Chapter 120: The Pimp of Divine Firmament

On the vast plaza outside the Wall Constellation Hotel, the True Lord of Thunder and Demon Extermination stopped Lu Sheng, the Pig of the Room Constellation, from withdrawing his golden pigpen. His intention was to test whether the enclosure could be broken.

If such a challenge had come from an Emperor, or even a Celestial Venerable—provided they were not of a high-ranking tier—the little pig wouldn't have cared in the least. But he could not afford to ignore the words of the Thunder True Lord.

This was a powerhouse who had transcended the level of a Celestial Venerable, a giant among giants, the pinnacle of might. Among True Lords, the only one who could definitively dominate the Thunder True Lord was Erlang Shen. Even if the Great Emperor Zhenwu himself were to take action, victory would not be easily assured. While the Great Emperor Zhenwu possessed formidable combat power—a fact celebrated throughout the Northern Heavens—in terms of cultivation realm, he remained at the peak of the Celestial Venerable level. Of course, the Great Emperor had frequently challenged those above his rank, but without having actually clashed with the Thunder True Lord, it was impossible to say who would prevail. Yet, for the Thunder True Lord to shatter a containment field condensed by the Great Emperor Zhenwu was a foregone conclusion.

The little pig pinched his chubby cheeks, grimaced, and asked awkwardly, "True Lord, is it? I’ve heard you’re incredibly powerful, but surely you don’t mean you’ve cultivated a 'thick-skinned' technique, do you?"

This was a biting remark. It was truly shameless for a True Lord to pick a fight with a mid-stage Emperor.

The Thunder True Lord’s temperament was quite unlike his supernatural powers. Thunder is explosive, and one would expect someone wielding such power to have a fiery temper. Yet, the True Lord remained calm. He replied faintly, "There is no need to provoke me. This is merely a sparring session. I simply wish to see if I can shake the Dao imprints of Zhenwu. Do not tell me that the Dao imprints of the ancestor of martial arts in the Northern Heavens cannot withstand a single strike from me."

Well, that was a classic taunt.

Could the little pig admit that the Great Emperor Zhenwu’s imprints couldn't withstand a single strike from the Thunder True Lord? The Great Emperor was his idol. In a moment of hot-headedness, the little pig knew it was a losing battle, but he refused to act the coward. *Damn it, even if you break this pigpen, does it prove you’re stronger than the Great Emperor? Does it diminish the reputation of the Northern Seven Mansions? If you go through with this, you are bullying the weak, and you are utterly shameless. I, Old Lu, shall lose with honor.*

The little pig puffed out his belly and shouted, "Come then! Let me see how a True Lord defeats a high-stage Emperor! I, Old Lu, shall fulfill your desire for unmatched glory across the heavens!"

How tragic! How cruel! Good heavens!

The onlookers—the star officials of the Wall Constellation and the generals of the Room Constellation—were filled with grief and indignation, their glares at the Thunder True Lord sharp enough to kill. Some of the powerhouses on the Thunder Ancestor’s side who still possessed a shred of shame looked away, their discomfort evident.

The Thunder Ancestor, however, laughed heartily. "Little Pig is not bad. Sharp-tongued and courageous; he is a rare talent in our Northern Heavens. I commend him, haha..."

Everyone cursed inwardly: *Commend your mother!* Was the Great Emperor of the Nine Heavens of the Divine Firmament always this shameless?

Just as the Thunder True Lord was preparing to strike—intending to not only shatter the pigpen but also wipe out the little pig in the process—Su He and her companions arrived on the plaza, interrupting his movements.

The Thunder Ancestor recognized everyone except Tu Zhe’s party, and he greeted them with laughter. As a supreme existence in the Jade Capital of the Divine Firmament, he held the status of a head of state. Tang Youyou, though rebellious and indifferent to celestial officials, had to at least feign respect for the Thunder Ancestor. As for the Lords of the Heavens, Yu Jian Yuming and Xu A'natian, they dared not be negligent and hurriedly paid their respects. It was a joke to think one could slight a Celestial Venerable of the Thunder Department—did they want to lose their positions as Lords of the Heavens?

Su He made formal introductions for Queen Cassiopeia and the traveling foreign prince, Tu Zhe. The Thunder Ancestor, representing the Three Enclosures of the North, extended a warm welcome, hoping for strengthened exchanges between their realms in a friendly and sincere atmosphere. In reality, these pleasantries were for Tu Zhe; Queen Cassiopeia visited the Three Enclosures whenever she pleased, moving with more ease than the locals.

The Thunder Ancestor and Cassiopeia had met before. While they hadn't engaged in any intimate games, the flirtatious sparks between them were clear to everyone.

The Thunder Ancestor held Tu Zhe’s hand firmly, praising him as a dragon among men and marveling at his high cultivation despite his youth. "How about this, young Tu Zhe? Why not visit the Jade Capital of the Divine Firmament? I shall see if there are any celestial maidens in our Thunder Department worthy of you. A cross-realm romance would be a beautiful story, wouldn't it? Haha..."

The little dog on Tu Zhe's shoulder could no longer stand it. He stood on his hind legs, hands on his hips, and pointed his finger. "Who are you? Who are you? Since when do you act as a pimp? Does my hooligan brother need you to introduce anyone? We lack everything except beautiful women! You’re busybodying in matters that don't concern you—aren't you tired of yourself?"

The Thunder Ancestor was stunned. He hadn't expected to be scolded by a dog. Although he was annoyed, he couldn't very well argue with a creature. If he barked back, what would that make him? As a veteran of the political arena, he handled the situation with ease, laughing, "This little dog is amusing, just like a human! So innocent and charming, haha..."

Tu Zhe quickly covered the dog’s mouth and stuffed him into his Sumeru ring. He couldn't risk the dog saying something even more outrageous. While it wouldn't necessarily cause a conflict between realms, it was best to avoid it. Tu Zhe offered an apology, carefully balanced and neither servile nor overbearing. He had apologized, but if the Ancestor still held a grudge against a dog, it would only reveal his own lack of magnanimity.

The Thunder Ancestor was, of course, not magnanimous, but he put on a facade of broad-mindedness. He kept chattering to Tu Zhe, insisting that if he didn't visit, it would be a great disappointment. Tu Zhe had no choice but to agree to visit Thunder City at an appropriate time. A verbal pact was made.

In truth, the Thunder Ancestor’s enthusiastic invitation surprised the lords of the Northern Constellations, as well as Tang Youyou, Yu Jian Yuming, and Xu A'natian. What was the Jade Capital of the Divine Firmament? It was the highest heaven, the palace of the Haotian Jade Emperor, the God of Gods. The Thunder Department was a central organ under the direct leadership of the Jade Emperor. Even the Great Emperor Ziwei, the second most powerful god after the Jade Emperor, could not interfere in the affairs of the Jade Capital. Without a summons, the lords of the Three Enclosures and the various heavens could not enter the Jade Capital at will.

And yet, this seemingly ordinary foreign prince had been directly invited by the Great Thunder Ancestor? What an immense honor this was.