Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

"Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva... What a grand gesture! To abduct a mere Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, he is willing to pay such a high price!"

This is more than just a simple jailbreak!
This is a blatant provocation and prison break by the forces of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, openly challenging the authority of the Heavenly Court and the authority of the Three Realms Law Enforcement Prison Gods under Lin Zhu's control! And it happened in the heavily guarded and symbolically significant Nine-Story Heavenly Prison!

This is simply the most serious and worst prison break incident in the history of the Three Realms!
Bi Fang was still angrily scolding the Ancient Sky Eagle and the Abyss Golden Turtle for their poor guarding, but Lin Zhu suddenly waved his hand to stop him.

He took a deep breath and asked, suppressing his anger.

"Have any of our men been injured or killed?"

Bi Fang quickly replied.

"Reporting to Master, Nezha, the Third Prince, was patrolling nearby when he saw this and stepped forward to stop him. He was injured by a palm strike from Tan Tuo Di Zang, who had just been promoted to half-step Quasi-Saint. Fortunately, his injuries were not serious, and he is recuperating in the manor."

Several other prison guards were also injured, but none were in life-threatening condition.

Upon hearing that Nezha was injured, Lin Zhu's anger flared up completely! Even when beating a dog, one must consider its owner! How dare Dantuo Dizang injure his man?!

An incredibly terrifying pressure, like a solid mountain or a bottomless abyss, suddenly erupted from Lin Zhu's body!
The surrounding space seemed to freeze, the light was distorted, and the air emitted a hum that seemed to be struggling under the weight!

Under this oppressive force, Bifang, the Ancient Sky Eagle, and the Golden Tortoise of the Abyss felt as if their souls were about to be frozen and crushed. They trembled all over, and even standing became extremely difficult. Their faces were filled with fear!
They had never felt such terrible anger from their master!

"Good! Very good! Ksitigarbha! Danda Ksitigarbha! You have a lot of nerve!"

Lin Zhu's voice was as cold as the wind from the deepest hell, containing overwhelming killing intent.

"You broke into my prison and injured my subordinates... This crime is unforgivable!"

Just as he was burning with rage and vowing to make the forces of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva pay the price, the familiar and majestic system notification sounded in his mind like a war drum.

"Ding! A major event has been detected."

The forced escape of Danda Ksitigarbha has severely damaged the authority of the law enforcers of the Three Realms and the credibility of the Nine Heavenly Prisons!

"System task is now issued."

"To comprehensively rectify and enhance the strength and authority of the law enforcement force in the Three Realms, to thoroughly investigate and suppress the illegal prison break by the forces of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and to personally arrest the escaped prisoner, Danda Ksitigarbha, and his accomplice, the Dancer Goddess!"

"Task rewards."

Two hundred thousand points of merit! The second page of the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation Diagram!

Upon seeing this task, Lin Zhu's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and the anger in his heart coincided with the system's requirements!

The successful escape of Dantuo Dizang has dealt a huge blow to the reputation of the Nine Heavens Prison and Lin Zhu! If this matter is not properly resolved, who will still respect the Heavenly Laws in the future?
Who would still revere him, the God of Law Enforcement in the Three Realms? Even if he succeeds in hunting him down alone, it would be difficult to fully recover the damage to his reputation.

The system's move was clearly intended for him to take this opportunity to vigorously reorganize and develop the Three Realms Law Enforcement Team under his command, so that this team could truly demonstrate the strength and prestige to deter the Three Realms. Furthermore, it was only by having this team personally capture the fugitives that he could wash away the shame and restore his prestige!

However, this task is by no means easy!

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and his forces have been entrenched in the depths of the netherworld for countless years, and their strength is unfathomable!

Even the infamous Styx Ancestor, who led the entire Asura race in their battle against him for so many years, was always at a disadvantage. His four great demon kings and four great demon generals, among other powerful Asura beings, were all suppressed by the power of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva!

Lin Zhu had long felt that the appearance of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was somewhat abrupt, and the speed and intensity of its expansion of power were also a bit outrageous.

Now, the other party has even extended their reach into his prison, openly breaking him out and injuring his people!

New and old grudges, coupled with the push of the system mission, made Lin Zhu furious and filled with murderous intent!
“Ksitigarbha… Originally, we kept to ourselves. You were the one in the underworld, and I was the one in heaven.”

But since you dare to intrude on my territory and harm my people, don't blame me, Lin Zhu, for destroying your dojo!

Lin Zhu's gaze, like two invisible icicles, swept lightly over Emperor Zhaosheng, who had been indignant just moments before but was now silent as a cicada in fear.

Touched by that gaze, Emperor Zhaosheng felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head. His legs went weak, and he almost knelt down on the spot. Fortunately, he managed to grab the dragon pillar beside him and barely managed to stand up, but his face was already deathly pale.

Even the Great Emperor Zhaosheng was like this, and the other gods were so frightened that they were terrified. They all rushed to admit defeat and offered their own excuses, fearing that if they were a step too slow, Lin Zhu would take notice of them.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me! I... I was momentarily confused and spoke without thinking. Please forgive me!"

"Yes, yes, we had no intention of offending you. It's just that... it's just that the escape of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva from prison was too horrifying, and we acted rashly in a moment of panic..."

"Lord of the Prison God, look at my face, I still have the shoe print of that Treasure Goddess on it!"

The Barefoot Immortal covered half his face, pointed to a faint footprint on it, and said with a mournful face.

"That witch was incredibly tyrannical. She kicked me as soon as she came in. My magical power is too weak to stop her!"

Looking at this group of gods who were usually so dignified but were now behaving so disgracefully, Lin Zhu's lips curled into a half-smile. His tone was calm, yet carried a chilling undertone.

"I have remembered the great help you have given me, fellow Daoists."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, before speaking slowly.

"However, since this has already happened, there is no point in holding anyone accountable. I have my own plans, so I won't trouble you all to worry about it."

These words sounded like heavenly music to the ears of the gods, like a pardon! Did it mean that they would temporarily not be held responsible for watching the show and shifting blame?
They were all instantly relieved, feeling as if they had just escaped death. They were completely exhausted, and their robes were soaked with cold sweat.

Emperor Zhaosheng reacted the fastest, immediately clutching his stomach and feigning pain on his face.

"Ouch... Ouch... Thank you for your understanding, Lord Prison God! I... no, I suddenly feel the Qi in my dantian flowing in reverse, and my immortal energy is not flowing smoothly. I fear it is a relapse of an old ailment, and I urgently need to return to my residence to recuperate. I must take my leave now!"

After saying that, without waiting for Lin Zhu's response, he practically tumbled and crawled away as a streak of light from the Lingxiao Palace.

With one taking the lead, the other gods immediately followed suit.

"Oh dear! I...I think my stomach hurts too!"

"Oh no! The alchemy furnace in my cave seems about to explode!"

"I haven't fed my crane yet!" In an instant, all sorts of bizarre and flawed excuses came out one after another, and the gods fled from the Lingxiao Palace like startled rabbits.

In just a few breaths, the once bustling and noisy hall became completely empty, leaving only the Jade Emperor sitting high on his throne, Lin Zhu standing in the hall, and the attendant celestial officials with their heads bowed and eyes downcast, wishing they could hide themselves in the cracks between the floor tiles.

Seeing the scene before him where the tree had fallen and the monkeys had scattered, and everyone was fleeing for their lives as disaster struck, the Jade Emperor trembled with rage and felt extremely panicked.

He stretched out his hand in vain, calling out in the direction where the gods had disappeared.

"My beloved ministers! My esteemed ministers! Don't go! Come back! Save...save me!"

However, all that answered him was the echo of the empty hall and Lin Zhu's increasingly cold gaze.

Lin Zhu watched the figures of the gods fleeing in panic until the last streak of light disappeared into the horizon. Only then did he slowly turn his gaze back to the Jade Emperor, who sat high on the dragon throne, looking utterly alone.

When Lin Zhu swept his gaze across him with a calm, unwavering look that seemed to see through everything, the Jade Emperor felt an indescribable pressure descend upon him, as if the weight of the entire Heavenly Court was pressing down on him!

His throat was dry, his heart was pounding, and all his imperial majesty crumbled instantly in the face of absolute power and accumulated authority.

He held out for less than three seconds before his mental defenses completely collapsed. He almost cried as he immediately admitted defeat and apologized.

"My beloved minister, the God of Prison! It is...it was my fault! I failed to manage my subordinates properly and did not stop the treasure goddess in time, which allowed the most serious criminal in the Heavenly Prison to escape, thus damaging your reputation. I...I apologize to you!"

Lin Zhu remained calm and composed, as if nothing had happened. He spoke indifferently, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Oh? What has Your Majesty done wrong? Please tell me, where did you go wrong?"

The Jade Emperor felt a tightness in his heart, as if he were being gripped by an invisible hand.

He hurriedly stood up from the dragon throne, disregarding any semblance of imperial decorum, and scurried down the steps, his face plastered with an almost humble, ingratiating smile, gesturing for the seat next to him.

"My dear minister, please calm down! This matter... this matter is not what you think! Come, come, please sit down and tell me slowly, let me... let me explain, okay?"

Lin Zhu didn't stand on ceremony. He casually walked to the jade stool set up for important officials, brushed off non-existent dust, sat down, and even took out a handful of fragrant spirit melon seeds from somewhere, slowly cracking them open, and casually said.

"Your Majesty is overthinking it. I am not angry."

He's not angry?!
Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor's legs went weak again, and he almost knelt down before Lin Zhu on the spot!
He was terrified and frantically speculated.

He wasn't angry?

How could he not be angry?!

The calmer he is, the more terrifying he is!
What does he plan to do next? Does he intend to kill Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva?

Or... do you intend to kill me, the "incompetent" Heavenly Emperor, while you're at it?! Either way, I can't afford it!
The Jade Emperor was fully aware of the terrifying nature of the young man before him; he knew better than anyone else how formidable he was.

Although Lin Zhu has not yet officially ascended to the position of Emperor Gouchen, his influence in the Heavenly Court is already deeply rooted and far-reaching.

The Nine-Story Heavenly Prison under his command was far more powerful and prestigious than any of the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals under the Four Emperors!
If it weren't for Lin Zhu's "golden reputation" and powerful strength subtly holding people together, the hearts and minds of the people in the Heavenly Court would probably have long since fallen apart!
If Lin Zhu were to harbor rebellious intentions now and raise his voice in revolt, the Heavenly Court would surely descend into chaos within a few years, and its disintegration would not be impossible! If he were to defect to the Western Paradise…

The Jade Emperor simply couldn't imagine how many heavenly gods and immortals would accompany him there!

Moreover, Lin Zhu is renowned among the demon race and among those lawless monster groups. He himself is a terrifying existence that even the Western Paradise Spirit Mountain could not defeat for five or six hundred years, and instead suffered repeated losses and injuries!
Such a powerful, influential, and prestigious being, whom even saints seemed to have reservations about, was someone the Jade Emperor knew perfectly well—he simply couldn't afford to offend! He could only treat him with utmost respect and appease him!

The Jade Emperor scurried over to Lin Zhu, his posture extremely humble, and pleaded cautiously.

"My dear minister... Lin Zhu, my dear minister, please... please let me explain, okay?"

He no longer even dared to refer to himself as "朕" (the imperial "I").

Lin Zhu munched on sunflower seeds, not even lifting his eyelids, and lazily uttered four words.

"All ears."

The Jade Emperor was on the verge of tears. He would rather Lin Zhu scold or beat him than see Lin Zhu treat him with such a "calm" attitude.

"My dear minister, please...please don't say that, my...my heart can't take it..."

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his wildly beating heart, and explained in a low voice, almost in a whisper.

“My dear minister, that Danda Ksitigarbha… he… he is no ordinary person! Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva sent word that he is carrying a heavy responsibility concerning a top secret, and cannot be imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison for long.”

Behind this matter... behind this matter is a secret agreement made by a sage, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Tathagata Buddha, and me... long ago!
I really can't say more about the specifics, otherwise... otherwise, not only will my position be thrown into chaos, but the entire Three Realms will likely be plunged into turmoil, and peace will never be restored!

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhu stopped eating melon seeds, tilted his head slightly, and looked at the Jade Emperor with a purely curious gaze, as if asking a question.

"Oh? A secret agreement? Led by a saint?"

This simple head tilt almost scared the Jade Emperor out of his wits!

He pleaded, his voice trembling with tears.

"My beloved minister! Your Majesty! Please don't look at me like that! I...I'm scared! I beg you!"

The Jade Emperor wiped away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead and continued to explain in a trembling voice.

"The Treasure Goddess came to take away Dantuo Dizang. I... I initially refused sternly! The Heavenly Prison is a sacred place; how could she take someone just because she says she wants them?"

But…but she…she produced a ‘royal decree’! It was a decree personally issued by the Emperor, forcing me to let them pass! I…I’m in a difficult position, I really have no choice, my dear minister!”

"A divine decree?"

Upon hearing these four words, Lin Zhu's usually calm face finally showed a slight twitch of his brow, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

He put down the sunflower seeds in his hand, leaned forward slightly, and was clearly paying close attention to the word.

When Lin Zhu learned that Tan Tuo Di Zang had not only successfully escaped from prison, but had also openly broken into the prison with the assistance of the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, and that even Nezha had been injured, this surge of anger instantly rushed to the top of his head!
Since Lin Zhu took charge of punishments in the Three Realms, he had never been so brazenly provoked! (End of Chapter)