This is so dishonest!

What does it mean when the Heavenly Venerable strikes the Jade Ruyi three times in Chapter 386?
Upon receiving the decree, all the gods were filled with excitement and set off to converge on the boundless land deep within the chaos.

Unlike the slightly apprehensive or cautious wait-and-see attitude during the first conference.

This time, the gods, who had experienced the rule of the Heavenly Emperor of the First Cycle and the blessings of the Heavenly Dao Academy, were overjoyed.

They surged toward the chaos, either in small groups or alone, transforming into rainbow light.

In an instant, divine light shone brightly in the boundless chaos, and the Daoist rhyme flowed, creating a lively scene.

Before long, the magnificent stream of light approached Zixiao Palace.

However, in front of the magnificent palace gates, there is a somewhat incongruous scene.

A handsome young boy with rosy lips and white teeth had a serious face that didn't match his age, and he was carrying a rather eye-catching sign on his shoulder.

The sign was made of an unknown type of sacred wood, on which was written a line of large characters in a flamboyant style: "The Heavenly Dao Committee is collecting membership fees. Pay up!"

In the boy's other small, fair hand, he tightly gripped a precious cauldron.

"Hey? Isn't this Haotian from Yujing Academy?" A newly arrived deity with sharp eyes immediately recognized the boy's identity.

His gaze swept over the sign, and he couldn't help but smile. He then took out a crystal-clear ginseng fruit, shimmering with a hazy glow, from his sleeve and handed it over.

Seeing that he had "income," Haotian managed a forced smile on his previously tense face and said in a clear voice, "Hello, Dean Zhenxing!"

The newcomer was none other than Zhen Yuanzi, the abbot of Wuzhuang Temple, also known as the Venerable Zhenxing. He looked at Haotian with a smile and asked curiously, "Why are you on duty here? Could it be that you were punished by Fellow Daoist Yang Mei of Yujing Academy to do hard labor?"

"Haotian must have caused trouble again!" Hongyun Daoist, who was following closely behind Zhen Yuanzi, said with a smile, while also taking out a fire date as a membership fee and putting it into the treasure cauldron.

Upon hearing this, Haotian vehemently denied it, saying, "No! I didn't cause any trouble!"

"Of course there is!" Another passing deity, seemingly quite familiar with Haotian, bluntly exposed the truth:

"I visited Yujing Mountain Scenic Area a while ago and I even saw you being chased and beaten by Fellow Daoist Yang Mei with a broom!"

"The scene was... wow!"

Upon hearing this, Haotian's fair cheeks flushed bright red, and the veins on his forehead bulged out, clearly indicating that his sore spot had been hit.

He stubbornly argued, "How can what happened at Yujing Academy be called chasing and beating? It was clearly the dean carefully teaching me escape techniques and conducting practical training!"

Then came a series of vague and incomprehensible words.

Phrases like "a bunch of unorthodox gods," "you just wait and see," or "I, Haotian, will get my revenge sooner or later."

This caused the various gods who had arrived nearby to burst into laughter.

For a moment, the solemn and majestic Zixiao Palace was filled with a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere.

After the group of gods entered Zixiao Palace with smiles on their faces, Haotian stood alone at the door, feeling increasingly angry.

Don't be angry, don't be angry. Getting angry is bad for your health. At least we made a lot of money off tickets today!

Haotian tried to comfort himself in this way, and the expression on his little face softened a little.

Just then, a mysterious light surged in the distance, and Daoist energy permeated the air; it was the arrival of the immortals of the Xuanmen sect.

Leading the group were the Three Pure Ones, followed by the Queen Mother of the West, Jieyin, Nuwa, the Underworld Emperor (Nether River), Taiyi, and other founding figures of various Xuanmen lineages, as well as numerous highly accomplished Grand Luo Golden Immortals and Taiyi Immortals.

Upon seeing this scene, Haotian's previously somewhat dejected eyes suddenly lit up. He quickly raised the precious cauldron in his hand high and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Eldest Father, Second Father, Third Father!"

These three titles were so resounding and so full of emotion.

Upon hearing this, the three Pure Ones, who were walking at the very front, involuntarily twitched at the corners of their mouths.

The three exchanged a glance, and without even a moment's hesitation, their figures instantly transformed into three streams of primordial Dao Qi, enveloping the group of Xuanmen immortals and gods behind them, and collectively vanished from their original spot, directly teleporting into the Zixiao Palace.

Only Yang Mei, the dean of Yujing Academy, remained, standing alone at the entrance of Zixiao Palace with a face as black as the bottom of a pot, enduring Haotian's ardent gaze.

"How can an immortal call three fathers?" A deity who arrived a step later heard Haotian's earth-shattering shout from afar.

However, the mysterious scene of the Three Pure Ones teleporting was forcibly blocked by the Heavenly Venerables with their great magic power. They only saw Yang Mei Daoist facing Haotian alone.

Yangmei Daoist took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, stepped forward, and slapped Haotian's restless little head:

"Who are you calling 'Dad'?!"

Haotian staggered from the blow, but still held his head high, pursed his lips, and said:

"I am the treasure of the Three Pure Ones, and no argument will be accepted against this."

As soon as he finished speaking, a dazzling light appeared out of nowhere in the void. The light condensed and transformed into a three-treasure jade ruyi, smooth and lustrous, which gently tapped Haotian on the head.

"Ouch!" Caught off guard, Haotian cried out in pain, clutching his head and crouching down.

"Baby, it's not right for you to randomly claim relationships everywhere." The Three Treasures Jade Ruyi swayed gently, conveying a warm yet slightly helpless message to Haotian.

Haotian raised his head somewhat blankly and looked at the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi floating in front of him.

Then a look of surprise suddenly appeared on his face. He turned sharply to look at Yangmei Daoist and said smugly:
"Dean, look! Look! Even the Heavenly Venerable's Dao artifact has personally acknowledged that I am a 'treasure'!"

Upon hearing this, Sanbaoyu Ruyi let out a barely audible sigh: "Bao, why are you so stubborn?"

After saying that, the jade ruyi struck Haotian's head three times with a "thump, thump, thump," until Haotian saw stars, felt dizzy, and was somewhat disoriented.

"Fellow Daoist Yu, I was wrong, I was really wrong, please stop hitting me!" Haotian was completely obedient this time, holding his head and begging for forgiveness, decisively admitting his mistake.

Yu Ruyi then stopped, a hint of relief in her mind: "Baby, to know your mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue!"

"Don't do that again next time, okay, honey!"

"I understand, I understand! I will definitely be more careful in the future and will never dare to do it again!" Haotian nodded repeatedly, his attitude appearing exceptionally sincere.

The jade ruyi seemed satisfied; with a flash of light, it quietly disappeared.

Looking at Haotian, who was still rubbing his head, Yangmei Daoist shook his head helplessly and said, "Don't be so stubborn next time!"

Even the Dao Ancestor Hongjun couldn't outsmart the Three Pure Ones back then, and you, a mere artifact spirit, think you can pull this off?

"I'll definitely try harder next time!" Haotian didn't seem to care. He rubbed his head, which had been throbbing from the knock, and rallied his spirits to continue diligently collecting the "ticket money."

Anyway, Master Yangmei didn't explicitly stop him from doing this.

After a while, it was clear that most of the gods who had come to attend the gathering had entered the Zixiao Palace, and Haotian had made a fortune.

The Heavenly Emperor Xuanqing arrived late, the last to arrive.

"Eh? Your Majesty the Heavenly Emperor, why are you only arriving now?" Haotian looked up at Xuanqing with curiosity.

Logically speaking, shouldn't His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor be among the first to arrive?
“I’ve been watching you busy here for a while,” Xuan Qing said with a smile, his gaze gentle.

"Is that so?" Upon hearing this, Haotian's face flushed slightly, and he subconsciously hid the precious cauldron behind his back, revealing a hint of shame on his face.

His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor has been watching for so long, yet he hasn't come out to expose his little trick.

In fact, the reason why many gods cooperated so readily in paying "membership fees" was not only because of Haotian's nameplate and his special status, but also because they more or less tacitly accepted that this might be some kind of arrangement by His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor, so they did not investigate too much and actively cooperated.

Xuan Qing looked at Haotian's adorable face, his smile deepening. He reached out and gently patted Haotian's little shoulder, encouraging him:

"Since you obtained it through your own skill, we won't confiscate your stolen money."

"Also, you did a great job, keep up the good work."

After saying that, he stepped into the Zixiao Palace.

Haotian stared blankly at Xuanqing's departing figure, somewhat bewildered.

"His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor... actually encourages me to cheat and swindle?"

Haotian blinked and fell into deep thought.

"Also, just now, Yu Ruyi tapped my head three times in front of everyone. Does this mean I need to openly and legitimately go to Kunlun Mountain three times to gain the approval of the Three Pure Ones?"

As Haotian closed the door, he thought to himself, "After spending so much time in the Primordial Heavenly Realm, I've found that the Xuanmen sect is still the most reliable."

"To succeed, the approval of the Three Pure Ones is indispensable."

"Keep going, I know I can do it!"

~~~~
Inside the main hall, the space was vast and boundless, as if it were a universe of its own, enough to contain all living beings from the primordial era.

Familiar figures gathered in twos and threes, and soon found their respective "project groups" or "discussion groups" from the last conference.

The members of the "Chantian Group" still gathered around Yuanshi Tianzun, their expressions solemn, discussing the improvement of the Heavenly Order.

The "Xuantian Group" exudes a mysterious aura, reminiscent of the saying "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao."

The Supreme One closed his eyes to meditate, while the group members each reflected on their own thoughts, occasionally offering a witty remark that prompted deep thought.

On the other side of the "Intercepting Heaven Group," Daoist Yu Chen's sword intent remained hidden, while the group members all had sharp eyes, seemingly pondering how to "intercept" more things that would be beneficial to them from the Heavenly Dao.

The chat group between Nuwa and Fuxi was the most lively, with everyone eating and chatting, laughing and having all sorts of wonderful ideas collide in a relaxed atmosphere.

The "Western Paradise Group" and "Heavenly Paradise Group" of Jieyin and Zhunti are merged into one place, where the Buddha's light and the power of vows intertwine.

They are discussing how to promote "inspirational quotes" and "life planning" to all the worlds.

The members of the Dragon Clan's "Enchanting Heaven Group" stood tall and discussed how to "bewitch" all living beings by relying on the Heavenly Dao.

The Phoenix Clan's "Chaos Group" huddled together, observing the other discussion groups.

"Besides the Witch Clan, what other emerging forces do you think are worth investing in?" Zhuque called a meeting.

How about investing in the next Heavenly Emperor?

An elder said, "The Supreme Lord Sun is the legitimate ruler of the Heavenly Court and the crown prince of the Three Realms. He will soon ascend the throne. Investing in him will definitely bring us returns."

“I’ve recently been in charge of contacting the Star Gods and I’ve found that they have a high level of recognition for the Sun Supreme.”

“Indeed,” said the Primordial Wutong Tree. “Indeed, the Zhou Tian Star Gods are the foundation of the Taiwei Heavenly Court, and everyone absolutely supports the Twelve Gods of the Taiwei Enclosure.”

As an elder in the Spirit Root family, Wutong frequently interacts with the Star Gods in the Spirit Realm and the Star Network, and has a very clear understanding of this.

"But isn't our slogan 'Disrupt the Heavens'?"

Another elder raised a question: "If you cooperate with the next Heavenly Emperor, how can you still cause chaos in Heaven?"

Zhuque laughed and said, "Who says chaos can only be caused from the outside?"

"A powerful training ground is often most easily breached from within!"

"The next Heavenly Emperor is innocent, we shouldn't be in this situation!" Elder Di Jun of the Black Bird Clan couldn't stand it anymore and spoke up.

"Oh dear, isn't this the hypothesis of our research project?"

Zhuque said dismissively, "With so many discussion groups and countless topics, who knows how the Heavenly Dao will actually operate?"

"With the intention of disrupting the Heavenly Way and confusing the equity held by Hongjun, we will definitely do whatever is most chaotic."

“This may not be reflected in reality.” “But…” [Elder Xuan Niao] Di Jun hesitated.

He suddenly realized that bringing the Phoenix Clan into his cabinet might have been a mistake.

On the other side, the Qilin clan's "Heaven-Changing Group" was seriously analyzing how to influence the course of Heaven by improving their own fortune, thereby achieving the revival of their race.

"Although the ancestral land of Buzhou Mountain was not occupied, the surrender of other territories is still a disgrace to us!" said the Golden Qilin.

"Sigh!" Wood Qilin sighed.

"It's a pity we're not strong enough!"

The White Tiger God shook his head: "Now is not the time for regrets. What we need is to revive our race."

"Although our ancestral land is now adrift in the void, the elite of the Qilin clan still exist, and the younger generation is our hope."

"Your combination of opening the heavens and 'piggybacking' on the Great Dao's opportunities has been proven. Now we should continue to promote it to help the younger generation of the clan grow."

"Correct!"

The Water Qilin said, "There's another point: we can also seek cooperation with other organizations."

"For example, the Earth Immortals of the Xuanmen sect, their path is very similar to ours, and they are good partners for cooperation."

"After this conference, we can strengthen our exchanges with the Earth Immortal Academy."

The Earth-type Qilin nodded: "I agree with that."

"However, if we are to cooperate, we should not limit ourselves to Earth Immortals; we can also explore cooperation with other forces."

"Especially the leaders of the Xuanmen sect and the Three Pure Ones, they are powerful and influential. If we could gain their support..."

"You mean you're trying to curry favor with someone powerful?"

Jin Xing Qilin hesitated for a moment: "We were once a great clan, wouldn't it be inappropriate for us to openly curry favor with the Three Pure Ones?"

"It would be better to just follow in the footsteps of our Realm Lord!"

The realm lords mentioned by the Golden Qilin are naturally Fuxi and Nuwa, the lords of the Mountain and Sea World.

They attained enlightenment in the world of mountains and seas, and had a fairly good connection with Fuxi and Nuwa.

After pondering for a moment, the White Tiger God said, "Let's try them all. Cast a wide net, and one of them will surely succeed."

Apart from the Qilin clan seriously considering their own future, the other discussion groups are just messing around.

From the "Deceiving Heaven Research Group" across all the heavens and myriad realms, members gathered together to exchange advanced experiences on how to "make small moves under the nose of the Heavenly Dao without being detected."

Shebi Shi and a group of ancestral witches formed the "Anti-Heaven Research Group," still exuding domineering aura, discussing how to "reasonably and justifiably oppose the unreasonable arrangements of Heaven's Way" in the new era.

Even the thirty-three candidates who made Kunpeng beat his chest in frustration last time have now each found their own small groups and are ready to make their mark in the new round of "academic exchanges".

The entire Zixiao Palace is less like a sacred Taoist temple and more like a lively academic seminar and future planning strategy center.

"Fellow Daoists, how is your research going?"

"The last revision of the scriptures was truly enlightening. I wonder what insightful comments you have this time?"

"I heard that Principal Hong has been 'digesting' things quite well lately. Should we add some 'explosive ingredients' this time?"

In their spare time, the gods would exchange their findings and joke with each other.

The Purple Cloud Palace was bustling with activity.

Haotian found a place to sit near Xuanqing and watched the dean and teachers of the Heavenly Dao Academy busy at work.

"Your Majesty, is this the exchange meeting of our academy?"

"Hmm, how is it? Have you been enlightened?"

"A little." Haotian nodded.

Then, he tilted his head and looked at Xuan Qing: "Your Majesty, I have a question to ask."

"Just ask."

"Is Hongjun Daozu a bad person?"

"No."

Xuanqing replied earnestly, "Hongjun is a good person with ideas."

"Oh."

Upon hearing this, Haotian's eyes flashed, and he lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.

Just as the gods were exchanging their insights and the atmosphere was becoming increasingly heated, clouds and mist surged on the high platform, and the familiar figure of the Heavenly Dao Hongjun reappeared.

He remained seated cross-legged, expressionless, but the chains of law binding his body were more intricate and refined than before, as if they had completely merged with his "Heavenly Dao Body".

The sense of harmony, which had been "carefully crafted," grew stronger, yet it also seemed increasingly unfathomable, like a complex system covered by countless programs and patches.

"Principal Hong looks to be in good spirits!" a deity shouted, his tone tinged with a hint of teasing.

“Yes, it seems our ‘homework’ is very effective. Principal Hong has really ‘learned’ it!” another deity chimed in, drawing a burst of good-natured laughter.

Xuan Qing's figure had appeared below the high platform at some point.

His gaze swept over the gods, then he glanced at "Heavenly Dao Hongjun," a barely perceptible smile appearing on his lips.

"Fellow Daoists, welcome back to Zixiao Palace for the Second General Academic Exchange and Future Development Planning Conference of the Heavenly Dao Academy." Xuan Qing's voice was gentle yet powerful, instantly silencing the hall.

"At the last conference, everyone pooled their wisdom and wrote the Heavenly Dao Scripture, which greatly helped Fellow Daoist Hongjun to achieve Dao and laid a solid foundation for the development of the Primordial Great Dao."

"The purpose of this reunion is to build on this foundation and take it to the next level."

Xuan Qing paused, then changed the subject: "However, before we begin the new topic, we still have an important 'after-school tutoring' task to complete."

He pointed to Hongjun on the high platform: "Although Principal Hong's path to Dao integration is progressing steadily with everyone's help, the operation of the Heavenly Dao is infinitely mysterious. In order to ensure its 'system stability' and prevent 'bugs', we still need to 'reinforce the seal' for it regularly, or rather, 'optimize and upgrade' it."

Upon hearing this, the gods all wore expressions that said, "I understand."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, we are experts in this field!" A celestial from the Chantian Group assured him confidently.

“That’s right, ‘optimization and upgrade,’ we guarantee that Principal Hong will experience a home away from home!” The female fairies in the chat group smiled charmingly.

"I wonder what the theme of this 'upgrade pack' is?" a deity from the Intercepting Heaven Group asked curiously.

Xuan Qing smiled slightly, waved his sleeve, and three thousand rays of light of various colors flew out, landing precisely in the hands of each of the participating deities.

"This is a new generation of 'Heavenly Dao Plug-in' jointly developed by the Heavenly Dao Committee and me, combining the results of the previous scriptures and the 'digestion and absorption' of Fellow Daoist Hongjun."

"Its functions are more powerful and more targeted, aiming to make Fellow Daoist Hongjun's 'Heavenly Dao System' run more 'smoothly,' 'safe,' and 'controllable.'"

The gods received the ball of light, probed it with their divine senses, and their expressions varied.

"【Loyalty to the Heavenly Dao 2.0 Enhanced Version】? Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, it seems the Heavenly Emperor has high hopes for you!" a deity joked.

Kunpeng accepted the ball of light radiating unwavering determination, his eyes brimming with tears of emotion: "The Heavenly Emperor knows me! I, Kunpeng, am absolutely loyal to the Heavenly Court, to the Xuanmen, and to Principal Hong!"

"【The Way of Slacking Off (Forbidden Version)】? Fellow Daoist Fuxi, did you send this to the wrong person?" A deity looked at the ball of light in his hand that exuded an aura of "refusing to procrastinate," and then glanced at Fuxi, who was leisurely strolling not far away, and muttered to himself.

Fuxi yawned, indicating that it was none of his business.

"【Intense Competition Heavenly Dao (Glory Edition)】? Is this meant to push us to the brink of death?" A young deity looked at the ball of light in his hand, brimming with the spirit of competition and struggle, and felt immense pressure.

"【Lying Down and Reclining Heavenly Dao (Comfort Version)】? Oh, this is great, this is perfect for me!" Hongyun looked at the ball of light in her hand with delight, feeling that this was the true essence of divine life.

Zhen Yuanzi received the "Farming Heavenly Way (Harvest Edition)" and said it was very much in line with his profession.

Nuwa holds the "Harmonious Heavenly Way (Special Offer for Historians)" to ensure that all records are filled with positive energy.

The Styx River obtained the "Slaughtering Heavenly Way (Purified Version)," which emphasizes that killing is for a better order.

The "plugins" held by the Three Pure Ones are even more profound, namely [Order Heavenly Dao (Ultimate Version)], [Void Heavenly Dao (Unification Version)], and [Vitality Heavenly Dao (Infinite Version)].

"Alright, fellow Daoists, please begin your 'optimization and upgrade' work," Xuan Qing gave the order.

"We must make sure Principal Hong feels the warmth and care of our Tiandao Academy family!"

The gods responded with a resounding roar, each activating their own "Heavenly Dao Plugins".

Rays of light, each containing a different profound meaning of the Great Dao, surged toward Hongjun on the high platform like rivers flowing into the sea.

Yuanshi Tianzun took the lead, and the [Order of Heavenly Dao (Ultimate Version)] transformed into a giant net covering the heavens and earth, making the chains of laws on Hongjun's body more orderly, with each node shining with the perfect light of order.

The Supreme One's [Void Heavenly Dao (Reunification Version)] transformed into a profound void, "formatting" some of the overly "active" or "redundant" Dao information within Hongjun's body, making it purer.

Yu Chen Dao Jun's [Life Force Heavenly Dao (Unlimited Version)] fell like spring rain, injecting new vitality into Hong Jun's somewhat stiff "Heavenly Dao Body," but this vitality was firmly confined within the framework of the former two.

Nuwa's Harmonious Heavenly Dao gently swept over, smoothing out all the "compatibility issues" between the "plugins" and Hongjun's main body, ensuring that the entire "system" would not collapse.

The [Faith in the Heavenly Way (Universal Salvation Version)] and [Vow Power in the Heavenly Way (Merit Version)] of Jieyin and Zhunti transformed into countless golden runes, adding the "Feedback from All Beings" and "Merit Evaluation" modules to Hongjun's "Heavenly Way System".

Kunpeng's [Loyalty to the Heavenly Way 2.0] became a deep imprint, imprinted on the deepest part of Hongjun's "Heavenly Way Will", ensuring that his "political stance" remained unwavering.

Hongyun's "Lying Down and Relaxing Heavenly Dao" is rather peculiar. It transforms into a drowsy Daoist aura, minimizing Hongjun's "resistance" and making him more receptive to "optimization."

The gods each displayed their unique abilities, and the "Heavenly Dao Plugins" in their hands produced all sorts of strange yet ultimately similar effects.

Some plugins act like firewalls, blocking any potential "backdoors" or "vulnerabilities" in Hongjun.

Some plugins act like antivirus software, clearing away any "self-awareness virus" that might remain in Hongjun's body.

Other plugins act like performance optimization tools, greatly enhancing Hongjun's "Heavenly Path Computational Ability," but the direction of computation is strictly limited.

On the high platform, Hongjun's aura became increasingly "stable" and increasingly "blurred" under the successive effects of these "plug-ins".

He sat there quietly, like a super server being carefully tuned, bearing the operation of the Heavenly Dao of the entire primordial world.

"Fellow Daoists, you've worked hard." Xuanqing looked at the dense array of "plugin icons" on Hongjun's body, each flashing with different colors, and nodded in satisfaction.

"After this 'optimization and upgrade,' I believe that Principal Hong will be able to provide us with even better and more efficient 'Tiandao services' in the near future."

Upon hearing this, the gods all smiled with satisfaction, as if they had accomplished a great project.

"Serving Principal Hong is no trouble at all!"

"It is our duty to contribute to the stable operation of the Primordial Heavenly Dao!"

Inside Zixiao Palace, a positive and friendly atmosphere of unity and harmony once again filled the air.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

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(End of this chapter)