Zhuang Yan suddenly glimpsed a sliver of hope—it was the Heavenly Court's Immortal Official Jade Edict anchoring him.
He immediately understood: as the ruler of the Three Realms, the Jade Emperor was like an incarnation of the Heavenly Dao. Though he was not the Heavenly Dao itself, he represented its will just as a monarch represented the will of a nation.
The Immortal Official Jade Edict was proof of appointment by the Jade Emperor. Its holder was a living being of the Three Realms recognized by the Heavenly Court.
Zhuang Yan suddenly came to his senses. He immediately restrained his entire aura, sealed away all his divine abilities, and circulated the Essence of Purity Meditation Method with all his strength. Sure enough, the Heavenly Dao Power enveloping him hesitated subtly.
He understood perfectly well that the Heavenly Dao possessed no independent consciousness. If there truly was a will behind it, only the Jade Emperor could act on Heaven's behalf. The Heavenly Dao must have sensed someone stealing its source power. After searching fruitlessly, it had finally laid a trap at a flaw he had carelessly exposed.
Though the Heavenly Dao had confirmed that something was wrong with Zhuang Yan, it could not determine whether it was Heavenly Dao Power, so it intended to seize him for investigation. Yet the appearance of the Immortal Official Jade Edict made it hesitate again. Zhuang Yan seized the opportunity and responded with the proper method.
After roughly two or three hours, the Heavenly Dao repeatedly examined the jade edict and the Essence of Purity Meditation Method personally bestowed by Laojun before finally withdrawing its restraining force. Zhuang Yan let out a long breath, but his body plummeted from Beyond the Nine Heavens and crashed heavily into the sea of clouds outside the South Heavenly