447: Chapter 217: Grand Sorcerer of the Heavenly Court 447: Chapter 217: Grand Sorcerer of the Heavenly Court The crowd buzzed with discussion, feeling that both parties made sense.
The Jade Emperor’s words, in fact, weren’t completely without reason.
After all, the Great Emperor Ziwei indeed was his subject, and if the Jade Emperor was still around, wouldn’t a subject ascending to power be usurpation?
However, the Heavenly Court is ultimately different from any other.
The Heavenly Court must maintain the welfare of the beings of the Three Realms.
With the Jade Emperor faking his death, he had already committed a grave error.
If we were to allow the chaos in the Three Realms to continue, no one knows just how many beings would perish.
But it is certain that, amidst the chaos of the Three Realms, living beings would suffer as though in hell, devoid of any happiness.
Therefore, the Great Emperor Ziwei also did nothing wrong.
Any Immortals and Buddhas with even a hint of benevolence towards living beings felt that he did well.
Moreover, the Great Emperor Ziwei did not usurp the throne but was enthroned by the living beings themselves as the Heavenly Emperor.
This was the will of the people, and even the Jade Emperor could find no grounds to accuse him.
He could only criticize the Great Emperor Ziwei on the basis that he was once his subject; beyond that, there was no other angle to attack the Great Emperor.
Even the Jade Emperor’s former allies could not help but lament that the Great Emperor Ziwei truly had nothing to be criticized for.
All of this was the Jade Emperor’s own doing; the Great Emperor Ziwei was not to blame.
Yang Jian sneered, staring at the Jade Emperor, and said, “You yourself act unscrupulously, forsaken by all.
How do you still have the face to accuse others?
Jade Emperor, if I were you, I would just find a place to hide away in seclusion forever, definitely without the face to appear again.”
Having said that, Yang Jian paused, then a cold smile appeared on his face.
“In fact, we all know your objective, which is nothing more than to create chaos in the Three Realms, to aid the Court of Ancient Gods, to exterminate living beings, to allow the return of Ancient Gods from beyond our world.
Let all the gods, immortals, and demons present listen well—most of you are beings of later generations.
Do you really wish to help the Ancient Gods annihilate the beings of future generations?”
At these words, the complexions of those gods, immortals, and demons greatly changed.
Naturally, they did not want this; even some of the Ancient Gods felt the current situation was good.
The Three Realms were stable, and as divine beings, they were quite comfortable.
They were merely dissatisfied with Ziwei Heavenly Court targeting the Ancient Gods, but to wish for the return of the Ancient Gods from beyond…
that was unthinkable.
They all clearly remembered how the Jade Emperor, during the era of the three Divine Dynasties, treated the other Ancient Gods and living beings; deep down, they did not wish for those beings to return.
If the powerful beings of the three Divine Dynasties were to return, where would they find such peaceful days they had now?
Most likely, they would live in torment.
“Jade Emperor, is this truly your purpose?”
An Ancient God inquired, his face looking uneasy.
That was Lu Wu, one of the great Heavenly Venerates, an Ancient Demon God.
He stared at the Jade Emperor, eager to know his true intentions.
The Jade Emperor merely smiled faintly, saying calmly, “As the saying goes, when one wants to punish someone, one can always find an excuse.
Ziwei has usurped the Three Realms and become the Great Heavenly Venerate.
Can you actually believe the words of such a disloyal subject?”
Having said this, the Jade Emperor glanced at Yang Jian, a trace of coldness curling at the corner of his mouth.
“As for Yang Jian, we have never gotten along, and this is something all beings in the Three Realms know.
In fact, our discord has even spread throughout the Mortal World.
So do you think you should believe his words?
Are his words credible?”
Hearing the Jade Emperor’s explanation, the crowd was shaken.
A sparkle of realization appeared in their eyes; they found his words quite reasonable.
Both the Great Emperor Ziwei and Yang Jian, indeed, had reasons to slander the Jade Emperor.
Therefore, they couldn’t fully trust their words either.
Yang Jian looked at the Jade Emperor with disdain and sneered, “I originally thought you were something of a hero, but now it seems you truly disappoint me, not even daring to acknowledge your own objective.
Jade Emperor, you’re even more despicable than I imagined.
Tell me, Jade Emperor, will you accept this Decree?”
“I will not.”
The Jade Emperor said coldly.
He continued indifferently, “It has always been the sovereign who issues Decrees to his subjects, never the subjects who issue Decrees to their sovereign.
That’s simply ridiculous.
I am the true Great Heavenly Venerate, let Ziwei come to meet me at once.
If he admits his wrongdoings, I can deal with him leniently, but if he remains deluded, his end will be incredibly tragic.”
Yang Jian shook his head, sighed, and said, “You are beyond redemption.
Since you refuse to accept the Decree, from this day forward, you are a traitor to the Heavenly Court.
Anyone wishing to follow the Jade Emperor will be seen as a traitor as well.
If you leave now, the Great Emperor Ziwei might not hold you accountable, but if you insist on walking the path of darkness, none of you will meet a good end.
Think carefully about opposing the heavens; the outcome is for you to consider.”
The gods, immortals, and demons, who were originally fervent, started to have doubts after hearing Yang Jian’s words.
If the Jade Emperor could prevail, they would be credited with being his staunch supporters; but it was now clear that he was unlikely to triumph, and even if he managed to hold on, it would be extremely difficult for him to return to his position as the Great Heavenly Venerate.
Many were swayed and, after cooling down, wanted to leave.
“Heh, I am already the Great Heavenly Venerate, rightfully so by the mandate of heaven.
Reclaiming what is mine, and you call that beyond redemption?
Ziwei has indeed become rather arrogant.
Well then, let’s wait and see.
I’m curious to find out if this newly appointed Heavenly Emperor has the strength to withstand me, the Supreme Sovereign of the Three Realms,” said the Jade Emperor, upon which a powerful aura began to emanate from him, surging toward Ziwei Heavenly Court.
The Great Emperor Ziwei snorted coldly, a glint of cold light flickered in his eyes, and a vast purple qi surged around him, releasing a force slightly weaker than the Jade Emperor’s.
Everyone could sense that the Great Emperor Ziwei’s strength was evidently not as strong as the Jade Emperor’s.