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

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Upon hearing this, Ao Ying smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, you may not know this, but news came from Bibo Pool recently that the Dragon King of Ten Thousand Saints will soon be celebrating his three thousandth birthday."

The affairs in the pool are numerous and complicated, and as a daughter, Wan Sheng naturally needs to return early to make preparations.

Upon hearing this, Master Xuangu nodded in understanding and said:

"I have long heard of the name of Bibo Pool in the Luanshi Mountain of Xiniuhezhou."

Although not a celestial abode, the Dragon King of Ten Thousand Saints has cultivated it for a long time, has a wide circle of friends, and possesses the grandeur of a demon king. This birthday banquet at his water palace is sure to be quite impressive.

His words carried a hint of longing and awe. For a rogue cultivator like him, the Myriad Saints Dragon King was an existence to be looked up to.

Ao Ying nodded slightly, gently stroked the rim of her cup, and said:

"Indeed. This birthday banquet is also a time to demonstrate his prestige."

She turned her gaze to Chen Jiao and took out an invitation from her sleeve.

The invitation is neither paper nor silk, but is made of jade polished from a deep pool.

It was cool to the touch, with golden patterns outlining the image of surging blue waves, faintly revealing a majestic and demonic aura unique to aquatic creatures.

"I was just about to discuss this matter with Fellow Daoist Xuanling."

Ao Ying handed over the invitation and said softly:

"During your seclusion, Fellow Daoist, the Old Dragon King has sent you an invitation to a banquet."

Chen Jiao accepted the invitation, his eyebrows twitching slightly, and asked with a hint of doubt:

"I have never met the Dragon King of Ten Thousand Saints before, why would he invite me?"

A bright smile curved Ao Ying's lips as she gently twirled the glass goblet between her fingers.

"Fellow Daoist, you are too modest. You are now quite famous, but... perhaps you yourself are not yet aware of it."

Seeing that Chen Jiao's gaze was calm, as if he were deep in thought, she continued:

"On the day the disaster at Ruoshui was quelled, very few people knew the details."

However, the residual power of your sword swept across three thousand miles of sea, and all the demons and evil cultivators who were causing trouble along the way, whether they were at the Foundation Establishment stage or the Golden Core stage, were reduced to ashes.

Even among the Nascent Soul cultivators, several had their physical bodies destroyed on the spot, with only one Nascent Soul cultivator escaping and surviving.

Some hesitant demons, having miraculously survived, described the Daoist as having three heads and six arms, a blue face and fangs, capable of swallowing an entire river of water with a single gulp—truly a supreme deity of the demon realm.

Nowadays, among demon cultivators, many may not know the name 'Xuan Ling,' but the fearsome reputation of the 'Flood Dragon Demon King' is enough to make even the least biting demons weep at night.

Whale Cloud and Xuan Gu both chuckled upon hearing this.

Master Xuangu also smiled and said:

"That's right. The old Dragon King has many friends and is well-informed. He must have heard of the Demon King's reputation, and this invitation is probably intended to establish a friendship."

Chen Jiao held the invitation in his hand, the seal of the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King on the invitation faintly exuding the unique fishy and salty smell of the aquatic tribe.

He remained silent for a moment, his expression calm and composed, before simply saying, "I see."

Ao Ying personally poured him a cup of Snow Soul Wine, ice crystals slowly rising and falling in the liquid, and whispered:

"Fellow Daoist, there is no need to worry. Most of the rumors in the world are just hearsay."

However, the old Dragon King is quite famous in Xiniu Hezhou, and this birthday banquet may be attended by aquatic creatures from all directions, and even some great demon kings.

If you are interested, fellow Daoist, you might as well go; perhaps there will be another opportunity.

As she spoke, her gaze inadvertently swept over Chen Jiao, who was sitting quietly beside her.

Seeing that he neither agreed nor refused, she simply picked up her wine cup and took a sip.

The refreshing taste of Snow Soul Wine melted between my lips and teeth, as if the bloody storm we had just discussed had nothing to do with it.

Ao Ying couldn't help but sigh slightly.

I remember my younger sister, Wansheng, lingering for a long time under the corridor of the East Palace before she left, her bright eyes, which were always smiling, concealed an undisguised sense of loss.

He muttered to himself that he had not been able to say goodbye to Fellow Daoist Xuanling in person, and wondered if his breakthrough was successful.

Ao Ying gently turned the wine cup, making a clear sound, as if sighing:

"Sister Wansheng's trip was rushed, and she was quite disappointed before leaving, saying that she was unable to wait for Fellow Daoist Xuanling to come out of seclusion and witness his Nascent Soul attainment, which was a real pity."

Her words were subtle, yet they perfectly captured the essence of a young girl's thoughts.

A moment of silence fell over the room.

Upon hearing this, Xuan Gu and Jing Yun exchanged a quiet glance, both seeing a knowing smile in each other's eyes.

Princess Wansheng is indeed exceptionally beautiful, and what's more, she looks at Brother Xuanling with special favor and can't forget him.

However, both men knew Chen Jiao's temperament. Seeing him sitting quietly with his eyes down, his fingers lightly tapping the jade cup, he remained silent.

As for matters involving personal relationships and fate, the two dared not make any jokes, but silently raised their glasses and swallowed their smiles mixed with the wine.

Chen Jiao held a glass cup in his hand, the ice crystals inside reflecting his calm and composed expression.

The probing tone in Ao Ying's words did not cause his expression to change in the slightest.

He paused for a moment, then said softly, "Fate is like drifting clouds, gathering and scattering; when fate brings us together, we gather, and when fate takes us apart, we scatter."

After saying this, he finished the remaining wine in his cup. His gaze was calm, reflecting the glittering pearls in the hall, yet revealing no ripples.

Observing his reaction, Ao Ying knew that his Dao heart was pure and unmoved by external things, so she suppressed her thoughts and smiled instead:

"Fellow Daoist is absolutely right. It is my little sister Wan Sheng who is being stubborn."

Whale Cloud changed the subject at the right moment, talking about the difference in spiritual energy contained in the Ice Soul of the North Sea and the Warm Jade of the South Sea, and Xuan Gu also chimed in.

The banquet ended, the cups were cold, and the mats were bare.

Chen Jiao put down his jade chopsticks and said to Ao Ying:

"I am deeply grateful for Your Highness's hospitality in troubling me for so many days. However, I have not been back to my cave dwelling for a long time and need to return to renovate it."

"Fellow Daoist, you have just achieved the Nascent Soul stage, and your realm still needs to be stabilized."

Although my Flowing Cloud Palace is simple, the underwater spiritual veins are quite beneficial for water-based cultivation.

Why not stay a few more days and return to the mountain after you have completed your mission?

Chen Jiao's gaze swept over the still, flowing, dark water outside the hall. After a moment's hesitation, he finally nodded.

"In that case, I will trouble you for a few more days."

For the next few days, Chen Jiao stayed in the East Hall, resting and recuperating day and night.

Meanwhile, Master Xuan Gu waited quietly in the side hall, refining Yin Talismans by day and observing the stars by night, awaiting Chen Jiao's emergence from seclusion.

Seven days later, the first rays of dawn pierced through the water curtain.

Chen Jiao stood up, his aura now perfectly harmonious, like a deep pool returning to stillness.

He walked out of the East Hall and saw Ao Ying waiting under the corridor.

"Your Highness, the path of cultivation is long, and one must ultimately walk it alone."

Seeing that he was determined to leave, Ao Ying said no more.

"In that case, it is inconvenient for me to insist that you stay. If you are willing, Fellow Daoist, Liuyun Palace will welcome you at any time."

The two walked side by side to the palace gate.

Master Xuan Gu had been waiting patiently. Upon seeing Chen Jiao emerge, he bowed deeply and spoke earnestly:

"If you don't mind, Brother Dao, Xuan Gu is willing to accompany you and follow your lead."

Chen Jiao nodded slightly, said nothing more, and turned to walk out of the hall.

Xuan Gu silently followed closely behind, like a shadow.

Ao Ying paused on the jade steps of the palace gate, watching the two figures disappear into the deep water.

The water rippled gently, quickly smoothing over all traces.

She stood still for a moment, then turned and returned to the palace. The Crimson Pearl Maiden silently closed the palace gate, shutting out all the outside disturbances.

Chen Jiao and Xuan Gu traversed the deep sea, their figures, one black and one blue, moving like fish swimming upstream.

When the two emerged from the water, the sky was bright, the sun was shining on the waves, and the sea and sky were clear.

Master Xuangu asked in a low voice, "Brother Dao, shall we go straight back to our cave?"

Chen Jiao looked into the distance, where the outline of a city could be vaguely seen on the horizon.

"Let's go to Aolai Country first."