Lin Tian looked up, cupped his hands, and continued with a smile. "Grand Preceptor Wen, it has been a long time. But surrendering is quite out of the question. Go back and report to the Great Heavenly Venerable that living in the Heavenly Palace felt stifling, so this emperor has returned to the mortal world to enjoy some freedom for a while. Killing the Martial Virtue Star Lord was hardly a major matter, after all. Once the Heavenly Palace comes around, have them arrange a proper reception and send someone to Flower-Fruit Mountain to invite us back."
During his time in the Heavenly Palace, Lin Tian had made quite a few friends he got along with and built good relationships with some of the immortals.
But Wen Zhong was not among them. The two had met only a handful of times and were, at most, nodding acquaintances.
The reason was simple. Wen Zhong was an Orthodox God on the Investiture of the Gods List, bound by its control and busy with his daily duties. Not only was he unlike Lin Tian, an emperor with plenty of leisure, but even cultivating a good relationship with him would have been useless.
One order from the Jade Emperor, and Wen Zhong had to obediently comply, unable to resist in the slightest.
Hearing this, Wen Zhong stopped trying to persuade him and said instead, "If that is your decision, Vine Dao Venerable, then I have nothing more to say. But a Heavenly Net has already been laid within the Southern Heavenly Gate. Are you truly confident you can escape, my lord?"
Lin Tian still chuckled lightly. "Whether I can escape isn't something words can decide."
As he spoke, he tucked the Bamboo Staff into his sleeve section by section, then flicked his hand...
Clang!