"Heavenly King Chen invited me for a drink, and I invite you for tea," Emperor Gouchen extended the invitation.

Chen Shi reluctantly walked over and sat opposite Emperor Gouchen.

Emperor Gouchen personally poured him tea, and with a smile, asked, "So, is Heavenly King Chen against the Heavenly Court or the Immortal Court?"

"Here we go again!"

Chen Shi knew that regardless of how he responded, it would be wrong, so he chose not to answer. — Emperor Gouchen was clearly in a state of indecision, unsure of what to do, which is why he asked how he should position himself. In reality, Gouchen was not asking him but asking himself.

Gouchen's indecisiveness made Chen Shi understand what it meant to accompany a king like accompanying a tiger.

"I wonder if Xi Zi has been sent to the Heavenly Court?"

Chen Shi, mentally wandering, suddenly had a thought, "Why don't I just kill Wu Yue Star Lord? If he dies, Xi Zi would become a little widow. A pitiable little widow…"

Emperor Gouchen was displeased, "…By not speaking, are you teasing me? Does Heavenly King Chen think my Wind and Thunder Stick can't smash your Heavenly Spirit Cover?"

Chen Shi sighed and said, "Your Majesty's ability to rival existence in the Three Pure Ones Realm, shattering my Heavenly Spirit Cover would naturally be effortless."

Emperor Gouchen asked, "If that's the case, why won't you answer?"

Chen Shi honestly replied, "No matter how I respond, Your Majesty always has reasons to counter argue. It's not that I won't answer, but rather Your Majesty confines himself. If my answer displeases Your Majesty and thus earns anger towards me, resulting in an unjust death, wouldn't that be unfair?"

Emperor Gouchen was silent for a moment and then said, "Just answer, I won't hold you guilty."

Chen Shi's spirit picked up, and he laughed, "Penglai West and the Heavenly Market are close neighbors. Has Your Majesty been to Penglai West?"

Emperor Gouchen, lacking interest, shook his head, "Penglai West is a place where even bird droppings don't fall, tainted by the Outer Dao, I haven't been there. However, in the early years when the Earth Immortal Realm was being established, it was the foremost Holy Land under the heavens, and I visited a few times as a guest."

"Your Majesty should make a trip to Penglai West."

Chen Shi sipped tea, carefully choosing his words, and after a moment of reflection, said, "In my Penglai West, the Outer Dao and Immortal Dao have already intermingled, possessing the purity of the Immortal Dao and the unpredictability of the Outer Dao. The qi of Heaven and Earth is not purely the Right Path; it also includes Evil Dao and Demon Path. Golden Turtle Island disciples do not solely practice the Immortal Dao; they also practice the Outer Dao, and have achievements."

Emperor Gouchen remained disinterested, saying, "The same goes for the Three Pure Ones Realm. Disciples of the Three Pure Ones Realm also study the Outer Dao, delve into Divine Skills, frequently visiting the Dark Sea seeking Outer Dao secrets. My reason for having a bird's beak, a blue face with fangs, and wings on my back is because my master tricked me during my early years, making me mistakenly consume the Dark Sea Red Apricot, turning into this form. That Dark Sea Vermilion Fruit also harbors Outer Dao."

Chen Shi was unaware of this backstory, and upon asking for further reason, Emperor Gouchen said, "Since childhood, I followed my master at Zhongnan Mountain to learn Dao. At seven, my master sent me to Tiger Cliff to find a handy weapon to rescue my father under the mountain. I didn't find any weapon on Tiger Cliff, but instead found two red apricots, greedily consuming them, turning into this form. Upon meeting my master later, he clapped and praised me, giving me the Wind and Thunder Stick. I was too young to know the reason; only later did I learn there were no weapons on Tiger Cliff. Sending me to find weapons was just for me to discover and eat the Dark Sea Red Apricots."

Chen Shi provocatively asked, "There is scheming even between master and disciple?"

Emperor Gouchen said, "But I do not resent him. I was only seven, naive, and without consuming the red apricots, I wouldn't have had the ability to save my father or survive the Battle of Fashang."

He participated in the Battle of Fashang at seven, and by his teens, was neck to neck with renowned newcomers like Immortal Master Erlang and the Three Altar Sea Meeting Great God, his skills unparalleled, and this was significantly linked to those two red apricots.

"Therefore, I hold no objection to the Outer Dao. Earlier, you significantly defeated the masters of the Three Pure Ones Realm and Western Heaven using Outer Dao. You cultivate the Outer Dao and made extraordinary achievements; among those I've met, hardly anyone can rival you." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Emperor Gouchen said, "I have researched the Outer Dao, but not as profoundly as you. You must have made discoveries in Penglai West. Have you found the source of Penglai West's disaster?"

Chen Shi was slightly stirred and sought counsel, "Your Majesty, having resided long at the Heavenly Market, near Penglai West, do you know the source of Penglai West's disaster? Can you share what happened back then?"

Emperor Gouchen, lacking interest, shook his head, "First tell what's going on with Penglai West now. If you and I remain alive, then we can discuss those past stories."

Chen Shi didn't press the matter, and slowly said, "My Penglai West differs from both the Heavenly Court and the Immortal Court. In Penglai West, all Holy Lands, Blessed Lands, Grotto Heavens, mineral veins, and Spiritual Springs are owned by Golden Turtle Island. Disciples of Golden Turtle Island only have the right to use them. There are inspection envoys in Penglai West who assess disciples' contributions, reward based on merit, if they have great merit towards Penglai West, their Holy Land is favorable, and their Blessed Land is grand. Cultivation Techniques, Spiritual Springs, mineral veins, and so on are treated similarly. When they leave Penglai West, defect, or die, the Holy Lands, Blessed Lands, Grotto Heavens, etc., revert to Golden Turtle Island and can't be taken away. Their Harmonization Land and Immortal Mountain are all Golden Turtle Island's property, not private assets."

Emperor Gouchen closed his eyes, his mind seemingly wandering beyond the heavens, and after a while, said, "The Heavenly Court governs the world's Holy Lands, granting Holy Lands, Blessed Lands, Grotto Heavens, mineral veins, and Spiritual Springs to those immortals with fortune and virtue. There are divine envoys to inspect the achievements of immortals, awarding based on merit accordingly. Can it be done?"

Chen Shi laughed, "Naturally, it's not impossible. However, currently, the biggest occupiers of worldly resources are the Heavenly Court aside from the Three Pure Ones Realm, Western Heaven, and their affiliated immortals."

Emperor Gouchen's spirit was invigorated, revealing a smile, "So the Heavenly Court wants to seize what they have monopolized."

Chen Shi said, "The Heavenly Court was established by The Three Pure Ones, and Western Heaven assisted as well. They were originally the masters; having them depend on the Heavenly Court is unlikely, inevitably leading to a fierce struggle. Moreover, will the Great Heavenly Venerate be willing to relinquish power?"