Haotian Stands His Ground

"Duobao!

What gives you the right to sit ahead of us?"

"Hmph!

The Great Heavenly Venerate arranged it. What's that got to do with me?

Besides~

I'm sitting here. What are you going to do about it?"

The Primordial World.

The Jade Pool Immortal Realm of the Heavenly Court.

What should have been a quiet, tranquil place was now bustling with activity.

It was all because the newly appointed Heavenly Emperor, Haotian, had seized the moment when the Flat Peaches ripened.

He had hosted a banquet for many cultivators.

But the gathering, which should have been peaceful and harmonious, was now bristling with tension.

A dispute over seating had reignited the conflict between cultivators from the Chan Teachings and the Jie Teachings.

Haotian, the host of the banquet, sat at the head of the gathering with his eyes half-closed, watching it all unfold.

He could say that he had brought this scene about himself.

He recalled the moment not long ago when he had just awakened the memories of his past life.

At the time, Haotian had been both thrilled and astonished.

He was thrilled because he had transmigrated as Haotian, starting off with the cultivation of a Perfected Hunyuan Golden Immortal and the status of Heavenly Emperor.

Immortality and eternal life had come easily to him.

And that wasn't all.

He had also awakened an Innate Divine Ability: Ten Thousandfold Amplification.

This Innate Divine Ability was an active skill.

He could use it himself, and he could also temporarily bestow it on others.

When activating it, he could control it at will.

It could amplify anything, whether it was comprehending the Dao, cultivating, refining artifacts, making pills, or even launching attacks.

But with every silver lining came a cloud.

Given the state of the Primordial World, even if Haotian wanted to keep his head down,

others wouldn't give him the chance.

Haotian wanted to rule the Primordial World, but how could the Great Sects on every side possibly accept that?

One wrong move, and he would end up a puppet.

The most terrifying thing was that if he became a puppet,

he might be forced from his throne at any moment, and he might not even survive it.

It had nothing to do with good or evil. It was simply a matter of opposing positions and competing for Fortune.

Take this Peach Banquet, for example.

It was certainly part of Haotian's scheme, meant to test the situation.

But weren't the cultivators from the Chan and Jie Teachings also testing him, the Heavenly Emperor?

They wanted to find out whether Haotian would be easy to control.

In a situation like this, Haotian had no choice but to be thick-skinned and ruthless if he wanted to stay on his feet.

A moment later, Haotian suddenly raised his head and looked toward the noisy gathering.

Then the aura of a Quasi-Saint at the peak of his cultivation bore down on the disciples of both sects.

Under the pressure of Haotian's aura, the Chan and Jie disciples immediately slumped to the ground.

The cultivators from both sects fell silent.

Haotian's actions also plunged the entire Jade Pool Immortal Realm into Silence.

Everyone waited to see what Haotian would do next.

Several breaths later, Haotian reined in his aura.

Only then could the cultivators from the Chan and Jie Teachings catch their breath.

But before Haotian could speak, Guangchengzi cut in with a challenge. "Great Heavenly Venerate, what do you mean by this?

Do you think Chan Teachings disciples are easy targets?"

Hearing Guangchengzi's words, Haotian replied coldly, "So the Chan Teachings aren't easy targets?

Then you think I, the Heavenly Emperor, am?

This is the Jade Pool Immortal Realm of the Heavenly Court, not Kunlun Mountain, the home of your Chan Teachings.

What?

Have you really taken the Primordial World to be your Chan Teachings' private property?

You think you can do whatever you want, wherever you want?"

Guangchengzi immediately retorted, "How have I been out of line?

This is a matter between the Chan and Jie Teachings. Since when do you get to meddle?

You're nothing but a mere attendant. You really think becoming the Heavenly Emperor means you can order us around?"

Though he had expected as much, hearing Guangchengzi say it to his face left Haotian's expression livid.

Unlike Haotian, whose mood had hit rock bottom, the cultivators present all closed their eyes and pretended to meditate, acting as though they had neither heard nor seen anything.

Was this something they could afford to get involved in?

One side was a great Quasi-Saint whose standing was backed by Zixiao Palace.

The other was a disciple of a Sage.

No matter which side they chose, things would end badly for them.

After a moment of silence, Haotian spoke directly. "I'm a mere attendant?

Then what are you?

You're only a Golden Immortal, yet you dare act out in front of me?

Is this how the Sages taught you to behave?"

Haotian's words left not only the cultivators present momentarily stunned,

but also the Six Sages, who had been watching from the shadows, frowning in unison.

Haotian was being a little too forceful.

Oh~

No!

This wasn't forcefulness.

He simply didn't take them seriously.

If they let him carry on,

then in the Primordial World,

how much weight would the Sages' words still carry?

After all, the Primordial World was vast, and there were plenty of Quasi-Saints.

Even if there weren't a thousand, there were at least eight hundred.

If they followed Haotian's example and joined him in opposing the Sages,

things would get difficult.

They were Sages, but they couldn't simply wipe out every Quasi-Saint.

After a brief silence, the Six Sages decided to wait and see.

For now, it was a bit of a stretch to say Haotian had shown disrespect to the Sages.

Hearing this, Guangchengzi's face turned red with anger.

He snapped, "Hmph!

So what if I'm a Golden Immortal?

I cultivated to Golden Immortal on my own, one step at a time!

Don't change the subject!

You owe me an explanation for what happened today!

First you arranged for Duobao to sit ahead of our Chan Teachings disciples.

Then you interfered in the fight between the disciples of our Great Sects."

Guangchengzi certainly wasn't going to admit that Haotian had merely released his aura,

and that it had made him slump to the ground. He only accused Haotian of interfering in the conflict between the Chan and Jie Teachings.

Hearing this, Haotian raised his chin slightly. "An explanation?

What kind of explanation do you expect me to give you?

You're a mere Golden Immortal. What explanation do you expect from me?

You want an explanation?

Come back when your cultivation has caught up to mine!

Or have Primordial Heavenly Venerate come here.

Let's see what explanation he expects from me."

With that,

Haotian flicked his sleeve, his displeasure plain on his face.

Guangchengzi was furious. "Fine! Fine! Fine!

You, Haotian, dare show disrespect to a Sage!

.."

But before Guangchengzi could finish,

Haotian said sternly, "Disrespect to a Sage?

That's quite an accusation!

Have the disciples of your Chan and Jie Teachings shown respect to me, the Heavenly Emperor?

Or do you think you're Sages too?"

Just as Haotian finished speaking, Primordial Heavenly Venerate appeared without warning.

The Sage could no longer hold back.

It was true that Guangchengzi and the others had been forced to slump to the ground, which had cost him face.

But in Primordial Heavenly Venerate's eyes, Haotian was the real culprit.

If he let Haotian keep arguing with Guangchengzi,

he would lose every last bit of dignity.

And it wasn't just a matter of losing face.

His own authority would take a serious hit as well.

Then Primordial Heavenly Venerate would never be able to hold his head up in front of the other Sages.

Seeing Primordial Heavenly Venerate arrive, all the cultivators present immediately stood and cupped their hands. "Greetings, Sage!"

But Haotian remained seated, looking at Primordial Heavenly Venerate as if he had every right to be there. He showed no sign of standing to welcome him.

Seeing Haotian's attitude, Primordial Heavenly Venerate furrowed his brows.

"Haotian!

What is the meaning of this?

Do you really think becoming the Heavenly Emperor gives you the right to disrespect me?"

Hearing this, Haotian sneered. "What an imposing entrance, Sage!

You didn't come when invited.

Now you've come on your own, without an invitation.

And you expect me to stand and welcome you.

Do you think becoming a Sage means you can forget how you once asked me for guidance outside Zixiao Palace?

You want me to show you respect?

Then first repay the Karma you owe me for guiding you.

And teach your Chan Teachings disciples some virtue while you're at it!

Don't go around boasting that your sect is descended from Pangu.

The Witch Clan was descended from Pangu too!

They might have had a fiery temper, but at least they understood what 'reason' meant.