Complete Chaos, Kunlun and the Western Sect's Response

High Heaven Hall.

Taibai Jinxing knelt in the hall, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

After hearing the attitude relayed back from Golden Turtle Island, Haotian's face turned livid.

"Return to the mountain immediately?"

"What a fine 'return to the mountain immediately'!"

"Is Senior Brother Saint Tongtian unwilling to give Me even a moment of buffer?"

Taibai Jinxing whispered:

"Your Majesty, I fear this matter was not personally arranged by Saint Tongtian."

Haotian's gaze turned cold.

"What do you mean?"

"The Jie Sect's actions this time are too precise, and too accurate."

Taibai Jinxing looked up for a moment, then quickly lowered his head again.

"Every person recalled is someone the Heavenly Court cannot easily replace at this moment."

"If it were merely Saint Tongtian acting out of anger, he would likely have issued a single decree to recall all his disciples at once."

"But this decree did not touch those who are inconsequential; it specifically targeted the key positions."

Haotian's expression darkened further.

"Are you saying someone in the Jie Sect is plotting against Me?"

Taibai Jinxing dared not answer.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Haotian suddenly said:

"Investigate."

"Find out who it is."

Just as Taibai Jinxing was about to accept the order, a Heavenly General hurried into the hall.

"Your Majesty, the Third Sea Eye of the East Sea is in crisis!"

Haotian turned his head abruptly.

"What happened?"

The Heavenly General knelt on the ground.

"Qingxiaozi, the Jie Sect disciple originally guarding the Third Sea Eye, has already left his post. The three immortal officials sent by the Water Department to replace him were injured by turbulent waves the moment they arrived at the Sea Eye."

"Now, the spiritual tide of the Sea Eye is surging backward, and a demon tide has already broken out in the surrounding three thousand miles of sea."

Haotian's expression shifted.

Before he could speak, another Star Official rushed into the hall.

"Your Majesty, something has happened in the North Star Domain!"

"The seven star nodes originally patrolled by Jie Sect disciples have all shifted simultaneously today."

"The Dou Department sent people to fix them, but the formation maps did not match, and two small stars have already gone off course."

Haotian tightened his fingers, shattering his jade talisman.

"What is the Dou Department doing?"

The Star Official's face turned pale.

"Your Majesty, those nodes had been maintained by Jie Sect disciples for many years. They had already modified the formation maps several times, and the Dou Department... does not have the latest versions."

Haotian was almost driven to laughter by his own anger.

"Why were the formation maps in the hands of the Jie Sect?"

The Star Official kept his head low.

"Years ago, the Dou Department was short-handed, so they asked Jie Sect disciples to assist. Since then, they have always been the ones performing the repairs."

Haotian opened his mouth, but for a moment, he could not find the words to scold him.

At this moment, a third immortal official arrived.

"Your Majesty, evil cultivators are causing chaos in the Eastern Victory Continent of the lower realm."

"The Jie Sect disciples originally responsible for patrolling that area have already received orders to return to the mountain, and the local land gods and Mountain Gods cannot suppress them."

"Your Majesty, the water veins of the South Sea are also..."

"Your Majesty, rogue cultivators from overseas are dueling on Green Gauze Island, and the casualties have already exceeded ten thousand."

"Your Majesty, the Thunder Department says they are short-handed and request support from the Water Department."

"The Water Department also claims they lack manpower and requests that Your Majesty dispatch the Heavenly Soldiers."

Urgent reports suddenly flooded into the Lingxiao Palace one after another.

Haotian sat upon the Imperial Throne, his complexion shifting from livid to gloomy.

Finally, he slammed a palm down onto the armrest.

Bang!

"Enough!"

The immortals in the hall knelt down immediately.

No one dared to look up.

Haotian caught his breath.

He finally understood the weight of this gift from Zhao Xuan.

The Jie Sect had not attacked the Heavenly Court.

They had not insulted the Heavenly Court.

They had not defied any imperial edicts.

They had simply withdrawn their own people.

Yet, the Heavenly Court immediately revealed its holes.

One place, two places, ten places, a hundred places.

Previously, these holes had all been plugged by the hands of Jie Sect disciples.

Now that those hands had been pulled back, the water came pouring in.

Haotian gritted his teeth and said:

"Go and invite the Chan Sect disciples."

Taibai Jinxing hesitated.

"Your Majesty, as for the Chan Sect..."

"Go!"

Haotian said coldly.

"Are they not Immortals of Great Virtue and Fortune?"

"Now that the Three Realms are in chaos, let them descend the mountain to save the world."

Taibai Jinxing dared not say more and immediately accepted the order.

Kunlun Mountain.

Outside Yuxu Palace, Taibai Jinxing could not even get through the door.

White Crane Boy stood before the steps, his expression indifferent.

"My master is in seclusion, and the senior brothers are also quietly reciting the Yellow Court; it is not convenient for them to descend the mountain."

Taibai Jinxing offered a fawning smile.

"Immortal Boy White Crane, the Heavenly Court truly has urgent matters at hand."

"The East Sea Sea Eye, the North Star Domain, and evil cultivators in the lower realms—several places are reporting emergencies simultaneously."

"His Majesty says that the High Immortals of the Chan Sect possess deep virtue and fortune; if they are willing to descend the mountain to assist, the Heavenly Court will surely reward them handsomely."

White Crane Boy glanced at him.

"The Immeasurable Tribulation is approaching; it is not suitable for Chan Sect disciples to be tainted by the karma of the mortal world."

The smile on Taibai Jinxing's face froze.

This sounded familiar.

Too familiar.

The Jie Sect had just used it.

Now, the Chan Sect was using it too.

Yet, he had no way to refute it.

With the Investiture of the Gods List about to appear and the Immeasurable Tribulation drawing near, the disciples of the Sages returning to the mountains to avoid the calamity was a reason anyone could use.

Taibai Jinxing took a deep breath.

"Then, might I ask if the Antarctic Immortal could step forward to temporarily mediate the situation?"

White Crane Boy shook his head.

"The Eldest Senior Brother is also in seclusion."

"Those Twelve Golden Immortals..."

"Are all in seclusion."

Taibai Jinxing fell silent.

After a moment, he cupped his hands and took his leave.

As he turned to leave Kunlun Mountain, the smile on his face was completely gone.

He finally understood.

When the Heavenly Court needed people, everyone spoke of destiny.

When the Heavenly Court was in trouble, everyone was in seclusion.

Mount Sumeru.

Daoist Zhunti did meet Taibai Jinxing.

Not only did he meet him, but he was also very enthusiastic.

"Fellow Daoist Taibai, you've traveled far, it must have been tiring."

As soon as Taibai Jinxing explained his purpose, the enthusiasm on Daoist Zhunti's face turned into distress.

"Alas."

"The Western Sect should have helped the Heavenly Court in its time of need."

"But the West is barren, with few disciples, and not many usable individuals under my command."

Taibai Jinxing's eyelids twitched.

Daoist Zhunti continued:

"However, the Heavenly Court's affairs are the affairs of the Primordial World."

"Though the West faces difficulties, we cannot stand idly by."

Taibai Jinxing's eyes lit up.

"Does the Sage wish to send disciples?"

Zhunti nodded.

"Naturally."

"The Western Sect can send a few disciples to the Eastern Lands to preach the merciful and wondrous Dharma and pacify all beings."

The smile on Taibai Jinxing's face slowly vanished.

"Just preaching the wondrous Dharma?"

Zhunti asked in surprise:

"What else?"

Taibai Jinxing suppressed his anger.

"The Sea Eye needs to be suppressed, the stellar nodes need to be repaired, evil cultivators in the lower realms need to be apprehended, and rogue cultivators overseas need to be mediated."

Zhunti sighed.

"Fellow Daoist Taibai, you are making things difficult for the Western Sect."

"Our disciples cultivate the Dharma of mercy, how are they skilled in these matters of fighting, killing, repairing, and mending?"

"The disciples of the Jie Sect are more adept at such tasks."

Taibai Jinxing almost turned and left.

The West is barren?

This was not barren at all.

It was extremely shrewd.

Golden Turtle Island.

News of Taibai Jinxing's setbacks quickly spread back.

Holy Mother Guiling laughed heartily.

"Good!"

"Excellent!"

"The Chan Sect is in seclusion, the West is crying poverty, and the Heavenly Court cannot find replacements."

"Now Haotian should understand, shouldn't he?"

Zhao Gongming also arrived.

His expression was much calmer than yesterday.

"Senior Brother, the Heavenly Court is indeed in chaos right now."

"But I still have a question."

Zhao Xuan looked at him.

"Speak."

Zhao Gongming said:

"The Heavenly Court might not be unable to suppress these disturbances."

"As long as Haotian is ruthless enough to send heavenly soldiers and generals to fill the gaps, they can always patch things up."

"At most, this would only make the Heavenly Court suffer for a while."

"Can it force them to change their intent regarding the Investiture of the Gods?"

Zhao Xuan shook his head.

"It cannot."

Zhao Gongming was stunned.

"Then this move of ours..."

"This move is not meant to make Haotian abandon the Investiture of the Gods."

Zhao Xuan looked at the distant sea surface.

"It is to let the disciples of the Jie Sect see one thing clearly."

"What thing?"

"That we are important."