"Judge Jiang, fellow immortals, we have arrived at the Hall of Longevity."
Grand Elder Taibai Jinxing waved his horsetail whisk, leading the group as they descended from the clouds, landing on the outskirts of a celestial mountain brimming with immortal energy.
"Is this the Hall of Longevity Immortal Sect? It truly looks like a paradise on earth—so beautiful!"
Taking in the surroundings, the hamster Pudding's eyes lit up, letting out a heartfelt exclamation.
"Heh heh, the celestial realm is full of scenic wonders. If you all have free time, I can take you on a tour. But for now, let's get you settled first, so I can report back to His Majesty."
Taibai Jinxing chuckled softly, guiding the group toward the mountain gate of the Hall of Longevity Immortal Sect.
"Grandpa Taibai Jinxing, what brings you here?"
The young immortal guarding the gate spotted Taibai Jinxing from afar and hurried over, bowing respectfully as he asked.
"By His Majesty's order, I'm escorting a few newly ascended scattered immortals from the mortal realm for cultivation. Is your Celestial Venerable at home?"
Taibai Jinxing, known as the kindly old man of the celestial realm, showed no airs and smiled warmly at the two young immortals.
"Yes, yes! Grandpa Taibai Jinxing, please wait a moment. We'll go report immediately."
The two young immortals nodded to Taibai Jinxing in unison, then raced each other up the mountain.
"Heh heh, those two lads—each one faster than the other!"
Taibai Jinxing watched the young immortals darting toward the peak like they were in a race, stroking his white beard with a smile.
"Senior Taibai Jinxing, who is this Celestial Venerable you mentioned?"
Jiang Yuan asked, looking puzzled.
"Heh heh, Judge Jiang, you've just arrived in the celestial realm and are unfamiliar with many things. Let me explain slowly."
With that, Taibai Jinxing began recounting the origins of the Hall of Longevity Immortal Sect.
About five thousand years ago, scattered immortals from the mortal realm kept ascending, but without any oversight, they wandered idly through the celestial realm, inevitably leading to some who caused trouble. To rein in these newly ascended scattered immortals, the Jade Emperor ordered four great sages among the Six Imperial Lords to establish four major immortal sects for training them. The Western Pole Gouchen Emperor founded the Imperial Extreme Hall, the Eastern Pole Qinghua Emperor founded the Azure Cloud Sect, the Southern Pole Changsheng Emperor founded the Hall of Longevity, and the Northern Pole Ziwei Emperor founded the Qian Yuan Sect. Thus, these four major sects gradually flourished in the celestial realm, producing many renowned officials—such as the Southern Dipper Six Star Lords, all of whom came from the Hall of Longevity and were thus disciples of the Southern Pole Changsheng Emperor.
"No wonder the Star Lord of Fate specifically advised me to choose the Hall of Longevity before my ascension—it was to forge a bond of gratitude!"
After hearing Taibai Jinxing's explanation, Jiang Yuan finally understood the Star Lord of Fate's intention.
Before long, the two young immortals raced back down the mountain. One was slightly faster, casting a smug glance at the other, and spoke first: "Grandpa Taibai Jinxing, our Celestial Venerable invites you all to the Hall of Longevity for a chat."
Led by the victorious young immortal, Taibai Jinxing and Jiang Yuan's group flew to the mountain peak, entering a grand and imposing hall.
Inside the hall, Jiang Yuan saw a middle-aged man in a Daoist robe seated at the head, his face kind and amiable. The robe was densely embroidered with the character for "blessing."
"This is the Southern Mysterious True Myriad Blessings Celestial Venerable, one of the Ten Great Celestial Venerables of the celestial realm. After the Southern Pole Changsheng Emperor founded the Hall of Longevity, he handed over the reins within a few centuries, and the True Myriad Blessings Celestial Venerable took over as the sect leader, serving to this day. By official rank, he's a second-grade official, two grades above you, Judge Jiang."
Taibai Jinxing whispered to Jiang Yuan via telepathy, introducing him.
"Old brother Taibai, what brings you to my humble abode?"
The True Myriad Blessings Celestial Venerable nodded to Taibai Jinxing and ordered a young immortal to bring him a cushion, asking with a smile.
By official rank, the second-grade True Myriad Blessings Celestial Venerable outranked the third-grade Taibai Jinxing, but Taibai Jinxing had attained the Dao long ago and enjoyed great prestige and popularity in the celestial realm. Out of respect, the True Myriad Blessings Celestial Venerable addressed him as "Old brother Taibai."
"Brother True Myriad, I'm here on His Majesty's oral decree to deliver a batch of outstanding talents to you!"
After speaking, Taibai Jinxing stood up, pulled Jiang Yuan, who was standing behind, forward, and introduced him to the True Myriad Blessings Celestial Venerable: "This is Jiang Yuan, a scattered immortal who just ascended from the mortal realm. Don't let his status fool you, Brother True Myriad—he's a master of supreme legal principles, with an ironclad judgment that commands admiration. In the Lingxiao Hall, he twice triggered the resonance of the Heavenly Dao and was personally appointed by His Majesty as a fourth-grade judge!"
"Is that so? Truly, each generation produces its own talents. Judge Jiang has boundless prospects!"
As one of the Ten Great Celestial Venerables, the True Myriad Blessings Celestial Venerable naturally understood how rare it was to trigger the resonance of the Heavenly Dao, so he immediately smiled at Jiang Yuan and praised him generously.
"Thank you for your kind words, Celestial Venerable. I am unworthy of such praise!"
Jiang Yuan bowed respectfully to the True Myriad Blessings Celestial Venerable, speaking with humility.
"With such great talent, I naturally thought of your Hall of Longevity first. See, I've brought him here! Brother True Myriad, am I not thoughtful?"
After Taibai Jinxing finished, Jiang Yuan shot him a disdainful look, thinking, "You sly old fox, quietly taking credit for this favor!"
"Hahaha! Old brother Taibai, you're too kind. Child, fetch a bottle of the White Jade Red Sun Pill I just refined and give it to old brother Taibai!"
Taibai Jinxing had directly delivered a fourth-grade immortal official to the Hall of Longevity, delighting the True Myriad Blessings Celestial Venerable, who promptly ordered the young immortal.
Soon, the young immortal returned to the Hall of Longevity holding a white jade porcelain bottle, offering it with both hands to Taibai Jinxing.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony, hahaha! Since I've delivered the person, I'll head back to report to His Majesty! Brother True Myriad, no need to see me out!"
The "black intermediary" Taibai Jinxing chuckled, tucked the bottle into his sleeve, pocketing this "commission fee," then cupped his hands to the True Myriad Blessings Celestial Venerable and left contentedly.
"You black intermediary, give back my hard-earned reward!"
Watching Taibai Jinxing depart, Jiang Yuan immediately cursed him in his mind as a sly old fox and a "black intermediary"!
"Judge Jiang, fellow scattered immortals, welcome to the Hall of Longevity for cultivation. If you have any questions in the future, feel free to ask me."
After Taibai Jinxing left, the True Myriad Blessings Celestial Venerable smiled and addressed Jiang Yuan, the hamster Pudding, and the other scattered immortal players.
"Thank you, Celestial Venerable!"
Jiang Yuan and the others quickly cupped their hands in gratitude.
"Child, arrange accommodations for the scattered immortals and distribute the sect's welcome supplies. Also, assign Judge Jiang to the West Wing, Room Jiazi."
The True Myriad Blessings Celestial Venerable exchanged a few more pleasantries with Jiang Yuan's group, then instructed the young immortal, nodding to them.
Thus, led by the young immortal, Jiang Yuan and his party left the Hall of Longevity, officially joining the Hall of Longevity, one of the four major immortal sects of the celestial realm!