Penglai Holy Realm

Purple Ganoderma Cliff revealed the supreme scenery of a Saint's dwelling in the morning light.

Exotic flowers exude fragrance, and precious herbs present auspiciousness.

Essence Qi of Jade Morning lingers, and the auspicious light of the sun and moon unfolds.

Biyou Palace is surrounded on three sides by lush pines and cypresses, with peach and fragrant apricot trees within the palace all diffusing the scent of innate spiritual energy.

The Seven Treasures Fragrant Carriage descended from the sky, landing on the vast white jade square in front of Biyou Palace.

Duobao Taoist, Golden Spirit Saint Mother, and Zhao Gongming stepped out of the Seven Treasures Fragrant Carriage in succession, ready to proceed to Biyou Palace to greet the Sect Hierarch Saint and to report on the journey.

"Ding! Ding! Ding!"

A prolonged bell chime echoed from within Biyou Palace.

Spreading in all directions.

"Hmm?"

Duobao and the others showed a look of puzzlement.

The bell chiming thrice is a signal to summon the elite disciples to Biyou Palace.

Was it because of the Blood Sea issue, or had another significant event occurred?

"Boom—"

The grand doors of Biyou Palace opened, and a child about ten years old with a cherubic face stepped out, bowing and saluting the three, "Greetings, senior brother, senior sisters."

Duobao Taoist nodded slightly in return.

He looked at the Water-Fire Child and asked, "Do you know why the Upper Pure Bell has tolled?"

The Water-Fire Child shook his head and whispered softly, "The master has just returned from Zixiao Palace and asked me to open the doors and welcome the senior brothers and sisters; I do not know the rest."

"Zixiao Palace?"

The faces of Duobao and the others changed slightly.

"When did our master go to Zixiao Palace?"

"It has been about six or seven days… I am not certain."

The Water-Fire Child said somewhat sheepishly, "As the master was not home these past few days, I indulged in some extra sleep and forgot to note the exact time; please do not blame me, senior brother."

Seeing he did not know more, Duobao Taoist did not inquire further and walked into Biyou Palace first.

Golden Spirit Saint Mother and Zhao Gongming followed closely behind.

Soon, the three arrived at the spacious and bright main hall.

At the upper seat sat the Tongtian Sect Hierarch, dressed in an Eight Diagrams Robe and wearing a Furong Crown, seated aloft on a cloud bed.

"Disciple pays respects to the master."

Duobao Taoist, Golden Spirit Saint Mother, and Zhao Gongming bowed respectfully.

"No need for excessive formalities."

Tongtian Sect Hierarch nodded slightly, signaling them to take a seat, "Tell me, how do you feel about the journey to the Blood Sea?"

The hall had over a hundred neatly arranged meditation cushions.

The cushions for Duobao and the others were naturally closest to the cloud bed.

After they seated themselves, Duobao Taoist briefly described the journey to the Blood Sea, and relayed Yu Yuan's suspicions about the mastermind behind the scenes.

Throughout the process, the Tongtian Sect Hierarch listened quietly with a gentle demeanor, until he heard that the disciple who secretly planned to assassinate Yu Yuan along the way might be from the Jie Sect, only then his eyebrows twitched slightly.

But that was all.

He did not show any surprise, anger, curiosity, or other emotions.

It was as if this matter was not worth mentioning at all.

Or perhaps, he had already known everything!

Although this youthful and handsome Saint had mentioned more than once to his disciples about the "great calamity approaching, and the Heavenly Mechanism being chaotic", the Saint's mighty power was beyond the reach and understanding of ordinary Immortal Gods...

Who could be sure that they did not have another way to perceive the truth?

Thus, this time Duobao Taoist also had a bit of a pleading intention.

He wished to uncover the true mastermind behind the scenes through the methods of the Sect Hierarch Saint.

Regrettably, after Duobao Taoist finished speaking, the Tongtian Sect Hierarch merely lightly said, "Then go and investigate."

And that was the end of it.

Their master still seemed as unconcerned as ever!

Golden Spirit Saint Mother sighed silently in her heart and began to understand some of her own disciple's words.

After the Tongtian Sect Hierarch founded the Jie Sect and broadly recruited disciples on Golden Turtle Island, he did not inquire about their origins, allowing anyone earnestly seeking the Immortal Path to come and listen to the Saint's teachings.

This also led to the current situation where Jie Sect disciples were numerous and mixed.

After delivering his teachings, the Sect Hierarch moved to Penglai Island to enjoy tranquility.

Apart from a few elite disciples who could still visit Penglai to listen to lectures, the rest of the disciples were left to their own devices.

Duobao Taoist, as the leading disciple of the Jie Sect, also firmly followed the example and immersed himself in secluded cultivation in Penglai.

With both the Sect Hierarch and the leading disciple not managing affairs, the Golden Spirit Saint Mother and other direct disciples did not wish to delay their own cultivation.

As a result, the lay disciples who were left to fend for themselves grew increasingly unruly.

They took over the East Sea and acted recklessly.

If not for the rule of "Fellow disciples must not harm each other," it is possible that the Jie Sect would have already disintegrated due to infighting.

Even so, internal strife is currently surging within the Jie Sect.

On the surface, everything seems harmonious, but internally, factions form, and numerous cliques stand distinct.

The Tongtian Sect Hierarch, seated high on the cloud bed, was naturally aware of this situation.

However, he did not wish to intervene.

To carve a line of survival for all living beings!

This is the philosophy of the Jie Sect.

The Sect Hierarch Tongtian transmitted the Great Dao of Upper Pure, not caring about the origins of his disciples.

He allowed many beings, who originally were not qualified to hear the Great Dao, to have the opportunity to step into the Immortal Path and change their fates.

This is the opportunity he seized for all beings.

As for what those beings do with the opportunity to change their fates, that is their own matter.

Sect Hierarch Tongtian has a free and unrestrained nature; he does not wish to establish too many rules and restrictions.

A thousand flowers bloom, each should display its own unique brilliance.

If all the flowers bloom beautifully and delicately under the constraints of rules,

then there is no joy in that.

Therefore, unless necessary, Sect Hierarch Tongtian does not wish to interfere in the affairs of the sect at all.

As long as the Jie Sect exists, they can continue to teach the Great Dao of Upper Pure to the beings of Heaven and Earth, allowing them to have the chance to change their fates...

That's enough!

As his direct disciples, Daoist Duobao, Golden Spirit, and others naturally understand the philosophy of their revered master.

But now it's different!

This matter concerns the life and safety of his eldest disciple, and Holy Mother Golden Spirit is desperate to immediately find the mastermind behind everything.

Thus, when she saw that her master still held an "indifferent" demeanor, she couldn't help recalling her disciple's words.

This Lansong Jie Sect is really...

Cough cough!

No overthinking allowed!

At this moment, several figures arrived together.

There was Wuyun Immortal, dressed in a mystic robe with a simple face; there was the ethereal and handsome Piro Immortal, wearing a five-leaf crown; and there was Qiu Shou Immortal, with a green face, red beard, and a tall and formidable stature...

Except for Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal, who was punished and not allowed to enter Penglai, the rest of the "Seven Attendant Immortals" were all present.

After they saluted and took their seats, Holy Mother Gui Ling and Saint Mother Gui Ling also arrived.

Soon after, the Three Xiao Goddesses from Jieshi Mountain, Ten Heavenly Lords on Golden Turtle Island, Boxiang Immortal, Caiyun Immortal, as well as Luo Xuan the Flame Immortal from Fire Dragon Island, Liu Huan, and also Wang Mo, Yang Sen who were known as the Four Saints of Nine Dragons Island, arrived in succession.

All these were just the Immortal Gods from places close to Penglai. Others from farther away like Shi Ji, Qiu Yin, Hong Jin, Chong Yingbiao and so forth couldn't come.

However, Sect Hierarch Tongtian clearly did not plan to wait for everyone to arrive.

Seeing that enough people had come, he looked around at the crowd and said, "The purpose of summoning all of you here is because a decree from Zixiao Palace has been issued, directing the three sects of Chan, Jie, and others to select disciples from their sects to serve as gods in the Heavenly Court... Are there any among you who wish to go voluntarily?"

Hearing this, a group of Jie Sect disciples looked at each other, their faces full of surprise.

"Dare to ask Master."

Daoist Duobao was the first to stand up, voicing the question on everyone's minds.

"Why has Zixiao Palace suddenly issued this decree?"

Sect Hierarch Tongtian glanced over the disciples in the hall, his gaze finally landing on Zhao Gongming, and spoke indifferently, "This matter is also related to your attendance at the Peach Banquet."

After saying this, he shared with all the disciples about Heavenly Emperor going to Zixiao Palace to complain after the Peach Banquet.

After hearing the reasons, Zhao Gongming and other disciples of the Jie Sect were stunned and could not help but start clamoring.

"Who would have thought that the Emperor of Heaven would actually stoop so low!"

"Exactly, the so-called Supreme of the Three Realms actually went to cry at Zixiao Palace!"

"He goes there to cry, but it is us who suffer because of it!"

"Doesn't he realize that this move will offend us, disciples of the Three Sects? Even if we are forced by the decree of Zixiao Palace to go to the Heavenly Court and serve, how could we sincerely work for him?"

"Once you've entered a divine position, it's not up to you anymore! Layers of heavenly laws and regulations will surely make you obediently follow orders!"

"It's infuriating, we haven't provoked him, why does he trap us like this?"

"The positions in the Heavenly Court have been vacant for a long time, perhaps the Emperor of Heaven had no choice but to resort to this measure."

"But what does that have to do with us?"

"We have been blessed by the Sect Hierarch to cultivate into Immortal Golden Immortals, seeking longevity parallel with the sun and the moon, the same lifespan as Heaven and Earth, not to go to the Heavenly Court to be servants!

You all can go to the Heavenly Court if you want, but I definitely won't go!"

"Listen to what you're saying. Who would choose to be stuck in the Heavenly Court, bound by countless rules instead of enjoying the freedom of being an immortal!"

"Now that the decree has been issued by Zixiao Palace, ordering us to go serve as gods in the Heavenly Court, if you all don't wish to go, won't that make it difficult for our master?"

"Brother speaks wisely, then please you go!"

"I... I'm not going either!"

...

The Jie Sect disciples spoke one after another, turning the originally quiet hall into a bustling marketplace.

What kind of behavior is this!

What do they think this Main Hall of Biyou Palace is?

Daoist Duobao frowned, looking up at Sect Hierarch Tongtian seated high on the cloud-bed, only to see no anger on his face, still wearing a gentle expression.

Seeing this, Daoist Duobao simply let go of his concerns, letting his fellow disciples continue their noisy debate.

After a long while, when the disciples of the Jie Sect had calmed down slightly, they realized how inappropriate their earlier actions had been, and immediately saluted Sect Hierarch Tongtian to apologize and beg for forgiveness.

"No harm."

Sect Hierarch Tongtian spoke kindly, "Your cultivation has not been easy, and it is understandable that you do not wish to ascend to the Heavenly Court to serve as gods."

He paused, then looked towards everyone in the hall and continued, "However, the vacant divine positions in the Heavenly Court have now become an affliction affecting the operation of Heaven and Earth, and we as saints cannot ignore it...

After a hundred days, disciples of Chan and Human Sects will come to Biyou Palace. At that time, the disciples of the seo three sects will gather together to discuss the Divine Enthronement.

You should all return to your respective Daoist temples and reflect carefully."

The disciples looked at each other.

Even though they were reluctant, they could only respectfully salute.

"We shall ardently follow the Sect Hierarch's (Master's) sacred decree!"

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