"Chiyou, Zhengxin, Heavenly Mechanism, Yin Hua, Wu Chen, Zhonghuang Zi... Wen Zhong, Luohun, Ghost Marquis, Chen Yixin, Li Zhan…"

Song Lin called out over fifty Harmonization cultivators in one breath.

"And Ji Dan and Ji Fa, you two must step forward as well."

Even two Heavenly Immortals were summoned to hold the line.

Perhaps the opposition thought he was alone, unaware of the vast foundation he had built.

Song Lin once again sent messages to Mao Zhong and the others, but he did not disclose the details of the Heavenly Court's situation in the transmission.

A golden door opened in the sky.

Song Lin walked to the golden door and waited while the others lingered at the entrance to the Palace of the Polestar.

At that moment, beams of tunneling light flew in.

It was a dragon chariot.

Two ice dragons pulled the battle chariot, upon which stood a Heavenly Water Dharma Form. The divine figure held a Water Chasing Whip and the River Source Map, two Immortal Artifacts.

At his side were seventy-two Divine Generals, the Turtle Celestial Official, the Snake Attendant, and several strangely shaped Abnormal Soldiers.

They glided along a silvery river, flying toward them from a distance.

Emperor Shuiyuan rushed to arrive alone upon hearing the news, intending to subdue Song Lin.

Seeing the stranger and the overwhelming display of flowing Heavenly Water, Song Lin instantly knew who had arrived.

The Emperor Shuiyuan halted before Song Lin.

"Are you Donghua?"

Emperor Shuiyuan scrutinized Song Lin from head to toe, as if appraising a commodity.

"That's me. May I ask who you might be?"

"I am Emperor Shuiyuan. You are the ancestor of the Pure Yang Sect, which makes you, technically, one of my subordinates."

Emperor Shuiyuan's gaze was lofty, not even sparing Song Lin a direct glance. Whether it was a deliberate show of dominance or simply his nature, it was equally offensive.

"Your cultivation is decent. If you pledge allegiance to me, I will appoint you as the Human Clan's Great Emperor. If you refuse..."

A crushing aura surged forth, like tidal waves of the deep ocean or a world-flooding surge of Heavenly Water. The pressure caused the surrounding void to fracture with eerie cracking sounds.

Song Lin's robes billowed, and his hair danced wildly in the air.

"Oh? And what, pray tell, are your demands?" Song Lin asked, his expression a mix of feigned good humor and scorn.

"Take me to your Small Thousand World and acknowledge me, Emperor Shuiyuan, as the primary god. Devote all faith exclusively to me. Moreover, prepare three hundred thousand boys and girls, three million cattle, sheep, and chickens, and excavate a one-hundred-thousand-li river stretching from west to east. The river must be at least ten li wide, with its tributaries spreading across every land inhabited by humans."

Even Innate Divine Beings required blood sacrifices—or rather, blood sacrifices were among the earliest rites for venerating Innate Divine Beings.

"Does the Sanmao Heavenly Court also perform blood sacrifices?" Song Lin froze slightly. "Does the Sanmao True Monarch turn a blind eye?"

Would the Pure Yang Sect condone such practices?

If they did, then there was no reason to accept them.

"He can't meddle in our affairs, just as we don't interfere in his."

Among humanity, blood sacrifices were the most cost-effective and practical. A new generation could be cultivated within decades or centuries—this practice was tacitly accepted by many heavenly courts.

"So that's how it is..." Song Lin let his anger dissipate but responded indifferently, "Very well, I agree. Please, come inside..."

"Hold it!"

A group of Taoists wearing Eight Diagrams Robes flew over.

The leader was none other than Mao Zhong, with Lin Zhen following close behind.

"Donghua Taoist! Long time no see!"

Mao Zhong's face was pale, evidently arriving in great haste.

"Long time no see, you two." Song Lin greeted them with a smile.

Their gazes met, and within those exchanged looks, the passage of millennia intertwined. Former comrades-in-arms reunited, but their identities were now vastly different.

Two Heavenly Immortals... Not bad...

Mao Zhong glanced toward Emperor Shuiyuan, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent. "To think you went so far as to plant spies within fellow Taoists' ranks. Shuiyuan, how dare you!"

"You Innate Divine Beings mustn't bully mortals so heinously!"

"Indeed! Your appetite is insatiable, taking everything for yourselves!"

The Celestial Masters joined in, voices raised in heated dispute.

The scene grew increasingly chaotic, with conflict imminent.

"What's this? If you want to fight, then fight. There's no need for pretense."

Emperor Shuiyuan's dharma image manifested as he lifted his Mountain Driving Whip, ready to strike down upon Mao Zhong.

His cultivation was profound, and he feared no one.

Mao Zhong summoned an Eight Diagrams illusion, while Lin Zhen brandished his magic sword.

Both sides instinctively disregarded Song Lin.

"Enough!"

BOOM!

A blazing sun materialized in the void.

Waters evaporated, Eight Diagrams shattered, and the magic sword dimmed.

Then emerged a jet-black lotus and a river encompassing all concepts, rivaling the grandeur of Emperor Shuiyuan's torrents.

A Three Pills Celestial Immortal!

Mao Zhong was struck dumb with shock.

He hadn't expected Donghua Taoist to reach such heights.

Three Pills—and three Innate Daos as well!

These were truths that were beyond the reach of ordinary people. Song Lin had grown far beyond what Mao Zhong had envisioned.

Truly... worthy of being the Donghua Ancestor.

The gathered Heavenly Masters all shared this sentiment.

Emperor Shuiyuan's complexion turned alternately pale and flushed.

To think the opponent's cultivation rivaled his own—wasn't Song Lin's easy compliance earlier mere theatrics?

"Enough commotion. Let's go inside and discuss matters further."

Song Lin withdrew his Divine Skills and turned toward the massive golden gate.

The others, no longer inclined to quarrel, trailed after him.

After some hesitation, Emperor Shuiyuan also entered.

Upon stepping through the gates, they found themselves within an opulent hall of gold and jade splendor.

Behind the Dragon Chair at the center of the hall was the cosmic scenery of three Small Thousand Worlds.

Three luminous halos revolved slowly behind the throne.

Song Lin seated himself in the primary position, asserting his dominance as the Heavenly Court Master, staring directly at the assembly before him.

"Greetings to the Shenxiao Heavenly Emperor!"

The Immortals bowed their dharma images in salute.

Curious glances were cast toward Mao Zhong and his entourage.

When the Heavenly Mechanism (Spirit Treasure Celestial Master) caught sight of a few specific Celestial Masters among the crowd, his pupils contracted. If the occasion were less formal, he might have rushed forward to investigate.

"Take your seats," Song Lin commanded.

Warriors carried out tables; everyone save Emperor Shuiyuan was offered a place.

This wasn't mere posturing from Song Lin.

It was a deliberate decision reached after much thought.

To prevent conflict, only by displaying overwhelming strength could unnecessary casualties be avoided.

"Taoist, these past years..." Mao Zhong began, but before he could continue—

Song Lin pointed toward Emperor Shuiyuan, declaring, "Seize him!"

Ji Dan and Ji Fa stepped forward to apprehend Emperor Shuiyuan.

With two Heavenly Immortals and the suppressive force of the Palace of the Polestar, Emperor Shuiyuan was subdued on the spot.

"You! Deceiver!"

Unable to move, Emperor Shuiyuan could do nothing but unleash impotent fury.

"Emperor Shuiyuan is guilty of severe transgressions. Take him away. Burn him with Yin Fire for three hundred years, freeze his bones with icy flames for another three hundred, and assign him to labor for a thousand years after that—repeating until repentance."

Emperor Shuiyuan was a notorious Evil God, a priority target of the Donghua Heavenly Court. Punishment was non-negotiable.

With Emperor Shuiyuan dragged out, Song Lin finally initiated the banquet.

"Everyone, relax. No official matters today."

Song Lin raised his cup, and the court celebrated.

He soon approached Mao Zhong.

"You and your sect shall take up residence here. Bring the Sanmao Heavenly Court into the Medium Thousand Realm, and once settled, we'll discuss further plans."

Song Lin said nothing about recruitment.

"We appreciate your hospitality."

Mao Zhong felt somewhat ashamed.

"The Sanmao Heavenly Court did me a great favor. Were it not for your aid, this realm might not even exist," Song Lin said, patting Mao Zhong on the shoulder.

"Allow me to introduce everyone. This is Mao Zhong, the Xiong Xiaomao True Monarch of the Sanmao Heavenly Court. The one who was just captured is Emperor Shuiyuan."

Rumble!

At these words, the hall erupted into astonished murmurs.

Especially among the former ranks of the Heaven and Earth Xuanmen Alliance.

Who among them didn't recognize the name of the Three Mao True Monarch? After all, they once paid homage to the Heaven, Earth, and Water Emperors of the Sanmao Heavenly Court.

None had anticipated that visiting guests would hail from the Sanmao Heavenly Court—and that Emperor Shuiyuan would fall into their grasp.

The revelation sparked a strange sense of incredulity among them.

At that moment, even the Immortals found their perspectives beginning to shift.

The Heavenly Mechanism stepped forward, directing his gaze toward a few specific Celestial Masters in the crowd.

"Might you be Weizi Heavenly Master? And you, Yanxia Heavenly Master?"

The two appeared puzzled.

"I am Yanxia. And you are?"

"I am the sixty-fourth Celestial Master of the Taoist Alliance. I've seen your portraits. Could it be that the present seniors are the ancestors of the Taoist Alliance? My respects to the patriarchs."

Heavenly Mechanism bowed deeply.

"The Heaven and Earth Xuanmen Alliance? Oh, that must be the Pure Yang Sect's later name, yes?" Lin Zhen said with a wry smile, addressing the crowd. "The Heavenly Emperor is our true ancestor."

Lin Zhen's explanation finally brought clarity to everyone. The Pure Yang Sect was the precursor to the Heaven and Earth Xuan Sect, both creations of Song Lin.

From the very beginning, they had belonged to Donghua's lineage. Mao Zhong's efforts were but part of the mosaic, and joining the Donghua Heavenly Court was not a betrayal of their original Taoist tradition.

Tracing their origins back to the source, the Immortals pieced together the threads of their shared history.

Many no longer harbored feelings of inferiority when facing the representatives of the Sanmao Heavenly Court. Just as Donghua Ancestor and Mao Zhong stood as equals, so too could they all be peers—none subordinate to another.

As for how Donghua Ancestor came to establish his Taoist tradition in the ancient era, they chose to leave such mysteries unspoken.

Perhaps he was a reincarnated Great Power, or perhaps he had the ability to traverse the currents of time and space.

The festive banquet soon transformed into a grand reunion.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.