"Whether you acknowledge it or not, this old man is the ruler of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain!"
Lord Saint Yang stood before the Great Sun Dragon Carriage, stroking his beard with a haughty expression as he shouted, "Now, our Great Sun Radiance Immortal Dao is the leader of the Great Daos, the master of the Nine Heavens, dominating Heaven and Earth—this is known to all. This old man, as the Heavenly Domain ruler appointed by the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao, does not need your Heavenly Dao's acknowledgment."
"The Great Sun Radiance Immortal Dao is the leader of the Great Daos, the master of the Nine Heavens dominating Heaven and Earth? Hehehe."
The elderly matron named Lotus shook her head, chuckling.
"Enough nonsense. This old man has come this time solely to search for traces of that criminal disciple You Di, not to deliberately make things difficult for your Shangqing Sect, nor to oppose the Heavenly Dao. I ask you all to cooperate and manifest the Shangqing Tower, allowing this old man to investigate thoroughly."
"Yun Wan has already made it very clear just now: You Di has never come here. Whether you believe it or not is your own affair. As for wanting to enter the Shangqing Tower to search, you do not have that qualification. Wan'er, let's go back. There's no need to pay them any mind."
After saying this, Lotus Granny turned to leave with Yun Wan and the others.
"Halt!"
Lotus Granny stopped but did not turn around. "I wonder what further instructions Lord Saint Yang has?"
"Since you are the Heavenly Dao sovereign of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain, knowing full well that the criminal disciple You Di has already returned, not only do you stand idly by, but you also refuse to cooperate with this old man's search. Is this what is called the Heavenly Dao? Does your heart still hold any responsibility for protecting the Great Dao and all living beings?"
"Just now, you seemed to say that the Great Sun Radiance Immortal Dao is the leader of the Great Daos in the present era, the master of the Nine Heavens dominating Heaven and Earth. Naturally, the responsibility for protecting the Great Dao and all living beings falls upon your Great Sun Radiance Immortal Dao."
After a pause, Lotus Granny continued, "If this old woman did not mishear, you seemed to have said something about the Heavenly Dao being unjust, and that you would consider the heavens dead. Since that is the case, then you may consider the heavens already dead."
"You!"
Lord Saint Yang was momentarily speechless. He wanted to retort but didn't know what to say, because he had indeed spoken those words about the Heavenly Dao being unjust and the heavens being dead.
Lotus Granny left, taking Yun Wan and the others back into Shangqing Sect.
Lord Saint Yang stood before the Great Sun Dragon Carriage, his face ashen, glaring fixedly at Shangqing Sect. His hands, clasped behind his back, were clenched tightly, his heart filled with fury.
Before coming, he had not taken Shangqing Sect seriously. Even if Sect Leader Yun Wan was a Heavenly Immortal, and even if Shangqing Sect had a profound background, as the ruler of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain, he was not afraid. Because he had come this time to search for traces of that criminal disciple You Di. With this reason alone, no matter how profound the other party's strength or how powerful their background, he feared nothing.
As the saying goes, with a heart full of righteous qi, one fears neither heaven nor earth.
Even if Shangqing Sect now produced a Heavenly Dao sovereign and three Heavenly Dao guardians, Lord Saint Yang would still not fear.
However.
It was merely a lack of fear.
He could disregard a Heavenly Immortal like Yun Wan, and even if Yun Wan disagreed, he dared to use his authority as Heavenly Domain ruler to invoke Heavenly Domain laws and force a search.
But, facing a suddenly appearing Heavenly Dao sovereign, if he were to invoke Heavenly Domain laws, he would have to carefully weigh the consequences.
Of course.
If he had the backing of the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao, he would not care about any so-called Heavenly Dao sovereign at all.
Alas.
The Nine Heavens Immortal Dao had still not issued any decree, and Lord Saint Yang dared not openly oppose the Heavenly Dao.
The Heavenly Dao was, after all, the Heavenly Dao. Since ancient times, it had been the true overlord of Heaven and Earth. No matter how bold Lord Saint Yang was, he dared not challenge the dignity of the Heavenly Dao alone.
"Has the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao still not issued any decree?"
Lord Saint Yang asked.
The surrounding Heavenly Domain Elders all shook their heads, each looking as if they were preoccupied with heavy thoughts.
In truth.
They did not agree with Lord Saint Yang's unilateral decision to conduct a large-scale search for You Di within the Lingluo Heavenly Domain.
Because the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao had yet to issue a decree. Without the protection of the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao, none of them felt secure in their hearts. After all, they were not searching for an ordinary demon, but for You Di, who had thrown the Great Desolation into chaos in ancient times. They were all afraid.
It was just that they were all Lord Saint Yang's disciples and old subordinates. They dared not disobey his words. In their minds, as long as they announced a domain-wide lockdown, conducted searches in various worlds, went through the motions, put on a show, and gave an account to the billions of Immortals in the various immortal realms, that would suffice. No one could then say the Immortal Court Residence had been inactive. They never imagined Lord Saint Yang would actually bring them to the Primordial World to search.
The Nine Heavens had long decreed that the Primordial World was not under the jurisdiction of the Immortal Court Residence, and the Immortal Court Residence had no right to come here to search. This in itself was already defying the Immortal Dynasty's decree. And just now, Lord Saint Yang had even intended to invoke Heavenly Domain laws against the Shangqing Sect Leader. Thinking back on it now, they still felt a lingering fear.
Yun Wan was, after all, a Heavenly Immortal. Taking action against her would be tantamount to challenging the dignity of the Heavenly Dao, with unimaginable consequences—consequences they, as mere minor Heavenly Domain Elders, could not bear.
Fortunately.
The Heavenly Dao sovereign had appeared in time. Otherwise, they truly would not have known how to bear the consequences.
Lord Saint Yang wanted to eliminate You Di.
They also wanted to eliminate You Di.
But the prerequisite was that they must have the protection of the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao.
Lord Saint Yang might not fear death or offending the Heavenly Dao, but they feared death and offending the Heavenly Dao.
"Grand Elder, since Sect Leader Yun Wan has stated that You Di has never come here, it should be the truth. She has no need to deceive us, nor would she shield that criminal disciple You Di."
"You Di's existence brings calamity to all living beings, intolerable to Heaven and Earth. Even if Shangqing Sect wanted to, they would not dare to shield You Di. Moreover, the Heavenly Dao sovereign is also within Shangqing Sect. It is impossible for You Di to be hiding within the sect."
The surrounding Heavenly Domain Elders stepped forward one after another to persuade Lord Saint Yang. They were all old hands, knowing that since Lord Saint Yang had come to the Primordial World, he had already run into two snags.
First, the Lord of the Immortal Dynasty, Mo Ruyi, had not given Lord Saint Yang face.
Now, coming to search Shangqing Sect, he had run into another snag.
They all understood that Lord Saint Yang's face was somewhat unsalvageable, and he was in an awkward position. So, they proactively stepped forward to persuade him, giving him a way to step down.
"Grand Elder, the entire Lingluo Heavenly Domain is now under full lockdown. The lords of the various Immortal Dynasties have also carefully searched their respective worlds and found no trace of You Di. Perhaps that criminal disciple You Di is not within our Lingluo Heavenly Domain. What do you think... Should we not return first and decide later?"
Many of the surrounding Heavenly Domain Elders wanted to conclude this matter as soon as possible and return home—or at least leave the Primordial World first.
For some reason.
Perhaps because the existence of the Primordial World was too special, or perhaps because this was You Di's homeland, ever since coming to this world, they had all felt deeply uncomfortable. Following Lord Saint Yang in a grand procession through the Primordial World to search for traces of You Di, their hearts had been filled with anxiety all along. Because they were afraid—afraid they might actually find You Di in the Primordial World.