Six-Eared Macaque and Kong Xuan Take Disciples

Who was Yuding Zhenren? Having inherited Yuanshi Tianzun's lofty pride, he did not even put Haotian in his eyes, much less a mere handful of Heavenly Soldiers and Generals.

He immediately shielded the three children behind him and said, "Since this poor Daoist has saved them, they are disciples of my Yuxu Palace. How dare you behave so recklessly!"

The leading heavenly general's expression darkened. He had not expected Yuding Zhenren to show him so little respect.

"We have come under the Heavenly Emperor's orders to seize them. How can you obstruct us? Since you insist on interfering, don't blame us for being discourteous!"

At once, all the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals surrounded and attacked Yuding Zhenren, intending to snatch the children from his hands.

The leading heavenly general was no weakling either. His cultivation had reached the perfected realm of Grand Unity Golden Immortal. With the support of the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, even though Yuding Zhenren was in the early stage of Grand Unity Golden Immortal, they were evenly matched for a time.

"Form the Heavenly Net!"

After a while, the leading heavenly general saw that continuing the battle would put his side at a disadvantage, so he immediately set up a formation. The Heavenly Soldiers and Generals took their positions, and the Heavenly Net formation took shape.

With the formation's support, Yuding Zhenren immediately felt himself running out of strength. He could no longer spare attention for the three children and could only do his best to resist.

Suddenly, a streak of five-colored divine light flashed past, and the three children vanished.

Both the leading heavenly general and Yuding Zhenren were shocked. Forgetting their battle, they hurriedly chased after the five-colored divine light, but it was far too fast and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Helpless, the leading heavenly general no longer bothered with Yuding Zhenren and could only lead the remaining Heavenly Soldiers back to the Heavenly Court to report.

Listening to the heavenly general's report, Haotian also breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that Xuan Yi must have sent a disciple to intervene. He then summoned the Haotian Mirror and looked through it, whereupon Kong Xuan's figure appeared, carrying the three children into Jade Capital Mountain.

It turned out that Haotian had sought Xuan Yi's help, hoping to protect the three children. Xuan Yi also knew that the three children possessed extraordinary foundations, so he had sent Kong Xuan to rescue them.

With Xuan Yi and Nuwa protecting them, Haotian was finally completely at ease and began handling Yao Ji's matter.

At the court assembly in Lingxiao Palace the next day, Haotian sat upon the Heavenly Emperor's Throne, half a foot higher than the seats of the other Four Imperials, displaying the Heavenly Emperor's authority.

Seeing the grief on Yao Ji's face below, Haotian could not bear it either. But he was now riding a tiger and could not dismount, and he did not dare openly shield Yao Ji.

"Yao Ji descended to the mortal world without permission and married a mortal, committing the grave crime of forbidden love between Immortal and Mortal. What do you all think should be done?"

The gods stood silently in place. This was, after all, the Jade Emperor's family affair. If they spoke rashly and the Jade Emperor settled accounts with them afterward, what then?

They did not dare, but someone did. All the gods turned to look at Six-Eared Macaque and Kong Xuan, who were also Great Emperors.

Seeing all the gods looking at him, Six-Eared Macaque spoke.

"Heavenly Emperor, although Yao Ji committed a grave crime, it is not punishable by death. I ask that you show mercy and merely confine her. When Yao Ji sincerely repents, you may deal with her again."

Haotian sighed in relief. Six-Eared Macaque had given him a way out. Which immortal did not spend tens of thousands of years in seclusion at a time? Locking Yao Ji away for a few tens of thousands of years would do no harm and would also silence everyone's objections.

"Guards, take Yao Ji away and suppress her beneath Peach Mountain. If she refuses to admit her mistake, never release her."

Several Heavenly Soldiers and Generals immediately stepped forward and escorted the desolate-looking Yao Ji to Peach Mountain.

With Yao Ji dealt with, it was time to address her three children.

"Although Yao Ji has been suppressed beneath Peach Mountain, she and Yang Tianyou bore three children. These are the first descendants of Human Immortal lineage since the Three Realms were established. What do you, my ministers, believe should be done?"

At this moment, Kong Xuan, seated nearby, spoke.

"The one who violated the Heavenly Laws was Yao Ji. Every grievance has its debtor. Now that Yao Ji has been suppressed beneath Peach Mountain and received her due punishment, why should the vast Heavenly Court continue making things difficult for two children?"

Kong Xuan looked coldly at those below the dais. The majesty radiating from him was no weaker than Haotian's, if not stronger.

Haotian was overjoyed upon hearing this. As expected of Kong Xuan—what dominance. But Kong Xuan's words alone were not enough to settle the matter. He still needed Six-Eared Macaque's support, so Haotian turned his gaze toward him again.

Six-Eared Macaque said, "These three children are quite remarkable. I intend to accept the eldest, Yang Jiao, as my disciple. I hope you will all do me this favor."

Naturally, Six-Eared Macaque stood with the Jade Emperor. Besides, Xuan Yi had already told him to take Yang Jiao as a disciple. How could he dare disobey?

"In that case, I shall accept the second, Yang Jian, as my disciple!"

Kong Xuan also spoke, directly declaring that he would take Yang Jian as his disciple.

In truth, Xuan Yi had arranged all this beforehand. Yang Jian was known as the foremost of the Xuánmen's third generation, so his elder brother's innate foundation could not be much worse.

Besides, Haotian had personally gone to Xuan Yi for help. The two of them had to give Haotian some face.

Haotian finally let out a complete sigh of relief. He truly could not bear to kill his nephews.

"Since Great Emperor Ziwei of the North Pole and Great Emperor Gouchen Shanggong have both pleaded for these three children, they shall be declared innocent. But there is still one matter that must be addressed."

"During the capture of Yao Ji, Yuding Zhenren of the Chan Sect obstructed my heavenly generals in carrying out the law. This was an open contempt for the authority of my Heavenly Court. What do you, my ministers, believe should be done?"

Kong Xuan said, "Yuding Zhenren obstructed the Heavenly Court's enforcement of the law, so he shall be punished with a hundred years of closed-door reflection. I will personally report this to my master!"

The gods below did not dare involve themselves in this matter. Yuding Zhenren was a Saint's disciple. Apart from Taishang's three people, who would dare offend a Saint's disciple without cause?

And so, poor Yuding Zhenren was sentenced to a hundred years of confinement in his cave abode. As the enforcer of laws in the Primordial World, Xuan Yi could not be shielded even by Yuanshi Tianzun. Besides, a hundred years of confinement was not a major matter.

After the Heavenly Court assembly, the Yang Jiao brothers were declared innocent. Though Yuding Zhenren had been confined, the matter finally came to a satisfactory end.

Having finished their work, Six-Eared Macaque and Kong Xuan returned to Jade Capital Mountain to report to Xuan Yi.

Upon seeing the two arrive, Yang Jiao and Yang Jian hurried over and knelt before them.

"Thank you, immortal masters, for saving the lives of the three of us siblings. Though our lives are safe, our mother was taken by the Heavenly Court. We beg you, immortal masters, to accept us as disciples, so that we may gain the strength to rescue our mother."

Six-Eared Macaque and Kong Xuan exchanged a glance. They had been wondering how to bring up taking disciples, yet the brothers had delivered themselves right to their door.

The two examined Yang Jiao and Yang Jian's innate foundations. Both had excellent talent, clear brows and bright eyes, and seemed full of spiritual energy. They could not help but feel delighted.

"Not bad, not bad! Yang Jiao, are you willing to take this poor Daoist as your master?"

"Mm. Yang Jian, are you willing to take this poor Daoist as your master?"

Upon hearing this, the Yang Jiao brothers immediately bowed down in worship.

"Your disciple, Yang Jiao, greets Master."

"Your disciple, Yang Jian, greets Master."

After speaking, they knocked their heads against the ground three times in succession.