The Sims: I Open the Immortal Path for All Beings

Chapter 2237: Chapter 2182–2183: Jade Emperor’s Decision, Five Emperors—True or False? (2)

The Northern Great Yu Dynasty, now known as the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, after occupying the northern border counties of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, was promoted to a Divine Dynasty with the support of the Witch Deity Teaching. The two sides have formed a tug-of-war, and although the Great Yu Divine Dynasty often fails, it stubbornly blocks their path to the northward expansion.

The army led by Duke Dingguo struggled through numerous hardships to attack the Beidou of the Da Wu Empire, but the time taken was too long, allowing the Da Wu Empire to reorganize their military and gain support from some forces of the immortal sects. Now, any further advance is extremely slow, unable to achieve the expected results.

Duke Wei’s army is blocked in front of the Fire God City, though it prevents the Five Emperors’ descendants from attacking, it also gives the opponent time to reorganize overseas forces.

Now, the Dayan True Monarch has clashed with the Great Instructor of the Taoist Academy. Although this Great Instructor has not yet broken the array immediately, relying on the Eight Trigrams Sword Array created by Pei Xuanjing, they have already isolated the Eight Trigrams Divine Array, showing clear signs of victory.

“What does Your Majesty intend to do?” Emperor Wenchang did not answer directly but instead asked the Jade Emperor.

He saw the current situation clearly, perhaps even clearer than the Jade Emperor due to his strategic insight. He was very certain that the slow expansion of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty on the Central Continent was due to the tacit cooperation of various sides to check it.

Among them, not only are there opponents of the Jade Emperor, but even some Newly Ascended Dao Lords who should have originally been allies of the Jade Emperor are exerting effort behind the scenes.

These people may have common goals with the Jade Emperor, but that does not mean there are no conflicts of interest between them.

When the Great Ming Divine Dynasty began to act and the Jade Emperor’s forces demonstrated sufficient strength, it also aroused the vigilance of these people, who instinctively acted to suppress, not wanting the Jade Emperor to become too powerful.

For them, if the Jade Emperor’s side becomes powerful and widens the gap, it may increase the chances of eventual success, but it will also reduce the potential future benefits.

“We joined forces to break the old monopoly and reach the peak. It is not to overthrow the Veteran Dao Lords and replace them with another Emperor of Heaven to still oppress us.”

“If we’re still inferior before overthrowing the Veteran Dao Lords, we’re still inferior after overthrowing them, isn’t that all in vain?”

Such words circulate among many Newly Ascended Dao Lords, almost becoming a consensus. They are unwilling to see the Jade Emperor becoming too powerful.

This is also a key reason why the Great Ming Divine Dynasty cannot gain much advantage on the Central Continent.

Emperor Wenchang actually anticipated this point long ago.

When the Jade Emperor first asked him for advice on how to break the ice, he gave the Jade Emperor two options, which finally led to this plan developed by the Jade Emperor with others.

This actually did not align with Emperor Wenchang’s strategy. He knew that the plan would inevitably deviate from the original track and many unexpected incidents would occur during implementation.

Even though, if it were anyone else, the real decision-maker within the Jade Emperor’s lineage is the Jade Emperor himself, and Emperor Wenchang would not overstep his bounds.

Emperor Wenchang also understood that the other party asking him how he viewed the current situation was not genuinely wanting him to analyze the situation, but rather asking how to handle it, or perhaps the Jade Emperor had some ideas and plans but was still uncertain, needing his assistance for reference.

If it were anyone else, even if the Jade Emperor was the monarch and he was the minister, he would inevitably feel some dissatisfaction and have a temper if his original plan was neglected and they sought him out to solve a problem afterwards.

But this wasn’t the case with Emperor Wenchang. This Confucian Saint of Heart was essentially a true sage. He revered the Jade Emperor as his monarch by Confucian rites, which was his way.

He believed that after he offered his strategy, how the Jade Emperor adopted it was the monarch’s freedom, and he wouldn’t impose it on the other party due to his own preferences.

Thus, even when seeing the Jade Emperor ask again, Emperor Wenchang did not put on any airs.

“Our biggest opponent now should be the Five Emperors, and I wish to challenge the Red Emperor!” The Jade Emperor expressed his idea.

Emperor Wenchang was initially stunned, but then understood the intentions behind the Jade Emperor’s move.

This approach seemed quite abrupt and slightly frivolous, but in fact, it was also a straightforward method.

Strength makes people dread, but if strong enough, it also compels submission.

The Jade Emperor’s strength made some Newly Ascended Dao Lords wary, prompting them to act in obstruction. However, these people are potential allies of the Jade Emperor, and the Jade Emperor couldn’t go and cause trouble for them at this moment, to avoid pushing these people to the opposing side completely.

So using the challenge against the Red Emperor as a warning could be a good method. Demonstrating enough strength should certainly be able to intimidate and subdue some people.

After all, not all Newly Ascended Dao Lords aim to stand at the absolute peak. Some merely want to gain more benefits.

As long as the Jade Emperor showcases his strength and allows them to realize a greater chance of success, they will naturally make their reckoning and decide whether to continue interfering.

After all, it is only the beginning now; their interference and hindrance are understandable if they can refrain early on. If the Jade Emperor forgives them, the previous grudges can be let go.

But if they persist continuously in obstinance, it would signify true animosity.

The Jade Emperor growing stronger represents greater success, and no Newly Ascended Dao Lord would want to provoke a powerful foe, especially when the benefits are yet uncertain.

Strong Newly Ascended Dao Lords are confident that they can stand to the end and emerge victorious, so they are willing to fight and arrange early.

But for some ordinary Newly Ascended Dao Lords who go along with the flow and muddle through, even if they are among the final victors, they understand that they are not the largest winners.

Due to these uncertain benefits, forming enmity with the Jade Emperor is not a prudent way.

As long as the Jade Emperor exhibits formidable combat power, deters some people, and then promises benefits, he could recruit a portion to stand with him, facilitating further plans.

Thus, it could easily dissolve the awkward situation between the Great Ming Divine Dynasty and the Jade Emperor and rapidly propel plans forward.

Moreover, a more crucial aspect is using this to test the real combat power of the Human Race Five Emperors and what their cards hold.

In the current Divine Land World and in the Realms of Heavenly Seas, the level of Dao Lords is usually divided into Veteran Dao Lords and Newly Ascended Dao Lords. This division by the length of Tao Certifying Time is rather crude and not entirely accurate.

The ancient aren’t the most powerful; the powerful are what make them ancient.

The strength of Veteran Dao Lords lies in their first-mover advantage, acquiring most Opportunistic Fortune at the early stage of opening All Heavens, allowing them to take earlier steps.

However, in the vast Chaos Void where the world is as numerous as Eternal Sand, with countless Opportunistic Fortune, some Newly Ascended Dao Lords might certify the Taoist Monarch in a short period, but they acquire many fortuitous help that their Realm strength is not much weaker than Veteran Dao Lords.

The dominance of Veteran Dao Lords lies in their home ground of the Divine Land World, where they control too much Heavenly Authority, and the power of the Divine Land World itself feeds back into them.

Among Newly Ascended Dao Lords, those like the Human Race Five Emperors returning simply as strong practitioners of Divine Tao, are seen by some as not very powerful. They only certified the Daoist Monarch by opportunistic coincidence and relying on the Power of Faith, lacking the foundation.

But where this sort of statement originated from, or who first mentioned it, tracing back is a bit difficult due to early Time.

Even when the Jade Emperor tried investigating, it became difficult to trace the real source.

This caused the Jade Emperor, as a monarch, to arise a doubt; whether this information is true or if it is a ruse released heartily by the Five Emperors, to conceal their capabilities.

Once this suspicion emerged in the Jade Emperor’s heart, it became hard to suppress, especially since the Five Emperors are now the biggest competitors.