Heaven's Order Arrives-Does the Heavenly Court Think the Interception Sect's Immortals Have Lost Their Minds?

Mount Sumeru.

After hearing the news, Daoist Zhunti froze for a moment, then clapped his hands and laughed.

"Brilliant!"

"The Interception Sect actually recalled its disciples to avoid the calamity!"

"Senior Brother, this is good news!"

Daoist Jieyin looked sorrowful.

"Junior Brother, this may not be good news."

Daoist Zhunti looked puzzled.

"Why not?"

"If the Interception Sect avoids the calamity and stays out of it, where will the names on the Investiture of the Gods List come from?"

"What does that have to do with the Western Sect?"

Daoist Zhunti said as if it were only natural:

"The Investiture of the Gods is a matter for the Three Teachings of the Xuan Sect. The Western Sect is poor and has few disciples. We shouldn't have to shoulder too much in the first place."

Daoist Jieyin sighed.

"That may be true, but if the Interception Sect really avoids the Investiture of the Gods, then the pressure of this Great Calamity will fall on the Chan Sect, the Human Sect, and even our Western Sect."

"Junior Brother, don't forget: the Dao Ancestor wants the Heavenly Court's divine ranks filled."

"He doesn't simply want the Interception Sect to suffer."

The smile on Daoist Zhunti's face gradually faded.

"Do you mean..."

Daoist Jieyin looked toward the east.

"The Interception Sect's retreat may not be an admission of defeat."

"It looks more like they're forcing everyone else to step forward."

Daoist Zhunti was silent for a moment, then suddenly cursed:

"Since when did Tongtian become so devious?"

Daoist Jieyin shook his head.

"Perhaps it wasn't Tongtian."

"Then who was it?"

"Someone in the Interception Sect must have seen the situation clearly."

A strange glint flashed in Daoist Zhunti's eyes.

"If so, then this person is destined to join our Western Sect."

Daoist Jieyin glanced at him.

"Junior Brother, be careful what you say."

"If this sort of person really is in the Interception Sect, they won't be easy to convert."

Daoist Zhunti smiled.

"All living beings in the world are destined to join our Western Sect."

"If they're hard to convert now, that doesn't mean they'll be hard to convert later."

"The Investiture Great Calamity still has a long way to go."

Golden Turtle Island.

Zhao Xuan stood outside Biyou Palace, quietly listening as an Interception Sect disciple reported the reactions from all sides.

The Heavenly Court was panicking.

Yuxu Palace was displeased.

The Western Sect had begun to take notice as well.

Everything was as expected.

Zhao Xuan wasn't surprised.

This was only the first step.

He had merely torn a small hole in the Heavenly Court's veneer of "ruling the Three Realms."

He had let the various powers of the Primordial World see that the so-called Heavenly Court was nowhere near as useful as it claimed to be.

Without the Interception Sect's disciples helping out, the Heavenly Court simply couldn't manage all the countless little affairs.

And that was only the recall of the disciples who'd been assisting the Heavenly Court.

If one day the Interception Sect recalled every disciple stationed throughout the Primordial World to suppress demons, protect the Human Race, mediate disputes among rogue cultivators, and regulate the ley lines, then the real show would begin.

Only then would all the living beings of the Primordial World understand one thing.

The Interception Sect disciples they looked down on in their daily lives had shielded them from just how much trouble.

At some point, Holy Mother Guiling had come up behind Zhao Xuan.

"Senior Disciple Brother, is the Heavenly Court panicking?"

Zhao Xuan nodded.

"It is."

Holy Mother Guiling immediately grinned.

"Good!"

"They've been treating our Interception Sect disciples like laborers all this time."

"Now that our people have withdrawn, let's see how Haotian fills the gaps."

Zhao Xuan said evenly:

"This is only the beginning."

Holy Mother Guiling was taken aback.

Zhao Xuan gazed toward the distant East Sea, his eyes inscrutable.

"The Heavenly Court will try to find replacements."

"The Chan Sect will stand by and watch."

"The Western Sect will look for a chance to profit."

"For now, the living beings of the Primordial World won't think this has anything to do with them."

"So it's not enough."

"What isn't enough?"

"It doesn't hurt enough."

Holy Mother Guiling's heart jolted.

Zhao Xuan spoke slowly:

"Only when it really hurts will they understand that Interception Sect disciples aren't expendable materials to be tossed onto the list."

"Only when everything truly falls into chaos will they understand how much filth those so-called 'beasts born of moisture and eggs' once shielded them from."

"Only when they realize that the Heavenly Court is incompetent, the Chan Sect won't lift a finger, and the Western Sect only knows how to convert people will they understand who's been doing the work all these years."

"The Investiture of the Gods List wants the lives of my Interception Sect disciples."

"Then I'll first show the Primordial World what their lives are worth."

Holy Mother Guiling looked at Zhao Xuan and suddenly felt that this Senior Disciple Brother was truly different from before.

Zhao Xuan used to be steady.

Now he was cold.

So cold it made her shiver.

And yet, this coldness thrilled her.

Because this was exactly how you had to deal with those people who were always going on about the Heavenly Mandate, the greater good, orthodoxy, and compassion.

You want the greater good?

Fine.

The Interception Sect won't handle it anymore.

Go take care of it yourselves.

Zhao Xuan looked up toward the Nine Heavens, a faint chill curling at the corners of his lips.

"Haotian, this is just the first gift."

"Harmless and insignificant."

"But as for my next move, we'll see whether you, the Heavenly Emperor, can handle it!"

Holy Mother Guiling was about to speak when a streak of light suddenly came skimming over the sea in the distance.

It landed outside Biyou Palace and transformed into an Interception Sect disciple in blue robes.

His face was tense. As soon as he landed, he dropped to his knees.

"Senior Disciple Brother, the Heavenly Court has sent an order!"

Holy Mother Guiling raised an eyebrow.

"Already?"

Zhao Xuan wasn't surprised.

"Who brought the order?"

"Taibai Jinxing."

The disciple hurriedly explained:

"He said that he requests the brothers serving in the Heavenly Court to delay their return to the mountain. They should leave only after the Heavenly Court has sent replacements."

Holy Mother Guiling sneered.

"What nerve."

"Our Master's decree ordered our Interception Sect disciples to return to the mountain. Does Haotian think that one word from him—'delay'—will make them stay?"

The disciple kept his head down and didn't dare answer.

Zhao Xuan asked:

"What exactly did he say?"

The disciple in blue hesitated.

"Taibai Jinxing said the Heavenly Court has many important duties to attend to, and if our Interception Sect disciples suddenly leave, the Three Realms may fall into disorder."

"He also said His Majesty already knows how hard our Interception Sect disciples have worked, and that once the Investiture of the Gods List appears, he'll make sure to request merit awards for all the brothers."

Holy Mother Guiling burst out laughing.

"Request merit awards?"

"On the Investiture of the Gods List?"

"Does Haotian think every Interception Sect disciple has lost their mind?"

Zhao Xuan took the Command Jade Talisman, glanced at it, and crushed it in his hand.

Crack.

The talisman crumbled into powder.

The disciple in blue's heart skipped a beat.

Zhao Xuan said evenly:

"Send a reply."

"Interception Sect disciples are to return to the mountain immediately."

"If the Heavenly Court has no replacements, that's the Heavenly Court's own problem."

"Anyone who tries to stop them will be treated as obstructing Interception Sect disciples from avoiding the calamity."

The disciple in blue immediately kowtowed.

"Yes!"

He was just about to get up when Zhao Xuan added:

"Tell the junior brothers in the Heavenly Court not to argue, not to quarrel, and not to fight."

"Hand over all their documents, command tokens, and formation flags, then leave at once."

"If anyone makes snide remarks, ignore them."

"If anyone deliberately holds one of our people back, send word back."

"I'll go and get them myself."

"Understood!"

The disciple in blue transformed into a streak of light and sped away.

Holy Mother Guiling watched the departing light, excitement barely contained in her eyes.

"Senior Disciple Brother, do you think Haotian will hold our people back?"

"He will," Zhao Xuan said.

Holy Mother Guiling was taken aback.

"He'd really dare?"

"It's not that he dares."

"He can't bear to let them go."

Zhao Xuan raised a hand and pointed. A simple diagram of the Heavenly Court, formed from magical power, appeared in the air.

Starfields, waterways, the Sea Eye, inspections of the lower realms, demon suppression—one location after another lit up.

"Do you see?"

"Our Interception Sect disciples are supporting the Heavenly Court in all these places."

Holy Mother Guiling looked it over, and her expression slowly changed.

"That many?"

Zhao Xuan gave a quiet grunt.

"This is only what's connected to the Heavenly Court."

"If you count the rogue cultivators overseas, the Human Race tribes, the East Sea demon tide, and the Southern Wilderness Poisonous Miasma, there's even more."

Holy Mother Guiling cursed under her breath.

"We really were fools before."

Zhao Xuan said nothing.

He raised his hand and wiped away the image.

"Being a fool isn't frightening."

"What's frightening is staying one forever."