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

"A lackey of Buddhism! Ao Lie is now following Tang Sanzang on the journey to the West, he is no longer my West Sea Dragon Prince! How dare he ruin my important plans and remind the monkeys of the dangers of the Ancestral Dragon Abyss, he is clearly helping Buddhism to buy time!"

Upon hearing this, the Yaksha lowered his head even further and dared not say another word.

He swallowed hard and continued to report: "Your Majesty, there is one more thing... Tang Sanzang has been sent into the Ancestral Dragon Abyss by Sun Wukong and the others."

The seal on the abyss's mouth has been broken, and the spiritual energy inside is surging, seemingly indicating some unusual activity.

Upon hearing this, Ao Shun was taken aback at first, then sneered, a cunning glint flashing in his eyes.

"Tang Sanzang has entered the Ancestral Dragon Abyss? Hmph, very good! It must be that Old Ancestor Jiang Wang hiding him to delay the journey to the West."

That old fox Jiang Wang had long disapproved of this game of Heaven's will, and used Tang Sanzang as bait to put the aquatic creatures of the Western Sea in a dilemma.

He paused, his dragon claws clenched into fists, his voice low and deep like the undercurrent at the bottom of an abyss: "Never mind, let's ignore it."

Let Sun Wukong and the others waste their time outside the abyss, while if Tang Sanzang goes in, he will surely die.

We in the West Sea only need to observe the situation and wait for the right moment to act.

"Pass down the order: strengthen patrols and prevent outsiders from discovering the secrets of the abyss."

The Yaksha accepted the order and withdrew, and the Dragon Palace returned to silence.

Ao Shun leaned back on the throne, closing his eyes to rest, but his heart was like boiling seawater, surging with hatred for Ao Lie and calculations for the overall situation.

The aquatic creatures of the West Sea already harbored deep resentment towards their good-for-nothing son, and this reminder only added fuel to the fire.

He thought to himself that if he had the chance, he would definitely end this evil thing himself and restore the Dragon Palace to its iron-fisted order.

Meanwhile, in the Heavenly Court, in front of the Zixiao Palace, the sea of ​​clouds churned and lightning flickered.

Hongjun Daozu sat upright on a futon, his calm and serene face reflected in the two black stone pillars in front of the hall.

Two sages—Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun—were bound to the pillar, both transformed from the primordial spirit of Pangu, yet they now appeared as disheveled as mortals.

Their Taoist robes were charred and tattered, their sacred bodies were covered with lightning marks, their skin torn and bleeding, and the air was filled with the acrid smell of burnt flesh.

The battle for the Chaos Bell was originally for the sake of the greater good of Heaven, but because the two fought too fiercely, the wild Li Bai escaped and lost the Heart-Slaying Nail, which ended up in the hands of Jiang Wang.

How could Hongjun forgive such transgressions? "You are saints, in charge of the Heavenly Dao lineage, yet you fight each other for your own selfish desires, ruining my Heavenly Plans!"

Hongjun's voice was like thunder, devoid of any emotion, yet it silenced the wind and clouds before the palace.

"Each of you will be punished with thirty bolts of Purple Heaven Divine Thunder as a warning to others."

"Take the punishment!"

As soon as he finished speaking, purple energy gathered on the roof of the palace, transforming into bolts of lightning as thick as a child's arm, which crashed down with a deafening roar.

The first bolt of lightning struck Laozi. He groaned, his holy body trembled violently, and blood gushed from his mouth.

"what--!"

A scream ripped through the sky, and the lightning bolts, like ten thousand swords piercing his heart, tore at his primordial spirit.

Laozi gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with resentment—he had come to protect the Taiqing lineage, but who knew that Yuanshi would be so ruthless, not only seizing the Chaos Bell but also forcing him to sacrifice the Heart-Slaying Nail! The second, the third... thunderbolts came one after another, his Daoist robe was burned, his skin was charred and cracked, and his bones were visible. Each strike was as merciless as divine punishment.

Yuanshi was not to be outdone; his saintly dignity vanished, and his roar was filled with humiliation: "Master, spare my life! This disciple knows his mistake!"

The thirty bolts of divine lightning lasted for a full half hour.

Lightning flashed and arcs of electricity danced before the palace. The two saints went from initial roars to wailing in the middle, and finally to silence, until their bodies were charred black and they collapsed into unconsciousness.

Hongjun waved his sleeve, and the thunderclouds dispersed. He coldly said, "Wake up and apologize to the heavens."

Lao Tzu was the first to wake up, barely opening his eyes, his throat filled with a metallic taste.

He forced himself to kneel on the ground, saying, "This disciple...is completely convinced."

Yuan Shi also awoke, his face as pale as paper, and managed to squeeze out the same words.

Hongjun nodded, a profound meaning flashing in his eyes: "Heaven's way is impartial; this punishment serves as a warning."

Regarding the matter of Jiang Wang, you must all exert your full strength to deploy the Heavenly Realm's defenses, and prevent any further changes.

The two emperors bowed their heads in agreement, but their hearts were filled with turmoil.

Hongjun rose, transformed into a gentle breeze, and departed, leaving behind a deathly silence before the palace.

Inside the Taiqing Hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of incense and the air was thick with spiritual mist.

Lao Tzu sat cross-legged on a futon, while Grand Master Xuandu knelt beside him, carefully feeding him healing pills.

The pill melted upon entering the mouth, transforming into a warm current that flowed through the meridians, repairing the wounds on the sacred body.

Laozi's expression softened slightly, but he could not hide the resentment in his eyes.

"Xuan Du, your master has really had a terrible time this time."

He sighed, his voice tinged with a rare bitterness, “That Chaos Bell was originally an opportunity for my Taiqing lineage, but who knew that Yuanshi would be so ruthless, not only stealing the treasure but also making me lose the Heart-Slaying Nail that breaks the law.”

"That old man Hongjun is even more unfair! I returned empty-handed and was severely punished, while Yuanshi received the bell but only received the same lightning strike! Where is the justice of Heaven? It's clearly biased!"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Du felt as if his heart was being torn apart.

He was Laozi's personal disciple, and was extremely loyal. Seeing his master like this, he quickly whispered, "Master, please calm down."

The Dao Ancestor Hongjun's control over the Heavenly Dao is justified.

"Once you've recovered, we'll plan our next move."

Laozi shook his head, a resolute glint in his eyes: "A backup plan? Hmph, I've already figured it out."

Tongtian, that scoundrel, deposed himself as a saint and went down to the mortal realm to cause trouble. Although he failed, he was still honorable, at least he got rid of the shackles of the Heavenly Dao.

Today, I, as your teacher, will follow suit! I will relinquish my saintly position and dedicate myself to comprehending the laws of alchemy, in order to attain the eternal Great Dao.

"Hongjun's Zixiao Palace? I, your father, don't care!"

Xuandu was shocked upon hearing this and knelt down with a thud: "Master! To abdicate one's own sainthood is an act against the heavens! Heaven will not tolerate it, and besides, the Taiqing lineage..."

Laozi raised his hand to stop him, and transmitted his voice through his primordial spirit, directly into his heart: "Xuandu, what do you think? My journey here is fraught with peril, are you willing to come with me?"

Tears welled in Xuan Du's eyes, yet he resolutely rose to his feet: "This disciple swears to follow Master to the death! Though the Heavenly Dao is vast, nothing compares to the deep bond between master and disciple."

Lao Tzu smiled with satisfaction and nodded, saying, "Alright! Then you shall go down to the mortal realm on my behalf and contact the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of the human race to discuss cooperation."

As their teacher, I can agree to their reasonable demands, and even... offer them Primordial Purple Qi as a token of my sincerity.

Tell them that Taiqing is willing to join forces to break this shackles of Heavenly Dao!

Xuan Du accepted the order, transformed into a golden light, and headed straight for the lower realm.

The ancestral home of humankind, Shouyang Mountain stands majestically amidst swirling clouds and mist, with two imposing stone statues guarding its entrance.

Xuandu appeared, but before he could speak, he was rebuked by the human guards at the gate: "What kind of monster are you? A traitor to the Heavenly Court, how dare you set foot in the sacred land of the Human Ancestor!"

Xuan Du was not angry. He cupped his hands and said, "I am Grand Master Xuan Du, a disciple of the Sage Taiqing. I have important matters to discuss with His Majesties Shennong and Emperor Shun."

This concerns the future of humanity; it is no small matter.

Upon hearing this, the gatekeepers exchanged a glance, but ultimately dared not delay and led him inside.

Deep in the Shouyang Mountains, nestled among bamboo groves, Shennong and Emperor Shun sat facing each other at a stone table, sipping tea and discussing philosophy.

Shennong had gray hair and beard, yet his eyes were sharp as knives; Emperor Shun was gentle and refined, yet his every move exuded the aura of an emperor.

Xuan Du entered the forest, bowed, and said, "Your Majesties, I am Xuan Du, and I have come to discuss cooperation on the orders of my master, Taiqing."

Shennong raised an eyebrow: "The Sage of Taiqing? That Laozi from the Heavenly Court? What brings you here?"

Xuandu spoke frankly: "My master is dissatisfied with Hongjun's unjust judgment and has decided to relinquish his saintly position and descend to the mortal realm to pursue the laws of alchemy."

We are willing to join hands with the human race to resist the shackles of Heaven's will.

In exchange, Master can bestow Primordial Purple Qi to aid future generations of humanity in their path to enlightenment. All conditions, as long as they are not excessive, are acceptable.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Shun's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Interesting."

Laozi relinquished his holy position? This is huge news!

However, cooperation requires mutual benefit. Our human race has two demands: First, Laozi must bring thirty human gods from the Investiture of the Gods list to help us reshape the human order; second, we must summon the Jade Emperor to the mortal realm to share the secrets of the Heavenly Court.

Shennong nodded in agreement: "Exactly."

"My path of alchemy requires the assistance of Laozi's alchemical techniques; only then can the younger generation of humanity lend a helping hand."

Xuan Du pondered for a moment, then communicated with Laozi telepathically through his primordial spirit, and finally nodded: "I grant the requests of both Your Majesties."

Master will certainly not break his promise.

After saying this, he clasped his hands in farewell and vanished in a flash of light.

As soon as Xuandu's figure disappeared into the clouds, three people appeared deep in the bamboo forest: Suirenshi held a torch, the flames blazing, yet he was unharmed; Fuxishi's body was surrounded by flowing trigrams, mysterious and unpredictable; and the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, his aura as imposing as a rainbow.

The five gathered together, and Shennong laughed, "Brothers, look at how fiercely Xuandu is coming. Laozi is really going to rebel against Heaven."

Suirenshi nodded, his eyes gleaming with fire: "Indeed, my brother Fuxi and I have quietly attained sainthood and have been hiding for many years by borrowing the fortune of the human race. This is the perfect opportunity."

Fuxi stroked his beard, the hexagram spinning in his palm: "However, caution is necessary."

Laozi's alchemy may be wondrous, but it may be a deception.

"Xuanyuan, what's your intelligence report?"

The Yellow Emperor smiled slightly: "I have already arranged for people to investigate."

Breaking news: In front of the Zixiao Palace, Laozi and Yuanshi fought fiercely over the Chaos Bell. Li Bai escaped, and the Breaking Law Heart-Piercing Nail fell into Jiang Wang's hands.

Hongjun, enraged, punished the two saints, sending each of them to receive thirty bolts of Purple Heaven Divine Thunder.

Laozi returned empty-handed, filled with resentment. His self-abandonment of his saintly position was a true act of rebellion against Heaven.

Hearing this, everyone nodded in unison.

Shennong exclaimed, "Laojun's alchemy skills are of immense benefit to the younger generation of our human race. Through this, we can cultivate a group of alchemy masters and strengthen our foundation."

Emperor Shun said, "Yes, and besides, we owe a favor to Ancestor Jiang Wang. That Heart-Piercing Nail that breaks the law was a gift from him."

Once the cooperation is successful, we must ensure that Jiang Wang's disciple ascends to the throne of the Human King to repay this kindness.

Fuxi warned: "Do not be careless."

In the system of Heaven's Way, conflicts of interest are like a single move in a game of chess.

Although Laozi harbored resentment, he was not someone easily dealt with.

We must proceed cautiously, taking advantage of this change to reshape the landscape of humanity.

Xuanyuan nodded: "Exactly."

The aquatic tribes of the Western Sea have already heard that they are dissatisfied with Ao Lie and have mistakenly concluded that Tang Sanzang's entry into the Ancestral Dragon Abyss was Jiang Wang's way of delaying the journey to the West.

"Once Laozi descends to the mortal realm, we can join forces and stir up the grand scheme of the Heavenly Dao."

The five emperors exchanged a smile, their eyes revealing a mixture of ambition and caution.

The winds and clouds surged over Shouyang Mountain. The ancestral land of the human race, at this moment, was like a lurking beast, quietly opening its eyes, ready to pounce.

Lao Tzu sat in the Taiqing Hall, meditating and regulating his breath. A blue lotus bloomed in the alchemy furnace, and the power of the laws flowed faintly.

In a side hall of the Lingxiao Palace, Laozi sat beside the alchemy furnace, the embers of which illuminated his aged yet dignified face.

A faint medicinal fragrance permeated the air, mixed with the coolness of metal, as if the palace itself were a giant alchemy vessel.

Outside the door, a figure quietly appeared. It was Grand Master Xuandu. He was dressed in a black Taoist robe, with a sword at his waist. His steps were steady but carried a hint of secret urgency.

"Master,"

Xuan Du bowed respectfully, his voice deep and resonant like a mountain spring, "Regarding the matter of the human race, there has been a response."

Shennong and Emperor Shun, at their ancestral home on Shouyang Mountain, expressed their willingness to cooperate with the Heavenly Court, but with harsh conditions: the Jade Emperor must personally dispatch a large army to the mortal realm, ostensibly to harvest blue coral from the East Sea, to lure them into a trap, thus allowing them to be captured in one fell swoop and gradually erode the power of the Heavenly Dao.

Laozi nodded slightly, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, a light as fleeting as the furnace fire during alchemy.

He stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, then a meaningful smile appeared on his lips: "What a fine example of nibbling away at the Heavenly Way."

The human race has great ambitions, which suits my tastes.

Haotian, thinking himself to be the ruler of the Heavenly Court, became arrogant and extravagant, and should have been taught a lesson long ago.

Go, Xuandu. This matter requires an extra force: ten thousand heavenly soldiers and a hundred righteous gods, to show our sincerity.

Remember, on the surface, everything is for the Heavenly Court to refine the Great Luo Heavenly Pill and enhance its strength.

"Don't let Haotian have any doubts."

Xuan Du accepted the order, a hint of admiration rising in his eyes: "Disciple understands."

"Master's plan is as brilliant as a net cast from heaven and earth; Haotian will surely be trapped within it without even realizing it."

Laozi waved his sleeve, and the furnace fire trembled slightly: "Go and carry it out immediately."

Tell Shennong and Emperor Shun that when the time is right, the Yellow Emperor must personally go to the East Sea, where a purple aura will stretch for thousands of miles, sealing off the void.

Xuandu withdrew, and the hall returned to silence.

Laozi cast his gaze into the void, as if he could already see the raging storm that was about to unfold.

Meanwhile, inside the Hall of Fragrant Incense, the Jade Emperor sat high on his phoenix throne, surrounded by golden light, with dragons carved on the Nine-Dragon Wall behind him, exuding majesty.

He held a jade scroll in his hand, a smug smile playing on his lips.

Outside the palace, celestial music drifted softly, and the palace maids and servants lowered their heads and dared not make the slightest noise.

Haotian flipped through the jade slip and muttered to himself, "Hmph, when the Dao Ancestor is angry, the Sage is punished, the Western Buddhist sect suffers a great loss of vitality, and that scoundrel Jiang Wang of the human race also hides in his cocoon."

"My Heavenly Court, why should I worry about not unifying the Three Realms?"

Just as he was feeling smug, a young celestial boy knocked on the door and entered: "Your Majesty, the Supreme Lord Laozi requests an audience."

Haotian raised an eyebrow, then laughed loudly: "Laojun? Please come in! I have something to discuss with him."

The palace doors opened, and Laozi slowly entered, leaning on his cane, with the faint shadow of his alchemy furnace appearing and disappearing behind him.

He walked into the hall, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, this humble Taoist greets you."

"Laojun, you may dispense with the formalities!"

Haotian rose to greet him, his eyes full of warmth. "I have heard that you have recently made great progress in alchemy. Do you have any miraculous medicines to help the Heavenly Court?"

Laozi straightened up, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes, and said in a serious tone, "Your Majesty is wise."

However, I have recently observed the stars and noticed that the human race is quietly rising in power, and there have been frequent unusual movements in the ancestral land of Shouyang Mountain.

Rumor has it that they are secretly researching a new formation called 'Purple Star Heavenly Net,' which, once completed, could potentially break through the Heavenly Court's barrier and threaten the Lingxiao Palace.

Upon hearing this, Haotian's expression changed drastically, and the golden dragon on the phoenix bed seemed to tremble as well.

He slammed his fist on the table, his eyes blazing with fury: "Humans? Those ants dare to do this! That traitor Jiang Wang, we failed to eradicate him in the Investiture of the Gods, and now he's causing trouble again? Laozi, what good plan do you have?"

Laozi stroked his beard, his voice neither hurried nor slow, yet each word pierced the heart like a golden needle: "Your Majesty, do not be hasty."

I have been thinking about this for a long time and wish to refine a batch of Great Luo Heaven Pills.

Once this elixir is completed, all heavenly soldiers and generals can directly enter the Great Luo realm, their combat power multiplied. What are mere human formations worth? (End of Chapter)