If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1436 The White Crane Boy and the Jade Emperor

Upon hearing the rebellious words of the old ghost of the Deer Cauldron, Zhang Tianshi was both shocked and furious. He wanted to shout: "You are a dead remnant of the Jie Sect, and a fourth-generation disciple who has never seen the true face of the Tongtian Sect Master. What right do you have to call yourself a 'disciple of the sage'?"
I am a direct disciple of Laozi, the true sage! You have no right to mention your status or lineage in front of me!

To be honest, Zhang Tianshi really has the right to say that, because he is a legitimate third-generation disciple of the "Human Teachings".

However, it is perfectly acceptable for the Water Bucket Taoist to call himself a "disciple of the Sage," as even the Three Immortal Maidens of Sanxiao and Doumu Yuanjun acknowledge his identity.

Doumu is the current leader of the Jie Sect!
Zhang Tianshi couldn't help but feel a surge of anger, but he held back and roared out his innermost thoughts.

He shouted, "Great Immortal Luding, do you even know what you're saying? Do you know that the Heavenly Court's reforms have already been approved by the Dao Ancestor?"

"I know the Jade Emperor wants to use this opportunity to establish his authority over me, but let me tell you, not a chance!" The Waterway Man was short in stature, but now he exuded an imposing aura, his face full of ferocity. "The divine merit and fortune of the Xuanmen Taoists can only be diminished by Heaven; no one else can touch them!"

Fuqiu Gong patted his back and said softly, "Don't be anxious about your Daoist heart. Perhaps there's some misunderstanding. Zhang Tianshi, why don't you go to the Heavenly Court and ask the Jade Emperor again if he has misunderstood the decree?"

—You bastard, am I some kind of immortal? Do you think I'm hard of hearing or brain-dead?
Zhang Tianshi was furious and felt severely humiliated.

He was a Celestial Master, and Celestial Masters were most adept at understanding "divine will." Fuqiu Gong's words directly negated his professional competence.

However, he also understood that Fuqiu Gong was not targeting him.

Fuqiu Gong's words also had a deeper meaning: to tell the Jade Emperor that the Water Bucket Taoist did not approve of the matter of stripping the Water Bucket Taoist of his heavenly merits and fortune, and we also did not agree with it.

This group of near-Great Luo Immortals is making their stance clear to the Heavenly Emperor!
Zhang Tianshi forced a smile and said, "You all have indeed misunderstood. It's my fault; I didn't explain things clearly."

The Heavenly Emperor meant that Yu Fengxian had committed a grave sin by killing Lu Ding Daxian, and she would suffer the consequences when she faced the Heavenly Tribulation in the future.

However, the public trial process was flawless.

To persuade her to revise the "Proclamation to the People" in order to maintain the reputation of Heaven and the dignity of the gods, one must speak softly and flatter her, and offer her benefits to win her over.

Where do the benefits come from?

Furthermore, because of Yan Wushuang's public trial, it is foreseeable that the income from the divine power of the Shinto faith will decrease by about 10% over the next tens of thousands of years.

How can the salaries of the many gods in Heaven be replenished?

It is not that Your Majesty covets the divine merit and fortune of the immortal.

"Even with the Great Immortal's divine power and luck, it's simply not enough to patch up such a huge hole! His Majesty himself has to fill a considerable portion of it."

Upon hearing this, the old ghost of the Deer Cauldron was even angrier, "So he wanted to use my Heavenly Merit and Luck to bribe Yu Fengxian, I'm so angry!"

Master Zhang advised, "Great Immortal, do not be agitated! If the Yan Wushuang case causes the people of the mortal world to lose faith in the immortals, both the immortal path and the divine path will suffer great losses."

This is all due to the great immortal's karma!
Using the divine power of the immortal to mitigate the loss is also a way to mend the immortal's mistakes and reduce their karmic burden.

“You think I’m a newcomer to the Dao? My karma is only in this case. All that nonsense you’re spouting has nothing to do with me,” the old ghost of the Deer Cauldron shouted.

Master Zhang put on a stern face and said, "How can you be so unreasonable, Great Immortal? The Heavenly Court and the Xuanmen are a whole. If you benefit from the whole, you should be responsible for the interests of the whole."

If everyone were like a great immortal, what authority would the Heavenly Court have left in the Three Realms?

Fuqiu Gongdao said: "Ludingxian is not irresponsible, he just does not take on responsibilities that are not his own."

Today, he publicly exposed our involvement in guiding the great calamity and earning human fortune.

It has a greater impact on us.

Of course we blame him, but we won't put all the blame on him.

Of course you can't put all the blame on him, you were there, you were involved too!

All immortals will be affected.

In the future, any other immortals who wish to safeguard destiny, guide the great calamity, and obtain human fortune to achieve the Great Luo realm will be greatly affected.

Once an event is recorded in history, it can never be erased as long as humanity continues.

Can you represent all the immortals of this time and the future?
Zhang Tianshi sneered inwardly, but said solemnly, "What the Great Immortal said is too arbitrary."

It should be known that the Heavenly Emperor's judgments are impartial and completely in accordance with the Heavenly Laws, determining the punishments accordingly.

If you, the great immortals, feel this is unfair, you can go to the Dao Ancestor.

In my humble opinion, it's best if you don't go.

The Dao Ancestor nodded in approval, supporting the Heavenly Court's reforms. The Heavenly Laws were not determined solely by the Jade Emperor, but rather through consultation with all the immortals.

The new heavenly rules that the Great Immortal of the Deer Cauldron violated were precisely the consensus of all the gods and immortals.

The regulations have now been finalized.

After the immortal broke the law, he went to the Dao Ancestor, who was also displeased.

"You're kidding me? I'm going to see the Dao Ancestor right now!"

The old ghost of the Deer Cauldron sneered and beckoned the immortals to fly into the sky immediately.

Zhang Tianshi looked grim.

Looking down at the Bohai King's Palace in the mortal realm, he saw that Grand Tutor Yu was still boasting and showing off in public. He leaped up and followed the immortals to the Upper Heaven.

You may fail to complete the task assigned by the Jade Emperor, but you cannot be passive.

"Water Bucket Taoist, Water Bucket Taoist~~~"

As the immortals surrounded the old ghost of the deer cauldron, just as they broke through the Heavenly Realm and entered the higher "Great Luo Realm," calls drifted from behind.

The immortals turned around and saw a boy in white standing on a celestial cloud, smiling at them.

"Grandmaster Baihe, are you calling me?" Old Ghost Luding asked somewhat awkwardly.

In the past, when he saw Baihe Tongzi, he would call him by his name, "Fellow Daoist Baihe." When he was about to attain the Great Luo Dao, he would even call him "Baihe Tongzi."

He never called him "Grandmaster Uncle White Crane" in any way. Even when he had just become a Celestial Immortal and went to the Hall of Longevity to pay respects to the Antarctic Immortal under the guidance of his master, he only called White Crane Boy "Fellow Daoist".

"Water Bucket Taoist, are you going to Shangqing Heaven to pay respects to the Patriarch?"

Baihe Tongzi accepted the title of "Grandmaster Uncle" from Shuitong Daoren with indifference, showing neither humility nor pride or joy.

"Do you know that the Patriarch is holding a Grand Luo Dharma Assembly, listening to the immortals discuss the 'Dream Erosion Curse'? It would be very inappropriate to disturb him at this time." He even put on a stern face.

"Grandmaster Uncle, the Jade Emperor wants to harm me!" Old Ghost Deer Cauldron cried out, his voice trembling with sobs.

The White Crane Boy pondered and said, "The reason why our patriarch agreed to the Heavenly Court's reforms is because the current deities do indeed have flaws in their moral conduct. Well, it's not quite right to say flaws; they're simply out of touch with the times."

The Heavenly Court's reforms are not a recent innovation.

Whenever humanity develops to a new stage, the rules of Heaven will also change.

Back when the Heavenly Court was newly established and humanity had not yet begun, I accompanied my master to the Lingxiao Palace to see the Jade Emperor, who personally greeted us at the South Heavenly Gate.

Upon entering the Lingxiao Palace, the main seat belonged to the Jade Emperor. I could sit on the threshold, picking my toes and teasing the celestial maidens at the entrance; they would laugh and play with me. The Jade Emperor, seeing this, would merely smile from the sidelines.

It was as if they had entered the abode of some immortal being; the majesty of the Heavenly Court was nowhere to be found. If the people of a human tribe offered human sacrifices to the gods of the Heavenly Court, the gods would come down to the mortal realm, embrace a mortal girl, sit by a fire, and devour her in public with great joy, and the people of the tribe would love and respect Him even more.

Now, would I dare to go to the entrance of the Lingxiao Palace and tease the fairy maidens?

Do the gods in Heaven dare to eat people in public now without any punishment?

As times change and humanity grows stronger, ethical norms and etiquette begin to emerge.

As humanity changed, heavenly laws and regulations began to emerge.

"I have no choice but to change!" A look of vicissitude appeared on the young face of the White Crane Boy. "If I continue to sit on the threshold of the Lingxiao Palace picking my toes, the Jade Emperor will extinguish my soul with just one look."

The gods continued to descend to the mortal realm to eat people and sleep with mortal wives and daughters, only to be torn apart alive by mortals who had achieved spiritual cultivation.

If you had been wandering the earth thousands of years ago, would you be experiencing what you have now?

Even without extraordinary figures like Yu Fengxian or Ying Zheng, as long as humanity continues to develop and civilization flourishes, wise men among mortals will eventually vent their dissatisfaction with the gods through storytelling and legends.

At that time, people's hearts will still be corrupted, and faith in gods will greatly diminish.

Of course, the paths of gods and immortals also have the power to hinder the progress of the human path.

If humanity does not develop, the paths of gods and immortals will also stagnate.

The path to immortality requires constant progress.

The Pangu World was the first Great Thousand World in the Chaos, possessing special authority, but now the Pangu World is not the only Great Thousand World in the Chaos.

"If the path of immortality doesn't develop, will it allow extraterrestrial gods and demons to usurp our place and replace us, the descendants of Pangu?"

The old ghost of the Deer Cauldron said unwillingly, "But the Jade Emperor wants too much. He is deliberately targeting me."

The White Crane Boy pondered for a moment and said, "I will go to the Heavenly Court to discuss with the Jade Emperor. Two million Heavenly Merits will be deducted, but half of the Heavenly Fortune can be retained for you. What do you say?"

The old ghost of the deer cauldron was about to shout excitedly again, but was gently nudged by Fuqiu Gong beside him.

The White Crane Boy saw the old ghost's distorted expression and noticed Fuqiu Gong's subtle actions, but he pretended not to know.

"Thank you so much, Grandmaster Uncle!" Old Ghost Lu Ding bowed deeply, his face contorted with pain.

"Alas, you should take care of yourselves." The White Crane Boy also felt a little sorry for them, sighed, and flew towards the Heavenly Court.

The White Crane Boy never got to see the Jade Emperor.

As soon as they entered the Heavenly Court, before they even got close to the Lingxu Palace, Zhang Tianshi took the initiative to greet them.

"Great Immortal White Crane, this humble Taoist bows in reverence. May I ask where you come from, and what brings you to the Heavenly Court?"

The White Crane Boy glanced at the Lingxu Palace in the distance, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "I'm on my way to the Heavenly Court to see the Jade Emperor! It's about the Water Bucket Taoist."

Zhang Tianshi asked, "What insightful opinion does the Great Immortal have?"

The White Crane Boy said, "What brilliant ideas could I possibly have? I'm just relaying a message for my master."

Zhang Tianshi forced a smile and said, "The Jade Emperor has entrusted this matter to me. I respectfully obey the decree of the Great Immortal of the South Pole."

The White Crane Boy knew that the Jade Emperor disliked him the most.

Knowing the Jade Emperor's thoughts, he deliberately went to the Heavenly Court to provoke him, deriving pleasure from the Jade Emperor's forced smiles.

But one day ten thousand years ago, when the Jade Emperor suddenly unleashed an aura that made his heart tremble, he became afraid and dared not wander around the Heavenly Court again unless ordered by the Emperor.

Having finally received orders from his master again today, and with the support of his ancestor, he really wanted to see the Jade Emperor in person.

He strode into the Lingxu Palace and shouted, "The Dao Ancestor has given an order!" Seeing the Jade Emperor listening respectfully to the instruction, he was very pleased.

The Jade Emperor anticipated his thoughts and sent Zhang Tianshi to block him at the door.
After hesitating for a while, Baihe Tongzi said dejectedly, "My master said that the Dao Ancestor already knows about the Water Bucket Daoist."

The Water Bucket Taoist has committed a murderous act and deserves this retribution.

However, his devotion to the Dao was unwavering. Out of pity and a warning, the Daoist priest granted him one million celestial merits and one hundred merit lotuses, ensuring that his chance to ascend to the Great Luo realm was not completely severed.

“Disciple Zhang Daoling respectfully listens to the Holy Instructions!” Zhang Tianshi bowed to the White Crane Boy.

The white crane boy nodded slightly and drifted away.

—Damn it, no wonder the Jade Emperor disliked him and hurriedly summoned me back to confront him!

Zhang Tianshi cursed under his breath, then returned to Lingxu Hall and repeated the "sacred instructions" word for word.

"Let's do it this way," the Jade Emperor said decisively.

Upon leaving Lingxu Hall, Zhang Tianshi saw that Shuitong Daoren was already waiting outside.

Old Gui wasn't overjoyed; instead, he was somewhat dejected.

Even Zhang Tianshi couldn't remain smug; he was somewhat dejected. "Great Immortal, shall we go to the Execution Platform?"

The Water Bucket Taoist said sullenly, "If you want to scrape the Heavenly Dao merit out of my immortal soul, you have to help me gather my three souls and six spirits first."

Zhang Tianshi hesitated and said, "How long do we have to wait? Why don't I go down to the mortal realm to see Yu Fengxian and ask her to release the two immortal souls as soon as possible?"

"Go ahead."

Although Grand Tutor Yu boasted to the Yan people, her real intention was to promote her "rules".

After explaining the rules, she left the scene to Ying Tong and went to the neighboring county to clear the earth's veins.

At night, she heard Ying Tong's call (prayer) in her mind's eye. When she returned to the Bohai King's Palace, she met Jin Guang Dao Ren and Zhang Tian Shi.

"Master Zhang, is that you?"

"The Heavenly Emperor has given an imperial edict." Zhang Tianshi gave Jin Guang and the King of Bohai a look, and the two obediently withdrew.

"When I saw you, I knew the Jade Emperor wanted to see me. However, in the past, this kind of work was done by Taibai Xingjun."

Grand Tutor Yu remained calm and composed, and asked with a smile, "The Jade Emperor sent you here, surely he doesn't think that because I stole your Taiyi Dao's immortal book, he'll give you face for free today?"

Zhang Tianshi was a little embarrassed and waved his hand, saying, "That's not true. As long as the Grand Tutor is easy to talk to, I have a generous gift to give you."

The reason why Venus didn't come is because he is currently on the Star of Fate, seemingly looking for the Immortal Fu Yuan.

I wonder which fortune teller is arranging a marriage for me this time.

It's been going on for most of the day since last year, and it's still not over.

I didn't see him at the court assembly at the beginning of the year.

What was said unintentionally was taken seriously by the listener, and Grand Tutor Yu immediately sensed it.

(End of this chapter)