Dragons churned outside the Southern Heaven Gate, with the golden phoenix wailing and the war drums alarming the sky. The immortal beings fell into silence.

Zhang Bainian, dressed in golden armor and a red cape that moved without wind, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing towards the west.

"Since my childhood cultivation, I have endured over 1,750 calamities, each lasting 129,600 years, in order to attain the boundless Dao. All beings envy me, admire me, honor me as the ruler of the Three Realms, the leader of the celestial beings, and bow to my authority over the Six Paths, the control over all beings."

He suddenly burst into laughter and swung his sword, casting a brilliant golden light.

"Nonsense! Who knows about my suffering? Although I am crowned as an emperor, becoming the supreme ruler of all realms, when can I truly have control over this world? The three Primordial Emperors, residing above the thirty-six Heavenly Realms, have never allowed me freedom. I am their puppet, I know it. I am in constant fear, afraid that my throne will be replaced and my life will end in the grave. Even if Sun Wukong were to appear before me, I would not lay a finger on him, for I know he is the chosen one sent by the Primordial Emperors to journey to the West."

He turned and pointed to the immortal beings.

"In this vast world, with countless living beings and countless divine beings, who truly knows me? Who truly understands me? Who truly sees me? In just one glance, there is only one Li Jing. I know that you all think I am foolish and that Li Jing is unworthy of favor, but let me tell you, among the men in this world, only Li Jing possesses true courage. When the Primordial Emperors wanted to separate him from his wife and children, he ascended to become an immortal and attempted to kill the gods. I ask you all, who else has such bravery?"

"I have spoken so much, not for any other reason but to let you all know that Li Jing is a hero, worthy to be a marshal."

He raised his hand, and the celestial wine in the heavenly pool bubbled and transformed into water dragons soaring through the air. After a joss stick's worth of time, the water dragons burst and transformed into torrential rain that fell upon the mortal realm.

Zhang Bainian shouted at the top of his voice.

"Today, this grace is the grace of Marshal Li, and it is also the final protection bestowed upon all living beings by the Heavenly Court."

His shout echoed throughout the land, lingering in the ears of every Chinese person.

Zhang Bainian pointed his sword westward, his eyes shining brightly with a swirling intent to kill.

"March forth!"

Inside the Palace of Great Perfection, clouds and mist swirled.

Taishang Laojun and Yuanshi Tianzun sat playing chess, while Tongtian Jiaozhu lay on the side, fully immersed in reading his "Young Wife xx".

Yuanshi Tianzun stared at the chessboard, pondering each move, and spoke softly, "Laojun, this Zhang Bainian is the one you brought up, the first one who doesn't regard us highly. What do you think we should do?"

Laojun stroked his long beard and said, "He doesn't regard us highly? He regards himself too highly. Just now, I couldn't help but shudder when I heard his hateful words. We truly have been too harsh on this child."

Tongtian Jiaozhu interjected, "This boy was truly disappointing in the past few years. Weak and cowardly. I even wanted to beat him up. But these two years, he has become quite interesting, causing a commotion in the Heavenly Court. I like it."

"He has indeed shown some promise in recent years, making the solemn Heavenly Court lively. I am pleased with it as well. However, pushing the boundaries and now organizing a strike, we must give him a taste of his own medicine, don't you think?" Yuanshi Tianzun asked.

After speaking, Yuanshi Tianzun glanced sneakily at Taishang Laojun.

Taishang Laojun sighed and chuckled helplessly, "Ah, the child has grown up and has wings of his own. You two old fellows, who are halfway in the grave already, are also acting out. Fine, fine, give him a taste of it."

Taishang Laojun picked up a black chess piece from the board and flicked it casually, transforming the piece into a golden ring that landed in Zhang Bainian's hand.

Only then did it become clear that the chess piece had transformed into a small golden circle, which was none other than Taishang Laojun's Diamond Scepter.

"Hey hey hey, you old cheat! You threw me your chess piece!"

Yuanshi Tianzun was so angry that his beard trembled, cursing out loudly.

Taishang Laojun rubbed his eyes and walked away with a disappointed expression, muttering, "Oh, so it was your chess piece. I'm old, with failing eyesight. A winning game of chess was ruined just like that."

Tongtian Jiaozhu gloated with Schadenfreude.

"Fine, this is the price you pay for tricking him with a treasure."

After speaking, he flipped through his book and let out a loud curse, "My book! Old man, I'm going to kill you today."