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

Chen Jiao put away the talisman that was faintly glowing with blue light, his eyes thoughtful.

The Qingqiu lineage is the legitimate successor of the ancient fox clan, possessing noble bloodlines and specializing in transformation and spirit arts. This clan has always been mysterious, rarely appearing in the human or demon realms.

This four-tailed red fox possesses a pure and radiant spirit.

Although it has become a ghost, it doesn't have much evil or resentment. Instead, it exudes a kind of pampered spirituality and arrogance, suggesting that its origins are probably not simple.

Song Yan supported the dizzy Song An.

Although Song An was somewhat unsteady on his feet and dizzy, his face showed no trace of the pale and listless appearance that one would expect after being invaded by evil spirits.

Instead, her skin was unusually rosy, her aura was peaceful, and a faint warmth emanated from her.

He didn't look weak and exhausted like someone who had been possessed by evil spirits; instead, he seemed to be enjoying himself as if he had drunk fine wine.

Upon seeing this, Song Yan frowned and quickly took out a fragrant pill from his pocket and fed it to Song An.

This pill is called the Tranquilizing and Heart-Soothing Pill, which is most effective in calming the soul and relieving external evil influences.

Master Shouyue also stepped forward and carefully examined Song An's meridians and dantian with his divine sense.

After a moment, she withdrew her divine sense, a strange expression appearing on her face, and pondered:

"That's strange. There is no trace of yin or ghostly energy remaining in Song An's body. On the contrary, his yang energy is flowing quite vigorously, his spirit is complete and his energy is abundant. His foundation seems to be even more stable than before."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao snapped out of his reverie, glanced at the still dazed Song An, and explained:

"Fellow Daoist Shouyue need not worry."

The spirit that possessed my friend Song An just now was not an ordinary evil ghost, but a remnant soul of a fox spirit from the Qingqiu lineage.

Although this fox's aura is that of a yin spirit, it is quite pure, and its possession seems to have another purpose than to steal the body and kill the person.

He paused, then smiled and said:

"As for the current state of my young friend Song An... when I made my move just now, in order to protect his heart and soul, I took the opportunity to transfer a wisp of pure Yang Qi into him."

The temperature was gentle, but he couldn't absorb it completely at his current level of cultivation. At this moment, his primordial yang energy was just beginning to flourish, and his spiritual energy was bursting forth, hence the slight dizziness and warm sensation.

After a short while, it will naturally subside, which will be of little benefit to his cultivation foundation and will not cause him any harm.

Upon hearing this, Master Shouyue felt reassured and couldn't help but marvel at it inwardly.

Song Yan, supporting his still somewhat dazed junior brother, solemnly bowed to Chen Jiao to express his gratitude.

After a short rest, seeing that Song An had regained his senses, though his expression was slightly excited, the group decided not to delay any longer. They each set off on their escape routes and continued towards Tongyou City.

Amidst the endless yellow sand and the whistling wind, four streaks of light of different colors traced faint paths against the dim sky.

In the middle of the line.

Song Yan's gaze swept over Chen Jiao several times, but finally, unable to suppress his doubts and his enthusiasm for the Dao of Talismans, he moved slightly closer and asked respectfully:

"Please forgive my abruptness, sir."

The master just now used that cyan talisman to capture the fox spirit; it was incredibly profound.

But is it a secret talisman passed down from the underworld?

I am also fond of studying the art of talismans and have read many books on talismans from both sects and the general public.

But I've never seen such... ancient and profound, azure rune patterns that point directly to the very essence of the soul.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao turned his head slightly in surprise to glance at Song Yan, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes, and smiled:

"I have long admired the Pine Moon Sword Sect of Qingxu Mountain. Its sword intent is pure, profound, and lofty, like a pine tree reflecting the moon. It is the orthodox school of swordsmanship."

Unexpectedly, young friend Songyan, as a member of the Sword Sect, possesses such knowledge and interest in talismanic arts. Truly, he has a profound foundation and is a formidable young talent.

Song Yan felt a little embarrassed by the praise and quickly said modestly:

"You flatter me too much."

I am of dull talent and only have a superficial understanding of swordsmanship, and my knowledge of talismans is even more limited to some basic applications.

However, they can draw ordinary talismans for warding off evil spirits and miasma, calming the mind and nourishing the spirit, to assist in cultivation or as gifts to fellow disciples.

"They are still a long way from truly understanding the basics of talismanic arts. They are hardly worthy of the title 'knowledge'."

His tone was sincere, and he was genuinely being modest.

Upon hearing this, the Sword Guardian Master, who was standing to the side, glanced at his junior disciple with his cold eyes and found it somewhat amusing.

Song Yan is good in every way, except that his humble nature is sometimes a bit too much.

He possesses remarkable comprehension in both swordsmanship and talismanic arts, especially in the art of talismans, which even the sect leader praised as innately gifted. However, he has always been reserved and dislikes showing off.

If he is merely mediocre in talismans, then within a thousand miles of the Songyue Sword Sect, there are probably not many young cultivators who dare to claim to have entered the path.

Unexpectedly, Chen Jiao did not encourage Song Yan as usual after hearing his words. Instead, he nodded slightly, as if he agreed with a part of what he said.

His gaze drifted to the endless yellow sand ahead, his voice carrying a simple yet profound sentiment:

"It is truly remarkable that you have this understanding, young friend. The art of talismans is nothing more than a small piece of paper, with just a few strokes of vermilion and ink, yet it can connect heaven and earth and link with the unseen world."

Every stroke has its origin and meaning, whether it's invoking deities, commanding thunder, suppressing evil spirits, or nourishing life...

Its mysteries are as deep as the ocean.

I, too, am often struck by its vastness and profoundness; what I have glimpsed is but the tip of the iceberg.

The difficulty in entering this path lies in achieving the right understanding and mastery. Many people spend their entire lives drawing talismans, achieving a resemblance in form but lacking the essence, ultimately remaining on the wrong path.

Chen Jiao paused, withdrew his gaze, looked back at Song Yan, and said:

"The blue talisman you just asked about is indeed related to the underworld, but it is not an ordinary method of the underworld."

Its origins are even more ancient, belonging to the lineage of the Lord of Mount Tai, and it is called the [Eastern Peak Green Mansion Soul-Capturing Talisman].

Mount Tai, the Eastern Peak, governs life and death and commands all ghosts.

Its meaning lies in capturing and suppressing, absorbing the spirits of the dead, and restoring order. This differs slightly in its underlying purpose from the talismans of the underworld and its officials, which specialize in arrest and punishment.

"Lord of Mount Tai?"

Upon hearing this, Song Yan's pupils contracted slightly.

This title carries immense weight in the Netherworld, signifying one of the true rulers of the Netherworld who has continued from ancient times to the present day, wielding unfathomable power.

Master Shouyue, standing to the side, was also secretly terrified.

Lord Taishan... the origins and insights of this True Man Jiangxiao are indeed unfathomable.

Seeing their expressions, Chen Jiao knew they understood the significance of the matter, so he didn't elaborate on the origins of the talismanic arts, but simply said calmly:

"This talisman does indeed have the effect of capturing the soul and stabilizing the spirit, which is just right to deal with the situation just now."

The fact that you can spot its uniqueness at a glance shows that you have indeed put in a lot of effort.

Although the talisman and the sword are different, their principles are interconnected. Having this insight will be beneficial and harmless to your sword cultivation.

Song Yan bowed and said, "This junior has learned a lot and thanks you for your guidance, Master."

Chen Jiao accepted the bow without hesitation, saying nothing more, only saying:

"The road ahead is still long, so let's focus on making the journey."

…………

…………

The fog gradually thinned, and the cold wind subsided slightly.

Suddenly, a light shone through the horizon, gradually forming a magnificent and splendid scene.

As the four people drew closer, the outline of a majestic city was clearly revealed from the dark background unique to the Netherworld, standing before them.

What a magnificent city that leads to the underworld, a unique sight in the netherworld.

Bright and dazzling, the glazed tiles create the magnificent palace; towering and majestic, the agate adorns the exquisite building.

Ghost soldiers on the left and right, wielding halberds, patrolled back and forth like government soldiers in the mortal world; ghost messengers in front and behind, carrying registers, rushed in and out like yamen runners in the human world.

The city walls are devoid of sun and moon, yet a bright pearl hangs there to illuminate day and night; a long river flows through the heart of the street, drawing upon the River of Oblivion to create a scenic waterscape.

It is precisely because the netherworld does not hinder prosperity, and the ghost realm opens up a world of wealth and honor.

The moat is over a hundred feet wide, its water shimmering with a clear, luminous light, and golden scales glitter as it flows gently.

Within the city, one can see crisscrossing streets, neatly arranged houses, and bustling traffic with carriages and horses, as well as a constant stream of pedestrians, most of whom are solid figures with distinct auras.

Some are haunted by demonic energy, some by eerie ghostly aura, and others by pure Taoist virtues and radiant Buddhist light. It is a place where beings from all walks of life, from the Yin and Yang realms, live together in a mixed community.

The place was bustling and lively, a stark contrast to the deathly desolation of the road to the underworld outside the city.

At the city gate, more than ten ghost soldiers, fully armored and holding long halberds, stood solemnly on both sides. Each of them had a deep and focused aura and sharp eyes, clearly indicating that they were all elite soldiers.