Gou Zai Xi You Dao Chang Sheng

Li Yan returned to the inner room, took out the jade slip left by Dongfang Shuo from his sleeve, and immersed himself in it, carefully reading through it.

Besides a brief introduction to the various forces in Heaven, the jade slip also contained a detailed record of the Peach Garden.

Li Yan originally just wanted to understand the layout of the Heavenly Court in order to prepare for future actions.

But when he read one of the passages, his gaze involuntarily stopped.

"In the Peach Garden, there is a wondrous tree called the Nine-Colored Fairy Flower."

This tree shares the same root with 3,600 peach trees, and was brought here by the Queen Mother of the West from Kunlun Mountain tens of thousands of years ago.

The tree is three feet tall, its entire body is crystal clear like jade, it does not bear peaches, but only flowers, which are nine colors in color.

It blooms only once every three thousand years. When it blooms, its fragrance can travel ninety thousand miles. Even the Buddha of Mount Ling once sent people to request it and offer it before the Buddha.

This flower is the core of a grand formation, connected to the Heavenly Court's destiny, heavily guarded by numerous restrictions and protected by a Taiyi Golden Immortal.

Li Yan raised an eyebrow slightly.

Nine-color fairy flower?

He spent dozens of days refining elixirs in the Heavenly Court, yet he had never heard of this substance.

Continuing on, the jade slip also records the female immortal who guards the celestial flower, Dong Shuangcheng.

"Dong Shuangcheng is the head of the female immortals under the Queen Mother of the West."

Originally a mortal woman from the late Shang Dynasty, she was enlightened by the Queen Mother of the West through a fortuitous encounter, attained enlightenment, and entered the Heavenly Court as a servant.

He was a man of fierce temperament and possessed unparalleled swordsmanship.

Having cultivated Taoism for thousands of years, he has attained the rank of Taiyi Golden Immortal.

They guarded the Jade Pool Palace day and night without fail, and never made a mistake.

Li Yan read this record twice.

He closed the jade slip and paced around the room.

Dongfang Shuo said that this jade slip contained his insights accumulated over many years.

Why would this person entrust something so important to a newly arrived wandering immortal?

Just because of those few jugs of Drunken Immortal Wine?

Li Yan harbored doubts, but refrained from delving into them.

In any case, the information in this jade slip was indeed a godsend for him.

As he was pondering, he suddenly felt the heart mirror in his sleeve, which recorded the energy of destiny, tremble slightly.

Li Yan's heart stirred, and he became engrossed in the thought.

On the mirror, a line of small golden characters slowly emerged.

[Having received a jade slip from Dongfang Shuo, I learned the secrets of the Heavenly Court, understood the restrictions of the Jade Pool, and discovered the origin of the nine-colored fairy flowers.]

[Aura of Destiny +300 (Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated)]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 10600/20480]

At the same time, Dongfang Shuo bid farewell to Li Yan and the other man, rode on the clouds, and returned home under the moonlight.

As he walked, he felt the clouds beneath his feet were soft and light.

The true effects of that Drunken Immortal Brew only began to surface at this moment.

At first, I felt lightheaded, as if riding a spring breeze.

Halfway there, I felt the world spinning and the stars and moon upside down, and I couldn't even tell which way was which.

"Good wine... very strong wine..."

Dongfang Shuo muttered to himself, supporting himself on the clouds, staggering unsteadily.

He had cultivated Taoism for thousands of years and boasted of his immense capacity for alcohol; even if he drank a whole jar of the heavenly nectar, he would never get drunk.

But after drinking only a few jugs of this Drunken Immortal Wine, he was already intoxicated.

The wine, once it entered my stomach, initially tasted sweet and refreshing, with a lingering aftertaste.

But at this moment, a surge of intense heat rose from his dantian and rushed into his Niwan Palace.

A burst of flames erupted within the spiritual platform.

The flames did not burn the flesh, but scorched the soul.

Dongfang Shuo felt a sudden surge of waves and turbulent waters rising in his sea of ​​consciousness.

Those thoughts that were usually suppressed began to surface.

He was frustrated and unfulfilled when he repeatedly failed the imperial examinations in the mortal realm.

The resentment felt when he was bullied by his senior brother when he first entered the path of cultivation.

All the grievances and resentments he had accumulated over thousands of years as an official in the Heavenly Court surged up at this moment, disturbing his peace of mind.

"Strange... how come this wine has such a strong aftereffect?"

He forced himself to steady himself, took out a calming pill from his sleeve, and put it in his mouth.

The pill melted instantly upon entering the mouth, and a cool sensation rushed into the mind, temporarily suppressing the surging distracting thoughts.

Dongfang Shuo let out a long sigh, composed himself, determined his direction, and continued on his way to his residence.

His residence was located in the southeast corner of the Heavenly Court and was called the Drunken Immortal Abode.

That was a small courtyard that the Queen Mother of the West bestowed upon him when he first entered the Heavenly Court thousands of years ago, recognizing his diligence.

The courtyard contained only three tiled houses and a small garden, which was incomparable to the magnificent mansions of those celestial officials.

But Dongfang Shuo didn't care. He planted a few green bamboos in the courtyard and raised a pond of koi.

He also buried a few jars of homemade fruit wine in the corner of the wall, and was quite content with that.

At this moment, the Drunken Immortal Abode was already in sight.

Dongfang Shuo descended from the clouds, about to land in the courtyard.

Suddenly, several figures could be seen in the sea of ​​clouds ahead, sneaking towards the Jade Pool.

A thought struck him, and his drunkenness subsided by three parts. He quickly concealed his presence, hiding behind a cloud of auspicious light, and focused his gaze intently.

The figures were all dressed in black robes and had their faces covered with black cloths, making it impossible to see their features.

Their figures moved swiftly, traversing the palaces and pavilions of the Heavenly Court, without triggering any restrictions.

Dongfang Shuo was secretly surprised. He had been in the Heavenly Court for thousands of years and knew all the restrictions on various places like the back of his hand.

These people are no ordinary individuals, as they were able to pass through layers of guards so easily.

Just as he was about to quietly follow, he suddenly felt a cold wind blowing from behind.

Dongfang Shuo was shocked and quickly turned around, only to see a pale hand already pressed on his shoulder.

The palm was icy cold.

In an instant, a chilling force penetrated his body, instantly sealing off all the major acupoints.

Dongfang Shuo felt his whole body stiffen and he couldn't move, not even able to open his mouth to call for help.

"Mr. Dongfang, why be so sneaky?"

The sound was like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, sending chills down one's spine.

Dongfang Shuo wanted to turn his head to see the man's face, but his neck wouldn't move an inch.

"Sir, please don't struggle. I'm merely borrowing something from you; I'll return it when I'm done."

As he spoke, the man reached into Dongfang Shuo's sleeve and groped around for a moment.

He easily broke the seal on the storage bag and took out a jade token for access to the Peach Garden.

Dongfang Shuo was extremely anxious. The jade token was his keepsake for thousands of years, and only with it could he freely enter and leave the Peach Garden.

If it were stolen, the consequences would be unimaginable.

But he was unable to move at that moment and could only watch helplessly as the man put the jade pendant into his pocket.

The man received the jade token, but instead of leaving, he whispered a laugh in Dongfang Shuo's ear:

"Sir, do you know that there is a strange tree in the Peach Garden?"

It is named the "Nine-Colored Fairy Flower".

Dongfang Shuo was greatly alarmed.

He has been in charge of the Peach Banquet for thousands of years, how could he not know about the nine-colored fairy flower?

That flower was the Queen Mother of the West's favorite, and even the Jade Emperor rarely showed it to others.

The garden is guarded day and night by celestial soldiers and generals, with numerous restrictions, making it difficult even for a Taiyi Golden Immortal to approach.

These people are just courting death by trying to steal the Nine-Colored Immortal Flower.

But what alarmed him was that the man clearly intended to use his jade token to sneak into the Peach Garden.

If the nine-colored fairy flower is stolen, Dongfang Shuo will be unable to clear his name even if he jumps into the Milky Way.

"Sir, do not be afraid. Once this matter is accomplished, you will surely benefit."

As he spoke, the man withdrew his hand, which transformed into a wisp of black smoke and drifted towards the Jade Pool.

During this time, Dongfang Shuo's acupoints were sealed by the man in black, leaving him frozen on the cloud, unable to move.

I could feel that chilling power constantly seeping into my meridians.

He had cultivated for thousands of years and possessed abundant magical power, but it was suppressed by the Yin-cold power and he could not mobilize it at all.

"What impressive techniques..."

Dongfang Shuo secretly groaned inwardly.

Although he was only a celestial official, he had received the true teachings of the Eastern Emperor, and his cultivation was no less than that of the military officials.

But the black-clad man's palm strike had left him utterly powerless to retaliate.

The cold and unpredictable force of that palm strike was definitely not an ordinary immortal technique.

He watched helplessly as several dark figures passed through layers of palaces and disappeared towards the Jade Pool.

Under the moonlight, those dark shadows drifted erratically, sometimes turning into a wisp of smoke, and occasionally solidifying into human form.

Wherever they went, the Heavenly Court's restrictive formations seemed to be useless.

The more Dongfang Shuo looked, the more alarmed he became.

The Heavenly Court's restrictions are divided into three levels.

The outer layer is the [Zhou Tian Xing Chen Grand Array], based on the Twenty-Eight Mansions and pivoted by the Nine Luminaries, making it airtight.

The middle layer is the [Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends Formation], which uses the thirty-six Heavenly Gangs and seventy-two Earthly Fiends as guides, and is unpredictable.

The inner layer is the unique Yaotai Guiyuan Formation of Yaochi Palace, which was personally set up by the Queen Mother of the West.

With the Nine-Colored Immortal Flower as the array's core and the Peach Spirit Root as its foundation, even a Great Luo Golden Immortal who mistakenly enters would be trapped for three days and three nights.

But these men in black moved about as if they were in an empty place.

How did they do it?

Dongfang Shuo was extremely anxious and desperately urged his internal magical power.

But that chilling power sealed his meridians completely.

The more he activated his true energy, the deeper the chilling power penetrated, drilling into his very bones.

In an instant, he felt as if needles were pricking his limbs and bones, and his mind was in complete chaos.

But he was, after all, a disciple of the Eastern Emperor. He had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations in the mortal realm, yet he was able to attain enlightenment as a Confucian scholar.

Having spent thousands of years in the Heavenly Court, his resilience far surpasses that of ordinary celestial officials.

He endured the excruciating pain and silently practiced the inner cultivation method of his sect.

The lineage of Emperor Donghua is based on the [Azure Wood Longevity Technique] and rooted in the [Donghua Purple Qi].

Purple aura is the righteous energy at the beginning of heaven and earth, which is most effective in suppressing evil.

Although Dongfang Shuo could not mobilize his magical power, he condensed the purple energy in his spiritual platform and transformed it into a wisp of flame.

Although the flame was only the size of a bean, it was an extremely yang and vigorous substance.

The chilling energy sensed the flame and immediately melted away a bit.

Dongfang Shuo felt a sudden clarity in his mind and quickly took the opportunity to make the flame grow stronger.

Nourished by the purple aura, the flame gradually transformed into a roaring fire.

Wherever the flames passed, the chilling power dissipated.

However, the restrictions left behind by the man in black were even more troublesome than the chilling power.

The restriction was like a large net, completely enveloping the meridians, dantian, and spiritual platform.

Although the flames could dispel the chill, they could not burn through the large net.

Dongfang Shuo's heart sank.

This restriction is clearly the work of some powerful being.

Ordinary immortals would never possess such abilities.

He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and then focused the purple energy into his eyes.

A purple aura filled his eyes, and the scene before him suddenly became clearer.

Several dark figures had arrived outside the Yaochi Palace and were surrounding the giant peach tree, doing something unknown.

The peach tree was a thousand feet tall, its canopy like a canopy, blocking out the sky and the sun.

On the branches, there are 3,600 peaches, bright red and juicy, shimmering with a precious light.

Beneath the tree roots, there was a strange plant.

The plant was only about three feet tall, and its entire body was crystal clear, as if it were carved from beautiful jade.

Nine flowers bloom on the branch, in shades of red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple, plus black and white.

Even the starlight of the entire sky pales in comparison to it.

Dongfang Shuo was startled.

At this moment, the nine flowers had already bloomed, and faint nine-colored light flowed over the petals.

The several dark figures surrounded the fairy flower, each occupying a side, their hands forming hand seals and their mouths chanting incantations.

Then, streams of black energy surged from his palm, transforming into countless tiny runes that coiled around the celestial flower.

The celestial flower sensed the black energy, and its radiance instantly shone brightly.

The nine-colored radiance transformed into nine beams of light, soaring into the sky and intertwining with the black mist.

The light was so dazzling that even through the many palaces, Dongfang Shuo could see it clearly.

"Oh no!"

Dongfang Shuo was extremely anxious.

The Immortal Flower is the core of the Yaotai Returning Origin Formation. If it is stolen, the entire Yaochi Palace's restrictions will collapse.

At that time, the 3,600 peach trees and countless rare treasures will all be exposed.

Even more terrifying is that the Yaotai Guiyuan Formation is connected to the Heavenly Court's fortune. If the formation's core is lost, the Heavenly Court's fortune will be severely damaged.

He desperately tried to activate the purple energy to break through the restriction.

But no matter how he tried to break through the barrier, it remained completely unmoved.

Just then, the nine-colored fairy flower emitted a clear chime.

The sound was like a phoenix's cry soaring through the heavens.

The nine-colored radiance surged again, forcing the black energy back completely.

The several dark figures groaned in unison and took several steps back.

The leader snorted coldly, took out a dark bead from his pocket, and threw it at the fairy flower.

The bead was only the size of a pigeon's egg, completely black, with a faint, eerie glow.

The bead flew above the fairy flower and suddenly exploded, turning into a cloud of black mist that enveloped the fairy flower.

Within the black mist, countless vengeful spirits and vengeful ghosts could be faintly seen, baring their fangs and claws, and screaming.

The celestial flower was shrouded in black mist, and its nine-colored radiance dimmed considerably.

The vengeful spirits seized the opportunity to pounce and tear at the branches and leaves of the fairy flower.

The fairy flower trembled violently, and faint cracks appeared on its petals.

Dongfang Shuo stared, his eyes wide with rage.

Those nine-colored fairy flowers are the spiritual roots of heaven and earth, born from the same root as the peach tree, and possess their own spirituality.

Sensing danger, it flashed with nine-colored light, shattering the vengeful spirits and ghosts into dust.

But the black mist continued to pour forth, and no matter how much was shattered, more vengeful spirits and ghosts surged forth.

Just then, a furious shout came from the Jade Pool Palace.

"What kind of demon dares to trespass into the Jade Pool!"

The sound shook the entire Yaochi Palace.

Immediately afterwards, a golden light shot into the sky from the palace.

Amidst the golden light, a female immortal, wielding a precious sword, descended upon the clouds.

The female immortal was beautiful, with a face like a lotus flower and eyes like autumn water. She wore a phoenix crown and a rosy robe, and her whole body was radiant with golden light.

This woman is Dong Shuangcheng, the head of the female immortals serving the Queen Mother of the West.

Dong Shuangcheng has cultivated Taoism for thousands of years, and his cultivation has reached the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm.

She was ordered by the Queen Mother to guard the Jade Pool Palace, and even the Four Heavenly Kings treated her with utmost respect.

At that moment, seeing the nine-colored fairy flower shrouded in black mist, she immediately raised her eyebrows and drew her sword.

A sword light, like a bolt of lightning, slashed towards the black mist.

The several dark figures turned around simultaneously, each displaying their unique abilities.

The leader pushed with both hands, and a black mist transformed into a giant shield, blocking in front of him.

The others each took a position, forming hand seals to set up an array.

The sword light struck the giant shield.

boom!

The entire Yaochi Palace was trembling violently.

The giant shield was shattered by the sword light, but the sword light had also lost its momentum and dissipated into the void.

Dong Shuangcheng's expression changed slightly. Just as he was about to strike again, he suddenly felt his feet sink.

Looking down, I saw that a layer of black ice had appeared on the ground at some point.

The icy black ice pierced her bones and spread upwards from her feet.

Dong Shuangcheng snorted coldly, and his body shone with golden light, shattering the black ice into pieces.

But in that moment of delay, the several dark figures had already succeeded.

On the nine-colored fairy flower, nine flowers bloomed together, their nine-colored radiance dazzling and eye-catching.

But the brilliance only flickered for a moment before gradually dimming.

The nine flowers drifted down from the branches and fell into the black mist.

The leader raised his hand and gestured, and the nine flowers transformed into nine beams of light, falling into his palm.

He collected the celestial flower and gave a low shout: "Let's go!"

Several dark figures simultaneously transformed into black smoke, dissipating in all directions.

Enraged, Dong Shuangcheng swung his sword repeatedly, sending several streaks of light slashing towards the black smoke.

But the black smoke drifted erratically, and when the sword light slashed through it, it was as if it were striking empty space, without any obstruction.

In a short while, the black smoke disappeared without a trace.

Dong Shuang was born in the void, his face ashen.

She guarded the Yaochi Palace for thousands of years without ever making a mistake.

Today, someone actually stole the Nine-Colored Fairy Flower right under her nose. How can she explain this to the Queen Mother of the West?

Just then, her gaze fell upon the figure standing motionless on the distant clouds.

"Dongfang Shuo?"

Dong Shuangcheng frowned, stepped on a cloud, and landed in front of Dongfang Shuo.

She saw that Dongfang Shuo's face was pale and his body was stiff, and a strange light flashed in his eyes.

He reached out and patted him on the shoulder, and a golden light poured into his body.

That golden light was extremely yang and strong, completely opposite to that yin and cold power.

As soon as the two forces clashed, the chilling power quickly dissipated.

The invisible barrier was shattered by the golden light.

Dongfang Shuo felt a sudden relaxation throughout his body, staggered a few steps, and then regained his balance.

He was breathing heavily, his face pale.

"Dongfang Shuo, what are you doing here?" Dong Shuangcheng asked in a deep voice.

Just as Dongfang Shuo was about to explain, he suddenly felt a weight in his sleeve.

He reached out and his expression changed drastically; something had appeared out of thin air.

That thing was as smooth and warm as jade, with a faint nine-colored radiance flowing around it.

He took the object out, glanced at it, and froze as if struck by lightning.

Nine-color fairy flower!

The nine flowers were now lying quietly in the palm of my hand.

Nine-colored light flickers on the petals, a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

Dong Shuangcheng's gaze fell on the nine-colored fairy flower, and his expression immediately darkened.

"Dongfang Shuo, you... are an accomplice?"

Dongfang Shuo shook his head repeatedly: "No...it wasn't me! It was those men in black!"

They stole the jade pendant from me, and then... they framed me for it!

Dong Shuangcheng's gaze was sharp as lightning, scanning back and forth between Dongfang Shuo and the nine-colored fairy flower.

She had cultivated Taoism for thousands of years and guarded the Yaochi Palace. She had seen countless conspiracies and tricks. How could she not see that this matter was strange?

But those nine-colored fairy flowers happened to be in Dongfang Shuo's sleeve.

Caught red-handed, he had no way to defend himself.

Dong Shuangcheng's expression was uncertain, and he was about to speak when he suddenly heard a whistling sound from afar.

The howling sound grew louder and louder as it approached from afar.

Dozens of golden rays surged in from all directions, completely surrounding this area.

The leader was a man with a handsome face, three long wisps of beard, wearing a black official robe, and with a gold plaque hanging from his waist.

It was Zhen De, the Inspector of the Three Realms.

Behind him followed thirty-six heavenly generals, each clad in armor and wielding weapons, exuding a murderous aura.

Zhen De descended from the clouds, his gaze sweeping over Dong Shuangcheng and Dongfang Shuo.

I highly recommend "Gou Zai Xi You De Dao Chang Sheng"! It's straight to the exciting part.

It landed on the nine-colored fairy flower again, and its expression changed slightly.

"Immortal Lord Dong, this is...?"

Dong Shuangcheng said in a deep voice: "Someone stole the Nine-Colored Immortal Flower. By the time I arrived, the thief had already fled."

Only Dongfang Shuo remained here; the fairy flower was now in his hands.

Upon hearing this, Zhen De frowned and looked at Dongfang Shuo: "Mr. Dongfang, what do you have to say?"

Dongfang Shuo's face turned pale. He knew he had fallen into a trap, but even if he had a thousand mouths, he couldn't explain himself.

Those men in black appeared and disappeared without a trace, and even Dong Shuangcheng was unable to stop them.

How can a celestial official like him prove his innocence?

"Inspector Zhen, I've been framed!"

Dongfang Shuo forced himself to speak.

"Those men in black stole my jade token, sneaked into the Peach Garden, immobilized me, and stuffed this fairy flower into my sleeve."

"I am..."

Zhen De raised his hand to interrupt him and said in a deep voice, "Mr. Dongfang, it is my duty, and I dare not show favoritism."

You shall come with me to the Lingxiao Palace to meet the Jade Emperor and clear your name.

If you are truly innocent, the Jade Emperor will surely deliver justice for you.

Having said that, he waved his hand, and two heavenly generals stepped forward from behind, one on the left and one on the right, to restrain Dongfang Shuo.

Dongfang Shuo tried to struggle, but although Dong Shuangcheng had dispelled the chilling energy within him, his meridians had not yet recovered.

If one's magical power is not flowing smoothly, how can one break free?

He could only let the two heavenly generals carry him towards the Lingxiao Palace.

Just then, a golden light shot out from afar.

Within the golden light, a figure somersaulted, moving with lightning speed, arriving in an instant.

Behind Sun Wukong, Li Yan rode on a golden beam that seemed to leap across the ground, following closely behind.

Sun Wukong was meditating in the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's palace when he suddenly sensed something unusual on the eastern horizon. He looked with his golden eyes...

Then they saw a flash of light in the direction of Yaochi, and faint sounds of fighting could be heard.

He and Li Yan exchanged a glance, and the two immediately set off to check.

At this moment, Sun Wukong saw that Dongfang Shuo was being held up by two heavenly generals and looked grim.

Immediately, he shouted sternly, "Let him go!"

The two generals were startled by the stern shout, and their feet involuntarily stopped.

Zhen De's expression changed slightly. He stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:

"Great Sage Equal to Heaven, this is a matter of Heavenly Court business. We hope that you will not interfere."

Just as Sun Wukong was about to lash out, Li Yan arrived at his side and grabbed his arm.

"Your Majesty, please wait."

Sun Wukong turned around, his golden eyes filled with confusion.

Li Yan shook his head slightly, glanced around, and understood perfectly.

This is a trap.

The man in black stole the jade pendant, stole the fairy flower, and framed Dongfang Shuo—each step linked to the next, each one intricately connected.

If the two of them were to lend a hand at this moment, it would be an open defiance of the Heavenly Laws and a contempt for the Heavenly Court's rules.

At that time, the person behind the scenes will have an excuse to take them down as well.

The title of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven and the opportunity to thoroughly investigate the people of the North have all vanished.

Li Yan's mind raced, and he whispered, "Your Majesty, Zhen De is arresting people according to the Heavenly Laws."

If we take action, we will be making enemies of the Heavenly Court.

Sun Wukong's golden eyes narrowed, and he angrily said, "But that Mr. Dongfang is clearly innocent!"

Li Yan said, "I know. But we cannot make a move right now."

He looked at Dongfang Shuo and saw that although the man was being supported, he was still trying his best to hold on and shook his head slightly at him.

The message in his eyes was: do not act rashly.

Li Yan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and bowed to Zhen De, saying:

"Inspector Zhen, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should."

Zhen De glanced at him and said calmly, "Please speak, Master Li."

Li Yan said, "Although I have only met Mr. Dongfang a few times, I know that he is a heavy drinker and loves peace and quiet."

If he were truly planning something so important, how could he be so careless as to leave the stolen goods in his sleeve?

Upon hearing this, Zhen De's expression remained unchanged: "Master Li, you are mistaken."

Thieves do all sorts of strange and bizarre things.

Some people are incredibly daring, while others are careless.

I only know that the perpetrator has been caught red-handed and should be arrested according to the law.

As for whether he is innocent, that is for the Jade Emperor to decide.

If Master Li has any grievances, he may go to the Lingxiao Palace to present them in person; there is no need for him to obstruct this official from performing his duties here.

These words were perfectly watertight.

Li Yan nodded inwardly; this person was indeed extraordinary.

He stopped pressing the matter, simply stepped aside, cupped his hands, and said, "Inspector Zhen is handling official business; how could I dare to obstruct him?"

However, I have met Mr. Dongfang several times and would like to offer him a ride. Would that be possible?

Zhen De pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly: "Master Li is very kind. Please go ahead."

Before Sun Wukong could say anything more, Li Yan pulled him along, following behind Dongfang Shuo towards the Lingxiao Palace.

Along the way, Li Yan secretly opened his Eye of Cause and Effect and observed carefully.

All around Zhen De, countless threads of cause and effect intertwined.

Li Yan silently made a note of it. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly saw the Lingxiao Palace in sight ahead.

The palace doors were wide open, and the palace was brightly lit, with civil and military officials lined up on both sides.

The Jade Emperor sat high on his throne, his face calm and his gaze solemn.

Zhen De entered the hall, knelt on one knee, and cupped his hands, saying:

"Your Majesty, I have been ordered to inspect the Three Realms. Tonight, outside the Jade Pool Palace, I have captured the thief who stole the Nine-Colored Immortal Flower."

The perpetrators have been caught red-handed; we beseech Your Majesty for your wise judgment.

The Jade Emperor's gaze fell on Dongfang Shuo, then shifted to the nine-colored fairy flower, and his expression darkened slightly.

"Dongfang Shuo, what do you have to say?"

Dongfang Shuo knelt on the ground and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, please see the truth! This humble subject has been framed!"

Tonight, after drinking with the Great Sage Equaling Heaven and Daoist Li Yan, I will return to the Drunken Immortal Abode.

Halfway there, I was suddenly attacked by several men in black who subdued me, stole my jade pass to the Peach Garden, and sneaked into the Jade Pool Palace to steal the Nine-Colored Immortal Flower.

Your humble servant was pinned to the clouds by them, unable to move, and could only watch helplessly as they succeeded and left.

When the immortal official Dong arrived, this celestial flower appeared in my sleeve.

"Every word I have said is true; I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor remained noncommittal, only looking at Dong Shuangcheng: "Shuangcheng, tell me, what was the situation at that time?"

Dong Shuangcheng stepped forward and reported the events that had just occurred in detail.

Although she and Dongfang Shuo were both under the Queen Mother's tutelage, she dared not show any favoritism at this moment, and simply recounted what she had seen and heard.

After listening, the Jade Emperor pondered for a moment, then looked at Zhen De and asked, "Zhen De, what do you think?"

Zhen De cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I believe this matter is suspicious."

Dongfang Shuo served in the Heavenly Court for thousands of years, overseeing the Peach Banquet, and never made a mistake.

If he was truly responsible for tonight's events, why would he have kept the stolen goods in his sleeve?

Why stay at the scene and wait to be discovered?

This is one of them.

Secondly, if that man in black could pass through the Zhou Tian Star Array, the Tian Gang Di Sha Array, and the Yao Tai Gui Yuan Array...

Without triggering any restrictions, their cultivation level is at least above that of a Taiyi Golden Immortal.

Dongfang Shuo was merely a minor celestial official with limited spiritual power; how could he possibly conspire with those people?

"Thirdly, I have just examined Dongfang Shuo's meridians and found that there is indeed residual Yin and cold energy, indicating that his acupoints have been sealed by someone using insidious methods."

If he were truly the mastermind, why would he harm himself so cruelly?

Upon hearing this, the immortals in the hall looked at each other in bewilderment.

Then Wu De Xingjun stepped forward and said, "Inspector Zhen, you are mistaken."

Since that thief was able to pass through three layers of restrictions without triggering them, his cultivation level must be very high.

That is precisely why, if he wanted to kill Dongfang Shuo to silence him, it would be as easy as turning his hand. Why bother with the extra step of stuffing the fairy flower into his sleeve?

In my humble opinion, this is clearly infighting among the thieves, or perhaps Dongfang Shuo was betrayed due to a dispute over the spoils.

There is some truth to what Wu De Xing Jun said.

The immortals in the hall were discussing the matter, but no one could reach a consensus.

The Jade Emperor raised his hand, silencing the crowd's discussion, and his gaze fell upon Dongfang Shuo:

"Dongfang Shuo, I ask you again, do you recognize those men in black?"

Dongfang Shuo shook his head: "This humble subject does not recognize them. Their faces are covered with black cloths, so their features cannot be seen."

The Jade Emperor asked, "Did they say anything?"

Dongfang Shuo was taken aback, then remembered the words the man in black had whispered in his ear before he left.

He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately dared not conceal the truth and said:

"The man in black once said... They said that the nine-colored fairy flower was the Queen Mother's favorite, and if it could be stolen, the Heavenly Court's fortune would be severely damaged."

He also said... he also said that if this matter succeeds, this humble servant will naturally benefit.

These words caused an uproar in the hall.

Although the Queen Mother was not in the palace, once these words reached her ears, Dongfang Shuo would never be able to clear his name, even if he jumped into the Milky Way.

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor's expression turned solemn.

His gaze swept over the immortals in the hall, finally settling on Dongfang Shuo, and he said calmly:

"Dongfang Shuo, please stand up and speak."

Dongfang Shuo kowtowed to express his gratitude and stood up shakily.

Cold sweat poured down his forehead, but he still forced himself to stand tall, refusing to show the slightest fear.

The Jade Emperor asked, "You just said that the man in black said that if this matter succeeded, you would receive a reward. Is that true?"

Dongfang Shuo gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, I dare not deceive you. The man in black did indeed say that."

The intention was to link this humble servant to the matter of stealing the flower.

Your humble servant swears to Heaven that there was absolutely no collusion whatsoever!

The Jade Emperor neither agreed nor disagreed, but merely turned his head slightly to look at an old minister standing to the side of the hall.

The old minister had white hair and beard, a gaunt face, and wore a dark gold court robe with a purple ribbon and gold seal hanging at his waist.

This person's surname was Zhang, given name Heng, courtesy name Pingzi. He was a disciple of Lingbao Tianzun, in charge of astronomy and calendar, and also in charge of the Heavenly Court's records.

This person usually keeps a low profile, but he is the Jade Emperor's most trusted confidant.

Whenever there was a major event, the Jade Emperor would consult him.

Zhang Heng stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister has a few questions for Mr. Dongfang."

The Jade Emperor nodded.

Zhang Heng turned to Dongfang Shuo, his expression gentle, but his tone sharp as a knife:

"Mr. Dongfang, you have served in the Heavenly Court for thousands of years, overseeing all matters related to the Peach Banquet. Have you ever made a mistake?"

Dongfang Shuo shook his head: "No."

Zhang Heng then asked, "How many of those jade tokens for access to the Peach Garden do you possess?"

Dongfang Shuo was taken aback, then said, "There are three in total."

"Whose hands are they respectively?"

Zhang Heng's question immediately drew the attention of all the immortals in the hall.

That jade pass is of utmost importance in the Peach Garden.

The three jade tablets each have their own owners, and their whereabouts are crucial to this case.

Dongfang Shuo's face was slightly pale, but he still said loudly, "The first one was in my possession, but it was stolen by the man in black tonight."

The second one is in the hands of my disciple Qingxuan, who was ordered by me to procure items needed for the Peach Banquet and has not yet returned.

The third one…

He paused slightly at this point.

Zhang Heng's eyes flashed like lightning: "Where is the third one?"

Dongfang Shuo took a deep breath and slowly said, "The third one, I presented tonight to Daoist Li Yan of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Mansion."

These words caused an uproar in the hall.

The Martial Virtue Star Lord immediately stepped forward and said sternly, "What a fine Dongfang Shuo!"

Why did you give the jade pendant to a wandering immortal in the lower realm?

That Li Yan, who shares the same trousers as the Monkey King, is hardly a law-abiding person.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed, and he was about to retaliate.

Li Yan held him down, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, please allow me to speak."

The jade tablet that Mr. Dongfang gave to me was merely a spur-of-the-moment gift, intended as payment for wine.

Having obtained this jade tablet, I have never stepped into the Peach Garden.

This item is currently in my possession. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may send someone to verify it.

The Jade Emperor nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the Martial Virtue Star Lord, and said calmly, "Martial Virtue Star Lord, you may step down."

The God of Martial Virtue's expression froze, and he had no choice but to return to the ranks.

Zhang Heng then asked, "Mr. Dongfang, did you inform the Queen Mother of the West before you gave the jade tablet to Daoist Li?"

Dongfang Shuo shook his head: "Never."

This jade tablet was originally my personal possession. When the Queen Mother of the West bestowed it upon me, she said that I could dispose of it as I pleased.

"Your humble servant presented this to Daoist Li without prior notice, yet it was not in violation of any rules."

Zhang Heng nodded and then asked, "When the man in black stole your jade pendant and immobilized your acupoints, did you see clearly what kind of supernatural power they used?"

Dongfang Shuo pondered for a moment and said, "That palm strike was cold and unpredictable, like ice but not ice, like poison but not poison."

When I was struck, I felt a chilling force penetrate my body and seal off all my meridians.

I managed to barely condense the Spirit Platform Fire by using the Eastern Purple Qi from my sect's Azure Wood Longevity Technique to resist it.

The restrictive force was like a vast net, completely enveloping my meridians and dantian. No matter how I tried to break through, it remained completely unmoved.

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Zhang Heng's eyes: "Donghua Purple Qi is the righteous energy at the beginning of heaven and earth, extremely yang and strong, which can suppress yin and evil."

"You condensed the spiritual fire of your spiritual platform with purple energy, yet the restriction remained completely unmoved?"

Dongfang Shuo said, "That's right."

Zhang Heng turned around, cupped his hands to the Jade Emperor, and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister has something to say."

The Jade Emperor said, "Speak."

Zhang Heng said, "The man in black was able to seal Dongfang Shuo's meridians with his cold and yin energy."

Furthermore, the fact that he could trap his spiritual platform with restrictions demonstrates his exceptional cultivation and unpredictable methods, something no ordinary rogue immortal could accomplish.

The restriction, like a vast net, completely enveloped the meridians and dantian; this was clearly…”

As he finished speaking, his gaze swept over the immortals in the hall before he slowly uttered four words: "Heavenly Net and Earthly Trap".

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the immortals in the hall changed drastically.

The Heavenly Net is a secret technique of the Heavenly Court, specifically used to apprehend wanted criminals.

This method requires the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends as its foundation and the celestial stars as its guide; it cannot be performed by anyone who has not reached the level of a Taiyi Golden Immortal.

The essence of that restriction lies in the word "trapped," rendering the target immobile and at the mercy of others.

Such methods are definitely not something that demons and monsters could master.

The Jade Emperor's expression hardened slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Zhang Heng, do you mean that among those men in black, there are people from the Heavenly Court?"

Zhang Heng cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

This old minister dares not make a hasty conclusion, but finds the matter strange.

The man in black could pass through three layers of restrictions without triggering them, and he could also use the Heavenly Net technique.

"How could someone who isn't from the Heavenly Court do this?"

Upon hearing this, the immortals in the hall looked at each other and began to discuss amongst themselves.

Then Wu De Xingjun stepped forward and said, "This is incorrect."

Those demons and monsters, having cultivated for a thousand years, may also possess similar secret techniques.

How can one conclude from this that they are from the Heavenly Court?

Zhang Heng said calmly, "What the Martial Virtue Star Lord said makes sense."

However, each of those three restrictions is mysterious and difficult to pass through without triggering them, even for those who are not members of our Heavenly Court.

If the God of Martial Virtue doesn't believe it, he can try it at the South Heavenly Gate.

However, each of those three restrictions is mysterious and difficult to pass through without triggering them, even for those who are not members of our Heavenly Court.

If the God of Martial Virtue doesn't believe it, he can try it at the South Heavenly Gate.

The Martial Virtue Star Lord's face stiffened, and he retreated awkwardly.

The Jade Emperor pondered for a moment, then said, "Zhen De, tell me, when the Nine-Colored Immortal Flower was stolen, did you notice anything unusual?"

Zhen De stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, tonight I was ordered to inspect the Three Realms. When I arrived near the Yaochi Palace, I suddenly saw the nine-colored fairy flower shining brightly, but then it dimmed."

"I sensed something amiss and immediately led my celestial generals to the scene. There we saw Immortal Dong and Master Dongfang standing on a cloud, the nine-colored celestial flower nestled in Master Dongfang's sleeve."

The Jade Emperor asked, "When you arrived, did you see those men in black?"

Zhen De shook his head: "No. When I arrived, the man in black had already vanished without a trace."

The Jade Emperor's gaze swept across Zhen De's face like lightning, offering neither approval nor disapproval.

He then looked at Dong Shuangcheng: "Shuangcheng, when you arrived, did you see those men in black?"

Dong Shuangcheng said, "Your Majesty, when I arrived, those men in black were turning into black smoke and dissipating in all directions."

I slashed at it with my sword, but it offered no resistance.

The Jade Emperor asked, "Can you clearly see their figures?"

Dong Shuangcheng shook his head: "They were wearing black masks, so we couldn't see their faces. But..."

The Jade Emperor asked, "But what?"

Dong Shuangcheng hesitated for a moment before saying:

"But the leader was tall and imposing, and when he made his move, there was a faint golden light shimmering in his palm."

That golden light was extremely strong and yang, completely opposite to the cold and yin palm force.

"I found it strange at the time; how could one person simultaneously cultivate two completely opposite magical powers?"

Upon hearing this, the immortals in the hall began to discuss it again.

Li Yan stood in the hall, listening silently.

The leader's palm shimmered with golden light, which was probably a deliberate flaw he deliberately revealed.

The intention was to direct this matter to a powerful being who practiced the Yang-oriented Dharma.

And the secret technique of the Heavenly Net was aimed at people inside the Heavenly Court.

This two-birds-with-one-stone strategy can be described as extremely ruthless.

As he was pondering, he suddenly heard someone in the hall speak: "Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should."

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a person stepping out from the ranks of civil officials.

This man was fair-skinned and beardless, with a kind face; he was none other than Liu Yanchang, who was in charge of the Heavenly Court.

This person, though of low rank in the Heavenly Court, is in charge of evaluating the merits of all officials and is extremely well-informed.

The Jade Emperor said, "Speak."

Liu Yanchang cupped his hands and said:

"Your Majesty, I have heard that Daoist Li Yan of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Mansion once spent dozens of days refining elixirs in the Tushita Palace, and was highly praised by Laozi."

I also heard that Master Li was proficient in the art of Qimen Dunjia, and could deduce the secrets of heaven and explore the mysteries of creation.

"Your Majesty, I dare to ask, Master Li, have you been able to deduce anything about tonight's events?"

Upon hearing this, all the immortals in the hall turned their gazes to Li Yan.

Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed, and he angrily said, "You scoundrel, how rude of you!"

Although my brother is a wandering immortal, he is also the head of the alchemy room, appointed by the Jade Emperor himself.

What do you mean by that?

Could it be that you suspect my brother is connected to that man in black?

Liu Yanchang waved his hands repeatedly: "Great Sage, please calm down."

How could I, your humble servant, dare to doubt Master Li?

However, the art of Qimen Dunjia is mysterious and unpredictable. If one could deduce some of the secrets of heaven, it would be of great help in solving the case.

"I was merely asking a casual question, why must the Great Sage be angered?"

Before Sun Wukong could say anything more, Li Yan stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "What Immortal Liu says makes sense."

Although I am well-versed in Qimen Dunjia, I dare not presume to claim that I can glimpse the secrets of heaven.

I have indeed predicted what will happen tonight, but the heavenly secrets are too obscure to see clearly.

but……"