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"Where are the Three Fairies?"
The Great Supreme Elder, Lao Tzu, revealed his form as he descended upon the Three Immortal Islands.
The Investiture War had not yet officially begun, and it was not yet time to drop all pretenses of civility. He could not simply strike down Yunxiao, Bixiao, and Qiongxiao without giving the Grandmaster of Heaven, Tongtian, a perfect excuse to retaliate. Furthermore, these intricate schemes and cosmic chess moves could not be brought into the light of day.
However, Lao Tzu knew that by merely being present, the Three Fairies would not dare to continue casting divine arts under his watchful eye. His presence alone was enough to halt their suspected meddling in the Heavens.
Long before the refining of the Investiture List, Yuanshi Tianzun had approached him. The two had reached an agreement: the entire Sect of Interception (Jie) would be sacrificed to fuel the List. Yuanshi sought to use the war to help his own disciples transcend their tribulations and expand the Sect of Elucidation (Chan), finally suppressing the increasingly dominant Jie Sect.
Lao Tzu, as the leader of the Sect of Humanity, required the prosperity of the Human Dao. The fall of the Shang Dynasty and the rise of the Zhou was the "Righteous Path" of the mortal world. Yet, many Jie Sect disciples, particularly the Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong, were core officials of the Shang. They would inevitably pull the entire sect into the conflict to protect the dynasty. Thus, Lao Tzu had to help Yuanshi suppress them.
"Disciples Yunxiao, Bixiao, and Qiongxiao pay their respects to the Martial Uncle!"
Sensing the presence of the Great Supreme Elder, the three sisters immediately emerged to greet him. While many might not know that the old man on the ox was an avatar of the Saint Lao Tzu, they—as the strongest disciples of the Jie Sect—knew exactly who he was.
"We did not know Martial Uncle was visiting. To what do we owe the honor?" Yunxiao asked politely.
"I have often heard your Master speak of you. I happened to be passing by and decided to drop in. Surely I am welcome?" Lao Tzu asked with a genial smile, flicking his horsetail whisk.
The sisters exchanged glances, confusion flashing in their eyes, but they maintained their respectful smiles. "Of course. We only fear our meager celestial wine and fruit will not be to Martial Uncle's taste."
"It seems he hasn't noticed me yet," George thought.
Watching from the shadows, George guessed Lao Tzu's intent. He retracted his aura completely and slipped away from the Three Immortal Islands. Lao Tzu was a master of alchemy and possessed the strength of a Saint, but as an avatar, his perception was not infallible. Under George's extreme concealment, it was only natural for the Elder to mistake the Three Fairies for the masterminds.
George felt no guilt about letting the sisters take the heat. The Jie Sect was already destined for conflict with the other two sects; even if they did nothing, Yuanshi and Lao Tzu would eventually come for them. Only by remaining hidden could George truly turn the tide when the Investiture War reached its climax.
"Time to bring them home."
George streaked toward the Heavens. His goal was accomplished: his four disciples, along with Nezha and Ao Bing, had seen a massive surge in power. It was time to pull back. He knew they couldn't actually kill the Jade Emperor—the man was the orthodox ruler of the Three Realms, shielded by immense providence. Even a Saint would find it difficult to kill him due to the "coincidental" protections of Fate.
In the Heavens, the battle had reached a fever pitch.
In a desperate bid to stop the rebels, the Jade Emperor ordered the opening of the Heavenly Sluice Gates. He intended to drown the six of them in celestial water. Instead of killing them, however, the water broke containment and surged toward the mortal realm.
The compassionate Yang Chan and the water-manipulating Ao Bing combined their powers with the Lotus Lantern to hold back the flood. Meanwhile, Sun Wukong, Yang Jiao, Yang Jian, and Nezha pressed the attack.
The Five Polar War Gods and the General of the Rolling Curtain (Sharen) arrived to reinforce the Emperor. On paper, the Heavens held the advantage in cultivation levels, but in practice, they were being overwhelmed. Wukong's Ruyi Jingu Bang and Yang Jian's Three-Pointed Lance were unstoppable.
The rebels were like sponges, growing stronger with every second of combat. Finally, after a brutal struggle, the War Gods and the General were left sprawled on the ground.
"Old Man Jade Emperor!" Wukong shouted, leaping onto the Emperor's desk and taking a bite out of a celestial peach. "Release my junior brother's mother, or today, I'll take your seat for myself!"
"Release our mother and we leave immediately," Yang Jian added, his weapon inches from the Emperor's throat.
"And pardon the Dragon Clan for all their past crimes!" Nezha piped up.
"Never!" the Jade Emperor slammed his fist on the table. "Even if you kill me, I will not release her. She broke the Laws of Heaven. They must be upheld!"
"Release her, or you die!" Yang Jian growled.
"Wait! Don't be rash!" the Queen Mother pleaded. "The Jade Emperor is the pillar of the Three Realms. If he falls, chaos will ensue. Let us negotiate..."
Yang Chan, having finished redirecting the floods, rushed into the hall. She knelt before the Emperor, her eyes welling with tears. "Uncle... our mother is your own sister. Please, let her come home to us. I beg you."
The Jade Emperor's expression softened for a moment, but he remained silent, unwilling to break the law.
Losing his patience, Wukong raised his staff to strike the Emperor's head. But just as he moved, a resonant Zen hum echoed through the Jade Pool.
"Presumptuous beast! Cease at once!"
The sound sent a sharp pain through Wukong's mind, causing his staff to falter. Two figures in strange, saffron-colored robes appeared in the hall. They bowed to the Jade Emperor.
"Zhunti and Jieyin of the Western Sect. We heard Your Majesty was in trouble and have come to assist."
"Zhunti... Jieyin?" The Jade Emperor blinked. He knew of the Western Sect, but the West was a desolate place he had largely ignored.
"Hurry! Subdue these rebels!" the Queen Mother cried out.
Enraged at being ignored, Wukong lunged at Zhunti. The Western Saint simply flicked a divine scepter. Wukong was hit by a force like a thunderbolt, coughing up blood as he was sent flying back.
"Eldest Brother!" Yang Jian and the others caught him, horrified. Wukong's physical body was near-invulnerable, yet this man had nearly broken him with a casual flick.
"Retreat!" Yang Chan whispered, using the Lotus Lantern to heal Wukong. She realized these two newcomers were on an entirely different level.
"You all have a predestined affinity with my Western Sect," the Saint Jieyin said with a beatific smile. "Come with us to the Western Paradise."
He threw out his Universe Bag. A terrifying suction force gripped the six rebels. Despite their various divine arts, they found themselves unable to move, slowly being pulled toward the golden bag.
The Western Saints were ecstatic. They had been looking for a way to "recruit" talent from the East to fulfill their great vows and bolster their barren sect. They had watched from afar, waiting for Lao Tzu to leave, and now the perfect opportunity had fallen into their laps. Capturing these six geniuses under the guise of "saving the Jade Emperor" was a masterstroke.
"I... I can't hold on!" Yang Jian groaned as his mana began to fail.
"Divine Art: Disarm Your Treasure!"
Suddenly, a brilliant beam of light shot through the hall, striking the Universe Bag. The treasure was blasted across the room, and the suction force vanished instantly, freeing the six from their golden prison.
(End of Chapter)