Volume One, Chapter 119: The Winds Rise on Wall Star

The Taihuang Huangzeng Heaven is much like the Four Heavenly Kings' Heaven in the Buddhist cosmology, and Yu Jian Yuming is the closest thing to an emperor for the Great Fuli World.

The Great Fuli World is, in fact, what the Buddhists refer to as the Four Great Continents. The Jambudvipa world, which includes Earth, falls under the jurisdiction of Yu Jian Yuming. It is often said that whether in the earthly realm or the heavenly realm, the phenomenon of overlapping management is truly pervasive. For instance, this Great Fuli World is claimed by the Taoists, the Buddhists, and the Olympian Heavenly Realm. It is fortunate that each group focuses on different aspects of governance; otherwise, there is no telling what kind of chaos would ensue.

As for the Heavenly Realm, it is vast and expansive, yet it too suffers from overlapping authority and intersecting claims. It is a tangled web of "you in me and me in you," chaotic and utterly devoid of structure. For example, in the Andromeda constellation, there are many stars belonging to the Kui, Bi, Shi, and Lou mansions. The various factions have their fingers in each other’s pies, and while neither the intruders nor the intruded upon are particularly pleased, it is the reality of the situation. No one can change it, so they simply constrain their subordinates, avoid trespassing on territory already firmly occupied by others, and generally maintain a state of relative peace.

Cassiopeia is quite a notable figure within the Three Enclosures of the North Pole. Why? Because within the region she governs, there are more than thirty stars from the Northern Heavenly Heavens scattered about. The masters of these stars, including those of the Celestial Bed—the harem of the Great Emperor Ziwei—all maintain good relations with her. Some even whisper that certain star officials of the North Pole have had illicit affairs with Cassiopeia. In particular, the great divine star officials of the Ziwei Enclosure often sing of her as their "public sweetheart," and as a result, many bawdy jokes about her bedroom escapades circulate widely throughout the Northern Heavens. Given the lewd nature of these stories, we shall say no more.

Yu Jian Yuming and Cassiopeia are, of course, well acquainted. Although Yu Jian Yuming is perhaps the most insignificant among the thirty-two heavenly emperors, he is, after all, a heavenly emperor in his own right. He once invited Cassiopeia to visit his Purple Extreme Palace in the void, hoping for a chance to seduce her. However, although Cassiopeia is notoriously flirtatious, she is also selective. She felt that while Yu Jian Yuming was wealthy and powerful, he was not handsome enough to meet her standards for infidelity, so she never let him have his way. She would simply tease him until he was burning with unrequited desire, then gracefully bid him farewell. In truth, Cassiopeia merely played with him as if he were a fool. Over time, Yu Jian Yuming lost interest, thinking to himself, "Do you take me for a plaything? I am done playing with you." Consequently, he harbors a degree of resentment toward her. Meeting on the road today, the two old rivals could not help but engage in a display of false pleasantries and hypocritical posturing.

Seeing a youthful, handsome young man in Cassiopeia’s carriage, Yu Jian Yuming was overcome with jealousy. He could not help but make snide remarks, attempting to pick a fight with Tu Zhe. Of course, Yu Jian Yuming knew Tu Zhe’s true identity—he was merely a minor emperor from an outer domain, traveling through the North Pole with a mature woman in tow. Naturally, as a heavenly emperor, he had to maintain a certain level of decorum and could not express his dissatisfaction too directly. Thus, the three parties merged into one and headed toward the star Bi-2.

As they proceeded toward Bi-2, they encountered Xu Anatian, the Lord of the Tai Ming Yu Wan Heaven—the second of the thirty-two heavens—who resides in the Purple Chamber Palace within the void between the Bi mansions. Naturally, this led to another round of hollow greetings and mutual suspicion, with plenty of empty talk but not a single mention of the true purpose of their journey. Tu Zhe began to feel that something was amiss. Could it be that all these great deities were so bored today that they had nothing better to do than take a stroll to Bi-2? He guessed that something must have happened on the planet.

Just as they approached Bi-2, the four parties encountered another royal figure: Tang Youyou, the Lord of the Northwest You Heaven, one of the Nine Heavens. Tang Youyou is a distant nephew of the Jade Emperor and a pampered, golden-leafed prince. He was granted the Northwest You Heaven as a fiefdom and is supported by the lords of the Kui, Bi, and Lou mansions. While he cannot interfere in local administration, his influence is considerable. Tang Youyou is not particularly talented—his divine power is at most that of a low-level Great Emperor—but he possesses a vast array of powerful magical artifacts. Most mansion lords dare not provoke him because he is like a mad dog, biting whoever he catches, regardless of right or wrong. This tendency to avoid him has only fueled his arrogance. He often resorts to violence at the slightest dissatisfaction, leading to a private saying in the Northwest Heavens: "Beware of fire, beware of theft, and beware of Youyou."

Since Tang Youyou was also heading to Bi-2, the situation became quite lively. The other four groups yielded to him, letting him lead the way. Tang Youyou did not stand on ceremony and took the lead as they flew toward Bi-2. Tu Zhe, meanwhile, sat in the carriage, holding his dog and lost in thought. He realized he truly knew very little about these Northern Heavens. What his master, Mara Papiyas, had taught him was merely a general overview, and the reality was far more complex. The Taihuang Huangzeng Heaven, the Tai Ming Yu Wan Heaven, and the Northwest You Heaven all had overlapping claims or interests in the region. Thinking of the master of the Bi-Shui-Bi mansion, who is a key subordinate of the True Martial Emperor, caught between so many "mothers-in-law," Tu Zhe wondered how he managed to survive at all.

Lost in these musings, the group descended onto Bi-2. The atmosphere on the planet was already chaotic. The Thunder Ancestor and his retinue were still in a standoff with the little pig. When star officials reported that Andromeda had arrived, they hurriedly sent people to welcome her, but secretly instructed that she be housed in her own palace. Soon after, news came that the Lord of the You Heaven, Tang Youyou, had arrived; they had to greet the Thunder Ancestor briefly before rushing off to receive him personally. Upon reaching the guesthouse, they saw Yu Jian Yuming, Xu Anatian, Cassiopeia, and the young emperor Tu Zhe.

Aside from Tu Zhe, every arrival gave the star official Shi Su a headache. Tang Youyou was a pampered prince she could not afford to offend; the Taihuang Huangzeng Heaven was a regulatory body with jurisdiction over part of her territory; the Tai Ming Yu Wan Heaven held sway over most of her stars, making them semi-superiors; and as for Cassiopeia—that woman was simply incomprehensible. Why bring her daughter here? Was it not chaotic enough? However, seeing the young outsider Tu Zhe in her carriage, she understood that Cassiopeia was playing a game of her own, and consequently, she felt no goodwill toward him either.

Fortunately, Shi Su was mild-mannered by nature and, even if she looked down on Tu Zhe, she did not show it. Her diplomatic etiquette remained impeccable. A woman of great talent, she immediately realized that the news about the Heavenly Spring was no longer a secret. All these parties, including the Thunder Ancestor, had ill intentions and were likely looking to leverage the Chu Tiange affair to their own advantage. With the little pig still on the spit, she wondered if something might go wrong. After a moment of contemplation, a plan formed in her mind. Since everyone had come, she would let them join the fray. She wanted to see if the Demon-Slaying Thunder Lord dared to finish off the little pig under the watchful eyes of all these guests. With a charming smile, Shi Su invited them all to the plaza to witness a friendly sparring match.