The lightning in the Thirty-Three Heavens stopped abruptly after striking eighty-one times.
The thick clouds of calamity dissipated, followed by a dazzling display of light and the blessing of Heavenly Dao.
Centered on the side hall where Xu Xiao was, a dazzling golden lotus rose from the ground, and petals made purely of Spiritual Energy fell from the sky to celebrate Xu Xiao's passing of the Golden Immortal Tribulation.
Inside a side hall of the Tushita Palace, the illusory Dao Fruit behind Xu Xiao's head suddenly solidified, transforming into a dazzling Great Dao of Cause and Effect, which then slowly merged into his body.
Xu Xiao's aura suddenly stabilized at the Golden Immortal realm, and he exuded a transcendent and unrestrained Intent of Freedom could no longer be confined by heaven and earth.
The Golden Immortal is the ultimate goal for most cultivators. Beyond that, there are no further limitations on realms; the only true advancement lies in one's individual understanding and sublimation of the Great Dao.
Whether they are Sage or others, strictly speaking, they are only a few levels above the Golden Immortal level.
A beam of Heavenly Dao light shone into the side hall from the sky, containing the Heavenly Dao's reward for the newly promoted Golden Immortal —the profound truths and rules of the laws of heaven and earth!
This is an opportunity that can only be seized when a breakthrough is achieved, and Xu Xiao naturally wouldn't let it slip by.
After becoming Daluo, his understanding of the rules deepened, and he also developed a greater desire to explore other rules.
To reach a higher level, whether it's the Daluo, the Wuji, or even the Hunyuan, one needs to gain more beyond their own inherent rules.
He was naturally not going to miss a moment of this reward from Heavenly Dao, which showed him the rules of all things. He opened the Golden Pupil of Myriad Phenomena between his eyebrows to the maximum extent, deeply imprinting these rules and principles into his mind.
Outside the door, Sun Wukong was excitedly gesturing and even seemed about to push the door open to offer his congratulations, but he was stopped by the Kinkaku Boy.
Shh! Don't rush!
"This is the most important time for Cao, so we absolutely must not disturb him."
"The master said that after breaking through to the Golden Immortal, there will be a wave of rewards from the Great Dao, which is of utmost importance to any cultivator."
"If you want to offer your congratulations, you can wait until Cao finishes comprehending the truth and then come out yourself."
Upon hearing this, the monkey nodded, suppressing its impulse, and obediently waited outside the side hall.
Meanwhile, Spirit Mountain Great Thunderclap Temple
Inside the Mahavira Hall, where incense burned thickly, the Buddha, who was preaching, Tathagata stopped speaking, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Just now, He sensed the changes in the world. A new, stable Great Dao had appeared in the world, and at the same time, the karmic connection between Him and the minor official of the Heavenly Court was completely erased.
With His Half-Sage level cultivation, such behavior could only mean that the little thief who was proficient in the Dao of Cause and Effect had successfully Dao Merging and become an Immortal Golden Immortal.
"Excellent! As expected of an outsider valued by the Daoist Sect, to have broken through to the Golden Immortal in just a few days. It seems the Daoist Sect is determined to make things difficult for our Shakya Sect this time!"
The Tathagata display of anger was noticed by the other Arhat and Bodhisattvas, who also realized what had happened and their expressions turned angry as well.
This is a conflict between two religions, concerning the interests of each of them. If the Western Sect's growth is Daoist Sect or obstructed by the Daoist Southern Jambudvipa Continent, or even use the journey to the Journey to the West as an anchor to radiate outwards to countless worlds and collect incense and faith?
Obstructing the way is a great enmity, but this is even worse than obstructing the way!
Almost all the Arhat and Bodhisattvas in their hearts regarded Xu Xiao as a demon who disrupted the Buddhist Sect's plans, thus creating a karmic connection.
Unfortunately, their so-called cause and effect could not be linked to Xu Xiao; they could only remember him through fragments of thoughts in their minds.
However, the face that was once so clear was now somewhat blurry, and some of the Arhat with slightly lower cultivation levels had even begun to forget Xu Xiao's appearance.
"What a master of Dao of Cause and Effect! There's absolutely nothing more that can be predicted about him." Guanyin tilted the Jade Purification Vase slightly at her fingertips, clearly having already cast a divination at the very beginning, but unfortunately, she gained nothing.
Bodhisattva Manjushri beneath the lotus throne suddenly sneered, "So what? Even if he becomes Golden Immortal, so what? He attained enlightenment through cause and effect. Although we can't predict his future, he will still participate in the Journey to the West."
"When the time comes, I will personally settle accounts with him and show him what the Buddha's wrath truly means!"
The other Bodhisattvas Arhat all had the same expression. In any case, the Jade Emperor had already agreed that Xu Xiao and the Monkey King would participate in the subsequent Journey to the West, so they weren't worried that he wouldn't show up.
If he shows up... hehe, Buddhist Sect will let him know what happens when someone sticks their neck out.
The Buddha, seated in the center, Tathagata the same plan. "In that case, we must prepare well for the Eighty-One Tribulations and make sure the Daoist Sect knows that our Western Sect is not so easily manipulated."
As the Buddha gently stroked his palm, the golden bodies of the Five Hundred Arhats in the hall simultaneously emitted radiant light, and half of them lost their compassionate appearance, transforming into Wrathful Vajra with blue faces and fangs.
Tushita Palace, after three days of anxious waiting, there was finally movement in the side hall.
As the two palace doors opened, Xu Xiao, dressed in a white Hagoromo, stepped out.
After surviving the Golden Immortal Tribulation, Xu Xiao seemed to have returned to his original, unadorned self, possessing no trace of divine aura and appearing more like a mortal.
But when you try to look at him closely, you find that you can't remember Xu Xiao's face no matter what you do. Even if you force yourself to remember it, it will slowly fade from your mind after a while.
Conceal your karmic connections and hide your true self!
This was the first thing Xu Xiao did after stabilizing his Golden Immortal Dao Fruit. Unless someone gave his approval, no one could possibly deduce anything about him anymore.
"Immortal, you have truly succeeded!"
Sun Wukong saw Xu Xiao emerge from seclusion immediately and excitedly rushed over.
"Yes, we succeeded. Now we're finally qualified to compete with the Western Sect."
Xu Xiao nodded, gently patted the monkey's shoulder, and turned to the Kinkaku Boy beside him, speaking:
" Laojun should still be in the palace, right? I have something I want to tell Him."
"The master had already instructed the officer on duty in the alchemy room that if he needed to find you after he came out of seclusion, he could simply take you there."
As they spoke, the two attendants, Kinkaku and Ginkaku, led the way, taking Xu Xiao forward.
His posture was different from before; he was no longer as casual as he used to be, but instead showed more reverence for those with great supernatural powers.
Reaching the Golden Immortal is already akin to entering the inner sanctum!