: How long has it been since the Investiture of the Gods? Could we possibly ask for anothe

Chapter 27: How long has it been since the Investiture of the Gods? Is it possible to ask for another measurement?

The expressions of the Four Holy Marshals became even more solemn.

"Sir, what should we do next?"

Li Xingba spoke in a low voice, having already changed his form of address.

Shi Yuan simply smiled and made a hand seal.

"point."

The word fell.

With a slight sway of his shadow, another figure slowly emerged, identical to his original, with no flaws in aura, magical power, or divine charm.

"What a magnificent technique for creating clones!"

Gao Youqian couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Shi Yuan waved his hand casually.

"Stop talking nonsense."

"You four, take me with you to your marshal's hall for a banquet."

"As for the real me, I have important matters to attend to."

Although the words were spoken lightly, the expressions of the four marshals simultaneously became solemn.

"Sir, are you really going there?"

Shi Yuan smiled, his expression calm.

"I came on the teacher's orders."

"Since we're going to see that person, we're naturally confident."

Not long after.

The most central place in Heaven, the Jade Pool Immortal Forest.

Deep within the immortal forest, an enormous peach tree took root in the earth, its innate wood energy permeating the surroundings, radiating immortal light like a waterfall, and displaying endless colorful clouds.

This is the mother peach tree.

The true innate spiritual essence.

Beneath the peach tree, a man wearing a jade crown and a royal robe stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping across the Three Realms.

Beside him stood a woman in a phoenix-winged dress, with a dignified bearing.

It was the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother of the West.

In the past, their greatest pastime was observing the changes in the Three Realms from this spot.

But today, the Jade Emperor's expression was noticeably gloomy.

Although he didn't utter a single word, the invisible pressure he exuded caused the surrounding immortal energy to stagnate.

"Haotian————"

The Queen Mother spoke softly, her eyes filled with worry.

She knew the nature of the ruler of the Three Realms beside her best.

"Yaochi, I am fine."

The Jade Emperor responded in a low voice.

"But that one from the Chan Sect has gone too far."

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother couldn't help but chime in.

But before she could finish speaking, the Jade Emperor raised his hand to stop her.

"Be cautious in speaking of sages."

The tone was stern.

But the anger and resentment in his eyes were impossible to conceal.

What they were talking about was something that happened not long ago.

The Zhou royal family held ancestral temple sacrifices.

According to ancestral tradition, sacrifices should be offered to Heaven and Earth first, then to the Three Sovereigns, and only then to the various sages.

This time, however, after offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth and the Three Sovereigns, King Zhou opened a separate temple to worship the Chan religion.

It's not just Yuanshi Tianzun.

Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, and other Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect also received orthodox incense offerings.

The Jade Emperor knew all too well what this meant.

This is not a simple change in etiquette.

Rather, it is a redistribution of human fortune and destiny.

The fortunes bestowed upon the Three Sovereigns and Nuwa were firmly established and unshakeable.

The remaining fortune of the people was originally to be shared between the Heavenly Court and the Chan Sect.

This time, however, the Chan Sect gained significantly more.

Correspondingly, the Heavenly Court's gains naturally decreased.

This is blatant robbery and theft.

This is an act that completely disregards the attitude of the Heavenly Court.

How could the Jade Emperor not be furious?

I'm furious, but what can I do?

"saint----"

The Jade Emperor murmured softly.

His tone was full of resentment, yet also helplessness.

Lord of the Three Realms.

In the presence of a sage, one is ultimately too insignificant.

Beneath the mother peach tree, celestial light descends, eclipsing the secrets of heaven.

Under the protection of this innate spiritual root, the Jade Emperor's expression visibly relaxed. Only here, in front of the person he trusted most, could he finally speak out the words that had been suppressed in his heart for many years.

"Jade Pool".

The Jade Emperor's voice was soft, tinged with weariness.

"Regarding the Investiture of the Gods back then, I—have actually always regretted it."

The Queen Mother stood quietly to the side, not interrupting, but simply listening.

She knew this nominal ruler of the Three Realms all too well.

He had kept this regret buried in his heart for far too long.

"After the end of the Lich Wars, I, by the decree of the Dao Ancestor, established the Heavenly Court to rule over the Three Realms."

The Jade Emperor spoke slowly, as if recalling a long-forgotten past.

"But back then, there were too many powerful beings in the Three Realms."

He couldn't help but give a wry smile as he said this.

"Especially the Jie Sect."

"With countless immortals paying homage, and disciples scattered throughout the Three Realms, each possessing immense magical power and acting according to their own whims, how could the Heavenly Court possibly restrain them?"

Back then, he was indeed full of ambition.

To truly establish an order dominated by the Heavenly Court, so that the Three Realms can operate in a regulated manner.

But reality dealt him a heavy blow.

Faced with those powerful immortals and deities with profound backgrounds and extraordinary cultivation, he, the newly established ruler of the Heavenly Court, had very little say.

then...

He went to find the Taoist Ancestor.

"The Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods began at that time."

The Jade Emperor's tone gradually lowered.

Saints entered the fray, and primordial deities joined the fray, unleashing a bloodbath across the Three Realms, with countless cultivators perishing. In the end, the Chan Sect emerged victorious, while the Jie Sect was defeated.

The Heavenly Court was thus enriched.

Heavenly soldiers and generals, and the righteous gods of the heavens, each performed their duties.

At that moment, he thought everything would be alright.

But reality slapped him in the face.

"The Chan Sect is even more difficult to manage than the Jie Sect."

A dark look appeared in the Jade Emperor's eyes.

The Jie Sect does things in a straightforward manner, at least.

The teachings can be different.

After the Investiture of the Gods, not a single one of the second-generation Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect remained to serve in the Heavenly Court.

Even if we include the third and fourth generation disciples, as well as those who perished in the Investiture of the Gods and were conferred the title of gods, the entire Chan Sect has only a dozen or so people on duty in the Heavenly Court.

And who are these ten or so people?

Yang Jian.

He was nominally his nephew, but because of the matter of Fairy Yunhua, he openly disregarded the Jade Emperor.

Who in the Three Realms doesn't know the phrase "obey orders but not proclamations"?

Nezha.

Despite being bestowed the title of the Great God of the Three Altars and Seas, he still went his own way and acted solely on his whims.

But what the Jade Emperor found most unbearable was not these things.

Rather, it was the Chan sect's control over human affairs.

When the state of Zhou was established and the feudal lords were enfeoffed, almost all of them came from the Chan sect.

They ascended to the Heavenly Court and were granted the titles of immortals and gods by virtue of their great merit in establishing the human dynasty, but the one they truly obeyed was never the Heavenly Court.

It is the exposition of teachings.

"In today's world, people only know etiquette and venerate the sages of the Chan sect."

The Jade Emperor gave a cold laugh.

"The feudal lords could even appoint mountain gods and river gods on their own, and command immortals and gods."

"As for the Heavenly Court—"

He shook his head and didn't continue.

In the Heavenly Court, a Jade Void Edict is often more effective than the Jade Emperor's own command.

Ultimately, his role as the ruler of the Three Realms was not even as good as it was before the Investiture of the Gods.

Even so, he could only endure it.

Because behind the Chan sect stands a sage.

Yuanshi Tianzun.

Based on this alone, he had to swallow all his dissatisfaction, anger, and resentment.

Even now, when the Chan Sect has openly seized the fortune of the human dynasty, he can only grumble under the peach tree.

He didn't even dare to go to the Dao Ancestor again.

The affection of the past has long been worn away by repeated requests.

How long has it been since the Investiture of the Gods?

Is it possible to ask for another great eon?

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