"Hmph! I thought you had some backbone, but you're just a useless fool!"
Gou Chen Emperor saw that Jiang Yuan couldn't withstand his pressure and ultimately knelt before him. He let out a cold laugh and dispersed the terrifying aura.
"Blood oath scroll, summon the power of the stars to manifest as the Black Tortoise, pledge allegiance to me!" "Blood oath scroll, summon the power of the stars to manifest as the Vermilion Bird, pledge allegiance to me!" "Blood oath scroll, summon the power of the stars to manifest as the White Tiger, pledge allegiance to me!"
But just as Gou Chen Emperor withdrew the pressure he had imposed on Jiang Yuan, massive whirlpools appeared in the sky above Gou Chen Palace, and one ancient, weathered voice after another echoed across the land.
"Jiang Yuan, are you trying to rebel against your superior?"
Seeing the six sacred beasts—Black Tortoises, Vermilion Birds, and White Tigers—appear beside Jiang Yuan, Gou Chen Emperor's face turned cold as he shouted at Jiang Yuan.
"Gou Chen Emperor, those who love others are always respected, while those who insult others are always despised. Though I am but a lowly judge, I will not tolerate being casually humiliated!"
Jiang Yuan straightened up, glaring at the lofty Gou Chen Emperor before him, speaking with righteous indignation.
"Oh? Then let this Emperor see where you get your confidence!"
Gou Chen Emperor, encountering someone daring to attack him for the first time, narrowed his eyes into slits, a cold gleam flashing within. He directly conjured an enormous hand, reaching toward Jiang Yuan's head.
"Crack!"
The water healing shield granted by the Black Tortoise shattered instantly. Even a shield worth ten million couldn't offset the damage from Gou Chen Emperor's attack, and it still shaved off over two hundred thousand of Jiang Yuan's health!
"Secret Mark!" "Black Tortoise Art: Water Devours the Eight Wastelands!" "Vermilion Bird Art: Blazing Blood Feathers!" "White Tiger Art: White Tiger Seven Killing Swords!"
Jiang Yuan quickly used a large health potion to restore his health, then commanded the six sacred beasts to unleash their ultimate skills.
The six ultimate skills struck Gou Chen Emperor. Aside from the White Tiger skill dealing several hundred thousand damage, the damage from the Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise skills was pitifully low!
"Such petty tricks dare to show off before this Emperor?"
Gou Chen Emperor snorted, said to Jiang Yuan, and grabbed again, directly wiping out Jiang Yuan's health bar of less than five hundred thousand, causing him to fall dead!
[Final Boss: Gou Chen Emperor] Level: 999 ???? (Level gap too large with target; cannot view more information!)
While lying on the ground, Jiang Yuan glanced at Gou Chen Emperor's stats and was shocked by his level!
Heavens! This guy was a final boss with a level as high as 999!
But even facing the game's ultimate monster, Jiang Yuan showed no fear. After reviving, he looked at Gou Chen Emperor flying toward him and struck again!
Slap!
Unsurprisingly, Jiang Yuan fell again!
"A mere ant dares to attack this Emperor! Truly overestimating yourself!"
Watching Jiang Yuan turn back into a corpse, Gou Chen Emperor clasped his hands behind his back, looking down at him like a deity, lofty and untouchable!
On his third revival, Jiang Yuan remained fearless, charging at Gou Chen Emperor again, only to be killed in one hit once more!
"If you meddle in this Emperor's affairs again, it won't be a simple lesson like today. Get lost!"
Perhaps feeling that repeatedly attacking someone who had just reached the Earth Immortal realm demeaned his status, Gou Chen Emperor didn't continue when Jiang Yuan revived for the fourth time. Instead, he warned Jiang Yuan and waved his hand, summoning a fierce gale that blew Jiang Yuan away.
"Once I reach the Immortal Emperor realm, the first thing I'll do is beat Gou Chen Emperor to a pulp!"
After flying for who knows how long, Jiang Yuan finally steadied himself and muttered resentfully.
Opening the map, Jiang Yuan was completely disoriented!
That slap from Gou Chen Emperor had sent him flying tens of thousands of miles!
The next day, Jiang Yuan's "heroic deed" spread across the entire Immortal Realm. The dignified fourth-rank judge became a laughingstock, fodder for idle gossip among the immortals.
However, quite a few seventh- and eighth-rank minor officials admired Jiang Yuan's courage in attacking Gou Chen Emperor, praising him as a true man who defied tyranny!
Gou Chen Emperor, citing Jiang Yuan's insubordination, reported him to the Jade Emperor, demanding his dismissal and punishment. The Jade Emperor temporarily shelved the matter, saying it would be discussed later.
In the imperial garden behind the Lingxiao Palace, the Jade Emperor strolled and said to Jiang Yuan, who followed half a step behind: "Minister Jiang, did Gou Chen Emperor hurt you yesterday?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Gou Chen Emperor showed mercy, and I am unharmed."
Jiang Yuan bowed to the Jade Emperor.
"Come, come, tell me—how did you anger Gou Chen Emperor?"
The Jade Emperor led Jiang Yuan to a pavilion in the garden, sat down, and looked at him questioningly.
Jiang Yuan then recounted in detail the entire process of Gou Chen Emperor summoning him.
"Oh, you, you truly have an iron will!"
After hearing Jiang Yuan's report, the Jade Emperor chuckled, shook his head, and looked at Jiang Yuan with a hint of admiration in his eyes.
"If Gou Chen Emperor were as magnanimous as Your Majesty, I wouldn't have suffered this beating. As for the insubordination he claims, it was only because I couldn't bear the humiliation that I fought back. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth!"
Jiang Yuan first flattered the Jade Emperor, praising his tolerance, then spoke pitifully to him.
"Minister Jiang, you must understand that Gou Chen Emperor is one of the Four Emperors of the Immortal Realm, highly revered. Across the entire realm, few dare to lay a hand on him. Do you understand?"
The Jade Emperor's words were clearly a warning, hinting that Jiang Yuan shouldn't have acted impulsively by attacking Gou Chen Emperor, putting himself in a difficult position.
Jiang Yuan caught the Jade Emperor's implication: since Gou Chen Emperor had come to complain, the Jade Emperor had to punish Jiang Yuan to appease him.
"I understand. Please handle this fairly, Your Majesty. I have no complaints!"
Jiang Yuan cooperated, indicating he would accept any punishment.
"Gou Chen Emperor wants me to dismiss and punish you. What do you think, Minister Jiang?"
"It's entirely up to Your Majesty!"
Faced with the Jade Emperor's question, Jiang Yuan dared not voice any opinion and simply replied.
"Then I'll dismiss you from your judge position first. As for punishment, let's skip it!"
The Jade Emperor thought for a moment and said to Jiang Yuan, who immediately bowed in thanks.
"Rest assured, Minister Jiang. The Immortal Realm won't bury talent. When the right opportunity arises, I will reinstate you!"
The Jade Emperor comforted Jiang Yuan, who didn't care much but quickly bowed and said thank you.
Leaving the imperial garden, Jiang Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. Though he had lost his position, he hadn't put the Jade Emperor in a bind and had also quelled Gou Chen Emperor's anger—a win-win for everyone!