Chapter 1: The Peach Conference, All Quarters Pay Homage

  Time flies like an arrow!

  In the vast and profound Qing Tian Xuan Qing realm, Hongyuan sat high on a cloud bed, lecturing to a group of living beings below him about the great Dao of Xuan Qing. The saint's lecture was truly extraordinary, as golden lotus flowers burst forth from the ground, strange fragrances wafted through the air, purple qi swirled around, and seven-colored rainbow light illuminated the entire realm. The Supreme Great Dao emanated from Hongyuan's mouth, and all that could be heard were the living beings below him becoming utterly enchanted!

  At this time, Hong Xuan suddenly stopped and said nothing to the crowd of puzzled creatures below. He instructed the child next to him: "Bai Yu, go outside Qingxu Heaven to welcome the guest."

  The white jade boy standing beside Hongyuan bowed to him and responded with a "yes", then hurriedly walked towards the outside of Qingxu Heaven. The white jade boy muttered to himself as he walked: "I don't know who came to see Master, but they actually interrupted Master's wonderful lecture!"

  Although he muttered in a low voice, how could he deceive Hongyuan's ears? Hongyuan just smiled slightly and didn't blame him. He pretended to be angry and said, "Don't you hurry up?"

  Bai Yu was startled by the words and hastily rushed out, everyone looked at his flustered appearance and burst into laughter, even Kong Xuan, who was sitting in the first place, couldn't help but laugh!

  Hong Xuan helplessly shook his head. The White Jade Boy and the Blue Jade Boy standing beside him were two beautiful jade pieces born when he opened up the Qingxu Heaven, which he had turned into boys to serve by his side. Although Hong Xuan was a revered saint, he was approachable and down-to-earth in his daily interactions with his disciples, so everyone dared to laugh freely in front of him!

  Before long, a white jade boy with a duster in his hand and an old man with crane hair and a youthful face appeared before Hong Xuan. The old man saw Hong Xuan sitting high on the cloud bed from afar, and when he approached, he hurriedly kowtowed and said: "Little Immortal Li Changgeng pays respects to Holy Pure Saint, wishing the saint eternal life!"

  Since the dawn of heaven and the Jade Pool, Emperor Yu Huang has been ordered to enter the heavenly court. After becoming the Heavenly Emperor and Empress, they discovered that the heavenly court had become desolate after the Great War between Sorcerers and Demons. They had no choice but to issue a decree to recruit some scattered immortals from the lower realm, among whom was Li Changgeng. Li Changgeng was good at guessing the thoughts of Emperor Yu Huang, handling matters with finesse and transparency, which made him gain the trust of Emperor Yu Huang, who appointed him as the Star Lord of Taibai. Taibai is the essence of gold in the west; there is Qiming in the east and Changgeng in the west, both are gold stars. After becoming the Star Lord of Taibai, Li Changgeng continued to use his social skills, recruiting many immortal officials for Emperor Yu Huang over the years, making the heavenly court look impressive again. Emperor Yu Huang was even more pleased with him, entrusting him with diplomatic missions, which he handled with relish.

  "Hong Xuan said calmly: 'Put down your guard! Taibai Jinxing, what brings you here?'"

  Taibai Jinxing bowed to Hongyuan and rose to his feet, saying respectfully: "The sacred person, the Queen Mother's peaches in the Peach Garden have ripened. The Queen Mother is hosting a peach banquet and has specially sent me to invite the Holy One of Clear Purity!" He then took out an invitation card with nine golden dragons embroidered on its border from his sleeve.

  Qīng Yù Tóng Zǐ received the invitation from Taibai Jinxing's hand, and with a light wave of Hongyuan's hand, the invitation flew from Qīng Yù Tóng Zǐ's hand to Hongyuan's palm.

  Hong Xuan nodded and said, "It's rare for Haotian Dao to have such a heart!" He then turned his head to Kong Xuan below the seat and said, "Kong Xuan, you can go to the meeting on behalf of the master!"

  Kong Xuan hastily stood up from his seat and respectfully replied: "Your disciple understands!"

  Tai Bai Jin Xing saw the invitation had been sent out, then said: "Little immortal still has invitations to send out, it's not convenient to stay for long, I hope you can excuse me!"

  Hong Xuan nodded and said to Kong Xuan: "Let you send Taibai Jinxing on his way!"

  Kong Xuan responded with a sound, turned his head and said to Tai Bai Jin Xing: "Please, fellow Taoist!"

  Tai Bai Jin Xing said with a flustered expression: "I don't dare, I don't dare! Please go first, Senior!" He knew Kong Xuan's identity, and just considering his status as the first disciple of the Mystic Sect, he could sit on an equal footing with the Heavenly Emperor. Now that Kong Xuan was personally sending him off, he couldn't help but feel a little at a loss.

  Kong Xuan smiled slightly and walked while asking Tai Bai Jin Xing: "Do you know why the Queen Mother opened the Peach Blossom Party?"

  Tai Bai Jin Xing respectfully said: "This little immortal knows that the Taoist ancestor gave the queen mother a peony peach root, and now 9,000 years have passed, the peony peach has matured for the first time. The queen mother is celebrating and specially holding a Peony Peach Banquet to invite all the great gods of the three realms to share the peony peach!"

  Kong Xuan nodded thoughtfully and didn't say another word, sending Tai Bai Jin Xing out of Qing Xu Tian before returning to Hong Yuan's presence. He bowed and asked, "Disciple dares to ask Master, what is the intention behind Heaven's actions?"

  Hong Xuan smiled slightly and said: "Nothing else, let's establish our prestige!"

  Kong Xuan suddenly realized the truth! It turned out that although Huang Tian and Yao Chi had taken over the heavenly court, they were originally born as children of the gods. Although they had been appointed by the founder of Taoism to be the Heavenly Emperor and Empress, those powerful gods did not recognize their authority, making them feel extremely awkward. Over nearly ten thousand years, the two had used various means to gather a large number of followers. Huang Tian even gave himself the title "Huang Tian Jin Que Wu Shang Zhi Zun Zi Ran Miao You Mi Luo Zhi Zhen Yu Huang Shang Di", also known as "Gao Tian Shang Sheng Da Ci Ren Zhe Yu Huang Da Tian Zun Xuan Gong Gao Shang Di", and also known as "Yu Huang Da Di". He also appointed Yao Chi as the Queen Mother, to demonstrate his identity and status. This time, when the peaches were ripe for the first time, the Jade Emperor took this opportunity to host a banquet for all the gods of the three realms, in order to establish his authority!

  Hongyuan took out a talisman from his sleeve and handed it to the White Jade Boy, instructing him: "White Jade, go down to the mortal realm and find Ao Guang in the East Sea. Give this talisman to him!"

  The White Jade Boy received the imperial edict and did not dare to be slow. He left the Clear Void Heaven, descended into the mortal world, and arrived at the East Sea Dragon Palace. At that time, the East Sea Dragon King Ao Guang was hosting a banquet for his entire family. The cups and plates were interlocking, and the servants were coming and going, creating a harmonious and lively scene. Suddenly, a gatekeeper shrimp soldier came to report that the White Jade Boy had arrived. The East Sea Dragon King was startled and hastily ordered the wine table to be removed. He personally went out to welcome the White Jade Boy into the Crystal Palace, then asked: "White Jade, you are not attending to your duties in the Clear Void Heaven, so why do you have time today to visit my humble abode?"

  Bai Yu casually picked up the fruit on the table, took a bite, and splashed out a piece of juice, making Ao Guang shake his head repeatedly. After finishing the fruit, Bai Yu took out the Xuan Qing Imperial Edict from her sleeve and said to Ao Guang: "The old master has passed down the imperial edict, brother please accept it!"

  Ao Guang led a group of Dragon Palace subordinates to kneel on the ground and said, "Ao Guang welcomes the sacred decree!" After finishing speaking, he respectfully took the Xuan Qing Fu Decree from the hands of the White Jade Boy, opened it carefully and read it through once. Only then did he say to Bai Yu, "Brother, you can go back and tell Master that Ao Guang has understood his intentions, please ask Master to rest assured!"

  Bai Yutong heard this and nodded, saying: "In that case, I'll be leaving now!" Ao Guang escorted Bai Yu out of the Dragon Palace and ordered someone to strike the Four Seas Bell. Before long, the four Dragon Kings gathered in the East Sea Dragon Palace to discuss the matters entrusted by Hong Xuan.

  Kong Xuan left Qingxu Heaven and soon rode the clouds to arrive outside the South Heavenly Gate. After showing his invitation to the heavenly general guarding the gate, he entered the South Heavenly Gate and strolled along, taking in the scenery of the heavenly palace. He saw: Bright halos shining with celestial light, emerald mist veiling the mouth of the Dipper. There were thirty-three heavenly palaces here, including Yunyin Palace, Pishamen Palace, Wuming Palace, Taiyang Palace, Huayao Palace... Each palace had a golden roof and stable beasts; there were also seventy-two layers of precious halls, including Chaohui Hall, Lingxu Hall, Baoguang Hall, Tianwang Hall, Lingguan Hall... Each hall had pillars lined with jade qilin. There were famous flowers that never wilted for thousands of years; beside the alchemy stove, there was evergreen embroidered grass that lasted for millions of years. Arriving at the Chao Sheng Lou, he saw: Crimson silk robes, starry and radiant; lotus flower crowns, golden pendants shining brightly. Jade hairpins, pearl shoes, purple sashes, and golden badges. Kong Xuan couldn't help but praise, although the heavenly court was vastly different from Qingxu Heaven's scenery, lacking its serenity and natural beauty, it was also majestic and awe-inspiring!

  Tai Bai Jin Xing had long seen Kong Xuan from afar and hurried over with quick, light steps. He smiled with narrowed eyes: "The immortal has arrived; let this little immortal lead the way!"

  Kong Xuan had a good impression of this kind and gentle old man, and smiled slightly: "Thank you!" He then followed Tai Bai Jin Xing into the Ling Xiao Treasure Hall.

  As soon as he entered the hall, a loud and clear laughter came: "Haha haha, it's really a great joy that fellow Taoist can come!" And saw in the main hall on the first seat sitting upright was a person wearing nine-chapter official robes, with twelve rows of pearl crown, holding a jade tablet, accompanied by golden boys and jade girls, who was none other than the Jade Emperor. On his right side was a woman wearing a phoenix robe and a gold hairpin, who was Queen Mother Wang.

  Kong Xuan bowed his head and said: "I have seen the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother!"

  The Jade Emperor nodded and said: "Enough courtesy from you, fellow Taoist! Please take a seat!"

  At this time, the great master Xuan Du and the two teachings of Chan Jie led the immortals to pay their respects to Kong Xuan. The Western teaching disciples also paid their respects to Kong Xuan. After that, the great immortal Zhen Yuanzi of Wuzhuangguan Temple paid his respects to Kong Xuan, who then sat down in the first position on the left side.

  Kong Xuan raised his head and saw that on the steps above him stood seven seats, apparently prepared for the seven saints. However, they were all empty, clearly indicating that the saints had only sent their disciples instead of coming themselves!

  The immortals were just raising their cups, when suddenly Taibai Jinxing rushed in from outside the hall, and upon approaching the crowd, he bowed to the Jade Emperor and reported: "Your Majesty, the Four Seas Dragon Kings have come to pay homage and beg for an audience!"

  The crowd of immortals was shocked to hear this, as it is now known throughout the three realms that the Four Seas Dragon Clan are disciples of the Xuanmen Sect, and only respect the Xuanqing Symbol Edict. How could they possibly claim to be vassals? The Jade Emperor looked at Kong Xuan with a puzzled expression, but saw that he was simply drinking wine, ignoring his gaze. The Jade Emperor had no choice but to say: "Xuan!" Taibai Jinxing received the order and stood up, shouting loudly: "Announce the arrival of the Four Seas Dragon King in the palace!"

  Before long, the Four Seas Dragon Kings entered the hall and paid homage to the Jade Emperor. The East Sea Dragon King said: "The four seas dragon tribe obeyed the Xuanqing Imperial Edict and from now on will be loyal subjects of Your Majesty!" After finishing speaking, he took out a document of allegiance from his sleeve, which was hastily received by Taibai Jinxing and presented to the Jade Emperor.

  The Jade Emperor glanced at it briefly and asked Gong Xuan: "May I ask, fellow Taoist, what does the Holy Man of Mysterious Clarity mean by this?"

  Kong Xuan only then put down the wine cup in his hand, swept a glance at the many immortals in the hall, although it was faint, but made those immortals who had not yet attained the status of true saint tremble with fear, especially the disciples of the Four Teachings. He couldn't help but secretly sigh: "I've long heard that Big Brother Shifu is already an accurate saint who has cut off two corpses, known as the number one person below the saints. Today, I see that his reputation is indeed not in vain!"

  With a faint smile, Kong Xuan said to the Jade Emperor: "The teacher has spoken, Your Majesty is the Heavenly Emperor, the ruler of all heavens, the leader of all saints, the master of the universe, the opener of the enlightenment of all heavens, the executor of the heavenly way, the spreader of heavenly virtues, the creator of all things, the savior of all living beings, the balancer of the three realms, the ruler of all spirits, and the infinite measurer of human beings. He is the supreme deity of the heavenly realm, the Emperor of all heavens! The four seas should pay homage to him!"

  The Jade Emperor was overjoyed, knowing that this was clearly Hongyuan openly supporting him and helping him establish his prestige. He suddenly became spirited and confident! However, he knew that although the Four Seas Dragon Clan had submitted to the Heavenly Court, it was only because of the edict of the Xuanqing Emperor, and that he didn't have much control over them, just a nominal position. This was similar to how the previous demonic heavenly court treated the Four Seas Dragon Clan. Nevertheless, he was already satisfied, seeing the no longer disdainful gazes from below, his heart filled with gratitude towards Hongyuan!

  The Jade Emperor ordered someone to invite the Four Seas Dragon Kings to take their seats. After that, some invited immortals came one after another. The seats were all filled, and with a loud command from the Jade Emperor, the Peach Banquet began!

  It is: All immortals gather at the Peach Conference, and the dragon clans of the four seas enter the Heavenly Court.