There was hope!
The Jade Emperor was beside himself with excitement.
There were two conditions for the Primordial Era World to advance in rank.
The first condition did not necessarily have to be completed first.
They could fulfill the second condition first, then accomplish the first!
And the second condition had originally been impossibly distant, something that could never be achieved. But now, there was hope!
Had they not seen it? Old Ancestor Qilin, that big black dog, had eaten Zhang Yifan's leftover food and become a Primordial Chaos Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
Then as long as they came to mooch meals every day, they could surely become Primordial Chaos Grand Unity Golden Immortals too!
As long as they continued cultivating, they would definitely become Primordial Chaos Grand Unity Golden Immortals of the Heavenly Dao Realm!
They definitely could!
The Jade Emperor was utterly certain.
"Mm, the most urgent matter is to put a stop to the Journey to the West first. Then I'll select some trusted aides and loyal ministers to come mooch meals."
The Jade Emperor made up his mind.
"Taibai, let's go. Prepare the carriage; we're returning to the Heavenly Court." With a sweep of his sleeve, the Jade Emperor strode out of the courtyard in high spirits.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Riding atop auspicious clouds, Taibai Jinxing suddenly dropped to his knees before the Jade Emperor, pressing his forehead against the Jade Emperor's shoe.
"What is it, Taibai?" The Jade Emperor looked imposing, his Emperor's Aura vast and boundless.
"Your Majesty, I, Taibai Jinxing, will forever be Your Majesty's most loyal and trustworthy dog. I beg Your Majesty to grant this humble servant the chance to serve you forever, to brave mountains of blades and seas of fire for you."
Primordial Chaos Grand Unity Golden Immortal!
Advancement of the Primordial Era World.
A high-tier supreme Primordial Era World.
Great Dao Saints!
Taibai Jinxing was no fool. This once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity stood right before him, and he had no intention of being left behind!
By staying at the Jade Emperor's side, he would have endless opportunities!
"Why say such things, Taibai? Have I not always trusted you? That is why I kept you by my side." The Jade Emperor spoke lightly. How could he possibly not know what Taibai Jinxing was thinking?
"I, Taibai Jinxing, swear upon my Dao Heart to serve His Majesty the Jade Emperor unto death. Should I harbor even the slightest thought of defiance or betrayal, may I immediately drop dead."
Knowing there was hope, Taibai Jinxing immediately declared his loyalty once more.
"Mm. There will be a place for you among the Great Dao Saints."
The Jade Emperor nodded, already looking every bit like the Heavenly Emperor of a high-tier Primordial Era World. He was fairly satisfied with Taibai Jinxing's performance.
"Thank you, Jade Emperor! No, thank you, Heavenly Emperor!" Taibai Jinxing was overjoyed!
Even if he had to be a dog, wouldn't being a dog at the realm of a Great Dao Saint be wonderful?
It was utterly wonderful!
Taibai Jinxing smiled so broadly that his eyebrows curved.
The Jade Emperor burst into laughter. It felt good—very good! This was exactly the feeling he wanted, the feeling of controlling everything about others!
The Heavenly Court.
After returning, the Jade Emperor went to find the Queen Mother.
Though the Queen Mother appeared to be a mature woman, her charm remained undiminished, and she possessed the extraordinary bearing of a mother to all under Heaven.
Seeing the Jade Emperor arrive in such a relaxed and cheerful mood, the Queen Mother asked with a smile, "Your Majesty is beaming. I presume some happy event has occurred?"
"A tremendously happy event!" The Jade Emperor chuckled, utterly lacking the bearing of the ruler of the Three Realms that he displayed in Lingxiao Palace.
"Oh? What great event? Could it be that the Western Teachings have yielded to Your Majesty and promised you considerable benefits?"
"Hmph, don't mention those petty people from the Western Teachings. It makes me angry just hearing about them." The Jade Emperor looked down on the Western Teachings.
"Then has the incarnation of the Grand Pure Saint, Grand Supreme Elder Laozi, yielded some authority to you?" the Queen Mother asked again.
"Oh, my Queen Mother, why must you bring up exactly what I do not wish to hear? Would that old fellow Grand Supreme Elder Laozi move the forces of the Human Teachings and Daoist Teachings away and return the Heavenly Court's authority?" The Jade Emperor was helpless.
"Then what other great happy event could there be?" The Queen Mother was speechless.
"A heaven-shakingly great event." The Jade Emperor swept away his displeasure, and a smile returned to his face.
"Tell me already."
"I found you a father!" the Jade Emperor said with a grin.
"What?" The Queen Mother was stunned.
"I said, I found you a father. We have a father now," the Jade Emperor said seriously.
"A father? We have a father?" The Queen Mother looked at the Jade Emperor as though he had gone mad. What kind of joke was this?
"That's right. We have a father now!" The Jade Emperor nodded, utterly serious.
"I understand that the affairs of the Three Realms have been weighing on you, but you cannot use me for amusement!" The Queen Mother sighed and shook her head. The Jade Emperor truly seemed as though the schemes and calculations of the Three Realms were driving him mad.
"When have I ever lied to you? I, the Jade Emperor, truly have a father now! And you, Queen Mother, have a father-in-law!"
Seeing that the Queen Mother did not believe him, the Jade Emperor grew anxious.
"You're serious?" The Queen Mother was shocked.
She had thought the Jade Emperor was merely joking, but his earnest, anxious expression did not seem fake at all!
"Of course it's true. How could it be false? If you do not believe me, go ask Taibai Jinxing." The Jade Emperor was immensely pleased with himself.
"Fine, I believe you." The Queen Mother's face was full of suspicion, and her heart was filled with questions, but she still chose to believe the Jade Emperor. After all, they had supported one another for countless years and weathered every storm together. The Jade Emperor had never deceived her.
"I am just curious—how did you suddenly gain a father?" the Queen Mother asked curiously.
"It happened like this."
The Jade Emperor then told the Queen Mother the entire story from beginning to end.
"That's all?"
"That's all!" The Jade Emperor nodded.
"So you truly acknowledged him as your father?" The Queen Mother laughed.
"I did not wish to at first, but what happened afterward made me realize that acknowledging this father was more than worth it!"
The Jade Emperor naturally knew what the Queen Mother was thinking.
Thus, he set up a grand formation to isolate the area within and without, then told the Queen Mother about Big Black Dog Old Ancestor Qilin, the food containing Fragments of Great Dao Laws, the Primordial Era World's advancement in rank, the Primordial Chaos Grand Unity Golden Immortal, and the Great Dao Saint.
Hiss!
Hiss!
Gulp!
Gulp!
Hearing these secrets, the Queen Mother continuously sucked in cold breaths and swallowed hard. Shocked beyond measure, she collapsed unsteadily onto her phoenix throne.
Even after the Jade Emperor finished speaking, the Queen Mother could not calm her horrified yet excited heart for a long time.
Only after a long while did the Queen Mother finally regain her composure.
"Your Majesty, we must acknowledge this father! He is our real father—closer than a real father!" the Queen Mother declared forcefully.
This father had to be their father!
No one could take him away!
"He already is our real father." The Jade Emperor smiled.
"Hehe, Jade Emperor, you truly are blessed. You descended to the mortal world once and acknowledged a father who is a hidden great power comparable to a Great Dao Saint." The Queen Mother was overjoyed. If the Primordial Era World truly advanced successfully, then she, the Queen Mother, would still be a mother to all under Heaven—would she not also wield authority over the heavens? Would she not be mother to all the heavens?
"It is our good fortune!"
"Hahahaha!"
The Jade Emperor and Queen Mother looked at each other and laughed.
"The most urgent matter is to put a stop to the Journey to the West first," the Queen Mother said.
"Mm, I have already made arrangements. Tang Sanzang and his group have just reached Lion Camel Ridge, so we will hold them there for now," the Jade Emperor replied.
The Queen Mother nodded, then asked eagerly with a smile, "Then when will we go meet our father? I am already a little impatient."
"No rush. I have already told Father that I would bring you and our daughters along. First call back all seven of our daughters and make the arrangements. Then we will quietly descend to the mortal world together."
"Alright! I'll make the arrangements right away."
The Queen Mother nodded in agreement, her heart filled with anticipation for this father who had fallen from the sky.
She imagined what kind of existence this father truly was.
Would he be easy to get along with?
Before you continue