I am submissive in Journey to the West, I strike hard at the gods

His voice was gentle, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority, which made Venus feel a chill run down his spine.

Just then, a cry suddenly came from outside the cave.

A young celestial soldier dressed in tattered celestial armor knelt down with a thud, his forehead hitting the ground, his voice choked with sobs: "Immortal Jiang, save me! I am Zhang San, originally a lowly soldier at the South Gate of Heaven. I am being forced by my superior to become the centurion's concubine! The rules of Heaven are absurd, the male-to-female ratio is unbalanced, and subordinates are forced into marriage. Any disobedience will result in annihilation."

I, a lowly person, have nowhere to go; I beg the immortal to take me in!

Jiang Wang frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the nameless heavenly soldier.

Zhang San was merely a low-ranking immortal soldier with shallow magical power and utterly useless.

He was by nature carefree and disliked trouble, but seeing the despair in Zhang San's eyes, his heart softened.

"The Heavenly Court is so corrupt? Hmph, that Jade Emperor is a foolish ruler who can make the Heavenly Realm a mess, but he can't even control his own backyard."

He sighed, and with a wave of his hand, a golden light fell into Zhang San's brow. "Fine, go to Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty and find a Taoist temple in the mortal world to take refuge temporarily."

Remember, never mention the words "Heavenly Court" again; that is no longer your home.

Zhang San felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He kowtowed to express his gratitude, and when he stood up, his eyes were full of thanks.

"Thank you for your guidance, Immortal! I will remember it for the rest of my life!"

He left in a hurry, his figure disappearing into the waves.

Upon seeing this, Venus realized what was happening and his face turned even paler.

He swallowed hard and knelt down: "Fellow Daoist Jiang, this old man... this old man also has a request."

The poison of the Three-Day Soul-Destroying Pill tormented this old man day and night.

Moreover, the Heavenly Court's marriage system is absurd, forcing immortals and gods into marriages, which has caused widespread resentment; the Jade Emperor is also extremely suspicious, and the slightest carelessness could lead to the destruction of souls.

This old man is unwilling to serve that tyrannical emperor any longer. I beg you, fellow Daoist, to cure my poison and spare my life!

Jiang Wang laughed loudly, his voice echoing in the cave, as powerful as spring thunder.

"Li Changgeng, have you finally come to your senses? The Heavenly Court is riddled with internal conflicts, and the immortals and gods are defecting in droves. Even your trusted confidant is considering leaving. I'm afraid the Jade Emperor's empire is on the verge of collapse."

Detoxification? No problem!

He stood up, waved his sleeves, and the Five Flames of True Fire blazed brightly, transforming into fiery dragons that plunged into the seabed.

The strange materials such as seaweed, coral, and dragon scale shells were instantly swept up and tumbled in the fire, making a sizzling sound.

Venus stared wide-eyed as Jiang Wang formed hand seals and chanted softly, "Five Flames of True Fire, refining all things; the soul remains, the elixir is completed in nine cycles!"

In the flames, the materials melted rapidly, transforming into wisps of pure spiritual energy that condensed into a crystal-clear pill—the Soul-Preserving Pill.

The pill was golden in color, with faint outlines of a soul floating within it, and emitted a strange fragrance that calmed the mind and soothed the soul.

The refining process took only a moment, leaving Venus speechless with astonishment. Such alchemy skills were rarely seen in the world! But what followed was even more astonishing.

With a light tap of his finger, Jiang Wang caused the Soul-Preserving Pill to split into two, then into four, and finally into ten identical pills that floated in the air, shining brightly.

All the immortals present—including the few minor immortal attendants who came with Venus—gave a gasp.

This is more than just alchemy; the technique of separating the pills is even more heaven-defying. Jiang Wang's strength is unfathomable! "This is the Soul-Preserving Pill. It not only cures the poison of the Three-Day Soul-Destroying Pill, but also stabilizes your soul, helping you break through the shackles and reach the realm of the Great Luo Golden Immortal."

Jiang Wang casually picked up one and tossed it to Venus, saying, "Take it, Li Changgeng."

From this day forward, you belong to me.

Venus received it with trembling hands, her eyes brimming with tears.

"I will never forget the great kindness of the immortal!"

He opened his mouth and swallowed the pill, and immediately a warm current flowed through his body.

The insidious poison of the Three-Day Soul-Destroying Pill melted away like ice and snow, replaced by an expansion of the soul and a surge of magical power like a river bursting its banks.

Boom! A golden light shot into the sky, and Venus's immortal energy surged, breaking through his cultivation level layer by layer until he reached the threshold of the Great Luo Golden Immortal.

He opened his eyes, which were filled with awe and ecstasy, and knelt down with a thud: "Master! I am Taibai Jinxing, and from now on I will serve you like a dog and follow you to the death!"

Jiang Wang helped him up, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

"Get up.

Let's talk about the Investiture of the Gods.

That thing is the lifeblood of Heaven; I'd like to hear how the Jade Emperor uses it to control people's minds.

Venus stood up and respectfully said, "Master, the Investiture of the Gods was bestowed by the Dao Ancestor. It is a supreme innate treasure that can bind the souls of celestial gods and immortals."

Those who are conferred titles by the Heavenly Court and whose names are listed on the list are bound by the power of the list. If they show the slightest rebellious intention, their souls will be scattered.

The Jade Emperor was even more ruthless, using the Three-Day Soul-Destroying Pill to secretly control his trusted confidants. If someone like me did not obey his orders within three days of taking the pill, my soul would explode.

The immortals and gods on the list are divided into three categories: the first are the staunch supporters, such as Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, whose souls are deeply embedded and difficult to remove; the second are the neutral ones, such as this old man, whose bond is superficial and can be controlled with elixirs; and the third are the peripheral star officials, whose names fluctuate and can be eliminated in an instant.

The Jade Emperor used this to maintain the Heavenly Court, but internal resentment was accumulating, defections were increasing daily, and decay was already evident.

Jiang Wang nodded, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"What a ruthless Jade Emperor!"

No wonder the people of Heaven are filled with apprehension.

He turned to look at a corner of the cave, where a sleek figure was kneeling—Shen Gongbao.

This man had a sinister face and cunning glint in his eyes; he was a remnant of the ancient Jie Sect, who had once said, "Fellow Daoist, please wait."

He harmed countless fellow disciples and made significant contributions in the Investiture of the Gods, yet his sins were also grave.

Jiang Wang knew his characteristics well: he was as cunning as a fox and ambitious. If he was not controlled, he might fall into Haotian's hands and become a scourge.

When Shen Gongbao saw Jiang Wang's gaze sweep over him, he quickly knelt down and said, "Immortal Jiang! I know my sins. The matter of the Jie Sect back then was all out of necessity."

The Investiture of the Gods is now incomplete, and only Little Leopard can complete it.

"Please, celestial being, take me in! I, a little leopard, am willing to be your ox or horse!"

Jiang Wang sneered, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"Shen Gongbao, your mouth has deceived countless people, how could I easily believe you? However, the Heavenly Court is corrupt, and we are enemies, so I will spare your life for now."

With a wave of his hand, an invisible shackle fell between Shen Gongbao's eyebrows, sealing off thirty percent of his magical power. "Go, follow Taibai Jinxing and Zhang San to Chang'an of the Tang Dynasty, and await my command."

Don't try anything funny, or your soul will be in danger.

Shen Gongbao's heart trembled, and he hurriedly kowtowed to express his gratitude: "Thank you, Immortal, for sparing my life!"

He stood up, a hint of triumphant joy flashing in his eyes, but dared not say a word.

Upon seeing this, Venus suddenly remembered something and his expression changed: "Master! I almost forgot that the Jade Emperor has a supreme treasure—the Jade Leaf of Rejection, which was personally bestowed by the Dao Ancestor. It can render any innate supreme treasure ineffective for a quarter of an hour! It was specially designed to deal with you, Immortal."

That leaf, shaped like a jade tablet, was kept in the Jade Emperor's Palace, and he regarded it as his lifeblood.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wang's pupils contracted slightly.

Rejecting Yu Ye? Interesting.

The image of his own Treasure-Dropping Coin flashed through his mind. When that golden light fell, all treasures would fall. He wondered what kind of changes would occur when the two treasures met. "What a conspiracy."

"The Jade Emperor wants to use this to subdue me? Hmph, I'll see who subdues whom."

He pondered for a moment, his eyes sparkling with strategic brilliance. "Li Changgeng, take Shen Gongbao to see the Jade Emperor. Tell him about completing the Investiture of the Gods and lower his guard."

Using the Soul-Preserving Pill as bait, I conspired with Shen Gongbao and Zhang San to seize the jade leaf.

"After this is accomplished, each of you three will receive a Soul-Preserving Pill, ensuring your souls remain safe and secure for the rest of your lives." Venus and Shen Gongbao exchanged a glance, both solemnly accepting the order.

Although Zhang San had no special skills, he nodded vigorously: "I am willing to serve!"

The three took their leave, transformed into streaks of light, and headed straight for the Heavenly Court.

On the other side, outside the South Heavenly Gate, clouds and mist swirled, and the magnificent Lingxiao Palace was shrouded in a layer of gloom.

The Jade Emperor, the Supreme God of Heaven, sat on his dragon throne, his face ashen.

His Highness and the assembled immortals trembled with fear; unease filled the air.

The celestial beings and gods of the heavens have defected like a tidal wave, and in just over a month, 30% of the star officials have already been lost.

The marriage system is unbalanced, forcing subordinates to pair up leads to widespread resentment; the Investiture of the Gods is incomplete, weakening the system's control; moreover, the excessive use of the Three-Day Soul-Destroying Pill has backfired on the individual.

The Jade Emperor rubbed his temples and muttered to himself, "How did Heaven come to this? If it is not revitalized, my empire will be in grave danger!"

Suddenly, a celestial attendant urgently reported: "Your Majesty! Venus, Li Changgeng, requests an audience, accompanied by Shen Gongbao!"

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor's eyes gleamed with delight.

"Venus? That old man didn't defect? ​​Summon him immediately!"

He abruptly stood up, disregarding his composure, and exclaimed, “Shen Gongbao is a descendant of the Investiture of the Gods, and he can complete the Investiture of the Gods. This is a golden opportunity from heaven!”

The palace doors swung open, and Venus led Shen Gongbao inside.

Shen Gongbao knelt and bowed, his voice humble: "Your Majesty, I am guilty. The events of the Jie Sect back then were all ordained by Heaven."

Now that the Heavenly Court is in peril, Little Leopard is willing to complete the Investiture of the Gods and restore Heavenly might!

The Jade Emperor was overjoyed, stroking his beard and laughing: "Good! Good! Shen Qing, rise."

The Investiture of the Gods has been incomplete for many years, and I am deeply troubled by this.

"Come with me to the Temple of Conferred Gods, and complete the task immediately!"

He led the way excitedly, with Venus following behind, a subtle, complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Inside the Investiture of the Gods Hall, the inscribed scrolls hung in the air, radiating golden light, yet large areas remained blank.

Shen Gongbao approached, a cunning glint in his eyes: "Your Majesty, to complete this list, we need the help of the Divine Whip."

That whip was bestowed by the Dao Ancestor; it can determine the name and surname of a soul.

The Jade Emperor hesitated for a moment, but Venus quickly advised, "Your Majesty, this is a grand plan."

"Borrowing the God-Slaying Whip for now is fine; Little Leopard will certainly not fail in his duty."

The Jade Emperor nodded and handed over the God-Slaying Whip.

The whip was three feet long, its body covered with runes, and it felt icy to the touch.

Shen Gongbao accepted the whip, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Without hesitation, he flicked his whip and quickly chanted: "Southern Dipper Star Lord, Northern Dipper General, Twenty-Eight Constellations, Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends..."

A string of star officials' names was uttered, and with each word, the God-Slaying Whip struck the Investiture of the Gods list. The names were stripped from the list like smoke, their souls instantly freed from their bonds! Chaos erupted within the hall as the phantom images of the stripped star officials' souls appeared, crying out in alarm: "Your Majesty! Why have you removed my name?"

The Jade Emperor's face turned deathly pale. Realizing what had happened, he roared in fury: "Shen Gongbao! You traitor! How dare you eliminate my trusted confidant!"

With a wave of his hand, the power of the heavens pressed down like a mountain, aiming straight for Shen Gongbao's head.

Shen Gongbao grinned maliciously, having been prepared all along.

He flung out a fragment of the Investiture of the Gods, which transformed into a grand celestial array. Layers of runes formed a net that blocked the Jade Emperor's attack.

"Your Majesty, please do not be alarmed. Little Leopard is merely removing rotten wood from the Heavenly Court!"

The wind and thunder surged within the formation, hindering the Jade Emperor's offensive, which enraged him so much that his hair and beard stood on end.

In desperation, the Jade Emperor summoned his most precious treasure—the Jade Leaf of Rejection.

The leaf was shaped like jade, crystal clear, and once offered up, it emitted a green light that enveloped the entire hall.

"Blessed by the Dao Ancestor, negating all things!"

The green light surged toward the Investiture of the Gods like a tide, instantly rendering the Heavenly Book Formation ineffective. The runes collapsed, and Shen Gongbao groaned and retreated, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Just as the Jade Emperor was grinning maliciously, a golden light shot out from outside the palace, heading straight for the Jade Leaf of Rejection! It was Jiang Wang's Falling Treasure Coin, which transformed into a dazzling golden arc, carrying unparalleled power.

The Jade Emperor was greatly alarmed: "What is this?!"

The golden light collided with the green leaves with a deafening roar! Both treasures were innate, and the moment they touched, they caused a miraculous change: the golden light was like a coin threading through a jade leaf, and the green light was like a leaf wrapped around a golden arc. They intertwined and their spiritual power surged wildly.

A moment later, both treasures malfunctioned simultaneously, fell to the ground, and crashed onto the palace bricks with a crisp sound.

The Jade Emperor's eyes widened in fury as he lunged forward to grab the treasures, only to see Shen Gongbao had already taken them first, grabbing the two treasures and escaping.

"Your Majesty, the Heavenly Court is corrupt and needs a new ruler!"

Venus appeared with a loud laugh, and a beam of light flew out from his sleeve, enveloping Zhang San and the other two, and together they escaped from the Fengshen Palace.

The Jade Emperor stood frozen in place, his heart burning with rage.

"Jiang Wang! It must be you, you monster!"

He looked up to the sky and roared, causing the heavenly court to change color.

But it was too late. The Jade Leaf had fallen into Jiang Wang's hands, the Investiture of the Gods was thrown into chaos, and a wave of rebellion from the Heavenly Realm would surge forth like a flood bursting its banks.

Inside the East Sea Cave, Jiang Wang accepted the two treasures handed to him by Shen Gongbao, stroked the Treasure Coin, and laughed, "Interesting, the two treasures collide and become each other's nemesis."

The Jade Emperor, that foolish ruler, has had all his schemes exposed.

He gave three Soul-Preserving Pills to Venus, Shen Gongbao, and Zhang San, saying, "From now on, you are all in my camp."

The collapse of the Heavenly Court is imminent.

The three knelt in gratitude, their eyes filled with fervor.

Jiang Wang stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky, his eyes filled with cunning: "Jade Emperor, your end has come."

Jiang Wang's figure was like a bolt of lightning tearing through the void, instantly sweeping past layers of immortal mist and heading straight for the core of the Conferred God Palace.

The palace was magnificent, with golden rays shining from beneath its glazed tiles. Inside, a jade slip floated in the air, emitting a faint light of rejection. It was the legendary Jade Leaf of Rejection, capable of resolving all laws of the world and turning the world upside down.

Jiang Wang's lips curled into a sneer of arrogance. His hand reached out like an eagle's claw, grabbing at the air. The jade leaf obediently fell into his palm, its chill penetrating to the bone, as if the entire Heavenly Dao trembled in that instant.

His gaze shifted and landed on Shen Gongbao, who was trembling.

This guy was originally a renegade of the Chan Sect. Now that he has been taken hostage here, his face is ashen, and his eyes are filled with suspicion and fear.

Jiang Wang scooped up Shen Gongbao with one hand as easily as lifting a chick, and with the other hand reached for the Investiture of the Gods list hanging on the Investiture Platform.

The inscription shimmered with golden light, as if countless heroic souls were murmuring within it. A surge of immense divine power welled up within him as he touched it. Jiang Wang was overjoyed. With this treasure in hand, he would have gained an ace up his sleeve, capable of determining the fate of the world on the Investiture of the Gods and changing the course of history.

"go!"

Jiang Wang let out a low shout, stepped into the void, and tried to tear open space to escape.

But at this moment, a sudden change occurred.

The Investiture of the Gods trembled as if it were alive, and, beyond his control, it automatically returned to the Investiture Platform with a whoosh, firmly adhering to it and unable to break free.

Jiang Wang frowned, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. "The Conferred God Platform's restraints? Hmph, these mere remnants of the Heavenly Court dare to obstruct me?"

Without hesitation, he flicked the Pangu Banner in his sleeve, and the innate treasure transformed into a chaotic banner, crackling with wind and thunder, attempting to destroy the Conferred God Platform with its supreme power and seize the item by force. (End of Chapter)