Phoenix was closely monitoring the situation on the battlefield. The East and West Heaven Gates were engaged in fierce combat, with troops attacking the South Heaven Gate still on their way. Meanwhile, the North Heaven Gate had already been breached, and Zhang Guifang and Old Zhu were dispatching people to post proclamations, declaring their legitimacy and attracting more recruits.
Mali Hai's single slash split open the gates of the celestial prison, rescuing a multitude of officials including Wen Zi and Bi Gan. However, these deities had their positions stripped away and were rendered largely ineffective. Even if they were now reinstated to their original posts, it would be futile. Each one was full of heart but devoid of strength, merely following along by waving flags and cheering on.
Wen Zhong found his former subordinate, Mali Hai, and tried to persuade him to postpone military action. Wen Zhong intended to seek out the Eastern Extreme Emperor Qinghua to mediate between the two sides and prevent a civil war within the celestial court.
The four generals of the Mo family, although appearing large, black, and clumsy, were actually quite cunning. Their request was out of the question from the start. They claimed they had no authority to make such a decision and suggested that Wen Zhong go to seek permission from Zi Wei Emperor. At that moment, Emperor Zi Wei was still on his way. Given Wen Zhong's minimal magical prowess, traveling by cloud would take him at least ten to fifteen days to reach his destination.
In the end, it was the four marshals, Deng, Xin, Zhang, and Tao, who pulled him away. Wen Zhong sighed, for his loyalty was not to the Jade Emperor but to the celestial court. This internal war was a huge drain on the court's strength.
He wanted to stop the war, but as someone of limited authority, he had no choice.
There are those who wish for peace and those who seek conflict.
Yuan Hong, who had been imprisoned in the celestial prison for decades, was also released. Upon hearing of Bo Yikao's tragic death, he immediately rode a cloud to stand before Phoenix and swore by the heavens that he would avenge Bo Yikao's death and right his wrongs.
Yuan Hong performed a grand gesture of worship, his eyes were red with anger: "Your Majesty, my sworn brother persistently advised the Jade Emperor, but was martyred within the palace, his soul and body were extinguished. What was his crime? This unjust tragedy! As a person from the rural areas, I do not seek anything else but to avenge my sworn brother!"
Phoenix does not want to engage in battle with "Hou Tian," not being the original body of Luo Hou, a delusional clone nurtured by Hou Tian as if a pig, how could it possess a formidable combat power?
If she were to intervene, the battle could be resolved with a single move.
She solves the enemy, how will the subordinates establish their merits?
This Great Golden Immortal appears strong on the surface but is not a formidable opponent.
She said, "Yuan Hong, considering your loyalty and righteousness, I shall appoint you as the Inspector General of the Left Commandery, and grant you a staff called the 'Fuhai Staff' to serve in the army." With a wave of her hand, a glistening golden staff appeared in Yuan Hong's hands.
The weapons she had forged were always adorned with dragon patterns, as they always were. The 'Fuhai Staff' given to Yuan Hong was of a slightly higher and heavier grade than the 'Panlong Staff' bestowed by Moonlight Buddha on Jiesangluo Sanniang.
Yuan Hong raised his staff, swiftly struck twice, finding the weight and length just right. He bowed again and then, with a fierce aura, set out to seek vengeance against "Hou Tian".
At first, his alliance with Bo Yikao was purely driven by self-interest. Later, as Bo Yikao exchanged sincerity for sincerity, he slowly recognized this big brother who was as weak as a chicken. While Yuan Hong was confined in the celestial prison for decades, the elderly Bo Yikao visited him almost every week. This kind of affection and righteousness must be repaid!
Yuan Hong disregarded life and death, unconcerned with heavenly laws or Zi Wei Star, and he only focused on seeking vengeance against "Hou Tian" with the Fuhai Staff in hand.
At the same time, Nezha of Mount Buwol also received the imperial edict brought by Taibai Jinxing from the North Heaven Gate.
Phoenix officially appointed him as the "Three-Circle Sea Meeting Great God" and tasked him with accompanying Yuan Hong in attacking "Hou Tian."
Nezha, holding the imperial edict, made a gesture to Deng Chanyu, his expression slightly bewildered, we are our own people after all, is it necessary to use this?
Deng Chanyu responded with a helpless smile. The severance of the mortal body has its own ideas and procedures, and she has no right to interfere. If she were in deep control all the time, she would be exhausted. The severed body has a great deal of autonomy, and Phoenix thinks it's necessary to be more formal at the moment; there's nothing she can do about it.
"Alright, I'll go!" Nezha has never declined a battle.
With wind fire wheels under his feet and dragon fire gun in hand, he first arrived at the South Heaven Gate, where the scene was extremely lively and difficult to enter. He had to change direction to the East Heaven Gate, but it was still inaccessible. After circumventing the North Heaven Gate, he finally managed to kill his way in.
Nezha combined with Yuan Hong, two Golden Immortals, could defeat a watered-down Great Golden Immortal? Both possess the ability to challenge opponents beyond their level. Taking on Junior-Level Taiyi Immortals is no problem, but against Great Golden Immortals, Phoenix feels they are still lacking.
She then sent a trusted follower to Mei Mountain to invite Yang Jian to join the battle, but Yang Jian outright refused. "You fight your fight; none of it concerns me. I don't lack spiritual materials, nor do I need the devotees' offerings. I also don't want to be an official, and your methods are ineffective."
The envoy sent to invite Yang Jian was from the Huating Army under Wen Zhong's Thunder Department. Gu Zhan, one of the eight Major Generals in the Deng Xin Zhang Tai army, was actually named Gou Zhan. Although his name sounds somewhat gou, Gu Zhan was once a general of the Han Kingdom. Knowing that he could not explain his relationship with Phoenix and her group, he simply chose not to return to the Thunder Department and instead served under Zuiwei Star directly.
In the moment when Hou Tian stripped away the official positions of Wen Zhong and others, he was the only surviving General of the Thunder Department.
Given that the Thunder Department was known for its swift actions, Phoenix sent him out to recruit various skilled individuals.
Yang Jian declined flatly, and Gu Zhan tried to persuade him twice. In the end, he had no choice but to leave Mei Mountain.
Suddenly, the Daoist dressed in bright yellow robes asked: "I beg to ask, Your Excellency Marshal, can I participate in the battle?"
Real Dragon Immortal looked at Gu Zhan. Before, Gu Zhan had offered many benefits, including several spiritual materials related to souls. Yang Jian was completely uninterested and had no intention of joining the battle. Real Dragon Immortal had some interest; he needed those spiritual materials to stabilize the souls of his brothers and sisters who only had dragon spirits left in the cold spring on Longhu Mountain.
Real Dragon Immortal was not afraid of battles; what's the big deal! I'm not afraid of even the chaotic demi-god! A battle against Hou Tian is just a small thing!
Gu Zhan knew that Phoenix wanted as many deities as possible to join the siege of Hou Tian. Without hesitation, he promised on behalf of Phoenix, handing over a scroll for official appointment, a bottle of elixir, two divine weapons, and over a dozen spiritual materials all at once to Real Dragon Immortal.
Real Dragon Immortal was also straightforward. "You give me the compensation, and I'll help you fight for you. It's that simple."
With Phoenix leading the front, he had little to worry about.
Real Dragon Immortal's strength was still a bit below Yang Jian's, despite being a Taiyi Immortal, while Yang Jian was merely a Golden Immortal. There was still a gap in their combat prowess.
Nezha, Yuan Hong, and Real Dragon Immortal versus the possessed avatar of a delusional obsession — three fierce generals against one. The outcome was not as good as Phoenix had anticipated, but it was still passable.
Her gaze swept across the land of Huatian. The celestial court's current troubles were merely a prelude; the real calamity was yet to come.
Chong and Li are two giants, not like the humanoid creatures of the Longbo people, but true human beings. They have undergone mutations in this Huanghuang land, growing tall naturally from birth. After adulthood, they continue to grow taller without any limit to their bodies.
Zhuangxu ordered them to split the heavens and earths. Chong forcefully uplifted the heavens while Li's hands pressed down on the earth, and they did so for a full thirty years. It was not until Di Ku replaced Zhuangxu as the common ruler of the human race that they finally stopped following their predecessor's orders.
