Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

The voice of Venus reading the imperial edict faded away.

The lingering sound, like thunder from the heavens, echoed among every golden dragon pillar in the Lingxiao Palace, lingering for a long time.

The gods in the hall, from the various celestial deities and star lords to ordinary celestial officials, were all shaken by this series of imperial edicts and were momentarily speechless.

The hall was completely silent; you could hear a pin drop.

The series of honorific titles and powers in the imperial edict, like a boulder thrown into a lake, stirred up waves in the hearts of all the saints and immortals, and the turmoil lingered for a long time.

The silence in the hall lasted for a few breaths, then a series of suppressed low gasps and whispers arose.

The gods gazed at the still calm figure in black robes with complex emotions: amazement, envy, awe, and deep apprehension.

Although it was expected that Yilie Tianjun would receive a great reward, I did not expect it to be so generous!

Ordinary celestial officials and deities who are promoted are already considered to have received a salary and some spiritual gifts as a favor. Those who are even more fortunate, like Li Gang, may be granted an honorary title.

And today, in this edict from the Heavenly Emperor Yilie, each of the successive imperial decrees is as heavy as a mountain!

The Supreme Lord of Heavenly Purification!

The position of True Lord is an extremely high honor in the Heavenly Court, and it cannot be bestowed upon anyone but those with great merit and virtue.

Even ordinary celestial officials who cultivate diligently for ten thousand years would find it difficult to reach this level.

Furthermore, the title "Huangtian Jingfa" is far superior to any ordinary title of True Lord.

The two characters “煌天” imply righteousness and dominion over all the heavens;

"Jingfa" directly refers to the responsibility of upholding the law and maintaining discipline.

The experienced and knowledgeable deity felt a chill run down his spine.

In terms of prestige, this title is somewhat comparable to that of the aloof and proud Qingyuan Miaodao Zhenjun, who obeys orders but not summons!

Its honorific title, "Qingyuan Miaodao," signifies its majestic role in guarding a region and propagating the righteous path, while also emphasizing the origin of the Dao and its carefree transcendence.

Chen Jiao's "Huangtian Jingfa" is even more majestic and righteous, with the majesty of enforcing the law and emphasizing the conquest of the disobedient, using the awe-inspiring power of thunder and lightning to punish the rebels!

One is elegant and refined, the other majestic and dignified; each has its own merits, and both are extraordinary titles.

The position of Marshal Zhaohuang, who leads the Thunder Department in the fight against demons, is one that wields real power!

Although the Thunder Department has thirty-six renowned Thunder Generals and Marshals, each with their own duties.

Characters like "Silver Fang Radiant Marshal" and "Lawful Great God Marshal" specialize in a particular type of thunder magic or specific conquest tasks.

The four characters "Zhaohuang Zhumo" mean, as the name suggests, that it is dedicated to using the mighty power of thunder to annihilate all evil spirits.

Its authority and responsibilities are extremely broad; it can subdue any demons or monsters causing trouble within the Three Realms.

His status was naturally higher than that of an ordinary marshal of the Thunder Department.

He was appointed as the Nine Heavens Demon Subduer and in charge of the Northern Pole Exorcism Bureau!

This point caused the pupils of many powerful immortals who knew the inner workings of the Heavenly Court to shrink.

The Nine Heavens Demon Subduer is a high-ranking official who can patrol the Three Realms and is in charge of exterminating evil.

And this judgment regarding the Arctic Exorcism Institute is even more crucial!

What kind of place is the Arctic Exorcism Institute?

It is a fierce government office directly under the command of the Great Emperor of the North Pole and the Four Saints of the North Pole, specializing in investigating ghosts and gods and hunting down serious criminals.

It wields immense power and exudes a chilling aura. Those who hold positions there are the elite of the Thunder and Fighting Divisions, and even among the true heroes and generals—truly skilled warriors capable of killing!

Ordinary ghost messengers and immortal officials would turn pale at the mere mention of his name.

Chen Jiao's ability to judge matters at the Arctic Exorcism Institute means that he has access to confidential information and the power to exercise judgment within the institute!

Its status is almost on par with the Four Saints of the North Pole.

The last item is the power to establish the Heavenly Pivot Thunder Palace, which grants the authority to open a palace and establish a headquarters!

From then on, Chen Jiao was no longer just a Heavenly Lord general under the Thunder Department, but had his own independent government office—the Radiant Sky Pivot Thunder Mansion!

Although the Huangtian Shu Leifu is newly established, judging from its title and authority, it will surely become an important institution for the Heavenly Court to conquer evil and enforce the laws of thunder, holding a transcendent position.

Although this prefecture is still nominally part of the Lei Department system, it has gained great autonomy now that it has been established as a prefecture and its own headquarters!

Players can recruit and appoint celestial spirits, officials, and generals from the lower realms, and cultivate their own loyal forces.

This is an extremely rare favor and trust in the hierarchical Heavenly Court.

The four imperial edicts were interconnected.

Rank, military power, supervisory privileges, and the foundation for personal gain—all are included.

This is no longer a simple reward for merit, but a meteoric rise, paving a direct path to the central power of the Heavenly Court.

Marshal Li Gang stood in the ranks of the Thunder Department, his face already deathly pale.

He gripped his hand tightly in his sleeve, his knuckles turning blue from the force.

All his previous expectations, resentment, and calculations seemed so ridiculous and pale in the face of this heavy imperial edict.

Judging the affairs of the Arctic Exorcism Institute... just this one matter alone, his power and deterrence far exceeded the nominal position of True Lord that he dreamed of.

He felt a wave of dizziness, as if the world was spinning around him.

Nezha crossed his arms, tilted his head to look at Chen Jiao, and deepened the playful smile on his lips, muttering something under his breath:

"Tsk... This time they're really generous. This taciturn guy has really struck it rich."

"It's quite fitting that he's involved in the murderous activities of the exorcism institute; it suits this evil star perfectly. Interesting."

Even Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun, who had been standing beside the Jade Emperor with his eyes lowered and silent, slightly raised his eyelids at this moment.

His compassionate gaze lingered on Chen Jiao for a moment, as if carrying a deeper meaning.

The Nine-Headed Lion King beneath him also let out a low, soft roar.

Before Venus could finish speaking, the gods had a chance to react.

A slightly hesitant voice broke the silence from the celestial ranks on the right.

A celestial official, dressed in a robe with crimson and gold cloud patterns, with a solemn face and a faint image of a sun on his forehead, slowly stepped forward.

His aura was majestic and righteous, yet he carried the air of authority that came from someone who had long held a high position.

He is the Radiant Celestial Lord who oversees a portion of the celestial rituals.

He first bowed to the Jade Emperor's throne, then turned to Chen Jiao, his voice calm yet clear, each word carrying a sharp edge:

"The Great Heavenly Venerable's grace is boundless, elevating talented individuals to high positions; we are deeply grateful. However..."

He paused slightly, as if carefully choosing his words:

"The title of the True Lord of the Bright Heaven and Pacifying Law is illustrious, and his power is especially important, particularly in his role as the judge of the Northern Exorcism Institute and the establishment of his own government and headquarters."

The Arctic Exorcism Institute is in charge of celestial laws and investigates ghosts and spirits; only those of high moral character and profound foundation can be competent for this position.

Establishing a government and building a stronghold requires a vast amount of resources and a long period of time to lay a solid foundation.

Although Chen Zhenjun has distinguished himself in battle, he is still relatively young. I fear that a sudden promotion to a high position would not only hinder his own cultivation but also... violate the Heavenly Court's system of gradual advancement, and thus fail to win the hearts and minds of the people.

On the other side, in the Doubu train.

Dressed in pure white armor with gilded finish, and exuding a chilling and murderous aura, the White Tiger Supervisor stepped forward.

Its sound was like the clash of metal, deep and powerful.

"To be granted the title of Great Heavenly Venerable, True Lord, and to establish a government office and a headquarters is a great honor."

Yi Lie... Huang Tian Zhen Jun's achievements in the Eastern Pole are indeed outstanding.

However, this matter concerning the Arctic Exorcism Institute... The Arctic Exorcism Institute is a crucial place for upholding the laws and regulations of the Three Realms, and decisions have always been made jointly by the Four Sages.

Although the True Lord is brave and resolute, he is still relatively young. Having suddenly assumed such heavy supervisory power, shouldn't he have a more experienced person assisting him to prevent... any oversights?

The atmosphere inside the hall instantly shifted from the previous shock to a subtle tension.

All the gods held their breath, their gazes shifting between the speaker, Chen Jiao, and the Jade Emperor on the steps of the palace.

This is no longer a simple bestowal of titles and rewards, but involves a redistribution of power within the Heavenly Court, a move that has far-reaching consequences.

Faced with this sudden wave of questioning, the Jade Emperor, the supreme deity on the imperial steps, remained solemn and dignified, showing no sign of joy or anger.

Venus, holding a whisk, stood calmly, his gaze sweeping over the celestial officials who had stepped forward, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

Li Gang stood with his head down in the train, a barely perceptible sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.

Zhao Yan's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, feeling as if most of the pent-up anger in his chest had been released.

Chen Jiao, who was at the center of the storm, remained expressionless throughout.

He stood still, as if the words directed at him were nothing more than a gentle breeze passing by his ears.

Even amidst a chorus of patriotic and concerned discussions, he slightly raised his eyes, his gaze calmly sweeping over those who spoke, his expression utterly unwavering.

But the person who met his gaze felt a chill inexplicably, and their voice unconsciously lowered.

Beneath the magnificent splendor of the Lingxiao Palace, there are never shortages of undercurrents and reefs.

The entire hall fell into a brief silence, like the calm before a storm.

All eyes were focused on the newly appointed Huangtian Jingfa Zhenjun, awaiting his response.