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

Chen Jiao's words showed absolutely no mercy.

"you!"

The Sun Emperor had never been so defied before; his divine light suddenly intensified, as if a great sun was about to erupt.

A terrifying pressure and scorching heat instantly spread out, causing the temperature in front of the South Heavenly Gate to rise sharply, and the nearby clouds were about to be burned by the intense heat.

The heavenly soldiers guarding the gate all turned pale and retreated repeatedly.

Chen Jiao remained unfazed, his black robe fluttering without wind, and a blazing white lightning flashed between his brows.

A chilling, murderous aura, capable of annihilating all laws, surged forth, showing no sign of yielding.

Two powerful forces collided silently, yet without actually attacking, they instantly cleared away the sea of ​​clouds within a radius of a thousand miles.

The vast, boundless void below was revealed, and even the glowing clouds above the Southern Heavenly Gate began to sway violently.

Just as tensions were about to rise...

Bodhi Patriarch, who had been standing quietly by the sidelines, suddenly sighed softly.

He gently swept the whisk forward.

"call."

A gentle, peaceful, yet overwhelming and unstoppable Daoist aura, like a spring breeze and gentle rain, quietly swept by.

Strangely enough, the terrifying pressure and scorching heat that made the heavenly soldiers and generals suffocate and retreat were instantly dissipated by the sweep of the whisk, like boiling water poured on snow.

The scorching temperature in front of the South Heavenly Gate suddenly dropped, and the churning clouds calmed down.

Chen Jiao and the Sun Emperor were locked in a fierce confrontation, their energies on the verge of exploding, but this gentle yet irresistible force quietly separated them.

Bodhi Patriarch didn't even glance at the Sun Emperor's chariot, but turned his head to Chen Jiao beside him and spoke gently:

"My Lord, I still have an agreement with your master. These trivial matters should not interfere with important business."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao instantly suppressed the blazing thunderous aura emanating from his body and said to Patriarch Bodhi:

"It was my rudeness, Master. Please."

Having said that, he ignored the imperial carriage and the Sun Emperor within it, whose breath had suddenly caught in his throat.

Riding on a cloud with Patriarch Bodhi, they drifted towards the higher and more distant heavens within the Southern Heavenly Gate.

The lingering power still remains outside the South Heavenly Gate.

Inside the imperial carriage, there was utter silence.

The crimson flames and divine light surrounding the Sun Emperor slowly subsided, but the anger in his blazing eyes did not dissipate.

On the contrary, the True Lord's indifferent attitude and unpredictable methods only added to the gloom.

Around the imperial carriage, the Sun Palace generals and the Sun-holding boys were all ashen-faced and silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to even breathe loudly.

"Who was that old Taoist priest just now?"

A courtier, gritting his teeth, replied in a low voice:

"Your Majesty, I am unaware."

Judging from his demeanor, he was detached from worldly affairs, unlike those of the celestial court or the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the West; rather, he seemed like… a wandering immortal saint who had long resided outside the mortal realm.

The Sun Emperor remained silent, gazing in the direction where Chen Jiao and Bodhi Patriarch had disappeared, his eyes flashing with light.

"Return to the palace."

After a long silence, the Sun Emperor indifferently uttered two words.

The imperial carriage moved again, the crimson dragon groaned softly, and it entered the Heavenly Gate, heading towards the Yuyi Palace.

…………

Chen Jiao and Bodhi Patriarch passed through the South Heavenly Gate and headed directly beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.

The path through the clouds was obscured, the rosy glow gradually faded, and the surrounding atmosphere became increasingly ancient and lofty, no longer possessing the solemnity and grandeur of the Heavenly Court, but rather a natural and unpretentious charm.

Before long, the clouds in front dispersed, revealing an ancient palace that looked ordinary yet possessed a natural Taoist charm, blending seamlessly with the void.

The ancient pine tree in front of the palace, which had stood for countless ages, remained unchanged, but the Great King of the Green Ox, who usually slept soundly under the tree, was nowhere to be seen this time.

This is the place where the Supreme Dao Ancestor practiced his cultivation, the Tushita Palace.

Chen Jiao and Bodhi Patriarch descended from the clouds and landed in front of the palace. Without waiting for an announcement, the palace gates opened silently inward.

The two boys, Jin and Yin, had already received the news and were now standing on tiptoe, peering into the palace gates.

Two clouds descended from afar, revealing the figures of the Patriarch and Chen Jiao.

The two boys' eyes lit up, and they quickly straightened their clothes, hurried out to greet Bodhi Patriarch and Chen Jiao, bowing in unison with clear, joyful voices:

"Welcome, Ancestor! Welcome, Senior Brother!"

They recognized Bodhi Patriarch as an old friend of the master, having met him before, but dared not be as close and casual as they were with their senior brother.

Patriarch Bodhi smiled and nodded, his gaze gentle. Chen Jiao nodded slightly to his two junior brothers.

The two boys respectfully said, "Master has been waiting inside for a long time. Ancestor, senior brother, please come in quickly."

Passing through the quiet courtyard, we entered the main hall directly.

The hall remained simple, except for a Bagua furnace standing quietly in the center. Readers were buzzing with discussion: What exactly happened? Join the discussion at Cola Novels. The fire in the furnace was lukewarm, emitting a faint, exotic fragrance.

After passing through several quiet rooms, we arrived at a more open space.

The Supreme Dao Ancestor casually sat down on a cloud bed, dressed in an apricot-yellow Daoist robe with the Eight Trigrams symbol, and holding a banana leaf fan.

There was a small stove right in front of me, with wisps of white steam rising from the spout of a purple teapot, and the aroma of tea was already wafting out.

Upon seeing the two enter, the Dao Ancestor raised his eyes, pointed with his banana leaf fan to the prayer mat that had been prepared beforehand, and smiled:

"Bodhi, you have kept me waiting. My palace feels rather deserted without you."

Bodhi Patriarch stepped forward and sat down naturally on a futon opposite Dao Patriarch, his whisk draped over his arm. Upon hearing this, he laughed and scolded:

"You, Boyang, it's clearly you who's lazy and inactive, hiding outside the Thirty-Three Heavens enjoying your leisure."

The Supreme Dao Ancestor chuckled, offering no explanation. His gaze fell upon Chen Jiao, who stood solemnly to the side. He gestured with his banana leaf fan and addressed the Bodhi Patriarch:

"Well? Does my unruly disciple meet your approval?"

Chen Jiao stood to the lower end, his expression calm, his eyes fixed on his nose, his nose seemingly reflecting his inner thoughts, his posture humble.

How could Patriarch Bodhi not know his intentions?

The patriarch looked at Chen Jiao with undisguised admiration, stroked his beard, and smiled:

"Boyang, you're really getting the benefit and then acting innocent."

If your disciple is considered unruly, are there any disciples in the Three Realms worthy of your attention?

With profound foundations, a clear mind, and a nature in harmony with the laws of Heaven, I knew in a brief encounter that he was a talented individual capable of shouldering great responsibilities and upholding destiny.

It is truly enviable that you have such outstanding disciples.

Bodhi Patriarch paused, as if remembering something, then sighed softly, half-jokingly and half-regretfully:

"It's a pity that such a fine talent was not available to me years ago. If I had met him earlier, I would have shamelessly competed with you, Boyang."

"If you don't want such a 'mischievous' disciple, you should give him to me as soon as possible, lest you waste such a precious talent!"

The Supreme Dao Ancestor was delighted to hear this, shaking his head and laughing repeatedly:

"I cannot refuse, I cannot refuse. My disciple, though a troublesome one, is destined to be with me and should become my disciple."

After laughing, he said to Chen Jiao, "Disciple, why don't you thank Bodhi for his praise?"

Chen Jiao, who was standing to one side, stepped forward and bowed to Patriarch Bodhi, saying:

"Master, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise."

My meager skills are entirely due to the teacher's instruction and the trials in Heaven.

"Not arrogant or impatient, very good." Bodhi Patriarch nodded with a smile.

…………

Inside the Tushita Palace, the aroma of tea wafts through the air, and the spirit of Taoism flows freely.

The Supreme Dao Patriarch and the Bodhi Patriarch sat facing each other, chatting and laughing. Their conversation ranged from ancient events about the creation of heaven and earth to the subtle mysteries of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements.

His words are full of profound insights and subtle wit, yet they flow like clouds and water, leaving no trace.

Chen Jiao sat down quietly, his mind immersed in this profound yet intimate conversation, as if drinking fine wine.

Some obscure and difficult points in my previous practice suddenly became clear upon hearing just a few words.

The two boys, one gold and one silver, stood by, listening intently, though they could not fully understand what he meant.

Time passes unnoticed in the palace, the warm fire in the furnace reflects the crimson sunset.

Just then.

Suddenly, a clear and melodious bell rang out from afar, piercing through the heavens and the universe!

Its sound was ancient and solemn. When it first rang out, it seemed to come from the farthest distance. Then it spread out layer by layer, resounding throughout the Thirty-Three Heavens and shaking the boundless void.

Immediately afterwards, the sounds of chimes harmonized, their clear tones overlapping and intertwining with the chimes of bells, creating a grand and solemn rhythm.

The bell tolls nine times, and the chime responds with nine chimes.

This is the ceremony that will begin before the grand court assembly in Heaven.

The tolling of bells reverberated throughout the universe, announcing to all the gods and immortals that the time for the court assembly was approaching.

The sound of the chime clears away all noise, bringing peace to all directions.

Inside the Tushita Palace.

The Supreme Dao Ancestor put down his teacup and spoke gently to Chen Jiao:

"The morning bell tolls, and you must attend. My disciple, you may go now."

Chen Jiao stood up, straightened his clothes, and bowed respectfully to his two teachers: "This disciple takes his leave."

His expression was calm, showing neither joy nor anger.

The tranquil state of mind I had gained from listening to the discourse earlier remained unshaken by the somber atmosphere of the approaching court assembly; on the contrary, it made me even more composed.

Bodhi Patriarch nodded slightly.

Without further delay, Chen Jiao nodded slightly to the two attendants, Jin and Yin, who were standing to the side, and with a steady gait, walked out of the hall.

The figure quickly disappeared into the quiet depths of the corridors of the Tushita Palace.