Chapter 991: Chapter 983: Saint Minister

Yang Jian, clad in the majestic silver armor, arrived at the Celestial Palace of Longevity to pay respects to the Changsheng Divine Venerable.

The Changsheng Divine Venerable was meditating on a cushion, gazing down at Yang Jian with a look of contemplation on his face.

“Venerable, why have you summoned me?” Yang Jian asked.

Ever since ascending to immortality, he had been working under the Changsheng Divine Venerable’s command. Although they weren’t officially master and disciple, they had long since developed a master-disciple bond.

“Do you still keep in touch with your master from the Human World?”

The Changsheng Divine Venerable asked with a kind smile.

Yang Jian replied, “No, ever since he left the Celestial Spirit Great World, I have been unable to contact him.”

Recalling this matter, Yang Jian felt distressed, as if abandoned by his master.

The Changsheng Divine Venerable understood Gu An’s intentions. He didn’t reveal the true identity of the Merit Suppressing God Heavenly Monarch, and comforted him, “Since you are in the Celestial Court, there will certainly be opportunities to reunite in the future.”

Yang Jian nodded, thinking the same way.

“Tian Hao has returned. You once shared a brotherly bond in a past life. Are you willing to assist him?” The Changsheng Divine Venerable shifted the topic.

Yang Jian’s expression turned solemn, aware of what kind of predicament the sons, aligned with the Celestial Emperor, would face. Many sons had been dealt with recently; either they compromised, or they were charged with crimes, stripped of their immortal positions, and banished to the Mortal World.

“Of course I am willing!”

Yang Jian replied without hesitation, knowing the danger yet determined to give his all for Senior Brother An Hao.

The Changsheng Divine Venerable smiled with satisfaction, holding Gu An in high regard, especially in teaching character, where Gu An excelled over him.

In his high position, it was difficult to personally nurture disciples.

After a few words of advice, the Changsheng Divine Venerable dismissed Yang Jian.

Once Yang Jian left, the grand hall’s doors slammed shut. The Changsheng Divine Venerable’s smile vanished as a mass of black mist emerged from behind him, forming a blurred human face in the air before him.

“His master, is it the Merit Suppressing God Heavenly Monarch?”

The pitch-black face asked, its voice cold as ice.

The Changsheng Divine Venerable replied, “Indeed, the Merit Suppressing God Heavenly Monarch founded the Beginningless in the Human World and is known as Ancestor Master Wushi. His origins are mysterious; despite years of investigation, I’ve found no records. I even suspect he originates from the chaos, and his intentions are unclear at this time. However, hidden within the Heavenly Dao, he must be plotting something.”

The pitch-black face responded, “If there are no records of him in the Celestial Court, he is either from the chaos or the underworld, releasing merit and choosing to ascend during the celestial emperor’s transition. It remains difficult to say if he is friend or foe.”

The Changsheng Divine Venerable nodded, his gaze flickering.

“Cangming will act soon, you should be prepared,” the pitch-black face reminded.

The Changsheng Divine Venerable frowned, hesitating to speak.

The pitch-black face said solemnly, “Don’t forget past grudges!”

The Changsheng Divine Venerable huffed coldly, not responding, but the murderous intent in his eyes intensified.

…

Gu An returned to the Daoist Field of the Beginningless and went to pick medicinal herbs first.

Every day spent in the Celestial Court equated to a year passing in the Human World, leaving him with numerous mature medicinal herbs awaiting harvest upon his return.

As he approached the herb field, the Ghost Mother of Ephemera came to accompany him.

“Master, did you just return from the Celestial Court?” the Ghost Mother of Ephemera asked curiously.

When Gu An ascended to immortality, she and the disciples were thrilled, yet after his ascension, as Gu An spent most of his time at the Daoist Field of the Beginningless, their excitement waned, and even the desire for immortality faded.

“Yes, I stayed at the Celestial Court for a while.”

Gu An replied while picking the herbs, pausing to muse, “The seemingly powerful Celestial Court is riddled with flaws, yet these so-called flaws are calculations in themselves. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.”

The Ghost Mother of Ephemera couldn’t help but ask, “Who is the mantis, who is the cicada, and who is the oriole?”

“That will be known in time.”

Gu An chuckled softly, observing the myriad destinies of the Celestial Court in his eyes, though the variables continued to grow.

Notably, the Celestial Emperor seemed to exhibit a trace of the Saint Minister.

This meant that in the upcoming great tribulations of the Celestial Court, the Celestial Emperor had a sliver of a chance to achieve the Saint Realm.

With the increasing chaos forces infiltrating the Celestial Court, the Celestial Emperor’s ideas changed; rather than panic, he remained confident, persistently deducing the path to sainthood.

The Ghost Mother of Ephemera did not understand the matters of the Celestial Court, but she felt assured by her master’s oversight attitude, believing that regardless of any calamity, her master could handle it.

Meanwhile.

In another distant herb field.

Jiucang Heavenly Monarch lay on the grass, eyes subtly gazing at the celestial vault.

The Red Dust Supreme wiped sweat from his brow and sat beside him, asking softly, “Have you noticed it too?”

Jiucang Heavenly Monarch, a supreme immortal, was second only to the Red Dust Supreme among these restrained Immortal Gods in terms of rank.

During this time, Jiucang Heavenly Monarch was consistently observing celestial phenomena, detecting subtle shifts in the celestial Dao destiny.

Though he was a supreme immortal, his sense of celestial Dao destiny, due to his immortal position, was among the best, even comparable to some Celestial Dao Venerables.

Jiucang Heavenly Monarch glanced at the Red Dust Supreme, asking, “Who are you really? I haven’t seen you before. You should have relinquished your immortal position long ago.”

The Red Dust Supreme sat beside him, watching the other laboring figures, replying quietly, “As you suspect, should the Celestial Court face difficulties, what would you choose to do?”

Jiucang Heavenly Monarch’s gaze flickered, hesitating to respond immediately.

The Red Dust Supreme didn’t press further, also raising his head to observe the Celestial Court’s destiny.

Although they had lost their cultivation levels, years of enlightening allowed them to regain their perception of the celestial Dao destiny, ever-present and visible at a glance.

After a long time.

Gu An and the Ghost Mother of Ephemera approached, catching the attention of the Red Dust Supreme and Jiucang Heavenly Monarch, who quickly stood and bowed respectfully.

As they passed by the two immortals, Gu An suddenly halted, causing the two to tense up.

Even without shame or torment, Gu An’s method of sealing their cultivation was so uncanny that it instilled fear within them.

“From today, you are free. Once you leave this continent, you will regain your cultivation. You may go if you wish.”

Gu An left those words as he departed, leaving the two immortals pleasantly surprised and looking up.

The other great powers whose cultivation had been sealed also heard these words. Despite their own freedom not being granted, the announcement still excited them.

The Evil Suppressing Immortal Monarch couldn’t help but ask, “Senior, am I not the second to arrive here? Shouldn’t it be my turn first?”

Gu An’s voice echoed distantly, “Your mistakes are greater.”

This statement silenced the Evil Suppressing Immortal Monarch and made the others apprehensive, pondering the extent of their own transgressions.

It wasn’t until Gu An and the Ghost Mother of Ephemera disappeared behind the ridge that the Red Dust Supreme and Jiucang Heavenly Monarch came to their senses.

The Red Dust Supreme asked in astonishment, “Aren’t you leaving?”

Among them, Jiucang Heavenly Monarch was the most defiant and attempted escape the most. Yet, on the day of his release, Jiucang Heavenly Monarch wasn’t eager.

Faced with this inquiry, Jiucang Heavenly Monarch’s gaze turned somber, replying, “I won’t leave. I still wish to contemplate a while longer. You go ahead first.”