"Brother Dao, would you interfere with my family affairs?"

Yu Yuan gripped the Mountain Opening Divine Axe firmly in his right hand, his expression solemn.

"No, no, no, I have no interest in the trivial matters of your household."

Yu Yuan shook his head, looking somewhat indifferent as he spoke to Yu Yuan: "Nevertheless, splitting Peach Mountain is bound to be deadly. Have you thought it through before deciding to cleave the mountain?"

Yu Yuan's expression tightened as he replied in a cold voice: "Brother Dao, are you threatening me?"

Yu Yuan replied irritably: "Think what you will... Besides, a brain is a good thing, I suggest you use it more."

"What do you mean by that?"

A flash of anger crossed Yu Yuan's eyes as he spoke in a deep voice: "I respect Brother Dao for your vast divine skills, but if you think you can insult me, Yu Yuan, then you are mistaken!"

"What's the matter?" Yu Yuan glanced at him and spoke carelessly: "Do you want to challenge me again to a duel?"

"Why not!"

Yu Yuan responded without hesitation.

After a pause, he added firmly: "However, I shall seek your guidance after I have rescued my mother!"

"Alright, alright, alright..." Yu Yuan said indifferently: "As they say, it's hard to persuade a ghost who has set its mind on dying; please continue with your performance then."

With that, he took Long Ji down to a cliff at the side, seating himself there and saying with a smile: "This is the best viewing spot. Sit down and enjoy the show."

Long Ji hesitated slightly but still sat down following his words.

However, her eyes were still filled with worry as she asked in a low voice: "Immortal, you just said that splitting Peach Mountain would result in death... What did you mean by that?"

Yu Yuan did not answer, only speaking faintly: "You'll understand as you watch."

"Pretentious!"

Yu Yuan let out a cold snort. "Don't think you can scare me with this! Today, no matter what, I am going to split Peach Mountain and rescue my mother!"

After saying this, he grabbed the Mountain Opening Axe and once again struck towards Peach Mountain.

...

Heavenly Court

In the Lingxiao Palace.

The Heavenly Emperor sat high on the Heavenly Emperor's Throne, glancing over the memorial presented on the table before him and the incessant chatter of Li Changgeng and others, with eyes half-closed as if he were asleep.

After the Peach Banquet, the Heavenly Court had more hands, and a succession of major and minor matters followed, plaguing him, the Heavenly Emperor, with endless annoyance.

One day it was the Demon Clan from the Northern Continent causing trouble; the next day, the fragrance gods from the Southern Continent went missing; and the day after, inviting the Four Seas Dragon Clan to heaven was likely to cause other troubles...

Couldn't they all just behave and save him, the Heavenly Emperor, some worry?

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Disaster has struck!"

A Spiritual Official outside the Lingxiao Palace shouted loudly, his face filled with panic.

"What is so urgent?"

The Heavenly Emperor opened his eyes and looked over, his Emperor's robe exuding an aura of authority without anger.

The Spiritual Official walked into the hall, bowing, and spoke urgently: "Your Majesty, the Mountain God of Peach Mountain reports that an Immortal from the Human Race named Yu Yuan, wielding the Mountain Opening Divine Axe, intends to split Peach Mountain to rescue a major offender imprisoned underneath by the Heavenly Court."

"Peach Mountain? Yu Yuan?"

The Heavenly Emperor's brows instantly knotted, a bad premonition rising in his mind.

However, the assembled courtiers were already in a state of excited indignation, loudly condemning.

"What's with this Yu Yuan, acting so recklessly?"

"He's got some nerve! This is a direct challenge to the authority of our Heavenly Court!"

"Such arrogance from Yu Yuan, he must be severely punished!"

"Right, who exactly is imprisoned under Peach Mountain? Why does Yu Yuan want to cleave the mountain to save them?"

"You ask me, who do I ask... But regardless of who it is, attempting to rescue a major offender from the Heavenly Court means confronting us, and must be dealt with severely!"

"..."

While other Immortal Gods were filled with righteous anger, Li Changgeng, who stood at the forefront of the ministers, seemed to be lost in thought, holding his horsetail whisk, and staring at his toes as if he were about to fall asleep.

Others might not know who was imprisoned under Peach Mountain or the background of this Yu Yuan, but he was clearly aware of it all!

Only, this matter concerned the face of the Heavenly Emperor and was a family affair of the Heavenly Emperor, something he wanted absolutely no part in.

Even though he had been promoted to the high position of Star Lord Taibai after the Peach Banquet, everything he had came from the trust of the Emperor of Heaven...

To maintain this trust, he needed to know what to inquire about and what to stay out of.

Just then, the Heavenly Emperor's gaze swept over the ministers in the hall, "Which of my subjects is willing to share my worries?"

The ministers who were just now clamoring loudly suddenly fell silent, all adopting the same demeanor as Star Lord Taibai, lowering their gazes to their own toes.

They might talk big and criticize, but they knew their own limits.

That fellow named Yu Yuan had the Mountain Opening Axe, after all!

Who could possibly withstand that thing?

Seeing no one voluntarily stepping forward, Li Changgeng frowned slightly, prepared to move out of line, but then saw a stern-faced, cold-looking Golden Armored God General step forward first, bowing with a fist in palm, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this subordinate wishes to lead the four Heavenly Generals to the Lower Realm, to capture this heaven-defying criminal and bring him to the Heavenly Court for Your Majesty to decide his fate!"

The Heavenly Emperor frowned slightly, hesitating for a moment, but eventually nodded, "Then let Tian Yu God General lead the forces down to the Lower Realm... Remember, bring Yang Jian back to the Heavenly Court alive to uphold justice!"

"This subordinate obeys the command!"

The Tian Yu God General paid his respects and then hurriedly left the grand hall.

Watching his retreating figure, Li Changgeng suddenly remembered something.

During the incident with Fairy Yun Hua, it seemed that it was this Tian Yu God General who led forces to the Lower Realm.

At that time, he was the first of the four great Marshals of the Heavenly Court, and somehow when he was in the Lower Realm, he accidentally killed both Yun Hua's mortal husband and her son, Yang Jiao, and as a result, he was demoted to a Heavenly General.

Now that he has volunteered, one wonders whether he seeks to earn merits or to seek revenge... No wonder the Emperor took care to specifically instruct that Yang Jian must be brought back to the Heavenly Court "alive."

While pondering, he heard a Spiritual Official outside the hall announce, "Golden Mother arrives!"

Including Li Changgeng, all ministers within the hall paid their respects and bowed deeply.

"You all may withdraw."

Seeing Golden Mother arrive in haste, the Heavenly Emperor knew why she came, and quickly waved for the ministers to leave, retaining only his trusted favorite, Li Changgeng.

Golden Mother was familiar with Li Changgeng and did not avoid him, looking at the Heavenly Emperor she said, "There were still many mysteries surrounding Yun Hua's sudden descent to the mortal realm, and now her son suddenly emerges to split the mountain and save his mother... Does Your Majesty not think this is someone deliberately scheming?"

"How could I not know?"

The Heavenly Emperor snorted coldly: "That year I sent Tian Yu God General to secretly bring Yun Hua's family back to the Heavenly Court, only to have my Heavenly Soldiers inadvertently harm the lives of that mortal father and son!

Even when reviewing the incident repeatedly through the Heavenly Divine Mirror, I could only conclude that the father and son died accidentally... But afterwards, those children, Yang Jian and his sister, disappeared without a trace!

Now this Yang Jian has cultivated his Divine Skills and obtained the Mountain Opening Axe, a Human Path Holy Artifact of merit... It's clear as day that someone has planned all this!

They simply want to use Yun Hua's matter to make the Three Realms laugh at me, to undermine my authority, so they can create chaos behind the scenes!"

Golden Mother's expression shifted slightly, "So, does Your Majesty know who is scheming from the shadows?"

"Besides those senior brothers, who else could it be?" said the Heavenly Emperor irritably: "When the Heavenly Court was founded, those senior brothers wanted their disciples to sit on the throne of the Supreme of the Three Realms.

Hmph, if this seat is not secure under me, the likeliest to replace me will be one of those disciples from the great teachings!"

Hearing this, Li Changgeng felt an inward stir, no wonder the Emperor was determined to bring those disciples of the great teachings into the Heavenly Court.

So there was this karmic story behind it.

At this moment, Golden Mother sighed, "Yun Hua is Your Majesty's own sister, and Yang Jian is also Your Majesty's own nephew... Since Your Majesty knows they are being used by others, I hope Your Majesty will think carefully and show leniency."

The Heavenly Emperor shook his head, "I, as the Heavenly Emperor appointed by the Taoist Ancestor to manage the Heavenly Court, now face family members who have violated the heavenly laws, how can I maintain respect in the Three Realms if I do not punish them severely?"

Pausing for a moment, he then looked at Golden Mother and said, "Fortunately, their offenses are not enough to warrant death. Once Yang Jian is captured and brought to the Heavenly Court, I will also detain him under Peach Mountain, allowing the mother and son to unite."

Golden Mother sighed, "Indeed, such an arrangement is probably the best outcome we could hope for, but who knows if those behind the scenes will make further moves."

"It's a matter of countering whatever comes our way," assured the Heavenly Emperor, looking towards Li Changgeng, "I gave you a previous order to search for the whereabouts of the siblings, and now Yang Jian is about to split Peach Mountain, so why haven't I seen your report?"

"Your Majesty forgive me!"

Li Changgeng quickly bowed, "This subordinate has commanded others to search extensively, but the vast Primordial Land and numerous Grotto Heavens and Blessed Lands, coupled with the lack of any clues, truly make it like searching for a needle in a haystack... Nevertheless, rest assured, Your Majesty, now that Yang Jian has shown himself, this subordinate will have people follow the trail and will certainly figure out who is plotting from the shadows."

"Then what are you waiting for? Go at once!"

"By Your command, this subordinate shall go and handle this!"

Li Changgeng hastily left the grand hall, feeling a multitude of emotions.

It seems that being the Supreme of the Three Realms is no easy task!

Indeed.

The nominal Supreme of the Three Realms, not only has numerous burdens weighing down from above, but there are also so many coveting the position from below.

The very thought could make one's hair stand on end.

After Li Changgeng's departure, the Heavenly Emperor extended his hand and an ancient-looking golden Divine Mirror emerged from the air.

The Divine Mirror hovered in front of him, reflecting the scene of Peach Mountain.

A tall young man in a white robe was seen wielding a giant axe, cleaving at Peach Mountain.

He wore a golden crown that bound his hair, with silk sashes tied about his waist and clouds for shoes; his bearing was handsome and majestic.

Most striking was the silver-white vertical mark between his eyebrows, resembling a profound Dao Rune or a closed eye.

"Yun Hua's son indeed possesses divine valor, and it seems he also inherited Yun Hua's talents, Your Majesty..."

Golden Mother, after taking a closer look, turned to say something to the Heavenly Emperor only to find that the Emperor was staring hard at the treasure mirror with a particularly somber expression.

"Yun Hua's talent is the Xuanbird force capable of making all things prosper; the first time she descended to the mortal realm, she used this divine power to save a mortal... If I am not mistaken, that mortal was the progenitor of the Shang Tribe.

Since then, there arose the legend of the Celestial Xuanbird descending to give birth to Shang, and even that the fate of the Great Shang Dynasty would transform to resemble the Xuanbird, closely connected to Yun Hua..."

Hearing this, Golden Mother's countenance changed subtly, "Does Your Majesty imply that there's a further scheme by those plotting from behind?"

The Heavenly Emperor shook his head.

"I'm merely speculating... Those senior brothers surely wouldn't act so outrageously."

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