Casting a Wide Net for Aid

The Jade Emperor was bound to be somewhat embarrassed.

He used several methods when targeting Zhang Xuezhou.

Logically speaking, most cultivators below the Three Pure Ones and Two Emperors would submit to his power and status, a second would be subdued by his psychological manipulation, and the last would fall into the Great Heavenly Evolution Boundless Formation.

The addition of the mirage pearl, a perfect finishing touch, gave the Jade Emperor even more confidence. After all, he had previously assisted Zhang Xuezhou in forgetting his Technique Method, knew about Zhang Xuezhou's many Technique Method abilities, and was also aware of the limits that Zhang Xuezhou could not withstand.

But after he made his move, everything became unfamiliar, and even when the Jade Emperor revealed his trump card, he still couldn't defeat him.

Upon seeing Zhang Xuezhou take out the jade ruyi in an attempt to seek help from Celestial Venerable Yuanshi, the Jade Emperor was truly unwilling to continue the conflict.

"We can have a frank and direct discussion. Except for a few specific rare and powerful medicines, I'll let you fill your Lesser Heaven and Earth Bag to the brim," the Jade Emperor spoke first. "Even if I give you more, you can't carry it all!"

"His Majesty is a straightforward person!"

Zhang Xuezhou took a deep breath.

His attack skills are average, but it's quite difficult for others to defeat him; either they can't catch him, or they can't kill him.

The only way to control Zhang Xuezhou is to take him down in one fell swoop when he's off guard; otherwise, he'll run away if given the chance.

Zhang Xuezhou endured beatings for many years, and none of them were in vain; they were used to address his specific needs, ultimately leading to a survival-oriented approach to spiritual practice.

"You trust me?" Zhang Xuezhou asked.

"Your strength is very high, I definitely believe in you," the Jade Emperor said.

"You trust me just because I'm capable?" Zhang Xuezhou asked in surprise.

"Indeed," the Jade Emperor said earnestly, "You are powerful, yet you still need to avoid Donghua, and you are even considering pushing your cultivation to contend with him. I truly believe what you say about Donghua; he certainly possesses power that would frighten you!"

"You seem to know something about Donghua University?"

Zhang Xuezhou asked in confusion, only to see the Jade Emperor point his finger, and an image of an emperor sitting on a throne appeared in the clouds.

"From my position, I occasionally gain access to information from beyond the realms," the Jade Emperor said, pointing to the emperor on the throne. "More than fifty years ago, I saw him in the void. He said his name was Donghua, and that he was about to ascend to the Immortal Realm. I envied him greatly at the time!"

"You also want to ascend to immortality?" Zhang Xuezhou asked doubtfully.

"In this Immortal Court, who doesn't want to ascend to heaven? Who is content to be confined to one place, waiting for death in a dreary existence? My dream is indeed to ascend to heaven," the Jade Emperor said.

"The world after ascension isn't necessarily as wonderful as you imagine," Zhang Xuezhou said. "Here you are the lord of the Immortal Court, but over there you you'll just be a savage with no foundation!"

"You must understand one principle: the strong are strong wherever they are, and the weak are weak wherever they are," the Jade Emperor said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "We ascendants have endured countless hardships to succeed, and therefore we will inevitably be stronger than the natives!"

"Then I wish you a speedy ascension!"

Zhang Xuezhou was indeed not interested in the world after the dimensional upgrade. His experience of being stranded in a foreign land when he was young did not make him radical, but rather made Zhang Xuezhou more conservative. He did not think about rashly stepping into a strange and powerful world.

"The mortal world doesn't need a Gaogao Immortal Court. Many people aspire to rise above others in the Immortal Court, but even more dislike seeing Immortal Court remain in a high position for too long, or even see no hope for the future," the Jade Emperor said. "You're too young. Sooner or later you'll end up like me!"

The Jade Emperor did not linger on the preaching for long. Zhang Xuezhou was too young and inexperienced, and could not remain in one world for an extended period.

Some young people look down on the elderly, and the long-standing Immortal Court is similarly disliked.

For the Immortal Court to exist, it must inevitably invade the lower realms, but such invasions will inevitably be disliked by people; this is an irreconcilable contradiction.

Countless people longed for the Immortal Court to disappear, and the Jade Emperor was unwilling to live on in the Lingxiao Secret Realm for long.

He wanted to ascend to heaven; he wanted to lead the elite of the Immortal Court to another, higher, and better world, where they could be reborn.

In such a world, these long-lived beings could enjoy even longer lifespans and a normal social order.

"Perhaps," Zhang Xuezhou nodded. "Before you ascend, you'd better be able to control Donghua. He's a failed ascension candidate, and he knows very well how to find the origin of the world, and he also knows very well how to ascend again!"

"Then let's talk about Donghua!"

The Jade Emperor nodded.

Even the most cherished dreams need an opportunity to be realized. Neither the Jade Emperor nor Donghua had that opportunity.

If there is no possibility of success, Donghua cannot waste the fortuitous opportunity for ascension in the Three Realms.

The Jade Emperor does indeed need to control Donghua to prevent him from interfering with the course of the Three Realms.

This is not Donghua's original world, and the rules are different. In fact, this world does not welcome an outlier like Donghua, especially since he directly ascended to a high position by using his status as the Emperor, which is not allowed.

"The physical body of the Haotian Emperor..."

Zhang Xuezhou spoke eloquently, and the Jade Emperor felt a headache coming on.

Leaving aside Donghua's Technique Method, even the Emperor's physical body became a hurdle.

In the conflict between the Heavenly Court and the Immortal Court, the Emperor's fighting style was almost entirely based on cultivating to counter the Immortal Court, and he even thought of fighting against the Three Pure Ones Heavenly Venerables alone.

"Donghua and the Emperor and Empress must be separated first!"

The Emperor's physical body is immune to Technique Method, while the Empress possesses the ability to evade weapons. This combination renders the Celestial Venerable Lingbao, skilled in swordsmanship, useless, and the Technique Method Celestial Venerable Yuanshi is even more restrained by it. As for the chaotic Laojun, let's not even mention him.

The Jade Emperor was a ruler who preferred to maintain the status quo; he was good at defending the status quo but not at launching offensive attacks.

Unless Donghua steps into his Great Heavenly Evolution Boundless Formation, the Jade Emperor really has no way to subdue Donghua, who possesses the physical body of an Emperor.

The Jade Emperor pondered this in his heart, and couldn't help but look at Zhang Xuezhou again.

The Immortal Court will try to stop Donghua, but no one will rashly take the lead. The conflict between Zhang Xuezhou and Donghua is undoubtedly an opportunity to test the waters and enter the fray.

If Zhang Xuezhou could uncover Donghua's true intentions, or even reveal their true colors, many things would be much easier to resolve.

Those who can rival Donghua cannot be weak, and the Immortal Court will not support cultivators who have no hope of resistance. Moreover, he had just verified Zhang Xuezhou, and the Jade Emperor felt that the other party indeed had the confidence to resist.

Most importantly, there is an irreconcilable contradiction between the two, unlike those great immortals in the Immortal Court who only do things to get by and fulfill their duties, and who will do their best in everything they do.

"Shuo Xian, you know Donghua's secret. He won't let you live. How will you fight against Donghua in the future?"

After thinking it through, the Jade Emperor finally asked Zhang Xuezhou.

"I went to Zixiao Palace with the Celestial Venerable," Zhang Xuezhou paused before continuing, "The Sage Hongjun once gave me a hint: if we find the Investiture of the Gods, this might be the key to our strategy!"

Zhang Xuezhou posted a request for help to the Celestial Venerable Yuanshi, and at the same time, he didn't mind continuing to ask the Jade Emperor for help.

Moreover, Zhang Xuezhou was not wrong. Once he obtained the Investiture of the Gods, he might be able to unseal Hongjun's restraints on the Void Heaven Palace, thereby gaining Houtu's support.

Regardless of whether they face Donghua or anyone else, Houtu will provide support and strikes.

As for Hongjun's contingency plan after abducting the Void Heaven Palace, that's another matter entirely.

Zhang Xuezhou's immediate task is to find the Investiture of the Gods as soon as possible, lest Houtu discover Hongjun's methods when she searches for the Void Heaven Palace, and thus use his body to open up a battlefield.

Another thing is to increase my cultivation level so that I can last a little longer and have a little more luck, thus escaping from the hands of the two ascendants.

Looking at the Great Heavenly Evolution Boundless Array constructed by the Jade Emperor, he felt that if he had the opportunity to use this place, he might have a better chance of survival in the future.