449: Chapter 217: Grand Sorcerer of the Heavenly Court_3 449: Chapter 217: Grand Sorcerer of the Heavenly Court_3 They had not expected Great Emperor Ziwei to possess such eloquent speech.
“Yang Jian, come back.
I’m worried that someone might harm you.
Some people can renounce kinship, but I cannot allow those around me to come to harm,”
came the voice of Great Emperor Ziwei.
“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.”
Yang Jian smiled faintly and turned to leave.
However, the decree in his hand flew towards the Jade Emperor.
The Jade Emperor snorted coldly, his mana surged, and the decree exploded on the spot.
His gaze was somewhat grim as he watched Yang Jian leaving, his intent to kill unmistakable.
“Your Majesty, do not be angered, a mere Yang Jian is not worth your anger,”
Lady Houtu advised, her tone dismissive when she mentioned Yang Jian.
After all, he was just a junior, while their adversary was Great Emperor Ziwei.
The Jade Emperor took a deep breath before saying, “Of course, I am not one to renounce kinship either.
Yang Jian may be disloyal and unfilial towards me, but he is still my nephew, and I cannot harm him.
Otherwise, the living beings of the Three Realms would say I fail as an uncle.”
“Your Majesty is merciful; I believe Yang Jian will sense Your Majesty’s kindness and will turn from darkness to light,”
Lady Houtu said, smiling as she naturally elevated the Jade Emperor.
Martial Virtue Star Lord was very astute.
As soon as Lady Houtu finished speaking, he chimed in, “Your Majesty is merciful; I trust that those bewitched by Great Emperor Ziwei will eventually turn from darkness to light.”
The Jade Emperor looked at Martial Virtue Star Lord with approval, pleased with his shrewdness.
Although in his eyes, Martial Virtue Star Lord was nothing more than a petty man, less than trash even.
A loyal official serves only one lord, and even this he failed to achieve.
Such a being was truly unworthy of bearing any great responsibility.
Of course, making proper use of him was still possible.
“From this day onward, I wish to re-establish the Heavenly Court.
All immortals and deities of the Three Realms are welcome to align with me.
I shall appoint you to positions befitting your abilities based on your capabilities,”
the voice of the Jade Emperor spread throughout the Three Realms.
Although he had appeared at a disadvantage in the conversation with Great Emperor Ziwei just now, many still chose the Jade Emperor.
After all, the longstanding prestige of the Jade Emperor endured.
His reign over the Three Realms had been excessively long.
Mortals often joke about the Jade Emperor, portraying him in a disparaging light to highlight the protagonist’s extraordinariness.
But real immortals knew the Jade Emperor was unmatched in strength, the strongest in the Three Realms apart from The Three Pure Ones.
His authority was such that none dared disobey where it prevailed.
Otherwise, Great Emperor Ziwei wouldn’t have aspired to take over after the passing of the Jade Emperor.
Thus, many immortals defected to him.
Even some ancient gods from the Hidden World, great immortals, and high-ranking members of the Buddhist Sect.
Within the Ziwei Heavenly Court, many had also left, though most had detached their divine rights from themselves.
Not out of loyalty, but out of fear that if they left with their divine rights, Great Emperor Ziwei might strike at them.
With the people gone and the divine rights left behind, Great Emperor Ziwei wasn’t likely to target them.
But if they left with their divine rights, Great Emperor Ziwei would surely not let them off.
In just a few days, the Jade Emperor had rallied a large group of powerful beings, amassing a formidable force to stand against Great Emperor Ziwei.
There were also the students of the Jade Emperor, twenty-eight Heavenly Venerate powerhouses who appeared together, shaking heaven and earth.
Everyone in the Three Realms couldn’t help but admire the Jade Emperor for being such a good teacher.
He had actually mentored twenty-eight Heavenly Venerate powerhouses.
Moreover, among his students, the most formidable was Sun Wukong.
The same Great Sage Equaling Heaven who had severed ties with the Jade Emperor and supported Great Emperor Ziwei’s ascension to Great Heavenly Venerate.
Many couldn’t help but sigh in relief that Sun Wukong and the Jade Emperor were at odds.
If he had supported the Jade Emperor, Great Emperor Ziwei would have had no chance at all.
Even the position of Great Heavenly Venerate would have been wishful thinking.
Yang Jian accounted for the immortals who had left and reported to Great Emperor Ziwei.
“Your Majesty, three Heavenly Venerates have left the Ziwei Heavenly Court, along with three hundred and sixty-two Celestial Immortals, Heavenly Generals, Heavenly Soldiers, and various minor deities, totaling fifty-three thousand and seventy-three in all,”
Great Emperor Ziwei nodded slightly, finding the number acceptable.
“Your Majesty, should we execute these traitors?”
Yang Jian asked.
As long as Great Emperor Ziwei commanded it, he had ways to kill these people.
Great Emperor Ziwei shook his head and said, “For now, there’s no need.
The Jade Emperor’s actions are misguided, and he will eventually be abandoned by everyone.
They are merely loyal to their former lord, and I cannot blame them for that.
Should I encounter them on the battlefield, I will certainly show no mercy, but for the moment let’s just leave them be.”
Hearing Great Emperor Ziwei’s words, Yang Jian smiled bitterly.
What more could he say?
Great Emperor Ziwei was indeed merciful, and it was no act.
Compared to the Jade Emperor, this was his advantage, but also his weakness.
A hero acts without scruples, while a true hero has principles.
For an Overlord of Heaven and Earth, a ruthless heart and hand are more fitting.
But Great Emperor Ziwei was clearly not enough, far too merciful.
Such leniency easily provided enemies with opportunities and chances for tigers to return to the mountain.
However, Yang Jian admired Great Emperor Ziwei all the more for it.
If Great Emperor Ziwei were like the Jade Emperor, he might not be willing to serve him.
Just then, an attendant announced that Great Sage Equaling Heaven sought an audience.
Great Emperor Ziwei was slightly surprised and couldn’t help but laugh, “When did this monkey become so polite, even letting someone announce his visit?”
He instructed the attendants to quickly invite Sun Wukong in.
Yang Jian showed a smile as he was well aware that when the Jade Emperor had appeared, Sun Wukong had been absent, probably fearing that he wouldn’t be able to restrain himself and would end up clashing with the Jade Emperor right then and there.