Scrambling

In the Temple, a monk ran forward. "Vice Temple Master! Zhao Clan's Godkiller has changed directions! He's no longer approaching the Temple!"

Sighs of relief erupted from everyone's mouth. Vice Temple Master Jun snorted, "Humph! It appears your Zhao Clan has just avoided disaster."

Scholar Jin, nodded furiously in agreement as though the greatest of all weights had been lifted from his shoulders.

Gu Jin asked, "But why would Lord Godkiller just suddenly change directions?"

"Isn't it obvious? Youngest Master must've appeared somewhere else and thus Lord Godkiller discovered his new location," answered Scholar Jin.

The information stunned Gu Jin. If such was the case, wasn't he failing in his duty to protect Youngest Master?

Eyes locking on the monk, Gu Jin said, "In what direction did Lord Godkiller go?"

Boom!

To the south, an explosion answered Gu Jin question.

"South! Youngest Master is returning to the clan...All you men form up! GO!!!" roared Gu Jin.

Without waiting for Scholar Jin to utter a word, Gu Jin and the Zhao Clan guards streamed out of the Temple.

Vice Temple Master Jun shot a piercing look at Scholar Jin. "Follow me, we will inspect the Sun Shrine. If there's any damage, your Zhao Clan better be prepared to pay the price."

Scholar Jin followed closely. Just as he was about to enter the shrine he heard Temple Master Jun exclaim, "What are my eyes seeing? Are those nude dancers? Which dog allowed this?"

Scholar Jin winced as he felt the coldest gaze lock on to him "Ha Ha! Vice Temple Master Jun, this old scholar has a funny story to pass on. Let me tell you the circumstances....."

For the next several breaths, Scholar Jin fully demonstrated his prowess with words as he described in the most roundabout way that the ritual was modified by Zhao Deiming, Tian Cai's great grandfather. In fact, Zhao Deiming had a very unscrupulous reputation.

Snorting, Vice Temple Master Jun said, "Humph! That old pervert Zhao Deming sure has guts! Never has this priest heard of an ordained ritual being modified to suit one's desires. To think he would abuse his patriarch position to commit such shameless actions. No wonder his acts caught the attention of the Emperor himself! For you!! How could you allow him do such a thing!?..."

For the next hour, Scholar Jin stood silently as the Vice Temple Master berated him. Many monks looked on with shock. When had they ever seen their Vice Temple Master in such a huff?

"Scholar Jin, your Zhao Clan better prepare well for an accounting. Once the Temple Master returns, I will report the matter directly to him."

Scholar Jin looked on with disbelief. "Are you saying the matter is so severe that The Temple Master must be informed?"

"Humph! As a a scholar are you not aware of Divine Law? Isn't the foremost law, thou shall not commit blasphemy? Not only was the ritual modified by a Zhao Clan member, but another member dared perform it on sacred grounds!"

"Youngest Master was completely unaware and assumed it to be the original? Additionally, how can it be blasphemy as he was directly recognized by the Sun Divinity?"

This!

Vice Temple Master choked and was unable to respond. However, he recovered quickly as he determined another point.

"If you knew it wasn't the original version, then why did you allow Young Zhao to perform the ritual? Heed my command, arrest this blasphemer!!" roared Vice Temple Master Jun.

"What! You're arresting meee!?" blurted Scholar Jin.

"Hmph! Not just you. I'm sure the Temple Master will want to apprehend Young Zhao as well."

A monk coughed and whispered into Vice Temple Master Jun's ear. He stiffened from his subordinate's words.

"You say Zhao Clan's donations represent 80 percent of all yearly gifts?" asked Vice Temple Master Jun.

The monk nodded.

"This? Er-Er perhaps I was a little too anxious with my conclusions," said Vice Temple Master Jun. Quickly, he motioned away the monks that were about to arrest Scholar Jin.

Continuing, he said, "How about this? Considering the centuries of devoted service by your Zhao Clan. If you consider increasing your donations by 10 percent...the Temple can overlook the matter."

Scholar Jin's face blackened.

High in the heavens, the Sun Emperor and the new Divinity appeared in the Sun Divinity's secret realm.

Seeing the Sun Emperor, the Sun Divinity sighed with relief. "Lord, luckily you were here. Young Lord Zhao sure had a lot of questions this one wasn't sure how to answer."

The Sun Emperor nodded. Turning to the new Divinity, he asked, "Which realm's divinity are you?"

Bowing, the Divinity said, "Lord, this one is Divine Nine Clouds Sun Divinity. May I ask how I ended up here."

Motioning to Nine Chaos Heaven's Sun Divinity, the Sun Emperor said, "You explain it."

Cupping his hands, the Nine Chaos Heaven's Sun Divinity said, "Senior this one greets you. Right now, you are at the Nine Chaos Heavens and..."

After being brought up to speed, Divine Nine Clouds shook in disbelief. Before him was the Sun Emperor whom he absolutely was unqualified to meet. There was some all powerful controller that can end them all without even blinking? And he was here because his sun seed was compatible with a human child under the controller's protection?

"Humph, now that you know... If we don't fulfill this mission completely, we'll all be sucked into a blackhole so big, you'll be screaming Mommy for a millennium as it devours you. For now, don't even think about leaving. We're all staying to fulfill this mission to the end. We live together or die together."

The Nine Chaos Heaven's Sun Divinity's face blackened with dejection. This whole mess started because he wanted to savor a drink? Now, he had was in a life and death situation? How was this even possible?

Standing before Zhao Clan's Manor gate, Tian Cai was oblivious to the incidents indirectly and directly related to him. Currently, he was enjoying the limitless power he felt coursing through his meridians. His skin tingled as his pores were actively absorbing the mysterious cosmic energies from the heavens.

Chortling, he shadow boxed for several breaths. Unbeknownst to him, several bystanders threw him strange looks as he practiced. In their view, the little five year old had a bizarre maniacal smile.

"Husband, it's just like you said, strange people gather at the Zhao Clan."

"Which clans birthed such a child? Don't they know he an embarrassment?"

"Hurry, whatever disease he has may be contagious and infect our brains as well!"

As these bystanders discussed, shouts filled all ears.

"Zhao Clan's Godkiller is on a rampage!"

"Clear the road, no one block the way if you wanna live! Lord Godkiller is cutting everything!"

Tian Cai stiffened and looked up, his yes dilated to the max in alarm. Little bugger was rampaging?

Scanning about, he saw pillars of smoke spewing out uncontrollably in varying sections of the City.

ZZZZT!

Two red beams crossed and a row of buildings collapsed. In the distance, Tian Cai heard an excited little voice.

"Dada!"

Whoosh!

Within a second, a furious blast of wind brought a fuzzy mass into Tian Cai's arms.

Crack!

With the pressure, the earth shattered like spider webs beneath Tian Cai's feet. Immediately, Tian Cai felt a wet nose against his cheek.

Eyes's twitching, Tian Cai said, "Hahaha! Little Lord, you've return home. You should know, we sure all missed you."

Not even two breaths later, Empyrean might inundated the area. Zhao Wen appeared with Shadow Six. "Cai'er! Good, you got him. Quick, get inside!"

Swooping the pair into her arms, Zhao Wen disappeared through the gate. Her voice trailed, back, "Lord Uncle, as soon as the rest arrive, seal the gates and activate the defensive formations!"

"Mhm!" responded Shadow Six.

The bystanders immediately stiffened. Just now, that little boy was Small Disaster King? Cold Sweat dripped endlessly about the people. The little bunny was Godkiller!?

Seeing the gobsmacked people, Shadow Six roared, "If you fools want to linger about and wait for death, but all means stay. City Lord will be bringing his army shortly!"

Swish! Whoosh!

The street emptied in a blink of an eye.

From multiple directions, shadows streamed over and coalesced before Shadow Six into the forms of Fat, Death and Soundless Shadows.

"Is this all?" asked Shadow Six.

Shaking her head, Soundless Shadow said, "Lord, Sister Grey is still returning with Scholar Jin and Small Shadow. Little Brother is currently incapacitated."

Fat Shadow said, "Gu Jin should be arriving with our Zhao Clan Guards"

Not even a breath later, Gu Jin and his contigent ran over in formation. Huffing, Gu Jin asked, "Lord, has Youngest Master returned? What's happened?"

Shadow Six said, "Quickly, everyone go in. As soon as Little Gray returns, immediately seal the gates!"

Suddenly, War Drums sounded across the city in deep booms.

Hissing, Shadow Six said, "See, City Lord is already marshaling his army. Soon the whole clan will be surrounded."

"How can this be?" asked Gu Jin.

"Earlier, Lord Godkiller partially destroyed the City Lord's Manor," replied Fat Shadow.

"It's not just that...Godkiller also gave City Lord a haircut. The poor fellow now looks like he has dog ears," added Shadow Six.

Dog ears???

"Look, it's Sister Gray!" pointed Soundless.

Gray Shadow was indeed huffing over with Small Shadow over her shoulder. Embarrasingly, her little brother was still passed out from his experience at the Temple.

Scholar Jin shouted, "The army's just behind us!!"

"Go in!" roared Shadow Six.

The nearby Shadows, Gu Jin, and the Clan Guards scrambled into the manor.

Poof!

In a flash, Shadow appeared next to Scholar Jin. "Child release your limiter, get your brother inside!"

Gray Shadow roared, her eyes turned black as she released her internal seal.

Poof! She disappeared into the clan with Small Shadow.

"Scholar Jin, forgive this old man for being rude." Before Scholar Jin could even respond, Shadow Six engulfed him into a cloud of shadows and the two zoomed into the Manor.

Behind them, shadowy tendrils quickly shut the gates.

Weng! Ohm!

Flashes of light sparked as the Zhao Clans defensive formations activated.

City Lord Zhang appeared with Old City Lord.

Sporting a new haircut and brandishing a sword, he yelled, "Damn you Godkiller!"