Haotian Shangdi's Wrathful Measures

Deep in the void stood vast expanses of heavenly palaces.

This was the Heavenly Court, at the very pinnacle of the sky.

There in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall,

A man wore imperial robes and a beaded crown with hanging strands.

His face was round above and square below, exceptionally full.

Twelve strands of jade beads hung down, concealing his gloomy eyes.

His imperial bearing was especially imposing.

This man was Haotian Shangdi, the current ruler of the Heavenly Court.

Originally, he had been a young attendant at the Dao Ancestor's side.

During the great war between the witches and demons, the Witch Clan had been crushed. Its remaining forces had since left the Primordial World and moved to the Nine Nether Abyss.

The demon clan had likewise been crushed and had fallen apart.

The supreme Demon Court had thus been left completely vacant.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun had then sent his two young attendants into the world. Like cuckoos occupying a magpie's nest, they had seized the former Demon Court and renamed it the Heavenly Court.

As the saying went, one looked up at the Heavenly Court and knew how lowly the world below was.

The meaning behind renaming it the Heavenly Court was clear.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun intended to control Haotian and thereby seize control of the entire Primordial World in one stroke.

Although Haotian had little to rely on at the time, and his own strength was no more than that of an ordinary Quasi-Saint, no one dared underestimate him.

After all, he was Dao Ancestor Hongjun's man. From one perspective, his will represented Dao Ancestor Hongjun's will.

It was this very fellow who had gone crying to the Dao Ancestor that he had no one to call upon.

Only then had the Dao Ancestor seized the opportunity to bring about the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods.

On one hand, it was to capture experts and replenish the Heavenly Court's ranks.

On the other, it also served Dao Ancestor Hongjun's other plans.

At this moment, Haotian Shangdi sat upright in the seat of honor, his expression solemn.

Below him stood a man, telling Haotian Shangdi about the Dragon Clan's rebellion and the clash between Saints at Chaoge.

Haotian Shangdi had been in secluded cultivation for some time.

He knew nothing of the events that had recently occurred.

As the man spoke, Haotian Shangdi's expression grew increasingly grave.

Faint traces of anger even began to leak out.

The Dragon Clan's rebellion had clearly enraged Haotian Shangdi.

The many immortals standing on either side of the hall also wore grave expressions.

All of them held their breath, and none dared interrupt rashly.

Only the man's voice echoed through the great hall.

When the man finished his account, the entire Lingxiao Treasure Hall fell strangely silent.

Haotian Shangdi was now furious, and no one dared offend him.

After a long while, Haotian Shangdi's gaze swept over the immortals one by one:

"My beloved ministers, what are your thoughts on the Dragon Clan's rebellion?"

Yet no one dared answer. After all, a single wrong word could very well bring a fatal calamity upon them.

After a long while, a white-haired, aged elder finally stepped out from the crowd.

This man was named Taibai.

He was one of Haotian Shangdi's few trusted right-hand men.

He also served as the Heavenly Court's strategist, often devising plans for Haotian Shangdi.

"Your Majesty, whether the Dragon Clan's rebellion brings fortune or calamity is difficult to predict."

"The East Sea Dragon King has always been as timid as a mouse, yet now he has shown the boldness to seek refuge with the Human Emperor. Presumably, he has gained something to rely on."

"At just this time, the Ancestral Dragon's corpse broke out of the earth and vanished from the Primordial World."

"Even those Saints were unable to find the Ancestral Dragon."

"Yet Dragon King Ao Guang of the East Sea has shed his mortal nature and become a True Dragon. The implication is self-evident."

At these words, the hearts and guts of all the immortals present nearly split with terror.

If the Four Seas Dragon Clan really had obtained the Ancestral Dragon's corpse, it would be an earthshaking event.

Some time ago, the Human Emperor and Nuwa had wreaked havoc in the west, even destroying Great Mount Sumeru, the Western Teachings' place of cultivation.

The Ancestral Dragon's corpse had broken out of the earth and vanished from the world.

That event was still fresh in the memories of the many powerful figures.

Taibai Jinxing paused briefly, then flicked his horsetail whisk and spoke once more:

"That mortal emperor is enjoying the height of his fame. Lately, all living beings have turned their eyes upon him."

"Perhaps he promised the Four Seas Dragon Kings some benefit. Together with the East Sea Dragon King's transformation into a True Dragon, perhaps that is the true reason."

Taibai Jinxing stopped there.

In truth, he had more to say, but he left it unspoken.

The temperamental Haotian Shangdi treated the Dragon Clan as food.

He often slaughtered them and boasted extravagantly of the delicacy of dragon liver and phoenix marrow.

He often served these at banquets for many great powers.

It would have been strange if the Dragon Clan had not rebelled. Sooner or later, they were bound to revolt; it was only a matter of time.

Hearing Taibai Jinxing's words, Haotian Shangdi could not help turning his gaze to the others:

"Do any of you have any insights?"

This time, however, no one dared speak again.

Seeing this, Haotian Shangdi could not help burning with rage.

He really had been keeping a bunch of good-for-nothings.

When they followed him in eating and drinking, each one could do the work of three.

Yet at the critical moment, they accomplished nothing. It was truly infuriating.

Ever since Dao Ancestor Hongjun had decreed the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods,

He had already arranged for the Four Seas Dragon Kings to ravage the lands of the Primordial World in advance.

That would weaken Yin Shang's national strength, aiding the gods and Buddhas filling the heavens in setting the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods in motion.

At the same time, he had secretly spread rumors that the Human Emperor had lost his virtue, provoking the wrath of humans and gods alike, and that this was why punishment had descended.

All the sins and karmic consequences stemmed from the Human Emperor's loss of virtue.

He intended to turn everyone against that Human Emperor.

Since the Primordial World already had him, Haotian Shangdi, there was no need for that so-called common ruler of heaven and earth.

He had never imagined that the Human Emperor would foil it so easily.

Not only had the Human Emperor used the divine ability Words Followed by Law, he had also made the Dragon Clan switch sides.

Haotian Shangdi closed his eyes and pondered for a long time before finally making up his mind:

"Where is the Heaven-Supporting Strongman?"

"Your servant is here!"

An extremely terrifying-looking fellow stepped out from the crowd.

He was the famous Heaven-Supporting Strongman of the Heavenly Court.

He was also one of the Heavenly Court's few supreme martial generals.

He was said to possess boundless strength and could support the heavens with one hand.

Haotian Shangdi placed considerable trust in him.

"Go to the East Sea and ask that old dragon what exactly he intends."

"Does he mean to bring about the Dragon Clan's destruction? If he does not want the Four Seas razed to the ground, have him come obediently to the Heavenly Court to confess his crimes and submit to punishment!"

"I accept the decree!"

The Heaven-Supporting Strongman immediately departed on his orders.

Before long, he appeared above the vast, boundless East Sea.

He stood above the East Sea, gazing out over its endless waters.

Sunlight shone everywhere, and the East Sea lay beneath a vast expanse of white, a truly beautiful sight.

As the saying went, mist shrouded the mountain peaks, and the mountains shrouded the mist; the sky joined the farthest reaches of the water, and the water joined the sky.

The Haotian Strongman stood high in the air, a trace of mockery curling at the corner of his mouth.

He was Haotian's trusted right-hand man. Arrogant by nature, he had always looked down on the lowly Dragon King.

In ancient times, the Dragon Clan had been revered by all.

Yet now they had fallen beneath even pigs and dogs, a truly regrettable state.

No wonder he looked down on the Dragon Clan. They had become Haotian Shangdi's food; where was even half their former pride?

A bunch of reptiles like that dared betray Haotian Shangdi. They were truly courting death.