Above the Great Dao

Chapter 1573 727: Changsheng's Fall (Part 2)

"Lady Houtu wants me to go to the Immortal Sea, the place where Emperor Changsheng fell. I'm unsure if there will be dangers there." He was somewhat worried.

Little Dun said, "Husband should consider more than just these issues. There is also the conflict between the immortals and gods, which has already been ignited and is irreparable. One of the Four Imperial Lords, Emperor Changsheng, has fallen, and even two Daluo Golden Immortals have died—it cannot be retrieved. The war between the Immortal Court and the Heavenly Court is inevitable. Husband leads these two hundred thousand immortals peacefully in Penglai West; how should one position oneself?"

Chen Shi was resolute.

Little Dun Fairy further said, "The Heavenly Court is bound to order you to attack the Immortal Court, launching expeditions against the Three Pure Ones Realm or Western Heaven. Among the two hundred thousand immortals under your command, many are from the Immortal Court, while others are disciples of the Three Pure Ones and Western Heaven lineages. Even if some are not affiliated with the Immortal Court, being immortals themselves, if they are forced to turn against their peers, there will inevitably be backlash. Should husband follow the Heavenly Court's orders to campaign, the soldiers under your command may mutiny."

Chen Shi exhaled heavily.

Indeed, what Little Dun said was the dilemma he faced.

At present, Penglai West is still too weak, the Heavenly Immortal Realm is merely a slightly bigger world, far from being able to stand equally against both the Immortal Court and Heavenly Court.

He didn't have much goodwill towards either the Immortal Court or Heavenly Court, but he wasn't yet at the point of raising the flag of rebellion.

"Madam thinks, in the contest between the Immortal Court and the Heavenly Court, who will win?" Chen Shi asked.

Little Dun laughed: "Does husband want to choose the victor and side with them? The conflict between the two seems to favor the Heavenly Court, but in truth, the Immortal Family holds the advantage. If husband wishes to gain the most benefits, then it is wise to submit to the Immortal Court. The Immortal Court has the Three Pure Ones Realm and Western Heaven. The Earth Immortal Realm was opened by the Three Pure Ones, and the two Buddhas of Western Heaven are no less than the Three Pure Ones. The foundations of the Three Pure Ones Realm and Western Heaven are bound to be extremely formidable. The fall of Emperor Changsheng of Nanji shows this clearly. Moreover, with the Immortal Court possessing Primordial Talisman, the strength of immortal path experts is destined to rise sharply! Therefore, the Immortal Court will surely win."

Chen Shi said: "Madam's argument is sound. But I choose the Heavenly Court."

Little Dun was stunned and showed a look of confusion.

Chen Shi said, "The Three Pure Ones Realm and Western Heaven indeed have deep foundations, and the Immortal Emperor Supreme is a formidable ruler. However, the Heavenly Court has the Great Heavenly Venerate overseeing, wielding the Heavenly Dao Divine Artifact, and has East King and The Queen Mother of the West, two great immortals. To immortals, they also possess the rallying power of a call to arms. The Three Pure Ones Realm and Western Heaven are not united with the Immortal Court; there is the possibility of defections."

"In terms of experts, the Heavenly Court is by no means inferior. Moreover, the Opening Tribulation is imminent. Unless the Immortal Court can wipe out the Heavenly Court before the tribulation arrives, ultimately, the victors will still be the Heavenly Court!"

After pondering for a moment, Little Dun acknowledged the merit in his words and asked: "So husband chooses the Heavenly Court?"

Chen Shi said, "Madam thinks, what about the policy in Penglai West that the Immortal Mountain Holy Place belongs to Golden Turtle Island—is not privately owned by immortals—how is this move?"

Knowing well the regulations he set in Penglai West where she has been managing affairs lately, Little Dun praised: "I think, the Immortal Mountain Holy Land and mineral veins belonging to Golden Turtle Island collectively, with immortal disciples merely having the right to use them, might solve the chaos in the Earth Immortal Realm."

Chen Shi said: "But if I apply my measures in the Earth Immortal Realm, I will be the first to be eliminated by the Three Pure Ones Realm and Western Heaven. The Heavenly Court will most likely do away with me too."

He whispered, "But the reason for choosing the Heavenly Court is because I believe the Great Heavenly Venerate is not one to sit idly by; there must be deep plans in his mind. When I went to the Ancestral Court, Immortal Master Erlang said he had profound depth."

At that moment, he felt a stir in his heart and said, "Lady Houtu's clone has come."

Little Dun was surprised: "So soon?"

Before she finished speaking, Lady Houtu from the Void World walked briskly towards them with zeal and said: "I came from someone else's Dao Realm, naturally faster. Crown Prince, let's set off quickly!"

Penglai West has numerous Dao Realms of immortals; it was just by entering an immortal's Dao Realm that she quickly arrived at Golden Turtle Island.

Chen Shi acknowledged this, saying to Little Dun: "Please continue to guard Golden Turtle Island, protect the Holy Land of the sect."

Lady Houtu looked at Little Dun and said: "Are you the Crown Princess Consort? You have such remarkable beauty and extraordinary demeanor, no wonder the Crown Prince keeps thinking of you, paying no attention to the fairies in my palace."

Little Dun hurriedly paid respects: "Child pays respects to godmother."

Lady Houtu laughed: "You do have a sweet tongue. If you have time, often come to Thick Virtue and Bright Heaven Palace to visit godmother, I'll make sure you benefit."

Little Dun thanked her profusely.

Chen Shi and Lady Houtu left Penglai West and came to the nearest ferry, boarding the Star Shuttle and departing.

Outside the Star Shuttle, the Mystic Sky Aurora surged dazzlingly, while within the shuttle, it remained tranquil.

Lady Houtu gazed at the rapidly passing aurora outside the ship, her eyes reflecting the brilliant colors of the aurora, remaining silent for a long while, then suddenly asked: "Crown Prince, how did you know Emperor Changsheng could influence the Opening Tribulation? This matter was never rumored."

"A guess."

Chen Shi came beside her and frankly said, "The Heavenly Dao of the Earth Immortal Realm and the Dark Sea Heavenly Dao are both Heavenly Dao, having connections. Hence, I conjectured that Emperor Changsheng, controlling the Heavenly Tribulation, might naturally also control part of the Opening Tribulation's power."

Lady Houtu was silent for a long while and said: "Indeed, Emperor Changsheng's Divine Dao can control a portion of the Opening Tribulation's power. This power is minimal, only one percent."

Chen Shi looked at her profile and said: "One percent is already extremely frightening."

Lady Houtu nodded: "This one percent mobilizes power enough to cause a Daluo Golden Immortal to die dramatically in the Opening Tribulation. During the last Primordial Meeting Tribulation, Emperor Changsheng conducted an experiment."

Chen Shi felt a tremor in his heart, recognizing that possessing so many secrets meant the Lady Houtu before him was not the clone leading, but the consciousness of Emperor Earth arriving personally.

Lady Houtu said: "The fallen Daluo Golden Immortal was named Daoist Yuan Ming; he lived on the outskirts of the Three Pure Ones Realm. Originally there were no disasters or tribulations within the Three Pure Ones Realm, but Daoist Yuan Ming suddenly responded to the Opening Tribulation and thus perished. The Immortal True inside the Three Pure Ones Realm were very nervous, believing the Three Pure Ones Realm couldn't resist the Opening Tribulation, investigating everywhere, quite uneasy."

Chen Shi said: "Emperor Changsheng did experiments in the Three Pure Ones Realm; if noticed by the realm's experts, they would certainly not let it rest."

Lady Houtu said: "That was not his only experiment. Later he even attempted to shake Western Heaven, trying to lead the Opening Tribulation into Western Heaven but was blocked by the past, present, and future of the three Buddhas of Western Heaven and had to retreat."

Chen Shi recalled when he went to Western Heaven Ling Mountain, the Old Monk Yun Cheng once mentioned that the Dao Realms left by the two Buddhas, Jieyin and Zhunti, had been increasingly struggling to resist the Opening Tribulation in recent years, showing signs of collapse. When the last Opening Tribulation exploded, all the Buddhas of Western Heaven acted to hold it off, maintaining Western Heaven's dignity.

It appeared that Western Heaven shaking during the Opening Tribulation was not due to the decline of the Dao Realms left by the two Ancient Buddhas, but because Emperor Changsheng instigated the Opening Tribulation.

Last time, it seemed like Western Heaven was combating the Opening Tribulation; in truth, it was against Emperor Changsheng.

"These experiments were all to verify the power Emperor Changsheng could exert in instigating the Opening Tribulation."

Lady Houtu said, "Indeed, it was exceptionally formidable. With Emperor Changsheng, the Heavenly Court can calmly resolve immortal calamities. Only five people in the Heavenly Court are aware of these experiments, and one of them includes Emperor Changsheng."

Chen Shi's expression changed slightly, saying: "Among the five, someone leaked information, bringing calamity upon Emperor Changsheng."

Lady Houtu looked at him deeply and said: "The five consist of the Four Imperial Lords and the Great Heavenly Venerate."

Chen Shi remained silent.

The Four Imperial Lords include Houtu, Nanji, Gouchen, and Ziwei.

Each of these four is impossible to betray the Heavenly Court and join the Immortal Court.

As for the Great Heavenly Venerate, it is even more impossible that he would betray the Heavenly Court as he embodies the highest authority within the Heavenly Court!

Lady Houtu continued: "I am not possible to betray, nor is the Great Heavenly Venerate; Emperor Changsheng naturally cannot betray. That only leaves Ziwei and Gouchen; they both have such suspicions."

The Earth Immortal Realm is vast, filled with various environments and geographies, with the Immortal Sea situated in the southern part of the Earth Immortal Realm, also known as the Dao Sea.

The reason this sea region garners the honor of the Immortal Dao Sea is mainly because, when the Three Pure Ones opened the Earth Immortal Realm, they found abundant immortal mountains over the sea, well aligned with the Immortal Dao, with little external interference, hence named Immortal Sea.

Later, as the number of immortals in the Earth Immortal Realm increased, people seized mountains, refining mountain holy lands for their Dao Realms, then concealed them, fearing discovery, resulting in fewer immortal mountains and holy places on Immortal Sea.

Further on, the immense Immortal Sea eventually had no immortal mountains left on its surface, completely barren, with thin Spiritual Energy.

Nowadays, the Immortal Sea attracts hordes of so-called sages, rife with deception and subterfuge, violence and plunder.

It is often seen that immortals from other regions bring their foes here to submerge them in the Immortal Sea.

Chen Shi and Lady Houtu arrived above the sea, where the Thunder Department's soldiers had already set up formations to repel outsiders ahead of them.

The Thunder Department radiates murderous aura, making people afraid to approach.

"Reporting to Celestial Venerate, Heavenly King Chen and Lady Houtu from the Void World have arrived!"

Jiutian Yingyuan Leisheng Puhua Tianzun came personally to welcome them and invited the two into Emperor Changsheng's fallen location, showing a sorrowful expression, saying: "The two of you, this matter must have been done by Nanji Immortal!"