Visitors from Yuxu Palace, a sanctimonious demeanor

Zhao Xuan's expression remained unchanged.

"Your Majesty has misunderstood."

"I am not forcing Your Majesty."

He raised his eyes, looking toward the depths of the East Sea.

The black-blue spiritual tide was still churning there.

"It is the Third Sea Eye that is forcing Your Majesty."

Haotian's hand slowly tightened.

He was the Heavenly Emperor.

He could, of course, turn around and leave.

But if he left, the Third Sea Eye would continue to collapse.

If something happened to the East Sea, the Dragon Palace would submit a report.

The aquatic tribes would harbor resentment.

The living beings of the Primordial World would also know.

By then, the masses would say that the Heavenly Court could not even suppress a single sea eye.

The face lost then would be far greater than the bit lost today.

The old official of the Dragon Palace finally could not hold on any longer and knelt down.

"Your Majesty."

"The East Sea truly cannot wait any longer."

"I implore Your Majesty to prioritize the living beings."

Haotian did not look at him.

He only looked at Zhao Xuan.

Zhao Xuan looked back at him.

Both of them were clear on the matter.

This was not about the Third Sea Eye.

This was the first rule being set.

Once this jade slip was written, it would no longer be so easy for the Heavenly Court to command the disciples of the Jie Sect with a single word in the future.

A long time passed.

Haotian raised his hand.

A Heavenly Emperor Seal slowly emerged.

Taibai Jinxing's heart jolted.

He knew that Haotian was preparing to affix the seal.

But at the very moment the Heavenly Emperor Seal was about to descend.

Above the nine heavens, Yuqing Immortal Light suddenly cascaded down.

A cold voice drifted in from beyond the clouds.

"The Investiture of the Gods is not yet decided; how dare a disciple of the Jie Sect demand a divine position first?"

Zhao Gongming's face darkened.

Killing intent surged in Holy Mother Guiling's eyes.

Zhao Xuan, however, smiled.

Finally, they couldn't hold back.

The Yuqing Immortal Light descended.

The Heavenly Emperor Seal hung suspended in mid-air.

Haotian did not continue to affix the seal.

Taibai Jinxing's heart sank.

The old official of the East Sea Dragon Palace knelt on the surface of the sea, his face turning even paler.

The Third Sea Eye was still collapsing.

Yet, at this very moment, the Chan Sect had arrived.

Was the Chan Sect already unable to resist interfering?

Above the sea of clouds.

A figure slowly manifested.

His Daoist robe was pristine, his expression indifferent.

Yuqing Immortal Light swirled around his body.

Zhao Gongming's face darkened.

"Guangchengzi?"

Guangchengzi, the leader of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect.

After appearing, he did not descend to the sea surface, but merely stood upon the clouds, looking down at Golden Turtle Island.

"Zhao Xuan."

"The Investiture of the Gods is the great trend of the Heavenly Dao."

"The authority of divine positions is to be decided by the Sages and the Heavenly Court."

"The disciples of the Jie Sect have yet to enter the tribulation, yet you demand divine positions first."

"This action is improper."

His voice was not loud.

Yet it carried the cold detachment customary to the Yuqing lineage.

Holy Mother Guiling sneered.

"Improper?"

"Qingxiaozi has suppressed the Sea Eye for two thousand years; where were you of the Chan Sect then?"

Guangchengzi glanced at her.

"This poor Daoist is speaking of the rules of the Investiture of the Gods."

"Not the water affairs of the East Sea."

Zhao Xuan laughed.

"You draw a clear line, don't you?"

Guangchengzi's gaze fell upon Zhao Xuan.

"Zhao Xuan, the Third Sea Eye is in crisis, and the living beings of the East Sea are suffering."

"Instead of saving them first, you use this to force the Heavenly Court to sign the decree."

"Is this the compassion of the Jie Sect?"

As these words were spoken.

The expressions of the old ministers of the Dragon Palace shifted.

Haotian remained unmoved, watching the situation unfold.

Taibai Jinxing glanced at Guangchengzi.

He understood Guangchengzi's intent.

Saving people was the greater righteousness.

Signing the decree was the condition.

As long as he could frame Zhao Xuan as using a disaster to extort power, the Heavenly Court could take a step back.

Zhao Xuan, however, was not in a hurry.

He looked at Guangchengzi.

"You say I am using the disaster to extort power?"

Guangchengzi said indifferently:

"Is that not the case?"

Zhao Xuan nodded.

"Then let me ask you."

"Who caused the disaster?"

Guangchengzi's brows twitched slightly.

Zhao Xuan looked toward Haotian.

"Was it caused by the Jie Sect withdrawing its people?"

"Or was it caused by the Water Department of the Heavenly Court failing to hold the line?"

Haotian remained silent.

Zhao Xuan then looked at Taibai Jinxing:

"Did Qingxiaozi hand over the formation diagrams?"

"Did he hand over the command tokens?"

"Did he hand over the records of the spiritual tides?"

"Has the Water Department confirmed the seals?"

Taibai Jinxing lowered his voice.

"They have."

Zhao Xuan looked back at Guangchengzi.

"Did you hear that?"

"The matter is the Heavenly Court's business."

"The fault is the Water Department's fault."

"The people were invited by the Heavenly Court."

"The signature should be the Heavenly Court's."

"Your Chan Sect does not suppress the Sea Eye, does not shoulder the karma, and does not save the East Sea."

"Yet now you come to intercept the Jie Sect to claim the credit."

"Guangchengzi."

"What do you call this?"

Guangchengzi's gaze turned slightly cold.

Holy Mother Guiling grinned.

"The Eldest Senior Brother is asking you."

"What do you call this?"

Guangchengzi did not look at her.

He only stared at Zhao Xuan.

"Jie Sect disciples are inherently tainted by the karma of the mortal world."

"Qingxiaozi suppressing the Sea Eye is where his karma lies."

"Since he has entered the mortal world, he should bear the tribulation."

Zhao Gongming's expression turned cold instantly.

"A fine 'should bear the tribulation'."

Zhao Xuan raised a hand, stopping Zhao Gongming.

He remained very calm.

"Where does the karma of the mortal world come from?"

Guangchengzi frowned.

Zhao Xuan took a step forward.

"Suppressing the Sea Eye—is that not karma of the mortal world?"

"Protecting the human race—is that not karma of the mortal world?"

"Quelling demonic chaos—is that not karma of the mortal world?"

"Patrolling the stars on behalf of the Heavenly Court—is that not karma of the mortal world?"

Guangchengzi did not answer.

Zhao Xuan continued.

"When the Heavenly Court couldn't hold on, you asked my Jie Sect disciples to do the work."

"After it was done, your Chan Sect said it was being tainted by karma."

"When your Chan Sect does nothing, it is called having deep roots and profound conduct."

"You lot are certainly clean, aren't you!"

Outside Golden Turtle Island.

Many Jie Sect disciples had reddened eyes.

These words struck a chord in their hearts.

In the past, they hadn't felt aggrieved.

Only now did they understand.

It turned out that the more they did, the more sins they were accused of in the mouths of others.

Guangchengzi's voice grew colder.

"The Jie Sect disciples are a mixed bag, with many who wear fur and horns."

"If their karma is not restrained, the Primordial World will surely fall into chaos."

Killing intent surged in Holy Mother Guiling's eyes.

"Say that again?"

The Yuqing Immortal Light trembled slightly.

Guangchengzi did not retreat.

As fellow disciples of a Saint, even if his cultivation was inferior, he did not fear Holy Mother Guiling.

Furthermore, the Chan Sect and the Jie Sect were never on the same path.

If Holy Mother Guiling truly dared to make a move, then he, Guangchengzi, would be able to seize this handle!

However, Zhao Xuan blocked Holy Mother Guiling once again at this moment, turning to sneer at Guangchengzi.

"The Primordial World is bound to fall into chaos?"

"Well, the Third Sea Eye is in chaos now."

"My Jie Sect disciples simply refuse to intervene."

"What can you do about it?"

Guangchengzi's eyes narrowed.

Zhao Xuan raised his hand, pointing toward the depths of the East Sea.

"Besides, the Third Sea Eye is right there."

"Since Junior Brother is the head of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect."

"With deep roots and great virtue."

"Untainted by the red dust."

"Then you shall be the one to suppress this Sea Eye, Junior Brother."

The surface of the sea fell silent in an instant.

The old ministers of the Dragon Palace looked up abruptly.

Haotian also looked toward Guangchengzi.

Taibai Jinxing sighed inwardly.

It was here.

Zhao Xuan had finally handed this blade to the Chan Sect.

If Guangchengzi accepted, the Chan Sect would be drawn into the Heavenly Court's trap.

If the Third Sea Eye could not be suppressed, the Chan Sect would lose face.

If it were suppressed, they would be tainted by the karma of the red dust.

If he did not accept, then all the high-minded rhetoric from before would become nothing but empty words.

Guangchengzi remained silent for a moment.

"This poor Daoist came here for the sake of the Investiture of the Gods."

"The water affairs of the East Sea are for the Heavenly Court to handle."

Holy Mother Guiling let out a laugh.

"Didn't you just say that the creatures of the East Sea were suffering?"

"How is it that when it's your turn, it suddenly becomes a matter for the Heavenly Court?"

Zhao Gongming said coldly:

"When the Jie Sect goes, it is for the sake of the Three Realms."

"When the Chan Sect goes, it is 'none of my business'."

"Guangchengzi, the rules of your Jade Emptiness lineage are truly convenient."

Guangchengzi's expression finally turned somewhat unsightly.

But he still did not lose his composure.

"Zhao Xuan, there is no need for you to resort to sophistry."

"This poor Daoist is not obstructing the rescue of the Sea Eye."

"This poor Daoist is obstructing you from using the rescue of the Sea Eye as a pretext to claim positions in the Investiture of the Gods ahead of time."

Zhao Xuan nodded.

"Fine."

"Then let us speak of the Investiture of the Gods."

Guangchengzi's gaze darkened.

Zhao Xuan looked at him.

"The Investiture of the Gods has not been decided yet, has it?"

Guangchengzi said:

"Correct."

Zhao Xuan asked again:

"Since the Investiture of the Gods has yet to be decided, who determines which disciples of the Jie Sect should be on the list?"

Guangchengzi's expression shifted slightly.