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

Chen Jiao passed through layers of pure and ethereal energy, and crossed boundless auspicious clouds and mists. In the east, a clear and bright light gradually appeared, and an aura of compassion and good fortune gathered and mingled.

Miaoyan Palace is located in the Easternmost Qinghua Changle Realm. It was created by the power of the Heavenly Venerable's vows and transcends worldly affairs.

The sky was a warm, clear blue, radiant and untouched by dust.

Palaces and pavilions are nestled among boundless auspicious clouds and fragrant orchids, not ostentatious, yet cranes soar and mythical beasts roam freely.

A sense of peace and tranquility arises in my heart, and the sounds of living beings chanting reach my ears, cleansing my mind and spirit.

Chen Jiao pressed down on the clouds.

Two young boys in blue robes were already standing at the door. Upon seeing Chen Jiao arrive, they bowed in unison, as if they had been instructed beforehand.

"Is this the True Lord Huangtian Jingfa? The Heavenly Venerable already knows that the True Lord is coming and has specially ordered the two of us to wait here to welcome you. Please come with us, True Lord."

"Thank you for your trouble, fairy boy."

Chen Jiao nodded and followed the boy into the palace gate.

Another young boy in blue robes stepped forward, gently took the reins of the divine steed Xie Zhi, and said in a soft voice:

"Mythical beast, come with me."

The Xie Zhi was intelligent; a faint light shimmered on the jade horn on its forehead. It glanced at Chen Jiao, and seeing its master nod, it quietly followed the boy away.

After passing through several quiet courtyards, we arrived at the shed on one side of the palace garden, which was used to house spirit animals.

A lion-taming boy, who was specifically responsible for taking care of the mount, came forward and took the reins from the guide boy.

The animal enclosures are spacious, covered with exotic grasses, and a clear spring flows gently.

The most eye-catching thing is a nine-headed lion in the enclosure, which is the mount of the Celestial Venerable, the Nine-Headed Lion.

Although he remained still, he possessed an invisible majesty, and his eyes, when they opened and closed, revealed a wisdom that could see through the three realms. He was indeed a true saint who had attained enlightenment.

With a roar, one can reach the Three Saints above and penetrate the Nine Netherworlds below.

When the Nine-Headed Lion saw the new guest arrive, it slightly raised its nine heads and glanced at the Xie Zhi.

With its black body and jade horns, and its majestic appearance imbued with an aura of uprightness and purity, it was indeed a rare Xie Zhi.

A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

It called out softly, its voice deep yet not booming, carrying an ancient charm:

"Huh? It's a Xie Zhi, capable of discerning right from wrong. And who is your master?"

The Xie Zhi stopped, its eyes calmly meeting the gaze, its voice clear and concise:

"My lord is the True Lord of the Radiant Heaven and Pacifying Law."

"The True Lord of Jingfa?"

Upon hearing this, the Nine-Headed Lion King's thick mane swayed slightly, and his tone became even more interested.

"So it was that person."

Your willingness to follow him is a matter of fate. This place is peaceful, the spring water is drinkable, and the herbs are edible; there's no need to be restrained.

Both beasts are spiritual beings, and their simple conversation revealed no barriers between them.

On the other side, Chen Jiao followed the boy through the courtyard.

But the atmosphere inside the palace was different from that outside; the azure radiance was even more intense here.

It transforms into wisps of warm, gentle fragrance, permeating every inch of space, bringing peace to the mind and calming away all distracting thoughts.

Wherever it goes, exotic flowers and rare herbs abound, and strange birds and beasts roam freely, all possessing spirituality and showing no fear or disturbance to people.

We proceeded to the main hall.

The palace doors were wide open, and the interior was not lavishly furnished, except for a blue cloud-patterned bed, several futons, and a censer emitting fragrant smoke.

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun sat upright on a cloud bed, his face compassionate and gentle, wearing a green robe and a cloud-patterned shawl, holding a whisk in his hand.

His body was surrounded by pure energy, and behind him was a hidden nine-colored lotus halo, within which seemed to be the image of countless beings enjoying happiness.

"Chen Jiao pays respects to the Heavenly Venerable. I am deeply grateful for the Heavenly Venerable's kind invitation, and I should have come earlier to receive your teachings."

However, due to being preoccupied with official duties, I have only been able to pay my respects today. I hope the Heavenly Venerable will forgive me.

Chen Jiao stepped forward and bowed deeply according to etiquette.

The Heavenly Venerable, being a compassionate and holy being, remained gentle and warm upon hearing this, showing no displeasure whatsoever.

With a gentle flick of his whisk, a soft yet irresistible force lifted Chen Jiao up, his voice gentle and compassionate:

"You flatter me, Your Excellency. You bear the responsibility of upholding justice, and you should prioritize your official duties."

The matter of the Weak Water has cleansed away evil influences and protected living beings; this is a great merit.

How could I possibly blame anyone?

After speaking, he flicked his whisk again, gesturing for Chen Jiao to sit down on a futon at the lower end.

A young boy then served clear tea, its liquor a bluish-green color, with a unique and refreshing aroma that soothes the soul—a precious beverage for nourishing the spirit.

"I am already aware of the matter of the court assembly."

The Celestial Venerable's eyes were clear and bright, as if he could see through the past, and he spoke gently:

"This grand court assembly has shaken the heavens."

Although I was preoccupied with some trivial matters and did not go in person, I have heard about the various causes and effects involved.

The True Lord was entrusted with a critical mission, investigated the great calamity, and executed the ringleader. Furthermore, he remained neither humble nor arrogant before the Emperor, upholding the law and righteousness, suppressing pride and arrogance, and clarifying the laws and punishments.

He was bestowed a divine title, treasures, and beasts by the Great Heavenly Venerable, a title he truly deserved.

"This humble Taoist priest is here to offer congratulations to the Great Heavenly Venerable and also to the True Lord."

Chen Jiao hurriedly bowed and said humbly:

"You flatter me, Heavenly Venerable. This is all thanks to the divine power of the Great Heavenly Venerable, the teachings of my teacher, and the cooperation of my colleagues."

Chen Jiao devoted himself wholeheartedly to repaying Heaven's grace, and dared not boast of any merit.

The Celestial Venerable nodded and smiled, saying no more on the matter, and instead asked:

"Just now, before the True Lord arrived, I felt that beyond the Eastern Heaven, the energy of thunder and fire clashed fiercely, and the Daoist principles of Heaven and Earth were manifested."

But is the True Lord discussing Dao with the Third Prince?

Chen Jiao was slightly surprised. The Queen Mother had asked about this matter, and now the Heavenly Venerable was asking as well. Could there be a deeper meaning behind it?

He didn't show it on his face, but answered truthfully:

"May the Heavenly Venerable bear witness."

Indeed, it was at a cloud platform that this junior and the Third Prince briefly exchanged ideas and verified what they had learned. By sheer luck, I gained a slight advantage.

"good."

The Celestial Venerable stroked his beard, his eyes filled with even deeper approval.

"Nezha has a solid foundation and has already refined two of the five elements. He was able to defeat the True Lord without even absorbing one of the five elements. What's even more remarkable is that he was not arrogant after the victory and spoke with restraint."

That's really rare.

The Celestial Venerable paused briefly, his gaze clear and bright, as if he could see into the depths of Chen Jiao's Dao foundation, and asked in a gentle voice:

"Since the True Lord has advanced to the level of True Immortal, refining the Qi of the Five Elements is the fundamental path of the Dao."

But who knows, what action does the True Lord intend to take to establish the foundation of the Great Dao in the central palace?

Although the question was direct, it carried the earnest concern of an elder for a younger generation and the desire of fellow enthusiasts to explore the great principles.

It is so pleasant that it makes one feel like a gentle breeze, without the slightest resistance.

The air in the hall was filled with the fragrance of incense, which made it seem even more tranquil and serene.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao knew that the person before him was a saintly being who was compassionate and insightful about suffering.

He had only a heart of love and support for this younger generation, and absolutely no intention of testing or making things difficult for him.

After a moment's thought, he no longer concealed anything and replied respectfully:

"Reporting to the Heavenly Venerable, this junior has indeed made up his mind to use the innate Jia wood energy as the foundation to refine it into the Dao foundation and establish it as the central palace."

Chen Jiao's tone carried a hint of helplessness:

"It's just that the innate Jia wood energy is elusive and hard to find. The opportunity hasn't come yet, and I haven't been able to catch a glimpse of it."

This matter concerns the very foundation of our path, and we dare not act rashly; therefore, it remains unresolved.

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun listened quietly, stroking his beard and smiling, seemingly unsurprised by the answer.

He nodded slightly, but then asked:

"The True Lord's innate talent is that metal at its extreme gives rise to thunder, which in turn creates the radiant divine thunder of the heavens, sharp and deadly, rarely seen in the world."

Why not simply use Geng metal as the sharpest point, refining its edge to make it even stronger and sharper, instead of seeking the seemingly gentle and nurturing Jia wood as the foundation?

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao's expression became even calmer, his eyes clear, as if recalling the scene of listening to his teacher's teachings in the past.

He hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly, his voice steady and clear:

"The Heavenly Venerable has inquired, and this junior offers his humble opinion."

Thunder, originating from the Zhen position, belongs to the wood element in the hexagram. It represents the struggle between Yin and Yang in the universe and the flourishing of life.

Although its power is fierce and its nature is swift, its fundamental source still lies in the vitality of the Eastern Wood element.

Without a foundation for growth, thunder is like water without a source, or a tree without roots; it has the form but lacks the spirit.

"In my humble opinion, the vitality of Jia wood is the foundation, which nourishes thunder and contains creation, with softness hidden within strength and life within killing."

In this way, the wrath of thunder can act on behalf of Heaven to punish without harming the very foundation of Heaven and Earth; the might of thunder can dispel evil and reveal righteousness while possessing a continuous and lasting power.

After Chen Jiao finished speaking, he bowed to the Heavenly Venerable once again.

"These are just some of my humble thoughts, and I hope the Heavenly Venerable will provide guidance."

After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

Only the fragrant incense wafted silently from the bronze incense burner.

On the cloud bed, Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun listened quietly, his compassionate smile gradually deepening.

A glint of wisdom seemed to shimmer in his eyes, a mixture of satisfaction, admiration, and reminiscence.

This holy being, who manifests in all directions, hears cries of suffering and saves all beings, and is of great compassion, surprisingly spoke twice.

"Excellent, truly excellent."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao was suddenly shocked, not expecting the Heavenly Venerable to express such deep praise.

He quickly rose from his seat, bowed, and said:

"You flatter me, Heavenly Venerable. I am ashamed. My understanding is but a rudimentary one, and I dare not accept such high praise from you."

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun waved his hand, signaling him to sit down again. His gaze was distant, as if piercing through time and landing on a distant past.

He stroked his beard and spoke slowly, his voice carrying a sense of nostalgia for the past:

"True Lord, there is no need for such modesty. Your words just now were pure in their Daoist principles and deeply in line with the natural cycle of life."

Upon hearing this, I was deeply gratified, and it also reminded me of the words of an old friend.

"Old friend?"

Chen Jiao's heart stirred slightly.

The fact that the Great Savior of Suffering, Taiyi, could refer to him as an old friend is no ordinary person.

The Celestial Venerable nodded slightly and said wistfully:

"In the past, he held the power of the Eastern Spring Thunder, which governed the growth of all things. Where his power lay, there was the purest life force in the world."

It has been said that "thunder is not only a tool of divine punishment, but also a sign of the flourishing of life in heaven and earth, and a messenger of the interaction between yin and yang."

The power of thunder lies in both destruction and creation; it dispels evil and gloom, and establishes clarity and vitality.

My thunder should be like a spring breeze and gentle rain; after the thunder, vegetation should flourish, not the land should be barren and desolate.

The essence of his argument is exactly the same as what you just said; they lead to the same ultimate goal.

Commanding the spring thunder, governing the life of all things...

This description is by no means of an ordinary deity.

Chen Jiao listened intently, a suspicion forming in his mind, yet he dared not be certain, and couldn't help but ask softly:

"I wonder who this old friend the Celestial Venerable speaks of is...?"

Upon hearing this, the Celestial Venerable remained silent for a moment.

He sighed softly, a sigh filled with an indescribable sense of vicissitude and melancholy, and slowly said:

"He is the Azure Emperor, also known as the Azure Spirit Primordial Nine Qi Heavenly Lord, one of the Five Heavenly Emperors of ancient times, who governs the East, controls the spring season, and oversees the growth of all things."

The Azure Emperor! One of the Five Ancient Heavenly Emperors!

Chen Jiao's pupils suddenly contracted.

Even though he is now a True Lord, hearing this title still stirs up waves in his heart.

That was an ancient and supreme deity who truly ruled over a region, in charge of the wood element of the east, governing life, death, prosperity, and the growth of all things; it was a symbol of the way of life.

Its name and authority are occasionally mentioned in many ancient classics, all shrouded in mystery and majesty.

So the old friend the Celestial Venerable was referring to was this very being! And his unintentional remark had unexpectedly aligned with the Dao of the Azure Emperor of the past?

Chen Jiao had a vague feeling about it.

The opportunity regarding the innate wood element seemed to be faintly illuminated by the Heavenly Venerable's mention of his old friend, the Azure Emperor.

He held his breath, waiting for the next part to be told.

The Celestial Venerable's gaze was distant, as if he were looking back through endless time. His voice was slow and deliberate as he recounted an ancient secret.

"The Five Emperors of the Five Directions were not appointed by imperial decree, but were innate deities who were born with the Five Elements and Five Qi at the beginning of the creation of heaven and earth."

In the beginning of chaos, the clear yang rose and the turbid yin sank.

Among them, a wisp of the purest and most abundant pure Yang energy condensed in the eastern sky and did not dissipate. After countless years of evolution, it finally gave birth to nine wisps of innate Qingyang Qi.

These nine energies interact and converge, manifesting as an ancient deity who governs the East, the season of spring, vitality, and thunder.

This is the Azure Emperor, whose title is Azure Spirit Primordial Nine Qi Heavenly Lord.

Chen Jiao suddenly realized.

He had heard that the Great Savior of Suffering was born from the "Primordial Qi".

No wonder he was friends with the Azure Emperor, who also belonged to the East and was transformed from "Primordial Azure Yang Qi".