Yang Jiao and Yang Jian Head to Peach Mountain

Six-Eared Macaque and Kong Xuan were greatly satisfied with the performance of their two disciples.

Then Six-Eared Macaque spoke to them again. "I know you two are eager to save your mother, but do you know why your mother was only punished by being imprisoned beneath Peach Mountain?"

"In truth, the Jade Emperor has his own difficulties. As the Heavenly Emperor, he must lead by example, but who would not love his own younger sister?"

"Do you know that it was because the Jade Emperor pleaded bitterly that your grandmaster sent Junior Brother Kong Xuan to save the three of you?"

"Do you still hate the Jade Emperor now?"

Learning that the Jade Emperor had actually set aside his dignity to save the three siblings, Yang Jiao and his siblings felt deeply ashamed.

"Rest assured, Master. We siblings understand our uncle's difficulties, but we still wish to save our mother."

Seeing this, Six-Eared Macaque smiled. "Do not worry. We have already discussed this with the Jade Emperor. Cultivate well, and when the time comes, the Jade Emperor will arrange a trial for you. Its content will be to see whether you can rescue your mother!"

"Stay here and cultivate with peace of mind!"

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, several thousand years had passed. Yao Ji had likewise been imprisoned beneath Peach Mountain for several thousand years.

Aside from Yang Jiao and his two siblings, who were desperate to save their mother, Yao Ji's affairs had gradually been forgotten by others.

Within Jade Capital Mountain, Yang Jiao and Yang Jian diligently cultivated the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts. Yang Chan, meanwhile, had caught Nuwa's attention and been accepted as her disciple. By then, the Yang brothers had both reached the late stage of Grand Unity Golden Immortal.

Their cultivation had not been obtained through shortcuts such as spiritual pills or wondrous medicines. It had all been built step by step through their own arduous cultivation.

Their foundations were incomparably solid. Not only had they mastered the invulnerable Eight-Nine Arcane Arts, they could even fight opponents above their level.

Six-Eared Macaque and Kong Xuan often returned from the Heavenly Court to visit them. Seeing how rapidly their cultivation had progressed, they were greatly pleased, and specifically asked Xuan Yi for several suitable spiritual treasures.

Xuan Yi extracted two strands of the Eye of Heavenly Punishment's origin power and bestowed them upon Yang Jiao and Yang Jian.

He also used the Qiankun Cauldron to forge two low-grade innate spiritual treasures, the Proud Cold Battle Halberd and the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Sword, and bestowed them upon the pair.

One day, Xuan Yi suddenly summoned the two brothers before him.

"Disciple-grandsons Yang Jiao and Yang Jian greet Grandmaster. May we ask why Grandmaster summoned us?"

Xuan Yi looked at the imposing Yang Jiao and Yang Jian and felt greatly gratified.

He was quite satisfied with these two disciple-grandsons. Whether in cultivation or bearing, they were pleasing in every regard.

"How long have you two brothers been here?"

Though the Yang brothers did not know what Xuan Yi meant, they still answered honestly, "Reporting to Grandmaster, we disciple-grandsons have cultivated here for a thousand years."

Xuan Yi smiled knowingly. "Indeed, you have cultivated here diligently for a thousand years."

"To raise your cultivation to the late stage of Grand Unity Golden Immortal in a thousand years is truly not bad. Your mother has also been imprisoned beneath Peach Mountain for a thousand years. It is time to bring this matter to an end."

The Yang brothers shuddered. The scene of their mother being captured and their father dying a miserable death surfaced before their eyes once more. Though they no longer resented Haotian, the thought of their mother still being imprisoned beneath Peach Mountain filled their hearts with unbearable pain. Every moment, they wished to save her from her suffering.

"Grandmaster, are you permitting us to descend the mountain and save our mother?"

Xuan Yi nodded. "Yes. A few days ago, Haotian specifically came here to see me and asked that you go save your mother. Haotian has already arranged everything. You need only split Peach Mountain, and Haotian will have an excuse to release your mother."

"You may first go see your mother, then proceed with the matter of rescuing her."

After bidding Xuan Yi farewell, the Yang brothers hurried all the way toward Peach Mountain. When they arrived at the place where Yao Ji was imprisoned, they saw squads of Heavenly Soldiers and Generals standing guard, along with several Mountain Gods watching over Yao Ji.

Yang Jiao quickly opened his heavenly eye. Through its power, he finally saw his mother inside a cave at the heart of the mountain.

Though they had not reunited, Yang Jiao burst into tears at that single glance. Memories of being with his mother once again flooded his mind.

Yao Ji, who was imprisoned on the other side, also seemed to sense something. Yet when she turned her head, she saw only the empty cave.

"This is the forbidden ground of Peach Mountain. May I ask what brings you two fellow Daoists here?"

Yang Jiao's actions had been noticed by the Mountain God standing guard there. He had initially thought the two had hostile intentions, but after seeing no further movement for some time, he cautiously questioned them.

Yang Jiao came back to his senses and hurriedly cupped his hands. "I am Yang Jiao, disciple of Great Emperor Ziwei of the North Pole from Jade Capital Mountain. This is my younger brother, Yang Jian, disciple of Great Emperor Gouchen Shanggong. We have come to visit Immortal Yao Ji. I ask you, fellow Daoist, to make this convenient for us."

"Ah?" The Mountain God cried out in surprise, then hurriedly replied, "So you are disciples of the two Heavenly Emperors. Please wait a moment while this little god reports the matter."

The Yang brothers waited patiently for a while before the general guarding Peach Mountain came before them.

This was the very general who had led the arrest of Yao Ji that day and had nearly caused Yuding Zhenren to suffer at his hands. Naturally, he knew the identities of Yang Jiao and Yang Jian well.

"Greetings, fellow Daoists. However, I fear I cannot agree to your request."

Yang Jiao was somewhat stunned. Had Grandmaster not said everything had already been arranged?

"We are the sons of Immortal Yao Ji. We ask that Your Excellency show some leniency and allow us to enter and see our mother."

The heavenly general wore a troubled expression as well. "It is not that I intend to make things difficult for you. We have received the Heavenly Emperor's decree to imprison Yao Ji here and forbid anyone from approaching her. If you truly wish to enter and visit Immortal Yao Ji, you must go to the heavens and request an imperial decree. Otherwise, this little god absolutely cannot allow you to approach."

The Yang brothers had already learned from Xuan Yi that Haotian had announced this trial to the Three Realms. They thought this heavenly general was deliberately making things difficult for them, and rage rose within them as they each summoned their weapons.

"My brother and I asked you politely, yet you repeatedly make things difficult for us. Since that is the case, do not blame us for being discourteous."

"Yang Jiao, Yang Jian! Do not be so presumptuous. The responsibility for forcing your way in is not something you can bear. Even the masters behind you will be implicated. I urge you to leave at once!"

Seeing the two brothers draw their weapons, the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals quickly surrounded them. The leading heavenly general shouted a stern rebuke.

"Hmph! Yang Jiao, Yang Jian! The rules of the Heavenly Court are not something you can shake. For the sake of your being disciples of Great Emperors, I will give you one more chance. Leave this place, and I will pretend I never saw you."

By then, Yang Jiao and Yang Jian were furious beyond measure.

"We appreciate the general's goodwill. But today, we must see our mother. Since the general is unwilling, then let our hands decide the matter."

The heavenly general was enraged as well. "You truly do not know what is good for you. I have tried again and again to persuade you kindly, yet you remain so obstinate. Since that is the case, do not blame me for showing no mercy."

In an instant, countless Heavenly Soldiers and Generals raised their weapons at the two brothers, their powerful auras crashing toward them.