Every Word is Reasonable, Then What Are You Here For?!

Outside Golden Turtle Island.

As Zhao Xuan finished his question.

Guangchengzi's gaze had completely changed.

Because every word Zhao Xuan spoke stood firmly on the foundation of "justice."

He was utterly unable to refute it.

Crucially.

Zhao Xuan continued.

"With the divine positions yet to be determined, who decided that the disciples of the Chan Sect could avoid the tribulation?"

"With merits and demerits yet to be settled, who decided that my Jie Sect has shallow foundations?"

"With the heavenly mandate yet to be clarified, who gave you the qualification to stand here and claim it is improper for the Jie Sect to seek divine positions?"

Sentence after sentence.

There was no roaring.

Yet it weighed heavier than any roar.

Guangchengzi's fingers tightened slightly within his sleeves.

The Yuqing Immortal Light upon the clouds sank a fraction as well.

Haotian watched Zhao Xuan, his eyes deepening significantly.

He suddenly realized.

What Zhao Xuan was truly forcing was not just the Heavenly Court.

It was the Chan Sect.

And perhaps even the entire rules of the Investiture of the Gods.

Guangchengzi said coldly:

"The disciples of the Chan Sect possess profound virtue and blessings, naturally protected by our Master."

Zhao Xuan looked at him.

"Where do these virtues and blessings come from?"

Guangchengzi frowned.

Zhao Xuan said:

"You do not enter the world."

"You do not resolve tribulations."

"You do not suppress the sea eyes."

"You do not protect the human race."

"You do not quell chaos for the Heavenly Court."

"You only cultivate in seclusion at Kunlun."

"And then you claim to have profound virtue and blessings."

He paused.

"Did the luck of the Primordial World fly into your sleeves on its own?"

The breathing of the Jie Sect disciples grew heavy.

Satisfying.

It was incredibly satisfying.

These were things no one had dared to ask before.

And no one had even thought they could ask.

But today, in front of Haotian, Taibai, the Dragon Palace, and Guangchengzi, Zhao Xuan had asked them directly.

By what right?

By what right did the Chan Sect enjoy luck without doing any work?

By what right did the Jie Sect have to enter the tribulation while doing all the work?

Guangchengzi finally let his face go cold.

"Zhao Xuan."

"Are you questioning the Chan Sect?"

Zhao Xuan's expression remained unchanged.

"I am settling accounts."

He raised his hand.

Another jade slip flew out.

It hung in mid-air.

There were not many words on the jade slip.

Only a single line.

"Before the Investiture of the Gods, the merits and demerits of the Three Sects shall be publicly audited."

Guangchengzi's pupils constricted sharply.

Haotian also looked abruptly at the jade slip.

Taibai Jinxing gasped.

This was Zhao Xuan's true blade.

Qingxiaozi was the first account.

The Heavenly Court was the first table.

Now, Zhao Xuan intended to drag the Three Sects up as well.

Guangchengzi's voice turned cold.

"The merits and demerits of the Three Sects—are you qualified to audit them?"

Zhao Xuan said indifferently:

"Then who is?"

Guangchengzi faltered.

Zhao Xuan continued:

"Your Chan Sect can claim the Jie Sect deserves to enter the tribulation."

"Can my Jie Sect not ask what merits the Chan Sect possesses?"

"Your Chan Sect can claim the Jie Sect is unworthy of demanding divine positions."

"Can my Jie Sect not ask by what right the Chan Sect avoids the tribulation?"

"Guangchengzi."

"Is this the Yuqing rule?"

Guangchengzi did not answer.

Because to respond to this was to ignite the conflict between the Three Sects.

He could not answer lightly.

Nor could he easily retreat.

Just then.

A deafening roar erupted from the depths of the East Sea once more.

BOOM!

A black-blue tide of spiritual energy surged into the nine heavens.

The old ministers of the Dragon Palace turned deathly pale.

"Your Majesty!"

"The Third Sea Eye has cracked to fifty percent!"

Haotian's expression sank completely.

He looked at Guangchengzi.

"Guangchengzi."

"If the Chan Sect will not take on the Third Sea Eye, then do not block the Heavenly Court from inviting others again."

Guangchengzi's gaze shifted.

Haotian's words carried heavy weight.

The Heavenly Court had its own dignity.

It was fine for the Chan Sect to use the mandate of heaven to suppress the Jie Sect.

But they could not make the Heavenly Court take the blame for the collapse of the East Sea on their behalf.

Zhao Xuan looked at Haotian.

"Your Majesty sees things clearly, at least."

Haotian did not respond to this.

Zhao Xuan did not continue to press him either.

He merely looked at Guangchengzi.

"If you want to block me, you may."

"Then write this sentence into the jade slip."

Guangchengzi said coldly:

"What sentence?"

Zhao Xuan raised a finger and tapped the air.

A second line of text appeared on the jade slip.

"Those who have not rendered service shall not enjoy the divine throne first."

"Those who have not borne the tribulation shall not divide the providence first."

Zhao Xuan looked up.

"This one."

"Please have Kunlun sign it as well."

The Yuqing Immortal Light shuddered violently.

Guangchengzi's expression changed once again.

Sign?

How could he possibly sign it?

If he signed it, it would be equivalent to admitting that the disciples of the Chan Sect must also have their merits and demerits publicly audited.

It would be equivalent to admitting that the Chan Sect could not simply occupy the providence without bearing the karma.

It would be equivalent to admitting that those blessed immortals on Kunlun Mountain who were in seclusion to avoid the tribulation would also have to be brought into the light and asked:

By what right do you avoid the tribulation?

Guangchengzi said coldly:

"Zhao Xuan, you are presumptuous."

Zhao Xuan looked at him.

"That phrase again."

"When you cannot argue with reason, you say I am presumptuous."

"When you cannot answer, you say I am disrespectful."

"Guangchengzi, you are the head of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect."

"You are not a servant at the gates of Yuxu Palace."

"Since you have come today, speak clearly."

Guangchengzi's eyes grew colder.

"I have already said it."

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

Zhao Xuan nodded.

"Fine."

"Then please, Junior Brother, tell me."

"Within this grand trend of the Heavenly Dao, who has merit?"

"Who has fault?"

"Who should be on the list?"

"Who should avoid the tribulation?"

"Who decides?"

Guangchengzi said:

"It shall be decided by the Dao Ancestor and the various Sages."

Zhao Xuan smiled.

"Then what have you come here for?"

Guangchengzi's expression stiffened.

Zhao Xuan's voice was calm.

"Since it shall be decided by the Dao Ancestor and the various Sages."

"By what right do you claim in advance that my Jie Sect seeking divine thrones is inappropriate?"

"Since the Investiture of the Gods is not yet settled."

"By what right do you claim in advance that my Jie Sect disciples are tainted by karma and should bear the tribulation?"

"Since nothing is yet settled."

"By what right does your Chan Sect stand on the shore, pointing at the Jie Sect disciples saving people in the sea, calling them wet-born and egg-hatched, lacking in virtue?"

Holy Mother Guiling sneered.

"Speak up."

"Weren't you quite eloquent about the Heavenly Mandate just a moment ago?"

"Where is that Heavenly Mandate now?"

Zhao Gongming also stepped forward.

"Guangchengzi, if your Chan Sect truly values rules, then sign it."

"If you won't sign, then don't stand in our way."

"You want to avoid the work, yet you want to share in the fortune, all while standing on the sidelines to claim others are unworthy."

"How could such a bargain possibly exist?"

BOOM!

Deep within the East Sea, another muffled explosion erupted.

The black-blue spiritual tide surged even higher.

The surface of the sea churned violently.

An old official of the Dragon Palace trembled all over, barely able to keep his footing.

"Your Majesty!"

"We cannot delay any longer!"

"If the Third Sea Eye cracks to sixty percent, it will no longer be something Qingxiaozi can suppress alone!"

Haotian's expression turned grim to the extreme.

He glanced at Guangchengzi.

Then, he looked toward Zhao Xuan.

"Zhao Xuan, suppress the Sea Eye first."

"We shall talk afterward."

Zhao Xuan shook his head.

"No."

Haotian's gaze darkened.

Zhao Xuan continued:

"That is exactly how the previous negotiations ended."

"Do the work first."

"Claim the credit later."

"Save the people first."

"Settle the accounts later."

"In the end, the accounts vanish, the credit disappears, and all the karma falls upon the Jie Sect."

"Your Majesty."

"My Jie Sect will not fall into the same pit a second time."

Haotian fell silent.

Taibai Jinxing whispered:

"Your Majesty, sign the Heavenly Court's petition first."

"The East Sea cannot afford to wait."

Haotian's fingers tightened.

Guangchengzi immediately interjected:

"Your Majesty, if this petition is signed, it will ruin the rules of the Investiture of the Gods."

Zhao Xuan looked at him.

"Then you go and suppress it."

Guangchengzi did not move.

Zhao Xuan continued:

"You won't suppress it, yet you won't let others do so either."

"You won't shoulder the karma, yet you won't let those who do claim the credit."

"Guangchengzi."

"Are you protecting the rules of the Investiture of the Gods?"

"Or are you afraid that this jade slip will tear away the clean facade of your Chan Sect?"

Guangchengzi's body was suddenly engulfed in a brilliant surge of Yuqing Immortal Light.

A wave of pressure bore down upon the surface of the sea.

Holy Mother Guiling's eyes sharpened, and she immediately stepped forward.

Zhao Xuan raised a hand.

"Let him press down."

Holy Mother Guiling gritted her teeth and stopped.

Zhao Xuan stood where he was, not moving an inch.

"Guangchengzi."

"If you use your power to suppress me today, then that is perfect."

"I will write this account down as well."

"The Chan Sect does not save the East Sea."

"It refuses to accept the karma."

"It refuses to sign for the merits and demerits."

"And it uses the Yuqing Immortal Light to obstruct the Jie Sect from saving the sea."

"I will make sure the entire Primordial World sees this debt."