As Hasna studied the Tathagata's Divine Palm, the thought of her using this skill to cause trouble for the figures in the Buddhist Realm amused Ye Wen immensely. Still, as her master, it was somewhat embarrassing to have nearly been injured by his own disciple's palm strike. Ye Wen wondered if he, too, should practice the Tathagata's Divine Palm.

"I wonder what the result would be if I combined the Primordial Chaos Sutra with the Tathagata's Divine Palm!"

He was increasingly discovering that the applications of the Primordial Chaos Sutra were ever-widening, seeming capable of pairing with numerous martial arts. When he mentioned this idea to Xu Xian during a lull, Xu Xian scoffed dismissively, saying, "That exists in the original text; it's called the Primordial Chaos Divine Palm..."

Only then did Ye Wen realize that someone had once used the Primordial Chaos Sutra to power the Buddhist version of the Tathagata's Divine Palm, and in the original lore, its power was considerable, yet vastly different from what Ye Wen envisioned.

"What I mean is, every move could generate a different level of power based on the internal energy channeled through it!"

"Oh?"

This piqued Xu Xian's genuine interest, and his attention refocused entirely on Ye Wen. Ye Wen continued, "For instance, taking the first move, 'Buddha Light Appears,' I could use the ten different energies of the Primordial Chaos Sutra to manifest ten variations of Buddha Light!"

For example, when Bai Yunyan uses 'Buddha Light Appears,' the light would transform into wisps of cloud and smoke, making the palm strike difficult to track due to the obscuring vapors—a natural fit considering Bai Yunyan’s inherent ability to obscure sight. Furthermore, Bai Yunyan’s vital energy is purely Yang, so the power unleashed by this application would not need worrying about.

And what if Mei Xiadang channeled it? The Buddha Light would transform into the glow of sunset, the palm energy becoming intensely hot, capable of melting all things—though Ye Wen was using hyperbole here.

In short, the ten layers of Primordial Chaos energy could all be integrated into this single palm technique according to their distinct effects.

"But if you do that... what's the difference between this and simply using the Primordial Chaos Sutra alone?"

Xu Xian's question stumped Ye Wen. He truly hadn't considered why the Primordial Chaos Sutra, functioning primarily as an internal cultivation method, possessed so few actual techniques? Even the few forms it did have were more about guiding the practitioner on how to utilize the method's various shifts.

He hadn't seriously contemplated these matters before. It was only now, by Xu Xian's chance remark, that he realized the greatest feature of the Primordial Chaos Sutra—it required virtually no set forms!

The Sutra’s strength lay not just in its robust universality but in its profound ability to integrate. The Primordial Chaos Sutra could assimilate any external martial art into its own fabric. For instance, if Ye Wen were to truly transform the Tathagata's Divine Palm as he suggested, he might end up manifesting a set of moves called the Primordial Chaos Divine Palm.

However, the Primordial Chaos Divine Palm... would still fundamentally just be the Primordial Chaos Sutra. It would have completely detached from the Tathagata's Divine Palm; everything about it would be conferred by the Sutra, with its only lingering connection to the original technique being the similarity in the resulting luminous effect.

"It's called the Primordial Chaos Divine Palm in the original... it really wasn't misnamed!"

Having grasped this, Ye Wen lost interest in tinkering with the Primordial Chaos Divine Palm. After all, whether it was the Primordial Chaos Divine Palm or the Primordial Chaos Evil Sword, both were ultimately derivations of the Primordial Chaos Sutra. There was no need to isolate them; he could simply treat it as a single, supreme art form.

How to use it should be determined by adapting to the situation at hand, which suited someone like him, who rarely got bogged down by the specific lineage of a technique.

Having achieved this clarity, Ye Wen even shelved the idea of practicing the Tathagata's Divine Palm. He felt that any time spent there would be better invested in thoroughly mastering the Primordial Chaos Sutra. If he could fully comprehend its depths, achieving the Celestial Immortal realm would be a natural progression.

As for external techniques? The Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, the Soft Palm, the Violet Heaven Sword, and others were more than sufficient. Moreover, his mind frequently conjured up strange and novel moves on its own, making it unnecessary to expend energy on another palm technique—even though he had ample energy to spare.

Furthermore, techniques like the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, which focused purely on power projection without specialized elemental characteristics, were better suited for someone cultivating the Primordial Chaos Sutra. Such arts, when augmented by the Sutra's energies, could unleash their greatest potential, unlike the Tathagata's Divine Palm, which risked merely morphing into another technique of comparable, but unenhanced, power.

And while Ye Wen contemplated his martial path, in the Heavenly Court, a figure sat enthroned on high, observing the man standing before him—a man clad in Celestial official robes, grasping a pair of iron whips, with a single eye marking his brow. He appeared to be in his fifties, radiating an aura of stern authority.

"Wen Zhong, is the information you’ve gathered verified?"

The man holding the twin iron whips was none other than Wen Zhong, the God of Thunder. Although his official title remained unchanged since his initial ennoblement, his scope of authority had broadened considerably.

In addition to overseeing criminal law and jurisprudence, he was now involved in various miscellaneous affairs, effectively serving as the Jade Emperor's assistant. On this occasion, he was reporting on recent discoveries to the Emperor.

"It was information gathered by the Clairvoyant. My subordinates were dispatched afterward to confirm, so it should be accurate!" Wen Zhong reported, secretly lamenting that if Shun Feng Er hadn't perished, they might have gleaned even more detailed intelligence, but now they were limited to visual records, unaware of what was actually said on the ground.

The Jade Emperor hummed in assent from above, and a deep silence fell over the great hall. The only two present remained still, seemingly occupied with their own thoughts.

Wen Zhong kept his head slightly lowered, his gaze unfocused. Only the occasional movement of his eyes betrayed the deep contemplation of the Thunder God.

As for the Jade Emperor, he appeared utterly lost in thought. While his imperial robes lent him a solemn majesty, his expression suggested—it was fortunate that the court officials were absent, and Wen Zhong, the only witness, kept his eyes strictly disciplined, knowing what sights were forbidden, lest the Jade Emperor's dignity be compromised.

"Kong Xuan..." It was the matter of the recently emerged Mount Shu Sect having made contact with the Western Buddhist Realm—a contact that seemed decidedly unfriendly—that Wen Zhong was reporting. The Clairvoyant had merely been on routine patrol when he spotted the column of Buddha Light soaring toward the heavens, emanating from a Dharma Wheel.

Given the sensitive location, the Clairvoyant had kept a steadfast watch on the unfolding events.

Essentially, the entire exchange between Ye Wen and Kong Xuan was witnessed by this observer. After Ye Wen forced Kong Xuan to retreat using the Myriad Sword Art, the Clairvoyant immediately reported the incident to Wen Zhong.

Though the full context was unclear, due to the highly sensitive nature of the area, Wen Zhong cautiously dispatched men for confirmation. The primary objective was to ascertain whether the emerging Mount Shu Sect was allied with the Western Buddhist Realm or engaged in conflict—the battle between Kong Xuan and Ye Wen did not appear to be a fight to the death, something any perceptive individual could discern, let alone the Clairvoyant.

And what implications would either scenario have for the Heavenly Court? Furthermore, what reaction would Yang Jian, who governed the Western Territories, have? Wen Zhong had only a few days to sort out these complications before rushing to report to the Jade Emperor.

"Has my nephew... Prince Renyou, been informed of this matter?"

Wen Zhong understood the Jade Emperor was inquiring whether Yang Jian was aware, as the Western Territories fell under Yang Jian’s purview, and local events should rightly be known to him.

"A messenger has already been sent to notify Prince Renyou!"

"And what was his response?"

Wen Zhong felt a surge of frustration recalling the report. According to the messenger, Yang Jian hadn't treated the matter with any urgency, merely stating flatly, "Understood!" before dismissing the courier, offering no indication of his planned course of action or resolution. After waiting two days with no further movement, the messenger returned to report to Wen Zhong.

Uncertain of Yang Jian's demeanor, Wen Zhong could only report truthfully: "Prince Renyou simply said he understood, and then paid the matter no further heed!"

The Jade Emperor seemed unsurprised, instead letting out a soft laugh. "Is that so..."

Hearing the Emperor's murmur, Wen Zhong couldn't predict what the ruler of Heaven would decide. Based on years of observation, typically, faced with such an incident, the Jade Emperor would be deeply angered. Regardless of Mount Shu’s situation, an investigation and censure would be inevitable. If it were discovered that Mount Shu was colluding with the Western Buddhist Realm, the Emperor might very well annihilate the sect outright.

Despite the superficially harmonious relationship between the Heavenly Court and the Western Buddhist Realm, the Eastern Immortal Continent's steadfast adherence to its own traditions—denying the West opportunities for infiltration and proselytization—had long bred undercurrents of hostility.

Currently, both sides maintained a fragile façade, with the possibility of open conflict erupting at any moment. Thus, anything tied to the Western Buddhist Realm was extremely volatile.

More critically, the Mount Shu Sect seemed to have rescued an Islamic woman. According to the Clairvoyant's observations, this woman had not emerged from the sect since entering, as the Clairvoyant’s sight could not penetrate the Nine Provinces Grand Array. This fact surprised Wen Zhong: a sect that had only recently ascended to the Immortal Realm managed to deploy such a formidable formation? It suggested the sect was far from ordinary; Wen Zhong firmly believed they held secrets.

However, with Yang Jian actively protecting Mount Shu, and the Jade Emperor's attitude currently ambiguous due to his relationship with Yang Jian, the Heavenly Court officials, while curious about Mount Shu, could not officially interfere.

Of course, it wasn't that the civil and military officials held any innate dislike for Mount Shu; rather, they possessed a natural apprehension toward the unknown. Wen Zhong had hoped to seize this opportunity to investigate personally and gauge Mount Shu's true depth, but judging by the Emperor's current disposition, that seemed unlikely.

Just then, the Jade Emperor abruptly asked, "When was our last military engagement with the gods of Olympus?"

Wen Zhong was puzzled by the sudden shift to the Olympians but dutifully replied, "It has been a full one hundred and twenty years, Your Majesty."

"Oh, one hundred and twenty years," the Jade Emperor sighed. The previous war had resulted in heavy casualties for the Heavenly Army, with many mid-to-low-ranking officers killed. This loss still stung the Emperor—his celestial forces had been diminishing over the millennia, with the rate of replacement far outstripping consumption!

"Right, the Mount Shu Sect Leader managed to repel Kong Xuan. What do you gauge his cultivation to be?"

"That..." Wen Zhong hesitated. Based on the Clairvoyant's report, Ye Wen's strength likely did not surpass Kong Xuan's, but the final move involving ten thousand flying swords was undeniably formidable—he certainly possessed capability.

Yet, not having witnessed it personally, and given his nature of never judging based on scant evidence, Wen Zhong could only respond, "I have not seen him myself, thus it is difficult to offer a proper assessment!"

"Heh heh, you haven't changed your cautious nature!" The Jade Emperor seemed to have anticipated Wen Zhong's answer and paid it no mind. Instead, he remarked, "Prince Renyou stated that this Mount Shu Sect Leader wounded Yuan Hong. Yuan Hong is a trusted general of Prince Renyou, possessing considerable strength. This shows the Mount Shu Sect Leader is no weakling!"

Wen Zhong felt slightly dizzy; the Jade Emperor’s train of thought was remarkably erratic today, jumping from topic to topic. One moment they were discussing the war with Olympus, and the next, they were assessing Ye Wen's prowess.

However, the fact that Ye Wen could injure Yuan Hong was unknown to the rest of the Heavenly Court. Wen Zhong was quite surprised by the Emperor's revelation. But upon reflection, if the Mount Shu Sect Leader could seize a captive from Kong Xuan, his strength naturally wouldn't be negligible; injuring Yuan Hong seemed less surprising—although Yuan Hong was mighty, the restraints of the Investiture of the Gods list had severely limited his growth.

In contrast, Kong Xuan, having defected to the Buddhist Realm and serving as a Protector Ming King, had not only diligently cultivated Buddhist divine abilities but had also seasoned himself in countless battles, rapidly increasing his strength. Compared to the Kong Xuan who once relied solely on his Five-Colored Divine Light, the current Peacock Ming King was far more dangerous. If Yang Jian's own power hadn't increased as rapidly, resisting the Buddhist incursions might have become impossible.

The one famous Buddhist figure known for combat prowess—a certain monkey—was somewhat manageable due to his insubordination, offering the Heavenly Court a slight reprieve. If that monkey joined the fray, the Heavenly forces would be severely disadvantaged, as they were currently critically short of talent. The entire West depended solely on Yang Jian.

Thinking this way, it made sense that both Yang Jian and the Jade Emperor paid close attention to Mount Shu. If the Western front became unstable, the Heavenly Court could collapse. But... Wen Zhong still couldn't grasp the connection between these geopolitical concerns and Ye Wen's individual strength. Did the Jade Emperor and Yang Jian intend to recruit Ye Wen into the Heavenly Court, or perhaps absorb the entire Mount Shu Sect to serve as a powerful garrison force in the West?

"Is this the sole reason for such intense focus on Ye Wen's strength?"

Considering the Emperor had just asked how long it had been since the war with the Olympian gods, Wen Zhong began to see a pattern emerging. Everyone in Heaven knew the Olympians relied little on cultivation to maintain their strength, their power grew negligibly, and with no real duties, they often sought diversion through warfare, initiating a conflict every two to three centuries.

Worse still, these gods preferred fighting eastward rather than westward—perhaps they received some benefit from the Paradise faction?

The Jade Emperor’s current concern over the Olympian conflicts, coupled with his constant monitoring of Mount Shu's strength, led to the most logical deduction: the Emperor was calculating whether Mount Shu could single-handedly withstand an attack from one of these major powers.

In that case, the Jade Emperor planned to redeploy Yang Jian for other tasks?

"Who is the target? Perhaps he intends for Mount Shu to hold back the Western Buddhist Realm while Prince Renyou leads his forces to attack Mount Olympus, ensuring no future threats?"

Initially, Wen Zhong leaned toward this possibility, but then something felt off—though he couldn't articulate precisely what was wrong.

At that moment, the Jade Emperor spoke again: "Wen Zhong, in a few days, take this decree and visit Mount Shu."

"Yes!" Wen Zhong responded instinctively, unsure of the purpose behind the mission. He had to inquire, "May I ask Your Majesty why you wish me to travel there?"

The Jade Emperor slowly tilted his head upward, staring blankly at the ceiling, perhaps admiring the painted constellations or observing something else entirely, not even blinking, simply lost in thought.

"Your Majesty?"

"Nothing much. Just a personal visit on my behalf. After all, a sect so valued by Prince Renyou must possess certain peculiarities, mustn't it?" Hearing this, one might assume the Jade Emperor was merely bored and wanted Wen Zhong to report on any novelty found there.

But Wen Zhong inferred from the words that the Emperor intended for him to conduct a thorough inspection—likely to produce a detailed assessment of Mount Shu's strength, which would determine the viability of the Emperor's grand calculation.

After careful consideration, Wen Zhong concluded that Mount Shu's overall strength couldn't be very high. Even if the Sect Leader Ye Wen was formidable, perhaps matching Yuan Hong, he was, after all, only a newly ascended Immortal. His power paled in comparison to established Celestial Immortals, let alone the top masters of other factions.

Setting aside Kong Xuan of the Western Buddhist Realm, there were the Five Great Protector Kings led by Vajrabhuti, numerous Arhat Venerables, and figures like Apollo and Artemis on Mount Olympus, all difficult opponents. Furthermore, the Olympian King Cronus disliked engaging personally, but his two brothers were immensely powerful.

Any one of them could easily deal with Ye Wen. Besides Ye Wen, did Mount Shu possess any other figures worth mentioning? This was a serious question.

Thinking this, Wen Zhong considered another possibility: "Could it be... the Jade Emperor is planning a strategic sacrifice? If so, the Heavenly Court must be preparing a massive maneuver?"

He subtly raised his eyes to glance at the Jade Emperor, who remained fixed on the ceiling, appearing utterly unconcerned with grand schemes. Yet, the more placid the Emperor seemed, the colder Wen Zhong felt.