Emperor Gouchen gazed at him, seemingly trying to discern from his expression whether he was telling the truth or lying, but found it even more challenging than battling the Great Heavenly Venerate.

Chen Shi had been a bit flustered earlier, but after telling a lie, he became quite composed, unperturbed by thunder.

No matter how capable Emperor Gouchen was of knowing everything, he couldn't tell whether Chen Shi was lying or being sincere.

"Heavenly King Chen speaks well!"

Emperor Gouchen clapped his hands and laughed, "Very well said! I like your straightforward personality! The Jade Emperor, that old fool, is muddle-headed and incompetent. He has ruled the Heavenly Court for 360,000 years, turning the world into a smoky mess, making life unbearable for the common people. Ascension has become a void, and immortals suffer greatly! I've had enough of this, let's rebel against the Jade Emperor together from now on!"

Chen Shi applauded and raised his glass, "Your Majesty's words are earth-shattering! Let's drink to that!"

The two raised their glasses and drank it all in one go.

Chen Shi set down his cup and said swiftly, "I have long been dissatisfied with the Jade Emperor and have always wanted to charge into the Heavenly Court, overturn that old guy, and seize his throne. Alas, my strength is insufficient — ambitions without means. Seeing Your Majesty today is like seeing the moon through scattered clouds!"

The tone of Emperor Gouchen changed, he sneered, "Heavenly King Chen, you become more presumptuous with your words. I, as one of the Four Heavenly Emperors of the Heavenly Court, stand below no one but above countless immortals. If I become a traitor with you, even winning against the Heavenly Court, what could the Three Pure Ones grant me that would surpass the Four Heavenly Emperors? Without such a position, why should I rebel?"

Chen Shi's heart skipped a beat, he cautiously said, "Did Your Majesty not state earlier that you are an undercover agent placed in the Heavenly Court by the Three Pure Ones? Your words carry weight..."

Emperor Gouchen's expression darkened as he said coldly, "Of course, I am a spy, but the Three Pure Ones have already left, whereabouts unknown. Who dares call me a spy now? I am the dignified Emperor Gouchen, one of the Four Heavenly Emperors, above countless immortals, second only to the Great Heavenly Venerate. My status and power are exceedingly noble. If I act as an inside agent, what power would mixing in with these mortals bring me? Can it make me the Great Heavenly Venerate? Therefore, I cannot rebel!"

"Your Majesty, I was merely jesting!"

Chen Shi's expression remained unchanged as he laughed heartily, "To be frank, I am a double agent, a spy among spies! I once was a common man, mere Golden Immortal, but valued by the Great Heavenly Venerate as a valued minister, given the role of General of the World and conferred the title of Heavenly King. With my cultivation, I'm of lower status than a fifth or sixth generation disciple in the Three Pure Ones Realm. In the Immortal Court, could I ever seat as the General of the World? No. Without such a role, why rebel? Rebelling against the Heavenly Court brings no benefit!"

Emperor Gouchen's expression was variable, murmuring, "But I must rebel."

As Chen Shi was about to pour wine, he nearly crushed the jug upon hearing this.

"After the Battle of Fashang, Jiang Taigong bestowed divine enthronement, establishing the world's divine order, and the Great Heavenly Venerate's Heavenly Court took its initial shape. He is the Emperor, and the respected Emperor Houtu with comparable status also needed arrangements, his status couldn't be much lower. The Emperor and Houtu were originally the foundational beliefs of heaven and earth, their incense was immense."

Emperor Gouchen's face turned even darker as he spoke in low tones, "The Three Pure Ones didn't want their forces to be too vast, thus fragmented their power, establishing the Five Directions Heavenly Emperors and the Heaven, Earth, and Water Three Officials Emperor, the Emperor of Shenxiao Nine Celestial, the Heaven, Earth, and Human Three Emperors, and so forth, to dilute the power of the Emperor and Houtu."

He slowly drank his wine, turning his cup slowly, as if admiring the floral and avian scenes on it.

"That's when I was planted in the Heavenly Court. The Battle of Fashang saw the deaths and injuries of too many disciples of the Three Pure Ones, I was fortunate to survive and, being of the Great Zhou Royal Family, guarded the Great Zhou for over 80,000 years. Status was just as important back then as it is now."

He glanced at Chen Shi across from him, "For instance, you, as the Crown Prince of Emperor Houtu, could become a Heavenly King."

Chen Shi wanted to refute, but the Heavenly Court had countless immortals with cultivation power like his, none of whom had become Heavenly King, he alone had replaced King Li — it wasn't just due to his outstanding abilities. Being Prince Houtu was probably his greatest asset.

"Back then, Immortal Master Erlang was unruly, could only patrol the water at Guan River Mouth as a Water Official. The Third Prince was wild and untamed, so he wandered between the Heavenly Altar, Earth Altar, and Sea Altar, scavenging leftover offerings. My status was far superior to those rustic Daoist friends, my starting point was much higher."

Emperor Gouchen spoke unhurriedly, "I received the full adulation of the Great Zhou, though an immortal, my incense was boundless, surpassing all gods in the Heavenly Court, becoming the Great Zhou Taoist God before any of them. The Three Pure Ones needed someone to counterbalance the Great Heavenly Venerate, thus established the Four Imperial Lords. With the existence of Houtu and Emperor Changsheng, two more were needed."

He poured wine for Chen Shi, "My elder brother Bo Yikao was chopped into mincemeat by merchants, made into meat pies and eaten, and was bestowed the title of Emperor Ziwei among the Four Imperial Lords. He too received Great Zhou incense, his divine power was substantial. But he is after all a God, might align with the Great Heavenly Venerate. Hence, the Three Pure Ones needed to place an Immortal among the Four Imperial Lords, yet an Immortal who was also a Divine."

"The last of the Four Imperial Lords could only be me. I may be a Daoist God, but I'm also an Immortal, backed by Great Zhou incense, and a disciple of the next Sect Leader in the Upper Pure Realm, making me the perfect piece for the game."

He set down his cup, his gaze as sharp as a sword, looking at Chen Shi, his face sinister, full of Evil Qi.

"I am an Immortal and the chess piece of the Three Pure Ones, how could I possibly betray the Immortal Race to uphold the despotic rule of the Great Heavenly Venerate? Thus, I watched as the Heavenly Market erupted in immortal unrest, overcoming the Ancestral and Rites Ministries, strengthening the Immortal force. Heavenly King Chen, as the Great Heavenly Venerate's hound, came to my Heavenly Market, quelling the vibrant War of God — tell me, should I not execute you?!"