Those Who Obey Me Shall Prosper; Those Who Defy Me Shall Perish

Heavenly Court, Lingxiao Palace.

The full-ranking and deputy-ranking gods of every Heavenly Court department, whether they held official grades or not, had long been waiting within Lingxiao Palace.

Even Grand Supreme Elder Laozi stood at the head of the left side. Behind him were the Four Heavenly Masters.

"The Jade Emperor arrives!"

Taibai Jinxing announced.

"Welcome, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty's life endure as long as heaven itself!"

Amid the gods' reverent bows, the Jade Emperor ascended the throne of Lingxiao Palace.

Seeing Yang Jian appear alongside the Jade Emperor, the gods all pondered what their relationship truly was.

Naturally, what concerned them most was why the Jade Emperor had summoned all the gods this time.

The Jade Emperor closed his eyes and rested, remaining silent for a long time.

The gods exchanged looks and could only wait.

"My ministers~"

Just as the immortals were beginning to lose patience, the Jade Emperor spoke. His voice was soft and drawn out.

All the gods looked up at the Jade Emperor.

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

Though the Jade Emperor's words were lightly spoken, the gods heard countless implications within them.

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

The gods exchanged looks, but still replied, "We have heard it."

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

Boom!

The gods instantly erupted into an uproar.

The Heavenly Court's True Gods, and even every immortal and god holding an official Heavenly Court position, would all have to be personally appointed and selected by the Jade Emperor?

Damn it!

That meant the Jade Emperor alone would control the Heavenly Court's personnel authority!

The gods chattered and argued among themselves.

Grand Supreme Elder Laozi calmly glanced at the Lord of Fire.

The Lord of Fire understood at once and stepped forward. "Your Majesty, the Heavenly Court's True Gods were invested during the Investiture of the Gods Calamity and recorded upon the Investiture of the Gods List. Their posts were decreed by the Heavenly Dao and selected by the Investiture of the Gods List. What Your Majesty proposes is truly inappropriate."

"The Investiture of the Gods List? The Investiture of the Gods Calamity ended countless years ago, yet you still cling to it." The Jade Emperor snorted coldly. "From this day forward, my decree shall be the Investiture of the Gods List! It shall also be the Immortal Investiture List!"

What the hell?

Had the Jade Emperor gone mad?

What backing did he have to dare act like this?

Had he gotten drunk?

How many dishes had he eaten to get this drunk?

The gods were greatly alarmed, but they also understood the seriousness of the matter.

This was equivalent to stripping them of their authority.

Whether they could continue fulfilling their duties as Heavenly Gods would, from now on, be decided with a single word from the Jade Emperor.

If he said you could do it, then you could. If he said you could not, then even if you could, you could not!

"Your Majesty, are you seeking to overturn the Heavenly Dao's decree?" the Lord of Fire continued.

The Jade Emperor narrowed his eyes, murderous intent faintly surfacing as he stared at the Lord of Fire. "What? Are you planning to defy my decree?"

"We obey the Heavenly Dao's decree." The Lord of Fire stood tall, utterly fearless.

He had been invested by the Investiture of the Gods List, and his primordial spirit resided within the Heavenly Dao. Serving in the Heavenly Court was merely something he had no choice but to do. Even if relations were torn apart, the Lord of Fire had nothing to fear.

"Good, very good. Hahahaha." The Jade Emperor laughed loudly and looked at 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! The Lord of Fire has defied his sovereign and rebelled against his superior, offending imperial majesty. Drag him from Lingxiao Palace, take him to the Platform of Extermination, and flay him!"

The Jade Emperor issued the order coldly.

Hiss!

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

"Your Majesty is truly overbearing!"

Yet the Lord of Fire only sneered. He swept a cold gaze over the approaching Heavenly soldiers, and the force of his aura blasted them into vomiting blood as they flew backward.

"Insolence! Lord of Fire, die!"

Yang Jian shouted and suddenly charged forward with his spear.

Boom!

A head flew into the air.

The Lord of Fire was merely a Golden Immortal. Before Yang Jian's full-powered strike, he could not even survive a single exchange and was beheaded in the great hall.

"Lord of Fire!"

"Jade Emperor!"

The gods cried out in shock!

None of them had expected the Jade Emperor to be so ruthless, to truly mean it! He showed no regard at all for the Lord of Fire's backing and simply beheaded him!

"Jade Emperor, I will never rest until one of us is dead!"

The Lord of Fire's primordial spirit remained, and he shouted wildly.

"Hmph!"

The Jade Emperor snorted and flicked out a stream of divine power, directly destroying the Lord of Fire's primordial spirit as well.

Poor Lord of Fire. Only the strand of primordial spirit lodged within the Heavenly Dao remained, and his vitality had been gravely damaged from then on.

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

The gods shuddered and lowered their heads, not daring to meet the Jade Emperor's sharp gaze.

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

"You, the little soldier outside, come in." The Jade Emperor pointed to a Heavenly soldier outside Lingxiao Palace.

The summoned soldier immediately entered Lingxiao Palace respectfully and knelt in worship.

"What is your name?"

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

"Li Er, you performed very well just now. The Lord of Fire has been executed, leaving his post vacant. From this moment onward, you shall take up the position of Lord of Fire. You are also rewarded with one Peach of Immortality."

Heavenly soldier Li Er was startled, then immediately overjoyed. Had such overwhelming fortune really fallen into my lap?

Li Er immediately bowed deeply. "Thank you for Your Majesty's great grace! I, Li Er, will surely serve Your Majesty with absolute loyalty. I will brave fire and water without hesitation!"

What the hell?

Seeing this scene, the Heavenly Court gods' mouths twitched.

Damn it, not only had he just executed the Lord of Fire, he had casually picked a mere soldier to replace him!

Was this how the Jade Emperor intended to display his authority?

Was he already beginning to reclaim and exercise the right to appoint the Heavenly Court's True Gods?

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

None of the gods dared make a sound.

"Hmph! The Jade Emperor is unjust."

Grand Supreme Elder Laozi 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 Grand Supreme Elder Laozi leave and knew that he and the Jade Emperor had torn all pretense apart, so he left as well.

Li Jing's two sons and his subordinate generals followed after him.

Many True Gods of the Jie Teachings also departed.

Only a group of immortals and gods without powerful backers or Saints supporting them remained.

"Good, very good! Hahaha." Watching everyone leave, the Jade Emperor laughed loudly. "It is good that they have gone! Very good! Guards, record the names of those who departed. Strip them of their Heavenly Court posts and revoke their Immortal status."

The remaining gods exchanged looks, trembling with fear.

The Jade Emperor seemed like a completely different person today.

What backing did he have behind him?

Taibai Jinxing saw all of this, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Only he knew what the Jade Emperor's backing was. It was because of the old master, because the Jade Emperor's father was Zhang Yifan!

With the old master behind him, what were Saints worth?

I, Taibai Jinxing, would become a Great Dao Saint in the future!

Those immortals leaving would only make his own worth stand out more. Taibai Jinxing rejoiced inwardly. With so many people gone, his status in the Heavenly Court would surely rise with the tide.

"Your Majesty, South Sea Guanyin has arrived," Taibai Jinxing said.

"Mm, she came at the right time. Let her enter." The Jade Emperor flicked his dragon robe and sat down.