Chapter 718
The Three Immortals of the Intercepting Sect Resent Being Looked Down Upon
When the Tongtian Sect Leader was mentioned, Qiu Shou Xian's spiritual fluctuations noticeably decreased.
Lingya Xian's divine sense appeared more composed, but it also revealed confusion.
“What you say, elder brother, is also my concern. With our teacher imprisoned and the Jie Sect vanished, how can we not feel hatred and regret? Serving the Heavenly Court is unsettling. But this Senior Brother Lin has saved our lives and promised us freedom, without forcing us. His magnanimity... makes it hard to speak ill of him.”
Jin Guangxian continued.
"Moreover, he doesn't seem to value us very much? Three Great Luo Golden Immortals! Even if we have been suppressed by the Western Paradise for many years and our cultivation has not fully recovered, we are still genuine Great Luo Dao Fruits! Wouldn't we be honored guests wherever we are?"
Why does it feel like Senior Brother Lin casually rescued three roadside demons, taking them or leaving them? Isn't that a bit... disrespectful to a Great Luo Golden Immortal?
These words struck a chord with Qiu Shou Xian and Ling Ya Xian.
Although they were mounts in the Western Paradise and suffered countless humiliations, the three great bodhisattvas still relied heavily on their strength. When had they ever been treated so "casually"? Even though Lin Zhu was their savior, this "indifference" made them feel a subtle sense of resentment and loss—are the three of us so dispensable in your eyes?
"Then... what do we do? Do we really stay and work for him?"
The dragon-headed immortal hesitated.
"inappropriate."
Lingya Fairy shook her head.
"Firstly, I have reservations, and secondly... judging from his attitude, he doesn't seem to need us that much. Forcing him to stay would be pointless and would only make us look ungrateful."
"It's better than..."
Jin Guangxian made the suggestion.
"Shall we leave the Heavenly Court and go to the mortal realm to relax? After being imprisoned for countless years, it's time to see what the Three Realms are like now. As for whether we should come and serve Senior Brother Lin in the future... let's wait and see."
Although the revival of the Jie Sect is uncertain, our teacher is still alive, and our hope remains. We always need a place to go, something to look forward to.
After a brief silence, both Qiu Shou Xian and Ling Ya Xian conveyed their agreement through their divine senses.
They have been suppressed for too long and desperately need time to adapt to freedom, to sort out their chaotic thoughts, and to confirm their future path.
"Alright, let's go for a stroll in the human world first."
Qiu Shou Xian made the final decision.
“We will remember Senior Brother Lin’s kindness and will repay him if needed in the future. But for now… let us decide our own path.”
They thought their secret method of transmitting sound was completely undetectable, but they forgot that this place was a side hall of Lin Zhu's Star Palace, and was located within the core area of the "Heaven-Covering Array," which Lin Zhu had personally set up and which combined the mysteries of the Heaven-Covering Talisman with some of the Chaos Array.
Within this formation, unless a saint is present in person, Lin Zhu cannot escape the perception of even the slightest fluctuations.
The three demon immortals' telepathic communication sounded to him as clear as if they were discussing something face-to-face.
Lin Zhu sat upright on the cloud bed, his expression unchanged, but he found it somewhat amusing.
These three guys have quite a few thoughts on their minds. However, he could understand them. The pain of the defeat of the Jie Sect, the loyalty and guilt towards their teacher, the confusion after regaining their freedom, and the remaining pride of being a Great Luo Golden Immortal... all these intertwined emotions did require time to process.
At this moment, Qiu Shou Xian stepped forward, his huge lion head slightly lowered, representing the three brothers, and spoke to Lin Zhu in a deep, resonant voice.
"We brothers will never forget your great kindness, senior brother. Your life-saving grace is like a second birth, and we will never forget this kindness."
It paused, a complex look flashing in its lion eyes, and continued.
"We are from the Jie Sect and our hearts are with our teacher; this will is unwavering. The Heavenly Court... was an enemy in the past, not a friend. We still harbor resentment towards it, and it is difficult for us to immediately join its ranks and serve the Heavenly Court. We fear we would fail our teacher's teachings."
Lin Zhu listened quietly without interrupting.
"However, my senior brother's kindness is as high as a mountain!"
Qiu Shouxian emphasized his words, making a solemn promise.
"We hereby swear that no matter where we are, if our senior brother is ever in trouble, he only needs to give us a word, and the three of us brothers will come to his aid from afar without hesitation, to repay the kindness of today!"
These words were spoken with both affection and righteousness, clearly distinguishing between gratitude and resentment. They expressed their unwillingness to immediately join the Heavenly Court, while also solemnly promising to repay the debt of gratitude.
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhu's eyes flashed with approval. He nodded and spoke in a calm yet clear tone.
"It's good that you can think and say this. True character lies in having clear distinctions between love and hate, and in not forgetting one's roots."
He changed the subject, his expression becoming more formal.
"However, there are a few points I need to clarify. First, I, Lin Zhu, am first and foremost the God of Law Enforcement in the Three Realms. My actions are for the purpose of upholding the righteous path of the Three Realms and enforcing the law impartially, not for any particular sect or for my own selfish interests. The Nine-Layer Heavenly Prison recruits those who are willing to contribute to the righteous path of the Three Realms, regardless of their background."
His gaze swept over the three demon immortals, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable power.
"So if you're only here to seek employment in the Nine Heavens Prison because of 'Brother Jie,' or simply to 'repay a personal favor,' then you don't need to come. I don't need people who join for those reasons."
“But,” Lin Zhu said, her tone softening slightly.
"If you come to your senses in the future and feel that you are willing to contribute to the 'righteous path of the Three Realms,' willing to abide by the Heavenly Laws, and willing to work with me, Lin Zhu, in this complex Three Realms to do something practical, instead of just talking about reviving old dreams or dwelling on past grievances..."
Therefore, the gates of the Nine-Layered Prison are always open to you. I welcome any like-minded person who is righteous, capable, and responsible to join me.
These words were spoken frankly and openly, yet carried a detached air of superiority. It was as if they were saying...
Whether you come or not is up to you. I have plenty of people who want to come in, so I don't need three of you.
After hearing this, the three demon immortals felt an even stronger sense of resentment and disappointment, rather than any less.
They had anticipated that Lin Zhu might try to persuade them to stay, might try to coerce them with a favor, or might even be somewhat displeased... but they never expected that the other party would have such a nonchalant attitude of "it doesn't matter whether you come or not!"
Compared to the tense atmosphere when the Buddhas of the Western Paradise guarded them closely, fearing they would break free of the restrictions and escape, Lin Zhu's current nonchalant attitude made them feel... as if they were being slighted? Three Great Luo Golden Immortals, is that all they've got? Are Great Luo Golden Immortals as common as dogs under your command, and Quasi-Saints everywhere? An indescribable feeling, mixed with a little bit of resentment and more resentment, rose in the hearts of the three demon immortals.
They looked at each other and saw a similar flame in each other's eyes—a desire to prove themselves after being "looked down upon".
Hmph! You look down on us? You think we're dispensable? Then we'll go out and make a name for ourselves! We'll let the Three Realms know that the Seven Immortals of the Intercepting Sect, even after countless ages of silence, will return as top-tier powerhouses! Then, let's see if you, Lin Zhu, will regret your "indifference" today, and if you'll personally come to invite us back!
This thought was not malicious; it was more of a childish, defiant desire to prove someone wrong, but it also ignited the long-dormant passion and fighting spirit of the three demon immortals.
Lin Zhu took in their subtle reactions, understanding their intentions, but did not point them out.
He even yawned in a very cooperative manner, looking like he was saying, "Have you finished discussing this? I'm a little sleepy," and casually waved his hand.
"Alright, I've said what I needed to say. Since you want to go out and relax, then go ahead. After being locked up for so many years, it's time to get some fresh air and see what the Three Realms are like now. However..."
He seemed to suddenly remember something and added.
"If you miss your fellow disciples, or want to know more about the old members of the Jie Sect, you might as well take a trip to Kunlun Mountain."
"Mount Kunlun?!"
Upon hearing this, the three demon immortals were instantly shocked, their massive bodies tensing! Kunlun Mountain—that was the territory of the Chan Sect! It was the lair of their most fiercely fought and deeply envied enemy, the Jie Sect, during the Investiture of the Gods! What did their senior brother mean by this? Was he sending them to seek revenge? Or to their deaths?
"The wiry-headed immortal said urgently."
“Senior brother! Kunlun Mountain is the Daoist temple of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable and the foundation of the Chan Sect! It is heavily guarded and filled with experts! Although we have regained our freedom, our cultivation has not yet returned to its peak. How can we go there? Even if we could go, we wouldn't be able to hold it after we conquer it! Is this mission... too difficult?”
It thought that Lin Zhu had given them an "impossible task" as a test or something else.
Lin Zhu looked at their expressions of being on high alert, tense, and feeling that the task was arduous. He was taken aback at first, then couldn't help but chuckle and shook his head.
"You guys... have been suppressed under the three great Bodhisattvas for too long, your bones have gone limp and your brains have become stiff. Don't you care about the news in the Three Realms? Who told you to attack Kunlun Mountain? I just said you could go and take a look around and find out some information. Fine, do as you please, go wherever you want."
He was too lazy to explain any further, so he stood up, straightened his robes, and said.
"I have some matters to attend to at the Lingxiao Palace. Please make yourselves at home. Someone at the Xingdou Palace will prepare everything you need for your departure. I'm leaving now."
Having said that, without waiting for the three demon immortals to say anything more, Lin Zhu's figure flickered and disappeared into the side hall. He was truly elegant and decisive, without any hesitation.
He was in high spirits, having just upgraded to the Thirty-Sixth Grade Creation Lotus, a heaven-defying protective treasure that filled his defensive gaps, giving him immense confidence. He truly didn't care about the Three Demon Immortals' fate. Once the Enforcement Hall was completed, with its "spiritual agate walls" as a selling point and its generous benefits, he wouldn't have to worry about attracting powerful individuals.
Moreover, he also possesses three "Ancient Ferocious Beast Bloodline Origin Crystals" obtained from the system rewards, which give ancient bloodline-possessing Great Luo Realm demon beasts the opportunity to break through to the half-step Quasi-Saint level!
This is the trump card for creating high-end combat power! Compared to this, there is really no need to retain the three Great Luo Golden Immortals who still need time to recover, whose minds are not yet settled, and who are burdened by the mentality of the "previous dynasty".
Lin Zhu left gracefully, leaving the three demon immortals standing blankly in the empty side hall, looking at each other in bewilderment.
A gentle breeze seemed to blow outside the hall, stirring up a few fallen leaves of the spiritual plants, adding to the sense of desolation.
The three great immortals who were once famous throughout the primordial world and gave the twelve golden immortals of the Chan Sect a headache were now feeling somewhat... bewildered.
That's it... they just dismissed me like that?
Not even a polite attempt to persuade them to stay?
In the end, she was even suspected of being ridiculed for being "spineless" and "not caring about the news"?
Do the three of us Great Luo Golden Immortals really have absolutely no prestige in the eyes of this newly appointed senior brother and Heavenly Prison God?!
An unprecedented feeling, a mixture of frustration, resentment, confusion, and a hint of self-doubt, spread through the hearts of the three demon immortals.
For the first time, they experienced what it felt like to be treated so "neglected" and "indifferently".
"Big brother...we..."
Jin Guangxian looked at Qiu Shou Xian.
Qiu Shou Xian took a deep breath, and two flames ignited in his huge lion eyes, a fighting spirit ignited by stimulation.
"Let's go! We'll head to the mortal realm first! I refuse to believe that with our brothers' abilities, we can't make a name for ourselves in the Three Realms! When we're famous throughout the land, let's see if Lin Zhu will still be so indifferent!"
"Correct!"
Lingya Xian and Jinguang Xian echoed in unison, their enormous beast eyes also flashing with an indomitable light.
Three ancient demons, newly freed, with complex thoughts and a burning desire to prove themselves, embark on a journey to return to the Three Realms, filled with boundless "anticipation" for the future and "discontent" with the "indifferent" attitude of a certain senior brother.
And their future interactions with that seemingly "indifferent" senior brother seem to have only just begun.
After leaving the Star Palace, Lin Zhu did not rush to deal with the three ferocious beast bloodline crystals that could create half-step quasi-saints. Improving the high-end combat power under his command was important, but some things needed to be prioritized.
Right now, he has an even more important place to go—the Lingxiao Palace.
As soon as Lin Zhu stepped through the towering, auspicious gate of the Lingxiao Palace, he sensed that the atmosphere inside was somewhat different from usual. Today was not a grand court assembly, but the celestial officials standing on both sides of the hall were quite orderly. Civil and military officials, star deities, and even some noble celestial officials who rarely appeared on ordinary days all seemed to have received the news and were waiting here early.
When his figure appeared in the light and shadow of the palace gate, the vast hall, which had been filled with some low murmurs, instantly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop!
A variety of gazes, some filled with awe, some with curiosity, some with complex emotions, and some with fervor, all focused on him.
The solemn and dignified atmosphere, the quiet that seemed to deliberately soften even breathing, was no less impressive than when His Majesty the Jade Emperor held court. Many celestial officials even subconsciously straightened their backs and adjusted their demeanor, as if they were welcoming not a colleague, but some being who needed to be treated with great respect and could determine the fate of many.
Lin Zhu remained calm, as if he were already used to such a scene, and walked leisurely along the jade steps of the hall deeper into the space. The soles of his boots tapped on the smooth, mirror-like jade floor, producing a clear and steady sound that echoed in the silent hall.
The Jade Emperor, seated atop his dragon throne on the nine-tiered cloud platform, had donned a more solemn imperial robe today, wearing a twelve-tassel crown. His face was partially obscured by a beaded curtain, giving him an air of profound majesty. But as Lin Zhu approached, the beaded curtain trembled slightly, and when the Jade Emperor's gaze fell upon Lin Zhu, an undisguised hint of satisfaction and admiration naturally emerged within his majesty.
"Minister Lin, you've arrived."
The Jade Emperor's voice was calm, yet it possessed a unique penetrating power, clearly resounding throughout the hall.
"Your subject, Lin Zhu, pays his respects to Your Majesty."
Lin Zhu stopped below the imperial steps, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, his posture humble yet not subservient. (End of Chapter)