Looking at Mr. Mo, who had already finished his medicine, the smile on the angel’s face slowly faded as he retreated.

"I am tired, you all can leave now," Mr. Mo said, somewhat weakly.

Seeing this, everyone didn’t say anything more and slowly withdrew.

When everyone had left and only Mr. Mo remained in the room, the most mysterious immortal of the Heavenly Court suddenly showed a pained expression on his face.

"So it’s like that, after all. What exactly are you trying to hide?" Mr. Mo covered his head and murmured in anguish.

The angel who left here, however, turned and went straight to the residence of the Enlightened Great Sage.

"Great Sage, I witnessed him drink the medicine myself."

Being a close attendant of the Jade Emperor, he knew the status of this Great Sage, who originated from the Demon Clan, in His Majesty’s eyes, so he was extremely respectful, not daring to show any slack in his words.

"Was there anything unusual?"

"Nothing, it was normal."

"Understood, you may leave," said the Enlightened Great Sage, waving his hand dismissively.

His figure was hidden in the shadows, only his eyes gleaming with an unusual light.

"Have you perceived something?"

Meanwhile, in the Mortal World, countless years had passed, and it had been too long since the Tang Monk went on his quest for the scriptures. Several emperors of the Great Tang Dynasty had come and gone.

Since the spread of Buddhism to the east, the Buddhist Sect expanded rapidly. Over the years, countless temples sprung up, and nine out of ten among the commoners believed in Buddhism.

As the Buddhist Law flourished, the disciples of the Buddhist Sect were naturally elated. They were not satisfied with their status and eagerly wished to elevate their position, even beginning to interfere in imperial affairs, attempting to transform the entire Eastern Shenzhou into an Earthly Buddhist Kingdom.

All disciples of the Buddhist Sect optimistically believed that the time had come for the Earthly Buddhist Kingdom to descend.

Atop Mount Ling, countless Bhikkhus and Arhats looked on, hoping to gain the faith of Eastern Shenzhou, a place that had been a flourishing land of the Human Clan since ancient times. The abundant population over many years generated a vigorous and vast Power of Faith.

With this power, how many more Bodhisattvas and Buddhas could be added to the Buddhist Sect, and such opportunities were the best for those Bhikkhus and Arhats who had practiced cultivation for many years.

Therefore, the Buddhist Sect was agitated, clamoring to preach in the Eastern Land and transform Eastern Shenzhou into the Earthly Buddhist Kingdom.

Kashyap, watching the mighty processions of the Buddhist Sect making their way to the Eastern Land, sighed softly.

"Eastern Shenzhou is the ancient territory of the Heavenly Court, where the Three Pure Ones preached. Aren’t we afraid of provoking a war between the Buddhist Sect and the Heavenly Court by going like this?"

This disciple of the Buddha was deeply troubled. He always felt that Mount Ling had changed a lot since the time Buddha broke through and Maitreya succeeded to the position of the Buddha; it seemed as if the whole of Mount Ling was filled with a restless mood.

"Kashyap, you worry too much. The Heavenly Court has just experienced a rebellion, and even the Jade Emperor has been severely wounded and is extremely weak. How can we miss this chance?" Ananda, on the other hand, disagreed with his view.

"Perhaps, but this is also against the true meaning of our Buddhist Sect, and I fear that it will bring serious troubles in the future."

"Rest assured, the Buddha is also present; how could our Buddhist Sect possibly decline," Ananda said confidently.

Hearing this, Kashyap didn’t say more. He just sighed softly and headed deeper into Mount Ling, deciding out of sight, out of mind, and to concentrate on studying the Buddhist Law.

As the vast Buddhist army advanced, all immortals of the Heavenly Court soon received the news.

"Is the Buddhist Sect preparing for a decisive battle to the death with us!" a Heavenly God cried out.

Who in the Three Realms didn’t know that Dongsheng Shenzhou was the territory of the Heavenly Court? Now, with the Buddhist Sect so brazenly preaching and even attempting to establish an Earthly Buddhist Kingdom, it was something none of the Heavenly Court’s immortals would agree to.

This was akin to digging the roots out from under the Heavenly Court.

"It’s time to show these bald monks some color."

"If we keep retreating like this, what face will the Heavenly Court have left?"

These immortals, each voicing their opinion one after the other, clamored for war against the Buddhist Sect. However, the major deities who could really determine the direction of the Heavenly Court all kept silent, observing the situation quietly.

Everyone knew that the current Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court was the real sovereign, and this Supreme One always planned meticulously before acting. Given his character, it was impossible for him to sit by and watch the Buddhist Sect’s actions unchallenged.

There was only one reason, it was a trap, a trap targeting the Buddhist Sect.

"Silence!" the Jade Emperor spoke coldly, his majestic voice resounding through the Lingxiao Treasured Palace and instantly quieting the disorderly noise.

"Since each of you wishes for war, then who is willing to take the lead?" the Jade Emperor asked softly.

His gaze swept across the faces of several immortals who had been the loudest, and their spine-chilling glances made these few shiver involuntarily, afraid to look up.

The Lingxiao Treasured Palace fell silent, clearly, these individuals were all bark and no bite, for when confronted with the prospect of war, they all recoiled, daring not to utter another word.

"Exorcist, tell us about the Buddhist Sect’s plans."

Upon these words, the Divine Exorcist Great Sage slowly said, "The Buddhist Sect plans to control the Mortal Emperor, to establish Buddhism as the state religion, and they even intend to require the coronation of future emperors to be presided over by the Buddhist Sect."

Hearing this, the few major deities who had remained silent suddenly looked very solemn. If the Buddhist Sect succeeded in this, from that point forward, the Heavenly Court might only be able to look up to them.

Taibai Jinxing immediately stood up and said, "Your Majesty, we must not allow the Buddhist Sect to achieve this as from then on, the Three Realms may well belong to the Buddhist Sect."

Dongsheng Shenzhou is very special as it is the center of the Three Realms, with its Mortal Emperor being particularly significant for the stance of mankind. Should the Buddhist Sect gain control, the will of Heaven and Earth would likely shift.

That was the real killer move.

Yet the Jade Emperor simply smiled and said, "Since they want to contest with us, let them be told who truly rules over the Three Realms."

"Taibai Jinxing, make a trip to the Mortal World, protect the Mortal Emperor, and ensure he is not affected by the secret techniques of the Buddhist Sect. The rest of the immortals should quietly await the opportune moment in the Heavenly Court, as there will be a chance for you to flex your power."

The Jade Emperor methodically issued his orders, setting the Heavenly Court’s huge war machine into motion. Although it was not yet apparent, when the time came, it would surely turn heads among all living beings.

The Heavenly Court meeting concluded, and the immortals stepped out of the Lingxiao Treasured Palace, all with somber expressions. Li Jing took Nezha back to their residence, sighing with a troubled expression, "I never imagined the situation would turn out like this."

"Father, are you worried that the Jade Emperor will begin to suspect you?" Nezha asked from the side.

After all, his own elder brothers were in the Buddhist Sect, and it was hard not to suspect his own father and son’s loyalties.

Moreover, Nezha was also aware that his father had originally planned to balance between Buddhism and Taoism, but now that the two could not coexist, they found themselves in a predicament.

However, this was also a common strategy used by large families in the Mortal World; they never put all their eggs in one basket.