Honghuang: Creation of the Green Lotus, the beginning of the Three Pure Ones

Then Hongjun's voice lowered, and he said with a hint of weariness, "However, the Heavenly Court was established by the Heavenly Dao and is the key to maintaining the order of the primordial world."

"If the Heavenly Court collapses and order breaks down, the immeasurable calamity may arrive prematurely, causing widespread suffering to the prehistoric world. This is not what you, fellow Daoist, wish to see, is it?"

"Fellow Daoist, you transcend worldly affairs, so why do you add fuel to the fire and bring about this catastrophe? Why not find a middle ground to bring both sides to a truce?"

He finally raised the most crucial question, which was also the true purpose of his trip: the Heavenly Court must not fall.

At the very least, they couldn't collapse in such a utter way. He needed Chen Xuan, this being capable of influencing and even guiding the course of events, to provide a bottom line, a solution.

Chen Xuan withdrew his gaze from the battlefield manifested by chaos and placed it back on Hongjun. The smile on his face faded slightly, and his eyes became as deep as an abyss.

"Fellow Daoist Hongjun wishes to protect the Heavenly Court? Then I shall ask you this: what does Fellow Daoist Hongjun wish to protect—the Jade Emperor, who is high above but has lost his way and virtue? Or the Heavenly Court, which is bound by selfish desires, rigid rules, and has strayed from its original intention of benefiting all living beings?"

Chen Xuan paused, not giving Hongjun a chance to answer immediately, and continued, "The Heavenly Court may exist, but its master may not be unchangeable."

"The rules set forth in the Investiture of the Gods are not necessarily unchangeable. Under the Dao of Heaven, all things are evolving. If the old order has become a shackle, hindering the vitality of the primordial world, then what is wrong with breaking it down and establishing anew, and resetting the world? This is not a catastrophe, but rather the beginning of a new life."

Chen Xuan's words were like a thunderclap, exploding in Hongjun's heart. Although he had guessed that Chen Xuan's ambitions were not small, he had not expected that he would directly target the core of the Heavenly Change.

Not only does it threaten the Jade Emperor's position, but it also undermines the rule system established by the Investiture of the Gods and endorsed by the Heavenly Dao.

After a moment of contemplation, he spoke up, "This great calamity of the Journey to the West could have resolved everything, so why is Fellow Daoist Qinglian in such a hurry?"

Chen Xuan remained seated on the lotus platform, his smile returning, and said to Hongjun, "I do not wish to change the order of Heaven, but rather to restore it to its proper course."

"The Jade Emperor has lost his virtue and should abdicate in favor of a more worthy successor. The Investiture of the Gods binds the righteous gods and suppresses the potential of the primordial world. Its rules should be revised so that it becomes an aid rather than a shackle."

"The Heavenly Court should truly become the hub for coordinating all races and maintaining the balance of the primordial world, rather than a private tool for one family, one clan, or one sect."

"The Dao Ancestor has come to me today hoping that I will restrain Sun Wukong, withdraw the allied forces, preserve the Jade Emperor's position, and maintain the existing rules of the Investiture of the Gods?"

"Forgive my bluntness, but this is like adding fuel to the fire, which will only cause endless trouble. If it can be suppressed today, the backlash will only be stronger in the future. If the order that Fellow Daoist Hongjun seeks is built on such accumulated problems, it will eventually be devoured by them, causing an even greater catastrophe."

Seeing that Chen Xuan wouldn't let go of the Jade Emperor's immorality, Hongjun didn't want to waste any more time. He immediately asked Chen Xuan a question.

"Then how does Fellow Daoist Qinglian intend to handle this matter? Haotian is not suitable to be the Jade Emperor. Who do you think has such virtue?"

At this moment, Hongjun subconsciously believed that Chen Xuan was trying to take advantage of this opportunity to control the Heavenly Court. Therefore, he didn't beat around the bush and directly hit the nail on the head.

Chen Xuan smiled and shook his head, saying, "Who is qualified to become the ruler of the Heavenly Court is not something I, the Green Lotus Daoist, need to care about, but rather it is you, Fellow Daoist Hongjun."

"As long as the person chosen by Fellow Daoist Hongjun is virtuous enough to be worthy of the position, even if he is just a mortal, Fellow Daoist Hongjun can let him ascend to heaven in broad daylight and become the ruler of the Heavenly Court."

Hongjun fell silent. The surging purple aura around him gradually subsided, and the shock and anger in his eyes were gradually replaced by a deep contemplation.

Chen Xuan's words struck his Dao heart, which had been united with the Dao for countless eons, like a heavy hammer blow. He understood Chen Xuan's meaning: to sacrifice the Jade Emperor, and even some of the existing beneficiaries of the Heavenly Court, in exchange for a fundamental overhaul of the Heavenly Court's structure.

If Hongjun agrees, it will be tantamount to bowing down to Chen Xuan. From then on, the Heavenly Court will become a mere figurehead, not to mention ruling the Three Realms, it will practically become a laughing stock.

Therefore, Hongjun naturally could not agree, but given the current situation, he had no choice but to bow down to Chen Xuan.

Left with no other choice, he could only say, "Fellow Daoist Qinglian, I have already stated that the matters concerning the Heavenly Court and Buddhism are matters that need to be resolved in this great calamity of the Journey to the West."

“Why don’t we wait until the Great Tribulation of the Journey to the West is over before we see the outcome of all this? If the Jade Emperor is still unworthy of his position at that time, it is not impossible to elect a new Jade Emperor.”

"But before the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West, everything must maintain the existing order. Otherwise, if the current order collapses, the consequences would be unimaginable?"

In truth, Chen Xuan knew better than anyone that even after the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West ended, the order of the Heavenly Court would not change.

Even without his own primordial world, the change in the Heavenly Court's order was accomplished by Chenxiang, with Yang Jian's help.

Therefore, Hongjun agreed to resolve these matters through the Journey to the West Tribulation. This was tantamount to compromising with Chen Xuan.

Therefore, Chen Xuan nodded directly and said, "Since Fellow Daoist Hongjun has said so, then I naturally cannot have any other opinions."

"However, we must make this clear from the outset: if the Jade Emperor is still unworthy of his position after the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West ends, then the election of a new Jade Emperor will be a joint effort by the three Paths."

Originally, the Jade Emperor of Heaven was appointed by the Heavenly Dao, that is, by Hongjun. But now, with Chen Xuan's words, the position of the Heavenly Emperor has become recognized by all three Daos.

While that might allow the Heavenly Court to rule over the three realms of the primordial world, it would not be a one-man show by Hongjun.

To be even more precise, Hongjun and even the Heavenly Dao will completely lose the Heavenly Court as a pawn. They will have virtually no chance of regaining control of the prehistoric world.

Hongjun naturally understood the key point, but he wanted to take a gamble. However, he wasn't betting on whether Haotian could continue to serve as the Jade Emperor.

Rather, he was betting that after the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West, he could control both the demonic and Buddhist paths. At that time, the five paths would coexist in the Heavenly Court, and the power of discourse would still remain in Hongjun's hands.

Once Hongjun's conspiracy succeeds, the Underworld and the Human Path will be digging their own graves, allowing the Heavenly Court to legitimately extend its reach into the Primordial World and the Nine Netherworlds.

Finally, Hongjun nodded directly to Chen Xuan and said, "I had the same idea. Since Fellow Daoist Qinglian and I share the same thoughts, let's settle this matter."

Chen Xuan naturally knew what Hongjun was planning. However, Chen Xuan did not believe that Hongjun had a chance to control both the demon and Buddhist paths.

Otherwise, wouldn't all the hidden plans he laid out over countless eons have been in vain? Wouldn't it have been a waste of time, just benefiting Hongjun instead?
Although this was the outcome both of them desired, Chen Xuan did not agree directly. Instead, he spoke to Hongjun.

"By the way, there's one more thing I need to remind Fellow Daoist Hongjun. That is, I have no objection to anyone participating in the Journey to the West Tribulation."

"However, all those who participate in the Journey to the West calamity must do so openly. If anyone dares to scheme or use underhanded tactics behind the scenes, don't blame me, the Green Lotus Daoist, for personally intervening." (End of Chapter)