Ye Wen’s expression could not help but darken, for the information revealed in Shen Gongbao’s words suggested an even worse possibility to him. As the saying goes, excessive eagerness hints at ulterior motives! Ye Wen knew that his Shu Mountain Sect was nowhere near powerful enough to command the serious attention of the Jade Emperor. Yet, Shen Gongbao’s remarks clearly conveyed a message: the Jade Emperor held the Shu Mountain Sect in high regard, even willing to resolve certain difficulties for them to ensure their smooth development! “For what purpose?” At first, Ye Wen was quite bewildered, even wondering if the Jade Emperor was in conflict with his nephew and, upon learning that Yang Jian valued the Shu Mountain Sect, wished to pull the sect over to his side? Or perhaps, fearing that Yang Jian was becoming too powerful by commanding his own forces, the Jade Emperor was proactively countering this by subverting the Shu Mountain Sect? But he immediately dismissed this idea as far too unreliable. For the Heavenly Court, the Shu Mountain Sect was simply not worth the effort of subversion. If the Jade Emperor truly had an irreconcilable conflict with Yang Jian, the simplest solution would be to destroy the Shu Mountain Sect—Ye Wen was certain the Heavenly Court possessed sufficient strength to annihilate the sect without Yang Jian ever realizing it.

With his initial theories all negated, Ye Wen could only consider the problem from other angles. While engaging Shen Gongbao in trivial, meaningless conversation, Ye Wen attempted to glean any subtle clues from his words. He found Shen Gongbao fascinating; though representing the Heavenly Court, he inadvertently—or perhaps deliberately—leaked hints through his dialogue, though for what purpose, Ye Wen could not discern. Considering Shen Gongbao’s prior actions, Ye Wen was now certain that this was intentional maneuvering, not an accidental slip of the tongue. This realization only further obscured the situation for Ye Wen.

After Shen Gongbao spoke for a while and then excused himself to rest, Ye Wen remained seated far off, his mind racing through countless possibilities. His deeply contemplative posture prevented Xu Xian and the others from daring to interrupt; they could only sit beside him in silent attendance. “What exactly does the Heavenly Court intend?”

After agonizing over it for a long time without reaching any conclusion, Ye Wen felt a throbbing pain in his temples. Seeing his senior martial brother so distressed, Xu Xian offered, “Senior Martial Brother, why trouble yourself so? We shall simply meet force with force and water with earth barriers!” Ye Wen managed a wry smile. “It’s never that simple, is it?” But then he reconsidered; Xu Xian’s logic was not entirely without merit. If the Heavenly Court truly harbored some insidious plot, the Shu Mountain Sect would be utterly unable to defend itself! At least for now, both the Heavenly Court and Yang Jian were trying to court favor with the Shu Mountain Sect. Since he couldn't figure out their ultimate goal, it was better to seize the tangible benefits available now and focus on strengthening themselves. “As long as our own strength increases, we won't need to worry about any schemes the Heavenly Court might hatch! After all, in the face of absolute power, all plots and tricks are mere illusions!” The unfortunate reality, however, was that the strength disparity between the Shu Mountain Sect and the Heavenly Court was clearly defined, with the Heavenly Court holding the upper hand. This current state of affairs gave Ye Wen a severe headache. “I wonder if the Heavenly Court’s impending conspiracy will leave us enough time?”

Ning Ruxue calculated, “In a few more months, our Shu Mountain Sect will have several more Earth Immortals. Coupled with Xiao Yao and the others, our strength won't be too shabby! However, what we currently lack are experts at the Celestial Immortal level to anchor our position. If Martial Brother can break through soon, handling future difficulties will be much easier.” Ye Wen was acutely aware of what Ning Ruxue mentioned; he had been cultivating intensely precisely for this reason these past few days. It was just that before his own strength had significantly improved, the Heavenly Court had already dispatched an envoy. Fortunately, this Wen Tianzun’s visit was merely for ‘inspection,’ meaning any machinations would likely only be implemented after his inspection concluded and he reported back to the Jade Emperor. “Then, let’s wait for that Wen Zhong to arrive before discussing anything further!”

After a session of discussion that yielded no clear answers, they eventually dispersed, settling into a quiet wait for Wen Zhong’s arrival. Barely five days later, Wen Zhong arrived at Shu Mountain, leading a few minor officials from the Thunder Division and a small retinue of soldiers. His entourage was modest, looking less grand than Ye Wen’s usual travels, yet his bearing was undeniably extraordinary.

Wen Zhong merely stood there, requiring no formal introduction. Even from a distance, Ye Wen knew by instinct that this was the man he awaited. Despite Wen Zhong’s attire being only slightly more ornate than that of some accompanying minor officials, the aura he exuded was impossible to ignore. Though Wen Zhong’s cultivation level was not high—Ye Wen discerned almost instantly that Wen Zhong was even weaker than himself, and several people within the Shu Mountain Sect were stronger than this Wen Tianzun—Ye Wen dared not underestimate him. Furthermore, in a genuine confrontation, Ye Wen couldn't claim with certainty that he could subdue the Wen Tianzun.

“I am Ye Wen, Master of the Shu Mountain Sect. Hearing that Wen Tianzun represents the Heavenly Court in his visit, I have come to welcome you!” This welcoming was, in reality, waiting in the main court. After Wen Zhong and his entourage descended upon the main entrance of Shu Mountain and were escorted inside by the gatekeeping disciples, Ye Wen stepped forward to perform a gesture of reception. It wasn't that Ye Wen was arrogant; it was simply that although the Shu Mountain Sect was established in the Immortal Realm, it had no deep ties with the Heavenly Court! Not just his sect, but the attitude of the entire Immortal Realm toward the Heavenly Court was largely similar—akin to regional warlords. On the surface, they recognized the Heavenly Court as the supreme authority and supported its governance over the realm.

This was the nature of the relationship between the Heavenly Court and the immortal sects. Thus, even though Ye Wen was extremely wary of the Heavenly Court, there was no need to adopt the posture of a subservient subject. Ye Wen, having caught up on some common knowledge of the Immortal Realm, actually appreciated this situation. Otherwise, having to prostrate, kowtow, and perform endless elaborate rituals just because a messenger from the Heavenly Court arrived would make him prefer moving Shu Mountain overseas! He could not tolerate such things. Fortunately, the situation in the Immortal Realm was not that dire; for some more powerful sects, the Heavenly Court’s envoys were often in a disadvantaged position, unable to put on airs and instead having to carefully defer to the sect masters of those great factions.

Ye Wen greatly wished he could enjoy such treatment, but it was clear more effort was required for now! What pleased him somewhat was that Wen Zhong treated him with relative courtesy. Upon seeing Ye Wen approach, he immediately took a few steps forward, cupped his hands in salute, and said, “Esteemed Sect Master Ye! I am Wen Zhong, who oversees the Heavenly Court’s Thunder Division. My purpose here is to represent the Heavenly Court and inspect the situation of your esteemed sect.” He paused, glancing around the grounds as if assessing Shu Mountain. “If Sect Master Ye has any difficulties, please do not hesitate to mention them. As long as it is within my capacity, I will certainly do my utmost to assist your sect in resolving them!”

Hearing this, Ye Wen merely smiled without speaking, then led Wen Zhong inside. Yet, inwardly, he mused, No wonder Shen Gongbao dared to reveal information during his speech; they never intended to hide these matters from me! Shen Gongbao daring to speak might have suggested he, the Water-Diverting General, had his own agenda. But with Wen Zhong saying the same thing, Ye Wen could only conclude that they weren't afraid of him guessing their objective. They were certain that even if the Shu Mountain Sect knew, they would have no choice but to stand by passively—simply because they lacked the power.

This feeling was utterly stifling. Though Ye Wen outwardly maintained a warm demeanor while greeting Wen Zhong, there was a subtle shift in his tone. Wen Zhong naturally noticed the change but paid it no mind, instead engaging Ye Wen enthusiastically in conversation. The two chatted so amiably that an outsider might have assumed they were old friends reconnecting after a long separation. Only the members of the Shu Mountain Sect knew that Ye Wen was merely putting on an act, likely wishing this group would depart immediately.

Unfortunately, Wen Zhong and his party had only just arrived, and since their mission was to inspect the Shu Mountain Sect, they would not leave right away. After a brief conversation with Ye Wen, Wen Zhong proposed a tour, even inquiring whether the Shu Mountain Sect possessed the capability to independently refine magical artifacts and elixirs! Among their discussions, the topic subtly steered toward formations. Ye Wen quickly noticed that Wen Zhong seemed keenly interested in the Mountain Protection Grand Array of Shu Mountain—the Grand Array activated by the Nine Provinces Cauldrons, whose exquisite complexity and sheer power even the Heavenly Court could not easily dismiss. “Your sect’s Mountain Protection Grand Array is indeed marvelous, but regrettably, it is overly peaceful!”

As they walked, Wen Zhong kept looking upward. Ye Wen observed the Divine Eye between Wen Zhong’s brows blinking continuously, faint rays of divine light leaking out. It seemed this Wen Tianzun was using his Divine Eye to scrutinize their grand array. Regarding his comment about the array being too peaceful, he meant that the Shu Mountain Sect’s formation could only defend passively, possessing no offensive capability whatsoever. While exquisitely complex, this array seemed insufficient if the sect truly needed to repel a powerful enemy. It would be better if the Shu Mountain Sect possessed a stronger formation.

How could Ye Wen not be aware of the deficiency in his sect’s formation? The problem was that he couldn't fully refine the Nine Provinces Cauldrons yet. Perhaps once he refined the entire set, the Grand Array might undergo a new transformation? For now, he could only rely on this defensive formation; changing it was not an option. When Wen Zhong inquired, he could only offer perfunctory responses, finally concluding, “The Heavenly Court currently oversees a realm of peace; even petty criminals are rare. Therefore, such an overwhelmingly potent formation is unnecessary; merely guarding our mountain gate is sufficient!”

His words suggested that the Shu Mountain Sect was benevolent and unwilling to harm innocents, hence why they only employed such a passive defensive formation, rather than admitting that the sect simply lacked a formation capable of killing enemies. He spoke this way to avoid appearing weak while trying to gloss over the issue. Unfortunately, Wen Zhong was focused on this very matter and would not easily abandon the topic. After a few more exchanges of pointless pleasantries, the conversation circled back to the array: “Your sect is situated in the far western frontier. Heading northwest leads to the Olympus Gods, and southwest to the Western Heaven Buddhist Kingdom. Neither is under the Heavenly Court’s jurisdiction. This entire region is a confluence of three powers, immensely chaotic. Your sect should be cautious!” “The Western Heaven Buddhist Kingdom has been on friendly terms with the Heavenly Court for generations; how could they create friction here? Moreover, the Olympus Gods were just routed by the Heavenly Court’s main army and are unlikely to recover their strength immediately. There is no need to worry excessively!” “But the Olympus Gods are immensely belligerent, engaging in skirmishes with our Heavenly Court army every few millennia. Sect Master Ye, your mountain gate lies directly within the potential theater of war, this…”

Two out of every three sentences were pointing out how the Shu Mountain Sect would cope if war broke out. After listening for a while, Ye Wen finally understood the Heavenly Court’s calculation. “These fellows are assessing whether our sect can withstand the assault of one of those factions?” It wasn't that Ye Wen lacked acuity; he simply hadn't considered this possibility from the beginning! In his mind, if foreign powers attacked, Yang Jian’s armies would be the primary force dealing with the enemy. The Shu Mountain Sect’s involvement, even if it occurred, would only be a minor supporting role. At most, they might play a slightly more significant part in the very initial stages of the conflict, but they certainly wouldn't encounter the enemy’s main force—at most, a vanguard unit.

However, the implication woven throughout Wen Zhong’s words was that the Shu Mountain Sect was expected to independently fend off an entire faction, with not a single mention of the Heavenly Court sending reinforcements. “Damn it, are the Heavenly Court trying to use us as cannon fodder?” But upon reflection, he realized the Heavenly Court had no real need to betray him. After all, the Shu Mountain Sect had almost no dealings with them, nor did he harbor any personal grudges against the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor had no reason to make things difficult for him. Therefore, the only explanation was that the Heavenly Court planned to move against one of the neighboring powers, and Yang Jian would likely be drawn away as the main body of the Heavenly Court forces. This would leave the Western Border region dangerously vulnerable for a period. Whether the Shu Mountain Sect could successfully defend this area would determine the success of the Heavenly Court’s plan… “Perhaps the Heavenly Court intends for us, the Shu Mountain Sect, to act as expendable troops, holding the line until a certain enemy is eliminated, even if our entire sect is wiped out, before reinforcements return…”

Once the crucial point became clear, it was as if a dammed river channel had been instantly cleared; thoughts poured out like a flash flood. Ye Wen instantly grasped the Jade Emperor’s true intent. “Could it be that the Heavenly Court has grown tired of being harassed by the Olympians and is preparing to strike?” If this was the case, it meant Ye Wen would have to defend against a potential assault from the Western Heaven Buddhist Kingdom using only the strength of his single sect. Considering the Buddhist Kingdom had long desired to expand its influence into the Eastern Continent without success, they surely wouldn't pass up such an opportunity, meaning an attack on the Shu Mountain Sect was almost guaranteed. Could his Shu Mountain Sect withstand that now? The Peacock Great Bright King alone could defeat Ye Wen; add in the Immovable Wisdom King, and the entire Shu Mountain Sect might perish instantly. What did he have to resist that?

Cold sweat began to bead on his forehead, yet Wen Zhong, apparently oblivious, continued his slow traversal of the Shu Mountain grounds, observing everything and occasionally posing a question to Ye Wen. After touring the Herb Pavilion, Wen Zhong noted that the sect only contained common medicinal herbs, with virtually no elixirs used in the Immortal Realm. (Boiled eggs were served as breakfast, the Foundation-Strengthening Elixir was treated as dinner, and Li Xiaoyao never kept any stock, turning every pill into candy.) Thus, the Herb Pavilion was sparsely stocked. This situation concerned Wen Zhong, who immediately stated, “I will report your sect’s difficulties to the Jade Emperor upon my return and arrange for personnel to deliver a batch of top-grade elixirs, along with a set of alchemy implements!”

Ye Wen wasn't overly concerned about the top-grade elixirs. It was the alchemy implements that made his spirit lift—it seemed the Jade Emperor was somewhat considerate; although he entertained the notion of using the Shu Mountain Sect as cannon fodder, he wasn't entirely unconcerned about their welfare and offered some tangible benefits. Even if this turned out to be their last meal, a benefit was still a benefit, and the Shu Mountain Sect genuinely needed these items, so Ye Wen saw no reason to refuse. The alchemy equipment currently used by the Shu Mountain Sect was very crude; even their cauldrons were mere mundane objects, not magical artifacts. In the Immortal Realm, refining high-quality elixirs required not only superb skill and complete ingredients but also critically important equipment. Ye Wen had planned to wait until the crafting pavilion’s technology improved before manufacturing some equipment for the Herb Pavilion himself. Now, the Heavenly Court was proactively offering a batch, which was excellent news. Thus, Ye Wen offered his thanks with a cupped salute, while mentally calculating how many more good things he might be able to extort.

During the tour of the Artifact Crafting Pavilion, Wen Zhong offered no significant commentary, but he showed great interest in the light bulbs installed in the large courtyard. He even inquired whether such devices could be installed in the Heavenly Court. “Illumination in the Heavenly Court at night relies on Moon Pearls or common torches and candles. These require constant guardianship and are far less bright than this item!” Wen Zhong pointed at the light bulb, finding it more and more appealing the longer he looked. While the Heavenly Court did possess treasures like the Moon Pearl for lighting, not everyone could afford such luxuries. Only the Jade Emperor, the Queen Mother of the West, and a few others could truly enjoy that standard. Wen Zhong himself still used ordinary fire candles, and the electric bulb was undeniably more convenient.

Other than that, nothing else in the Artifact Crafting Pavilion particularly caught Wen Zhong’s attention. His only comment regarding the pavilion was a question to Ye Wen: “Why do the disciples refining magical artifacts in your sect focus on personal protective talismans rather than strange contraptions?” Ye Wen could only answer awkwardly, “Our sect does not force the disciples to pursue any specific study. I believe that giving them sufficient freedom allows their talents to be fully realized!” This answer earned Wen Zhong’s admiration, but he didn't realize that Ye Wen had merely thought up a convenient excuse. In reality, it was because the disciples of Shu Mountain couldn't forge good magical artifacts yet, so he let them experiment freely, treating it as practice! Once their skill improved, Ye Wen would have plenty of artifacts for them to forge. Not to mention the knock-off Ziying Sword he had previously summoned, Ye Wen had also recently summoned schematics for an inferior version of the Heaven-Overturning Seal. Its grade and power were significantly weaker than the imitation Ziying Sword, but it would be easier to manufacture. Ye Wen was already considering mass-producing this item to equip his disciples first.