Even an ordinary landlord's family couldn't afford that!
"You think your Old Father is a freeloader? Spend as much as you like. When you've spent it all, just come back and ask your father for more." Zhang Yifan was generous and extravagantly bold.
"Impressive." The Jade Emperor gave him a thumbs-up.
After their banter, Zhang Yifan's hot water was ready as well.
He poured several basins of water for his granddaughters so they could wash their faces and feet. Zhang Yifan also poured himself a basin of hot water.
As he soaked his feet, the Jade Emperor sighed emotionally. After tens of millions of years, he had almost forgotten what soaking his feet felt like.
He had never expected that even the foot-washing water contained fragments of the Great Dao Laws.
Just soaking his feet could make him, a Quasi-Saint powerhouse, feel this comfortable.
"Father, tell me, what should the Jade Emperor do if he wants to advance the Primordial World?"
As he soaked his feet, the Jade Emperor intentionally or unintentionally brought up the major secret Zhang Yifan had mentioned last time.
"If he wants to do it, then just do it. What else can he do?"
"..."
The Jade Emperor was speechless. The key was, how was he supposed to do it?
"Father, suppose—I'm just saying suppose. Suppose the Jade Emperor is only an empty shell. If he wants to act but can't, what should he do?"
"How could the dignified orthodox ruler of the Three Realms, Haotian Shangdi, have become an empty shell?"
"Look. Outside the Heavenly Court, the Western Teachings have been aggressively seizing the incense and faith of the mortal world throughout the Primordial World, and large numbers of humans have turned toward the Western Teachings. There are also countless great powers of the Primordial World who refuse to heed summons or obey orders. Then there's Empress Pingxin and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in the Netherworld."
"Inside the Heavenly Court, for one thing, the Interception Sect occupies many of the official positions of the heavenly gods. Quite a few high-ranking and powerful divine positions are also controlled by the Interception Sect. Not to mention the many minor immortals and gods—they're all members of the Interception Sect."
"For another, Taishang Laojun, the saint incarnation of the Grand Pure Sage, controls the incense of the Human Teachings and Daoist Teachings in the Heavenly Court. He also controls the Daoist Celestial Master lineage, along with numerous unaffiliated gods and immortals. Isn't this Jade Emperor nothing more than an empty shell?"
The Jade Emperor was speechless. He shook his head and smiled bitterly.
Everyone said the Jade Emperor had it good, but who knew that the dignified Jade Emperor had barely any divine generals or soldiers at his disposal?
"And then?" Zhang Yifan asked as he looked at the Jade Emperor.
"And then? Then, Father, what do you think he can do? How should he act?"
"How should he act? Those who submit to me shall prosper, and those who oppose me shall perish!"
Zhang Yifan snorted coldly. "Anyone who obeys me will be kept. Anyone who refuses will be killed and replaced."
With that cold snort, killing intent surged in every direction, making the Jade Emperor's back feel chilly.
But that one sentence also radiated overwhelming dominance!
Those who submit to me shall prosper, and those who oppose me shall perish!
What dominance!
Anyone who obeys me will be kept. Anyone who refuses will be killed and replaced.
Too domineering!
The Jade Emperor slapped his thigh in amazement!
That was exactly the kind of Jade Emperor he wanted to be!
Unfortunately, he lacked the strength.
"Behind these people are all Saints. Saints aren't easy to provoke." The Jade Emperor shook his head and sighed.
Zhang Yifan sneered. "Saints? Saints are nothing! Within the Heavenly Court, even Saints must not act recklessly!"
Within the Heavenly Court, even Saints must not act recklessly!
That voice exploded beside the Jade Emperor's ears like thunder.
The excited Jade Emperor's blood boiled. His entire body trembled, and tears of joy filled his eyes!
This was the Heavenly Court he wanted!
Not the pathetic sight of cowering and tiptoeing around, wanting to accomplish something but being completely unable to let loose!
"Old Father, why must even Saints not act recklessly within the Heavenly Court?"
The Jade Emperor blurted it out. He was far too excited.
"What do you think?" Zhang Yifan didn't answer. Instead, he asked him a question in return.
Why?
The Jade Emperor fell into deep thought.
The Jade Emperor was the orthodox ruler of the Three Realms, appointed by the Heavenly Dao. No one could shake his position.
If someone wanted to kill the Jade Emperor, the immeasurable karma involved would be enormous. No one could bear it.
Even a Heavenly Dao Saint could not withstand it.
As for combat power, although the Jade Emperor was only at the mid-stage Quasi-Saint realm, he could mobilize the fortune of the Heavenly Court and the power of the Three Realms in battle!
With such combat power, even a Saint could not do anything to him in a short time!
In that case, even Saints could not act too recklessly toward the Jade Emperor if they truly got serious.
But what about the reverse?
In other words, if the Jade Emperor wanted to act recklessly, what could the Human Teachings, Chan Teachings, Interception Sect, and Western Teachings do about it?
"That's right! That's exactly it!" The Jade Emperor excitedly slapped his thigh and stood up, splashing foot-washing water everywhere.
"What are you getting so excited about? You splashed foot-washing water everywhere."
Zhang Yifan, who was beside him, saw the Jade Emperor suddenly become excited and almost get foot-washing water on his face. He immediately swung his palm over with a smack, striking the Jade Emperor's thigh and leaving a large red mark. The Jade Emperor bared his teeth and cried out in pain.
The Jade Emperor was speechless. How could this Old Father have such great strength?
Couldn't he be a little gentler when hitting people?
But the pain in his leg still couldn't conceal the excitement in the Jade Emperor's heart.
He already knew how to break this deadlock.
There was no need for so many schemes and calculations, nor any ambushes or tricks. All he needed was one move: an open strategy.
He would simply ask them directly: submit, or refuse?
Those who submitted would prosper!
Those who refused would be served at the Platform of Dismemberment!
It was that simple!
No, he would get a Dog Head Guillotine ready when the time came!
The Jade Emperor thought viciously, growing happier the more he thought about it.
He would return and get to work in a few days!
Foot-Washing Water? No, This Is a Gift to My Dragon Ancestor
In a farmhouse courtyard, indoors.
Seeing the Jade Emperor drooling and occasionally chuckling foolishly, Zhang Yifan shook his head. Who knew what this foolish son of his had thought of to make him laugh so stupidly?
Still, he didn't look possessed.
Ignoring the Jade Emperor, Zhang Yifan finished washing his feet, dried them, and carried the basin of foot-washing water outside.
Outside the house, in the courtyard, there was a pond.
Some lotuses grew in the pond, and a few fish were kept there.
At that moment, the Seven Fairies and the Queen Mother were admiring the moon and playing by the pond.
"Older Sister, look at that fish. Why doesn't it look like a fish at all?" the Seven Fairies' Seventh Princess Tianyu said, pointing at a golden fish in the pond.
"Little Sister, what are you talking about? How could a fish not look like a fish?"
"Exactly. If it isn't a fish, could it be a dragon?"
The several fairy princesses chattered among themselves, while the Golden Fish in the pond rolled its eyes.
"Look, that fish just rolled its eyes!" the Seventh Princess said, pointing at it again.
"Let me see. Which one?"
"That big Golden Fish."
The Golden Fish rolled its eyes again.
"Oh my, it really did!"
"Mother, look at that fish! It actually rolled its eyes at us in disdain! Do you think we should kill it?" The Seventh Princess was furious. She had actually been looked down on by a fish!
The Queen Mother was speechless and followed her seventh daughter's pointing finger.
The moment she looked over, the Queen Mother narrowed her eyes.
At first glance, the Golden Fish seemed unremarkable. But upon closer inspection, it was anything but simple!
She couldn't even see through the fish's cultivation despite being a Quasi-Saint early-stage powerhouse herself.
There was something strange about it. Something very strange.
The Queen Mother stared at the fish, her thoughts racing.
Why did this aura feel somewhat familiar?
"Dragon Ancestor!"
Suddenly, the Queen Mother's eyes widened and her pupils contracted as she cried out in shock.
Hearing that voice, the Golden Fish rolled its eyes again.
Damn, could it really be the Dragon Ancestor?
Before you continue