“Your subjects pay their respects to Your Majesty, may you forever be blessed with prosperity and good fortune!”
In the Heavenly Court’s Lingxiao Palace, the many immortals and deities who had been suddenly summoned bowed in unison.
The Jade Emperor’s face was dark, his suppressed anger apparent as he spoke.
“Rise, all my loyal subjects!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
The immortals and deities quickly straightened, exchanging furtive glances and whispers.
Typically, unless it was a matter of utmost importance, the Heavenly Court’s court sessions were held every three days to address accumulated affairs.
Minor matters were already handled by the various Third Rank Great Gods.
After all, a day in the heavens was equivalent to a year on earth, and they couldn’t possibly consult the Jade Emperor for every single thing.
These Great Gods were incredibly powerful, otherwise they would have been too overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tasks.
The Jade Emperor didn’t keep the immortals waiting long and immediately spoke.
“Li Jing, bring them in!”
Hearing the Jade Emperor’s words, Li Jing stepped forward, bowing respectfully.
“Your subject obeys. Summon the Lower Realm Xuanjin God General Jin San Liang and the Clear Water River River Patrol General Hei Nian to the palace!”
As Li Jing announced this, murmurs of surprise rippled through the assembled immortals.
Ordinarily, such announcements were made by the Jade Emperor’s personal attendants.
If the visitor was of high status or possessed great power, the announcement would be made by Tai Bai Jin Xing. It was the first time Li Jing had been tasked with this duty.
Could it be that these two lesser deities were somehow connected to the Buddhist realm?
Their grand scheme of conquering the West had indeed reached its appointed time, hadn’t it?
But wasn’t it supposed to be discussed casually by the leaders of both realms during the Peach Banquet?
The Jade Emperor’s words instantly set the minds of the immortals racing with various thoughts.
The God of Wealth, Zhao Gongming, in particular, winked and nudged those around him, attempting to gauge who knew the inside story.
However, none of the immortals present responded to his subtle inquiries.
Amidst this strange atmosphere, Jin San Liang and Hei Nian entered.
“This humble Lower Realm Eighth Rank Xuanjin God General Jin San Liang/Clear Water River River Patrol General Hei Nian, we greet Your Majesty, Your Majesty.”
“Enough with the formalities. Tell me what you know!”
The Jade Emperor’s voice was laced with suppressed fury, and he couldn’t be bothered with their greetings.
The immortals present now realized something was amiss.
Logically, with the Buddhist realm advancing eastward, the conflict between them and the Xuanmen would only intensify.
This was a situation that the Jade Emperor had always welcomed.
So why was he so angry today, so contrary to his usual self?
Moreover, the nine dragon Imperial Qi radiating from him was in turmoil, his powerful aura surging uncontrollably.
“It is as Your Majesty commands, this humble subject heard that the Great Princess has secretly married a mortal in the Lower Realm.
Not daring to delay, I rushed to the Heavenly Court to report this matter.
This Clear Water River River Patrol General is the one who witnessed it!”
“Yes, yes, this humble subject is Hei Nian. I saw it with my own eyes!”
From the accounts of Jin San Liang and Hei Nian, the immortals understood the full story.
Immediately, all eyes turned towards the Jade Emperor.
Some felt pity, some scorn, some surprise…
Their varied expressions further fueled the Jade Emperor’s anger, making it three times more intense.
He knew that most of the immortals here were laughing at him.
His daughters didn’t think about him for even a moment.
They just kept causing him trouble!
“Bring my seven princesses here!”
The Jade Emperor’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot, yet he continued to suppress his anger.
Soon, the exasperated Second Princess was brought before the Lingxiao Palace.
At that moment, Zhang Tian Yang was still unaware of the situation, thinking only that the Jade Emperor had something to discuss with her and her sisters.
While secretly going to the Lower Realm was a crime, the worst punishment would probably be a few days of confinement.
Therefore, Zhang Tian Yang bowed with great aplomb.
“Your daughter pays her respects to Father Emperor. What does Father Emperor require of your daughter?”
“Require? Hmph!”
The Jade Emperor let out a cold, sarcastic laugh and asked, “Why are you the only one here? Where are Tian Shou and the rest?”
“Father Emperor, please forgive your daughter. Elder Sister, Third Sister, and Fourth Sister have some matters to attend to in the Lower Realm.
Your daughter has already asked the Third Rank Sea Assembly Great God to find them!”
Zhang Tian Yang immediately spoke, figuring that with Nezha involved, she’d be able to mitigate her punishment somewhat.
The Jade Emperor, however, burst out laughing in anger, his voice booming with reproach.
“Even now, you still refuse to tell the truth, do you? You really are such good daughters of mine!”
“Your daughter is terrified, she doesn’t understand what Father Emperor means!”
Zhang Tian Yang’s face paled, a sense of foreboding rising within her.
She knelt down, still unsure of what had transpired.
“Terrified, you should be terrified.
Your elder sister found a mortal to marry in the Lower Realm, how could you possibly not know!”
“What? Elder Sister got married? Why didn’t she invite me to such a joyous occasion?”
Zhang Tian Yang’s eyes lit up, and she raised her head, overjoyed.
That single sentence completely shattered the Jade Emperor’s composure!
“You insolent wretch! You have the audacity to laugh!
What is the Heavenly Law to you!”
The Jade Emperor exploded in fury, his palm slamming down onto the table in front of him with a thunderous boom.
Still unsatisfied, he gave the table a vicious kick, shattering it into two pieces. Like an enraged lion, he roared.
“Four Heavenly Kings, where are you!”
“Your subject is here!”
“I order you to lead a thousand celestial soldiers to the Lower Realm and capture the criminal Zhang Tian Shou.
And that mortal who dared to seduce the immortal, tear him limb from limb! I want him to vanish from existence, his soul scattered to the winds!”
“Your subject obeys!”
The Four Heavenly Kings, of course, didn’t dare to refuse, immediately bowing in acceptance of the decree.