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

The banquet was held in the main hall of the city lord's mansion.

The main hall was magnificent, with a high dome, illuminated by the Precious Light Pearl, making the surroundings as bright as day.

Four tables were arranged, and the guests sat in their respective seats, with demons, immortals, and gods all gathered together.

There are eerie ghost immortals from the underworld, demon kings from the mountains and marshes with their ghostly aura, and profound Taoist masters from the Xuanmen sect, each with a different appearance.

Yu Rong King sat in the head seat, wearing a dark blue robe and with gleaming golden fur. Although he had the appearance of a monkey, he possessed an extraordinary demeanor.

The Monkey King sat beside him, his thick purplish-brown fur and piercing gaze sweeping across the entire area.

Chen Jiao arrived with an invitation from Ox-Head and Horse-Face, and his seat was quite close to the front.

The three people, including Master Shouyue, benefited from his presence and were placed to the side or rear.

Those standing alongside Chen Jiao were several demon kings and ghost immortals; Nascent Soul cultivators were quite common among them.

Several gazes, some open and some hidden, fell upon the Taoist priest in crimson robes. This priest, capable of representing two underworld generals at the meeting, must be no ordinary man.

Before long, beautiful maids appeared like clouds, all dressed in palace attire, carrying jade platters of delicacies as they moved among the tables and chairs.

The wine has a clear, refreshing aroma with a subtle, shimmering sheen; the fruits are crystal clear and brimming with vitality.

The atmosphere inside the hall became lively with the clinking of glasses and toasts.

After several rounds of drinks and the dishes were finished, the waiter quietly cleared away the remaining food and replaced it with tea and fruit.

The noise inside the hall gradually subsided.

All the guests knew that the main event was about to begin.

Yu Rongwang raised his cup, stood up, and scanned the entire room with his gaze. He said in a deep voice:

"I am honored that you fellow Daoists have graced my humble town of Tongyou with your presence."

I, Yu Rong, have become the lord of this city.

This exchange of treasures is an opportunity to gather friends from all directions, both old and new, to share drinks, reminisce, and renew our friendships.

My Netherworld City has always been a place where all directions meet, and I wish to provide fellow Daoists with a convenient place to exchange goods and treasures.

If you have something you like or a treasure you wish to sell, feel free to bring it up here. Everyone will get what they need and be happy.

Secondly, it also has a personal reason of mine. I have acquired a few antiques and kept them in my palace. Although I know they are treasures, my knowledge and understanding are limited, and I cannot fully appreciate their value.

Today, taking advantage of this grand occasion, I invite all fellow Daoists to appreciate my work.

If one is fortunate enough to recognize the true nature of this treasure, it may forge a positive connection, which would be a wonderful thing.

King Yu Rong paused briefly, then raised his cup again and said:

"This cup is offered to the Great Way, and also to all of you who have come from afar to show your hospitality."

All the guests raised their glasses in response, their faces beaming with smiles, and the atmosphere in the hall became harmonious for a moment.

Chen Jiao sat at the table, playing with the warm jade cup, his gaze falling on Yu Rong Wang, a thought slowly turning in his mind.

This Lord of Tongyou City, the future Great Sage Who Drives Away Gods, is certainly no ordinary demon king, judging from his words, actions, and demeanor.

After drinking, King Yu Rong took his seat and nodded slightly to Niu San, who was standing beside him.

Niu San understood, stepped forward, and his voice was like muffled thunder:

"The Treasure Exchange Event is now beginning."

Distinguished guests may take turns displaying the treasures they wish to exchange, or stating what they desire.

The value of the treasure is for you to assess; whether or not a transaction takes place depends entirely on fate.

Forced buying and selling is prohibited during this period, and fighting within the city is strictly forbidden; violators will be expelled.

With the rules clear, the Monkey King was the first to show his support. He laughed heartily and stood up.

"In that case, I shall offer a preliminary suggestion to set the stage!"

With a wave of his hand, a burst of light emanated from his palm, and a fist-sized, crystal-clear fruit appeared out of thin air.

The fruit's surface shimmers with a faint, starlight-like halo, while wisps of milky white mist linger around it, releasing a delicate fragrance that invigorates the senses.

"This is the [Starry Cloud Spirit Fruit], which grows on the Starry Cloud Tree. It takes three hundred years to bloom, three hundred years to bear fruit, and another three hundred years to mature."

After the fruit is picked, the clouds and trees disappear.

Consuming this fruit can strengthen the body's foundation and cleanse it of impurities. It is also highly beneficial for cultivators to nourish their spirit and consolidate their cultivation realm.

The Monkey King looked around, a hearty smile on his face, and continued:

"I wish to use this fruit to exchange for spiritual objects or precious pills that can help temper the body and refine the qi and blood, or even profound body-refining techniques and insights."

If any fellow Daoist is interested, please feel free to speak up.

A low murmur of discussion immediately arose in the hall.

The Starry Cloud Tree is elusive and hard to find; it is a rare spiritual root, and its fruit is even rarer, with extraordinary effects.

The Monkey King was a renowned celestial demon king, and anything he could produce was naturally genuine.

For a moment, many guests looked on with longing.

However, what kind of body-tempering item could catch the eye of a monkey king who was already a celestial being?

A brief silence fell over the hall.

Ordinary elixirs and herbs that enhance qi and blood are probably not even worth the attention of this great demon king.

But then a burly monk, with a head adorned with ordination scars and a fist-sized black Buddhist rosary around his neck, stood up, clasped his hands in prayer, and replied:

"Amitabha. This humble monk has a Dragon Elephant Bone Tempering Pill in his hand, which he obtained from an ancient temple many years ago."

Taking it can greatly strengthen muscles and bones, generate immense strength, and is especially good at tempering the bones throughout the body, making them harder than refined iron.

I wonder if I might catch the eye of the Monkey King?

He then took out a jade box from his bosom, opened it slightly, and the elixir energy condensed and did not dissipate, with a faint, deep sound of dragon roars and elephant cries emanating from it.

Inside the box was a pill with a dark gold color and a surface with interwoven dragon scales and elephant patterns.

The Monkey King's gaze fell on the pill, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes, clearly indicating that he was tempted.

He hesitated for a moment, and instead of immediately agreeing, he asked:

"How effective is this elixir? Are there any contraindications?"

The monk frankly said, "This elixir is extremely potent. It needs to be slowly dissolved with magical power, and supplemented with body-refining methods to circulate qi and blood, in order to achieve its full effect."

If one's cultivation level is insufficient or one's physical foundation is weak, there is a risk that the meridians may rupture if one consumes it.

However, given the Monkey King's cultivation level and physique, he will be unharmed.

Upon hearing this, the Monkey King clapped his hands and laughed:

"Very well! This deal is on my table!"

As he spoke, he pushed with his palm, and the [Starry Cloud Spirit Fruit], which shimmered with rosy light, floated lightly toward the ascetic.

Without hesitation, the ascetic handed over the elixir box.

The two objects passed each other in the air and fell into each other's hands.

The Monkey King took the pill box, carefully sniffed the pill's aura, and then briefly examined it using his internal vision. His face showed even greater satisfaction, and he laughed heartily before putting the pill box away.

The ascetic carefully put the spiritual fruit into his bosom, clasped his hands in prayer, and returned to his seat.

This deal was clean and efficient, and it got off to a good start.

The atmosphere at the gathering immediately became much more lively, and many cultivators showed eagerness in their eyes.

More guests then displayed their own treasures and offered to exchange them.

Some sought rare divine iron for refining weapons, others searched for longevity-extending herbs, and still others wished to exchange them for ancient, incomplete Daoist scriptures…

In an instant, the treasure shimmered, divine thoughts intertwined, and the sounds of bargaining echoed, thus beginning a grand feast of exchanging treasures.

Chen Jiao sat in the hall, observing the situation quietly. Occasionally, his gaze would sweep over the large bronze cauldron in the center of the hall, as if he were deep in thought.

About half an hour later.

Master Shouyue also obtained a bottle of Cleansing Dew from a ghost cultivator who lived in the underworld. It could protect the spiritual platform and reduce the disturbance of inner demons when the elixir fire tribulation occurred.

She carefully put away the jade bottle, a rare hint of joy flashing across her usually aloof expression.

At this moment, a burly man with a full beard stood up and carefully took out an old scroll from his bosom.