Primordial Era: Taibai, the Poison Master of Yaochi, drives a Sage insane!

Chapter 18 of this book: At this moment, all the immortals were shocked! There's a surprise inside, click here to unlock now.

Yaochi's words were reasonable and well-founded. First, this was not something I did on my own initiative, but rather it was Haotian who proposed the occasion of birthday celebration, which I dared not accept!

Secondly, this is not a precedent for me. The human race worships Nuwa by taking the day she created humans as her birthday, so what's wrong with me taking the day the Dao Ancestor enlightened me as my birthday?

Third, the Dao Ancestor enlightened me and made me the Great Heavenly Venerable. My offering and worship of the Dao Ancestor is an act of filial piety. What is wrong with that?

These three points were exactly what Li Taibai had grasped and prepared for Yaochi, which stunned everyone.

Yaochi, on the other hand, stood dignified and with an open and honest gaze, quietly awaiting the answers from the sages.

The myriad immortals and gods, and the many powerful beings of the primordial world, were not fools. Although it was impeccable, this suggestion stirred up a huge wave in everyone's hearts. Everyone's mind was completely shocked by Yaochi's ingenious and skillful manipulation of power!

Everyone in the hall was shocked and sighed as they came to their senses.

Zhen Yuanzi sat upright on the cloud platform, his heart filled with shock: "What a shrewd and clever woman, the Golden Mother of Yaochi! Just now, Haotian's vicious and presumptuous words were enough to pin the grave crimes of overstepping her bounds in celebrating a birthday and blaspheming a sage on her. If it were anyone else, at best they would be unable to defend themselves and be utterly disgraced, at worst they would lose all their fortune and damage their foundation. But this Yaochi woman turned the tide in an instant! She transformed a deadly situation that could have destroyed one's path into a supreme act of honoring the Dao, respecting ancestors, and being grateful for one's master's grace! Using someone else's strength against them, turning misfortune into fortune, turning sin into merit—this cunning, this vision, this ability to adapt to the situation far surpasses Haotian's shallow political maneuvering! The two sages of the Heavenly Court are now worlds apart."

The Styx Ancestor's gaze deepened, his heart filled with astonishment: "I only thought Yaochi was gentle, forbearing, and unassuming, but today I realize that this Golden Mother is far too cunning! She doesn't contend, but when she does, she overturns the tide. Without uttering a single word or expending a morsel of magic, she merely alters the rules with a single phrase, cleansing herself of her stigma, accumulating merit, winning hearts and minds, and solidifying her position. Such cunning is unparalleled among the female immortals of the primordial world; even Haotian is but a three-year-old compared to her!"

The Kunpeng Ancestor's eyes also showed surprise: "Haotian, despite possessing the position of Heavenly Emperor, is impetuous and clumsy in his methods, only capable of scheming and framing others, thus ruining his own reputation. In contrast, Yaochi is methodical and meticulous, remaining calm under humiliation and composed in the face of danger, turning a seemingly hopeless situation around and leveraging the power of the Dao Ancestor to establish itself as a righteous force. From this day forward, Yaochi is no longer a vassal of the Heavenly Court; it holds the prestige of the Dao and rightfully stands independently in the Primordial World. The fortunes of this Yaochi Immortal Realm are about to rise, while Haotian has utterly declined!"

The great god Lei Ze and all the powerful beings shared the same thought.

Today's Peach Banquet is won by the Queen Mother of the West. Her actions are justified and beyond reproach. They have not only exposed the inferiority of the Jade Emperor but also elevated her own virtue. Furthermore, she is now establishing her own legitimacy.

Taiqing Laozi closed his eyes and nodded, understanding dawning on him; Yaochi's mind and nature were now completely clear. After billions of years of forbearance and dormancy, he broke through the impasse and established his Dao in one fell swoop.

Yaochi's move was devoid of any ferocity or competition, yet it was the most ingenious.

By respecting teachers and honoring the Way, one can establish one's heart; by offering peaches of immortality, one can cultivate virtue; by doing so, one can wash away all stigma and silence the gossips of the world. One can neither offend the sages nor transgress the Way of Heaven, but instead gain a reputation for being selfless, sincere, and filial.

The Primordial Chess Game—this is an attempt to truly enter the game and take the lead, without even having any grounds to accuse Yaochi.

Nuwa couldn't help but admire her: "Junior Sister is insightful and intelligent, possessing the deepest understanding of the Way of Heaven and the hearts of men. The Dao Ancestor has no birth date, and no one dares to speak of it lightly. Yet, Junior Sister emulated the human race's respect for me, creating her own rituals and setting a precedent, taking the day the Dao Ancestor enlightened and bestowed his title as her birthday, offering sincere sacrifices. This is reasonable, in accordance with the hearts of men, and in accordance with the Great Dao. What seems like a simple remark is actually a breakthrough, a rebirth, completely breaking free from the shackles imposed by Haotian, and establishing her own Dao foundation with dignity. This understanding and character far surpass Haotian's. If Junior Sister takes ruling over all immortals as the principle of Heaven, then my Great Dao of Creation can be achieved!"

At this moment, Nuwa was immediately impressed. Yaochi dared to take on such a great responsibility and become the successor of her Great Dao of Creation. She was resourceful, shrewd, and composed. She was able to counterattack after Haotian's sudden attack and establish her own foundation. This truly made Nuwa admire and recognize Yaochi!

Yes, if Yaochi were truly weak, the Sage would not bother with her at all. However, if Yaochi demonstrated her abilities, the Sage would recognize her value.

Yes, if one does not demonstrate one's abilities, in the eyes of a sage one is merely a figurehead, a vassal, a pawn, utterly worthless.

Sages are too lazy to even glance at them, let alone appreciate, support, or take sides.

Li Bai used the Peach Banquet to eliminate Haotian, thus the Sage had already sentenced Haotian to death and deemed him unworthy of support. Yaochi's actions were recognized by the Sage, who considered them extraordinary and in line with his own Dao, so he naturally believed that an alliance could be formed!

The Tongtian Sect Leader's eyes lit up with admiration: "Well done, Yaochi! She truly has the means to rule the immortals. If so, she must align herself with my Dao of the One Thread of Life. Most beings in the primordial world are foolish, conservative, and timid, but Yaochi alone dares to think, dares to break with tradition, and dares to establish something new! Haotian only knows how to play despicable and underhanded tricks; his vision is narrow and laughable. Yaochi, however, can adapt to circumstances, establish herself through the Dao, and turn crisis into opportunity. Such insightful thinking and magnanimous vision are the qualities a Heavenly Venerable should possess! Compared to the hypocritical and narrow-minded Haotian, Yaochi has truly secured her position as the Great Heavenly Venerable. Therefore, Yaochi is worthy of our acquaintance!"

Tongtian saw the value of Yaochi and immediately made a decision, recognizing Yaochi's position as the ruler of all immortals. To rule all immortals, there must be immortals, and for immortals to exist, all living beings must be able to cultivate immortality. Therefore, he had to recognize Yaochi's glimmer of hope for survival!

With Yaochi's foundation firmly established, it would be perfectly legal for it to directly undertake the task of becoming the Grand Priest of Hongjun. Tongtian naturally understood this clearly.

The Guide Daoist sighed inwardly, "The ways of the world, the hearts of men, the power struggles—all are contained in a single word. Yaochi's actions have secured her own position while also protecting the overall situation of the prehistoric world—a triple win. Her composure and measured approach demonstrate her wisdom. From now on, Haotian will be barred from the destiny of heaven and earth!"

Zhunti Daoist couldn't help but ponder, "Yaochi's seemingly unintentional actions are actually meticulously crafted. This woman, under the guise of worshipping the Dao Ancestor, possesses a profound mind and sophisticated methods; she should not be underestimated. I wonder what Yuanshi thinks; the格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall situation or landscape) of the East is about to change!"

Only the Jade Pure Primordial Heavenly Venerable was immediately enraged.

While they were vying with Tongtian for the right to interpret the Heavenly Dao, Yaochi also wanted to cause trouble and try to use the sages to compete for destiny.

What's wrong?

You really want to rule over all the immortals?

It's not that Yuanshi Tianzun was narrow-minded, but rather that this is the nature of Yuanshi Tianzun's Dao. He himself controls the Heavenly Dao, while the Heavenly Court is insignificant and should not have its own destiny. He should just be a puppet.

If your Yaochi rises to power, then it will be in conflict with the Chan Sect over the destiny of the nation.

Furthermore, it's not simple at all, it's really not simple at all!

This incident is by no means an isolated event. Haotian's sudden blasphemy against the sage and Yaochi's sudden stunt are not coincidental.

Haotian is nothing more than a foolish child with a frivolous temperament, lust for power, and clumsy methods. He can only act on impulse and engage in low-level scheming. He is easily exposed and easily angered, and is unlikely to achieve great things.

But Yaochi, she concealed her strength and never showed her brilliance. When she made a move, it was flawless and she could turn the tide completely!

Taking advantage of Haotian's birthday wishes, he changed his personal birthday celebration to an ancestral birthday celebration, turning his own crisis into a matter of honoring the Dao. He appeared humble and courteous, but in reality, he was deeply scheming!

If this woman rises to power and takes sole control of the Jade Pool Immortal Path, winning over the hearts of all immortals, she will surely become an obstacle to the Great Dao of the Chan Sect in the future!

With this thought in mind, Yuanshi's tone turned cold, and he spoke first, his voice filled with scrutiny and doubt: "The Dao Ancestor has no birth or death, no beginning or end, and no birthday. Why then is there a deliberate celebration of his birthday?"

Upon hearing this, Yaochi bowed deeply and answered frankly, "Brother Yuanshi, please understand. This is not a deliberate act, but purely my sincere filial piety, without any ulterior motive. Humanity, grateful for Sister Nuwa's creation of humankind, has made the day of her creation her birthday, offering sacrifices and revering her every year. I am deeply grateful for the Dao Ancestor's mercy, who personally bestowed upon me an imperial edict, enlightened my path, and granted me the title of Great Heavenly Venerable. This grace of rebirth is immeasurable. I emulate the sincere heart of humanity, setting the day the Dao Ancestor enlightened me and granted me authority as the day to express my gratitude to my master. This is all I have, a pure and sincere heart, with no other intentions."

"If any of you senior brothers and sisters do not wish to participate, you are welcome to stay here and enjoy yourselves without any restrictions. This offering need not trouble anyone; I will take full responsibility for it and go alone."

His words were extremely humble and fair, seemingly leaving everyone with all options and dignity.

But the more this was the case, the more apprehension and doubt Yuanshi felt.

"Yaochi! Do you perhaps also intend to emulate Haotian, harboring selfish motives and attempting to exploit a sage to fulfill your own selfish desires?!"

boom!

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the entire venue exploded, reaching an extreme level of tension!

The assembled immortals and powerful beings were shocked and fell silent instantly, their eyes fixed on Yaochi, filled with astonishment and tension.

No one expected that just as the situation was easing, Yuanshi Tianzun would launch another attack, directly grouping Yaochi with the treacherous Haotian!

Yaochi was slightly startled and quickly bowed to explain, her expression sincere and fearful: "Senior Brother Yuanshi, please see the truth! I would never dare! Senior Brother Haotian deliberately framed me and harbored malicious intentions. How could I follow his example? My heart is pure and devoted to the Dao; I have absolutely no selfish desire to use the sages or scheme for power!"

Yuanshi snorted coldly, his gaze piercing, penetrating to the core of people's hearts, pressing forward relentlessly: "Dare not? If you truly have no selfish motives, offering sacrifices to the Dao Ancestor is your private matter. You could offer sacrifices silently and express your gratitude in secret. Why did you choose to speak of this matter publicly at the Peach Banquet, in front of all the immortals of the Three Realms, the great powers of the Primordial World, and the six Sages? What exactly are you trying to secure? What do you hope to gain through this?"

They relentlessly questioned her, each sentence piercing her heart, giving Yaochi no chance to catch her breath.

Yaochi slightly furrowed her brow and calmly explained, following Li Taibai's prepared statement: "Senior Brother has misunderstood. Just now, Senior Brother Haotian brought up the topic of birthday celebrations without reason, putting me in an unjust position. I had a sudden inspiration, and since we're celebrating a birthday, why not celebrate the Dao Ancestor's birthday instead, and take advantage of today's grand occasion to express my gratitude for the Dao Ancestor's great kindness? It was purely a spur-of-the-moment decision, nothing more, and I had absolutely no intention of deliberately planning anything!"

"That's all?"

Although Yaochi said it was a spur-of-the-moment decision and was reasonable, being reasonable is not enough; we must look at the outcome.

The result was that Yaochi was established as the most honored in the world, and this was the outcome, not the reasonable cause.

Yuanshi Tianzun, his face full of disbelief, sneered: "You just publicly refuted Haotian, severed ties with the Heavenly Court, and broke away from it, and now you're publicly proposing to offer sacrifices to the Dao Ancestor for his birthday! You clearly want to use the Dao Ancestor's supreme prestige to intimidate the immortals of the Three Realms, suppress the Heavenly Court's power, and consolidate your own authority in Yaochi! Is that right or wrong!"

These words caused an uproar throughout the room!

Countless powerful beings trembled in their hearts and exclaimed in surprise.

How formidable is Yaochi! This woman is incredibly cunning and ruthless!

He appears to be sincerely respectful of the Dao, but in reality, he is using the power of the Dao Ancestor to establish his own authority!

Once this matter is accomplished, Yaochi will rightfully rule over all immortals, with no one able to object or restrain her!

Yaochi looked alarmed, but remained humble and respectful, taking the initiative to back down and admit defeat: "I am foolish and thoughtless, which has aroused your suspicion, Senior Brother. It was my slip of the tongue. Since you are not pleased, I will not speak of this matter in public again. I will go to the Yaochi Ancestral Temple to make offerings on my own. I hope Senior Brother Yuanshi will forgive my presumptuous words that disturbed the grand gathering."

Yaochi took the initiative to admit her mistake, back down, and yield completely, displaying an extremely humble attitude and perfectly gauging the situation.

But Yuanshi still refused to give up, forcefully pressing: "Can a slip of the tongue cover up selfishness? Today you have made this matter public, and all the immortals of the Three Realms and the Primordial Saints know about it. This matter has already spread throughout the prehistoric world. Do you think a simple concession will be enough to settle this?"

"Eat the remaining Ren-water peach right now! Abandon this so-called offering to the ancestors!"

With a single word, the fortune and foundation of Yaochi were forcibly severed. If the peach was eaten, it would signify the end of the matter and the complete suppression of Yaochi.

That's how the primordial fortune is; it's not easy to cultivate it, but it can be destroyed in an instant.

This is similar to Liu Huaqiang forcing Feng Biao to kneel down and call him "Master." Doing this directly caused him to lose face in the underworld.

In front of everyone, he forced a great celestial being to destroy his sincerity, break his own plans, and lose face without any mercy!

"Second brother! Why be so relentless and aggressive!"

The Tongtian Sect Leader suddenly stood up, facing Yuanshi directly, his tone filled with obvious dissatisfaction: "Junior Sister Yaochi merely had a flash of spiritual light without any evidence, a single thought of respect for the Dao and filial piety. There is no proof whatsoever, so why be so harsh? As the Great Heavenly Venerable who commands all immortals, personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor, it is only her duty and a matter of the Dao to establish a temple to worship the Dao Ancestor. There is nothing wrong with that!"

Today, all the immortals of the Three Realms and the great powers of the primordial world are gathered here. Second Brother, you have publicly pressured and harassed your junior sister, showing her no mercy and leaving her no room for maneuver. How will Yaochi govern the immortals in the future? How will she establish herself in the primordial world? How will she secure her position as the Great Heavenly Venerable? To diminish her prestige, doubt her resolve, and suppress her path based solely on a careless remark—Second Brother's actions are far too biased and far too harsh!