Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens,
within Zixiao Palace,
the three thousand guests who had once come to listen to the Dao were long gone, but the seven cushions in the hall remained quietly in their places.
Only the people sitting on them now had long since changed their attitudes.
"Junior Brother, you're a little late!"
As soon as Tongtian entered, Yuanshi Tianzun, sitting cross-legged on a cushion, gave him a somewhat displeased look.
"Isn't it rather inappropriate to keep Teacher and the rest of us waiting so long?"
"Oh?"
Tongtian strolled over and sat cross-legged on an empty cushion. He glanced at the vacant dais, his tone carrying a hint of mockery.
"Senior Brother, inappropriate? I don't see how."
"You?!"
Yuanshi was taken aback. In the past, he'd often used opportunities like this to lecture his junior brother, who would always smile and admit his fault.
What was going on this time?
How dare he talk back?
But before Yuanshi could recover from his shock, Tongtian—who already hadn't been fond of him, and had now learned his true colors—changed his tone and spoke sarcastically:
"Senior Brother, if I didn't know you were my senior brother, I'd have thought you'd become my teacher!"
"Our venerable Teacher hasn't said anything yet. What are you getting worked up for?"
"???"
Yuanshi Tianzun was left dumbfounded. Seeing his junior brother carry on as if he'd swallowed gunpowder, he couldn't help rising to his feet and snapping:
"Tongtian, what nonsense are you spouting? Isn't it a fact that we're all here waiting for you?"
As he spoke, Yuanshi glanced at the two Westerners and Senior Brother Taishang Laojun, who were watching the show from the side. His face grew too hot to bear, so he simply dragged them into it.
"Fellow Daoist Jieyin, Fellow Daoist Zhunti, tell me, isn't that the truth?"
"Well..."
Jieyin and Zhunti had been hoping the Three Pure Ones would come to blows, and clearly hadn't expected Yuanshi to suddenly turn on them. After exchanging glances, they gave an awkward smile and shook their heads.
"Senior Brother Yuanshi, we only just got here. We're not sure."
"You?!"
A trace of malice flashed in Yuanshi's eyes. He was about to berate the two of them—You bastards got here earlier than I did!—
but before he could get the words out, a burst of seven-colored light flashed across the dais.
"We pay our respects to Teacher!"
Yuanshi hurriedly suppressed his emotions and bowed toward the dais along with Tongtian, Taishang Laojun, and the others.
"Take your seats."
The seven-colored auspicious clouds on the dais dispersed, revealing a Daoist in a white scholar's robe, slender and expressionless... with a boy and a girl standing behind him.
"Yes!"
The Daoist raised a hand. Yuanshi and the others acknowledged him, then sat cross-legged on their cushions once more.
"Tongtian!"
After everyone had taken their seats, the Daoist's indifferent gaze swept around the hall before settling on Tongtian.
"It seems a few people who shouldn't have come have arrived at your abode?"
"?!"
Sect Leader Tongtian's heart tightened, but he didn't panic. Under the surprised gazes of the others, he smiled and replied,
"Reporting to Teacher, a few fellow Daoists came over for a small gathering, that's all."
"Is that so?"
The Daoist—Hong Jun—nodded noncommittally. He knew Tongtian was hiding something, but this clearly wasn't the time to pursue it.
After surveying the expressions of the six Heavenly Dao Saints in the hall, Hong Jun said calmly, "I called you all here because I have an important matter concerning the fate of the Hong Huang Continent, and I'd like to hear your opinions."
"Teacher, just tell us what you need. We'll do as you command!"
Yuanshi Tianzun, who had already been briefed, shot Tongtian a gloating glance. "I'm sure all my senior and junior brothers will do their utmost to carry out your instructions!"
"..."
Noticing Yuanshi Tianzun's glance, Tongtian's heart turned cold. It seemed just as he'd suspected: targeting the Interception Sect wasn't one person's idea. They'd discussed it together.
Sure enough!
As soon as Yuanshi Tianzun finished speaking, Taishang Laojun, who rarely voiced an opinion, chimed in.
"Junior Brother is right. We'll certainly do our utmost to fulfill Teacher's instructions!"
"Y-yes, that's right!"
Before Tongtian could figure out how to respond, the flustered Jieyin and Zhunti nodded in agreement, their faces crestfallen.
Clearly,
they hadn't realized the Three Pure Ones were at odds with one another. They still thought the three had reached an agreement and were about to take out their frustrations on the two unlucky ones.
Seeing this,
Tongtian's eyes shifted slightly as a mischievous idea came to him. He, too, smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Since you all agree, then I won't hold back."
Seeing everyone agree, Hong Jun didn't waste any more time. He began with a long trip down memory lane, recalling the previous calamities of the Hong Huang Continent. Once everyone was immersed in the grim memories of the Dragon-Phoenix Contention and the War between the Lich Clans, he changed the subject with a sigh:
"I believe the main reason these calamities came about was that the living beings of the Hong Huang Continent lacked discipline, oversight, and guidance. That led to such disasters and left the land devastated, with its creatures slaughtered."
"Therefore..."
"To prevent similar conflicts from erupting in the future, I've decided to reestablish the Heavenly Court to govern the living beings of the Hong Huang Continent. What do you think?"
"Reestablish the Heavenly Court?!"
At Hong Jun's words, everyone except Taishang Laojun and Yuanshi Tianzun, who already knew, and Sect Leader Tongtian, who'd learned of it along the way, paled. The remaining three Saints, including Nuwa, couldn't hide their shock.
There was no need to mention Jieyin and Zhunti. They were afraid the Three Pure Ones would sell them out.
And Nuwa?
As a Saint of the demon race, she hadn't stepped in to help the demons during the last War between the Lich Clans, even when it had helped humanity rise.
But now?
Hong Jun actually wanted to take away the demon race's last remaining claim to legitimacy?
How could she allow that!
At the thought, Nuwa took a deep breath and looked up at Hong Jun on the dais.
"Dao Ancestor, if I remember correctly, during the War between the Lich Clans, the demon race also established a Heavenly Court to suppress Heaven and Earth. But they still failed to prevent the war from breaking out, didn't they?"
"That's right!"
Hong Jun nodded, then added before Nuwa could continue, "So this time, I plan to have all of you take part in establishing the Heavenly Court!"
"Hmm?!"
Nuwa was taken aback. Have all of them take part? How? Did that mean each sect would send some people to serve in the new Heavenly Court?
If so, Wa Imperial Palace would be at a disadvantage!
Taishang Laojun had Renjiao, Yuanshi Tianzun had Chanjiao, and Sect Leader Tongtian had the Interception Sect. Even Jieyin and Zhunti in the West had set up some Western Teachings.
Only her Wa Imperial Palace had nothing...
No, that wasn't true!
She used to have something.
Unfortunately,
she'd lost the demon race's trust, while the humans under her protection were still too young. Now she couldn't even find one person she could use!
What was she supposed to do?
Before you continue