Inside the Purple Gold Palace, Mingyue and Ji Shiyou faced Qinglan's pleas and temptations.
They remained unmoved by the position of Supervisor.
At this moment, a voice echoed within the Purple Gold Palace, as if from a distant place.
Yet it reverberated by their ears, clear and distinct.
Ji Shiyou and Mingyue searched all around, not knowing who was speaking.
But Qinglan broke into a wide smile, his face beaming with delight.
Then the three felt a blur before their eyes, their figures vanishing from the Purple Gold Palace.
When they reappeared, Mingyue and Ji Shiyou had regained their freedom.
The restrictions Qinglan had placed on them had vanished.
Looking around at their surroundings, they found themselves standing before a palace.
Clouds rolled beneath their feet, obscuring the ground.
Stars flickered all around, shining with a radiant glow.
The entire palace was bathed in myriad auspicious clouds and streams of auspicious energy, exuding a fragrant aroma, like a dream.
Above the entrance, a plaque bore three seal script characters: Zixiao Palace.
"This is Zixiao Palace? Then the person who spoke just now, could it be?"
Ji Shiyou's memory had returned, recalling the Heavenly Realm his elder brother had described.
Looking at the three large characters of Zixiao Palace, he couldn't help but show a hint of confusion.
There was only one Zixiao Palace in all the heavens and earth.
That was the cultivation ground of Old Ancestor Hongjun, located in the Outer Heavens, beyond the thirty-three layers of heaven.
Mingyue's usually serene face also showed surprise.
Qinglan, on the other hand, gloated from the side, a smug expression on his face.
He was overjoyed, thinking that since Hongjun had spoken, how dare they still be arrogant with him?
He had humbly begged them to be Supervisors, and they had disdained it.
Now that Hongjun had spoken, they would have to accept the position whether they wanted to or not.
He was finally free, and he would have to thank Old Ancestor Hongjun properly later.
"Qinglan, lead them in."
Hongjun's voice sounded again, and the great doors of Zixiao Palace opened automatically.
"Your decree is heard! Please, the two of you!"
Qinglan smiled with ill intent, walked to the doorway, and invited Mingyue and the other inside.
Ji Shiyou and Mingyue didn't even look at him, and stepped through the entrance.
Inside was a grand hall, with clean walls and no superfluous decorations.
There was only an old Daoist priest, clad in a gray Daoist robe, seated on a meditation cushion.
"Disciple Qinglan, greets the Holy Master!"
Since entering Zixiao Palace, Qinglan's indolent demeanor had vanished.
He respectfully bowed to the white-browed, white-bearded old Daoist.
The previous rogue, smug expression had disappeared.
Hongjun was the Ancestor of all Immortals and the Master of all Saints.
Back in the time of chaos, Qinglan had also listened to his teachings.
Although he was merely an attendant in Zixiao Palace, it was due to his lazy nature.
Lacking ambition, he was disinclined to become a Saint.
But like other Saints, he was a direct disciple of Hongjun.
Therefore, upon seeing Hongjun, he addressed him as Holy Master.
"You have worked hard, step aside.
Young friends, do you know who I am?"
Hongjun showed no trace of magical power, appearing like an ordinary old man.
He motioned for Qinglan to stand aside and smiled at Mingyue and Ji Shiyou.
"Ji Shiyou, Mingyue, greetings, Old Ancestor!"
The two dared not treat the old Daoist before them as an ordinary person.
Although they could not sense any magical fluctuations, just now.
Hongjun's ability to traverse countless worlds and instantly transport three living people to Zixiao Palace had already awed them.
Furthermore, although they had never met Hongjun.
The legend of the Dao Ancestor was widely known.
No one in the Three Realms was unaware of him.
Even children in the mortal realm knew this rhyme:
"High he reclines amidst the nine heavens' clouds,
On a meditation cushion, he comprehends the Dao.
Beyond the primordial chaos of Heaven and Earth,
I shall be the esteemed leader.
Pangu gave birth to Taiji,
Yin and Yang follow, then the Four Symbols.
The supreme leader of the Xuanmen,
From a single breath, Hongjun manifested."
Hongjun was also known as Hongyuan Dao Ancestor. Hongyuan referred to the primordial state of the universe before the opening of heaven and earth, when chaos had not yet differentiated. Thus, there is the saying that Hongjun existed before heaven and earth.
This unassuming old Daoist before them was the manifested entity of the Great Dao, the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao.
He was the guide and overseer of the three thousand great worlds, the countless small worlds, and the billions of living beings.
Mingyue and Ji Shiyou had never imagined they would have the fortune to enter Zixiao Palace for an audience.
Therefore, suppressing their excitement, they bowed respectfully.
"There is no need for such formality, you are both good children.
I have summoned you here today regarding the matter of the Temporal Supervision Department.
Qinglan has already explained the cause and effect to you.
I also know that neither of you wishes to occupy this position.
However, you have completed your thousand lifetimes of reincarnation and succeeded in altering your fate.
The trajectory of your destiny has changed, and you must therefore serve as Supervisor.
This will be beneficial to you, though the reason cannot be revealed yet.
When the time is right, you will naturally understand.
Will you trust my words and serve as Supervisor?"
Hongjun looked at Mingyue and Ji Shiyou, not forcing them.
Instead, he acted like a kind old grandfather looking at his grandchildren,
seeking their consent and allowing them to choose for themselves.
"Old Ancestor, I am willing to be the Supervisor of the Temporal Supervision Department."
Mingyue stepped forward, declaring her willingness first.
Like Ji Shiyou, she had no interest in this position.
Both of them only wished to return to the apocalypse, to the survival base they had built with their own hands.
To live a good life with their friends, building a beautiful homeland.
However, from Hongjun's words, she sensed that their destinies still held twists and turns.
This position of Supervisor held a hidden mystery, so Mingyue quickly declared her intention.
Ji Shiyou had already done enough for her.
This position of Supervisor must be extraordinary, and she did not want Ji Shiyou to labor further.
Therefore, she was eager to respond and secure the position of Supervisor for herself.
"Fate, destiny, all are arranged.
Good child, from this moment on, you are the Supervisor of the Temporal Supervision Department.
This is the Heavenly Dao Disk, a primordial supreme treasure.
It is the seal of the Supervisor, and with it, you can supervise the operation of all worlds.
It will alert you to any anomalies. It now recognizes you as its master."
Hongjun, seeing Mingyue agree to be Supervisor, stroked his beard and laughed heartily.
Then, with a wave of his horsetail whisk, a white jade disk the size of a palm
appeared in Mingyue's hand. Hongjun pointed a finger, and
Mingyue felt a connection between her mind and the Heavenly Dao Disk in her hand,
knowing that Hongjun had made the Heavenly Dao Disk recognize her as its master.
"Alas, one only sees the new smile, never the old man's tears.
Holy Master, you are biased. Why does she get a primordial supreme treasure for being Supervisor,
while I, as Supervisor, received nothing?"
Qinglan, who had been standing by, had breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Mingyue agree to be Supervisor,
and was overjoyed.
He was finally free, unburdened by official duties.
But upon seeing Hongjun bestow the Heavenly Dao Disk upon Mingyue,
he immediately felt wronged and said sourly.
"You were merely acting, you were not qualified to possess the token."
Hongjun's words were blunt but left Qinglan speechless, and he obediently shut his mouth.
"Not only that, it has another function: summoning.
The affairs of the Temporal Supervision Department are complex, and one person cannot manage them all.
According to the establishment, there is one Supervisor and five Supervisory Envoys.
Within the Three Realms, you can choose personnel as you wish.
Once you select someone, the Heavenly Dao Disk will lock onto that individual.
They will be at your command, and even Saints cannot disobey.
You can manage your subordinates, the Supervisory Envoys, through the Heavenly Dao Disk, rewarding and punishing them."
As soon as Hongjun spoke, Qinglan's nose nearly twitched with anger.
With such good fortune, why hadn't he been told earlier?
How could he not have known that the Temporal Supervision Department had other positions?
It had caused him to be a lone commander for so long.
But he dared not make any more sarcastic remarks, lest Hongjun bring up the word "acting" again.
So he turned to leave, intending to find a quiet place to rest and sleep in.
To celebrate his glorious retirement and escape from the Temporal Supervision Department, that fiery pit.
"Thank you, Old Ancestor. For the first Supervisory Envoy,
I have already chosen. It is Qinglan!
Welcome aboard!"
Mingyue stopped Qinglan, a sly glint in her eyes.
Her clear voice rang out, and Qinglan stumbled immediately.
He fell to the ground, thinking to himself.
Had his past hundred thousand years been in vain!
Would it still be too late to commit suicide now?