A passing traveler through the heavens

Chapter 243 The First Manifestation of Laws

The moment the last strand of Weak Water was successfully sent back to the Milky Way, a large number of heavenly soldiers and generals emerged from all directions, exuding a chilling aura.

Having witnessed all of this, Ji Lin instantly understood the situation.

In an instant, the overwhelming aura of a Great Luo Golden Immortal erupted from his body without reservation. A layer of dazzling golden light rapidly spread out from him, forming an indestructible barrier that kept the numerous heavenly soldiers and generals outside.

In the blink of an eye, Ji Lin moved like lightning and stood atop the Heavenly Palace, his eyes fixed on the Jade Emperor.

The Jade Emperor's heart trembled, but he forced himself to remain calm: "Great Emperor Ziwei, Yang Jian and his group of traitors have repeatedly defied the Heavenly Court's decrees, causing chaos and unrest in the Three Realms."

"Now that Heaven has presented us with such a golden opportunity, if we don't seize it now to wipe them out completely, when will we ever get another chance?"

"Yet you are here obstructing us in every way. What are your intentions? Could it be that you are colluding with them and plotting a rebellion?" The Jade Emperor's voice was sharp and piercing, echoing in the empty hall.

Ji Lin's expression was cold and stern. He took a step forward, his aura showing no sign of weakness: "Your Majesty, please calm down! Yang Jian, Yang Chan, Nezha, and others have made great contributions in this battle to suppress the Weak Water."

"Although they made mistakes in the past, they have already paid a heavy price and deeply reflected on their actions."

"Moreover, they are inherently good-hearted. At the critical moment when the Three Realms were facing life and death, they put aside past grievances and devoted themselves to protecting the peace of the Three Realms. With such merit and such righteousness, how can Your Majesty turn a blind eye?"

How can we disregard their contributions and sacrifices?

The Jade Emperor retorted angrily, "Hmph, they are nothing but scheming opportunists! Do they think they can use this little bit of merit to offset the heinous crimes they have committed?"

"Where is the dignity of Heaven if we act in this way? If we let them off easily today, all the immortals will follow their example in the future. How will Heaven then govern the Three Realms?"

"How can we maintain order in this world?" The Jade Emperor became more and more agitated as he spoke.

Ji Lin stood his ground, looking directly at the Jade Emperor, and said loudly, "Is the majesty and law that Your Majesty speaks of merely tools to disregard the facts and suppress meritorious officials?"

"Now the Three Realms have just experienced the calamity of the Weak Water, the land is scarred and devastated, the people are displaced, there are corpses everywhere, the people are impoverished, and everywhere is a scene of desolation. It is in dire need of rest and recuperation."

"If we were to punish those who have rendered meritorious service at this moment, it would only chill the hearts of the immortals and cause all beings in the Three Realms to be utterly disappointed in the Heavenly Court. Wouldn't that further damage the prestige that the Heavenly Court has accumulated over thousands of years?"

"As the ruler of the Heavenly Court, Your Majesty should prioritize the overall situation, weigh the pros and cons, and take a long-term view, rather than being blinded by momentary anger and prejudice and acting impulsively!" Ji Lin's words were sharp and to the point.

The two argued fiercely, neither willing to back down. The atmosphere in the hall was tense, and the surrounding celestial officials dared not breathe, keeping their heads down for fear of being affected by the tense atmosphere.

Just then, a blinding golden light suddenly descended from the sky; it was Haotian descending.

When the Jade Emperor saw Haotian, he was slightly taken aback, and a hint of barely perceptible panic flashed across his face. His arrogance immediately diminished, and he respectfully bowed.

"What are your orders given me, Your Excellency, since I have arrived?"

Ji Lin also withdrew his imposing aura, his expression respectful, and bowed to Haotian.

Haotian's gaze was deep as he quietly surveyed the area before slowly speaking, "Enough, stop arguing." He looked at the Jade Emperor, "I appointed you to handle the affairs of Heaven, not so that you could act according to your own whims."

"Although Yang Jian and the others made mistakes, their contributions in suppressing the Weak Water are invaluable, and they should be made amends for their crimes."

The Jade Emperor's heart skipped a beat. Despite his immense dissatisfaction, he dared not disobey Haotian's order and could only nod in agreement, "I will follow Your Majesty's teachings. In that case, I will pardon the sins of Yang Jian and the others." His voice was full of helplessness.

Upon hearing this, Ji Lin respectfully bowed slightly to Haotian, then his body flashed with purple light and he instantly disappeared.

After Ji Lin left, Haotian approached the Jade Emperor and whispered something to him.

After resolving the matter, the Heavenly Court quickly issued an edict pardoning Yang Jian and his group for their past sins, and prepared a celebration for Ji Lin to commend his immortal achievements in successfully sending the Weak Water to Heaven and saving the Three Realms from danger.

However, Ji Lin sincerely declined, saying, "The successful suppression of the Weak Water this time was entirely due to the concerted efforts of everyone, not the work of one person alone."

"Furthermore, as the Ziwei Emperor, protecting the Three Realms is simply his duty. What merit is there in that?" Seeing Ji Lin's humility, the Jade Emperor did not press the matter further.

After bidding farewell to Yang Jian and his group, Ji Lin took Huan'er, whom he had brought back from Yang Chan, and returned to Ziwei Palace.

Upon seeing this, the celestial officials in front of the palace gate all bowed in respect.

"Welcome back to the palace, Your Majesty!"

Ji Lin nodded slightly and said gently, "Get up, all of you." The celestial officials stood up, hands at their sides, awaiting his instructions.

"The recent devastation caused by the Weak Water has severely damaged the vitality of the Three Realms, and the situation in various places is not optimistic. From this day forward, you must pay close attention to the movements of the Three Realms and not let any disturbance go unnoticed. Report any situation immediately."

Ji Lin's gaze swept over the crowd, his eyes revealing an undeniable majesty. The celestial officials nodded in agreement.

After a brief pause, he turned to Huan'er beside him and said, "From this day forward, Huan'er will be in charge of all affairs in the Ziwei Palace and will serve as the head steward."

"From now on, all matters, large and small, in the palace should be reported to Huan'er first."

The celestial officials were slightly surprised, but quickly regained their composure and replied in unison, "We will obey the Emperor's orders!"

Ji Lin took out a smooth, lustrous token covered with mysterious runes from his sleeve, gently placed it in Huan'er's hand, and earnestly instructed, "Huan'er, this token will allow you to freely enter and exit the Purple Small World. If you encounter any difficult problems in the palace, you can go to the Small World to find me."

After making the arrangements, Ji Lin's aura surged, transforming into a stream of light as he flew towards the Purple Micro World.

Upon entering the small world, Ji Lin found an open space and slowly sat down cross-legged.

When he successfully sent back the last strand of Weak Water, a flash of inspiration, like a shooting star, passed through Ji Lin's mind. He slowly closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into a deep pool, his whole being immersed in recalling that flash of inspiration.

As he continued his exploration, suddenly, Ji Lin's mind trembled violently, as if he had been struck by a force from the very origin of heaven and earth. At that moment, Ji Lin, at the level of a Great Luo Golden Immortal, actually began to sense his own Dao.

It turns out that the path I was seeking was one of protection.

As his understanding of the Dao deepened, Ji Lin keenly sensed the existence of the laws of heaven and earth. He vaguely perceived that countless invisible threads crisscrossed between heaven and earth.

These threads are the embodiment of the laws, controlling the trajectory of all things in the world.

Ji Lin held his breath and concentrated all his mental energy into a needle tip, slowly probing towards a faint thread of law.

The moment his consciousness touched the law, it was like a drop of water merging into a boundless ocean. In an instant, a vast and obscure amount of information surged into his mind like a tidal wave.

This information assaulted him in a way that transcended language and cognition. As time went on, he gradually adapted to the impact and began to glean clues from the chaotic flow of information.

He "saw" the intertwined destinies of countless beings, comprehended the mysteries of the law of cause and effect, and in the intertwining of the law of cause and effect, Ji Lin also perceived the subtleties of the law of balance and the law of order.

As his understanding of these laws deepened, Ji Lin felt his realm continuously rising...