If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1485 Liu Ji's Guardian
Lingxu Hall.

The Red Emperor carefully observed the Jade Emperor's expression, not missing even the smallest detail.

Unfortunately, no concern or hesitation was found. Concern and hesitation were what he had expected: the Jade Emperor's reaction to Fu Yuan Xianweng's trip to Taiqing Heavenly Palace to find the Dao Ancestor.

In fact, the Jade Emperor did not show any extra expression on his face, remaining as serious and solemn as before.

Is it that they are not worried about the Dao Ancestor intervening, or are they confident that the Dao Ancestor will not help Immortal Fu Yuan go against the predestined marriage?
"Red Emperor, what do you think?" the Jade Emperor asked slowly.

The White Emperor has just expressed his views on the situation in the Central Plains based on the theory of the "Five Elements Theory". Now it is the Red Emperor's turn.

The Crimson Emperor lowered his eyes and said, "It's hard to say. The theory of the Five Elements' cyclical succession is completely correct, but Zou Yan overlooked a very important point: the Five Elements generate and restrain each other, and none of them can be missing."

No dynasty was associated with a single element.

The Qin Dynasty was not purely of the Water element; it possessed the virtues of all five elements.

Moreover, dynasties do not remain stable in a single attribute.

The theory of the Five Elements and their cyclical succession should be specifically applied to the human emperor himself.

Let's take the Qin Dynasty as an example again.

The Qin state was established under Duke Xiang, Ying Kai, who was the true son of the White Emperor and possessed the virtue of metal.

The State of Qin was a vassal state established by the Zhou Dynasty.

Before the establishment of the Western Zhou Dynasty, the Ying clan was already a noble family of the Shang Dynasty.

Dian Wei was later known as "the ancient evil one," but evil one was actually the ancestor of the Ying clan.

After the fall of the Shang Dynasty, the Ying clan became subjects of the Zhou emperor. It was only during the reign of Ying Kai that they were enfeoffed as vassals and given the title "Duke Xiang". Later, as the Qin state developed, they were promoted to the rank of "King".

The Crimson Emperor continued, "By the time of Ying Zheng, the Qin state had already gone through the cycle of the five elements at least twenty times."

Ying Zheng was the son of the Black Emperor, and the Qin Dynasty during Ying Zheng's reign was associated with the element of Water.

If an emperor lives long enough, the attributes of the Five Virtues may differ in different periods.

For example, King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Ying Ji, was associated with the element of fire during the regency of Mi Ba Zi. After Empress Dowager Mi passed away and he truly took power, he changed his element from fire to water.

Therefore, Your Majesty's attempt to predict the current situation in the Central Plains through the theory of the Five Elements is unlikely to yield an accurate answer.

The Jade Emperor said unhappily, "You can use this to fob off others, but why did I summon you and the White Emperor here alone?"
Even if I cannot be completely certain who the true Son of Heaven is, I know he is a 'Son of the Crimson Emperor'.

The Crimson Emperor said helplessly, "The so-called 'Child of the Crimson Emperor' is simply someone whose soul was infused with a primordial fire energy at the beginning of their birth."

Many of the kings who rebelled against Qin were sons of the Red Emperor.

For example, Chen Sheng, a native of Chu, inherited the element of fire and was considered a son of the Red Emperor.

The Jade Emperor grew increasingly displeased and said, "How can anyone else compare to the true Son of Heaven? Red Emperor, let me be frank."

I am about 70-80% certain of the true identity of the Son of Heaven.

The reason I called you here to discuss the overall situation in the Central Plains is because the established destiny has changed.

Yu Fengxian may not have been able to save the Qin Dynasty, but at this moment, she truly extended the Qin Dynasty's reign for several more years.

I wish to confirm the identity of the true Son of Heaven and immediately dispatch the Six Ding and Six Jia, the Merit Officers and Wandering Gods, and the Guardian Generals to provide him with comprehensive protection.

The guardian deities will include two Great Golden Immortals and at least eight Heavenly Kings from the Thunder and Fire Departments.

Twenty-four of the strongest spiritual officials from various major sects.

The other 365 righteous gods will each send one star god to form a complete celestial war, ready to launch support from the heavens at any time.

The Crimson Emperor was alarmed and quickly advised, "Your Majesty, there's no need to make such a big fuss. The True Dragon Emperor is currently in excellent condition."

The White Emperor, standing nearby, quietly rolled his eyes: "Brother, you just said you didn't know who 'Child of the Crimson Emperor' was, but now you've confessed without being asked?"
However, he also understood that the Red Emperor's perfunctory words could only fool laymen.

As the embodiment of the Five Elements Dao, even though they were unaware of destiny and fate, and had no idea how the great calamity of heaven and earth would unfold, they could not determine who the true dragon emperor was.

However, they must be very clear about the order of the "Five Virtues Rotation" and the "Innate Five Elements Qi" on each of the potential dragons.

If we combine this with the divine revelation that "the son of the Red Emperor is the true Son of Heaven," we can essentially pinpoint the identity of the true Son of Heaven.

However, the Red Emperor was certainly not the first person to identify himself as the true Son of Heaven.

The demon master Kunpeng infused Xiaoyu's soul with his innate essence and energy, making Xiaoyu a true "daughter of Kunpeng." But could the demon master Kunpeng immediately lock onto Xiaoyu?
Although the reason why the demon master Kunpeng could not lock onto Xiaoyu was due to a variety of factors, it at least shows that secrets such as "Kunpeng's daughter" and "Child of the Crimson Emperor" can be concealed and deceived.

After Liu Laosan slew the white snake (the First Emperor of Qin) at Mangdang Mountain, he activated his innate fire spirit energy and became the true son of the Crimson Emperor. Then the Crimson Emperor precisely targeted him.

Just like when the Demon Master Kunpeng tried to lock onto Xiaoyu. Only after Xiaoyu's sword bones shattered and she awakened Kunpeng's wisdom and supernatural powers did the Demon Master sense that Kunpeng's daughter had finally been born.

If he had personally gone to Jambudvipa to keep watch, he would have captured Xiaoyu long ago.

The sword bone shattered, and the daughter of Kunpeng awakened; Mangdang slew the white serpent, and the son of the Crimson Emperor awakened.

The story of Liu Ji slaying the snake is known not only to the whole world, but also to most powerful figures.

Therefore, the Jade Emperor was quite certain that the Red Emperor knew the true identity of the Son of Heaven.

Of course, he wasn't lying. Before Liu Ji slew the snake, he was already 70-80% certain he had identified the true Son of Heaven. Otherwise, how could Xi Juan have "coincidentally" met Liu Laosan?

The reason for seeking answers from the Red Emperor now is to ensure that everything is "perfectly foolproof" so that He can spare no expense.

After all, there were two Great Luo Golden Immortals, eight Heavenly Kings, twenty-four Great Spirit Officials, and three hundred and sixty-five Star Gods.
Having paid such a high price, if He had mistaken the person, He would never be able to face anyone again.

"If it were the previous Mandate of Heaven, I would not have needed to rush to reveal the Mandate of Heaven to the world."

At this moment, the destiny has changed, the heavenly secrets are in chaos, and the future is hard to grasp!
"Compared to the true Son of Heaven falling into danger or even having his destiny stripped away, the price of prematurely revealing the true Son of Heaven should be bearable," the Jade Emperor said.

He certainly knew that by sending deities to protect the true Son of Heaven, He was essentially revealing the true Son of Heaven's identity to all the great powers in the world.

The gods and mortals arranged by the Heavenly Court cannot see it, nor can ordinary Qi cultivators. Fuqiu Gong and his group of quasi-Daluo cultivators will definitely be able to detect the anomaly.

Once his true identity as the chosen one is exposed, it will inevitably bring him enormous trouble.

But this costly and clumsy method can at least guarantee that the true emperor will not die young.

The Crimson Emperor hesitated for a moment, then switched to telepathy and said, "Your Majesty, your concerns are not without merit, but there are two sons of the Crimson Emperor in this generation."

The true sons of the Crimson Emperor were actually a pair of 'brothers'.

Revealing the true Son of Heaven could backfire. Not only would it fail to protect him, it would also directly destroy his imperial destiny, allowing another son of the Crimson Emperor to become the new Son of Heaven.

Compared to this change of destiny, all your worries are insignificant.

The Jade Emperor exclaimed in surprise, "Even with a Great Luo Golden Immortal and the Zhou Tian Star Array, you still can't suppress the destiny of the true Son of Heaven?"

The Crimson Emperor said, "Did Grand Tutor Yu of Great Qin rely entirely on his power to suppress the destiny of Great Qin and buy Great Qin several more years of national life?"

She rarely displayed supernatural powers or magic, and it was only when others crossed the line and broke the rules first.

The Qin Dynasty's continued existence is attributable to ten years of benevolent governance and the pacification of the people, accounting for half of the credit; the unity and concerted efforts of the court and its officials in dealing with external threats account for the remaining 80% of the credit.

The guardian deity Your Majesty prepared for the true Son of Heaven can only protect, not prevent Grand Tutor Yu from doing something as correct and timely as 'ten years of benevolent governance,' and therefore cannot achieve the goal of ensuring the unchanging Mandate of Heaven.

A hint of helplessness appeared on the Jade Emperor's solemn face. "What you say, how could I not know it?"

However, with the great changes in destiny, the Heavenly Court of the Divine Path must now shoulder the responsibility of safeguarding this destiny.

The White Emperor said, "The Mandate of Heaven is divided into major and minor. The three-year reign of Hu Hai was a minor Mandate of Heaven, the Qin Dynasty's demise after only two generations was a major Mandate of Heaven, and the order of the human way, the immortal way, and the divine way remaining intact is an even greater Mandate of Heaven."

At present, it's just that Hu Hai extended the reign of the emperor by a few years, which is not a big deal.

"Your Majesty, wielding the Xuan Shu (the primordial pivot), overseeing the universe, harmonizing Yin and Yang, and upholding the three realms, has always been guarding the greatest mandate of Heaven!"

Despite his annoyance, the Crimson Emperor smiled and flattered, "Indeed, although the Mandate of Heaven has changed, the land of Shenzhou is still in good order. Neither the Qin Dynasty nor the Hidden Dragon of Shenzhou has ever been manipulated by demons or evil spirits to steal the fortune of humanity."

This is the greatest merit.

—Isn't Yu Fengxian the biggest demon?

The Jade Emperor muttered to himself, not satisfied with the flattery from the two great emperors.

He felt that the two primordial deities were just going through the motions.

"That being said, the Heavenly Court of the Divine Path still needs to make some preparations in advance. Crimson Emperor, I will listen to you and will not send guardian deities to protect the true Son of Heaven for the time being, nor will I inquire about the identity of the true Son of Heaven from you."

But you must promise me that you will keep a close watch on the true Son of Heaven and ensure that he does not suffer any calamity beyond the will of Heaven.”

The Crimson Emperor's expression changed, and he instinctively wanted to refuse this hot potato.

"Your Majesty, I fear that I am willing but unable to do so."

The Jade Emperor immediately said, "I have prepared the team of guardian deities for the Heavenly Court. I now entrust them entirely to you, and they will obey your orders completely."

If a truly urgent matter arises that is beyond our power, we can summon the Great Celestial Array, composed of two Great Luo Immortals, eight Heavenly Kings, twenty-four Spirit Officials, and three hundred and sixty-five Star Gods.

The Crimson Emperor was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized: I think I've been tricked by the Jade Emperor?

He knew that bringing forth divine protection and revealing the true Son of Heaven's identity at this moment would greatly harm the Mandate of Heaven. Was he deliberately saying this to open a window of opportunity, yet claiming he was going to smash a wall?

However, at this point, he could no longer refuse.

He had already rejected the Jade Emperor's original plan, and the Jade Emperor, in accordance with "his wishes," took a step back.

Just after seeing off the dejected Red Emperor and White Emperor, the Jade Maiden came to report, "Your Majesty, Immortal Fu Yuan is outside the palace requesting an audience with you."

The Jade Emperor sneered inwardly and said, "Let him in."

Just as the Jade Maiden was about to leave, the Jade Emperor added, "Where are the Star Lord of Fate and the gods of marriage right now?"

The Jade Maiden said, "They have returned to the Star of Fate."

The Jade Emperor said, "Send Zhang Tianshi to call them back and have them wait in the side hall for further instructions."

A moment later, Immortal Fu Yuan entered expressionlessly, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I was impolite earlier."

The Jade Emperor said gently, "You are a great immortal and also my fellow Daoist of the Xuanmen sect, so there is no need to be so polite."

Before He became the Lord of Heaven, He and Immortal Fu Yuan truly addressed each other as "fellow Daoists".

Fu Yuanxian should have addressed the Jade Emperor as "senior." It wasn't that he was disrespectful, but the Jade Emperor was truly disappointing, his cultivation being roughly the same as his own.
Of course, that was in the past. Now, the Jade Emperor's cultivation level is far superior to his.

Rather than saying that the Jade Emperor lacked talent in cultivation, it's more accurate to say that the pure path of immortality was not suitable for him.

Everyone has their own unique talents, and the Jade Emperor is suited to be the Jade Emperor and to walk the path of the Gods.

Fu Yuanxian said bitterly, "Your Majesty, I am truly unworthy of the title 'fellow Daoist.' Your Majesty, I have come to apologize to you."

The primary responsibility for the karmic calamity lies with me, Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to punish me.

"My love affair is a preordained destiny. Though I am filled with reluctance, I can only submit to fate and accept this predestined union."

—Hahaha, you old dog, you've finally met your match! Queen Mother, we've finally gotten our revenge! Oh dear, the Queen Mother isn't here.

The Jade Emperor remained expressionless, but inwardly he was overjoyed. However, upon realizing he had forgotten to call out to the Queen Mother, he became extremely annoyed.

"Queen Mother, come to Lingxu Palace immediately!" The Jade Emperor dared not delay and immediately used the "Ten Thousand Miles of Sound Transmission" technique.

The immortal Fu Yuan below immediately sensed something and was filled with surprise and doubt.

"Your Majesty~~"

He had barely uttered a call when the Golden Boy's loud shout came from outside the hall: "The Queen Mother of the West has arrived!"

Fu Yuanxian was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage: You damned Jade Emperor, did you just call for the Queen Mother? What did you call her here for, to laugh at me together?

"Quickly invite the Queen Mother in," the Jade Emperor said.

As soon as she finished speaking, the Queen Mother of the West walked in with an air of majesty and solemnity.

She glared at the Jade Emperor first: What are you doing? Fu Yuan, that old dog, has already arrived, and you only just told me. How much have I missed? Right, Fu Yuan, that old dog, seemed to have sensed something, and was now filled with righteous indignation.

You, the Jade Emperor, how come you use your Taoist arts so poorly?

The Jade Emperor was a little embarrassed and a little aggrieved: Fu Yuan, that old dog, is quite powerful!

Except for not severing the three corpses, Immortal Fu Yuan had reached the pinnacle in every aspect.

"My dear minister, please continue," the Jade Emperor said solemnly.

Fu Yuanxian felt both resentful and hateful, but as a man under someone else's roof, he had no choice but to bow his head.

"The main responsibility for this karmic calamity lies with me, Your Majesty and Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty and Your Majesty to punish me. I am also willing to obey Heaven's will and accept this preordained marriage," he said blankly, his head bowed.

"Hehe, why did you change your mind, my dear minister?" the Queen Mother asked with a smile.

The Jade Emperor suppressed his laughter, but secretly rejoiced.

Fu Yuanxian said calmly, "This is the decree of the Dao Ancestor, and I am willing to obey."

Half of the smile on the Queen Mother's face disappeared.

The Jade Emperor's inward sneer intensified, but he said softly, "In that case, my dear minister, you may return now!"
This case is closed; proceed according to the Dao Ancestor's will. Punish as the Dao Ancestor decrees.

The Queen Mother was somewhat surprised.

Then, to her even greater surprise, she saw that Fu Yuanxian's expression had changed.

He seemed very anxious, "Your Majesty, I must submit to the law and face this calamity today, at this very moment."

"Alas, my dear minister, you are a great immortal, and the tribulations of your marriage are a serious matter." The Jade Emperor comforted you gently, "There's no need to rush. At least we should discuss it with the other immortals at tomorrow's court assembly before announcing the Dao Ancestor's decree."

"Once the decree is conveyed to the Heavenly Realm, the specific timing of its execution will be determined by you, my esteemed minister."

Fu Yuanxian gritted his teeth and cried out in grief and indignation, "Your Majesty, Yu Fengxian hasn't stopped yet! She is still weaving new threads of cause and effect, constantly reinforcing the threads of karmic entanglement."

Her curse of bad luck in marriage is also getting stronger.

I cannot wait a moment longer.

In the short time she spent seeking the Dao Ancestor in the Great Crimson Heaven, and only a few days in the mortal realm, her demonic arts had already broken through to a new level, becoming even more evil, vicious, and unfathomable.

The Queen Mother suddenly realized what was happening, and then felt a surge of joy.

While she was happy, she also glanced warily at her nominal husband out of the corner of her eye.

This guy isn't very good at magical arts, but he seems to have a slightly better grasp of the power of the Heavenly Dao than she does.

They are all "Gods of Heaven," and they all have the authority of Heaven.

The deeper one's control over the authority of Heaven, the closer one gets to the "true Heavenly Lord." The closer one gets to the true Heavenly Lord, the closer one gets to omniscience and omnipotence.

Throughout the unfolding of the "Marriage Demon Tribulation" case, the Jade Emperor's judgment was always a fraction of a step ahead of hers.

This shows that He is closer to the true God.

Or, to put it another way, the Jade Emperor is a more qualified "proxy God of Heaven".

(End of this chapter)