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

The Four Heavenly Kings transformed into four streaks of light, directly passing through the Southern Heavenly Gate and heading towards the Lingxiao Palace.

The Jade Emperor sat high on his throne, his face so gloomy it seemed to drip water, and the low pressure emanating from him made the entire Lingxiao Palace seem frozen in ten thousand years of mysterious ice.

The Queen Mother sat upright to one side, her phoenix eyes slightly lowered, her fingertips unconsciously twirling on her phoenix robe, revealing no emotion.

The four Heavenly Kings bowed in unison, their faces filled with dejection, and said, "We are incompetent and failed to bring the eldest princess back to the Heavenly Court. We beg Your Majesty's punishment."

The Jade Emperor's voice, like a chilling wind from the depths of hell sweeping through the palace, carried a bone-chilling killing intent in every word: "Why?"

Dhritarashtra, the Heavenly King of the Nation, took a deep breath, stepped forward, and without daring to conceal anything, recounted everything that had happened in Yanzhou to the Jade Emperor.

That was from the sudden appearance of the Grand Master Xuandu, to his rebuttal of the Heavenly Rules with the principles of human ethics and Heavenly Law, and finally to the unveiling of the Taiji Diagram, the Pangu Banner, and the Four Swords of Zhuxian.

They even recounted in detail the process of opening the gates of the underworld and unleashing the soul-snatching chains as a deterrent.

As the Heavenly King Dhritarashtra recounted his tale, the air in the Lingxiao Palace seemed to be completely sucked out. The celestial officials held their breath, even their breathing became extremely cautious.

Upon hearing the names of the Taiji Diagram, the Pangu Banner, and the Four Swords of Zhuxian—these supreme treasures representing the Three Pure Ones—a collective gasp of astonishment filled the hall.

This is by no means the intention of Grand Master Xuandu alone; it is clearly the collective will of the saints of Qinglian Island. It is a manifestation of the alliance between the Human Religion and Taoism.

At the same time, it was also a direct and domineering way of declaring to the Heavenly Court: Human affairs are for human beings to decide! The Jade Emperor's family rules and heavenly laws cannot supersede human ethics and the way of heaven.

The Jade Emperor's face turned from ashen to a terrifying deathly pale as he listened to Grand Master Xuandu bring the three treasures of the Taiji Diagram.

His hands, resting on the armrest of the throne, were clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged. His boundless imperial might surged wildly within him like a volcano about to erupt.

He stared intently at the four Heavenly Kings kneeling below, his gaze so sharp it seemed to pierce through them. He could, of course, discern the embellishments made by the Heavenly King of the Nation in his words to save face for the Heavenly Court.

They also understood that retreating was the only wise choice. Furthermore, facing the Sage of Qinglian Island, let alone the Four Heavenly Kings, even if he personally intervened, or even his master Hongjun, they might not gain the upper hand.

Grand Master Xuandu's actions are essentially a coup d'état, using the authority of a sage. Now it remains to be seen how he will choose to proceed; even Hongjun might be watching his actions.

Therefore, the Jade Emperor knew that he absolutely could not compromise on this matter. If he did, Hongjun would be utterly disappointed in him, and his position as the ruler of Heaven would be in jeopardy.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Good...good Master Xuandu of the Human Sect! Good human bloodline."

"Since you wish to interfere in the affairs of my Heavenly Court, then my Heavenly Court cannot remain indifferent. Emperor Ziwei, immediately mobilize 100,000 troops and march to the Fire Cloud Cave to demand an explanation from the Human Sect."

When the Taoist Ran Deng suddenly heard the Jade Emperor call his name, he couldn't help but inwardly cry out in alarm. After all, the Fiery Cloud Cave was not Flower Fruit Mountain.

If he really dared to go to the Fire Cloud Cave to show off his power, he estimated that any one of the Thirty-Six Saints of Humanity would tear him to pieces.

But now that the Jade Emperor has spoken, the Daoist Ran Deng, who is the Great Emperor of the North Pole of the Central Heaven, naturally dares not openly defy the imperial decree in the Lingxiao Palace.

He bowed to the Jade Emperor, then turned and walked out of the Lingxiao Palace to muster the heavenly soldiers. At the same time, he had already made up his mind to make himself as transparent as possible.

With the Jade Emperor standing in front, as long as she kept a low profile and didn't draw attention, she shouldn't attract the attention of the Human Sect. The Queen Mother naturally knew that the Jade Emperor was now in a desperate situation. Although she didn't want things to escalate to this point, she understood that it was a last resort.

She immediately said, "Your Majesty, please allow me to go to the Fire Cloud Cave with you. I want to ask the Weaver Girl in person whether she still recognizes me as her mother."

The Jade Emperor did not refuse and nodded to the Queen Mother of the West. Then the two of them disappeared from the Lingxiao Palace at the same time.

……

The Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother of the West, with their overwhelming imperial might, instantly traversed the Thirty-Three Heavens and descended outside the Fire Cloud Cave.

This place is no ordinary fairy mountain or blessed land; it is the ancestral home where the fortune of the human race converges, and the abode of human sages.

The cave itself is not magnificent, but only has ancient and desolate rocks and a lingering, heavy, and substantial purple aura of humanity.

The rising purple aura transformed into an invisible barrier, isolating the might of heaven and protecting the most sacred land of humankind.

But today, this timeless tranquility has been utterly shattered. The Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother of the West are suspended above the Fire Cloud Cave.

Behind him stood the 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals commanded by the Daoist Ran Deng. Banners fluttered, weapons stood like a forest, and a chilling aura permeated the universe, dyeing the sky a oppressive golden-iron color.

The immense military might was like a tangible tsunami, crashing wave after wave against the seemingly thin but incredibly resilient barrier of humanistic purple energy outside the Fire Cloud Cave, creating ripples.

The Taoist Ran Deng stood slightly behind the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother, his face solemn. He tried his best to conceal his aura, wishing he could shrink into the shadow of the Purple Emperor's robe.

He inwardly groaned. This wasn't asking for an explanation; it was practically offering himself up for a beating. Even the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother, who had already attained sainthood, were facing the Thirty-Six Sages of Humanity.

Now, Daoist Ran Deng just hopes that a fight won't break out later. He hopes to successfully reach an agreement with the human race; otherwise, he will definitely be the most miserable one.

Even at this moment, Daoist Ran Deng was starting to miss Marshal Tianpeng. After all, if Marshal Tianpeng hadn't rebelled against Heaven, he would have been in charge of such matters.

Just as the Heavenly Army's oppressive aura reached its peak, the barrier above the Fire Cloud Cave began to glow and slowly part to the left and right.

Immediately afterwards, a group of people slowly emerged from the cave. In the center was Emperor Fuxi, with the illusory image of the Eight Trigrams constantly flowing around him.

On the left is Shennong, the Earth God, holding an ochre whip. His body exudes the vitality of plants and the fragrance of herbs, and also conveys a benevolent will to taste all herbs and benefit all living beings.

On the right is the Human Emperor Xuanyuan, with the Xuanyuan Sword hanging at his waist. Although it is not drawn, it exudes an unparalleled sharpness that can slay demons and eliminate evil, and establish the rule of humanity. Its aura is like a dragon, and its momentum is like a mountain.

Following the Three Sovereigns, all the sages of the human race, the Thirty-Six Sages of Humanity, had emerged from the Fire Cloud Cave.

A powerful aura of sainthood swept towards the heavenly soldiers and generals in an instant. Even with the intervention of the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother of the West, they were unable to neutralize this powerful aura of sainthood.

In just a moment, all 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals knelt in mid-air. Even the Daoist Ran Deng was no exception, kneeling behind the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother. (End of Chapter)