Chapter 224

Nanji Xianweng pondered slightly: "Teacher, the Jie Sect crowd only cultivates magical power, not virtue; they always act without scruples. Perhaps they already laid plans in Morning Song, and we failed to notice in time, letting them seize the initiative."

Yuanshi Tianzun snorted coldly: "The Jie Sect bunch, ignorant of heavenly numbers, unaware of expounding the Heavenly Dao, acting so recklessly, ruining my sect's grand plan, will certainly not be lightly forgiven!"

When a sage rages, heaven and earth change color.

The originally clear sky over Kunlun Mountain instantly filled with dark clouds, swiftly covering the entire firmament with overwhelming force.

Immediately, bolt after bolt of lightning danced like silver snakes, tearing apart the dark canopy.

Inside the Jade Void Palace, Yuanshi Tianzun's sage power surged throughout his body; the surrounding space seemed unable to withstand his wrath, beginning to show distortion and cracks.

Had it not been for the suppression of the sage's dojo, the surrounding space would have already been annihilated.

The terrifying aura made Nanji Xianweng tremble with fear; he hurriedly said: "Teacher, please calm your anger."

Yuanshi Tianzun restrained his aura, fell silent for a moment, then slowly said: "We need to replan, find a way to break the situation. Nanji, immediately send people to thoroughly investigate the Jie Sect's movements in Morning Song, ensuring that no detail, big or small, escapes your notice."

Nanji Xianweng replied: "I will dutifully follow your orders, Master; I will arrange this at once." After speaking, Nanji Xianweng bowed, turned, and withdrew.

……

The Thirty-Third Heaven.

The Heavenly Court.

Misty clouds drift, immortal qi permeates.

Majestic clusters of immortal palaces stand upon the clouds, resplendent in gold and jade, with rosy light spreading in all directions.

Railings carved of white jade, ground tiles laid of glazed glass, everywhere displaying luxury and dignity.

The Southern Heaven Gate stands towering and magnificent, its flanking guards solemn and dignified.

Entering within, celestial music lingers, immortal cranes dance gracefully, precious flowers and strange grasses vie for beauty, and spiritual springs and waterfalls flow amidst them.

At this moment, the Haotian Supreme Emperor was feeding fish in a tranquil courtyard.

One day in heaven, one year on earth,

When attending court today, Haotian heard some good news: the Jie Sect disciple Wei Hu made the list.

Although he was only a third-generation disciple, upon hearing the news Haotian was overjoyed, and his headache was gone.

The long-awaited battle of the three teachings was about to begin.

He was in good spirits today, having finished a day's official duties; Haotian felt no fatigue at all, and still had the leisure to feed the fish.

The fairy pool shimmered with rippling light, and various colored koi swam happily in the water.

Haotian wore a nine-dragon gold robe, donned a purple-gold cap, bore a leisurely air, held a delicate fish feed, and lightly scattered it into the pool.

Watching the fish scramble for food, Haotian's mouth corners twitched up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile.

He wore a look of assured confidence.

"The way these fish fight over food is rather like the current three teachings of the Mystic Gate."

"Fight, struggle—the harder you contend, the fiercer you battle, only then will you send a bunch of quality subordinates for me to command."

"Especially the Jie Sect disciples—may more of them make the list, ideally all Twelve Golden Immortals of Jade Void, to come work for me."

The heavenly official beside him held his breath, stood silently to the side, daring not to disturb Haotian's leisure.

After pouring all the fish feed from his hand into the fairy pool, Haotian asked, "I heard that Long Ji isn't staying properly in the Qingluan Dou Que to cultivate, but has returned to the Heavenly Court?"

"Your Majesty, Princess Long Ji indeed made a trip to the Heavenly Court, but she soon went back down to the mortal realm," the heavenly official replied, head lowered, answering cautiously.

"What did she come back for?" Haotian asked in a flat tone, yet it carried immense authority.

"Your Majesty, Princess Long Ji returned to investigate a person."

"Investigate a person?" Haotian's eyes showed doubt: "Who is it she wishes to investigate?"

"It's a person named Hong Jin, a third-generation disciple of the Jie Sect."

"A Jie Sect disciple?" Haotian fell into deep thought: "Could this person have something special about him?"

"Your Majesty, Hong Jin is a mortal, his abilities are mediocre—just an ordinary third-generation disciple of the Jie Sect, apprenticed to an ordinary true immortal of the Jie Sect, with nothing special about him."

Haotian fell silent for a moment; given such background, Princess Long Ji could not possibly develop mundane feelings. He waved his hand: "Never mind, continue to monitor Long Ji's movements, let her cultivate properly in the Qingluan Dou Que, and await further orders."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Haotian thought again and said: "Right, any news about those two troublemakers, Yang Jian and Yang Chan?"

"Your Majesty, we have been monitoring Yang Jian's movements; after he went out for training, he has indeed been continuously training to increase his strength, with no other activity whatsoever. As for Yang Chan…" the heavenly official said, his voice trailing off, his expression showing a hint of hesitation.

Haotian raised his brows and snapped: "How is Yang Chan? Why the hesitation?"

The heavenly official hastily lowered his head and urged: "Please calm your anger, Your Majesty; as for Yang Chan, we only knew she was in the dojo of the Jie Sect's Three Xiao Maiden, and for now we still haven't grasped her exact whereabouts."

Haotian gave a cold snort: "A bunch of useless fools!"

At that moment, a heavenly soldier came running up.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Haotian glanced sideways, his expression stern: "What is it?"

"Your Majesty, while monitoring Princess Long Ji's movements, we discovered she had gone out twice to meet a person."

Upon hearing this, Haotian's eyes narrowed and he said in a low voice: "Do you know who it is?"

"This person seems to be a disciple of the Jie Sect."

Thinking of Princess Long Ji coming to heaven to investigate Hong Jin, Haotian's brows knotted tighter and his voice grew graver: "She must have gone to see Hong Jin—such a measly third-generation Jie Sect disciple dares to harbor designs on Long Ji; summon the Giant Spirit God."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the heavenly soldier replied, then quickly turned and left.

Not long after, the Giant Spirit God—broad-shouldered, thick-waisted, with eyes like bells—strode forward, dropped to one knee in salute, and said: "Greetings, Your Majesty; I do not know why you have summoned me, what are your orders?"

"Giant Spirit God, I order you to lead a hundred thousand heavenly troops and the two great generals down to the lower realm to give Hong Jin a lesson, keep him away from Long Ji, and be careful not to kill him—after all, he is a disciple of the brother disciples of Tong Tian's master; if you kill him, I would have trouble explaining myself."

The Giant Spirit God clasped his fists and replied: "I obey your command!"

Having said that, he rose and departed with swift strides.

……

Clear Ripple Residence.

Gu Xiu still hadn't gone to Three Immortals Island, remaining instead at Clear Ripple Residence.

Just as he was leisurely admiring the peach blossoms.

Layers of dark, heavy clouds suddenly appeared above the clouds.

Doubt filled his eyes.

"Why are there so many heavenly soldiers and generals? Could it be that the Heavenly Emperor's daughter longs for the mortal world again, been taken by a mortal? This has made Haotian fly into a thunderous rage, and he has sent the Giant Spirit God to lead the heavenly soldiers and generals down to the mortal realm to seize her back."

Gu Xiu didn't pay much attention; in his impression, every daughter of the Heavenly Emperor had been taken by a mortal.

But when he noticed the dark heavenly soldiers and generals pressing down like a black cloud, heading straight for Clear Ripple Residence.

Gu Xiu was intrigued, watching this unexpected guest.

"Could it be that they've come for me?"

As he pondered, the heavenly soldiers and generals soon arrived above Clear Ripple Residence.

The two divine generals were stalwart and muscular, like an immovable mountain.

The Giant Spirit God stood several zhang tall, with thick brows like brushes, eyes like copper bells, awe-inspiring even without anger; the cold light of his Proclaim-flower Axe flashed.

Behind them, the heavenly soldiers and generals stood in neat rows, each with a solemn expression; their armor gleamed in the sunlight, exuding a chilling pressure.