"And the Fairy Chang'e... I never imagined that today I would be fortunate enough to see her again!"

"Why are you all looking at her? Shouldn't we be more focused on that Yang Jian following them?"

"Isn't he just a pretty boy with three eyes? What's there to see?"

"I heard that he's the son of Fairy Yun Hua, and that makes him the dear nephew of the Emperor of Heaven!"

"Is that information reliable?"

"More real than pearls!"

"I heard that he split a mountain in the Lower Realm to save his mother, only to have the mountain open and Fairy Yun Hua vanish, which is why he stormed the Heavenly Court in a rage..."

"No wonder he keeps saying he wants to settle accounts with the Emperor of Heaven... Although what he did is not right, anyone in his shoes would be intolerable. Alas, the celestial laws are too harsh..."

"Silence!"

"Are you supposed to talk casually about this!"

"..."

Soon, the procession arrived at the Palace of the Polestar under the watchful eyes of the multitude.

Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy gave a straightforward account of how Yang Jian was captured, without any attempt to hide that it was Yu Yuan who had apprehended him.

The Heavenly Emperor and Nanji Immortal, as well as other Immortal Gods in the hall, had already guessed as much, so they were not too surprised but rather curious.

Why did this Jie Sect Immortal suddenly come to help the Heavenly Court?

"Many thanks to Yu Yuan Immortal for stepping in righteously to help our Heavenly Court capture this culprit..."

The Heavenly Emperor himself expressed his gratitude.

"You flatter me, Your Majesty. I was merely responding to Princess Long Ji's request and came to assist the Heavenly Court."

As Yu Yuan spoke, he gave a smile towards Nanji Immortal, and added: "Even without my intervention, I believe Uncle Master Nanji would certainly not stand idly by... After all, Yang Jian originally came from the Chan Sect."

With this statement, a look of surprise flashed through the eyes of all the Immortal Gods in the hall.

But before they could ponder further, Nanji Immortal already declared in a grave voice: "What my nephew says is most true. I came to the Heavenly Court in haste upon hearing his havoc here, intending to stop this blight!

I didn't expect my nephew to beat me to it... In this, I, too, should thank my nephew."

"Not at all, Uncle Master, you are too kind."

The Heavenly Emperor, observing the insincere smiles exchanged between the two, quietly speculated about Yu Yuan's true motive.

He had met Yu Yuan twice before and had a profound impression of him, well aware that the man was not to be underestimated.

Yu Yuan's unexpected arrival at the Heavenly Court, and his initiative in capturing Yang Jian, had done the Heavenly Emperor a great favor, sparing him from the Chan Sect's leverage.

The Heavenly Emperor was curious whether this act was solely due to Princess Long Ji's invitation, or if it was orchestrated by that Jie Sect elder brother?

Regardless, he was genuinely relieved by Yu Yuan's arrival.

He was pleased, but Nanji Immortal was anything but.

Just as he saw the Heavenly Emperor beginning to bow down to him, Yu Yuan came out of nowhere, ruining all his plans!

And now he had to find a way to save Yang Jian!

This disciple, whom he has taken great effort to cultivate, must not fall in the Heavenly Court!

While Nanji Immortal was anxious, the Heavenly Emperor at this moment was no longer in a rush.

He looked towards Yang Jian, who, despite being tightly bound, stood proud and defiant, and declared sternly: "Do you realize what you've done?!"

Though his words carried the intimidating aura of a figure who did not need to show anger to be commanding, upon closer listening, one could discern a hint of heartache and indignation in them.

Yang Jian shuddered slightly.

Having journeyed from the Endless Star Sea, he had already witnessed the current sorry state of the Heavenly Court—the collapsing Heavenly Palaces, the shattered Immortal Islands and Divine Mountains, and the wounded Heavenly Soldiers and Generals...

Moans of pain were incessant.

The originally pure white sea of clouds was stained red, and the once splendid Immortal Realm was now ablaze...

"You forced me into this!"

Yang Jian clenched his fists, his bloodshot eyes glaring at the Heavenly Emperor, "You sent Heavenly Soldiers and Generals to kill my brothers, to suppress my mother, causing her tragic death... As a son, how can I not avenge this hatred!"

"Your mother has met such a fate, how could I not feel pained?"

Heavenly Emperor heaved a sigh, then continued with great righteousness, "Yet the Heavenly Court has its own laws and regulations, and whoever violates the heavenly edicts must be punished!"

Before his voice faded, Yang Jian burst out angrily, "Then what heavenly edict has my brother violated?"

The Heavenly Emperor's expression changed slightly.

"Speechless, aren't you?"

Yang Jian furiously said, "The heavenly edict only stipulates that immortals should not intermingle with mortals, but it doesn't say that a child born from such a union has violated the heavenly edicts! What kind of crap is that, full of loopholes..."

"Insolence!"

The Heavenly Emperor slammed the table and stood up, shouting angrily, "To such an extent, you still show no repentance! Since you are so obstinate and unenlightened, I will have you imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison for ten thousand years. Once you recognize your errors, then you can come out... Bring him to the Heavenly Prison!"

"Your Majesty, please wait."

Just as the Heavenly Emperor finished speaking, a Daoist's voice was heard.

It was none other than the Nanji Immortal.

The Heavenly Emperor frowned slightly and looked at him, "Does the Immortal have any objections to my decision?"

The Nanji Immortal shook his head and said in a deep voice, "Yang Jian has caused great disturbance in the Heavenly Court, and should indeed be punished! Your Majesty's handling is fair, and I have no objections.

However, during my visit to the Heavenly Court, the Saint and Master instructed me, saying that Yang Jian is young and inexperienced, and he wielded his axe to split the mountain only to save his mother.

Although the act was erroneous, his filial piety is commendable."

With that, he looked towards the Heavenly Emperor, "As the saying goes, to know one's mistakes and to correct them is most commendable. I hope Your Majesty can give him a chance to reform. Allow me to take him back to Kunlun to the personal discipline of the Saint and Master. All damages caused to the Heavenly Court will be taken care of by our Chan Sect… May I inquire about Your Majesty's thoughts on this?"

Upon hearing these words, the Heavenly Emperor involuntarily furrowed his brows.

This wasn't pleading; this was clearly using the authority of the Saint to press him!

Indeed, the Nanji Immortal had no other choice but to resort to this strategy.

He certainly couldn't allow Yang Jian to fall in the Heavenly Court!

The Heavenly Emperor's gaze swept across the ministers in the hall, but upon meeting his eyes, the group of Immortal Gods lowered their heads, remaining silent as if they were stricken by frost.

The few Immortal Gods who had not bowed their heads also frowned deeply, not daring to speak further.

At that moment, Yu Yuan said with a smile, "Your Majesty, may I interject?"

The Heavenly Emperor's eyes brightened, and he promptly said, "The Immortal may speak."

"I'm just curious about something..."

While speaking, he looked at the Nanji Immortal and said, "Yang Jian has split the mountain to save his mother and caused disorder in the Heavenly Court, so why has his Master, Uncle Yu Ding, not shown up?"

The Nanji Immortal's brow creased slightly, "Brother Yu Ding has just recently entered seclusion. Presumably, Yang Jian took the opportunity to sneak out of Yuquan Mountain while he was in seclusion..."

"That's right! I sneaked out while my Master was in seclusion!" Yang Jian stated solemnly with a serious expression, "I bear responsibility for my own actions! The splitting of the mountain was done by me, and the disturbance in the Heavenly Court was also caused by me; it has nothing to do with my Master!"

Yu Yuan nodded, "That's good to know, I was worried I had punished the wrong person just now."

Hearing this, Li Changgeng, whose eyebrows had been tightly furrowed, suddenly brightened and looked over, "What does the Immortal mean by that?"

Not only Li Changgeng but practically everyone in the hall looked towards Yu Yuan.

None of the Immortal Gods present were fools.

How could they not hear the implications in Yu Yuan's words?

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yu Yuan casually said, "It's nothing serious, just that after Yang Jian ascended, I inadvertently discovered a Daoist lurking in a nearby cave, acting suspiciously, as though he had been hiding and spying in secret for a long time.

At that time, I didn't pay much attention, but now that I think about it, his appearance seems to bear some resemblance to that of my Uncle Yu Ding..."

The Nanji Immortal's face showed a slight change of color.

The Heavenly Emperor eagerly asked, "Where is this man now?"

"He is locked up by me. If Your Majesty wishes to see him, allow me to search for him..."

Yu Yuan carelessly took out the Glazed Bottle, reached inside to fumble for a moment, and then pulled out a middle-aged Daoist with a bruised nose, a swollen face, and covered in injuries.

At just a glance, Yang Jian's face drastically changed as he exclaimed in a lost voice, "Master!"

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