I'm already a Great Luo Golden Immortal, how come you're only Martial Saints?

The wind and rain subsided, and the thunder was held back. The gods of thunder disappeared into the sky, but the heavenly restrictions remained in place.

Ning Chen estimated that the Jade Emperor's decree would not be issued for some time.

He went to Luo Zhantian, Tang Hao, and the others who had been struck down by lightning.

"Fortunately! The Thunder Gods didn't try to kill us earlier!"

After investigating for a while, Ning Chen felt somewhat relieved.

Luo Zhantian and his fellow cultivators at the Divine Realm have achieved great success in their cultivation, making them far more resilient than ordinary people.

Perhaps it was because the Thunder Gods knew they were all successors of Zhang Tianshi's lineage that they held back and didn't strike them to death.

Although everyone was struck by lightning, their skin and flesh were charred, their meridians were shaken, and their internal organs were severely injured and they fell into a coma. Their spirits were intact, and their lives were not in danger.

Ning Chen took out the pills, dissolved them, and used his magic to guide the medicinal power into the bodies of the people. He then took out the external application ointment, applied it, and the treatment was completed.

"Cough cough..."

Not long after, Luo Zhantian, who was the most physically robust, coughed violently a few times and slowly woke up.

At first, Lao Luo's eyes were a little unfocused, but when he saw Ning Chen, he immediately struggled to sit up.

"Ning... Ning Chen... Where is Qing'er?"

"Don't worry, Teacher Luo, Qing'er's life is not in danger for now..."

Ning Chen pressed him down, looked up at the leaden clouds in the sky, and said in a deep voice.

"You should focus on resting and recovering first; bigger trouble is probably yet to come."

Ning Chen knew that, given the Jade Emperor's nature, he probably wouldn't let the matter rest. Fortunately, he wasn't without any means of resistance and had a backup plan.

On the other side, Sun Rongrong had just woken up from her coma.

The moment she opened her eyes, she staggered out of the main hall and rushed towards Qing'er, who was being held in the arms of her senior brother Guangyuan and whose breathing had become steady after taking the pill.

She held Qing'er tightly in her arms, not daring to look at Qing'er's right arm, which was still slowly healing and revealing the white bone. She just gently stroked Qing'er's cold cheek with trembling fingers, murmuring to herself.

"Qing'er, don't be afraid, Mommy's here, Mommy's here..."

As everyone awoke, they heard Ning Chen say that what had happened here had reached the ears of the Jade Emperor and was awaiting his judgment. A glimmer of hope arose in their hearts.

Perhaps the Jade Emperor was moved by Qing'er's heroic act and decided to show leniency.

Tang Hao leaned closer to Ning Chen and asked in a low voice.

"Brother Ning, what are our chances of winning this?"

Ning Chen frowned slightly, looked up at the sky, and said calmly.

"It's hard to say. I have never placed my safety in the pity of others!"

If the Jade Emperor could be so cruel to his own sister, how could he possibly show leniency for a fox spirit descendant?

This ordeal did not last long.

Above the sky, thick, leaden clouds surged and gathered, then suddenly dispersed.

This time, instead of thunder and lightning, there was an endless aura of golden armor and steel!

The leaden clouds were replaced by grim, blood-red battle clouds, and ten thousand heavenly soldiers and generals descended from the sky, with banners waving and swords and spears standing tall.

The heavenly soldiers under Li Jing's command formed a formidable array, like an iron torrent, completely surrounding the Zhongnan Mountain!

Luo Zhantian, Tang Hao, and the others felt a jolt in their hearts and their faces turned pale. Judging from this situation, what awaited them was probably not the Jade Emperor's forgiveness, but an even more majestic thunderous force!

At the very center of the clouds, Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, dressed in gleaming glazed armor, held a magnificent golden pagoda adorned with seven treasures. His face was stern and imposing, and his gaze swept across the area below with lightning speed.

Behind him stood a group of divine generals, including the Giant Spirit God, the Fish Belly General, and the Yaksha General, their imposing presence awe-inspiring.

"All personnel below, listen to my command!"

Li Jing's voice, like a resounding bell, made the entire Louguantai area buzz.

"By order of His Majesty the Jade Emperor, the origins of the fox spirit's daughter, Qing'er, are questionable. She is temporarily escorted to the Heavenly Court for detailed interrogation by the Palace of Justice! You shall immediately hand her over, surrender, and return with me to the Heavenly Court to await further judgment!"

The crowd was utterly unable to muster any resistance; the number of heavenly soldiers and generals was so vast that it seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see.

"It's over. Once we're taken back to Heaven, we'll be at their mercy, whether they make us or not."

"The Jade Emperor is trying to kill us!"

"What should we do, Brother Ning? Run away, or surrender? If we can just hold out for this year, we might as well not come back!"

Ning Chen looked up and stared directly at Li Jing in the clouds, his voice clear and without the slightest hint of fear.

"Lord Li! Qing'er is critically injured and her soul is unstable. How can she withstand being detained by the Heavenly Court? Moreover, her mother's tragic fate is pitiful, and the facts are already clear. Why is there any need for further investigation? Please forgive Ning Chen for being unable to comply!"

Li Jing frowned, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes, but he still tried to persuade him kindly, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.

"On this journey to the Heavenly Court, it is up to Wang Lingguan to discern right from wrong and determine the course of events. Master Ning, do not worry. I guarantee with my life that I will handle this matter impartially!"

Ning Chen chuckled.

"If the Jade Emperor still intends to annihilate this girl's soul and spirit, what can Li Tianwang do?"

Li Jing's gaze pierced through space and met Ning Chen's directly. What he saw in Ning Chen's eyes was only fearlessness and profound understanding.

He knew in his heart that words alone would not be enough to get the young man to hand over the fox spirit's daughter.

Li Jing sighed, the memory of Nezha from back then still lingering in his throat.

If time were reversed and he were given another chance to choose, he might choose a different outcome.

The girl before him looked so much like his third son that he didn't want to take her to the Heavenly Court.

He knew the imperial family's methods all too well. The girl would definitely be dealt with coldly. Decades later, whether she was killed or tortured, who would remember a little fox demon's daughter?

But since he was there on orders, he couldn't afford to let his personal emotions get in the way.

Li Tianwang's eyes gradually turned cold.

"In that case, Jing has no choice but to offend them!"

He glared at them and shouted loudly.

"The Jade Emperor's decree is not to be defied! Your protection of demons and obstruction of the heavenly soldiers in enforcing the law are already grave offenses! Any further disobedience will result in your immediate arrest!"

He stopped arguing and waved his command flag.

"All soldiers, listen to my command! Capture the fox spirit and her accomplices, and escort them back to Heaven! Anyone who obstructs this will be killed without mercy!"

"Yes, sir!"

Amidst the earth-shaking echoes, heavenly soldiers and generals, like a golden tide, formed battle formations and crashed down from the clouds!

The cold light of the swords, spears, and halberds of the heavenly soldiers pierced through the gloomy sky, layer upon layer surrounding Ning Chen, his six senior brothers of the Guang generation, Luo Zhantian who had just awakened, and Sun Rongrong who was tightly holding Qing'er, trapping them in the center of the square!

The numerous heavenly soldiers and generals shouted in unison.

Kneel down and you won't be killed!

The six senior brothers of the Guang generation formed a formation, protecting everyone in the core. Their magical power surged, and they were ready for battle!

Ning Chen took a deep breath, preparing to unleash the Ruyi Jingu Bang for a desperate fight!

Why isn't Yang Jian here yet!

The situation is critical and extremely dangerous!

call out!

A streak of crimson light, like a meteor falling from the sky, tore through the heavens and, with terrifying power, crashed into the bluestone ground in the center of the square!

boom!

The earth shook violently, and rocks flew everywhere!

The violent shockwave swept out in a ring from the point of impact, knocking the front-line heavenly soldiers and generals, who were charging forward with great momentum, to the ground, throwing them into disarray!

As the smoke and dust cleared, everyone looked closely.

A long spear, entirely crimson and wreathed in the blazing flames of Nirvana, was deeply embedded in the solid blue stone!