Heavenly Court Accountability, Sage's Edict Descends!

High Heaven Hall.

Haotian's brows furrowed even tighter.

"Then what of the person from the Water Department who received the formation map?"

Xuan Lang gritted his teeth.

"They have already died at the Third Sea Eye."

"Dead with no proof?"

Sweat beaded on Xuan Lang's forehead.

"This subject is incompetent."

Haotian did not speak immediately.

He could hear the concealment in Xuan Lang's words.

Yet, the more critical issue at hand was not just Qingxiaozi alone.

It was the attitude of the Jie Sect.

Ever since Zhao Xuan recalled his disciples, the various departments of the Heavenly Court had fallen into chaos.

Now that the Water Department had gone to Golden Turtle Island to apprehend someone, only to be forced back by Zhao Xuan in public, the situation had escalated.

If this matter could not be suppressed, how could the Heavenly Court ever make demands of the Jie Sect in the future?

Just then, a messenger immortal hurried into the hall.

"Your Majesty!"

"An urgent report from the Third Sea Eye of the East Sea!"

"The newly dispatched formation-tending immortal is unable to stabilize the formation eye; the spiritual tide on the seabed has erupted again, and the Water Department requests reinforcements!"

Haotian gripped his armrests tightly.

The Third Sea Eye again.

Another mess left behind after the Jie Sect withdrew their people.

The atmosphere in the hall turned stagnant.

Taibai Jinxing stood to the side, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.

He looked at the messenger jade slip, then at Xuan Lang kneeling on the ground.

Something was wrong.

This matter was too urgent and too coincidental.

If Qingxiaozi had truly left a flawed formation on purpose, why would Zhao Xuan have publicly revealed the copy?

If the Water Department truly had ironclad proof, why would Xuan Lang keep avoiding the core issues?

But at this moment, Haotian had no time to continue the interrogation.

The longer the interrogation lasted, the more places like the Third Sea Eye would explode into crises.

Furthermore, the Jie Sect's attitude toward the generals of the Heavenly Court's Water Department had severely damaged the prestige of the Heavenly Court and Haotian himself.

Even when beating a dog, one must consider its master!

Therefore, he had to make a response!

Haotian looked up at Taibai Jinxing.

"Taibai."

Taibai Jinxing bowed.

"This subject is here."

Haotian's voice was heavy.

"Go to Golden Turtle Island."

"Tell Zhao Xuan that the Heavenly Court can grant the Jie Sect face."

"But the Jie Sect must also know who the true orthodoxy of the Three Realms is."

"If there is any injustice regarding the Qingxiaozi affair, the Heavenly Court will naturally investigate it."

"However, the Jie Sect detaining people in public and insulting my Heavenly Court's envoys is a trend that must not be allowed to grow."

Taibai Jinxing sighed inwardly.

Though these words spoke of an investigation, they already carried the tone of holding them accountable.

He bowed to accept the order.

"This subject obeys the decree."

Xuan Lang lowered his head, quietly letting out a sigh of relief.

As long as Taibai Jinxing went to Golden Turtle Island bearing the majesty of the Heavenly Emperor, Zhao Xuan would no longer be able to dismiss the matter as casually as he had with him.

By then, the Water Department would still have a chance to turn things around.

However, before Taibai Jinxing turned to leave the hall, he glanced down at Xuan Lang.

That glance was light.

Yet it made the heart that Xuan Lang had just relaxed tighten once more.

Outside Golden Turtle Island.

A golden light descended from the nine heavens.

As the radiance faded, Taibai Jinxing stepped out from within.

He had brought no heavenly soldiers.

He carried only a scroll of the Haotian Decree.

The yellow decree hovered above his palm, the aura of the Heavenly Emperor circulating and pressing heavily down upon the surface of the sea.

Many Jie Sect disciples, both on and off the island, sensed it, their gazes piercing through the endless void to look toward Taibai Jinxing.

The next moment, their eyes turned cold.

The Water Department had just been forced to retreat.

And now, the Heavenly Court had sent someone again.

Were they truly intent on extorting the Jie Sect?

Outside the island, Taibai Jinxing descended from the sky and bowed toward Golden Turtle Island, his tone remaining reasonably polite.

"Taibai Jinxing of the Heavenly Court, by the decree of His Majesty, has come to pay a visit to the Immortal Zhao Xuan."

Zhao Xuan walked out of Golden Turtle Island.

Holy Mother Guiling, Holy Mother Jinling, and Zhao Gongming followed behind him.

Qingxiaozi was there as well.

His face remained pale, but this time, he did not hide behind the others.

Seeing this formation, Taibai Jinxing's heart sank even further.

Zhao Xuan glanced at the decree in his hand.

"Taibai, are you here to assign blame, or to inquire about the facts?"

Taibai Jinxing's expression remained unchanged.

"His Majesty has said that if Qingxiaozi has suffered an injustice, the Heavenly Court will naturally investigate it."

"However, the Jie Sect publicly refused to let the Heavenly Court's Water Department take a suspect and forced back the Heavenly Court's envoy; this matter is, after all, improper."

"I ask that the Immortal provide the Heavenly Court with an explanation."

Having said this, Taibai Jinxing held the decree forward, intending for Zhao Xuan to accept it.

But the next moment, Holy Mother Guiling let out a cold laugh.

"What a bold tone."

Zhao Xuan raised a hand to stop her.

He did not take the decree, nor did he argue.

He simply looked at Taibai Jinxing.

"Taibai, you understand the rules better than Xuan Lang."

"So, look at these first, then ask me for an explanation."

With that, he flicked his sleeve.

Four jade slips hovered in the air once more.

The first was a copy of the Sea-Suppressing Formation Map that Qingxiaozi had left behind before leaving his post.

The second was the confirmation mark left by the Water Department immortal official when receiving the formation map, the token, and the spiritual tide records.

The third was the record of every spiritual tide change at the Third Sea Eye over the past two thousand years.

The fourth was the imprint of the hidden injuries Qingxiaozi sustained from the backlash of the Sea Eye during his tenure.

Every mark was perfectly clear.

Taibai Jinxing's face turned pale the moment he looked at the first one.

Especially upon the second jade slip; as Taibai Jinxing swept his divine sense across it, his brows instantly furrowed tight.

The Water Department confirmation mark.

It was correct.

This was the mark of the Heavenly Court's Water Department itself.

He looked at the copy of the formation map again.

It was also correct.

Not only was it correct, but it even marked several hidden spiritual tide fluctuations that were absent from the Water Department's standard formation maps.

Taibai Jinxing suddenly understood why Xuan Lang had remained so evasive in the High Heaven Hall.

Because if this matter were truly laid bare, the Heavenly Court would have no leg to stand on.

Zhao Xuan looked at him.

"Did Qingxiaozi hand over his duties?"

Taibai Jinxing remained silent.

Zhao Xuan asked again:

"Is the formation map real or fake?"

Taibai Jinxing gripped the jade slip tightly.

Zhao Xuan continued:

"Did the Water Department verify the mark?"

"Does Xuan Lang have evidence to make an arrest?"

"Seven immortal officials died at the Third Sea Eye; was it Qingxiaozi's fault, or was the Water Department simply unable to handle it?"

One sentence after another.

They were like nails, hammered into the face of the Heavenly Court.

The eyes of the surrounding Jie Sect disciples grew brighter and brighter.

In the past, whenever the Heavenly Court said, "We request the fellow daoist's assistance," the Jie Sect disciples would rush over.

When something went wrong, the Heavenly Court would say, "Return to the Heavenly Court for questioning," and the Jie Sect disciples would have to endure it.

But today, Zhao Xuan did not resort to violence.

He merely brought out the evidence.

And that was enough to leave Taibai Jinxing, a high-ranking official of the Heavenly Court, unable to answer a single word.

Qingxiaozi stood behind Zhao Xuan, his fists clenched tight.

Two thousand years.

He had guarded the Sea Eye for the Heavenly Court for two thousand years.

Only today did he feel, for the first time, that he was not just an abandoned pawn pushed out to take the blame.

Taibai Jinxing took a deep breath.

"This matter does indeed have suspicious points."

Holy Mother Guiling sneered.

"Suspicious points?"

"The evidence has been shoved right into your hands, and you still call them suspicious points?"

Taibai Jinxing did not refute her.

He looked at Zhao Xuan, his tone softening slightly.

"How does the Exalted Immortal wish for the Heavenly Court to handle this?"

Zhao Xuan said indifferently:

"It is not about how I wish for it to be handled."

"It is about the Heavenly Court owing my Jie Sect an explanation."

He looked at Taibai Jinxing and said, word by word:

"My Jie Sect disciples have guarded the Sea Eye for the Heavenly Court for two thousand years."

"Upon returning, they were first brought up on charges."

"When the charges failed, they were then slandered for disrespecting the Heavenly Court."

"Taibai, tell me, how should this debt be settled?"

Taibai Jinxing's heart sank.

He finally understood.

What Zhao Xuan was waiting for was never an admission of guilt from the Water Department.

He was waiting for the Heavenly Court to reveal its flaws in front of all the Jie Sect disciples.

Qingxiaozi was merely the opening.

Once this opening was torn wide, every other Jie Sect disciple who had worked for the Heavenly Court would be able to bring out their own accounts.

Taibai Jinxing was about to speak when a sword hum suddenly rang out from the depths of Golden Turtle Island.

A sage's decree emanated from Biyou Palace.

"All matters of the Jie Sect shall be handled by Zhao Xuan."

"His will is the will of This Seat."

Master Tongtian!

Taibai Jinxing's expression changed completely.

The surrounding Jie Sect disciples bowed in unison toward the decree.

"Greetings, Master!"

Zhao Xuan also lowered his head slightly.

The next moment, the sword hum dissipated.

Yet that single sentence made it impossible for Taibai Jinxing to continue proclaiming the Heavenly Emperor's decree.

This was no longer just a matter concerning Qingxiaozi.

Nor was it merely Zhao Xuan's personal stance.

This was the entire sage lineage of the Jie Sect demanding a reckoning 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, and the moment his divine sense probed inside, his expression shifted once more.

It was not just a single account.

It was a dense list of names, assignments, tenures, casualties, merits, and unpaid rewards.

Every item was clearly detailed.

Zhao Xuan looked at him.

"The matter of Qingxiaozi is only the first entry."

"If he wants to negotiate, let Haotian come himself."

"Otherwise, the Heavenly Court need not visit Golden Turtle Island ever again."