Zhao Xuan's expression didn't change.
"Your Majesty has misunderstood."
"I didn't force Your Majesty."
He lifted his eyes and looked toward the depths of the East Sea.
The dark blue spiritual tide was still churning over there.
"It's the Third Sea Eye that's forcing Your Majesty."
Haotian's hand slowly clenched.
He was the Heavenly Emperor.
Of course he could simply turn and leave.
But if he left, the Third Sea Eye would keep collapsing.
If something happened in the East Sea, the Dragon Palace would report it.
The Aquatic Race would resent him.
The living beings of the Primordial World would find out, too.
By then, they would say the Heavenly Court couldn't even hold down a single Sea Eye.
The shame they suffered then would be far worse than the little embarrassment they faced today.
The elderly Dragon Palace official finally couldn't hold out any longer. He fell to his knees.
"Your Majesty."
"The East Sea truly can't wait any longer."
"We beg Your Majesty to put the people first."
Haotian didn't look at him.
He only looked at Zhao Xuan.
Zhao Xuan looked back at him.
They both understood.
This wasn't about the Third Sea Eye.
This was the first rule being set.
Once this Jade Slip was written, it wouldn't be so easy for the Heavenly Court to order Interception Sect disciples around with a single sentence ever again.
After a long while,
Haotian raised his hand.
The Heavenly Emperor Seal slowly appeared.
Taibai Jinxing's heart jolted.
He knew Haotian was about to stamp it.
But just as the Heavenly Emperor Seal was about to come down,
Yuqing Immortal Light suddenly descended from the Nine Heavens.
A cool, detached voice rang out from beyond the clouds.
"The Investiture of the Gods has yet to be decided. How dare an Interception Sect disciple demand a divine position first?"
Zhao Gongming's expression darkened.
Killing intent suddenly flared in Holy Mother Guiling's eyes.
Zhao Xuan, however, smiled.
"Finally, you couldn't hold back."
Yuqing Immortal Light descended.
The Heavenly Emperor Seal stopped in midair.
Haotian didn't bring it down.
Taibai Jinxing's heart sank.
The elderly Dragon Palace official knelt on the sea, his face even paler.
The Third Sea Eye was still collapsing.
Yet, at this very moment, the Chan Sect had arrived.
Had the Chan Sect really been unable to resist meddling so soon?
Above the sea of clouds,
a figure slowly materialized.
His Daoist robes were immaculate, and his expression calm.
Yuqing Immortal Light swirled around him.
Zhao Gongming's expression darkened.
"Guangchengzi?"
Guangchengzi, foremost among the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect.
After appearing, he didn't descend to the sea. He simply stood atop the clouds, looking down at Golden Turtle Island.
"Zhao Xuan."
"The Investiture of the Gods is the great tide of the Heavenly Dao."
"The divine positions and their authority are for the various saints and the Heavenly Court to decide."
"The Interception Sect disciples haven't even entered the tribulation, yet they're demanding divine positions first."
"This is improper."
His voice wasn't loud.
Yet it carried the characteristic aloofness of the Yuqing lineage.
Holy Mother Guiling sneered.
"Improper?"
"Qingxiaozi guarded the Sea Eye for two thousand years. Where was your Chan Sect?"
Guangchengzi glanced at her.
"This poor Daoist is speaking of the rules of the Investiture of the Gods."
"Not the affairs of the East Sea."
Zhao Xuan smiled.
"You're quite good at drawing distinctions."
Guangchengzi's gaze settled on Zhao Xuan.
"Zhao Xuan, the Third Sea Eye is in peril, and the living beings of the East Sea are suffering."
"You don't save them first, but instead use this to force the Heavenly Court to put its agreement in writing."
"Is this the Interception Sect's compassion?"
At these words,
the elderly Dragon Palace official's expression changed.
Haotian remained impassive, watching the situation unfold.
Taibai Jinxing glanced at Guangchengzi.
He understood what Guangchengzi meant.
Saving people was the righteous cause.
Putting it in writing was the condition.
As long as Zhao Xuan could be painted as someone exploiting disaster to demand power, the Heavenly Court could seize the chance to back down.
Zhao Xuan didn't rush to respond.
He looked at Guangchengzi.
"You say I'm exploiting disaster to demand power?"
Guangchengzi replied calmly:
"Is that not so?"
Zhao Xuan nodded.
"Then let me ask you."
"Who caused this disaster?"
Guangchengzi's brows twitched slightly.
Zhao Xuan looked at Haotian.
"Was it caused by the Interception Sect withdrawing its people?"
"Or was it because the Heavenly Court's Water Department couldn't handle the situation?"
Haotian fell silent.
Zhao Xuan looked at Taibai Jinxing again.
"Did Qingxiaozi hand over the formation diagram?"
"Did he hand over the command token?"
"Did he hand over the records of the spiritual tide?"
"Did the Water Department confirm them with its seal?"
Taibai Jinxing replied quietly:
"All of them."
Zhao Xuan turned back to Guangchengzi.
"You heard him?"
"This is the Heavenly Court's affair."
"The Water Department is at fault."
"The Heavenly Court came to invite him."
"The Heavenly Court should put its agreement in writing."
"Your Chan Sect didn't guard the Sea Eye, didn't bear the karma, and didn't save the East Sea."
"Now you've come to stop the Interception Sect from claiming credit."
"Guangchengzi."
"What do you call that?"
Guangchengzi's eyes turned cold.
Holy Mother Guiling bared her teeth in a grin.
"Senior Disciple Brother asked you a question."
"What do you call that?"
Guangchengzi didn't look at her.
He only looked at Zhao Xuan.
"Interception Sect disciples are already entangled in worldly karma."
"Guarding the Sea Eye is part of Qingxiaozi's karma."
"Once you enter the mortal world, you must bear the tribulation."
Zhao Gongming's expression turned cold at once.
"What a fine 'must bear the tribulation.'"
Zhao Xuan raised a hand to stop Zhao Gongming.
He remained perfectly calm.
"Where does worldly karma come from?"
Guangchengzi frowned.
Zhao Xuan stepped forward.
"Is guarding the Sea Eye worldly karma?"
"Is protecting the Human Race worldly karma?"
"Is putting down the demon unrest worldly karma?"
"Is patrolling the stars for the Heavenly Court worldly karma?"
Guangchengzi didn't answer.
Zhao Xuan continued:
"When the Heavenly Court can't hold things together, it asks Interception Sect disciples to do the work."
"Once they've finished, your Chan Sect says they've become entangled in karma."
"When your Chan Sect doesn't do it, that means your roots are deep and your virtue is profound."
"You people are certainly spotless, aren't you!"
Outside Golden Turtle Island,
the eyes of many Interception Sect disciples had reddened.
Those words struck home.
Before, they hadn't felt wronged.
Only now did they understand.
The more they did, the more sins others claimed they'd committed.
Guangchengzi's voice turned colder.
"The Interception Sect is a mixed lot, with countless feathered and horned creatures among its ranks."
"If their karma isn't restrained, the Primordial World will fall into chaos."
Killing intent suddenly flared in Holy Mother Guiling's eyes.
"Say that again?"
Yuqing Immortal Light trembled slightly.
Guangchengzi did not retreat.
Though they were both disciples of a Sage, and his cultivation was inferior, he still wasn't afraid of Holy Mother Guiling.
Besides, Chan Sect and Interception Sect had never been on the same side.
If Holy Mother Guiling truly dared to attack, then he, Guangchengzi, would have something to hold against her!
But Zhao Xuan once again stopped Holy Mother Guiling, then turned to Guangchengzi with a cold laugh.
"'The Primordial World will fall into chaos'?"
"Then the Third Sea Eye is in chaos right now."
"My Jie Sect disciples simply aren't going to do anything about it."
"What can you do to me?"
Guangchengzi's eyes narrowed.
Zhao Xuan raised his hand and pointed toward the depths of the East Sea.
"Besides, the Third Sea Eye is right there."
"Since Junior Brother is the foremost of the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect,"
"with such profound roots,"
"and untouched by worldly affairs,"
"then you can go stabilize that Sea Eye."
The sea fell silent in an instant.
The Dragon Palace's elderly minister jerked his head up.
Haotian also looked toward Guangchengzi.
Taibai Jinxing sighed inwardly.
Here it came.
Zhao Xuan had finally passed this blade to Chan Sect.
If Guangchengzi accepted,
Chan Sect would be drawn into the Heavenly Court's game.
If they couldn't stabilize the Third Sea Eye, Chan Sect would lose face.
If they did stabilize it, they would be entangled in worldly karma.
If he refused,
then all that lofty righteousness he'd just spoken of would become empty words.
Guangchengzi fell silent for a moment.
"This Daoist came for the Investiture Momentum."
"The Heavenly Court will handle the East Sea's waters."
Holy Mother Guiling burst out laughing.
"Didn't you just say the creatures of the East Sea were suffering?"
"How come it's the Heavenly Court's business when it's your turn?"
Zhao Gongming said coldly:
"When the Interception Sect goes, it's righteousness for the Three Realms."
"When Chan Sect goes, it's none of your concern."
"Guangchengzi, the rules of your Jade Emptiness lineage sure come in handy."
Guangchengzi's expression finally darkened.
But he still kept his composure.
"Zhao Xuan, there's no need to twist my words."
"I'm not stopping anyone from saving the Sea Eye."
"I'm stopping you from using the rescue of the Sea Eye as an excuse to demand your Investiture positions ahead of time."
Zhao Xuan nodded.
"Good."
"Then let's talk about the Investiture."
Guangchengzi's gaze darkened.
Zhao Xuan looked at him.
"The Investiture hasn't been decided yet, right?"
Guangchengzi said:
"That's right."
Zhao Xuan asked again:
"Since the Investiture hasn't been decided, who gets to decide that Jie Sect disciples should be put on the list?"
Guangchengzi's eyes shifted slightly.
Before you continue