Primordial Venerable said: "Why be apprehensive? Yaoji was at fault, but this child was not."
Bai Jin raised his head and looked at Primordial Venerable, tentatively saying: "Master, I have heard that you had a hand in the affair of Yaoji."
Primordial Venerable slightly frowned and said, "Who said that?"
"My Master," Bai Jin hesitated not a bit to betray Tongtian.
Primordial Venerable humphed, expressing displeasure: "Not considering his own Jie Sect matters, yet he has the time to probe into my actions."
Bai Jin lowered his head, feigning ignorance—the remark was clearly directed at his own Master.
Primordial Venerable softened a bit and said: "The existence of Yaoji is a loophole in the Heavenly Rules. If Yaoji does not die, Heavenly Court will lose its deserved dignity and fail to convince all beings."
Bai Jin said: "Master, do you intend to correct the Heavenly Rules with blood?"
Primordial Venerable said: "Exactly, but Hao Tian doesn’t understand. I gave him a chance, yet he only suppressed Yaoji."
Bai Jin cautiously said: "Master, I think this is not a bad thing. The younger Master Hao Tian values deep loyalty. He will surely be a great and virtuous Heavenly Emperor in the future, much rarer than tyrants who personally kill their kin.
In him, I see the shadows of both Masters. If you were the Heavenly Emperor, Master, facing such circumstances, you would surely fight desperately to protect my Master!"
Primordial Venerable pondered for a moment, then shook his head saying: "Perhaps he is a good brother, but he is not qualified as a Heavenly Emperor."
Looking at Bai Jin, he said: "You accepted Yang Jiao as a disciple, but are you intending to intervene in this matter?"
Bai Jin repeatedly shook his head saying: "Not at all, absolutely not. Where do I get the right to interfere in Master’s strategic moves?"
Primordial Venerable slowly said: "Everyone has their own will, and their own paths to walk.
My Tao is to coordinate Heaven and Earth by following the natural order. Your Master’s Tao is to cut through heaven for self-benefit and seek vitality. Both are fulfilling their own will, and there is no right or wrong.
My path is merely my route. You will walk your own paths. Whatever you wish to do, go and do it. I am actually quite eager to see what you will achieve."
"Master, do you not oppose my aiding Senior Hao Tian?" Bai Jin tentatively asked.
Primordial Venerable laughed heartily: "Am I afraid of you?"
Bai Jin suddenly smiled, indeed, Master is a Saint. How could his small tricks ever compete with Master?!
Primordial Venerable then said: "Bai Jin, you have always been under our protection, sensible and well-behaved. If you dare to act against me, it means your cultivation has progressed further, and you have stepped out from our influence. In that case, I will regard you even more highly."
Bai Jin gave a wry smile and said: "Disciple wouldn’t dare. In the disciple’s heart, Master is higher than the sky, deeper than the sea, thicker than the earth. How could the disciple defy Master’s will?" Shaking his head saying, "Dare not, dare not."
Primordial Venerable glared at him, saying with displeasure: "You have no ambition at all. If you do not step out from our shadow and do not walk your own path, when will you ever become a Great Power who stands on his own?"
Bai Jin said: "Master, I’ve never aspired to become some Great Power. My greatest wish is to always stay by the side of Master and my own Master, attending to both of you, and incidentally being under your protection." Smiling cheerily, he said: "Actually, staying in the nest is quite nice. Let the storms, rainbows, and resounding roses outside be experienced by my senior and junior brothers! I will cheer them on!"
Primordial Venerable stretched out his hand and tapped Bai Jin, half frustrated and half amused saying: "You truly lack any ambition!"
Bai Jin grinned broadly, showing his white teeth, and said: "Master, my biggest merit is being content and not greedy."
Primordial Venerable changed the topic and said: "I heard you recently came up with a new dish called what, spicy hot pot? Go make some."
"Sure thing!" Bai Jin got up, heading swiftly toward the back hall of Yuxu Palace like he was returning to his own home.
Primordial Venerable smiled briefly, his gaze distant as he looked outside. The great momentum of Heaven and Earth, the great momentum of Ten Thousand Races, all will follow the Heavenly Rules in the future. The Heavenly Rules must not be dishonored, otherwise chaos will surely arise in Heaven and Earth. Hao Tian, since you can’t harden your heart, your Elder Brother will help you. How can an Emperor afford to be indecisive?
On the other side, Tianpeng returned to the Heavenly Court and strode into the Palace of the Polestar, where All Immortals abruptly fell silent.
Marshal Tianpeng walked to the center of the great hall, bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, I, your humble servant, have failed my duties, allowing both Yang Jiao and Yang Jian to escape."
"Where did they flee to?" Heavenly Emperor Haotian asked with authority.
Tianpeng respectfully replied, "Yang Jiao has escaped to the East Sea and was rescued by the Human Clan’s Saint Envoy, Bai Jin.
Yang Jian fled towards Shouyang Mountain and was rescued by True Man Yuding of Chan Sect."
Seated on the main throne, Haotian said coldly, "You have greatly disappointed me."
Tianpeng knelt halfway in the great hall, lowering his head, "It is my incompetence!"
"At the root of it, you have neglected your cultivation. Go to the Turquoise Pool..."
He paused and then stated, "Gold Star Taibai!"
Gold Star Taibai stepped forward respectfully and said, "Your Majesty!"
"Open the treasury and retrieve ten Flat Peaches to give to Tianpeng, that he may properly cultivate, so as not to lose the face of our Heavenly Court again."
Gold Star Taibai answered, "Yes!"
Marshal Tianpeng quickly said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Everyone, you may leave."
All Immortals bowed and then got up to leave the great hall.
In the empty Palace of the Polestar, Haotian picked up his teacup, took a sip with a smile on his face, and thought to himself that Yang Jiao joining Jie Sect and Yang Jian entering Chan Sect was fitting, hoping they would grow quickly.
Yaoji, with a majestic and graceful figure, walked in from outside, with Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman and Chang’e standing on either side of the entrance.
Haotian glanced up, then spit out the tea in his mouth and hurriedly stood up, saying in a fluster, "You... how did you come?"
Yaoji, her face expressionless, said, "You don’t welcome me?"
Haotian quickly walked down to greet her, chuckling, "Welcome, of course, welcome. You can come to Lingxiao Hall anytime."
Yaoji walked to a seat above and turned to sit down, speaking solemnly, "Is this your plan then? Sending Yang Jiao to Jie Sect, and Yang Jian to Chan Sect."
Haotian calmed his excited emotions and sat beside her, replying, "Yes!"
Yaoji furrowed her brows, "Have you forgotten that behind Zi Yunlei lurks the figure of a Saint?"
"Of course, I know there is a Saint, which is why I sent them respectively to Jie Sect and Chan Sect. Under the protection of the Saint, they can be safe; we cannot protect them."
"Then have you considered that initially manipulating Zi Yunlei were these two senior brothers?"
"What of it? Even if it was these two senior brothers, could their schemes really affect their own juniors? Saints would discard their dignity?"
Yaoji pondered for a moment, acknowledging that Saints have their magnanimity, she slightly nodded and said solemnly, "Have you dealt with the evil thoughts that you severed?"
Haotian laughed heartily, "Yaoji, you really still care about me."
Yaoji scoffed coldly, "I’m worried it will affect me. I have never seen a god with so many evil thoughts," she said, then stood and walked outside.
The laughter abruptly ended, and Haotian tried to argue, "Even Saints have the three poisons of greed, anger, and resentment!"
Without another word, Yaoji left with Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman and Chang’e.