The lakeside divine palace, ablaze with light.
Ever since the "Holy Verdict of Fish Distribution" spread across the nine heavens and ten lands, the entire continent had gone utterly mad. Cultivators lined up obediently— even the heads of sacred sects squatted in line, waiting patiently for the "fish verdict."
But soon, an even more absurd scene unfolded.
…
That night, heaven and earth suddenly changed color.
The ground beneath the lakeshore trembled, ghostly mist surged forth. Countless blurry shadows crawled out from the depths of the earth, clad in shattered armor, eyes hollow, carrying an aura of deathly majesty.
They were the long-dead ancient powerhouses!
"We have slumbered for ten thousand years, yet been awakened…"
"It is the Holy Verdict of the Ancient God Emperor that has summoned us to rise again!"
"We greet the Heavenly Emperor!"
In an instant, the entire underworld shook, countless heroic spirits emerging from the shadows to kneel before the lake.
…
The black-haired youth was squatting by his firepit, stirring a massive pot of fish soup. The broth boiled, aroma spreading far and wide.
He muttered happily to himself: "So many fish today, might as well make one big pot so everyone can drink their fill."
Suddenly, he noticed a group of shadows staggering toward him, each in tattered rags, faces pale.
He froze for a second, then suddenly understood: "Ah! Beggars! No wonder they all look starved half to death."
He quickly waved them over: "Come on, don't be shy! The soup's ready—line up for a bowl!"
…
The heroic spirits froze in place.
A moment later, they trembled violently, eyes brimming with tears.
"The Ancient God Emperor takes pity on our souls!"
"He grants us Holy Soup to ferry our spirits—this is the ultimate mercy!"
"Too great! Too inconceivable!"
They collapsed in worship, sobbing: "We greet the Heavenly Emperor!"
…
The black-haired youth hurriedly grabbed his ladle, scooping bowl after bowl into their chipped bowls.
"Here! Don't shake so much—you spill it, no refills! Next! Next!"
As he worked, he comforted them: "Drink up, warm yourselves—don't stay hungry like you're about to die again."
…
Boom!
The moment the heroic spirits drank, thunder roared in their bodies. The dark mists dispersed, flesh reformed, and their realms surged beyond what they had in life!
"I…I've revived!"
"Holy Soup has given me new life!"
"The Heavenly Emperor is supreme!"
Countless heroic spirits wept, reborn, shouting in unison: "Ancient God Emperor, boundless grace!"
…
This scene spread across the nine heavens and ten lands.
All cultivators went insane.
"He doesn't just judge life and death—he can grant rebirth to fallen souls!"
"This surpasses even Heaven itself!"
"The Ancient God Emperor is the eternal true sovereign!"
…
Meanwhile, the black-haired youth kept scooping soup, muttering to himself:
"Damn, these folks must be starving—one bowl and they all burst into tears… tch, next time I should add more salt, the flavor's too bland."
That casual remark was instantly carved into the stone stele:
[Holy Words of the Ancient God: If flavor is bland, one will weep—more salt must be added.]
Across the continent, cultivators suddenly comprehended:
"So that's it! If cultivation isn't harsh enough, it's like bland soup that makes you weep!"
"Holy Words of truth!"
"The Ancient God is supreme!"
…
As night deepened, countless reborn heroic spirits knelt outside the lakeside divine palace, their cries echoing like thunder.
"Holy Soup grants life, boundless grace!"
"The Heavenly Emperor is the only one, revered by all realms!"
…
Meanwhile, inside the little hut, the black-haired youth hugged his empty soup pot, contentedly rolled over, and mumbled drowsily:
"Whew… so many people today, even the pot wasn't big enough. Tomorrow I'll need to find a bigger one."
Soon, his snores shook the room.
…
But across the nine heavens and ten lands, everyone now believed:
—The Ancient God Emperor not only ruled life and death, but could also resurrect the dead!