Start with the easy tasks and move on to the harder ones.

Literally, pick the softest persimmon to squeeze.

No matter how it's phrased, this is the instinctual habit of most people when facing tasks.

Just like playing a game, one starts by stealthily leveling up, beginning with the novice village BOSS before advancing to the final BOSS.

There's seldom anyone who attempts to bypass all the minor bosses and challenge the final BOSS without proper development, equipment, or level.

Such behavior is akin to seeking death, an overstatement since no one actually does that.

For the Jade Emperor, his ascension to Daoist Lord and seizure of the Great Law Decree Technique, coupled with forming an alliance with Great Emperor Ziwei to his side, have torn a gap in the numerous shackles restraining him, opening up a new situation. It is a good start.

However, this is merely a good start, and it doesn't mean that he has reached his peak state and can now do as he pleases without inhibition.

Especially now, after just making an exploratory move and being suppressed by the Sword Emperor, an experience akin to defeat despite premature celebration, delivering a blow that truly woke him up.

The move made by the Sword Emperor allowed the Jade Emperor to clearly understand that an established Daoist Lord is exactly that, having earned their ability to suppress the world for countless years.

Although he has now ascended to the level of a player, since his own forces have yet to be fully integrated, he still doesn't qualify to truly confront the Sword Emperor and the like.

Or rather, they can't even withstand the Sword Emperor and Taoist Monarch Tianji at present, what more to speak of contending with Pei Xuanjing, the first among all under Heaven as the Longevity Taoist Monarch?

Even the authority wielded by Pang Hong in his hands, creating obstacles within the Heavenly Court, constitutes a tough bone to chew on.

The Emperor of the South Pole Eternal Life and the authority of the Shenxiao Lineage are, for the moment, out of reach, as is the authority held by Great Emperor Houtu.

Even though Great Emperor Houtu, as a newly ascended Daoist Lord, also a returned Demon God, can't oppose the united efforts of these two Imperial Honors.

Yet, sorry to say, sometimes in this world, it's not the individual strength that's compared.

Moreover, these two Imperial Honors are capable of joining forces, and with some Daoist Lords from the newly formed Daoist Lord Alliance as allies, Great Emperor Houtu isn't isolated either.

As a returned Demon God, He naturally has allies, and a crucial point is that aside from Great Emperor Houtu's esteemed position as one of the Six Imperials in the Heavenly Court, He is also the Ancestral Witch of Earth, Houtu, within the ranks of the Witch Deity Teaching's Twelve Ancestor Witches.

Just Great Emperor Houtu alone, and even with a few returned Demon Gods as allies, are not a match for the Jade Emperor and the newly ascended Dao Lords, but the Witch Deity Teaching is enough to make them temporarily halt in their steps.

The horrors of the Witch Deity Teaching are clearer to no one more than the Jade Emperor. The twelve Ancestor Witches are related by blood, and although there appears to be only one established Dao Lord—the Witch God Sect Leader—on the surface, the depths of the other Ancestors Witches' strengths are unknown, as well as which terrifying old being might be behind their veil.

Not to mention anyone else, but just Qiang Liang's alias as the Ancestral Witch of Thunder used by Pei Xuanjing seems almost an open secret to the Jade Emperor; how could he be unaware?

However, just as Yu Zhenzi thought, even if guessing the truth, when the other side has not openly expressed it, he also chooses to feign ignorance, not wanting to provoke trouble.

With two of the Six Imperials in the Heavenly Court untouchable, the only ones left are Great Emperor Qinghua of Dongji and Western Emperor Gouchen.

However, with the example set by Great Emperor Ziwei, the Jade Emperor is even more convinced that he shares common interests with these two Imperial Honors, and perhaps without tearing open confrontations, he could reclaim some of his authority.

So, continuing down the line, the truly necessary targets for his actions, those who cannot compromise and can only stand in direct opposition, are the Dao Lords like Fire Virtue Star Lord, lacking any mutual interests.

Regardless of the attitude Fire Virtue Star Lord will adopt, the Jade Emperor's intent to suppress and seize authority will remain unchanged.

Because, in the situation the Jade Emperor faces presently, his initial use of the Great Law Decree Technique upon acquiring it should have concluded victoriously, or at the very least, with an impressive impact establishing his current circumstances as different from before.

After all, for the Jade Emperor, reclaiming his authority means altering his image in many people's minds, proving his right to be a player, his right to confront those established Dao Lords.

Not to talk of victory, as long as the Jade Emperor can demonstrate he has the qualifications to stand against those established Dao Lords, then he will inevitably attract many to his side during this opportunity, expanding his influence.

There is never a shortage of those who gamble for greater opportunities in this world, especially under the current situation, where not only are there such strong individuals, but plentifully so.

For these newly ascended Dao Lords, they believe that they should be acquiring greater benefits, thus they have banded together to struggle against the established Dao Lords, to make their voices heard and seize their interests.

So for those True Immortals not of top Immortal Sect lineage, they, in this world, encounter a situation not unlike what the newly ascended Dao Lords face.

Every being capable of Tao-certifying as a True Immortal is the stuff of legends, outstanding among their peers, especially for True Immortals without top Immortal Sect heritage, whose cultivation paths are naturally affected by those premier sects.

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