Primordial Era: Starting by overwhelming the Sages, Hongjun was stunned!

Outside the South Heavenly Gate.

Tongtian stood with his hands behind his back, his green robe fluttering in the wind.

Behind him, three thousand disciples stood in formation, their momentum like a rainbow.

The Holy Mother of Golden Spirits stood on the left, holding a sword in her hand, her eyes cold.

The Holy Mother of Wudang stands on the right, her whisk gently waving, her face serene.

Wu Yunxian, wielding the Hunyuan Hammer, stood at the forefront, exuding a murderous aura.

Inside the South Heavenly Gate, the celestial beings of the Heavenly Court stood in formation.

The Four Heavenly Kings, the Nine Luminaries, the Twenty-Eight Mansions...

Although there were many people, they were all pale-faced and their legs were weak.

Tongtian looked at them and said calmly:

"Bring out the Jade Emperor."

The sound was calm, yet it was like thunder, booming in front of the South Heavenly Gate.

The immortals trembled, and none dared to respond.

A moment later, a figure in bright yellow slowly walked out from inside the South Heavenly Gate.

The Jade Emperor.

He was dressed in a dragon robe and wore a crown, his face was pale, but he forced himself to remain calm.

Upon reaching Tongtian, the Jade Emperor stopped.

"The Master of Heaven".

He spoke, his voice hoarse.

Tongtian looked at him:

"I've come for one thing."

The Jade Emperor nodded:

"I know."

"The primordial spirits of the disciples of the Jie Sect on the Investiture of the Gods have been taken away by the sect leader."

"What else does the cult leader want?"

Tongtian shook his head:

"I don't want anything."

"I've come to collect a debt."

The Jade Emperor's expression changed slightly:

"Collecting debts?"

Tongtian nodded:

"During the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods, the Jie Sect was destroyed, and the Heavenly Court was an accomplice."

"My disciples were imprisoned on the Investiture of the Gods for countless years, driven by the Heavenly Court, serving as its slaves."

"It's time to pay this debt."

The Jade Emperor remained silent.

He knew that Tongtian was right.

Those disciples of the Jie Sect listed in the Investiture of the Gods were indeed servants of the Heavenly Court.

It was they who upheld the structure of the Heavenly Court.

It was they who made the Jade Emperor secure his seat on the dragon throne.

Now, the creditors have come knocking.

The Jade Emperor took a deep breath:

"What does the cult leader want?"

Tongtian looked at him and said word by word:

"First, the Heavenly Court apologized to the Jie Sect and announced it to the Three Realms."

"Secondly, compensate the Jie Sect with ten million spirit stones and one hundred magical treasures."

Third, the Jade Emperor personally went to Jin'ao Island to kowtow and apologize to the disciples of the Jie Sect.

After the three things were said, the expressions of the celestial beings in Heaven changed drastically.

An apology? Compensation? Kowtowing?

This is utterly humiliating!

But the Jade Emperor remained silent.

He remained silent.

a long time.

He spoke slowly:

"it is good."

"I agree."

The immortals were in an uproar.

The Four Heavenly Kings stepped forward:

"Your Majesty! No!"

The Jade Emperor raised his hand to stop them.

He gazed at the towering peaks, his eyes filled with weariness.

"My Lord, I agree to your terms."

"I only beg the Master not to make things difficult for the immortals of Heaven."

"They are innocent."

Tongtian looked at him, at the once high and mighty Jade Emperor.

Suddenly, I remembered the scene of myself kneeling in the Zixiao Palace during the Investiture of the Gods.

It is just as humble.

It's just as helpless as this.

And so it is... beyond one's control.

Tongtian nodded:

"it is good."

"I need to see results within three days."

"otherwise......"

He paused, his eyes turning icy cold:

"Therefore, there is no need for the Heavenly Court to exist."

After saying that, he turned around and strode away.

Three thousand disciples followed closely behind, their momentum like a rainbow.

Before the South Heavenly Gate, the Jade Emperor stood still, watching the departing figure.

His face was deathly pale, as if he had lost his parents.

......

Jin'ao Island.

The Hall of the Intercepting Sect.

Tongtian sat on the high platform and recounted the affairs of the Heavenly Court one by one.

After hearing this, some disciples were delighted, some remained silent, and some had tears welling up in their eyes.

Zhao Gongming gritted his teeth:

"That's a bargain for the Jade Emperor."

"Is kowtowing all it takes? Is my life only worth a head?"

Yunxiao said softly:

"Senior brother, that's enough."

"The Jade Emperor kowtowed, the Heavenly Court apologized, and the whole Three Realms knew."

"The Jie Sect has regained its dignity."

Zhao Gongming remained silent and said no more.

Tongtian looked towards Kong Xuan:

"Fellow Daoist, what do you think?"

Kong Xuan stood to the side of the palace gate and said calmly:

That's enough.

"The Jade Emperor kowtowed, the Heavenly Court apologized, and the Three Realms were shaken."

"This is to establish our authority, and also to show it to Mount Ling."

"Next..."

He paused:

"It's Lingshan's turn."

Inside the hall, the murderous aura rose again.

Tongtian nodded:

"it is good."

"Then we'll go to Mount Ling after the matter in Heaven is settled."

He looked at his disciples:

"These days, I'm intensifying my spiritual practice."

"The battle of Ling Mountain will not be easy."

The disciples shouted in unison, "We obey the Master's decree!"

Kong Xuan stood beside the palace gate, gazing at the churning chaos outside.

The small white flower on the lapel swayed gently.

He thought of the monk and the monkey.

I recall the unprecedented peace in the snake spirit's eyes when she was converted.

That is the true Dharma.

That is the path that all living beings should take.

The Buddha did not understand.

Lingshan doesn't understand.

Buddhism has long forgotten its original aspirations.

Kong Xuan turned around and walked out of the hall.

Tongtian called out to him:

"Fellow Daoist, where are you going?"

Kong Xuan did not turn around:

"Go and do something."

"We'll talk about it when we get back."

With one step, he vanished into the chaos.

......

Lingshan.

Great Thunder Temple.

The Buddha sat solemnly on the lotus throne.

He had already heard about what was happening in the Heavenly Court.

The Jade Emperor knelt down, the Heavenly Court paid compensation, and the Three Realms were shaken.

The Jie Sect has truly returned.

Guanyin stood in the hall and said softly:

"World Honored One, the next step of the Jie Sect might be to target our Buddhist sect..."

The Buddha raised his hand to stop her.

"I know."

He rose, his purple-gold cassock billowing in the breeze.

"Issue my decree: all Buddhist disciples, return to Mount Ling."

"From today onwards, Lingshan is closed and will not receive any visitors."

Guanyin was taken aback:

"Closed off? Then what about Journey to the West...?"

Buddha shook his head:

"Journey to the West has ended."

"It ended the moment Sun Wukong was rescued."

"The Jie Sect is now very powerful, and that man in black robes is unfathomable."

"Lingshan can only protect itself."

Guanyin's face turned pale, but she had nothing to say.

She knew that the Buddha was right.

The Buddhist sect is no longer a match for the Jie Sect.

The Buddha sat down again and closed his eyes:

"Everyone, you can leave now."

"From this day forward, Ling Mountain will be closed."

"Let's wait and see."

The Buddhas departed silently.

In the Great Thunderclap Temple, only the Buddha remained.

He sat on the lotus platform, gazing into the void.

Suddenly, I remembered my master's aged face.

I'm reminded of that phrase, "Many treasures."

I remember kneeling on the ground and calling out "Master".

The Buddha closed his eyes.

self-mumbling:

"Master..."

"You win."

"The Jie Sect has truly returned."

The sound was so soft that only the speaker could hear it.

But there was a hint of relief in his words that he himself didn't even realize.

......

Jin'ao Island.

Inside the Jiejiao Hall, the lights were bright.

Tongtian sat upright on the high platform, eyes closed, regulating his breathing. As the azure light flowed, his aura grew stronger day by day. The hidden wounds left by his endless years of imprisonment were gradually healing.

Kong Xuan stood beside the palace gate, gazing at the churning chaos outside.

The small white flower on her lapel had long since dried, yet it remained as white as snow.

He reached out and touched it gently.

"Vice Leader."

A voice came from behind.

Kong Xuan turned around.

The Holy Mother of Golden Spirit stepped forward, holding a scroll of bamboo slips in both hands.

"This is the list that I have compiled over the past few days."

She unfolded the bamboo slips.

The paper was covered with names written on it.

Some were rescued from the Investiture of the Gods, some were hidden in the Three Realms and their whereabouts were unknown, and some... were already dead, their bodies and souls destroyed, without even the chance to be reincarnated.

Kong Xuan glanced at it:

"Find the living. The dead, if they can be resurrected, then resurrect them. The ones who cannot be resurrected...remember them in your heart."

Jin Ling nodded and put away the bamboo slips.

She looked at Kong Xuan, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

Kong Xuan said, "Speak your mind."

Jin Ling took a deep breath:

"Vice Master, there is something I do not understand."

"explain."

"During the Investiture of the Gods, the Jie Sect was destroyed, and its disciples either died or scattered. Now that the Jie Sect has been rebuilt, the disciples are naturally happy. But the disciples are worried..."

She paused:

History will repeat itself.

Kong Xuan looked at her: "Are you afraid that the Jie Sect will be destroyed again?"

Jin Ling nodded: "This disciple is afraid."

"I fear that my master will be humiliated again, that my fellow disciples will die tragically again, and that this home, which we have finally managed to rebuild, will once again turn to ashes."

Kong Xuan remained silent for a moment:

"Won't."

Jin Ling was taken aback: "Why is the Vice Sect Leader so certain?"

Kong Xuan said calmly, "Because I'm here."

Jin Ling looked at him, at his calm and serene face.

Suddenly, I felt that the stone that had weighed on my heart for countless years had lightened a bit.

She bowed deeply:

"Disciple understands."

He turned and left.

Kong Xuan watched her retreating figure with a calm gaze.

This girl was terrified.

Which member of the Jie Sect is not like this?

In the battle of the Investiture of the Gods, the arrival of ten thousand immortals turned into nothing.

The master was imprisoned, his fellow disciples died tragically, and the lineage was severed.

That kind of despair is etched into my bones and can never be erased.

But it is precisely because they cannot erase the past that they will not repeat the same mistakes.

Those who have suffered losses remember the pain.

Kong Xuan turned around and looked out of the hall.

Chaos surged, and gray mist swirled.

In the distance, a faint light flickered.

That's the direction of Heaven.

It's time for the Jade Emperor to apologize.

Three days later.

Outside the South Heavenly Gate, the Jade Emperor personally led his celestial entourage toward Golden Turtle Island.

There was no imperial carriage, no ceremonial guard, and no music.

Only an ordinary cloud boat, carrying the celestial beings of the Heavenly Court, slowly sailed into the Chaos.

On the cloud boat, the Jade Emperor was dressed in a plain robe and wore a plain crown, his face pale.

Behind him, the Four Celestial Masters, the Nine Luminaries, and the Twenty-Eight Constellations all bowed their heads, their faces solemn.

This trip was to apologize.

It's an apology.

It's kneeling.

Jin'ao Island.

Three thousand disciples stood in formation before the Hall of the Intercepting Sect.

Jinling, Wudang, and Wuyunxian stood at the forefront, followed by Zhao Gongming and the Three Immortals, with the Ten Heavenly Lords and the Three Thousand Mortals in turn.

No one spoke.

There was only murderous intent.

The cloud boat landed outside the island.

The Jade Emperor stepped off the cloud boat, his steps unsteady.

He gazed at the island, at the Jiejiao Temple, and at the three thousand disciples.

A bitter feeling welled up in my heart.

Back then, the disciples of the Jie Sect were listed one by one on the Investiture of the Gods.

He sat in the Lingxiao Palace, looking at those names, his heart filled with joy.

They were delighted that the Heavenly Court had more servants, and that their dragon throne was now more secure.

He never imagined that one day he would be standing here.

Standing on Jin'ao Island.

Standing in front of the Jie Sect.

Standing before those whom he had enslaved for countless years.

apologize.

apologize.

Kneel down.

The Jade Emperor took a deep breath and stepped forward.

He stopped in front of the Jiejiao Hall.

Looking at the figure in green robes on the high platform in the hall, and at the figure in black robes beside the hall door.

He slowly knelt down.

"Thump."

The knees hit the ground with a dull thud.

Behind him, all the celestial beings of Heaven knelt down.

The Jade Emperor spoke, his voice hoarse:

"Master Tongtian, I... am guilty."

The three words were uttered, and the area in front of the hall fell into a deathly silence.

The Jade Emperor continued:

"During the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods, the Heavenly Court aided and abetted the tyranny of King Zhou, imprisoning the disciples of the Jie Sect for countless years."

"I know my crime, I confess my crime."

"Today, I, along with all the immortals of Heaven, apologize to the Jie Sect."

"Please forgive me, Master."

As soon as he finished speaking, he kowtowed.

His forehead touched the ground, and he remained motionless.

Three thousand disciples watched this scene unfold before the hall.

Some had tears in their eyes, some clenched their fists, and some trembled all over.

Zhao Gongming stared intently at the Jade Emperor, his eyes filled with hatred.

He wanted to rush up and smash the skull with one punch.

But he didn't move.

Because the master did not move.

On the high platform, Tongtian sat regally.

He looked at the Jade Emperor kneeling on the ground, at this once high and mighty ruler of the Heavenly Court.

A complex mix of emotions welled up inside me.

There was hatred, resentment, and a trace of indescribable weariness.

But more than anything, it's a sense of relief.

Imprisonment for endless years, suffering for endless years, waiting for endless years.

Finally, this day has come.

He spoke, his voice calm:

Get up.

The Jade Emperor looked up and was stunned.

Tongtian looked at him:

"Your sins, I... no, I have remembered them."

"But I won't kill you."

"Because killing you won't bring back the lives of my disciples."

"Remember this: from this day forward, the Heavenly Court and the Jie Sect will keep to themselves."

"If he/she does it again..."

He paused, his eyes turning icy cold:

"It's not something that can be solved by kneeling down and kowtowing."

The Jade Emperor kowtowed:

"Thank you, Master."

He stood up, his steps unsteady.

Behind him, the celestial beings of Heaven also rose to their feet.

The Jade Emperor turned around, about to leave.

"Wait a minute."

Kong Xuan spoke.

The Jade Emperor froze, then slowly turned around.

Kong Xuan looked at him and said calmly:

"What about compensation?"

The Jade Emperor's expression changed, and he quickly took out a storage bag from his sleeve, presenting it with both hands:

"Tens of millions of spirit stones and hundreds of magical treasures are all contained within."

Kong Xuan took it and casually tossed it to Jin Ling.

Jin Ling opened it, took a look, and nodded:

"Vice Leader, the number is correct."

Kong Xuan nodded slightly and looked at the Jade Emperor:

"You can leave now."

The Jade Emperor felt as if he had been granted a pardon and turned to leave.

The celestial beings of Heaven followed closely behind, looking utterly disheveled.

The cloud boat sailed away and disappeared into the chaos.

In front of the Jiejiao Hall, three thousand disciples watched the departing cloud boat.

Some laughed, some cried, and some remained silent.

Zhao Gongming slowly loosened his clenched fist.

He gazed in the direction where the Jade Emperor had disappeared, and murmured:

"He got off too easily."

Yunxiao said softly:

"Senior brother, that's enough."

"He knelt down, apologized, and offered compensation."

"It is known throughout the Three Realms that the Jie Sect has returned."

That's enough.

Zhao Gongming remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

On the high platform, Tongtian rose up.

He looked at his disciples and spoke, word by word:

"From this day forward, the debt between the Jie Sect and the Heavenly Court is wiped clean."

"Anyone who mentions this again will be expelled from the Jie Sect."

The disciples said in unison:

"As the Lord commands!"

Tongtian nodded slightly, then turned to look at Kong Xuan:

"Fellow Daoist, the matter of the Heavenly Court is settled."

"Next..."

Kong Xuan's interface:

"Ling Mountain".

As the two words were uttered, the murderous aura in the hall rose again.

Lingshan.

Fomen.

Tathagata.

That was the biggest creditor of the Jie Sect.

During the Investiture of the Gods, Jieyin and Zhunti joined forces to break the Zhuxian Formation, killing countless disciples of the Jie Sect.

Wuyunxian was imprisoned in the lotus pond for endless years, while Duobao was captured and released as a Buddha.

This debt is far heavier than that of Heaven.

Tongtian looked towards Kong Xuan:

"When to make our move?"