Journey to the West: Beginning with the Apprenticeship of Bodhi Patriarch

Chapter 344 Seeking Divine Assistance, With No Taboos

Meanwhile, along the coast of Qingzhou, Zuo Liang and his group were preparing to subdue a demon. Zuo Liang led Wang Shou to a high platform, intending to use magic to subdue the dragon.
Lu Yan prepared a fishing boat to go out to sea and force the evil dragon to show itself.

Zuo Liang gazed into the distance, bowed, and said, "Junior brother, be careful. If things change, retreat and wait for a better opportunity. Do not act recklessly, and always put yourself first."

Lu Yan returned the greeting and said with a smile, "Senior brother, you can rest assured. I will take care of myself. Besides, I have some martial arts skills, so that evil dragon will definitely not be able to hurt me. Even if my martial arts skills are no match for the evil dragon, I still have senior brother here. Senior brother has magic skills and can sit on the altar. If I am in danger, he will definitely be able to save me."

Zuo Liang said helplessly, "But no matter what, Junior Brother, you must not take any risks or act recklessly."

Lü Yan smiled and agreed, then bid farewell to Zuo Liang and rowed his boat out to sea.

Zuo Liang watched as Lü Yan gradually moved away from Dao's figure, feeling somewhat worried.

Wang Shou said, "Sir, I thought you were really going to teach me to deal with the evil dragon, which made me terrified for a long time."

Zuo Liang turned his head and said, "I was just joking with you. I can't take it seriously. If I asked you to subdue a dragon, how could you do it? Now, please set up the altar properly for me."

Wang Shou asked, "Sir, how should we arrange things now?"

Zuo Liang pointed to the bundle behind him and said, "Please arrange the fruits and other items neatly."

Wang Shou accepted the order and placed many items on the high platform.

Zuo Liang took out the Heavenly Canopy Ruler to suppress the altar, so that no evil spirits would dare to invade the altar and prevent them from performing magic.

After Zuo Liang finished making the arrangements, he saw Wang Shou standing beside him and said, "Wang Shou, from this moment on, you must not leave this high platform even for half a step. This high platform is guarded by the treasure within my body, so even if an evil dragon attacks, it will not dare to invade. But if you leave the high platform, I will not be able to protect you."

Wang Shou immediately bowed and said, "Yes, sir, I will definitely not leave the high platform. Please rest assured."

Zuo Liang smiled and nodded. He then used the Five Thunder Orthodox Technique to summon the surrounding land gods and mountain spirits.

Upon hearing his command, dozens of local and mountain gods appeared together, bowed to Zuo Liang, and said, "We pay our respects to the Master!"

Zuo Liang rose and returned the greeting, saying, "Having arrived here, I wish to subdue the evil dragon, and thus I have sent you all here to assist me. I hope you will not blame me for disturbing you."

Dozens of local earth gods and mountain spirits all said, "We dare not complain. It is our duty to assist the Master in exorcising demons in Qingzhou. We beseech the Master to give his orders, and we will certainly obey and follow his decrees without daring to disobey."

Zuo Liang said, “Please guard the four sides of the coast. I have a junior brother who is searching for that evil dragon in the sea. Once he finds it, he will surely lure it ashore. At that time, I hope you will guard the area and prevent the evil dragon from escaping and returning to the sea. Then, it will all depend on your abilities.”

Upon hearing the order, the local earth and mountain gods all bowed and said, "We will obey your command, but as long as we are here, we will not let the evil dragon escape once it comes ashore. Please rest assured, Master."

Zuo Liang said, "I'm sorry to trouble you all."

The local earth god said, “Master, we can only stop it from leaving, but we cannot subdue it. It’s not that we are unwilling, but that we are not capable enough. If we forcibly subdue it, we fear that it will ruin your important plans.”

Zuo Liang said, "I know that, but I only ask that you all keep it trapped and prevent it from entering the sea. I have my own way of subduing that evil dragon."

The local earth god and mountain god said, "If that's the case, we can definitely do it."

Zuo Liang bowed again and said, "I am very grateful for your help. Please take your positions quickly and guard the four directions. Thank you all for your assistance."

The local earth gods and mountain spirits all gave way, how could they accept Zuo Liang's courtesy? They said, "We dare not accept your thanks, we dare not accept your thanks. We will now return to our positions."

Say it.

The local earth gods and mountain gods all returned to their respective positions, guarding the shore and waiting for the evil dragon to come ashore.

Zuo Liang breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this. He was not skilled in martial arts, and if the evil dragon came ashore, he would have a hard time dealing with it. If he was not careful, the evil dragon would definitely escape.

Wang Shou stepped forward and whispered, “Sir, so many gods have failed to subdue that evil dragon. You only instructed them to trap it. How can we subdue the evil dragon? You can’t possibly subdue it yourself.”

Zuo Liang said, “It is impossible for me to personally go to subdue the demon. I have no martial arts skills, so how can I go forward? I must ask the gods for help. In the past, I petitioned the heavens, but only heard of Junior Brother Lü's name, and the petition was rejected. Now, I will ask the gods in my name to help subdue the demon and protect the altar. This should be successful. As the saying goes, ‘all things are mutually generating and restraining.’ The local earth gods and mountain gods all have the ability to trap enemies. If that evil dragon comes ashore, it can be trapped and prevented from going into the sea to wreak havoc. Therefore, I must ask the gods for help to subdue it. All things are mutually generating and restraining. To subdue the evil dragon, we should ask the gods in charge of this matter to come.”

Wang Shou asked, "Sir, I have many questions about the immortals. Who is the god who subdues the evil dragon?"

Zuo Liang said, "It is none other than the Great God Nezha Zhenjun of the Three Altars and Seas. Legend has it that he was able to pull out the tendons of dragons when he was young and wreaked havoc in the East Sea. He has great power over dragons, so we invited him here. He will surely be able to subdue the evil dragon."

Say it.

Zuo Liang sent Wang Shou to fetch paper so he could write a petition to ask for divine assistance.

Zuo Liang took out pen and ink, pondered for a moment, and then wrote the above text.

With utmost sincerity, I respectfully burn incense and offer my prayers to the heavens, seeking the way to the heavens.

I humbly proclaim: The primordial energy transforms into the Three Pure Ones, the true spirit remains undiminished through countless eons, with three heads and six arms to suppress heaven and earth, and the nine luminaries and eight extremes to drive away evil spirits.

We respectfully acknowledge the Great Marshal of the Three Altars and Seas, True Lord Nezha, the Jade Void Master, the Golden Palace, riding on the Wind and Fire Wheels, wielding the Fire-Tipped Spear, with the Hunyuan Silk around his waist and the Hunyuan Armor around his body. His divine might is awe-inspiring, all evils are shunned, his Dharma form is majestic, and he is the supreme ruler of the Three Realms.

Today, there is the area of ​​Hai County, Donglai Commandery, Qingzhou.

Evil spirits shrouded the sun, miasma invaded the sky, and malevolent dragons wreaked havoc, causing great harm to the people. The common people lived in fear, as if trapped in an inescapable hell, while officials were constrained and unable to find a savior to help them.

We humbly beseech the True Lord to heed the summons and swiftly descend to the mortal realm! Ignite the Nine Dragon Divine Fire to purify all evil and defilement, unleash the Samadhi True Fire to burn away the lair of demons and monsters. Command the Wind and Fire Attendants to sweep away the demonic fog of the eight wastelands, and dispatch the Yaksha and Rakshasa soldiers to cleanse the nine netherworld paths.

I pray that the Heavenly Silk will sweep away the demonic clouds, and the Universe Ring will shatter all evil obstacles. May the common people return to peace and happiness, and may the world once again see tranquility.

With utmost reverence and trepidation, I offer sacrificial animals, fruits, incense, candles, and a cloud-shaped horse, bowing my head in deep respect.

I humbly beseech Your Majesty to extend Your Majesty far and wide, and to forever bless all living beings!

"I bow and pay my respects to Zheng Yuan of the Xingtai Fangcun Mountain Xieyue Sanxing Cave in Xiniu Hezhou."

After Zuo Liang finished writing the document, he read it several times before nodding in approval. With this document, he thought, "That should be enough."

Wang Shou asked, "Sir, is this enough?"

Zuo Liang nodded and said, "That's enough."

Wang Shou said, “I recall that when you prayed for rain before, you signed it with ‘The Supreme Lord Laozi commands urgently,’ but this time there is none, and there is no mention of ‘Guangxin Zhenren.’ Why is that?”

Zuo Liang said, “There is a great deal of consideration in this inscription. Things are urgent or not. If it is urgent, then many names should be inscribed. If it is not urgent, then only my Dharma name should be inscribed. I did not understand this before, but now I know that it should only be inscribed as my name.”

Wang Shou suddenly realized and said, "So that's how it is."

Zuo Liang smiled and said, "There are still many intricacies involved; you should study them carefully."

Wang Shou said, "Sir, I haven't even mastered the basics of medicine, how can I possibly learn such skills?" Zuo Liang replied, "Just keep learning."

As the two talked...

Meanwhile, on the sea, Lü Yan rowed his boat to the shore and felt the surging waves. No matter how hard he tried to row, he could not overcome the power of the waves. With just a few laps from the waves, his boat would rock violently.

Lu Yan sighed inwardly, marveling at how extraordinary these waves were, and how remarkable it was that the local fishermen could still fish amidst such wind and waves.

He sighed inwardly, looked around, but saw no trace of the evil dragon. He had no idea how to find it.

As Lü Yan was deep in thought, he suddenly sensed something amiss in his surroundings. He immediately looked down and peered into the waves.

No matter how he looked around, he couldn't see anything in the waves. Anta felt uneasy. Suddenly, he leaped into the air, his feet creating a gust of wind, and soared away.

Just as Lü Yan soared into the air, he suddenly saw a colossal dragon head emerge from the water and swallow the fishing boat whole.

This dragon's head was a hundred feet long, while the others were tiny and insignificant compared to it.

The dragon head swallowed the fishing boat. Seeing Lü Yan riding the wind, how could it not know that he was a cultivator? It opened its blood-red maw and said, "Who are you, cultivator? Why do you dare to come here? Don't you know that this place is my enclosure? All the people here are for my longevity. How dare you trespass?"

Upon hearing this, Lü Yan felt a surge of anger and said, "But this place is the Donglai County of Qingzhou in the human world. How can it be your place of confinement? But from what you have said, I know that you are a demon who has caused all sorts of trouble. I have come here to subdue you."

The black dragon emerged from the water and said, "Subdue me? Do you think I don't know? I am the Great Sage Who Swallows the Sea of ​​Xixie Mountain in Beiju Luzhou. How dare you, with your insignificant cultivation, speak of subduing me? Do you think you are the Xuan Emperor who vanquishes demons, or the Guangxin Zhenren who vanquishes demons? How laughable, how laughable!"

Lu Yan said, "I am neither the Xuan Emperor nor the Guangxin Immortal, but I am certain that I can subdue you here."

The black dragon laughed loudly and said, "Enough, enough, enough. You've become a fool from cultivating too much. I'll see what you've got, and if you have no magic power at all, I'll devour you."

Say it.

The black dragon lunged forward and bit at Lü Yan.

Lu Yan drew his Longquan sword from his waist and tried his best to block, but the dragon's head power forced him to retreat repeatedly, almost causing him to lose his footing.

He was not, after all, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven or the Great Master Guangxin, a person of great supernatural powers and martial arts skills, and could not easily subdue a dragon.

With a single strike, the black dragon recognized Lü Yan's abilities and, having no intention of further discussion, pounced on him, intending to swallow him whole.

Lu Yan had no choice but to wield his sword and struggle to defend himself.

A man and a dragon are gambling on the sea.

……

Upon seeing it on the shore, Zuo Liang knew that this was no ordinary demon and that they would be no match for it. He then burned the documents, intending to invoke the spirit.

Wang Shou, standing beside him, was trembling with fear and completely at a loss when he saw the hundred-foot-long black dragon.

Zuo Liang patted his head and said, "Don't lose your composure, don't panic."

Wang Shou steadied himself and asked, "Sir, can we truly subdue such a demon?"

Zuo Liang said, "Why not? But since it is a demon and it does evil, we can subdue it."

Wang Shou said, "But in my opinion, Mr. Lü is not strong enough to withstand that demonic dragon."

Zuo Liang said, "There's no need to rush. I didn't intend for my junior brother to fight that demonic dragon. I just wanted him to bring the evil dragon ashore for me, and then we could subdue it."

Wang Shouchao looked up at the sky and said, "Sir, when you burned the documents, a deity appeared shortly afterward. Why are there no deities here to help you?"

Zuo Liang said, "Those times are very different from here. Furthermore, the gods do not help Junior Brother Lü. Although it is in my name here, Junior Brother Lü is present. I wonder if the Great God of the Three Altars and Seas, Nezha Zhenjun, will respond."

Wang Shou asked, "Sir, what should we do if the immortals do not respond?"

Zuo Liang laughed and said, "If the immortals do not respond, I will fight them with the Heavenly Canopy Ruler. Rest assured, even if I am defeated, my master will definitely take action. When his decree arrives, all in the Three Realms and Ten Directions will yield the way."

Wang Shou was shocked to hear this.

Just as Zuo Liang was about to say something more, he suddenly sensed something, looked up at the sky, and vaguely saw a fire rising in mid-air.

He knew that the great god Nezha had arrived, so he instructed Wang Shou to guard the altar. His primordial spirit left his body and traveled to mid-air.

When Zuo Liangxing reached mid-air, he saw Nezha, majestic and imposing, riding on Wind and Fire Wheels, holding a Fire-Tipped Spear, and wearing a Hun Tian Ling (a type of celestial sash), leading a troop of heavenly soldiers.

Zuo Liang stepped forward and bowed deeply, saying, "I pay my respects to the Great God Nezha Zhenjun of the Three Altars and Sea Assembly from the Xingtai Fangcun Mountain of Xiniu Hezhou."

Nezha descended from the clouds, handed the Fire-Tipped Spear to the heavenly soldiers, helped Zuo Liang up, and said with a smile, "Zhengyuan, there's no need for formalities. You should recognize me, as I saw you at the Queen Mother's birthday celebration in the past."

Zuo Liang said, "I will never forget the majesty of the True Lord."

Nezha laughed and said, "Don't say such empty words. You are a disciple of the True Man, and even more so, the Great Sage's nephew and the Buddha of Wisdom's nephew. To me, you are my nephew, so there is no need for such formalities. I have already received the document you wrote. I am very pleased with your words, but this is the tribulation of Chunyangzi, and I cannot interfere. This is Laozi's word. I saw that it was written by you, so I descended to the mortal realm. Now that I have arrived, it is not good to leave. I will stay here to protect your altar. Although I cannot interfere, if that evil dragon causes trouble and offends your altar, I will take action and teach it a lesson about the power of Nezha."

Zuo Liang bowed deeply and said, "Zhengyuan thanks True Lord Nezha."

Nezha waved his hand and said, "Go to the altar, I will protect it."

Zuo Liang replied, "Yes."

Just as Zuo Liang was about to leave.

Nezha stopped Zuo Liang again and said, "After this matter is over, you cannot keep Chunyangzi here for long. He has a path to follow. If you stay with him, it will not help his cultivation. What he is following is the path of the Great Luo, which is to cultivate merit for three thousand years and use this to comprehend the Golden Elixir. He must personally experience the tribulations."

Zuo Liang suddenly realized and said, "I see. I understand now. After this matter is settled, I will bid farewell to Junior Brother Lü."

Nezha said, “That is exactly right. With your current abilities, all the gods will respond to you. But if you were with Chunyangzi, the gods would find it difficult to respond.”

Zuo Liang bowed again and said, "Thank you for telling me, True Lord. I understand now."

Nezha laughed and said, "Now that you know, you can sit comfortably in the altar. I will protect your altar and keep all evil from invading you, and you will be free from all taboos."

Upon hearing this, Zuo Liang's spirit returned to its place, and he sat calmly on the altar, waiting for the evil dragon to come ashore.

(End of this chapter)