Above the peaks of Xiufeng Mountain, not only did countless seven-colored lightning bolts transform into flowing ribbons of rainbow light, but the clouds welling up out of nowhere were also dyed with seven-colored radiance, turning into masses of auspicious clouds.
Even the roaring wind that shook heaven and earth transformed into the deep, resonant tones of grand bells and hanging drums, playing solemn ritual and elegant music.
Xiufeng Mountain, which had originally been nothing more than an ordinary ridge, continuously swelled and grew taller, expanding at a rapid pace.
In the blink of an eye, it surpassed every single mountain and peak within Hengzhou, standing alone in majestic isolation to dominate the southeast of Great Wei.
While Xiufeng Mountain continued to rise and grow, at the very peak, surrounded by a ring of peach trees, a divine temple burst forth from the earth. Growing against the wind, it was forged by the creation of heaven and earth.
When Xiufeng Mountain finally ceased its growth, the temple also stabilized, standing lofty, ancient, unadorned, and magnificent.
Hanging above the temple gate was a plaque inscribed with four vigorous, spirit-infused characters: Peach Blossom Temple.
Upon the divine altar in the main hall within, a divine statue stood strikingly—sacred, majestic, and bearing a strong resemblance to the Peach Blossom Goddess herself.
The Peach Blossom Goddess had truly been conferred and divinized!
Before the temple stood a stone tablet known as the Heaven and Earth Conferment Monument.
In addition to the full text of the *Petition to Heaven and Earth to Confer Upon the Peach Blossom Goddess*, the inscriptions at the very bottom included a few extra lines of signatures:
Chief Officiant: Li Wangyi of Hanshan Academy
Assistant Officiants: Guo Hengbei, Guo Nanjun, and Wei Lun of Hengzhou, Great Wei
Assistant Officiant: Qianjun of Hanshan Academy
The twenty-fifth day of the fourth month in the eighteenth year of Zhicheng of Great Wei
...
North of Hengzhou lay the capital of Great Wei.
Emperor Cao Chong of Great Wei, Senior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet Tang Diao'ao, Grand Commander of the Five Inspectorate Divine Generals Mansion Xiao Zhanzhi, Grand Astrologer and National Preceptor Zhang Chengxu, Grand Secretaries Xu, Yang, and Yan, along with other high-ranking court ministers, gathered together upon the Star-Watching Platform.
"National Preceptor, how is it?" Emperor Cao Chong asked with regal authority.
Having just put away the Heaven-Scouting Array of Stars, National Preceptor Zhang Chengxu bowed at the emperor's inquiry and replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this old subject understands."
"Speak."
The senior grand secretary, the grand commander, the three grand secretaries, the ministers of the Six Ministries, and all the others looked toward him.
Zhang Chengxu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, "Your Majesty, this heaven-shaking and earth-shattering omen arose because a peach blossom sprite, located one thousand five hundred li away at Xiufeng Mountain in Hengzhou, has received the conferment of heaven and earth."
"Heaven and Earth Conferment?"
These words greatly shook the high court ministers present.
Emperor Cao Chong, seated high upon his throne, was also taken aback before saying in a deep voice, "Are you certain it is a conferment of heaven and earth?"
"Yes, this old subject has used the Heaven-Scouting Array of Stars to confirm it three times. At this very moment, at Xiufeng Mountain in Hengzhou, heavenly colored ribbons and auspicious clouds are descending, while earthly mountain mists and water vapors are rising. Combining into the brilliant radiance of the Divine Path, they converge upon the body of the peach blossom sprite to confer her rightful position."
The Emperor of Wei fell silent.
The gathering of important ministers upon the Star-Watching Platform also fell into contemplation.
Soon, Junior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet Xu Qingzheng sighed and said, "Heaven and earth conferment... the last time heaven and earth conferred a deity upon our Northern Zhige Continent was three thousand years ago..."
Senior Grand Secretary Tang Diao'ao went straight to the point, asking, "National Preceptor, what is the background of this peach blossom sprite that she could actually receive a heaven and earth conferment?"
Zhang Chengxu replied, "Three hundred years ago, a Daoist nun who had attained the Dao in Middle Earth Divine Continent crossed the continents. When passing through Hengzhou, due to a certain opportunity, she buried a peach blossom hairpin. It later grew into a peach orchard, and from this the peach blossom sprite was born."
"Ever since the peach orchard grew, the miasma and malignity in the Hengzhou region have vanished, the landscapes have grown clear and bright, and the common people have enjoyed bountiful harvests—all relying on her merit."
Senior Grand Secretary Tang Diao'ao remarked, "Merely that should not be enough for a heaven and earth conferment."
After all, vast as the world was, if three hundred years of merit could win the recognition of heaven and earth to be conferred as a true god, then every continent would be crawling with true gods of heaven and earth.
In reality, across the entire world, deities conferred by heaven and earth could be counted on two hands altogether.
As for the sprawling Northern Zhige Continent, there had been only a single one from ancient times to the present.
National Preceptor Zhang Chengxu answered, "What Lord Tang says is true. That the peach blossom sprite was able to obtain a heaven and earth conferment in an ordinary place this time must have its reasons, or perhaps she had the assistance of some high master."
Must have its reasons?
Assistance from a high master?
Junior Grand Secretary Xu Qingzheng spoke once more: "National Preceptor, can you deduce what reason there might be, or what high master from what quarter assisted her?"
National Preceptor Zhang Chengxu shook his head. "At this moment, within a radius of one hundred li of Xiufeng Mountain, the heavenly secrets are in chaos and the earthly terrain is surging upward. It is impossible to deduce or observe anything."
Hearing this, the other two grand secretaries and the six ministers immediately pinched their fingers and swept their sleeves, executing their respective divine arts to make deductions, but soon they all gave up.
Sure enough, let alone within a radius of one hundred li of Xiufeng Mountain, even the heavenly secrets and earthly terrain of the entire Hengzhou region were reduced to a blank chaos, impossible to observe.
This left the Star-Watching Platform in profound silence.
After a long while, Emperor Cao Chong spoke. "My lords, how should this matter be judged?"
The high court ministers quickly weighed the matter without speaking lightly.
After all, deities conferred by heaven and earth differed from the landscape deities, city gods, and earth gods enfeoffed by the imperial court; they were not subject to the jurisdiction of the court, nor were they troubled by mortal incense and fire.
It was equivalent to stepping beyond the Three Realms and standing outside the Five Elements.
This also meant that while this newly born Peach Blossom God had appeared within the borders of Great Wei, she was not subject to the control of the Great Wei imperial court.
With such a transcendent status, how ought Great Wei treat her?
"National Preceptor?" Emperor Cao Chong called upon him once more.
National Preceptor Zhang Chengxu replied, "Your Majesty, a heaven and earth conferment is a grand event celebrated by all heaven and earth. The newly born Peach Blossom God enjoys the shared favor of heaven and earth, boasting extraordinary potential and a boundless divine path."
"Xiufeng Mountain—or strictly speaking, what should now be called Xiufeng Mountain—is currently the premier mountain of Hengzhou. As the Peach Blossom God grows, it will inevitably become the premier mountain of Great Wei, and perhaps even more than that."
"If the ancient records regarding the previous heaven and earth conferment are correct, Xiufeng Mountain may well become the second greatest mountain in the entire Northern Zhige Continent, second only to Donghua Mountain."
"And the Peach Blossom God of Xiufeng Mountain will likewise become the second greatest deity in the Northern Zhige Continent, second only to the Divine Lord of Donghua Mountain."
"Therefore, in this old subject's view, toward this newly born Peach Blossom God, our Great Wei should treat her with grand hospitality and not be negligent!"
Emperor Cao Chong pondered for a moment, then looked toward Zhao Buyi, the Minister of Rites.
"Minister Zhao, what is your view?"
The task of assessing and reviewing the landscape deities, city gods, earth gods, grain spirits, stove grandmothers, and other true gods enfeoffed by the court fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites. The Minister of Rites was the central figure in handling all affairs of the Divine Path.
Questioned by the emperor, Minister of Rites Zhao Buyi stepped forward and replied, "Your Majesty, this minister agrees with the National Preceptor's opinion. We ought to treat this future second deity of the Northern Zhige Continent with ritual courtesy."
"Although this Peach Blossom God was conferred by heaven and earth and is not enfeoffed by the court, since she resides within our borders, she will naturally consolidate the mountain and river national fortune of Great Wei."
"According to the regulations of the imperial dynasty's *Grand Canon of Deities*, we may dispatch an envoy delegation, laden with generous gifts, to go and offer congratulations in order to forge friendly ties."
Emperor Cao Chong looked toward the others.
Senior Grand Secretary Tang Diao'ao cupped his hands. "This minister seconds the motion."
Junior Grand Secretary Xu Qingzheng and the other grand secretaries and ministers also bowed together, saying, "We too second this motion!"
Only the premier divine general of Great Wei, Grand Commander Xiao Zhanzhi, remained detached from worldly affairs, sitting steadily upon the Star-Watching Platform without uttering a sound.
"Since that is the case, convey My imperial decree: Dispatch the Minister of Rites, the Vice Director of the Astronomical Bureau, and the Ninth Prince to lead an envoy delegation to Hengzhou to congratulate the Peach Blossom God. All specifications are to be arranged according to the rites of the fengchan sacrifice."
"Furthermore, the person who presided over the heaven and earth conferment should also be tracked down, and sincerely invited to enter the court. They must not be slighted."
The emperor finally issued a solemn decree.
"We obey the decree!"
Soon, an envoy delegation headed by Zhao Buyi, Minister of Rites of Great Wei, Daoist Longquan, Vice Director of the Astronomical Bureau, and the Ninth Prince Cao Zaokong marched out of the capital.
...
While the Great Wei court's envoy delegation was still being assembled, a divine chariot hailing from the Eastern Territory had already arrived amidst the clouds high above Xiufeng Mountain.
Standing within the divine chariot were four charming and spirited divine maidens: two at the rear holding up a pair of majestic ceremonial canopies, and two at the front—one holding a white jade fruit platter and the other carrying a green-gold wine flagon.
There was also a graceful and poised divine attendant standing at the very front of the chariot, responsible for driving the cloud-patterned flying beasts and steering the divine chariot.
Upon the chariot rested a soft jade couch.
Reclining halfway upon the couch was a tall, languid woman of peerless elegance.