Chapter 662: The Difference Between Immortals and Gods

Heavenly Spirit God pondered for a moment before finally speaking. "There are only two paths. First, you accumulate merit, bless all living beings, and move the heavens, thus drawing the attention of the Heavenly Court, earning a place among the immortals. Second, you abandon this Great Thousand World. Though the Heavenly Court is powerful, the Great Dao is vast, and there are always places beyond its reach. Many powerful beings remain unchecked despite appearing on the Heavenly Court’s bounty list."

His words did not satisfy Gu An.

When broken down, weren’t these just two choices—submission or escape?

Heavenly Spirit God seemed to sense Gu An’s dissatisfaction and continued, "Indeed, some of the Heavenly Court's actions disregard the lives of mortals. However, the Heavenly Court is not inherently evil. In fact, the existence of the Three Thousand Great Worlds and the rarity of immortal and divine interventions prove how strict the Heavenly Laws are. Within any great power, there is both good and bad—there is no absolute justice or fairness in any system."

"The internal struggles within the Heavenly Court are immense. The Heavenly Emperor, who stands above all, spends most of his time in seclusion, rarely involving himself in worldly matters. Over countless eras, the Heavenly Court has undergone numerous internal purges. Yet, no matter how many changes occur, immortals and gods are ultimately bound by interests and power. When immortality is no longer a dream, the only pursuits left are power and status."

"Joining the Heavenly Court is not as dreadful as you might think. Nor does it mean losing your so-called freedom. As long as one fulfills their assigned duties, immortals and gods still have plenty of personal time."

Though he had submitted to Gu An, it was more out of necessity than choice. In his heart, he still hoped Gu An would one day join the Heavenly Court.

With Gu An's abilities, rising to a rank higher than even Immortal Lords would not be difficult.

Gu An smiled and said, "I do not reject the Heavenly Court outright. I am simply cautious about the unknown. Even you are unsure of the Heavenly Court's true location or the extent of its power."

Hearing this, Heavenly Spirit God sighed deeply.

In the Heavenly Spirit Great World, he was an exalted Heavenly God, yet he had never even set foot in the Heavenly Court. Within its vast system, he was merely a lowly figure, unnoticed and insignificant.

Even if he violated the Heavenly Laws or neglected his duties, it would take ages before the Heavenly Court even bothered to deal with him—simply because he was too unimportant.

Thinking about this, Heavenly Spirit God felt a deep sense of frustration.

Had he taken the wrong path all those years ago? If he had not obsessed over the Immortal Palace’s treasure, would he have ended up in this predicament?

Gu An chuckled and asked, "I’ve heard that among Heavenly Gods, your talent is quite exceptional. Do you not have greater aspirations? Do you plan to remain a mere Heavenly God forever?"

Heavenly Spirit God shook his head. "All who become Heavenly Gods are of the highest talent. No matter how hard I cultivate, advancing further would take countless years."

"I have a junior who is currently undergoing the selection process for Heavenly Gods. He is training under a Heavenly Army. Have you heard of Heaven-Stabilizing God?" Gu An asked, recalling Zhang Buku.

Heavenly Spirit God nodded. "I know him. He is actually my senior. He serves Huang Feng Immortal Lord and holds a relatively high status among Heavenly Gods. The lowest-ranked Heavenly Gods are those like myself, tasked with guarding a Great Thousand World. Heaven-Stabilizing God, on the other hand, is not bound to a single place. His authority is similar to that of a Destruction God, allowing him to move freely across the Three Thousand Great Worlds."

Speaking of Heaven-Stabilizing God, Heavenly Spirit God's tone carried a hint of envy.

Gu An now had a clearer understanding of Heavenly Gods.

Even within the same rank, power and privileges varied greatly.

Once the topic had been brought up, Heavenly Spirit God continued to recount his experiences serving the Heavenly Court. Since memories involving the Heavenly Court could not be extracted or altered, Gu An was deeply interested in hearing about his past.

The universe remained silent, the distant stars flickering in the void.

Sitting by the Realm Gate, drinking together, Gu An and Heavenly Spirit God seemed unaffected by the passage of time. Cups were raised and emptied, as the vast cosmos continued its endless cycle of change.

…

Heavenly Spirit God continued speaking, his voice filled with reminiscence. "In the Heavenly Court, everything is dictated by power. The higher one's status, the more divine authority one holds. Some Immortal Lords control entire domains, while others can only carry out menial tasks. Those like me, who guard a single Great Thousand World, are at the very bottom."

Gu An listened calmly, sipping his wine. He had already realized that the Heavenly Court was not as monolithic as it seemed. Immortals and gods were not all equal, and their hierarchies were just as rigid as those in the mortal world.

"Since you have served the Heavenly Court for so long, you must have encountered some powerful figures. Who do you think is the strongest among them?" Gu An asked.

Heavenly Spirit God pondered for a moment before replying, "If we speak of power alone, naturally, the Heavenly Emperor reigns supreme. However, he rarely intervenes in worldly matters. Among those beneath him, many hold terrifying strength, such as Huang Feng Immortal Lord, the Twelve Heavenly Monarchs, and the Four Great Divine Generals. The most enigmatic of them all, however, is the Judge of Eternal Judgment. No one knows where he came from, nor does anyone know his true strength."

Gu An raised an eyebrow. "The Judge of Eternal Judgment?"

Heavenly Spirit God nodded. "His authority allows him to judge both immortals and gods, deciding their fate. Even Immortal Lords fear him. Some say he is older than the Heavenly Court itself, an entity that existed before its formation."

Gu An found this interesting. A being that even Immortal Lords feared? It seemed that the Heavenly Court hid far more secrets than he had anticipated.

The two continued drinking as the distant stars flickered in the void, an eternal witness to their conversation.

Meanwhile, deep within the Heavenly Court, in a realm shrouded in golden divine light, a grand immortal palace floated above the celestial clouds. A colossal golden list hovered in the sky, inscribed with countless names—the Heavenly Court's bounty list.

Among them, one name suddenly brightened.

Gu An.

At the same time, in another part of the cosmos, a figure clad in black armor, his eyes like burning stars, turned to look at the glowing name. He let out a soft chuckle.

"Interesting… so he's finally caught their attention."

With that, the figure disappeared into the vast starry sky.

Back at the Realm Gate, Gu An suddenly felt a faint sense of unease, though he could not pinpoint its source. He frowned slightly but quickly pushed the thought aside.

Heavenly Spirit God noticed the change in his expression and asked, "What is it?"

Gu An shook his head. "Nothing... just a feeling."

Heavenly Spirit God didn't press further. Instead, he refilled his cup and continued drinking.

For now, the universe remained peaceful. But in the depths of the Heavenly Court, unseen forces had already begun to stir.