On the Dragon-Slaying Platform, I was executed and became Yang Jian's brother-in-law.

The words of Laozi, "Reopen the Investiture of the Gods," were like ancient ice, instantly freezing the heat of the entire Lingxiao Palace.

Although the illusory images of the twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls behind Zhao Gongming continued to swirl, their death-defying aura ultimately paled in comparison to the saint's true killing intent. Despite their indignation, the immortals of the Jie Sect, faced with this senior disciple of the Xuanmen sect, instinctively stopped in their tracks, their deep-seated awe for him compelled to halt.

However, to everyone's surprise, Laozi did not immediately unleash a thunderous attack on these disciples of the Jie Sect who were "forcing the emperor's abdication".

His seemingly cloudy but actually all-seeing old eyes slowly moved away from Zhao Gongming and finally landed on the Jade Emperor, who was preparing to crawl back under the table.

"Haotian".

Laozi's voice was utterly devoid of any worldly warmth, yet it froze the Jade Emperor's hand, which had just reached under the table, in mid-air.

"Do you think that because the Heavenly Court is in chaos, you can take advantage of the situation?"

Laozi took a step forward, instantly appearing beside the dragon throne, looking down at the ruler of the Three Realms: "You want to use Su Bai's fire to burn down the foundations of the Chan Sect and the Ren Sect in the Heavenly Court? You want to use the resentment of the Jie Sect to remove the spies that I and Yuanshi have planted?"

"Seize power? You dare to challenge me?"

Laozi's words were blunt, even carrying a hint of cold disappointment: "The great calamity of the Journey to the West is about to begin, this is the will of Heaven! The eastward spread of Buddhism is predetermined! If your reckless behavior jeopardizes the great Journey to the West and incurs a backlash from Heaven, your position as the ruler of the Three Realms will likely be over!"

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor's feigned fear vanished instantly. He slowly straightened his back. Although he still appeared insignificant before the sage, for the first time, his imperial eyes revealed the resentment and ambition befitting an emperor.

"Laojun is mistaken!"

The Jade Emperor took a deep breath and said in a solemn voice, "The Journey to the West? The so-called Journey to the West is just about watching the Xuanmen sect decline and the Western Buddhist sect rise to power by stepping on the fortunes of my East?"

"I am the Heavenly Emperor appointed by the Dao Ancestor! Not his puppet from the West! Although Su Bai is guilty, he promoted the return of the Dragon Clan to Heaven and helped the human race prosper—these are real achievements! Is Laozi willing to appease the West for the sake of the Journey to the West, rather than alienate the gods of the East?"

"I don't understand! Why must our Xuanmen, which clearly rules the world, yield step by step before those bald monks!"

The Jade Emperor's words expressed the sentiments of many immortals in the Xuanmen sect.

However, after hearing this, Laozi only sneered, his smile carrying a hint of mockery towards the perception of ants.

"What do you know?"

Laozi lightly waved his whisk, as if brushing away the floating clouds before him: "Taiji gives rise to Yin and Yang, Yin and Yang give rise to the Four Symbols. When things reach their peak, they must decline; Yin and Yang take turns. The Xuanmen has been dominant for too long; without external stimulation, it will eventually become a stagnant pool."

"Moreover..." Laozi's eyes became unfathomable, his voice so low that only the Jade Emperor could hear, "Do you truly believe that the flourishing of Buddhism is a victory for the West? Do you truly believe that Duobao's conversion of barbarians into Buddhists was merely to send talent to the West?"

"How could you, a mere quasi-sage, possibly see through the old man's schemes?"

The Jade Emperor felt a chill run down his spine.

Convert barbarians to Buddhism!

This was a momentous move by Laozi after the Investiture of the Gods, when he left Hangu Pass to the west, taking away Duobao Daoren, the chief disciple of the Jie Sect, and transforming him into the Buddha of the West. The world generally believed it was Laozi's way of dividing the Western destiny, but now it seems the scheme behind it was far more profound than imagined.

"Buddha is the Tao." Laozi uttered these four words calmly, then ignored the Jade Emperor and turned his gaze back to Su Bai, who was bound by the Immortal Binding Rope in the water mirror.

At this moment, the murderous intent in Laozi's eyes subsided, replaced by an unprecedented scrutiny and caution.

"But what about Su Bai..."

Laozi secretly pondered to himself, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

If before he only regarded Su Bai as an ignorant and arrogant variable, or a pawn casually placed by the Western Sect, now, with the gradual exposure of Su Bai's past life, things have changed.

"First incarnation: Yang Chan; second incarnation: Jin Ling; third incarnation: Ying Long..."

"Yinglong's incarnation was before the Investiture of the Gods, or even at the end of the Lich War."

Lao Jun's fingers flew across his sleeve as he rapidly calculated, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"The timing doesn't match."

"The transformation of Duobao into Tathagata occurred after the Investiture of the Gods. In other words, Su Bai's scheme of reincarnation in this lifetime had already begun long before Tathagata came to power."

"This is definitely not a scheme that a junior like Tathagata could have orchestrated."

Laozi's gaze pierced through the void, as if looking towards the distant Western Paradise, towards the two hidden saints—Jieyin and Zhunti.

"The orthodox lineage of the Xuanmen? Hmph, hard to say."

"Those two from the West are best at grafting cause and effect and attaining enlightenment in dreams. This Su Bai's soul seems to belong to the Xuanmen sect, but his actions often disrupt the Xuanmen's fortune at crucial moments."

"Yinglong's assistance to the human race, seemingly a meritorious act, actually caused the human race's fortune to escape the absolute control of the Human Sect; its transformation into the Golden Dragon Scissors, seemingly protecting the Intercepting Sect, actually severed the cause and effect of the Investiture of the Gods, causing turmoil in the Heavenly Court..."

Lao Jun felt increasingly alarmed as he thought about it.

Is it possible that his scheme to "convert barbarians into Buddhists" was seen through by those two Western saints long ago?

Could this Su Bai be a "spy" planted in the east by those two sages to counter his plan to "convert the barbarians"?

If that's the case, then this game is far too big.

"If this child is the work of the two Western Saints, then he cannot be killed easily."

Lao Jun made a decision in an instant.

If we kill Su Bai now, it will not only ignite the powder keg of the Jie Sect and cause the Heavenly Court to collapse, but more importantly, it may lead us into the trap of the two Western Saints, and we may not even be able to find out how many such spies they have planted in the East.

"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."

"Su Bai's identity and background are becoming increasingly shrouded in mystery. We must strip him bare and see through all his cards!"

Thinking of this, Laozi's terrifying saintly aura slowly subsided.

He glanced at Zhao Gongming, who was preparing to fight desperately, and said calmly:

"Zhao Gongming, put away your toll. Since I said that merits and demerits are clearly distinguished, I will not go back on my word."

"Su Bai's background is highly suspicious, perhaps involving an even more ancient scheme. Killing him now would be truly falling into a trap."

"Keep watching!"

With a wave of his sleeve, Laozi unleashed a gentle yet irresistible force that pushed Zhao Gongming and the others back to their original positions, while simultaneously reinforcing the power of the Water Mirror.

"Since you're going to investigate, then investigate to the end! I want to see who this wicked creature was in its first life! And who was using this pawn as a pawn to scheme against my Xuanmen!"

This is a move to intimidate others with force, and also a delaying tactic.

Seeing that Laozi had temporarily halted his attack, the immortals of the Jie Sect, though still unwilling, knew to stop while they were ahead. After all, to truly fight a sage head-on would be certain death.

Meanwhile, Yang Jian, who had been silent all along, finally made his decision.

He stood in the shadows of the underworld, the three-pointed double-edged sword in his hand no longer humming, but was tightly gripped in his hand, his knuckles white.

"teacher……"

Yang Jian looked up at the figure of the old man riding an ox in the sky, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Since Laozi has stepped forward, he represents not only the Human Sect, but also the will of the two sages, Taiqing and Yuanshi. In other words, his master, Yuding Zhenren, and even the entire Chan Sect, are now on the side that Su Bai must be "judged".

Yang Jian entered the Golden Cloud Cave of Jade Spring Mountain at a young age and was carefully taught by the Jade Cauldron Immortal. This bond between master and disciple was as heavy as Mount Tai. Although he obeyed orders but not summons, he always considered himself a disciple of the Chan Sect and had a very deep sense of belonging to his sect.

He also knew that all his skills, even the ability to split the mountain to save his mother, were given to him by his sect. In a way, he was also a part of the sage's game.

but……

Yang Jian turned his head and looked into the distance.

There, his sister Yang Chan was desperately protecting Su Bai, her eyes filled with obsession, madness, and a heartbreaking despair.

If Su Bai were to die here today, Yang Jian had no doubt that his seemingly weak younger sister would do something utterly devastating. She might even do what her mother did back then, or what the Three Immortals of Sanxiao did just now, willing to perish together with the Heavenly Court, even if it meant being shattered to pieces.

On one side is the deep gratitude owed to their master, and on the other is the bond of blood.

Yang Jian closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his divine eyes were filled with a resolute clarity.

"I will always remember the kindness of my master and I will repay it in the future."

"But today..."

"If I can't even protect my only sister, what use are all my supernatural powers?!"

He could also clearly distinguish between what is righteousness and what is family affection.

He couldn't save his mother back then, a pain that would haunt him for life. Now, he absolutely couldn't let his sister suffer the same fate!

Nezha.

Yang Jian suddenly spoke, his voice low and deep, without using telepathy, but speaking directly.

"Second Brother?" Nezha turned around and saw Yang Jian's expression, his heart skipped a beat.

"You stay here."

Yang Jian turned around, his silver armor reflecting a chilling light under the glow of the ghostly flames. He no longer looked at Laozi in the heavens, nor at the strife on earth, but strode towards the exit of the underworld.

"Second Brother, where are you going?" Nezha asked anxiously.

Yang Jian did not stop walking; only a cold, hard voice reached the ears of Nezha and the Meishan brothers:

"Return to the mouth of the river."

"Gather 1,200 grass-root gods, bring along the Celestial Hound, don armor, and prepare for battle!"

Yang Jian turned around abruptly, took a deep look at Su Bai who was enveloped in light, and a hint of madness flashed in his eyes:

"If things change, no matter what crime the Heavenly Court sentences us to, no matter if it's a saint or the Jade Emperor sitting up there..."

"Follow me... to storm the execution ground!!"