was about to execute a decisive strike against a formidable demon.
This was the narrative's most thrilling juncture, and consequently, the spectators thronging the main street were exhilarated. Those positioned on the city walls, too, grew increasingly animated, craning their necks to witness the spectacle, jostling and vying for a better view.
At this critical instant, a small child tumbled from the apex of the city gate tower.
Piercing shrieks rent the air. Just as disaster seemed imminent, with the child poised to fall upon the Martial God's street, the Crown Prince subtly tilted his head. He then sprang upward, intercepting the falling child.
The assembled multitude had but a fleeting moment to perceive a white, bird-like silhouette arcing through the open sky before the Crown Prince landed safely, child in his arms. His golden mask dislodged, revealing the handsome, youthful visage that had been concealed beneath.
In the subsequent instant, a roar of ten thousand voices erupted in acclamation.
While the common folk rejoiced, the Taoist officials within the Imperial Court found themselves in a predicament.
It was inconceivable to them that such a catastrophic misstep could transpire.
The omen was dire, exceedingly dire!
Each circuit the magnificent platform completed around the Imperial City signified a prayer for a year of peace and prosperity for the nation. With this sacred ritual disrupted, was this not tantamount to inviting calamity upon them all?!”
The court officials were filled with an immense worry, their hair falling out like rain. After contemplating past affairs and the potential future events, they approached the Crown Prince and delicately proposed, "Your Highness, would it be acceptable for you to face the wall for a month as a sign of your repentance? It wouldn't require you to truly perform the act; merely a gesture to convey your intent would suffice."
A smile graced the Crown Prince's lips as he responded, "There is no need."
He elaborated on his reasoning, "Saving people is not an act that should be condemned. How could the Heavens possibly find fault with me for doing what is right?"
…And should the Heavens, by some chance, decide to hold you accountable?
"Then the Heavens themselves would be in the wrong. Why should those who act correctly apologize to those who are mistaken?"
The ministers were rendered speechless.
His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, was precisely that kind of individual.
He had never encountered a challenge he could not overcome, nor a person who did not adore him. He was invariably correct, the absolute center of the world.
Consequently, a profound ache settled in the ministers' hearts as they mused, "What in the blazes do you actually comprehend!?"
However, it was not opportune for them to voice further objections, nor did they possess the audacity to do so. Regardless, His Highness would not heed their counsel.
·
The second tale also unfolds in the seventeenth year of the Crown Prince's life.
Legends tell of a bridge known as the Yi Nian Bridge, situated on the southern bank of the Yellow River, where a notorious ghost had roamed for countless years.
This spectral entity was utterly dreadful – clad in tattered armor, wreathed in the flames of hell; its entire form was drenched in blood and impaled by an innumerable array of blades and arrows. Each step it took left behind a trail of both blood and fire. Periodically, it would manifest without warning during the night, lingering at the base of the bridge and accosting travelers to pose three questions: "Where is this?" "Who am I?" "What will you do now?"
Failure to provide the correct answers would result in the traveler being completely devoured by the ghost in a single gulp. Yet, the proper responses remained an enigma to all. Consequently, over the years, this phantom had consumed an untold number of pedestrians.
The Crown Prince learned of this phenomenon during one of his wanderings. Upon discovering the Yi Nian Bridge, he took up a vigil at its foot, waiting patiently until one night, he finally encountered the spectral inhabitant of the bridge.
The ghost materialized in an instant, and indeed, its presence was as chilling and terrifying as the rumors had described. It opened its maw to pose the first question to the Crown Prince, who responded with a smile, "This is the mortal realm."
However, the specter retorted, "This is the abyss."
Beginner's fortune indeed; it was only the initial inquiry, and he had already faltered.
The Crown Prince mused to himself, since he was destined to falter in his answers anyway, why endure the ghost's complete interrogation? Thus, he drew his weapon and initiated hostilities.
This fierce confrontation persisted until twilight descended, cloaking the land in darkness. The Crown Prince's martial prowess was exceptional, while the ghost grew increasingly formidable and terrifying. A single man and a solitary specter engaged in combat upon that bridge, their struggle continuing until the celestial bodies of sun and moon had nearly exchanged their positions, culminating in the ghost's ultimate defeat.
After the spectral entity vanished, the Crown Prince solemnly planted a flowering sapling at the bridge's foundation. At that very moment, a passing Taoist monk witnessed him scattering a handful of golden soil, intending to aid the ghost's passage to its next life. The monk inquired, "What is it that you are doing?"
The Crown Prince then uttered his now-famous eight words: "My body resides in the abyss, yet my heart dwells in paradise."
Upon hearing these words, the Taoist offered a slight smile before transforming into a divine General, resplendent in white armor. He then ascended upon a mystical cloud, conjured a powerful gust of wind, and soared into the heavens. It was only then that the Crown Prince realized, through an extraordinary stroke of serendipity, that he had encountered the Martial God Heavenly Emperor himself, who had descended to the mortal plane to vanquish malevolent beasts.
All the celestial beings had already been observing this exceptionally remarkable martial god since his ascent on the day of the Offering to the Gods Parade. After encountering him at the foot of the Yi Nian Bridge, the various immortals began to question the Emperor: "What are your thoughts regarding this Royal Highness, the Crown Prince?"
Emperor Jun's response, too, consisted of eight words: "This child's future holds boundless potential, immeasurable."
That same evening, the heavens above the Royal Palace became turbulent, with winds and rain unleashing their fury.
And amidst the flashes of lightning and resounding thunder, His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, ascended to godhood.
·
Whenever an individual ascends to divinity, the Heavens invariably tremble once. When His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, achieved this ascension, the entire celestial realm shuddered thrice.
Attaining immortality through one's own merit and comprehension is a feat of immense difficulty.
Attaining divinity demanded inherent talent, advanced cultivation, and the opportune moment.
To ascend into godhood as a revered deity was, more often than not, an eternal, lifelong pursuit.
The emergence of a young prodigy who achieved godhood and subsequently became an arrogant celestial being was not an unprecedented occurrence. Conversely, a great many individuals toiled their entire lives in cultivation, yet never attained immortality. Even when presented with a divine opportunity, failure to overcome the heavenly tribulation meant either demise or becoming a mere husk of one's former self. Countless mortals, lost in their ignorance, tread paths of mediocrity from beginning to end, akin to grains of sand scattered across a vast desert, never finding their true calling.
Thus, this esteemed Crown Prince was undeniably the favored child of destiny. Whatever he desired, he obtained. Whatever he wished to accomplish, he achieved. And when he set his sights on godhood, he truly ascended at the tender age of seventeen.
The Crown Prince was already immensely popular amongst his subjects. Adding to this, as the cherished son of the Emperor and Empress, grand temples were fervently erected in his name across the nation. Statues were raised, and all gathered to offer their reverence. The proliferation of believers led to the construction of more shrines, consequently extending his divine influence and augmenting his power. Within a mere span of a few years, the Crown Prince of Xian Le country experienced a meteoric rise, reaching the zenith of his authority.
——Until, three years hence, Xian Le plunged into turmoil.
·
The genesis of this chaos stemmed from the Emperor's tyrannical rule, which ignited a rebellion fueled by a desire for justice. Yet, even as the flames of war blazed across the mortal realm, the divine officials of Heaven were powerless to intervene as they pleased. Unless demons and ghouls transgressed their designated boundaries, events were permitted to unfold. Disputes were rampant throughout the world, with each individual convinced of the righteousness of their cause. Were all deities to interfere—one day supporting their own nation, the next aiding descendants in seeking vengeance—would it not precipitate constant conflict amongst immortals, potentially leading to the annihilation of all life? In the case of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, this was a matter he ought to have abstained from even more resolutely.
But he paid no heed to such considerations. He declared to Emperor Jun, “I wish to save the common people.”
Although Emperor Jun had amassed divine spiritual power over millennia, even he hesitated to voice such words lightly. Upon hearing the Crown Prince, his internal reaction was easily surmised. Nevertheless, Emperor Jun found himself unable to dissuve him, voicing only his helpless lament, “You cannot save everyone.”
The Crown Prince responded with unwavering conviction, “I can.”
Consequently, he descended into the mortal realm without a second thought.
The populace of the entire Xian Le country rejoiced with fervor. However, since antiquity, folk tales had consistently served as cautionary tales, warning of a fundamental truth: the descent of an unauthorized immortal into the mortal realm would invariably lead to dire consequences.
And so, the fires of war, far from extinguishing, began to rage with even greater ferocity.
It was not that His Highness the Crown Prince neglected his utmost effort; however, perhaps his efforts would have been better left unmade. The more he strived, the more convoluted the conflict became. The people of Xian Le suffered grievous losses, their bodies battered, their blood staining the earth. Ultimately, a devastating plague swept through the Imperial City, and the rebel forces breached the palace, bringing the war to a bitter end.
One could unequivocally state that during Xian Le country's desperate struggle for survival, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was the very individual who directly sealed their fate.
·
Following the nation's obliteration, the populace suddenly came to a stark realization:
It appeared their divine Crown Prince was not the paragon of strength and perfection they had once imagined.
To put it more crudely, was he not merely an inept figure, incapable of achieving anything significant, yet adept at ruining everything else?
Unable to contain the profound sorrow stemming from the loss of their homes and loved ones, the wounded and enraged masses stormed the Crown Prince's palace. They tore down his divine statue and set fire to his shrines.
Eight thousand temples blazed for seven days and seven nights—burning until nothing remained.
From that moment onward, a Martial God renowned for protection and peace vanished, replaced by a malevolent God who heralded disaster.
When the people declared you a god, you were a god. When they deemed you utterly worthless, you became exactly that. Whatever the people decreed you to be, that was your reality. This truth had remained unchanged throughout the ages.
·
No matter the circumstances, His Highness the Crown Prince found this outcome utterly unacceptable. What he found even harder to stomach was the punishment meted out: banishment.
His cultivation was shattered, and he was cast down into the mortal realm.
Having been exceptionally doted upon since his youth, he had never known the hardships and struggles of ordinary folk. Consequently, this sentence plunged him from the celestial heights into the deepest mire. It was within this mire that he first encountered hunger, destitution, and the feeling of being utterly defiled. For the first time, he engaged in acts he could never have conceived of: petty theft, outright robbery, uttering vile curses, and succumbing to utter despair. His former prestige was utterly obliterated, his self-respect completely eroded, leaving him as wretched as one could possibly imagine. Even his most loyal retainers found his transformation unbearable and consequently chose to depart.
These eight characters were inscribed practically everywhere on the stone tablets and official boards throughout the Xian Le kingdom. Had they not been almost entirely consumed by the flames of war, and if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince were to lay eyes upon them again, he would be the very first to charge forward and destroy them.
This is because the individual who personally uttered those words had already demonstrated that even while their body resided in the abyss, their heart held no place in paradise.
·
His ascent was swift, and his descent even more so. The Martial God’s pronouncements and his elegant gaze, having encountered both divine and demonic beings by chance on the Yi Nian Bridge, felt as vivid as if they had occurred only yesterday. The Heavens themselves seemed to express a sigh for the past, for the events of bygone days remained resolutely in the past.
Countless years transpired until, one momentous day, a thunderous sound reverberated through the Heavens. That very same Royal Highness the Crown Prince achieved godhood for the second time.
Since antiquity, Gods who had experienced banishment typically viewed it as a catastrophic failure, ultimately degenerating into ghosts or demons. There were exceedingly few individuals capable of reversing their fate and returning after being exiled. This feat of ascending a second time was a testament to courage and resilience, a mark of the exceptionally robust and determined.
What proved even more astonishing was that immediately following his re-ascension, he stormed into the Heavens, engaging in a violent rampage, assaulting and slaying all in his path across the four directions. Consequently, the Crown Prince had only been in godhood for the brief duration it takes an incense stick to burn before he was forcefully cast down once again.
One incense stick. It could accurately be described as history’s most rapid and ferocious, yet ephemeral, ascension.
If his initial ascension was a cause for admiration, then his second ascent could only be characterized as a ludicrous spectacle.
·
Following these two occurrences, every deity in the Heavens turned their collective backs on the Crown Prince. Yet, despite their abandonment, a degree of apprehension lingered amongst them. After all, having been demoted once, he had been driven to such desperate straits. Now, facing a second banishment, would he transform into a malevolent entity and exact vengeance upon the common populace?
Little did they know that after his second demotion, he did not succumb to demonic influences. Instead, he sincerely embraced his life of banishment. There were no apparent issues, and the sole concern was that he was, perhaps, excessively earnest.
At times, he per