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

Tongyou City, the city lord's mansion.

The main hall is majestic. Although it is located in the dark, it does not have a gloomy or dark atmosphere. Instead, it is decorated with gold and jade and illuminated by bright pearls. It is magnificent and has an ancient feel.

The beams and pillars are carved with many patterns of gods and ghosts feasting and landscapes, and also have a magnificent and profound presence.

At this moment, apart from a few close attendants standing at a distance, only a bull demon with curved horns on its head was bowing and reporting in the spacious hall.

"Your Majesty, the guests from all sides who received the invitations from Dongsheng Shenzhou have arrived in the city one after another."

The Golden Leopard Immortal of Golden Cloud Gorge, the Mysterious Toad Immortal of Falling Flower River, and other demon lords and immortals have all entered their residences with their invitations and are resting, awaiting the start of the grand assembly.

Niu Sanping reported in great detail, clearly explaining the itinerary arrangements of the various demon kings and immortals.

As the names of demon kings and cultivators, each renowned in the Eastern Continent, were announced,...

A sense of pride gradually appeared on his face, and he unconsciously straightened his back a bit.

To be able to organize such a grand event for one's own king, gathering powerful figures from all directions.

To this bull demon, who had seen some of the world but ultimately couldn't shake off his simple and honest nature, it was an extraordinary display of dignity.

Deep within the main hall, a simple and imposing bronze tripod with two handles and three legs stands quietly.

The body of the cauldron is engraved with patterns of mountains and rivers, and there is a faint, indescribable sense of vastness and desolation flowing through it.

A figure stood with his back to the palace gate in front of the cauldron, seemingly concentrating on observing it.

His golden fur shone with a warm glow, and underneath he wore a black, close-fitting leather armor, covered by a dark blue, cross-collared, wide-sleeved robe, with a simple and neat design.

This is the Lord of Tongyou City, King Yu Rong.

Niu San continued his report, reciting a long list of illustrious titles.

Suddenly, Yu Rongwang raised a hand.

Upon seeing this, Niu San immediately stopped talking and lowered his head to listen.

Yu Rongwang turned around, his monkey appearance was exactly like that of a monkey, but his golden-brown eyes were quite different from others, clear and deep.

His gaze fell on Niu San, then he asked in a deep voice:

"At Qingchi Ridge on the shore of the East Sea, has that Flood Dragon Demon King accepted the invitation to the meeting?"

Upon hearing this, Niu San replied without hesitation:

"Your Majesty, no."

I was sent by Your Majesty to deliver an invitation to Qingchi Ridge, and it was Master Xuangu, a subordinate of the Jiao Demon King, who received me.

The master said that his king was at a critical juncture in his secluded cultivation, and his spirit was dormant, so he was unable to spare any time to attend the meeting.

I hope Your Majesty will forgive me.

Upon hearing this, King Yu Rong remained silent for a moment.

He then asked, "Niu San, you've traveled to quite a few demon mountains and blessed lands in Dongsheng Shenzhou this time."

In your opinion, what is the weather like at Qingchi Ridge?

Upon hearing this question, Niu San was slightly taken aback at first, but then his spirits clearly lifted.

He raised his head, his bull eyes gleaming with a mixture of recollection and admiration, and quickly said:

"Your Majesty! To be honest, I have been ordered to travel to the Eastern Continent and have seen some of the various demon lords' caves and the sacred temples of the immortals."

However, in terms of grandeur and magnificence, no place can compare to Qingchi Ridge and Yunmang Mountain!

That is truly a blessed land, a place imbued with spiritual essence!

Niu San paused slightly, as if recalling something, then began to speak:

"Those mountains stretch for thousands of miles, brimming with spiritual energy, far surpassing any ordinary blessed land."

Caravans and monks from all directions came and went in an orderly fashion in the market area near the mountain gate.

Furthermore, the sounds of training could be heard from a great distance, echoing through the valleys and carrying a chilling aura.

Although I dare not delve deeper, I only observed the formation from afar. The demon soldiers in the training ground, clad in armor and armed with weapons, marching in formation... probably number no less than ten or twenty thousand!

Moreover, they are full of energy and their orders are strictly obeyed; they are by no means a disorganized mob.

At this point, Niu San couldn't help but smack his lips, a simple, honest smile appearing on his face, and added:

"As for hospitality, it goes without saying."

Master Xuangu personally received us, showing great courtesy and speaking politely, and making all the arrangements perfectly.

Even when it came to the youngest errand boy, they never showed him the slightest disrespect.

Hehe, the spiritual tea from Yunmang Mountain tastes really good...

Although his words carried a hint of goodwill from being treated with courtesy, the scene he described was indeed concrete and realistic.

Niu San realized he had gotten a little carried away, quickly composed himself, lowered his head again, and said:

"In short, Your Majesty, the forces under the command of the Flood Dragon Demon King of Qingchi Ridge are indeed prosperous, powerful, and strictly disciplined. I was deeply impressed by this."

Yu Rong Wang listened quietly and nodded slightly.

After Niu San finished speaking, he asked again:

"I have heard that after the Flood Dragon King cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage and consolidated his foundation, he opened up a place called Yunmang Market in the mountains within his territory."

This was intended to facilitate the exchange of goods and resources among cultivators and demons from all directions, and to gather wealth and popularity.

It gained some renown back then, but what's the state of that market now?

Upon hearing the question about the market, Niu San quickly replied:

"Your Majesty, the Yunmang Market is truly extraordinary!"

My trip to Qingchi Ridge happened to coincide with the new moon and full moon, which is the time when the market is open.

Clouds gathered from all directions, and crowds flowed like a tapestry. Demon cultivators and human cultivators thronged together, yet each remained at their own pace, maintaining a remarkable order.

The market was bustling with stalls, yet orderly, selling everything from rare treasures of the mortal realm to specialties of the underworld: magical artifacts, elixirs, talismans, spiritual materials…

It was incredibly diverse, with many items so small I couldn't even name them; it was truly an eye-opening experience.

He paused, recalling the scene, his tone now tinged with admiration:

Above the market, there were four True Immortals with Golden Core cultivation, each occupying a cloud, their auras completely undisguised, clearly the ones in charge of the area.

In the market streets and alleys, squads of demon soldiers from Qingchi Ridge patrolled back and forth.

As for whether there are other arrangements in the shadows, or how many experts are in charge... my cultivation is too shallow to know.

It seemed that the place, though bustling, was actually governed by strict laws and regulations, far surpassing any ordinary mountain market inhabited by demon kings.

After listening quietly, King Yu Rong seemed to be deep in thought, and nodded slightly, saying:

"Hmm, this weather is not far from what I have heard."

To be able to establish such a situation on the shores of the East China Sea in such a short time, gathering such popularity and wealth, and having such strict discipline and order, is remarkable.

This dragon king is indeed an extraordinary figure.

He had barely finished speaking when he hadn't even had a chance to tell Niu San to leave.

A burst of hearty laughter could be heard from the corridor outside the hall.

"Hahaha! Brother Yu Rong, you rarely praise people like this when you are in charge of this area of ​​the Netherworld."

I'm curious, who is this person who deserves such praise from you?

The voice arrives and the person arrives.

A gust of demonic wind swept outside the palace gates, and a tall figure stepped inside.

The newcomer was also a demon king of the monkey genus who had attained enlightenment, and his figure was more than half a head taller than the Yu Rong King.

With thick, glossy purplish-brown fur, a broad face, and piercing eyes, he strode into the hall with a hearty smile.

Although he retained the appearance of a monkey, he had a wild and unrestrained demeanor, and his gaze carried an air of disdain.

It was another great demon king who had a long-standing friendship with Yu Rong Wang—the Macaque King.