135: Chapter 135 Attending the Jade Pool Gathering!

Inside the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, Dan Lingzi withdrew, filled with worry.

The great hall returned to its empty silence.

Li Xuan stood alone, hands behind his back, before the Nine Dragon Imperial Throne.

On his fingertips lingered the warm, ancient tactile sensation of the kunlun immortal jade.

The Daluo Contention?

The Jade Pool Grand Assembly?

It sounded perilous indeed.

Enough to make any Taiyi Golden Immortal in the Immortal Domain tremble.

Yet, in Li Xuan's eyes, this was no dragon's den or tiger's lair.

This was clearly a stage for conferring gods, tailor-made for him.

"Interesting, truly interesting."

Li Xuan muttered to himself.

He had been fretting over having nowhere to showcase his cultivation at the Fourth Heaven of the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm.

Those ordinary Golden Immortals and Taiyi Golden Immortals could no longer pique his interest; even scratching them felt like a chore.

Now, this so-called Jade Pool Grand Assembly had actually gathered all the hidden old monsters, top Prodigies, and living fossils of the Immortal Domain in one place.

Old Ancestor Qiankun?

Demon Master of Beiming?

Sword Burial Guest?

These terrifying existences, enough to stop children from crying at night according to Dan Lingzi, were, in Li Xuan's eyes, nothing more than a pile of shining experience packs and stepping stones.

It saved him the trouble of hunting them down one by one.

"Want to make me enter the game as a chess player?"

Li Xuan laughed out loud.

In that laughter carried an undisguised dominance, originating from the Grandmist Chaos.

"It is a pity, but I have never liked following others' rules."

"Either I don't play."

"Or I flip the table directly and bury everyone."

With his mind made up, Li Xuan's resolve did not waver.

He would not only attend this Jade Pool Grand Assembly.

He would go with a bang, making the entire Immortal Domain remember the weight of the two words "Heavenly Court".

With a thought, "Pass down my decree: hold a Heavenly Court morning assembly at the Lingxiao Treasure Hall."

A magnificent imperial voice resounded through every corner inside the Southern Heaven Gate.

Dan Lingzi, who was sighing in the Tushita Palace, gave a start. Not daring to delay, he immediately transformed into a stream of light and rushed toward the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Protector Xuanfeng, who was drilling the heavenly soldiers in the military camp, also immediately straightened his armor upon hearing the imperial decree and rushed over with a solemn expression.

In the rear palace, the group of mischievous children who were chasing each other also felt their father's unquestionable will.

A moment later, the first true high-level morning assembly since the founding of the Heavenly Court was officially convened.

Li Xuan sat high upon the Nine Dragon Imperial Throne, his gaze sweeping over the people below.

On the left were the civil officials led by Dan Lingzi, with his third son Li Cai standing behind him, looking astute and fiddling with an immortal crystal abacus in his hands.

On the right was the sequence of military generals led by Protector Xuanfeng.

Behind him stood his eldest son Li Changsheng, with a straight posture and divine light contained within his double pupils, as well as his second daughter Li Taiyin, who possessed a cold and otherworldly temperament.

The other younger children also imitated their older siblings, standing in rows, their small faces full of curiosity and solemnity.

The atmosphere in the entire hall was solemn and serious.

"Everyone."

Li Xuan's calm voice rang out, clearly entering everyone's ears, "I have summoned you all today solely to announce one thing."

His tone shifted, his voice suddenly filled with the clang of metal and horses.

"After a cycle of sixty years, the Jade Pool Grand Assembly will take place. I have decided to attend."

Boom.

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a giant boulder crashing into a still lake.

Dan Lingzi stumbled, almost losing his footing.

He had just recovered from the fear of the "Daluo Contention," and now the Heavenly Emperor was going to dive headfirst into this monstrous whirlpool?

Did he have to be this tough?

Protector Xuanfeng also felt a tightening in his heart. Although he was a military general, he knew the weight behind the words "Jade Pool Grand Assembly."

On the other hand, the little ones like Li Changsheng and Li Taiyin, who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth, had excited lights in their eyes.

"Jade Pool Grand Assembly? What is that? Is it delicious?"

"It sounds like it will be very lively."

Li Xuan ignored their reactions and continued in his unquestionable imperial tone:

"There are three reasons for this trip to the Jade Pool."

"First, I have heard that a daluo dao fruit will appear at this grand assembly. This item is fated with our Heavenly Court, and I intend to retrieve it."

He used the word "retrieve," not "contend."

The calm tone sounded as if he were just talking about picking a fruit in the back garden.

This dominance actually made Dan Lingzi's suspended heart inexplicably settle down.

"Second."

Li Xuan's voice rose slightly, "Our Heavenly Court has been re-established, and the various powers of the Immortal Domain have likely only heard our name without seeing our form. Most still hold a wait-and-see, or even contemptuous, attitude. Rather than waiting for them to come and probe us one by one, it is better for me to go personally to their home turf and let them see what Heaven is, and what rules are."

"This is the best opportunity to declare the rise of our Heavenly Court to the entire Immortal Domain. I want everyone to understand that the Heavenly Court is the only Dominator of this world."

These words were spoken with great passion, and the juniors like Li Changsheng felt their blood surge, wishing they could kill their way out with their father right now.

"As for the third..."

Li Xuan's gaze swept slowly over his eager children, revealing a meaningful smile.

"Such a fun grand assembly, it would be too boring if I went alone. It just so happens that I should take you all out to gain some experience, so you don't keep working behind closed doors at home, oblivious to the vastness of the world."

As soon as he said this, the children below had even brighter eyes, each straightening their little chests, afraid that their father wouldn't see them.

"The journey is long and the dangers are unknown, so it is not suitable for everyone to go."

Li Xuan paused and began to call out names, "Therefore, I have decided that the candidates accompanying me on this expedition will be..."

Everyone subconsciously held their breath.

Li Xuan's gaze fell first on his eldest son.

"Li Changsheng."

"Child is here."

Li Changsheng stepped out excitedly, head held high, and a sharp Sword Intent uncontrollably rushed into the sky from his small body, emitting bursts of sword chimes in the hall.

"As the eldest son of the Heavenly Court, suppressing your generation is your duty. On this trip, you will be the vanguard. If anyone refuses to submit, you may draw your sword to your heart's content. I want you to let the myriad races of the Immortal Domain see what kind of bearing my, Li Xuan's, son has."

"Child obeys."

Li Changsheng's small face turned red; that was extreme excitement.

He felt every drop of blood in his body burning.

"Yay! Finally, I can go out and fight!"

He shouted wildly in his heart.

Li Xuan nodded with satisfaction and turned his gaze to his second daughter, who was standing quietly to the side.

"Li Taiyin."

"Child is here."

Li Taiyin stepped out, her temperament cold, and bowed gracefully to Li Xuan.

"You are meticulous in your thinking and steady in your actions. On this trip, you will act as my auxiliary official. You will be responsible for coordinating intelligence, handling miscellaneous affairs, and sharing the burden for your father. The Immortal Domain is treacherous, and human hearts are unpredictable. You need to see clearly for your father the monsters and demons hiding in the dark."

"Father, rest assured, child understands."

Li Taiyin replied calmly, and deep within her cold eyes, countless thoughts seemed to flash by, already beginning to build contingency plans for various unexpected situations in her mind.

Everyone thought the candidates had been decided, but Li Xuan's gaze unexpectedly fell on the little one at the back of the crowd, who looked only three years old and was curiously poking his brother's sleeve.

"Li Shikong."

"Huh?"

Li Shikong, who was having fun, was named and looked up blankly, his big, dark eyes full of confusion.

Dan Lingzi and Protector Xuanfeng both had a big question mark appear on their foreheads.

Bringing a three-year-old milk baby to participate in the Daluo Contention?

Your Majesty, are you sure you aren't sending him to his death in vain?

This is just too absurd.

However, Li Xuan's next words made them shut their mouths instantly.

"My child Shikong is born with control over the Dao of Time and Space; he is the trump card of our Heavenly Court. At critical moments, he can achieve unexpected results."

Li Xuan looked at his son, a mysterious smile on his face, "This time, you will follow by your father's side and see this Major Thousand Worlds. If there are any blind fellows, father allows you to... fast-forward their lives a little bit."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone felt a chill down their spines.

Fast-forward their lives a little bit?

What kind of ruthless words were these.

A scene couldn't help but appear in everyone's minds: an arrogant Taiyi Golden Immortal was showing off in front of the Heavenly Court, and then, with a wave of Li Shikong's little hand, the other party instantly turned into a pile of white bones, having exhausted their Lifespan and died.

Hiss.

This wasn't a trump card; this was an unreasonable Divine Ability, a means capable of flipping the chessboard.

Li Shikong nodded, half-understanding. Anyway, as long as he could go out to play with his father, he was very happy.

He replied in a milky voice:

"Okay~ Shikong will listen to Father."

The candidates were decided.

Li Cai, the newly born Li Dansheng, and the other children who were not selected all showed a trace of disappointment on their faces.

Li Xuan naturally saw all this.

His gentle gaze fell on Li Cai:

"Cai'er, you are born with the God of Wealth Destiny; you are the money bag of the Heavenly Court, and even more so, my eyes and ears. This time, while your eldest brother, second sister, and I are away, the rear of the Heavenly Court will be fully entrusted to you. The operation of the academy, the expansion of the market, and the laying of the intelligence network must not be neglected. Remember, how beautifully the front lines fight depends on how solid the Foundation at the rear is. Your burden is heavier than your brother's and sister's."

These words made Li Cai immediately straighten his chest, and the disappointment was swept away.

He felt the heavy responsibility on his shoulders and nodded heavily:

"Father, rest assured! Child will definitely take good care of the home, so that when you return, you will see a Heavenly Court overflowing with wealth!"

Li Xuan smiled gratifyingly, then looked at the other children, soothing and instructing them one by one, stating that their staying behind to guard the Heavenly Court was equally important and that there would be more opportunities in the future.

He possessed both the majesty of an emperor and the warmth of a father.

"Minister, receives the decree."

"We, receive the decree."

Seeing that the overall situation was decided, Dan Lingzi and Protector Xuanfeng looked at each other, both seeing the determination in the other's eyes.

The Heavenly Emperor's will is unshakable.

Since the decision has been made, the only thing they need to do is to do their best to make the most thorough preparations for this expedition.

"Your Majesty."

Dan Lingzi held his whisk, took a step forward, and bowed, "This old minister will go and open the furnace now, and refine all the top-tier immortal materials in the department into supreme Immortal Pills for life-saving and recovery, just in case Your Majesty needs them."

Protector Xuanfeng also knelt on one knee, his voice loud:

"Your Majesty. This general will definitely keep the heavenly soldiers training at their strongest state, swearing to guard the Southern Heaven Gate to the death, and clear away all worries for Your Majesty."

"Good."

Li Xuan slowly stood up from the imperial throne, and an Aura of ruling the world spread out.

"Pass down the order. All departments of the Heavenly Court shall begin operations immediately."

"I want the entire Immortal Domain to know that when my fleet arrives at the Jade Pool, it will be the beginning of the Heavenly Court ruling over this world."

The morning assembly ended.

The entire Little Heavenly Court, like a sleeping giant beast, woke up at this moment and began to operate.

The flames of the Alchemy Department's Pill Furnace shot into the sky, illuminating half the sky red.

The heavenly soldiers of the War Department began high-intensity combined attack drills.

And the ancient star warships that had been sealed in the Heavenly Court's treasury, their huge prototypes, began to be slowly pulled out from the Formation by Protector Xuanfeng, ready for maintenance and armament.

In the rear palace, Li Changsheng was holding a whetstone, seriously sharpening his small wooden sword. On the sword body, mysterious sword Dao runes appeared and disappeared, emitting a soul-stirring cold light.

On the other side, Li Taiyin entered the Heavenly Court library and began to read all the ancient records about the major forces in the Immortal Domain, making the most detailed intelligence preparations for the upcoming game.

Only Li Shikong was squatting on the ground, extending his little hand toward an ant in front of him.

The life of that ant was rapidly flowing.

From youth to prime, then to old age, and finally turning into dust.

And beside it, a new speck of dust was reversing time, turning back into a young ant.