The Blade Remains, But Today It Does Not Fall

The Knife Was Still There, but Today It Did Not Fall

That soft sigh fell.

Very softly.

Yet when it landed in the ears of every faction in the Primordial World, it was heavier than thunder.

Because that was Zixiao Palace.

It was the Dao Ancestor's voice.

Outside Golden Turtle Island, the aura that had just been pressed to its limit was held down by that soft sigh.

The Ten Thousand Immortals fell silent at the same time.

The Investiture of the Gods List hung above the ninth heaven.

Page four of the "Investiture of the Gods Accountability Ledger" still hovered before Zhao Xuan.

The gains of the Investiture.

The cost of the Investiture.

One on the left, one on the right.

Every word stabbed the eye.

This account was still laid out between heaven and earth in the Primordial World.

Inside High Heaven Hall.

Haotian's gaze, gloomy all this while, finally lit up.

Zixiao Palace had spoken!

The Dao Ancestor had finally seen it!

He stepped away from the Imperial Throne, forcibly suppressed the joy surging in his chest, and cupped his hands in a bow toward the heavens beyond.

"Haotian pays respects to the Dao Ancestor and respectfully awaits the Dao Ancestor's decree."

All the immortals in the hall bowed their heads in unison.

Taibai Jinxing also lowered his head along with them.

At that moment, the string in Haotian's chest that had been stretched to its limit finally loosened by an inch.

If Zhao Xuan were allowed to keep asking, then today the Heavenly Court would be nailed before the Primordial World by that ledger.

The Heavenly Court Gains Divinity.

Yet does not answer its cost.

Those eight words were far too ugly.

So ugly that even he, the Heavenly Emperor, could not find a single sentence to answer them head-on.

Now that Zixiao Palace had spoken.

The game had stopped.

As long as it stopped today, there would still be time.

With time, the Heavenly Court could press this account back beneath the Heavenly Mandate.

Taibai Jinxing kept his head lowered, but his heart was not so at ease.

He had heard it very clearly.

In that sigh, there had not been a single word excusing the Heavenly Court.

Within Yuxu Palace.

Yuanshi Tianzun slowly rose.

He gave a slight bow in the direction of Zixiao Palace.

"This disciple respectfully awaits Master's decree."

The Twelve Golden Immortals also bowed their heads in unison.

Joy had already appeared in some of their eyes.

Guangchengzi's hand inside his sleeve finally loosened.

When Chijingzi lowered his head, the breath caught in his chest also eased.

Taiyi Zhenren subconsciously glanced at the Investiture of the Gods List.

Since Zixiao Palace had spoken, Zhao Xuan's brush could no longer fall at will.

The Chan Sect avoids tribulation, yet does not answer its cost.

That line of words was still there.

But since Zixiao Palace had opened its mouth, today they would not have to answer immediately.

Which of the Twelve Golden Immortals would be willing to enter the list?

Who would be willing to be driven by the Heavenly Court after death?

Who would be willing to have their immortal path severed?

No one was willing.

This question did not need an answer on the spot; it was already a breath of reprieve.

Yuanshi Tianzun sat back down on the Cloud Bed.

His expression remained cold.

Yet the oppressive chill within Yuxu Palace eased by a thread.

On Mount Sumeru.

Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti rose at the same time.

The two bowed toward the heavens beyond.

"Your disciples respectfully receive the Dao Ancestor's decree."

The water of the Merit Pool rippled gently.

The two saints took their seats again.

A faint smile appeared on Daoist Zhunti's face.

"There's room to maneuver now."

Daoist Jieyin lowered his eyes.

"The debt remains."

Daoist Zhunti's fingertip paused at the edge of the Lotus Throne.

Of course he knew the debt remained.

Western Sect Gains Power, without paying its cost.

Those words were still on the General Ledger as well.

But if it was not settled today, then there was a road to walk.

The West was best at waiting.

And best at circling around.

As long as there was time, many debts could be given another wording.

On Golden Turtle Island.

The Ten Thousand Immortals of the Jie Sect showed not the slightest joy.

Holy Mother Guiling stared fixedly at the heavens beyond.

The fury she had just forced down was still there, yet an extra trace of unease had appeared in the depths of her eyes.

"Senior Disciple Brother."

"Will the Dao Ancestor suppress us?"

Bi Xiao gritted her teeth and said nothing.

Zhao Gongming's hand on her shoulder tightened slightly at the knuckles.

Daoist Duobao looked at that General Ledger, his brows locked tight.

Holy Mother Wudang remained silent.

Holy Mother Jinling's sword-gripping hand also stilled at this moment.

They dared be angry at the Heavenly Court.

Dared be angry at the Chan Sect.

Dared be angry at the West.

But that was Zixiao Palace.

That was the Dao Ancestor.

One soft sigh from him was enough to make the entire Primordial World lower its head.

Master Tongtian stood before Biyou Palace.

His gaze sank.

He did not lose his temper.

Nor did he speak.

He merely bowed slightly in the direction of Zixiao Palace.

A saint performed a saint's courtesy.

But after this bow fell, there was still an instant of hesitation on Golden Turtle Island.

Tongtian's gaze fell on Zhao Xuan.

The gazes of every side in the Primordial World all fell as well upon the brush in Zhao Xuan's hand.

Because that Investiture of the Gods Accountability Ledger was still open.

The fourth page still hung there.

The profit of the Investiture and the Cost of the Investiture had still not been reclaimed.

If Zhao Xuan wrote even one more stroke at this moment, no one knew where that stroke would land.

Haotian stared at that brush.

Guangchengzi also stared at that brush.

Daoist Zhunti's fingertips lightly stilled.

They were all waiting.

Waiting for Zhao Xuan to set down his brush.

And also waiting for Zhao Xuan to breach propriety.

They were even hoping Zhao Xuan would pass one more sentence forward.

Just half a sentence would do.

Then this reckoning could be turned into insubordination.

But at this moment.

Zhao Xuan put away the brush.

Then he cupped his hands toward the heavens beyond.

His movement was very steady.

His etiquette was complete.

Zhao Xuan's voice was not loud.

"Jie Sect disciple Zhao Xuan."

"Pays respects to the Dao Ancestor."

Duobao, Jin Ling, Wudang, Gui Ling, Zhao Gongming, and the Three Xiao Sisters all froze at once.

In the next instant.

They all lowered their heads with him.

On Golden Turtle Island, the Ten Thousand Immortals bowed their heads.

"Paying respects to the Dao Ancestor."

Their voices were not disorderly.

Nor were they loud.

The Shangqing Disciples observed the rites toward Zixiao Palace.

There was no tearful pleading.

No crying of injustice.

Only a bow.

Zhao Xuan still cupped his hands.

"Today's accounting."

"Is only to seek clarity on the Cost of the Investiture."

"This disciple dares not offend his superiors."

As those three sentences fell.

Inside High Heaven Hall, that hint of delight in Haotian's eyes paused slightly.

In Yuxu Palace, Guangchengzi's brows furrowed faintly, and a thread of disappointment flashed through his eyes.

On Mount Sumeru, Daoist Zhunti's fingertips also stopped for a moment.

These words were too steady.

So steady that they could find no place to set the blade.

The account still remained on the ledger.

The rite had also been performed fully.

Whoever wanted to use the two words "insubordination" to cut him down could find nowhere for the blade to fall.

Master Tongtian looked at Zhao Xuan's back, and that trace of darkness in his eyes eased slightly for an instant.

This bow steadied Zhao Xuan.

And also steadied the Jie Sect's Ten Thousand Immortals.

For a long while.

In the depths beyond the heavens.

Within Zixiao Palace, that voice fell once more.

"You know propriety."

"And you know accounts."

Five words.

Very soft.

Yet they made every side in the Primordial World hold its breath at once.

Inside High Heaven Hall.

The joy on Haotian's face froze.

Taibai Jinxing lowered his head even deeper.

Zixiao Palace had not sent down punishment.

The Investiture of the Gods Accountability Ledger still hung outside Golden Turtle Island.

The path of "Zhao Xuan committed insubordination" had been blocked off by those five words.

In Yuxu Palace.

The breath caught in Guangchengzi's throat was stuffed back down again.

The Dao Ancestor had not blamed Zhao Xuan.

The account of the Chan Sect avoiding calamity and not answering for its cost still hung on that page.

Yuanshi Tianzun's expression was calm.

But the chill in the depths of his eyes grew even deeper.

Zhao Xuan could not be allowed to keep questioning accounts on the ledger.

Nor could the Jie Sect continue standing before the Primordial World beneath the two words "not guilty."

On Mount Sumeru.

Daoist Zhunti softly repeated them.

"You know propriety, and you know accounts."

The smile on his face did not fade.

But that smile was no longer relaxed.

Daoist Jieyin said, "It seems today is not a suitable day to make another move."

Zhunti nodded.

"We will not move today."

"We will see later."

On Golden Turtle Island.

The taut string in the hearts of the Ten Thousand Immortals finally steadied by half a measure.

The Dao Ancestor had not blamed Senior Disciple Brother.

Nor had he blamed the Jie Sect for questioning the accounts.

That alone was enough to let them draw a breath.

Holy Mother Guiling kept her head lowered, her eyes still red, but she did not impulsively speak again.

Bi Xiao clenched her teeth hard.

Yun Xiao gently pressed down on her hand.

Daoist Duobao looked at Zhao Xuan, as if something were lodged in his throat.

He finally understood.

From beginning to end, Zhao Xuan had never intended to indulge in a moment's satisfaction.

He wanted the Jie Sect to be able to stand firm.

And he wanted that ledger to be able to stand firm as well.

Zhao Xuan still kept his head lowered.

"This disciple thanks the Dao Ancestor."

He did not say even half a word more.

Nor did he seize the chance to ask another question.

Questioning accounts was allowed.

Overstepping propriety was not.

If he greedily grasped for even one more sentence of sharpness in this moment, the entire Jie Sect would be pushed to stand opposite Zixiao Palace.

He would not make such a mistake.

Before Biyou Palace.

Master Tongtian looked at him, and deep in his eyes, an exceedingly faint trace of comfort appeared.

Very quickly, that trace of comfort was pressed down by coldness again.

Because the voice from Zixiao Palace descended once more.

"The Investiture Calamity has not truly begun yet."

"What appeared on the list today was all a rehearsal before the calamity."

"The numbers in the rehearsal are not final."

"The three teachings shall each return to their own mountains."

"Set your own households in order."

"When the calamity truly arrives, we shall discuss the Investiture again."

The voice faded.

Purple Aura descended from beyond the heavens.

That Purple Aura was not abundant, yet it made the gray-white heavenly laws on the Investiture of the Gods List contract inch by inch.

The half-unfurled shadow of the list slowly closed and vanished beyond the heavens.

Like a blade that had already left its sheath, suddenly and temporarily drawn back into the scabbard.

The blade was still there.

Only, today, it had not fallen.

On Golden Turtle Island.

A glimmer of light surfaced in the eyes of many Jie Sect disciples.

The Investiture of the Gods List had withdrawn.

The rehearsal was not final.

Did this mean that, in today's round, Jie Sect had already won?

But Zhao Xuan did not smile.

He was still looking at the Investiture of the Gods Accountability Ledger before him.

The Investiture of the Gods List had already vanished.

Yet the fourth page had not closed.

The benefits of the Investiture.

The Cost of the Investiture.

Not a single word had disappeared.

Bi Xiao was the first to sense that something was wrong.

"Senior Brother?"

Zhao Xuan reached out and gently pressed down on the edge of the fourth page.

That sheet of paper was very thin.

Yet it seemed to press down on the entire Primordial World.

At last, he spoke.

"The list has withdrawn."

"But the account has not."

On Golden Turtle Island, the breath that had just eased out was instantly held again.

Zhao Xuan raised his eyes and looked toward the heavens beyond, where the Investiture of the Gods List had vanished.

His voice was very soft.

"Today, this blade did not fall."

"Next time."

"They will make it fall another way."