Lingxiao Palace
The moment Xu Xiao stepped through the palace gates, his steps faltered slightly, for he saw:
The palace pillars are entwined with golden-scaled, sun-drenched, crimson-bearded dragons, while a colorful-feathered, red-crowned phoenix stands before the steps, radiating boundless divine light from within, making one almost instinctively close their eyes.
Fortunately, Xu Xiao was a man who had seen many big scenes. He steadied himself and followed Zhenwu's steps into the arena.
The Heavenly Court Wenwu civil and military, were already lined up on both sides, standing in rows like a court in the mortal world, waiting for their turn.
Xu Xiao could only rely on his limited knowledge to identify some of the people.
The one with a full head of white beard and hair, and a golden star between his eyebrows, is probably Taibai Jinxing, who is smiling at Xu Xiao at this moment; the one who is more than ten feet tall and stands out even among the crowd in the Lingxiao Palace should be the Giant Spirit God; and the middle-aged man holding the pagoda and the cold-looking boy next to him should be Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li, and his son.
Looking at these immortals and gods whom he had only heard of in legends, Xu Xiao couldn't help but take a few more glances, which earned him respectful looks from the other gods.
'These individuals are outrageously powerful! No wonder this is the Journey to the West Origin Great World; each one here Jidu the original form or main consciousness of a legendary figure, right?'
Xu Xiao pondered to himself, and even the thought of seeing the true face of the legendary Great Jade Emperor Haotian arose in his mind.
He had barely raised his head when Zhenwu subtly blocked his impolite prying, followed by a report;
"Your Majesty, the candidate for the Celestial Sky-Patrolling Bureau, Xu Xiao, has been brought here."
As he spoke, Zhenwu quietly gestured for Xu Xiao to bow in the same manner as him, so Xu Xiao had no choice but to abandon the idea of looking directly at the Jade Emperor.
However, taking advantage of the bowing opportunity, he still managed to steal a glance and found that his true appearance was obscured by the Heavenly Emperor's crown and by the boundless divine light and Daoist aura, making it impossible to see his specific features.
He could only recognize that the man was a middle-aged man with an air of authority similar to the Great Emperor Ziwei, which greatly diminished Xu Xiao's interest.
On the high throne, the Great Jade Emperor Haotian, with his crown draped with curtains, spoke with a voice as majestic as the law of heaven, " Sovereign Lord Zhenwu, is this the candidate for the Sky-Patrolling Bureau that you recommended?"
Zhenwu stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty, although Xu Xiao is a rogue cultivator from the lower realm, he possesses extraordinary comprehension and is particularly adept at monitoring variables. Now that the Journey to the West Calamity is about to begin, such talents are in great need."
The Jade Emperor's gaze swept over Xu Xiao, and his heavenly might pressed down like a prison.
At this moment, Xu Xiao felt a sense of powerlessness similar to when he faced the Sage Nüwa, as if he had returned to his mortal days and was facing the collapse of the heavens.
This gaze was even more aggressive than that of the Great Emperor Ziwei, as if he wanted to strip Xu Xiao naked from head to toe.
'This Jade Emperor is no ordinary person; he's probably not far from reaching the realm of Sage!'
Thinking about how he had just tried to offend and spy on such a being, Xu Xiao felt that he had been having too much success lately and had become a little arrogant.
After mentally reminding himself of this, Xu Xiao bowed respectfully and secretly activated the Reversing the Dao of Cause and Effect to minimize his own presence.
As the ruler of Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor's own strength was undoubtedly among the top tier, but no matter how he scanned the Daoist in front of him, he could only see that the Daoist in front of him possessed the magical Magic Power and divine body of Heavenly Immortal.
As for the principles of cultivation, they are not clearly discernible.
The cause and effect of fate were completely concealed from him, and even the Lord of Heavenly Court could not find a Silk.
Such cultivation of the Dao of Cause and Effect is comparable to that of only a handful of beings in the Three Realms.
'Interesting, another unexpected little fellow has emerged from the Three Pure Ones Daoist School.'
As the Heavenly Emperor, the Jade Emperor was naturally well aware of the Daoist Sect's actions, but his position dictated that he could not openly support either side.
Whether it's Daoist Sect or Western Sect, both have Sage backing them up. Of course, they are not afraid, because behind them is the Heavenly Dao Lord, and nominally both sides are under His jurisdiction.
No matter how much trouble they cause, as long as the Journey to the West Calamity proceeds as scheduled and dissipates the calamity energy between heaven and earth, that will be fine.
As for the various calculations on both sides, whether driven by self-interest or mutual scheming, who suffers the loss and who gains the advantage, let them deal with it themselves.
"Good!"
The Jade Emperor's words were already quite favorable, and the surrounding immortals and gods all turned their attention to Xu Xiao.
Suddenly, Xu Xiao felt even more pressure, and even had a desire to connect with the World-Crossing Gate in his Sea of Consciousness and escape.
The Kamui is as vast as the sea, Kamui as a prison. The gaze of so many great supernatural beings is focused upon them, which is nothing short of a form of mental oppression.
Fortunately, the Jade Emperor did not probe Xu Xiao too much. After discovering that Xu Xiao did indeed have some attainments in the Dao of Cause and Effect, he turned his attention away.
The assembled immortals, both Wenwu and military, also shifted their gazes away, greatly reducing Xu Xiao's pressure.
"Gentlemen, what do you think?"
Although the Jade Emperor holds the power to make decisions regarding matters of Heavenly Court, he usually consults with his ministers and expresses their opinions, except in a few cases where he acts arbitrarily.
"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, this person possesses profound knowledge of the principles of cause and effect and destiny, making him perfectly suited for the position of Imperial Envoy."
"To investigate the changes in the rules of heaven and earth, and to examine the laws of cause and effect in countless worlds, we need a celestial being like this to do it."
Star Lord Taibai of Venus, was the first to step forward and support Xu Xiao.
As the chief messenger of the Great Heavenly Venerable and the head of the Heavenly Court's civil officials, Taibai Jinxing largely represents the Jade Emperor's will.
Although He cannot directly express His support for the Daoist Sect, Taibai Jinxing can!
While some other Heavenly Court deities were still hesitating, an unexpected being spoke first:
"Your Majesty, I also think that Star Lord Taibai is right. This little fellow is quite good."
The gods were all taken aback upon hearing this, and they all looked at the one who had spoken.
It was an old immortal with white beard and white hair, dressed in a Daoist robe with the Eight Trigrams of Heaven and Earth, wearing a lotus crown, and holding a whisk hanging in his hand.
All the immortals and gods were secretly surprised. Even Taishang Laojun himself had spoken, so it seemed that the Daoist Sect was serious this time.
Seeing this, the neutral or slightly dissenting deities dared not speak again, and subsequently, several Daoist Sect Daoist deities affirmed the matter, thus settling the score.
The Jade Emperor pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Since my three beloved ministers, Taibai, Zhenwu, Laojun, have jointly recommended me, I hereby appoint me to the position of ' Nine Heavens Duty Officer of the Sky-Patrolling Bureau,' bestowing upon me one Peach of Immortality and three Golden Core pills. I shall assume my post immediately."
A celestial official presented a golden book and jade seal. Xu Xiao was about to express his gratitude when he suddenly heard a Buddhist chant coming from outside the hall. " Amitabha Buddha!"
Guanyin Bodhisattva, holding Jade Purification Vase, floated in gracefully, her gaze sweeping over Xu Xiao with a meaningful look. "This humble monk, by the decree of the Buddha, has come to congratulate the Heavenly Court on the addition of another outstanding talent."
The Lingxiao Palace fell silent instantly.