Journey to the West: Cultivation Begins at Jindou Mountain

Chapter 145 Jade Emperor's Edict
On Rotten Peach Mountain, Niu Yi slowly opened his eyes. He looked at the auspicious cloud that was rapidly descending towards the foot of Rotten Peach Mountain, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes. Then he slowly got up, put the Earth Spirit Pearl back into his Niwan Palace sea of ​​consciousness, and took a step to arrive at the foot of the mountain.

Niu Yi watched the auspicious cloud slowly descend, and saw that on the cloud was an old immortal wearing a white robe with stars in his head, holding a whisk, wearing a star crown, with white hair and a youthful face, and a kind smile on his face.

But as soon as the auspicious cloud descended, the old immortal walked towards Niu Yi.

Niu Yi cupped his hands and said:
"May I ask who the old immortal is?"

But then the old immortal stood before Niu Yi, bowed, and laughed:

"You must be the Immortal Master Guangyi. I am Li Changgeng."

Li Changgeng... it turns out to be Venus. My senior brother said that someone else would come looking for him after a while, and it must be him.

Niu Yi faced Venus, gestured with his arm toward the path leading up the mountain behind him, and said:
"I was unaware of your arrival, Star Lord. I apologize for not welcoming you properly. I still have some peaches and tea on my mountain. Please come in with me for a chat."

Although it was their first meeting, he had a good impression of this person. This person was an important minister of the Heavenly Court, and he did not go up the mountain directly, but came down to the foot of the mountain, which can be said to be giving him a lot of courtesy and face.

"Alright, alright, then I'll trouble Immortal Guangyi."

Venus always wore a friendly smile that made people feel good, and he was not at all arrogant. He walked with Niu Yi toward the top of Rotten Peach Mountain.

With their stamina, the two quickly reached the mountaintop. Niu Yi gestured towards the stone table, exchanged greetings with Venus, and then sat down opposite the table.

Niu Yi took out a jade cup and teapot, and then retrieved many spirit peaches, placing them in front of Venus.

Venus picked up a spirit peach from the plate, took a small bite, nodded slightly, and smiled:
"These peaches are wonderful. Immortal Master, you've truly put a lot of care into cultivating these peach trees all over the mountain!"

"I only have a few mountain peaches and bland tea on my mountain, which cannot compare to the heavenly nectar. I hope you will forgive my poor offering."

Venus stroked his beard and shook his head, saying:

"What are you saying, Immortal Master? The peaches from the mountains also have their own unique flavor."

Niu Yi smiled, gaining a deeper understanding of this person, and then cupped his hands in greeting:
"I haven't yet had the chance to ask, Star Lord, what brings you here today?"

"Hehe~ I see that Immortal Guangyi is also a wise man, so I think he can guess a bit of it."

Venus smiled and winked at Niu Yi as she spoke.

Niu Yi was speechless, thinking to himself that this person was indeed easygoing and had no airs at all. He then said:

"Could it be that Star Lord has come because of his faith in the Divine Physician Dao Lord?"

Venus smiled and nodded, then slowly took out a golden scroll from his sleeve. Niu Yi looked at the scroll and his expression changed slightly. The aura on it gave him a feeling of facing the Heavenly Dao directly.

This must be the Great Celestial Venerable's decree.
"Immortal Guangyi, this is the Jade Emperor's decree, containing an immortal register. If you accept this immortal register, you will enter the Heavenly Court and be personally appointed by the Heavenly Court as a Divine Physician Daoist Lord."

Niu Yi looked at the golden imperial edict radiating auspicious nine-colored light, only to see Taibai Jinxing on the opposite side simply place the edict on the stone table and push it over.

Niu Yi was somewhat surprised by this scene, then looked at Venus in front of him, his meaning clear. That's it? No other instructions?
Taibai Xingjun simply shrugged, feigning innocence as if he knew nothing, and said:

"His Majesty the Jade Emperor merely sent me to deliver the imperial decree."

After Venus finished speaking, he picked up the steaming, fragrant tea on the table and leisurely began to drink it.

Niu Yi looked at the imperial edict on the stone table in front of him, unsure of what to say.

Clearly, the senior who met him twice was none other than the Great Heavenly Venerable, the Jade Emperor, the ruler of the Three Realms.

He thought that since that person had sent someone, they would at least tell him some things, state some conditions, offer some benefits, or at the very least talk about some treatment.

This is similar to a job interview in your previous life, where you would need to explain your position, what kind of work you would do, and what your salary and benefits would be. All of these things had to be made clear in advance.

But now, they don't say anything, they just throw the employment contract at you, and it's up to you whether you sign it or not.
Niu Yi looked at the imperial edict on the stone table, pondering, and surprisingly, he became somewhat conflicted.

When Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun approached him, he at least connected him with a causal link. Even though he didn't meet him directly or say anything explicitly, he clearly explained what he wanted him to do through the causal link.

And since his master was there to back him up, he readily agreed.

But now, although he still has his master to back him up, he is completely clueless. He doesn't even know why this person recruited him to become an immortal, nor what he is to be asked to do.
Niu Yi was conflicted as he looked at the imperial edict, but Taibai Jinxing was not in a hurry at all. He calmly held his teacup and drank the tea in it, obviously giving Niu Yi plenty of time to make a choice.

After pondering for a moment, Niu Yi reached out and picked up the imperial edict, saying:

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Jade Emperor."

Venus then put down his cup, his smile becoming much more amiable, and said:
"Since Immortal Guangyi has accepted the Jade Emperor's decree, I have a few words to tell Immortal Guangyi."

Niu Yi was taken aback upon hearing this. He glanced at the imperial edict in his hand, then realized what was happening and bowed, saying:
"Please speak frankly, Star Lord."

"Immortal Guangyi, there's no need for you to be so polite."

Venus waved his hand and laughed:
"Before I left, His Majesty the Jade Emperor told me that if I accepted this imperial decree, it would mean that I had agreed to it. I would only need to cultivate an avatar to receive the celestial rank and ascend to Heaven as the Divine Physician Dao Lord. Soon, the news would be sent to the Heavenly Court to establish the Divine Physician Dao Lord Palace."

"This position, however, has no real power and no salary."

"However, His Majesty the Jade Emperor also said that the incense offerings on both sides of the Tongtian River can also be given to the immortals, but if the immortals accept the offerings, they must also assume their responsibilities."

In fact, the last sentence of the Jade Emperor's original words to Taibai Jinxing was:
That ox looks honest, but it's actually quite cunning. Let's see what it chooses first, and then tell it all to it once it agrees.

After listening to Venus's words, Niu Yi began to ponder again.

According to the Great Celestial Venerable's intention, if he accepted this decree, he would be given the official position of Divine Physician Daoist Lord in Heaven. However, this position was actually the same as the Great Sage Equaling Heaven position later given to Sun Wukong; it was only a title, without any real power or salary.

He could take the incense offerings from both banks of the Tongtian River, but in doing so, he would also have to take on the responsibility of protecting the believers on both banks of the Tongtian River.

(End of this chapter)