Yuanshi was in despair

Yuanshi looked grim.

He knew perfectly well that he had arrived too late.

But Yuanshi truly had not expected Tongtian to bring out the damned Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation just to stop him.

Was that really necessary?

Yet Yuanshi also understood that the moment Tongtian deployed the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, he could no longer prevent the Jade Emperor Haotian from meeting Yang Jian and his sister.

After all, although he was a Saint, even if he enlisted the two Saints of the West, he had no chance of breaking the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation without Taishang Laozi's cooperation.

Only four Saints could break it. That was no idle claim.

If Yuanshi wanted to try now, there was only one other person he could invite.

Nuwa!

But the problem was that his relationship with Nuwa was nothing special, and he seemed to have offended her during the current investiture calamity.

If he wanted Nuwa to intervene, he could easily imagine that the price would be anything but small.

And even if he did bring Nuwa over, what would that accomplish?

After all this time, the Jade Emperor Haotian and the siblings would already have finished their conversation.

He could practically picture it: from this day forward, Yang Jian would turn his vengeance directly upon the Chan Sect.

Of course, that was a minor matter. Even if Yang Jian became the Illustrious True Lord Erlang in the future, the Chan Sect would hardly care about his revenge.

What Yuanshi feared most was that this incident would lead the Interception Sect and the Jade Emperor Haotian to strike an agreement. If they truly joined forces, it would deal a heavy blow to the Chan Sect.

What should I do?

Now Yuanshi truly had a headache.

Ever since the investiture calamity began, Yuanshi had noticed that Tongtian behaved nothing like the man he remembered.

This fellow who dared tear up the Investiture of the Gods List, pleaded his case through tears in the Zixiao Palace, employed ruthless methods, and thwarted the Chan Sect's operations twice in succession...

He really was difficult to deal with!

Why had he never noticed before that Tongtian had such a disposition?

Had he been hiding his abilities?

But since Yang Chan and Yang Jian had already entered the Heavenly Court, the situation was clearly beyond salvaging.

The most important thing now was to minimize his losses.

He needed to make the Jade Emperor Haotian realize that Tongtian and he were, after all, blood brothers who had shared countless cosmic cycles.

Under those circumstances, would the Jade Emperor still dare fall out with the Interception Sect?

"Third brother, you and I have been brothers for countless cosmic cycles, after all."

"Though our ideals differ, and we now find ourselves in the investiture calamity, surely there's no need to take things this far."

"The investiture calamity may be terrifying, but it will end eventually. Must we brothers truly fall out over such a trifling matter?"

Tongtian frowned.

He looked at Yuanshi, who stood before him putting on a display of brotherly affection and seeking to restore their former bond.

His gaze turned decidedly strange.

The original Tongtian might actually have been persuaded by Yuanshi.

After all, he had been a man who valued affection and loyalty, and never fussed over trifles.

Such men were especially prone to letting emotion guide them, bold and unrestrained.

That was how the original Tongtian had been. He might have become a hero, but never a ruthless overlord.

Yet the unfortunate truth was...

Those who laughed last were always ruthless overlords. Heroes generally died young.

But the Tongtian of today had long since ceased to be the original Tongtian.

He had transmigrated from a later era, seen through all manner of sinister tricks, and knew the investiture calamity inside out.

Thus, Tongtian knew perfectly well that Yuanshi had never truly treated him as a brother.

Otherwise, Tongtian could never have met such a miserable end after the investiture calamity.

In that case, what game was Yuanshi playing now?

The idea that he truly sees me as a brother is bullshit. Wait...

The Jade Emperor!

At that thought, a faint smile curled Tongtian's lips.

He understood.

As he watched Yuanshi play the family card, Tongtian's smile filled with mockery.

"Say, second brother, you're trying to sabotage my alliance with the Jade Emperor, aren't you?"

"Otherwise, why bring up our brotherly bond neither sooner nor later, but at this exact moment?"

"You leave your little brother no choice but to read into it."

Tongtian curled his lip, his face full of disdain and mockery.

He had no intention of wasting words with Yuanshi and exposed the matter outright.

As for leaving each other a little dignity, Tongtian had long since stopped caring.

From the moment Yuanshi took the lead and brought the Four Saints to force him to sign the Investiture of the Gods List, their brotherly bond had already been squandered.

Yuanshi, meanwhile, was somewhat stunned.

For one thing, he was shocked that Tongtian, whom he considered all brawn and no brains, could see through his scheme so quickly.

But he was also shocked that Tongtian could blurt it all out without the slightest restraint.

He had not spared Yuanshi an ounce of dignity.

What an absolute bastard!

When had Yuanshi ever suffered such mockery?

Still, he now understood that the situation was beyond saving, and that Tongtian was no easy fool to trick.

Even if he remained here, he would accomplish nothing beyond making a spectacle of himself.

"Hmph!"

With a cold snort, Yuanshi left and returned straight to the Jade Void Palace to sulk.

Meanwhile.

Tongtian simply watched Yuanshi leave, neither asking him to stay nor mocking him.

Then he waved his right hand, withdrew the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, and began strolling leisurely around the Heavenly Court.

For one thing, the Jade Emperor was talking with Yang Jian and his sister. They were family, and clearly would not finish anytime soon.

It would be somewhat inappropriate for an outsider like him to intrude.

Besides, he had never actually visited the Heavenly Court since transmigrating, so this was a good opportunity to wander around.

He had to admit that the Heavenly Court truly was the center of the Three Realms.

Whether it was the ancient Demon Court or the present Heavenly Court, both possessed vast and mighty fortunes.

Though there were only a scant handful of people here now, even the combined fortunes of the Chan Sect and the Interception Sect could not match those of the Heavenly Court.

Countless terraces and towers rose amid jeweled halls; immortal birds danced through the air, and spirit grasses spread in pale swaths.

The nine-thousand-mu Peach Garden, the Heavenly River, the Imperial Horse Stable, and the other sights were especially exquisite beyond compare.

Ten thousand shafts of golden light rolled through crimson rainbows, and a thousand streams of auspicious energy breathed out purple mist.

The grand halls and towers were fashioned from colored glass, deep blue-green and dazzlingly bright, as though adorned entirely with precious jade.

While Tongtian was strolling, a heavenly soldier approached and bowed. "Greetings, Saint Tongtian. The Jade Emperor invites you to the Lingxiao Treasure Hall for a discussion."

"All right, understood." Tongtian nodded.

Then Tongtian transformed into a streak of light. When he appeared again, he was inside the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Seeing the Jade Emperor and the siblings, Yang Jian and Yang Chan, getting along so harmoniously, Tongtian could not help smiling faintly.

"It seems the Jade Emperor's conversation with these two grand-disciples of mine went quite well. Truly something to celebrate."

"I spoke with that second brother of mine just now, and suddenly realized that an alliance between the Interception Sect and the Heavenly Court would be rather good."

"I wonder what the Jade Emperor thinks?"

Tongtian could not be bothered with all those sinister tricks. Whatever was on his mind, he generally said it outright.

After all, he was a Saint, standing essentially at the very summit of the Primordial World.

Thus, he had no need to indulge in all those twists and turns.

If it worked, he would do it. If not, he would leave it.

After hearing Tongtian's words, the Jade Emperor nodded without the slightest hesitation.

"I agree in principle. The Heavenly Court and the Interception Sect can join forces."

"But the specifics of the alliance, and how we are to cooperate, will need to be discussed carefully, point by point."

"What do you think, Saint Tongtian?"