Earthly Yin Star Jiao Long had only recently cultivated to the Earth Immortal realm but had already refined his primordial spirit. Now, with his physical body shattered by Jiang Yuan, only a faint, illusory spirit remained standing alone in place, awaiting its inevitable dissipation!
"Jiao Long!"
Earthly Jin Star Xu Ji let out a mournful cry, clutching Jiao Long's broken body as he wept loudly!
Without a treasure like Guanyin's Pure Vase of Jade Fat that could contain a primordial spirit, Earthly Yin Star Jiao Long's spirit would soon be torn to shreds by the unceasing astral winds of the celestial realm!
Additionally, ancient treasures like the Mountain and River State Map and the Taiji Diagram also possessed the power to capture souls. However, one was said to belong to Nüwa, the goddess who molded humans from clay, and the other to Laozi, the Moral Heavenly Lord, one of the Three Pure Ones. Both were elusive as dragons glimpsed but never fully seen, impossible to find.
"Xu Ji, quickly find a way to contain Jiao Long's spirit—there might still be a chance!"
Jade Spirit Official, seeing Jiao Long's spirit growing translucent under the astral winds, urgently shouted to Earthly Jin Star Xu Ji.
"Such divine artifacts are only possessed by Guanyin of the Western Buddhist Paradise and the sage Lord Laozi. How am I to find them? Alas!"
Earthly Jin Star Xu Ji, watching Jiao Long's spirit on the verge of vanishing, shed a stream of clear tears and spoke helplessly.
Among the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Stars, none had a deeper bond with Earthly Yin Star Jiao Long than he. That was why they had acted in unison to steal from the Peach Garden!
Originally, they had only been sentenced to three years in prison—a mere blink of an eye for immortals whose lifespans spanned hundreds or thousands of years!
But who would have thought that the notoriously hot-tempered Earthly Yin Star Jiao Long would insist on dragging Xu Ji to the Judicial Office to vent their anger, only to end up dead on the spot!
"I recall someone—go find him quickly, and he might save Jiao Long's life!"
Jade Spirit Official pondered for a moment, then a flash of inspiration struck, and he remembered a person.
"Oh? Who? Please, Jade Spirit True Lord, tell me at once!"
Earthly Jin Star Xu Ji kowtowed heavily to Jade Spirit Official, his expression sorrowful.
"Go find the Universal Lord of Thunder, Who Responds to the Primordial Sound of the Nine Heavens. He possesses a treasure called the Wish-Fulfilling Universe Bag, which works similarly to the Taiji Diagram and the Pure Vase of Jade Fat. It might temporarily preserve Jiao Long's spirit."
Jade Spirit Official quickly said to Xu Ji.
"Lord Jiang, once I find the Universal Lord of Thunder and save my brother, I will return to beg your forgiveness with a thorny rod on my back!"
After Jade Spirit Official spoke, Earthly Jin Star Xu Ji turned and kowtowed to Jiang Yuan before immediately riding clouds and mist away.
"Jade Spirit Official, as far as I know, wasn't the Wish-Fulfilling Universe Bag the treasure of the immortal Yu Yuan from the Fengshen era?"
Hearing the words "Wish-Fulfilling Universe Bag," Jiang Yuan immediately recalled a TV series he'd watched in reality, *The Investiture of the Gods*, which mentioned this artifact.
According to the TV series, the Wish-Fulfilling Universe Bag was the treasure of Yu Yuan, a disciple of the Jie Sect. After Yu Yuan's disciple Yu Hua was defeated by the Western Zhou camp, the master came to avenge his student. Earth Traveler Sun of the Western Zhou side coveted Yu Yuan's mount, the Five-Cloud Camel, and sneaked in at night using earth magic to steal it. But Yu Yuan caught him red-handed, stuffed Earth Traveler Sun into the Universe Bag, and roasted him with true fire, nearly cooking him alive!
"Heh, I didn't expect Judge Jiang to know about the Fengshen Tribulation from ten thousand years ago. Do you know who the Universal Lord of Thunder, Who Responds to the Primordial Sound of the Nine Heavens, is?"
Jade Spirit Official looked at Jiang Yuan with surprise and asked with a smile.
"Of course I do. During the Fengshen era, there was a general in the Western Zhou camp named Lei Zhenzi. He was adopted as a foster son by King Wen of Zhou. After mistakenly eating two immortal apricots from his master Yun Zhongzi, he grew a face like indigo, hair like cinnabar, and a pair of wind-and-thunder wings from his ribs. Because thunder roared at his birth, he was named Lei Zhenzi. But I recall that when Jiang Ziya conferred the gods, his name wasn't on the Fengshen List!"
Jiang Yuan had loved ancient myths since childhood, so he answered Jade Spirit Official's question with great authority.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
"Judge Jiang is truly remarkable, but you only know half the story."
Jade Spirit Official clapped his hands and smiled, beginning to explain the matter to Jiang Yuan.
Jiang Yuan was right—Lei Zhenzi hadn't been on the Fengshen List during the original investiture. However, like Erlang Shen Yang Jian, he had followed the path of attaining sainthood through his physical body, making him incredibly powerful in combat. Moreover, his grandmaster was none other than the famous Primordial Heavenly Lord of the Three Pure Ones, a sage! The Jade Emperor, partly out of appreciation for his talent and partly to honor Primordial Heavenly Lord, granted him the title of Universal Lord of Thunder, Who Responds to the Primordial Sound of the Nine Heavens, commanding all the thunder deities of the celestial realm.
"I see!"
After hearing this, Jiang Yuan cupped his hands to Jade Spirit Official in thanks.
"Rumble!"
As the two finished chatting, thunder rolled from the horizon!
"Fast arrival, huh! Heh!"
Jade Spirit Official looked toward the sky, then turned to Jiang Yuan with a smile.
Jiang Yuan looked up and saw Earthly Jin Star Xu Ji accompanied by a giant, two zhang tall, clad in water-green robes, with a thunder-beak face and wings on his back—none other than the Universal Lord of Thunder, Lei Zhenzi!
"Greetings, Lord of Thunder!"
"Well, Three-Eyed Boy! Impressive, aren't I?"
Seeing Lei Zhenzi, Jade Spirit Official quickly bowed. Meanwhile, Jiang Yuan, gazing at Lei Zhenzi's bird-like face and human body, wore a strange expression as a classic line from the TV series echoed in his mind!
"Junior greets the Lord of Thunder!"
Lei Zhenzi's title was too long, so most celestial immortals called him Lord of Thunder for short. Feeling Jade Spirit Official tug at him, Jiang Yuan snapped back to reality and bowed to Lei Zhenzi.
"I've heard recently that the Jade Emperor personally appointed a loose immortal as a fourth-rank judge. Is that you?"
Lei Zhenzi looked at Jiang Yuan, his voice booming like thunder, shaking Jiang Yuan's eardrums.
"Yes, it's me! I've long admired the Universal Lord of Thunder, Who Responds to the Primordial Sound of the Nine Heavens. Meeting you today is a great honor!"
As the saying goes, flattery never fails. Seeing this figure he'd only encountered in TV dramas, Jiang Yuan felt a surge of excitement and offered a compliment.
"Truly, the waves behind drive the waves ahead, and each generation produces its talents! Judge Jiang, so young and already favored by the Jade Emperor, your future is boundless, haha!"
Lei Zhenzi, pleased by Jiang Yuan's flattery, nodded approvingly and exchanged pleasantries.
"Earthly Yin Star Jiao Long refused to accept the verdict and attacked me. In the heat of the moment, I shattered his physical body. But since his crime doesn't warrant death, I beg the Lord of Thunder to save him!"
Jiang Yuan then recounted the whole story to Lei Zhenzi and pleaded for Jiao Long.
"Breaking into the Peach Garden to steal peaches is already a grave crime! Judge Jiang only sentenced you two to three years in prison—that was already lenient. Why cause more trouble?"
Lei Zhenzi, known for his fiery temper and hatred of evil, turned to Xu Ji after hearing Jiang Yuan's account and scolded him sternly.
"This humble immortal admits his fault. Please, Lord of Thunder, save my brother's life. Whether you kill or maim me, Xu Ji will have no complaints!"
Earthly Jin Star Xu Ji, filled with shame, immediately knelt before Lei Zhenzi and begged.
"For the sake of Jade Spirit Official and Judge Jiang, I'll help you this once. If you dare offend again, I'll destroy you myself, without Judge Jiang lifting a finger! Understood?"
Lei Zhenzi snorted angrily, glaring at Earthly Jin Star Xu Ji.
"Yes, yes, yes! This humble immortal knows his mistake!"
As Xu Ji kowtowed incessantly, Lei Zhenzi reached into his robe and pulled out a small, exquisite cloth bag!