550: Yuanshi retreated, and Taiyi was to be executed.

The Jade Emperors of both worlds fell into a deep slumber simultaneously!

After the two Jade Emperors fell asleep, Lu Jiuyuan's Golden Finger, [Endless Life], began to work frantically.

The annihilated worlds were recovering continuously.

It would only take a few dozen breaths to fully recover!

"Three moves have passed."

Lu Jiuyuan's voice remained steady, echoing through the silent Chaos. He looked at the Primordial Heavenly Venerate, his gaze deep:

"Cult Revered Master Primordial, are you satisfied?"

The Primordial Heavenly Venerate remained silent, his gaze falling upon Lu Jiuyuan's palm.

He had pulled twice just now, but it wouldn't budge!

That palm was gripping his pangu banner as if it were locked in place.

"A body that cannot be worn down by ten thousand kalpas, an eternal and indestructible physique! Your Majesty has impressive means!"

"You flatter me!" Lu Jiuyuan released the pangu banner.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The Primordial Heavenly Venerate tucked the pangu banner into his sleeve and bowed.

Today, he could not save Taiyi.

"Your Majesty possesses vast Divine Ability and a profound foundation; this Daoist... has learned much."

The Primordial Heavenly Venerate's voice returned to its initial indifference. He no longer looked toward the Beheading Platform but nodded slightly at Lu Jiuyuan:

"Taiyi violated the heavenly laws and brought this upon himself. How he is to be dealt with shall be up to Your Majesty to handle according to the heavenly laws."

"Jade Void Palace has no objections."

After speaking, he did not linger. His figure turned into a streak of clear light, disappearing into the Chaos in an instant, returning beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.

The Nine-Dragon Agarwood Chariot also faded away.

It came suddenly and left decisively.

He did not even glance at the White Crane Boy again, nor did he leave a single word for the Disciple about to perish on the Beheading Platform.

A Saint's heart is like iron; the Heavenly Dao is Emotionless.

On the Beheading Platform, the White Crane Boy's face was ashen; he knew his Revered Master had given up.

Senior Brother Taiyi... could not be saved.

On the platform, Immortal Master Taiyi, his spirit clear and the tribulation Qi gone, felt the light in his eyes completely extinguish when he heard the Primordial Heavenly Venerate's words, "No objections."

He smiled miserably, stopped struggling, and simply closed his eyes.

"Revered Master... this Disciple... understands..."

Shuhai took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, and bowed again toward the Hall of Miraculous Mist: "Your Majesty! Execute the sentence!"

"Execute!"

The deputy general roared, and the bronze axe, condensing all the power of the rules of the Beheading Platform, crashed down!

This time, there were no obstacles.

A flash of blood soared to the heavens!

Immortal Master Taiyi's head rolled off, and his body, under the pulling of the chains and the divine light of the axe blade, disintegrated inch by inch, turning into the purest light rain that scattered between heaven and earth.

One of the Twelve Golden Immortals of Jade Void, Revered Master of Golden Light Cave on Qianyuan Mountain, Immortal Master Taiyi, had his form and spirit destroyed, his true spirit entering the Reincarnation!

The entire Heavenly Court was deathly silent.

All the immortals and gods had not yet recovered from the shock of the Saint's confrontation and the Heavenly Emperor taking the pangu banner head-on, when they witnessed the complete fall of another illustrious Golden Immortal.

In front of the Hall of Miraculous Mist, Lu Jiuyuan's figure returned from the Chaos and sat back on the imperial throne.

His gaze swept over the spirit pearl on the dragon pillar beside the hall and then looked out at the empty sea of clouds outside the hall.

"Venus."

"Your subject is here!"

"Draft an edict." Lu Jiuyuan's voice was calm but carried unquestionable majesty:

"First, notify the Three Realms: Immortal Master Taiyi of the Jade Void Palace has violated the heavenly laws and has been executed today on the Beheading Platform. Let this be a warning, and may all living beings in the Three Realms abide by the heavenly laws."

"Second, Nezha's fault has been borne by his Master; release him back to the mortal world to participate in the investiture of the gods list tribulation."

"Third, the Four Dragon Kings of the Four Seas shall return to their posts and perform their duties diligently. Bestow upon them Flat Peaches to show consolation."

"Fourth, Li Jing, General-in-Chief of Chentang Pass, failed to discipline his son strictly; he will be dealt with after the investiture of the gods list."

Each order was issued clearly and methodically.

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Venus bowed, accepted the order, and quickly retreated to draft the edict.

Lu Jiuyuan sat alone in the vast hall, his gaze deep.

Executed Taiyi, forced back the Primordial Heavenly Venerate.

The majesty of the Heavenly Court had truly been established.

The edicts were sent out from the Heavenly Court, flying to all parts of the Three Realms.

In an instant, the Three Realms were shaken!

Mount Kunlun, Jade Void Palace.

The Primordial Heavenly Venerate sat high on the cloud bed, expressionless.

Below, the remaining Golden Immortals, including Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, and Immortal Master Yuding, all wore expressions of sorrow, shock, confusion, and even a trace of fear.

Junior Brother (Senior Brother) Taiyi... just gone like that? Beheaded by the Heavenly Court? Even with Revered Master personally intervening, he couldn't be saved?

"Revered Master..." Guangchengzi, as the leader of the Twelve Golden Immortals, braced himself to speak.

The Primordial Heavenly Venerate closed his eyes and said indifferently: "Taiyi brought this upon himself; his tribulation was unavoidable. This matter ends here."

"But..." Chijingzi wanted to say something more.

"Hmm?" The Primordial Heavenly Venerate opened his eyes, a trace of Saint's might leaking out, and the immortals immediately fell silent, as if terrified.

"The investiture of the gods list will soon appear, and the killing tribulation has begun. You must guard your hearts and minds, diligently cultivate Karma, and do not be taken advantage of by the tribulation Qi again, following in Taiyi's footsteps."

"We will strictly follow Revered Master's teachings!" The Golden Immortals replied quickly.

The Primordial Heavenly Venerate waved his hand, dismissing them.

In the vast hall, only the Primordial Heavenly Venerate remained.

He looked toward the Heavenly Court, and deep within his eyes, Chaos was born and destroyed, and the Heavenly Dao was being deduced.

"Haotian..."

"The investiture of the gods list... it seems it will not go as smoothly as expected."

Jinao Island, Biyou Palace.

The Sect Leader Tongtian sat on a prayer mat. The water mirror in front of him reflected the final scene at the Heavenly Court's Beheading Platform, as well as the brief but astonishing clash in the Chaos.

"Haotian actually possesses such skills; I have never seen him act before, but today I realize he is extraordinary!" The Sect Leader Tongtian sneered:

"But we, the Three Pure Ones, are one body. You can block Primordial, but can you block the Three Pure Ones?"

The direct Disciples of the Jie Sect standing below, including Daoist Duobao, Holy Mother Jinling, Holy Mother Wudang, and Holy Mother Guiling, also had varied expressions—some shocked, some amused, and some grave.

However, all of them placed this person in the category of those who should not be provoked.

Heavenly Court, behind the Hall of Miraculous Mist, in the Miluo Palace.

Lu Jiuyuan had removed his imperial robes and crown, dressed in simple white Daoist robes, and sat on the cloud bed.

Venus stood below, reporting the reactions from all sides after the edicts were delivered.

"Your Majesty, the Four Dragon Kings of the Four Seas have received the decree and expressed their gratitude after being rescued. They have consumed the Flat Peaches, their injuries are fully recovered, and they have returned to their respective Dragon Palaces with no unusual movements."

"At Chentang Pass, Li Jing and his wife received the decree, apologized in fear, and promised to strictly discipline Nezha. Nezha has been sent back, and there is no movement for now."

"Mount Kunlun, Jade Void Palace has closed its doors, ordering all Disciples to guard the mountain gate tightly, and no further news has emerged."

"Jinao Island, the Jie Sect has closed its mountain gate."

"The Western Sect has no movement."

Lu Jiuyuan nodded slightly: "Understood."

Venus hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, was today's matter... too intense? One against three, or even one against four, you have no advantage. The Primordial Heavenly Venerate has lost all face, and I fear future repercussions."

"Repercussions?" Lu Jiuyuan smiled, "Venus, do you think if I did not behead Taiyi and did not take the Primordial Heavenly Venerate's three moves, what status would the Heavenly Court have in the eyes of the Saints in the future?"

Venus was stunned.

"It would still be that empty shell that can be manipulated at will and taken from as they please."

Lu Jiuyuan asked and answered himself, "The investiture of the gods list killing tribulation appears on the surface to be to supplement the positions of the gods for our Heavenly Court, but in reality, it is a game for The Three Teachings of the Xuanmen to settle their Karma and redefine their Luck. If I am not tough, even after the investiture of the gods list, when the three hundred and sixty-five proper gods return to their positions, who will this Heavenly Court listen to? Will it listen to me, or to the Saints behind them?"

"Calculating for Taiyi to run into this was a matter of necessity."

Lu Jiuyuan looked out at the sea of clouds outside the palace, "I will use his head to establish the majesty of the Heavenly Court. Since the Primordial Heavenly Venerate came in person, I will suppress him with power, telling all the Saints that the Heavenly Court is not something they can manipulate at will."