Chapter 58: Donghuang Taiyi

Since Mu Changge slew the Demon Emperor Wu Shisan, the Huaxia realm had returned to tranquility.

Time flew like an arrow, years slipped by like a shuttle.

Centuries passed, and the last sovereign of the Xia dynasty, the son of Emperor Fa, Jie, ascended the throne—known as Xia Jie.

During his reign, Xia Jie indulged in arrogance and debauchery, exhausting the wealth of his people, inciting their hatred and curses.

Many among the human race began praying to the Five Directional Heavenly Deities of the Purple Tenuity, beseeching the heavens to punish the tyrant Xia Jie.

The Eastern Heavenly Deity, Gou Mang, received these petitions. Unable to bear the suffering of the people, he went to the Taiyi Palace to present himself before the Supreme Emperor of Heaven.

“Your Majesty, the Lord of the Earth, Xia Jie, is cruel and merciless, causing the people to pray to us daily in desperation,” Gou Mang said earnestly. “I humbly request that Your Majesty mete out divine punishment upon Xia Jie to demonstrate heavenly authority!”

The Supreme Emperor of Heaven gazed impassively at Gou Mang and replied, “I oversee the grand development of the entire Huaxia realm and will not hesitate over the death of any life, nor mourn the extinction of any race.”

“Human affairs must be resolved by humans themselves. There shall be no exceptions; all races in the Huaxia realm deserve equal treatment.”

“The entire Huaxia realm is a vast wheel, ever turning forward. It cannot pause to scrutinize the affairs of a single race.”

“Gou Mang, you should value the overall progress of the Huaxia realm, not the fortunes of one race.”

Gou Mang listened in disbelief to the Supreme Emperor’s words. After a long silence, he said, “Your Majesty, humans control the earth; their matters cannot be equated with those of other races.”

“Humans provide us ancient gods with immense faith — something no other race can offer. If we stand aloof, we risk losing human faith!”

“Without human belief, what right do we ancient gods have to call ourselves gods before humanity?”

The Supreme Emperor shook his head. “Gou Mang, if I set a precedent now, will I have to meddle in the affairs of every human sovereign in the future?”

“Human rulers have already tasted power. If I impose constraints, it will surely sow discord between the Lord of Heaven and the Lord of Earth.”

“A bird that has tasted the freedom of the sky will never return to its cage. Gou Mang, don’t you understand such a simple truth?”

Still unwilling to relent, Gou Mang said, “Your Majesty, human monarchs govern by hereditary succession. Not every heir governs with benevolence.”

“Therefore, it is difficult for human rulers to wield the vast authority of the Lord of Earth properly. Our divine oversight is necessary.”

The Supreme Emperor’s reply was laden with authority: “By your reasoning, if a human emperor considers my power as Lord of Heaven too great, should I accept constraints from them?”

This statement silenced Gou Mang completely.

“Gou Mang, heed my counsel: we ancient gods should not involve ourselves in human affairs. This is no longer the era of Emperor Jun.”

“I will not punish human rulers for their cruelty; these are matters for humans to resolve.”

“Enough. If there is nothing else, you may take your leave.”

...

Having left Taiyi Palace, Gou Mang departed the Purple Tenuity and returned to his abode on the planet Suixing.

There, he received yet more prayers from the human race.

Yet, without the Emperor of Heaven’s decree, he could not act on his own. Filled with rage, Gou Mang’s eyes blazed as he stared toward the Purple Tenuity.

“If only Emperor Jun still reigned. He would never tolerate such brutality from human kings!”

As if responding to Gou Mang’s longing, the Stele of the Heavenly Emperor tore through the void and appeared before him.

Gou Mang stared in astonishment at the sudden apparition, frozen for a moment.

After a long pause, he slowly reached out and cupped the stele in his hands.

The Stele of the Heavenly Emperor was the treasured relic of Emperor Jun. Having once served by his side, Gou Mang recognized it at a glance.

In that instant, it was as if a gateway to a new world had opened before him; his hands trembled.

“This... is the will of Emperor Jun!”

“I have received the legacy of Emperor Jun!”

“Indeed! The current false Emperor of Heaven is utterly unworthy to be the Lord of Heaven!”

Gou Mang’s gaze shifted once more toward the Purple Tenuity, but this time, his look was resolute and different.

“Since the Stele of the Heavenly Emperor has recognized me, I shall ascend as the new Lord of Heaven and restore clarity and justice to the world!”

With that proclamation, Gou Mang summoned all his subordinate deities and revealed that the Stele had accepted him as its master.

His followers responded wisely, exclaiming that the weather was cold and urging him to wear more clothes.

Thus, Gou Mang was draped in a magnificent yellow robe by his attendants to ward off the chill.

From that moment forth, Gou Mang took the title of Eastern Emperor Taiyi.

With the Stele of the Heavenly Emperor’s aid, Eastern Emperor Taiyi transcended to a higher realm—from Divine Ancestor into the gates of the Heavenly Emperor, becoming the new Heavenly Emperor.

No longer subordinate to the Supreme Emperor of Heaven, the Huaxia realm now had but one Heavenly Emperor named Gou Mang—Eastern Emperor Taiyi.

He first sought out Wu Tang, leader of the Shang tribe, whom he observed to be the wisest among the human lords.

Eastern Emperor Taiyi bestowed upon Wu Tang the Mandate of Heaven through the Heavenly Emperor Stele.

With this divine mandate, Wu Tang immediately raised arms against Xia Jie.

Before the campaign, Wu Tang addressed his people, explaining the importance of overthrowing Xia Jie and supporting his cause.

This speech was recorded by the officials and later became known as the “Tang Oath.”

After successfully defeating Xia Jie, Wu Tang exiled him to the southern nest and gradually unified and pacified the Nine Provinces.

Wu Tang thus became the new human emperor, founding a new dynasty—the Shang dynasty.

Only after aiding Wu Tang in establishing the Shang dynasty did Eastern Emperor Taiyi depart.

He destroyed his residence on Suixing and, with all his followers, ascended to the peak of Tianchi Mountain.

There, he established a new divine court in the high heavens, named the Hall of the Spirit Sovereign.

Eastern Emperor Taiyi proclaimed his existence to the entire Huaxia realm through the Heavenly Emperor Stele.

“I am the new Heavenly Emperor, Eastern Emperor Taiyi!”

“Xia Jie’s cruelty is shameful, yet the Supreme Emperor of Heaven, who occupies the highest station, turns a deaf ear to the human race’s pleas. How can he still call himself the Emperor of Heaven?”

“The Supreme Emperor is unworthy. I have been summoned by the Heavenly Emperor Stele, ascended as the Heavenly Emperor, and become Eastern Emperor Taiyi!”

“I shall fulfill the duties of the Heavenly Emperor and restore a bright and just world to Huaxia!”

Eastern Emperor Taiyi’s divine voice thundered across the realm, while the six great sages on the earth frowned deeply.

They immediately left the terrestrial realm to report to the Supreme Emperor of Heaven at the Purple Tenuity.

Eastern Emperor Taiyi’s declaration stirred a great upheaval among the myriad races of the Huaxia realm.

All eyes turned to the new divine court high above Tianchi Mountain—the Hall of the Spirit Sovereign.

The myriad races knew that Eastern Emperor Taiyi’s denunciation of the Supreme Emperor of Heaven would not go unanswered.

Soon, a great battle for the title of Heavenly Emperor was destined to erupt across the Huaxia realm!