"Fellow Daoist Sun, take your time to ponder. There's no need to rush. Compared to you, I am the one who should most seek retribution from the Jade Emperor. He dared to lay hands on my Investiture of the Gods, and he killed my third-generation disciples."
"This blood debt, I am not settling with him for now, not out of fear, but because the situation is not yet clear."
"When the time is right in the future, I will absolutely let you know what it means to die!"
Seeing that Sun Kong had been persuaded and was deep in thought, Primordial Heavenly Lord beside him did not disturb him. With a gentle chuckle, he conveyed his stance.
The next second.
Primordial Heavenly Lord himself left the Primordial Treasure Box, leaving Sun Kong to continue his seclusion. He, however, used a divine sense to notify Guang Chengzi and others who remained in the Immortal Realm's Great Tang Empire, in Chang'an City.
He gave repeated instructions.
In essence, after the incident at Baihuling, the disciples of the Chan Sect should obey Sun Kong's commands more readily, and not forget the warning, lest they invite calamity.
As he spoke.
He saw that these eight individuals were all greatly worried about their third-generation disciples, those enshrined on the Demon Seal List.
Although Primordial Heavenly Lord could not be as reckless as Sun Kong and force his way into the Heavenly Court, he did not wish for his disciples and grandchildren to suffer.
Therefore.
After much consideration, he could only do some "minor" deeds for them!
"Guang Chengzi!"
"Disciple is here, please give your instructions, Master."
"The eight of you shall continue to remain in Chang'an City. I understand your predicament, and I do not wish for Yang Jian, Nezha, and others to be devoured by the Jade Emperor either."
"However, saving them is not an easy task. I am one move away from affecting the entire situation!"
As he said this, Primordial Heavenly Lord feigned picking up the Pangu Banner, intending to storm the Heavenly Court. However, just as Guang Chengzi and the others felt excited.
From the thirteenth demonic region of the mortal world, thirteen demonic saintly auras locked onto him.
For a Saint like Primordial Heavenly Lord or Empress Nuwa, every step they took further.
That locking energy would follow.
It was a complete mutual restraint.
Thus, Guang Chengzi and the others instantly understood. It turned out that the current situation was similar to the Investiture of the Gods tribulation. It wasn't that Primordial Heavenly Lord or Empress Nuwa were unwilling to help.
It was that before they could act, due to the larger context of the Dao-Demon conflict, someone from the demonic path would surely follow.
At best, they would be intercepted.
At worst, it would lead to a battle between Saints.
That would be far beyond the squabbles of second-generation disciples like them.
At best, it would destroy the three realms of the Great Desolation.
At worst, it would eliminate all living beings!
Hence.
Whether it was Primordial Heavenly Lord or Empress Nuwa, they were hesitant to act. Not to mention, Laozi and the two Sages of the Western Sect had chosen neutrality.
This was equivalent to adding more variables!
"Indeed, Master, your foresight is impeccable."
"Indeed, we disciples thought too naively, too simplistically. Please rest assured, Master, we will definitely obey the command of Great Sage Sun and will not act rashly."
"However, you have seen the fate of Long Xuhu and Xue Ehu. With the Jade Emperor's current stance, I am truly worried that he will eventually do the same to Nezha, Yang Jian, and the others... Alas!"
Here in Chang'an City, in the Immortal Realm.
After hearing Primordial Heavenly Lord's explanation, Guang Chengzi and the other seven felt some relief, but they were still uneasy about the future fates of their respective disciples.
Seeing this.
Primordial Heavenly Lord wasted no more words.
He then brought the eight of them back to the Jade Void Palace.
Afterward, before the eight could even ponder what was happening, he brought them into the Primordial Treasure Box. Utilizing this treasure to shield them from the Heavenly Dao and the Demonic Dao.
He then revealed his next plan!
"I know you cherish your disciples."
"Do you think I do not?"
"Fellow Daoist Sun and I have had a brief discussion. There are only two ways to deal with such a situation: first, to never reconcile with them in the future, and fight when necessary."
"This way, the Jade Emperor will have no reason to punish them."
"Second, shortly, after Fellow Daoist Sun draws the fire for me, I will immediately enter the void of chaos to search for some special items."
"Once found, I can create something that will prevent them from being killed by the Jade Emperor. However, this is not an easy task. I do not have a hundred percent certainty, so you will have to wait and see."
What a Primordial Heavenly Lord!
As expected of the Yuqing Sage, who dared to present the Primordial Treasure Box and conspire with Sun Kong twice, he already had a plan to prevent the Jade Emperor from devouring the third-generation disciples of the Chan Sect in the future.
Although the probability sounded low, it was enough to make the eight immortals of the Chan Sect weep tears of joy and gratitude.
Seeing that even their greatly admired Sun Kong was involved in this matter.
The eight no longer bickered.
They dared not disturb their Master and Great Sage Sun's conversation any further.
They obediently returned to Chang'an City to continue their vigil.
Before leaving.
The other seven departed first.
Only Guang Chengzi, whose cultivation had been restored to the peak of Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal, remained, with lingering doubts, and had to stay to ask Primordial Heavenly Lord!
"Master, do you truly trust that Sun... Fellow Daoist Sun so much?"
"Disciple feels that since his appearance, the entire three realms of the Great Desolation have been in turmoil. Of course, we do not forget his kindness, but for his sake, must we truly oppose both the Heavenly Dao and the Demonic Dao?"
"Master, doing so seems somewhat incorrect and unwise."
Hearing his eldest disciple finally ask this crucial question, Primordial Heavenly Lord did not blame him for his selfishness. Instead, he looked at him with approval.
And smiled mysteriously!
"Guang Chengzi, you are able to maintain gratitude towards Fellow Daoist Sun while also caring for the disciples of the Chan Sect. I am very pleased. This shows that not only has your cultivation recovered, but your state of mind has also healed."
"However, this question is not a problem."
"Do you think you are the only one who has doubted Fellow Daoist Sun? I have also doubted him and made calculations, but the results were... a complete unknown!"
"This Fellow Daoist Sun must have had some extraordinary encounter that neither you nor I are aware of, thus triggering a series of changes, even hastening the Dao-Demon conflict."
"But this is something that cannot be avoided, nor can we conclude that cooperating with him is wrong. The specific details and causes are also unclear to my calculations."
"I can only tell you that trusting Sun Kong is better than trusting the Heavenly Dao or the Demonic Dao."
"He will absolutely bring us more surprises in the future!"
Primordial Heavenly Lord spoke some truths to Guang Chengzi.
This was equivalent to admitting that he also had a degree of admiration for Sun Kong!
Upon hearing this, although Guang Chengzi still did not understand, nor comprehend why his Master, the dignified Yuqing Sage, would admire someone like Sun Kong, who wasn't even a Quasi-Saint.
He dared not ask further.
He could only follow Primordial Heavenly Lord's instructions, cast aside his doubts, completely trust and obey Sun Kong, and then return to await orders.
On the other side.
Just as the nine members of the Chan Sect's master and disciples concluded their secret meeting.
Sun Kong woke up!
Not only did he wake up and regain his original astuteness, losing his previous recklessness.
But also.
His subsequent words once again shocked Primordial Heavenly Lord, the Yuqing Sage who considered himself calm!