Chapter 319

Sitting in a dwelling full of new-style furnishings and renovations, Li Ziliang genuinely felt that he had transmigrated; the myriad affairs of the human world made his eyes dazzle, giving him a sense that things remained but people had changed……

No! It's people that are not things! Damn it! How did you let my great Dashun rivers and mountains become like this!

Li Ziliang was so excited.

But what excited him most was not the changes in the human world; after all, no matter how mortal affairs change, they remain fundamentally the same—mortals are ultimately mortals and cannot truly threaten the gods of heaven.

But the mass-produced true gods under Lin Liu's command truly gave the heavenly gods a chilling sense of crisis.

What the hell is this guy up to?!

"What the hell are you doing?!"

Li Ziliang took a deep breath and questioned:

"Isn't the Heavenly Court already lenient enough with you? You openly built a new Heavenly Court, and the Heavenly Emperor, considering your intention to benefit all beings, has left you alone."

"But you now not only command hundreds of true gods, you are even mass-producing them… Do you realize you are challenging the Heavenly Court!"

Facing the questioning of Star Lord Taibai, Lin Liu merely gave a slight smile: "Star Lord, what are you talking about? I am merely gathering incense to better serve mankind, granting them a chance at longevity… We are all utterly loyal; how could we harbor any ill will toward the Heavenly Court?"

"Star Lord, you are overthinking."

"Overthinking? Li Ziliang almost laughed in anger:"

"You call this overthinking?! If this is overthinking, then what should actually be worried about?"

"Lin Liu! I know you harbor the world in your heart, and I know you want to benefit mankind, but everything has its limits… Your actions have already touched the Heavenly Court's bottom line."

He said solemnly:

"No matter how lenient the Heavenly Court may be toward the human world, it remains the sole orthodoxy between heaven and earth."

"By establishing your own Heavenly Court and continually increasing the number of true gods, you have severely shaken the Heavenly Court's orthodoxy; even if the Heavenly Emperor's tolerance is great, he can no longer indulge you!"

"Pull back now, there's still a chance!"

He advised thus, his tone half sincere, half threatening……

But Lin Liu seriously said:

"I harbor no overreaching ambitions, nor do I intend to seize orthodoxy; everything I do is to better serve the common folk of the mortal realm."

"I am utterly selfless; I hope Star Lord will see clearly!"

Li Ziliang gave a cold laugh: "So you mean… you are dead set on going your own way, becoming an enemy of the Heavenly Court?"

Lin Liu said nothing, but his unwavering gaze expressed everything clearly……

"Good, good, good!"

The infuriated Star Lord Taibai laughed back and uttered three "goods":

"When the Heavenly Court's thunderous measures descend, don't you regret it!"

Saying that, he angrily rose and turned to walk out……

Lin Liu remained silent, merely lifting his teacup and taking a slow sip.

Thus Star Lord Taibai unexpectedly bumped into the long-awaited monkey! "Old chap, where are you headed?"

The monkey gave a cold snort.

Old Taibai startled, his gaze turning to the monkey and his surroundings: before he knew it, the monkey and a dozen strong men had surrounded him! "You! You……"

Old Taibai thought, a sudden alarm: "I'm here to deliver an edict; what do you want?"

"Hah! Regardless of what you're doing, you offended the master and still want to leave?"

The monkey shouted:

"Lads, seize him! Send him to the Heavenly Prison under strict guard!"

"Yes!"

……

【Star Lord Taibai was the first to be captured, and his confinement is also the strictest……】

【You certainly know this will provoke the Heavenly Court, even invite its attack, for it is tantamount to openly slapping the Heavenly Court's face.】

【But now that you've already drawn the Heavenly Court's enmity, there's no need to worry too much; after all, the Heavenly Court cannot indulge your continued growth, so rather than releasing Star Lord Taibai, it's better to detain him, at least weakening the enemy's strength a bit!】

【"Although the Heavenly Court is where true gods of all ages return, each dynasty generally gives birth to only one true god progenitor, so the Heavenly Court's actual numbers are not large."】

【You have given this ample consideration: last time you were in heaven you saw that the Heavenly Court numbers at most a few thousand!】

【And precisely because the Heavenly Court is few in number, they become anxious over just a few hundred true gods: the new Heavenly Court's numbers are already not much fewer than the Heavenly Court's, enough to challenge its orthodoxy!】【The Heavenly Court knows this, and you know it too.】

【The Heavenly Court is uneasy about this, while you feel at ease; the two sides' strengths are not vastly different, so even if they fight, they may not suffer a crushing defeat……】

【Under the combined effect of these factors, the opportunity to overthrow heaven has gradually matured; even if our side remains fewer than the enemy, it poses no problem.】

【A few taking on many is like half-cooked rice, but even half-cooked rice must be eaten!】

【General Lin has made up his mind!】

【……】

【In the 154th year of the New Heavenly Court, you, having accumulated over eight hundred true gods, gradually feel your wings full, while the Heavenly Court also senses your threat and dares no longer to be negligent!】

【That year, the Heavenly Court dispatched Star Lord Taibai bearing the Heavenly Emperor's edict, urging the mortal New Heavenly Court to rein in its edge, defect and lay down arms, surrender with courtesy, without losing the position of the Mad Monkey—how wonderful!】

【Without a word, you threw this hoary-bearded scoundrel, this white-haired ruffian into the Heavenly Prison!】

【That year, you formally declared war on the Four Continents against the old Heavenly Court that ignores mortal suffering!】

【In the 154th year of the New Heavenly Court, the Eight Holy Sovereigns and other Undying Deities, leading over eight hundred true gods from their ranks, launched a major offensive against the heavenly realm!】

【Upon hearing that you dared to rebel actively, the Heavenly Emperor flew into a rage and ordered all the Heavenly Court's star lords, over a thousand strong, to march out to meet you……】

【At first listen it indeed sounds comical: over eight hundred fighting over a thousand, such a small-scale clash actually being a great war between two Heavenly Courts over orthodoxy.】

【But in fact, both sides are top-tier experts of this realm, with nearly two thousand true gods battling in the heavenly firmament, to the point that even the Great Dao is worn away!】

【The mortals of the Four Continents all watched this battle with curiosity and tension, seeing only interwoven ice and fire, hidden constellations, vast divine power surging in all directions, myriad phenomena unfolding……】

【Originally they were also quite worried: wouldn't the immortals' fight bring disaster to mortals?】

But after a long time, they gradually realized this worry was unnecessary, because whatever they could consider, you had already naturally considered; the reason they took the initiative to attack was to avoid the battlefield drawing near the mortal realm, thereby preventing unnecessary casualties.

Thus, after a brief worry, mortals resumed their normal lives.

But aside from their daily livelihood, they would, under the arrangement of cultivators everywhere, worship the gods of the new heavenly court, providing the incense the deities needed.

Thus, although the new heavenly court initially suffered many losses due to its small numbers, as the conflict turned into a prolonged war of attrition, the new heavenly court gradually gained an advantage…

……

"All mortals are traitors!"

During the heavenly war, celestial monarchs and righteous gods constantly hurled insults.

The reason is simple: because the heavenly court had been neglectful for years, mortals hardly offered any incense to the gods to begin with, and then Lin Six came with a wave of 'mountain‑cleaving, temple‑destroying' and 'severing heavenly communication,' leaving absolutely no incense offerings.

In the past, the gods did not consider incense important, since they were inherently immortal and, as long as they did not expend divine power, there was no consumption.

But now it's different: with both sides engaged in all‑out war, they naturally cannot hold back, divine power flares everywhere like it's free money. In this situation, even if the heavenly court has more manpower, it inevitably falls behind—our side's consumption cannot be replenished, while the enemy side is constantly supplied by the incense of all humanity; a protracted battle like this is pointless…

At this critical moment, a heavenly deity sternly proposed to the Heavenly Emperor:

"Your Majesty! We must immediately eradicate the mortal traitors who aid the enemy, or else…"

"I will not allow it!"

The Heavenly Emperor flatly refused:

"We may have never governed the mortal realm, but we are certainly not evil gods who delight in killing; even if we are defeated by the enemy, we must not entertain such thoughts!"

"Your Majesty!"

All the officials grew anxious, but the Heavenly Emperor would not relent; left with no choice, they had to suppress their thoughts.

Seeing this, the Heavenly Emperor could not help but sigh: 'This is what it means—those who follow the Way gain many allies; those who lose the Way find few.'

The heavenly court boasted of having no desires or demands toward the mortal world, and thus remained like clay idols, never governing humanity.

As a result, this power vacuum was seized by others and filled…

Now that war has erupted, our side finds itself in a dire shortage of incense, while the enemy grows bolder with each battle, sustained by the incense of all beings.

Can such a war truly be won?

The Heavenly Emperor let out a long sigh.

He had already sensed the impending defeat…

Yet he still could not fathom: what could Lin Six possibly be after, having gone through such great hardship?

Rather than enjoying a carefree, idle life, he insists on toiling like an ox or horse for all beings… truly a born saint of beastly labor! …

(End of chapter)