Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

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Chen Jiao remained unmoved by these words, his expression unchanged, and unwilling to discuss the matter further, saying indifferently:

"Your Highness is joking. The situation was critical at the time, and it was merely a temporary measure."

He then asked, "I heard that the Dragon Girl has captured all the troublemaking cultivators?"

"Exactly."

Seeing that he was unwilling to talk more, Ao Ying could only sigh inwardly and nod slightly, saying:

"Most of them are petty scoundrels who take advantage of the water's flow, including both human cultivators and mountain demons. They have now been handed over to the patrolling sea demons to be escorted to the water prison."

However, Chief Whale Cloud contributed a lot and was diligent and reliable, unlike his brother Whale Roar.

"The cleanup of the remnants of the Weak Water was largely thanks to the Dragon Whale Clan's ability to absorb and expel sea essence."

As they spoke, the water ahead shimmered brighter, revealing a massive coral archway.

Two jade-green shrimp soldiers stood solemnly with halberds in hand. Upon seeing the dragon maiden approach, they silently stepped back half a step.

The two passed through the coral archway.

Ahead appeared a naturally formed jade disc from the sea, with water ripples flowing naturally on its surface, forming the shape of a nine-palace formation.

Ao Ying stopped, took out a dragon-scale-shaped jade key from her wide sleeve, and gently pressed it against the wall.

The warehouse door slid open silently, letting in a burst of warm light.

A cool, refreshing aura, a blend of ancient water essence, medicinal herbs, and metals, wafted towards you first.

"Fellow Daoist, please take a look."

She stepped aside, her fingertips emitting a soft blue light that illuminated the luminous pearls embedded in the corridor walls.

The dome is made of coral beams and the floor is covered with ancient clam shells.

The walls were covered with silk curtains, revealing countless shelves inside, on which treasures hung or lay, all shrouded in a thin layer of mist.

The treasures are arranged according to the five elements and directions.

On the wooden shelf to the east, the Ganoderma lucidum (reishi mushroom) resembled clouds and mist, while on the west side, the weapons and magical artifacts in the golden box gleamed with a cold light.

In the south, the inner elixir of the Fire Jade Cauldron glows with crimson light, while in the north, the Mysterious Ice Cabinet contains crystal-clear marrow fluid.

The central pool contains twelve more "Sea-Stabilizing Pearls," their shimmering light resembling a flowing river of celestial light.

Ao Ying gestured with her hand and said softly, "The Flowing Cloud Water Palace cannot compare to the splendor of Father King's Dragon Palace."

The storehouse is filled with various odds and ends; fellow Daoists are welcome to browse freely. If anything catches your eye, feel free to take it.

After spending some time together, she realized that the person before her was not a greedy person.

Although the Flood Dragon Demon King was infamous for his ferocity, he was a virtuous demon cultivator, so he did not hesitate or hesitate in the slightest.

As they talked, Ao Ying walked to the edge of the central pool. The water was crystal clear and the surface was calm, yet no reflection could be seen.

Another dragon-scale token flew out from her sleeve and quietly immersed itself in the water. The token dissolved upon contact with the water, and ripples suddenly appeared in the center of the pool.

At the center of the ripples, a table slowly rose.

There was nothing else on it except a small, palm-sized glass bottle standing quietly.

The bottle's surface is naturally covered with subtle cloud and water patterns, which immediately cause surrounding moisture to condense into fine frost.

A single, vibrant green droplet of liquid was contained in the bottle.

The liquid droplets flowed slowly in the bottle, their color resembling the pale blue of distant mountains after a spring rain.

Its shape resembles water but is not water, resembles jade but is not jade. Its entire body is as clear as the new leaves of early spring, but inside it contains the tranquil aura of ancient trees that have stood for thousands of years.

It was the promised drop of eternal blue sky.

Chen Jiao gazed at the drop of ancient blue sky, his eyes reflecting a vibrant springtime scene.

"I will never forget the promise I made before."

Ao Ying gazed at the drop of eternal blue, a complex look flashing in her eyes, and said softly:

"This item was originally prepared by my father for me, to be used to nourish the dragon essence and solidify the foundation of my Dao when my nascent soul is formed."

She paused, looked up at Chen Jiao, and then smiled again:

"However, my Golden Core is not yet complete, and I am still far from reaching the Nascent Soul stage."

Moreover, this item was the agreed-upon reward when I asked you to quell the Blackwater Abyss disaster.

This gift to you today is perfectly fitting.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao did not refuse and reached out to catch the glass bottle.

Knowing that the Dragon Palace possessed numerous treasures and was not lacking in this one, he only politely inquired:

"Your Highness, in bestowing this precious treasure upon me, have you considered your own path to enlightenment?"

Seeing his composure in accepting the situation, Ao Ying's smile deepened:

"Fellow Daoist, rest assured, the Dragon Palace's foundation is not so solid as to be shaken by a single drop of Azure."

Everything has its own destiny. This item, in your present moment, is far more valuable than if it were gathering dust in my collection.

She raised her hand again and drew something out of thin air.

It was a dark-colored spiritual pearl the size of a pigeon's egg, its body deep and mysterious, as if a vast expanse of water flowed and swirled within it.

The surface has subtle, flowing water patterns, and it feels icy cold to the touch, yet it also exudes a strange sense of weight.

It was the Xuanming Heavy Water Spirit Orb that had been promised earlier.

"This is the Xuanming Heavy Water Spirit Pearl."

Ao Ying handed over the pearl: "It is also the item I promised before. It contains the spiritual essence of Xuanming True Water, which should be helpful for you in refining your water techniques."

Chen Jiao glanced at the spirit pearl, nodded slightly, and said nothing more. He simply flicked his sleeve and put it into his sleeve.

Immediately, he moved to the depths of the storeroom, his eyes sharp as a ruler, sweeping over the many rare treasures, and taking out some items suitable for crossing the tribulation.

He then reached out and picked up a translucent jade bottle. The bottle was pure white, and one could vaguely see some colorless cloud-like vapor inside, seemingly there yet not there.

Ao Ying watched quietly from the side, her eyes gradually showing confusion.

She could guess that the first few items were related to consolidating the foundation and harmonizing the dragon and tiger.

However, the effects of that bottle of rootless cloud essence are elusive, as it is condensed from the essence of clouds from the nine heavens.

It has always been regarded as an aid to calm the mind, and seems to have nothing to do with the fierce and intense tribulation of alchemical fire.

She finally couldn't help but ask softly:

"Fellow Daoist, please forgive me, but what wondrous uses does this Rootless Cloud Rain have during the Tribulation of Elixir Fire?"

Chen Jiao held the jade bottle in his hand, his gaze seemingly penetrating the bottle's walls to see a wisp of ethereal, rootless cloud within.

"The Tribulation of the Elixir Fire not only burns the body, but also scorches the cultivator's mind. Once the fire in the mind ignites, the external fire intensifies, and all five internal organs are burned."

This cloud-like rain contains a trace of true emptiness and tranquility; it is not for extinguishing fire, but for subduing the restless mind and taming the wandering will.

"If the heart is like still water, even if a raging fire erupts outside, I will have a ray of coolness to keep my mind clear and free from worldly thoughts."

Upon hearing this, Ao Ying's surprise gradually turned into deep thought.

Her dragon clan cultivation relied heavily on her powerful bloodline and abundant water power, so she was not well-versed in such subtle ways of harmonization.

She watched as Chen Jiao calmly put away the spiritual items, as if he had a complete grasp of every change in the Danhuo Tribulation.

He couldn't help but sigh, "Fellow Daoist's insights into the path of cultivation are truly profound and subtle."

Chen Jiao put the spiritual object into his sleeve and said calmly:

"All things in the universe are interconnected and mutually restraining; we should simply go with the flow. Your Highness may understand this principle when you reach a critical juncture in the future."

Ao Ying noticed that he mostly took items suitable for crossing tribulations, and rarely took anything else to heart.

She then gently reminded him, "What you have chosen, fellow Daoist, is all for practical use. There are other items in the storeroom; if you need anything, please do not stand on ceremony."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao nodded slightly and took out some more suitable and pleasing items.

Seeing this, Ao Ying could only smile and say, "I hope that your seclusion will be successful and your cultivation complete."

"Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness."

The two exchanged a glance, said nothing more, and slowly walked out of the treasure trove that shimmered with precious light.

The jade disc behind him closed silently, concealing the countless treasures once again in the depths.