Emperor Gouchen returned the courtesy, "Gouchen greets Yun Sect Master."

The courtesy exchanged among the three was one of equal status. This was because Chen Shi represented the Master Lineage, Yun Zhongzi represented the Spirit Treasure Lineage, and Gouchen represented the Four Imperial Lords of the Heavenly Court. Despite Chen Shi being young and Gouchen having a lower seniority, they addressed each other as Taoist friends.

Emperor Gouchen invited the two to sit down, changed the teapot, and smiled, "Yun Sect Master, you have traveled a long way, what brings you here?"

Yun Zhongzi's gaze shifted, first giving a glance at Gouchen, then resting on Chen Shi, he smiled and said, "The hermit heard that Mr. Chen has acted violently in the Heavenly Market, injuring others, with Your Majesty aiding him in oppression. Thus, I come to inquire. Does Your Majesty remember the aspiration to enter the Heavenly Court and become Emperor Gouchen after the Battle of Fashang ended in catastrophe?"

Emperor Gouchen's expression was solemn, he shook his head and said, "I dare not forget."

Upon hearing the word "I," Yun Zhongzi's eyebrows slightly raised, yet his face retained its smile, and he said, "The hermit doesn't remember it well anymore. Please, Your Majesty, recount it."

Emperor Gouchen said, "Years ago, the Sect Master told me that the Heavenly Court controls the heavenly nation, weather, storms, thunder, lightning, changes of moon phases, and it concerns the well-being of the people and the prosperity of the country; it should not be controlled by the gods of Jie Sect, and must be supervised by an immortal. The Sect Master told me that you belong to the Great Zhou royal family, have performed extraordinary feats in the Battle of Fashang, and being young, the incense heritage of Great Zhou belongs to you, making you superior to the Jade Emperor, born with excellent fortune, sure to achieve greatness. If the Three Pure Ones were to choose an immortal to oversee the Heavenly Court and limit the Jade Emperor's power, apart from me, there is no other."

Yun Zhongzi smiled, "I thought Your Majesty had already forgotten the events of the past."

"I never dare to forget."

Upon hearing "I," Yun Zhongzi's eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Emperor Gouchen said, "At that time, the Sect Master was concerned about the nation and the welfare of the people, thus allowed me to enter the Heavenly Court, to become Gouchen. Over the years, I've adhered to the teachings of the Sect Master, managed the wars of the heavens with minimal use of weaponry, the Heavenly Market flourished, and the many nations within each province also prospered. Until recently, when immortals caused chaos, assassinated the divine beings in charge of my provinces, incited the Qi Refiners of various nations, resulting in numerous casualties."

His expression turned somber, very sorrowful, "Is the Sect Master using this move to test my original intention, forcing me to rebel against the Heavenly Court and the Great Heavenly Venerate? If the Sect Master did not act this way, considering our teacher-student relationship, I would surely assist you. Why do you resort to destroying the entire Heavenly Market to force me into rebellion?"

Yun Zhongzi paused in silence, then said, "You've held the position of Emperor Gouchen for too long and too well, I worry you've forgotten your original intention."

"Thus, by creating chaos in the Heavenly Market, causing each province to change hands and become territories of immortals, it makes the Great Heavenly Venerate think it is I who rebelled. The Great Heavenly Venerate sends people to punish me, forcing me to rebel against the Heavenly Court and seek refuge in the Three Pure Ones Realm."

Emperor Gouchen said woodenly, "If you came to the Heavenly Market and said to me, Lei Zhenzi, do you remember your teacher's instructions from the past? Then I would abandon the Emperor's Seal and leave with you. Sadly, you do not seek Lei Zhenzi's return to the Three Pure Ones Realm, you seek the surrender of Emperor Gouchen to the Immortal Court."

Yun Zhongzi sighed, his gaze settled on Chen Shi, speaking bitterly, "I thought the person dispatched by the Great Heavenly Venerate to suppress the rebellion would be Dou Mu or the Thunder Sound Universal Transformation Venerable. Unexpectedly, the Great Heavenly Venerate outmatched us and sent Heavenly King Chen, this unpredictable contemporary Teacher, whose actions are completely illogical. I miscalculated, resulting in this defeat."

Chen Shi nodded to him, offering a benign smile.