Chapter 38

As for the so-called Peach Banquet, they had never taken it seriously from beginning to end.

Haotian had only just ascended to the position of Heavenly Emperor and wished to use the influence of the Saints to stabilize his status. Naturally, none of this escaped the discerning eyes of Yuanshi and Tongtian.

The four Saints departed calmly, never once sparing Haotian a glance.

A trace of sharpness flashed deep in Haotian's eyes, yet he maintained a smile as he watched the Saints leave.

He knew that today's Peach Banquet had become a laughingstock in the eyes of the Saints, and it planted a seed of unwillingness within his heart.

Within the Purple Sky Palace beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's figure ** sat upon the Dao platform.

His eyes slowly opened, as though the entire primordial world were reflected within them.

Hongjun smiled faintly and commented on Li Er's actions. "Taishang has done something great for the Daoist lineage this time—something I wished to do but could not."

He was moved by Li Er's actions, for throughout the primordial world, no one had ever made him smile so voluntarily.

Though Hongjun was usually detached and inactive, his feelings toward the Daoist Sect could not be ignored.

Otherwise, he would not have been stirred by Li Er driving the Two Sages of the West out of the Daoist Sect.

The signs of the Heavenly Dao's awakening revealed in Hongjun's soft murmur drew his attention.

What showed through that calmness was a profound, undeniable power, like the descent of a deity; his earthshaking smile froze in an instant.

Then suddenly, a cold, imperious look seemed to sweep through all concern for those who stood above all living beings.

Although he had anticipated the awakening of the Heavenly Dao Will, this seemed to have arrived earlier than expected, leaving him somewhat surprised.

It turned out that this awakening was caused by the imminent emergence of the Heavenly Scroll among the Heaven, Earth, and Human Books, which had stirred the Heavenly Dao Will.

As the spokesperson of the Heavenly Dao, Hongjun could do nothing about it at this moment.

Hongjun was the Dao Ancestor, but he was also the vessel embodying the Heavenly Dao. When the Heavenly Scroll emerged, the Heavenly Dao Will would awaken completely.

At this moment, Hongjun seemed to realize that he needed to merge with the Heavenly Dao Will once more.

He was still ** at this moment, not controlled by the Heavenly Dao.

In the end, Hongjun began summoning his other friend, speaking only to Li Er. In his eyes, Li Er was different from the rest, having reached the realm of the Supreme Saint, even capable of contending with the Heavenly Dao Will.

Thus, although the other Five Saints of the Heavenly Dao were also Saints, they seemed insignificant before Li Er.

What lay ahead was the complete awakening of the Heavenly Dao Will and countless unknown variables.

At this time, Daoist Hongjun summoned only Li Er to the Purple Sky Palace within Eight Sceneries Palace. There must have been something important to discuss.

As Li Er brewed tea and contemplated the Dao, Hongjun's familiar voice reached his ears, sounding like heavenly music.

With a flash, he appeared before Hongjun.

Hongjun spoke bluntly. "The Heavenly Dao Will is about to awaken."

Li Er's expression deepened upon hearing this. Though he said nothing, a profound look appeared in his eyes.

He already knew the relationship between the Heavenly Dao Will and Hongjun, but compared to the Heavenly Dao Will, he preferred dealing with Hongjun.

For Hongjun was the founder of the Daoist Sect, his senior and his pillar of support.

The Heavenly Dao Will, however, took the development of the entire primordial world as its duty. Though it might suppress certain forces for the sake of balance, its ultimate purpose remained preserving the overall order of the primordial world.

Hongjun, on the other hand, would favor the Daoist Sect more in certain details, which was of utmost importance to Li Er.

Hongjun quietly waited for Li Er to understand the result of his calculations—the killing tribulation brought by the emergence of the Heavenly Scroll.

His words were like guidance. There was no need to say more; clever as Li Er was, he naturally understood their deeper meaning.

Li Er replied, "Thank you for the Dao Ancestor's reminder."

He knew that the emergence of the Heavenly Scroll this time would be unlike before.

With Zhen Yuanzi's establishment of the Earth Immortal Mansion and Xuandu's Slaying the Three Corpses, the Human Scroll and Earth Scroll were about to appear, and the emergence of the Heavenly Scroll, the Investiture of the Gods List, was also imminent.

This would be an early Saint-killing tribulation, born from Haotian's machinations.

The conflict between the Exposition Sect and the Interception Sect had existed since the previous great tribulation.

The appearance of the Heavenly Scroll, the Investiture of the Gods List, would inevitably trigger a great war between the two sects. Though it would not destroy them, it would likely damage their foundations and affect the Daoist Sect Destiny.

Yet behind crisis often lay tremendous opportunity.

For Li Er, if the Investiture of the Gods killing tribulation did not come, how could he consider reverse-refining the Heaven-Opening supreme treasure and returning it to its origin as the Pangu Axe?

Do not forget that Yuanshi still held the final Heaven-Opening supreme treasure—the Pangu Banner.

Though it was Yuanshi's supreme treasure, Li Er's scheme against it might seem to disregard brotherly affection. But in a primordial world where Saints were immortal and indestructible, such bonds were insignificant before the struggles of great tribulations and Daoist Lineage.

On the contrary, interests were the most stable relationships in the primordial world.

For the sake of profit, Yuanshi could join the Two Sages of the West in slaughtering Tongtian's Interception Sect, so why should Li Er care about the bonds of the Three Pure Ones? Thus, Li Er bore no psychological burden over scheming for Yuanshi's Pangu Banner.

Just as with the decision made under the Heavenly Dao's command back then.

The Five Saints of the Heavenly Dao at Buzhou Mountain joined forces. Yuanshi and Tongtian faced it calmly, and a battle with Li Er was unavoidable.

With a thought, Li Er understood that the Heavenly Scroll was about to emerge and clearly grasped why Hongjun had summoned him alone.

It was nothing more than using this opportunity to probe his stance and actions, preparing for the imminent awakening of the Heavenly Dao Will.

Their transaction could be said to satisfy both sides' needs.

Not long afterward, Li Er left the Purple Sky Palace. No one knew the contents of his conversation with Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

Yet after this meeting, Hongjun's attitude toward Li Er changed drastically. He regarded him as the Daoist Sect Leader and even a pillar of the Daoist Sect, as well as the key to Hongjun regaining his freedom.

Within the Lingxiao Treasure Hall of the Heavenly Court, the Saints had little interest in the Peach Banquet, knowing that they had attended only out of consideration for their identities as Saints.

Now that the Saints no longer gave Haotian any face, it meant that Haotian's plans had fallen through.

Thus, everyone departed one after another, no longer participating in this grand gathering.

Haotian and Yaochi, as the rulers of the Heavenly Court, watched the first Peach Banquet end in such haste.

Haotian felt deeply humiliated, believing that the Saints looked down upon him.

Though he had once been Dao Ancestor Hongjun's attendant boy, that did not mean his status was lowly.

In truth, if they did not possess immense destiny, they could not have assumed the positions of Heavenly Emperor and Queen Mother.

Today's setback was difficult for Haotian to accept.

However, Yaochi believed that the world need not become angered over this.

She reminded Haotian that the Dao Ancestor had once said that all who were not Saints were ants.

Reality was cruel, but they had to recognize the truth. As rulers of the Heavenly Court, they still needed to keep striving.

"In the eyes of Saints, all living beings are ants. But what difference is there between us and the Saints? Even the Three Sovereigns Saint of the human race are no more than this."

"Before Saints, the title of Saint itself seems utterly insignificant."

Haotian fell into thought upon hearing this.

Although he was the Heavenly Emperor of the Heavenly Court, he seemed insignificant before Saints.

Haotian spoke with feeling. "Yes. Even if I am the ruler of the heavenly palace, what can I do before Saints?"

Seeing this, Yaochi decided to encourage Haotian. "Heavenly Emperor, there is no need to be so disheartened. We are not without advantages."

She explained, "As long as we make good use of our advantages and stabilize the Heavenly Court's position, one day, with the power of the Heavenly Court, we will be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Saints."

Haotian became interested. "What advantages do we have?"

Yaochi smiled. "The 'Heavenly Scroll.'"

She further explained, "Earth Immortals have the Earth Scroll, Great Emperor Fengdu has the Human Scroll, and our Heavenly Court will certainly see the emergence of the Heavenly Scroll.

I have a feeling that it is only a matter of time."

Haotian nodded in agreement. "I am the ruler of the Heavenly Court appointed by the Dao Ancestor. I should rightfully control the Heavenly Scroll.

Before the orthodoxy of the Heavenly Scroll, the Saints cannot suppress me.

On the contrary, as long as I patiently await an opportunity, I will surely make the disciples of the Saints serve me."

When Haotian grew to the point where he could no longer be ignored, the curtain of the Investiture of the Gods killing tribulation quietly rose.

At this moment, the contempt of the many Saints made him clearly recognize his own position and define the path ahead.

After the setback of the Peach Banquet, Haotian deeply realized that the responsibilities of the Heavenly Emperor were not easy to bear.

He began carefully planning every step he took.

Li Er was unexpectedly struck by Haotian's growth and began paying attention to him.

He discovered that this future ruler of the Three Realms was ambitious and meticulous in his thinking.

In the west, Mount Sumeru was a true pure land.

Jieyin and Zhunti had founded their religion and comprehended the Dao there, turning it into their sacred ground.

Golden light illuminated the place, Brahma Sound echoed through it, and it brimmed with mysterious power of faith.

Deep within Mount Sumeru lay a massive pool, where countless lotuses grew and gave off an intense aura of merit.

There were quite a few third-grade and sixth-grade lotuses, while only one ninth-grade lotus existed.

The nurturing of these golden lotuses gave the entire pool a mysterious aura, and it was called the Eight Treasures Merit Pool.

At the deepest part of the merit pool, Zhunti sat atop a Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus.

His features were ancient and solemn, boundless divine light radiated from his entire body, and behind him appeared an Ancient Bodhi Tree filled with indescribable mystery.

The wondrous aspect of the Eight Treasures Merit Pool was that its aura could heal all injuries to the Dao.

The Two Sages of the West had paid an enormous price to nurture it using Three Lights Divine Water, eight Innate Spiritual Treasures, and the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus.

Though Zhunti possessed only Quasi-Saint cultivation at this moment, under the nourishment of the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, all his injuries to the Dao had completely healed.

A chill flashed through his eyes as he slowly opened them. Recalling how he had been kicked out of his Saint position, he murmured, "Laozi, you made me fall from the Saint position. One day, I will overturn your Daoist Sect."

Jieyin knew of Zhunti's unwavering conviction.

He said, "Junior Brother, though you have fallen from the Saint position, you have gained insight into the essence of the side paths because of it. This is an unexpected blessing.

With every gain comes a loss, and fortune and misfortune always accompany each other.

Once you condense the Saintly Dao again, you will surely perfect the path of the side schools."

After a long silence, Zhunti shook his head. "Even if we perfect the three thousand side paths to the utmost degree, we still will not be Laozi's match.

In terms of Saintly strength alone, no one can surpass him."

Though Jieyin was unwilling to admit it, that was the truth.

He said, "For now, we cannot contend with Laozi. We should first develop the Western Sect.

Having lost the Daoist Sect Destiny, our task has become even more arduous."

Zhunti already had a plan. "Senior Brother need not worry. I have a scheme that can stir up conflict within the Daoist Sect.

Though the Daoist Sect is led by Laozi, the Exposition Sect and Interception Sect are not harmonious.

We can join forces with the Heavenly Court and scheme against the Daoist Sect.

Haotian is immensely ambitious and can be used by our Western Sect."

After thinking it over, Jieyin agreed. "Indeed. Our Western Sect is currently weak and needs to join hands with other forces.

The Heavenly Court is a good choice."

The two tacitly ended this topic, then naturally shifted the conversation elsewhere.

Within the Heavenly Court, Haotian was refining the Haotian Mirror in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

At that moment, a streak of golden light flashed, revealing Zhunti's Merit Golden Lotus platform and phantom image.

Haotian was surprised that Zhunti addressed him as Daoist Friend, but recalling that Zhunti had lost his Saint position and possessed only Quasi-Saint cultivation, he accepted the form of address.

However, he detected Zhunti's intention to befriend him, so he remained wary of Zhunti's arrival.

Zhunti responded calmly, saying that he wished to speak with Haotian in detail.

Haotian and the Grand White Golden Star discussed Yaoji's whereabouts.

Yaoji, also known as Fairy Yunhua, was Haotian's younger sister.

For some reason, Yaoji had not attended the Peach Banquet, and she had not been seen for quite some time.

Haotian used the Haotian Mirror to investigate and discovered that Yaoji had descended to the mortal realm, fallen in love with a mortal man, and even borne two sons and a daughter.

This made Haotian furious and ashamed.

Haotian issued an order. "Grand White Golden Star, heed my command!"

The Grand White Golden Star replied, "Yes!"

Haotian gave a brief order. "Descend to the lower realm and capture Yaoji."

Yaochi sighed softly and said nothing more.