On the Cuiyun Glazed Carriage, Little Dun Fairy noticed Chen Shi sitting by the window, staring blankly outside. After a moment of hesitation, she broke the silence, smiling as she asked, "Husband, what are you thinking about?"

"I am thinking whether the spread of the Primordial Talisman will still trigger the Opening Tribulation?"

Chen Shi hesitated slightly, then laid out his concerns and said, "Back then, someone in the Earth Immortal Realm sent the All Heavens World into the Dark Sea to avoid the Opening Tribulation, because once it entered the Dark Sea, with the Outer Dao, the Opening Tribulation ceased. Among the Primordial Talismans I disseminated, many are of the Outer Dao — even seventy percent, with the Immortal Dao making up twenty percent and the Divine Dao ten percent. If the Outer Dao has no Opening Tribulation, then those who practice using the Primordial Talisman should also have no Opening Tribulation."

Little Dun, hearing this, said, "This is not something you should worry about, but rather what the Jade Emperor Great Heavenly Venerate should concern himself with. If the Great Heavenly Venerate is not worried, why should you be?"

She did not use her Divine Sense to transmit her words, seemingly intending for her thoughts to be conveyed to the Jade Emperor Great Heavenly Venerate through the glazed carriage.

Chen Shi said sternly, "I am utterly loyal to the Great Heavenly Venerate. If I can resolve this matter, then there would be no need for the Great Heavenly Venerate to worry. But frankly, does practicing the Outer Dao really solve the Opening Tribulation?"

With a worried look, he said, "I always feel that this hypothesis may not be so reliable."

Little Dun Fairy consoled him, saying, "Husband, you should not worry too much. Although you are a loyal subject and relieve the Great Heavenly Venerate's burdens, the Great Heavenly Venerate has been quite disheartening, often testing you, even going so far as to endanger your life through the hand of Emperor Gouchen..."

"Silence!"

Chen Shi's face turned red as he rebuked, filled with righteous indignation, "The Great Heavenly Venerate is the master of the Earth Immortal Realm, every word and action is the Heavenly Dao! If the Great Heavenly Venerate is suspicious of me, it must be because I haven't done well enough and need to correct my ways! Mr. Chen is just a mere scholar; without the support of the Great Heavenly Venerate, who knows in which dark corner of the Earth Immortal Realm I would've died long ago. How could I be where I am today? Such words are sheer nonsense!"

Little Dun began to cry, feeling wronged, "I was just standing up for you, husband, and instead, I got blamed for so many things. You are the Crown Prince of Lady Houtu, manage the Heavenly Dao Treasures for the Great Heavenly Venerate, have quelled the upheaval in the Heavenly Market, created the Primordial Talisman, thwarted the rebellion plans of the Three Pure Ones Realm, the Western Heaven, and the Fake Immortal Court — such great achievements! And yet, what did the Great Heavenly Venerate give you? During the grand ceremony of transmitting the Dao, that glaring axe of the Great Heavenly Venerate nearly rested on your neck!"

She wiped away her tears, chokingly said, "That axe, in front of the two hundred thousand immortals of Penglai West, almost chopped you, husband! And then what? The Great Heavenly Venerate sent only a plaque, gave some mediocre rewards, and conferred the title of Supreme Sage, without offering any real rewards! You reclaimed the Heavenly Market, persuaded Emperor Gouchen to surrender, and received no reward. You disseminated the teachings to the world, ruined the schemes of the Fake Immortal Court, saved people from Water and Fire, and yet no reward. Even I, not even a noble lady title; whenever I'm mentioned, it's as Chen's maid with neither name nor rank, embarrassing you, husband."

"You wretched woman dare to prattle!" Chen Shi shouted, feigning to strike her.

Little Dun then threw a tantrum, tilting her face up and stretching her neck, shouting, "Go ahead! Strike me dead if you wish! Husband, you're a hero, sweeping the Heavenly Market and spreading the teachings across the world, but you dare not stand up to the Great Heavenly Venerate for yourself or your wife. Yet, you're quite adept at hitting your wife! Kill me, and you can marry another, and when this reaches the Great Heavenly Venerate, it will merely be the death of an unranked concubine maid."

"Alas—"

Chen Shi let out a heavy sigh, not actually striking her, and sat down dejectedly, muttering, "The Great Heavenly Venerate is not a foolish ruler who cannot distinguish between reward and punishment. The rewards for me and my wife... should, should be on their way, right?"

He seemed uncertain, awkwardly saying, "Wife, do not always blame the Great Heavenly Venerate. We as subjects should understand the Great Heavenly Venerate. After so many years of war, perhaps, the Heavenly Court is also lacking in funds."

Little Dun Fairy sobbed incessantly, lamenting, "The Heavenly Court has no money, but we can't always give from our own home, when will it end? Penglai West is tormented by demon disasters every day, leaving nothing but barren land, yet the multiple revolts were suppressed at the expense of your money, with not a single penny from the Great Heavenly Venerate. This time, when you go to Lady Houtu, if she asks you about the lack of rewards from the Heavenly Court, what will you say? Would Lady Houtu not laugh at the Heavenly Court, laugh at the Great Heavenly Venerate?"

Chen Shi frequently glanced to signal her that she might be overstepping.

Little Dun Fairy took the hint, cried a few more times, then gradually quieted down.

Chen Shi embraced her shoulders and gently comforted, "Wife, don't worry. The rewards from the Great Heavenly Venerate will surely be on their way."

Little Dun softly murmured in response.

Outside, the hoofbeats of the Nine-colored Deer rang crisply, pulling the Glazed Carriage through the clouds, leaving behind clusters of plum blossoms. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

In the Heavenly Court, at the Taiwei Yuqing Palace.

The Jade Emperor Great Heavenly Venerate was leisurely enjoying tea and watching a dance with the Queen Mother.

The dance harmonized with the Five Elements, as the Goddess danced along with the music, each stirring the Five Elements Qi, nourishing the observers' internal organs.

"Cough cough cough!"

Immersed in the spectacle, the Jade Emperor Great Heavenly Venerate suddenly began to cough violently, prompting the Queen Mother to hurriedly ask, "Your Majesty, is your Sacred Body unwell?"

The Great Heavenly Venerate waved his hand dismissively, "I was so engrossed; I choked on the tea."

After a moment's pause, he inquired, "Zi Tong, hasn't Heavenly King Chen made great contributions, exterminating Taibai Star Lord, suppressing the unrest of the Heavenly Market, stopping Gouchen and Ziwei from rebelling, and spreading the teachings across the world? Is my reward for him too stingy?"

The Queen Mother expressed her surprise, "Your Majesty often says Chen Shi is a vile wolf with ambition. Why the sudden mention of his great deeds today?"