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

Cola Novels () Latest Update: Journey to the West: Starting from the True Lord Jingfa

The young Taoist priests bustled about, tidying up the remaining mats, and Huanghua Temple gradually returned to its quietude.

Only the mountain breeze wafts through the hall, and the sound of pine trees whispers in the breeze.

Chen Jiao intended to leave with the others, but was stopped by Jin Guang Zhenren who quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply.

"Brother Xuanling, everything that happened today was thanks to your leadership."

Master Jinguang straightened up, his expression earnest, showing no trace of the abbot's airs:

"If it weren't for your presence, Brother Dao, I would have found it difficult to refuse the Golden Toad Demon Lord's request for appraisal, which could have led to endless troubles."

"Brother Dao's words not only resolved our immediate predicament but also pointed out the right path for our Huanghua Temple to cultivate virtue and strengthen its foundation. This kindness is immense."

As Jin Guang Zhenren spoke, he naturally began to address him as "Brother Dao."

He paused, a look of genuine admiration and gratitude flashing in his eyes:

"Furthermore, during our previous discussions on the Dao, Brother Taibai's warning was like a morning bell and evening drum, which enlightened me in my cultivation of supernatural powers, allowing me to see a realm I had never seen before."

Such guidance is akin to being given a second life.

Having said that, he bowed again:

"If you do not mind, please move to the back courtyard of the mountain, where I will serve you some tea to express my gratitude."

"This humble Taoist... also has a few words from the bottom of my heart that I wish to share with you, fellow Taoist."

Seeing his earnest words, Chen Jiao glanced at the now empty square, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded:

"Can."

"Brother Dao, please follow me."

Master Jin Guang was overjoyed and personally led the way, passing through several quiet courtyards and corridors, until they arrived at an even more secluded place behind the Taoist temple.

Here, verdant bamboo provides shade, and a clear spring flows from the crevices of the rocks, forming a small, cold pool. Beside it, leaning against the mountain wall, stands a three-room elegant residence.

A wooden plaque with the words "Listening to the Pines" hangs under the eaves, its calligraphy simple and ancient.

Upon entering the room, the furnishings are simple and elegant, with a couch, a small table, two futons, and landscape paintings hanging on the four walls, while calming sandalwood incense burns.

A young Taoist priest quietly served two cups of clear tea. The tea was emerald green, steaming hot, and had a wonderful aroma.

Master Jinguang waved away the young Taoist and closed the bamboo door, leaving only the two of them in the room.

Jin Guang Zhenren first invited Chen Jiao to sit on the guest cushion, and then sat down opposite him.

He did not rush to raise his glass, but instead solemnly cupped his hands in greeting again:

"Brother Xuanling, I am deeply grateful and cannot express my thanks."

However, I know very well that although the golden toad has retreated today, its ambition has not died.

Behind it lies the Jubao Chamber of Commerce, a powerful and influential organization with ties to several countries. It is particularly adept at enticing people with profits and intimidating them with power, gradually eroding their influence.

The newly established Huanghua Temple has gained some minor reputation in the field of erysipelas, much like a young child carrying gold in a bustling marketplace; without support, it will ultimately find it difficult to remain secure.

Jin Guang Zhenren looked up at Chen Jiao, his gaze honest:

"With you here today, my fellow Daoist, you are like the divine needle in the East Sea a while ago, suppressing all evil thoughts."

I dare not presume to ask for your long-term protection, but only hope to form a virtuous bond with you. Huanghua Temple has no other special skills, except for some experience in alchemy and poison-making.

"Brother Dao, if you ever need anything in the future, whether it be the precise timing of elixirs or information about the various products of the mountains, this humble Daoist and the entire Huanghua Temple will do our utmost."

Chen Jiao listened quietly, his expression calm, gently touching the rim of the warm teacup.

Judging from his words and actions, the demon Jin Guang Zhenren is indeed a virtuous and courteous person, not a cunning and treacherous individual.

"Fellow Daoist, you flatter me."

Chen Jiao put down his teacup, his voice calm:

"I merely happened to be there and was speaking my mind. A place of quiet cultivation, untouched by worldly dust, is the right thing to do."

Since you, fellow Daoist, have taken the Dao of Alchemy and the principles of poison as your foundation, you should naturally focus your mind on this. As for external affairs…”

Chen Jiao paused briefly, his gaze seemingly looking through the bamboo window at the faint outline of the mountains visible in the twilight:

"If any petty scoundrels, relying on their strength, disturb the peace of this place, I will not stand idly by."

Although this statement did not explicitly promise anything, the phrase "I will not sit idly by" is already a very significant statement.

Upon hearing this, Jin Guang Zhenren raised his teacup with both hands, offering tea in lieu of wine, and solemnly toasted Chen Jiao:

"With your words, Brother Dao, we, the humble Daoist and Huanghua Temple, can rest assured! We swear by this tea that Jin Guang and Huanghua Temple will never betray your kindness today!"

Chen Jiao also raised his cup, gave a slight nod, and the two drank together.

The tea has a refreshing aroma and a lingering aftertaste.

After a moment of contemplation, Jin Guang Zhenren said slowly:

"Brother Xuanling is knowledgeable and has extraordinary insights into alchemy and metal element."

But I wonder... how are your senses regarding poisons, fellow Daoist?

He asked directly, his expression frank, without any attempt to conceal or probe.

Huanghua Temple is founded on alchemy, but in alchemy and medicine, the relationship between the principal and assistant alchemists is often a matter of life and death.

Those skilled in alchemy are not necessarily immune to poisons, and vice versa.

This is also one of the reasons why the Golden Toad Demon Lord is both wary of and covetous of the Yellow Flower Temple.

Chen Jiao's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this, and he said:

"All things in the universe are mutually generative and mutually destructive. Medicine can save lives, but it can also kill them."

Poison is born from heaven and earth and is hidden in all things.

It is nothing more than the malevolent energy of heaven and earth, the gathering of imbalances in the five elements; used correctly it is correct, used incorrectly it is incorrect. Why should it be viewed differently?

He spoke calmly, treating poison and medicine as equals, regarding them as part of the natural order of things.

There was no disgust or fear that ordinary monks would show when talking about poisons, nor was there any deliberate attempt to highlight their eccentricity or extremism.

This detached and indifferent attitude only highlights the lofty state of mind of the person, who is not hindered by external things.

Upon hearing this, Jin Guang Zhenren's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he clapped his hands and sighed softly:

"Brother Dao's insight is indeed extraordinary. You do not dwell on appearances but go straight to the root of the matter, which coincides perfectly with my own thoughts. Poison is not inherently evil; it is the mind that wields it."

Today I had a very pleasant conversation with you, and I am delighted. I would like to ask you to appraise something.

"This is a masterpiece that I have created by chance after spending a hundred years studying the thousands of poisonous insects and birds in the mountains, consulting many ancient prescriptions, and repeatedly testing it."

After saying that, he took out a small leather suitcase.

The box was eight inches high, one foot long, and four inches wide, and it was secured with a small brass lock.

Master Jinguang unlocked the door, took out a packet of medicine, and slowly opened it.

It lay quietly with just a clump of powder, its color snow-white, without the slightest anything unusual about it.

Indeed, the bird droppings from the mountains weigh over a thousand pounds. They are boiled in a copper pot, simmered over a constant heat. A thousand pounds are boiled down to a single ladleful, and that ladleful is refined to three-tenths of its original volume. The remaining three-tenths are then stir-fried, forged, and smoked again. This is how this poison is made, more precious than any treasure. If one tastes it, one will meet the King of Hell.

Jin Guang Zhenren looked at Chen Jiao and explained:

"This poison is called Hundred Birds Frost. If a mortal touches it, even a tiny amount will cause his intestines to rupture and his stomach to rot instantly."

If one were to eat with a cultivator of certain levels of spiritual attainment… I suspect it would only take two or three cents to kill them.”

Chen Jiao's gaze narrowed slightly. Even though he had witnessed this poison firsthand, his heart skipped a beat. He slowly said:

"A hundred birds' poisons, refined a thousand times to become one, losing their form but retaining their essence, vanishing without a trace. Fellow Daoist, this poison is extraordinary."

Master Jin Guang smiled calmly and said:

"This poison is difficult to refine and its reserves are extremely limited."

I have always kept this a secret and have never used it to harm anyone.

The purpose of refining this substance is twofold: firstly, to explore the ultimate principles of toxicology and to verify the Dao of alchemy.

Secondly…there are many incomprehensible and unforgivable evils in the world, and swift and decisive measures are needed to deter them and protect the purity of the orthodox tradition.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao's eyes flickered.

This Golden Light Immortal really does seem like a scholar obsessed with alchemy.

The fact that he would later be called the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord, aside from his golden light supernatural powers, must also be related to his unpredictable and treacherous poison path.

Jin Guang Zhenren, unaware of Chen Jiao's thoughts, continued:

"I am informing you of this today, Brother Dao, firstly because I am grateful for your noble character."

Secondly, if this item were left with me, it would likely just sit unused. Brother Xuanling has ambitions beyond the four corners of the world, and there may be times when he needs to resort to extraordinary means.

If you are so kind as to accept this poison, brother, you may use it at any time. The method of use is as follows.

As he spoke, Jin Guang Zhenren took out a jade slip as thin as a cicada's wing. The slip shimmered with a faint light, clearly recording the method of preservation by the imperial envoy.

The room fell into a deep silence.

Chen Jiao's gaze fell on the white poison powder, and he remained silent for a moment.

Master Jin Guang's words were truly heartfelt.

Even his seven junior sisters were unaware of the existence of this item until they needed to poison the group on their pilgrimage.

A small amount of Hundred Birds Cream carries a weight far greater than ten bottles of Jade Flower Dust-Cleansing Pill.

"Fellow Taoist, I appreciate your kindness."

Chen Jiao did not go to retrieve it, but chuckled lightly:

"Since this item was crafted with your painstaking effort, I should not accept it lightly. I will keep it with you for now, and will retrieve it when needed."

He neither refused nor accepted immediately, but left room for maneuver.

Although the Hundred Birds Frost was potent, it was not essential to him, but he remembered Jin Guang Zhenren's kindness and trust.

Whether these malevolent creatures reside with the Golden Light Immortal or elsewhere, there is currently no difference.

Upon hearing this, Jin Guang Zhenren did not press the matter, and a genuine smile appeared on his face:

"What you say is very true, brother. I was just too impatient."

Then it will be temporarily stored on the beam of this Listening Pine Courtyard of this humble Taoist priest, and no one except this humble Taoist priest and my fellow Taoist priest will know about it.

Please accept this jade slip, fellow Daoist; the methods within may be useful someday.

This time, Chen Jiao did not refuse again. He flicked his sleeve and put away the jade slip.

…………

Chen Jiao stayed at Huanghua Temple for several more days.

These past few days, from dawn till dusk, the sound of the pine trees has remained unchanged.

Jin Guang Zhenren declined most of his worldly affairs and often sat with Chen Jiao in Ting Song Courtyard, discussing the Dao and enjoying each other's company.

That morning, the mist had not yet dissipated, and the air in the mountains was crisp and clear.

Chen Jiao and Jin Guang Zhenren sat facing each other for the last time and drank a cup of clear tea. The tea was freshly picked yesterday, with a clear blue color. It was slightly astringent at first, but sweet in the aftertaste.

"Having troubled you for many days, it's time to take my leave."

Chen Jiao put down his teacup and said calmly.

Jin Guang Zhenren also put down his cup, knowing that he could not keep it, nor should he keep it.

He solemnly cupped his hands in greeting:

"Brother Xuanling's arrival is a great blessing for me and for Huanghua Temple."

If you, my fellow Daoist, ever visit Xiniuhezhou again, I earnestly hope you will come and sit here for a while. This humble Daoist will prepare a warm welcome.

Chen Jiao nodded: "I will come again."

The two got up and walked out of Tingsong Courtyard.

Outside the courtyard, the giant, striped tiger had been waiting quietly. When it saw its king come out, it let out a low growl and lowered its body.

The Golden Light Immortal escorted them to the temple gate, took out a token shaped like a small alchemy furnace from his sleeve, decorated with yellow flower patterns, and handed it to Chen Jiao.

"This is the Yellow Flower Token of the temple. Holding this token is as if I were here in person. All the alchemy shops and pharmacies under the Yellow Flower Temple will be treated with courtesy."

Although not a priceless treasure, it may save you some trouble with your journey.

Chen Jiao took it, put it into his sleeve, and said:

"Thank you, fellow Daoist."

No further words were said.

With a slight movement, he gracefully landed on the tiger's back.

The tiger raised its head and let out a deep roar. Its four paws pounded the ground, and a demonic wind quietly rose from beneath its paws, supporting its massive body.

"Brother Dao, take care. Let's discuss Dao again another day over tea."

Jin Guang Zhenren stood before the mountain gate, the morning breeze ruffling his black Taoist robe, and bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

Chen Jiao nodded slightly from the tiger's back, his black robes appearing like a faint ink mark in the gradually brightening morning light and the lingering mist.

The giant, striped tiger began to stride, initially slowly, then quickly accelerating, its four hooves creating a gust of wind, carrying a black robe, and galloping towards the vast, eastern mountains.

Jin Guang Zhenren stood alone at the mountain gate, gazing in the direction the lone rider had gone, until the mist completely swallowed up his figure.

The wind howled atop the tiger's back.

Chen Jiao's black robes fluttered, his gaze calm as he looked down at the mountains and rivers rushing past below.

During his journey to Xiniu Hezhou, he attended the birthday banquet at the Wansheng Dragon Palace, met the Bull Demon King and Ruyi Zhenren, destroyed Baoguang Temple, obtained the Netherworld Fire from the Stone, subdued Xiaoyue and Tianyang, accidentally obtained a wisp of True Sun Fire at Zhuogou Spring, and encountered the opening of Huanghua Temple, where he formed a good relationship with Jinguang Zhenren...

All sorts of encounters, like water flowing over stones, are reflected in my heart one by one, and then settle down.

The tiger kept its head down and hurried on its way, as steady as a mountain.

Although I do not know what the king is thinking, I can feel the unwavering determination in his calm demeanor.

The east is the direction of Dongsheng Shenzhou, and the direction of Qingchi Ridge and Yunmang Mountain.

As the sun rose higher, the sea of ​​clouds churned, completely engulfing the figures of the man and the tiger.

Only the lingering echo of the tiger's roar remained, dissipating into the vast, windy sky, leaving no trace.

Chapter 175, "Hundred Birds Frost, Returning Home After the Matter Is Over" (3k4), contains a surprise. Click to unlock now.