"Everything is within the Great Heavenly Venerate's grasp."

Chen Shi looked at the Emperor's Chariot approaching within the purple light, silently thinking.

The Jade Emperor, the Great Heavenly Venerate, controls everything.

In this rebellion quelling, it seems that the Great Heavenly Venerate did nothing, yet everything was under his control.

From the Taibai Star Lord coming to proclaim the decree and bring the fake Jieyu, to the Taibai Star Lord dying under the fake Jieyu.

From the chaos in the Heavenly Market, to Emperor Gouchen's struggle with rebellion.

From Yun Zhongzi's probing, to Yun Zhongzi taking action.

From Chen Shi quelling the rebellion, to Wu Yue Star Lord setting an ambush.

From Qingxu Daoist Venerable's intervention, to Emperor Gouchen's action, and then Yun Zhongzi's determination.

And now, with Emperor Ziwei's arrival and Yun Zhongzi's retreat, everything is in the Great Heavenly Venerate's grasp; all events unfold according to his will.

"With Emperor Ziwei's arrival, if Yun Zhongzi doesn't retreat, he would face the joint attack of Emperor Ziwei and Emperor Gouchen, destroying their former friendship. Although Yun Zhongzi is fearless, Ziwei and Gouchen would thus completely stand with the Heavenly Court. Moreover, Yun Zhongzi would need to consider whether the Great Heavenly Venerate would appear, making victory impossible."

Chen Shi thought, "Therefore, Yun Zhongzi not confronting Ziwei and directly retreating is the best choice. Firstly, it preserves some dignity with Emperor Ziwei, and secondly, it avoids giving the Great Heavenly Venerate any chance to attack him. This is his best countermeasure against the Great Heavenly Venerate, but it's merely a struggle. Comparatively, he is already utterly defeated."

Chen Shi felt somewhat bitter in his heart. Though Yun Zhongzi played against the Great Heavenly Venerate and lost utterly, he was still a player. Whereas he, Chen Shi, was a solid pawn.

"But to the Great Heavenly Venerate, Yun Zhongzi might also be a pawn. I am a pawn, Gouchen is a pawn, Ziwei is a pawn, and all the Daluo Golden Immortals in my Dao Ruins are, without exception, pawns manipulated by the Great Heavenly Venerate."

Chen Shi let out a breath of foul air. Immortal Master Erlang called the Great Heavenly Venerate's schemes unfathomable, and now he truly experienced it, and deeply revered him.

The chariot of Emperor Ziwei stopped. The full title of this Emperor is the Central Heavenly Ziwei Beiji Taihuang Emperor. The term Central Heavenly Beiji refers to the North Star, located due north, at the North Pole. It is also called Central Heaven because it is the center of the starry sky, with all stars revolving around it.

Emperor Ziwei alighted from the chariot. This chariot is called the Seven Fragrance Car, with a fragrance that permeates the lungs and mesmerizes the heart. It was once a treasure offered to King Zhou by Emperor Ziwei. After the Fashang campaign, and the Divine Enthronement, he became Emperor Ziwei, and this chariot accompanied him to the Heavenly Court.

Chen Shi sized up Emperor Ziwei, the final emperor among the Four Imperial Lords. His face was as fair as the full moon, with handsome and elegant features, and his demeanor was refined. Because he had long been honored with incense, the Purple Qi of incense swirled around him, his Divine Power was immense, surpassing even Gouchen.

"Why has brother come?" Emperor Gouchen asked in uncertainty and doubt.

He initially thought it would be the Jade Emperor, the Great Heavenly Venerate who would come to his rescue, but surprisingly, it was Emperor Ziwei who arrived.

Emperor Ziwei is the Lord of Stars, holding the reins over the changing natural order, as well as the underworld's hierarchical order, and the mysterious demonic orders. For instance, the Beiji Exorcism Institute falls under his administration, and Fengdu is also under his jurisdiction, splitting some responsibilities with Emperor Houtu, Earth God.

The incense he receives exceeds even that of Gouchen, hence his Divine Power is stronger than Gouchen. However, Gouchen is an Immortal, having achieved the Daluo Golden Immortal Realm in Immortal Dao Cultivation, whereas Ziwei is a pure Divine.

Emperor Ziwei said, "The Great Heavenly Venerate sent word to me that you would encounter danger. Upon receiving the news, I rushed here immediately, thankfully not too late."

Emperor Gouchen remained silent for a long while before speaking, "So, brother will not defect from the Heavenly Court to join the Immortal Court?"

Emperor Ziwei smiled and said, "The one who conferred me the title of Ziwei was The Three Pure Ones, not the Three Pure Ones Realm, nor the Immortal Court. I don't think as much as you do."

His words were very direct, which completely put Emperor Gouchen's heart at ease, and he smiled and said, "It was The Three Pure Ones who conferred me the title of Gouchen as well."

He brushed away the gloom of these days, feeling his inner conflict and contradiction dissolved, and felt a bit guilty toward Chen Shi.

After all, he frequently sought Chen Shi's counsel on his problems over these days, forcing Chen Shi to persuade him towards rebellion.

Emperor Ziwei, gentle as jade, approached everyone kindly without a trace of emperor's airs, and said to Chen Shi, "Could you be Heavenly King Chen?"

Chen Shi stepped forward to pay his respects and said, "Chen Shi greets Your Majesty."

Emperor Ziwei returned the gesture and then paid respects to Chang Chun Emperor and others in the Dao Ruins behind Chen Shi. In a fluster, Chang Chun Emperor and others returned the gesture saying, "Humble rural folk, greet Brother Ziwei!"

Ziwei Emperors treatment made others feel as if bathed in a spring breeze, not underestimating them because they bore the stigma of an Outer Dao and were incomplete.

After exchanging pleasantries, Emperor Ziwei looked again at Chen Shi and smiled, "I heard that Heavenly King Chen has become a Teacher in Penglai West. As a Teacher, we are of the same generation, no need for formality. I've also heard Heavenly King Chen once visited the North Pole?"

Chen Shi's heart skipped a beat, knowing he didn't mean the North Pole, but Fengdu.

Back then, Chen Yindou conspired against Beidi, causing a great sensation. The Right Heavenly Master Hidden Dragon Ancestor of the Immortal Court then led Chen Yindou, Chen Shi, and others to Fengdu again to kill Beidi, sparking this war among the Immortal Gods.

When Hidden Dragon killed Beidi, many of the six days old ghosts and Ghost Gods saw Chen Shi and Chen Yindou standing at the door, which might be why Ziwei Emperor asked if Chen Shi had been to the North Pole.

"I've been there," Chen Shi said.

Ziwei Emperor was quite surprised, not expecting Chen Shi to be honest as his name implies.

Chen Shi said, "When the Immortal Court Right Heavenly Master Hidden Dragon assassinated Beidi, I was outside the Fengdu Heavenly Palace."