In the past, these people were Immortal Gods, at worst they were Cultivators. Now they have fallen to mere mortals, and how to handle them has become a problem.

"Should we kill them all as a sacrifice to heaven?"

The Rites Star Official hesitated for a moment and did not give the order. He did not know Chen Shi's intentions and did not dare to issue orders rashly.

His arm was just crippled, but he was worried that if he ordered the execution of the surrendered, Chen Shi would return, turning him into an ordinary man, or just kill him.

The grand battle of Immortal Gods in the Rites Province originally concluded in such an unexpected manner.

"Hasn't Heavenly King Chen been hiding in Penglai West, ambushing the Heavenly Court Envoys? Why did he come out now?"

The Rites Star Official was puzzled, returned to the Star Palace, tried to recover his arm, but his right arm seemed as if it had been cut off, unable to restore any Divine Power.

He pondered for a moment, lit an incense, and contacted the Gouchen Upper Palace that governs the Heavenly Market, reporting the matter.

Minister Lu Daoming of the Gouchen Upper Palace, upon hearing this, exclaimed, "Heavenly King Chen? Wasn't he skulking around Penglai West, sending people to eliminate the Heavenly Court Envoys? How did he end up in my Heavenly Market?"

He inquired further and learned that the rebellion in the Rites Province was settled due to Chen Shi passing by and nullifying the cultivation of all parties involved, leaving him utterly astonished.

"Nullified all the Immortal Gods' cultivation?"

Minister Lu Daoming furrowed his brows slightly, having never heard of such a technique.

"This matter must be reported to His Majesty!"

He immediately ordered the secretary to compile this matter into a memorial and go see the Emperor of Gouchen.

The Emperor of Gouchen, upon reading the memorial, was also greatly surprised, "Heavenly King Chen came to my Heavenly Market to quell a rebellion? Wasn't he holed up in Penglai West killing envoys? Why did he come to my Heavenly Market?"

Minister Lu Daoming said, "Your Majesty, I heard that the Great Heavenly Venerate sent King Li to the Elder Province to suppress bandits. Most likely, King Li coerced him, forcing him to quell the rebellion."

The Emperor of Gouchen tossed the memorial aside, smiling faintly, "King Li came to my Elder Province in the Heavenly Market to suppress bandits? How come I wasn't informed?"

Minister Lu Daoming hesitated for a moment, "Your humble servant has also just learned of this and hasn't had time to report to Your Majesty. Moreover, the Heavenly Court has sent envoys seven times in a row, all of whom were killed in the Elder Province of our Heavenly Market. We, too, bear responsibility, suspected of ineffective bandit suppression..."

The Emperor of Gouchen sneered, "I have neither soldiers nor generals to suppress bandits. Should I go alone to suppress the bandits? The Great Heavenly Venerate does not trust me, when has he ever bestowed military power upon me? Though I am one of the Four Imperial Lords, I don't even have a single soldier I can use!"

Minister Lu Daoming dared not continue the topic, "Your Majesty, please be cautious with your words. In times like these, Your Majesty must be careful in speech and action, avoiding suspicion is crucial."

The Emperor of Gouchen did not truly lose his temper and laughed, "Heavenly King Chen's entry into my Heavenly Market to suppress bandits was probably part of the Great Heavenly Venerate's scheme of using a borrowed sword to kill. He uses my knife to kill Heavenly King Chen. The Great Heavenly Venerate simply wants to use me, a rebel, to get rid of Heavenly King Chen, making him his Heavenly Dao Divine People! This is his great plan to mend heaven!"

Minister Lu Daoming's forehead was covered in cold sweat, his voice hoarse, "Your Majesty, please be cautious with your words..."

"I will not be cautious!"

The Emperor of Gouchen sneered, "You are also a spy planted by the Great Heavenly Venerate in my Gouchen Upper Palace, if you want to report me, then do it! I don't care! I have nothing left to lose!"

Minister Lu Daoming dared not speak.

Indeed, he was an informant placed in the Gouchen Upper Palace by the Great Heavenly Venerate, and the Emperor of Gouchen had long known this. The two of them, ruler and minister, were well aware, yet the matter had never been exposed, and in daily affairs, the ruler and minister complemented each other as usual.

However, a battle amongst Immortal Gods had erupted recently, putting the Emperor of Gouchen in a difficult position, under immense pressure, which is why he used this matter to mock him.

The Emperor of Gouchen calmed his demeanor, "I was out of line, Daoist Lu, don't take it to heart."

Minister Lu Daoming smiled, "Your Majesty is righteous, and holding some grudges is understandable. I, as your minister, will not take it to heart."

The Emperor of Gouchen shifted the topic, "Did Heavenly King Chen nullify the cultivation of Immortals and Gods? Tell me exactly what happened."

Minister Lu Daoming then recounted the events in the Rites Province, leaving the Emperor of Gouchen greatly astonished, "The cultivation of Immortals and Gods has all been nullified? What kind of technique is this? Is it an Outer Dao?"

A thought sparked in his mind as he suddenly remembered something, "In the past, when the Great Heavenly Venerate bestowed the Dao Ruins to him, there was an Abnormal Point of the Great Dao within the Dao Ruins, harboring the Outer Dao, which he nullified using a peculiar spell, earning widespread admiration. Even the Divine Beings of all the heavens held him in higher regard for it. Could it be that he can not only nullify the Outer Dao but also the Immortal Dao?"

Minister Lu Daoming did not know of this and dared not inquire further.

The Emperor of Gouchen waved his hand, "You may leave. I, as the Heavenly Emperor, have long been sidelined, without a shred of real power. Heavenly King Chen can do as he pleases in my Heavenly Market, there's no need to pay attention."

Minister Lu Daoming left.

A few days later, Minister Lu Daoming came again, presenting a memorial. The Emperor of Gouchen lay reclining on the couch, holding a beauty in his arms, he hooked the memorial open with his pinky and glanced at it lazily, "What is it this time?"

"Your Majesty, the rebellion in the Ancestral Province has been quelled by Heavenly King Chen," Minister Lu Daoming reported.

Emperor Gouchen showed a surprised expression: "How was it pacified?"

Minister Lu Daoming replied: "There are many rebels in the Ancestral People's Province, attacking the Star Lord of the Ancestral People. The Star Lord of the Ancestral People was almost killed. It happened that Heavenly King Chen passed by, and the cultivation of the Immortal Gods was abolished, so it was pacified."

Emperor Gouchen frowned and said: "Abolished their cultivation again? What about the Star Lord of the Ancestral People?"

"Also had his cultivation abolished."

Emperor Gouchen waved him away and continued to enjoy himself with beauties.

A few days later, Minister Lu Daoming returned and presented a report: "Your Majesty, Heavenly King Chen pacified the rebellion in Yan Zhao."

"I know."

...

"Your Majesty, Heavenly King Chen passed by the provinces of Qi and Wei, and all the Immortal Gods were abolished."

...

A few days later, Minister Lu Daoming sought him again, but Emperor Gouchen was not in the palace. Upon inquiry, he found that Emperor Gouchen had left the Upper Palace two days ago.

"Where has Your Majesty gone?" he asked the palace maid. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"He said he went to meet this Heavenly King Chen."

Minister Lu Daoming's complexion changed slightly, feeling worried, he thought to himself: "Could it be that His Majesty is really going to rebel? The Great Heavenly Venerate has been wary of him for a long time. After he became Emperor Gouchen, the Great Heavenly Venerate was uneasy with him, saying he was a spy infiltrated by The Three Pure Ones into the Heavenly Court! Now, His Majesty is finally revealing his true face, planning to kill Heavenly King Chen!"

He hurried back to the Heavenly Observation Mansion, burned a stick of incense, and reported to the Heavenly Court.

Meanwhile, in Wu Yue Province, Chen Shi trudged along the road, finally reaching his destination, feeling relieved as he descended from the clouds, intending to find a place to rest.

Along the way, whenever he encountered injustice, he would casually set things right, so he did not delay much.

The chaos of Wu Yue Province was even greater than the chaos he encountered in other provinces along the way. Chen Shi found an Immortal City, but it was already broken, seemingly having undergone warfare, with devastation everywhere. The survivors carried on as usual, seeming accustomed to such happenings.

"Heavenly King Chen, Daoist Chen!"

A voice came, Chen Shi followed the sound to see an unusual person standing under a tavern, smiling at him.

The unusual person had a bird's beak and a human face, with a complexion like a blue ink evil ghost, looking terrifying, yet his aura was extraordinarily refined, with wings on his back folded neatly behind him.

The unusual person was dressed luxuriously, exuding nobility, possessing both the ethereal nature of the Immortal Dao and the incense fire qi of the Divine Dao.

Chen Shi approached, puzzled, saying: "Brother Daoist, may I ask who you are?"

The unusual person smiled and said: "Emperor of the Upper Palace of Gouchen, I greet Heavenly King Chen."

Chen Shi's heart chilled: "Emperor Gouchen, one of the Four Imperial Lords!"

He quickly paid his respects.

Emperor Gouchen smiled and said: "Heavenly King Chen, no need for excessive courtesy. I have already prepared food and wine here to welcome the Heavenly King. Please, Heavenly King."

"I dare not."

Chen Shi, with humility on his lips, entered the tavern and sat down across from Emperor Gouchen, but only half sitting.

Emperor Gouchen laughed and said: "This is not Gouchen Upper Palace, Heavenly King need not be so restrained."

Chen Shi adjusted and sat fully on the chair, pouring wine for the supreme person opposite him, smiling: "How did Your Majesty come to this land of Wu Yue?"

Emperor Gouchen said: "Not to mention Wu Yue Province, but the entire Heavenly Market, is my territory. With the Immortal disaster here, why shouldn't I come? Chen Shi, you are bold!"

He sneered coldly: "Do you know who I am? Officially, I am the Heavenly Emperor of Gouchen, one of the Four Imperial Lords, but actually, I am Lei Zhenzi, the great disciple of the Teaching Venerable Yun Zhongzi of the Three Pure Ones Realm, and a spy of The Three Pure Ones in the Heavenly Court! You've come to my Heavenly Market, disrupting my plans, truly walking into a trap!"

Chen Shi shivered, his chopsticks dropped, and his face turned pale.

Emperor Gouchen sneered: "Are you scared?"

Chen Shi picked up the chopsticks, his expression returning to normal, saying: "The thunder startled me, unconsciously frightened. Your Majesty, to be honest, I am a disciple of the Immortal Court Supreme. We both belong to the rightful Immortal Dao, ready to join hands to overthrow the tyranny of the Heavenly Court!"