Gradually, more and more people filled Lingxiao Hall.
In the end, nearly everyone who ought to attend court assembly, and who was qualified to attend it, had arrived; even Taishang Laojun stood among their ranks.
Bull Devil King and the others had caused trouble on Flower Fruit Mountain, and he could be considered to have received the news firsthand, because that Old Ape on Flower Fruit Mountain was precisely one of his unknown number of alternate incarnations.
Then, with a rumbling boom, a great sound rang out from the imperial seat above the hall. In the next instant, it seemed as if all the light between heaven and earth had gathered toward that place.
The radiance was endless, vast, and majestic!
Emperor Lu was not here; otherwise, that kind of dazzling light would surely have made him sigh that it was still the familiar formula, still the familiar brightness that blinded a dog's eyes!
Then, amid that dazzling radiance, an illusory figure gradually solidified. In this same instant, all the immortals and gods in the hall felt a pressure that stood high above them.
Supreme!
Peerless!
A figure in a golden imperial robe appeared, towering a full forty-five meters tall, immeasurable light shining from his back. Before him, the assembled immortals and gods were only the size of a finger.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
The hearts and minds of the immortals and gods shook, and they respectfully bowed to the Jade Emperor, this supreme ruler of the Three Realms and master of the Heavenly Court.
After the salute, Li Jing mused, "Might I ask what urgent matter Your Majesty has summoned us here for?"
"Because evildoers are stirring up trouble in the mortal world."
A voice rang out from outside the hall. Lu Chuan, clad in a black robe, his left