Ao Tu followed White Crane Boy to see Yuanshi Tianzun. They passed through three times three palaces and nine times nine towers before entering a main hall.
When Ao Tu had entered Great Immortal Zhenyuan's Wuzhuang Temple, the temple had enshrined neither the Three Pure Ones nor the Four Emperors nor the sovereigns of Great Luo, placing only the two characters for Heaven and Earth at its center. Now, Yuanshi Tianzun's Jade Void Palace did not even enshrine those two characters.
Turning inside, they found Yuanshi Tianzun seated upon the Jade Terrace, expounding wondrous mysteries.
Ao Tu bowed in greeting.
Seeing him, Yuanshi Tianzun descended from the terrace and raised a hand to support Ao Tu's forearm. "Blue lotuses have just bloomed in the treasure pool in the Rear Garden," he said with a smile. "Shall we go and have a look together?"
Ao Tu naturally agreed and said respectfully, "After you, Celestial Worthy."
Smiling, Yuanshi Tianzun led Ao Tu to the Rear Garden.
The garden held endless wonders to behold, treasure trees to admire, exotic flowers to appreciate, and immortal herbs to gaze upon. There was a treasure pool whose waters were clear and turbid, with lotuses in full bloom. Their fragrance wafted out, suffusing the heart and lingering unforgettably.
The two admired the sight for a while.
Yuanshi Tianzun summoned White Crane Boy and told him to pick nine blue lotuses, arrange and pack them, and give them to Ao Tu. Smiling, he said, "The Peach Banquet is approaching. Sorry for the trouble, fellow Daoist, but please present these few lotuses to the Queen Mother of the West on my behalf."
Ao Tu agreed and accepted the lotuses.
The two returned from the Rear Garden to the hall.
Returning to the matter at hand, Ao Tu sought Yuanshi