Chapter 1471: 528: The Birth of a Connected Insider
Chapter 1471: Chapter 528: The Birth of a Connected Insider
When Li Ping’an arrived at the Jade Void Palace, several thousand immortals had already gathered there.
The Kunlun Mountain has always been a blessed land for cultivation. The East Kunlun houses the Jade Void Palace, while the West Kunlun originally had the secret realm of the Jade Pool; however, now that the Jade Pool has moved to the Heavenly Court, Kunlun Mountain has offered more land, attracting many loose cultivators to move here for cultivation.
Most of these several thousand immortals are loose cultivators of Kunlun.
They are mostly at True Immortal and Heavenly Immortal levels in their cultivation, predominantly from the Human Race, with some elves among them. Upon seeing Li Ping’an and the Eastern King, they offered formal greetings from a distance.
“Greetings, Your Majesty,” “Greetings, Eastern King,” “Greetings, Minister Feng,” resounded continuously.
Li Ping’an clasped his hands behind his back and nodded with a smile, while the Eastern King slightly bent to return the courtesy.
Upon reaching the grand formation of the Jade Void Palace, the formation automatically closed, revealing the immortal’s blessed land within, drawing exclamations of admiration from numerous loose cultivators.
Guang Chengzi led the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Teaching forward to pay respects.
Li Ping’an first received the respectful gestures from the Twelve Golden Immortals, then returned a half salutation in the manner of a disciple.
Guang Chengzi had donned a brand-new Daoist robe today; his long hair was meticulously groomed, with a middle-aged face bearing a slight smile. He inquired with a smile:
“The war drums in the Western Continent are fiercely beating, Your Majesty has come to the serene land of the Jade Void Palace; might I ask what important matter brings you here?”
Li Ping’an replied solemnly: “The second Sect Hierarch of the Western Sect has committed evil acts, disrupting the Heavenly Dao and interfering with the Heavenly Court’s operations, maliciously harming the princess of the Heavenly Court. I intend to raise an army to invade, but as this involves matters of the Saints, I have come to visit and respectfully request Grandmaster to uphold justice and protect the Heavenly Court.”
These words gave enough face and substance to the Chan Teaching.
The Sixth Saint has committed a wrong, the Heavenly Court desires to raise an army, hence coming to seek Yuanshi Tianzun to uphold justice, implicitly acknowledging Yuanshi Tianzun’s higher status among the Saints compared to the Sixth Saint.
The phrase “protect the Heavenly Court” is tantamount to inviting Yuanshi Tianzun to oversee the Heavenly Court.
Although the expressions of the Preceptors of Chan Teaching were restrained, it was evident they were quite pleased.
Guang Chengzi said: “Teacher is already aware of the matters at hand. Heavenly Emperor, Eastern King, please come in as Teacher has been awaiting for some time, please.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
Li Ping’an cupped his hands in salute, riding a cloud following behind Guang Chengzi, descending towards the main hall of the Jade Void Palace.
This grand formation was not activated, allowing the immortals to observe at will.
But for those whose strength was below that of a Golden Immortal, their immortal consciousness could not detect the presence of the Saint, only hearing Yuanshi Tianzun’s voice from afar.
The Yuqing Saint spoke:
“Regarding today’s actions by Your Majesty, I am fully aware. The secondary Sect Hierarch of the Western Sect’s scheming against the Heavenly Court is surely unjustified. Their interference with the operations of the Heavenly Dao has incurred guilt, and logically, they should be punished to cultivate virtue and correct their mind.
“However, as Saints are the cornerstone of the Heavenly Dao, with Heavenly Dao sequence precedence, no precedent exists for punishing a Saint, so we must not act rashly or conclude hastily.”
At the center of the grand hall, Li Ping’an held his breath with concentration, his thoughts racing rapidly.
The success of today’s matter depends entirely on whether he can persuade Yuanshi Tianzun at this moment.
He slightly turned his head to glance at the Eastern King.
The Eastern King raised both hands, drawing a large circle, performing the most reverent Daoist bow, then bent down, lowered his head and spoke aloud:
“Reporting to the Yuqing Saint!
“The actions of the secondary Sect Hierarch in the West violate heavenly regulations and offend the Heavenly Court. If they are not severely punished, the Heavenly regulations of the Heavenly Court will utterly lose their dignity, and how can the fairness and justice established by the Heavenly Court’s efforts for all beings endure?
“This matter has already incurred the dissatisfaction of all beings. The Human Race is the foundation of the Heavenly Dao, the spiritual practitioners of the Human Race are all frustrated, feeling stifled, and now any small pull affects the whole!
“The Majesty, out of consideration for the prestige of the Saints, has hesitated for dozens of days, unwilling to punish the secondary Sect Hierarch in the West to avoid implicating the other five venerable and prudent Saints. But the anger of all beings is hard to quell, compelling the Majesty to come here to request you uphold justice!
“As a minor god responsible for governance in the Heavenly Court, if there is any offence to the dignity of the Saints regarding this matter, I am willing to accept punishment!
“Please, old master of Yuqing, see clearly!”
Yuanshi Tianzun nodded slightly, speaking in a gentle tone: “Eastern King, you need not be overly formal.”
The Eastern King straightened his body, stepped back two steps, and remained silent with his head lowered.
The Jade Void Palace became silent.
Inside and outside the Jade Void Palace, the immortals listened intently, and even though they all used immortal consciousness to investigate, at this moment they couldn’t help but hold their breath, afraid of missing any crucial words.
Yuanshi Tianzun inquired: “Then, according to Your Majesty’s view, how should the punishment be carried out?”
Li Ping’an replied loudly: “The punishment here should be decided by Grandmaster! Even though I am the Heavenly Emperor, I dare not convict a Saint, and respectfully ask Grandmaster to decide!”
“Well.”
Yuanshi Tianzun spoke gently:
“This matter, logically, it ought to consider the Saint’s dignity and indeed is not easy to handle.
“That day, what Your Majesty witnessed, was it truly the fellow Daoist Zhunti?”
“Absolutely,” Li Ping’an replied gently, “Zhunti manifested twice; the first time I startled him away, but who would have thought he would return to the Yang family with unabated malicious intent!”
Yuanshi Tianzun said: “Since it is so, Zhunti’s loss of virtue precedes, causing such turmoil, merit some lessons.”
Li Ping’an internally breathed a sigh of relief.
He cupped his hands and requested: “Please issue the decree, Grandmaster!”
“There is no distinction of rank among the Saints, they address each other as fellow Daoists, supporting each other.”
Yuanshi Tianzun spoke gently:
“One decree cannot punish a Saint, as it goes against the Heavenly Dao. Today I will go with Your Majesty to Mount Ling, and reprimand fellow Daoist Zhunti in person.
“The complexities of this matter will be clear upon inquiry.”
Li Ping’an could not help but feel somewhat resigned.
Indeed, Yuanshi Tianzun going in person confirms his intent to settle the matter quietly.
Taiqing and Yuqing both wish to avoid escalating the situation, and today’s scenario is indeed challenging to advance.
“Disciple obeys,” Li Ping’an cupped his hands to accept the order.
Yuanshi Tianzun nodded slowly: “Your Majesty shall go first. Upon Your Majesty’s arrival at Mount Ling, I will appear.”
Guang Chengzi cupped his hands and inquired: “Teacher, does the disciple need to escort Your Majesty to Mount Ling?”
“No need,” Yuanshi Tianzun said gently, “In this matter, the West is indeed at fault, so how dare they harbor ill towards Your Majesty?”