Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

That day.

Zhang Qingyang was having a headache over a document concerning unusual undercurrents in a certain part of the East China Sea.

He sat behind a jade table, his brows slightly furrowed, his fingertips tracing a smooth jade slip.

The simplified version does not record any earth-shattering events, but rather trivial reports from a remote sea area in the East China Sea.

A patrolling sea yaksha discovered that the underwater currents in a certain part of the East China Sea have been surging abnormally in recent years, suspected to be a change in the earth's veins.

This may affect the clam farming in the Crystal Palace, so we request the department to decide whether to send personnel to investigate in detail.

This matter is neither a big deal nor a small one.

In the powerful Thunder and Dragon Departments, such trivial matters would probably not even reach the desks of subordinate celestial officials.

However, in this seemingly insignificant Water Patrol and Investigation Division, he was required to personally review and approve the proposals.

Zhang Qingyang rubbed his temples, feeling a wave of weakness wash over him.

The Heavenly Water Department is in charge of the water conservancy of the entire universe and governs the water elements of the Three Realms; its power seems vast.

However, the ministry has many departments and offices, with strict hierarchies and its own rules of operation.

The position of Sword Master Official held by Zhang Qingyang originated from an ancient system.

In ancient times, this position was indeed a powerful and important one, where officials wielded swords to patrol the waters on behalf of Heaven and suppress evil spirits.

However, times have changed, and the laws of the Heavenly Court have become increasingly sophisticated. The affairs of conquest have mostly been handled by the Thunder Department and the Fighting Department, while the Water Department's functions have gradually shifted to regulation and supervision.

Nowadays, the duties of the Sword-wielding Immortal Official often involve "holding the sword with a solemn expression to enhance the majesty."

The swords he wielded were more for ceremonial purposes during court assemblies and for issuing tokens of authority, rather than for actual weapons of killing and suppression.

Although Zhang Qingyang holds the position of Sword Immortal Official, in reality he is merely guarding a quiet case within the department.

They handle trivial disputes, similar to those between neighbors in a county government office, such as water disputes or land boundary conflicts.

The real power over the Water Element Dao and the operation of Heaven and Earth is not something a rootless and powerless little immortal like him could interfere with.

He wanted to mobilize the magical artifacts used within the department to investigate water veins, but he had to report up through the ranks and be mindful of his superiors' moods.

If one wants to send one or two strongmen down to the mortal realm to investigate, one must consider whether it is overstepping one's bounds and may attract criticism.

The symbolic ceremonial sword in his hand was rarely unsheathed except when he was in court to serve as a facade for the government office.

"well……"

A barely audible sigh dissipated in the hall.

After a moment of contemplation, he finally inscribed at the end of the jade slip with immortal essence: "I have been informed. The discussion shall be postponed for now. The local water bureau shall keep a close watch."

The handwriting is neat, yet it conveys a sense of cautious helplessness.

This was the safest course of action he could take within the scope of his authority.

Don't take on responsibilities, don't stand out, and strive to avoid making mistakes.

Just as he was about to put the jade slip documents he had reviewed into the dossier next to him.

An inconspicuous blue jade talisman at his waist suddenly began to vibrate violently without warning, emitting a rapid and sharp buzzing sound.

On the surface of the talisman, the subtle pattern representing the fortune of the Xuan Guang Sword Pavilion in the lower realm was rapidly dimming and cracking at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Zhang Qingyang suddenly looked up, his expression changing drastically.

This jade talisman is connected to the fortune of his sect in the lower realm, and it would never act so strangely unless there was a crisis of annihilation.

"How could this be?!"

He was greatly alarmed and immediately put down the jade slip in his hand, his consciousness sinking into the jade talisman without hesitation.

Fragmented images and desperate cries for help flooded his mind like a tidal wave.

The mountain gate was shattered, the elders and disciples perished, and the sect leader died tragically on the spot...

"Ling Feng's grand-disciple..."

Zhang Qingyang's pupils contracted, his face showing regret and anger.

Every leader of the Xuan Guang Sword Pavilion is called Xuan Guang Shangren, and the current leader is Chen Lingfeng.

He placed great hopes on his disciple's grandson, who was expected to guide him to heaven in the future, but he had already died and disappeared!

The sect was on the verge of destruction!

"What kind of monster dares to be so arrogant and slaughter my lineage!"

He felt a mixture of shock, anger, and an indescribable sense of dread.

He held a lowly position in Heaven and his words carried little weight.

He usually relies on the incense offerings from the sects in the lower realms and the few resources he occasionally finds to support his cultivation. If the sects are destroyed, he will be like a rootless duckweed, and his life in the Heavenly Court will be even more difficult!

However, the Heavenly Court has strict laws, and celestial officials are not allowed to interfere in the affairs of the mortal realm at will. In particular, when it comes to sect feuds, they must avoid suspicion, or they will fall into an abyss.

But now that the sect's incense is about to die out, and the ancestral hall is begging for divine intervention, how can he sit idly by?

In a flash, Zhang Qingyang made his decision.

"We must stop it!"

He dared not be negligent, nor did he care whether he was overstepping his bounds or would incur reprimand from his superiors.

He immediately sat down cross-legged, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and quickly formed a magic hand seal, his body radiating a faint aquamarine light.

He muttered incantations, communicating with the ancestral tablets in the lower realm whose energy was connected to his.

……

Inside the Ancestral Hall of Xuan Guang Sword Pavilion.

The sword talisman, which the white-haired old man worshipped with his life essence, had reached its peak of brilliance, soaring straight into the heavens and communicating with the unseen realm.

The memorial tablet of Patriarch Zhang Qingyang, enshrined at the highest point, suddenly shone with a bright blue light.

Zhang Qingyang's name on the memorial tablet became dazzling and suddenly radiant.

A light blue halo, formed from the power of incense offerings and the divine thoughts of the celestial officials, slowly emerged from above the memorial tablet.

Within the halo of light, a slightly blurry yet ethereal figure, with flowing robes, slowly coalesced into form.

The figure's features were obscured, but it could be vaguely discerned that it wore the robes of a celestial official in the style of the Heavenly Court, and was surrounded by pure, clear water-like light.

As one's gaze opens and closes, one seems to see a flowing river and surging water.

The moment the incense and divine thoughts appeared, they exuded a solemn and majestic aura befitting a celestial official!

"Grandmaster...Grandmaster has appeared! We beg you, Grandmaster, to vanquish the demons and protect the righteous path!"

The old man was moved to tears, his whole body trembling with emotion, and he kept kowtowing.

Zhang Qingyang's gaze was like lightning, instantly piercing through the walls of the Ancestral Hall and landing on the figure in black robes standing with his hands behind his back on the Sword Discussion Platform.

The sound was like the clang of metal on metal, carrying the imposing majesty of a celestial official, attempting to intimidate others with sheer power:

"Who is below? How dare you slaughter my lineage!"

I am a righteous deity of the Water Department of the Heavenly Court! Why don't you kneel down and confess your sins immediately? What are you waiting for?!

Above the Sword Discussion Platform in the distance.

The three cave masters, Green Ape, Iron Mountain, and Poison Centipede, all changed their expressions drastically upon sensing this sudden and extraordinary divine power.

The overwhelming demonic energy instinctively contracted, and fear appeared in its eyes.

These are true celestial beings! Far beyond the reach of cultivators in the lower realms!

"Heavens...celestial officials of the Heavenly Court..."

The blue ape's voice trembled, and he could barely hold onto his vine staff. Iron Mountain and Poison Centipede were even more trembling, their eyes filled with fear.

Faced with the sudden appearance of the celestial official, Chen Jiao remained completely calm and composed, his expression unchanged.

His gaze swept over Zhang Qingyang indifferently, without even a hint of surprise or awe:

"You think you can suppress me with just a wisp of divine thought, without even showing your true form?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Qingyang's expression changed drastically.

Although he was not of high rank, he was, after all, a celestial official who had been listed among the immortals, representing the majesty of the Heavenly Court.

When ordinary cultivators from the lower realms saw this, which one wouldn't tremble with fear and kneel down in worship?

How dare this demon be so contemptuous!

"Arrogant and monstrous brat! To defy the might of Heaven is an even greater crime!"

Zhang Qingyang roared, no longer caring about anything else, and raised his hand to press down, drawing upon the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

It transformed into a mighty, powerful water elemental palm, like a vast, surging river, pressing down and obscuring the sky.

He was a Nascent Soul cultivator, and was nourished by the celestial spirits of the heavens.

Although this Xuan Shui Zhen Mo Palm was only triggered by a wisp of divine thought, it still possessed a power far surpassing that of an ordinary Golden Core cultivator!

Before the giant hand even arrived, the force of its palm strike had already caused the stone slabs below to crack inch by inch.

The three cave masters, Qingyuan, Tieshan, and Dugong, who had been standing silently behind Xuanling, were already horrified.

Seeing the mighty palm, imbued with the aura of a golden elixir, strike down, his face turned deathly pale, his soul trembled, and he almost knelt down.

A cold glint flashed in Chen Jiao's eyes as he faced Zhang Qingyang's furious attack.

He neither dodged nor avoided, his body surrounded by fierce crimson lightning, like thousands of dragons coiling around him, and suddenly a thunderous roar erupted.

The mocking voices echoed with the thunder.

"Either come down in your real form, or go back and copy your watermarks."