On Jinao Island in the East Sea, Tongtian asked, "Are you willing to take a position in the Heavenly Court?"
Duobao shook his head and replied, "This disciple is unwilling. It is more carefree to be a leisurely immortal on the island."
Tongtian smiled helplessly, "You! What others seek but cannot get, you cast aside as if it were nothing."
On Shouyang Mountain, Laozi slowly awoke from his meditation and summoned the silver-horned attendant. "Go and call Xuandu!"
The silver-horned attendant hurried out of the mountain and brought Xuandu back.
After Xuandu paid his respects to his teacher, Laozi said, "Go to the Heavenly Court and inform Haotian clearly that the candidate for the Six Imperials of our Human Teachings is still undergoing trials and cannot return to his position. Also, congratulate the new lord of the Heavenly Court on my behalf."
Xuandu nodded, then asked with a hint of confusion, "May I know who it is?"
Laozi sighed softly, "Beneath Shouyang Mountain, there was once a lineage of humans, a primordial ancestor of the human race whom I have taken as my disciple. This matter is not to be revealed. He cultivates the Great Dao of tribulation and reincarnation, and has already gone through over one hundred and nine cycles of reincarnation."
Xuandu was somewhat astonished, "This junior brother has truly great perseverance."
Laozi shook his head and chuckled, "If it were up to him alone, he wouldn't have lasted nine cycles. I planted a seed of Taishang's indelible spiritual light within him, preserving his true spirit from falling into the cycle of reincarnation, thus enabling this feat."
Xuandu nodded and asked, "Then, how many more cycles of tribulation does this junior brother need to endure?"
Laozi said leisurely, "An immeasurable kalpa of time."
"What!" Xuandu exclaimed in shock, "Is this... even possible?"
Laozi shook his head, "I do not know. It is possible he will perish in some tribulation, but it is also possible he will succeed in his trials. Once he returns from his trials, the position of co-lord of the Three Realms will be his. Whether he succeeds or fails, he is my disciple of Taishang, and I will make his name known throughout the world. For now, his obscurity is only to prevent the heavenly secrets from being leaked and others from interfering."
Xuandu nodded, "I understand my teacher's painstaking efforts. May I know this junior brother's name?"
Laozi said softly, "His name is Zhang Bainian."
Ten thousand years later, in the first Yuanhui of the Emperor Calendar, year 17054, the Heavenly Court was newly established and held a banquet to thank all the celestial beings and gods. The Emperor Calendar began on the day Emperor Fuxi attained enlightenment, marking the record of human history. Because humans held the great momentum of the Human Dao, it was also called the Human Dao Calendar. Merely by this calendar, Emperor Fuxi's reign was enduring, and humanity possessed a long-lasting fortune. Before this, the world was in the era of the Three Tribes, Witch and Demon, and years were not recorded. Everyone recorded events and years by their own lifespan, making unification impossible. Now, with the rise of humanity in the Primordial World, Heaven, Earth, and Humanity existed in harmony, leading to the advent of the Human Dao Calendar. From this day forward, everything and every matter in the Primordial World could be recorded.
The grand banquet of the Heavenly Court was not held in the Lingxiao Palace, but in the Jade Pool of the Queen Mother of the West. This was because the Lingxiao Palace was too solemn and dignified, unsuitable for such a joyous and celebratory occasion. The Queen Mother also brought out immortal peaches for the banquet, hence it was also called the Peach Banquet. It was not the Queen Mother's birthday, but the Heavenly Court needed such an occasion to celebrate the Queen Mother's birthday. From then on, the Heavenly Court would hold a grand Peach Banquet every thousand years to celebrate the Queen Mother's birthday. This thousand years was measured by the Heavenly Court's time. One day in heaven was one year on earth. A thousand years in heaven was equivalent to 365,000 years on earth, meaning a Peach Banquet would be held roughly every three Yuanhuis.
At the banquet, there were no Five Directions and Five Elders, nor the Immortal Lords of the Ten Continents and Three Islands, nor the Three Pure Ones and Four Emperors of the Upper Eight Heavens as in later journeys to the West. Instead, there were the lords of the twelve planes of the Primordial World, the elders of the major sects, and all the great powerful beings in the Primordial World who had not secluded themselves. The positions of the twelve plane lords were naturally the foremost, followed by seven seats representing the Sages. The Sages themselves would not personally attend, otherwise, they would naturally be the most honored.
The herald of the Jade Pool ceaselessly announced the honored names of the guests. "The Lord of the Demon Realm, the Demon Emperor, has come to offer congratulations!" "The Lord of the Northern Nether Realm, Patriarch Hun Kun, has come to offer congratulations!" "The Grand Master Xuandu, a disciple of the Grand Pure Sage, has come to offer congratulations!" "The Ancestral Witch Gou Mang of the Pangu Heavenly Realm has come to offer congratulations!"
The herald wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, concentrating intensely on announcing the greetings, not daring to misstate a single word or add an extra one. These names represented the titans of the Primordial World, who could extinguish him thousands of times with a mere breath.
At the Jade Pool banquet, the great figures of the Primordial World took their seats, some conversing with acquaintances, others meditating with closed eyes. Upon hearing that the Witch Clan had also sent a representative, Lu Ya's eyes flashed with cold light as he saw Gou Mang. Gou Mang glanced at Lu Ya without concern. Lu Ya harbored deep hatred but would never show it. He knew his own strength and that he posed no threat to an Ancestral Witch. He would not act without a sure plan. Bai Ze, seated behind Lu Ya, breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that the Demon Emperor knew how to exercise restraint.
"The Immortal Master Guangchengzi, a disciple of the Jade Pure Sage, has come to offer congratulations!" Guangchengzi entered the Jade Pool and bowed to Xuandu, "Greetings, Senior Brother." Xuandu nodded lightly and said, "Junior Brother, please take your seat." Guangchengzi smiled and sat beside Xuandu, but in his heart, he was shocked. He had only recently stepped into the Da Luo Golden Immortal realm and thought he was among the foremost in the three teachings, having closed some of the distance. But looking at Xuandu today, he felt he could not fathom his depth. "Could Senior Brother Xuandu already be a great power?"
Just as Guangchengzi was silently speculating, the herald announced from outside, "The Lord of the Nether Ghost Realm, Ghost Ancestor, has come to offer congratulations!" "The Lord of the Asura Realm, Patriarch Ming He, has come to offer congratulations!" Ghost Ancestor and Ming He entered the grand hall together, each accompanied by their Asura Kings and Ghost King attendants, and took their seats in the realm lord positions.
"Lingzhu Zi, a disciple of Empress Nuwa, has come to offer congratulations!" A barefoot child wearing a red bib trotted into the hall and sat beside Guangchengzi. Many immortals in the hall chuckled, as Lingzhu Zi, a small child, trying to appear adult-like, was rather incongruous. Lu Ya stifled his laughter and asked, "Junior Brother, why did Master send you?" Lingzhu Zi pouted, "I am my Master's disciple, why can't I come? Are you laughing at me too?" Lu Ya quickly shook his head, "No, no, how could Senior Brother laugh at you?" However, Guangchengzi beside him felt somewhat displeased, as the gazes of the hall towards Lingzhu Zi felt like they were directed at him with laughter, making Guangchengzi feel awkward.
"Immortal Master Kong Xuan, a disciple of the All-Embracing Sage, has come to offer congratulations!" "The Elder Blue Phoenix of the Phoenix Realm has come to offer congratulations!" Kong Xuan and Qing Luan entered the grand hall and took their respective seats.
"Grand Master Duobao, a disciple of the Upper Pure Sage, has come to offer congratulations!" Duobao entered the hall, also paid his respects to Xuandu, exchanged a few words with Guangchengzi, and then took his seat.
As more guests arrived, the atmosphere in the hall naturally became more boisterous. However, when the auspicious hour arrived, and the Queen Mother and Haotian appeared together, all these distractions were suppressed. At this moment, two figures arrived late. The herald found himself in a dilemma, unsure whether to announce them. Before he could react, the two walked in directly, clasped their hands in prayer, and said, "This humble monk Yaoshi (Maitreya) has come on behalf of our master to congratulate the Queen Mother on her birthday!"
For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall became tense. Although there were seats for the Two Sages of the West, they were merely symbolic. No one expected anyone from the West to actually come. The Primordial World had always been dominated by the East, and people subconsciously forgot about Xiniu Hezhou. Who would have thought that the West would actually show up uninvited?
As the Queen Mother's Peach Banquet was in progress, Qing Ling, who had been meditating in Fuluo Palace for over ten Yuanhuis, finally rose from his cloud bed. He looked at the growing fortune of the Heavenly Court and sighed, "It seems it is time." Qing Ling stood up and walked out of the palace. A gentle breeze caressed his face, revealing a sea of intensely red, passionate flowers. Two young children, a boy and a girl, were playing amidst the blossoms. Seeing Qing Ling emerge, the two children were greatly surprised and quickly approached respectfully, saying, "Greetings, Master. Do you have any instructions?" Qing Ling shook his head and said, "I am going out alone. Do not be too playful, and watch the household." Hua Ze and Hua Shuo rejoiced upon hearing this and said in unison, "Yes, Master, rest assured." Seeing their barely concealed joy, Qing Ling was suddenly reminded of fragmented memories from his previous life, when children would secretly rejoice when the adults left. Qing Ling shook his head and stepped out, disappearing from Fuyu Mountain. When he reappeared, he was in the boundless universe. Before him was a scorching, colossal fireball, radiating boundless light—the sun of the Primordial World.