High Heaven Hall!
Haotian's brows furrowed even tighter!
"Then who in the Water Department received the formation map?"
Xuan Lang gritted his teeth.
"He already died in the Third Sea Eye."
"No one left to testify?"
Sweat beaded on Xuan Lang's forehead.
"This minister has failed."
Haotian did not speak at once.
He could hear the evasion in Xuan Lang's words.
But the most pressing problem now wasn't Qingxiaozi alone.
It was the Interception Sect's attitude.
After Zhao Xuan recalled his disciples, every department of the Heavenly Court had fallen into disarray.
Now the Water Department had gone to Golden Turtle Island to seize someone, only to be forced back by Zhao Xuan in front of everyone.
If they couldn't put this matter to rest, how could the Heavenly Court ever approach the Interception Sect again?
Just then, an Immortal Official bearing a message hurried into the hall.
"Your Majesty!"
"Urgent report from the Third Sea Eye in the East Sea!"
"The newly assigned Immortal Official cannot stabilize the formation eye. The spiritual tides beneath the sea have erupted again, and the Water Department requests reinforcements!"
Haotian suddenly gripped the armrest.
The Third Sea Eye again.
Another mess left behind after the Interception Sect withdrew its people.
The atmosphere in the hall instantly grew stifling.
Taibai Jinxing stood to one side, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.
He looked at the messenger's Jade Slip, then at Xuan Lang kneeling on the ground.
Something was wrong.
This was too urgent, and too conveniently timed.
If Qingxiaozi really had deliberately left behind a faulty formation, why would Zhao Xuan openly produce a copy?
If the Water Department really had irrefutable proof, why had Xuan Lang kept skirting around the point?
But Haotian no longer had time to continue the questioning.
The longer it went on, the more places like the Third Sea Eye would turn into ticking bombs.
Moreover, the Interception Sect's treatment of the Water Department's officers had already gravely damaged the authority of the Heavenly Court—and of Haotian himself.
Even when you beat a dog, you had to consider its master!
So he had to respond!
Haotian looked up at Taibai Jinxing.
"Taibai."
Taibai Jinxing bowed.
"I am here."
Haotian's voice was heavy.
"Go to Golden Turtle Island."
"Tell Zhao Xuan that the Heavenly Court is willing to show the Interception Sect respect."
"But the Interception Sect must also understand who holds legitimacy over the Three Realms."
"As for Qingxiaozi, if he has been wronged, the Heavenly Court will investigate and set things right."
"But the Interception Sect seized someone in public and humiliated an envoy of the Heavenly Court. We cannot allow this to become a precedent."
Taibai Jinxing sighed inwardly.
The words spoke of investigating the matter.
But they already carried the weight of an accusation.
He bowed and accepted the order.
"This minister obeys."
Xuan Lang lowered his head and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as Taibai Jinxing went to Golden Turtle Island bearing the Heavenly Emperor's authority, Zhao Xuan couldn't dismiss him as casually as he had dismissed Xuan Lang.
Then the Water Department would still have room to maneuver.
But before Taibai Jinxing turned to leave the hall, he glanced down at Xuan Lang.
The glance was faint.
Yet Xuan Lang's heart, which had just settled, leapt into his throat again.
Outside Golden Turtle Island.
A streak of Golden Light descended from the Nine Heavens.
As the light faded, Taibai Jinxing emerged.
He had brought no Heavenly Soldiers.
All he carried was a scroll bearing the Haotian Decree.
The yellow scroll hovered in his palm, the Heavenly Emperor's aura swirling around it as it pressed heavily upon the sea.
Many Interception Sect disciples, both on and off the island, sensed it. Their gazes pierced through the boundless void toward Taibai Jinxing.
In the next moment, their eyes turned cold.
The Water Department had just been driven back.
And now the Heavenly Court had sent someone else.
Were they determined to hound the Interception Sect to the bitter end?
Outside the island, Taibai Jinxing descended from the sky and cupped his hands toward Golden Turtle Island, his tone fairly courteous.
"Taibai Jinxing of the Heavenly Court, bearing His Majesty's decree, has come to pay a visit to Immortal Zhao Xuan."
Zhao Xuan emerged from Golden Turtle Island.
Holy Mother Guiling, Holy Mother Jinling, and Zhao Gongming followed behind him.
Qingxiaozi was there too.
His face was still pale, but this time he did not hide behind the others.
Seeing this gathering, Taibai Jinxing's heart sank further.
Zhao Xuan glanced at the decree in his hand.
"Taibai, are you here to accuse us, or to ask what happened?"
Taibai Jinxing's expression did not change.
"His Majesty says that if Qingxiaozi has been wronged, the Heavenly Court will investigate and set things right."
"But the Interception Sect publicly refused to let the Water Department seize someone, then drove the Heavenly Court's envoy away. That was still improper."
"I ask you to give the Heavenly Court an explanation."
With that, Taibai Jinxing held out the decree, intending for Zhao Xuan to accept it.
But the next moment, Holy Mother Guiling gave a cold laugh.
"Such a high-and-mighty tone."
Zhao Xuan raised a hand to stop her.
He neither accepted the decree nor argued.
He simply looked at Taibai Jinxing.
"Taibai, you understand the rules better than Xuan Lang."
"So look through these first. Then you can ask me for an explanation."
With that, he swept his sleeve.
Four Jade Slips appeared in midair once more.
The first was a copy of the Sea-Suppressing Formation Map that Qingxiaozi had left behind before relinquishing his post.
The second bore the Water Department Immortal Officials' confirmation marks from when they received the formation map, the token, and the spiritual tide records.
The third contained a record of every change in the spiritual tides at the Third Sea Eye over the past two thousand years.
The fourth showed the hidden scars left by the Sea Eye's backlash during Qingxiaozi's watch.
Every mark was clear as day.
Taibai Jinxing's face turned pale at the very first glance.
When his divine sense swept over the second Jade Slip, his brows drew together at once.
The Water Department's confirmation marks.
There was no mistake.
They were the Water Department's own marks.
Then he looked at the copy of the formation map.
That was correct too.
Not only was it flawless, it even marked several hidden shifts in the spiritual tides that were absent from the Water Department's usual formation maps.
Taibai Jinxing suddenly understood why Xuan Lang had been so evasive in High Heaven Hall.
If these facts were laid bare, the Heavenly Court had no case at all.
Zhao Xuan looked at him.
"Did Qingxiaozi hand over his post properly?"
Taibai Jinxing fell silent.
Zhao Xuan asked again:
"Is the formation map genuine?"
Taibai Jinxing tightened his grip on the Jade Slip.
Zhao Xuan continued:
"Does it bear the Water Department's confirmation marks?"
"Did Xuan Lang have any evidence when he went to seize him?"
"Seven Immortal Officials died at the Third Sea Eye. Was that Qingxiaozi's fault, or could the Water Department simply not handle the job?"
One question after another.
Like nails driven into the Heavenly Court's face.
The Interception Sect disciples around them looked increasingly bright-eyed.
In the past, when the Heavenly Court said, "We ask for your help, fellow Daoist," the Interception Sect disciples went at once.
When trouble arose, the Heavenly Court would say, "Return to the Heavenly Court for questioning," and the disciples still had to swallow their grievance.
But today, Zhao Xuan had not laid a hand on anyone.
He had simply brought out the evidence.
And that had left Taibai Jinxing, a high-ranking official of the Heavenly Court, unable to answer a single word.
Standing behind Zhao Xuan, Qingxiaozi clenched his fists.
Two thousand years.
He had guarded the Sea Eye for the Heavenly Court for two thousand years.
Only today did he finally feel that he was no longer a scapegoat cast aside to take the blame.
Taibai Jinxing took a deep breath.
"There are indeed troubling questions in this matter."
Holy Mother Guiling sneered.
"Questions?"
"We've placed the evidence right in your hands, and you're still calling them questions?"
Taibai Jinxing did not argue.
He looked at Zhao Xuan, his tone softening somewhat.
"How does the Immortal think the Heavenly Court should handle this?"
Zhao Xuan replied coolly:
"This isn't about what I want."
"The Heavenly Court owes the Interception Sect an explanation."
He looked at Taibai Jinxing and spoke each word distinctly:
"My Interception Sect disciple guarded the Sea Eye for the Heavenly Court for two thousand years."
"After he returned, he was accused first."
"When that accusation failed, he was slandered as disrespectful to the Heavenly Court."
"Taibai, tell me—how should this debt be settled?"
Taibai Jinxing's heart sank.
He finally understood.
Zhao Xuan had never been waiting for the Water Department to admit fault.
He had been waiting for the Heavenly Court to show its weakness in front of every Interception Sect disciple.
Qingxiaozi was only the opening crack.
Once it had been pried wide, every Interception Sect disciple who had worked for the Heavenly Court could bring their own grievances to light.
Taibai Jinxing was just about to speak when a sword rang out from deep within Golden Turtle Island.
A Sage's decree came from Biyou Palace.
"The affairs of the Jie Sect are to be handled by Zhao Xuan."
"His will is my will."
Master Tongtian!
Taibai Jinxing's expression changed completely.
The Jie Sect disciples all bowed toward the decree.
"Greetings, Master!"
Zhao Xuan also dipped his head slightly.
The next moment, the sword's ringing faded.
But those words made it impossible for Taibai Jinxing to continue reading the Heavenly Emperor's decree in his hands.
This was no longer just Qingxiaozi's affair.
Nor was it merely Zhao Xuan's stance.
The entire Sage-founded lineage of the Jie Sect was demanding an accounting from the Heavenly Court.
Zhao Xuan raised his hand and produced an even thicker Jade Slip.
The Jade Slip flew before Taibai Jinxing.
"Take this back to Haotian."
Taibai Jinxing caught it. The moment his divine sense entered it, his expression changed again.
It wasn't a single account.
It was a dense list of names, assignments, years of service, injuries and losses, contributions, and promised rewards.
Every item was laid out clearly.
Zhao Xuan looked at him.
"Qingxiaozi's affair is only the first item."
"If he wants to talk, let Haotian come in person."
"Otherwise, the Heavenly Court need not come to Golden Turtle Island again."
Before you continue