NOVEL NEXT Chapter 361: Temporarily Conceal
"Furthermore, here is a congratulatory gift from Old Jun, a flask of Nine Turns Primordial Elixir," Taibaijinxing handed the purple-gold gourd to Sun Wukong.
"Old Jun?"
Sun Wukong was surprised; in the previous simulation, when the Jade Emperor had promoted him, there was no part for him, so why this time did he give him a flask of Nine Turns Primordial Elixir?
However, in the previous simulation of his promotion, in addition to the promotion, the Jade Emperor had also awarded him a great deal of gold flowers and pan peaches as a reward, but now there were none.
Perhaps it was because he had only subdued a few Demon Kings, meriting a promotion, but as for the other rewards, forget about it, and Old Jun had noticed that he had eradicated a wisp of the Primordial Spirit of a demon, which was why he was gifted the flask of Nine Turns Primordial Elixir.
"Indeed, it is a gift bestowed by Old Jun," Taibaijinxing nodded, "Also, that Ruyi Jingu Bang of yours is also a Divine Weapon forged by Taishang Laojun through the Nine Turns refinement process."
"I, of course, am aware of this," Sun Wukong said with a grin, pulling Taibaijinxing to go drink, "Come on, let's have a drink."
"I can't, I need to get back quickly," Taibaijinxing declined, "The Jade Emperor is waiting for my report. The assembly of immortal ministers and deities in the palace also must wait for my report before they can leave the court. I dare not delay."
"Then forget it," Sun Wukong said, a bit disappointed.
He took Taibaijinxing to the Mortal Dust Peach Tree, but Taibaijinxing did not take much, only picking one before taking his leave.
"Old Chap, do come and visit often," Sun Wukong waved goodbye.
"Emperor, I shall speak more when I visit next time," Taibaijinxing mounted the clouds, heading in the direction of the Southern Celestial Gate.
Ao Yun walked out from the Water Curtain Pavilion and asked, "Brother, what did Taibaijinxing want with you? Did the Jade Emperor have any edicts to pass on to you?"
Her interactions with Taibaijinxing were not many, the only two occasions being once when he invited Sun Wukong to the heavens for a conferment, and the other being at a banquet a year ago.
Taibaijinxing gave Ao Yun the impression of a good old man.
But even though his relationship with her brother was not bad, and it could even be said to be quite close, the old man would ordinarily not descend to the mortal realm on his own initiative.
If her brother had not invited him to come down, then it must be an edict from the Jade Emperor.
Sun Wukong said, "It is the edict of the Jade Emperor, and also, the Three Pure Ones have signed their names, and Old Jun even gave me a flask of Nine Turns Primordial Elixir as a congratulatory gift."
"Could it be!" Ao Yun thought of something, filled with surprise!
"That's right, just as you imagined, I subdued the four big Demon Kings in the Northern Jambu Continent, and Zhen Wu spoke well of me in front of the Jade Emperor, so the Jade Emperor conferred a reward on me, my status has now reached that of a Sixth Imperial Rank, in the category of Emperors," Sun Wukong said with a bit of glee, "From now on, I will no longer need to report to the Jade Emperor every year. I can establish my own celestial palaces and mansions, and as long as there are no major issues, the Jade Emperor will not intervene."
"Congratulations, Brother!"
Ao Yun's face lit up with joy.
Now that her brother was promoted to the rank of Emperor, he could confer titles upon the deities, which meant that the people of Huaguo Mountain could also benefit, becoming immortals and gods, truly integrated into the system.
System—this word is a new one Ao Yun learned in the Library of Myriad Books; she felt it fit perfectly.
"Ao Yun!"
Suddenly, Sun Wukong called her name with gravity.
"Your servant is here!" Ao Yun immediately responded, bowing reverently, but Sun Wukong helped her up, saying, "Since you call me 'Brother,' there's no need to kneel." Content sourced from MV4LEMPYR – My Virtual Library Empire.
A jade token appeared before Sun Wukong, inscribed with the words "Great Sage," and a point of divine light slowly emerged, transforming into a sacred list.
Sun Wukong wrote out of thin air:
"Ao Yun, for your assistance in managing Huaguo Mountain, diligent and orderly, ensuring that all spirits are well-regulated and all beings are properly governed, I hereby confer upon you the title of Holy Mother of All Spirits and Celestial Dragons, and I hope you will continue to abide by your original aspiration and strive onwards!"
The divine register shone with great brilliance, imprinting within Ao Yun's spirit platform, manifesting an ethereal divine seal that bore the inscription "Holy Mother of All Spirits and Celestial Dragons."
This was the proof of those who had been granted immortal status in the lineage of Sun Wukong.
At the level of an Emperor, his subordinates, the immortal officials and divine generals, all possess a similar kind of divine seal. It does not control their life or death, but it can be retracted at any time, revoking their positions.
However, the officials under the Jade Emperor do not have such divine seals; theirs is a verbal reward and written record, then they may take office.
After all, among the many ministers in Lingxiao Palace, there are those born of Taoism, born of Buddhism, and some who ascended from being mortals.
In plain terms, they are all working in the Heavenly Court, and as long as they do not neglect their duties, the Great Heavenly Sovereign will not bother them with such fanciful things but will treat them with sincerity.
I treat others with sincerity, and others treat me with sincerity.
This is the philosophy of the Great Heavenly Sovereign, and the immortals of both Taoism and Buddhism are also working diligently, not neglecting their duties when it's time to fulfill their responsibilities.
This is the natural embodiment of the Taoist principle of effortless action!
Of course, this is also why those who can hold office under the Jade Emperor, that is, those officials who are allowed into the Tongming Hall and Lingxiao Palace for court sessions, all have that level of ideological enlightenment. For the lesser gods and immortals who cannot enter these two grand halls, a hope, such as the divine seal, becomes very important.
"Thank you, Carefree Sage King and Sovereign of Equal Heavens!" praised Ao Yun.
Sun Wukong, however, felt a shiver, saying, "That name is a bit long. From now on, just call me 'Brother.' When you call me by that name, it feels a bit odd."
"Pfft!"
Ao Yun laughed, saying, "If Brother finds the title too lengthy, how about simplifying it to 'Carefree Emperor' or perhaps 'Great Sage Equalling Heaven'?"
"Great Sage Equalling Heaven is not bad," Sun Wukong liked this title a great deal, for after all, it was a title he had earned in his first simulation, how could he not cherish it?
"Brother, should we announce your ascension to Emperor?" asked Ao Yun.
"Not yet," Sun Wukong shook his head.
Although in the previous simulation, announcing it wasn't a big deal, people's hearts are fickle.
If he became an Emperor, wouldn't he receive a title?
But how many years has Huaguo Mountain been established?
Demon kings are of the long-living kind, having worked only a few years; they now seek immortality. How should those cultivators who tirelessly subdue demons and eliminate evil, those who diligently cultivate and accumulate merit, view this?
Even though this situation did not arise in the simulations, Sun Wukong knew that people were only restrained by his strength, Sun Wukong's strength, and did not dare to come forward.
Therefore, Sun Wukong decided to announce it later.
At the very least, he must let the demon kings of Huaguo Mountain work for a few hundred years before making it public.
As a result, the celebration for his achievement as an Emperor would also have to be postponed for a few hundred years.
Sun Wukong loved festivities, but he knew well what matters were light and what were weighty, and if he wanted to host a banquet, there were plenty of reasons to do so, regardless of whether it celebrated his position as an Emperor or not.
"Brother has given this thorough consideration." After understanding Sun Wukong's thoughts, Ao Yun was full of admiration and believed that Huaguo Mountain would indeed become a true celestial nation on earth.
Meanwhile.
In the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss, in the Black Lotus space suppressed beneath the Tathagata, Demon King Mara's true form received news from a strand of his Primordial Spirit that had traveled to another realm through the Black Lotus of the Primordial Spirit, and he couldn't help but joyfully declare, "In the worlds of the heavens, the Heart Demons of all beings are as numerous as the hairs on an ox. If this throne were to go there, surely I would possess boundless Divine Skills..."