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

Amidst the black and gray, a few sparks of unextinguished light could be seen flying everywhere.

Deeper inside, a series of rapid coughs and the clattering of objects being overturned could be faintly heard.

The valley was already quiet, so the sudden loud noise sounded even more jarring.

The Bull Demon King's expression changed, and his thick eyebrows furrowed:

"It's coming from the direction of Ruyi Cave! This commotion... it looks like another explosion has occurred!"

"Brother, come with me inside and take a look. Don't let him get himself burned!"

His tone carried a hint of helplessness, clearly indicating that he was no stranger to this situation.

The two fell into the valley, where they saw a simple cave dwelling carved out against the mountain wall in a wide open area. In front of the dwelling, the ground was littered with debris.

A bronze furnace as tall as a person tipped over to the ground, its lid shattered, and several cracks appeared in the furnace body, still emitting wisps of smoke.

Scattered all around were charred metal fragments and strange, partially melted minerals, and the air was filled with a complex, pungent odor.

A middle-aged man in a Taoist robe was squatting beside the stove.

He was thin, his face bore the marks of years of smoking, and he had three unkempt wisps of beard on his chin.

Facing the shattered remains of the alchemy furnace, his brow furrowed, he touched a few specks of ash to his fingertip, sniffed them, and muttered to himself:

"The ratio of metal to stone was off by even a fraction, and the firepower shift was abrupt..."

He was so engrossed in his work that he was completely unaware of the arrival of the Bull Demon King and Chen Jiao.

Seeing this, the Bull Demon King was both amused and annoyed, and shouted:

"What are you messing around with now? Look at the mess you've made of this place!"

Upon hearing the Bull Demon King's voice, Ruyi Zhenren raised his head, a smile appearing in his eyes. He then glanced at Chen Jiao standing to the side.

His expression immediately straightened, and he hurriedly bowed, his tone tinged with apology and a hint of weariness:

"Brother has arrived. Cough... I was careless for a moment, and the timing was slightly off, disturbing you and this fellow Daoist."

His gaze swept over the mess on the ground, and he shook his head helplessly, sighing:

"I was about to fuse the [Sinking Gold Stone] with the [Earth Core Fire Lotus], but their properties clashed, and I was unable to stabilize the furnace fire..."

The Bull Demon King snorted irritably, but still turned to the side and introduced:

"This is my newly sworn brother, Fellow Daoist Xuanling of Qingchi Ridge in Dongsheng Divine Continent. He possesses great supernatural powers and is proficient in water magic. I have specially invited him here today to help you collect that spiritual fire."

He then said to Chen Jiao, "Brother Xuanling, this is my younger brother, Ruyi."

Upon hearing this, Ruyi Zhenren's eyes lit up with surprise, and he quickly bowed deeply to Chen Jiao again:

"So it's Fellow Daoist Xuan Ling! I am Ruyi, I have long admired your name!"

"I am deeply grateful for your kind assistance, fellow Daoist!"

He looked at Chen Jiao with fervent eyes, as if he saw a great hope in collecting the spiritual fire, and even temporarily put aside the frustration of the furnace exploding earlier.

Chen Jiao's gaze swept over the mess of debris on the ground, then returned to Ruyi Zhenren's face, a mixture of embarrassment and excitement. He nodded and said:

"You're too kind, sir."

Following his gaze, Ruyi Zhenren smiled somewhat awkwardly:

"Please excuse my poor work, fellow Daoist. The heat was slightly off during the smelting process..."

He shook his head. "It seems the recipe needs to be adjusted."

After saying that, he stepped aside to make way.

"This is not the place to talk, elder brother, fellow Daoist Xuanling. Please come inside and we will serve you tea."

The three of them then entered the cave, which was filled with the smells of smoke and metal.

Ruyi Zhenren led the two into the cave.

The mansion was not spacious, but it was kept in perfect order. The four walls were carved flat and inlaid with several fluorite stones for lighting, which emitted a soft white light.

Several rows of wooden shelves stood against the wall, displaying various ores and spiritual materials in different categories, some with labels attached.

In the corner, there is a stone alchemy furnace that is half a person tall, and the furnace body is still warm.

Several unfinished ritual implements and tools lay scattered beside the furnace, and the air was filled with a faint scent of metal and herbs.

In the center of the cave was a rough stone table and several stone benches.

Ruyi Zhenren invited the two to sit down, and then picked up a pottery pot from a small stove, with wisps of white steam rising from its spout.

He brought out three ceramic cups, their bodies simple and unadorned, even bearing some marks from the firing process. Good books and stories accompany him every day. Clearly, they were homemade for his own use.

As Master Ruyi poured tea, he said:

"The valley is austere, with only some coarse tea picked from the mountains. Please don't take offense, Fellow Daoist Xuanling."

The tea is a pale golden color, and when poured into a cup, it releases a delicate herbal aroma.

Chen Jiao picked up the ceramic cup, feeling the warmth of the coarse pottery and the heat of the tea with his fingertips.

Taking a sip, the tea has a slightly bitter taste, but the aftertaste is sweet and mellow, which matches the metallic and stone-like atmosphere of Chenshi Valley.

The Bull Demon King picked up the earthenware cup, not minding the heat, and gulped down a large mouthful, smacking his lips as he said:

"This tea of ​​yours... is just right for quenching your thirst!"

He put down his cup, looked at Ruyi Zhenren, and said:

"Tell me, what's the current state of the [Stone Fire]? When can we retrieve it?"

Ruyi Zhenren held the warm ceramic cup in both hands, gently touching the inside of the cup with his fingertips, his expression becoming focused.

"Brother, don't worry. The spirit fire is hidden deep in the valley at the heart of a spirit mine. In recent days, the fire energy has become increasingly refined and pure."

From my observation, its ripening period is only three to five days away.

Ruyi Zhenren pointed to a specific location outside the cave:

"The fire energy is intertwined with the earth's veins and minerals here, and is usually not visible, with only slight fluctuations."

Only during the hours of midnight and noon, when yin or yang energy is at its peak, will there be any significant fluctuations, making them easier to detect.

Upon hearing this, the Bull Demon King muttered, "This old bull is clumsy and inept; I'll need to ask Brother Xuanling for your help!"

Chen Jiao's divine sense spread out quietly like invisible ripples, meticulously sensing the energy of this place.

Sure enough, after obtaining the exact location, deep within a thick spiritual mine, a faint yet incredibly resilient yin-fire energy coiled and hid.

It blends seamlessly with the aura of the surrounding gold ore, making it easily overlooked unless one is deliberately searching for it.

Seeing that he seemed to have some knowledge of the matter, Master Ruyi was filled with surprise and couldn't hide his astonishment. His tone carried a hint of inquiry as he asked:

"Fellow Daoist's perception is indeed keen and extraordinary."

This fire has a remarkable effect on refining the essence of metals and polishing the embryos of ritual implements, which has intrigued me for a long time.

However, its nature is gentle yet fierce, and its true nature is deeply hidden.

When collecting it, one must use extremely delicate and gentle force to guide it slowly. If one uses forceful methods to suppress it, it may cause changes in the earth's veins and even damage the source of the fire.

"Fellow Daoist Xuanling, do you possess a reliable method for dealing with the Water Element?"

Chen Jiao did not answer immediately. He lightly touched the ceramic cup with his fingertips. The pale gold tea in the cup was calm and still, reflecting his deep eyes.

After a moment, he raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the neatly arranged ores and unfinished artifacts in the cave.

Finally, the gaze returned to Master Ruyi's face, and he said calmly:

"The key to the harmony between water and fire lies in timing and proportion. Fellow Daoist, having guarded this fire for a long time, you should already understand its nature."

"At that time, I will assist with water element; whether it succeeds or not will depend on the fate of the spirit fire itself."

His words were concise and unpretentious, yet they possessed a convincing calmness.

Upon hearing this, the worry in Ruyi Zhenren's eyes lessened slightly, and he nodded, saying:

"What you say is absolutely right, fellow Daoist. I was just too impatient."

He raised his glass in a gesture of respect: "In that case, I'll have to trouble you, fellow Daoist."

The Bull Demon King laughed heartily, breaking the slightly tense atmosphere:

"With Brother Xuanling's help, there will be no problem! Come, have some tea! Once the fire is extinguished, I'll treat you to some truly divine brew!"

The three then stopped talking about the spirit fire and instead started drinking tea and chatting.

In this simple stone chamber, while sipping coarse tea, they discussed in detail the characteristics of the [Stone Fire], the timing of its collection, and the potential pitfalls.

Although the Bull Demon King was not an expert in this field, he was experienced and would occasionally chime in with his own words to add some common knowledge about ley lines or key points about protecting the Dharma.

Master Ruyi generously shared his observations and insights.

Inside the cave, wisps of tea smoke rose, reflecting the calm or bold expressions of the three people, their aura of strength mingling with the delicate fragrance of tea.

Although located in a desolate valley and stone chamber, it possesses a unique and tranquil atmosphere.

The next chapter is even more exciting: Chapter 144, Ruyi Zhenren, awaiting your visit.