CHAPTER 960: CHAPTER 979: LUO HOU’S OPEN PLOT

"Go!"

Ziwei Heavenly Emperor ascended to the heavens, with streams of Heavenly Fire manifesting in his hands. The Five-Colored Divine Stone was placed amidst the Heavenly Fire, its radiant colors illuminating the world, unleashing a supreme divine energy.

The Five-Colored Divine Stone, the supreme treasure of Heaven and Earth, only with it can the shattered Heavenly Vault be repaired. Ziwei Heavenly Emperor sat cross-legged atop the Heavenly Vault, needing to use his own Heavenly Fire to refine the Five-Colored Divine Stone to fully mend the sky.

A wisp of Hongmeng Purple Qi floated above the head of Ziwei Heavenly Emperor, pouring out mysterious purple light, which made him appear majestic and solemn.

This was the image of becoming a Saint, and also an indispensable path to achieving sainthood through merit. In ancient times, it was by refining stones to repair the blue sky and merging with Hongmeng Purple Qi that Nuwa achieved the status of a Heavenly Dao Saint.

And today, Emperor Ziwei recreates the scene of yore, ultimately aiming to replace Nuwa as the new Heavenly Dao Saint.

The world was solemn, and all spirits were silent.

Everyone focused their gaze on Ziwei Heavenly Emperor, for they were about to witness the birth of a new Saint.

"Ziwei becoming a Saint is unjust, I urge the Heavenly Emperor to withdraw this decree."

Suddenly, amidst the solemn atmosphere, a dissonant voice emerged, instantly plunging the world into a dead silence and causing everyone to look in shock towards the source of the voice.

Who?

Who was so reckless?

To dare voice opposition at such a moment was to strike at Ye Xuan’s face and defy Ye Xuan’s will. Did this person have a death wish?

"Is it him?"

"Old Lord?"

"Have you gone mad?"

As the crowd saw clearly who had spoken, they saw Minghe Ancestor, Donghuang Taiyi, and others rebuking in unison, faces filled with doubt and consternation.

"I’m not mad, I simply refuse to accept Ziwei becoming a Saint without cause or merit."

The Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, wearing a Purple Gold Eight Diagrams Robe, strode towards the Heaven Ascending Platform, fearless, instead, he bowed towards Ye Xuan.

"Heavenly Emperor, may you see clearly, I wish to ask, what achievements does Ziwei have to claim the position of a Heavenly Dao Saint?" said Lord Lao Zi frigidly.

An open challenge, a blatant challenge, the fact that Lord Lao Zi dared to challenge Ye Xuan at this moment was beyond imagination, becoming a colossal laughingstock for the Heavenly Court.

The crowd of the Thirty-Three Layered Heaven looked around in bewilderment, various Daoist forces and Quasi-Saints watched with cold eyes, all with a look of seeing a good show, clearly aware that Lord Lao Zi would not obstruct Ziwei’s sainthood at this moment if it weren’t for something more complicated at play.

At this time.

Luo Hou’s eyes were slightly closed, seemingly resting, but the slight upward curl of his lips betrayed the unrest within.

Tap—tap—tap!

A rhythmical tapping sound echoed as Ye Xuan’s fingers tapped the cloud table before him. His expression was calm, but his gaze at Lord Lao Zi carried a hint of coldness.

"Are you questioning the decision of this Emperor?"

Ye Xuan truly had not anticipated that at the cusp of Ziwei’s imminent sainthood, Lord Lao Zi would dare to oppose him, stirring a murderous intent within Ye Xuan’s heart.

However, this emotion was fleeting because Ye Xuan understood Lord Lao Zi well.

Lord Lao Zi possessed the memories of Daode Tianzun Laozi, and since having severed his connection to Laozi with the Heavenly Punishment Halberd, Lord Lao Zi had become an independent entity.

Yet Ye Xuan was also acutely aware that, due to having Laozi’s memories, Lord Lao Zi harbored great ambition and would not be content to remain merely a Quasi-Saint.

Back then, Lord Lao Zi had agreed to join the Heavenly Court solely as a trade-off of interests, with little loyalty involved.

Ye Xuan knew, although Lord Lao Zi was dissatisfied, he dared not act against him. Today, he dared to obstruct, indicating someone supported him and promised him an irresistible condition.

And this supporter was not hard to guess, it was more than likely to be none other than Luo Hou.

Because quite simply, across Heaven, Earth, and the Three Realms, only a handful of Heavenly Dao Saints could contend with him, and the only one capable of overshadowing him was Daode Tianzun Laozi.

Since he had a good relationship with the Heavenly Sect Master, that ruled him out, and as for the Western Two Saints and Yuanshi Tianzun, their cultivation was at most on par with his own, Lord Lao Zi wouldn’t be so foolish as to join them, and Daode Tianzun Laozi was even less likely.

Having excluded these individuals, there remained only one person, the one beside him—Demon Ancestor Luo Hou—there would be no other.

Luo Hou was a person of great cunning and skill, an expert at manipulating people, as evidenced by his ability to toy with Nuwa.

Ye Xuan was also such a person, very similar to Luo Hou, ruthless and willing to use any means to achieve their ends, both wanting to have everything under their control.

Ye Xuan quickly calmed. Since Luo Hou had already made a move and seduced Lord Lao Zi to challenge him, all he could do was accept the challenge and see who would prevail.

Someone might ask, why all the trouble? If Lord Lao Zi opposed, Ye Xuan could just kill him outright; why bother with so much contemplation?

But let’s not forget, Lord Lao Zi hadn’t rebelled against Ye Xuan; he’d merely opposed Ziwei’s becoming a Saint, with reason and justification, representing the sentiments of many in the Heavenly Court.

Just as Lord Lao Zi stated, what achievements did Ziwei have to become a Saint?

In terms of achievements, who in the Heavenly Court did not surpass Ziwei?

In terms of seniority, which Quasi-Saint in the Heavenly Court did not exceed Ziwei?

In terms of cultivation, Ziwei was once merely a Daluo, and only entered the ranks of Quasi-Saint through Ye Xuan’s elevation.

Ziwei becoming a Saint left Heavenly Court hearts unpersuaded, subdued only by Ye Xuan’s unmatchable might, preventing dissent.

Now, with Lord Lao Zi openly opposing, it represented the discontent many within the Heavenly Court felt towards Ziwei’s sainthood. If Ye Xuan savagely killed Lord Lao Zi, it would dishearten the Heavenly Court, a foolish act Ye Xuan would not commit.

If Ye Xuan indeed took such action, it would play right into Luo Hou’s scheme, dispersing the Heavenly Court’s morale. This insidious plan was a brazen political trap that Ye Xuan could not avoid.

"Heavenly Emperor, may you see clearly, although Ziwei once showed you kindness, you have already granted him the title of Heavenly Emperor. But sainthood is no trivial matter, and concerns the future of our Heavenly Court, Ziwei is not qualified to achieve the status of Saint. Please, Heavenly Emperor, withdraw the decree," Lord Lao Zi declared righteously, speaking for some within.

"True, what Lord Lao Zi said rings true. We, too, cannot accept it. Please, Heavenly Emperor, withdraw the decree."

Suddenly, Wutian, accompanied by a crowd of demons, walked out. Back then, entangled in the Nine Nether Tower of Lingshan, they were liberated by Ye Xuan and thus saw daylight again.

Though Wutian and the demons were bound by Blood Soul Silk under Ye Xuan’s control, it was surprising they dared to oppose him.

The situation grew stranger, oppressive tension mounting. As this scene unfolded, the Thirty-Three Layered Heaven began to shift from its usual state.

"Indeed, you have done exceedingly well."

Ye Xuan nodded with a smile, bearing no anger, as this was Luo Hou’s overt strategy. If he were to erupt in rage and kill, he would indeed fall into Luo Hou’s trap, which was not Ye Xuan’s character.

"Does anyone else oppose Ziwei’s sainthood?" Ye Xuan calmly inquired.