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

Tongyou City.

Chen Jiao ate the lion's head meatball, his eyes showing deep thought.

I had heard of this place when I traveled there years ago, but at that time I was about to enter the Mahayana realm and was busy with many things, so I left Xiniuhezhou in a hurry and was unable to visit it in person.

This city is rumored to be quite mysterious, a place where all sorts of people, both good and evil, gather.

Many things that are hard to find and secrets that are difficult to hear in the four continents may be found here.

He came here with the intention of gathering information and finding a few things he needed.

Chen Jiao showed no emotion on his face, only nodded slightly, and said calmly, "Of course I will go."

Seeing that he agreed readily, the shopkeeper, having already anticipated this, didn't try to persuade him further, but continued:

"The City of Tongyou is not in Xiniuhe Continent, nor in any of the four continents. It hangs at the intersection of Yin and Yang, and is rooted on the edge of the Netherworld."

Calling it a city is an underworld is an understatement; it's a lawless place where the living can enter, and even the dead linger.

He paused, seemingly observing Chen Jiao's expression, and only continued after seeing that Chen Jiao remained quietly listening:

"The city lord is an extraordinary figure, possessing great supernatural powers."

Judges and underworld officials often associate with him and treat him as an honored guest; local city gods and local deities also show him respect, and few dare to disobey him.

He also commands thousands of ghost soldiers and demons, none of whom are wandering souls or scattered warriors, but rather a well-trained and disciplined elite force.

Many ghost kings rule in the underworld, but those with his imposing presence are few and far between.

After the shopkeeper finished speaking, he looked at Chen Jiao quietly, as if waiting for his reaction and to see if he was afraid.

Chen Jiao remained calm, even pouring himself another half cup of Cloud Leaf Wine, taking a small sip, before saying:

"In that case, the Lord of Tongyou City is indeed quite capable. But..."

He raised his eyes, his gaze clear and upright, and looked at the shopkeeper.

"He dwells in the netherworld, befriends the spirits of the underworld, is revered by the earth gods, and commands an army, thus establishing his own independent power structure."

The Ten Kings of Hell, who hold the laws of the underworld and govern the netherworld, are they to simply ignore and turn a blind eye?

"Oh."

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper let out a short, ambiguous laugh, a clear hint of mockery flashing across his face.

"The Ten Kings of Hell?"

The gods of Heaven nominally rule over the Three Realms, but look at these four continents, aren't there enough mountain spirits, water monsters, and demon giants who dominate their own territories and claim their own kingdoms?

Even the Heavenly Court struggled to completely subdue them, let alone the Netherworld.

The shopkeeper took a sip of wine to moisten his throat, and continued:

"Moreover, the underworld is not like the human world."

This place is the ultimate yin of heaven and earth, where all spirits return to stillness, and where all kinds of filth, karmic obsessions and attachments gather and settle, making it far more chaotic than the human world.

Although the underworld is governed by the Heavenly Court's decrees and is in charge of the order of reincarnation, with strict regulations, its inner workings...

Hmph, the mountains are numerous and the relationships are intricate, even more so than the imperial court in the human world.

Each of the Ten Kings of Hell has their own powers and responsibilities, but also their own constraints. Furthermore, there are countless entangled underworld networks and various ghost emperor forces...

And since the location of Tongyou City was not a crucial point in the cycle of reincarnation, Yama naturally didn't care much about it.

"Moreover, besides having a well-trained army and extensive social connections, the Lord of Tongyou City is also unfathomably powerful."

The Ten Kings of Hell, who oversee the underworld, have too many things to manage. Even those fierce and tyrannical ghost kings who wreak havoc and cause trouble in their respective regions are unwilling to easily launch a major attack.

Why would they want to provoke someone with such deep roots and formidable skills, who is not openly defying the laws of the underworld?

"I see." Chen Jiao nodded slightly.

Although the shopkeeper's words were only one perspective, they revealed a glimpse into the reality of the underworld.

The underworld has its own structure, with the Ten Kings of Hell each having their own duties and countless underworld gods and ghosts under their command, checking and balancing each other. It is indeed a very deep place.

The fact that the Lord of Tongyou City can establish himself here, and that the Judge of the Underworld commands respect and the City God and the local deities, must mean that he has extraordinary abilities and a way of surviving.

Just as Chen Jiao was about to ask about the name of the Lord of Tongyou City, the shopkeeper waved his hand, interrupting his thoughts.

The shopkeeper's eyes, which had been flickering with ghostly fire, returned to Chen Jiao, and his tone returned to its previous calm and indifferent state:

"Take out the seven locust leaves I just gave you."

Chen Jiao took out the seven peculiar locust leaves that served as the room keys from his sleeve. The leaves were withered and curled, yet they seemed to shimmer with a spiritual light.

He placed the leaf in the shopkeeper's palm.

The shopkeeper took the leaf and gently gathered it up.

Without him making any move, a faint light flashed in his palm, and the seven locust leaves disappeared silently, as if they had never existed.

Instead, a token about three inches long and two fingers wide lay quietly in his palm.

The token is dark brown, with the wood grain still clearly visible. It feels warm to the touch, yet has a heavy, substantial feel.

Its shape is simple and unadorned, with slight wear on the edges.

Both sides are engraved with four twisted and bizarre characters using a unique brushstroke.

The turning point exudes a chilling, ghostly aura; it is definitely not human writing, but rather some kind of ghost script from the underworld.

The shopkeeper pushed the token toward Chen Jiao and said slowly:

Getting there isn't exactly difficult, but it's not easy either.

Ordinary cultivators, whose Yang spirit has not yet attained pure Yang, cannot do without a protective object when traveling in the Netherworld.

Without protection, one is easily corrupted by the omnipresent yin and turbid death energy. At best, it will damage one's foundation; at worst, it will cloud one's mind and turn one into a zombie.

Furthermore, the underworld has its own rules and regulations; it is not a place where people can come and go as they please.

He paused, his deep-set eyes fixed on the token, and then said:

"This is for you. Holding it will protect you from the corruption of Yin and turbidity, and will also save you a lot of troublesome questioning and inspection when traveling around Tongyou City."

Chen Jiao took the token. It felt slightly heavy in his hand. A cool aura mixed with a hint of gloom entered his palm from the token, subtly repelling his own yang energy.

He glanced at it briefly and immediately made up his mind.

The locust tree, the essence of the illusory star, gathers yin and absorbs darkness.

Locust wood has been regarded as a ghost tree since ancient times, as it is extremely yin in nature and easily attracts evil spirits.

Even a locust tree that is hundreds of years old can serve as a temporary resting place for the souls of the dead, or be used to guide souls to the underworld.

The token in his hand was made of dark wood with fine grain; it felt cold to the touch, and its yin energy was condensed and did not dissipate.

It is made from an ancient locust tree. Not only can it protect the living when they walk in the underworld, preventing them from being corrupted by yin and ghostly energy, but it can also deter ordinary ghosts.

Chen Jiao looked closely and saw several twisted ancient characters carved on one side. Although he did not recognize them, his divine sense touched them and their meaning naturally emerged in his mind.

There are no restrictions.

The four ghost characters on the other side were completely unrecognizable; the strokes seemed even more bizarre, and the aura even more profound and unpredictable.

Chen Jiao raised his eyes and asked, "Nothing is forbidden?"

He originally thought that such messengers for traveling through the underworld would be inscribed with words such as "traveling through the underworld" or "all evils retreat".

The phrase "without any taboos" is rather unusual.

The shopkeeper did not explain the origin of the token's name.

His gaze shifted slightly downwards, landing on Chen Jiao's right hand holding the command token, seemingly lingering for a moment on the faintly flowing aura of pure and righteous yang.

He murmured, "Such a pure Yang foundation. What a pity."

The sound was very soft; if Chen Jiao hadn't had exceptional hearing, he would have almost missed it.

The shopkeeper then gently shook his head, raised his eyelids again, and said to Chen Jiao:

"This token is lent to you; remember to return it. Don't lose it."

"Of course." Chen Jiao nodded and put the token away.

He had barely finished speaking.

Suddenly, a series of slightly hurried footsteps echoed from the old wooden staircase leading to the second floor, hidden in the shadows.

Before long, three figures came down the stairs one after another.

The first person was a woman, who appeared to be in her early twenties. She had a beautiful figure, wore a moon-white close-fitting outfit, covered with a plain blue vest, and had a sash around her waist. She held a long sword in her hand.

She had a beautiful face, but her brows held a cold, frost-like quality.

Following closely behind were two young men.

The man on the left has fair skin, gentle features, and carries a long sword on his back.

The person on the right seemed much more outgoing, his eyes constantly scanning the store's furnishings, his nostrils twitching as if he were sniffing something.

Although the three women's clothing differed slightly, the collars and cuffs of their garments were all embroidered with the same mark in silver thread: a few gnarled pine branches supporting a slender silver moon, making them appear elegant and unique.

They clearly come from the same sect.

The eccentric young man glanced around the shop, took a deep sniff, and then fixed his gaze on the table in front of Chen Jiao.

The bowl of braised lion's head meatballs, still warm and rich in a dark brown color, was served.

His eyes lit up instantly, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

The woman at the head of the group naturally turned her gaze to Chen Jiao, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.

She immediately raised her delicate hand to stop the restless young man beside her who was about to pounce, and said in a clear voice:

"Song An! Do not be rude!"

Upon hearing this, the young man called "Song An" shrank back, his excitement vanishing instantly. He could only sheepishly withdraw his steps and bow his head in response:

"Yes, Uncle-Master."

But out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't help but glance at the bowl of meatballs.

The handsome, composed young man beside him shook his head and chuckled upon seeing this, teasingly saying in a gentle voice:

"Junior Brother Song'an, didn't you already have some dried food and spiritual fruit in the guest room? Why are you hungry again?"

Song An scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, but his eyes still gleamed with desire. He lowered his voice and said to the handsome young man:

"Brother Songyan, this is different."

The aroma of this meat is truly unique. I've traveled extensively and tasted many delicacies, but I've never smelled anything so enticing.

As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance at the braised lion's head meatballs on Chen Jiao's table.

The woman at the head of the group, whose Taoist name was Shouyue Zhenren, was their senior martial sister.

Upon hearing this, she glanced at Song An with a cool gaze, her words carrying a hint of admonition:

"Those who cultivate themselves should purify their minds and thoughts. They are urged to abstain from grains and purify their minds on a daily basis, but they always ignore it."

You must know that when the desires of the palate entangle you, your qi and blood are difficult to purify, and distracting thoughts arise. These become invisible obstacles on the path to completing the Foundation Establishment and condensing the Golden Elixir. When will you be able to calm your mind?

When Song An's weakness was pointed out, his face flushed, but he couldn't help but defend himself in a low voice:

"Uncle-Master, this disciple...this disciple only has this one hobby."

If one were to cultivate immortality by even abstaining from basic culinary desires, it would be far too bland and uninteresting.

Besides, the Golden Elixir is profound and unpredictable; it cannot be achieved simply by not eating or drinking…

"Hmm?" Master Shouyue's eyes narrowed.

Song An's remaining words stuck in his throat; he dared not speak further, only lowering his head and muttering something under his breath in a very low voice:

"Look at that Taoist priest in crimson robes, isn't he... isn't he using it too? It smells really good."

Although his voice was low, everyone present was a cultivator, so how could they not hear him clearly?

The handsome young man named Song Yan coughed lightly, a helpless smile flashing across his eyes.

Uncle Shouyue's cold gaze shifted again, landing on Chen Jiao by the window.

This time, she examined him more closely, her delicate eyebrows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Previously, I had only caught a fleeting glance, but upon closer inspection, I could see that this Taoist priest in crimson robes possessed a calm and composed demeanor.

His aura was subtle and restrained, his brows were clear and bright, and his demeanor was gentle and warm. Clearly, he was no ordinary cultivator, much less a mediocre person who indulged in the desires of food and drink.

She felt a slight chill run down her spine, withdrew her gaze, and her reprimand of Song An became even more severe, her voice cold and clear:

"Stop talking nonsense! This Taoist priest has a radiant inner spirit and a calm demeanor, clearly a senior with profound Taoist cultivation."

With your shallow cultivation and unstable mind, how can you compare yourself to the senior masters?

If you continue to speak so recklessly, I'll punish you by making you copy the *Qingjing Jing* (Classic of Purity and Tranquility) a hundred times when we get back.

Song An, reprimanded and too ashamed to raise his head, could only stammer a "Yes," though he was still somewhat resentful, thinking to himself:

This Taoist priest doesn't seem to be very old, and he is indeed composed, but how can he be called a "senior master"? My uncle is being too cautious.

The way he eats doesn't seem like those old-fashioned people who sit alone in the mountains, detached from worldly affairs...

However, Song An would never dare to say these words aloud.

The brief silence in the store lasted only a moment.

Master Shouyue collected his thoughts and regained his calm and composed demeanor.

She straightened her clothes slightly, nodded to the two disciples beside her, and then took the lead and walked towards the table by the window.

Song Yan and Song An dared not be negligent and followed closely behind.

The shopkeeper remained seated opposite Chen Jiao, seemingly oblivious to the three approaching, his eyes lowered as if savoring the remaining wine in his cup.

Master Shouyue stopped about three steps from the table, and bowed respectfully to the shopkeeper's back, following the etiquette due to a junior.

"Greetings, senior."

The shopkeeper didn't turn around, but gave a barely audible "hmm" through his nose, which was enough to indicate that he understood.

Master Shouyue then raised his eyes and turned his gaze to Chen Jiao, who was sitting opposite the shopkeeper.

Seeing that the other party was calm and composed, and although he was young and handsome, he had a calm and composed demeanor, and was accompanied by the shopkeeper, she dared not be negligent.

She greeted him with the courtesy due to a peer, saying, "I am Shouyue from the Songyue Sword Sect of Qingxu Mountain. I greet you, fellow Daoist."

These two are my junior apprentices, Songyan and Song'an.

Song Yan, standing behind her, also bowed respectfully and meticulously: "Song Yan, disciple of Songyue Sword Sect, greets senior."

He was gentle and approachable.

Although Song An still longed for the aroma of that bowl of meat, he dared not act rashly at this moment. He quickly composed himself and followed his senior brother's example, bowing respectfully.

"Song An, a disciple of the Songyue Sword Sect, greets senior."

Seeing that the other party was very polite, Chen Jiao naturally wouldn't refuse.

He rose, returned the greeting with a slight bow, and spoke in a calm and clear voice:

"Fellow Daoist Shouyue, you are too kind. This humble Daoist is Jiangxiao, greetings."

He then nodded slightly to Song Yan and Song An.

"You two young friends, there's no need for such formalities."

Master Shouyue was nodding slightly when he heard this, his body stiffened, and he suddenly raised his eyes, his cold gaze instantly locking onto Chen Jiao's face.

Behind her, Song Yan's gentle face also showed surprise, and his gaze involuntarily re-examined the crimson-robed Taoist in front of him.

Song An, who was the most unable to hide his thoughts, let out a soft "Ah," and although he quickly covered his mouth, his wide eyes were full of disbelief.

The three of them had previously been in a guest room on the second floor, a room with a special feature that could isolate sounds from both inside and outside.

Therefore, he did not hear the brief but shocking battle downstairs, nor did he know that the three Golden Core Demon Lords had all been killed by the Taoist in front of him.

However, the name "Jiangxiao" has recently become quite well-known in the Xiniuhezhou region, especially among cultivators and demons.

His swordsmanship was superb, his fire magic was exquisite, his actions were both righteous and wicked, and his origins were shrouded in mystery... All sorts of rumors had already quietly spread after several high-profile battles.