Chapter Thirty-Four: The Star Palace Seeks Aid, the Sage’s Edict

The celestial soldier was startled when he heard Liaochen state such an illustrious background. Inwardly, he thought, “If you have such an origin, why didn’t you say so earlier? Why act all mysterious?” Feeling both frustrated and embarrassed, he quickly instructed his companion and personally went to report the matter inside.

Before long, the celestial soldier returned and said, “The Star Lords welcome you.” With that, he opened the great gates and allowed Liaochen to enter.

Once inside the Star Palace, Liaochen was greeted by starlight glittering everywhere, cast from materials unknown. The entire palace shimmered with a faint, ethereal glow, making one feel as though they were walking within a river of stars. The palace was immense; as he walked further in, Liaochen felt as insignificant as an ant crawling through the Forbidden City. All around were the palaces of the Star Lords who governed the myriad constellations. The Northern Dipper presided over the northern sky, seated within the Palace of the Purple Tenuity, under the jurisdiction of the True Martial Emperor of the North. Liaochen made his way northward and soon saw a grand palace—this was the Palace of the Northern Dipper.

“Disciple of the Eastern Emperor, Liaochen, requests an audience with the Lords of the Northern Dipper.” Having become more familiar with this process, Liaochen now spoke without any embarrassment, boldly invoking his master’s name.

“Enter,” came a reply from within the palace, a voice so resonant it shook Liaochen’s very soul. Liaochen sighed inwardly, “Compared to the ancient deities, my cultivation is still far too lacking.” He straightened his robes and stepped briskly through the gates.

Inside, he beheld the seven Star Lords—Yaoguang, Kaiyang, Yuheng, Tianji, Tianxuan, Tianquan, and Tianshu—seated in majesty upon their thrones of starlight. Their faces were indistinct, as if both near and unfathomably far. Liaochen composed himself and bowed deeply. “Disciple Liaochen pays his respects to the Lords of the Northern Dipper.”

“You’re a bold one,” Yaoguang Star Lord was the first to speak. “Last time you came seeking the Seven Stars’ aid, we helped you. Now you return again?” With a wave of his sleeve, seven star lamps appeared in projection above the hall—these were the very lamps Liaochen had lit for his rites.

“You are clever indeed, using the starlight as an excuse to ignite the seven star lamps. But with so little power, how long can they truly last? So now you come seeking our blessing, to extend the life of that emperor,” Kaiyang Star Lord continued.

“The workings of Heaven move on their own accord—how can they be changed by mortal will?” Yuheng Star Lord disagreed.

“Young man, cultivation is not easy. It’s best you give up. The lifespan of the Hongzhi Emperor is set—he will depart this life on the seventh day of the fifth month next year. This cannot be altered. Why persist and risk your own progress?” Tianji Star Lord advised.

“Indeed, if this were an ordinary person, a little more life or fortune would be of little consequence. But the emperor’s lifespan affects the fate of the world—such karma is enormous and must not be tampered with,” Tianxuan Star Lord added, shaking his head.

A chill spread through Liaochen’s heart as the Star Lords one after another rejected his petition for an extension of the emperor’s life through the stars.

“Little Daoist, you have accumulated merit and are currently favored by Heaven. Why forcefully go against the will of Heaven and risk your fortune? Now is the time for you to cultivate quietly and seek your own attainment. Why be entangled in worldly affairs? Return and focus on your practice, do not stir further trouble,” Tianquan Star Lord said gently, yet his words were still a denial.

“The great workings of Heaven are not for us to change. That I explain this to you within the Star Palace is already an exception. Please do not pursue this any further. We follow Heaven’s mandate, determining life and death and fortune and calamity on its behalf, but we cannot act against its will,” Tianshu Star Lord concluded. The verdict was clear—there would be no extension of life through the rites of the stars.

“I have long known how difficult it is to alter fate,” Liaochen replied, “but now, with Buddhism flourishing and the Taoist sects waning, I cannot reverse Heaven’s course. Yet I venture into the world to seek merit—not only for my own enlightenment but for the resurgence of our tradition.”

“You’re a sly one, bringing up such lofty principles,” Yuheng Star Lord remarked with a laugh.

“To linger here is pointless. Return now. Fate cannot be changed,” Tianshu Star Lord said again.

“The great cosmic cycle numbers fifty, yet Heaven uses only forty-nine—there is always a sliver of hope. I beg the Star Lords for compassion,” Liaochen persisted.

“How obstinate you are!” The Star Lords began to grow angry.

Still, Liaochen refused to yield. He knew if he relented now, the outcome would be final. This was his Way—unyielding and resolute. To compromise halfway would be to betray his very heart. Even if not for the emperor below, he had to persist for the sake of his own Dao.

At that moment, beyond the thirty-three heavens, within the Eight Sceneries Palace of the Tusita Heaven, the most venerable Patriarch of Daoism, the Supreme Lord, slowly awakened from his meditation. Opening his eyes, he first gazed toward the Jade Void Palace, then toward the Emerald Serenity Palace. After a long while, he smiled slightly and murmured, “The great cosmic cycle is fifty, but Heaven uses forty-nine. Indeed, there is always an anomaly in Heaven and Earth.” Having spoken, he struck his ritual bell, and a childlike figure entered the hall. “Disciple pays respects to the Lord.”

The Supreme Lord said, “Go to the Palace of the Northern Dipper and deliver my edict: Liaochen of the Daoist sect, having accumulated merit, is granted the alteration of Heaven’s will as he requests. Yet, for acting against Heaven, he must bear the consequences. Tell the Eastern Emperor to see to it himself. Let not Heaven exact its own punishment. When you have delivered the edict, go to the mortal realm, enter his sect, and help propagate our Daoist tradition. Go now.”

“Ah?” The boy was dumbfounded—delivering an edict was one thing, but why must he now descend to the mortal world? Not daring to disobey, he hurriedly mounted his cloud and sped off toward the Palace of the Northern Dipper.

Meanwhile, inside the palace, the Star Lords were becoming increasingly exasperated with their visitor. Were it not for the fact that the Eastern Emperor was not to be offended, they would have shown him the full weight of divine might. Liaochen, too, was at the end of his endurance. He knew hope was slim, yet he would not give up. This was his Dao—resolute and unwavering. To abandon his cause now would be to forfeit his very heart.

As the impasse dragged on, a voice resounded through the palace, “Edict from the Supreme Lord!” The Star Lords dared not delay. They hurried from the hall to receive the decree, with Liaochen following to kneel and listen.

“By the Supreme Lord’s edict, Liaochen of the Daoist sect, having accumulated merit, is granted alteration of Heaven’s will as he requests.” When the boy finished, the Star Lords bowed thrice to accept the order, and Liaochen knelt in joy, hardly able to believe his success. Little did he know that the messenger boy was already sizing up his future master.

Once his task was done, the boy hurried on to the Eastern Emperor’s palace to deliver another edict. He thought to himself, “Will my future master take revenge on me when he learns of today’s events?” Then he dismissed the thought, “This was the Supreme Lord’s decision—what has it to do with me?”

At this moment, Liaochen was thoroughly content, wholly unaware that “great misfortune was looming.” He was still preoccupied with how best to thank and apologize to the Star Lords for their trouble.