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

Chen Jiao was slightly taken aback.

With Bodhi Patriarch's abilities, how could there be any dust in his cave? Even if there were, a purification mantra would suffice; why would he need to do it himself?

There must be a deeper meaning behind this.

He quickly thought for a moment and respectfully replied, "Since you have given your order, senior, I will naturally comply. It's just a small matter of sweeping and cleaning, nothing to mention."

"Thank you for your trouble, young friend."

Bodhi Patriarch smiled and nodded, saying nothing more. He then closed his eyes and seemed to enter into meditation.

Chen Jiao bowed to Bodhi Patriarch again, then turned and walked towards the moon gate.

Behind the door was a short passageway, at the end of which was another wooden door.

The interior is furnished in a simple and rustic style, with floor-to-ceiling wooden bookshelves on three sides, neatly stacked with many bamboo slips and silk books, all exuding an aura of age.

A layer of dust, almost invisible to the naked eye, covered the bookshelf. The indoor air was fresh, so the origin of this dust was unknown.

Beside the desk, a feather duster and a plain cloth were prepared.

Chen Jiao stood still for a moment, and after calming his mind, he picked up the duster and, like an ordinary cleaning servant, stepped onto the wooden ladder.

Starting from the top of the bookshelf, I began to wipe it down in order.

The movements were neither hurried nor slow, and there was no perfunctory attitude.

As the duster passed by, fine dust fell in a soft rustling sound.

The dust on the bookshelf was gradually wiped away, revealing the original warm color and texture of the wood.

Chen Jiao's movements were steady and focused, and his mind was calm as well.

The sounds of the outside world, the distant murmur of springs, the faint whisper of pine trees, and even one's own shallow breathing gradually faded away.

I don't know how long I've been wiping it, or how many pages or hundreds of volumes I've been working on.

His movements gradually slowed down, not because he was tired, but because he had forgotten where he was and what he was doing.

My mind has completely sunk into a state of emptiness and clarity.

Forgetting both self and external things, one can simply wipe away this single thought, flowing naturally like a clear stream.

What is swept away is dust; what is revealed is the heart.

The towering bookshelves symbolize the long and arduous journey of knowledge. The heavy volumes represent all kinds of legal principles and knowledge.

In the pursuit of knowledge and inquiry, one must constantly polish one's mind and prevent it from becoming tarnished.

This dust is not found in external things, but in one's own heart.

Chen Jiao stopped thinking about whether this was a test or a gift from the Bodhi Patriarch, and simply immersed himself in the simple, repetitive movements that contained profound mysteries.

With each raised hand, each brushstroke, the mind becomes clearer.

Some obscure and difficult points in my past practice are now like an ancient mirror that has been wiped clean of dust, faintly reflecting their true nature.

It wasn't a sudden enlightenment or some earth-shattering supernatural power, but rather a state of mind that became increasingly harmonious and unobstructed, and a spiritual platform that became increasingly clear and pure.

I don't know how much time passed; perhaps it was a moment, or perhaps a hundred years.

The last speck of dust was gently brushed away, and the duster and cloth in his hand had disappeared without him noticing.

The dust has settled inside the library, and the books are now shining brightly.

Chen Jiao stood quietly in the room, his eyes slightly closed, his mind sinking into an unprecedented state of clarity.

Within the Purple Mansion, the Nascent Soul sat quietly, its body radiant and flawless, its divine light shining brightly, its connection with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth completely seamless.

His consciousness was clear and expansive, and his magical power flowed like the Yangtze River, yet he could maneuver freely and control it at will.

The last trace of yin energy within the spirit had quietly dissipated without anyone noticing.

Previously, he had been refining the stone with the help of the [Stone Fire] at the Cleansing Spring for over a month, but had not yet completed the final step.

It was achieved quietly and naturally within this seemingly ordinary whisk.

The Nascent Soul stage has been completed.

It can activate the pure Yang energy at any time, temper the Yin spirit, generate the Yang spirit, and explore the Great Dao of Spirit Transformation!

Even Chen Jiao couldn't help but marvel at the rapid progress.

It has been less than a year since Ao Ying first formed his nascent soul in the East Sea Water Palace.

After spending half a year in seclusion to solidify his foundation, he then traveled west for several months, encountering one opportunity after another: magical battles, enlightenment, and purification of the mind... all of which came naturally, leading him directly to this state.

In the vast lifespan of the demon race, years of cultivation are but a fleeting moment; such progress is truly astonishing.

However, his foundation in the Dao became increasingly solid and profound, perhaps due to profound opportunities, and even more so because his mind was focused and his path was clear.

The threshold to becoming a deity is right in front of you, within reach.

He understood.

What Bodhi Patriarch asked him to wipe away was never the dust in this library, but the dust on his spiritual altar.

Use tangible dust to wipe away intangible grime.

When he is completely immersed in this simple work, letting go of all concerns about gains and losses and clinging to the principles of Tao, his mind naturally returns to a state of utmost stillness and purity.

The acquired impurities that cling to the deepest part of the Yin spirit are quietly dissolved in this state of selfless and non-active purity.

This is a subtle and unobtrusive enlightenment that uses worldly practices to illuminate the mind of Tao.

Chen Jiao slowly opened his eyes, a divine light flashing briefly before disappearing, returning to calm and reflecting all things.

Just as he was about to greet the young Taoist priest outside the door, the scene before him made him pause slightly.

The book pavilion, bookshelves, and classic books have all vanished without a trace.

He stood alone on the blue stone platform outside the Slanting Moon and Three Stars Cave.

A mountain breeze caressed my face, the pines rustled in the wind, and in the distance, a sea of ​​clouds churned as the sun began to set.

Before me stood the Three Star Immortal Cave, its gates tightly shut.

Just now, the dusting in the study, sitting and discussing the Dao with Patriarch Bodhi, drinking tea and tasting fruit—everything seemed like a mere illusion, leaving no trace.

Only the surging, unimpeded, and perfectly integrated Nascent Soul power within his body, and the clear, transparent, and flawless Yin Spirit realm, truly told him.

Nothing is an illusion.

The tiger remained lying in the same spot. When it saw its king suddenly appear, it let out a low growl and stood up, a hint of doubt flashing in its eyes.

Just as Chen Jiao's mind was slightly shaken and he suddenly realized what was happening.

The peaceful and gentle voice of the Bodhi Patriarch resonated once again deep within his heart, carrying a faint smile and expectation:

"When the dust is gone, clarity naturally arises; when the mind is pure, the Way is achieved."

Young friend, your foundation is now solid. The road ahead is long, so take good care of yourself.

There is another rudimentary supernatural power, the art of body transformation, which has some subtle uses. I will also give it to you; it may be of some use.

With the voice.

A profound and unpredictable cultivation method containing the laws and changes of heaven and earth naturally imprinted itself into the depths of Chen Jiao's sea of ​​consciousness.

Chen Jiao stood still, letting the mountain wind billow his black robes, and bowed again, saying sincerely:

"Thank you for your generous gift, Senior Bodhi!"

The cave was silent, and there was no further response.

The afterglow of the setting sun draped Lingtai Fangcun Mountain in a golden-red cloak, making the Xieyue Sanxing Cave appear even more secluded and mysterious in the twilight.

Chen Jiao straightened up, looked at the cave, remained silent for a long time, then turned around and gracefully landed on the tiger's back.

"Let's go," he said softly.

The tiger roared in response, then soared into the air, carrying the king, and sped away into the deepening twilight of the east.

Behind them, the fairy mountains were shrouded in mist and clouds, gradually disappearing from view.

This trip to Xiniu Hezhou finally came to a perfect end in front of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars Cave.

…………

Inside the Slanting Moon and Three Stars Cave.

The Pearl of Returning to the Flow of Rivers rests quietly on the stone table, its shimmering light adding a touch of lively watery charm to the main hall.

The young Taoist priest standing to the side finally couldn't help but slightly raise his head.

Looking at the Bodhi Patriarch sitting in meditation on the futon with his eyes closed, his eyes were full of curiosity and confusion, and he asked in a low voice:

"Master, who exactly was that demon immortal just now? It's an honor that you personally received him and discussed the Dao with him."

The young Taoist paused, an expression of disbelief on his face, and then said:

"Moreover, while the child was guarding the outside of the library, this demon immortal managed to wipe away the dust from his heart in less than a day!"

This...this is a bit too fast.

Even an ordinary person of high moral character, if given such an opportunity, would likely find it difficult to truly cleanse their mind of all impurities in less than several decades.

Chapter 178, a high-energy chapter, has been updated! Read it now: [link to chapter 178].