Immortal Father

He borrowed the use of the Heavenly Patrol Mirror and sent a directive to the Jade Pool, instructing her to coordinate three hundred trustworthy celestials with strong powers to later return with Ningning Mu to the Casting Cloud Sect.

The Jade Pool quickly responded with a line of text.

[Your Majesty, why go to the Casting Cloud Sect?]

[Investigate whether there is anything unusual at the Casting Cloud Sect and report any irregularities to me, no detail too small.]

[Yes, I will make the arrangements immediately.]

Setting aside the Heavenly Patrol Mirror, Li Ping’an could no longer see his father’s silhouette; Li Dazhi had already returned to the confines of Dong’an City.

What is this all about? Jiang Ziya appeared, and my father acquired a highly symbolic Black Panther, which seems to imply that my father might assume the role of Shen Gongbao from the original Investiture of the Gods Cataclysm.

The phrase from Shen Gongbao, "Fellow Daoist, please stay," is indeed...

Moreover, Shen Gongbao’s end was also extremely tragic. He was the key instigator of the Investiture of the Gods Cataclysm, yet his final end was to fill the sea eye.

Of course, Jiang Ziya eventually died of old age in the mortal world, which seems even more ironic.

The Investiture of the Gods Cataclysm has changed;

Yet it seemingly hasn’t strayed far from its original trajectory.

"I can’t make sense of this."

Li Ping’an shook his head and looked up at the sky.

"You stick to your play, I stick to mine, hopefully, we won’t clash."

With that, he turned westward, his form transforming into a Golden Crow as he boldly flew across the firmament, heading directly towards the Sacred Mountain of the Western Continent.

As the form of Li Ping’an as the Golden Crow crossed the border of the Western Continent without changing direction, beams of attention suddenly converged on him from all around.

When the Golden Crow reached near the Sacred Mountain and transformed back into Li Ping’an’s form, even more gazes focused on him.

In the Jade Void Palace, Yuanshi Tianzun slightly furrowed his brow but made no comment.

Within the Holy Mother Palace, a Red Embroidered Ball appeared beside Nüwa, imbued with the power of a Saint.

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At the pool behind the Azure Wander Palace, the Tongtian Sect Leader tilted his head, the corners of his mouth curving slightly, enlarging the cloud mirror several times while inviting the disciples soaking in the adjacent pool to watch together.

Before the Sacred Mountain.

Li Ping’an rode a cloud to this place, standing with hands behind his back amidst the clouds, quietly observing the various auspicious and extraordinary apparitions enveloping the group of halls below.

He spoke in a clear voice: "Why don’t the two junior brothers come out to welcome this senior brother?"

Yet Li Ping’an was unaware that within the Sacred Mountain, a pair of slightly sinister eyes were fixed on him.

It was Daoist Luya.

...

In the courtyard behind the main hall of the Sacred Mountain.

Daoist Luya, sitting to one side, quickly spoke: "Two Saints, this Li Ping’an is outrageously arrogant to arrive here in such a brazen manner, clearly disregarding both of you!"

Daoist Zhunti calmly said: "Fellow Daoist, do you bear some profound enmity with the Heavenly Emperor?"

"More than profound enmity, it’s simply... a deep hatred!"

Luya’s expression twisted slightly:

"I dare not hide from the two Saints, in the past, Li Ping’an deceived me by impersonating my late father to solve the Human Race’s crisis, using nefarious and wicked schemes to finally destroy the last remnant of my mother’s soul.

"This poor Daoist and this villain are irreconcilable!"

Zhunti and Jie Yin exchanged a glance, the former smiling, the latter frowning slightly.

Daoist Jieyin said slowly: "The Heavenly Emperor comes not with good intentions. We must deal with this cautiously to avoid giving him any pretext."

Zhunti said: "Rest assured, senior brother, and also, Fellow Daoist Luya, please remain calm. The Heavenly Emperor currently rides a wave of momentum; there’s no one he cannot touch."

Luya bowed his head slightly in a Daoist salute: "I beseech the two Saints to make a decision for me, the poor Daoist."

"For now, Fellow Daoist, hide in the back mountain," Zhunti said kindly, "Regarding the matter you seek today, my senior brother and I need to deliberate carefully, and cannot promise you now."

"This matter is significant; prudence is warranted, and only the two Saints may achieve it."

Daoist Luya performed another Daoist salute.

A youth dressed in hemp stepped forward to invite him, escorting Daoist Luya out through the rear gate of the courtyard.

Subsequently, Daoist Jieyin’s form vanished without a trace.

Zhunti, smiling, summoned a Lotus Dais, surrounded by celestial light, treasure wheels emerging behind him as his form slowly ascended, unhurriedly flying out of the great formation.

Figures were bustling in all corners of the Sacred Mountain.

Since the return of the two Saints to the world, the disciples of the Western Sect who were outside all returned, and even those fierce devils who originally defected to the Western Sect were now brought back by Maitreya, hiding underground within the Sacred Mountain.

With the two Saints in residence at the Sacred Mountain now, there was no fear of a group of Intercepting Sect Immortals causing a disturbance.

Zhunti regarded Li Ping’an, saying from afar: "It brings great honor to our entire mountain that Your Majesty the Heavenly Emperor has come personally to congratulate my senior brother and me."

Li Ping’an: ...

This old ascetic, did he cultivate some divine skill of thick-skinnedness?

Did he attain the Way by sheer face?

Then let’s see whose face is thicker!

Li Ping’an gave a slight cupped-hand salute, boldly stating: "Indeed, having two junior brothers attain sainthood, I, as the Heavenly Emperor, came to offer my congratulations in person. Congratulations, Zhunti junior brother."

The faces of the disciples of the Sacred Mountain changed dramatically.

Several senior and junior brothers from Qia Feng shouted in unison:

"How dare you!"

"Li Ping’an, how dare you claim to be our senior uncle!"

"Now is not the time to act wantonly!"

Li Ping’an did not even glance at these final Daluo Golden Immortals from the Western Sect.

"Silence," came the voice of Daoist Zhunti, "The disciples know not that the Heavenly Emperor had long since apprenticed under the most troublesome and pernicious Transcender outside the heavens, making a jest; I beg the Heavenly Emperor’s forgiveness."

Li Ping’an chuckled:

"To my knowledge, I have never hidden this from the beings of the Desolate Era. The Western Sect indeed seems uninformed.

"Although I entered my teacher’s tutelage later, unable to compare with the two junior brothers who advised and strategized by the teacher’s side since ancient times, my teacher found my character righteous, and my potential great, hence accepted me as a formal disciple...

"Does my junior brother not acknowledge me as a senior brother?"