Speaking of Sage Zhunti appearing outside the Western Heavenly Gate, various parts of the Heavenly Court burst into activity.
Auspicious light filled the sky as immortal cranes flew, while the Jade Pool of Supreme Heaven trembled.
Celestial soldiers and generals hurriedly formed ranks, while immortals of various paths tidied their appearances.
The White-Robed Jade Emperor frowned deeply, Minister Mu below was flustered, and several proper deities spoke up, yet none knew whether this Western Teaching sage had come to demand accountability or had other calculations.
The Jade Emperor paced back and forth, unsettled, then turned his head and called out:
“Quickly, summon beloved minister Changgen!”
Minister Mu accepted the command and hurriedly went to the Water God’s Palace.
But at this time…
“Whoosh—”
Before the pill room at Little Jade Peak, in the rocking chair.
Li Changshou’s face was black as a pot bottom, the ends of his long hair completely scorched, his Daoist robe destroyed beyond recognition, as he exhaled a mouthful of black smoke.
He wanted a cup of wine, to light a cigarette, and sigh about the loneliness of immortal life, about youth not understanding the ways of heaven.
Through his immortal consciousness, he sensed that Elder Wan Linyun had successfully stepped into the Golden Immortal realm and was currently healing and comprehending at the original spot. His gains should be quite substantial.
Elder Wan had taken one Nine Transformations Golden Pill, and the tribulation process had been dangerous but safe.
After all, the danger had been drawn to Li Changshou.
—This Nine Transformations Golden Pill was one Li Changshou had previously obtained from the Tusita Palace, not one he and his junior sister had used before.
Looking at it this way, when Ling’e, You Qin Xuanya, Jiu Jiu, and the others underwent their Golden Immortal tribulations, he would have to help, which meant he would be ‘disciplined’ by the Heavenly Dao Lord.
The future would be painful.
But this- what was the principle behind this thing?
It wasn’t reasonable at all!
Could this be the best proof that the Ancestral Lord of the Dao hadn’t been assimilated by the Heavenly Dao and could even influence it in return?!
Jokes aside, he needed to make some preparations in this area, especially when Ling’e would undergo her tribulation—he would likely be ‘killed and revived’ multiple times.
The progress of the Eight-Nine Mystic Art needed to be accelerated.
From this divine punishment’s direct strike, Li Changshou could feel that even the barely-matured Eight-Nine Mystic Art had already displayed good ‘lightning resistance.’
If the Eight-Nine Mystic Art was perfected, it could serve as a trump card;
If he could comprehend the final layer of the Eight-Nine Mystic Art, reaching the realm of Nine-Nine Return to Origin, then it could become… a more central trump card.
According to legend, the Shamanic Race’s battle techniques came from memories left in Pangu the Great God’s bloodline; after encountering this mystic art organized by Lady Houtu, Li Changshou completely believed these legends.
Truly mystical.
Counting the days, it was time for him to receive the Seven Emotions’ reincarnated bodies back to the Heavenly Court. The Lower Three Heavens of the Heavenly Court also had countries of heavenly people, enough for them to play in.
Rather than picking an auspicious day, why not today…
‘Water God! Changgen! Aiya! This is terrible!’
Suddenly, calls arose in his mind, though somewhat unclear, he could distinguish Minister Mu’s voice.
Li Changshou quickly returned his consciousness to the paper avatar in the Water God’s Palace of the Heavenly Court, picked up his horsetail whisk, tidied his clothes, and hurriedly left the study.
East Minister Mu was anxiously pacing outside the door. Li Changshou quickly asked what had happened, and Minister Mu stamped his foot, shouting:
“The Western Teaching’s Second Sage has arrived, probably already passed through the Western Heavenly Gate, heading toward the Supreme Heavenly Palace!”
Hearing this… Li Changshou immediately relaxed.
Just this?
Moments ago, he had engaged in a heated, intimate exchange with the Heavenly Dao Lord, with cold divine punishment slapping directly against his face.
Now it was just the Western Teaching’s Second Sage coming to call, most likely to personally pressure the Jade Emperor to cancel the warrant for Virtual Puti’s arrest…
It was within reason and expectations.
Other sages wouldn’t lower themselves to come directly to the Heavenly Court to negotiate with the Jade Emperor, but Li Changshou had long predicted that before the Purple Void Palace discusses the Great Investiture tribulation, the Western Teaching’s Minor Sage would certainly make a trip to the Heavenly Court.
To feed the Jade Emperor muddled soup.
“Let’s go,” Li Changshou said, “Let’s head to the Supreme Heavenly Palace. Minister Mu, don’t be anxious, we must show the composure and calm befitting high officials of the Heavenly Court—we represent His Majesty’s face.”
Minister Mu quickly agreed, hurrying to the Supreme Heavenly Palace with Li Changshou.
Just as the two of them left on clouds, another young Daoist walked out of the study.
Naturally, this was also Li Changshou’s paper avatar.
After glancing at the Golden-Winged Great Peng, who was currently in closed cultivation in the Spirit Zhenzhu’s room, Li Changshou briefly considered but dismissed the idea of bringing him along.
The Sixth Sage might disregard face, but others couldn’t actively drop it.
At present, Li Changshou split into two routes alone—the Water God paper avatar rushed to the Supreme Heavenly Palace, while the young Daoist paper avatar went to find the Jade Emperor’s avatar Qin Tianzhur.
Both arrived almost simultaneously.
The Jade Emperor first looked at Li Changshou at the Supreme Heavenly Palace doors, while the Jade Emperor’s avatar Qin Tianzhur also looked at Li Changshou’s other paper avatar…
It was a bit confusing.
“This minor deity pays respects to Your Majesty!”
Li Changshou first called out in the Supreme Heavenly Palace, then transmitted his voice to Qin Tianzhur: “Your Majesty, quickly follow me to the Jade Pool to secretly request Queen Mother to conceal the whereabouts of our two avatars.
It’s inconvenient to transmit a voice before a sage. This minor deity will offer strategies here for Your Majesty—we can’t let the Western Teaching take advantage!”
“Still Minister Changgen who thinks thoroughly!”
Qin Tianzhur immediately gave a thumbs up and hurriedly rushed to the edge of the Jade Pool with Li Changshou on clouds.
Before these two avatars reached the Jade Pool, golden light already blazed at the Supreme Heavenly Palace, and that three-zhang-tall ‘divine statue’ had arrived before the palace.
Inside the hall, Li Changshou looked toward the Jade Emperor on the high platform. The latter blinked, and following Li Changshou’s voice transmission from the other side, pretended to be enthusiastic as he stepped out from behind the jade desk.
The contest had begun.
The sage’s divine statue outside deliberately slowed its pace entering;
The Jade Emperor appeared to stride quickly down, but in reality, stepped firmly on each stair before moving to the next.
The many immortals and deities in the hall, having already received Minister Mu’s voice transmission, now only turned to make Daoist salutes in welcome without moving from their positions.
The calculations here seemed minute but held significant meaning.
If the Jade Emperor went out one zhang further to welcome, it would give Zhunti one more portion of face; but today’s Jade Emperor absolutely wouldn’t give Zhunti the same ‘respect’ as Supreme Lord Laozi.
Lord Lao was Laozi’s avatar, presiding over the Heavenly Court since ancient times;
Zhunti was the Western Teaching’s Second Sage—whether he could match Lord Lao in battle was unknown, but he had not only contributed nothing to the Heavenly Court but always caused trouble.
Thus, the Jade Emperor stood firm on the second-to-last step of the jade stairs, showed a gentle smile to Zhunti’s divine statue, left hand behind his back, right hand placed before his lower abdomen, and said:
“Why didn’t Senior Brother send word ahead of coming to the Heavenly Court? I could have made some preparations.”
Zhunti’s three-zhang-tall divine statue now showed no expression as his voice transmitted from within:
“How dare I accept Your Majesty’s address as Senior Brother? My Western Teaching has long been worthless in the Heavenly Court’s eyes.”
In the Supreme Heavenly Palace, all immortals and deities fell silent.
No one had expected Sage Zhunti to skip pleasantries and directly make accusations.
Many immortals and deities couldn’t help but use their immortal consciousness to probe Li Changshou beside Minister Mu, but Li Changshou now had his eyes closed, composed, and serene, his Daoist salute only shallow.
After the silence continued briefly, the Jade Emperor’s eyes flashed with sharp light as he smiled and said:
“Since Principal Zhunti doesn’t wish to acknowledge our roots of studying the Dao in the Purple Void Palace, then I shall never mention this matter again!”
Zhunti’s divine statue’s face darkened as his gaze turned to Li Changshou standing there.
This statement clearly bore the Water God’s style—in just twenty-eight characters, it directly elevated the matter to the level of “Western Teaching betraying the Dao School.”
Even a sage had to take it seriously.
Many immortals and deities secretly marveled…
The Jade Emperor was directly confronting a sage!
Truly a rare sight to behold!
Zhunti’s divine statue spoke again: “Your Majesty misunderstands. This wasn’t my meaning. It’s just that Your Majesty’s most valued Water God directly issued an arrest warrant for my Western Teaching’s disciple.
Your Majesty, are you aware of this matter?”
The Jade Emperor nodded slightly and smiled: “So Principal Zhunti has come for this matter.
May I ask if Principal Zhunti could reveal his true appearance… I have no other meaning, it’s just that with the great tribulation descending now, karmic fortune obscuring heavenly mysteries, I also worry someone might be bold enough to impersonate a sage’s appearance.”
Zhunti’s divine statue was silent for a moment, then golden light flashed and condensed, the divine statue transforming into Zhunti’s appearance, still sitting cross-legged on an auspicious cloud.
As the sage revealed his true appearance, various auspicious signs appeared in the Supreme Heavenly Palace.
Immortals of slightly lower cultivation, just from looking at the sage’s true appearance twice, felt a strong urge to prostrate themselves in their hearts.
At this moment, the White-Robed Jade Emperor standing on the jade stairs gave a light laugh, emanating the majesty of the Heavenly Emperor from himself.
Those immortals and deities affected by the sage’s majesty heard dragon calls and tiger roars in their hearts, instantly awakening.
The Jade Emperor smiled and said: “Since a sage has come, we mustn’t be discourteous.
Someone bring a seat, and invite Principal Zhunti to sit.”
As soon as the Jade Emperor’s voice fell, East Minister Mu immediately wanted to step forward to comply, but Li Changshou moved first, arriving before East Minister Mu and bowing his head:
“This minor deity accepts the command!”
East Minister Mu quickly halted, his honest eyes full of confusion.
Even tasks like moving chairs were being done by the Water God—had his role in the Heavenly Court… truly been reduced to just inventory checking in the treasury?
But soon, East Minister Mu discovered that things weren’t so simple.
Li Changshou first ordered two chairs to be brought and personally arranged them; one placed directly in front of the jade stairs, one to the side, the latter slightly forward.
The Jade Emperor calmly stood before the central seat, smiling as he invited Sage Zhunti to sit.
Though simple, this arrangement was quite clever, both showing the Heavenly Court’s respect for the ‘sage group’ while expressing the Jade Emperor’s ‘indifference’ toward Sage Zhunti.
Compared to the previous Peach Banquet, when Supreme Lord Laozi came riding his blue ox, which Li Changshou tied… ahem, such details aren’t important.
At that time, Supreme Lord Laozi’s seat was to the side and behind the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother’s thrones, subtly placed above them.
That was true respect.
Sage Zhunti’s expression remained unchanged as he dispersed his auspicious cloud, his feet hovering three inches high, stepping through the void to the Jade Emperor’s side and sitting in the guest position.
Just those few steps the sage had taken contained the supreme principles of the Dao.
By this point, East Minister Mu finally understood.
Today’s chair-moving task indeed wasn’t something he could handle.
The Jade Emperor spoke again: “Changgen, have someone bring meditation cushions and low tables, and invite all ministers to be seated.
Principal Zhunti’s pressure is too strong, and our Heavenly Court immortals and deities aren’t highly cultivated enough to resist—let’s not make a spectacle.”
“Yes,” Li Changshou agreed again, then ordered celestial soldiers and generals to bring in meditation cushions and low tables, letting the civil and military officials in the hall all be seated.
After all this maneuvering, many immortals and deities gradually felt that this sage lord… wasn’t some chaos beast, not so frightening after all.
In the immortals’ and deities’ view, the usually eloquent Lord Water God was now silent, while the Jade Emperor began speaking freely.
But in reality, in a hidden corner of a palace in the Jade Pool, under Queen Mother’s Dao rhythm concealment, Qin Tianzhur and Li Changshou sat cross-legged in a corner, rapidly exchanging voice transmissions face to face.
Not letting the Western Teaching take advantage was their persistent effort’s direction;
Making Sage Zhunti’s various calculations fall through was their unremitting struggle’s goal!
In the Supreme Heavenly Palace, the White-Robed Jade Emperor was saying:
“Principal Zhunti seemed to mention your sect’s disciple Virtual Puti earlier. Could Principal Zhunti explain the details?
This was an order first issued by beloved minister Changgen—I only learned of it yesterday.”
Zhunti said: “The Heavenly Court’s Water God has such authority, able to condemn a great sect’s disciple without Your Majesty’s knowledge.
Your Majesty presides over the Three Realms, but seems to have some shortcomings.”
“Principal Zhunti is unaware,” the Jade Emperor said unhurriedly and calmly, “I long ago granted beloved minister Changgen the authority to execute first and report after. This was permitted by Heaven’s Mandate, approved by the Heavenly Dao, and recorded in the Supreme Heavenly Palace.
Principal Zhunti opens by accusing me of having shortcomings in presiding over the Three Realms—this seems to hint at interference in the Heavenly Court’s internal affairs.”
Zhunti said again: “This poor Daoist is a sage—can I not inquire into Heavenly Court matters?”
The Jade Emperor showed not the slightest anger, but withdrew his smile and said seriously:
“The Heavenly Court follows the Ancestral Lord of the Dao’s instructions, serving the Heavenly Dao while respecting the Six Sages.
But Heavenly Court matters concern the Three Realms’ stability and the Heavenly Dao’s operation. Though Principal Zhunti is honored as a sage, you still cannot directly interfere in Heavenly Court affairs.
This rule was set down by the Ancestral Lord when the Heavenly Court was first established—has Principal Zhunti forgotten?
If we lose impartiality, how can the Heavenly Court manage the Three Realms in the future?”
The pressure around Sage Zhunti grew stronger: “When Your Majesty speaks of impartiality, does this refer to the Heavenly Court’s Water God arbitrarily bringing down great tribulation’s karmic fortune on my sect’s disciple, arbitrarily ordering the hunting down of my sect’s disciple?”
“What Virtual Puti has done, Principal Zhunti should know better than I—how can you speak of arbitrariness?”
The Jade Emperor looked toward Li Changshou and said gently: “Beloved minister Changgen, please explain Virtual Puti’s crimes in detail.
We cannot wrong a good spirit, nor let a guilty spirit escape. If there truly are mistakes, acknowledging and correcting them—this is the Heavenly Court’s way.”
Li Changshou stood and acknowledged, made a Daoist salute to Sage Zhunti, and facing the assembled immortals and deities, spoke of the circumstances at that day’s Immortal Alliance meeting.
He included an imitation of Virtual Puti’s scene of pointing at rivers and mountains, his tone and manner incredibly true to life.
After Li Changshou had stated Virtual Puti’s words once, many immortals and deities in the hall showed angry expressions but dared not speak carelessly at this moment…
Li Changshou turned back and said to the Jade Emperor:
“Your Majesty, this minor deity’s every word just now was true, with the Heavenly Dao as witness.
This Virtual Puti, mouth full of profit and desire, intended to incite various immortal scholars to defy Heaven’s Mandate and oppose the Heavenly Court, moreover speaking nonsense, talking rubbish, confusing right and wrong, mixing up black and white!
He openly declared that the Heavenly Court only sought the human race’s karmic fortune, would slaughter countless immortal scholars, and showed no remorse for his actions in building an incense fire divine country and harming all beings!
This minor deity endured for long, not directly killing his avatar, but considering his status as a Western Teaching sage’s disciple, let him finish speaking before refuting point by point.
Before tens of thousands of immortal scholars, this minor deity refuted him until he was speechless, only then determining his unforgivable crime!
Your Majesty, when this minor deity measured his crime, there was still room left, knowing he was a Western Teaching sage’s disciple, thus not extending the punishment to others.
Unexpectedly, this Virtual Puti, after returning to Spirit Mountain, still dared to manipulate right and wrong, bewitching Principal Zhunti… Principal Zhunti, why not directly bring Virtual Puti here and put righteousness above family ties?
This action would not only earn the Heavenly Court’s rich rewards but would also add another portion of karmic fortune to the Western Teaching!”
After speaking, Li Changshou made a Daoist salute to the Jade Emperor and calmly sat back beside Minister Mu.
But Zhunti said: “Nephew Changgen is known for acting with rigorous care, why commit such a muddled deed today?
That day’s manifested avatar—did you verify its true identity? How do you know it was Virtual Puti?
Virtual Puti has been in closed cultivation at Spirit Mountain these years, completely unaware of what you speak of, yet bears this unwarranted stigma and blame.”
The Jade Emperor’s smile, which was about to bloom, instantly froze, as he looked somewhat startled at Li Changshou, but quickly changed his expression.
Li Changshou gave a slight smile and took a gentle breath.
Truly took the bait…
So, even sages could be fooled.
Moments ago, Li Changshou had planned a small calculation with the Jade Emperor, having the Jade Emperor speak first, using the reason of “verifying true identity” to force Sage Zhunti out of his divine statue, laying down a “hint” in advance.
Then, regarding Virtual Puti’s matter, Li Changshou answered as completely and perfectly as possible, blocking off path after path…
Unexpectedly, Sage Zhunti took the bait, using the element of “verifying true identity” to organize what seemed like an unsolvable counterattack.
A sage had fallen into his preset script?
Since that was the case, Li Changshou wouldn’t be polite, turning the tables on the Western Teaching…
Just then!
‘Senior Brother, Senior Brother what’s wrong with you, Senior Brother!
Don’t scare me! I haven’t been able to give your old Li family a son or daughter yet!’
Some noisy voices suddenly arose in his heart.
Li Changshou naturally knew this was Ling’e, who had returned from Pill Cauldron Peak and arrived before the pill room.
—Though at this time he was using a paper avatar to face a sage’s majesty, with various great treasures protecting his main body, how could Li Changshou not keep some consciousness in his main body?
At this moment, Li Changshou in the Supreme Heavenly Palace gave a light sigh, deliberately delaying a bit.
His main body opened his eyes in the rocking chair at Little Jade Peak, raised his hand to tap the fake-crying Ling’e’s forehead, and scolded: “Don’t shout, Senior Brother is fine, just busy arguing with someone.”
Ling’e immediately smiled happily, her tongue passing over her crystal-moist lips as she asked softly: “Who are you arguing with?”
A certain sage.
Of course, this couldn’t be said—needed to play it safe.
“A… rather thorny old grandfather.”