The nine heavens and ten lands were ablaze with frenzy.
Ever since the "Sacred Words of the Ancient God: Go back to sleep" spread across the world, countless cultivators shut their eyes and dozed off—and shockingly, many broke through in their sleep, their power surging.
At once, the "Sleep Cultivation Method" swept across the continent, chanted by all.
Sects stuffed disciples into beds, desperate for them to sleep day and night. Once-proud holy lands of cultivation had turned into giant nap halls.
…
Meanwhile, higher powers could no longer sit still.
In the Central Divine Dynasty, within the golden throne hall—
The Son of Heaven, draped in dragon robes, spoke gravely: "Since this man has been proven the embodiment of the ancient god's will, our dynasty must be the first to honor him!"
The court roared in unison: "We implore Your Majesty to immediately enthrone the ancient god as Heavenly Emperor!"
And so, a grand procession set out: the golden imperial carriage, thousands of armored soldiers, banners blotting out the sun, a spectacle like mountains and seas.
…
At the lakeside, the black-haired youth squatted by his fire, flipping flatbreads.
"Fish soup every day gets boring. Today I'll roll some fish in a flatbread—delicious."
Just as he turned the bread, golden light blazed across the horizon, drums thundering like storms.
He looked up to see thousands of soldiers arrayed, golden chariots rolling slowly. At the front, a brocaded envoy shouted loudly:
"Decree of the Nine Heavens Divine Dynasty!"
…
The youth jumped in fright, nearly tossing his flatbread into the fire.
"What the hell? A decree? What are you, city guards? Coming to say I set up an illegal stall by the lake?"
…
The envoy solemnly unfurled a golden scroll, his voice booming across the land:
"By mandate of heaven, the emperor decrees—since the ancient god has revealed himself, he is hereby enthroned as Heavenly Emperor, ruler of the nine heavens and ten lands, commander of all nations!"
The soldiers roared as one: "Hail to the Heavenly Emperor!"
…
The black-haired youth was utterly dumbfounded, blinking: "Huh? Heavenly Emperor? Me?"
Then it clicked, and he suddenly understood:
"Ohhh—you want me to be the village chief! Haha, why so roundabout? Just say we're building a village and need someone in charge!"
Thumping his chest, he laughed: "Alright, alright, since everyone trusts me, I'll do it! But as village chief, I won't be collecting taxes—I'm only in charge of fishing!"
…
In the ministers' ears, his words boomed like divine thunder.
"Did you hear?! The ancient god said—he only concerns himself with fishing!"
"This means he scorns mortal power and governs only the Dao itself!"
"This is the supreme will of the Heavenly Emperor!"
Tears streamed down their faces as they cried out: "The Heavenly Emperor is supreme!"
…
The youth blinked, muttering to himself: "Wow, these guys really put on a show—even the synchronized kneeling looks good."
He waved his hand: "Alright, alright, enough kneeling—come eat some flatbread! Fresh off the fire, fish rolls, smells great!"
He handed a warm bread to the brocaded envoy.
…
The envoy shook all over, receiving it with trembling hands and tears flowing.
"The Heavenly Emperor… has bestowed divine cuisine!"
He carefully bit into it—instantly, thunder roared inside him and his realm surged upward on the spot!
"I… I advanced!"
The crowd erupted.
"The Heavenly Emperor's cuisine! One bite and you ascend!"
"Terrifying! This is the greatest fortune under heaven!"
"The Heavenly Emperor truly is the ancient god's voice on earth!"
…
The youth's eyelid twitched madly. "…What the hell? I only put in a little salt—is it really that dramatic?"
…
That night, the nine heavens and ten lands spiraled into madness again.
The decree spread across all realms:
"The ancient god has ascended, honored as Heavenly Emperor, his Dao is fishing alone."
Countless cultivators set up rods by rivers, lakes, and seas, fishing day and night.
One man fished three days straight and truly broke through. At once, "Fishing Cultivation" was exalted as the supreme orthodoxy of the Dao!
…
Meanwhile, the "Heavenly Emperor" himself sat by his fire, chewing flatbread, mumbling with his mouth full:
"Being village chief isn't so hard—just means more people to feed."
Looking up at the starry sky, he burped contentedly.
"Phew—tomorrow I'll make more flatbread, and fish up some extras to share."
To him, it was nothing more than ordinary daily life.
But in the hearts of billions across the nine heavens and ten lands, it had already become—
The Ancient God fishes, the Heavenly Emperor walks the world.