Primordial Chaos: Mistaking the Jade Emperor for His Son at the Start — Section 13

"Have you ever heard the saying, 'Those who obey me shall prosper; those who defy me shall perish'?"

The Jade Emperor's seemingly casual words fell upon the ears of the gods, yet they sensed a thousand different implications within them.

What did the Jade Emperor mean? What was he planning?

The gods looked at one another, but still replied, "We have heard it."

"It's good that you have." The Jade Emperor sat up straight and swept his gaze over the gods. "From this day forth, the three hundred and sixty-five Orthodox Gods of the Heavenly Court, as well as every minor god and immortal post under its jurisdiction, shall all be personally appointed, promoted, and selected by me."

The gods instantly erupted into an uproar.

The Orthodox Gods of the Heavenly Court—even every immortal and god holding an official post—would all have to be personally appointed and chosen by the Jade Emperor?

Fuck!

That was equivalent to the Jade Emperor seizing the Heavenly Court's entire personnel authority for himself!

The gods broke into a noisy clamor of discussion.

Taishang Laojun calmly glanced at Fire Lord Star Lord.

Fire Lord Star Lord understood at once. Stepping forward, he said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Orthodox Gods of the Heavenly Court were conferred by the Investiture of the Gods List during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation. The posts of Orthodox Gods are ordained by the Heavenly Dao and selected by the Investiture of the Gods List. Your Majesty's actions are truly inappropriate."

"The Investiture of the Gods List? The Investiture of the Gods Tribulation ended countless years ago, and you're still clinging to that?" The Jade Emperor snorted coldly. "From this day onward, my decree shall be the Investiture of the Gods List! It shall also be the Investiture of Immortals List!"

What the hell!

Had the Jade Emperor gone mad?

What backing did he have to dare act like this?

Had he gotten drunk?

What dishes had he eaten to get this drunk?

The gods were greatly alarmed, but they also understood the gravity of the situation.

This was equivalent to stripping them of their authority.

Whether they were fit to fulfill the duties of Heavenly Gods would henceforth be decided with a single word from the Jade Emperor.

If he said you could do it, then you could. If he said you couldn't, then even if you could, you couldn't!

"Your Majesty, are you trying to overturn the will of the Heavenly Dao?" Fire Lord Star Lord continued.

The Jade Emperor narrowed his eyes, a killing intent faintly surfacing within them as he stared at Fire Lord Star Lord. "What? Are you going to defy my decree?"

"We follow the will of the Heavenly Dao." Fire Lord Star Lord stood tall, utterly fearless.

He had been conferred by the Investiture of the Gods List, his Primordial Spirit lodged within the Heavenly Dao. Serving in the Heavenly Court was merely something he had no choice but to do. If all pretenses were torn away, Fire Lord Star Lord had nothing to fear.

"Good. Very good. Hahahaha." The Jade Emperor laughed loudly and looked toward the gods. "Since you know that those who obey me shall prosper and those who defy me shall perish, then you should understand the true meaning of those words."

"Guards! Fire Lord Star Lord has defied his superior and rebelled, enraging the imperial countenance. Drag him out of the Hall of Miraculous Mist, take him to the Platform of Dismemberment, and flay him!"

The Jade Emperor issued the order coldly.

The gods sucked in a breath of cold air. The Jade Emperor was serious.

"Your Majesty is truly overbearing!"

Yet Fire Lord Star Lord merely sneered. His cold gaze swept over the heavenly soldiers approaching him, and his aura surged, blasting them into vomiting blood as they flew backward.

"Presumptuous! Fire Lord Star Lord, die!"

Yang Jian shouted and suddenly charged forward with his spear.

A head flew into the air.

Fire Lord Star Lord possessed only Golden Immortal cultivation. Against Yang Jian's full-force strike, he was no match even for a single exchange and was beheaded within the great hall.

"Fire Lord Star Lord!"

"Jade Emperor!"

The gods cried out in shock!

None of them had expected the Jade Emperor to be this ruthless, to truly mean it! He gave no face whatsoever to the forces behind Fire Lord Star Lord and simply had him killed!

"Jade Emperor, I will be irreconcilable with you!"

Fire Lord Star Lord's Primordial Spirit still remained, and he shouted loudly.

"Hmph!"

The Jade Emperor snorted and flicked out a stream of divine power, directly annihilating Fire Lord Star Lord's Primordial Spirit as well.

Poor Fire Lord Star Lord—only that wisp of Primordial Spirit lodged within the Heavenly Dao remained. From then on, his vital essence would be severely damaged.

"Those who obey me shall prosper; those who defy me shall perish!" the Jade Emperor bellowed.

The gods shuddered and lowered their heads one after another, not daring to meet the Jade Emperor's sharp edge.

Some Heavenly Gods were dissatisfied, but they could only grit their teeth in secret, fury burning in their hearts.

"You, the little soldier outside, come in." The Jade Emperor pointed at a heavenly soldier outside the Hall of Miraculous Mist.

The soldier who had been called immediately entered the Hall of Miraculous Mist respectfully and knelt in worship.

"What is your name?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this lowly immortal is called Li Er."

"Li Er, you performed well just now. Fire Lord Star Lord has been executed, leaving the post vacant. From this day forth, you shall assume the position of Fire Lord Star Lord. You are also granted one Peach of Immortality."

Heavenly soldier Li Er was startled, then immediately overjoyed. Has this towering fortune really fallen into my lap?

Li Er promptly bowed deeply. "Thank you for Your Majesty's boundless grace! I, Li Er, will surely serve Your Majesty with utmost loyalty; I will brave boiling water and blazing fire without hesitation!"

Ah, this...

At the sight, the gods of the Heavenly Court all twitched at the corners of their mouths.

Damn it—he had just executed Fire Lord Star Lord, and now he casually picked some minor soldier to take over the position!

Was this how the Jade Emperor displayed his authority?

Was he already beginning to reclaim and exercise the power to appoint the Orthodox Gods of the Heavenly Court?

"Do any of you object?" The Jade Emperor's gaze was icy.

None of the gods dared utter a word.

"Hmph! The Jade Emperor is unjust."

Taishang Laojun stepped forward, gave a cold snort, flicked his whisk, and left.

The Four Heavenly Masters also glanced at the Jade Emperor before following him out.

Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing watched Taishang Laojun leave and knew that he and the Jade Emperor had torn all pretense apart, so he left as well.

The two sons of the Li family, along with their subordinate generals, followed one after another.

Many Orthodox Gods of the Interception Teachings left as well.

Only a group of immortals and gods without powerful backers or sages to rely upon remained behind.

"Good, very good! Hahaha." Watching everyone leave, the Jade Emperor laughed. "Good that they have left! Good that they have left! Men, record the names of all those who departed. Strip them of their Heavenly Court posts and erase their immortal registers."

The remaining gods exchanged looks, their hearts trembling with fear.

The Jade Emperor seemed like a completely different person today.

What exactly did he have to rely on behind him?

Taibai Jinxing had seen all of this, and an involuntary smile curled across his lips.

Only he knew what the Jade Emperor's support was: the old master—the Jade Emperor's father, Zhang Yifan!

With the old master at his side, what did sages amount to?

I, Taibai Jinxing, will become a Great Dao Sage in the future!

Only after this group of immortals and gods had left could his own value be better displayed. Taibai Jinxing rejoiced inwardly. With so many people gone, his status in the Heavenly Court would surely rise like the tide.

"Your Majesty, Guanyin of the South Sea has arrived."

Taibai Jinxing spoke.

"Mm, perfect timing. Let her enter." The Jade Emperor flicked his dragon robe and took his seat.

Guanyin set out from Spiritual Mountain, and when she reached the Heavenly Court, she happened to see a large group of Heavenly Gods leaving. She assumed the deliberations in the Hall of Miraculous Mist had ended.

Guanyin was more familiar with the Hall of Miraculous Mist than anyone.

Upon reaching the entrance of the Hall of Miraculous Mist, Guanyin was about to enter directly.

"The Hall of Miraculous Mist is not to be entered without permission!"

Li Er, the heavenly soldier who had just been promoted to Fire Lord Star Lord, leveled his long spear and barred Guanyin's way.

"Hm?" Guanyin frowned. "Do you know who I am?"

"Of course I do. But no one may enter the Hall of Miraculous Mist without a summons." Li Er showed no trace of fear.

"You!"

"Summon Guanyin into the hall."

Only after hearing the decree did Li Er put away his weapon and allow Guanyin inside.

Guanyin's gaze was ice-cold as she shot Li Er a hard stare. Li Er stared right back without the slightest courtesy.