"Dang dang dang—"

Atop the Qilin Cliff of Kunlun Mountain, the Golden Bell sounded thrice, and a procession of Chan Sect disciples streamed out from the Yuxu Palace.

Leading them, figures like Guang Chengzi, Chi Jingzi, and the other Twelve Golden Immortals wore troubled expressions, quietly airing their grievances to one another.

"Why won't that Heavenly Emperor give it a rest? Why is he insisting on holding a Peach Banquet and insisting on us attending?"

"Sigh, if it were any normal time, it would be fine, but we're all so preoccupied with crossing the calamity, who has the mind to attend a banquet!"

"That's right. I even told Li Changgeng when he came to deliver the invitation to my cave mansion that I had no time to go! But that Heavenly Emperor is really something, still sending people to invite us at the Yuxu Palace!"

"..."

"Cough cough!"

Hearing his fellow disciples grumble and complain, Nanji Immortal, who was leisurely walking at the back, gave a light cough, drawing everyone's attention and said with implied meaning:

"As Immortal Gods from the Three Realms flock to the Peach Banquet, how can our Chan Sect, which 'receives the mandate of heaven to govern the Tao and command all immortals', be absent?"

Hearing this, Guang Chengzi and the others fell silent.

Indeed, now that the Peach Banquet had garnered significant momentum, all prominent Immortal Gods within the Three Realms had received invitations.

Ordinarily neglecting the Heavenly Court was one thing, but with a formal invitation to dine, most Immortal Gods would not fail to give that face.

Even if not out of consideration for the Heavenly Emperor and the Golden Mother, they should at least show regard for the exceptional Innate Spirit Root Ren Shui Peach, right?

One could imagine that this Peach Banquet would surely draw the presence of many Immortal Gods.

In such a situation, if the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, renowned representatives of their Sect, failed to show up, it could likely lead to some unpleasant speculation.

"Eldest Senior Brother speaks truly."

Guang Chengzi nodded and chuckled: "Let's stop complaining. I've long heard of the exceptional Ren Shui Innate Spirit Root Peach, and it would be good to witness it for ourselves."

The other Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect also nodded in agreement.

They were merely griping and didn't truly wish to miss the event.

Soon, Guang Chengzi, the foremost among the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, summoned a thick and soft white cloud that lifted everyone into the air and glided up towards the Nine Heavens.

However, they had barely left the Qilin Cliff when they saw a hawk, flailing awkwardly, heading straight for them.

Guang Chengzi frowned slightly and was about to flick his sleeve to shoo the hawk away, when he saw the creature abruptly cease its flight and, with a shake of its body, transformed into a young Daoist clad in a dark Daoist robe.

He was slender with a black and red complexion, and his thick eyebrows framed a pair of bright, expressive eyes.

The young Daoist looked up at the Chan Sect Golden Immortals on the clouds, briefly stunned, then hurriedly bowed in respectful greeting: "Disciple Shengong Bao pays respects to all Senior Brothers!"

Guang Chengzi and the others glanced at each other with a hint of confusion in their eyes, as if trying to recall if there was such a person in their Sect.

At that moment, Yun Zhongzi, who stood at the back, was the first to speak: "Junior Brother Shengong needn't be overly courteous. Were you just..."

Shengong Bao replied respectfully: "To answer Senior Brother's question, I was just practicing the Transformation Technique, but I didn't expect the Gang Winds to be so strong up here in the Nine Heavens, and for a moment I couldn't stabilize my form, which made me look amusing to Senior Brothers."

"Junior Brother is being too modest," said Yun Zhongzi solemnly. "You've only been practicing for just over a thousand years, and yet you can use the Transformation Technique with such ease, which clearly shows your exceptional talent."

Shengong Bao couldn't conceal the delight on his face and said, "Thank you for the praise, Senior Brother. I will certainly continue to work hard and take my Senior Brothers as role models!"

Yun Zhongzi was about to offer some words of encouragement when Guang Chengzi coolly interjected: "Junior Brother, we should be on our way."

"Senior Brothers are heading to the Heavenly Court for the banquet, right? I apologize for delaying you..."

Shengong Bao repeatedly bowed with an apologetic look on his face.

"It's nothing."

Yun Zhongzi waved his hand, ready to use the opportunity to bid farewell.

"Wait!"

Shengong Bao seemed to suddenly remember something, looking curiously at Yun Zhongzi and the others, "Have Senior Brothers heard the recent rumors about the Chaos Bell Fragments?"

Guang Chengzi's frown deepened, feeling a trace of dissatisfaction.

Isn't this done yet?

He responded firmly, "Those are just groundless talks... Besides, even if the rumors were true, they have nothing to do with you."

"Yes, yes, I was just curious... Thank you for clarifying, Senior Brother."

As Shengong Bao replied, he moved aside to clear the way, bowing respectfully, "I won't delay you any longer, Senior Brothers, please go ahead."

Guang Chengzi nodded slightly and steered the white cloud away and aloft.

Watching the dignified figures of the Chan Sect disciples fade into the distance, Shengong Bao sighed lightly, his eyes filled with envy.

...

"It seems that the rumor about the Chaos Bell Fragments is probably false."

In the flower garden at the entrance of Tian Yuan Palace, Yu Yuan lay on a Leisure Chair, swaying gently with his eyes closed.

The breeze wafted by, carrying a faint scent of flowers, wonderfully refreshing the mind and spirit.

Through his inquiries these past few days, Yu Yuan deduced that the information about the Chaos Bell Fragment had over a ninety percent chance of being false!

This piqued his interest.

Since the birth of the Eastern Emperor Heaven, all sorts of bogus news had spread like wildfire.

Why had this particular piece of false news circulated so widely, enough that even the recently emerged Huo Ling'er got wind of it immediately?

Undoubtedly, someone must be deliberately spreading it.

So, what was the purpose of the spreader?

Was this false news a backdrop for the new Heavenly Emperor?

If that were the case, it did seem like something the Heavenly Court would do.

But if the news were false, and the Immortal Gods ended up not witnessing the supposed presentation of the Chaos Bell Fragments to the Heavenly Emperor, wouldn't that be shooting themselves in the foot?

Therefore, the purpose of spreading this rumor could only be to attract those interested in the Chaos Bell Fragments.

And when it comes to who would be most interested in the Chaos Bell Fragments, without a doubt, it would be Yu Yuan, who had just obtained the main body of the Chaos Bell from within Eastern Emperor Heaven.

Therefore, if this message is false, then the person behind the scenes is very likely targeting him!

Either to seek revenge on him or to snatch the Chaos Bell from his hands.

"Senior brother?"

"Senior brother, have you fallen asleep? Master asked me to inquire whether you want to attend the Flat Peach Banquet at the Heavenly Court, saying that if you do wish to go, you should head to Golden Turtle Island in ten days to board the Curved Realm Ark..."

A cautious voice reached his ears, interrupting Yu Yuan's contemplation.

He opened his eyes and saw a young man with a square face and a broad forehead, thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a golden divine pattern in the center of his forehead.

This young man was none other than the now fully grown Wen Zhong.

Compared to his youth, he looked less handsome, but emanated a stronger sense of fortitude.

Especially that square, sturdy face of his, which gave off an impression of unyielding integrity.

As for his cultivation, he had made great progress. Although he was still a bit away from becoming an Immortal, he was able to deftly utilize the third eye he was born with on his forehead.

When not in use, it would transform into a golden divine pattern, not appearing out of place at all.

At this moment, he was looking at Yu Yuan with full anticipation, as if he feared being refused.

Yu Yuan glanced at him, "You want to go too?"

Wen Zhong nodded repeatedly, "Master said I should accompany you, Senior brother."

Yu Yuan shook his head, "I never said I would go."

"Ah?"

The anticipation on Wen Zhong's face immediately turned into profound disappointment.

Yu Yuan then said, "However, I also didn't say I wouldn't go."

Wen Zhong's eyes immediately sparkled, his face breaking into a joyous smile, "Does that mean Senior brother is saying..."

Yu Yuan shook his head, "No, I haven't said anything."

Wen Zhong's face collapsed again, and he complained with a displeased look, "Senior brother, that's not a nice way to tease someone."

Yu Yuan ignored him and beckoned with his finger.

The Chaos Bell, resembling an upside-down bronze bowl, flew out from the Tian Yuan Palace, hovering before him and sparkling with a "BlingBling" of five-colored radiant light.

After a decade of nurturing and accumulating energy, the spirit essence within the bell had largely recovered.

Although it still could not travel through time and space, it was already capable of activating most of its other divine powers.

At this time, Yu Yuan was using the Chaos Bell to divine the heavenly secrets.

This was a divine skill akin to the Heavenly Prediction or the Innate Eight Diagrams.

Many formidable cultivators with profound Dao cultivation could use this method to learn of events billions of miles away, and even past and future events were not beyond their insight.

However, it was either due to the approaching calamity or the damaged state of the bell's divine skills that Yu Yuan could hardly deduce anything of substance.

At best, he could only determine good or ill fortune.

Under his manipulation, the Chaos Bell's "BlingBling" shimmering persisted briefly before coming to a stop.

Simultaneously, Yu Yuan had his answer in mind.

"Today is very auspicious, perfect for a long journey!"

"Today? But there's no Curved Realm Ark bound for the Heavenly Court today."

Wen Zhong was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized and happily exclaimed, "Does that mean you have agreed to go to the banquet, Senior brother?"

Yu Yuan equivocally responded, "If there's no Curved Realm Ark, don't we still have mounts?"

As he spoke, he had already led out the Golden-eyed Five Clouds Camel from the Qiankun Ruyi Bag, his gaze turning to Wen Zhong, "If you're not going, I might just leave by myself."

"Let's go, let's go! Of course, I'll go! Wait for me, Senior brother!"

Unbeknownst to Wen Zhong, such a spur-of-the-moment journey awaited him, and he quickly transformed into a gust of wind, racing back to Shoujing Temple.

Yu Yuan raised his eyebrow, starting to pack up the various Treasure Halls in Tian Yuan Palace.

Then came the "oink oink" of pigs; a giant beast with a green back and white tusks, the Da Kang, sprang into the clouds, carrying the beaming Wen Zhong on its back.

Da Kang was an auspicious beast, its sighting a sign of immense abundance.

Wen Zhong used it as a mount, and its speed was quite swift.

Certainly, it couldn't compete with the Golden-eyed Five Clouds Camel, but it was many times faster than if Wen Zhong traveled through Wind Control by himself.

The two brothers, each on their mounts, left the Penglai Holy Realm and sped off toward the Dongsheng Divine Continent.

The Heavenly Court has gates in the east, south, west, and north, now corresponding to the Four Great Continents.

Naturally, the closest for Yu Yuan and his company was the East Heavenly Gate.

This was the first time Wen Zhong had left Penglai since becoming a disciple. He was overjoyed during the journey, finding everything he saw novel and exciting.

Yu Yuan, on the other hand, kept lying on the back of the Five Clouds Camel, taking out the Chaos Bell daily to divine the heavenly secrets, much to the curiosity of Wen Zhong, who couldn't help but ask what he was deducing.

The answer he always received was the same four words: "Today is very auspicious."

And indeed, it was so.

Every day after they left Penglai was sunny and bright, with clear skies perfect for traveling.

Riding their mounts, they crossed vast oceans, passing countless Immortal Islands and Divine Mountains. After more than ten days, with Dongsheng Divine Continent already in sight, they decided to rest on a small rocky island spanning only a few dozen miles to allow their mounts to recuperate before making a non-stop journey to the Heavenly Court.

However, just as they had begun to rest, the sky that had been clear and bright abruptly changed with gathering dark clouds, swiftly accumulating like a cage enclosing the island.

Below the sea's surface, a massive net of refined gold rose, enclosing the island within.

In the blink of an eye, this previously unremarkable rocky island had turned into an inescapable cage from the heavens above and blocked all escape from the earth below.

The atmosphere was dimmed and an invisible, malign energy suffused the air.

Dozens of figures wrapped in gray robes and shrouded in mists approached from all sides, surrounding the rocky island.

Simultaneously, a cold voice rang out, "Hand over all the treasures on your person, and you will be spared."

Unaccustomed to such a scene, Wen Zhong looked at Yu Yuan in confusion, "Senior brother, is this what you meant by 'today is very auspicious'?"

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