They're Modifying the Investiture of the Gods Rules!

After hearing Zhao Xuan's words, Holy Mother Guiling was stunned.

"We're still waiting?"

"Of course we are."

Zhao Xuan closed the jade slip.

"The longer he stays away, the more chaotic the Heavenly Court becomes."

"The more chaotic the Heavenly Court becomes, the clearer the minds of the Jie Sect disciples will be."

"He is the one in a hurry, not us."

Holy Mother Guiling thought for a moment and nodded.

"That's true."

"Watching others panic is certainly more comfortable than panicking oneself."

Zhao Xuan glanced at her.

"It's not easy for you to have realized that."

Just as Holy Mother Guiling was about to flare up, someone came to report from outside the hall.

"Senior Brother, someone from the Heavenly Court has arrived again."

Holy Mother Guiling stood up immediately.

"Has Haotian come?"

"No, it is Taibai Jinxing again."

Holy Mother Guiling's expression darkened.

"Still putting on airs?"

Zhao Xuan, however, was not surprised.

"Invite him in."

A moment later, Taibai Jinxing walked into the side hall.

Compared to the last time, the smile on his face had diminished significantly.

After entering, he first bowed to Zhao Xuan.

"Greetings, Immortal Zhao Xuan."

Zhao Xuan gestured to the seat beside him.

"Sit."

Taibai Jinxing did not dare to actually sit.

"Immortal, His Majesty has already investigated the matter regarding Qingxiaozi."

"Xuan Lang of the Water Department handled the matter improperly and has been punished to guard the Third Sea Eye of the East Sea for a thousand years."

"The involved immortal officials will also be strictly investigated."

Holy Mother Guiling sneered.

"Is that all?"

Taibai Jinxing's expression turned awkward.

Zhao Xuan remained silent.

Taibai Jinxing had no choice but to continue.

"His Majesty also said that Qingxiaozi has rendered meritorious service in guarding the Sea Eye over these years, and the Heavenly Court is willing to make up for the previously missed rewards."

Zhao Xuan finally looked up.

"How much will you make up?"

Taibai Jinxing was stunned.

He had not expected Zhao Xuan to ask so directly.

"This..."

Zhao Xuan pushed a jade slip toward him.

"You didn't calculate it? I've calculated it for you."

"This jade slip clearly states that Qingxiaozi guarded the Third Sea Eye for two thousand years. According to the standards for Water Department immortal officials, he should have received three thousand six hundred Water Mansion merit points, seventy-two bottles of spirit pills, and one protective dharma treasure."

"Because the backlash from the Sea Eye damaged his Dao foundation, additional spirit items to repair it are also required."

"The Heavenly Court previously provided three bottles of low-grade spirit pills."

"When will the rest be provided?"

Taibai Jinxing's hand trembled.

He was finally certain now.

Zhao Xuan had truly come to settle accounts.

Not just a verbal reckoning.

But an itemized account, complete with figures.

Holy Mother Guiling listened from the side, her eyes gleaming.

"Senior Brother, so it can be calculated like this?"

Zhao Xuan said indifferently:

"Of course it must be calculated."

"I didn't calculate it before because my Jie Sect values sentiment and righteousness."

"But now that the Investiture of the Gods List is being filled with my Jie Sect disciples, why should we keep muddled accounts?"

Taibai Jinxing's scalp went numb.

"Immortal, this old man needs to return and seek instructions from His Majesty."

"Very well."

Zhao Xuan said.

"Qingxiaozi's account is only the first."

"There are two thousand seven hundred and sixty-four accounts remaining."

Taibai Jinxing's face froze completely.

"Two thousand seven hundred and sixty-four accounts?"

Zhao Xuan nodded.

"And that is only regarding the Heavenly Court."

Taibai Jinxing's throat went dry.

"Immortal, if all these accounts are settled, the Heavenly Court might, for a time..."

Zhao Xuan interrupted him.

"The Heavenly Court cannot afford to pay?"

Taibai Jinxing dared neither to nod nor to shake his head.

Zhao Xuan smiled.

"It doesn't matter if you cannot pay."

"Use divine positions as collateral."

Taibai Jinxing looked up abruptly.

Zhao Xuan watched him.

"Isn't the goal to invest the gods?"

"Are divine positions not in short supply?"

"Fine."

"First, list clearly the contributions of the Jie Sect disciples who have worked for the Heavenly Court over these years."

"What divine positions they deserve, what merits they should receive, and what Heavenly Court fortune they should enjoy—write it all down, item by item."

"Whether they are willing to be on the List is a matter for my Jie Sect disciples themselves."

"But if anyone tries to use the excuse of 'shallow roots' or 'ignorance of the heavenly mandate' to treat my Jie Sect disciples as expendable fodder again..."

"Then do not blame the Jie Sect for refusing to recognize this List."

Taibai Jinxing's pupils constricted.

These words were too heavy.

Zhao Xuan was not simply refusing the Investiture of the Gods.

He was changing the rules of the Investiture.

Previously, the Investiture of the Gods meant the Heavenly Court lacked personnel, and the Three Sects filled the List.

Whoever ended up on the List was unlucky.

But Zhao Xuan's current stance was that even if Jie Sect disciples were to enter the Heavenly Court, their contributions must first be acknowledged, their treatment defined, and their authority clarified.

They could not die in vain.

They could not work for nothing.

They could not be slandered and then tossed into the List.

This had already touched the very roots of the Investiture of the Gods.

Taibai Jinxing dared not accept it.

He could only lower his voice and say:

"This matter, I fear, requires a decision from His Majesty and the Sages."

Zhao Xuan replied:

"Then let Haotian come."

"I have already said it."

"If he wants to talk, tell him to come to Golden Turtle Island himself."

Taibai Jinxing gave a bitter smile.

"Immortal, His Majesty is, after all, the Heavenly Emperor."

Zhao Xuan looked at him.

"And so what?"

Taibai Jinxing was left speechless.

Zhao Xuan continued:

"If the Heavenly Emperor lacks men, that is the Heavenly Emperor's problem."

"The Jie Sect does not."

"If the Heavenly Emperor feels his face is more important than the functioning of the Heavenly Court, then he may continue to put on airs."

"I am in no rush."

Taibai Jinxing could not find a response.

Because Zhao Xuan was truly not in a rush.

The disciples of the Jie Sect had all returned to Golden Turtle Island.

It was the Heavenly Court that was anxious.

Just as the atmosphere in the hall turned rigid, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from outside.

A Jie Sect disciple walked in quickly.

"Senior Brother, something has happened in the direction of the East Sea."

Zhao Xuan's brows twitched slightly.

"Speak."

The disciple said:

"The Third Sea Eye has completely spiraled out of control, and the spiritual tide has broken the seal."

"General Xuanlang was sent to the Third Sea Eye to atone for his crimes and stand guard. He had barely taken over the array eye for an hour before he was swept into the Sea Eye."

"The Water Department is requesting that our Jie Sect send Qingxiaozi back."

Holy Mother Guiling laughed out loud on the spot.

"It's only been a few days?"

"Weren't they quite capable before?"

Taibai Jinxing's face turned pale.

The thing he feared most had finally come to pass.

Zhao Xuan stood up.

"Where is Qingxiaozi?"

"He is recovering from his injuries on the island."

"Tell him to focus on his recovery."

"The matter of the Third Sea Eye has nothing to do with him."

Taibai Jinxing said anxiously:

"Immortal, if the Third Sea Eye loses control, the living beings in the surrounding seas will suffer."

Zhao Xuan looked at him.

"And so?"

Taibai Jinxing was struck dumb.

Zhao Xuan had already asked this question many times.

And so?

This was not caused by the Jie Sect.

Why should the Jie Sect be the one to clean up the mess every single time?

Zhao Xuan walked to the entrance of the hall, his gaze piercing through the endless void to watch the surging spiritual tide of the East Sea in the distance.

"Taibai, go back and tell Haotian."

"This is the second round."

"If the Heavenly Court still wishes to put on airs, then by all means, continue."

"If the Third Sea Eye truly collapses, the responsibility will not lie with the Jie Sect."

Taibai Jinxing's expression shifted.

A moment later, he finally lowered his head.

"Immortal, this old one dares to ask a question."

"If His Majesty were to come to Golden Turtle Island in person, would the Jie Sect be willing to step in and stabilize the Third Sea Eye?"

Zhao Xuan did not answer immediately.

He turned to look at Taibai Jinxing.

"It is not the Jie Sect stepping in."

"It is the Heavenly Court requesting the Jie Sect to step in."

"Remember that clearly."

Taibai Jinxing nodded bitterly.

"This old one will remember."

Zhao Xuan said:

"As for whether we are willing or not, we shall discuss that once Haotian arrives."

Taibai Jinxing dared not linger any longer and turned to leave.

No sooner had he flown off Golden Turtle Island than a beam of water light surged into the sky from the depths of the East Sea.

BOOM!

The entire sea region shook violently.

In the distance, toward the Third Sea Eye, black-blue spiritual tides churned toward the heavens.

Holy Mother Guiling's expression changed slightly.

"It really collapsed?"

Zhao Xuan stood where he was, his gaze unmoved.

The next moment, another urgent report in the form of a streak of light flew in from afar.

When the Jie Sect disciple landed, his voice was trembling.

"Senior Brother, the seal on the Third Sea Eye has cracked."

"The East Sea Dragon Palace has sent people."

"They say the Dragon King wishes to see you."

Zhao Xuan looked toward the depths of the East Sea.

A moment later, he said indifferently:

"Make him wait."

"Wait for Haotian first."