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

Thunder rumbled in.

At first it was muffled, but gradually it became clearer, transforming into a dense and majestic rumbling sound that covered the surrounding fields.

Immediately afterwards, dazzling, silvery-white lightning bolts tore through the night sky, dancing wildly like dragons and snakes.

The entire city, along with the desolate mountains outside, was instantly illuminated as bright as day.

Beneath this majestic heavenly power, mountain spirits, monsters, and demons lurk in the mountains and marshes near and far.

Regardless of their level of cultivation, they all cowered in their nests, trembling with fear, not daring to make the slightest move.

They dared not let out even the slightest breath, for fear that the unparalleled lightning would strike their heads in the next instant!

Shunping Junior High School.

Those people who had been living in fear and sleepless nights because of the rumors of the child-eating demon mother were startled by this sudden awe-inspiring power of heaven and earth.

They timidly crawled out from under the bed and behind the cabinet where they had been hiding.

No one dared to light a lamp, and no one dared to go out.

Only one household after another huddled behind windows or door cracks, trembling as they parted a small piece of window paper, or held their breath as they peered out through the cracks in the door panels.

With the help of a fleeting flash of lightning, one could vaguely see shadowy figures above the low-hanging, thick clouds.

Countless golden-armored deities stood solemnly, their figures towering like mountains in the electric light.

They were silent, yet their awe-inspiring presence filled the heavens and earth; the weapons in their hands and the banners beside them seemed to shimmer with the light of thunder.

They vaguely formed a formation, like an invisible net, which had already silently enveloped the vast wilderness.

The eight thick black plumes of smoke that had previously split and fled were now like headless flies, rushing left and right.

However, every time it touched the edge of the lightning net, it was scorched and hissed, and the black energy dissipated, making it impossible to break through.

Above the clouds, a cold-faced general with a thunder whip hanging at his waist indifferently raised his hand and pressed it down lightly.

"boom!"

Several bolts of purplish-blue lightning, each as thick as a bowl, suddenly struck down from the clouds, simultaneously hitting the eight scattered black wisps of energy.

The black energy suddenly trembled, letting out a mournful howl, before reforming into the form of the ghost mother.

He staggered and fell from mid-air, his black aura dissipating, his face deathly pale, and his breath barely clinging to life.

She managed to steady herself and looked up, only to see soldiers and generals standing like a forest above the thunderclouds.

The two leading generals were dressed in silver armor and white robes, one standing with his hand on his sword, and the other wearing black lightning armor and holding a lightning whip.

Their gazes were sharp as lightning, coldly looking down at her.

From all directions, there was a net woven from rolling thunder, leaving no escape or way out.

The infant-eating demon mother was no longer as ferocious as before; she knelt down in mid-air, crying out in sorrow.

"God, spare me! God, spare me!"

"I...I was also a woman of misfortune in my previous life. I was abandoned by a heartless man, and my own child died young. My resentment was hard to quell, which led me to fall into the realm of ghosts. I was not born an evil ghost, but rather..."

"shut up!"

Above the clouds, Yang Feng, the commander of the Thunder Cavalry, his face as cold as iron, interrupted her coldly before she could finish speaking:

"Even if you suffer all kinds of pain, it is not a reason for you to harm the innocent and devour infants to refine souls."

You feed on infants, committing boundless acts of killing. Your resentment has clung to you to this state, which can no longer be described as a "miserable fate."

The laws of Heaven are clear; how can you use clever words to escape punishment?

Upon hearing this, the demon mother knew that there was no hope of survival.

His pale face suddenly contorted, and his eyes blazed with resentment and madness.

She let out a sharp cry, and the remaining black energy around her surged wildly, causing her body to suddenly expand and change.

It transformed into a demon over three zhang tall, with a blue face, fangs, disheveled hair, and red eyes.

Ignoring everything, he charged headlong towards the thundercloud, making a desperate last stand.

"Stubborn and obstinate."

Above the clouds, Fei Peng indifferently uttered four words and waved his hand.

Without needing further words, countless thunder soldiers simultaneously activated their spells.

The vast net of thunder that covered the entire area suddenly shone brightly, and hundreds of blue-purple lightning bolts crashed down like a waterfall.

Although it was not as powerful as the True Lord's Heavenly Thunder, it still possessed a righteous and vast might that could cleanse the demonic aura, completely engulfing the Ghost Mother and her raging flames.

The thunderous roar did not last long, lasting only a few breaths.

After the lightning subsided and the thunder faded away, the lightning began to flash.

The thick, viscous, and nauseating ghostly aura in the night sky had completely vanished.

The infant-eating demon mother, who had left the City God of the Underworld helpless, has vanished without a trace.

The night sky returned to its clear state.

Only the lingering thunder echoed and reverberated among the clouds and mountains, cleansing away the remaining filth and pollution of the world.

Inside the temple.

The candlelight flickered dimly, casting a yellowish glow on the still-shaken faces of the group.

Old carpenter Wang stared blankly at the figure in a black cloak standing with his back to him in front of the offering table.

The statue remains, the candlelight flickers.

The person before me, with his black cloak draped over his shoulders, resembled the lightning-wielding god I had glimpsed in the clouds on a rainy night at Laoya Ridge thirty years ago.

It suddenly overlapped with the vague image that I had devoutly worshipped in my heart for the past thirty years, and then exploded apart.

It transforms into a more breathtaking reality.

"It's you...it really is you..."

Truly, the Heavenly Emperor…

The old man's lips trembled violently, and cloudy tears streamed down his face.

This time, however, it was no longer despair, but a torrent of pent-up awe, gratitude, and the immense shock of surviving a catastrophe after thirty years.

With a thud, and with a speed beyond his years, he knelt heavily on the ground, his forehead touching the cold floor, choking back sobs:

"This old man...this old man Wang Mugen pays his respects to the Heavenly Emperor!"

Thirty years ago, on a stormy night in Laoya'ao, the Heavenly Lord appeared and slew the demon snake, saving my humble life and the lives of the villagers within a hundred miles!

This old man...this old man is incompetent, but I remember the kindness of the Heavenly Emperor, so I set up this crude memorial tablet and have been burning incense day and night without interruption.

Unexpectedly, unexpectedly today... it was the Heavenly Emperor who saved my entire family's lives again!

This is an immense kindness, I, this humble old man…

He was so excited that he was incoherent and kept kowtowing.

Behind them, Wang Shuan, his wife, and the old woman who had been chanting Buddhist prayers all seemed to awaken from their daze upon seeing this.

He hurriedly knelt down, prostrating himself on the ground, not daring to raise his head, his heart filled with both fear and indescribable excitement.

Chen Jiao stood still, his gaze sweeping over the family kneeling on the ground, and he gently flicked his black sleeve.

A gentle aura rippled outwards, like a warm spring breeze, or an invisible hand, gently yet irresistibly lifting up Old Carpenter Wang and his family.

The group felt a gentle force coming from their knees, and before they knew it, they were standing firmly.

"My intentions are clear; there's no need for further formalities."

Chen Jiao spoke, his voice calm.

He glanced at the old carpenter Wang, who was still in tears and overwhelmed with emotion, paused briefly, and said:

"The inspiration I feel tonight is not in the temple or the memorial tablet, but in your kind heart and the sincerity you have maintained for thirty years."

The divine way is clear and all requests will be answered.

But remember, maintaining upright conduct and keeping a sincere heart are the source of boundless blessings.

Incense offerings are merely an outward appearance; true cultivation resides within the heart. Where good intentions prevail, a pure light naturally protects you.

Old carpenter Wang was lifted up by that gentle force, still immersed in excitement and a daze.

Hearing Chen Jiao's words, he felt both comforted and apprehensive, feeling overwhelmed by the immense grace of Heaven and unsure how to repay it.

The old man's heart suddenly stirred.

A thought that I would never have dared to even consider before suddenly ignited like a spark in the darkness, and burned ever brighter.

He glanced at his son and daughter-in-law, who were still shaken and clinging tightly to each other behind him.

His gaze finally settled on his grandson, who had stopped crying and was now looking around curiously with his big, dark eyes.

In an instant, a sudden inspiration struck.

Old carpenter Wang suddenly bent his knees again, but not in worship; instead, he bowed deeply to the ground.

His voice trembled slightly with excitement and trepidation, yet it carried an unprecedented solemnity and pleading:

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, please forgive this old man's greed, for pushing his luck..."

This old man's grandson's formal name was given by the village school teacher at birth; it was a single character, "An".

Today, I have been saved by the Heavenly Lord, which is truly a blessing of being reborn.

This humble old man humbly begs the Heavenly Emperor for mercy, that he may...may he grant this ignorant child a single word.

I don't ask for great wealth or high status, I only ask to receive a trace of the Heavenly Emperor's blessings and righteous energy, so that I can live an upright life and live a peaceful and stable life in the future...

Upon hearing this, his son Wang Shuan and daughter-in-law behind him were stunned.

Immediately, an indescribable anticipation and nervousness welled up on his face, and he followed his father in bowing deeply, not daring to raise his head.

In ordinary families, there are not many people who can write characters.

It is the responsibility of elders or respected members of the family to choose a name for their child.

They never dared to imagine that one day they could obtain a word from a true god.

This is not merely saving a life, but an immense blessing that can protect one's descendants and bring glory to one's family!

The temple was quiet for a moment, with only the occasional crackling of the lamplight.

The night wind blew in through the broken temple gate, bringing with it the lingering echoes of thunderclouds that had faintly dissipated on the distant horizon.

On the offering table, the wooden plaque inscribed with "Huangtian Jingfa Zhenjun" remained silent.

Chen Jiao looked at the old man in front of him, who was bowing deeply and whose body was trembling slightly with nervousness.

His gaze swept over the innocent infant in the swaddling clothes.

He descended through the power of his vows, and it was his duty to vanquish evil and bring peace; he did not wish to get involved further.

Yet this old man remained devout and steadfast for thirty years, never wavering in his faith even in dire straits.

Tonight, this faint wish can penetrate the darkness and lead him here; it is also a matter of fate.

Their hearts are pitiable, their feelings are worthy of remembrance.

Even the heart of a god is not made of grass or trees.

To bestow a single word upon this innocent infant is merely a matter of lifting a hand, but for this family it is a legacy to be passed down through generations, and it can also solidify their foundation and ward off evil spirits.

"Wang... An."

Chen Jiao softly uttered the child's full name.

He paused for a moment, his gaze seemingly piercing through what was in front of him and seeing into the far distance.

Suddenly, a feeling arose in my heart.

"Your position is truly righteous..."

Chen Jiao looked at the infant and slowly recited: "Your ancestor sincerely upheld righteousness for thirty years without wavering, in accordance with this righteous path, therefore the gods heard him and bestowed upon you great blessings."

Today, we shall proceed according to this plan.

"The two characters 'Jingzhi' were chosen as his courtesy name."

It is hoped that in the future, he will uphold the virtue of "Jing" (靖), be content with his lot, and bring peace to the region; and that he will adhere to the virtue of "Zhi" (直), be upright and honest, and not engage in deceitful practices.

"I will not fail the sincerity of your ancestors, nor will I fail the nurturing grace of Heaven and Earth."

The infant in the swaddling clothes seemed to be touched by the solemn atmosphere. Looking at Chen Jiao, the baby grinned and started to laugh.

The little hands clasped in the air, completely unaware of the weight of the words "Jingzhi".

"Jingzhi... Wang An, Wang Jingzhi..."

Old carpenter Wang muttered to himself, repeating the same words over and over.

He felt a sense of grandeur, stability, and profound weight filling his heart, far exceeding any auspicious words he could have imagined.

This is not only a bestowal of a name, but also embodies the Heavenly Emperor's guidance on his grandson's character and his affirmation of the Wang family's traditions.

He suddenly knelt down again, tears of gratitude streaming down his face:

"Thank you, Heavenly Emperor, for bestowing this name upon me! Thank you, Heavenly Emperor, for your great grace!"

This old man will surely teach his grandson not to forget this day, nor the teachings of the Heavenly Emperor! To be a person of "purity and integrity"!

Wang Shuan and his wife also realized what was happening, and holding their child, they knelt down and kowtowed with great joy.