Chapter 404

The plains of Muye are vast, the sandalwood chariots are resplendent, and the four-horse teams are strong. The Grand Father is the commander, and he is like an eagle taking flight. He inspires King Wu to launch a punitive expedition against the Great Shang, and the court is brought to peace and clarity.

At the end of the Investiture of the Gods, the outcome between the two sides was already clear. When the Western Zhou army was about to enter Zhaoge, the military and civilians of Zhaoge were of one heart and offered up the imperial city. King Zhou burned himself to death, and Jiang Ziya conferred the titles of gods on the Investiture Platform. From this, the Heavenly Court obtained the Four Heavenly Kings, the Nine Luminaries Star Lords, the Twenty-Eight Mansions, the Five Sacred Mountain Emperors, and other immortals and gods.

For a time, the people were at peace, the goods were abundant, auspicious omens descended from heaven, and all was tranquil.

Except for the Yang residence.

"We both participated in the Investiture of the Gods. Jiang Ziya conferred one immortal title after another, so why didn't you accept a title?"

Cun Xin questioned Yang Jian.

Yang Jian's expression was cold and indifferent as he asked in return, "Is it not good to be free and unfettered at Guanjiangkou, listening to the summons but not the proclamations?"

"This is unfair to you!"

Cun Xin said with dissatisfaction, "In this Investiture of the Gods, if it weren't for you, Jiang Ziya wouldn't have been able to enter Zhaoge even after twenty years. Why are they all above you now?"

Yang Jian toyed with the folding fan in his hand, too lazy to speak.

"You are a great hero in the Three Realms."

Cun Xin leaned close to Yang Jian and whispered, "You should be in a higher position."

Cun Xin held a measure of expectation for Yang Jian.

"I am my mother's child."

Yang Jian said indifferently.

During the Investiture of the Gods, Yang Jian had taken Cun Xin back to the Yang residence in Guanjiangkou. He had originally thought that the family would be happy together there, but living together, Yang Jian felt all sorts of discomfort.

"Your mother..."

Upon hearing this, Cun Xin said with dissatisfaction, "Back then, for your sake, I didn't even care about the Dragon Palace, nor did I look down on your status; I disregarded everything to follow you..." Cun Xin felt that she had given too much without receiving the return she deserved. Dissatisfied in her heart, she glared at Yang Jian and asked, "Who is prettier, me or your mother?"

Yang Jian had once defied the heavens, but he had never encountered such a heaven-defying question. For a time, he looked at Cun Xin, speechless for a long while.

"Forget it."

Looking at Yang Jian's expression, Cun Xin felt it was meaningless and muttered, "I am wholeheartedly for you, but you are always considering this and considering that..."

"Immortals and gods must have great love."

Yang Jian rarely explained to Cun Xin, saying, "Look at Gu Qing. Back then, he shot down the suns for the sake of all living beings under heaven. At Guanjiangkou, he was also able to lead the common people to build bridges and pave roads, clear irrigation canals, and turn farming that relied on the heavens into harvests that were guaranteed regardless of drought or flood, sparing the people so much distress. That is why Gu Qing's magic power grows stronger by the day, and the Heavenly Court must avoid his sharp edge."

"What's so great about that?"

Cun Xin said indifferently, "I move the clouds and bring the rain, and the people have harvests just the same."

Yang Jian sat silently, feeling a kind of torment.

Cun Xin observed his expression and softened her stance slightly, saying, "Speaking of Gu Qing, let's have him cook another meal."

"Their family has left!"

Yang Jian raised his eyes and said.

Left?

When?

Cun Xin's face showed slight joy; she just didn't like there being too many people in the Yang family.

Amidst the sea of clouds.

As Gu Qing, Yang Chan, and the Seventh Princess were roaming the clouds, they accidentally caught each other's eyes and suddenly laughed together.

"I might have been wrong to scold Ao Tingxin."

The Seventh Princess let out a breath and said, "That one is the truly foul-smelling one, loathed by both people and dogs."

After Yang Jian finished the Investiture of the Gods and returned to the Yang family, Gu Qing immediately wanted to take his family away from the Yang residence. It was just that many years of managing Guanjiangkou made Yang Chan and the Seventh Princess somewhat reluctant to leave. They lived in separate places and occasionally joined forces, but the quarrels between Ao Cunxin and Yang Jian in all aspects, as well as their disgust for the surrounding relatives, were all seen by them.

"Cousin!"

Yang Chan immediately stopped her and said, "How can you say that about the Second Sister-in-law?"

"I didn't say anything about the Second Sister-in-law."

The Seventh Princess said indifferently, "You were the one who took it personally."

Yang Chan pursed her lips, looked sideways at Gu Qing, and asked, "How did she become like this?"

Yang Chan and Cun Xin had interacted before and felt she was a quite normal person.

"Perhaps she feels her return is not enough."

Gu Qing smiled and said, "In Cun Xin's mind, she disregarded everything for Yang Jian, which counts as a kind of investment. Now that Yang Jian has married her, she expects an equal return. But Yang Jian has good brothers, the Howling Celestial Dog, and family by his side. To Cun Xin, she cannot feel the love of being exclusively possessed."

Exclusively possessed?

Yang Chan and the Seventh Princess looked at each other silently. After the two married Gu Qing, Gu Qing had quite a knack for balancing things, and the two did not feel any bias. Having been married for many years, they had no dissatisfaction with each other; instead, their feelings had deepened.

"Where are we going?"

Yang Chan asked.

"Kunlun!"

Gu Qing said.

In this Kunlun Mountain, a divine weapon was hidden: the Heaven-Opening Axe. In the future, Chen Xiang would need to split the heavenly rules, and he would have to come here. It was just that Yuan Shi Yuanshi Tianzun had previously been in seclusion on Kunlun Mountain, and this Kunlun mountain range had been sealed. Now that the Investiture of the Gods had ended, Yuan Shi Yuanshi Tianzun had also left Kunlun and headed to the Miluo Heaven. Gu Qing followed closely and arrived here. Mastering the divine axe and operating the heavenly rules might allow Gu Qing to transform into a Golden Immortal in one step.

To head to the place of the Pangu Axe, one needed to pass through three barriers. These three barriers were the Snow God, the Power God, and the Death God.

Gu Qing held Yang Chan and the Seventh Princess's hands and first arrived at the Snow God's barrier.

This barrier was cold all around, with snow piled up everywhere; it was also the place where the future Yang Jian would hide Ao Tingxin's corpse.

"To pass this barrier, you must melt the surrounding ice and snow."

The Snow God gave a hint.

Gu Qing possessed the Nine Yang power. After arriving here, he did not operate his magic power but instead released his mind. In the Martial Arts World, especially the Huang System's Great Tang Twin Dragons world, Gu Qing had tempered his mind, using his mind to control the Demon Seed, control his spirit, and control heaven and earth. After experiencing multiple worlds since then, this mental spirit had been tempered by Gu Qing to be pure and transparent. At this moment, with a movement of his heart, the universal love in his mind naturally emerged, and the surrounding ice and snow melted accordingly.

"Gu Qing, you have a warm heart."

The Snow God spoke, "I, this Snow God, am also called the God of Indifference. As long as a person's heart is indifferent, the ice and snow will become colder and colder. But your mind is warm and benefits all living beings. You have passed this barrier."

Gu Qing stepped into the second barrier.

This barrier was the God of Power. The God of Power showed Gu Qing the various benefits of ascending to the throne of the Jade Emperor.

"You have Yang Jian and Sun Wukong; the Jade Emperor has already become the weaker side. As long as you give the order, you will surely be able to recreate the universe."

Gu Qing walked past steadily, revealing his indifference to power in his mind.

In the final analysis, what Gu Qing pursued was power, and it was personal power.

The third barrier was the Death God.

This barrier tested whether Gu Qing could sacrifice himself for the sake of all living beings under heaven and whether he could truly abandon his life.

"My life and death are not for you to grasp." After Gu Qing walked to this barrier, he said calmly, "Moreover, I have already comprehended the mysteries between life and death long ago."

The Dao Heart Planting Demon Great Art required comprehending life and death and realizing the fluctuations of transcending life and death.

In the Three Realms, a vibration occurred, and a piece of Kunlun Mountain exploded. The divine axe with which the Great God Pangu opened heaven and earth suddenly appeared on Kunlun Mountain. In an instant, the Three Realms shook. The Jade Emperor and Wang Mu, who had just felt that the Heavenly Court's strength had greatly increased after the Investiture of the Gods, immediately became restless.

"How can this be allowed?"

The Jade Emperor was furious and said, "What is Gu Qing doing with the Heaven-Opening Axe?"

Tai Shang Lao Jun moved his feet to the side, distancing himself from the Jade Emperor: This thing is obviously for splitting you, could it be for splitting me?

Kunlun Mountain.

Gu Qing reached out and grasped the Heaven-Opening Axe, his divine sense flowing within it. In "The Bao Bao Lian Deng," to use the Heaven-Opening Axe, one also needed "wisdom." Yang Jian had hacked to death Ding Xiang, who was identical to Cun Xin, allowing Ding Xiang's soul to become the artifact spirit of the Heaven-Opening Axe, and then used the Bao Bao Lian Deng to open the magic power and wisdom accumulated in Chen Xiang's body, only then being able to truly apply it freely.

Gu Qing was going to travel through countless worlds; he couldn't take the Heaven-Opening Axe away. Getting the Heaven-Opening Axe was just to comprehend the rules within it, so this "wisdom" was invested from within himself, and this was also a secret method in the "Ghost Dao."

"The heavenly soldiers and generals are coming!"

Yang Chan and the Seventh Princess stood before the Pangu Axe and, seeing the dark mass of troops in the sky, reminded Gu Qing.

"It doesn't matter."

Gu Qing spoke calmly and said, "Someone will come to block them."

The vibration from the appearance of the Pangu Axe resonated directly through the Three Realms. Whether it was Dongsheng Shenzhou or Nanzhan Bu Zhou, as long as they were beings with great supernatural powers, they all knew the origin of this sound. When the heavenly soldiers and generals arrived here, Sun Wukong held his Ruyi Jingu Bang and stood directly in front of Kunlun Mountain.

"Monkey, get lost!"

Marshal Tianpeng had always been loyal to the Heavenly Court, but after the gods of the Investiture List entered the Heavenly Court, he was treated coldly. Now, for him, it was a time to perform meritorious service, so he held his rake and charged to the front.

"Clang!"

"Clang!"

"Clang!"

The Ruyi Jingu Bang and the Nine-Toothed Rake clashed three times. The first strike made Marshal Tianpeng's arm numb, the second strike made Marshal Tianpeng's legs tremble, and the third strike came down, directly making Marshal Tianpeng sober up. His body swayed, and he protected the Four Heavenly Kings in front of him.

"All of you, be honest."

Sun Wukong carried the Ruyi Jingu Bang on his back, looked at the gods, and laughed, "I watched you fight the Investiture of the Gods, and it was just like that."

Born early, Sun Wukong had caught all the excitement. At this moment, he laughed and beckoned, making the Four Heavenly Kings extremely angry. In an instant, a net of heaven and earth was laid out, and the gods attacked together. Seeing this situation, Sun Wukong blew a strand of hair, and immediately there were countless incarnations, simultaneously holding Golden Cudgels, sweeping back and forth in the sky. For a time, he was invincible, and the gods of the Heavenly Court fell like rain.

"Nezha, hurry and go stop him!"

The Jade Emperor was furious and ordered Nezha to go into battle.

Nezha was born with a rebellious nature and had originally been enjoying the show. At this moment, hearing the Jade Emperor's imperial decree, he had no choice but to take his Fire-Tipped Spear and charge up. The two sides fought for only a few rounds before Nezha was defeated, clutching his shoulder. The swiftness and decisiveness of it made even Sun Wukong, holding the Ruyi Jingu Bang, slightly stunned.

"These immortals, when they were in the Investiture of the Gods or occupying mountains as kings, were one more ferocious than the other. Why, after arriving at the Heavenly Court, are they one more useless than the other!"

The Jade Emperor was extremely angry.

Wang Mu remained silent on the side.

"Proclaim the Three Fairies to go to Kunlun Mountain and set up the Nine-Bend Yellow River Array!"

The Jade Emperor ordered.

Wang Mu's expression was slightly awkward, and she said, "Your Majesty, there is no such thing."

No such thing?

The Jade Emperor's eyes held a measure of surprise.

A day in heaven is a year on earth. After the Investiture of the Gods, right, it had only been a day or two. After the Jade Emperor came out of seclusion, many things had not yet been handled.

"Then let the Golden Spirit Holy Mother take the gods of the Jie Sect and go set up the Ten Thousand Immortals Array."

The Jade Emperor ordered again.

Seeing this, Wang Mu's voice was small as she said, "There is no such thing either."

"Zhao Gongming, let him use the Sea-Calming Pearl!"

The Jade Emperor ordered again.

Seeing this, Wang Mu lowered her head in shame and said, "Zhao Gongming is there, but the Sea-Calming Pearl is gone."

The Jade Emperor's expression became increasingly surprised. He called for the gods of the Heavenly Court and sent for the Investiture List. After flipping through it, he felt that the Jie Sect had lost many people, and the Heavenly Court's power had not expanded as much as he had imagined.

"Proclaim the Tathagata Buddha!"

The Jade Emperor waved his hand to order, looked at the scene, and saw the figures of Yang Jiao and Yang Jian.

Kunlun Mountain.

Gu Qing waved his hand slowly. The Pangu Axe in his hand had become increasingly light. His second primordial spirit entered the Pangu Axe, not only feeling the layers of restrictions within it but also feeling the internal structure of the Pangu Axe. In this flow of the primordial spirit, the Pangu Axe gradually became handy in his hand.

With a leap, Gu Qing arrived before the heavenly soldiers and generals, sweeping the Pangu Axe at will. A sharp energy appeared out of thin air, extending infinitely toward the surrounding heaven and earth. That brought an unchangeable force that almost recast the fire, earth, water, and wind of this world, causing the weapons of the heavenly soldiers and generals to snap and the people to fall over. The magic artifacts in the hands of the Four Heavenly Kings snapped in response, and they vomited blood and flew away wildly.

"Powerful, powerful!"

Seeing such a weapon, Sun Wukong excitedly approached, reached out to gently stroke the Pangu Axe, extremely curious about such a weapon, and simultaneously asked Gu Qing if there was a way to use this magic artifact.

"This axe should be handy, right?"

Yang Jian looked at Gu Qing, his eyes holding a different meaning. When he was cultivating with Master Yuding outside Kunlun Mountain, Master Yuding had once mentioned the Heaven-Opening Axe, which possessed the power to destroy everything.

"Go to the Heavenly Court!"

Gu Qing said affirmatively to Yang Jian.

Holding the axe in his hand, Gu Qing also wanted to have a good talk with the Jade Emperor.

Yang Jian's face held a measure of excitement; he had never forgotten his father's hatred for even a moment.

"Gu Qing, what do you want to do?"

Yao Ji's figure appeared gracefully in front of Gu Qing, reaching out to block him, standing in front of the Heavenly Court, and said, "In these Three Realms, if you want to change the dynasty, then it will surely lead to misery for the people, causing a disaster even more serious than the Ten Golden Crows." Yao Ji's voice held a measure of gentleness and a measure of compromise.

"We are going to talk to the Jade Emperor about the new heavenly rules."

Gu Qing leaned close to Yao Ji and whispered, "The current heavenly rules were all concocted by the Jade Emperor himself to protect the order of the Three Realms, but they are cold and heartless. Now that I have obtained the Heaven-Opening Axe, I naturally have to recreate the Three Realms. Don't worry, he is your brother after all."

He is even more the Jade Emperor.

Yao Ji thought to herself.

This Pangu Axe had already appeared, and the immortals all retreated one after another. Gu Qing rode the clouds and mist, arrived after the South Tianmen, and walked straight toward the Jade Pool. The two immortals guarding the South Tianmen just looked at each other and smiled bitterly, not daring to block him rashly.

Jade Pool.

Wang Mu and the Jade Emperor were sitting upright. Gu Qing carried the axe, brought Sun Wukong and Yang Jian, and rushed in, confronting the Jade Emperor's gaze.

(End of chapter)