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

The mountain breeze swept through the treetops, creating rustling sounds in the pines.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao lowered his gaze slightly and did not answer immediately, as if he was weighing his options.

The spiritual fire that the Bull Demon King spoke of was not the true fire of the sun that he was searching for, but the spiritual fires in the world each had their own mysteries.

If one could obtain one of these, it would be an invaluable resource, whether used to temper magical artifacts, assist in alchemy, or comprehend the Great Dao of Fire.

If what the Bull Demon King said is true, then a precious and suitable spiritual fire is indeed worth making a move on.

Seeing that Chen Jiao remained silent without outright refusing, the Bull Demon King knew he had a chance and quickly pressed his advantage:

"My younger brother's cultivation is still shallow, and he cannot support us alone."

Although I have some strength, I am not skilled in the delicate work of controlling fire and spirits.

The Bull Demon King looked at Chen Jiao with burning eyes and continued:

"To be honest, my brother, there are quite a few warriors under my command who have fought fiercely."

However, when it comes to the subtleties of water manipulation and the mastery of its techniques, there is not a single one among them.

After much thought, I can only say that you, my dear brother, are not only proficient in water magic, able to condense the essence of the eight water veins into a single blue lotus, but also possess a calm and reliable temperament.

"To obtain the spiritual fire, only someone as capable as you, my virtuous brother, can help!"

His words were sincere, and his praise was evident in his expression.

After listening to his words, Chen Jiao's thoughtful expression gradually settled. He raised his eyes to meet the Bull Demon King's burning gaze and asked in a deep voice:

"Brother Niu, may I ask what kind of spiritual fire it is? Where does it originate, and what is its nature?"

The Bull Demon King slapped his forehead and laughed in realization:

"Look at my temper! I'm so focused on the pros and cons that I've forgotten to get to the root of the problem."

He suppressed his smile and said seriously:

"This fire did not fall from the sky, nor spring from the earth, nor grow from wood. It is not visible on the outside, but is hidden in a strange rock, and is rarely seen."

Its nature is yin and its substance is strong. Its flame is a dark blue color. It ignites upon contact with anything and is extremely difficult to tame.

It was named "Fire in the Stone" because it was buried within the heart of the stone.

"Ordinary water methods, when encountering this fire, not only cannot control it, but will easily arouse its ferocity."

"It is precisely because of a master like you, my virtuous brother, who can manipulate water elements to such a subtle degree, that we have the opportunity to extract its core essence without damaging its spirituality."

Chen Jiao's eyes flickered slightly. The words "Fire in the Stone" entered his ears, and he already had a plan in mind.

He had also heard of this fire, but it was not the true fire of the outer sun.

It is a unique spiritual fire nurtured by the earth's yin veins, its nature unpredictable and outwardly violent. If one can truly collect and refine it, it will also benefit one's cultivation.

Chen Jiao looked at the expectant Bull Demon King, pondered for a moment, and then calmly nodded:

"Since Brother Niu has invited me, I, Xuanling, will do my utmost to assist and see what is going on. When shall we depart?"

Upon hearing this, the Bull Demon King's face lit up with joy, and his voice boomed like a bell:

"Brother, you're so kind! Let's not delay. If you have nothing else to do, shall we set off now?"

My younger brother is already waiting nearby!

Chen Jiao nodded slightly: "Alright."

Without further delay, the two rode on clouds, leaving the desolate green mountains, soaring over mountain ranges, and disappearing into the horizon.

…………

Above the clouds, a fierce wind howled, and the mountains and rivers below rushed past.

Chen Jiao turned his head and asked, "Brother Niu, how did you know about this fire trail?"

Such spiritual objects hidden within the heart of stone are unlikely to be detected using ordinary methods of exploration.

When the Bull Demon King heard Chen Jiao ask about the origin of the Spirit Fire, he couldn't help but laugh:

"My dear brother, you've hit the nail on the head! To tell you the truth, we have my younger brother to thank for this!"

He waved his hand dismissively, his tone carrying a hint of intimate complaint typical of family members:

"My younger brother, whose name is Ruyi Zhenren, has a very different personality from mine."

He was not skilled in martial arts and disliked fighting, but was obsessed with alchemy and weapon crafting, spending his days holed up in his cave tinkering with bottles, jars, metalwork, and furnaces.

He spent countless rare and precious materials on this, almost emptying his family's coffers!

After saying this, he shook his head, feeling both helpless and proud.

"About a hundred years ago..."

The Bull Demon King pointed to a hazy, gray mountain silhouette faintly visible on the northern horizon and continued:

"In search of a kind of spiritual material for refining weapons, he traveled all over the desolate mountains and wilderness of Xiniu Hezhou."

Finally, they found themselves in the Valley of Sinking Stones, a place where the rocks were as black as iron, exceptionally heavy, and the spiritual energy was extremely thin. Birds and beasts rarely ventured there; it was a desolate land.

"By sheer chance, Ruyi discovered that the aura of metal and stone in the valley was unusual, so she stopped to investigate."

After much effort, they finally deciphered the unusual nature of the rocks in this place and discovered a hidden fire element, which was the [Fire Within the Stone].

This fire was extremely well hidden, and its fiery nature was also restrained. If it weren't for Ruyi's years of dealing with metals, stones, and charcoal, and his exceptional sensitivity to the essence of fire, it would have been impossible to detect it.

A hint of emotion flashed in the Bull Demon King's large, bell-like eyes, and he shook his head with a smile:

"After discovering the fire, Ruyi did not make a fuss. Instead, she opened a cave in the valley to guard it, studying the methods of refining weapons while waiting for the fire to mature."

Ruyi judged that the next few days were a crucial moment when his fire spirit was completely stabilized and ready to be collected.

By then, the weather will be visible and it will be difficult to completely conceal it.

Knowing that his magical powers were limited and he could not handle the situation alone, and fearing that the news would leak and attract the covetous eyes of powerful figures, thus benefiting others for nothing, he hurriedly sent a message to me.

After much thought, I realized that breaking stones to obtain fire is easy, but to preserve the essence of the spiritual fire, only my virtuous brother can do it!

A cloud of mist swept past the two of them.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. His voice was calm, yet carried a sense of confirmation:

"Ruyi...the real person?"

Seeing his expression, the Bull Demon King laughed heartily, his voice shaking the clouds, and said:

"Brother, do you think this title sounds too refined, unlike what we demon cultivators would use, and certainly not as impressive as the title of a Demon Lord among us?"

The Bull Demon King explained:

"In his early years, he had some good fortune and obtained the inheritance of alchemy and artifacts from an ancient human lineage, and from then on, he devoted himself to it."

Once the golden core is formed, it will no longer be called a demon lord according to the conventions of demons.

They insisted on imitating human cultivators, adopting a refined and elegant name, claiming that since they had inherited the righteous path from the sages, half of their own cultivation foundation lay in the human race, and therefore they should follow human etiquette.

He adopted "Ruyi" as his pseudonym and added the title "Zhenren" (True Man), signifying "May your wishes come true, and may you cultivate the Dao to seek truth."

At this point, a barely perceptible hint of tenderness flashed in the Bull Demon King's eyes:

"Although I feel that this name is not grand enough, since my brother likes it, I will let him have it."

No matter how elegant his title, he still has my clan's blood flowing in his veins. When he's refining pills and artifacts, his fiery temper flares up, and he can still overturn the alchemy furnace! Hahaha!

A cloud of mist swept past Chen Jiao's black robes, and he nodded slightly.

The White Carp Spirit, Jade Brocade True Person, also inherited the legacy of a human cultivator.

However, this True Immortal is no ordinary being; he is not someone that ordinary cultivators should attempt to attain.

But who knows what this Ruyi Zhenren will do in the future, daring to use the title of True Immortal.

Chen Jiao politely replied, "Ruyi Zhenren, though the title is simple, its meaning is profound."

Upon hearing this, the Bull Demon King laughed loudly, "My good brother understands him! He's a very honest man! You'll see when you meet him, and you'll know that what I said is true."

As they talked, the mountain shadows ahead drew closer.

Before long, one could feel the spiritual energy of the surrounding world gradually thinning, and the wind began to carry wisps of heavy, metallic energy that chilled the skin to the touch.

The mountain below gradually becomes steeper. The rocks are mostly dark black, gleaming with a cold, hard luster under the setting sun.

With sparse vegetation and no birds or beasts to be seen, it was indeed a desolate place.

It is Shenshi Valley.

The two descended from the clouds and landed in the valley, their steps not yet firm.

Suddenly, a muffled thud came from behind the bend in the mountain wall ahead!

"Boom!"

A deep, thunderous roar suddenly erupted from the depths of the valley!

The sound wasn't deafening, but rather unusually muffled.

It was like a heavy object collapsing, or like the eruption of subterranean fire after being forcibly suppressed, causing the ground beneath our feet to tremble slightly.

Countless charred fragments shot out with a clanging sound.

Immediately, a thick plume of black smoke, mixed with the smell of burning and the aura of metal smelting, billowed out from the corner.

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