Gou Zai Xi You Dao Chang Sheng

Li Yan and Sun Wukong's primordial spirit stood on the shore of the Nine-Colored Lake, gazing at the small tree in the center of the lake.

The spirit-devouring seed was embedded in the tree root.

With each pulsation, a wisp of nine-colored light detaches from the tree trunk and is swallowed by the black seed.

The sapling's branches trembled slightly, as if it were enduring great pain.

"Brother, how do we make a move?" Sun Wukong's golden ape spirit rubbed his hands together, his golden eyes gleaming with eager anticipation.

Li Yan, however, was in no hurry to make a move.

He examined the runes on the black seed closely.

The runes twisted and wriggled, changing every moment.

He observed for a long time and finally figured out some of the tricks of the trade.

"Your Majesty, please look."

Li Yan pointed to that kind of seed.

"There are 365 runes on this Spirit Devouring Seed, which correspond to the number of stars in the celestial sphere."

Each rune is constantly changing, born, dying, shining, fading, in an endless cycle.

Sun Wukong looked closely and saw that the runes were indeed changing.

Some were as bright as fire, while others were as dim as ash.

Some are dissipating, while others have just been formed.

He scratched his head and said, "To me, they look like stars in the sky, some bright and some dim."

"Your Majesty has discerning eyes." Li Yan nodded slightly.

"This runic array is called the [Zhou Tian Devouring Spirit Array], which uses 365 runes corresponding to the stars in the heavens."

Use the power of the stars to drive the seed to grow.

To refine this seed, one must act during the intervals between rune transformations.

Sun Wukong asked, "What gap?"

Li Yan said, "Those 365 runes pause for a moment after each complete cycle of circulation."

That instant was the moment when heaven and earth came into harmony, and yin and yang transformed.

Only by striking at that time can a single blow be effective.

Otherwise, those runes would backfire, turning the refining power into seed nutrients.

Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed, and he said, "Then let's wait for that moment!"

Li Yan nodded, but then said, "Your Majesty is unaware of something."

This Zhou Tian Devouring Spirit Array takes 365 breaths to complete one cycle.

That moment of stillness was only one-twentieth of the time it would take to snap one's fingers.

If you miss it, you'll have to wait another 365 breaths.

Sun Wukong grinned and said, "Brother, don't worry! I may not be good at much else, but my eyesight is top-notch."

"You say when to make a move, and I, Old Sun, will make a move then!"

Li Yan sat cross-legged by the lake, closing his eyes and concentrating.

He opened his primordial spirit eye to its fullest extent, staring intently at the movement and changes of the three hundred and sixty-five runes.

The changes in those runes may seem chaotic, but they actually align with the fundamental principles of the universe.

The living are yang, the dead are yin.

What is bright is daytime, what is dark is nighttime.

When yang reaches its limit, yin is born; when day ends, night arrives; the cycle repeats endlessly, without beginning or end.

Li Yan silently counted.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths... one hundred breaths, two hundred breaths, three hundred breaths...

At the 365th breath, all the runes paused.

"Your Majesty! Make your move!"

Sun Wukong had been waiting for this opportunity, and upon hearing this, he immediately opened his mouth and spat it out.

The golden flames spewed from its mouth, condensing into a thin line, as fine as a hair, and shot towards the Soul-Devouring Seed.

This move was activated by Sun Wukong using his indestructible nature to unleash the "True Fire".

He was different from ordinary people.

Ordinary people need to use essence, energy, and spirit as a catalyst to cultivate true fire, but he relied on his indestructible nature to refine true fire into his primordial spirit.

At this moment, driven by the fire of the primordial spirit, although it is not as powerful as the Eight Trigrams Furnace of Laozi, it is still enough to burn the sky and boil the sea.

The golden rays of fire struck the seed, instantly producing a sound.

Chi Chi!

The black seed trembled violently, and the runes lit up all at once, attempting to retaliate.

But that brief pause, though only one-twentieth of a snap, was enough.

The golden flames struck the gaps in the runes, incinerating those that had just lit up.

Li Yan was also busy.

With his hands forming a hand seal, a stream of pure energy surged from his primordial spirit.

The pure energy flowed continuously, seeping into the seed through the cracks created by the golden flames.

This pure energy is the [Taiyi True Water] that Li Yan refined using the Canglang Dao Scripture.

Fire represents yang energy, while water represents yin energy.

He used Sun Wukong's true fire as a vanguard to break through the seed's outer shell.

Using the Taiyi True Water as a follower, it seeps into the seed and refines it from the inside out.

Fire and water, strength and gentleness, complement each other perfectly.

The black seed trembled violently under the combined attack of Samadhi True Fire and Taiyi True Water.

Li Yan remained expressionless and continued to activate the Taiyi True Water.

The true water seeped deep into the seed, directly clashing with the black-clad man's divine consciousness imprint.

The divine imprint sensed the intrusion and immediately erupted.

An extremely cold and yin power surged from the depths of the seed, transforming into countless black tentacles that coiled around Li Yan's primordial spirit.

Li Yan felt a bone-chilling cold rising from his primordial spirit.

He felt a chill run down his spine; the black-clad man's cultivation was indeed far superior to his own.

If it were a head-on confrontation, he would be no match for him.

But he had already anticipated this.

He transformed the Taiyi True Water into a thin film, enveloping himself within it.

The chilling power struck the membrane, but vanished without a trace, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

Water is the most gentle and yielding, adapting to any shape.

No matter how strong you are, the gentle breeze still caresses the mountain ridge.

You can be as arrogant as you want, the bright moon still shines over the great river.

Although the cold, yin energy was strong, it could not harm this extremely gentle water.

When the divine imprint failed with its first plan, it devised another.

Countless black tentacles then coiled around the roots of the nine-colored sapling, attempting to drag its spirit into the seed.

Both jade and stone were destroyed.

Li Yan's eyes narrowed, and he shouted, "Your Majesty!"

Sun Wukong had been waiting for this all along.

Upon hearing this sound, he immediately stopped burning and took a deep breath.

It sucked the black seed along with the entwined tentacles.

The seed was sucked into the air, and Sun Wukong bit into it, crunching it to pieces as if he were eating roasted beans.

The divine imprint was created the moment the seed was crushed, turning into a wisp of black smoke and dissipating into the void.

Li Yan secretly admired him.

His monkey brother is truly gifted.

That Soul-Devouring Seed is an evil and sinister object; no one else would dare to touch it.

He could bite it off, chew it thoroughly, and swallow it without any ill effects.

This indestructible body is truly impervious to all evil.

The black seed was completely refined, and the chains binding the roots of the sapling broke and dissipated into black smoke.

The sapling was freed, its branches and leaves trembled slightly, and the nine-colored light shone again.

Just then, the sapling suddenly let out a clear chirp.

The sound, like the sound of an ancient zither, soared straight to the heavens.

On the sapling, nine flowers bloomed simultaneously, and nine-colored light shot into the sky.

The radiance pierced through the petals of the fairy flower, through the roof of the quiet room, and straight into the sky.

In the Heavenly Court, the immortals were attending to their respective affairs in their palaces.

Suddenly, from the direction of the Jade Pool, nine-colored light shot into the sky, dyeing half the sky nine colors.

Amidst the radiance, a faint fragrance of flowers permeated the air, which could be clearly smelled even from the South Heavenly Gate.

The Heavenly Court was shaken.

The Jade Emperor was discussing important matters with Zhang Heng when suddenly a nine-colored radiance surged in from outside the palace, illuminating the entire Lingxiao Palace with dazzling light.

He stood up, looked towards the direction of Yaochi, and a strange light flashed in his eyes.

Zhang Heng stroked his beard and said, "Your Majesty, that nine-colored fairy flower has probably been revived."

The Jade Emperor nodded slightly but said nothing. He simply stood with his hands behind his back in front of the hall, gazing at the pillar of light that shot into the sky.

In the Tushita Palace, Laozi was meditating in front of the alchemy furnace.

The nine-colored light surged into the palace, staining his Bagua furnace with a layer of nine colors.

Lao Jun opened his eyes, glanced at the radiance, and said calmly, "It was not in vain that I guided you back then."

After saying that, he closed his eyes again.

The green ox lay beside Laozi, opened its eyes, looked around, then closed them again, snorted, seemingly unconcerned.

At the South Heavenly Gate, the Four Heavenly Kings were on duty.

The nine-colored light swept over their heads, dyeing the plaque of the South Heavenly Gate with nine colors.

The Heavenly King of Growth sighed, "That Li Yan is truly skilled; even Immortal Official Dong is helpless against him."

He actually managed to save him.

The Heavenly King of Many Hearings said, "I have heard that Li Yan has received the true teachings of Laozi and is also proficient in alchemy."

He is quite accomplished in the ways of plants and spiritual roots. Seeing him today, I can see his reputation is indeed well-deserved.

Dhritarashtra, the Heavenly King, plucked the strings of his pipa and said:

"The nine-colored radiance is so dazzling that it is probably even more brilliant than before it was stolen."

The Heavenly King Virupaksha said, "This is a case of turning misfortune into blessing."

The Four Heavenly Kings discussed amongst themselves, their gazes towards the Jade Pool now filled with more respect.

At this moment, in that quiet room,

Dong Shuangcheng sat cross-legged in front of the door, watching the nine-colored light shoot up from the roof, his heart trembling.

She had cultivated Taoism for thousands of years and had seen countless extraordinary people, but she had never seen anyone who could use the technique of entering the microscopic realm of the primordial spirit to refine the spirit-devouring seed and revive the nine-colored immortal flower.

Li Yan's methods were truly unbelievable.

At that moment, the nine-colored radiance gradually subsided, transforming from its soaring momentum into wisps of water that slowly flowed back into the fairy flower.

In a short while, all the nine-colored radiance that filled the room receded, leaving only the fairy flower quietly floating in mid-air, its petals swirling with nine colors, its inner radiance even more vibrant than before it was stolen.

Li Yan and Sun Wukong's primordial spirits flew out from the celestial flower and returned to their respective places.

Li Yan slowly opened his eyes, feeling a warm current surging from his Niwan Palace, flowing through his limbs and bones.

A thought struck him, and his mind sank into the mirror of his heart.

On the mirror, lines of small golden characters slowly emerged.

Using the art of penetrating the primordial spirit, the Soul-Devouring Seed was refined, reviving the Nine-Colored Immortal Flower.

[Aura of Destiny +2000 (Miraculous Healing, Immeasurable Merit)]

[Together with Sun Wukong, they combine their primordial spirit fire and Taiyi true water in a combined attack, achieving harmony between water and fire, and the mutual generation of yin and yang.]

[Aura of Destiny +800 (A balance of strength and gentleness, harmony of Yin and Yang)]

[While refining the Spirit Devouring Seed, I glimpsed the true meaning of the runes within the divine consciousness imprint and comprehended the profound mystery of the Zhou Tian Spirit Devouring Array.]

[Aura of Destiny +600 (Understanding by analogy, drawing inferences from one instance to another)]

The nine-colored fairy flower regained its spiritual power, nourishing the Jade Terrace Returning to Origin Array, and the Heavenly Court's fortune was greatly boosted.

[Aura of Destiny +1000 (Power comparable to creation, benefiting all living beings)]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 15000/20480]

Fifteen thousand strands.

A surge of joy welled up in Li Yan's heart.

This profound spiritual journey, though extremely dangerous, yielded rich rewards.

The two thousand strands of fate that saved the fairy flower were a truly unexpected delight.

Just as he was about to withdraw his thoughts, he suddenly saw another line of small golden characters slowly appear on the mirror.

When the spirit of the Nine-Colored Immortal Flower was revived, it resonated with the spiritual root of the Peach of Immortality.

Sensing the vitality of the celestial flower, the peach spirit root spontaneously separated a strand of its root as a token of gratitude.

[Peach Roots +1]

[Aura of Destiny +500 (Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root, Karma Reciprocity)]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 15500/20480]

Li Yan was jolted awake and nearly woke up from his meditation.

The roots of the flat peach!

One of the three spiritual treasures he had been searching for had fallen into his hands in this way at this moment!

He steadied himself and slowly opened his eyes.

The nine-colored fairy flower floated quietly in mid-air, its petals swirling with nine colors.

Beneath the celestial flower, there is a wisp of fine root, crystal clear, with a faint purple aura flowing through it.

The root was only an inch long, yet it exuded a vast vitality.

Li Yan reached out, and the tendril floated into his palm.

It feels warm and smooth to the touch, like warm jade.

Within the roots are countless tiny veins, and within these veins, a purple liquid flows slowly.

These are the roots of the peach.

It is part of the spiritual root of heaven and earth, containing the meaning of endless life.

If the Middle Thousand Worlds are to evolve, a World Tree must be erected in the grotto-heaven to suppress the heavens and earth and stabilize the universe.

The roots of the peach tree are the best foundation for the world tree.

Li Yan tucked the stubble into his sleeve, a sense of satisfaction welling up inside him.

The roots of those peaches were buried deep in front of the Jade Pool Palace, nourished by the heavenly fortune; they were something that could only be encountered by chance.

He originally thought that obtaining this item would require a great deal of effort and trouble.

Unexpectedly, he saved the Nine-Colored Immortal Flower, and the flower then used the resonance of its spiritual roots as a catalyst...

Let the peach spirit root split off a strand of root as a reward.

This is the principle of sowing good causes and reaping good results.

His saving of the fairy flower was the cause. Obtaining the root was the effect.

The law of cause and effect is inescapable.

Seeing that he had opened his eyes, Sun Wukong leaned closer and laughed:

"Brother, how's it going? Those seeds are refined, and I, Old Sun, can chew them with gusto!"

Li Yan laughed and said, "Your Majesty's abilities are vast and I admire you."

Dong Shuangcheng also stood up, cupped his hands, and said:

"Master Li, Great Sage, your kindness and virtue are etched in my heart. As for that immortal flower… how is it now?"

Li Yan lifted the nine-colored fairy flower and handed it back to her, saying, "The fairy flower is no longer in any danger."

After the Spirit-Devouring Seed was refined, its essence nourished the Immortal Flower, making its spirituality even greater than before. "Immortal Official Dong, please observe."

Dong Shuangcheng took the fairy flower, and saw that the nine flowers were even more beautiful than before they were stolen. .

The nine-colored radiance on the petals became even more intense.

She probed with her spiritual senses and found that the fairy flower was full of vitality and spirituality, and was indeed better than before.

Dong Shuangcheng was overjoyed and quickly bowed to Li Yan, saying, "Master, your miraculous healing skills are truly appreciated."

"When Her Majesty returns, I will certainly report this matter and request commendation for the Daoist priest."

Li Yan waved his hand and said, "Immortal Lord Dong, there's no need for such formality. I was merely fulfilling my duty. However..."

"When I was refining the Spirit-Devouring Seed, I glimpsed something from the divine consciousness imprint."

Dong Shuangcheng's expression turned solemn: "Please speak, Daoist Master."

Li Yan pondered for a moment and said:

"Within that divine imprint, there was a wisp of aura that was completely different from the ordinary immortal magic power."

The aura was chilling and eerie, yet it contained a certain underlying pattern.

This humble Taoist dares to guess that the man in black cultivates the methods of the [Taiyin True Scripture].

Upon hearing this, Dong Shuangcheng's expression changed slightly: "The Taiyin True Scripture? Are you sure, Daoist?"

Li Yan said, "I dare not be 100% certain, but I am 70% confident."

The Taiyin True Scripture is an orthodox ancient esoteric school, ranking alongside the Taiyang True Scripture.

However, the conditions for cultivating this scripture are extremely harsh. It requires a place of extreme yin and the tempering of the primordial spirit with the power of moonlight. If one is not careful, one will suffer from qi deviation and become possessed by demons.

Therefore, since ancient times, very few people have practiced this scripture.

"The man in black was able to cultivate a supremely yang method in addition to the Taiyin True Scripture, and his palms could display golden light."

This person's cultivation level and talent are truly exceptional.

As Dong Shuangcheng listened, his expression grew increasingly solemn.

She pondered for a long time before asking, "Does the Daoist Master know who in the Heavenly Court cultivates the Taiyin True Scripture?"

Li Yan shook his head: "I am new here and know very little about this. However..."

He looked at Sun Wukong, who understood and said:

"I, Old Sun, did hear that person mention it once. He said that in the Guanghan Palace, there was a fairy who cultivated the Taiyin True Scripture."

But that fairy lives a secluded life and never interacts with outsiders; even I, Old Sun, have never seen her."

Upon hearing this, Dong Shuangcheng's expression softened slightly, and he said, "The Great Sage is referring to the fairy Chang'e."

She did indeed cultivate the Taiyin True Scripture, but... she was of a tranquil nature, indifferent to worldly affairs, and would never do such a thing.

Li Yan nodded and said, "This humble Taoist has no doubt about the fairy Chang'e."

However, since the man in black was able to use the Taiyin True Scripture as his foundation and also cultivate the Supreme Yang Method, his identity must be extraordinary.

In my humble opinion, this person is either a high-ranking official in the Heavenly Court or a wandering immortal from an ancient lineage.

Dong Shuangcheng kept these words in mind, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Daoist. I will investigate secretly."

Li Yan added, "There is one more thing. I also discovered something else within the Spirit Devouring Seed."

He took out a jade slip from his sleeve and handed it to Dong Shuangcheng:

"I copied down the runes from that divine imprint."

"If you, Immortal Dong, are so inclined, you may ask an immortal official skilled in the art of talismans to examine these runes and see which lineage within the Heavenly Court they resemble."

Dong Shuangcheng took the jade slip and carefully put it away.

Li Yan bid farewell to Sun Wukong and left Yaochi Palace.

Along the way, Sun Wukong couldn't help but ask:

Li Yan bid farewell to Sun Wukong and left Yaochi Palace.

Along the way, Sun Wukong couldn't help but ask:

"Brother, when you mentioned the Taiyin True Scripture just now, were you telling the truth, or were you deliberately saying it to Dong Shuangcheng?"

Li Yan smiled slightly, concealed the truth, and transmitted his voice: "Half true, half false."

The black-clad man's magical power was indeed from the Taiyin lineage.

However, the Taiyin True Scripture is not limited to the Guanghan Palace lineage.

In ancient times, in the northern Xuanming land, there was also a lineage called the Xuanming Taiyin Scripture.

This scripture is based on the power of Taiyin and utilizes the Qi of Xuanming. It shares the same origin as the Taiyin True Scripture of the Guanghan Palace, but flows differently.

Sun Wukong asked, "Is the man in black practicing the Xuanming Taiyin Scripture?"

Li Yan nodded and said, "It's pretty close. That Xuanming Land is indeed in the north."

According to my previous calculations, the person from the North holds an extremely high position and possesses extraordinary abilities.

"This man in black is most likely one of the northerner's men."

Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed: "Then shall we follow this line of investigation?"

Li Yan said, "No rush. Once the Spirit-Devouring Seed is refined, the man in black will definitely sense it."

He must have felt resentful for breaking the seeds.

If my prediction is correct, he will soon take action.

Sun Wukong said, "Shall we wait for him to come to us?"

Li Yan laughed and said, "Waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump is not as good as luring the snake out of its hole. I have a plan, but I need Your Majesty's cooperation."

Sun Wukong said, "Brother, just speak!"

Li Yan whispered a few words, and Sun Wukong's eyes lit up as he listened, nodding repeatedly.

Having reached an agreement, the two headed towards the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Mansion.

Halfway there, a golden light suddenly appeared in front of them.

Within that golden light, a figure appeared, with white hair and a youthful face, holding a whisk; it was none other than Venus.

Upon seeing the two, Venus flicked his whisk and laughed, "Gentlemen, I was just about to come looking for you."

Sun Wukong asked, "Old man, what is it?"

Venus said, "The Jade Emperor has decreed that you two be invited to the Lingxiao Palace for a meeting."

Li Yan and Sun Wukong exchanged a glance, each lost in their own thoughts.

The two followed Venus and headed towards the Lingxiao Palace.

Upon entering the hall, one sees civil and military officials lined up on both sides, while the Jade Emperor sits high on his throne.

There was one more person in the hall.

The man sat cross-legged on a golden lotus flower, his entire body surrounded by golden light, and his face was compassionate.

It was an Arhat from Mount Ling.

When the Jade Emperor saw the two enter the hall, he nodded slightly and said, "Sun Wukong, Li Yan, I just received a message from Mount Ling."

The Buddha also sent people to assist the Heavenly Court in thoroughly investigating the theft of the nine-colored celestial flower.

The Arhat on the golden lotus stood up, clasped his hands together, and said:

"This humble monk is the Arhat Subduing Dragon of Mount Ling, who has come to the Heavenly Court to assist in the investigation by order of the Buddha."

Fellow Daoists, I have long admired your esteemed names.

Sun Wukong looked the Arhat Subduing Dragon up and down, grinned, and said, "I've heard so much about you."

Li Yan cupped his hands and said, "Arhat, you have come from afar; I have failed to greet you properly."

Jianglong laughed and said, "You two don't need to be so polite. I've come here for two reasons: first, to assist in the investigation, and second, to tell you something."

The Jade Emperor said, "Arhat, please speak."

The Arhat Subduing Dragon said, "Before I left, the Buddha said that the theft of the Nine-Colored Fairy Flower might be related to the sudden death of Cui Yan three hundred years ago."

Upon hearing this, the immortals in the hall displayed various expressions.

The Jade Emperor's expression hardened slightly: "What does Buddha mean by this?"

The Arhat Subduing Dragon said, "The Buddha did not say it explicitly, but only asked me to tell His Majesty that Cui Yan had corresponded with a high monk from Mount Ling before his death."

That eminent monk is my senior brother, the [Tiger-Taming Arhat].

He added, "Three hundred years ago, Senior Brother Fuhu said that Cui Yan sent him a letter before he died suddenly."

The letter stated that he had identified the people behind the three demon kings and was preparing to submit a memorial to impeach them.

However, before the letter could be delivered, Cui Yan died suddenly.

Li Yan was shocked.

Did Cui Yan write a letter to the Arhat Subduing Tiger?

Who are the people behind the three demon kings mentioned in the letter?

The Jade Emperor asked in a deep voice, "Where is that letter now?"

The Arhat Subduing Dragon said, "When Brother Subduing Tiger received that letter, Cui Yan was already dead."

He dared not make a sound, so he hid the letter in the Lingshan Sutra Repository, waiting for the next day.

"This humble monk has come on the orders of the Buddha to bring that letter and present it to Your Majesty."

After saying that, he took out a yellowed letter from his pocket and presented it with both hands.

Venus received it and presented it to the Jade Emperor.

The Jade Emperor unfolded the letter, his gaze sweeping over it, his expression gradually becoming solemn.

After reading it, he remained silent for a long time before placing the letter on the table and saying, "My esteemed ministers, would you like to take a look?"

The immortals in the hall looked at each other, but none of them dared to respond.

The Jade Emperor said, "Since that's the case, I will read it to you all."

He picked up the letter and slowly read aloud:

"Brother Fuhu, it is as if we are meeting in person upon receiving this letter."

My younger brother, Cui Yan, has been vigilant day and night since assuming the post of Inspector of the Three Realms, and has never dared to slack off in the slightest.

In these three realms, there are countless demon kings and countless rogue cultivators. Although there are those who commit crimes, most of them are minor disturbances that do not cause any real harm.

There is only one thing that keeps your younger brother from eating or sleeping.

The Lion Camel King of Lion Camel Ridge, the Roc Demon King of the North Sea, and the Flood Dragon Demon King of the East Sea, the three great demon kings, occupied a region, commanded armies and held considerable power. They were called demon kings, but in reality, they were regional warlords.

There are people behind them.

That person held an extremely high position and possessed extraordinary abilities; even within the Heavenly Court, many people followed his lead.

After years of investigation, my brother finally found some clues.

That person has connections to the North.

Once that memorial was submitted, my brother felt as if he were in a tiger's den, his life hanging in the balance.

Therefore, I am sending this letter to you, brother. If anything happens to me, please inform the world about what is in this letter.

My younger brother, Cui Yan, bows his head and bows again. "

After the Jade Emperor finished reading, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

The Martial Virtue Star Lord's face was slightly pale, but he forced himself to speak:

"Your Majesty, Cui Yan has been dead for over three hundred years."

Although the letter stated that they had discovered the person behind it was connected to the North, it did not reveal who that person was.

What use is this letter?

The Arhat Subduing Dragon said, "Martial Virtue Star Lord, do not be anxious. Although the letter does not specify who the person is, it does include something."

Having said that, he took out a small jade box from his bosom and presented it with both hands.

Venus took it and opened the jade box.

Inside the box lay a small jade pendant.

The jade pendant was entirely black, with a mythical beast engraved on it.

The strange beast resembled a tiger, but had wings, baring its teeth and brandishing its claws, and was incredibly lifelike.

Li Yan stared intently at it, and his heart skipped a beat.

That strange beast was the ancient divine beast, Qiongqi.

Qiongqi is the god of the north, who is in charge of killing and punishment.

In ancient times, there were tribes that used the Qiongqi as their totem, but they gradually disappeared into the long river of history.

However, the Qiongqi totem has been passed down and has become a symbol of certain secretive forces.

The Jade Emperor picked up the jade pendant and examined it closely, his expression growing increasingly solemn.

"I have seen this Qiongqi jade pendant before."

Upon hearing this, all the immortals in the hall were deeply moved.

The Jade Emperor said, "Three hundred years ago, after Cui Yan died suddenly, I sent people to search his residence."

A painting was found in his study.

The painting depicts the Qiongqi. At the time, I simply assumed it was Cui Yan's fondness for ancient mythical beasts and paid no further attention.

In retrospect, this Qiongqi is the symbol of the person behind it all.

His gaze swept over the immortals in the hall, and he said in a deep voice, "My esteemed ministers, does anyone recognize the origin of this Qiongqi jade pendant?"

The immortals in the hall looked at each other, but no one answered.

At that moment, a man stepped out from the ranks of civil officials.

This man had white hair and beard, and a gaunt face; it was none other than Zhang Heng.

He cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister may know something."

The Jade Emperor said, "Speak."

Zhang Heng said: "In ancient times, there was a tribe in the north called the Qiongqi clan."

This tribe uses the Qiongqi as its totem and has lived on the shores of the North Sea for generations.

Later, when His Majesty unified the Three Realms, the Qiongqi clan submitted to the Heavenly Court, and its chieftain was appointed as the Northern Dark Envoy.

Their special duty is to guard the North Sea and suppress demons.

"However, the Qiongqi clan was exterminated by His Majesty thousands of years ago for suspected treason."

The entire clan, men, women, and children, were all executed. Only the clan chief's youngest son remained missing.

This event occurred thousands of years ago, and few people know about it anymore.

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor's expression changed slightly: "The matter of the Qiongqi clan being wiped out has been over for a long time, and I don't remember it very clearly."

Zhang Heng, do you still remember the details?

Zhang Heng shook his head and said, "This old minister does not know the details either."

When the Qiongqi clan was wiped out, the old minister had not yet entered the Heavenly Court to serve as an official.

Later, when the old minister was organizing the Heavenly Court's records, he came across a secret document.

The secret documents recorded the entire story of Qiongqi's rebellion.

The Jade Emperor asked, "Where are those secret documents now?"

"That secret document is sealed in the deepest part of the Heavenly Court's [Scripture Pavilion], and can only be opened with His Majesty's written decree."

The Jade Emperor pondered for a moment, then picked up his brush and wrote a decree, which he handed to Venus:

"Jin Xing, go to the library and retrieve that secret document."

Venus received the decree, transformed into a golden ray of light, and left the Lingxiao Palace.

The immortals in the hall, each with their own thoughts, awaited news.

Li Yan stood in the hall, secretly calculating in his heart.

If Qiongqi is indeed the mastermind behind it all, then his theft of the Nine-Colored Immortal Flower has a reasonable explanation—revenge.

The Qiongqi clan was wiped out by the Heavenly Court, and the entire clan was executed, except for the youngest son who escaped.

That young boy lived in seclusion, cultivated for thousands of years, and finally became a Taiyi Golden Immortal, or even a Daluo Golden Immortal.

He returned to the Heavenly Court and secretly plotted to overthrow it and avenge his people.

Those three demon kings were merely pawns he had placed in his game.

The theft of the nine-colored fairy flower was also part of his plan.

But why would that person scheme against a monkey?

This is inconsistent with the patriarch's original prediction.

Li Yan frowned.

Just then, Venus returned from the library.

He held a jade box in his hands, his face solemn.

The Jade Emperor took the jade box, opened it, and took a look.

Inside the box lay a yellowed silk scroll.

The silk scroll was covered with tiny, densely written characters.

The Jade Emperor unfolded the silk scroll and read it carefully.

The more he looked, the more serious his expression became.

Halfway through his reading, he suddenly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the immortals in the hall before finally settling on the Martial Virtue Star Lord.

The Martial Virtue Star Lord paled slightly as he was swept under that gaze, but forced a smile and asked, "Your Majesty, what is written in that secret document?"

The Jade Emperor did not answer, but handed the silk scroll to Venus: "Venus, read it."

Venus took the silk scroll, cleared his throat, and read aloud:

"Heavenly Court Secret Files, No. 00317, Sealing Date: Year of Jiazi, Month of Gengwu, Day of Bingyin."

The details of Qiongqi's rebellion are as follows:

The Qiongqi clan was an ancient northern tribe that used the Qiongqi as its totem and lived on the shores of the North Sea for generations.

The Jade Emperor unified the Three Realms, and the Qiongqi clan submitted to him. Their clan leader was appointed as the Northern Xuanming Envoy to guard the North Sea.

The leaders of the Qiongqi clan throughout the ages have all been loyal and have repeatedly made great contributions in battle.

The seventh clan leader was named Qiongqilie, a brave and ambitious man.

The seventh clan leader was named Qiongqilie, a brave and ambitious man.

Seeing the Heavenly Court growing stronger day by day, he felt resentful and secretly colluded with the demons of the North Sea to plot a rebellion.

When the Jade Emperor heard this, he was furious and sent heavenly soldiers and generals to besiege and suppress Qiongqi.

Qiongqi Lie led his entire tribe in resistance, but ultimately, outnumbered, he was defeated and killed.

The entire clan, men, women, and children, were all executed.

Only Qiongqi Lie's youngest son, Qiongqi Yuan, who was only three years old, was taken away by an old servant and his whereabouts are unknown.

The Heavenly Court pursued him for hundreds of years without success.

Later, according to reports from spies, Qiongqi Yuan had changed his name and infiltrated the Heavenly Court to serve as an official.

However, his specific identity remains unknown.

This confidential document is sealed here, awaiting the future.

After Venus finished reading, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

The Jade Emperor's face was ashen, his gaze sharp as lightning as he swept over the immortals in the hall:

"That Qiongqi Yuan infiltrated the Heavenly Court to serve as an official, and his identity remains unknown to this day. My beloved ministers, tell me, who is this person?"

The immortals in the hall looked at each other, none daring to speak.

The Martial Virtue Star Lord's face was deathly pale, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.

Li Yan stood in the hall, but his mind was perfectly clear.

Qiongqi Yuan infiltrated the Heavenly Court to serve as an official, but his whereabouts remain unknown to this day.

The man in black used the Taiyin True Scripture as his foundation and the Qiongqi as his symbol.

These two should refer to the same person.

And this person is in this Lingxiao Palace.

Thinking it over, his gaze swept over the immortals in the hall, finally settling on the Martial Virtue Star Lord.

The man's face was deathly pale, his forehead was covered in cold sweat, and his hands were trembling slightly.

Li Yan's heart stirred, and he was about to speak when he suddenly heard the Arhat Subduing Dragon say, "Great Heavenly Venerable, this humble monk has something to say."

The Jade Emperor said, "Speak."

The Arhat Who Subdues Dragons:

"I just remembered that my senior brother Fuhu once said that Cui Yan included a sentence in his letter, in addition to the jade pendant."

That sentence, I almost forgot.

As soon as the Arhat Subduing Dragon uttered these words, all the immortals in the hall turned their gazes to him.

The Jade Emperor raised an eyebrow slightly: "Arhat, please speak."

The Arhat Subduing Dragon took out a piece of gold foil from his sleeve. The gold foil was as thin as a cicada's wing, and several lines of small characters were engraved on it in Sanskrit.

He presented the gold leaf with both hands and said:

"This is a memo that Senior Brother Fuhu jotted down casually when he received Cui Yan's letter back then."

Before I departed, my senior brother entrusted this item to me, saying that if the Heavenly Court were to investigate a case, I should present this item along with the other items.

Venus received the gold foil and presented it to the Jade Emperor.

The Jade Emperor unfolded the gold foil, his gaze sweeping over the few lines of Sanskrit, and his expression changed slightly.

He put down the gold leaf and said in a deep voice:

"The message attached to Cui Yan's letter consisted of only eight characters: 'In the North Pole Palace, descendants of Xuanming.'"

Upon hearing this, the immortals in the hall displayed various expressions.

The North Pole Palace is the residence of the Supreme Emperor of the North Pole, one of the Four Emperors.

The Ziwei Emperor reigns supreme over the star realm, ruling over all stars. His rank is second only to the Jade Emperor of the Three Pure Ones.

If Qiongqi Yuan is hiding in the North Pole Palace, then the matter becomes complicated.

Upon hearing this, Wu De Xing Jun's expression softened slightly, and the cold sweat on his forehead disappeared.

Just as he was about to say something, the Jade Emperor's gaze fell upon him.

"Martial Virtue Star Lord,"

The Jade Emperor spoke slowly, his voice authoritative without being angry, "I remember you were once the registrar of the North Pole Palace?"

The Martial Virtue Star Lord's expression stiffened, and he immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty's memory is not bad."

Three thousand years ago, I did indeed serve under the Ziwei Emperor.

Later, thanks to His Majesty's promotion, he was able to enter the Lingxiao Palace as an official.

This matter is known throughout Heaven, and your humble servant dares not conceal it.

The Jade Emperor nodded slightly, neither confirming nor denying, and then asked, "Do you recognize this Qiongqi jade pendant?"

Lord Wude shook his head and said, "This humble subject has never seen it. However..."

He hesitated for a moment before saying, "But when I was serving in the Beiji Palace, I heard about something."

The Jade Emperor said, "Speak."

The Martial Virtue Star Lord said, "Under the Ziwei Emperor, there are thirty-six Heavenly Generals and seventy-two Earthly Fiends, each with their own duties."

One of them was a Heavenly Star Lord named Tianxiong.

This person acts discreetly and keeps a low profile, yet he enjoys the deep trust of the Ziwei Emperor.

"I once overheard a colleague mention that the Heavenly Hero Star Lord seems to have a deep understanding of the ancient secrets of the North, especially the stories of the Qiongqi clan."

"However, the Heavenly Hero Star Lord left his post two thousand years ago and his whereabouts are unknown."

I have only met him a few times and know very little about him.

Li Yan stood in the hall, listening intently to every word of Wu De Xing Jun's words, and pondered them silently.

Just moments ago, Wu De Xing Jun was deathly pale, but now he was able to clearly and logically recount the story of Tian Xiong Xing Jun.

He absolved himself of all responsibility with his words.

This person must either be very confident or have reached a level of acting mastery.

But is his revelation of Tianxiong Xingjun genuinely helping to investigate the case, or is it a diversionary tactic?

As Li Yan was pondering, he suddenly felt his heart mirror tremble slightly.

With a slight sinking of the mind, a line of small golden characters appeared on the mirror surface:

[Upon hearing the confession of the Martial Virtue Star Lord regarding the Heavenly Hero Star Lord, one could discern three flaws and seven parts truth in his words.]

[Aura of Destiny +200 (Observational Skill, Perceptive Understanding)]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 15700/20480]

Just as he was about to think it over, he suddenly heard Zhang Heng speak.

"Your Majesty," Zhang Heng said, bowing slightly, "this old minister dares to ask the Martial Virtue Star Lord a few questions."

The Jade Emperor nodded.

Zhang Heng turned to the Martial Virtue Star Lord, his expression softening:

"The Star Lord just said that the Heavenly Hero Star Lord is well-versed in the stories of the Qiongqi clan. Did the Star Lord witness this himself, or did he hear it from his colleagues?"

"I heard it from my colleagues."

Zhang Heng then asked, "And who is that colleague?"

Zhang Heng, unhurriedly, then asked, "How many years has the Star Lord served in the North Pole Palace?"

The Martial Virtue Star Lord said, "About three hundred years."

Zhang Heng asked, "In the past three hundred years, how many times have you met with the Heavenly Hero Star Lord?"

After pondering for a moment, Wu De Xing Jun said, "About... four or five sides."

Zhang Heng said, "After only four or five meetings, one can determine that this person is 'low-key, unassuming, and deeply trusted by the Ziwei Emperor'?"

You probably heard these words from that colleague, didn't you?

Lord Wude's expression changed slightly, but he forced a smile and said, "Lord Zhang, you are wise; it is indeed so."

Zhang Heng nodded slightly, then asked, "Who is that colleague? Does the Star Lord truly not remember?"

After a moment of silence, Wu De Xing Jun said, "It seems...it seems to be the military advisor of the North Pole Palace back then, surnamed Du."

However, this person has long since passed away, and there is no way to verify their identity.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Heng turned around, cupped his hands in greeting to the Jade Emperor, and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister has finished asking my questions."

The Jade Emperor's gaze was deep as he swept over the face of the Martial Virtue Star Lord, offering neither comment nor affirmation.

He turned to look at the Arhat Subduing Dragon and said:

"Besides this gold leaf, do the Arhats Subduing Dragon and Tiger have anything else to tell me?"

The Arhat Subduing Dragon clasped his hands and said, "Before the Buddha departed, he told this humble monk:

The theft of the Nine-Colored Immortal Flower and the sudden death of Cui Yan three hundred years ago seem to be two separate cases, but in fact they are one and the same.

The person who stole the flower and the person who harmed Cui Yan should be the same person.

This person also has intricate connections with the descendants of the Qiongqi from the north.

"Buddha also said that the man stole the nine-colored fairy flower not for the flower itself."

Rather, it was for what lay beneath the celestial flower.

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

The Jade Emperor abruptly stood up and said in a deep voice, "Below the celestial flower?"

The Arhat Subduing Dragon said, "The Buddha did not say it explicitly, but only asked this humble monk to convey to His Majesty that he should send someone to investigate whether there is any hidden secret beneath the roots of that immortal flower."

The Jade Emperor immediately issued the order: "Dong Shuangcheng!"

Dong Shuangcheng entered from outside the hall in response to the call, cupping his hands and saying, "Your Majesty."

The Jade Emperor said, "Go to the Peach Garden immediately and examine the roots of the nine-colored fairy flower to see if there is anything unusual."

Dong Shuangcheng received the decree, transformed into a golden light, and left the Lingxiao Palace.

The immortals in the hall, each with their own thoughts, awaited news.

Although Wu De Xingjun's complexion had returned to normal, he would occasionally steal glances towards the outside of the hall.

Sun Wukong stood in the hall, already impatient.

He was originally the free and unrestrained Monkey King of Flower Fruit Mountain, and he detested the verbal battles and intrigues in the imperial court.

Seeing the Martial Virtue Star Lord and Zhang Heng exchanging blows, I felt irritated.

He tugged at Li Yan's sleeve and whispered, "Brother, why do these people talk like they're in a maze?"

Something that could be explained in one sentence is instead explained in eighteen roundabout ways.

Li Yan gestured to him with his eyes to calm down, and whispered in his ear, "Your Majesty, please be patient."

In this imperial court, every word is a knife, every phrase a sword.

To be blunt would be hurtful.

To put it bluntly, it's about protecting oneself.

"Since Your Majesty dislikes these things, you may simply treat it as a performance."

Sun Wukong pursed his lips and muttered:

"I, Old Sun, would rather go back to Flower Fruit Mountain and watch the little monkeys do somersaults than watch this show."

Li Yan smiled and said nothing more.

He secretly pondered this in his heart.

How could the Buddha, who was far away in the Western Paradise, know that there was a hidden secret beneath the celestial flower? What kind of supernatural power is this?

What lies hidden beneath that celestial flower?

Just then, Dong Shuangcheng returned from the Peach Garden.

Her face was solemn, and she carried something in her hand as she entered the hall and knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, I was ordered to inspect the roots of the Nine-Colored Immortal Flower and indeed found something unusual."

The Jade Emperor said, "Bring it here."

Dong Shuangcheng presented the item with both hands.

Venus received it and presented it to the Jade Emperor.