Others follow advice and imitate celebrities, but you start by pretending to be a god?

“This is not a matter of strength. Now is the time for the flourishing of Buddhism by the will of Heaven. Why should we go looking for the mastermind behind the scenes and offend them?” Wenqu Xingjun’s eyes were sharp.

"It's just a search, not an offense." Venus looked directly at Wenquxing, his tone firm and heavy.

He paused briefly, then laughed and said, "Besides, so what if I offend them?"

"It is precisely because of the will of Heaven that Buddhism is flourishing that our Xuanmen has no choice but to take action!"

"If the world is allowed to develop according to its original trajectory, then Buddhism will surely replace Taoism!"

"If the mastermind behind the scenes can interfere with Buddhism for a time, can they interfere forever?"

Venus spoke with a firm and unbiased tone, presenting his ideas in a factual and objective manner.

"But……"

"It's still too dangerous!"

"The mastermind behind this is incredibly powerful, you've noticed that too!" Wenqu Xingjun said hesitantly, his expression conflicted.

"It is precisely because it is dangerous that it is all the more valuable!"

Just then, the Jade Emperor, who was sitting on a high throne, suddenly spoke.

He opened his eyes, his will as firm as iron.

"The mantis stalks the cicada, but the oriole follows behind!"

"Now that the mastermind behind this is causing trouble in Buddhism, it is the time when they are most relaxed. If we can find the mastermind now and bring them under our control, our Xuanmen sect will have a chance to continue to prosper!"

The Jade Emperor slowly rose to his feet.

He wore the Jade Emperor's robes, his black hair flowing, and looked down at the struggling celestial beings of the Heavenly Court, his robes fluttering in the wind.

In his pupils, there seemed to be a magnificent scene of creation.

He asked, "Even if the mastermind behind this is mysterious, could it possibly be a legendary saint?"

Upon hearing this, the gods were stunned for a moment, then shook their heads.

"Impossible, absolutely not a saint."

"Yes, that's obviously impossible."

saint?

He couldn't possibly be a saint.

The Three Realms can no longer accommodate the existence of saints.

Even among quasi-saints, only a handful remained in the Three Realms.

Moreover, they all confine themselves to their own territories and do not roam the Three Realms at all.

For example, Zhen Yuanzi secluded himself in the Wuzhuang Temple and never came out.

Now that the Three Realms are in increasing chaos, after the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods, the higher the level, the less one dares to act rashly, lest one be tainted by the karma of the Great Tribulation.

"Since he is not a saint, what does my Heavenly Court have to fear?"

"Does my Heavenly Court have no powerful figures?"

The Jade Emperor stood before his throne, roaring and waving his arms, surrounded by auspicious clouds and rising vapors.

"Moreover, while the mastermind behind this may be mysterious, he is ultimately not a saint. Does he really dare to offend both the Buddhist sect of Mount Ling and our Heavenly Court at the same time?"

"Making too many enemies is something the mastermind behind the scenes probably doesn't want to bear."

As a former disciple of the Dao Ancestor Hongjun, and with a sage backing him up, the Heavenly Court was essentially in charge of the Three Realms on behalf of the sage.

Therefore, he has such confidence!

“I know there are risks involved.”

"But this is the best opportunity yet."

"It is the will of Heaven that has made Buddhism flourish."

"If we don't fight back and continue as we are now, simply letting things take their course and pinning our hopes on luck..."

He stretched out one hand, slowly twisted it, palm down, and gradually released it.

His tone was icy, and it shocked everyone present.

"My Heavenly Court."

"My Xuanmen."

"Perhaps it really will decline from here!!"

The sound was like a thunderclap, shattering the vast expanse of auspicious clouds and celestial beauty.

A man dressed in the Jade Emperor's magnificent robes stood proudly atop the Lingxiao Palace, palms down, his eyes blazing with light.

He was like the king of a pride of lions, looking down on all sides with arrogance and domineering presence.

Below, the gods and immortals wore strange expressions, pondering to themselves.

Is this still the Jade Emperor they know?

It should be noted that although this man was revered as the Jade Emperor, he was the head of the Three Realms Mysterious Sect personally appointed by the three ancient sages when they departed.

In reality, the Jade Emperor was quite kind and approachable in his daily interactions with others.

No matter what the matter, he always remained calm, and even when assigning tasks, he would speak with a tone of discussion.

But now, contrary to his usual behavior, he has uttered such domineering words!
The prosperity of Buddhism is due to divine will, and ancient giants are the masterminds behind it!
If we want to lead the Xuanmen to regain its glory, we must outwit and outmaneuver these two major forces!

It should be understood that such a major event involving the Three Realms is no small matter.

Whether it's finding the mastermind behind it all or restoring the prestige of Buddhism, both are fraught with unknowns and dangers.

The slightest carelessness could bring about utter disaster.

One careless move and you could end up dead and vanished into nothingness.

"No need to panic."

The Jade Emperor stood high in the sky, his eyes gleaming with brilliant light, his robes fluttering in the wind.

A tattered ancient scroll appeared in his palm, radiating a shimmering light, adorned with sparkling points of light.

This is an ancient sacred object, once a priceless treasure for merit.

Luotu.

Holding this ancient scroll, the Jade Emperor's hair flew wildly, and his entire demeanor changed drastically. He became awe-inspiring and otherworldly, as if his very flesh and blood were glowing, radiating a sacred light!
"This whole thing started because of me!"

"With the Luo Tu bestowed by the sage here, if it implicates the entire Xuanmen sect, I can sever it at any time!"

"At that time, all kinds of karma can be applied to me!"

silence.

Inside the entire Lingxiao Palace.

It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

All the gods looked up in astonishment!
His expression was one of shock, his eyes blazing with divine light!

No one expected it.

This Jade Emperor, who had been weak and cowardly in Heaven for millions of years, actually uttered such astonishing words.

"But……"

Who should we contact?

"There's no way to find them at all. Are we supposed to look for their weapons as clues?"

After a long while, a deity finally spoke up. The Star Lord of Greed, one of the seven stars of the Big Dipper, asked in a deep voice.

Many deities turned their heads and cast their gazes toward Yang Jian.

The Celestial Hound once appeared on the battlefield of Mount Ling and even threw out three supreme weapons, clearly knowing a lot of inside information.

"The Celestial Hound has still not returned," Yang Jian said, shaking his head.

"However, General Li Jing might have some news."

Li Jing nodded and stepped forward.

"A demon monkey."

He twisted his wrist slightly.

The mirror image appears.

The scene of the great battle at Mount Ling is recreated, and what is recorded there is the Six-Eared Macaque who was suppressed under the Purple Gold Bowl before the arrival of the Howling Celestial Dog!
At that moment, the Six-Eared Macaque, in his final attempt to use the ultimate technique of killing his own family and himself to kill the enemy, set his own body on fire.

At that moment, he briefly revealed his true form as a demonic ape. Although it was only for a fleeting instant.

But that was enough to alert many deities!

“A… ape demon.”

"Although its true form cannot be discerned, it is clearly a demon monkey."

"It could indeed be a clue to finding the mastermind behind this!"

boom!
The Jade Emperor looked up, his gaze terrifying. As his eyes moved, everything seemed to rise, and all plants flourished, as if an ancient celestial emperor had descended!

Luo Tu emitted light, illuminating the Jade Emperor's body and making him shine brilliantly.

"He's not a saint, just a behind-the-scenes manipulator. What's there to fear?"

"How could my vast Heavenly Court be afraid of a cowardly rat hiding his head and tail?"

"Under the majesty of my Heavenly Court and Xuanmen, he will surely submit!"

"Hold a grand Peach Banquet!"

"Find the mastermind behind this!"

"Find that demonic ape!"

"May the Xuanmen (mysterious sect) establish its dominion over the Three Realms and enjoy eternal prosperity!"

Upon hearing this, all the celestial beings in the heavens took a deep breath, feeling their blood boiling and their passion surging!
They accepted the orders and left one by one.

It didn't take long.

The Southern Heavenly Gate above the Heavenly Court opened wide, and troop after troop of heavenly soldiers and generals, carrying invitations to the Peach Banquet, frantically searched throughout the Three Realms...

The Heavenly Court held a grand peach banquet, ostensibly to satirize Buddhism and celebrate the successful completion of the Journey to the West, but in reality, it concealed a hidden agenda.

This Peach Banquet was merely a pretext; the real purpose was to secretly investigate the mysterious Taoist temple and, at the same time, spare no effort in searching for the Six-Eared Macaque.

At this time, the many disciples in the temple were still completely unaware of this matter.

"Hahaha! So happy!"

"This rampage at Mount Ling was absolutely exhilarating!"

In that ancient and mysterious city, demonic energy permeated the air, and ghostly figures loomed overhead.

This is the City of the Wrongfully Dead, a strange place in the human world that is closest to the underworld of the three realms, and can be called a feng shui treasure land.

Because some areas of it are connected to the underworld, it is often occupied by demons, with will-o'-the-wisps flickering, few people treading on it, and a silence that is unsettling. Few living beings can survive here for long.

However, today, the City of the Wrongfully Dead has welcomed a group of uninvited guests.

"You've found a good spot, kid."

Wine glasses clinked, and the campfire roared.

The Golden-Winged Roc King, completely drunk, put his arm around the Black Mountain Demon's shoulder and said, hiccuping as he spoke.

"Haha, compared to Senior Brother Dapeng's Lion Camel Ridge, mine is far inferior!" The Black Mountain Demon chuckled and tilted his head back to gulp down a mouthful of fine wine.

"Hehe, you're too modest! I heard that you destroyed three hundred Buddhist temples in the recent Battle of Mount Ling?" asked the Golden-Winged Roc King.

"Senior brother, you flatter me. Compared to your rampage at Mount Ling, I am no match at all." The Black Mountain Demon scratched the back of his head, his smile endearing.

If the ghosts and monsters in the vicinity saw him like this, they would be so shocked that their eyes would pop out!

Is this still the same Black Mountain Demon who is capricious and prone to annihilating entire clans?
In the huge square at the very center of the City of the Wrongfully Dead.

A huge grill stands there.

The campfire blazed brightly, roasting the game meat until it was golden and crispy, coated with fine honey, and dripping oil onto the charcoal with a sizzling sound.

Jars of fine wine were arranged all around, numbering in the thousands, their seals still intact, yet already exuding a rich aroma.

"Haha! This is fine wine!"

"Senior Brother Black Mountain, you're amazing!"

Many disciples from the Taoist temple who had returned from Mount Ling sat around a huge barbecue grill, chatting excitedly.

Their return from Lingshan was a resounding success!
Not only did they successfully rescue Lin Xi, but they also turned Ling Mountain upside down and looted countless treasures!
"Finally, I have a treasure to offer to Master!"

"This time I've overturned thirty-six Buddhist temples!"

"Hahaha, I overturned thirty-seven!"

"When I return to the temple this time, I must show off to my master!"

The numerous disciples of the dojo—including demons, humans, and sea creatures—all cheered excitedly.

They ate large chunks of meat and drank heavily without any restraint, in order to vent their joy!
"Hmm, it's a pity that Senior Brother isn't here this time. Otherwise, with Senior Brother's strength, he might have been able to kill those Buddhas directly!" Xiong Paopao shouted drunkenly while holding a wine jar.

"Senior Brother, you should have gone to the Fire Cloud Cave, right? Senior Brother said that he was going to find the three ancient emperors or something..." Fahai was holding a chicken leg, his mouth full of oil.

"Sigh, Chengqian, you and your senior brother are both human, why don't you ask more questions? Look at them, and then look at you!" The scorpion demon teased with a smile, holding a piece of roasted meat.

"Ah, last time I tried to get closer and ask my senior brother how to govern the country, but he kicked me away..." Li Chengqian said helplessly, burping and with hazy eyes.

"Hahaha! You asked for a beating!"

The disciples were excitedly discussing things and drinking themselves into a stupor.

From day to night, and then from night to day.

This grand gathering lasted for three days and three nights, during which all the fine wine that the Black Mountain Demon had accumulated over the past decade was consumed.

Finally, they all got drunk and lay sprawled out in the middle of the field, fast asleep.

Fahai rolled under the table, hugged Xiong Paopao's toes, and fell fast asleep while nibbling on them.

The Black Mountain Demon collapsed into the wine cellar, unconscious, still muttering, "I must bring a jar of good wine for my master."

Meanwhile, the Golden-Winged Roc King was curled up in a ball, fast asleep, clutching a wine jar.

Even the Six-Eared Macaque got drunk. He grabbed a stick of firewood and hit the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord's head hard while looking around.

"Come on! Drink up! There's not a single one who can fight!"

After saying this, he lay down on his back, drunk, and fell into a deep sleep.

In reality, at their level, who would be intoxicated by mere fine wine?
Even the finest wine meticulously prepared by the Black Mountain Demon is not acceptable.

What truly captivated them were the memories of the past.

It's the blue sky and the sea, the golden sand, and the bonfire barbecue feasts after reading.

The Queen of Xiliang sat atop the distant city wall, holding a jug of fine wine, and tilted her head back to gulp it down.

The cool liquor flowed down her snow-white neck.

The pure white moonlight shone on her, and her red dress fluttered.

A colorless wind ruffled her long, flowing hair. She gazed into the distance, her beautiful eyes hazy with intoxication, filled with longing and anticipation.

In that instant, the Queen of Xiliang seemed to have cast aside all her troubles and returned to her days of studying at the Daoist temple.

Carefree and innocent.

"Master..."

"We'll go back to the temple tomorrow."

"Xiao Jiu can finally see you."

"More than a decade has passed since we parted."

"I wonder if you are well?"

On the side of the City of the Wrongfully Dead, many disciples of the Daoist temples were completely drunk.

And in that distant place where the Eastern Continent and the Southern Continent meet.

In the direction of the East China Sea near the temple, a blue dragon was pacing around outside the temple with a gloomy expression.

This azure dragon is a hundred feet long, with prominent horns and five shining claws, making it extremely rare.

It should be noted that since the first calamity of the ancient Dragon Han Dynasty, the power of the Dragon Clan has gradually declined, and their bloodline has become increasingly diluted.

In ancient times, dragons could possess the strength of a Taiyi Golden Immortal upon reaching adulthood, even without any cultivation.

However, the dragon race of today, having been passed down through generations, has lost so much of its ancestral dragon bloodline that it is almost negligible, and there are very few experts at the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm.

"It's so deceiving!"

"The Buddhist sect was attacked, yet the Xuanmen Heavenly Court comes to our Dragon Clan to run wild?"

"This isn't a search, it's clearly a deliberate attempt to cause trouble!" (End of Chapter)