Chapter 79

"Hey, are your ears working fine? I was just using a metaphor, why are you getting so worked up?" Yang Zhen said with a helpless look. "Sigh! You’re really pitiful. Not only is your brain problematic, but your ears are too. I really don’t know how you became a deity. I think you should find a divine doctor to check you out, don’t delay your treatment."

"How dare you insult me!" Wu De Xingjun said angrily.

"I’m not insulting you; I’m concerned for a colleague! You’re sick, don’t give up on treatment," Yang Zhen said with a look of concern.

"You...!"

"Enough!" Wu De Xingjun was about to say more but was stopped by Ziwēi Dadi. Ziwēi Dadi looked at Yang Zhen and smiled, "You sure are sharp-tongued."

"You’re quite calm!" Yang Zhen retorted without backing down.

"Yang Zhen, don’t be impolite. This is one of the Six Sovereigns, the Supreme Emperor of the Central Heaven and the Northern Pole, who governs all the stars," Yuhuang Dadi introduced.

Hearing this, Yang Zhen smiled faintly but ignored Ziwēi Dadi. Since he had already offended him, being nice wouldn’t help. It would be better to completely break ties and show his support for Yuhuang Dadi. With Yuhuang Dadi as his backer, he could stand up to Ziwēi Dadi.

Originally, Yang Zhen didn’t plan to compete for the position of Tianpeng Marshal, but he didn’t expect Tian Gang Dashi to provoke him. So, Yang Zhen used words to outmaneuver him, making him suffer a silent defeat. However, since things had come to this point, Yang Zhen couldn’t avoid competing for the position of Tianpeng Marshal.

But now, Yang Zhen could only do so much. The rest would depend on Yuhuang Dadi’s strategy.

"Supreme Emperor Ziwēi, how do you think this matter should be handled?" Yuhuang Dadi asked Ziwēi Dadi.

Hearing this, Ziwēi Dadi said solemnly, "The gods in the Heavenly Court often compete in martial arts. Since they both suffered no injuries this time, let’s consider it a friendly match. But this is the only time. If you two disrupt the Heavenly Court again, you will be severely punished."

"Yes!" Tian Gang Dashi respectfully replied.

Yang Zhen nodded but didn’t speak, maintaining his attitude of not taking Ziwēi Dadi seriously, which infuriated the deities in the hall who supported Ziwēi Dadi.

Seeing that Ziwēi Dadi seemed to be backing down, Yuhuang Dadi wasn’t overly optimistic. He knew Ziwēi Dadi was a deep thinker. Since Tian Gang Dashi had suffered such a significant loss, Ziwēi Dadi would definitely seek to make up for it in other ways.

"Two days ago, the Tianpeng Marshal violated the heavenly laws and was demoted to the mortal world. The position of Tianpeng Marshal, who commands the ten thousand water troops of the Heavenly River, cannot remain vacant for long. My lords, who among the deities in the Heavenly Court can take on this responsibility?" Yuhuang Dadi asked the deities.

Actually, Yuhuang Dadi’s question was just a formality. The deities already knew that the position of Tianpeng Marshal would be chosen between Yang Zhen and Tian Gang Dashi. After someone proposed these two names, the deities began to support them, leading to a heated debate in the Lingxiao Hall.

The advantages and disadvantages of Yang Zhen and Tian Gang Dashi were clear. Yang Zhen’s advantage was his powerful magic, his strength being several times greater than Tian Gang Dashi’s. Tian Gang Dashi’s advantage was his hard work and high prestige among the Heavenly River troops. After the previous Tianpeng Marshal was demoted, it was natural for him to take over the position.

Of course, each person’s advantage was the other’s disadvantage. The deities in the Lingxiao Hall seized on these points and argued incessantly, with no one able to convince the others.

Seeing that this debate wasn’t getting anywhere, Yuhuang Dadi waved to quiet the deities and said, "Yang Zhen, Tian Gang, what are your thoughts?"

Tian Gang Dashi stepped forward and bowed, saying, "I leave it to Yuhuang Dadi to decide."

Just as Yang Zhen was about to speak, a celestial official reported, "Your Majesty, the Dragon King of the Northern Sea is outside the hall, requesting an audience."

"The Dragon King of the Northern Sea?" Yuhuang Dadi frowned and asked, "Why has the Dragon King of the Northern Sea come to the Heavenly Court?"

"Why not summon him into the hall to ask?" Ziwēi Dadi suggested.

"Summon!" Yuhuang Dadi waved his hand, ordering the celestial official to bring the Dragon King of the Northern Sea in.

As soon as the Dragon King of the Northern Sea entered the hall, he knelt down and wept, "Yuhuang Dadi, save me, save me!"

"Dragon King of the Northern Sea, why are you doing this? Has something happened in the Northern Sea? Please stand up and speak," Yuhuang Dadi said.

The Dragon King of the Northern Sea, hearing this, said sorrowfully, "In the Northern Sea, there is a demon king whose true form is a dragon. Although he doesn’t enter my dragon palace, my people have never provoked him. For thousands of years, we have lived in peace. But a month ago, that dragon suddenly stormed into my Northern Sea Dragon Palace, captured my son Xuechen, and caused chaos. If not for the other three sea dragon kings coming to my aid, my Northern Sea lineage would have been wiped out.

Before leaving, that dragon threatened to flatten my Northern Sea Dragon Palace and kill my entire clan in a year."

The Dragon King of the Northern Sea, tears streaming down his face, said, "Yuhuang Dadi! My Northern Sea Dragon Palace has few troops and cannot resist that evil dragon. Although the other three seas have come to help, the next time that evil dragon comes, he will be prepared. Please, Yuhuang Dadi, send troops to save me, eliminate this evil dragon, and protect my Northern Sea lineage!"

Hearing this, Yuhuang Dadi frowned and asked, "Do you know the background of that dragon?"

"I do not know, Your Majesty!" the Dragon King of the Northern Sea said softly.

"Could it be the Dragon Demon King?" Yang Zhen suddenly said.

"Minister Yang, do you know the background of this demon?"

"Yes!" Yang Zhen nodded and said, "Three hundred years ago, before Sun Wukong caused chaos in the Heavenly Court, he formed a brotherhood with six great demons. Later, Sun Wukong called himself the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and the other demon kings also called themselves Great Sages. The oldest among them was the Leveling Heaven Great Sage, Bull Demon King, and the second was the Sea Covering Great Sage, Dragon Demon King.

If my guess is correct, the one who caused chaos in the Northern Sea is none other than this demon. However, the Sea Covering Great Sage is cautious by nature. I wonder what his purpose is in attacking the Northern Sea."

Hearing this, Yuhuang Dadi asked urgently, "Minister Yang, do you know where Sun Wukong ranks among the seven great sages?"

"He ranks seventh," Yang Zhen answered casually, not knowing Yuhuang Dadi’s intention.

"Doesn’t that mean this demon is more powerful than Sun Wukong?" a deity exclaimed, solving Yang Zhen’s confusion.

It turned out Yuhuang Dadi was trying to gauge the strength of the Dragon Demon King.

Indeed, in the demon race, strength was always respected. Since the Dragon Demon King ranked second, his strength should naturally be greater than Sun Wukong’s.