Chapter 1409: Unrest in the Forbidden Land

"Junior Sister has long been stationed on the border of the Immortal Realm, in Moyitian, so her information is relatively limited. Please forgive her, Junior Martial Uncle..."

Sky Sovereign Kongming led Ji Yuhan as they apologized to Chen Mobai. Ji Yuhan nodded repeatedly, stating that she truly did not know Chen Mobai's identity; otherwise, she certainly would not have been so impolite.

"Oh, no, no, there's no fault in not knowing."

Chen Mobai did not fuss over the junior.

"I came today primarily to ask about Wuwei."

As soon as Kongming returned, Chen Mobai immediately asked about what concerned him most.

"The case involving Immortal Monarch Wuwei and Heavenly Sovereign Kangjin has been merged with your matter, Junior Martial Uncle, and is now being handled by King Taihuangtian. With the Heavenly Emperor personally supervising, results are expected soon."

Kongming recounted what he knew. After returning to Ziwei Palace with the Heavenly Emperor from Taixu Heaven, although he primarily discussed the rebellion of the Eight Western Heavens with the other immortals and confirmed that King Qingjing would personally intervene, he also subtly brought up Chen Mobai's matter, exerting some indirect pressure.

After King Taihuangtian received the Heavenly Emperor's decree, he immediately merged the two cases into one. Except for Daoist Monarch Qionghua, whose status as Heavenly Consort was special, everyone else, whether it was Prince Yuwen Ji or Immortal Monarch Kangyu of the Dragon Division, was apprehended and interrogated.

"Daoist Monarch Qionghua is notoriously ruthless. Although Junior Martial Uncle's status is noble, we must guard against her retaliatory actions."

It was Ji Yuhan who spoke. As a female cultivator and True Immortal, and an Immortal Monarch of the Void Division, Daoist Monarch Qionghua had attempted to win her over before overthrowing the Empress.

However, after interacting with her for a period, Ji Yuhan discovered she was not a good person and kept her distance.

"Hmph, if she dares to act, she'll be forcing the Heavenly Emperor to kill her. If the Heavenly Emperor can't bear to, then our Void Division will set things straight and help the Heavenly Emperor depose this Heavenly Consort."

These words astonished the other two members of the Void Division in the hall.

Although the Void Division was their reserved territory within the Taixu Heaven lineage, they usually still respected the Heavenly Emperor's decrees. If they truly deposed the Heavenly Consort for Chen Mobai's sake, the Heavenly Court's reputation would likely be completely ruined thereafter.

Was this Junior Martial Uncle truly worth their senior brother taking such action?

Ji Yuhan had not accompanied them to Taixu Heaven and had not personally witnessed True King Taixu's attitude towards Chen Mobai. Therefore, although she had just learned Chen Mobai's identity from Kongming, she still only regarded him as an elder. Seeing Kongming's extreme concern, she was filled with immense surprise and doubt.

"Oh, by the way, Junior Sister, you haven't mentioned why you suddenly returned? Has there been any unusual activity in Moyitian as well?"

However, after speaking, Kongming felt his words were a bit too bold. If they were to spread, they might negatively impact the Heavenly Court, which was currently suppressing a rebellion. So, he immediately changed the subject.

"'As well'? Have there been unusual activities in other exiled lands?"

Ji Yuhan was a very perceptive person. Upon hearing Kongming's words, she immediately grasped the key point and couldn't help but ask.

Kongming nodded and recounted how an incident in Fenjintian had triggered the corruption and rebellion of the immortal inhabitants of the Eight Western Heavens.

"With King Qingjing there, they will certainly be able to suppress it easily, though the Eight Western Heavens will likely suffer a tribulation." Ji Yuhan had great confidence in Sage Qianqiu. She then explained her reason for returning: "Moyitian is fine, but the Void Disk detected a 'Type Seven' anomalous fluctuation at the Qinhua Realm ruins, not far from Moyitian. Considering it's a forbidden land, I sealed the surroundings with the Void Disk and immediately came to consult with you."

Heavenly Sovereign Kongming merely frowned slightly after hearing Ji Yuhan's words, but Chen Mobai's expression changed dramatically. He couldn't help but ask, "Qinhua Realm ruins? The forbidden land that Junior Niece mentioned, could it be the place where the Heavenly Venerate vanished when he merged with the Dao?"

While in the Heavenly River Realm, Chen Mobai had read all the dossiers provided by Wuchangzhai concerning the Longevity Sect and the Heavenly Venerate. He learned that the Heavenly Venerate led his entire sect to ascend, but after passing the Ninefold Heavenly Tribulation, he did not come to Miluo Heaven but instead went into the depths of space.

Moyitian is the outermost Dao Province in the eastern part of the Immortal Realm, a place of exile. However, the Heavenly Venerate had crossed beyond Moyitian, approaching the very boundary of chaos.

It was there that the Heavenly Venerate merged with chaos, triggering strange changes and leaving behind a forbidden land.

King Taihuangtian had personally visited that place but dared not step inside.

Those at the sixth stage of Void Refinement who entered had never returned.

Over time, it became a forbidden land.

Anyone who needed to be dealt with outside the rules of the Immortal Realm would be thrown there.

Chen Mobai had just asked Immortal Monarch Wuwei and learned that True Monarch Yiyuan had gone there.

Connecting this to the great changes in the Three Realms and the need for the Grand Dao of Life and Death to be perfected again, he felt this matter might be related to Yiyuan.

"Indeed. Junior Martial Uncle knows about this too?"

Ji Yuhan nodded, asking with some curiosity.

Although many immortals in the Lingkong Immortal Realm knew about the forbidden land, they were unaware that its origin lay with the Heavenly Venerate.

"Yes, when I was in the Heavenly River Realm, I obtained a secret realm left by the Heavenly Venerate, which greatly aided my cultivation."

Chen Mobai nodded, briefly mentioning his experiences in the Heavenly River Realm and also brought up True Monarch Yiyuan.

"If the Heavenly Venerate truly intends to take this step of merging with the Dao, then the previously fragmented Grand Dao of Innate Life and Death will begin to be perfected, and reincarnation will be reorganized. This will trigger a chain reaction, causing the Three Realms' convergence, as planned by Master and the Heavenly Emperor, to occur earlier than expected."

Heavenly Sovereign Kongming felt Chen Mobai might not understand the implications of this matter, so he explained the crucial points.

"Exactly. I thought of this very point, which is why I hurried back to inform Senior Brother. It would be best to notify Master as well."

Ji Yuhan stated that one reason she, as an Immortal Monarch of the Void Division, personally oversaw the exiled lands of the Eight Eastern Heavens was to monitor the forbidden land.

"Hmm, let's first go to Taixu Heaven to pay our respects to Master, and then return to inform the Heavenly Emperor."

Heavenly Sovereign Kongming nodded and turned to leave Miluo Heaven with Ji Yuhan.

"Senior Brother has something to attend to; he's out visiting a friend. However, you can inform Kongkong about this; he should have a way to contact Senior Brother."

Chen Mobai immediately said this to prevent them from making a wasted trip.

Kongming and Ji Yuhan exchanged glances after hearing this.

Master had specifically returned just to see Junior Martial Uncle!

Realizing this, Ji Yuhan felt even more that her previous attitude had been somewhat offensive.

"Thank you for informing us, Junior Martial Uncle."

After thanking Chen Mobai, Kongming immediately took out Kongkong's communication talisman. Upon contacting him, he found it to be true, which made him respect Chen Mobai even more.

"Little Chu, please entertain Junior Martial Uncle well. Junior Sister and I are going to Ziwei Palace and will be back shortly."

After being notified by Taixu Heaven, Kongming immediately took Ji Yuhan to see the Heavenly Emperor to report on the situation in the forbidden land.

"Grand Martial Uncle, what flavor of tea do you prefer? I have all kinds here."

Once only the two of them remained, Chu Jinyuan's attitude towards Chen Mobai completely changed from before, and his address also shifted immediately.

"Oh, are you also from the Taixu Heaven lineage?"

Chen Mobai asked with some curiosity.

"Replying to Grand Martial Uncle, I also came from the Heavenly River Realm. I reached Void Refinement four thousand eight hundred years ago, but at that time, I didn't ascend directly. Instead, I took over from a martial uncle to guard the Grand Illusory True Realm and protect the Grand Illusory Ethereal Palace. It wasn't until sixteen hundred years ago, when a successor from my sect reached Void Refinement and came to replace me in the Grand Illusory True Realm, that I came to the Lingkong Immortal Realm through the Grand Illusory Gate left by our Patriarch."

Facing Chen Mobai's questions, Chu Jinyuan answered without any reservation.

This also answered many of Chen Mobai's doubts.

"As expected, the Grand Illusory Ethereal Palace in Zhongzhou also has hidden Void Refinement cultivators. Is the Grand Illusory Gate another form of the Ascension Platform?"

The Ascension Platform used to be a shortcut for cultivators from the Heavenly River Realm to ascend to the Immortal Realm. However, during the Calamity of the Ghost Mother, it was cast down into the Underworld. Since then, the only apparent path to ascension has been to pass the Ninefold Heavenly Tribulation.

However, since the Ascension Platform was left by True King Taixu, it was only natural for him to create an extra back door for his own faction.

But since the Grand Illusory Ethereal Palace didn't speak of it themselves, others found it awkward to ask.

Moreover, with Void Refinement cultivators guarding it, no one dared to pressure the Grand Illusory Ethereal Palace.

"Yes, Grand Martial Uncle. However, unlike the Ascension Platform, which allowed ascensions upon achieving perfected Spirit Transformation, the Grand Illusory Gate requires Void Refinement cultivation to be activated."

Chu Jinyuan believed Chen Mobai was an ancient ancestor of the Grand Illusory Ethereal Palace, so he hid nothing.

"Do other forces in the Immortal Realm know about this? Have any of them ever used the Grand Illusory Gate?"

"The top forces all know, but they each have True Immortal Dao Monarchs guarding them. If they have important junior disciples, they can retrieve them themselves and also freely use the True Immortal Pond and the Creation Elixir, so they wouldn't need to borrow from us. As for other forces without a seventh-tier True Immortal, they are not qualified to borrow from us."

Chu Jinyuan's words made Chen Mobai realize that the Lingkong Immortal Realm was also a vast Heavenly River Realm.

However, compared to the Heavenly River Realm, here the Heavenly Emperor, a Pure Yang cultivator, maintains order, and all forces must outwardly adhere to it and not act recklessly.

But the Heavenly Emperor's desire to abdicate and achieve transcendence was almost common knowledge.

If that day truly came, many conflicts suppressed by the Heavenly Emperor would likely erupt completely without the deterrent of his supreme power, possibly even triggering the greatest tribulation in the Three Realms.

Or perhaps, the Heavenly Emperor deliberately chose this moment to abdicate!

Allowing the already entangled threads of karma, where "you are in me, and I am in you," to be thoroughly purified through a great tribulation, bringing clarity back to the Three Realms.

If that were truly the case, it would certainly have the backing of True King Taixu, or perhaps it was True King Taixu's original intention.

"What is your relationship with the current sect leader of the Grand Illusory Ethereal Palace in the Heavenly River Realm?"

Chen Mobai remembered Immortal Taixu and couldn't help but ask.

"Grand Martial Uncle is referring to Little Jiang, isn't he? His lineage is a continuation of my youngest direct disciple..."

As Chu Jinyuan spoke, he counted on his fingers, and when he reached the fifth generation from his own disciples, he precisely counted to Jiang Shuyu.

Listening to Chu Jinyuan call him "Grand Martial Uncle," Chen Mobai recalled how Immortal Taixu in the Heavenly River Realm had addressed him, shifting from "young friend" to "fellow Daoist," and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

This rapid rise in seniority made him realize that he was no longer young himself.

Half a day later, Heavenly Sovereign Kongming and Ji Yuhan returned.

However, a middle-aged man in a yellow robe accompanied them.

"Junior Martial Uncle, this is King Taihuangtian."

After Heavenly Sovereign Kongming introduced him, Chen Mobai also rose to greet him. According to the Daoist registry, King Taihuangtian was his direct superior.

"Junior Brother, I came today primarily to ask you about some matters and to give you justice."

King Taihuangtian spoke with a smile. As the Grand Dao incarnation of the Ancestral Dragon, he addressed Chen Mobai as "Junior Brother" according to the Heavenly Emperor's seniority, setting a friendly tone for the conversation.

"Thank you, Senior Brother, for helping me obtain justice."

Chen Mobai also changed his address accordingly.

Next, King Taihuangtian inquired about Chen Mobai's entire process of ascending from the Heavenly River Realm to Miluo Heaven. After confirming that it matched Immortal Monarch Wuwei's account and timeline, he asked no further questions.

"It's largely been investigated. Immortal Monarch Kangyu gave Yuwen Yin a dragon scale, which helped him pass the Ninefold Heavenly Tribulation. However, this occurred after your ascension, Junior Brother. Heavenly Sovereign Kangjin intervened to obstruct, and with Immortal Monarch Kangyu leading the way and Yuwen Ji directing the Zi-yun Palace lineage to assist, they managed to acquire the Creation Elixir and enter the True Immortal Pond before you."

As King Taihuangtian spoke, he transcribed his investigation findings into a jade slip, finally sealing it with his dragon mark, thereby concluding the investigation results.

Subsequently, King Taihuangtian used a dragon scale to manifest a clone, which then delivered the jade slip to Ziwei Palace.

"King, how do you think the Heavenly Emperor will handle this?"

Before Chen Mobai could speak, Heavenly Sovereign Kongming had already asked first.

"That's for the Heavenly Emperor to worry about, haha."

King Taihuangtian laughed heartily, offering no further reply.

After all, he was also from the Dragon Clan. If not for Chen Mobai's extremely powerful background and a certain karmic connection between them, this matter certainly wouldn't have been resolved so quickly and with such fairness and impartiality.

"The Heavenly Emperor will definitely handle it impartially; after all, this is his Dao!"

Ji Yuhan spoke with certainty, stating that the foundation of such peace in the Immortal Realm was due to the Heavenly Emperor's existence.

"In the past, that was indeed the case, but the current situation is somewhat different."

Compared to Ji Yuhan, who had been stationed at the Immortal Realm's border, Heavenly Sovereign Kongming, who was in the central region, knew more secrets.

"Heavenly Sovereign, mind your words."

King Taihuangtian immediately dropped his smile, his expression turning solemn as he cautioned Kongming.

"Regardless, we still owe the King many thanks for this matter."

Heavenly Sovereign Kongming also realized he had spoken too much and thanked King Taihuangtian on behalf of Chen Mobai.

Just then, a streak of immortal light descended from the sky, landing in front of the Void Division's main hall outside, materializing into a cool, distant figure Chen Mobai recognized.

"Why is Junior Sister Xuansu here?"

As soon as Kongming saw Heavenly Sovereign Xuansu, he went out to greet her and asked.

"The Heavenly Emperor has closed the case; the decree for Wuwei's release has been sent to the Water Division. I came to find you to retrieve him from the immortal prison."

Heavenly Sovereign Xuansu held up a jade-yellow Heavenly Emperor's decree and handed it to Heavenly Sovereign Kongming, whose expression turned to surprise after he read it.

"So fast?"

It was important to note that King Taihuangtian's jade slip had just been delivered.