Keep Your Spirits Up! Don't Lose Face!

The Roc lurched and swayed as he carried Sun Wukong toward the Heavenly Court.

Su Yuan and Venus Star Lord, meanwhile, counted through the agenda in frantic anxiety, calculating the time.

"Roc, my dear brother, can't you go any faster?!"

"F[beep]ck, your mother[beep]—if I were flying alone, I'd have been there ages ago! Carrying a whole mountain, who the hell could fly fast? Do you take me for some sacred beast that carries steles? Shut up already!"

Su Yuan had carelessly gotten his own mother cursed, so he could only shut his mouth.

Venus Star Lord watched from the side, furious at his failure to meet expectations.

"Little Su, Little Su. No matter how extensive your connections are, your own cultivation and magical arts must keep up. Just wait until the meeting is over—I'll train you half to death."

Su Yuan felt a chill run down his back. Venus Star Lord had mentioned training him several times in a row.

It seemed he was going to get serious this time.

At last, the Roc carried Sun Wukong to the outside of the Southern Heavenly Gate.

By then, the court meeting had reached its one hundred and seventy-ninth agenda item.

Wenqu Star Lord stepped out from the ranks and straightened his robes, ready to deliver his report.

"No problem."

Seeing Wenqu Star Lord take the floor, Venus Star Lord breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"That fellow Wenqu Star Lord loves to ramble on at length. We have plenty of time."

Wenqu Star Lord adjusted his attire, then slowly stepped forward and announced in a clear voice:

"Next, I shall present the one hundred and seventy-ninth agenda item: <On the Importance of Matching Authority with Responsibility in the Immortal Official System—Several Thoughts Based on Deepening Reforms to the Heavenly Court's Immortal Official System and Mechanisms>."

The moment Su Yuan heard that lengthy title, he started yawning involuntarily and asked:

"What practical significance does this kind of academic discussion have?"

Venus Star Lord gave a cold snort.

"What significance? Making your presence known before His Majesty—that is the greatest significance of all."

Wenqu Star Lord wore a blue robe and held a jade tablet, every inch the elegant gentleman.

His gaze swept over Sun Wukong's empty seat, and an almost imperceptible smile flickered across his lips.

His own agenda item had originally been the last one of the first half, yet it had now moved up by one place.

So something had gone wrong on Venus Star Lord's end.

As expected, that mud-legged nobody from the lower realm was wild and untamable. He actually dared to be late for such an important court assembly.

Vacancies among the civil officials were already scarce. If you wanted to take another step forward, then don't blame me, Wenqu, for showing no mercy.

Venus Star Lord noticed Wenqu Star Lord's sneer as well.

His heart gave a jolt, and he inwardly cried:

This is bad!

"Master, what's bad? From the sound of Wenqu Star Lord's opening, he'll speak for at least three shichen. We still have time."

"It's not that the timing is bad. Something bad is happening!"

No sooner had Venus Star Lord spoken than Wenqu Star Lord began.

"Your Majesty, esteemed immortal ministers,"

His voice was crisp and melodious, yet every word concealed a blade.

"Today, this subject wishes to discuss <On the Importance of Matching Authority with Responsibility in the Immortal Official System>. Promotions among Heavenly Court immortal officials have always emphasized both virtue and talent, with achievements commensurate with rank. Yet recently, this subject has heard of certain unhealthy trends."

Now even Su Yuan caught the implication behind Wenqu Star Lord's words.

He grimaced.

"Master, he seems to be talking about us."

Venus Star Lord had no better solution. He could only keep a stern face and speak in a low voice:

"No choice. If you don't seize the propaganda front, the enemy will seize it."

"We were still too careless. One wrong step leads to wrong steps all the way down. We can only respond to each move as it comes."

Wenqu Star Lord continued sentence after sentence, each one piercing the heart:

"More than that, there are those who, relying on a few trifling merits, demand rewards, covet empty fame, and even..."

He deliberately paused, stressing his next words.

"Join forces with masses who do not know the truth, spread rumors and stir their tongues, building momentum for themselves! They seek to use public opinion from the common folk to coerce and force the Heavenly Court's official decisions! Such conduct treats the laws and regulations of the Heavenly Court as nothing. Where does it place His Majesty's heavenly majesty? This vile trend must absolutely not be allowed to grow!"

"Buzz—" A wave of suppressed gasps and murmurs immediately rose through the hall!

As expected, scholars had more twists in their hearts; when they cursed people, they did it viciously!

Wenqu Star Lord was practically cursing Venus Star Lord to his face, yet not a single vulgar word left his mouth!

He not only branded the rumors he himself had planted as "spreading rumors and stirring tongues" and "coercing and forcing."

He even elevated the matter to the political level of "defying Heavenly Court laws" and "making light of His Majesty's heavenly majesty"!

With such a huge hat slammed down upon them, not only could Sun Wukong not bear it, even Venus Star Lord, who advocated offering amnesty, would be implicated.

Did you know all along? Did you secretly indulge it?

Or perhaps Venus Star Lord himself was using this to build momentum, hoping to enter the Ministry of Personnel on the strength of this "heaven-shaking merit"?

Wenqu Star Lord struck while the iron was hot, his tone growing ever more sorrowful.

"More than that, there are those who believe that pacifying one or two unruly individuals can serve as a stepping stone for advancement, regarding it as a shortcut to the southern mountains. They completely disregard whether such actions might introduce people with talent but no virtue! If such people attain high office, would they not undermine the foundation of our Heavenly Court's clear official governance built over tens of millions of years, chilling the hearts of those loyal ministers and fine generals who diligently fulfill their duties, conscientiously uphold their posts, and seek no empty fame?"

Every word from Wenqu Star Lord struck at the heart; every sentence hid an arrow.

Though Li Jing did not turn around directly, he shifted slightly and discussed the matter with Giant Spirit God and several trusted heavenly generals beside him.

"Hmph! I said long ago that that monkey demon was making such a grand spectacle, throwing the lower realm into utter turmoil, precisely because he had long been scheming to manipulate public opinion and demand some immensely exalted reward and position!"

The heavenly generals at his side immediately chimed in:

"Shameless wretch! Absolutely shameless! Which one of us brothers didn't fight blade in hand for the Heavenly Court, campaigning north and south, shedding our heads and blood, accumulating countless merits before earning promotion?"

"That Sun Wukong is a demon immortal who took to the hills, a former horsekeeper, yet he dares to dream of obtaining a real position as a Dijun with actual authority? On what grounds?!"

The Yaksha general was even more direct. He jabbed Giant Spirit God, whose face was flushed red from holding himself back, with his elbow.

"Giant Spirit God, when Sun Wukong gets here, give him a display of strength."

"That's right! Giant Spirit God! We crawled out of blade and spear—don't let us lose face!"

"Right, keep your spirits up!"

Upon the imperial throne, the Four Directional Dijuns still watched their noses, their noses watched their hearts. Yet Gouchen Dijun's fingers resting on his knee tapped once, almost imperceptibly. These minute reactions all clearly conveyed displeasure and scrutiny.

At the center of the storm, Venus Star Lord displayed the composure of an old-guard immortal minister.

His face still wore its customary warm smile. He nodded faintly and even whispered to those nearby:

"Though those words are harsh, they are not without reason."

Yet Su Yuan keenly noticed Venus Star Lord's abnormality.

The crow's-feet at the corners of his master's eyes, always layered with smiles, had straightened slightly. That made his kindly, benevolent face give off an icy sharpness for no reason at all.

Wenqu Star Lord noticed Venus Star Lord's lapse in composure as well.

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. He was preparing to press his victory, to nail Venus Star Lord firmly to the pillar of shame.

But a burst of chattering shouting came from outside the hall.

"We're here, we're here! Put Old Sun down already! This feathered beast flew far too slowly—he nearly delayed Old Sun's important business!"

"Fart on your mother! You're as heavy as a goddamn stone stele, and you've made my wings ache from the strain! I'm not carrying you anymore... Wait a second?! When the hell did you sober up?!"