In Lingxiao Palace, the Jade Emperor sat on his dragon throne reviewing memorials.
As a scroll unfurled slowly, he casually asked, “Any news about that child’s grandfather’s whereabouts?”
Celestial Master Zhang stepped forward, holding his fly-whisk, his face visibly weary. “Your Majesty, I visited the Bureau of Fate to examine the records of celestial stars and the roster of celestial attendants in the Divine Generals’ Mansion, and also retrieved the register of heavenly soldiers. There is no one named Shen Yuanling.”
People differ from one another, and so do gods. Just after leaving Medicine King’s residence, while Heavenly King Li could take sick leave, he had to return to his duties.
No wonder everyone strives to climb higher—one rank higher brings privileges and benefits as vast as heaven and earth.
“None?” The Jade Emperor slowly stroked his beard, deep in thought. “It must be that the child was mistaken. Her grandfather may have already reincarnated.”
Recalling Shen Fuxing’s stubborn insistence that day, he sighed deeply. “Well, I did promise her after all.”
He instructed Celestial Master Zhang, “Go to the underworld and have Yama check the Book of Life and Death to see which family Shen Yuanling was reborn into.”
“Yes,” Celestial Master Zhang acknowledged verbally, but inwardly cursed.
Couldn’t they just send any celestial attendant for such a task? Why make him travel all that way?
Injured and not yet recovered, forced to work while hurt. Being a leader is great—they treat us workers like dogs. As long as it doesn’t kill you, they’ll work you to death.
He hadn’t even finished grumbling to himself, his foot not yet out the door, when a blur of motion whooshed in.
So fast was its speed that the distracted Celestial Master Zhang was sent spinning like a top, his fly-whisk flung from his hand.
Supporting himself against the door as he stood up, Celestial Master Zhang burned with rage.
He was the Jade Emperor’s personal secretary! Who dared bump into him? They’d have no good days ahead in the Heavenly Court!
Turning around and focusing his gaze, he saw disheveled hair and messy robes, the figure kneeling with a thud before the Jade Emperor like a wronged petitioner pleading their case before the Kaifeng Prefecture.
To be honest, from that aggrieved silhouette, Celestial Master Zhang couldn’t recognize which immortal this was.
His eyes swept to the figure’s feet, and seeing those familiar large feet, then noticing the lack of shoes, he immediately grasped this person’s identity.
There was only one eccentric in the Heavenly Court who walked barefoot without shoes—Barefoot Immortal.
Back at Medicine King’s residence, he had occupied the room next to his own ward.
But none of that mattered now. Whoever dared bump into him, even if it were Heavenly King Li himself, he would accuse them of impropriety before the throne!
Celestial Master Zhang retrieved his fly-whisk, rolled up his sleeves, ready for a big confrontation.
But before he could speak, Barefoot Immortal began pouring out his grievances before the Jade Emperor with tears and snivels, exactly like a resentful woman.
“—Your Majesty! My Emperor! You must uphold justice for your subject!! Heavenly King Li has gone mad, he he he—he actually harassed your humble subject!”
Whoa!
Celestial Master Zhang’s eyes widened like bronze bells, his pupils lighting up as if a switch had been flipped.
Forgetting about his trip to the underworld, he pricked up his ears and nonchalantly moved back to the Jade Emperor’s side.
Above, the Jade Emperor blinked, his CPU overloaded.
Before he could react, he saw Heavenly King Li with a dark expression on his face, followed by two heavenly soldiers escorting Shen Fuxing—her cheeks flushed and shoulders shaking—as the whole group hurried in with great commotion.
Taibai Jinxing, fly-whisk draped over his arm, Daoist robes fluttering, stepped across the threshold close behind them.
Quite the impressive entourage.
Li Jing, holding the Seven Treasure Exquisite Pagoda, glanced sideways at Barefoot Immortal kneeling on the ground, slightly turning his head away, his eyes flashing with shame, indignation, embarrassment, and numerous other emotions.
Steadying his mind, he stiffened his face, his expression stern and furious, denouncing to the Jade Emperor Shen Fuxing’s various misdeeds—how she had been poisoning his medicine for days and, today, even playing with him using Illusionary Passion Powder.
With each accusation, he shot a glare, his eyes wishing they could slice Shen Fuxing into a thousand pieces.
At first, seeing Shen Fuxing’s shoulders trembling and her cheeks flushed with heat, the Jade Emperor thought Li Jing had frightened her out of her wits, making her cry like that.
Turns out, she was just holding back laughter.
The Jade Emperor glanced at her, both helpless and amused. This child was so mischievously clever, daring to even tease Heavenly King Li—truly audacious beyond measure.
Yet, after hearing about the suffering Li Jing had endured these past few days, he found himself less inclined to punish her.
Among the great deities of the Heavenly Court, if there was one who was the most arrogant, it was undoubtedly Li Jing.
With three sons—the eldest following Tathagata, the second often accompanying Guanyin Bodhisattva, and the third, Nezha, immensely powerful, having once single-handedly subdued ninety-six cave demon kings—throughout the entire celestial realm, aside from the Jade Emperor himself, there was no immortal Li Jing held in regard.
Today, it was rare to see Heavenly King Li suffer a setback, and to be bested by a minor, underage Celestial Attendant at that. Most onlookers watched with schadenfreude, enjoying the spectacle.
Li Jing glared furiously at Shen Fuxing, already prepared to have her seized and executed at the Immortal Execution Platform as soon as the Jade Emperor flew into a rage!
Little did he know that from the leadership down to his colleagues in the hall, not a single person could sympathize with him.
Especially the Barefoot Immortal—he had kindly gone to visit Li Jing, only to nearly have his purity ruined.
If not for that little Celestial Attendant named Shen Fuxing barging in just in time, splashing a bowl of dark, murky medicinal soup to sober up Heavenly King Li, he might have already lost his chastity…
This shameless old scoundrel, committing such a heinous act.
Now, seeing his wicked deeds exposed, he actually pushed such a young child forward to take the blame. Never had he seen someone so brazenly shameless!
“Your Majesty, while the Heavenly King speaks with conviction, words alone are no proof. We cannot condemn this little immortal based solely on his few accusations.”
As soon as the words fell, Li Jing immediately redirected the daggers he had been shooting at Shen Fuxing toward the Barefoot Immortal, his expression indignant and utterly bewildered. “Get this straight—it was she who secretly put Illusionary Passion Powder in my medicine, causing today’s farce.”
“She is the chief culprit!” he pointed directly at Shen Fuxing.
The Barefoot Immortal laughed angrily. “The refining process for Illusionary Passion Powder is complex. Even the Medicine King’s mansion only stores two boxes, under strict control.”
“How long has Shen Fuxing been in the Heavenly Court? A mere attendant in the Crown Prince’s palace—could she possibly obtain such a thing?” He shot Li Jing an undisguised glare, questioning pointedly, “If the Heavenly King insists on this, surely you don’t mean she concocted it herself?”
A powder that requires a first-class Medical Immortal to expend considerable magic to refine—how could a minor Celestial Attendant replicate it?
Not to mention its potency, which even the Heavenly King could not resist.
Hearing this, the Jade Emperor nodded. “Hmm, reasonable.” He looked at Li Jing, his expression imposing. “Heavenly King Li, you claim Shen Fuxing poisoned you and used Illusionary Passion Powder on you. Do you have any solid evidence?”
Li Jing, holding his pagoda, bowed to the Jade Emperor, his face cold and confident in his next words. “Your Majesty need only send someone to the Medicine King’s mansion to investigate, and the truth will be revealed.”
“No need.”
As soon as the former finished speaking, Taibai Jinxing, who had been observing for a long time, suddenly spoke up.
Bowing to the Jade Emperor, he said slowly, “Upon hearing of the Heavenly King’s unfortunate poisoning, I have already ordered the Medicine King to be summoned to await your decree outside Lingxiao Palace.”
The Jade Emperor waved his hand grandly. “Summon him!”
The Medicine King entered the hall and publicly took Li Jing’s pulse, asking him a few simple questions.
After a thorough examination confirmed no issues, he turned to report to the Jade Emperor: “Heavenly King Li has taken the medicine prescribed by this humble servant for three days. His health is even stronger than before, with no signs of poisoning whatsoever.”
“As for the Illusionary Passion Powder in the Medicine King’s residence, before coming here, I specifically ordered the Medical Immortals under my command to conduct a detailed inventory. The quantity remains exactly the same, not a single grain missing.”
“Nonsense!” Li Jing roared in anger.
The medicinal broth Shen Fuxing had served him was emitting black vapor, its appearance terrifying, and drinking it had nearly cost him half his life. If it wasn’t poison, what else could it be?
“Enough, you may step down for now,” the Jade Emperor waved his hand, signaling the Medicine King to withdraw.
Li Jing still wanted to argue, but Taibai Jinxing spoke first.
A surge of fury lodged in his chest, neither rising nor falling, leaving him utterly frustrated.
“Your Majesty, this humble Daoist also visited Cloud Tower Palace. According to those serving in the Heavenly King’s bedchamber, Shen Fuxing even fed him the medicine spoonful by spoonful. For three days, she has been diligent and devoted, losing sleep over it.”
“To claim she harbors any intent to harm the Heavenly King—this humble Daoist does not believe it.”
Upon hearing this, Li Jing wore an expression of utter disbelief, trembling with rage.
What was happening to the Heavenly Court? Had everyone been bewitched?
Shen Fuxing was merely a lowly Celestial Attendant in his Cloud Tower Palace. What kind of magic did she possess? Why was everyone speaking up for her!??
Blinded by fury and having lost all reason, Heavenly King Li no longer bothered to put on an act. He drew a sword from the belt of a Heavenly Soldier and lunged to strike Shen Fuxing down.
In the presence of the Jade Emperor, no one had expected Li Jing to act so impulsively.
By the time they regained their senses and tried to intervene, it was already too late.
At the critical moment, a deafening “clang” echoed through the hall as the Universe Ring, infused with immense magical power, flew into the chamber and collided with the sword swung down by Heavenly King Li.
“Crack—”
The long sword shattered instantly.
A youth, having just returned from vanquishing demons, stormed into the hall with an aura of slaughter, carrying the wind and fire with him.
He did not kneel, nor did he offer any salute. Instead, he fixed his icy gaze upon his nominal father.