Passing through the South Heavenly Gate, Xu Fang sped straight toward the Thirty-Third Heaven, where Lord Laozi resided. Along the way, immortals like the Bare-foot Immortal greeted him, but Xu Fang only acknowledged them briefly before rushing off without pause, leaving the gathered immortals bewildered and confused.

  Coupled with Xu Fang's disheveled appearance, the immortals couldn't help but gossip. In all his time serving in the Heavenly Court, no one had ever seen Xu Fang in such a sorry state. It seemed that this time, Xu Fang had encountered a formidable enemy, which explained his current狼狈 state.

  After all, not all immortals possessed the immense power of the Jade Emperor or Tathagata, who could observe battles from afar.

  "Divine General Xu is in such a hurry—what could be the matter?" The Bare-foot Immortal frowned as he watched Xu Fang's retreating figure.

  Xu Fang was a newly risen immortal in the Heavenly Court, deeply favored by the Jade Emperor. However, he had always been courteous and amiable toward his fellow immortals, never acting so hastily or carelessly.

  "I suspect that Divine General Xu has encountered a powerful enemy. His haste suggests he might be rushing back to the Divine Strategy Camp to mobilize the heavenly troops," said the Gold Star of Venus, stroking his long white beard with a whisk, his eyes narrowed as he analyzed the situation.

  "Wait, isn't the Divine Strategy Camp in the opposite direction? This path leads to the Thirty-Third Heaven, Tushita Palace, where Lord LaoZi resides," interjected the Mighty Spirit God, his massive frame shifting as he spoke in confusion.

  The Divine Strategy Camp, under Xu Fang's command, should have been in the opposite direction of Tushita Palace. This path clearly led elsewhere.

  "So, Divine General Xu is rushing to Tushita Palace to see Lord Laozi?" continued the Mighty Spirit God.

  "Lord Laozi?" The Gold Star of Venus sounded puzzled. "Tushita Palace? Isn't that where the Handsome Monkey King is being refined? Could it be that Divine General Xu is going to rescue him?"

  "Rescue Sun Wukong? That doesn't seem likely," said the Bare-foot Immortal, his expression turning strange. During the battle with Sun Wukong, Xu Fang had already severed his ties with the monkey. If he were to rescue Sun Wukong now, it would be highly irregular.

  "Who can say for sure? After all, the two of them were once sworn brothers," the Mighty Spirit God added.

  "The relationships in the Heavenly Court are complex. Perhaps Xu Fang's earlier severance of ties with Sun Wukong was just a temporary strategy. Now that he has gained strength or resources, he might be ready to rescue him," the Mighty Spirit God speculated.

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  His words plunged the gathered immortals into silence. If Xu Fang truly intended to rescue Sun Wukong, the Heavenly Court might soon be plunged into chaos. Xu Fang's immense power combined with Sun Wukong's unparalleled combat prowess would make them an unstoppable force. The consequences would be unimaginable.

  "If that's the case, shouldn't we prepare ourselves? If Divine General Xu and Sun Wukong truly rebel, the situation could become dire," one of the immortals chimed in.

  The others murmured in agreement, their voices filled with concern.

  "Hmph!"

  At that moment, the Lord of the Martial Star emerged from seemingly nowhere, his cold gaze sweeping over the gossiping immortals. His expression was one of utter disdain.

  The Mighty Spirit God, who had been about to continue speaking, immediately clamped his mouth shut upon seeing the Lord of the Martial Star. He lowered his head, not daring to utter another word.

  The Lord of the Martial Star had become a loyal follower of Xu Fang, completely devoted to him. Speaking ill of Xu Fang in his presence was akin to inviting trouble.

  "Well, well, Lord of the Martial Star, what a coincidence!" The Gold Star of Venus, ever the peacemaker, greeted him with an awkward smile.

  "Coincidence? Indeed, it is quite a coincidence, Gold Star of Venus," the Lord of the Martial Star replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

  The Heavenly Court was a place of deep intrigue, with factions constantly vying for power. Xu Fang, despite his relatively good relationships, was not immune to suspicion, especially after the incident with Sun Wukong. Worse still, some might seize this opportunity to slander him.

  After all, Xu Fang's rise had been meteoric, and his brilliance had inevitably overshadowed many others. In the vast Heavenly Court, there were more than a few who wished for his downfall.

  "Lord of the Martial Star, there's no need to be so harsh. We were merely discussing the situation and preparing for any eventuality. We never said that Divine General Xu would actually rebel," the Bare-foot Immortal explained earnestly.

  He had always held a favorable opinion of Xu Fang.

  "Discussing? Preparing? Bare-foot Immortal, you are a senior figure in the Heavenly Court. Have you not heard the saying that 'calamity comes from the mouth'? Baseless rumors and fabricated stories can easily drag a person into an abyss of despair. Do you understand?"

  The Lord of the Martial Star's words were icy, showing no respect for the Bare-foot Immortal's status. As Xu Fang's subordinate, he had been deeply impressed by Xu Fang's character and strength. No matter what, he would defend Xu Fang to the end.

  "This..."

  The Bare-foot Immortal was left speechless, his face flushing with embarrassment. The Lord of the Martial Star was right. In the Heavenly Court, countless immortals had fallen victim to such rumors. This time, they were indeed in the wrong.

  "Chatting is one thing, but I hope you all refrain from mixing personal biases with unfounded accusations. Otherwise, don't blame me for being merciless!"

  The Lord of the Martial Star swept his gaze over the gathered immortals, snorted coldly, and then left, heading back to the Divine Strategy Camp to prepare. Though he had reprimanded them, he couldn't ignore the possibility that Xu Fang might indeed rebel. If that were the case, he needed to be ready.

  After the Lord of the Martial Star departed, the Gold Star of Venus and the others exchanged glances before quietly returning to their respective abodes, no longer discussing Xu Fang's affairs.

  Meanwhile, this entire scene had been observed by the Thousand-Mile Eye and the Wind-Following Ear, who were hidden in the celestial realm. They quickly made their way to the Jade Pool to report their findings to the Jade Emperor.

  After all, the possibility of a rebellion in the Heavenly Court was a matter of grave importance. Even if it was just speculation, it was their duty to report such matters to their superiors for further deliberation.