Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

"My subordinate, the Sun Wheel Divine General, has been ordered by me to go to the Thunder Palace of the Radiant Sky Pivot to review the relevant files of the Weak Water case in order to clarify the truth and assist in the investigation of the case."

This was a routine official business, and also a matter of concern for the case.

However, instead of cooperating, True Lord Jingfa arrested the Sun Wheel God General on the spot on trumped-up charges and imprisoned him in the Thunder Department's Heavenly Prison!

Where does this leave in terms of the proper conduct of celestial colleagues? Where does it leave in terms of the order of rank and status?

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze.

Many immortals and gods felt a chill in their hearts, knowing that the Sun Emperor would not give up easily, so they turned their attention to the matter of the Sun Wheel God General.

Although this incident was not as shocking as the Ruoshui case, it was more directly related to the direct conflict and power struggle between two important officials of the Heavenly Court.

The Sun Emperor's body shimmered with a faint, boiling crimson-gold divine light. His tone remained steady, yet each word was emphasized:

"The Sun God General is in charge of the Sun Palace's ceremonial guards and inspects the light of the heavens."

Even if their actions are hasty or inappropriate, they should be handed over to the authorities for investigation and punished according to the laws of heaven.

The Jingfa Zhenjun's overstepping of his authority in imprisoning him was already inappropriate.

Even more remarkably, accompanying the divine general on that day were the two war gods from the North and South Poles, who were under the command of Emperor Gouchen and were ordered to assist in the investigation of this case!

When the War Gods of the North and South saw that the Sun Wheel God General had been detained without cause, they went forward to inquire about the reason, but were met with a sudden attack from the True Lord of the Pure Law!

These two war gods are the personal guards of His Majesty Gouchen, protecting the two poles, and have made great contributions.

He was severely injured by the Jingfa Zhenjun's thunder magic right in front of the Thunder Department's office, his three flowers on the top of his head were cut off, and his ten thousand years of cultivation were destroyed in an instant!

As soon as the words "Three Flowers on the Top" were uttered, a suppressed gasp of surprise rippled through the hall.

For a celestial being, removing the three flowers on the top of their head is almost equivalent to abandoning their foundation in the Dao.

Such treatment would never be given to ordinary immortals and gods, let alone to the powerful and influential Five Extremes War God!

If this is true, its severity is probably even greater than the execution of the Four Hidden Star Lords!

After all, the Four Hidden Star Lords were suspected of falling into demonic ways, while the North and South Pole War Gods were clearly legitimate gods of the Heavenly Court and direct descendants of Emperor Gouchen!

Countless gazes instantly focused on Chen Jiao.

The Sun Emperor did not raise his voice in question, but the chill and oppressive aura emanating from his calm words were more chilling than any roar:

"Subsequently, the three War Gods of the East, West, and Central Pole went to inquire and try to quell the incident."

Unexpectedly, the War God of the Central Pole was worried about his colleagues and may have spoken carelessly. He was also surrounded by the True Lord and his followers. Together with the War Gods of the Eastern and Western Pole, he was beaten until his divine body was shattered and he was on the verge of death!

If Venus hadn't arrived in time as ordered, the situation might have become irreversible!

Finally, the Sun Emperor turned to his throne and said in a deep voice:

"Great Heavenly Venerable!"

The Sun Wheel God General is my right-hand man, and the Five Extremes War Gods are also Your Majesty's trusted advisors.

Even if the Sun Wheel God General has made mistakes, even if the North and South War Gods have clashed, even if the East, West, and Central Three Extremes War Gods have spoken out of turn, can their crimes warrant imprisonment? Can they lead to the loss of their merits? Can they lead to the brink of death?

Jingfa Zhenjun acts in this way, what does he care about the laws of Heaven? What does he care about the dignity of the Four Emperors?

This is not out of personal grudge, but for the sake of the Heavenly Court's discipline, the harmony among all departments, and the Heavenly Venerable's majesty!

Therefore, we humbly request the Great Heavenly Venerable to investigate this matter thoroughly and make a fair judgment!

The atmosphere in the hall was even more somber and tense than before.

The storm surrounding the Weak Water Case has yet to subside, and a new round of conflict, more directly related to the power and order within the Heavenly Court, has already begun.

The Sun Emperor's words were sharper and his intentions more ruthless than those of the previous gods.

As the Sun Emperor finished speaking, his words echoed throughout the magnificent palace.

This time, the immortals and gods who had previously spoken out in support of Chen Jiao—the Four Saints of the North Pole, the Water Official Emperor, the veteran generals of the Doubu, and even Nezha—did not speak out immediately.

The gods looked solemn.

The Ruoshui case concerns a calamity in the three realms and the righteous cause of demons and monsters. Their voices of support are a righteous and justifiable stance, standing on the side of upholding justice and protecting life.

However, the matter that the Sun Emperor is currently presenting is entirely different in nature.

This is a conflict between the Thunder Palace of the Heavenly Pivot and the Sun Palace, and even with the generals of the Gouchen Palace.

This involves the boundaries of authority within the Heavenly Court and the reputation of its departments, making it more sensitive and easier to interpret as factionalism and exclusion.

If they rashly offer their support, they may not only fail to help Jingfa Zhenjun, but they could also get themselves caught in the vortex of departmental infighting, or even trigger higher-level conflicts.

It was at this delicate moment when all the gods were silent and the atmosphere was tense.

"I have also heard what the Sun Emperor said."

It is Emperor Gouchen.

This Four Emperors, who ruled over all gods and governed the three realms of heaven, earth, and humanity, as well as military conquests, had remained silent since the court assembly, but finally spoke at this moment.

He affirmed the Sun Emperor's accusations in such a calm tone.

However, it is precisely this ordinariness, combined with the supreme status of Emperor Gouchen, that releases the most suffocating oppression.

All the gods turned their heads in awe, their hearts filled with dread.

Emperor Gouchen spoke up at this moment, though only briefly echoing the sentiment, his meaning was clear.

This is no longer just a conflict between the Sun Emperor and the Pure Law True Lord; the attitude of Gouchen Emperor, one of the Four Emperors, has become clear.

This means that Chen Jiao is facing the joint questioning of two Heavenly Emperors, at least on this matter.

The pressure, like an invisible sky, crashed down and was applied entirely to the figure in black robes who stood alone beneath the imperial steps.

One is the Sun Emperor, who rules over the sun and commands all the luminaries; the other is the Gouchen Emperor, who assists the Jade Emperor and governs all the gods.

The two Heavenly Emperors spoke one after the other, both of their words pointing to the True Lord of Pacifying Law.

He spoke out to plead his case and to prove the truth, though his tone was restrained and he never spoke harshly.

However, the supreme authority and pressure inherent in his identity have already collapsed like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami, silently and imperceptibly.

Such pressure is immense, not to mention ordinary immortals and gods, even for great deities such as the Five Elders, the Three Officials, and the Great True Lord Tianpeng, who are among the top ranks of immortals.

At this moment, his face was solemn, his gaze deep, and he no longer spoke easily.

The nature of this matter has changed; it is no longer merely a debate over law enforcement methods, but also subtly involves the power structure and checks and balances at the highest level of the Heavenly Court.

An improper response could trigger unpredictable repercussions.

Yaoming Sili Tianjun, Huode Xingjun, and others who had previously criticized Chen Jiao felt a slight unease in their hearts as the situation seemed to be tilting in their favor again.

However, they were intimidated by the lingering power of the Bodhisattva's pronouncement and the support of the righteous, and even more afraid of the unfathomable vortex that would arise now that the two emperors had personally intervened.

They dared not speak up in agreement again, but instead fixed their gaze on Chen Jiao, holding their breath in anticipation.

It was during this deathly silence, a time of oppressive power and the watchful eyes of all the gods, that the situation came to a head.

"hehe."

A soft laugh, gentle and peaceful, like a spring breeze rippling a still pond, suddenly breaking the unsettling solemnity.

The gods were startled and looked in the direction of the sound.

The Antarctic Longevity Emperor, seated on the other side, had somehow slightly opened his gentle yet seemingly thunderous eyes.

This emperor, who ruled over all spirits and was the ancestor of the Thunder Gods, looked down at Chen Jiao, who stood calmly below the steps, with a detached smile on his face.

He spoke slowly, yet very briefly:

"The truth of the matter should always be left to the people to finish speaking."

"Lord Jingfa, since the Sun Emperor and His Majesty Gouchen have inquired, you may truthfully report what happened that day."

His tone was calm, like an elder giving ordinary advice to a younger person.

But at this critical moment, the suffocating pressure was gently brushed aside, creating a space for Chen Jiao to speak.

Upon hearing these words from the Antarctic Longevity Emperor, the tense atmosphere in the hall eased, and many immortals and gods secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The Jade Purity True King possesses a transcendent status, being the ancestor of the Thunder Department. Though his words are brief, they carry great weight.

Chen Jiao bowed slightly in the direction of the Antarctic Longevity Emperor.

He immediately turned around, facing the Heavenly Emperor's throne, and also facing the thousands of immortals and gods in the hall.

His expression remained calm as he took a deep breath, and his clear, resonant voice once again echoed throughout the hall:

"I hereby address the Great Heavenly Venerable."

The things that the Sun Emperor and His Majesty Gouchen said about the Sun Wheel God General and the Five Extreme War Gods are indeed true.

However, things have a sequence, and actions have a beginning and an end.

"At that time, I had not yet returned to my residence, and Lei's residence was guarded by only Chuihai Jiebo."

When the Sun God arrives at the palace, one may not enter without the Great Heavenly Venerable's decree or corresponding verification, according to the law.

The general refused to comply and forcibly took action, injuring his ministers and generals. He even attempted to seize the seal of the government office in order to enter the strategic location.

Fortunately, Fei Peng and other generals under Yu Shinichi's command arrived in time and subdued him. This is the first point.

In just a few words, the key beginnings of the Sun Wheel God General's illegal intrusion, injury to his colleagues, and attempt to seize the seal are outlined.

Many of the immortals and gods in the hall showed slight changes in their expressions.

"Immediately, the war gods of the North and South Poles appeared."

Without knowing the full story, they immediately put pressure on the ministers and their subordinates, forcing them to release the criminals.

I have just returned at this time. I cannot tolerate such acts of protecting criminals, interfering with law enforcement, and coercing the Thunder Department.

At that moment, the two war gods unleashed their full power, holding nothing back.

To ensure my own safety and peace, and also to prevent him from continuing to interfere with law enforcement, I have severed the three flowers on his head and temporarily suspended his cultivation, as a warning to others. This is the second point.

"Afterwards, the three war gods of the East, West, and Central regions returned. The war god of the Central region uttered nonsense and openly insulted the Thunder Ancestor within the Thunder Department."

Chen Jiao paused again, and this time, an invisible chill seemed to permeate the vast Lingxiao Palace.

He continued, "The Thunder Ancestor is the incarnation of His Majesty the Eternal Emperor, who commands all spirits, is the ancestor of thunder, and is also my superior."

To insult the Thunder Ancestor is to insult His Majesty the Eternal Life, to insult all members of the Thunder Department, and even more so to insult the dignity and laws of the Heavenly Court.

If I hear such outrageous words and do not punish them, how can I have the face to be in charge of the two words "pacifying the law"?

Therefore, I, in my anger, took action to punish his arrogance and disrespect. The conflict only ceased when the envoy from Venus arrived, bearing the decree of the Great Heavenly Venerable.

After finishing his statement, Chen Jiao bowed again:

"This is the whole story of what happened that day."

The Sun Wheel God first committed acts of violence, seized the seal, and stormed the palace; the Northern and Southern War Gods assisted and exerted pressure in the middle; and the Central War God later uttered foul language and insulted the Emperor.

What I have done is to stop the violence, uphold the dignity of the Thunder Department, defend the reputation of my superior, and enforce the laws of the Heavenly Court.

There may have been drastic measures, but in urgent situations, expediency is necessary. In the face of such a series of provocations, I believe there was nothing inappropriate about it.

Right and wrong can all be verified.

We humbly request the Holy Revelation of the Great Heavenly Venerable.

The hall was silent, yet beneath that silence, countless thoughts seemed to be racing.

Countless gazes quietly shifted between Jingfa Zhenjun, Taiyang Dijun, and Gouchen Dadi.

If what Jingfa Zhenjun said is true, then the nature of the whole matter seems to be reversed.

After Chen Jiao finished speaking, the silence in the hall lasted only a very brief moment.

"snort!"

The Sun Emperor suddenly took a step forward, his wide sleeves billowing, clearly unable to contain himself any longer, and was about to sternly refute him.

"That's sophistry! Even if the Sun Wheel God General is in a hurry, how can he..."

Right now.

The Grand Master Xuandu, who had been standing quietly in the position of the Dao Ancestor with his eyes closed as if his spirit was wandering in the heavens, suddenly raised his eyelids slightly.

He glanced in the direction where the Sun Emperor was.

The Sun Emperor paused in his movements.