Yuxu Palace's Sacred Sound, the Sage Retreats Half a Step!

Zhao Xuan finished his question.

Guangchengzi did not answer.

Zhao Xuan continued:

"If you feel I have written anything incorrectly, you may sign it."

"If you do not sign, I shall record it exactly as it happened."

"I will send this record to Zixiao Palace."

"I will also send it to Bajing Palace, Yuxu Palace, and Mount Sumeru."

"I will let all the Sages see."

"Just how deep the so-called 'profound virtue' of the Chan Sect truly is."

"Where exactly does the thickness lie?"

A surge of icy coldness erupted in Guangchengzi's eyes.

The Yuqing Immortal Light above the clouds surged violently.

Zhao Xuan's expression remained unchanged.

"What?"

"Are you going to use your status to suppress others again?"

"That is fine, too."

"I will simply add another line."

Holy Mother Guiling let out a laugh.

"Senior Brother, do not forget to write it clearly."

"The head of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, unable to win an argument, resorts to violence."

Zhao Gongming said coldly:

"You must also specify."

"When the East Sea was on the verge of collapse, he did not stabilize the sea, but only suppressed people."

Guangchengzi's face turned livid.

For the first time, he felt as though standing there had trapped him in an invisible web.

He could not win the argument.

He could not sign the document.

If he resorted to violence, it would be recorded.

If he left, it would look like a guilty conscience.

Zhao Xuan looked at him.

"Guangchengzi."

"You came here today wanting to preserve the untarnished reputation of the Chan Sect."

"But have you ever considered?"

"A reputation is not something you can talk into existence."

"It is earned through your actions."

"The East Sea is in peril, yet your Chan Sect refuses to help."

"The Heavenly Court invites aid, yet your Chan Sect comes to obstruct."

"The merits and faults of the Three Sects are presented, yet your Chan Sect refuses to sign."

"With all this, how can you claim to have profound virtue?"

No one spoke over the sea.

Haotian did not intervene either.

Because at this moment, Zhao Xuan was berating the Chan Sect.

Not the Heavenly Court.

In fact, for the Heavenly Court, the more embarrassed Guangchengzi became, the more it proved that Haotian's earlier decision to affix his seal was not a loss of face, but a measure to cut losses.

Guangchengzi finally could not hold back and took a step forward.

The Yuqing Immortal Light pressed down fiercely.

Holy Mother Guiling's gaze sharpened.

Zhao Xuan, however, merely raised the Jade Slip.

"If you want to suppress me, then do it."

"I am recording it."

Guangchengzi's movements came to an abrupt halt.

Just at this moment.

From the direction of Kunlun.

A wisp of Saintly pressure suddenly bore down across the East Sea.

The sea of clouds split apart.

Every sound between heaven and earth seemed to be silenced by an invisible hand.

The next moment.

An indifferent voice drifted down from beyond the nine heavens.

"Zhao Xuan."

"You have crossed the line."

Yuanshi's voice fell.

The East Sea went silent.

The sea breeze stopped.

The sound of the waves faded.

Guangchengzi's back finally straightened once more.

The Jade Emptiness Saint had arrived.

Even if it were only a voice.

It was enough to let him catch his breath after the humiliation he had just endured.

Holy Mother Guiling's expression darkened.

The magic power in Zhao Gongming's palm stirred slightly.

Zhao Xuan raised a hand.

"Do not move."

Holy Mother Guiling gritted her teeth.

"Senior Brother."

Zhao Xuan did not look at her.

He raised his head, looking toward the direction of Kunlun.

Then, he bowed slowly.

"Disciple Zhao Xuan pays respects to Uncle-Master Yuanshi."

As soon as these words were spoken.

The atmosphere over the East Sea grew even heavier.

Zhao Xuan was not arrogant.

He was not angry.

He did not even show the slightest bit of disrespect.

Yet the Jade Slip in his hand was still glowing.

Those few lines of text remained.

Guangchengzi refused to sign.

Refused to acknowledge the calculation of merits and demerits.

Obstructed the Heavenly Court from requesting Jie Sect disciples to suppress the sea.

Not a single charge was missing.

Yuanshi's voice fell faintly.

"Since you know this Seat is your Uncle-Master, you should know."

"The merits and demerits of the Three Sects are not for a mere disciple like you to discuss recklessly."

Zhao Xuan lowered his head and said:

"This disciple understands."

Guangchengzi's eyes flickered.

Holy Mother Guiling frowned.

Haotian also looked toward Zhao Xuan.

Zhao Xuan continued:

"This disciple dares not discuss the Saint recklessly."

"Nor do I dare to determine the Investiture of the Gods on behalf of the Dao Ancestor."

"What this disciple has written today concerns only the matters of the East Sea."

"Who came?"

"Who blocked?"

"Who signed?"

"Who refused to sign?"

"Who suppressed the seas?"

"Who stood by and watched?"

He raised the Jade Slip.

His voice remained calm.

"If this disciple has written a single word incorrectly."

"I ask Martial Uncle to order Junior Brother Guangchengzi to sign and correct it."

The surface of the sea fell silent once more.

Guangchengzi's expression shifted.

This sentence was harder to answer than a direct confrontation with Yuanshi.

Because Zhao Xuan did not say the Saint was wrong.

He merely asked Guangchengzi to make the correction.

Yet, Guangchengzi could not sign.

To sign would be to open a breach in the merits and demerits of the three sects.

To sign would mean the Chan Sect could no longer merely stand on the shore as True Immortals of Fortune, judging others.

Yuanshi did not speak immediately.

That Saintly pressure still hung over the East Sea.

But it did not continue to press down.

Because the sword intent of Tongtian had also risen from the depths of Golden Turtle Island.

It remained unsheathed.

But everyone knew.

It was there.

Zhao Xuan maintained his bowing posture.

He was not impatient.

Nor did he retreat.

This was the most agonizing part.

He had not been disrespectful to the Saint.

Yet that Jade Slip was more glaring than any retort.

After a long while.

Yuanshi's voice sounded once more.

"Guangchengzi."

Guangchengzi immediately lowered his head.

"This disciple is here."

"Return."

Guangchengzi was stunned.

"Master..."

Yuanshi's voice turned cold.

"Is today's display not embarrassing enough for you?"

Guangchengzi's face turned pale in an instant.

The words were not harsh.

But they were heavier than any punishment.

Because they were spoken in front of the Heavenly Court, the Dragon Palace, and the immortals of the Jie Sect.

As the head of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect.

He was indeed a disgrace today.

When he spoke of the heavenly mandate, Zhao Xuan asked him why the Investiture of the Gods was not yet settled.

When he spoke of karma, Zhao Xuan asked him where that karma originated.

He spoke of the suffering of the creatures in the East Sea, yet refused to go and suppress the Sea Eye.

He forced the Heavenly Court to halt the sealing, only to have Haotian cut him off on the spot.

Now, even his Master had ordered him to return.

Guangchengzi's fingers turned white as he gripped them inside his sleeves.

Yet, he dared not speak further.

He could only bow.

"This disciple obeys."

Zhao Xuan looked at him.

"Junior Brother Guangchengzi."

Guangchengzi's footsteps faltered.

Zhao Xuan said:

"After returning to Kunlun, remember to explain this account clearly."

"Do not just say that I, Zhao Xuan, am presumptuous."

"Also explain why you did not sign today."

Guangchengzi turned his head abruptly.

The chill in his eyes nearly turned into substance.

Zhao Xuan's expression remained unchanged.

"What I wrote is the truth."

"If Junior Brother feels otherwise, you may change it now."

The Jade Slip hung in the air.

The clear light remained unextinguished.

Guangchengzi stared at that Jade Slip, his chest heaving once.

In the end, he said nothing.

With a swirl of Yuqing Immortal Light.

His figure vanished above the sea of clouds.

Holy Mother Guiling sneered.

"He left quickly enough."

Zhao Gongming said in a low voice:

"He is not just leaving."

"It is because this account cannot be erased today."

Haotian did not speak.

Taibai Jinxing remained silent as well.

Because everyone knew that Zhao Gongming was right.

This account could not be erased.

Guangchengzi was gone.

But that Jade Slip remained.

The Heavenly Court had seen it.

The Dragon Palace had seen it.

The Jie Sect had seen it.

Even Yuanshi had heard it himself.

From the direction of Kunlun, Yuanshi's voice descended for the final time.

"Zhao Xuan."

"That is not how accounts are settled."

Zhao Xuan looked up.

"This disciple accepts the instruction."

"On the day the Investiture of the Gods List emerges."

"This disciple will bring this account and once again ask the Sages to teach me how to settle it."

Above the East Sea, the Yuqing Immortal Light suddenly turned cold.

Tongtian's sword intent also trembled slightly.

A faint voice drifted out from Biyou Palace.

"He wants to settle the accounts."

"Then let him ask."

"Since when have my Jie Sect disciples been unable to even ask a single question?"

Yuanshi did not respond again.

A moment later.

The Saint's pressure from the direction of Kunlun slowly receded.

Above the East Sea, the atmosphere that had been suppressed to the extreme finally loosened.

Only then did many Jie Sect disciples realize that their palms were drenched in cold sweat.

That was a Saint, after all.

Zhao Xuan did not confront him head-on.

Nor did he retreat.

He simply asked Guangchengzi to sign and correct the record.

But Guangchengzi did not sign.

And Yuanshi did not make him sign.

That was enough.

Zhao Xuan raised his hand and put away the Jade Slip.

The last few lines on the Jade Slip were clear.

Chan Sect's Guangchengzi refused to sign the Three Sects Merit and Fault Audit.

Refused to acknowledge that those who have not performed meritorious service may not enjoy a divine position first.

Refused to acknowledge that those who have not borne the calamity may not share in the destiny first.

And at the time of the crisis at the Third Sea Eye, he obstructed the Heavenly Court from inviting Jie Sect disciples to suppress the sea.

Afterward, another line was added.

Yuxu Palace has not corrected its errors.

This account is temporarily sealed.

To be discussed again when the Investiture of the Gods List appears.