Above the Great Dao

Chapter 1572 727: The Fall of Changsheng

"Is the information accurate?" Emperor Houtu asked.

Grandma Tai Mountain replied, "Absolutely certain. The message came from the Heavenly Court, the Lady is battling the traitor and can't be reached, so it was relayed to me."

Emperor Houtu still found it hard to believe, "Was Shenxiao Yuqing Mansion not mobilized? With such great forces in the Thunder Department, including Jiutian Yingyuan Leisheng Puhua Tianzun, do they merely sit by and watch as Emperor of Longevity of the Nanji is killed?"

Emperor of Longevity of the Nanji resides in the Shenxiao Yuqing Mansion of the Nanji Heavenly Palace, which is the headquarters of the Heavenly Court's Thunder Department. The Emperor of Longevity directly commands this powerful force, with countless experts emerging from the Thunder Department!

His Shenxiao Yuqing is unlike the Lady's Thick Virtue and Bright Heaven Palace, as aside from the Lady, there are no other experts in the Thick Virtue and Bright Heaven Palace, while the Shenxiao Yuqing Mansion is teeming with elites!

Emperor Houtu found it hard to imagine how the enemy could break through the Thunder Department's layers of guards and assassinate the Emperor of Longevity.

Grandma Tai Mountain said, "I heard it was an ambush in the Immortal Sea, but I'm not aware of the specifics. Lady, I reckon the Heavenly Court will soon send news."

Emperor Houtu was unsettled.

Not long ago, she met with Emperor of Longevity of the Nanji at the Heavenly Court.

With Emperor Beiyin dead, the Jade Emperor summoned the Three Officials, Four Imperial Lords, Five Elders, and other entities to discuss the matter, seeking a solution.

It was clear to any observer that the death of Emperor Beiyin was extremely timely, and the next target might very well be Emperor Houtu.

Emperor Beiyin oversaw Fengdu Mountain and commanded the Six Days Old Ghosts, having control over the entire army of underworld Ghost Gods.

He belonged to the underworld's army commander; without him, the dragons were leaderless. If Emperor Houtu were to die as well, the power of the underworld would fall away, giving Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva a significant chance to become the new master of the underworld.

If the underworld fell into the hands of the Western Heaven, it would vigorously support the Immortal Court to safeguard the underworld.

Moreover, with Houtu controlling reincarnation, reaching directly into every Immortal's Dao Realm, she posed a grave threat to every Immortal aspiring to rebellion.

Therefore, eliminating Emperor Houtu is the best choice for the Immortal Court and Western Heaven.

Even Emperor Houtu herself believed this.

Those like Guang Chengzi and Ding Guang Buddha, who came to kill Emperor Houtu, likely also held this belief.

But what none expected was that the real target this time was Emperor of Longevity of the Nanji!

"Daoist Changsheng manages the Thunder Department, overseeing Heavenly Tribulation, maintaining worldly order, and controlling fortunes and misfortunes. Why him instead of me, Emperor Gouchen, or Emperor Ziwei?"

She thought deeply, trying to understand the actions of the Immortal Emperor Supreme, and whispered, "Breaking the game!"

At this moment, she sensed a familiar presence among the countless Incense Fire Qi rushing towards her, and followed this presence to Golden Turtle Island in Penglai West.

Chen Shi held incense, and the Incense Fire Qi gradually transformed into the likeness of Emperor Houtu, who hurriedly said, "Godmother, I have just received a message from the Heavenly Court, and Emperor of Longevity of the Nanji has fallen! Were you in any danger, Godmother?"

He was a Heavenly King, General of the World, the fifty-first person with real power in the Heavenly Court, and naturally informed of the Emperor of Longevity of the Nanji's demise.

Emperor Houtu replied, "I also encountered an ambush from Immortal experts; five Daluo Golden Immortals attempted to take my life, fortunately I defeated and slew two."

She succinctly recounted her experience, then asked, "With the fall of Emperor of Longevity of the Nanji, what's the significance? Do you know why these Immortals forsake me and target him instead?"

Chen Shi pondered for a moment, then considered, "The fall of Emperor of Longevity of the Nanji could be related to the Opening Tribulation!"

Emperor Houtu remained expressionless, "Speak."

Chen Shi said, "I surmise, the reason the Heavenly Court hasn't acted against Immortals is they await the Opening Tribulation. During that time, Immortals will struggle to protect themselves, having to seek refuge in the Three Pure Ones Realm or Western Heaven. Yet Divine beings won't face Opening Tribulation, so it presents the best opportunity to eliminate these Immortals!"

His eyes brightened, and he continued, "Emperor of Longevity of the Nanji commands the Heavenly Tribulation, with the Thunder Department under his command, even Jiutian Yingyuan Leisheng Puhua Tianzun works for him; hence his understanding of the tribulations must be profound. He might have mastered some manipulation skills for the Opening Tribulation..."

Emperor Houtu's expression changed slightly at this point, interrupting him, "Emperor of Longevity of the Nanji fell at the Immortal Sea. I must oversee Xuanhuang Sea; you follow my Kongru's Clone to investigate who committed this wicked act. Wait here, my clone will come to find you."

As Chen Shi was about to speak further, the incense burned out.

Chen Shi set down the incense, frowning slightly.

Little Dun arrived, seeing his furrowed brow, and asked, "What troubles you, husband?"

Chen Shi explained the situation, then said cautiously, "When I mentioned the possibility that Emperor of Longevity of the Nanji mastered manipulation skills for the Opening Tribulation, the Lady was unwilling to continue the subject. The Heavenly Court's Divine beings seem to harbor secrets."

Little Dun analyzed, "Perhaps you were right, and that's why the Lady hesitated to discuss further, fearing eavesdroppers. Emperor of Longevity's role is indeed manipulation of Heavenly Tribulation; the Opening Tribulation arises from the conflict between Dark Sea Heavenly Dao and Immortal Dao, but it is also part of the Heaven and Earth Great Dao. Therefore, Opening Tribulation is a Heavenly Tribulation, merely issued by Dark Sea. He may indeed possess the ability to control parts of the Opening Tribulation, which the Immortal Court people guessed, thus targeting him. The attack on the Lady was merely a diversion."

Chen Shi nodded, bearing the same view, forming this conjecture.