Chapter 601: Miracle

**Chapter 597: Divine Miracle**

The formation still appeared to be the same, and it was still a room, similar in size to before. However, the walls had transformed into large stone blocks, and He Lingchuan could feel the air becoming colder, crisper, and fresher.

Of course, the guards stationed there had also changed.

"We've arrived," Fu Shanyue announced, stepping out of the formation first.

As He Lingchuan stepped out and looked back, he confirmed it was indeed the same tower from which Ke Yanming had emerged last time. The surrounding scenery had transformed into the landscapes of Tianshu Peak, and many tourists cast curious, reverent glances their way.

They had arrived at the Heavenly Palace. Only extraordinary individuals could emerge from such a teleportation formation.

As the two were about to ascend the white jade steps, a guard suddenly announced, "The Emperor wishes to see Crown Prince Chiyan first."

"What? Are we to be received separately?" A jolt went through He Lingchuan.

Fu Shanyue was also taken aback, but having arrived, he couldn't defy the order. He nodded to He Lingchuan and proceeded toward the Star-Picking Tower.

He Lingchuan wondered how the Heavenly Palace would deal with him. To his surprise, a young maiden approached, smiling. "You may rest and have tea at Yunzhan while you await your summons," she offered, "or you may tour the Heavenly Palace. Tianshu Peak boasts exceptionally beautiful scenery, attracting no less than a million visitors annually for pilgrimage."

She was only fourteen or fifteen, with a charming appearance and a naturally fair, rosy complexion. She looked doubly adorable when she smiled.

He Lingchuan was surprised. "I don't have to wait specifically?" he asked.

"No need," the maiden replied. "The Emperor's audience with Crown Prince Chiyan will take some time. As long as you remain on Tianshu Peak, we will summon you when it's your turn."

Yunzhan was like an antechamber in a royal palace, a waiting area for subjects and lamp-keepers awaiting an audience. Tea and snacks were provided, but it was quiet and lacked any lively atmosphere.

Outside Yunzhan, it was bustling with tourists.

Anyone would know which to choose.

He Lingchuan asked the maiden, "Shall I go by myself?"

She covered her mouth and chuckled, revealing her dimples through her fingers. "If this is your first time here," she offered, "I can accompany you on a tour."

"That would be very kind of you," he replied.

The two walked side by side, and indeed, no palace guards followed them.

He Lingchuan followed her lead and asked for her name.

It turned out the young girl was named Lu Shishi. She was only fourteen and had been selected as a lamp-keeper of the Heavenly Palace just last year.

He asked curiously, "I heard that the eternal lamps of the Heavenly Palace are never extinguished by the wind. Is there still a need for keepers?"

"The wind may not extinguish them, but that doesn't mean other forces cannot," Lu Shishi replied. "Since the Heavenly Palace was built, there have been many surprise attacks by external enemies. In the most severe instance, even half of the lamps in the Star-Picking Tower were put out."

He Lingchuan exclaimed in surprise, "What kind of opponent is so powerful?"

"That great demon is called Chifeng," Lu Shishi explained, pursing her lips. "It infiltrated Xushan Mountain before launching a sudden attack. In short, it caused such chaos on Xushan Mountain that the Heavenly Palace was closed for over two months before reopening to travelers."

"Why did they come here to cause trouble?"

Lu Shishi gently shook her head. "That's not clear," she said. "There are many countries and places in this world that fear and resent the power of the Heavenly Gods."

He Lingchuan nodded.

The old Demon Emperor had passed away more than ten years ago, before this young girl was even born. So the story of the great demon Chifeng was something others had told her.

However, this at least showed that even a power as strong as Beijia still had enemies secretly lurking.

Oh, right. It seemed the great demon Chifeng was ultimately defeated by Fan Long?

The wind on the mountaintop was exceptionally gentle today; even the perpetual snow seemed less harsh. He Lingchuan had a beautiful companion; the young girl's smile was especially sweet, like a pear blossom in spring, often causing passersby to turn their heads.

A few days earlier, He Lingchuan had already visited most of the Heavenly Palace's buildings with a tour group. But the explanations of that unscrupulous tour guide, Old Ge, were nowhere near as comprehensive and detailed as Lu Shishi's.

This young girl seemed to possess an inherently friendly aura; anyone near her felt as if a gentle spring breeze was blowing, their spirits uplifted.

"That's the Hall of Reverence straight ahead," she said.

He Lingchuan's heart stirred. "Under Venerable Lingxu, how many Heavenly Gods are there exactly?" he asked.

"Thirty-six principal gods, one hundred and twenty-eight attendant gods, and three thousand six hundred subordinate gods," Lu Shishi said as she led him toward the Golden Hall. "Those worshipped here are the principal and attendant gods."

"There are so many deities?" He Lingchuan thought to himself that Mitian had clearly said there were a hundred thousand Heavenly Gods, but under Venerable Lingxu, there were fewer than four thousand.

Where were the remaining Heavenly Gods? And under whose command were they?

Lu Shishi, however, said something remarkably mature: "On earth, there are human kingdoms; in heaven, divine kingdoms. How can one be a kingdom without followers?"

He Lingchuan was about to respond when a "smack" sound came from ahead, followed by an angry shout: "Nonsense! How dare you, you crazy woman, make a scene inside a divine temple!"

The two had already entered the Golden Hall, which was still bustling with people, making it the busiest attraction besides the Dao-seeking Tree on Tianji Peak.

Usually, the atmosphere inside the hall was solemn and reverent. People kowtowed, burned incense, and prayed softly; no one dared to speak loudly, fearing to offend the Heavenly Gods.

This was the Heavenly Palace, after all!

Yet at that moment, a woman clung to the sleeve of a man beside her, shrieking, "Why don't you dare let the Heavenly God judge the truth, huh? If you have nothing to hide, why are you afraid to try it!"

The man's face turned ashen, and he slapped her directly—that was the crisp sound He Lingchuan had heard earlier.

The slap knocked off the woman's silver hairpin, and her hair fell loose, no longer tidy. Yet she seemed oblivious to the pain, grabbing the man and insisting he kneel and ask for the truth.

The two continued to struggle. Palace guards arrived upon hearing the commotion, intending to escort them out.

Someone nearby chuckled, "Brother, how many romantic debts have you accumulated outside?"

Those watching the commotion were all smiling. To their surprise, the woman suddenly shrieked, "My ex-husband died under mysterious circumstances, and this scoundrel immediately produced debt notes and forced me to marry him! I endured humiliation for three years and finally managed to trick him into coming up Xushan Mountain to beg the Heavenly God Miaozhan to discern the truth and grant me justice!"

Her sharp cries echoed through the hall, quickly silencing the laughter of the crowd.

Even the palace guards' steps slowed.

Hmm? A hidden truth?

Looking at the woman again, despite half her face being red and swollen from the slap, she still had a striking appearance.

The man was both shocked and enraged. He cursed angrily while pulling her toward the exit.

Just then, the divine statue behind the woman emitted a clear "ding" sound. The sound was not loud, but it resonated in everyone's heart like a chime.

Someone immediately shouted from the side, "The touchstone! The touchstone has fallen onto the scale!"

The palace guards immediately stepped forward, extending their halberds to block the man. "Go back, kneel down!" they commanded.

The man's face instantly turned pale. "Sirs," he stammered, "she's talking nonsense, you can't easily believe her!"

"It has nothing to do with whether we believe it or not," the guard stated. "The Heavenly God wishes for you to undergo a trial." With that, the palace guards directly escorted him back and forced him to kneel before the statue of Heavenly God Miaozhan.

He Lingchuan had seen this statue of Heavenly God Miaozhan when he last entered the Golden Hall. It was a goddess with kind brows and benevolent eyes, a solemn and dignified appearance, and a golden body as tall as a human.

Each god had their own divine instrument. The one held by this goddess was rather special: a golden scale.

Besides being exceptionally exquisite, the most distinguishing feature of this scale was an eye on its pointer.

The goddess's other hand formed a mudra, with her index finger pointed upwards and her thumb and middle finger touching, holding a golden weight.

The clear sound everyone had just heard was this weight falling onto the scale's pan below.

Lu Shishi quietly explained to He Lingchuan, "Every day, countless devotees come and go here, praying for divine favor. Today, this virtuous woman has a connection with Heavenly God Miaozhan, and the deity has responded to her plea."

He Lingchuan's heart stirred. "Do Heavenly Gods often respond to their devotees?" he asked.

"Occasionally," Lu Shishi chuckled. "With one hundred and eight thousand voices in their ears, how could the Heavenly Gods attend to each one?"

"How will Heavenly God Miaozhan help her?"

"Although the touchstone has fallen onto the pan, both pans are still level; there's no difference in height," Lu Shishi whispered. "Every word the man behind him speaks will be weighed on the scale. If he speaks falsehoods, it won't withstand the weight of the touchstone, and the pan will immediately tip up!"

"So, how does the touchstone confirm the truthfulness of his words?"

"No lie can deceive the Dharma Eye," Lu Shishi said, gesturing with her lips toward the eye on the scale.

"It won't make a mistake?" He realized the Heavenly Gods referred to the "Eye of Truth" as the "Dharma Eye."

The meaning was very clear: Heavenly Gods represented the law.

The young girl said very firmly, "Never wrong!"

The woman had already walked to the front of the statue and knelt down automatically. Then she turned her head and asked the man, "Did you kill my husband?"

The first question was so sharp it created a stir among the crowd.

The man shook his head vigorously.

A palace guard shouted, "Answer!"

"No, no!" the man cried. "I've known him for twelve years, since we were children. Why would I kill him?"

Everyone looked at the scale. A small piece of gold had appeared on the empty pan at some point, making the two arms of the scale wobble, but the touchstone had not clearly sunk.

In other words, Heavenly God Miaozhan accepted his answer?

The woman was greatly astonished. The man angrily retorted, "Your ex-husband died in an accident. I told you, but you didn't believe me. Now the Heavenly God says the same, do you believe it or not?"

The woman still looked incredulous. Seeing that the palace guards seemed about to let the man stand up, she quickly thought of something and said, "I'll ask a different question! Is the death of my ex-husband, Wang Qing, connected to you in any way?"

The man angrily said, "Are you never going to stop, woman..."

A palace guard interrupted him, "Answer!"

The man exhaled and forcefully said, "No!"

As soon as his words fell, the touchstone sank, and the pan with the small gold piece rose high!

"A lie! Even the Heavenly God saw it," the woman immediately cried. "Did you hire someone to kill him?"

The man shook his head violently, his face deathly pale.

The onlookers around them were whispering.

A palace guard poked the man's shoulder. "Answer!"

The man clenched his jaw and dared not speak another word.

Of course, the onlookers also saw the truth.

The palace guards immediately called for the soldiers stationed on Xushan Mountain to escort the man down and hand him over to the authorities for trial.

The woman expressed endless gratitude. She repeatedly prostrated herself before the statue, banging her head several times until there were bloodstains on the ground, then quickly followed the soldiers down the mountain.

After this incident, the number of devotees gathering to worship before the statue of Heavenly God Miaozhan immediately increased.

He Lingchuan noticed that the gold piece on the scale's pan had disappeared, and the touchstone had returned to the statue's hand.

Indeed, divine power was truly imbued within this golden statue.

As he was about to step back, he suddenly saw the large eyeball on the scale swivel and glare at him!