Chapter 18: The Four Heavenly Kings and the Four Great Continents

Jiang Wang and his company paused at the edge of the East China Sea along the coast of the Eastern Purvavideha Continent. The Heavenly General wore a troubled expression, while the heavenly soldiers looked straight ahead, eyes fixed on their noses, remaining silent. Jiang Wang stood upon the clouds, his thoughts drifting.

The dragon maiden, Yan Cai, was right before them, yet the Heavenly General dared not advance. The reason for this lay in the rigid hierarchy of the Heavenly Court. The mortal realm was divided into four great continents: Eastern Purvavideha, Western Aparagodaniya, Southern Jambudvipa, and Northern Uttarakuru. Beyond these, there were eight smaller continents: Deha, Videha, Satha, Uttaramantrina, Camara, Avaracamara, Kurava, and Kaurava. These were not mere continents in the conventional sense; more accurately, the four great continents were vast star domains spanning countless billions of miles, while the eight smaller continents were the regions interspersed between them.

The East Sea Dragon King’s palace was located in Eastern Purvavideha, as was the ancestral home of the Monkey King. His Mountain of Flowers and Fruit was the primordial source of the ten continents and the origin of the three islands, formed at the dawn of the separation of heaven and earth. Its origins were so prestigious that it inevitably drew the attention of major powers, leading the monkey to embark on the tribulation of the westward journey.

The reason the Heavenly General feared entering Eastern Purvavideha stemmed from the rules of the Heavenly Court. Each of the four great continents was guarded by a Heavenly King. The guardian of Eastern Purvavideha was none other than the Eastern Heavenly King, Dhritarashtra, Mo Li-Hai! This Heavenly King was a formidable warrior and one of the most powerful deities in the court. He carried a jade pipa with four strings representing earth, water, fire, and wind; a single pluck could summon storms of fire. As the guardian of Eastern Purvavideha and one of the four great generals protecting the Southern Heaven Gate, he was effectively the direct superior of the Heavenly General and his troops.

While Jiang Wang served under Zhao Gongming, within the vicinity of the Southern Heaven Gate, Zhao Gongming’s name carried less weight than that of the Four Heavenly Kings. Thus, Mo Li-Hai represented an insurmountable barrier; even with the Great Heavenly Venerable's imperial decree in hand, the General dared not cross into Eastern Purvavideha to make an arrest.

"General, we must proceed and make the arrest! If we miss the time for our return, the Great Heavenly Venerable may hold us accountable," Jiang Wang urged, seeing the General’s hesitation. He understood the concerns, but the imperial decree was absolute. If the General feared the Heavenly King, did he not fear the Great Heavenly Venerable even more?

Both options were difficult, but one was clearly the lesser of two evils. Jiang Wang did not believe Mo Li-Hai would dare openly defy the Great Heavenly Venerable; no matter how powerful, he was still just one of the Four Heavenly Kings, and the Heavenly Court still had its four Great Emperors.

Stung by this reminder, the Heavenly General gritted his teeth. "True! I hold the decree of the Great Heavenly Venerable; even a Heavenly King dare not act against me!"

"Brothers, follow me into Eastern Purvavideha to capture the dragon!"

With a roar, the Heavenly General led his troops across the boundary into Eastern Purvavideha.

No sooner had they crossed the threshold than Mo Li-Hai, in his palace, sensed an anomaly in the territory he guarded. Heavenly soldiers and a general had entered without adhering to the court’s protocols? Mo Li-Hai was incensed. He had guarded Eastern Purvavideha for countless years, and under his watch, all internal matters were resolved locally—or by his own hand. Over time, he had come to view the continent as his own domain. Though he had little interest in micromanagement, the intrusion of unauthorized troops without so much as a greeting deeply offended him.

Furious, he reached for his pipa and prepared to fly toward the Southern Heaven Gate. Any deity, regardless of the reason, was required to pass through the Southern Heaven Gate; descending elsewhere was a violation of the heavenly laws. Upon arriving, however, he found the gate’s guard reduced by more than half, and the duty officer nowhere to be seen.

Mo Li-Hai was livid. The Southern Heaven Gate was the foundation of the Four Heavenly Kings' authority. He had always been lenient regarding the occasional escort of lower-realm immortals reporting to the Great Heavenly Venerable, but today, he had caught them red-handed. If he did not make an issue of it, the Great Heavenly Venerable might perceive him as lax in his duties.

Just as he was about to summon his three brothers, the planet Venus, Taibai Jinxing, descended on a cloud from afar. Before he even arrived, he shouted, "Heavenly King, pray, do not be angry! Calm your temper!"

Seeing Taibai Jinxing, Mo Li-Hai’s rage instantly softened into a smile. Taibai Jinxing was a close attendant to the Great Heavenly Venerable; maintaining a good relationship with him was beneficial. "Ah, it is Taibai Jinxing. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Mo Li-Hai bowed.

Taibai Jinxing approached and waved his hand, creating a veil of silence around them. He smiled and asked, "Heavenly King, are you heading to Eastern Purvavideha?"

Mo Li-Hai was stunned. How did Taibai Jinxing know?

"Do not be puzzled," Taibai Jinxing said enigmatically. "Depart now, hasten to Eastern Purvavideha, and assist the Heavenly General in capturing the dragon maiden. When the time comes, I ask that you personally deliver her to the heavens."

"Taibai Jinxing, was it you who sent those soldiers?" Mo Li-Hai asked, still displeased. This was his territory, and bypassing him was highly improper.

Taibai Jinxing shook his head and pointed toward the Nine Heavens. "Heavenly King, some things are understood but not spoken. Please, go quickly."

Mo Li-Hai suddenly understood. Regardless of whom Taibai Jinxing was referring to, they were figures he could not afford to offend. Whether it was the Three Pure Ones, the Four Sovereigns, or the Five Elders—who among them could he cross?

"I go at once, at once," Mo Li-Hai said, suppressing his doubts as he mounted a cloud and flew toward Eastern Purvavideha.

Within the borders of Eastern Purvavideha, the Heavenly General led his troops with a grand, swaggering display. Because they made no effort to conceal their presence, Jiang Wang could clearly see the scenery below. It was beautiful—perhaps lacking the grandeur of the Heavenly Court, but possessing a charming, rustic elegance.

The mortals and beasts below, seeing the procession of heavenly soldiers, knelt in prayer, pleading for favorable weather. Local mountain gods and earth deities appeared one after another, casting bewildered glances at Jiang Wang’s group as they passed.