A lavish, lively dinner came to an end amid a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere.
The Jade Emperor, Sect Master Tongtian, and the others gathered around Zhang Yifan, drinking tea and eating pastries.
With tea, pastries, and fruit before him, Zhang Yifan could not help recalling his younger days as a country squire, with fine wine and singing courtesans—what carefree times those had been.
He also recalled the series of strange tasks the damn system had once issued. One of them had been dancing, and Zhang Yifan had trained his dancing to the utmost perfection.
"What a fine time and beautiful scene. If someone played some music and danced, that would be perfect," Zhang Yifan remarked wistfully.
The Jade Emperor slapped his thigh and laughed. "Dad, I knew this scene was missing something. So it was music and dancing!"
Back in the Heavenly Court, did they not always drink fine wine, eat pastries, and watch the fairies dance?
"Grandpa, let me dance for you."
The Eldest Princess of the Seven Fairies immediately perked up. "We just learned a new dance last time, and we've never performed it for Grandpa before!"
"Grandpa, Grandpa, we'll perform with Eldest Sister too. We just happened to learn a Rainbow Skirt Flying Sky Dance." The other princesses also rose one after another with giggles.
"Good! Then let this grandpa see the new dance you've learned." Zhang Yifan laughed heartily. It had been a long time since he had enjoyed such a life.
"Old Bai, let's provide the music." The Jade Emperor joined in the fun as well, pulling Taibai Jinxing over to perform with him.
The Jade Emperor held a handbell, while Taibai beat the drums.
"Little Tongtong is quite skilled with the flute. Little Tongtong, come accompany them too." The Jade Emperor pulled Sect Master Tongtian in as well.
Sect Master Tongtian did not refuse.
"Then I'll handle the lighting." Yang Jian also wanted to show off.
"Hahaha, Uncle Yang, the golden light from your Heavenly Eye is excellent stage lighting." Yunxiao giggled as she teased him.
Yang Jian proudly lifted his chin.
Then the Seven Princesses ran to the open space and took their positions.
Sect Master Tongtian, the Jade Emperor, Taibai Jinxing, and the others took out their instruments and began accompanying the Seven Fairies.
Exquisitely beautiful music began to play. The Seven Fairies flung out their long sleeves and skirts, dancing to the melody.
Yang Jian opened his Heavenly Eye, its flashing golden light looking incredibly cool. He even bobbed his head, looking exactly like a DJ.
If the great powers of the Primordial Era World saw this scene, their jaws would surely drop.
Sect Master Tongtian and the Jade Emperor were personally providing the music, Yang Jian was handling the lighting, and the seven noble princesses of the Heavenly Court were dancing—all for Zhang Yifan alone.
Had anything like this ever happened in the history of the Primordial Era World?
No!
Not even Dao Ancestor Hongjun had enjoyed such treatment!
During the Witch-Demon Calamity, not even the Demon Emperor Heavenly Emperor had received such treatment!
The Seven Fairies were already breathtakingly beautiful and youthful. Their dance was grand and majestic, yet also dazzlingly gorgeous. It made Zhang Yifan sigh. There was a reason emperors neglected morning court. He would have to protect his seven granddaughters well in the future.
"Good, good, good."
When the dance ended, Zhang Yifan applauded and cheered.
"Thank you, Grandpa!" The Seven Fairies were also overjoyed by the praise.
"Seeing you reminds me of the Seven Fairies of the Heavenly Court."
The Seven Fairies secretly laughed. Aren't we the Seven Fairies of the Heavenly Court?
Zhang Yifan sighed. "Poor Seventh Fairy. In the end, she was tricked by a cowherd from the mortal world and even bore him children. What a pity."
"Ah!"
The Seven Fairies were shocked.
The Jade Emperor was shocked as well. There was such a thing?
"Grandpa, what happened?" The Seventh Fairy hurriedly pressed for details. After all, he was talking about her.
"It went like this. The Seven Fairies of the Heavenly Court secretly descended to the mortal realm and bathed in a pool beneath a waterfall. An Old Ox Spirit told a cowherd named Dong Yong about it, so Dong Yong stole the Seventh Fairy's clothes. When the fairies were leaving, only the Seventh Fairy had no clothes to wear."
"And Dong Yong pretended to run into the Seventh Fairy. He claimed he had found her clothes several miles away."
"..."
Zhang Yifan began telling the story of Cowherd and Weaver Girl.
"What?" The Jade Emperor flew into a rage. "That Dong Yong is actually so vile!"
"Exactly! That man is nothing but a hooligan and scum! If I ever see him, I'll beat him every time!" The Seventh Fairy was furious as well. How could she possibly fall in love with such scum?
"Old Bai!"
The Jade Emperor looked at Old Bai with killing intent, giving him a meaningful look.
"Young Master, I understand." Taibai Jinxing nodded heavily.
That fool actually dared to target the Seventh Fairy?
Was he tired of living?
Taibai Jinxing quickly slipped away and ordered every Earth God and Mountain God in the mortal realm to track down Dong Yong and that Old Ox Spirit.
Before long, they were found.
Somewhere in the mortal realm.
Dong Yong was asleep, while the Old Ox Spirit was still chewing cud.
Suddenly, Taibai Jinxing appeared with a squad of heavenly soldiers.
"Seize that ox." With a wave of Taibai Jinxing's hand, the heavenly soldiers immediately surrounded the Old Ox Spirit.
"You are...?" The Old Ox Spirit turned deathly pale, so frightened that his soul nearly left his body.
"Hmph. You are nothing more than a dish on the table, yet you dare set your sights on a princess of my Heavenly Court. Execute him!"
Taibai Jinxing snorted and coldly glanced at the Old Ox Spirit. With a wave of his hand, he struck with a blade and directly beheaded the Old Ox Spirit.
An ox head flew high into the air. The Old Ox Spirit's soul scattered at once, and he would never be reincarnated.
Even until his death, the Old Ox Spirit could not understand it. The Western Teachings had secretly arranged for him to lie hidden in the mortal realm for hundreds of years. The plan to make the Jade Emperor lose face before the Three Realms had not even been carried out yet. How had he been discovered?
"My lord, how should we deal with Dong Yong?" The heavenly soldiers quickly dragged Dong Yong out. Their immortal arts left him completely unable to speak.
Dong Yong was terrified, having no idea what was happening.
"Execute him by Lingchi! Cast his soul into the Eighteen Levels of Hell, where he will never be reincarnated!" Killing intent surged from Taibai Jinxing as he immediately sentenced Dong Yong to the harshest punishment.
"Yes!"
Boom.
Dong Yong was executed by Lingchi, and his soul was cast into the Eighteen Levels of Hell, where he would suffer the torments of hell for all eternity.
The Old Ox Spirit and Dong Yong still did not understand what had happened. Zhang Yifan had merely casually told a story, yet Dong Yong and the Old Ox Spirit had been reduced to ashes.
A hidden pawn the Western Teachings had planted in the mortal realm was also removed.
"The old master truly possesses divine foresight. He knows such secret matters so clearly."
Looking at the Old Ox Spirit's corpse, Taibai Jinxing sighed from the bottom of his heart. "If this plan had succeeded, the Jade Emperor would have lost all face."
Afterward, Taibai Jinxing collected the Old Ox Spirit's true body and vanished from the spot.
This ox was a fine dish. How could he simply throw it away?
He had to bring it back to show filial respect to Lord Zhang Yifan.
In the mortal realm, inside Zhang Yifan's courtyard.
"Dad, tell us more about that Primordial Era calamity you mentioned last time."
The Jade Emperor recalled the secrets of the Primordial Era World Zhang Yifan had spoken of before. Thinking of the Primordial Era calamities, he could not help bringing up the subject again.
At the Jade Emperor's words, Sect Master Tongtian, the Three Xiaos, Zhao Gongming, Nuwa, Yang Jian, the Queen Mother, and the others all turned to look at Zhang Yifan.
Seeing everyone looking at him, Zhang Yifan smiled and asked, "You're all very interested?"
"Very interested!" The Jade Emperor, Sect Master Tongtian, and the others all nodded.
Zhang Yifan's earlier revelations—that the Primordial Era World could advance and that Pangu's Primordial Spirit True Body could descend—had long shocked the Jade Emperor, Sect Master Tongtian, and the others.
Now, they were naturally extremely interested in the secrets behind the Primordial Era calamities as well.
Saint Nuwa was somewhat puzzled. There were secrets behind the Primordial Era calamities?
Were not all those present firsthand witnesses? What was there that they did not understand?
"Fine. Since you want to hear it, I'll tell you."
Zhang Yifan began, "Let me ask you first. Among the past calamities of the Primordial Era World, which do you think was the greatest and most terrifying?"
Before you continue