Qingluan Immortal, carrying a plate of dried fruits, walked briskly with a smile. Upon reaching the pondside and seeing no one there, she exclaid in surprise, "Where’s Wa Niangniang? Doesn’t she always fish for Xuan Turtles here? Why isn’t she here today?"
Stepping onto the exquisitely paved path, Qingluan Immortal entered the pavilion and placed the dried fruits on the table. She sniffed and murmured to herself, "Brother Bai Jin was just here."
Her gaze was instantly captured by a clay pot on the table, from which a faint fragrance wafted.
Qingluan swallowed, her eyes shining brightly. "Is this the Bone Soup of Chaotic Beasts that Wa Niangniang prepared earlier? Didn’t she say it was for Brother Bai Jin? It seems untouched."
Qingluan glanced around furtively, murmuring softly, "This Bone Soup was painstakingly made by Wa Niangniang with bones collected from Chaotic Beasts. Brother Bai Jin didn’t drink it, but it shouldn’t be wasted!
Should I... help Wa Niangniang finish this pot of soup?"
Suddenly, a little figure clad in white appeared in Qingluan’s mind, yelling angrily, "No way! That’s Wa Niangniang’s soup you’re thinking of secretly drinking!"
Another figure, dressed in black, erged, hands on hips, declaring, "It was made for Bai Jin by Wa Niangniang, but he’s ungrateful, isn’t he?
If nobody drinks the soup she’s made, how awkward must Wa Niangniang feel, abandoning her usual pasti of fishing."
The white-clothed figure continued to shout angrily, "Still, that’s no excuse. This would be theft, an act deserving condemnation!"
The black-clothed figure spoke smugly, "What heaven tis but to take, shall fall to its curse; what’s ant to be done but is not, shall suffer worse.
Now that this pot of soup is before , it’s bestowed by the Heavenly Dao; how can it be theft?"
"You’re twisting words and being unreasonable. Aren’t you afraid that next ti Wa Niangniang might make Qingluan Soup instead?"
The black-clothed figure chuckled, "Just a taste, Wa Niangniang won’t notice."
The white figure wavered and clutched its head, moaning, "I... why am I feeling so dizzy?"
The black figure also emitted rolling black smoke, crying out in terror, "This is bad, it’s poisoned!" before toppling over.
Outside, Qingluan stood pale and dazed, the pot slipping from her grasp, thudding onto the floor, its lid coming off, and odd-shaped bones mixed in black soup spilled out, eerie runes twinkling upon each bone.
In Qingluan’s mouth was a long piece of bone, from which a pitch-black centipede shadow rapidly climbed.
Qingluan let out two muffled groans, falling backwards with a thud, her limbs twitching like electric shocks, foaming at the mouth, her face crawling with strange patterns.
...
In the valley, Wa Niangniang squinted her eyes and turned her head to glance at Nuwa Palace, thinking, you dare to steal my things; consider this a punishnt. Let’s see if you dare next ti.
She continued her clinking work of carving a stone statue, shaping a large rooster that gradually erged, standing proudly alone atop the rock.
...
A beam of white light passed through the Thirty-Three Heavens, arriving in the Heavenly Court Bird’s Nest, revealing Bai Jin’s figure as he walked toward the inside of the bird nest.
"Please hold, Emperor!" A hurried voice called from behind.
Bai Jin stopped and looked back, spotting Gold Star Taibai approaching with a brisk jog, pressing down his horsetail whisk.
Upon reaching Bai Jin, Gold Star Taibai gave a respectful bow, saying, "I, your humble servant, pay my respects to the Emperor."
Bai Jin smiled, "Gold Star Taibai, it’s been so ti since we last t, hasn’t it? You’ve gotten whiter."
Rising up, Gold Star Taibai, with the air of a genial old man, chuckled, "The Emperor jests.
With the Emperor managing a multitude of affairs and steering the vast currents of the Primordial World, I wouldn’t dare to disturb you without good cause."
Bai Jin chuckled and said, "You’re talking about the Heavenly Emperor. I am quite idle every day, so it must be the Heavenly Emperor who sent for , right? What’s the matter?"
Gold Star Taibai replied earnestly, "Your Majesty has commanded to invite you, Emperor, to et at Zining Palace."
Bai Jin nodded and said, "Thanks for your efforts, Gold Star. I shall head there now."
In an instant, Bai Jin’s figure vanished from the spot.
Shi Ji erged from a palace adjacent to the Bird’s Nest and said, "Gold Star, if you have no other matters, please co in for so tea."
Gold Star Taibai stroked his beard, chuckled, and said, "Since the Secretary has kindly invited , I respectfully accept."
Shi Ji extended his hand and smiled, "Please, Gold Star～"
...
In front of Zining Palace, the figure of Bai Jin appeared and he stepped forward into the passage, approaching the study.
Inside the study, there was a bookshelf laden with thickly packed Taoist Scriptures, each exuding a hint of Tao Rhythm, and at least authored by Quasi-Saints.
The Heavenly Emperor, dressed casually, sat in the main seat, holding a Scripture and reading it.
Bai Jin entered the study, bowed in salute, and said, "Disciple pays respects to my respected Uncle-Master."
The Heavenly Emperor put down the Scripture he was holding, and with a resigned tone said, "I’ve told you before, there’s no need for such formalities among family, it feels estranged."
Rising from his salute, Bai Jin smiled and said, "This bow is for my beloved Uncle-Master, not for the Heavenly Emperor."
The Heavenly Emperor laughed heartily and said, "Well then, I really have to accept it. Take a seat!"
Bai Jin found a place to sit down and inquired, "What book is Uncle-Master reading?"
The Heavenly Emperor lifted the book, revealing four large characters: Tathagata’s True Scripture!
Bai Jin exclaid surprisingly, "Uncle-Master is actually reading Buddhist Scriptures!"
"In recent Yuan Hui, Buddhism has developed very rapidly, and there are now so Buddhist believers in both East Victory Divine Continent and Nan Zhanbu Continent. If they want to contest, I’ll join the fight. To know one’s enemy and oneself, you can fight a hundred battles without danger."
"Eh~" Bai Jin embarrassedly said, "Uncle-Master, you might not be able to compete anymore."
The Heavenly Emperor raised his eyebrows and asked, "What do you an?"
"Not long ago, All Saints gathered in Zixiao Palace, and the Taoist Ancestor declared that Buddhism is destined to flourish in Primordial World, an overwhelming montum sweeping in, and there’s nothing for us to contest."
"What!" The Heavenly Emperor suddenly stood up, his face filled with shock.
Bai Jin queried with confusion, "Uncle-Master, you didn’t know?"
The Heavenly Emperor’s expression changed a few tis, and he slowly shook his head in dejection, "I was not aware."
"Gurgle~" A sound ca from within Bai Jin, and his face imdiately changed.
"Gurgle~" Another sound followed.
Bai Jin quickly stood up, and said in panic, "Uncle-Master, it would be best for you to seek an audience with the Taoist Ancestor. Wail, create a scene, threaten to hang oneself – for the sake of our Heavenly Court, please seek a chance for our great prosperity. You were raised in the eyes of the Taoist Ancestor, like his own child, so surely he will agree to your request. I must be going now."
Bai Jin stumbled briefly, then his figure flashed and disappeared imdiately, looking rather as though he was fleeing in haste.
The Heavenly Emperor was stunned for a mont. What’s with my little nephew? Why did he rush off in such a hurry? But what my nephew said makes sense, I really need to seek an audience with the old master. Though wailing, making a scene, and threatening to hang oneself – let’s forget that, it’s too shaful.
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