Heavenly Court.
The Jade Emperor, the Queen Mother, and the Seven Fairies stayed with Zhang Yifan for over a month before finally leaving and returning.
That day, Yang Jian set out from Mount Mei and arrived at the Heavenly Court.
On the way there, Yang Jian had been pondering what exactly his Heavenly Emperor uncle was planning.
The Journey to the West team had been pinned down at Lion Camel Ridge for over two months, unable to advance even an inch.
At first, everyone thought Grand Supreme Elder Laozi's Saint clone was pulling strings behind the scenes. But as the rumor spread, it changed.
Rumors began circulating throughout the Primordial Era World that the one behind it was his uncle, the ruler of the Heavenly Court, Haotian Shangdi, the Jade Emperor, the Great Celestial Venerable.
This visit to the Heavenly Court was also meant to sound things out and see what attitude he had toward the pilgrimage team.
After all, Yang Jian still had a role to play in the later tribulations of the Journey to the West team.
As for exactly what to do and how to strike the right balance, that depended on the Jade Emperor uncle's opinion and attitude.
After passing through the South Heaven Gate, Yang Jian flew toward the Jade Emperor's palace.
Within the Heavenly Court, the seven fairy princesses were frolicking and playing. When they suddenly saw dark clouds rolling in across the sky, they all turned to look.
"Oh, Brother Yang Jian is here." Eldest Fairy Tianshou said in surprise.
"Quick, quick, quick! Hide! Let's set up a formation and prank him." Second Fairy Tianyang grinned as she called for her sisters to hide.
From the sound of it, they were planning to tease Yang Jian.
"Sure! Brother Yang Jian is always keeping a straight face and bullying us. Let's see how we can mess with him this time! Heeheehee." Seventh Fairy Tianyu chimed in mischievously. None of them were afraid of making trouble.
Thus, the seven fairies set up a formation and hid themselves.
Yang Jian was riding the clouds when the scenery before his eyes abruptly changed. No longer was it the Heavenly Court's ethereal immortal aura, melodious celestial music, and soaring cranes. Instead, it became a bizarre and absurd scene.
Seeing this, Yang Jian's lips curled upward. Naturally, he knew what was going on.
Those mischievous little sisters again.
This was not the first time. Every time he came to the Heavenly Court, they pulled something like this. He had long grown used to it.
"All right, I have urgent business with the Jade Emperor, so I won't play with you today." Yang Jian shook his head with a smile and prepared to leave.
"Hmph, you make it sound so nice. What do you mean, playing with us? We're the ones playing with you, all right? If you have the skill, break out of the formation." Seventh Fairy curled her lips. Yang Jian was playing with them?
Clearly, they were playing with him.
"Then I'll put in a little effort." Yang Jian laughed helplessly.
"Go all out if you dare. Otherwise, we'll turn you into a puppy." Seventh Fairy said indignantly.
"Fine." Yang Jian nodded.
Wasn't going all out easy enough?
He could break the formation in an instant. Not only that, he might even hurt his seven younger sisters.
Forget it. He would use thirty percent of his power.
With that thought, Yang Jian gathered thirty percent of his magic power and charged into the formation.
"Hmm?" Yang Jian raised a brow.
What was going on? In the past, twenty percent of his magic power would have been enough to batter this formation into pieces. Why was it not budging even after he used thirty percent today?
Yang Jian continued to increase his strength.
Forty percent.
Fifty percent.
Sixty percent.
"Hmm, what's going on?" Yang Jian frowned.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
That was already sixty percent of his magic power!
Yet the formation still did not move an inch.
Had these seven girls really grown so much stronger after only a few years apart?
They had only possessed Earth Immortal-level strength before.
And he was a dignified late-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal, one of the foremost experts in the Primordial Era World!
What he did not know was that after more than a month with Zhang Yifan, three of the seven girls had attained the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. Some were early-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortals, while others had reached the peak of the Golden Immortal realm. Their strength had already become first-rate.
No, if this continued, these seven girls would make a laughingstock of him.
So Yang Jian continued to exert force.
Seventy percent.
Eighty percent.
Ninety percent!
"I refuse to believe it!"
Yang Jian's face flushed deep red as all the power in his body erupted at once.
One hundred percent!
Boom!
His vast magic power slammed against the formation, and the enormous shockwave and thunderous blast spread throughout the Heavenly Court.
"What happened? Did someone attack the Heavenly Court?"
The Heavenly Officials on duty looked at one another. But when they saw that the disturbance came from the Heavenly Court palace, the rear palace and forbidden grounds of the Heavenly Court, where ordinary people were forbidden to approach, they did not meddle.
Still, they could not stop themselves from looking in that direction.
"Good, very good! You've improved greatly."
Yang Jian was utterly astonished. He had not expected these seven girls to be even stronger than he had imagined!
At the same time, he was extremely curious about what fortuitous encounter they had experienced to raise their realms so drastically in such a short time. It was simply unbelievable.
Perhaps only a Saint's methods could accomplish something like this.
"Of course. Heehee. Brother Yang Jian, hurry and admit defeat. Otherwise, you'll turn into a puppy soon." Eldest Princess Tianshou replied with a giggle.
"Hmph, not necessarily."
Yang Jian stood tall, his face resolute. He had never admitted defeat!
Even when facing the ruler of the Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor, he had never truly surrendered.
"Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique, rise!" Yang Jian shouted softly as he activated his cultivation technique.
Although he had used all his power just now, he had not used any techniques or divine abilities. Now, he brought out both.
"Sisters, let's do it too."
"Okay!"
The Seven Fairies did not hesitate either and began circulating their cultivation techniques.
For a moment, thunder roared and immortal light exploded.
The entire Heavenly Court shook with rumbling blasts as immortal aura churned endlessly, drawing the attention of countless heavenly gods.
They wanted to see who was fighting in the Heavenly Court so recklessly.
Even some reclusive great powers within the Primordial Era World opened their eyes and looked toward the Heavenly Court.
After all, the last time the Heavenly Court had been this lively was five hundred years ago, when Monkey Sun wreaked havoc in Heaven.
But what was this show now?
Was the Heavenly Court acting alongside someone again?
Heavenly Court.
After battling for an hour, Yang Jian lost.
The formation dispersed, and the seven fairies revealed themselves.
"Hahahahaha! Brother Yang Jian, you're so cute! Hahahahaha!"
Seeing Yang Jian transformed into a three-eyed puppy with a little bell around his neck, like some sort of mascot, the seven fairies could not help bursting into laughter.
Even the Heavenly Officials who witnessed this scene could not help laughing. But they quickly held it back.
They knew what kind of terrifying figure Yang Jian was. He was not someone to provoke.
At that moment, Yang Jian was utterly bewildered.
Who am I? Where am I?
How did I lose?
Why had they become so powerful?
What is going on?
The gods of the Heavenly Court were even more shocked.
Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing furrowed his brows.
Golden Spirit Holy Mother and Wudang Holy Mother narrowed their eyes as well.
The righteous gods of every division in the Heavenly Court all looked over, cries of surprise rising everywhere.
Even Grand Supreme Elder Laozi opened his eyes and glanced over, deep in thought.
"When did the seven little princesses become this powerful? Several of them have actually reached the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm? The others seem close to breaking through as well."
The major figures among the Heavenly Court gods all turned their attention over.
"The Heavenly Court is about to change."
The great figures of the Heavenly Court secretly sighed.
"Oh, this is interesting." At Wuzhuang Temple, Great Immortal Zhenyuan, the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, muttered to himself.
"Strange. How did these girls break through so quickly? What fortuitous encounter did they have?" South Sea Guanyin was immensely curious and lowered her gaze in contemplation.
The seven fairies did not know what these great powers were thinking. They were simply having fun.
Deep within the Heavenly Court palace, the Jade Emperor reclined sideways upon his throne, lightly tapping the dragon throne with his fingers. A faint smile rested on his lips. "What wonderful daughters I have. Gods of the Heavenly Court, let's see how you choose!"
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