In the primordial world, years went uncounted, but the Heavenly Court's Peach Banquet served as an important marker of time in the hearts of immortals and gods across the realms. On this day, above the Thirty-Three Heavens, the Jade Lake Immortal Realm was festooned with lights and decorations, auspicious clouds paved the way, and celestial music drifted through the air. Peaches that ripened once every thousand years hung thick on the branches, exuding a tantalizing spiritual energy. Immortals, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and renowned rogue cultivators from every realm arrived at South Heaven Gate in an endless stream, riding auspicious clouds or mounts, or guided by celestial officials. It was a magnificent sight, with myriad immortals gathering to pay their respects and celebrate together.
Yet beneath this splendid and peaceful scene, the perceptive could sense an unusual tension. The number of guards at South Heaven Gate had clearly increased, and invitations were being checked with exceptional rigor. Thousand-Mile Eye and Wind-Following Ear had their divine abilities fully deployed, monitoring everything happening within a radius of ten thousand li. Inside the Jade Lake, the serving fairies and strongmen still wore their smiles, but a hint of vigilance lurked deep in their eyes. Haotian Shangdi and Yaochi Jinmu sat enthroned in the seats of honor. Their expressions were dignified, yet the weight that lingered between their brows did not escape the notice of certain Great Powers.
All of this was because of the recent turmoil in Chaos, and the name of the one who, though uninvited, loomed like a shadow over the banquet—Tongtian!
At that moment, everything was ready inside the cave dwelling in the Ancient Mountain Range.
The Reverse Spirit Source Array Disk was complete. Its complex runes shimmered with a dim light, and several Void Crystal Stones, obtained from a Dragon Palace vault and containing the power of space, were set into its center. The projections Yun Xiao had calculated on the jade wall before her were also complete. They clearly marked a brief, subtle fluctuation in the flow of spiritual energy through the Jade Lake Immortal Realm during the "Immortals Present Their Gifts" portion of the Peach Banquet. The Heavenly Court's defensive network would inevitably develop this blind spot as the treasures presented by the various parties stirred up energy disturbances. It would last less than three breaths, but that was enough!
"Now!" Tongtian's gaze was sharp as a sword. He drew a deep breath, and Chaos Qi surged around him. Forming hand seals, he summoned the Chaos Bead to hover above the array disk. Billions of streams of Misty Grey air poured down, shrouding the entire disk.
"Wudang, stabilize the array's foundation! Yun Xiao, guide the spiritual energy! Qiongxiao, Bixiao, guard us!" Tongtian commanded in a low voice, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
"Yes!" The four women answered in unison and took up their respective positions. Saint Mother Wudang poured her magical power into the base of the array disk to keep it stable. With her exquisite control over spiritual energy, Yun Xiao guided the Chaos Bead's power, replicating a frequency almost identical to the fluctuation in spiritual energy at the Jade Lake Banquet. Qiongxiao and Bixiao stood on either side of Tongtian, their Chaos Immortal Body auras linked together to form a sturdy barrier.
Tongtian forced out a drop of blood essence containing his own origin aura and Primordial Dao Rhyme, letting it fall onto the array disk's core. At the same time, Zhao Gongming's bold, unrestrained face appeared clearly in his mind. Using Zhao Gongming's true name and lingering aura as a guide, Tongtian sent his Spiritual Sense forth like an arrow. With the power of the array disk and the Chaos Bead, it broke through layer upon layer of spatial barriers and reached toward the True Spirit Imprint bound by the Investiture of the Gods, suspended high beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens!
The process was perilous in the extreme, like walking a tightrope over a ten-thousand-zhang cliff. He had to seize the fleeting opportunity with precision while evading the Investiture of the Gods' automatic defenses and Haotian's perception. The slightest mistake would waste all their efforts—or even bring down a thunderous strike!
At the Jade Lake Immortal Realm, the presentation of gifts had reached its climax. The various factions presented rare treasures, their radiance dazzling and spiritual energy soaring into the sky, drawing the immortals' admiration. Haotian Shangdi smiled and nodded to each one, but his Spiritual Sense spread like an invisible net across the entire Heavenly Court.
The instant an ancient Buddha presented a jeweled lotus lantern containing boundless light, sending ripples of Buddha Light across the gathering and causing the Jade Lake's spiritual energy network to fluctuate as expected, Tongtian made his move!
"Trace the source and reverse the spirit; let Chaos form the bridge. Go!"
Humm! The Reverse Spirit Source Array Disk inside the cave dwelling in the Ancient Mountain Range erupted in a dazzling light. A thread of Chaos Spiritual Sense, so fine as to be almost imperceptible yet incomparably condensed, twisted like lightning and shot through the gap in the spiritual energy fluctuation. In an instant, it pierced layer upon layer of obstruction and reached the exact point on the Investiture of the Gods that held Zhao Gongming's True Spirit Imprint!
Heavenly Court, Ministry of Finance.
Zhao Gongming's True Spirit sat high in his divine seat, expressionless as he handled the incense offerings and circulation of wealth from the four quarters. Bound by the Investiture of the Gods, he was like a puppet on strings; his former boldness and freedom were deeply suppressed. Yet at that moment, a voice so familiar it was etched into his very soul, yet seeming to come from ten thousand years ago, exploded like thunder within his True Spirit:
"Gongming! It's your master!"
Zhao Gongming's True Spirit shuddered. The wealth energy condensing in his hand nearly fell apart! In disbelief, he "looked up," sensing that thread of Chaos Spiritual Sense—faint, yet unmistakably clear.
"Master?! Is it really you?!" His thoughts brimmed with shock, joy, and deep concern. "How dare you contact me here? It's dangerous! Haotian is monitoring everything!"
"Briefly!" Tongtian's Spiritual Sense replied, urgent but steady. "I'm safe. I contacted you today to ask three things. First, apart from Danyuan Mansion, are there any other irregularities in the Heavenly Court? Especially anything related to Exotic Demonic Qi! Second, how have Haotian and the Western Teachings been getting along recently? Third, among our disciples whose names are on the list, how many still side with the Interception Sect and can be of use?"
Zhao Gongming's True Spirit could barely contain its excitement. He suppressed its fluctuations and responded swiftly. "Master! The Heavenly Court has been heavily guarded lately, with undercurrents stirring! Apart from Danyuan Mansion, places such as the Imperial Horse Stables and the Heavenly River barracks have also experienced brief energy fluctuations over the past hundred years. They were quickly covered up, but they were no ordinary occurrences! Haotian and the Western Teachings appear harmonious on the surface, but they're wary of each other. Recently, though, Bodhisattvas and Arhats from the Western Teachings have been visiting the Heavenly Court more frequently. They seem to be plotting something!"
He paused, grief and helplessness evident in his thoughts. "As for our fellow disciples on the list, most have no choice. Their True Spirits are controlled, and they dare not speak out. But disciples like my nephew Wen Zhong, Golden Spirit Holy Mother, Luo Xuan, and Lü Yue have never let go of their feelings for the Interception Sect and you deep in their True Spirits! It's just... any slight movement brings the Investiture of the Gods' backlash, and the pain is unbearable."
"I understand," Tongtian's Spiritual Sense replied, tinged with sorrow. "You've all suffered. Endure a little longer. The time isn't right; don't act rashly. The Heavenly Court may undergo great upheaval after today, so you must be even more careful. If you face a life-or-death crisis, try silently reciting the 'Heart Calming Barrier Breaking Incantation' I taught you. It may briefly ease the list's suppression."
A short incantation was conveyed along with his Spiritual Sense. It was not a way to break the Investiture of the Gods, but a small technique Tongtian had devised through his understanding of Chaos. It could briefly clarify a True Spirit and lessen the effects of external restraints.
"Your disciple... will remember!" Zhao Gongming's True Spirit sensed the incantation's mysteries, and a glimmer of hope arose in his heart.
Just then, Tongtian's Spiritual Sense issued a sharp warning. "Something's wrong! A powerful Spiritual Sense just swept past! We have to end this! Gongming, take care!"
Before the words had faded, the thread of Chaos Spiritual Sense retreated like a tide and vanished without a trace.
Almost at the same moment Tongtian cut off the connection, a vast, majestic Spiritual Sense swept through the Ministry of Finance's divine hall like a solid pillar of light! It was Haotian Shangdi!
Zhao Gongming's True Spirit immediately returned to its usual placid state, mechanically handling matters of wealth. Inside, though, waves of shock surged through him.
Haotian Shangdi's Spiritual Sense lingered in the Ministry of Finance for several breaths, probing carefully, but it found nothing unusual. Zhao Gongming's True Spirit seemed no different than usual, so Haotian's Spiritual Sense slowly withdrew. Yet his brows drew together slightly. For an instant, he had faintly sensed an extremely subtle fluctuation that did not belong to the Heavenly Court's system—but it had vanished in the blink of an eye, beyond his grasp.
"Was it an illusion, or..." Haotian's deep gaze swept over the immortals exchanging cups and toasts in the Jade Lake before finally settling on several Bodhisattvas from the Western Teachings. His expression was unreadable.
Inside the cave dwelling in the Ancient Mountain Range, Tongtian's face paled. The backlash from cutting off his Spiritual Sense had left his aura unsteady, but his eyes shone brightly.
"We succeeded!" Saint Mother Wudang exclaimed. Her hands, still maintaining the array, trembled slightly.
"Master, Brother Zhao Gongming..." Yun Xiao asked with concern.
"He's fine. His spirit is undiminished," Tongtian said quickly, suppressing the surging blood in his chest. "There are indeed more Demon Traces inside the Heavenly Court, and the Western Teachings and Haotian are at odds beneath the surface. More importantly, we've confirmed that many of our disciples on the list still side with the Interception Sect!"
The news lifted everyone's spirits!
"However, we've also exposed ourselves." Tongtian's tone turned cold. "Haotian is already suspicious. Though he has no proof, the Heavenly Court's search will surely become even more rigorous. We can't stay here. Pack up and move at once!"
No one dared delay. They quickly collected the array disk and erased every trace.
Less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn after they had left, several powerful Spiritual Senses swept over the Ancient Mountain Range like combs. One even carried a fierce sword aura. It clearly belonged to someone from Jade Void Palace!
But Tongtian and the others had long since vanished without a trace.
The Peach Banquet continued, with dancing and music as peaceful as ever on the surface. Yet an unseen clash had already taken place. Tongtian had not only managed to contact the disciples on the list and obtain crucial information, but also declared a fact to Haotian and everyone watching from the shadows: even without his Saint Position, Tongtian still had the ability to reach into the heart of the Heavenly Court!
The act was like a boulder thrown into a lake already roiling with hidden currents. It was bound to set off a chain reaction. Haotian's suspicions, the Western Teachings' schemes, the Saints' watchful waiting, and the undercurrents among the celestial beings on the list who still sided with the Interception Sect—all of it would accelerate because of Tongtian's daring strike.
The spark had reached the heart of the Heavenly Court. The wildfire could no longer be stopped!
Tongtian and his companions concealed their tracks as they sped toward a new hiding place. Their next objective might be to contact other key disciples like Wen Zhong and Golden Spirit Holy Mother—or perhaps it was time to visit an old acquaintance who likewise resented the Heavenly Court and was imprisoned: Yang Jian, the son of Yao Ji, who was sealed beneath Peach Mountain?
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