I am submissive in Journey to the West, I strike hard at the gods

Upon hearing this, Laozi turned pale, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his Taoist robe.

He hurriedly kowtowed, his forehead striking the jade brick with a resounding thud: "Master, please calm your anger! This disciple did not mean to condone it."

Li Bai wields the Chaos Bell, possessing unparalleled defense, and also masters the laws of space, allowing him to travel tens of thousands of miles in an instant. Although the disciple is determined to eliminate him, he has no good plan.

Moreover, the affairs of the Heavenly Court are numerous and complicated, and this disciple…

"No solution?"

Hongjun snorted coldly, his voice like thunder from the heavens, making Laozi's eardrums ring.

"Your desire for treasure has long been known to your master."

The Chaos Bell and the Heaven-Swallowing Gourd are both innate treasures; how could you not be tempted? Today, I will bestow upon you one, leaving you with no excuse to refuse!

As soon as he finished speaking, Hongjun's illusory figure flicked his sleeve, and a golden light shot out from the void, landing directly in Laozi's palm.

It was a silver nail as thin as a needle, crystal clear, with faint blood streaks wrapped around it, emitting an eerie glow.

The moment he touched it, Laozi felt a chilling aura that could shatter all laws penetrate straight to his bone marrow, and his soul trembled.

"This is a supreme innate treasure, the Law-Breaking Heart-Piercing Nail!"

Hongjun's voice was as authoritative as a decree, "Ignoring all defenses, it strikes straight at the heart, breaking through the opponent's understanding of laws and sealing away their divine power."

"Taiqing, take this nail and swiftly ascend to the Void Beyond the Heavens to kill Li Bai! If anything goes wrong again, do not blame your master for being merciless!"

Lao Tzu gripped the silver nail tightly, his fingertips trembling slightly, but he quickly calmed himself down.

He closed his eyes and sensed for a moment, and immediately understood how to use it—with just a thought, it could transform into an invisible ray of light, piercing through the void and striking the enemy's heart.

The power of the treasure caused a flash of greed and ecstasy in his eyes.

"Disciple obeys! Thank you, Master, for bestowing this treasure!"

The illusory figure of Hongjun nodded slightly, its form gradually fading, transforming into a stream of light and disappearing into the void, leaving only the echoing voice reverberating within the hall: "Go quickly, do not fail your trust."

Lao Tzu rose, waved his sleeves, and the doors of the Taiqing Palace slammed shut.

With a flicker of his figure, he transformed into a gentle breeze, silently escaping from the Heavenly Court and heading straight for the Void Beyond the Heavenly Realm.

He was secretly delighted: if he succeeded this time, both the Chaos Bell and the Devouring Gourd would fall into his hands! ... In the void beyond the Heavenly Realm, a chaotic void, fragments of stars drifted down like a rain of meteors.

In the center, a massive continent floated, its earth veins surging like rivers, but at this moment, it violently twisted—a purple-gold gourd hung above the continent, spewing out boundless black mist that slowly swallowed the entire continent.

Around the gourd, space folded in layers, and the power of laws wrapped around it like a net, devouring it at a speed that could cover thousands of miles in an instant.

Li Bai sat cross-legged on a gourd, dressed in white, his long hair flowing, holding a pot of plum wine, and drinking wildly towards the sky.

The wine slid down the corner of his mouth, reflecting the starlight in the void, glistening.

He laughed loudly: "Hahaha! This world is full of spiritual energy. Swallowing it will help me achieve mastery of the spatial laws! Heaven is unjust. Humanity should strive to be strong. Why should we bow down to those old fogies?"

The Chaos Bell hung above his head. The bell was ancient and simple, with a faint flow of chaotic energy that protected him from harm.

The melodious chimes dispersed the chaotic currents in the void, allowing him to devour the heavens with ease.

In the distance, several celestial figures peered out, but dared not approach. They could only watch from afar, secretly marveling at the arrogance of this quasi-saint of the human race.

Suddenly, a gentle breeze swept through the void. Li Bai, slightly tipsy, squinted and saw a figure in white robes walking through the air – it was Laozi.

The figure had flowing hair and beard, a kind face, yet carried a hint of murderous intent that could not be ignored.

"Li Bai, you devour the heavens and the earth, disrupting the natural order. What is your punishment?"

Lao Tzu's voice was calm, yet as resonant as a great bell, reaching directly into Li Bai's ears.

Upon hearing this, Li Bai laughed heartily, tossed aside his wine jug, rose, and cupped his hands in greeting: "I am deeply sorry for not welcoming the Sage Taiqing properly! Devouring the heavens? It's merely borrowing some spiritual energy; how could it disturb the Way of Heaven? If the Sage is in the mood, why not share a cup with me?"

A cold glint flashed in Laozi's eyes, and he said no more.

With a thought, the Heart-Piercing Nail that broke the law transformed into an invisible silver light, instantly piercing through the void and heading straight for Li Bai's chest.

Li Bai intended to activate the Chaos Bell for defense, but felt a sharp pain in his chest. The silver nail had already pierced his flesh and blood, transforming into a strange power that instantly surged into his soul.

"what--!"

Li Bai let out a miserable cry, his body stiffened, his understanding of the laws of space receded like a tide, his divine power was completely sealed, and he fell into the gourd like a puppet.

His eyes widened in disbelief: "You... what did you use? My laws... why were they reset to zero?"

Lao Tzu appeared with a loud laugh, and with a wave of his sleeve, he first put the Heaven-Swallowing Gourd into his sleeve: "Li Bai, you have schemed and plotted, but you do not know that the way of Heaven has changed."

This is the Heart-Splitting Nail, a supreme innate treasure, specially designed to destroy reckless scoundrels like you! Today, your life ends!

Li Bai struggled to activate his remaining divine power, but felt as if his limbs were filled with lead. Only the Chaos Bell hummed once, barely protecting his heart and preventing him from dying on the spot.

He gritted his teeth: "You...you're despicable!"

Laozi approached step by step, his eyes burning with greed. Just as he was about to reach for the Chaos Bell, a voice suddenly rang out behind him: "Brother, be careful! Something's happened behind you!"

Laozi was startled and hurriedly turned around to defend himself. He saw the void distort and a golden light flash, which was none other than the Primordial Heavenly Venerable.

The Heavenly Venerable had a handsome face and a beard as white as jade. Holding a jade scepter, he smiled and said, "Brother, don't panic. I'm here to lend you a hand!"

Laozi turned around and saw that Li Bai's side was empty; the Chaos Bell had vanished! His face was ashen, and he turned to glare at Yuanshi: "Second brother! You...you stole the Chaos Bell?"

Yuanshi Tianzun shrugged and smiled, then lightly tapped the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi in the void, and the bell immediately rang out: "Brother, this bell is a supreme innate treasure. I took it when I saw that Li Bai was dead, so as not to let it fall into the hands of others."

"Does eldest brother intend to take it all for himself?"

"you!"

Lao Tzu was so angry that his hair stood on end, and he lost all his sage-like dignity. "Return it at once! This bell rightfully belongs to me!"

Yuan Shi shook his head, a cunning glint in his eyes: "Brother, you flatter me."

According to the rules of Heaven, treasures belong to those with virtue.

The younger brother got it first; it must be the will of Heaven.

"If you're not satisfied, brother, come and take it!"

Lao Tzu could no longer contain himself and roared, "One Qi transforms into the Three Pure Ones!"

With a sway of his body, he instantly split into three sage clones: an elderly clone with gray hair and beard, a youthful clone with a childlike air, and a young man clone full of heroic spirit.

The elderly and youthful clones instantly protected Li Bai, preventing Yuanshi from silencing him, while the youthful clone, together with the main body, charged towards Yuanshi Tianzun with boundless holy might.

"Second brother, don't blame me for not showing brotherly affection!"

Laozi's main body and his youthful avatar moved together, and the Taiqing Immortal Qi transformed into thousands of sword beams, tearing through the void and piercing straight into Yuanshi's body.

Yuanshi Tianzun laughed loudly: "Brother, you are in a great rage, and I will certainly oblige!"

With a wave of his Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, the jade light pressed down like a mountain, blocking the sword's edge. He then retreated, transforming into a golden bridge spanning the sky, upon which the shadow of Pangu's axe coiled, slashing towards Laozi's clone.

The void shattered, a battle between saints erupted, the power of laws raged like a storm, and the Void Transcending Heaven instantly transformed into a chaotic battlefield. The sounds of bells, swords, and jade cries intertwined, and fragments of stars were swept up and blasted into dust.

Despite being outnumbered two to one and suffering repeated defeats, Yuan Shi still wore a smile on his lips: "Brother, although your clone is strong, you're distracted by protecting Li Bai. Sooner or later, things will get ugly!"

Lao Tzu gritted his teeth and shouted, "Shut up! I swear I won't be a man if I don't get your bell today!"

The great battle raged on, the void shattered layer by layer, and the holy might shook the three realms... At the same time, in the hidden realm of Chang'an City, a pill furnace was burning fiercely, and Jiang Wang sat cross-legged in front of the furnace, refining pills with his eyes closed.

He was tall and slender with a handsome face, but always carried a hint of cynical smile.

Under the glow of the furnace fire, his fingertips lightly touched the air, filling the air with the fragrance of elixir, and a faint golden light seeped out.

Suddenly, he frowned and opened his eyes: "Something's not right... Someone is trying to refine my Chaos Bell?"

With a thought, he sensed the strange changes in the Void Beyond the Balance Heaven.

Li Bai, that guy, is in trouble! Jiang Wang got up, leaving one clone behind to continue refining pills. That clone instantly transformed into the appearance of Guanyin Bodhisattva, with a kind face and gentle steps.

His true form flickered, unleashing the Tenfold Somersault Cloud technique, his speed soaring to ten times the speed of light, tearing through space and heading straight for the battlefield.

Upon arriving at the Void Beyond the Heavens, the scene before him made his heart sink: Laozi and the two sages of the Primordial Beginning were locked in fierce battle, Li Bai was nailed and paralyzed on the ground, and the Heaven-Swallowing Gourd was lost.

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Wang's eyes, but he remained expressionless, knowing that saving lives was the priority.

He disguised himself as Guanyin, appeared on a lotus seat, and instantly appeared beside Li Bai.

The elderly clone noticed this and tried to stop him, but Jiang Wang pushed him away with a single finger: "Bodhisattva, you are merciful, why do you stop me from saving people?"

Jiang Wang's voice was gentle, like that of Guanyin herself: "This humble monk was passing by when he saw this child in trouble, and he could not bear to sit idly by."

Before he finished speaking, he had already pulled Li Bai into his sleeve, and the Tenfold Somersault Cloud moved again, instantly escaping tens of thousands of miles away, far from the battlefield.

The great battle between Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun abruptly ceased, and the two sages turned around simultaneously, only to see Guanyin.

His figure faded into the distance; Li Bai had vanished.

A glint flashed in the eyes of the Primordial Celestial Venerable: "Fellow Daoist Cihang! Li Bai is a traitor. Where are you taking him? If you help me kill him, I will grant you a great karmic debt, and you can choose any treasure you desire!"

Laozi shouted sternly, "Cihang, don't listen to his nonsense! Li Bai swallowed the heavens, he deserves to die! If you dare to interfere, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Guanyin

Upon hearing this, she stopped sitting on the lotus throne, turned around, and smiled.

The compassion in that smile faded, revealing a hint of cunning.

Suddenly, her hand trembled, and the disguise dissipated like mist, revealing Jiang Wang's true appearance: white robes fluttering, long hair flying, and a playful smile curving at the corner of his mouth.

"You two sages are in high spirits."

They fought so fiercely, yet they treated my clock like a toy?

Laozi and Yuanshi both paled; the sage's majesty seemed to have been struck a heavy blow.

Laozi cried out in disbelief, "Jiang Wang! You...you're not dead?"

Yuanshi Tianzun's face was ashen, and he gripped the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi tightly: "Impossible! When you were conferred the titles of gods, your soul was scattered and your body was destroyed. How could you be resurrected?"

Jiang Wang laughed and gently put Li Bai down.

Li Bai, panting weakly, managed to say, "Brother Jiang... thank you for saving me."

I was struck by that old bastard's Heart-Shattering Nail, my spatial laws were reset to zero, and my divine power was completely sealed... The bell was also taken by that scoundrel Yuanshi.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wang's face darkened, and a murderous glint flashed in his eyes: "The Heart-Splitting Nail that breaks the law? What a wicked old Taoist, Hongjun, to bestow such a vicious thing upon us."

He turned to look at Laozi, his voice icy: "Taiqing, your pursuit of Li Bai was originally my master Zhong's business, but what kind of hero are you to use the treasure bestowed by your master?"

Laozi's heart pounded wildly. He quickly put his mind to it and retrieved the Heart-Shattering Nail from his old man clone's hand.

The silver nail flashed and landed in his palm.

He sneered, "Jiang Wang, you allowed Li Bai to devour the heavens, you deserve to die long ago! Today, I will eliminate you as well!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the silver nail transformed into a beam of light again, shooting straight into Jiang Wang's heart.

Jiang Wang remained calm and composed. A flash of golden light appeared from his sleeve, and an ancient-looking copper coin flew out—the Treasure-Falling Coin.

The coin, surrounded by flowing runes, exuded overwhelming power and instantly met the silver nail.

Seeing this, Laozi sneered, "Jiang Wang, although your Falling Treasure Coin is a top-grade innate spiritual treasure, it is no match for an innate supreme treasure! Wishful thinking!"

Jiang Wang shook his head, a mocking look in his eyes: "Taiqing, what do you know? The Falling Treasure Coin is used to seize treasures from all over the world, regardless of whether they are innate or acquired!"

With a flick of his finger, the coins hummed and transformed into a golden net, enveloping the silver nails.

The Heart-Piercing Nail, which was about to pierce through, felt a strange suction force surge towards it. The silver light trembled and was forcibly pulled, falling to the dust! Laozi's eyes widened as he saw that with a roll of money, not only the silver nails but also the few spare nails remaining in his sleeve flew out and landed in Jiang Wang's palm.

He was completely dumbfounded, the saint lost all face, and murmured, "This... how is this possible?"

Jiang Wang put away the money and silver nails, patted Li Bai on the shoulder and said, "Let's go, I will retrieve the bell myself."

This farce should end now.

Laughter echoed in the void, the two saints stood frozen in place, and the wind and clouds changed color.

The celestial clouds surged and thunder roared like dragons. Jiang Wang stood in the void, surrounded by golden light. The once golden treasure coin had now transformed, with ancient chaotic patterns appearing on its surface and faintly emanating innate energy.

The upgrade card rewarded by the system poured in like a golden light, instantly elevating this top-grade innate spiritual treasure to an innate supreme treasure! Jiang Wang's lips curled slightly, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. He was born with a Dao physique and possessed the Dao talent "Multiple Spellcasting."

Even after being permanently banned by Hongjun, his strength remained extraordinary even after being strengthened to the tenth level.

Opposite him, Laozi's hair and beard stood on end, the Heaven-Swallowing Gourd hanging above his head, its mouth swallowing and exhaling the profound energy of heaven and earth, transforming into a series of hazy, swallowing vortexes.

The Primordial Celestial Venerable's face was ashen. The Chaos Bell hummed in his palm, and the three thousand Great Dao runes on the bell's surface flickered, barely protecting his body.

The two of them had come to vie for the Chaos Bell, but unexpectedly, Jiang Wang appeared halfway through, daring to interfere in the affairs of the Three Pure Ones! "Jiang Wang! You remnant of the human race, how dare you lay your hands on a supreme innate treasure?!"

Lao Tzu's voice was booming, carrying a hint of anger, yet unable to conceal the shock in his eyes.

The upgraded power of the Falling Treasure Coin was already approaching the divine weapon in their hands. Its innate, immortal aura made Laozi's heart sink.

Yuanshi Tianzun snorted coldly: "Senior brother, this boy is unpredictable and treacherous, do not be careless!"

Jiang Wang laughed loudly, his voice echoing through the sky: "Fellow Daoists, why be angry? I am merely borrowing your treasure for a short while."

Before he finished speaking, he flicked his finger, and the Falling Treasure Coin transformed into a golden light, rushing straight towards Laozi! The coin took root upon landing, instantly unleashing ten thousand golden rays, locking onto the Devouring Heaven Gourd, and forcibly stripping away its master's Dao imprint.

Laozi's expression changed drastically. The Heaven-Swallowing Gourd was his most precious treasure, how could he allow others to touch it? He immediately activated all his magical power, and a beam of heaven-swallowing divine light spewed from the gourd's mouth, transforming into a black hole-like vortex, attempting to devour the golden light.

The Primordial Celestial Venerable was not idle either. The Chaos Bell rang loudly, and layers of bell waves spread out like ripples, protecting Laozi's body and blocking the golden light from invading.

The void trembled, the thunderclouds dissipated, and with their combined strength, the two actually forced the Falling Treasure Coin back several feet! "What a fine pair of brothers, their teamwork is quite tacit." (End of Chapter)