Chapter 400

"The Dao heart of the Heavenly Emperor's son is even more fragile than we imagined."

"It simply doesn't seem like that of an Ancient Emperor's son."

The Saint of Yaochi spoke in a low voice, a strange look appearing in her eyes. In this Golden Age, the offspring of Emperors and Sovereigns were emerging one after another, and Yaochi had dealt with quite a few of them.

Ji Zi possessed the stubbornness of the Void, the Holy Prince had the arrogance of the Fighting Holy Emperor, and even Huang Xudao had a heart that would never regret seeking the Dao. None of them were unworthy of the name of Emperor's son, each upholding the pride of their forebears.

"Some time ago, Hua Yunfei sparred with Yuangu, the eighth-generation grandson of the Origin Emperor, and used the God-Crossing Art to probe him during the process."

Ye Fan said indifferently: "After Yuangu realized his Dao heart was being shaken, he immediately chose to perish together, wanting to awaken the Origin Emperor's bloodline and drag Hua Yunfei down with him."

"This level of resolve is something the Heavenly Emperor's son does not possess."

If these Emperor's sons realized they were being converted, their first reaction would be to choose death over submission.

Only the Heavenly Emperor's son, when faced with the God-Crossing Art, actually chose appeasement, wanting to stall for time until the Ancestral Kings could provide support.

Little did he know that one step back leads to another; once the first compromise is made, there will be a second, and that Dao heart will be left teetering on the brink of collapse.

"Like father, like son."

The Great Saint of Great Xia snorted coldly, wearing tinted glasses when it came to the Undying lineage, and said indignantly: "The Undying Emperor is the great mastermind behind the scenes throughout the ages—despicable, shameless, and evil to the core. He hasn't a shred of an Emperor's heart, so his son is naturally nothing good."

"In my opinion, it would be better to kill him to intimidate the ten thousand ancient tribes."

This Great Saint spoke without any impartiality; it was purely a personal grudge.

Yet the Sages all agreed, because blackening the Heavenly Emperor had already become the political correctness of the Heavenly Court.

They heaped all sorts of dirt, real or imagined, onto the Heavenly Emperor, completely ignoring the fact that at certain points in time, the Heavenly Emperor had already undergone Nirvana and had no opportunity to commit evil.

"A living Heavenly Emperor's son is more useful than a dead one," Lin Xian said meaningfully, before assigning tasks to each faction.

Western Desert to provide one thousand monks skilled in the art of conversion, Central Plains to gather one thousand Daoists capable of chanting the Scripture of Crossing People, and Eastern Wasteland to provide one thousand cultivators proficient in the God-Crossing Art—assembling three thousand Heavenly Court practitioners to raise the Heavenly Emperor's son to a higher level.

"The art of conversion and the Scripture of Crossing People are no problem, but the God-Crossing Art?" After discussing for a moment, the several Sages of the Eastern Wasteland turned their gazes in unison toward the Saint of Yaoguang.

"What does that have to do with me?" The Saint of Yaoguang shook his head repeatedly: "Our Sacred Land turned over a new leaf long ago; we don't teach the God-Crossing Art. Why not ask the Jiang family? Their young master also knows the Indestructible Heaven Art."

"The Hengyu path is an invincible one; why would one need to cultivate another's methods?" The Jiang family Saint said without changing his expression: "There are few in our Jiang family who know a demonic art like the God-Crossing Art."

"The God-Crossing Art is not much different from the Buddhist art of universal salvation. Tomorrow, the Heavenly Court will issue a decree to unban the God-Crossing Art from the list of demonic arts."

Lin Xian spoke calmly, then his expression turned cold: "If you continue to push back and obstruct, I will have the Taixuan Sect enter Zishan to discuss matters and inherit the quota for the Heaven-Swallowing Devil Jar."

Currently, the four major inheritances of the Ruthless Emperor—Taixuan, the Jiang family, Tianxuan, and Yaoguang—all have the right to inherit the Emperor weapon.

"What are you saying, Saint Lin?" The old Saint of Yaoguang changed his face instantly: "Actually, I've thought about it—the main lineage of Yaoguang doesn't know the God-Crossing Art, but there should still be some inheritances in a few branch lineages. I'll go back and ask; we should be able to scrape together eight hundred."

The Jiang family Saint also realized suddenly, as if he had just remembered: "No one in the Jiang family knows it, but there should be some manpower among the Thirteen Great Bandits. I'll have Taixu borrow two hundred people later."

Sacred Lands and aristocratic families always have the same nature: they always keep a backup plan.

Only when the Ruthless Emperor manifests or Shennong descends in person can they obtain their unconditional support.

But when that time truly comes, the Sacred Lands and aristocratic families appear somewhat redundant.

"Long trapped in a cage, suddenly returning to nature."

In an instant, Lin Xian suddenly understood the invincible Dao heart of one Great Emperor after another; rather than pondering world-shaking wisdom, it is better to seek the aid of world-shaking power.

As long as one's power is a sliver stronger, many difficult problems are naturally solved, breaking through that cage by force to obtain great freedom.

Rather than spending effort balancing every faction, it is better to bite off a bit more and attain the Great Sage rank sooner.

With this thought, Lin Xian became a hands-off manager, welcoming the return of Ye Di Zun, while he himself used the 'One Qi Transforms Three Purities' technique, carrying the Demon-Subduing Pestle as he rushed toward Yaochi.

"Namo Future Starry Sky Buddha..."

One body as the Electronic Tathagata of Mount Sumeru, leading the practitioners of the Great Lei Yinsi, chanting Sanskrit sounds, ancient Buddhas and Bodhisattvas manifesting, immeasurable Buddhist scriptures roaring!

"Dao, Dao, Dao!"

One body as the Heavenly Court Sect Leader, divine light brilliant, a halo of faith hanging behind his head, flowing like a waterfall, countless gods following his side.

"The source of the heart is clear; one illumination breaks all. The Qi of battle is strong; ten thousand feelings in a single breath, observing all things with one heart..."

One body dressed as a Daoist, leading the crowd in chanting the Scripture of Crossing People, drawing upon mysterious power from the void.

Three distinct powers merged, converging upon a tender phoenix in the center of Yaochi. It bore the five virtues, perched on a Flat Peach tree, thirstily drinking the water of the Immortal Pool, untainted by the mortal world, surrounded by auspicious clouds and mist.

"What are you doing, Yaochi!"

"I am the son of the Undying Emperor; my father is the supreme god of the ten thousand tribes. Are you not afraid of divine punishment?"

A phoenix cry rang out. The Heavenly Emperor's son was incredibly furious. Every step of concession had only led to further encroachment, like adding fuel to a fire, growing ever more intense.

"The Undying Emperor?"

A laughing voice rang out. The three bodies returned to one, transforming into a refined youth wearing a Tianxuan crown and Daoist robes. He spoke indifferently: "The Undying Emperor abandoned you long ago. To the Heavenly Emperor, you are merely a discarded pawn; the Heavenly Court is your final destination."

"What nonsense are you spouting!" The Heavenly Emperor's son roared: "My father gave the mortal world the best of everything, seeking out the Creation Spring Eye. If it weren't for that human invading the Ancient Emperor Mountain, I should have ruled the mortal world, and Yaochi would be trembling at my feet."

"The best of everything in the mortal world?" Lin Xian sneered: "Then where is the Undying Heaven Blade? You were captured by our Heavenly Court; why is the Heaven Blade not protecting its master?"

The Heavenly Emperor's son felt a tremor in his heart, but he still stubbornly retorted: "The Heaven Blade is in my father's hands, fighting for the Heavenly Emperor. What would you mortal fools know?"

"My father is an undying god. Release me immediately, or else when the Immortal Blade descends to the mortal world, you will all die."

"Really? I don't believe it." Lin Xian said meaningfully: "As far as I know, the Heaven Blade is not in the Heavenly Emperor's hands, but is guarding something else."

"What thing?" The Heavenly Emperor's son asked subconsciously.

"Someone saw five-colored immortal light shooting into the sky in the outer star field, with five Creation Source Eyes currently being absorbed by a stone egg," Lin Xian said calmly: "And there is a Heaven Blade guarding the path."

"You, what did you say?!" The Heavenly Emperor's son roared, not even noticing that his voice carried a hint of trembling.

Back when the Heavenly Emperor's son was still a stone egg, he also had a Creation Source Eye to build his foundation. This kind of thing is the greatest creation in heaven and earth, comparable to the Demon God Flower.

But the Heavenly Emperor's son only had one Creation Source Eye, far inferior to the Heavenly Emperor's second son.

"Do you think I would believe you?" After pondering for a moment, the Heavenly Emperor's son instantly calmed down and said in a deep voice: "This is just your one-sided story."

"One-sided story? Heavenly Emperor's son, don't deceive yourself. Haven't you known for a long time? In your father's heart, you will never compare to his second son," Lin Xian mocked: "Back then, the Undying Emperor gave you two paths. The first path was bright and brilliant, with guardians and peerless immortal treasures in abundance."

"The second path only had one Undying Heaven Blade, telling you to use this blade to cut down the Dao-Enlightenment Tea Tree, shatter many immortal treasures, and thoroughly sever the first path."

"You! How could you know?" The Heavenly Emperor's son gasped, his eyes full of terror. This was a private conversation between him and the Heavenly Emperor; even the Undying Empress was not qualified to listen.

"Admit it, Heavenly Emperor's son, you are a piece of trash," Lin Xian did not answer, only saying coldly: "You will never be able to attain the Dao in this life; you are destined to be a wealthy idler."

"The one who can become an Emperor, and even an Immortal in the future, is your younger brother. You were abandoned by your father long ago."

"No, that's not it, this is impossible..." The Heavenly Emperor's son was hysterical, his Dao heart nearly going insane. At the same time, the Scripture of Crossing People, the God-Crossing Art, and the Buddhist conversion sounds rang out, reaching deep into his soul.

The pride stemming from the Heavenly Emperor's bloodline, the backbone of being a God's son, and the determination to prove the Dao contended with the three great scriptures. The five-colored divine phoenix body occasionally bloomed with divine light, occasionally flowed with black energy, as if entering into a demonic state.

The Heavenly Emperor's son's expression was incredibly ferocious, roaring: "My father left me endless immortal treasures and immeasurable resources."

"What immortal treasure compares to five Creation Source Eyes? That is a foundation comparable to five Undying Medicines. What resource compares to a Heaven Blade? That is the Emperor weapon closest to an Immortal Artifact in the mortal world."

Lin Xian chanted the Scripture of Crossing People, coldly striking him down: "Heavenly Emperor's son, you are not just a useless person, but a fool, picking up sesame seeds and losing the watermelon."

"If you had chosen the Undying Heaven Blade back then, would the Heavenly Emperor's second son have emerged later?"

"If you had chosen the Undying Heaven Blade, wouldn't everything after the Heavenly Emperor passed away be yours?"

"You gave up everything!"

"You are not the Heavenly Emperor's son, nor are you the God's son; you are the one who gave it up."

"I am, I am the offspring of a god!" The Heavenly Emperor's son struggled, trying to break free from the Scripture of Crossing People, shouting: "My father left me a guardian, in the Undying Mountain..."

"Are you talking about him?" Lin Xian sneered, a precious mirror appearing in his palm, projecting the Undying Daoist within the Holy Cliff: "The Undying Daoist is already a withered bone, suppressed by the Wu Shi Great Emperor, yet your father did not appear. What does that mean?"

"Either the Undying Emperor is dead, or he simply doesn't care about you. You have nothing left."

Boom!

Nothing left—the final sentence struck the Heavenly Emperor's son's head like thunder.

His gaze was dull, muttering: "I have nothing left."

All the things of the past, the bloodline he should have been proud of, became the greatest mockery.

The higher one climbs, the harder one falls. Falling from heaven into hell—this huge contrast is bone-deep.

If it were an Emperor's son's temperament, he could crawl back from hell to heaven on his own, but the Heavenly Emperor's son's Dao heart was cowardly, harboring luck, and once he fell, he could never crawl back up.

"Your father abandoned you, viewing you as a discarded pawn."

"The Heavenly Court is willing to accept you. Choose your own path; why be constrained by the Heavenly Emperor's two paths? You can choose a third path yourself."

"A path that even the Undying Emperor would never expect, a path that would make him regret choosing to abandon you."

"Heavenly Emperor's son, don't you want to make the Undying Emperor regret it?"

"You are the most correct choice; the second son was the Undying Emperor's mistake."

Lin Xian led the three thousand practitioners, operating the God-Crossing Art like a devil's whisper, purifying the Heavenly Emperor's son's mind. He did not control his spiritual sense, but started from the origin, letting him sincerely join the Heavenly Court and generate a second personality hostile to the Heavenly Emperor.

"Was the Heavenly Emperor wrong? I was not wrong."

"The Heavenly Emperor's son was not wrong, then who am I?"

"Who am I, who is me..."

The newborn Heavenly Emperor's son fell into confusion, bathed in immortal light. His crystal-clear body remained unchanged, his face still exquisitely beautiful, enough to make women jealous, truly peerless, but his core was no longer the same.

Body present, soul absent—this is an eternal problem.

The first-generation Great Emperor who held the Heavenly Heart would never dare to acknowledge himself if he saw his second generation degenerate into a Forbidden Zone Supreme.

After an Emperor's corpse gains sentience, producing another 'me'—what an astonishing change.

"Believe and it exists, doubt and it does not!"

Lin Xian smiled, performing a great lion's roar, like a morning bell and evening drum, striking the Heavenly Emperor's son's sealed mind, shouting: "Foolish child, have you not awakened yet?"

"One flower blooms, one flower withers; see yourself when the flower opens, and you will see your true self."

Hum!

A ray of sunlight shone into the lake of his heart. On a face more beautiful than Hua Yunfei's, a trace of piety appeared. The Heavenly Emperor's son opened his phoenix eyes and whispered: "So that's how it is. Only by abandoning the Heavenly Emperor and moving away from the fences he set up can I live out my true self."

"The great dream has awakened. Thank you, World-Honored One, for pointing out my rebirth. This disciple wishes to enter your sect and serve by your side."

The things of yesterday died yesterday, the things of today are born today. The Heavenly Emperor's son has become a thing of the past; the one living in the world now is the Good-Fallen Heavenly Emperor's son!

"In the past, the Undying Emperor fell from the Immortal Domain, entered the Emperor's sect, and became the heir to the Ancient Heavenly Court."

"Later, he betrayed the Heavenly Court and embarked on the dark path of harming the Emperors."

"I hope you, as the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Court, will lead the ten thousand tribes to coexist and resist the tyranny of the Undying Emperor."

Lin Xian took a jade slip from his bosom, which contained the history of the Heavenly Court. One chapter was the 'Chronicle of the Heavenly Emperor,' recording the various crimes of the Undying Emperor.

After reading it, the Heavenly Emperor's son wept and bowed deeply: "The Heavenly Emperor was muddled, the Undying one was cruel, establishing Forbidden Zones of Life and bringing countless crimes upon the ten thousand tribes, failing the common people of the world. I am willing to carry thorns to plead guilty and expose the evil deeds of my sinful father, the Heavenly Emperor, to the world."

One man's hero is another man's enemy; one man's enemy is another man's hero.

But under the influence of the God-Crossing Art, the Heavenly Emperor's son abandoned his stance, moving from cowardice to the other extreme.

And such a compassionate Heavenly Emperor's son, who desires universal harmony, is exactly what the Heavenly Court needs.

"What do the Heavenly Emperor's crimes have to do with you? You are now a clean and innocent phoenix."

Lin Xian comforted him: "The Holy Body is prone to misfortune and illness; you, as the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Court, should encourage yourself and lead the ten thousand tribes toward universal harmony."

"As the descendant of a sinful Emperor, I dare not covet the Emperor's throne," the Heavenly Emperor's son sighed: "In this life, I only wish to atone for my sins."

Lin Xian persuaded him repeatedly, but the Heavenly Emperor's son insisted, not only contributing the 'Heavenly Emperor Scripture' but also sharing the inheritance of the Divine Phoenix clan with the Heavenly Court, and even providing a large amount of Immortal Phoenix blood.

The Heavenly Emperor's son was a huge treasure trove, not only capable of excavating the mysteries of the Divine Phoenix, but also, in targeting the Undying Emperor, one could even extract Immortal Dao laws from him.

Because his father fell from the Immortal Domain, he was a creature different from those of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, and the order within his body was completely different.

"Good, good, good. The Heavenly Emperor's son has virtue."

"I will certainly report to the Emperor and award you the Heavenly Court Peace Prize."

Lin Xian was overjoyed. Who said there are no immortals in the mortal world? The Heavenly Court raising an Immortal Phoenix in Yaochi—this is a genuine immortal spirit, which is of great use for evolving the Immortal Domain.

(End of chapter)