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

Upon seeing that it was him, the calm expression on Yu Rong King's face melted away, revealing a genuine smile. He shook his head and said:

"Who do we have here? It's you, the one who's been eavesdropping."

Your "sharp ears" are naturally gifted with the ability to hear the subtle sounds from afar and to perceive the movements of all things in the world.

"You surely heard what I just said, didn't you? Why are you pretending to ask me?"

The Monkey King had already strode forward, and upon hearing this, he was not annoyed at all. Without any hesitation, he put his arm around the shoulder of the Yu Rong King and laughed heartily:

"Oh, don't mention it! How could you not know about my old stories, Brother Yu Rong?"

Before one's spiritual cultivation is complete, one's control over supernatural powers is not yet proficient, and the noises that pierce the ears cause unbearable suffering.

Now that I finally have some control over my emotions, I try to avoid listening to things whenever possible, just to have some peace and quiet.

Don't you dare touch a sore spot on your brother again!

Yu Rong Wang swayed slightly as he was embraced, his face showing helplessness, but the smile in his eyes remained.

It turns out that this monkey king was born with extraordinary abilities; his pair of keen ears truly possessed remarkable powers.

However, in his early years when his cultivation was not yet profound, he could not fully control this supernatural power, and often failed to distinguish between near and far, or between refined and impure.

All sorts of sounds within a radius of hundreds of miles, whether it be the gentle breeze and birdsong, or whispers, curses, and conspiracies,

Even foul language and the cries of living beings involuntarily enter one's ears, making it difficult to block them out.

Ordinary people, if subjected to this torment for years, will either suffer a mental breakdown and go insane, or their minds will become twisted and they will fall into a sinister and demonic path.

However, this monkey king was born with a broad mind and an optimistic outlook, and he managed to overcome it all, using it to temper his Dao heart.

Ultimately, this troublesome talent was refined into a true supernatural power that could see through everything and avoid misfortune.

However, this experience has made him somewhat subconsciously lazy and avoidant about using his spiritual hearing to listen at will.

When Yu Rongwang saw the arrival of the Macaque King, he was also delighted. He waved to dismiss Niu San and took his seat with the Macaque King as host and guest, respectively.

Before long, his attendants brought him the finest wine unique to Tongyou City.

The wine is amber in color, and although it doesn't steam when served in a glass, it exudes a clear and ethereal aura around the rim.

"This is the Spirit Jade Liquid, made from the deepest spring in the city, supplemented with seventy-two kinds of Yin-attribute spiritual plants, and slowly roasted by Yin fire for a hundred years."

Yu Rongwang picked up the jade pot and personally poured a full cup for the Macaque King. His movements were steady, and the wine poured into the cup in a thin stream without making a sound.

"It is gentle in nature, but its effects are long-lasting. It is of some benefit to us demons in tempering our bodies and nourishing our spirits."

"Brother, have a taste."

The Monkey King's nostrils flared, and upon hearing this, he became even more impolite, laughing heartily as he picked up the jade cup and drank it all in one gulp.

The wine is initially icy cold upon entering the throat, but quickly transforms into a warm, mellow current that spreads throughout the body.

A touch of ethereal clarity penetrated his consciousness, causing him to squint his eyes, savor the sensation for a moment, before clicking his tongue in praise:

"Good wine! Truly good wine!"

This energy, this strength that generates yang within yin, this resilience hidden within softness—it's wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!

"Brother Yu Rong, your Tongyou City is truly a treasure trove, even your wine is brewed to such an exceptional degree!"

While praising it, he picked up the jade pot again and poured himself another full cup.

This time, however, he didn't rush to drink it down. Instead, he brought it close to his nose and took a deep sniff, his face showing even more satisfaction.

"It's so much better than those so-called spiritual brews I drink outside!"

Just for this wine, the trip was worthwhile!

After taking another sip, the Monkey King put down his cup, looked at the Yu Rong King, and brought up the old topic again:

"Brother, who exactly is that person you were talking about earlier? Why are you so concerned about him?"

King Yu Rong took a sip of his cup, pondered for a moment, and then slowly said:

"I wouldn't say I paid extra attention to him, but observing his actions, I felt that his demeanor and overall style were indeed extraordinary, and he seemed destined for great things."

He looked up at the Monkey King and said:

"Brother, do you still remember the rumors that were circulating a while ago, saying that there was a Flood Dragon Demon King in the East Sea who fought the Bull King to a draw in martial arts?"

The Monkey King raised a thick eyebrow and nodded:

"This matter has already spread throughout Xiniu Hezhou, how could I not know it?"

I've only heard that the Flood Dragon King, named Xuan Ling, is apparently still at the Nascent Soul Great Demon Lord realm?

His tone was clearly incredulous.

"With his Nascent Soul form, he was able to fight on par with the Bull King's divine strength and martial arts!"

When I first heard it, even I found it hard to believe. We both know how powerful the Bull King is.

The Monkey King paused, leaned forward slightly, and asked seriously:

"Brother, 'Journey to the West: Starting from the True Lord of Jingfa' is causing a reading frenzy. Haven't you read it yet? You have always been able to communicate between Yin and Yang, and command the gods of the four directions. Your information is the most reliable and comprehensive."

How true or false is this matter?

King Yu Rong met his probing gaze, slowly nodded, and said with certainty:

"This is true, absolutely true."

Although I did not witness it myself, there were many eyewitnesses present at the time. Several river gods and water spirits all said the same thing.

The Flood Dragon Demon King Xuan Ling, with his Nascent Soul cultivation, fought the Bull King for hundreds of rounds without a clear winner.

Its foundation is so solid, its qi and blood so abundant, and its magical power so pure that it is far beyond what ordinary Nascent Soul Great Demon Lords can compare to.

Upon hearing this, the Monkey King couldn't help but clap his hands and exclaim in praise:

That Flood Dragon Demon King was able to achieve such a feat while only possessing a Nascent Soul stage…”

He shook his head, unsure how to describe it, his face filled with admiration.

After reflecting on his experience, the Monkey King suddenly remembered something, looked around, and asked in surprise:

"Speaking of the Bull King, with your Tongyou City so bustling with activity, why is he nowhere to be seen, given his nature? Could he be tied up with something?"

Upon hearing this question, the gentle smile on Yu Rong Wang's face gradually faded, replaced by a cold, indifferent curve at the corner of his lips. He gave a soft snort and said:

"Brother, you may not know this, but the Ox King is indeed in trouble this time. It's a rather thorny and troublesome matter that has him caught in a dilemma."

"Oh? Why is that?" The Monkey King raised an eyebrow.

"Isn't it the Heavenly Court's inspection tour that's been making headlines lately?"

The leading True Lord was ruthless and decisive in his killings, causing a stir among the demons of the Western Continent. Along the way, he had annihilated countless old demons and ferocious monsters.

Many of the normally restless fellows are now on edge, fearing a sudden bolt of lightning might strike them down.

King Yu Rong toyed with the jade cup in his hand, his tone tinged with sarcasm, and continued:

"But there are always some ignorant fools, or those with ulterior motives, who can't sit still when they see this."

Someone started this uproar, claiming that the Bull King was the leader of the demon race in West Niuhe Continent, revered by all demons and the hope of all. They argued that, given the oppressive power of the Heavenly Court, he should step forward.

Let's block that True Lord's path, dampen his arrogance, and show the might and backbone of our Western Continent demon race.

"Although the Bull King is bold and unrestrained, he is not a reckless or foolish man. How could he not know the gravity of this matter?"

Yu Rong Wang shook his head.

"However, public opinion can melt metal, and accumulated slander can destroy bones."

Since he was revered as a giant and held such a position, he was inevitably burdened by the reputation of this hero.

Going there might bring trouble; not going would invite gossip and damage one's reputation.

He's probably currently surrounded by a group of so-called supporters urging him to take the lead, putting him in a dilemma, so he might not even be able to join in this kind of excitement.

Upon hearing this, the Monkey King's usually smiling face turned serious. He remained silent for a moment, then sighed.

"I see, the bigger the tree, the more the wind blows."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Only the soft light of the pearl reflects the unchanging patterns on the bronze tripod.

The Monkey King raised the jade cup and drank the remaining wine in one gulp, as if trying to use the cool wine to ease his worries.

The amber-colored liquor slid down his throat, but he couldn't taste the same pleasant flavor as before.

After a moment of silence, the Monkey King broke the silence and said with a smile:

"Hey! Let's not talk about those troubles! Come on, let's drink! How can we waste such fine wine?"

He personally picked up the wine pot on the table and refilled it for both Yu Rong King and himself.

The Monkey King raised his cup, but then froze, not drinking it immediately.

His gaze fell on the brother opposite him, whose fur was as golden as satin. He was silent for a moment, then finally spoke and asked:

"Brother, there's no need for empty words between us."

How much time do you have left? How confident are you? Have you made any progress in identifying a suitable candidate?

Yu Rong Wang held the cool jade cup. He did not answer immediately, but slowly turned his gaze to the silent bronze cauldron beside him.

The tripod has an ancient and simple appearance, and the mountain and river patterns gleam with a subtle luster under the pearlescent light.

After a long while, King Yu Rong withdrew his gaze, looked at King Macaque, and shook his head.

His voice was calm, yet it conveyed a composure honed by time and experience, as well as a deep-seated helplessness.

"To be honest, brother, it is...imminent."

As for the certainty of success, if I had been absolutely certain from the start, why would I need to trouble my elder brother, let alone go to such lengths to hold this treasure exchange event?

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