Taiyi Zhenren Brings Reinforcements, Chan Sect Makes Its Move

Kunlun Mountain, Jade Void Palace.

Immortal mist curled through the air, and thousands of streams of auspicious radiance shone forth. What should have been a Pure and Actionless Saint's Dojo was now steeped in an oppression as chilling as congealed Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice.

On the White Jade Square outside the main hall, a figure was repeatedly smashing his head against the ground, weeping his heart out, snot and tears smeared all over his face. Not a trace remained of the bearing of a Chan Sect Golden Immortal.

It was none other than Taiyi Zhenren, who had been slapped all the way back from Skeleton Mountain.

"Master! Your disciple is useless! Your disciple has disgraced you! Disgraced the Chan Sect!"

As Taiyi Zhenren wailed, he rubbed the uninjured half of his face against the cold ground. He looked as pitiful as pitiful could be.

"That demon... that demon has gone too far! Not only did he destroy my Dharma treasure and humiliate my Dao body, he... he even called out the Chan Sect by name and demanded an explanation!"

"He clearly has no regard for you, nor for our Chan Sect! Master, I beg you to uphold justice for your disciple!"

Inside the Jade Void Palace, dead silence reigned.

Yuanshi Tianzun sat high upon his Cloud Bed, his face dark as water, saying nothing.

Though the Saint's fury had yet to erupt, the icy, bone-piercing pressure already had every living creature throughout the Kunlun Mountains trembling in terror. All sounds had fallen silent.

Below, the Chan Sect disciples stood in rows on either side, each with head lowered, eyes on nose and nose on heart, not daring to breathe too loudly.

One of their own Senior Brothers had been slapped back to the mountain gate, and someone had even come knocking at their door demanding an explanation. Their face had been thrown away so thoroughly it was thicker than the primordial land itself.

At that moment, a Daoist clad in an apricot yellow Daoist robe, with an ancient, unadorned face and a steady bearing, slowly stepped out from the ranks.

It was Guang Chengzi, foremost among the Chan Sect's Twelve Golden Immortals and deeply valued by Yuanshi Tianzun.

Guang Chengzi first cast a disgusted glance at Taiyi Zhenren, who was still wailing outside the hall, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

What a useless fool. Making a spectacle of himself.

Then, he gave Yuanshi Tianzun a deep bow and spoke in a voice like a great bell.

"Master, although Junior Brother Taiyi acted rashly and disgraced himself, he is still a disciple of our Chan Sect."

"For an outsider to humiliate him so is to humiliate the Chan Sect itself. If we do not recover our dignity, how will the Chan Sect stand in the Three Realms in the future?"

The moment he spoke, the immortals in the hall voiced their agreement.

"Senior Brother is right! That madman must pay the price!"

"A mere coward who hides his head and shows his tail dares provoke a Saint's Orthodox Lineage? He truly does not know whether he lives or dies!"

"Master, please give the order! We are willing to go to Skeleton Mountain, seize that demon, and suppress him beneath Kirin Cliff, never to rise again for all eternity!"

Guang Chengzi waved a hand, silencing the crowd. A trace of pride flashed through his eyes.

"For a mere wild god of unknown origins, there is no need for all you Junior Brothers to act."

His gaze swept over the hall, carrying an utterly natural confidence.

"Junior Brother Taiyi must have let down his guard and been caught by that man's sneak attack. In this disciple's view, that person merely possesses brute strength and is nothing to fear."

"This disciple is willing to make a trip to Skeleton Mountain. First, to seek justice for Junior Brother Taiyi; second, to show all beings of the Three Realms the consequences of provoking the Chan Sect!"

By the end, an incomparably sharp aura burst from Guang Chengzi and soared into the heavens, as though it could tear the sky asunder.

He had every reason for such confidence.

As the foremost of the Twelve Golden Immortals, his cultivation had long reached the peak of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm. Moreover, he wielded the supreme Acquired Merit treasure of Supreme Killing Intent bestowed upon him by his master—the Fan Tian Seal.

Once this treasure emerged, even Saints would have to take notice. Could some unknown, back-alley immortal truly turn the heavens upside down?

Upon the Cloud Bed, Yuanshi Tianzun slowly opened those eyes that contained the wrath of the Heavenly Dao and swept an indifferent glance over Guang Chengzi.

He neither nodded nor shook his head.

Yet Guang Chengzi understood at once. His master was granting tacit approval.

Saints had the pride of Saints. For his master to personally deal with an insignificant nobody would be the true loss of face.

Having him, the chief disciple, make the move was most fitting.

"This disciple accepts the decree!"

Guang Chengzi bowed once more, then turned and strode toward the hall's exit. Killing intent roiled around him, stirring the wind and clouds into changing color.

A greater storm was already brewing.

Meanwhile, in the Thirty-three Heavens, the Grand Pure Palace.

The atmosphere was equally grave to the extreme.

The Jade Emperor sat high upon the Dragon Throne, his face livid. Within those eyes that overlooked the Three Realms, fury and wariness intertwined, shifting without cease.

His grip tightened around the throne's armrest until it creaked, as though it would crumble into dust the next moment.

Below, the immortals and gods were silent as cicadas in winter. Each wished they could bury their head in their chest, terrified of offending the ruler of the Three Realms.

To be cursed at right to their faces, then have the offender declare that he would pay a visit to the Grand Pure Palace—this was an unprecedented humiliation for the Heavenly Court since its founding.

Yet humiliation was humiliation. At the thought of the other party's unfathomable strength, which not even Saints could divine, no one dared clamor for an army to be sent against him.

Even a Chan Sect Golden Immortal had been slapped away like a fly. If the Heavenly Court's soldiers and generals went up against him, would they not merely be delivering themselves onto his plate?

"Your Majesty, please quell your anger..."

In the deathly silence, an old man with white hair and beard, his face wearing a kindly smile, trembled as he stepped forward.

It was Taibai Jinxing, the Jade Emperor's most capable peacemaker.

"Your Majesty, this matter... must not be handled rashly."

Taibai Jinxing wiped away cold sweat that was not actually there, carefully choosing his words.

"That mysterious man sent Taiyi Zhenren flying with a single palm strike, and he could transmit his voice throughout the Three Realms while ignoring every restriction. His strength has likely already surpassed anything we can imagine."

"With the Investiture of the Gods Calamity imminent and the heavenly secrets in chaos, it is truly unwise to stir up further trouble and provoke such an unfathomable existence, Your Majesty!"

The Jade Emperor gave a heavy snort, two streams of white vapor shooting from his nostrils. Clearly, his anger had yet to subside.

He understood the reasoning, but he simply could not swallow this insult.

Taibai Jinxing's eyes turned, and he stepped closer, lowering his voice.

"Your Majesty, this old servant has an idea. That man's declaration was aimed at both the Chan Sect and the Heavenly Court, but the root cause was ultimately Taiyi Zhenren of the Chan Sect stirring up trouble first. Our Heavenly Court has merely suffered an undeserved calamity."

"In this old servant's view, we might as well offer courtesy before force. Send an envoy bearing generous gifts to Skeleton Mountain and make amends."

"First, we can test the other party's background and attitude. Second, we can show all beings of the Three Realms that our Heavenly Court is magnanimous, able to distinguish right from wrong, and willing to resolve conflict on our own initiative. That way, we preserve our dignity while shifting all the pressure onto the Chan Sect."

"If they accept the gifts, the matter will be settled, and our Heavenly Court will emerge without the slightest harm. If they refuse... then that will be the Chan Sect's headache. We need only watch how things unfold!"

His words were watertight, sound and well-founded.

The fury in the Jade Emperor's eyes was gradually replaced by contemplation.

That was right!

This mess had belonged to the Chan Sect from the start!

Why should the Heavenly Court bear it along with them?

Once he understood this, the grievance in the Jade Emperor's heart immediately dissipated by more than half. Even the way he looked at Taibai Jinxing softened considerably.

"My dear subject speaks with great reason."

After pondering for a moment, he made his decision at once.

"Taibai Jinxing, receive the decree!"

"I appoint you as special envoy. Depart for Skeleton Mountain at once. Take one basket of Nine-Thousand-Year Peaches of Immortality, one gourd of Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, one hundred jars of Ten-Thousand-Year Immortal Brew from the treasury, and select one hundred Fairy Maidens to accompany you. Tell them these are offered to apologize to Fairy Shi Ji for Taiyi Zhenren's recklessness!"

The Jade Emperor placed special emphasis on the words, "apologize to Fairy Shi Ji."

He was telling everyone that the Heavenly Court acknowledged only Shi Ji as the victim. As for that mysterious man, he was a problem the Chan Sect had to face.

"This old servant obeys the decree!"

Delighted, Taibai Jinxing accepted the imperial edict and hurriedly withdrew.

Before long, an Auspicious Cloud carried an immortal elder with the bearing of a transcendent sage. Behind him followed a procession of peerlessly beautiful Fairy Maidens, each holding rare treasures and radiating Immortal Qi, flying grandly toward Skeleton Mountain.

At the entrance to White Bone Cave on Skeleton Mountain.

Qin Feng still sat at the stone table, leisurely sipping tea.

Shi Ji stood waiting at his side, her beautiful eyes never leaving his figure. The worship and affection in her gaze were nearly overflowing.

Just then, Qin Feng's hand holding the teacup paused slightly, and he raised his eyes toward the horizon.

"Someone who knows how to talk has arrived."

Shi Ji froze, then followed his gaze. A vast Auspicious Cloud was descending from the sky, packed with people. At its head stood Taibai Jinxing, the Heavenly Court's famed negotiator.

At the sight of this display, Shi Ji's heart rose to her throat again.

The Heavenly Court was... here to demand an explanation?

Yet the instant Taibai Jinxing landed, he put away all airs of an immortal official. His face filled with a humble smile bordering on flattery as he hurried toward the cave entrance.

"This old one, Taibai Jinxing, pays respects to Senior!"

He did not even know Qin Feng's identity, yet he immediately addressed him as Senior, lowering himself to the utmost.

Qin Feng merely gave him an indifferent glance and said nothing.

That glance was utterly ordinary, yet it instantly made Taibai Jinxing feel as though he had been seen through completely, inside and out, from past to present. Every little scheme in his heart had nowhere to hide.

A chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head, and cold sweat poured down Taibai Jinxing's body.

This great figure was even more terrifying than he had imagined!

He no longer dared entertain any thought of probing him. Quickly bowing, he lowered himself even further.

"Please quell your anger, Senior! His Majesty the Jade Emperor has investigated the matter thoroughly. It was all caused by Taiyi Zhenren of the Chan Sect, whose unruly conduct led him to bully Fairy Shi Ji without cause, thereby angering Senior. Our Heavenly Court failed to recognize the truth and bears responsibility as well for inadequate supervision."

"His Majesty has specially ordered this old servant to come and apologize to Fairy Shi Ji on behalf of the Heavenly Court, while presenting a modest gift. We only hope Fairy Shi Ji and Senior will be magnanimous and not raise blades over such petty people."

With a wave of his hand, the Fairy Maidens behind him gracefully stepped forward, carrying peaches, immortal brew, golden elixirs, and an array of other treasures.

Qin Feng's gaze swept over the priceless gifts before finally settling on the trembling Fairy Maidens. His brows furrowed slightly.

What kind of man was Taibai Jinxing? His ability to read faces and gauge reactions had long reached the point of Furnace Fire.

His heart gave a jolt, and he hurriedly explained, "These fairies were sent by His Majesty to attend to Fairy Shi Ji's daily needs. There is absolutely no other intention!"

Qin Feng ignored him, merely lifted his teacup and gently blew on it.

"I'll accept the gift on Daoist Friend Shi Ji's behalf."

Hearing this, the weight hanging over Taibai Jinxing's heart immediately eased by more than half, and the smile on his face grew broader. "Thank you, Senior, thank—"

Yet before he could finish, Qin Feng's next words froze the smile on his face completely.

"This is only the Heavenly Court's stance."

Qin Feng set down his teacup. His voice remained calm, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.

"I am still waiting for the Chan Sect's explanation."

"You may leave."

Boom!

Those final words were like a thunderclap exploding within Taibai Jinxing's mind.

He felt a bone-deep chill sweep through his entire body in an instant. His limbs turned ice-cold, and he could barely remain standing.

This great figure... had never intended to let the matter rest!

He had accepted the Heavenly Court's gift, clearly signaling that he would spare the Heavenly Court this once, and then... focus wholeheartedly on settling the final account with the Chan Sect!

Taibai Jinxing no longer dared utter another word. He practically scrambled through a bow, then fled on clouds with the gathered immortals and gods, not even daring to look back.

The curtain had risen on an even greater storm.