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

Inside the Yaochi Palace, Yaochi couldn't help but sigh.

"Taibai, I never expected that after today's Peach Banquet, the fortune of my Yaochi Immortal Realm would soar to such an extent, and from now on it will not be diverted by Haotian. This series of twists and turns, and the layers of strategic maneuvering, were all planned in advance by you, Taibai, which allowed my Yaochi to establish itself firmly in the prehistoric world and secure its position as the Great Heavenly Venerable who rules over all immortals. It is all thanks to your divine wisdom and ingenuity."

Taibai, composed and slightly bowing, slowly explained the fundamental reason for the surge in fortune: "Your Majesty need not be surprised. This surge in fortune is entirely due to the prevailing trend and the will of the people. Since the collapse of the Heavenly Court after the Lich War, the Dao Ancestor re-established the Three Realms, and the Great Heavenly Venerable Haotian and Your Majesty jointly govern the Heavenly Court. This is the first time the two Heavenly Venerables have publicly met with the Primordial Saints and ancient great beings. The saints of the heavens and the heroes of the Three Realms have been secretly weighing and considering the true structure of the Jade Pool Immortal Realm, and whether the Great Heavenly Venerable who commands all immortals possesses the talent, the courage, and the qualifications to uphold the principles of immortality."

"Your Majesty's actions today, which broke through the impasse, combined strength and gentleness, and were decisive, have perfectly responded to everyone's scrutiny, naturally attracting the approval of all beings, and the aura of fortune has gathered accordingly."

After hearing this, Yaochi asked, "Taibai's ability to so easily predict the reactions of all parties is still unbelievable to me. What is the secret behind this?"

Li Taibai immediately explained the mystery to Yaochi: "Your Majesty, this Peach Banquet may seem like just a celestial feast, but in reality, it is the first time since the founding of the New Heavenly Court that you and the Jade Emperor have been fully, formally, and completely revealed yourselves before the Six Great Sages, the Primordial Gods, and the Ancient Powers. This first appearance is of paramount importance, as weighty as the Heavenly Dao's determination of rank, and cannot be taken lightly."

Upon hearing this, Yaochi was startled and quickly raised her hand: "Taibai, explain in detail, I want to hear it all and understand it carefully."

Taibai nodded slightly and slowly unraveled the secrets of heaven: "Your Majesty should know that after the destruction of the Lich King and the collapse of the old Heavenly Court, Dijun, Taiyi, and Xihe exited the stage. The Dao Ancestor re-established the Three Realms and appointed Your Majesty and the Great Heavenly Venerable Haotian to jointly govern the Heavenly Court and share the responsibilities of gods and immortals. However, for countless eons, all living beings in the primordial world, the Primordial Saints, and all powerful beings have never set any level or standard for Your Majesty and Haotian in their hearts."

"So, what exactly is the level of the two new Heavenly Venerables? How should they be treated? Are they comparable to the ancient Heavenly Emperors like Di Jun and Xi He, who ruled over eternity and suppressed the primordial world? Or are they merely equivalent to the first generation of the Eastern King Duke and the Western Queen Mother, who divided Yin and Yang and maintained order in one direction? Or are they even lower, just figurehead Heavenly Venerables casually promoted by the Dao Ancestor, with no real power?"

Therefore, at this time, the Empress's status was without judgment, without position, without hierarchy, without benchmark, a blank slate, and completely undetermined.

Upon hearing this, Yaochi's eyes suddenly lit up, and she instantly understood. She blurted out, "So that's how it is! Since Haotian and I took over the Heavenly Court, in the eyes of all living beings in the primordial world, we have always been ambiguous, rankless, and without distinction! The human heart has no standard, and the Great Dao has no fixed rules. That's why today's first public appearance, the first time we acted in public, and the first time we revealed our character and vision are so crucial!"

"Exactly!"

Li Taibai cuts to the heart of the matter: "The first standard set is the eternal measure! What level the sages, immortals, and great beings set for you today will determine the entire primordial order for countless millennia to come! Whether you become a mere appendage, a mid-level Celestial Venerable, comparable to Emperor Jun and Xihe, or have an infinitely bright future, it all depends on your first appearance—a single, decisive moment! Once the standard of the people is set, the destiny of Heaven is set accordingly, and it can never be changed!"

Yaochi's mind was violently shaken, and she could not calm down for a long time. She murmured and sighed, "Emperor Jun and Xihe suppressed the primordial world and ruled over all races. Their power was unparalleled throughout the ages. I know that I am far inferior to them now."

Taibai spoke solemnly: "Your Majesty is inferior to them because you lack their accumulated experience, their subordinates, their ancient foundation, and their immense fortune. You also lack the opportunity to establish the Heavenly Court before a sage appeared. But! Your spirit must not be lowered, your vision must not be diminished, and your demeanor must not be weak!"

"The human heart in the primordial world is most mysterious. The higher Your Majesty's ambition, the higher others will regard you. The higher others' regard, the more abundant the fortune bestowed upon you by Heaven. This principle is invisible and intangible, silent and formless, yet it is the first secret for all the heavens in the primordial world to establish themselves as kings and gather their strength. Today, Haotian has personally trampled his own status into the mud. Instantly, everyone has judged him as a low-ranking Heavenly Emperor, shallow in vision, incapable of great responsibility, lacking in character, and unworthy of suppressing Heaven. His future fortune will be capped, and he will never achieve great things."

Yaochi felt a chill run down her spine, filled with lingering fear. She whispered, trembling, "Only now have I truly awakened! If I had softened my heart, yielded, acquiesced to the birthday wishes, or remained silent, and Haotian had successfully framed me, solidifying my subservient status and branding me as cowardly and incompetent… then I would be doomed, wouldn't I?"

Taibai said firmly in a deep voice, "Yes! It is truly utterly hopeless! If she is crushed by Haotian in one fell swoop, from then on, all the saints and powerful immortals of the Three Realms will forever regard the Empress as an appendage of Haotian. She will never be able to compete for independent destiny, never be able to win over the hearts of the immortals, and never be able to establish a foundation for the Yaochi Dao. She will be controlled for life, her destiny will be divided for life, and she will be a mere foil for others for life, with no hope of ever rising again!"

Upon hearing this, Yaochi felt a wave of fear wash over her. Composing herself, she asked earnestly, "Taibai, tell me truthfully, after this banquet, what level or stage do I occupy in the hearts of all beings in the Three Realms?"

Taibai gazed into the distance, carefully weighing the Heavenly Dao, the hearts of men, and the overall fortune. After a moment, he solemnly replied, "Your Majesty's current level is extremely high, and there is no upper limit! In terms of the current subordinates and the immortals under your control, there is indeed no one else. However, you have established the orthodox lineage of the Dao Ancestor, and with the imperial edict in hand, your rule over the immortals is legitimate. You have the public support and strong approval of the two great saints, Nuwa and Tongtian. All three realms know that Your Majesty has won the hearts of the saints and is in harmony with the Great Dao."

"The Empress's displayed temperament, decisiveness, political acumen, strategic vision, and understanding of right and wrong far surpass Haotian, overwhelming her peers and earning the fear and recognition of all the great beings of the primordial world. Now, the new standard for the Empress in the Three Realms has been established: she is not a vassal, not a mere figurehead, not a lower-ranking Celestial Venerable, but an independent Great Celestial Venerable with a clear mind, extraordinary methods, capable of inheriting the Great Dao, capable of suppressing the Immortal Path, and with an immeasurable future! Her foundation is established, the hearts of the people are stabilized, her status is set, and her destiny is firmly rooted! This is the foundation for her attainment of the Dao!"

This is the first time that Yaochi has established her persona. From now on, the Three Realms will treat Yaochi according to this persona. If she fails to establish her persona, she will be judged as a mere child.

When a person is set up as a child, how can the fortune of the Three Realms possibly fall to Yaochi?

There is an ironclad rule in the primordial fortune: fortune only flows to those who have status, influence, a persona, and an independent vision.

If your character is even slightly inferior, your luck will be ten times worse; if your character is set up as a subordinate, you'll have no luck at all.

Yaochi frowned slightly upon hearing this, still harboring concerns: "But this time, I have completely broken ties with Senior Brother Yuanshi, causing him to leave in a rage. He already holds a grudge against me. How can this be resolved? If the Chan Sect targets us everywhere in the future, my Yaochi Immortal Realm will likely be in turmoil."

'

Taibai sighed softly, revealing the profound truth of the primordial power struggle: "Your Majesty, there is never a way to have it all. Primordial power, the opportunities of the Great Dao, and the positions of the Heavenly Venerables are like dishes on a table—the portions are fixed, and the places are limited. Now that the structure of the Three Realms is set, if Your Majesty wants to establish your own path and gain a foothold at the table, you will inevitably have to share the fortunes of others. Yuanshi, who holds the reins of the Chan Sect and controls the discourse of the Heavenly Dao, is the one with the most abundant fortune. Your Majesty's rise to independence is destined to displease him, and offending him is inevitable."

"In this world, no one can be recognized by everyone. Some people are in harmony with the Great Way of the Goddess and will do their best to help her, while others are contrary to the Great Way and will feel rejection. Sages are the same; each adheres to the Great Way and seeks their own interests. Disagreements are the norm."

Yaochi listened intently, then slowly nodded, suddenly understanding: "So that's how it is. Only now do I fully understand the profound meaning behind your repeated instructions to me to establish a close relationship with Tongtian and Nuwa as early as possible. Today, in this critical moment, only the two of them stood up for me without hesitation. It was all Taibai's long-term plan."

Taibai slowly said, "Today, Your Majesty has firmly established your position as the ruler of all immortals. By publicly severing ties and breaking free from the shackles of servitude, you averted a life-or-death crisis. Your actions were measured and decisive, demonstrating both strength and gentleness, showcasing your ability to stand alone and your control. The six great sages have all witnessed this and know that Your Majesty is not a weak or easily bullied person, but someone capable of stabilizing the immortal path, inheriting the Great Dao, and accomplishing great things."

"Moreover, the Empress's path to immortality is secretly in harmony with the Tongtian Sect Master's path to all immortals and the Nuwa Goddess's path to creation. Their paths are connected and their interests are intertwined. Naturally, they would not stand idly by and watch the Empress be forcibly crushed, humiliated, and crippled by the Primordial Sage, thus cutting off the support for their own path."

Yaochi's heart stirred, recalling the perilous banquet, and she couldn't help but feel lingering fear. She asked softly, "What if Senior Brother Tongtian and Senior Sister Nuwa had stood by and watched coldly today, refusing to stand up for me? Senior Brother Yuanshi pressed me relentlessly, ordering me to swallow the last Renshui Peach on the spot. If I had complied, I would surely have been like Haotian, despised by all the immortals and left with no place to stand."

Taibai smiled calmly: "Even if no one steps forward, Your Majesty will remain unharmed. Your Majesty and Haotian both came from Zixiao, and Your Majesty was personally appointed Heavenly Venerable by the Dao Ancestor, possessing legitimate status and profound foundation. Even if the Primordial Sage is immensely powerful and insists on refusing to eat the peaches, he has no real crime to forcibly coerce you. Could he possibly kill you for this? At most, the banquet will just be a stalemate, ending unhappily. Moreover, Your Majesty's actions are flawless and without the slightest fault. The other sages will certainly not allow the Primordial Sage to make unwarranted accusations; they will surely speak up to ease the tension and help Your Majesty out of this predicament."

Yaochi let out a long sigh of relief, full of admiration: "Taibai's strategy is thorough, truly too thorough. Every step calculated, every thought was taken into account—the hearts of men, the Emperor's mind, and the overall situation. Is this the great strategic path inherited from Bai Ze?"

Taibai immediately replied humbly, "Your Majesty flatters me. Bai Ze is adept at discerning people's hearts, understanding advantages and disadvantages, and seeing through the mysteries of all things. He has indeed helped me a great deal."

Yaochi nodded slightly: "Now that our fortune has been gathered and our foundation is solid, we have ultimately offended Senior Brother Yuanshi. Taibai, how should I conduct myself from now on?"

Taibai gazed into the distance, slowly planning the way forward: "The overall situation is now settled. Your Majesty only needs to uphold your duties as the Great Heavenly Venerable. In the Three Realms and Six Paths, in the Four Seas and Eight Desolations, whenever matters concerning the order of the Immortal Path, the stability of all immortals, and the creation of all living beings are involved, Your Majesty should take action and inquire about matters as appropriate. By actively entering the game and taking charge of your duties, over time, Your Majesty's prestige will grow ever stronger. Even if the Primordial Saint harbors resentment, he will be unable to shake your foundation."

Taibai gazed into the distance, slowly planning the way forward: "The overall situation is now settled. Your Majesty only needs to uphold your duties as the Great Heavenly Venerable. In the Three Realms and Six Paths, in the Four Seas and Eight Desolations, whenever matters concerning the order of the Immortal Path, the stability of all immortals, and the creation of all living beings are involved, Your Majesty should take action and inquire about matters as appropriate. By actively entering the game and taking charge of your duties, over time, Your Majesty's prestige will grow ever stronger. Even if the Primordial Saint harbors resentment, he will be unable to shake your foundation."

"it is good."

Yaochi solemnly agreed, now completely trusting Li Taibai: "From now on, Yaochi will still rely on Taibai to plan for all matters, big and small."

As the emperor and his minister were discussing matters in hushed tones, a celestial attendant's voice suddenly came from outside the palace: "Your Majesty, the fairy Yao Ji is outside requesting an audience."

Li Bai sighed softly, "What Haotian did today has truly broken the heart of Fairy Yaoji."

Upon hearing this, Yaochi felt a pang of pity and said softly, "Very well, she is ultimately an innocent person. Taibai, go and comfort her properly, help her resolve her inner conflict, and don't let her be consumed by self-blame."

"I obey your decree."

Taibai bowed and took his leave, then moved outside the hall, where he soon met Yaoji.

The fairy's eyes were red and wet with tears, her heart filled with sorrow. Upon seeing Taibai, she could no longer hold back, her voice choked with sobs, filled with guilt and self-reproach.

"Taibai... it was all my fault. It was all my fault. I blindly trusted my brother, repeatedly vouching for him and swearing before you that he would never scheme against or frame her again, never make things difficult for Lady Yaochi. But he turned around and betrayed me, publicly attacking her at the Peach Banquet, deliberately trying to frame her and almost causing her eternal damnation. I have come here today specifically to apologize to Lady Yaochi. It is all my fault that this turmoil has occurred..."

Taibai softened his expression and gently comforted her: "Fairy, there's no need to be so hard on yourself. You are kind-hearted and only care about the peace of Heaven and the harmony between your siblings. You have never had any ill intentions, so how can you be guilty? The Empress has already realized her mistake and stopped giving in. She broke the deadlock in time, which prevented a major disaster. You must also understand that right and wrong are none of your concern."

Yao Ji said bitterly, "I understand everything. My brother's malicious intention was clearly to kill the Empress. Her public severance and cutting ties with the Empress were all justified. I just can't understand why, when we were once companions in Zixiao, sharing the same origin and coexisting harmoniously in Heaven, why did my brother insist on his lust for power, so stubborn and unrepentant, scheming step by step, harming others and himself, destroying the harmony of Heaven, and earning himself a bad reputation?"

Taibai led her to sit down to the side and gently advised her, "The world is unpredictable. The Heavenly Court is now divided into two, each following its own path. This is the established order. You don't need to worry too much, and you certainly don't need to take on mistakes that aren't yours."

Upon hearing this, Yao Ji murmured, "As long as Your Majesty hasn't been harmed, everything is alright... It's just that I'm truly heartbroken. My siblings are estranged, the Heavenly Court is shattered, and everything that was once so good has been destroyed. Taibai, I hope you will continue to take care of things in the future, and if there is any chance to ease tensions, I hope you will mediate."

"Rest assured, fairy."

Taibai gently replied, "I will keep it in mind and do my best to maneuver when the time is right."

Upon hearing this, Yao Ji felt slightly relieved. Her tense heartstrings suddenly relaxed, and a surge of sorrow overwhelmed her. Exhausted, she turned slightly to the side and gently leaned on Tai Bai's shoulder, sobbing to herself.

After all, she had just taken human form and had not experienced the affairs of the world. She only knew a few people, so it was no wonder that she fell in love with Yang Tianyou as soon as she descended to the mortal realm!

Li Bai then gently patted Yao Ji's back, continuing to comfort her: "Don't cry, it's just a temporary setback, there's plenty of time in the future."

After he finished speaking, Li Taibai wiped away Yao Ji's tears, which helped the female war goddess of the Heavenly Court to calm down.

"Thank you so much, Taibai!"