"What's stopping us?!"
Though Jieyin and Zhunti felt uneasy in the face of Yuanshi Tianzun's threat, they refused to show the slightest weakness.
People had their pride, and trees their bark.
They were supreme Saints, yet someone had publicly slaughtered a whole host of their subordinates.
If they didn't react, they'd lose every last bit of face!
So,
Even though they knew they were no match for Taishang Laojun and Yuanshi Tianzun, Jieyin and Zhunti could only grit their teeth and charge in.
"Good, very good!"
Yuanshi Tianzun laughed in fury. "It seems you've grown quite bold lately. You dare run wild on our teacher's territory, and even kill the attendant boy at his side..."
"Yuanshi, stop slandering us!"
Before Yuanshi Tianzun could finish, Jieyin and Zhunti hurriedly protested. Never mind that you were the ones who broke the agreement and killed Jin Chanzi—when had they ever killed...
Wait?
That slap just now... had he possibly, accidentally, also killed that brat Haotian?
At the thought, Jieyin's pupils contracted slightly. He hurriedly tried to cast a spell to recreate Haotian's body.
"Don't bother!"
Yuanshi Tianzun snorted and raised a hand to stop Jieyin's attempt to ingratiate himself. "Fellow Daoist Jieyin, let's wait until our master has seen him before deciding."
"You?!"
At Yuanshi Tianzun's words, not only did Jieyin and Zhunti lose their composure, but even the Jade Emperor, who had come to his senses, was grinding his teeth in fury.
What?
Why don't I need a body?
Could you at least ask what I think first?
I need a body!
Damn it!
Unlike the Heavenly Court, where tensions had reached a breaking point and an earth-shaking battle was about to erupt,
inside the Wa Imperial Palace,
Taishang Laojun had followed the aura's trail here. He looked at the Red Embroidered Ball in Nuwa's hand in surprise.
"Fellow Daoist Nuwa, that treasure of yours..."
"Oh?"
Nuwa looked up at Taishang Laojun. "When did Senior Brother get here? I don't recall anyone reporting your arrival."
"Cough, cough. I only just arrived, just a moment ago..."
Taishang Laojun had naturally heard the displeasure in Nuwa's voice. He hurriedly chuckled and explained, "Don't blame me, Junior Sister. I was worried something might have happened to you. That aura just now was extraordinary, after all."
"Is that so?"
Nuwa's lips curled slightly. She didn't bother exposing Taishang Laojun's flimsy excuse, instead giving the Red Embroidered Ball in her hand a little toss.
"Senior Brother, is this what you meant?"
"Exactly!"
Taishang Laojun discreetly studied the Red Embroidered Ball, his voice full of surprise. "Junior Sister, if I remember correctly, your Red Embroidered Ball was only an Innate Spiritual Treasure before?"
"That's right!"
Nuwa nodded and sighed with some feeling. "Back then, our master handed out all the treasures at Treasure Distribution Cliff. I only got a few, and then I used up most of them when I created humanity."
"Then what's this?"
Taishang Laojun ignored Nuwa's complaint and pointed at the Red Embroidered Ball. "If I'm not mistaken, your Red Embroidered Ball seems to have advanced?"
"Exactly!"
Nuwa didn't deny it. She smiled and admitted, "It advanced by accident. It should be an Innate Supreme Treasure now, right? I haven't had time to test it properly."
"Hiss!"
Hearing Nuwa's words, Taishang Laojun felt his teeth ache. What did she mean, it "advanced by accident"?
If you're so capable, why don't you "accidentally" give me one? I'd like to see how it "accidentally" advances!
Unfortunately,
Before Taishang Laojun could figure out how to finagle a treasure out of Nuwa, he felt a series of violent fluctuations coming from the Heavenly Court.
Could it be... that peerless powerhouses were fighting over there?
"What's this?"
Nuwa's expression shifted slightly. Had Sect Leader Tongtian been caught "stealing someone"? How could he have been so careless?
She lowered her head and glanced at the Red Embroidered Ball in her hand, letting out a sigh. This gift really wasn't easy to accept!
"Don't worry, Junior Sister. Your Senior Brother Yuanshi is probably fighting with the Buddhist sect from the West!"
Taishang Laojun hadn't expected Nuwa to have been bought off. He explained with a frown, then turned to head back and help.
"Senior Brother, wait for me!"
She was a little annoyed that she had to get to work right after accepting a favor, but Nuwa wasn't someone who went back on her word.
So,
Under Taishang Laojun's astonished gaze, Nuwa swept up Xuanming, who had been watching from the sidelines, and followed him toward the Heavenly Court.
"And who is this?"
Taishang Laojun glanced at Xuanming, whom Nuwa had brought along. After an unsuccessful attempt to divine his origins, he simply asked outright.
"Oh? Him? He's my Grand Disciple!"
Nuwa smiled and nodded toward Xuanming. "Xuanming, hurry up and greet your Grandmaster."
"I..."
Xuanming's mouth twitched. What was the point of greeting him? If this old geezer found out he was the mastermind behind everything, wouldn't he slap him to death?
Of course!
Though he thought that, Xuanming wore the face of a well-behaved child and politely greeted Taishang Laojun.
"Grand Disciple?"
Taishang Laojun furrowed his brows slightly. Since when had Nuwa taken on a disciple?
More importantly, he couldn't divine this fellow's origins at all.
"What's wrong?"
Nuwa looked at Taishang Laojun with feigned confusion. "Is something wrong with my Grand Disciple, Senior Brother? I've watched him grow up since he was little!"
"Uh... no, nothing!"
Taishang Laojun chuckled awkwardly and shook his head. If she said she'd watched him grow up, what could he say?
Anything more would sound like he was trying to drive a wedge between them.
So, though Taishang Laojun was still a little suspicious, seeing that Xuanming was only a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, he ultimately swallowed his words.
Soon, Taishang Laojun led them to the Heavenly Court. They arrived in mere moments.
But the scene before them left them dumbfounded.
"Th-this is the Heavenly Court?"
Looking at the ruins and hearing the wails of tens of thousands of vengeful spirits, Nuwa and Taishang Laojun were stunned. Even Xuanming couldn't sit still.
What was going on?
The system's mission had told him to destroy Buddhism!
Not the Heavenly Court!
With the Heavenly Court smashed into this state, would the system just declare his mission failed?
Fortunately,
Xuanming secretly opened the system in his mind. Seeing the words "Incomplete" beside the mission, he felt inexplicably relieved.
Taishang Laojun, however, wasn't nearly so calm.
"Y-you wretches!"
He grabbed a remnant soul of a Heavenly Soldier and learned what had happened. For once, Taishang Laojun abandoned his usual mild manner and cursed in a fury:
"Jieyin, Zhunti, you're asking for death!"
"If I don't grind your bones to dust, I'll have failed the cultivation my master gave me!"
With that, Taishang Laojun ignored Nuwa's strange expression. Following the traces of the battle left by Yuanshi Tianzun and the others, he pursued them into Chaos.
Nuwa: "This..."
Before you continue