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

Proud to come to the country.

Things have been rather turbulent lately.

Since the previous rampage of the Weak Water, although it did not cause a major disaster, it did cause the spiritual veins within the territory to become unstable, and the demonic aura gradually arose.

The nation's top Golden Core cultivator, True Man Crimson Cloud, led a group of cultivators to fight against the flood in order to protect the region.

However, he damaged his own Golden Core foundation and had to go into seclusion to cultivate, and has not appeared in public for several months.

With the loss of a Golden Core cultivator in charge of the country, the spirits and evil spirits that used to lurk in the mountains and fields began to stir as soon as they sensed his presence.

At midnight, black winds often sweep through the marketplace, snatching away infants. In desolate temples, piles of white bones are often found, and demons have usurped the positions of the gods.

The people lived in constant fear, and mobs began to band together to rob wealthy households. Rumors spread that the dynasty was doomed.

Even within the royal city, the nobles were restless, each secretly seeking out cultivators for protection.

In the imperial court, memorials from the ministers piled up like a mountain, all reporting frequent strange phenomena in various places and imploring the king to quickly find a wise man to guard against them.

The king sat alone in the deep palace, staring at the urgent reports on his desk, his brow furrowed with worry, and the atmosphere in the palace grew heavier day by day.

Before entering seclusion, Master Chixia said that he would not be able to recover from this injury for three to five years. Now, only a few months have passed, and the country's situation is already as precarious as a stack of eggs.

Just when the whole country was in turmoil, one day...

A cultivator who called himself Jade Brocade Immortal floated to the palace gate.

The man had a handsome face and spoke with a serene air. He said he had been traveling the world and had come to help when he saw demonic energy swirling in the city.

Seeing his extraordinary bearing, the guards quickly relayed the message.

The king urgently summoned him to the palace. Master Yu Jin did not say much, but drew a talisman in the air. A clear light flashed, and the flock of crows that had been circling outside the palace for many days instantly turned into green smoke and dissipated.

Then, he took a clean bottle and a willow branch, dipped it in water and sprinkled it lightly. The withered trees in the palace came back to life, and the patients' serious illnesses were immediately relieved.

The entire court was astonished, considering him a celestial being.

The king was overjoyed and immediately descended the steps to take his hand, intending to appoint him as the king's advisor.

Master Yujin humbly declined, but only reluctantly agreed after the king invited him three times.

After that, Master Yujin resided in a high pavilion in the palace.

Strangely enough, since he took charge of the capital, those rampant demons and monsters have actually disappeared, and the territory seems to have returned to peace.

The king's trust in the real man deepened day by day.

The master then presented a scroll titled "The Wonderful Method of Harmonizing Yin and Yang to Prolong Life," explaining that this method could not only strengthen the body but also extend lifespan.

The king was initially suspicious, wondering how it differed from sorcery.

After trying it for several days, I felt refreshed and invigorated, as if I were several years younger, so I became convinced of its effectiveness.

In order to improve, he ordered the selection of many middle school girls to enter the palace, ostensibly to "serve the immortal master and jointly study the profound Dao," but in reality, it was for them to practice this art of sexual cultivation.

From then on, the king gradually neglected state affairs, had eunuchs review memorials on his behalf, and spent his days lingering in the inner palace.

Night after night, the palace was filled with revelry, and the elixir room was perpetually fragrant.

In the brightly lit palace, faint fragrances and ethereal, enchanting sounds often wafted out.

The real hardships of the people and the security of the borders were set aside, and the memorials annotated with vermilion ink gradually accumulated a thin layer of dust.

Occasionally, a loyal and upright old minister would kneel before the emperor to offer advice, but within a day, he would inevitably die suddenly at home.

The entire court fell silent, as if chilled to the bone, except for the chanting of secret dual cultivation techniques, which mingled with incense and drifted inside and outside the vermilion walls.

Meanwhile, the Jade Brocade Immortal sat firmly in his high seat, his position becoming increasingly secure, and he seemed poised to take control of the court.

…………

On this day, the morning light was just beginning to break.

Yu Jin Zhenren slowly walked out of the Queen's palace, casually straightening her slightly wrinkled clothes, her face showing a hint of languid contentment.

He stood under the long corridor, his eyes slightly closed, and took a deep breath. As he exhaled, a deep dragon's roar seemed to emanate from his lungs, distant and majestic, startling the birds roosting under the eaves into flight.

The palace maids and guards standing around all looked blank, as if they hadn't seen anything.

Before long, a eunuch approached with a bow and said respectfully:

"Grand Preceptor, His Majesty has been waiting in the side hall for a long time, saying that he has encountered obstacles in his cultivation and is extremely anxious."

Master Yu Jin smiled almost imperceptibly and flicked his sleeve, saying, "Lead the way."

The side hall was filled with the strong scent of incense, and the bed was in disarray.

The king, dressed in a loose Taoist robe, sat restlessly on a brocade cushion.

Upon seeing Master Yujin enter, he disregarded his royal decorum and hurriedly rose, his tone tinged with urgency and anxiety:

"Imperial Preceptor, I have recently been practicing the secret art of longevity, but I always feel that my energy channels are stagnant, making it difficult to make progress. Have I reached a bottleneck? I wonder... is there a way to achieve faster results?"

Master Yu Jin sat down at the table, picked up the teapot, poured himself half a cup of tea, and then said slowly:

"Your Majesty's eagerness to seek the Way is commendable. However, the path to the Great Way is long and arduous, and haste makes waste."

He paused slightly, and seeing the king's disappointed expression, a barely perceptible smile flickered across the real man's lips.

"However... if the goal is simply to break through the current barrier, I do have an ancient remedy that might be of assistance to Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, the king's eyes immediately lit up:

"What wonderful remedy is it? Imperial Preceptor, please tell me quickly! I will surely reward you handsomely!"

Master Yu Jin calmly flicked his sleeve, took out a scroll of dark-colored paper containing elixir formulas, and presented it with both hands:

"Your Majesty, do not worry. Your Majesty's concern is due to the fact that the furnace is not yet at its purest state."

This is the formula for the "Mysterious Female Elixir" recorded in ancient texts. If one can refine it and consume it, one can open up the vital energy channels, break through bottlenecks, and prolong life will not be difficult.

Upon hearing this, the king's eyes gleamed with greed, and he eagerly took the prescription to examine it closely.

The inscription on it was ancient and profound, listing many rare medicinal stones. When his gaze swept to the last line of small characters, his expression stiffened slightly, and he looked up hesitantly, saying:

"Grand Preceptor, this... requires eight young women under the age of sixteen who are just beginning their journey in the Dao as the medicinal ingredients."

Such things are extremely rare to find...

The king hesitated. Although he was obsessed with dual cultivation, forcibly taking the life of a cultivator as a medicinal ingredient would ultimately be a taboo.

There is still the lineage of the Crimson Cloud Immortal in the imperial court, and there are also families of cultivators among the common people. If this matter were to spread...

The king looked troubled: "This elixir requires a human as a medicinal ingredient... I'm afraid that will be difficult."

Master Yu Jin flicked his whisk, chuckled softly, his laughter gentle yet tinged with a chill:

"Your Majesty is a benevolent ruler, as I know well. However, the method of dual cultivation has limited nourishment."

To break through this barrier, one needs a touch of pure primordial yin as a guide. Its spiritual energy is extremely pure, perfectly suited to harmonizing the dragon and tiger, dispelling stagnation, and aiding Your Majesty in achieving success in your cultivation.

Upon hearing this, the king's hand, which was holding Danfang's, became sweaty, and there was still a hint of struggle in his eyes.

Master Yu Jin remained calm and composed, his tone even yet carrying an invisible pressure as he spoke:

"Moreover, in extraordinary times, extraordinary measures are required."

This [Mysterious Female Elixir] is a creation of heaven and earth, incomparable to ordinary medicines.

Your Majesty is the ruler of the nation; all land under heaven belongs to you. How can a few young girls who have just begun their cultivation compare to Your Majesty's immortality?

"For Your Majesty's everlasting legacy, for the longevity of the Aolai Kingdom, what are these small sacrifices?"

The air inside the palace was filled with the fragrance of incense, which reflected the king's ever-changing expression.

He gazed at the small, vermilion characters on the prescription, then caught a glimpse of the unfathomable depths of Master Yujin's eyes.

After a long pause, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally nodded slowly.

…………

Chen Jiao and Xuan Gu Shangren rode on clouds, and the mountains and rivers below gradually became denser.

Upon reaching the shores of the East China Sea, one can see the imposing city walls of Aolai Kingdom in the distance, a rare scene of peace and tranquility.

Along the way, many towns suffered from the aftereffects of the Weak Water, with an atmosphere of evil pervading the land and the people living in poverty.

Compared to this place, it is indeed worlds apart.

Master Xuangu descended from the clouds, his robes fluttering slightly in the wind, a hint of surprise appearing on his handsome face.

He looked down for a moment and couldn't help but sigh:

"Brother Dao, as we travel along this road, we've encountered countless cities and towns tainted by demonic influences. Some are inhabited by spirits and monsters, while others are haunted by malevolent spirits in the desolate countryside."

This place is so peaceful, not even a trace of evil or demonic energy can be detected. It's likely either a powerful cultivator is guarding it, or the ruler is exceptionally capable.

Chen Jiao did not answer.

He stood quietly atop the clouds, his black robes fluttering, his gaze sweeping over the ordinary streets and alleys, directly towards the towering palaces in the heart of the capital.

His pair of crimson-gold eyes grew even more profound.

What ordinary people see as peaceful palaces and pavilions presents a different scene to him.

Above the palace, a shimmering white carp was entwined around a dull golden dragon, its mouth slightly open, silently devouring the royal aura.

The golden dragon struggled weakly, but was tightly bound by the white carp, and its breath gradually weakened.

"Is there a master overseeing this?"

Chen Jiao withdrew his gaze, his tone calm and even:

"Perhaps."