Chapter 110: Marshal of the Celestial Roc

The first Grand Dao Convention was unprecedented in its strength and prosperity, with countless formidable figures and honored masters emerging. Yet, there was a peculiarity unique to this inaugural gathering, never seen in any subsequent convention. Although the first Grand Dao Convention produced a top ten of the strongest contenders, these ten did not engage in a decisive battle to determine their ultimate ranking. Instead, they were all named as equals—a special circumstance in which no true champion was crowned, only a tenfold pantheon of the mighty.

This peculiarity left later generations with a daunting riddle: among the first Grand Dao Convention’s heroes, who was truly the strongest? Was it the Dao Sovereign of the Five Elements, the Water Kun Lord, the Celestial Peng Lord, or another? Among many theories that circulated in later eras, one became particularly popular. It was said that at the time, the Divine Court sent only the Star-Catcher Celestial, disciple of the Divine Emperor, to compete. Yet, having only just reached the peak of the lower god-lord realm, the Star-Catcher Celestial was no match for the likes of the Dao Sovereign of the Five Elements and others.

To preserve the dignity of the Divine Court and ensure his disciple would not be defeated, the Divine Emperor Nanluo was said to have deliberately canceled the final showdown, declaring the ten strongest as equals. Obviously, this tale was spread by the followers of the Immortal Way to slander the Divine Court and the Divine Emperor. For how noble and proud was Emperor Nanluo—how could he stoop to such petty schemes?

In the end, the Demon Master Kunpeng would provide a more reasonable explanation for this unique outcome. Kunpeng, who had participated in the first Grand Dao Convention as the Celestial Peng Lord and became one of the ten, naturally possessed both the authority and the insight to reveal the truth. The Demon Master Kunpeng stated, “The reason for the tenfold tie in the first Grand Dao Convention was that the Divine Emperor was locked in a power struggle with other supreme beings. The ten contenders came from all factions—a tangled mix of interests—making it nearly impossible to decide a victor. Thus, the Divine Emperor Nanluo simply declared all ten as equals, avoiding unnecessary sacrifice and conflict.”

Thus, the annals of the Divine Race record the tenfold tie of the first Grand Dao Convention.

Nanluo sat upright upon the Supreme Dragon Throne, suspended amidst the clouds, his golden eyes scrutinizing the Celestial Peng Lord before him. Under the divine radiance of Nanluo’s gaze, the Peng Lord’s true form gradually emerged—a jet-black Kunpeng.

“In the Northern Sea, there is a fish called Kun. The Kun is so vast that no one knows how many thousands of miles it spans. It transforms into a bird called Peng. The Peng’s back is equally immeasurable. When angered into flight, its wings block out the sky like clouds.” So goes the tale of the Unfettered Journey.

In primordial myth, the Kunpeng is the sole divine beast of heaven and earth, born with unparalleled might, capable of devouring the sun, moon, and stars above, and swallowing the waters of the four seas below—its power boundless. According to later legends, the only Kunpeng in all creation is the Demon Master himself.

Therefore, it could only be that the Celestial Peng Lord standing here was none other than the future Demon Master Kunpeng. Or rather, the Demon Master Kunpeng’s previous incarnation was the Celestial Peng Lord.

“To think that the Demon Master Kunpeng, so renowned in later ages, is now but a general at my command,” Nanluo mused, struck by the fickleness of fate. If the Demon Master was once subordinate to Emperor Nanluo, then would the later sages—Sanqing, Nuwa, and the rest—serve the Divine Emperor as well, or would they oppose him and rally the immortals in rebellion?

In a fleeting instant, Emperor Nanluo’s thoughts drifted into the misty future. He saw the sages bowing at his feet—and then again, he saw them, led by the Three Pure Ones, rallying the immortals in defiance, striving to overturn the rule of the divine. “Slay them! Rebel against the heavens! Destroy the gods!” Three towering figures raised the banner of “Immortal,” leading countless spirits in a thunderous assault on the Celestial Court. The clamor of endless armies and the clash of steel echoed faintly in Nanluo’s ears, startling him from his visionary trance.

Outwardly, Nanluo remained composed and majestic, but within him surged a storm that would not soon subside. “The Demon Master Kunpeng is a mighty figure of the Immortal Way; only through him could such entanglements between immortals and gods arise. Is this vision a warning from Heaven itself?” Nanluo’s golden eyes fell once more upon the Celestial Peng Lord, his divine consciousness racing.

So absorbed was Nanluo in these thoughts of immortal and godly strife that he momentarily forgot the Celestial Peng Lord awaiting his investiture below—and likewise the millions of divine spirits watching him intently. This lapse left the Peng Lord and the vast audience in a state of agony. None dared move or think aloud before the awe-inspiring, sacred Emperor; all could only wait in silence for his decree. The atmosphere at the Dao Altar became as frozen as ice, cold and oppressive.

Fortunately, the Martial Arms Celestial noticed the emperor’s distraction and quickly roused Nanluo from his reverie. Awakened, Nanluo gazed down at the Celestial Peng Lord and the myriad divine spirits. In his brilliant, commanding golden eyes, there now glimmered a trace of chill as he spoke calmly, “Peng, receive your title!”

Upon hearing the emperor’s summons, the Celestial Peng Lord heaved a deep sigh of relief and strode forward, responding in a resonant voice, “Your humble servant is here!”

The gathered millions in the audience also breathed sighs of relief upon hearing the emperor’s words. The pressure of Nanluo’s presence was so overwhelming that, even seated and silent upon his throne, he made those below feel as though they bore a divine mountain upon their shoulders.

Nanluo regarded the Peng Lord and, recalling his ambition and desire for fame, deliberated briefly before proclaiming, “I hereby appoint you as Grand Marshal of the Heavenly River, holding the rank of first grade, with command over the myriad armies of the Milky Way.”

No sooner had these words been spoken than the Sea of Destiny above the Celestial Court coalesced into an image of the Peng Lord, placing him immediately below the Twelve Celestial Ministers, as an equal to the Black Tortoise Lord and other first-grade officials—far surpassing the likes of Star-Catcher and Frostling.

Instantly, the audience was thrown into an uproar. All eyes turned to the Peng Lord’s newly exalted image, astonished at his rise. “What virtue or ability does the Celestial Peng Lord possess to stand alongside the mighty Black Tortoise Lord of the Nine Clans?” they wondered.

All living beings were shocked by Nanluo’s decree, and many questioned whether the Peng Lord deserved such a high office. In the grand halls of the Three Clans, the Candle Dragon, Phoenix Radiance, and Qilin Blaze each issued orders to collect all information on the Celestial Peng Lord.

After carefully reviewing all the Peng Lord’s records and deeds, the Candle Dragon frowned and asked in a cold, puzzled tone, “There is nothing extraordinary about this Peng Lord. Why does Nanluo value him so highly?”

While the audience below erupted in debate and astonishment, the Celestial Peng Lord, after his initial shock, felt only exhilaration and wild joy. As Nanluo well understood, whether as the Peng Lord of the present or the Demon Master Kunpeng of the future, he was a lover of fame above all.

Had he not craved renown, would he have dared to seize invitations to the Peach Banquet, or brawl with the Abyssal Sea Lord at the feast? All these were but little ploys to attract the attention of Emperor Nanluo.

By committing minor transgressions, he successfully drew the emperor’s notice, ultimately earning his favor. Was this not a subtle and brilliant tactic?

Indeed, it was only because he captured Nanluo’s attention that, after a hundred thousand years imprisoned in the Celestial Dungeon, he survived to grow in power and claim a place among the top ten at the Grand Dao Convention, his name resounding far and wide.

Nanluo, knowing well the Peng Lord’s hunger for renown, thus awarded him the command of the Heavenly River armies, hoping thereby to win his allegiance. And it was a most effective strategy.

Upon learning of his investiture as Grand Marshal of the Heavenly River, ranked beside the Black Tortoise Lord, the Peng Lord truly felt a warrior’s devotion to a wise sovereign. Though he heard the murmurs of dissent below, he paid them no heed.

In his mind, he was destined to shake the heavens and become famed throughout the world—why concern himself with the judgments of the weak? All great figures share one trait: boundless pride, immune to the opinions of others.

“Your subject, Grand Marshal Peng, offers thanks to His Divine Majesty!” The Celestial Peng Lord—no, now the newly invested Grand Marshal Peng—bowed deeply, with utmost respect and devotion, to Emperor Nanluo.

As the ceremony concluded, a golden light descended from the heavens, enrobing Grand Marshal Peng in the silver armor and cloak of the Heavenly River, making him appear incomparably majestic and peerless.