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

Chen Jiao's gaze swept over the demons below the stage.

Although the three demons of Tiger Power were not highly skilled, they had a strong desire to pursue the Dao and were not dull in their comprehension.

A slight thought crossed his mind. After a moment's contemplation, he glanced at the demons listening below the stage and said calmly:

"Just now we discussed the movement of Qi from the Dantian, the mechanism of movement and stillness. However, the movement of Qi is easy to observe, but the movement of Shen is difficult to understand."

"I have a question for you all to ponder."

The audience fell silent, even the two Golden Core cultivators held their breath.

Even the sound of the mountain wind rustling through the pine branches could be clearly heard.

All the demons knew that this was the Demon Lord testing all living beings, and it was also an opportunity.

Chen Jiao lowered his gaze, seemingly observing the hearts of the people present, and continued:

"When a practitioner circulates Qi through the body, how can they distinguish whether the Qi in the Dantian is naturally surging or agitated by inner demons?"

How then can one maintain focus in the central palace, ensuring that the qi moves without the spirit wavering, the body moves without the mind stagnating, and that one is not swayed by external appearances or misled by internal scenes?

Upon hearing this, the audience fell silent.

Chen Jiao paused slightly, letting the question sink into the minds of the demons, before continuing:

"Please think quietly for a moment, and then each of you may express your own opinions and explain the root cause. Those who provide insightful answers will be rewarded."

The demons below the stage were silent at first, then a slight commotion arose.

All the demons knew that this was the Demon Lord testing their comprehension and also bestowing upon them an opportunity!

One demon scratched his head, racking his brains but unable to understand. Another demon seemed to have a sudden realization, his lips moved slightly but he dared not speak first, and he looked around blankly.

Several Golden Core cultivators narrowed their eyes slightly, clearly pondering the key points.

This question seems simple, but it actually points directly to the fundamental skills of "knowing oneself" and "controlling the mind" in spiritual practice.

The three demons, Tiger Power, were also in a state of panic.

Having just witnessed the tiger's roar, they were deeply moved by this question and momentarily forgot their fear, focusing only on pondering its meaning.

Tiger Power recalled the exhilarating yet uncontrolled feeling when his roar erupted; Deer Power pondered the mistake of being too hasty in controlling the heat when refining the elixir; and Sheep Power remembered the focus and selflessness he felt when tending to the spiritual herbs.

A gentle breeze swept across the preaching platform, ruffling the robes of the demons, but it could not dispel the contemplative atmosphere that permeated the platform.

Chen Jiao sat upright on the cloud bed, quietly observing the expressions on the faces of the people, waiting for the first voice to speak.

He gave all the listeners on the stage an opportunity, both to test the demons' comprehension and to enlighten them on the Dao. Rewards became secondary.

Whether one can grasp it or not depends entirely on their own understanding and accumulated knowledge.

There was complete silence in front of the pulpit.

All the demons lowered their heads and frowned, lost in deep thought.

After a moment of silence, one of the more impatient little demons, eager to be the first to speak, stood up, scratching his head and stammering out a few words.

His words were crude and missed the point, causing several nearby demons to chuckle softly. He was glared at by a demon general, and they hurriedly fell silent.

After that, demon cultivators began to speak one after another.

Some cite their own physical sensations during cultivation to describe various signs when qi is released, which, while specific, remain superficial.

Some recited proverbs and maxims they had heard from who-knows-where, their words ornate but empty and meaningless.

Their words were numerous and varied, like streams hitting rocks, creating only ripples but revealing no deep currents.

Master Xuangu sat quietly for a long time before speaking slowly.

His words were concise, directly pointing to the principle that "at the beginning of the movement of Qi, the spirit and intention are the first to perceive it," and he used the metaphor of "the mind is like a clear mirror, reflecting the chaos without being tainted" to describe the way of maintaining the center.

It has already touched upon the core of the problem, revealing the insight and understanding of a Golden Core cultivator.

The three demons, Tiger Power, answered in turn. Although their words were simple, they all came from their own personal experiences.

Deer Power used the analogy of controlling fire in alchemy to guard the mind, Sheep Power talked about following one's nature by cultivating spiritual plants, and Tiger Power combined his previous enlightenment to discuss the root of qi and the principle of intention preceding strength.

Although limited by its artistic scope, it is surprisingly realistic and possesses a certain rustic spirituality.

Chen Jiao sat quietly, his gaze sweeping calmly over each speaker, neither nodding nor shaking his head, only occasionally lingering briefly on a particular spot.

Silence returned to the room when no one spoke again.

Chen Jiao looked around at the demons and saw that many of them looked expectant.

He already had a plan in mind. The depth of this discussion had become apparent, and it was time for him to express his opinion.

The sun is rising higher.

Chen Jiao had already left, and the demons also got up one after another and dispersed in twos and threes.

Those who received the reward could not hide their joy, their steps were light, and they occasionally whispered to each other, their words full of gratitude to the king.

Those who did not receive the reward mostly showed regret, and in their hushed conversations, they reflected on themselves and secretly resolved to cultivate themselves more diligently in the future.

The three demons, Tiger Power, mingled with the dispersing crowd and hurried along the familiar mountain path.

Although the evaluation they received today was not the highest, they had still gained the king's approval and received a reward, which made them very happy.

They hurried back to their dwelling, located halfway up the mountain, where three caves were connected, closed the stone door, and activated the protective barrier.

Lu Li let out a long sigh of relief, wiped away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead, and said with lingering fear:

"Today, I've truly escaped a perilous situation and stumbled upon a stroke of good fortune!"

Yang Li nodded silently, still feeling lingering fear as he recalled the unsettling feeling of sitting on pins and needles on the pulpit.

Hu Li sat on the stone bench, his eyes gleaming with a shrewd light, full of relief:

"If it weren't for Your Majesty's keen insight, my shout would have brought great disaster upon me!"

Not only did His Majesty not punish us, but he also took this opportunity to test us and bestowed upon us a suitable method. This kindness is truly profound.

Lu Li and Yang Li also showed a genuine smile.

The three demons had completely submitted to their king and had no further intentions.

Tiger was so excited that he couldn't wait to examine the gifts bestowed upon him by the king.

As his divine senses sank in, the complex and profound explanations of the talismans flooded into his mind.

[Huang Ting Chu Yang Refining Evil Thunder Talisman].

This method does not pursue the power of thunder and killing, but is a superior secret technique for building a foundation and cultivating oneself.

One must draw upon one's own primordial yang energy, combining it with the yang and thunderous energy scattered throughout heaven and earth, to gradually refine the yin and impurities within the body through daily practice, eliminating the dross and retaining the essence.

When one's cultivation reaches a high level, a Thunder Seed True Talisman can be condensed in the lower dantian.

Once this talisman is completed, it will not only protect the wearer from all evil, but will also greatly benefit future breakthroughs in cultivation and the practice of other thunder magic techniques.

This method is grand and upright, perfectly matching the true nature of the Yellow Tiger, whose strength and yang energy are abundant and whose primordial yang has not been lost.

The more Hu Li realized this, the more excited he became, feeling that the road ahead was suddenly clear.

Deer Power and Sheep Power also checked what they had obtained.

Lu Li obtained a scroll of knowledge on controlling fire and refining elixirs, while Yang Li obtained a secret manual on cultivating spiritual plants.

These are all precious teachings that fit their own duties and paths, truly touching their hearts.

The three demons sat together. Holding the treasure in their hands, the cave was filled with joy and hope for the future.

Although there were some minor setbacks during this sermon, it ultimately reached a great fulfillment.

…………

Chen Jiao left Qingchi Ridge and rode the clouds westward.

Eight hundred miles of mountains and rivers gradually unfold beneath our feet, then slowly recede, transforming into a verdant vista behind us.

Clouds swept across the coast of the East China Sea, and the border of Aolai Kingdom could be faintly discerned below.

Chen Jiao lowered his gaze slightly.

The country's current atmosphere is vastly different from what it was six months ago; the decline and decay that once appeared due to the theft of the dragon's energy are nowhere to be seen.

Although it has not recovered to its former glory, it has gained a more orderly and vibrant vitality.

The city was well-ordered, the market was bustling, farmers were working in the fields, and merchants were traveling on the roads, creating a peaceful scene.

This white carp does have some tricks up its sleeve.

After submitting to Chen Jiao, he completely abandoned his desire to devour the dragon's energy.

The six girls who were recruited under the guise of "taking on apprentices" were not abused like ordinary demons.

On the contrary, Zhen Ge set up an incense table, truly accepted him as a disciple, and imparted his Taoist teachings, making a proper show of it.

There are many rumors circulating in the city now, all saying that the Imperial Preceptor is compassionate and enlightens those with predestined affinity.

The six female disciples often appeared in the streets to help those in distress, earning them considerable fame.

Then, Master Yujin set about restoring order to the country.

As for the previous palace incest, the gathering of women from the common people, and other evil deeds, Master Yu Jin easily attributed them all to the old king who was addicted to dual cultivation and had long been senile.

Through a series of maneuvers, he deposed and installed a young prince on the throne, while he himself, as the Grand Tutor, held supreme power in the court and implemented policies of recuperation and development.

In this way, he not only cleared his name but also became a "wise minister" who rectified the wrongs.

The people only saw that the national advisor severely punished corrupt officials and abolished oppressive policies, which gradually restored peace to the country, and they were naturally grateful to him.

In just six months, Aolai Kingdom showed signs of revival, the people's fears gradually subsided, and life gradually became more stable.

Chen Jiao's gaze swept over the newly opened trade route outside the city, where several caravans bearing dragon banners were fully loaded with goods and moving unimpeded.

Salt, iron, cloth, and other materials needed in the mountains were imported through this route, while minerals and furs produced in the mountains also flowed out through it, creating a mutually beneficial situation.

In all matters concerning Qingchi Ridge, government orders are always carried out without hindrance, and supplies are never in short supply.

Above the clouds, Chen Jiao nodded slightly.

Yu Jin is quick-witted, knows how to act appropriately, and understands how to adapt to circumstances. She manages Aolai Kingdom in a very organized way, making her a capable subordinate.

He didn't linger any longer; his dark figure transformed into a streak of light and headed straight towards Xiniuhezhou.

The gradually recovering land beneath our feet soon shrank into ink marks dotted in the clouds.