Chapter 1472: 528: The Birth of a Connections-Based Beneficiary (Part 2)
Chapter 1472: Chapter 528: The Birth of a Connections-Based Beneficiary (Part 2)
“Thank you, forefather, for your care.”
Li Ping’an and the Eastern King together performed a dao salute, then turned and rode on a cloud away from the main hall of the Jade Void Palace, heading straight towards Ling Mountain.
Just after leaving the Jade Void Palace, the Eastern King frowned, leaned close to Li Ping’an, the hems of their garments overlapping, and murmured:
“Your Majesty, something’s not quite right.”
“Hmm, the forefather indeed wishes to downplay the situation, going to scold Zhunti a little, thereby both asserting his own authority and minimizing the actual damage to the Western Sect.”
Li Ping’an mused, sending his thoughts:
“We made such a big scene and used so much manpower, yet the forefather actually doesn’t care.
“This is the genuinely tricky issue.
“Saints…”
The Eastern King softly said: “Your Majesty need not worry excessively. If that Zhunti is disgraced publicly, today can already be considered our victory.”
“I don’t want just a victory in face; I want Zhunti’s future actions to be constrained, I want all beings to hold reverence rather than fear for saints.”
Li Ping’an sighed and said:
“If this time we can’t achieve our goal, then there will be adverse effects.
“Otherwise, whatever we attempt in the future, Zhunti could always lower his dignity to trouble us.
“The Dao Immortal Tribulation lies ahead, and Chan Teaching’s stance is truly frustrating.”
The Eastern King pondered carefully, not speaking for a while, then said: “Your Majesty, regarding today’s matter, why not change our method of dealing with it?”
“Oh? How to handle it?”
“We’ve made a show for so long, everyone will think we intend to trouble the Western Sect, this includes the Western Sect.”
The Eastern King paused in contemplation:
“Since the Yuqing Saint wishes to downplay the major issue, I’ll make it minor as well.
“In this way, even the two strongest saints are not antagonized.”
Li Ping’an glowered at this elder with a dark face, having put in so much effort into his scheme, even wagering the reputation of the Heavenly Emperor; letting Zhunti go like this would be a great loss.
However, considering that this fellow in front of him was the greatest strategist of the Human Race, and had step by step schemed the Hundred Clans into their current dire state…
“And then?” Li Ping’an asked.
The Eastern King smiled cryptically: “Perhaps the princess will have to be inconvenienced a little, or rather… change the strategy.”
This power minister of the Heavenly Court continued to murmur secretively.
Li Ping’an’s expression gradually relaxed, then slightly knitted his eyebrows again, with a hint of hesitation in his eyes.
Everything comes with both advantages and disadvantages.
But doing this is indeed much better than letting the current situation continue to develop unchecked.
“Quickly go to the Holy Mother Nuwa Palace, I will proceed slowly on the way.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Eastern King bowed and took his leave, transforming into a radiant light and disappearing.
Li Ping’an rode on a cloud, under countless gazes, slowly descending towards Ling Mountain.
Even many of the leisurely Immortals couldn’t help but grumble.
This emperor, his speed on the cloud is indeed a bit too slow.
…
“The Eastern King went to the Holy Mother Nuwa Palace?”
Inside the Azure Wander Palace, the Tongtian Sect Leader muttered to himself, as the scene on the cloud mirror shifted, locking onto the Eastern King.
He was reclining on the steps below the throne, holding fruit offered by his disciples.
The three major inner sect disciples of Jie Sect, along with Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao Celestial Maiden, two outer sect disciples, were seated around the Tongtian Sect Leader, leisurely watching the cloud mirror and eating fruit with relaxed expressions.
Zhao Gongming asked in a deep voice: “Master, are we truly not going to intervene?”
“No rush. If Ping’an gets beaten up, we definitely need to step in. How much merit has Ping’an given us? He’s even gifted us two Red Lotuses.”
The Tongtian Sect Leader said nonchalantly:
“If I deploy the Zhu Xian Sword Formation, even the Four Saints cannot break it… I’m excluding your Eldest Senior Uncle here.
“He has the great divine power of One Qi Transforming into Three Pure Ones, instantly able to take all the Four Swords of Zhu Xian.”
“You all should be even more respectful towards your Eldest Senior Uncle in the future, understood?”
The disciples all agreed individually.
Jinling Saint Mother said: “That Zhunti is truly despicable, to do such a thing, intending to marry the princess of the Heavenly Court to a mortal, and using such methods as manipulating red strings.”
The Tongtian Sect Leader merely clicked his tongue lightly:
“This matter, actually upon further calculation, seems beneficial to the Heavenly Court.
“But Ping’an stood up to stop Zhunti, do you know why?
“Ping’an is unwilling to let any living being become a pawn; this is called character. It’s the quality that Emperor Jun lacks. That our Jie Sect can associate well with Ping’an is indeed our sect’s fortune; there’s no need to worry about Ping’an betraying us.”
Mother Wudang added: “Master, perhaps it’s simply that the Heavenly Emperor values this princess?”
“There wasn’t much interaction between them, and you didn’t witness the situation at that time. Ping’an was also hesitant.”
Tongtian Sect Leader chuckled and said:
“If he doesn’t stop it, the Heavenly Court will gain great benefits;
“If he does stop it, he’ll be true to his conscience, but the benefits will be lost.
“In the end, he chose his conscience and drove back Zhunti… What a pity, Second Senior Brother stepped forward, wasting Ping’an’s month-long arrangement.”
“But it’s also quite good—the Taoist Unspeakable’s name is like thunder piercing the ears, and all beings now know that the Sixth Saint is unbearable to look at.”
“As for today’s matter, there will hardly be any twists.”
Duobao smiled and said: “How about we say a disciple was lost at Ling Mountain, and go in to stir them up?”
“Saints battling in the Desolate Era would cause it to shatter, so it cannot be easily initiated.”
Tongtian Sect Leader glared at Taoist Duobao:
“The Saint of the Heavenly Dao has embedded himself into the Heavenly Dao. If we came into conflict, even the Sea of Dao Principles would shake, causing endless calamities between heaven and earth.
“Things like the imbalance of heaven and earth and the collapse of the land would be fortunate.
“Therefore, for saints to battle, it must be in the Chaos Sea, as far away from the Desolate Era as possible, and once in the Chaos Sea for magical combat, Zhunti is the weakest of the Six Saints.
“He certainly wouldn’t dare go.
“Even if I showed myself today, Zhunti would merely claim I’m strong-arming the weak, and would retaliate without any good means to deal with him.”
Jinling Saint Mother sighed: “No wonder Ling Mountain is so peaceful.”
“Ultimately, strength speaks,” Tongtian Sect Leader said as he watched the Eastern King enter the Holy Mother Palace, and the Cloud Mirror lost its image.
He dared not rashly probe the Holy Mother Palace, instead turning to look again at Li Ping’an’s location.
Seemingly receiving the signal that the Eastern King had reached his destination, the white clouds beneath Li Ping’an began to accelerate towards Ling Mountain, flying above the Western Continent in a moment.
Li Ping’an waved his wide sleeve.
The rolling dark clouds instantly blossomed with golden light!
Rumble, rumble—
The sound of drums resounded on the clouds, three hundred powerful figures wielded clubs, and the large drums roared continuously.
The Mountain Protection Array of Ling Mountain trembled slightly below.
Li Ping’an stood with hands behind his back, as the clouds parted open a large hole in the center behind him, revealing thirty-six layers, each layer filled with Heavenly Soldiers and Generals!
Gold-armored generals lined both sides, the Guardians of Rage stood to the left and right!
The millions of beings that had been watching from the perimeter transformed into streaks of light filling the sky, creating an incredibly magnificent scene with unparalleled momentum.
The million Immortals encircled from all directions, only about a hundred miles from the edge of Ling Mountain!
Li Ping’an raised his head slightly and looked down, calling out loudly:
“Where is Zhunti, the second sect leader of the Western Sect!”
Ling Mountain was silent.
Li Ping’an’s eyes were cold, adding: “Is the Great Immortal afraid to reveal himself?”
Immediately, a cold snort was heard from below.
Clearly, this remark hit the Great Immortal’s sore spot.
The Mountain Protection Array of Ling Mountain slowly opened, revealing boundless golden light within, filling the world with an aura of calmness.
Amid the golden light, Daoist Zhunti sat upon the Lotus Dais with dozens of Treasure Wheels behind him, and a few patches of auspicious clouds below him. He slowly rose in figure, his eyes containing an expression of indifference.
As Zhunti flew out, Ling Mountain’s array closed again, with none of Ling Mountain’s disciples appearing.
Daoist Zhunti and Li Ping’an gazed levelly at each other in the sky.
He slowly spoke: “Heavenly Emperor, you lead an army to my place of serene cultivation. For what purpose?”
“What purpose?” Li Ping’an retorted coldly, “Friend, do you still wish to play dumb at this point? You conspired against the princess of the Heavenly Court, disrupting the natural order, yet you ask me what purpose?”
“What did you mean by the emperor’s words, I know not,”
Daoist Zhunti’s expression was stern:
“Instead, the emperor has been spreading rumors recently throughout the heavens and earth, defaming sages like us who cultivate in solitude, attempting to pressure the Jade Void Palace, and seeks to sever the ties between the Six Saints!”
“Is the emperor truly not without motive?
“Or does the emperor think the Six Saints have overshadowed your position as Heavenly Emperor? The emperor intends to divide the Six Saints and incite a war among saints.”
Li Ping’an’s eyes narrowed slightly.
This old coot’s indeed troublesome.
Meanwhile;
Inside the Holy Mother Palace.
The Eastern King smiled as he observed Yao Ji deeply kneeling before Holy Mother Nüwa, raising an eyebrow gently.
This truly isn’t a sabotaging trick of his.
After all, Daoist Zhunti has been as thick-skinned since ancient times, even when I served as the ‘Minister Feng,’ I learned of it.
The only thing that can defeat a sabotaging trick is a sabotaging trick.