Chapter 3

The Golden Hall of the Vast Heaven, the Palace of the Miro Heaven, and the Lingxiao Hall.

These three realms, the abode of the Celestial Emperor, finally began to resemble a celestial court.

Especially the Lingxiao Hall, with its golden nails and jade doors, colorful phoenixes dancing at the vermilion gates, and every corner exquisitely crafted, with three eaves and four clusters, layer upon layer of dragons and phoenixes soaring.

Immortal herbs and divine medicines were planted everywhere.

The sacred golden crows roamed among them.

The hall was finally filled with immortals and deities.

Among them, there were no shortage of powerful Golden Immortals!

Even the ancient celestial court of the demon race could not have been more impressive!

However, the Jade Emperor was always plagued with worry, sighing all day long.

Fortunately, he had finally secured his position as the Celestial Emperor of the Heavenly Realm.

Moreover, he had the backing of the Zixiao Palace.

He had gathered some talents, formed a core group of confidants, and could delegate tasks to them.

On this day, the Jade Emperor privately summoned a few deities he had recently favored to discuss matters.

"The matter of the deification, the cause and effect I have with my Senior Brother Tongtian, is indeed significant!" This supreme ruler of the three realms always felt a chill and lingering fear whenever he spoke of this.

Although he did not directly participate in the deification,

the cause of the deification stemmed from his complaint to the Zixiao Palace about being ignored by the deities of the three realms.

Thus, the Daoist Ancestor Hongjun ordered the three teachings to sign the Deification List.

This led to a great calamity, with the heavens unleashing their wrath, and for a time, the heads of deities and immortals fell like grass, their lives as dust, countless in number.

Of the ten thousand immortals of the截教 (Jie Jiao), only one in a hundred remained!

The leader of the截教 (Jie Jiao) was confined in the Bixi Palace, no longer emerging into the world.

The official explanation was that he was in seclusion for reflection.

But only a fool would believe this excuse.

Everyone knew that this Sage was lying low, waiting for the right moment.

During the next great calamity, when dragons and snakes rise from the land,

if a Qingping Sword were to fly from behind, or even a Zhusian Array Diagram were to descend directly,

the Jade Emperor knew he would not be able to avoid the calamity.

He might even face a fate of annihilation.

Even if the leader of the截教 (Jie Jiao) did not directly intervene out of old friendship,

there were countless ways to make him, the Jade Emperor, lose face!

Therefore, after the deification, the one who was most anxious was this Jade Emperor, who seemed to have benefited the most!

For a thousand years, this ruler of the three realms rarely left the Miro Palace.

He feared that a flying sword might suddenly appear, knocking off his imperial headdress and making him lose face before the three realms.

Speaking of these matters, the Jade Emperor looked at the few deities before him and said, "For a thousand years, I have several times wanted to explain to my Senior Brother Tongtian..."

"To resolve the cause and effect..."

"Alas..." He sighed, "My Senior Brother is confined in the Bixi Palace, and not only I, but even his former disciples and students, are not allowed to see him!"

This was the most dangerous situation.

Not even his disciples and students were allowed to see him.

What was the leader of the截教 (Jie Jiao) doing?

He must be preparing a major move!

Thus, not only was the Jade Emperor anxious,

but the Western Teachings were also very anxious.

For a thousand years, who had seen the two Sages of the West leave their own Pure Land?

But there was nothing they could do!

Since the Dragon and Phoenix era, who did not know the temperament and character of the leader of the截教 (Jie Jiao), the Spirit Treasure Heavenly Venerable?

This Sage was known for protecting his own.

Now, his home had been raided.

Given his temperament, as soon as he left the Bixi Palace,

ha ha...

from the thirty-third heaven to the nine netherworlds, who could sleep soundly?

The Jade Emperor had not had a good night's rest for a thousand years.

Every day, he lived in constant fear.

The Jade Emperor raised his head, looked at the few deities, and clasped his hands, saying, "Your Excellencies, all of you are one in ten thousand, true immortals, endowed with wisdom. You must have a way to help me!"

"I humbly request your advice!"

The deities listened and looked at each other.

They were all deified after the great calamity and knew little about it.

Moreover, it involved a Sage.

How could they dare to speak out of turn?

They could only bow and say, "We are foolish and clumsy, please forgive us, Your Majesty!"

Offending the Jade Emperor would result in demotion to the mortal world, losing the elixirs and stipends of the Heavenly Court, and the offerings from the four directions.

But if they were not careful and got involved in matters concerning a Sage,

especially a vengeful and protective madman like the leader of the截教 (Jie Jiao),

a single misstep could mean annihilation!

The Jade Emperor listened, his disappointment evident.

He did not really expect these newly deified deities to have any solutions.

This was just a test to see if they were truly loyal and willing to serve him,

or if they were just pretending to be loyal while plotting their own interests behind his back.

But to his surprise, these carefully selected deities did not even try to hide their reluctance, directly refusing.

This made the Jade Emperor sigh.

This sigh prompted one of the deities to have a thought.

"Your Majesty..." This deity bowed and said, "I have an idea..."

"However, I am not sure if I should speak of it!"

The Jade Emperor looked at him and immediately smiled, "Tianpeng, if you have an idea, just speak it!"

The solution was not as important as the attitude and stance!

He listened as the deity named Tianpeng said, "Your Majesty, in a few days, it will be the time for your five-hundred-year inspection of the mortal world..."

"In my humble opinion, why not select a trusted envoy to personally visit the Bixi Palace and seek the Sage's advice on matters of the mortal world..."

"This way, at least we can know the Sage's attitude toward you!"

The Jade Emperor listened, gradually smiling.

"Good!" He looked at Tianpeng, "You are truly a pillar of my court!"

This idea aligned with the Jade Emperor's own thoughts.

The Bixi Palace was like a shadow hidden in the darkness.

No one knew what the leader of the截教 (Jie Jiao), confined in the Bixi Palace, was doing.

Was he sharpening his sword? Or was he sharpening his sword?

When his sword was ready, who would be the first to face it?

But one thing was certain: if he left the Bixi Palace, someone would suffer!

The cause and effect of the deification were too significant.

So significant that no one could grasp them!

Unfortunately...

Although the Jade Emperor had this thought, he could not express it himself.

And the deities of the Heavenly Court, who knew of his thoughts, numbered in the hundreds if not thousands!

But no one dared to speak out.

Each one was slippery and evasive.

Now, finally, someone was willing to speak up.

How could the Jade Emperor not be pleased?

Thus, he waved his hand and said to Tianpeng, "One task, one master!"

"I will entrust this task to you!"

Without allowing Tianpeng to refuse, he instructed a deity standing beside him, "Changgeng, go and draft the imperial edict, appointing Tianpeng as the envoy to visit the Bixi Palace and meet the Sage..."

"Obey the edict!" The deity immediately nodded and left to carry out the order.

Tianpeng was suddenly panicked.

The Bixi Palace?

The Daoist site of the leader of the截教 (Jie Jiao)?

With his small arms and legs, how could he dare to go?

A single slap from the Sage could cripple him.

But before he could think of an excuse, the Jade Emperor had already blocked any possible refusal.

"Your Excellency!" The Jade Emperor walked to Tianpeng, took his hand, and said affectionately, "When you return, I will certainly give you a significant role!"

"Let me be frank, I am planning to establish a Heavenly Navy, to recruit soldiers from the four seas and the rivers of the three realms, and to train a force of three hundred thousand heavenly soldiers to guard the Heavenly River and conquer the four directions!"

"In my view, you are more than capable of serving as the future Admiral of the Heavenly Navy!"

Tianpeng swallowed hard.

Admiral of the Heavenly Navy?

Commanding the four seas and overseeing the rivers?

This seemed to be a lucrative position!

A promising future!

"Fine!" He sighed, "Riches and glory come with risk!"

"I will take this chance!"

Thus, Tianpeng bowed, "I am willing to serve Your Majesty!"