"The Master of Ice Castle in the Ninth Layer of the Lower Central Celestial Realm!"
Upon hearing Zhang Jian’s words, many immortal gods inside and outside the hall showed expressions of astonishment.
"The master of the Ninth Layer, Arctic Ice Castle. You want to become the Defensive Celestial Monarch of the Eternal Ice Prison?"
Yaochi Saint Mother also focused her gaze on Zhang Jian.
Zhang Jian nodded.
He was quite aware of the realm he was about to enter.
The Ice Castle is essentially the Eternal Ice Prison of the Ninth Layer in the Lower Central Celestial Realm. It is a frigid sanctuary dedicated to punishing errant immortal gods.
It also suppresses a portion of immortals who have fallen into the Demon Dao.
If one enters this place as a Defensive Celestial Monarch, it’s not much different from being imprisoned.
Resources are scarce, there’s no Celestial Starlight, the spiritual Qi is chillingly cold, and one has to deal with those cunning immortal gods and demons.
The suffering is hard to put into words.
The extreme cold there, even someone with Zhang Jian’s level of Dao Practice, would find it immensely painful.
Zhang Jian felt resigned. If it weren’t for Daoist Monarch Qingxia’s insistence, he wouldn’t abandon his well-off position as Emperor Xiaoyao to become the Defensive Celestial Monarch of the Eternal Ice Prison.
However, this matter still depends on the wishes of Queen Yaochi.
If she does not agree, his and Daoist Monarch Qingxia’s plans would be impossible to succeed.
Queen Yaochi pondered for a moment, then looked towards the Jade Emperor and asked.
"Great Celestial Venerable, what do you think?!"
The Jade Emperor gently stroked his beard and said with a smile.
"The Eternal Ice Castle is no ordinary place. However, with Ling Yuan Emperor’s level of Dao Practice and position, he would be quite suitable!"
"Moreover, transitioning from the Water Official Emperor to the Defensive Celestial Monarch of the Eternal Ice Castle is considered a lateral move, and no immortal gods should meddle!"
Queen Yaochi nodded and then declared.
"Alright, this palace approves!"
"Thank you, Great Celestial Venerable, thank you, Your Majesty!"
Zhang Jian bowed slightly and saluted.
Finally, it was Yinsi Nether Emperor and Shenxiao Emperor, each having their own requests.
Yinsi Nether Emperor asked for authority over a special Netherworld and was granted a powerful Nether Emperor Divine Artifact.
He sought Divine Dao authority.
Shenxiao Emperor requested an exotic treasure hidden in the Celestial Court Treasure Vault, the All Heaven Thunder God Banner, and afterwards was exceptionally promoted by Yaochi Saint Mother, ranking tenth, serving as the deputy of Thunder Division Celestial Venerable.
This reward was quite exceptional.
The Celestial Court’s Thunder Division is not an ordinary department; typically, even those with great divine techniques do not have the opportunity to enter such key departments.
After awarding all ten-some immortal gods, the immortals exited the Great Brightness Hall one by one.
After the gathering of immortals left the Great Brightness Hall, the Jade Emperor rose from the Emperor’s Throne, his indifferent voice resounding.
"Your Majesty, this time the Three Religions allied with the Nine Luminaries, achieving victory for the Three Emperors Celestial Realm, but the Western Paradise may not yield easily. We must prepare for mediation, ensuring other domains in the Celestial Realm dimension do not profit."
Queen Yaochi nodded slightly and said.
"This palace will dispatch personnel to focus on a few matters!"
The Celestial Emperor nodded slightly, and his form transformed into invisible golden light disappearing inside the Great Brightness Hall.
Queen Yaochi gazed indifferently at this scene.
She glanced at the gradually dispersing hustle of Jasper Pool, slowly rose, her regal form proudly standing inside the vast and boundless hall, appearing extremely aloof, silent, as if an eternal lone entity.
But soon this sense of indifference towards heaven and earth dissipated, replaced by a timeless calm serenity.
Inside and outside the Great Brightness Hall, Daoist Monarchs of Jasper Pool also gradually gathered, coming to report on various matters following the grand event.
...
Leaving the Great Brightness Hall, Zhang Jian felt resigned.
He felt he had really lost out this time.
Giving up a large forest for a crooked tree.
Zhang Jian felt it was time to raid the Ancestral Hall.
This time he could not hold back.
Soon after leaving Jasper Pool, Zhang Jian saw Daoist Monarch Qingxia standing with his back towards him in an Immortal Pavilion within the Jasper Pool Celestial Realm.
For some reason, witnessing this scene, Zhang Jian felt this figure was akin to the ’Wangfu Stone’ that had eternally stood in the Jasper Pool Celestial Realm...
Zhang Jian quickly shook off the chaotic thoughts from his mind and proceeded forward.
Upon seeing Zhang Jian approaching, Daoist Monarch Qingxia smiled and said, "Congratulations, at last, your wish was fulfilled, allowing the Ancestral Qi to spread across the Ten Directions Celestial Realm!"
Zhang Jian nodded slightly, admitting that this might be the only thing worth celebrating.
At this time, he said.
"The Holy Mother has already agreed to my request. Once the Water Official Emperor returns to the Celestial Court, I will transfer to become the Ice Castle Celestial Monarch, also serving as the castle’s defense, overseeing three thousand immortal soldiers and divine generals around Ice Castle!"
"Daoist Monarch, you also should tell me the purpose behind my position. Is it truly just to leverage several demon-suppressing treasures in Ice Castle’s depths for completing the first five steps of Taiyi Perfection!"
Zhang Jian looked towards Daoist Monarch Qingxia.
He couldn’t believe Daoist Monarch Qingxia appointed him as Ice Castle Celestial Monarch just to use the treasures there for cultivation.
Daoist Monarch Qingxia looked at him and replied indifferently.
"Why do you think, whenever I ask you to do something, there’s always some benefit?"
Zhang Jian shook his head and said.
"When Daoist Monarch acts, you always plan far ahead, surveying the scene from a high vantage, never making aimless gestures. Surely, the place I am going to hold a great secret!"
Hearing this, Daoist Monarch Qingxia smiled faintly, her gaze resting on Zhang Jian.
"Since you have such high regard for my capabilities, this palace also believes in your ability to discover the hidden opportunity within yourself!"
She smiled lightly, completely ignoring the slightly stunned Zhang Jian, her form transformed into a stream of light and swiftly departed.
At the same time, a voice came through.
"This palace will leave the Central Celestial Realm for tens of thousands of years to explore unknown dimensions of the Celestial Realm. From now on, you must rely on yourself!"