[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-book-of-strange-tales":3,"chapter-the-book-of-strange-tales-the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-598":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Book of Strange Tales",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2317878,4532,"Chapter 598: The Purple Emperor Acts","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-598",598,"\u003Cp>Lin Jue took one step forward and was outside Heishan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now the hot spring had been baked dry by heavenly fire, the reeds burned to ash, leaving only a distant forest ablaze and a small pale purple wildflower nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he bent down and plucked the flower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Immortal, the Divine Generals, and the warships inside were gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a voice sounded in his ear:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You actually managed to hold back Fuchi Shenjun and even summoned Yao Hua Niangniang! Too bad Yao Hua Niangniang’s Dao seems damaged; otherwise, if the other Imperial Lords did not intervene, you might truly have had a chance to win!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It came from that distant forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue turned and swept his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh! The flames in the forest bent sideways like candle flames and went out, leaving only green smoke drifting in the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s good that you’re unharmed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not right! How could being burned not harm you? But with your spiritual power protecting you, you’re not seriously injured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice from the forest paused, then continued with the matter at hand:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Zi Di is still the Heavenly Emperor. Now that you’ve summoned Yao Hua Niangniang, it’s unclear whether this is good or bad—it may give him reason to call upon the other Imperial Lords. Moreover, Zi Di has always been immensely powerful; he has reigned over the Nine Heavens for one hundred and seventy years, and every sixty years he purges demons and monsters. He is now nearing his third purge, and the incense offerings gathered from humanity have nourished him. Even if you and Yao Hua Niangniang join forces, victory is not guaranteed, let alone overcoming his Heavenly Emperor authority.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yao Hua Niangniang’s Dao is damaged?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you notice she has only eight tails behind her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue immediately looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman gazed at Fuyao, and behind her were eight tails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made him frown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you truly wish to crush Zi Di, I have a spell that might offer slight aid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What spell could possibly help against a Heavenly Emperor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This spell cannot be used before battle, or it will enrage him. Nor can it be used during battle, or it might drive him mad. Only when you gain the upper hand and are nearly victorious may you use it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That was over two thousand years ago. Only spirits like me, who have lived long enough, might know a little…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice whispered into Lin Jue’s ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue listened, then pondered briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few words passed in the blink of an eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward at once and reached the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eight-tailed white fox immediately turned her head; seeing him, her eyes brightened. She stepped through the air, riding the wind with light, graceful strides, glancing back at the distant woman even as she ran—until she stopped beside him, still hovering midair, watching the other with strange solemnity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman also turned to look at Lin Jue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the Heavenly Lords, Divine Officials, and Celestial Soldiers turned to look as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The senior and junior disciples of Fuqiu Temple, Master Xuanming, Master Bai Luan, Master Moyu, and several protectors from Fengshan all gathered around him. Even the protectors of the mountain spirits followed suit, each bearing wounds of varying severity, yet healing rapidly under a divine power with curative properties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battlefield of Yishan fell utterly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I pay my respects to Yao Hua Niangniang,” Lin Jue bowed first. “I’ve finally seen you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need for formalities,” Yao Hua Niangniang said calmly. “I didn’t expect you could truly hold back Fuchi Shenjun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Merely luck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue spoke, then turned to those beside him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you all well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re fine,” the junior sister stepped forward first. “We had the mountain spirit’s protection at first; later, when the barrier broke, Fifth Brother’s divine power secretly healed us. No serious harm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Zi Di hadn’t intervened, the outcome would still be uncertain!” said the third senior brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve finally arrived,” Master Xuanming sighed deeply, as if a great burden had lifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue nodded and looked up at the sky again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the divine spirits watched him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All Heavenly Lords, Divine Officials, Celestial Soldiers—Zi Di’s tyrannical rule has lost the people’s heart. You are all virtuous beings; becoming a deity or immortal is no easy thing. There’s no need to fight to the death. Moreover, you alone cannot stand against me and Yao Hua Niangniang. Those willing to withdraw, do so now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, several Heavenly Lords and Divine Generals exchanged glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What they feared was not merely Lin Zhenren and Yao Hua Niangniang, but also Fuchi Shenjun—the one who had gone to intercept Lin Jue, and who had not returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the First War God of the Nine Heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Changshe Shenjun raised his sword and roared:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine Lin Zhenren! I once respected you for subduing demons and monsters, upholding humanity—but now you consort with the Great Sage of the Demon Clan! Are you going to aid monsters in replacing humanity and the Nine…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yao Hua Niangniang gazed at him calmly, flicked her finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mighty head of Changshe Shenjun vanished, replaced by a stone-carved tiger head, like the stone tigers at the gate of the Purple Palace in Jingcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingmiao Zhenjun stepped forward and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhenren, please return my demon-subduing staff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue looked at his fellow disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventh Senior Brother swept his sleeve, and a demon-subduing staff flew out, returning to Qingmiao Zhenjun’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhenjun has fought for half a year, grievously wounded, his divine power severely depleted. This place is too far from the West to replenish it—he can no longer fight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingmiao Zhenjun took the staff and immediately flew upward, joining Qingmiao Zhenjun higher above. Still wary of the Heavenly Emperor’s decree, he did not depart outright, but made his stance clear: unable to continue fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along with him, the group of Celestial Soldiers he had brought also ascended, leaving the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a Heavenly Lord and warrior under Western Miaoming Di Jun, to have gone this far on a single imperial order was already more than enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhenren, please return my golden blade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventh Senior Brother swept his sleeve again, and a golden blade flew into Qingmiao Zhenjun’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Heavenly Lords assumed a watching posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, high in the Nine Heavens, all the divine spirits sank inwardly, turning to look at the Heavenly Emperor’s expression—only to find his figure gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mirror of Heaven had also darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where has His Majesty gone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His Majesty despises evil—he must have descended to the mortal realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quickly summon Miaoming Di Jun of the West and Qinghua Di Jun of the East. Inform them: Yao Hua Niangniang has returned. Ask them to intervene.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the mortal realm of Yishan, thunder cracked like the sky splitting—so loud even Celestial Soldiers covered their ears, as if their ears would shatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire sky churned with wind and clouds, forming a curtain that revealed the face of a Di Jun clad in purple robes, wearing a crown with dangling beads—majestic, overwhelming, as if he filled the whole sky, gazing down upon all of humanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All Heavenly Lords, Divine Officials, and Celestial Soldiers bowed to the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice like thunder boomed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yao Hua… it has been many years…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zi Di,” Yao Hua Niangniang said calmly. “It seems you’ve followed Ming Di’s path.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were shattered by Ming Di Tianweng, stripped of your cultivation, severed from your nine tails—how dare you come to fight me now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should I just wait for death?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then die sooner. Since you’ve appeared, I shall accompany you.” The face of Zi Di, filling the sky, turned to Lin Jue. “Mortal Zhenren, consorting with demons may be forgivable, but allying with the Great Sage of the Demon Clan is treason against the Nine Heavens and humanity—you shall be destroyed along with her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Dao is tyranny, not righteousness,” Lin Jue said. “What we do is merely resist tyranny.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph! You were not born in ancient times, nor in the North—you never saw great demons raising humans as livestock, or evil demons swallowing the heavens. What do you know of righteousness?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zi Di’s voice thundered, yet the Daoist remained calm:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then if that’s so, since you took the Nine Heavens after my birth, the reason great demons no longer raise humans or evil demons no longer swallow the heavens—surely has nothing to do with you or your ways.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You will learn right from wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing is more right than my Fuyao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is Fuchi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue did not say Fuchi Shenjun had been defeated by him—that would harm Fuchi’s reputation—nor did he say he had trapped him, lest the Celestial Spirits go searching for him. He simply said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He cannot come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zi Di let out a cold snort: “When great beings clash, mortals suffer. Why not settle this in the Nine Heavens?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue looked at Yao Hua Niangniang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yao Hua Niangniang smiled faintly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zi Di said nothing; his face in the sky vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, five-colored divine light blazed blindingly bright. Yao Hua Niangniang stepped forward—just one step—and reached the Nine Heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue followed without hesitation, surging upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuyao, still hesitating, suddenly heard another woman’s voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It scratched its head, thought for a moment, then followed, stepping straight upward into the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air around it grew colder, ears filled only with wind. It could no longer recall how long it had run or how high it had climbed, only that the clouds above came in layers: the lowest, closest to earth, were the white clouds ridden by spirits—disordered and chaotic; above them lay natural stratocumulus, occasionally pierced by mountain peaks; higher still were more layers of clouds, but these were no ordinary clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon such clouds, occasional divine palaces, pavilions, and government halls appeared, and spirits stared at it in terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It passed through nine such layers of clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There stretched a vast expanse of white clouds, boundless as an ocean, dense and undulating like solid ground. Farther out, the clouds piled and solidified into mountains; ascending this cloud-mountain, one could see a vast expanse of golden divine palaces, standing at the highest peak of the nine heavens, where immortal music played constantly and dancing and singing never ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three parties had already begun their magical duel, causing the sun and moon to flash rapidly and yin and yang to shift unpredictably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox instantly spotted Lin Jue, and also saw the woman beside him with eight tails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its gaze swept across the opposite side—the Emperor stood with his hands behind his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox looked up again toward the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox’s sharp, delicate face flickered between darkness and light; sometimes illuminated so its fur gleamed, sometimes swallowed by shadow. Its pure, lustrous amber eyes reflected the blazing sun above, which spun with incredible speed—sometimes sinking westward, sometimes rising from the east.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet its descent to the west was clearly faster than its ascent from the east, making the eastern rise seem arduous by comparison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This duel was a true magical battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue stood at a distance, opened his mouth, and blew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huuu...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A spring breeze swept across the nine heavens, brushing against the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>",1880,"2026-06-20T14:45:37.804Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5263107c36a262f003058de6979ed9fee21137c227b659c708b7c526333041bd","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-599","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-597",608,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-book-of-strange-tales-cover.jpg"]