Chapter 312

Di Jun looked at the gods in the field, knowing this matter should be raised high and then gently set down, which is best; he then spoke to set the tone for this matter, only hearing him say: 'The West is suffering; in the wilderness we have long heard of it; you two, in a moment's impulse, wanting to act and commit a mistake, is also understandable.'

"However, this is not an excuse for your mistake; considering you are both innate divinities, you also act for the common people of the West."

"This time I judge that you should return the spiritual objects to the fellow Daoists of Kunlun Mountain, and restore the spiritual lands you have damaged to their former state."

"If there is another offense later, this time will not be lightly let off; the Heavenly Court will surely impose a heavy punishment, how about that?"

Seeing Jieyin and Zhunti both nod in agreement, Di Jun turned his head to look at Taiyi and asked:

"This handling, do you accept it?"

"Taiyi has no objection; we thank Your Majesty for upholding justice."

"The matter here is settled; may the banquet begin?"

"Good!"

"Excellent."

Di Jun then waved his hand to signal the start of the banquet; countless fairy maidens held high fruits and jade orchids, carrying jade liquor, filing in.

In the hall, fairy music sounded faintly, clouds and mist rose; the fairy maidens danced amidst the mist, their water sleeves swaying, taking on a hint of mist.

Attendants floated about, following the sound; the horizon's rosy clouds shifted, rainbows flew across the sky; a white crane came to the clouds, and birds chirped softly.

Brushing away the myriad heavenly hues, one can see the Divine Firmament, millions of feet from the earth, and see Fu Mountain Forest.

The gods gathered immortal flowers to make hats, plucked fragrant sweetgrass to spread mats, sang and clapped; after dancing they slept on clouds, the joy therein cannot be spoken of to mortals.

The gods walked about, seeking friends to sit together; during this they engaged in lofty discussion, most free and unrestrained.

Qi then sat together with Fuxi and the Supreme One, chatting idly about everything under heaven; feeling inspired, they sang together, and the gods took it as praise.

Their sound never ceased, circling beams and pillars, it drew dragons flying and phoenixes dancing above, playing and frolicking, adding a touch of divine light.

Qi, feeling inspired, reached out and lightly plucked the stone dragon engraved on the beams and pillars, taking it from the column and throwing it into the wilderness.

All the gods saw it; as the stone dragon entered the clouds, its dragon's roar echoed through the heavens, its form lengthening with the wind, exceeding ten thousand feet, and it fell straight onto the earth.

Upon touching the rocky yellow earth, it sank in; in no moment, a yellow dragon emerged from the ground, shook its body, and transformed into a Daoist.

"The Daoist wore yellow robes, the Heavenly Court full, head adorned with a floral crown, facing the Heavenly Court, he bowed and said: 'I have received Your Majesty Qi's opportunity, compassionately saving beings, breaking the pillar's limits, entering the yellow earth, and becoming a dragon form; henceforth I shall be the Yellow Dragon Daoist.'"

"The Yellow Dragon Daoist is here, thanking Your Majesty Qi's grace; though my person is weak and strength slight, if there is use, I will never refuse!"

After a long while, seeing no change in heaven and earth, the Yellow Dragon Daoist then turned and departed.

Qi naturally saw the Yellow Dragon Daoist's gratitude, but he paid it no mind; it was merely a passing whim, not done for his labor, so what gratitude could there be?

Moreover, it's just a mere day immortal; whether he feels gratitude or not is of no great use to Qi.

If one day the Heavenly Court truly needs a celestial immortal to exert effort, then such a Heavenly Court might as well collapse.

Fuxi saw Qi release the stone dragon, then laughed and said: "You are quite interested, quite compassionate, but this spontaneous act also reveals your methods, truly extraordinary."

Such use of the Dao of Creation, among the wilderness, few are above you.

Qi replied indifferently: "Merely a trivial skill; if you are willing, you can do likewise, but the threshold of the Dao of Creation is too high, and few in the wilderness cultivate it."

It's been only a short while since we last met, yet you now fawn and flatter so—nothing like your former bearing.

Fuxi gave Qi a sideways glance, yet still spoke seriously.

"There are not few in the wilderness with this ability, but someone like you, Qi, who does it with ease and nonchalance—I at least cannot manage, and sometimes there's no need to be overly modest."

"If one is overly modest, it inevitably invites suspicion of showing off; moreover, it's just the truth—what does it have to do with Wind Valley?"

Taiyi picked up his wine cup, took a light sip, then spoke: "You two's hypocritical pretense truly makes one want to vomit; however, in Yunmze Marsh, two fishmongers, mere merchants—how could they deserve such praise?"

Qi lightly spat and said:

"If you envy in your heart, you can speak frankly; we won't mock you—why dredge up things from who knows how long ago?"

Taiyi seemed not to hear, continued drinking some wine; since returning from the Sun Star years ago, seeing Qi like that, he could say it for a lifetime.

On the other side, where Jieyin and Zhunti were, there was no one; they themselves were not popular in the Eastern Continent, and before the assembly they had also been sued, so now who would want to associate with them? Jieyin's face was grim, feeling embarrassed, he also swallowed a few spiritual fruits from the table, while Zhunti urged the palace maids to bring more.

After the palace maids left, Zhunti spoke angrily: "That Taiyi truly knows no bounds; in such a setting, how can one speak of others' faults and bring disgrace upon us?"

"After the assembly ends, I must debate the Dao with him! Let's see his strength—whether his courage is as astonishing as said!"

Zhunti's eyes flashed cold light; evidently this Dao discussion is not ordinary—said to be a debate, but likely an ambush killing.

Jieyin lowered his brows, full of compassion, yet spoke coldly: "Junior brother, you're too concerned with appearances; in the Eastern Continent, what face do we have to speak of? Merely, this person's lawsuit to the Heavenly Court may well bring a bad omen to the wilderness."

"If everyone in the wilderness were like this, how could we ever add any foundation to Xifang Dalu in the future?"

"This matter of ours has already displeased the Heavenly Court; if further trouble arises, we will inevitably face restrictions, so for now we should endure a moment and let it pass for a while."

"Once the influence of this matter has faded, we can settle accounts without delay; if we do not employ some means, the future beings of the wilderness may think the Primordial Dao can be bullied."

"The gods must not be insulted; for the weak to bully the strong is a major taboo; letting such a short‑sighted person be arrogant a moment longer is no harm."

Zhunti, though dissatisfied, also knew this was the principle, so he spoke.

"Then let it be as the elder brother says; later there will surely be a day of punishment, so that person will know that having only courage without endurance fails the Great Dao."

Jieyin's face grew even more compassionate as he said: "That's good; it can warn the beings of the wilderness, letting them know what fate awaits when they provoke an invincible strong one."

"So as not to be blinded by temporary glory, lose sight of the way forward, and needlessly invite calamity."

Zhunti then laughed and said.

"This matter is exceedingly wonderful."

As for the Taiyi discussed by Jieyin and Zhunti, he was then consulting with his companions, and one of them said: "Although this lawsuit certainly let out a foul breath, it will inevitably invite their retaliation; we are merely Luo Tianzun gods—what should we do when the time comes?"

The speaker's words were anxious and uneasy; before acting, his heart held a surge of blood‑courage, so he naturally feared neither heaven nor earth. But once things settled afterward, he would inevitably worry and panic, for the opponents were among the few great gods of the wilderness, and having humiliated them would hardly allow peace.

Another person then said indifferently.

"This is within the Eastern Continent—two innate gods of the West—would they really dare to act here?"

"As long as we don't go to Xifang Dalu, just cultivate in Kunlun Mountain; if something happens, I don't believe the Three Pure Ones would ignore us."

"The other side, at least, are the leaders of the Eastern Kunlun gods; we have always respected them, so they ought to protect us a bit."

The rest of the companions retorted: "The other side are great gods of the Primordial Dao; if they intended to ambush us, even with the power of the Three Pure Ones, they would likely be unable to reach us."

Moreover, the Three Pure Ones and they still have the bond of fellow disciples, so they will inevitably shelter them a bit.

We merely cultivated alongside the Three Pure Ones in East Kunlun; how could they disregard the bond of fellow disciples, risk offending the two Primordial Dao beings, and protect us?

The crowd bustled about, arguing incessantly, but Taiyi simply spoke calmly: 'This matter is for me to handle; I have not yet had those few people confess, and I am still unafraid. Why do you all worry so much?'

If the other side truly seeks revenge, they should come after me; you have no reputation and no strength.

If they act against you, Jieyin and Zhunti would only earn the reputation of bullying the weak, and gain nothing else.

Jieyin and Zhunti would not be so foolish; you may return safely. As long as I live, you will certainly be unharmed.

If I should perish and my Dao vanish, then this matter will naturally be over, and Jieyin and Zhunti will not seek trouble for you; so put your minds at ease.

The gods who came together to file a complaint immediately voiced their dissatisfaction:

You are speaking up for us and setting an example; with your intention, how could we abandon our friends in a crisis?

We are anxious, yet we also do not wish to let you face this alone; after all, it is only death—what do we have to fear?

If we share honor and share loss, then if only you were to sacrifice yourself, how could we face the world afterward?

Taiyi realized he had misunderstood them, seeing them as timid and unwilling to bear responsibility, and thus apologized: 'This is Taiyi's fault; to consider oneself righteous while looking down on the gods is a grave error. Let Taiyi penalize himself with one cup to express this apology.'

The accompanying gods then laughed: 'One cup is not enough; at least three cups are needed.'

Taiyi, though drinking, replied happily: 'Good, then there is nothing wrong with that.'

Having said that, he lifted the cup, drank its contents fully, repeated this three times, and then stopped.

Only after finishing the penalty drink did Taiyi then advise:

Although that is so, please go on your way; I dare to offend Jieyin and Zhunti in public, losing face for them, and I do have a way out.

You may safely return to East Kunlun to enter seclusion; in the short term, Jieyin and Zhunti will surely not dare to attack, or else they would provoke the wrath of the Heavenly Court.

It is heard that several Majesties long ago disliked these two, and thus involved the Western Continent, making it comparatively poorer than the Eastern Continent.

But if they still dare now to commit the ultimate outrage, after the Heavenly Emperor has spoken, they will target us, and their outcome will likely be unresolved.

If my expectation is not wrong, after you return this time, Jieyin and Zhunti will certainly treat you with courtesy and restore your losses.

They would at least need to remain obedient for ten thousand years, waiting for the Primordial Gods and the Myriad Races to cease paying attention to this matter before daring to take revenge.

During this period, we will certainly be carefree; after you return, you may simply push all problems onto me.

If they wish to take revenge and come to me, then if Jieyin and Zhunti still have the gall at that time, this life shall be forfeit to them.

Upon these words, the gods all became curious, and one of them further asked:

What exactly is your escape route? You dare claim that the two Primordial Dao great gods would not dare retaliate? With such a path, why have we never heard you speak of it before?

Taiyi smiled slightly and said:

This path is known to all under heaven, but ordinary people dare not and are unwilling to enter it; once entered, one thereafter has no freedom.

However, if one does enter this path, one's ambitions will find space to unfold, and resources and fortune will thereafter not be lacking.

After only a moment's thought, one person laughed and said: 'I know what this path is; it is indeed a good place to go, able to enter this land, and with slight restrictions, what harm is there?'

The crowd suddenly realized, and another person also laughed:

This is indeed excellent; if one joins the Heavenly Court, even though the Primordial Realm is vast, no one would dare provoke it, and all cultivation resources and fortune would likewise be satisfied.

However, if one wishes the Heavenly Court to bear this karma for us, thereafter one will hardly be able to enjoy leisure.

In East Kunlun, many innate gods still hold some favor toward the Heavenly Court, after all, the Three Pure Ones also reside in the Heavenly Court and bear the title of Heavenly King.

Although they have received no actual benefit, nor do they bear any responsibility, merely holding the title brings considerable extra income.

After all, they hold only an honorary position, naturally receiving no fortune or resources, but the stipend they deserve has never been lacking from the Heavenly Court.

At this moment, upon hearing Taiyi's intention to join the Heavenly Court, their thoughts stirred, and one person directly asked: 'Taiyi fellow Daoist, since you have such a plan, what promises can you obtain? Which bureau do you intend to serve in future? Do you have any acquaintances?'

If we were also to join, what benefits would we receive? What is the daily work like? Would we be capable?

Upon hearing these words, Taiyi showed a helpless expression and involuntarily reminded:

How could you have such thoughts, thinking I am just like you, a mere wandering hermit of Kunlun Mountain, with no well-connected friends?

Moreover, have you forgotten that the Heavenly Court has always kept its doors wide open for innate gods who come to seek refuge?

If you were also to join, you could simply inquire directly; even with our status as innate gods, wishing to meet the Heavenly Emperor or a few Majesties would pose no difficulty.

You have not considered that, even if you knew immensely powerful figures, seeking to join the Heavenly Court would not be better than directly discussing with a few Majesties.

The crowd suddenly realized, feeling embarrassed, and hastily lifted their cups to conceal themselves.

However, while everyone was busy drinking, they did not notice that Taiyi's eyes held a different hue.

PS: Thanks to reader 20220719154855386 for the 500-coin tip.

(End of Chapter)