"Must we simply allow him to gather his old followers there and contend with Your Majesty?"
Although the Jade Emperor was his uncle, Yang Jian lacked affection for him and, instead, held great recognition for the Great Emperor Ziwei.
Between the two, Yang Jian chose the Great Emperor Ziwei.
The Great Emperor Ziwei smiled slightly and said, "He cannot contend with me. Now that I have established a great momentum, let those who wish to leave do so. This way, we can clearly see the true intentions of some people. Those who remain are most likely the ones who truly recognize me."
The Great Emperor Ziwei was quite open-minded. He now had all the divine authority in his hands; a few people departing did not amount to much.
Even if it were a Heavenly Venerate powerhouse, it wouldn’t cause him any ripples.
The ordinary Heavenly Venerate powerhouse, though not abundant in the Three Realms, were not few in number either. When the time comes, they could just be recruited in the name of the Heavenly Court.
"Your Majesty, Divine Master Sa Shoujian requests an audience."
An attendant came in to report.
"Please, let him in," said the Great Emperor Ziwei.
Sa Shoujian entered, his face calm, revealing no sign of urgency.
"What business does the Heavenly Master have with me? It’s about the Jade Emperor, isn’t it?" The Great Emperor Ziwei smiled and his gaze fell on Sa Shoujian.
The other was not an incompetent person like Ge Xuan. He had true strategies in his mind.
Therefore, the Great Emperor Ziwei was well aware that Sa Shoujian wouldn’t have come to him without an ingeniously good idea.
Indeed, Sa Shoujian said with a smile, "Nothing can escape Your Majesty’s eyes. Indeed, Sa Shoujian does have some immature suggestions."
"Please speak," the Great Emperor Ziwei nodded slightly.
Gazing in the direction of the Ling Xiao Palace, Sa Shoujian said, "Now that the Jade Emperor has returned, in my view, it’s only because he sees Your Majesty’s position becoming more secure, which makes him anxious, hence his reappearance. But naturally, Your Majesty cannot and should not relinquish the position of Great Heavenly Venerate to him. Therefore, I have an idea. Your Majesty could confer a title upon the Jade Emperor."
The Great Emperor Ziwei’s eyes lit up slightly, and with a smile, he asked, "How should he be conferred?"
"The Longevity Great Emperor of the South Pole has died, has he not? Then confer upon the Jade Emperor the title of one of the Four Heavenly Kings, to be known as the Jade Emperor Longevity Great Emperor. This would also reflect the boundless imperial grace of Your Majesty," Sa Shoujian said with a smile.
Hearing Sa Shoujian’s words, Yang Jian’s expression changed.
Thus, showing the magnanimity of the Great Emperor Ziwei while also humiliating the Jade Emperor.
If the Jade Emperor accepted it, he would be under the Great Emperor Ziwei. From then on, whatever the Great Emperor Ziwei did, he would be justified and would hold the moral high ground.
If the Jade Emperor did not accept, it would appear that he himself had no breadth of spirit and it could even be considered rebellious.
If the Jade Emperor wished to contend for the position of Great Heavenly Venerate with the Great Emperor Ziwei, he would indeed become the target of public criticism.
At least in the eyes of the common people, it was the Jade Emperor who was unreasonable, feigning death to escape and now disregarding the stability of the Three Realms, vying for the position of Great Heavenly Venerate; such a person naturally would not win the hearts of the people.
Too fierce, killing two birds with one stone.
No matter which, it would put the Jade Emperor at a disadvantage.
Yang Jian looked at Sa Shoujian oddly; had he truly been under the Jade Emperor before? How could he be so enthusiastic when plotting against the Jade Emperor?
Feeling Yang Jian’s strange gaze, Sa Shoujian said with a smile, "Judicial Deity need not look at me with such eyes. Although I was once a subject of the Jade Emperor, I have already pledged allegiance to the Great Emperor Ziwei now. I am naturally loyal to the Great Emperor Ziwei. Moreover, the Great Emperor Ziwei cares for the common people, unlike that Jade Emperor who, for personal desires, recklessly disregards the people. How would such a person deserve my loyalty?"
"The Heavenly Master is right. The Great Emperor Ziwei is truly an enlightened ruler, wholeheartedly caring for the common people. The Jade Emperor is too self-indulgent; he is not at all an enlightened ruler," agreed Yang Jian.
After careful consideration, the Great Emperor Ziwei agreed with Sa Shoujian’s suggestion.
He immediately condensed a decree and then asked Sa Shoujian, "May I inquire whom Divine Master Sa thinks it would be best to dispatch to announce the decree?"
After thinking for a moment, Sa Shoujian then looked up and said with a smile, "First and foremost, the person must be powerful, so as not to be killed by the Jade Emperor. Moreover, the person’s identity should be somewhat special, preferably having had a close relationship with the Jade Emperor. Such a person making the announcement will shock everyone and convince the masses that the Jade Emperor is merely struggling desperately and poses no threat to the Heavenly Court."
Yang Jian stepped forward with a wry smile, "Master Sa, you might as well have just said to let me make the announcement. Why beat around the bush?"
Laughing heartily, Sa Shoujian quickly said, "I was concerned the Judicial Deity might not be willing; my official position is not as high as that of the Judicial Deity. How could I directly assign a superior officer?"
"What does official position matter? It’s merely for convenience in handling matters. Our goal is to maintain the stability of the Three Realms and protect the myriad living beings within. As long as your reasoning is sound, you could even directly appoint a Great Emperor," Yang Jian said earnestly.
Sa Shoujian was somewhat surprised and glanced at the Great Emperor Ziwei. Was he so agreeable?
"What Yang Jian says is true. As long as your reasons are well-founded, there is no problem with you directing me," the Great Emperor Ziwei said with a slight smile.
Sa Shoujian looked at the Great Emperor Ziwei, sensing that his words were not perfunctory or just nice talk but completely heartfelt.
With that thought, he said with a look of admiration, "I finally understand why the Great Saint helped Your Majesty ascend to power. If it were me, I would also choose Your Majesty. It is a blessing for the beings of the Three Realms to have such a Great Heavenly Venerate like Your Majesty."
"It’s merely my duty. Now that I hold this position, I must fulfill my responsibilities," the Great Emperor Ziwei replied.