This was none other than Taibai Jinxing…

Yang Jian looked up at the familiar figure in the sky. His rapid breathing began to slow, his gaze regaining its clarity as his mind returned to tranquility, losing its previous turbulence.

“What crime have I committed?” he asked.

The elderly figure amid golden light in the clouds spoke slowly: “Attempting to break into the Heavenly Court, destroying the Court’s divine soldiers, and speaking rebelliously about rescuing a condemned immortal – these are your crimes.”

Condemned immortal?

Yang Jian’s newly calmed heart trembled slightly, but facing this elderly celestial in the clouds, he refused to show any panic. He spoke coldly: “Right and wrong, merit and fault – all determined by your judgment. The rules of heaven and earth – all proclaimed by your words. Is this what the Heavenly Court truly is?”

Li Changshou replied: “Authorized by the Heavenly Dao to safeguard the rules – this is indeed the Heavenly Court.”

“Then what rule did my mother break? What regulation of the Heavenly Court did my father violate?!”

“Immortal Yunhua held celestial rank, yet descended to the mortal realm without the Permission Hall’s approval – this violates heavenly law.”

“Simply descending to the mortal realm warrants imprisonment under a celestial mountain? My parents found love together, yet must be beaten to death for it!”

Light surged in Yang Jian’s eyes as he declared firmly:

“Is this truly the Heavenly Court passing judgment, or is it you, Taibai Jinxing, and the Jade Emperor sitting high in Lingxiao Hall? Is this truly protecting rules set by the Heavenly Dao, or are you abusing your authority under the guise of heaven’s mandate, acting arbitrarily just to save face?”

Clever.

Li Changshou smiled inwardly with satisfaction, though his expression remained unchanged, his eyes revealing a hint of coldness.

The director himself had taken the stage, naturally setting an example for the other still-immature actors of Hongmeng.

With just one look, Li Changshou perfectly portrayed a major antagonist whose weak point had been struck, showing slight embarrassment and anger. He almost convinced himself.

“Yang Jian, do you realize that those few sentences you just spoke are enough to condemn you to death today?”

Yang Jian remained silent, restraining himself from mockery or cursing.

That would only satisfy a moment’s impulse without escaping his current predicament or rescuing his mother.

From Taibai Jinxing’s first appearance, Yang Jian had felt an indescribable pressure, as if facing the entire heavens.

This pressure came from Taibai Jinxing’s personal strength, his divine authority, and more importantly, from what he represented – the order of the Three Realms of Hongmeng.

It almost left him breathless.

At this moment, countless curses crossed Yang Jian’s mind, but he suppressed his anger and fury, preventing himself from raging impotently.

“Release my mother.”

Li Changshou carefully analyzed Yang Jian’s character as revealed in this moment, and said calmly: “Are you begging?”

“Yes,” Yang Jian raised his head to look at Li Changshou’s figure, “I am begging. Let me take my mother’s place under the mountain’s imprisonment. Do with me as you will.”

Li Changshou frowned slightly.

Far from seeing Yang Jian’s filial devotion as a positive, he considered Yang Jian’s attempt to exchange himself as a hostage somewhat disappointing.

However, if he put himself in Yang Jian’s position, facing the current Heavenly Court, there would be little choice but to fight desperately.

But besides that, there were other options…

What about all that influence he had borrowed earlier?

[He could have seized upon the Heavenly Court’s current desire to prevent conflict between major powers. Even without using his background as a disciple of the Severing Sect, he could have made a major issue of this, using it as leverage by accusing the Court of ‘pursuing private interests under public guise.’ He could have threatened to damage the Court’s credibility as a condition for seeing his mother, then split the mountain to rescue her. Once that was done, he could have gained sympathy from the Court’s immortals, redirecting the conflict between the all-powerful Jade Emperor and ordinary celestials, portraying his mother as a victim of the Emperor’s persecution, thus securing an unassailable position!]

That would have been a perfect solution.

Yet Yang Jian now chose patience, suppressing his earlier anger rather than leveraging his influence, acting purely as a son trying to save his mother…

Well, everyone has a different personality – he couldn’t expect Yang Jian to share his nature.

Yang Jian had failed by his standards.

But objectively speaking, Yang Jian’s performance was still above passing.

For a proud young cultivator like him, the hardest thing to abandon wasn’t life, but the pride in his heart.

For his mother’s sake, he had truly managed it.

The position of the Court’s authority figure should be filled by different people in different eras. During the Court’s founding, he balanced various powers; during its maintenance, having a successor with more sense of responsibility and less concern for balance wasn’t bad.

Unlike himself, now constantly thinking about preparing escape routes, ready to ‘delete his account’ and flee after the Great Tribulation of Investiture.

Seeing Taibai Jinxing’s continued silence, Yang Jian smiled self-mockingly, about to speak.

Li Changshou said slowly: “In that case, I’ll give you one chance. All troops, withdraw.”

The dozens of heavenly generals answered in unison. The grey clouds dispersed as each commander retreated, leaving the sky clear once more.

Yang Jian’s gaze flickered as he stared at the elderly immortal in the clouds.

Li Changshou said: “Yang Jian, let us set aside the matter of your father for now. If you wish to save your mother, you must pay a price.”

“What price?”

“Serve the Heavenly Court as its general.”

Yang Jian froze, fury nearly erupting in his eyes.

Make him serve his father’s murderers?

Taibai Jinxing – he truly lived up to his reputation for killing both body and soul!

Charge in, fight his way through, let blood spray five steps and his soul shatter three feet!

The anger Yang Jian had barely suppressed surged forth again. As he raised his spear to charge, Li Changshou’s eyes suddenly opened, divine light flashing as his left hand pressed down toward Yang Jian.

This was, of course, Li Changshou’s avatar.

Seeing this, Yang Jian leaped up with his spear, his Eight-Nine Mystic Arts operating as golden light blazed around his body. The red light reappeared on his forehead as his form became like a war god!

Heaven and Earth bow to my spear’s decree, my feet tread sovereign through the cosmos free!

Fight-

Slap!

Yang Jian’s ascending form was effortlessly smacked back onto the clouds!

Li Changshou’s downward-pressing left hand seemed to use no force at all, but when Yang Jian crashed onto the cloud path sealed by his immortal power, the cosmos rippled in waves, circles of shock waves spreading through heaven and earth.

Many Court immortals’ hearts jumped at this sight.

The Jade Emperor’s avatar Quandong, watching secretly from hiding, showed surprise.

True Lord Yuding shook his head, nearly laughing out loud, while Yang Chan beside him almost cried out…

In contrast, a certain little immortal who had secretly slipped into the Taibai Palace sat in her senior brother’s chair, watching this scene in the bronze mirror with admiration in her eyes.

When did Senior Brother become so strong?

She had secretly watched earlier as this nephew Yang Jian fought his way through, defeating hundreds of thousands of divine soldiers, nearly turning part of the East Sea into soybean soup… ahem, never mind.

Anyway, Yang Jian’s strength had been quite surprising, but unexpectedly, he was now so easily subdued by Senior Brother.

Thinking of this, Ling’e felt no joy, instead covering her forehead with her hand, feeling depressed.

The greater the gap with Senior Brother, the closer he was to Sister Yunxiao.

Should she ask Senior Brother to make a hundred-year cultivation plan for her too?

Better not – Senior Brother was increasingly busy lately. She should just cultivate steadily, pass the Golden Immortal tribulation normally, play music for Senior Brother sometimes, give him shoulder rubs, accept punishment for copying scriptures… that should be enough.

Don’t you see, the little aunt who first expressed feelings for Senior Brother has now been ‘exiled to the frontier.’

Don’t you see, the poisonous senior sister who had always admired Senior Brother barely dares visit Taibai Palace once in several years?

She could accompany Senior Brother daily, play hide-and-seek with his true form – that was quite good already.

Hmph, even Sister Yunxiao only meets him once every few decades…

With these complicated thoughts, Ling’e’s long eyelashes blinked as she watched Yang Jian slowly stand up on the clouds. She casually took out a plate of dried fruit and began munching…

Before the East Heaven Gate, Yang Jian stood up, his eyes showing slight shock as he looked up at Taibai Jinxing in the clouds.

His shock came from that palm that had just struck him…

Eight-Nine Mystic Arts!

Perfected Eight-Nine Mystic Arts!

He had just been overpowered in terms of force!

“Those insights my master gave me – you wrote them!”

But Li Changshou didn’t answer, only saying: “Submit to the Heavenly Court, and I’ll give you one chance to save your mother.”

The red light flashed on Yang Jian’s forehead as he stared intensely at Li Changshou.

“It was you! The one pushing me from behind – it was you?”

“Enough idle talk.”

Yang Jian immediately fell silent, his gaze growing more complex as he stared at Li Changshou, many puzzling matters suddenly becoming clear in his mind.

Not far behind, Princess Longji approached on clouds, while Spirit Zhenzhu clutched his left shoulder as he drew near again.

Yang Jian said quietly: “Fight me.”

“Oh?” Li Changshou showed some interest.

Yang Jian stepped forward: “Fight me. If I lose, dispose of me as you will – this body belongs to the Heavenly Court! If you lose, release my mother, and the Court must issue a proclamation clearing my parents’ names and offer incense at my father’s grave in apology!”

“Yang Jian, such insolence!”

A shout suddenly came from behind Li Changshou as Ao Yi’s figure rushed forward, pointing and berating Yang Jian:

“Ignorant and arrogant, presuming to challenge the Star-Lord! Do you truly think if you weren’t the Jade Emperor’s nephew, the Star-Lord would tolerate you to this extent? Star-Lord, please allow me to battle this Yang Jian!”

Li Changshou showed a slight smile, saying calmly: “Ao Yi, don’t be hasty. Stand down.”

“Yes!”

Ao Yi bowed in acceptance, showing reluctance as he glared at Yang Jian before turning to leave.

Such quintessential acting skills truly lived up to his reputation as Steady Teaching’s Vice Principal.

On the cloud path, Yang Jian frowned deeply.

Li Changshou said: “Since you wish to determine your future with one battle, what if I agree? Yang Jian, today this Star Lord specially permits you to enter the East Heaven Gate.”

As he spoke, Li Changshou raised his right hand, points of starlight appearing before him, condensing into the celestial mountain beside the Jasper Pool.

He raised his hand to manipulate it, drawing the mountain slowly forward, instantly passing through layers of clouds, seemingly falling through two levels of heaven.

Li Changshou said: “Today, I will move the mountain imprisoning your mother to the Sixth Heaven. After entering the East Heaven Gate, rush to the Sixth Heaven. I will arrange for three ordinary Heavenly Court martial generals to face you. You need not win all three battles – whether through strategy, trickery, or other means. As long as you can reach that mountain, you win, and I’ll give you the chance to save your mother. How about it?”

Disappointment flashed in Yang Jian’s eyes as he said firmly: “If I lose to any one of them, I submit to whatever fate you decree.”

“Good.”

Li Changshou’s form slowly retreated, vanishing like a gentle breeze.

Ahead, the East Heaven Gate stood wide open, the three divine swords nowhere to be seen, the gate guards absent, and only empty cloud paths remaining, making the heavenly gate seem almost unreal.

Yang Jian took a deep breath and strode inside.

Behind him, Princess Longji wore a worried expression, while Spirit Zhenzhu followed on clouds, his face somewhat gloomy.

Spirit Zhenzhu hadn’t been acting earlier but truly giving his all…

Though equally blessed with great fortune, Spirit Zhenzhu was suppressed by Yang Jian’s techniques, experiences, and Primordial God’s essence blood, falling in defeat after just over ten exchanges.

It truly… hurt.

These years, he had spent too much time playing with Jade Rabbit, always falling just short of the Golden Immortal tribulation.

Ahead, not long after Yang Jian rushed through the East Heaven Gate, his feet suddenly halted as a small figure bounced out before him.

Look at this person!

Hair in twin tails, wearing silver thread armor, and thin arms, and legs seemingly without much strength, but the two large copper hammers she held emanated terrifying might.

It was Xiong Lingli.

She coolly swallowed the dried meat she had been nibbling, and called out:

“Minor General of Taibai Palace, please advise!”

Yang Jian dared not take her lightly. He exchanged clasped hands with Xiong Lingli, sensing an aura similar to his own.

Another Eight-Nine Mystic Arts practitioner…

Indeed, all the benefits he had received, all his experiences over these years, all had Taibai Jinxing’s shadow behind them.

Why?

Because he was the Jade Emperor’s nephew?

Yang Jian banished these stray thoughts and said calmly: “Please.”

Xiong Lingli took a breath, seeming somewhat nervous. She suddenly exclaimed:

“Eh? True Lord Yuding, why are you here?”

Yang Jian couldn’t help but freeze, turning his head to look behind him. Then hearing the force of an attack from the front, he instinctively moved sideways while raising his spear.

Spear met hammer, and Yang Jian’s figure was knocked flying!

Xiong Lingli raised her eyebrows proudly, “Hehe, the Star-Lord said tricks and schemes were allowed.”

With that, she leaped up with her hammers, pursuing and striking fiercely!

Yang Jian gave a cold snort, flipping to counterattack, no longer holding back as his spear howled like a dragon.

With Yang Jian at full strength, Xiong Lingli quickly found herself unable to defend. She could only let out a great roar as her form suddenly expanded, instantly becoming thousands of feet tall. Her correspondingly enlarged copper hammers pressed down on heaven and earth, forcing Yang Jian into desperate straits once again.

Watching through a secretly arranged bronze mirror broadcast with Taibai Palace’s special permission, Bian Zhuang couldn’t help but ponder.

This female general was formidable…

Speaking of which, what principle allowed her battle armor to stretch without breaking?

In Taibai Palace, Ling’e’s mouth twitched slightly as she suddenly realized she had become Little Qiong Peak’s burden.

Meanwhile, before that celestial mountain that had been moved to the Sixth Heaven in advance—Li Changshou’s earlier manipulation of the mountain had been pure showmanship to build his image as a profound figure.

Li Changshou and Quandong hid in the shadows, watching through cloud-scrying art, each expressing admiration.

Quandong said: “Your Excellency has gone to such trouble, even cultivating such a fierce general for us.”

Li Changshou: …

She was just being lent to the Heavenly Court—this was Little Qiong Peak’s security chief!

Facing Xiong Lingli in this state, Yang Jian, who had not yet cultivated the Heaven and Earth Manifestation technique, was not without options.

He employed transformation arts, his form becoming a grey hawk, engaging in hit-and-run tactics around Xiong Lingli. After half an hour of intense battle, he found her weak point and launched a fierce strike at her heel, finally bringing her down.

Xiong Lingli couldn’t help but tear up as she returned to normal size, sitting on the ground hugging her foot and crying:

“How could you fight like that? I didn’t even step on your toes!”

Yang Jian felt somewhat awkward, clasping his hands before flying away.

But then a voice came from ahead as Ao Yi appeared with a sword in hand, surrounded by the image of an azure dragon.

Yang Jian and Ao Yi’s gazes met. Without further words, their figures vanished with a ‘swish,’ two Golden Immortals beginning a contest between Primordial God battle techniques and Dragon clan battle arts.

This battle shook heaven and earth, scattering the clouds.

Ao Yi lost by half a move, and Yang Jian passed another trial, arriving before the most crucial gatekeeper.

Of the Phoenix clan, child of the Original Phoenix—the Golden-Winged Peng.

…

‘Not pursuing?’

Before that lonely celestial mountain, Yang Jian, covered in blood, fell onto the cloud path with his spear.

His body was covered in terrifying claw marks, the Eight-Nine Mystic Arts failing for the first time.

As soon as they engaged, Yang Jian discovered this enemy far exceeded his imagination, nothing like the previous two opponents whose strength had matched his.

The Golden-Winged Peng…

His strength far surpassed Yang Jian’s current level—they weren’t even in the same class.

The opponent had started with a spear emanating destructive principles, but after exchanging just two moves with Yang Jian, simply put the weapon away, showing a contemptuous smile.

In the fierce battle, Yang Jian quickly collapsed. His divine sense completely failed to track the Peng’s movements, seeing only despair ahead.

With such extreme speed, if his Eight-Nine Mystic Arts were perfected, perhaps he could fight directly.

But now he was still far too inferior.

Yet just as Yang Jian was about to give up helplessly, he saw that celestial mountain. He charged toward it regardless of all else, allowing the Peng to strike repeatedly while focusing all his power on moving forward, pushing the Eight-Nine Mystic Arts to their limit.

The first half was still a contest between the Eight-Nine Mystic Arts and the Peng’s claws;

The second half… seemed more like two wills colliding, testing who would collapse first.

But Yang Jian knew he had ultimately lost.

The opponent didn’t want to kill him, or else he could have torn Yang Jian’s divine body apart in moments.

Why…

‘If you weren’t the Jade Emperor’s nephew.’

Yes, it was this background he had been avoiding, this origin that had given him everything yet left him unable to resist.

Because he was the Jade Emperor’s nephew, blessed with great fortune and the identity of a Dao sect disciple, the Heavenly Court was cultivating him, his master cooperating with the Court.

Each time he went out to gain experience, everything was arranged perfectly, his master’s jade talisman serving as guidance.

Even his spear, the small dog transformed into a jade pendant at his chest, that mysteriously obtained Primordial God’s essence blood.

Everything was given by the Heavenly Court.

And now he defied the Court’s will…

Yang Jian suddenly began to doubt whether his every action today had also been calculated, or arranged.

The most despairing thing wasn’t facing dire straits or death;

The most despairing thing was that his every breath was under Taibai Jinxing’s control.

All because he was the Jade Emperor’s nephew.

Enough.

Yang Jian’s legs went soft as he collapsed onto the clouds, just a hundred zhang from the mountain’s edge.

The Golden-Winged Peng had long vanished, and many immortals appeared in the distance, all watching Yang Jian’s figure.

Would he fall like this?

No.

Yang Jian’s body trembled as he slowly but firmly stood up, his wounds forming scabs as the Eight-Nine Mystic Arts struggled to maintain his physical form.

Looking at the mountain before him, he took a deep breath, channeling his last strength into the Three-Point Double-Edge Spear, stepping forward with weapon raised, about to split the mountain apart-!

“Jian’er!”

A tearful cry made Yang Jian freeze.

Looking toward the sound, he saw a cave-dwelling had appeared before the mountain, where that fragile figure stood with tears in her eyes, separated by a wall of light.

“Mother…”

Yang Jian’s pale lips trembled as he called out in disbelief, his spear immediately dropping to easily break through the light barrier.

His figure lunged toward the cave entrance but fell into a bank of clouds as scene after scene appeared before his eyes, rapidly passing, rapidly fading, imprinting in his heart…

In Lingxiao Hall.

Taibai Jinxing strode in with a stern expression, reporting to the enthroned Jade Emperor about Immortal Yunhua’s descent into the mortal realm. The Emperor ordered her brought back to face punishment.

The scene changed to the Yang residence, where Immortal Yunhua was being docilely taken away when two heavenly soldiers suddenly attacked. In that flash of lightning, that familiar figure appeared before Yunhua and the children, blocking the assault.

Still, Taibai Jinxing, though what was shattered here were two paper dolls.

The scene changed again to Lingxiao Hall, where Taibai Jinxing coldly requested permission to imprison Yunhua at the Heavenly Court’s Jasper Pool. Then Taibai turned to look at an immortal elder, saying coldly:

‘You’ve gone too far, Uncle Master.’

That elder gave a cold laugh, unexpectedly transforming into a puddle of black water as the enthroned Jade Emperor flew into a rage.

Interwoven with these scenes were seemingly unrelated images:

A figure sneaking into the Marriage Hall;

An immortal elder at a banquet spreading the word of the Jade Emperor’s sister bearing children in the mortal realm;

In a magnificent immortal palace, mother’s silhouette at a dressing table, with black qi beside her…

Schemes, gambits, trade-offs…

The scenes before Yang Jian suddenly froze on a somewhat desolate mountain, where the blank-faced Immortal Yunhua stood beneath a jade tree, as if soulless…

Uncle Master… Uncle Master? Uncle Master!

Yang Jian clenched his fists as the clouds before him dispersed, revealing that face he had remembered countless times in his dreams.

“Jian’er!”

Immortal Yunhua rushed forward, nearly knocking Yang Jian over as she tightly embraced him, channeling streams of immortal energy into his empty divine body.

“Foolish child, why put yourself through this? Mother is fine… Mother has always been fine.”

Yang Jian opened his mouth but could not speak, a tear rolling from his eye as his clenched fists loosened helplessly at his sides.

After a moment.

“Mother, please release me first.”

Yang Jian spoke softly, his voice suppressing anger.

Immortal Yunhua instinctively released this now-unfamiliar young man before her, immediately realizing something and pleading:

“Jian’er, don’t do anything foolish, there are too many schemes in this world…”

Yang Jian pressed his lips together in silence, bowing once before his mother before standing and looking around.

“Star-Lord Taibai, you arranged for me to come here, and I came!

You arranged for me to cultivate the Eight-Nine Mystic Arts, and I did!

I stand here now—what exactly do you want me to do?”

A soft sigh drifted from the clouds as Li Changshou’s voice sounded. Two streams of light—one red, one golden—flew down before Yang Jian.

“Your cultivation path was under my control before only because I was following the Jade Emperor’s command to protect you, with no schemes against you.

Your background is what it is—don’t blame it.

Your path forward is yours to choose.

On the left is the Nine Cycles Golden Pill to heal your wounds and restore today’s losses. Become a Heavenly Court general and ask no more of past events—the schemes during that time are beyond your comprehension.

On the right is Ancestor God Dijiang’s essence blood… Do what you wish, but the Heavenly Court cannot protect you.”

Without hesitation, Yang Jian grabbed that drop of brilliant red blood and swallowed it. His body erupted with waves of blood-colored flame as smokelike blood qi shot skyward!

He looked west, about to stride forward with his spear, but his feet halted as he looked up to where the pill and blood had come from.

Thank you.

Yang Jian’s voice trembled as he lowered his head and shot away, blood light bursting from throughout his divine body as blood marks appeared on his face.

Spirit Mountain!

Western Teaching!