Under the pitch-black sky, banners snapped and boomed in the wind.
Within the orderly ranks, the Skyward Legionnaires stood silently.
Inside the Lingxiao Hall, Grandmaster White unfurled the imperial edict and shouted at full volume: "By Heaven's mandate, His Supreme Majesty the Jade Emperor decrees: Former Heavenly Canopy Grand Marshal, Marshal Silver, ignored Heaven's grace, forgot the common people, was guilty in the Marshal Silver Love Case, later committed atrocities in the Plague Toxin Case, yet for years of loyal service and repeated military merit, past offenses were forgiven and heavy responsibilities entrusted. Now, having conspired with the demon Monkey to harm the Three Realms, the evidence is conclusive—truly a villain beyond redemption! Therefore, he is to be cast down to the mortal world, and for ten thousand years, shall not be reinstated! Thus decreed!"
At the words 'evidence is conclusive,' Marshal Silver couldn’t help but laugh.
Grandmaster White slowly rolled up the edict, pursed his lips, and whispered, "Marshal Silver, give thanks for the decree."
Marshal Silver stared coldly at the Jade Emperor and said softly, "Truly, thank you. You have taught me many things."
The Jade Emperor sat motionless, staring straight ahead, as if he hadn’t heard a word.
Those immortals who had previously sought Marshal Silver's downfall now exchanged glances and whispered among themselves at the reading of the edict.
"Is this really right? Condemning Marshal Silver for collusion based purely on unexplainable circumstances seems a bit…"
"The Love Case was real, and the Plague Toxin Case was indisputable. But to claim collusion now—doesn’t that go too far?"
"If it wasn’t collusion, why would the demon Monkey save him? It can’t be just to frame a cripple. What’s the point?"
"Don’t forget, his cultivation was crippled by the demon Monkey too."
"What’s the point of all this secret talk?" the Fortune God muttered in a low voice.
At once, all the immortals fell silent.
Never mind the point of saving a cripple; just the old grudges with Marshal Silver ensured none of them would speak up for him.
Besides, whether Marshal Silver was treated fairly had nothing to do with them.
A Heavenly General entered slowly from outside, flanked by two Skyward Legionnaires, and stopped behind Marshal Silver.
The Heavenly General lowered his head, brows furrowed, glancing between Marshal Silver and the Jade Emperor several times before quietly saying, "Marshal, please."
"Still calling me Marshal? Shouldn’t it be 'criminal Marshal Silver'?" Marshal Silver smiled, watching the Jade Emperor.
"You are the Marshal," the Heavenly General replied softly, head still bowed.
"Did you hear that?" Marshal Silver stared at the Jade Emperor and said softly, "Sitting on the throne means nothing. Only if you sit in people's hearts are you truly the Jade Emperor."
The Jade Emperor’s face turned iron-blue.
Grandmaster White’s eyebrows twitched slightly as he nervously glanced at the Jade Emperor.
Smiling, Marshal Silver turned away, sweeping his gaze across the immortals. He said softly, "I’m leaving now. Take care of yourselves."
The immortals remained silent.
The Jade Emperor’s face turned completely purple.
Step by step, Marshal Silver walked toward the exit. As he brushed past the Heavenly General, he whispered, "Sorry, my moment of pride caused you trouble."
"I dare not, and I am not afraid," the Heavenly General replied.
"Wait—!"
Marshal Silver stopped walking.
From the crowd of immortals, Nathan Young raised his hand and squeezed forward.
"What matter does Prince Nathan wish to present?" asked one of the court officials.
Nathan glanced at Marshal Silver, then bowed to the Jade Emperor and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, although Marshal Silver’s cultivation is ruined, he served in Heaven for many years and may still have loyal followers. If someone tries to rescue him, what should be done?"
The immortals looked at each other in surprise.
On the dragon throne, the Jade Emperor, his face purple, snorted coldly, "Then what do you suggest?"
"Your Majesty," Nathan said softly, "Would it be acceptable for me to escort him? With me present, I can guarantee his safe exile."
The Jade Emperor waved his hand lightly, "Granted. You must ensure he is cast down to the mortal world as ordered!"
"Understood!"
Turning, Nathan quickly followed after them.
Watching Nathan, Grandmaster White took the edict and followed, looking puzzled.
Nezha sighed helplessly. "Why bring this up now? You... ending up like this... what a pity."
"It's nothing. You go through something and you grow... well, forget it." Raising his head, Tianpeng said, "I've let go. When despair is complete, a strange lightness comes. In a way, it's a relief. Like waking from a nightmare."
"If you have any last requests, say them now. That's what I'm here to hear."
"Tianpeng has no attachments left. What last requests could there be?"
"Really none?"
Tianpeng hesitated slightly, then lowered his voice: "There is one thing I'd like to ask of you, if you'd be willing."
"What is it?"
"Once, I made a bargain with the Jade Emperor: I would serve Heaven faithfully, and in return, Nisha Song would be granted eternal peace and happiness..."
Nezha nodded silently. "I understand. Rest assured—there are things you can't do, but I just might. And if I can't, isn't my father still here?"
Looking at Nezha, Tianpeng smiled faintly and said softly, "I have nothing to offer in return."
At that moment, Grandmaster White, unable to hold back any longer, caught up to them. Seeing this, Tianpeng quickened his pace, widening the distance between himself and Nezha.
Grandmaster White frowned at Nezha. "What now? You're about to lose everything and still so cheerful? You should be thinking how you'll explain this to your father so he can ransom you with Gold Essence."
"My father has plenty of Gold Essence. What's it to you?"
"It's none of my business, but if you squander everything, what am I supposed to do?" Grandmaster White sighed deeply. "Heaven has never sentenced an immortal to the Beast Path before. Do you really think His Majesty would break precedent just out of pique? Too naive. That would make it look like the Jade Emperor fears Tianpeng. What, are you waiting for someone to break him out? For a few treasures, losing your immortal status and dragging down Lord Lee—it's not worth it. Or are you Tianpeng's ally? I know Fairy Nisha's close friend entrusted you with something."
No matter what Grandmaster White said, Nezha just shook his head as if he hadn't heard a word.
This only made Grandmaster White more suspicious as he watched Nezha.
When they reached the four conical pillars, Grandmaster White held out his hand to stop Nezha. "Halt. You just stand guard outside."
Nezha shrugged and stepped back.
Seeing this, Grandmaster White finally felt a little more at ease.
Leaving the two Heaven Soldiers behind, Grandmaster White and the supervising Heaven General escorted Tianpeng step by step toward the Exiled Immortal Well.
Grandmaster White took a white vial from his sleeve, poured out a single red elixir, and gently shook it before offering it to Tianpeng. "Swallow this, and it will be as if you drank the Lethe Draught. Once I extract your earth-soul, I'll send it to the Netherworld when the time is right. Thanks to you, I've won quite a bit in my wager—I'll look after you a little in your next life. Go in peace."
Nezha planted his Flame Spear and watched the three from a distance, quietly gathering his spiritual power.
Tianpeng nodded silently, reached out to take the elixir, and was about to swallow it.
Just then, Nezha suddenly shouted, "Watch out!"
Everyone was startled—even Tianpeng couldn't help but turn to look at him.
Nezha charged forward, Flame Spear in hand, his Wind-Fire Wheels spinning as he darted past Tianpeng, crashing heavily into his shoulder.
Tianpeng's whole body lurched and toppled backward—falling straight into the Beast Path behind him.
Nezha quickly reached out, snatching the red elixir from Tianpeng's hand.
Tianpeng plummeted rapidly, looking up at Nezha with a hint of astonishment.
A voice sounded in Tianpeng's mind: "Go down the Beast Path—if you keep your memories, at least you'll still be able to cultivate. If you took the elixir, it would all be over. No need to thank me."
Perhaps Nezha didn't truly understand what the Beast Path meant for Tianpeng, but this was all he could do.
Tianpeng smiled helplessly—a smile full of complicated emotions.
Who could have imagined that the famed Grand Marshal of Heaven, who once dominated the Three Realms, would end up in such an absurd drama?
But what else could he do?
He was rejected by Heaven, and even by the Three Realms themselves. What awaited him could only be this.
Long ago, there was nothing left for him to cling to...
Grandmaster White lunged forward, but it was too late—Tianpeng had already vanished at the end of the seven-colored passage.
He looked up at Nezha in horror. "You—you—what did you just do?"
"I thought someone was trying to break him out, but I must have been mistaken. Sorry about that."
"That Tianpeng..."
"He just fell by accident. Heaven's will, I suppose—bad luck for him. Supposed to be reborn as a human, but ended up as a beast instead. By the way, do you think your purple-gold Divine Wand and Taibai Pavilion together are really worth ten million Gold Essence?"
"You—you—you!" Grandmaster White's beard bristled as he roared, "I saw you knock him down! You're cheating—!"
Nezha planted his hands on his hips, looking every bit the rascal, and shouted, "Trying to back out, are you? Old man, let me tell you, if you dare renege on a bet with me, you'd better ask the Skyward Legionnaires at South Heaven Gate first! You'll regret it!"
"You—you—you! You little scoundrel!"
Ignoring Grandmaster White, Nezha hopped onto his Wind-Fire Wheels and sped away like a gust of wind.
"Hahaha! I won! Tianpeng went down the Beast Path! Heaven's will!" he shouted triumphantly.
Everyone stared at him in stunned silence.
No one noticed that his young face was streaked with tears.
South Heaven Gate.
General Lee quietly stroked his long beard, gazing at a distant bank of clouds on the horizon, and smiled bitterly.
"All the good men are dead, only the bad ones remain... Sometimes I wonder, maybe this world truly has no hope left."
King Virūḍhaka stood silently beside him, stunned.
Far away, gazing toward the Exiled Immortal Well, Fairy Hanwei bowed her head, turned, and walked away in silence.
High above, a meteor streaked across the sky. Monkey looked up and wondered, "What was that?"
As a righteous soul dissolved at the end of the passage, a thousand-year nightmare finally came to an end.
Or perhaps, it was only just beginning...