Ji Xiang pondered the matter intently, and the illusions in his eyes gradually began to influence the changes in the demonic realm.
Or perhaps, the demonic realm itself was transforming along with the changes in Ji Xiang's mind.
The demonic sounds surrounding him also seemed to gradually recede.
"The Demon King examination appears to have a deeper meaning."
"Good and evil in the human heart exist in a single thought. Since humans ultimately cultivate to become immortals, immortals must not possess biased views of good and evil, for they represent absolute justice."
"However, in folk tales and the teachings of various sects, there are often stories of people disrespecting deities and being punished by them. This is what is called offending or disrespecting heavenly beings."
Ji Xiang couldn't help but recall a story.
In "Journey to the West," the King of Wuji Country was devoted to offering vegetarian meals to monks. Guanyin Bodhisattva went to guide him towards enlightenment as a Golden Body Arhat. Since she could not appear in her true form, Guanyin Bodhisattva transformed into a mortal monk and asked the king for offerings.
To test him, Guanyin Bodhisattva engaged him in a few words of debate. The King of Wuji Country became greatly enraged, bound her with a rope, and threw her into the imperial river, where she was submerged for three days and three nights.
As a result, Guanyin Bodhisattva was greatly angered and dispatched a lion demon to Wuji Country, pushing the king into a well for three years.
"Even with a Bodhi Diamond Heart, the Bodhisattva could not help but become greatly enraged..."
Furthermore, legends tell of figures like Wang Lingguan and Zhenwu the Great, who also displayed anger and punished demons.
Does this Azure Heaven Demon Trial truly forbid anger?
As Ji Xiang was contemplating this, his thoughts racing, he suddenly realized that he had finally returned to a state of contemplating the essence of the trial, rather than merely enduring it for the sake of passing.
Within the Inner Scenery Divine Tablet, text appeared at this moment:
[To speak upon hearing praise is called impetuousness; to become enraged upon hearing criticism is called violence.]
Hearing words of praise and feeling pleased is called impetuousness; hearing words of criticism and becoming enraged is called violence.
The blank divine tablet once again offered a reminder, and Ji Xiang was stunned, then enlightened!
"It is not that anger is forbidden, but rather that one must understand the reason for the anger."
"However, evildoers must also receive appropriate punishment, hence the various wrathful expressions of deities."
The wrathful expressions of deities and the stories of their punishments are meant to instill a sense of awe in those who speak evil words, so that upon seeing the divine visage, they might still feel a shred of fear!
Wrath is not for killing, but for saving, for preserving the last vestiges of goodness in the human heart!
Three feet above one's head, there may be a deity; fear not that others know, but fear that you yourself know!
Before Ji Xiang's eyes, in the illusions, countless individuals who spoke boastful and malicious words were swept away by his gesture, dissipating into smoke and clouds. At this moment, Ji Xiang's expression was wrathful, but his heart felt no anger!
Possessing a heart of compassion, displaying a visage of wrath!
Gradually, the sounds of malice receded, seemingly intimidated by the appearance of wrath!
And Ji Xiang finally heard the good words of people, from ancient times to the present, countless thousands upon thousands!
...
"I hope my family is safe and happy."
"May all people in the world be free from illness; why then should the medicine on the shelf gather dust."
"Are you hungry? It's okay, this meal is on me."
"Please, you must live, and return alive to bring my letter to my parents!"
"One good deed stains the heart, and is immortal for ten thousand kalpas. A hundred lamps shine brightly, illuminating a thousand miles!"
...
Good thoughts also surged like a tide, their radiance like lights kindled in the darkness, as the vast ocean of malice gradually receded.
At this moment, Ji Xiang sat cross-legged in the void, his body subtly suffused with the radiance of Fuli.
Even if the demonic sounds were to return, Ji Xiang could now correctly discern and deal with them.
In a single moment, one could hear a thousand voices; in that same moment, a thousand thoughts could turn within the heart.
A heart of compassion, a heart of equality, a heart of reverence, a heart of tranquility, a heart of purity, a heart of self-reflection, a heart of observation, a heart of self-discipline, a heart of adherence to precepts, a heart of self-improvement, a heart of courage, a heart of diligence.
Within a single moment, a thousand paths of the heart condensed and gathered, making the external path difficult to shake.
Ji Xiang understood: "The good, I treat them with goodness; the not-good, I also treat them with goodness... or perhaps, the not-good, I shall use evil to combat evil!"
"I shall make a great vow of the Daoist sect! I shall be a demon from beyond the heavens, and also a demon who acts on behalf of Heaven!"
"If one person does evil, I shall save one person; if ten people do evil, I shall save ten people; if thousands upon thousands do evil, I shall use a thousand years of time, one person a day, to save them until no one in the world dares to do evil!"
Ji Xiang declared his grand aspiration, though his method of salvation might be somewhat forceful!
Within the Azure Heaven Demon King's divine tablet, azure and crimson energies manifested, and suddenly, a great radiance erupted!
Heavenly flowers and brocade, Fuli's brilliance shone;
Heavenly bells and earthly drums, all sounded;
Misty celestial music, the supreme notes of Yuqing, all entered his ears!
The final century had ended!
Signifying that Ji Xiang had passed the examination!
A divine light shot forth from the divine tablet, directly piercing the Fuli Azure Firmament! This was the recommendation of the Great Demon!
Perhaps it could be expressed more simply with two words: "Qualified!"
A phantom image appeared, an illusory form of a Heavenly Emperor that manifested after subduing the demonic aspect. Receiving the blessings of the Heavenly Emperor's phantom form could elevate the cultivator's form and spirit!
On Ji Xiang's person, Heavenly Emperor's attire automatically appeared: a Pingtian crown on his head, a robe of azure radiance, a jade sash with a dragon-head belt, or perhaps a crimson and black ceremonial robe!
Of course, there were numerous Heavenly Emperors in Taoism, so Ji Xiang did not know which Heavenly Emperor was bestowing him the blessings for his ascension.
Within the Inner Scenery Divine Tablet, text appeared:
[Ascension Realm cultivation (thousand years of enlightenment, ten lifetimes of arduous cultivation): Enter and exit the heavens, unrestricted by the celestial gates!]
[Due to the cultivator's strength not being pure Yang or above the fifteenth realm, while in the human world, full exertion of Ascension Realm cultivation is not permitted, as the physical body risks collapse!]
[While within the Great Fuli Land, full exertion of cultivation is permitted!]
Just as the Azure Heaven Demon King's divine tablet was about to make another move, Ji Xiang suddenly reached out and grasped it!
"The scenes from the past ten lifetimes were so frustrating; why not change them?"
Ji Xiang had finally achieved complete cultivation, shaking off the previous frustration. The examination was over, and couldn't he have a chat with the examiner!
The Azure Heaven Demon King's divine tablet would not agree to Ji Xiang's request, as it merely followed procedures. Passing meant passing; changing the exam paper was impossible.
Ji Xiang laughed heartily: "Since you won't change it, I'll change it myself! Azure Heaven Demon King, we are old acquaintances. I have pleaded with you so much; I hope you don't be unappreciative!"
His words were mostly teasing, and of course, Ji Xiang did not expect the divine tablet to reply. At this moment, the celestial bright smoke rose from his body, enveloping the divine tablet, and a divine form was immediately summoned!
The great position of the Heavenly Department could only summon for a moment. Ji Xiang controlled the position of the Azure Heaven Demon King, borrowing its power to re-evolve those ten lifetimes of illusions, and then began to revise the paper!
Ji Xiang smiled, and with a wave of his hand, he created all the illusory trials, and the scenes of the past ten lifetimes were re-enacted!
"One day, those who blindly applaud will stop, those who cower and remain silent will speak out righteously, the gentle will become firm, and conscience will shine brightly in the face of lies."
"Perhaps, those who kneel will stand up, those who grovel will straighten their backs, and those with aspirations will never betray their beliefs throughout their lives. The proud, even if trampled into the dust, will still possess unyielding bones; the kind, who have been framed, will one day have their grievances redressed."
"The enlightenment of a person occurs in a single instant!"
He sat cross-legged in the mountain, his divine essence pouring into the mortal world!
Watching the transformation of the ten lifetimes, returning to the demonic realm, the confinement of the Heavenly Department's position also became ineffective. The Great Demon's power was restored, and the Azure Heaven Demon King did not pursue Ji Xiang's disrespectful behavior, as it was merely an unfeeling examination machine.
And at this moment, from a distant part of Fuli, a spiritual light suddenly appeared. The Azure Heaven Demon King received the summons and immediately vanished into虚化 (virtualization).
"Someone is ascending, undergoing the Great Demon Examination?"
Ji Xiang realized that someone was behind him, queuing to receive the Azure Heaven Demon King and undergo the Great Demon Trial. Moreover, the location of this Fuli light seemed not far from him!
Ji Xiang's expression suddenly became peculiar.
"I just changed the exam paper; wouldn't that lower the admission score for this person?"