Chapter 122: Challenging the Heavenly Emperor

Hearing Liu Chan's words, all the ministers present began to offer their advice.

After all, everyone knew clearly that A Dou was not the First Sovereign Liu Bei.

A personal expedition by the Emperor—what is this for!

One doesn't fear a rich second generation spending money; one fears a rich second generation starting a business.

"Your Majesty, a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. Your Majesty, you must not."

"Your Majesty, to deal with a mere bunch of Jiangdong rats, why must Your Majesty lead the expedition in person?"

The ministers present all spoke out to remonstrate, their hearts filled with bitterness.

Now that Zhuge Chengxiang is not here, it is unknown whether they can persuade His Majesty.

Liu Chan, however, spoke up, "Everyone, rest assured. The Prime Minister has already given Us a Brocade Bag Wonderful Plan; this time, those Jiangdong rats will definitely not return."

Liu Chan naturally understood what the ministers present meant.

He was not angry and continued, "This time, We lead the expedition, but We will not go onto the battlefield personally. This time, We appoint Jiang Wei as commander, responsible for dealing a heavy blow to the Jiangdong rats."

Hearing Liu Chan's words, the ministers present breathed a sigh of relief.

The Prime Minister's Brocade Bag Wonderful Plan—then it is fine.

If His Majesty wants to lead the expedition, then let him lead the expedition.

As long as he does not command it himself.

However, Jiang Wei is a surrendered general; for such a major matter, should it be handed over to a surrendered general?

The ministers present actually still had many opinions in their hearts.

First, Jiang Wei is a surrendered general; whether he can be entrusted with heavy responsibility still requires time.

Second, this is to deal a heavy blow to the Jiangdong rats and avenge the Shu-Han; who wouldn't want to go personally?

If one could deal a heavy blow to the Jiangdong rats and avenge the grudge, one would surely gain immense prestige within the Shu-Han.

However, even though the ministers had many opinions, they did not say anything more.

Compared to other matters, the Prime Minister's Brocade Bag Wonderful Plan was enough to convince them.

Just like that, under the command of Jiang Wei, the Shu-Han gathered thirty thousand troops and headed to Jingzhou to remain vigilant against the Jiangdong rats.

In Chang'an City, Zhuge Liang looked toward the south, his heart feeling a sense of relief.

"I hope Jiang Wei can live up to expectations and block the Jiangdong rats."

Nowadays, Zhuge Liang simply cannot spare his hands; he can only consume the fruits of victory as quickly as possible while guarding against a counterattack from Cao Wei.

As for the Jiangdong rats, they can only be left to others to deal with.

I hope Jiang Wei does not fail his expectations.

Although Zhuge Liang did not hold the Jiangdong rats in high regard, he also knew that one cannot underestimate the Jiangdong rats.

After all, it was because he underestimated the Jiangdong rats back then.

Through one moment of carelessness, the Shu-Han lost its excellent situation.

The First Sovereign, General Guan, and almost all the first generation of Shu-Han elites died in that battle.

The Jiangdong rats are not worth worrying about, but one cannot fail to guard against them.

With Jiang Wei taking the field, he should at least be able to block the Jiangdong rats.

Zhuge Liang immediately began farming and mass-producing soldiers in Chang'an City.

Now with the Heavens Chat Group behind him, Zhuge Liang is rapidly growing his strength.

The Cao Wei army has tried to attack Chang'an several times, but they have all suffered heavy losses.

In the Great Primordial World, in the land of Heaven Beyond Heaven.

Jieyin Daoren pondered for several days and said to Zhunti Daoren, "Junior Brother, in the end, I am not reconciled!"

Jieyin Daoren was ultimately not reconciled in his heart; a dignified Saint, plotting against the heavens and earth.

Tongtian Jiaozhu and the Jie Sect were both plotted against by him, and Yuanshi Tianzun and Taiqing Laozi both acted as his stepping stones.

After the Great Calamity of the Investiture of the Gods ended, it should have been the time for his Buddhism to show its prowess, but unfortunately, a Heavenly Emperor appeared.

A Heavenly Court commanded by a Heavenly Emperor, with countless Saints sitting in town.

How could Jieyin Daoren endure this?

"Junior Brother, perhaps you are right; today the Heavenly Court's momentum is like a rainbow, and it is even presided over by various Saints."

Jieyin Daoren pondered for a moment and continued, "Perhaps, at this time, surrendering to the Heavenly Court is the best choice, but I am not reconciled!"

Jieyin Daoren expressed his lack of reconciliation.

He stood in the land of Heaven Beyond Heaven, looking at the Heavenly Court above the Thirty-Three Heavens.

There, the momentum was like a rainbow, and the Qi Luck was like a torrential flood.

Jieyin Daoren's eyes turned purple with envy; he also knew that surrendering to such a Heavenly Court with rainbow-like Qi Luck was the correct choice.

But Jieyin Daoren was not reconciled.

"Senior Brother, tell me, what should we do?"

Zhunti Daoren asked Jieyin Daoren directly.

When Zhunti Daoren heard these words from Jieyin Daoren, his heart actually resonated as well.

He was also not reconciled in his heart.

Ever since they, the Western Two Sages, founded the Western Sect, they had racked their brains and calculated every step.

In the end, during the Great Calamity of the Investiture of the Gods, they plotted against everyone.

Originally, after the Great Calamity of the Investiture of the Gods ended, the Western Sect should have flourished.

Fomen should have been introduced to the Eastern lands.

But now, a Heavenly Emperor has appeared, along with an incomparably powerful Heavenly Court.

Clearly, they had calculated that the moment for Buddhism to flourish was right before their eyes.

Yet because of the existence of the Heavenly Court, they dared not do anything at all.

Zhunti Daoren had indeed spoken of wanting to join the Heavenly Court, but that was a choice made out of helplessness.

His heart was filled with unwillingness.

He likewise wanted to display his prowess, remain free from the control of others, and then cause Fomen to flourish.

Jieyin Daoren spoke in a deep voice, "I have decided to challenge the Heavenly Emperor to a battle, to have a direct decisive fight with the Heavenly Emperor."

Upon hearing the words of Jieyin Daoren, Zhunti Daoren was silent for a moment.

Challenge them to a battle now?

No matter how one looks at it, they have no chance of winning against the Heavenly Court right now.

Yet he heard Jieyin Daoren continue, "Junior Brother, we do not have many opportunities left. If things continue this way, the Heavenly Court will only grow stronger and stronger. In the future, we might not even have the capital to hold a dialogue with the Heavenly Court."

A fact that one had to admit was that there were more and more Saints in the Heavenly Court, and they were becoming increasingly powerful.

And in the future, the strength of the Heavenly Court would only grow stronger, and there would only be more and more Saints.

It might even be that in the future, existences above the level of Saints would appear in the Heavenly Court.

If things continued like this, by that time, let alone opposing the Heavenly Court.

By that time, they would likely not even have the qualifications to be enemies with the Heavenly Court.

It was precisely because he saw this point that Jieyin Daoren knew he could no longer wait.

Jieyin Daoren looked at Zhunti Daoren and continued, "The only plan now is to challenge the Heavenly Emperor to a duel. If we win, then our Buddhism can spread its teachings without worry in the future. If we lose, we must still display our might, so that the Heavenly Emperor knows that we, the Western Two Sages, are not so easily provoked."

Zhunti Daoren, upon hearing the words of Jieyin Daoren, did not view the prospects favorably.

The current Heavenly Court was too powerful; relying on their Four Sage Alliance, it was difficult to oppose the current Heavenly Court.

Not to mention the number of Saints in the Heavenly Court, just the Empress Thick Earth, who had already touched upon the the Heavenly Dao Realm, was not someone they could deal with.

Another cruel fact was just as Jieyin Daoren had said.

Their strength was stagnating, while the strength of the Heavenly Court was increasing step by step.

And they had been stagnating all along.

Right now, they still had a sliver of capital to oppose the Heavenly Court, but in the future, they would likely not even have this last bit of capital.

Perhaps in the future Heavenly Court, so-called Saints would not be worth much.

If one wanted to oppose the Heavenly Court, now was the best opportunity.

Zhunti Daoren saw that Jieyin Daoren's mind was made up and said nothing more.

The Heavenly Court was too powerful, so powerful that it made even Saints like them unable to catch their breath.

Zhunti Daoren still brought up one point, saying, "Senior Brother, if we challenge the Heavenly Court to a battle, will Taiqing Laozi agree?"

After all, the current Heavenly Court was too formidable.

Would Taiqing Laozi still be an enemy of the Heavenly Court?

To challenge the Heavenly Court, only if their Four Sage Alliance acted together would there be a chance.

And even then, the chance was not great.

Even if Zhunti Daoren were more confident in himself and more confident in Taiqing Laozi, he did not believe that by relying on the power of four Saints, they could oppose all the Saints currently in the Heavenly Court.

Jieyin Daoren took a deep breath and said, "If Taiqing Laozi agrees, we shall fight; if Taiqing Laozi does not agree, we shall fight all the same."

Jieyin Daoren looked at Zhunti Daoren and continued, "We are challenging the Heavenly Court, but even more so, we are challenging the Heavenly Emperor. We must provoke that Heavenly Emperor into directly taking action to fight us. If Taiqing Laozi can join us, that is best; if he cannot, it does not matter. After all, our target is the Heavenly Emperor."

Hearing these words from Jieyin Daoren, Zhunti Daoren finally understood.

Challenge the Heavenly Court?

No, it was to challenge the Heavenly Emperor.

As for the strength of the Heavenly Court, they were very likely not a match for it right now.

But the Heavenly Emperor was different.

Although all the Saints suspected that the Heavenly Emperor's strength was definitely not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

But at the very least, the Heavenly Emperor had not attained sainthood; this was certain.

If the Heavenly Emperor had attained sainthood, then there would definitely be auspicious signs of attaining sainthood between heaven and earth.

Attaining sainthood could not be hidden at all.

As long as the Heavenly Emperor had not attained sainthood, then there was room to maneuver.

Those who do not become Saints are ultimately just ants.

They, the Western Two Sages, were not a match for the Heavenly Court, but could they not handle a Heavenly Emperor who had not attained sainthood?

This was Jieyin Daoren's line of thinking.

As long as they defeated the Heavenly Emperor through battle and demonstrated their strength, then presumably at that time.

If they, the Western Two Sages, wanted to spread their teachings, the Heavenly Emperor would be too embarrassed to stop them.

Zhunti Daoren also understood this point.

Yes, they would not challenge the Heavenly Court; they would challenge the Heavenly Emperor.

If they could not deal with the Heavenly Court, could they not deal with a single Heavenly Emperor?

Zhunti Daoren's eyes lit up, and he gave a thumbs up to Jieyin Daoren, saying, "Senior Brother, brilliant. In such a dead end, you actually managed to find a path to survival."

"Hahaha!"

Jieyin Daoren laughed and said, "What I seek is merely for my Fomen to flourish; it is that Heavenly Court that forces us to have to do this."

Zhunti Daoren wore a look of compassion on his face and said, "Amitabha, excellent, excellent!"

These two Western Sages did not feel there was anything inappropriate about using the strength of two Saints to deal with someone below the level of a Saint.

Or rather, it was precisely because the Heavenly Emperor was below the level of a Saint that they had the confidence to strike with full force.

If the Heavenly Emperor were not an existence beneath the Saints, if the Heavenly Emperor were a Saint in the open, they would not dare to make a move.

Jieyin Daoren and Zhunti Daoren deliberated for a while, and the more they discussed it, the more they felt this matter was feasible.

The Heavenly Court is currently as imposing as a rainbow, but the Heavenly Court has a weakness, and that is the Heavenly Emperor.

The Heavenly Emperor is not a Saint.

After Jieyin Daoren and Zhunti Daoren deliberated, they immediately decided to act at once.

Jieyin Daoren spoke to instruct Zhunti Daoren, "You go and contact Laozi, and make it clear that this is a matter for the Four Sage Alliance together; do not betray the alliance, lest you be ridiculed by the people of the world."

Jieyin Daoren gave a cold snort and said, "This poor Daoist concludes that Laozi is a person who loves his reputation, and he will certainly not be content to remain beneath the Heavenly Court; now that Laozi has this opportunity, he will definitely make a move."

Jieyin Daoren did not think that Laozi would let this opportunity slip by.

Given Laozi's personality, it is likely already difficult for him to have endured until now.

Now that there is this opportunity, Laozi will definitely be unable to resist.

This was Jieyin Daoren's line of thinking.

Little did he know that Laozi had long since joined the Heavenly Court, and had even done so much earlier than everyone else.

Speaking of which, it is somewhat ironic that Laozi, who loves his reputation most, joined the Heavenly Court early on under the persuasion of Taishang Laojun.

Conversely, it is Jieyin Daoren and Zhunti Daoren, the Western Two Sages who have always been shameless, who have not joined the Heavenly Court to this day.

Even now, they are still thinking about how to oppose the Heavenly Court and oppose the Heavenly Emperor.

Zhunti Daoren immediately said, "Good, Senior Brother, I will go and contact Laozi right now."

And Jieyin Daoren sent a letter of challenge into the Heavenly Court.

Three days later, he invited the Heavenly Court to a decisive battle.

While issuing the challenge, Jieyin Daoren also proclaimed it to the world, ensuring that everyone in the Honghuang Continent would know.

Of this battle.

Jieyin Daoren's plan was excellent; he was challenging the Heavenly Emperor.

If the Heavenly Emperor dared to come, then the four Saints would swarm him and directly defeat the Heavenly Emperor.

If the Heavenly Emperor did not dare to come, then there would be even more to gain.

Then everyone in this Honghuang Continent would know that the Heavenly Emperor was afraid of battle.

At that time, it would certainly be able to strike a blow to the prestige of the Heavenly Court.

And then, if the Western Two Sages took this opportunity to preach, what could the Heavenly Emperor say?

Even if the Heavenly Court wanted to say something, they would likely be too embarrassed to do so.

Thus, under the proclamation of Jieyin Daoren, the entire Honghuang Continent received this news.

When the living beings of the Honghuang Continent heard this news, they were somewhat skeptical.

The Heavenly Court is currently as imposing as a rainbow; are the Western Two Sages actually going to challenge the Heavenly Court?

"It is not the Western Two Sages challenging the Heavenly Court. It is the Four Sage Alliance challenging the Heavenly Emperor."

That is correct, Jieyin Daoren acted first and reported later.

In the name of the Four Sage Alliance formed by Laozi, Yuanshi Tianzun, and the Western Two Sages, he directly challenged the Heavenly Court.

Clearly, this left no room for Laozi to refuse.

"Challenging the Heavenly Emperor? What does that mean? Are the four Saints fighting the Heavenly Emperor?"

Many Great Divine Abilities, after a little thought, realized what was happening.

These Western Two Sages are simply too cunning.

With the strength of the Western Two Sages, or even the strength of the Four Sage Alliance, they likely do not have much chance of winning against the currently powerful Heavenly Court.

But now, the Western Two Sages seem to be challenging the Heavenly Emperor?

Four Saints challenging the Heavenly Emperor?

This is surely too shameless.

Although everyone knows that the Heavenly Emperor, as the Lord of the Heavenly Court, is definitely extremely powerful.

But there is one fact that must be admitted: the Heavenly Emperor does not seem to have attained the Dao and become a Saint yet.

Not having attained the Dao and become a Saint, yet having to face an alliance of four Saints?

How is this supposed to work?

So, will the Heavenly Emperor accept the challenge of the Western Two Sages?

The Western Two Sages have made such a big scene; it seems they have not left the Heavenly Emperor any room to refuse!

This challenge is known to the whole world; how can the Heavenly Emperor refuse?

(End of this chapter)