Chapter 540: The Jade Emperor Shows Weakness! The Complex Heavenly Court

After a brief moment of deliberation, the Jade Emperor added in a calm tone.

"Luo Fu Dao Ren?"

Upon hearing the Jade Emperor's command, the immortal gods stirred inwardly and unconsciously began silently reciting Luo Fu's name.

Almost none of the immortals and gods standing in the Lingxiao Palace were foolish.

The hidden intent behind the Jade Emperor's words was still discernible to them.

"Send envoys to the West, not to Rulaifo — it seems Rulaifo has truly met with misfortune!"

"Luo Fu Dao Ren? When did this figure emerge in the Three Realms? Could this Luo Fu Dao Ren be connected to the Five-Finger Mountain that fell from beyond the heavens?"

"Just who is this Luo Fu Dao Ren, that he could make Rulaifo suffer defeat?"

······

Various thoughts flashed through the minds of the immortal gods.

"Yes! We obey your command!"

Though filled with countless doubts, none of the immortal gods dared ask further; instead, they bowed slightly to the Jade Emperor and replied in unison.

The immortal gods, whose minds had been stirred by the Jade Emperor's words, did not linger in the Lingxiao Palace but departed in unison, each accepting their orders.

Sigh.

Watching the reactions of the immortal gods, the Jade Emperor could not help but sigh inwardly.

He had not wished to mention Luo Fu at all.

To publicly name Luo Fu in the Lingxiao Palace, and to order all immortals and gods to treat Luo Fu with proper respect upon encountering him,

was undeniably a blow to the dignity of the Heavenly Court.

Officially, the Heavenly Court was the sovereign of the Three Realms, and he, the Jade Emperor, was the Lord of the Three Realms.

As sovereign of the Three Realms, all beings within should bow in submission to the Heavenly Court.

Yet his words just now amounted to a show of weakness toward Luo Fu — a direct blow to the Heavenly Court's authority.

Of course, the Jade Emperor himself did not overly care about this matter.

To show weakness. To yield.

Has the Heavenly Court not done such things before?

Since the Divine Investiture War, the Heavenly Court has outwardly appeared brimming with talent.

In terms of sheer numbers of powerful beings, the Heavenly Court is unquestionably among the top.

Even if it falls short of the current dominant Buddhist sect, the gap is not vast.

After all, the Divine Investiture War was nominally fought to enshrine deities for the Heavenly Court.

The Divine Investiture List holds many powerful figures from the Chan Sect and the Jie Sect.

But one knows one's own household best.

Due to the Divine Investiture List, many powerful figures from the Chan Sect and the Jie Sect do indeed serve in the Heavenly Court.

Once their divine souls are inscribed on the Divine Investiture List, their lives are, in principle, under the Heavenly Court's control.

Yet behind each of these Chan and Jie disciples stand the Holy Ones.

Master Yuanshi and Saint Tongtian have merely been placed under house arrest by Ancestor Hongjun — they have not been suppressed nor killed.

Holding the Divine Investiture List grants nominal authority to execute the deities listed — but only nominally.

If the Jade Emperor truly dared to kill a Chan or Jie disciple, he would find the wrath of the two Holy Ones descending upon him the moment he raised his hand.

In the past, the Jade Emperor relied on his status as the Dao Ancestor's disciple, believing even Holy Ones would hesitate to strike him — after all, one must consider the master when dealing with the dog.

But during the Divine Investiture War, the Jade Emperor witnessed the madness of the Holy Ones, and realized his true standing in Ancestor Hongjun's eyes.

If a Holy One truly resolved to strike him, as long as they did not kill him outright, the Dao Ancestor would not intervene.

With powerful patrons behind them, the Chan and Jie deities on the Divine Investiture List hold little reverence for the List itself.

Likewise, they hold little reverence for him, the Jade Emperor.

Once their divine souls were inscribed on the List, they became nearly like puppets, constantly restrained, their cultivation base barely advancing.

Under such conditions, nearly every deity on the List became indifferent to all desires.

In short, they began to slack off.

They do hold positions in the Heavenly Court, but they perform no real duties — they obey orders only when summoned, not when commanded.

Aside from the powerful figures of the Chan and Jie Sects, the rest on the Divine Investiture List are all mediocre or outright useless — not one worthy of serving as a face of the Court.

Had the Jade Emperor not, after the Divine Investiture, painfully reformed and painstakingly gathered loyal followers, the Heavenly Court could barely have kept functioning.

After the Divine Investiture Calamity, the Xuan Sect suffered devastating losses, and nearly all its greats withdrew into seclusion, leaving the Buddhist sect as the sole dominant power.

The Buddhist sect is far less easygoing than the Xuan Sect.

Influenced by Tai Shang Laozi, the Xuan Sect carries a certain air of quiet non-action and holds little interest in power.

During its peak, the Xuan Sect rarely interfered in Heavenly Court affairs.

In comparison, the Buddhist sect is far more greedy.

Since the decline of the Xuan Sect, the Fomen's tendrils have stretched into every corner of the Three Realms.

This is why some lesser-informed immortals believe Rulaifo Sect to be the strongest power in the Three Realms.

The current Buddhist sect's influence has expanded enormously.

The Jade Emperor must now manage the complex internal politics of the Heavenly Court, confront the greedy encroachment of the Buddhist sect, and maintain order across the Three Realms.

These past years have been exceedingly difficult for the Jade Emperor — he walks on thin ice, each step taken with caution.

Had his situation not been so dire and the Buddhist sect so overwhelmingly powerful, how could the Jade Emperor have agreed to humiliate himself by playing along with Sun Wukong's act, merely to facilitate the Buddhist Eastward Transmission?

"In this world, strength ultimately decides everything — only with strength can one speak with conviction!"

Recalling the image of Luo Fu unhesitatingly subduing Rulaifo and directly clashing with the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, the Jade Emperor could not help but sigh.

Strength is the source of confidence.

Luo Fu's strength was sufficient; even before Saint Zhunti, he forcefully suppressed the Rulaifo Sect.

Saint Zhunti did not break ties or strike against Luo Fu.

"If I had such strength, how could Saint Zhunti and Saint Jieyin dare to manipulate me so openly?"

"The Great Calamity is about to begin; it seems another turbulent autumn is coming. Let us see how the Buddhist sect responds next. I wonder if this Daoist Luo Fu can utterly crush the Buddhist arrogance."

The Jade Emperor muttered a few low words, then closed his eyes and withdrew his awareness.

Though curious about the origins of Daoist Luo Fu, the Jade Emperor had no intention of interfering in this matter.

Maintaining the Heavenly Court in its current state had already consumed most of his strength; he simply had no spare energy to attend to other affairs.

Moreover, the matter between Luo Fu and the Buddhist sect was not one he could meddle in.

Of course, the Jade Emperor was pleased to see Luo Fu trouble the Buddhist sect.

Since the Buddhist sect became the sole dominant power, he had suffered much humiliation at their hands.

······

Beyond the Heavens.

Ba Jing Palace.

"A world in the palm? Such profound insight into the Dao. Daoist Luo Fu—I've never heard of him. Could he be that ancient elder in disguise?"

Tai Shang's eyelids half-lowered as he silently began to calculate.

Saint Zhunti personally wielded the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, while Luo Fu clenched nine worlds and detonated them simultaneously—the commotion from their clash was immense.