"Want to fool me, Haotian? Hmph, let's see if you Sanqing agree with this, and if the other Sages will.
Taiching Laozi had been keeping a close eye on Haotian's small moves. He knew that Haotian had gone to the Western Two Sages and Ming He, no doubt to find allies and cause trouble for the Sanqing. But it wouldn't be that easy!
One day, in Chaoge, within the Golden Palace, amidst the court, Di Xin asked, "My esteemed ministers, are there any important matters?"
Thanks to Xuandu's tutelage, Di Xin had not gone astray. Instead, he governed diligently, leading to harmony in the court and an atmosphere of prosperity.
The old Prime Minister Shang Rong stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, tomorrow is the Empress Nuwa's birthday. Nuwa Empress is the Holy Mother of our Human Race. Your Majesty may go to the Nuwa Temple to offer incense and pray! This will ensure the prosperity of our Great Shang Dynasty, a long reign, and favorable weather!"
Di Xin nodded at the old Prime Minister's words. After all, he was Xuandu's disciple and understood the Sages. However, before Di Xin could speak, discussions erupted among the officials.
Many did not even know of Nuwa's achievements. It was those beside them who spoke of Nuwa refining stones to mend the heavens and creating the Human Race, thus benefiting Heaven, Earth, and humanity. At this, everyone understood and spoke in unison, "We implore Your Majesty to go to the Nuwa Temple tomorrow to offer incense and pray!"
Di Xin then said, "It is so decreed!"
The next day, Di Xin rose early, bathed, and changed his clothes. Accompanied by civil and military officials, he headed to the Nuwa Temple to offer incense and pray.
At this moment, Taiching Laozi smiled faintly. He knew that the West would try to bewitch Di Xin, so he arrived at Wa Huang Tian first.
Currently, there were many demons in Wa Huang Tian. After all, it was Nuwa's birthday, and they were here to pay their respects. The demon race was in difficult straits, and it was thanks to Nuwa that they were not in an even worse situation. Thus, for Nuwa's birthday, demons from all over came to offer congratulations, and they had not yet dispersed.
Nuwa saw Taiching Laozi arrive and went out to greet him, saying, "Greetings, Eldest Senior Brother. May I ask why you have come to my Wa Huang Tian?"
Taiching Laozi replied, "Today is your birthday. Let us go to the mortal realm together and take a look!"
Nuwa looked bewildered. What was Taiching Laozi thinking? It was her birthday, and he wanted to join the fun? And he even wanted to go to the mortal realm?
However, Taiching Laozi was the Eldest Senior Brother of the Xuanmen. Nuwa had nothing else to do, so she said, "Very well!"
Afterward, Nuwa dismissed the demons and left Wa Huang Tian with Taiching Laozi.
They then headed towards Chaoge in the mortal realm, as it had the largest Nuwa Temple.
As they flew above the Nuwa Temple, Nuwa saw the surging imperial destiny. She said, "This Shang Dynasty truly has a magnificent destiny. Have my three Senior Brothers exerted considerable effort?"
This was because many of Tongtian's disciples and grandchildren were in the Shang Dynasty.
Taiching Laozi did not answer. Instead, he looked down and pointed in a direction.
Nuwa followed his gaze and asked in confusion, "Maitreya from the West? What is he doing here?"
Taiching Laozi smiled and said, "That is what I am curious about too!"
Then, they saw Maitreya blow a breath towards Di Xin. Di Xin's eyes immediately became somewhat hazy, but with the powerful support of the imperial destiny, he quickly regained clarity. Maitreya blinked. This Di Xin was quite formidable. He blew another breath, and only then did Di Xin become completely disoriented.
This was only possible because Maitreya was the teacher of the Five Emperors. Otherwise, if any ordinary immortal came, they would be unable to get close to the Human King. The Human Race's destiny was not to be trifled with!
Afterward, Di Xin loudly proclaimed, "As the Human King, I possess the Four Seas. Though I have six palaces, I have not seen such unparalleled beauty. Alas!"
Then, he ordered for brush and ink to be brought, as he wished to compose a poem!
Maitreya nodded with satisfaction. Little did he know, Nuwa's expression had already turned extremely grim. How dare Maitreya bewitch Di Xin and disrespect her?
Taiching Laozi saw that the situation was nearing its climax and pointed a finger. Immediately, Di Xin regained consciousness. Seeing his ministers looking at him in shock, Di Xin recalled what had just happened. He was immediately ashamed and quickly threw away the brush and ink, saying, "Offer incense quickly! Pray for blessings!"
Maitreya was greatly alarmed. What happened? Why did his magic suddenly break?
Just then, a giant hand appeared in the sky and directly seized Maitreya.
When Maitreya saw the person before him clearly, he turned pale with fright and terror. It was two Sages, Sage Nuwa and Sage Taiching! Thus, his previous actions must have been witnessed by these two!
"Maitreya, how dare you bewitch Di Xin and profane me? I will not let this matter go with your Western sect!" Saying this, Nuwa squeezed her hand, and Maitreya's physical body exploded, leaving only his primordial spirit floating in the air.
Nuwa grabbed the primordial spirit again and headed towards the West.
Taiching Laozi chuckled. These petty tricks were no match. He then followed them to the West.
Upon arriving at Spirit Mountain, Nuwa immediately took out the top-grade innate spiritual treasure, the Red Embroidered Ball, and hurled it.
The earth shook and mountains roared. Jieyin and Zhunti were instantly enraged and rushed out. Seeing Nuwa and Taiching Laozi, Zhunti angrily asked, "Nuwa, why are you attacking my Spirit Mountain?"
Since it was not Taiching Laozi who had attacked, but Nuwa, Zhunti immediately questioned her. After all, they did not fear a single Nuwa.
"Hmph, Zhunti, you are a Sage, yet you instruct your disciple to profane me. If you do not give me an explanation, your disciple Maitreya will prepare to reincarnate!" Saying this, Nuwa produced Maitreya's primordial spirit and held it in her palm.
Zhunti's face turned ashen. He had never expected Maitreya to be caught red-handed. Looking at Taiching Laozi, who was smiling nearby, Zhunti knew that this fellow must be involved.
"Fellow Daoist Nuwa, we have offended you. The West was wrong this time. We hope Fellow Daoist Nuwa will be more accommodating. This will never happen again!" Jieyin sighed and said.
Since they were caught red-handed, there was no opportunity to deny it.
The most urgent matter was to save Maitreya.
As he spoke, Jieyin also took out an innate spiritual treasure. After all, their Western sect was not wealthy.
Nuwa scornfully glanced at the innate spiritual treasure, which was only a lower-grade innate spiritual treasure. She did not covet such an item!
However, Nuwa also understood that the reason Jieyin and Zhunti had conceded so quickly this time was likely due to Taiching Laozi. If she had come alone, these two might not have been so agreeable.
In the Great Desolation, it ultimately came down to strength!
"Jieyin, this lower-grade spiritual treasure is not enough!" Nuwa said directly.
Jieyin's face pained him as he produced a middle-grade innate spiritual treasure. There was no choice; Maitreya had to be saved, or their Western sect would lose a major general.
Nuwa accepted the spiritual treasure and then flicked her hand, tossing Maitreya's primordial spirit to Zhunti. She coldly stated, "I hope there will not be a next time, otherwise, you will surely regret it."
Taiching Laozi was not surprised by Nuwa's measured response. After all, the Western Two Sages did have some strength, and Nuwa was only one person. Thus, Taiching Laozi said, "You two, you bewitched my disciple's disciple. Do you not owe me an explanation as well?"
Zhunti and Jieyin looked at each other with blank faces. What was this about his disciple's disciple?
Taiching Laozi continued, "Di Xin is Xuandu's disciple. What do you say?"
Zhunti and Jieyin exchanged glances and fell silent."