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

Nine deep, resonant bell tolls echoed from the depths of the Lingxiao Palace, cleansing the Cloud Terrace and silencing all other sounds.

The celestial music turned solemn and majestic, and countless auspicious clouds, as if guided, slowly parted to reveal a cloud-covered avenue leading directly into the palace.

Dozens of generals, the pillars of the heavens, stood guard, wielding halberds and banners, while golden-armored deities held halberds, whips, knives, and swords.

The assembled celestial officials and generals straightened their robes and hats, abandoning any idle chatter.

Transforming into streaks of light, they entered the magnificent Lingxiao Palace, a place radiant with auspicious energy and dazzling light.

The hall's dome is high and far, seemingly holding the stars in the sky, with jade pillars adorned with coiled dragons and the floor paved with golden bricks.

The three realms' supreme deities, with solemn and dignified appearances, stood on either side of the throne, their divine light radiant and their majesty boundless.

On the central throne, the Jade Emperor sat serenely, his face hidden in endless auspicious light, yet his gaze was piercing, penetrating the three realms.

Fairy maidens on both sides hold fans, and strongmen carry incense burners. Civil and military immortals are arranged in order, creating an extremely solemn atmosphere.

Chen Jiao entered in order and stood near the front of the mine-fighting train.

Then they saw a kind-faced old man holding a jade whisk before the Jade Emperor's steps—Venus.

He was a close minister of the Jade Emperor, in charge of conveying messages and coordinating various departments, and held a highly respected position.

At this moment, he looked over with a smile, nodded slightly to Chen Jiao from afar, and transmitted his voice:

"Your Majesty, Il-I ...

His words carried a touch of intimacy, yet maintained the composure befitting a high-ranking official of the Heavenly Court.

Chen Jiao was slightly taken aback, then bowed respectfully:

"You flatter me, Star Lord. It is my duty."

Venus stroked his beard and nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, and then said:

"The Heavenly Emperor is young and accomplished, yet he is neither arrogant nor impatient, which is truly rare. During the court assembly later, the Heavenly Emperor should simply listen attentively to the imperial decree."

After saying this, he gave Chen Jiao a meaningful look, smiled, stroked his beard, and said no more.

At the forefront of the Thunder Department, the Heavenly Venerable of Universal Transformation of Thunder and Responding to the Origin of the Nine Heavens sat atop a Qilin.

This majestic and awe-inspiring deity, who wields the power of thunder, also turned his gaze to Chen Jiao, the rising star of the Thunder Department, nodding slightly with approval in his eyes.

Among the ranks of the fighting troops, the Demon-Slaying Commander, True Lord Tianyou, also nodded in greeting when he saw Chen Jiao.

And next to the Jade Emperor's throne, in a slightly less prominent position.

A Taoist priest dressed in nine-colored cloud robes, with a compassionate and peaceful face, sat serenely on a nine-colored lotus platform.

It sat not on ordinary auspicious clouds, but on a magnificent nine-headed lion with a mane like flames.

The lion's nine heads stood proudly, its eyes like lightning, exuding a power that could see into the depths of the underworld.

The Taoist priest radiated boundless compassionate light, yet it was unfathomable; he was none other than the Supreme Deity Who Saves from Suffering, whose position was incomparably revered.

The fact that he personally attended the court assembly as the Jade Emperor's Left Attendant demonstrates the importance of today's meeting.

As if sensing something, the Celestial Venerable glanced lightly across the hall, lingering briefly on Chen Jiao before lowering his eyes and remaining silent.

Although it was only for a moment, it made Chen Jiao feel a slight chill, as he felt a gaze that was both gentle and vast.

These subtle interactions, observed by the many celestial officials within the hall, held different meanings.

Seeing this, Li Gang, Zhao Yan, and the others' expressions grew increasingly complicated and unpleasant.

"All of you, rise."

The Jade Emperor's voice resounded, gentle yet containing supreme majesty.

The immortals bowed in gratitude and stood on both sides.

The bestowal of titles and honors began without fanfare or commotion; everything proceeded in accordance with ancient rites and customs, solemnly and orderly.

A master of ceremonies, dressed in the robes of a celestial official and holding a jade tablet, stood below the imperial steps. His voice was clear and calm, yet it resonated clearly throughout every corner of the hall.

"The demons of the Eastern Pole will be vanquished. Merits and demerits, rewards and punishments, will be determined according to the laws of Heaven. Proclaim—"

The initial rewards and honors were bestowed upon those who made small, insignificant contributions.

The celestial officials announced the names of the generals and officials who had captured demon soldiers and guarded supplies. They were first rewarded with spirit stones, immortal crystals, magic treasures, or promoted half a rank according to their merits.

The recipients stepped forward to express their gratitude to Heaven, their expressions a mixture of respect and joy. The atmosphere inside the hall was solemn and orderly.

Rewards and punishments are clearly defined and carried out in an orderly manner.

Inside the hall, the immortals watched the ceremony in silence, occasionally uttering whispers of praise.

His gaze, however, kept drifting toward the gods who truly determined the outcome of the battle and made outstanding contributions.

Chen Jiao stood quietly with his eyes lowered, as if the surrounding commotion had nothing to do with him.

He could feel several gazes, some overt and some covert, falling on him, some probing, some envious, and some with a complex scrutiny, like Li Gang's.

His heart was calm and undisturbed.

Nezha, seemingly bored in the opposite queue, yawned, earning a helpless look from a star official beside him.

As the rewards gradually reach the middle stage, the achievements will become extraordinary.

The celestial official raised his voice slightly and announced the names of some important figures in this battle.

"...The Giant Spirit God fought fiercely against the Demon General, and despite being wounded, he did not retreat. He was bestowed with a piece of warm jade that would last for ten thousand years, and his salary was increased by three hundred years."

"...The goddess Yunlan, who controls the rain, spreads clouds and rain to cleanse the remaining demonic energy, and bestows upon me a bushel of luminous pearls from the South Sea and ten bottles of Pure Heart Jade Dew Pills."

"...Kang Jinlong destroyed three demon nests, and was bestowed with ten drops of Golden Marrow Jade Liquid and one hundred sticks of Imperial Tranquilizing Incense."

Each time someone is mentioned, auspicious light descends, enveloping the recipient and eliciting soft exclamations of praise and congratulations.

Li Gang stood at the front of the Thunder Department's ranks, his face seemingly calm, but the knuckles of his hands behind his back were slightly clenched.

As he listened to the accolades and rewards, he weighed them against his own conscience, and a barely perceptible anxiety crept into the depths of his eyes.

Next, several senior marshals from the Thunder and Fighting divisions were awarded in turn.

As achievements increased, the atmosphere became increasingly solemn.

When the name of Lei Bu Guanghua Huoche Yuanshuai Li Gang was sung, the hall fell slightly silent.

Li Gang straightened his clothes and stepped forward to receive his appointment.

His achievements were indeed remarkable. He effectively coordinated the rear and provided strong support, and later led his troops to confront the enemy head-on.

He was bestowed with a Purple Palace Immortal Thunder Seal and promoted by half a rank, receiving the honorific title of "True Man Who Assists Thunder Manifestation".

The reward was undeniably generous, and the honorific title bestowed upon him was truly glorious.

However, compared to the position of the True Lord, it is like clouds and mud.

Especially considering that the Heavenly Lord Yilie has not yet been rewarded, and that his merits must be greater than his own, a bitter resentment gnawed at his heart like a poisonous insect, but he dared not show it outwardly.

Li Gang knelt and bowed to express his gratitude, his expression respectful.

In the instant he lowered his head, a trace of disappointment and resentment at not getting what he wanted flashed through his eyes like a dragonfly skimming the water.

What he sought was far more than that.

However, his achievements are ultimately far inferior to those of the most illustrious ones.

He respectfully withdrew and returned to his column, his gaze involuntarily sweeping over the dark figure in front of him, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He spent a thousand years cultivating himself, working diligently, and building his network of connections. Could it all be that in the end, he couldn't compare to the merits he gained in a bloody battle?

Seniority and hard work seem so pale in the face of Heavenly Laws and glorious military achievements.

The rewards continued, and as his achievements became more and more illustrious, the rewards became even more astonishing.

The gazes of all the immortals in the hall gradually focused on a few figures.

Everyone knows that the real highlight is about to begin.

The celestial music paused briefly, and the celestial official who had announced the names quietly withdrew, standing respectfully with his head bowed.

But then they saw Taibai Xingjun, a close minister of the Jade Emperor, with a solemn face and a clear light flowing around him. He held a jade scroll and took a step forward himself.

This subtle gesture immediately made all the gods in the hall tremble.

The fact that Venus, the Star Lord, personally announced this is an extremely high honor, something that cannot be obtained without extraordinary merit.

The Star Lord unfurled the scroll of imperial edict, its purple aura swirling and golden patterns subtly visible, and his voice resounded throughout the entire Lingxiao Palace:

"Summon—Chen Jiao, the Heavenly Lord of Yilie, step forward to receive your investiture!"

In an instant, everyone's gaze in the entire Lingxiao Palace focused on the figure in black robes who remained calm and composed.

With each phrase recited by Venus, the hall grew quieter.

His described military exploits were all truly monumental achievements, far more concrete and impressive than those of any previous recipient.

The savior, the demon chief, and the demon god's avatar laid the foundation for the overall victory in vanquishing the demon!

Such achievements are beyond what ordinary generals can match.

Upon thinking of this, Venus paused slightly.

All the immortals in the hall held their breath and focused their attention, knowing that the crucial moment was about to arrive.

The Star Lord's gaze swept over the thousands of immortals and gods standing solemnly in the hall, finally settling on Chen Jiao, and his voice suddenly rose:

"By the decree of the Supreme Jade Emperor, the Most Venerable and Naturally Existing Jade Emperor of the Golden Palace of the Vast Heaven, it is decreed:"

Chen Jiao, the Heavenly Lord of Yilie, wields the righteous Qi of thunder and holds supreme power. He subdues demons and sweeps away filth, his merits reaching the Three Realms; he pacifies the world and purifies the universe, his virtue matching the Nine Heavens.

He is now specially promoted to the rank of immortal and granted the title of True Lord.

He was granted the title of True Lord of the Radiant Heaven and the Dharma, and appointed as the Marshal of the Thunder Department to command all thunderbolts and vanquish evil spirits!

He was appointed as the Nine Heavens Demon Subduer, in charge of the Northern Exorcism Bureau, overseeing Yin and Yang, and patrolling the eight extremes!

He is in charge of the affairs of the Heavenly Pivot Thunder Palace, oversees the Pivot Thunder, and obeys the Heavenly Laws!

This special reward is hereby bestowed to demonstrate Heaven's favor.

I bestow upon you a hundred golden flowers, a hundred jugs of fine wine, and a bottle of Thunder Source Immortal Essence to aid your cultivation.

Enjoy ten peaches that have been growing for ten thousand years, of purple-veined, yellow-kernel immortal seeds, which will increase your lifespan and bring you good fortune.

He bestowed upon Lei Yang the Demon-Subduing Sword and the Crimson Cloud Fan, to demonstrate his majesty and supernatural powers.

May you revere this, and in harmony with the heavens, illuminate the blazing thunder.

His might shakes the universe, his virtue benefits all living beings. Forever he will suppress the demon realm, his glory will illuminate the heavens!