Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

"Greetings, Grandmaster!"

Crane Boy, Deer Boy, and all the remaining demon-hunting disciples kowtowed in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

Ao Guang's expression changed drastically. He exchanged glances with Ao Run and the others, and they all saw the solemnity and helplessness in each other's eyes.

When a sage descends, he is the most supreme being in the world. No matter how much dissatisfaction one has with the Chan Sect, it would be a great disrespect not to pay homage to the sage, and one might bring about unforeseen disaster.

This is an ironclad law formed over countless years in this world!

"Greetings to the Primordial Sage!"

Ao Guang took a deep breath and led the billions of dragons and sea monsters behind him to perform the same grand salute. His voice was majestic, but it carried an indescribable sense of suppression.

The giant hand that had snatched the Tianyuan Cauldron slowly dissipated, revealing a figure holding an ancient-looking small cauldron—it was Qin Chuan!

He held the struggling Heavenly Origin Cauldron in one hand, the other behind his back, and calmly gazed in the direction where the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi had descended, speaking indifferently:

"Yuanshi Tianzun? You certainly know how to protect your own. Just now, when your grand-disciple bullied the younger ones, you didn't step in. Now that I've given him a slight punishment, you can't wait to jump out? Is this kind of double standard your way of being a sage?"

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell into a deathly silence!

Everyone, including the Boundless Immortal Elder, was frozen in disbelief, staring at Qin Chuan as if encased in celestial ice. He… he actually dared to speak to the Primordial Sage like that?! And even directly accuse the Sage of double standards?!

Qin Chuan, however, seemed to have said something completely ordinary, and continued:

"I have heard the Master speak of the Heavenly Venerable's boundless divine power. Today, I shall experience it for myself."

The leader? Which leader? The one he calls the leader and who is ranked alongside the Primordial Celestial Venerable... could it be?!

A chilling suspicion arose in everyone's mind—behind the dragon race stood a saint?!

Since the First Dragon, when has the Dragon Clan had such an earth-shattering backer?!

What horrified them even more was that Qin Chuan's words clearly indicated that he was taking the initiative to challenge Yuanshi Tianzun!

Qin Chuan's words were like a nuclear bomb dropped on a calm lake, creating a huge wave!

To wage war against a saint?

Since the beginning of time, there has never been a record of sages clashing!

But all ancient texts vaguely mention that the war of the sages was enough to destroy the heavens, reset the earth, water, fire, and wind, and return everything to chaos!

Let alone those Taiyi and Golden Immortals, even the Great Luo giants who get involved will only face death and annihilation!

The Boundless Immortal Elder trembled all over. He never expected that his plan to refine pills and suppress the Dragon Clan would lead to a confrontation between two saints, and might even trigger a world-destroying holy war!

He cannot bear the consequences, and the entire Chan Sect will probably find it difficult to withstand them!

The Three Treasures Jade Ruyi seemed to be provoked by Qin Chuan's words. The golden flowers, purple clouds, and water waves flowing on it suddenly intensified, and the terrifying pressure of a saint poured down as if it were a tangible force, locking onto Qin Chuan. It looked as if it was about to launch a world-shaking attack!

At this critical moment, when the world seemed to freeze and shatter in this standoff,...

A clear, melodious sword cry, like a dragon's roar, carrying the supreme sharpness of severing cause and effect and breaking through chaos, resounded from the end of endless time and space!

Immediately afterwards, a three-edged sword with an ancient design, yet exuding a fierce sword intent that could wither all things and end all laws, slowly rose from the void. Its sword intent was so strong that it could faintly rival the majestic holy power of the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi!

Immediately, a voice, as indifferent as ancient ice, yet clearly reaching the ears of every living being, rang out:

"You two fellow Daoists are making quite a scene; I've come uninvited."

The void rippled, and the figure of a young Taoist priest in green robes, carrying a sword, quietly appeared. He was none other than the leader of the Jie Sect, the Sage Tongtian!

"Greetings, Sage Tongtian!"

The crowd erupted in uproar once again, followed by a chorus of kneeling in worship.

Everyone's mind immediately became agitated, filled with immense doubt and unease.

The Chan Sect and the Jie Sect both belong to the Xuanmen (mysterious sect), and the Yuanshi Tianzun and the Tongtian Jiaozhu (Master of the Heavenly Gate) even sought the Dao together, so their relationship was very close.

What is the purpose of the Tongtian Sect Leader's appearance at this moment?

He was secretly summoned by Yuanshi Tianzun to join forces against this saint of unknown origin.

Or does he have another stance and want to mediate this conflict that could destroy the world?

Or perhaps... he came for the Heavenly Yuan Cauldron, or perhaps he was originally after the Chan Sect?

The arrival of the third sage made the already tense and volatile situation even more complicated and unpredictable.

Before the dust has settled on the war between immortals and demons, an even greater storm, concerning the fate of sects, the reputation of saints, and even the overall structure of the heavens, is quietly brewing over the East Sea!

Everyone's hearts were in their throats, waiting for the next moment, that decisive instant that could determine countless fates.

Chapter 12 Turning Life and Death Upside Down

Just as everyone held their breath, secretly speculating which side the Tongtian Sect Leader would stand on this time, the Tongtian Sect Leader turned his gaze to the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, whose radiance was slightly stagnant, and a smile appeared on his lips, which was a mixture of amusement and mockery.

"Brother Yuanshi Dao."

His clear, melodious voice, like jade striking jade, abruptly shattered the suffocating silence:

"I have come here today not to meddle in the disputes of the East Sea, but to ask you for an explanation."

He spoke at a measured pace, but his gaze swept across the ravaged battlefield below with the chilling force of lightning. Looking at the broken walls and ruins, his tone grew colder, each word like ice:

"My disciple Shiji has been cultivating in seclusion in the White Bone Cave of Skull Mountain for hundreds of years, without ever being tainted by karma or committing any act against the will of Heaven. Why would your Jade Void Sect attack her cave and injure my Jie Sect disciples without cause? You must give me a clear explanation for this!"

These words were like a thunderclap, shocking everyone present!

Everyone suddenly realized what had happened, and their hearts trembled. It turned out that the Tongtian Sect Leader hadn't come to help the Primordial Heavenly Lord, but rather to stand up for his own disciple and demand an explanation!

The crane boy and deer boy standing behind the Boundless Immortal Elder subconsciously stole glances at their master.

Suddenly, the old man's face twitched, his eyes darted around in panic, and his lips trembled a few times before he was speechless. Fine beads of cold sweat even appeared on his forehead at a visible speed, clearly indicating that he was extremely guilty.

At this point, everyone can see clearly that the third test of Nezha's ascension to immortality, "Subduing Shiji," is probably a vicious trap carefully designed by the Boundless Immortal to suppress the fortune of the Jie Sect and weaken its strength!

He thought he was just scheming against a seemingly insignificant disciple of the Jie Sect, a task that would be easy and without any consequences. However, he never expected that this move would directly anger the ruthless and decisive Tongtian Sect Leader!

What chilled him to the bone even more was that the current situation was clear: a mysterious and powerful saint from another world, plus the Tongtian Sect Leader who clearly had ill intentions and whose sword was aimed at Yuxu...

Even if Master Yuanshi Tianzun possesses boundless magical power and great supernatural abilities, there is absolutely no way he could fight two against one on this East Sea!

As expected, the indifferent and aloof voice of the Primordial Celestial Venerable, devoid of any emotion, came through the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, but did not directly address the matter of Shiji, as if it were merely a trivial and insignificant matter:

"Tongtian, what do you intend to do?"

Upon hearing this, the Tongtian Sect Leader chuckled lightly. The illusory image of the Qingping Sword floating beside him trembled slightly, and an even more powerful and vigorous sword intent soared into the sky, tearing through the clouds.

"It's nothing. I'm just reminding you, fellow Daoist, not to be too lenient in disciplining your disciples, lest you lose face for the orthodox Xuanmen sect and become a laughing stock for outsiders."

The chaotic radiance on the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi paused slightly, flickering uncertainly, as if it were rapidly weighing the advantages and disadvantages and the balance of power before it.

The sage's heart works silently, and the secrets of heaven are deduced.

The silence felt like an eternity.

Finally, the vast holy might that enveloped heaven and earth slowly receded like a tide. The chaotic and mysterious light emitted by Ruyi suddenly swirled and transformed into a magnificent pillar of light, enveloping the terrified and ashen-faced Immortal Wuliang, Crane Boy, Deer Boy, and the remaining disciples of the demon-catching team below.

"Now that this matter is settled, let's return to the mountain."

The voice of the Primordial Celestial Venerable remained indifferent as ice, revealing no trace of joy or anger, as if all the previous disputes had never occurred.

The next moment, a flash of light appeared, and all the disciples of Jade Void Palace, along with the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, which symbolized the fortune of a saint, disappeared without a trace, having retreated directly!

Even the aloof and proud Yuanshi Tianzun, faced with the subtle alliance and oppressive power of two saints of the same rank, had no choice but to temporarily swallow the humiliation of having his sect's treasure stolen and opted for the most rational retreat, thus avoiding a saintly battle in which he was destined to lose.

"Hahaha! Good! Good! Good! Let's drink a big toast!"

Inside Biyou Palace, Tongtian Jiaozhu, who witnessed everything through the water mirror, clapped his hands and laughed heartily. He took out a purple-gold-red gourd, tilted his head back and gulped down a mouthful of the immortal wine that was filled with Daoist charm. He felt all the pent-up emotions in his chest disappear.

He knew that Yuanshi Tianzun valued his reputation highly. This time, not only was Qin Chuan forcibly taken away the sect's most precious treasure, but he was also forced to retreat by Qin Chuan and himself. He had lost face and his prestige was greatly damaged.

The thought that in the future Investiture of the Gods, the Primordial Heavenly Venerable would join forces with the Supreme Lord Laozi and the two Western Saints to besiege his Jie Sect and bully the weak with numbers made him feel incredibly relieved and clear-headed as he saw them suffer such a great defeat in advance.

Above the East Sea, the divine might dissipated, and peace returned.

All that remained was the devastation left behind by the great war, and the bewilderment and sighs of countless survivors.

Ao Guang led the dragon clans of the four seas and countless aquatic creatures, while Li Jing and his wife, along with Nezha, whose expression was complex and whose eyes were sparkling, returned to the magnificent East Sea Dragon Palace.

Everyone gathered in the Dragon Palace Hall. Whether it was the majestic Dragon King, the fierce and arrogant sea monster general, or Li Jing, the general of Chentang Pass, they all concealed their auras at this moment.

They abandoned their usual airs, and with utmost respect, even awe from the depths of their souls, solemnly bowed to Qin Chuan, who sat regally at the head of the crystal throne. The sound of their bows echoed throughout the magnificent hall.

"Greetings, Sage! Thank you for your protection!"

However, Qin Chuan's gaze, like quicksilver, swept past the respectful crowd and landed on Nezha, who was bowing his head slightly and pursing his lips, and Ao Bing, whose eyes were filled with complex emotions.

A slight smile played on his lips, as if he could see through all illusions and gaze into the depths of people's hearts:

"You two little ones seem to harbor some resentment towards me?"

Nezha suddenly raised his head.

His temperament was already fiery and direct, and now that his secret had been exposed, the image of the tragic deaths of the people of Chentang Pass vividly flashed through his mind again. He could no longer contain himself, and ignoring the panicked attempts of Li Jing and his wife to stop him, he abruptly stood up, raised his head, and loudly questioned:

"Yes! I refuse to accept this! Since you are a saint, omnipotent and omniscient, why couldn't you have acted sooner? If you had exposed that old scoundrel's conspiracy sooner, the people of Chentang Pass... they wouldn't have died! They were all innocent!"

Ao Bing, standing to the side, also felt a pang of sympathy. Remembering the oppression the Dragon Clan had suffered before, he subconsciously wanted to stand up and offer his support, but was firmly held down by Ao Guang, who was quick-witted and agile.

Ao Guang's forehead was covered in cold sweat, his heart almost leaping out of his chest. He hurriedly bowed to Qin Chuan and apologized, his voice trembling:

"Please forgive me, Sage! Please forgive me, Sage! This child is ignorant and presumptuously speaks ill of the Sage's mind; this is truly disrespectful!"

Li Jing and Lady Yin were so frightened that their faces turned deathly pale, and they forcefully pulled Nezha to kneel down.

"Zha'er! Stop talking nonsense! How could you possibly fathom the deeper meaning behind the Sage's actions? The Sage has no responsibility to protect Chen Tang Pass. We are already deeply indebted to him for our survival. How dare we harbor any resentment? Quickly apologize to the Sage!"

They knew that the sage was detached from worldly affairs, looking down on the cycle of life and death, and had no obligation to protect any particular species. To be able to see the sage's true face at this moment and receive his indirect protection to survive was already an incredible stroke of luck.

It is wrong to complain that the sage does not take action; it may even bring disaster upon oneself.

Faced with Nezha's tearful questioning and the fearful gazes of the crowd, Qin Chuan did not get angry, nor did he even frown.

He slowly rose, stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze deep, as if piercing through the magnificent dome of the Dragon Palace and seeing the deeper, cold and ruthless rules and laws governing the world.

"Complaining and blaming others is the act of the weak."

His voice was calm and serene, yet it carried a power that struck straight to the heart and shook the very core of humanity, clearly reaching the ears of every living being:

"These myriad realms, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, are essentially governed by the principle of the strong being respected. The law of the jungle, where the weak are preyed upon and the fittest are eliminated, has been an unchanging law since the beginning of time."

His gaze, almost tangible, fell upon the two young and unruly souls, Nezha and Ao Bing: