Chapter 223

Following the immortal official's transmission of the decree, the major immortal mansions of the Heavenly Court all went into motion.

Not long after, the vast Lingxiao Bao Dian was filled with civil and military immortal officials, but the hall was silent, the atmosphere somewhat solemn.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

Following the announcement, the Jade Emperor, surrounded by a crowd of immortal officials, walked slowly toward the imperial throne.

He sat high on the imperial chair, his gaze sweeping over the immortals below, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"My beloved subjects," the Jade Emperor's voice was flat yet carried dignity, "you must have all heard of the 'True and False Great Sage' matter that has been making such a stir in the Three Realms recently."

"This matter has damaged the dignity of the Heavenly Court, and I am deeply pained. In order to clarify the truth, I entrusted the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Lei Sheng Puhua Heavenly Sovereign to thoroughly investigate this matter."

His gaze turned toward Disciple Wen Zhong.

"Disciple Wen Zhong, tell everyone the results you have found."

"I obey the decree!"

Disciple Wen Zhong stepped out, first bowing to the Jade Emperor, then turning to face all the immortal officials, his voice loud and clear.

"Following His Majesty's decree, I went to Mount Wuzhi in person to investigate. After checking with my Heavenly Eye, I discovered that the demon monkey suppressed under Mount Wuzhi had a golden hoop planted deep within its Primordial Spirit!"

"After my verification, this golden hoop comes from the Western Fomen!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall was in an uproar.

Many among them knew the inside story, but they had not expected the Jade Emperor to allow Disciple Wen Zhong to say this in public.

"Bang!"

Just as everyone was discussing, the Jade Emperor slammed his armrest and stood up.

"What a fine Fomen!"

The Jade Emperor's voice was full of fury; he pointed toward the west and roared: "I have heard that the Fomen follows rules and has a compassionate heart, yet I never imagined they would engage in such sordid deeds behind the scenes."

"Such behavior has already seriously affected the order of the Three Realms."

Seeing the furious Jade Emperor, some of his confidants immediately stood out, echoing him with faces full of grief and indignation.

"Please, Your Majesty, issue a decree to severely punish the Fomen and uphold the Heavenly Laws!"

The Jade Emperor took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his "fury," sat back down on the imperial chair, and said: "It was my failure to recognize people, being deceived by treacherous villains; this is my fault."

He first admitted his mistake, then changed the subject: "But that fake Great Sage caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace, and the culprit is the Fomen, while the true Great Sage Qitian, Sun Wukong, has suffered grievances in vain—this is the Heavenly Court's negligence!"

The Jade Emperor's gaze swept across the entire hall, finally landing on a figure who had just returned from Lingshan and had not yet caught his breath.

Taibai Jinxing was standing in the ranks of civil officials when he was suddenly targeted by the Jade Emperor's gaze; his heart jumped, feeling that something bad was about to happen.

"Where is Taibai Jinxing?" The Jade Emperor's voice echoed in the hall.

"This old subject is here." Taibai Jinxing bit the bullet and walked out, bowing and saluting.

It's over; this feeling is wrong.

The Jade Emperor looked at him and ordered: "You shall immediately go to Mount Huaguo in the lower realm and, on my behalf, offer an apology to the Great Sage Qitian, Sun Wukong."

"Tell him that the Heavenly Court has clarified the truth and will soon proclaim it to the Three Realms to restore his innocence. Ask him to come to the Heavenly Court once more; I want to personally clear his name before all the gods!"

The Jade Emperor paused. "Then, you shall transmit another decree for me: summon Tathagata Buddha of the Western Lingshan Great Lei Yinsi to come to the Lingxiao Bao Dian immediately to give me, and all living beings of the Three Realms, an explanation!"

As soon as these words were spoken, there was a deathly silence in the Lingxiao Bao Dian.

Summon Tathagata Buddha to the hall to explain?

It seems that this time, His Majesty truly intends to break with the Fomen; the Three Realms are likely about to change.

And Taibai Jinxing stood in the center of the hall, his heart bitter, not knowing what to say.

He had been running back and forth for two days, his legs almost worn thin.

How did he, the dignified Taibai Jinxing, suddenly become an errand boy?

But looking at the Jade Emperor's unnegotiable gaze on the dragon throne, Taibai Jinxing could only swallow his bitterness, bow his body, and say respectfully: "This subject accepts the decree."

Taibai Jinxing received the Dharma decree and walked out of the Lingxiao Bao Dian, feeling that the auspicious clouds beneath his feet had been stepped on quite solidly.

He looked back at the South Heaven Gate and sighed long and hard.

His two legs were truly the busiest in the Heavenly Court.

Having just returned from Lingshan, he now had to go to Mount Huaguo to apologize to the demon monkey, and then he would have to go to Lingshan again to summon Tathagata Buddha to the hall for questioning.

Taibai Jinxing complained inwardly, but his feet did not slow down, driving the auspicious clouds as he flew toward Dongsheng Shenzhou.

Mount Huaguo, in front of the Water Curtain Cave.

Sun Wukong, Su Chen, and Marshal Tianpeng were waiting in the mountain for news from Doumu Yuanjun.

Just then, a familiar auspicious cloud drifted from the horizon; Sun Wukong looked closely, recognized the person, and immediately scratched his ears and cheeks, grabbing his Ruyi Jingu Bang, ready to go up.

"Monkey Brother, don't be impatient." Su Chen reached out to stop Sun Wukong, watching calmly as the figure descended.

The person who arrived was none other than Taibai Jinxing.

This time, the Heavenly Court envoy's face lacked its usual smile, replaced by exhaustion and bitterness.

"Old man, what are you here for again?" Sun Wukong snorted, his tone unfriendly. "What does the Jade Emperor want you to do now?"

Taibai Jinxing looked at the few people before him, took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and then performed an action that made everyone's jaws drop.

He bowed solemnly to Sun Wukong.

"Old Daoist Taibai Jinxing, acting under the decree of the Jade Emperor, has come specifically to..." He paused, seemingly finding it difficult to speak, but finally said it, "... offer an apology to the Great Sage Qitian."

As soon as these words were spoken, Marshal Tianpeng's eyes widened, his mouth hanging open, unable to close for a long time.

Sun Wukong was also stunned; he scratched his furry face and asked in disbelief: "What did you say? Say it again? That Jade Emperor asked you to come and apologize to my Old Sun?"

"Exactly." Taibai Jinxing straightened his body and said seriously, "The Great Heavenly Sovereign has clarified that the one suppressed under Mount Wuzhi is a fake created by the Fomen. The Great Sage has suffered grievances, and it is the Heavenly Court's negligence; His Majesty is deeply pained."

He looked at Sun Wukong and continued to convey the decree: "His Majesty has a decree, inviting the Great Sage to come to the Heavenly Court once more. He wants to clear the Great Sage's name in the Lingxiao Bao Dian before all the gods, restoring the Great Sage's innocence and justice!"