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

Author Hengyang Yan personally recommends: I hope you enjoy the story of "Journey to the West: Starting with Jingfa Zhenjun".

The hall fell silent for a moment, except for the faint glow emanating from the bronze cauldron.

The words of King Yu Rong who presented the tripod were frank and open, and his only request was the two words "fate" or "law," which added to the mystery of the tripod, and no one dared to treat it lightly.

Items that have been treasured by such figures for hundreds of years and solemnly displayed to the public are certainly not ordinary.

Those who attend this gathering are rarely mediocre; they are able to discern the deeper meaning in King Yu Rong's words.

The gift of the tripod is the outward appearance of a connection; the true purpose lies in finding a kindred spirit, a tacit understanding shared by both parties.

If one can become this destined person, not only will one obtain a precious cauldron, but one will also be able to form a good relationship with the Lord of Tongyou City, who has a deep foundation in the Netherworld.

The benefits are self-evident.

Many of the guests present had already secretly activated their divine senses or used their spiritual eye techniques to try to glimpse the mysteries within the cauldron, but all their efforts were in vain.

Yu Rong Wang stood quietly beside the cauldron, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, without urging them on.

After a moment of silence, someone finally couldn't hold back any longer.

Immediately, an old cultivator dressed in a Bagua Taoist robe and holding a compass stood up, cupped his hands in greeting to King Yu Rong, and said:

"The city lord's noble character is truly admirable."

Although I am not particularly skilled in the field, I have some experience in appraising antiques. I would like to offer my insights and give my fellow enthusiasts a better understanding.

After speaking, he slowly stepped forward and came to within three feet of the bronze cauldron.

The old cultivator made hand seals and chanted incantations. The compass needle turned gently, emitting a soft, clear light that enveloped the ancient cauldron.

The clear light flowed and touched the body of the cauldron, but the ancient cauldron remained motionless and silent, not even revealing the mottled marks of time on it.

The old cultivator held on for about ten breaths, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. Finally, he shook his head, sighed, took two steps back, and bowed, saying:

"The treasure is hidden in its own obscurity, its spiritual essence concealed within, beyond the comprehension of this old man. I am ashamed."

The implication was that the cauldron had no reaction to him.

"Fellow Daoist Ge, you're too kind. Please take your seat and have some tea."

Yu Rongwang remained expressionless, smiling and nodding.

With a beginning, the rest follows naturally.

Jin Guang Zhenren and Luo Daoren were also eager to try. Both of them were skilled in alchemy and had dealt with alchemical furnaces and vessels most often, so they had their own insights into the spirituality of objects.

Jin Guang Zhenren stepped forward first, pointing his fingers like a brush, and drew several golden runes in the air, slowly imprinting them onto the cauldron.

The talisman was formed from his alchemical formula and was most adept at communicating with the spirit of the artifact.

However, the golden seal vanished silently the moment it touched the cauldron.

Luo Daoren also stepped forward, took out one of his usual [Warm Yang Nourishing Furnace Talisman], affixed it to the cauldron's leg, closed his eyes to sense it for a moment, and finally shook his head and withdrew.

He smiled bitterly at Jin Guang Zhenren and said, "Completely devoid of life, as stubborn as iron."

No matter what mysterious methods the visitors used, the bronze cauldron remained as still as an ancient iron object, standing quietly without causing the slightest ripple.

Those who tried either looked disappointed, remained silent, or shook their heads and smiled bitterly, all returning empty-handed.

"How strange..."

One of the Nascent Soul demon lords, who had already tried it, sat back down and whispered to his companion:

"When I touched it with my magic, it was like touching a stubborn rock; when I explored it with my divine sense, it was like entering an empty valley."

Could this cauldron truly possess spiritual power? Perhaps…?

He didn't say the second half of the sentence, but his doubt about whether the cauldron was a real treasure was already implied.

"Be careful what you say. What kind of person is King Yu Rong? Would he possibly joke about something like this?"

His companion slowly shook his head, but his gaze couldn't help but fall once again on the silent cauldron.

"Perhaps our karmic connection has not yet arrived, or perhaps what this cauldron requires is not a method of ordinary perception."

As soon as he finished speaking, a rough and loud voice rang out, causing the cups and goblets in the hall to tremble slightly.

"Why go through all this trouble! Since it is a treasure, it should be owned by the virtuous, or carried by the strong!"

"Watch my moves!"

A burly boar demon with black skin, tusks, and a bare chest and belly stepped forward from the crowd.

He strode up to the bronze cauldron, laughed heartily, and said:

"This small cauldron looks smaller than the stew pot in my cave. How heavy could it be?"

"Lord of the city, if I can move this cauldron, would it be considered that I am destined for it?"

Yu Rongwang remained expressionless, only nodding slightly in reply: "If you can move it, then we can talk."

"good!"

Upon hearing this, the pig demon was naturally overjoyed and let out a loud shout.

He firmly planted his feet in a horse stance, his two thick, muscular arms gripping the handles and one leg of the cauldron tightly, one on each side.

"rise!!"

He exhaled and made a sound, his entire body's power erupted, and his demonic energy surged like a tide!

Those with weaker cultivation levels in the hall felt a sudden tightness in their chests.

However, the bronze cauldron, which was no more than half a person tall, remained rooted to the spot and did not move an inch!

The pig demon's face instantly turned purplish-red, veins bulged on its forehead, and it made a hoarse sound, using all its strength.

"This...how is this possible!"

The pig demon was both surprised and embarrassed. He increased his strength, and the hard ground beneath his feet cracked open with a sharp crack, but the cauldron remained as stable as Mount Tai.

He held his breath and refused to let go, and the scene froze for a moment.

At the head of the table, a Nascent Soul demon king dressed in a dark green scale robe chuckled upon seeing this: "This blockhead has all the strength but no sense of timing."

"Brother Yu Rong, if this cauldron could be moved by force alone, why would it need to be placed here?"

A female cultivator, her body shrouded in a faint starlight and her face indistinct, also spoke slowly:

"It cannot be obtained by force, nor can it be violated by law, nor can it be entered by thought. This cauldron is becoming more and more interesting."

"Ha...ha...This is weird! It's fucking weird!"

A few low laughs rang out in the hall, and the atmosphere relaxed slightly.

Yu Rong Wang remained calm, as if he had expected this, and said gently:

"Fellow Daoist, your divine power is astonishing, but the weight of this cauldron does not lie in its form or substance."

Fellow Daoists, if you have any methods, feel free to try them; there's no need to hold back.

"How can such strength be considered divine? Brother Yu Rong, let me give it a try."

A deep, resonant voice rang out from the head of the hall.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a demon king with an extremely imposing figure who almost completely obscured the seat behind him slowly rise up.

This demon has a rugged face and dark brown skin with rock-like textures and a sense of weight. Its eyes gleam with inner light as they open and close, and it exudes a powerful and majestic aura.

It was the Mountain Demon King, known for his immense strength.

He attained enlightenment from a spiritually connected rock deep in the mountains. After a thousand years of cultivation, his immense strength is unmatched among demons. Furthermore, his physical body is harder than refined gold, making him difficult to harm with ordinary magical treasures.

The Mountain Demon King strode to the center of the hall, clasped his hands in greeting to the Yu Rong King, and said:

"Brother Yu Rong, since this cauldron cannot be moved by ordinary force, I want to see just how heavy it really is!"

When Yu Rongwang saw it was him, his smile deepened, and he raised his hand to gesture:

"If Fellow Daoist Shan Kui wishes to try, then so be it. I have long heard of your divine power."

Even the monkey king, who had been leaning back in his seat, sat up straight, a look of great interest in his eyes.

He knew that although the mountain demon's cultivation was inferior to his own, he was indeed a formidable opponent when it came to physical strength and the ability to move mountains.

The Mountain Demon King nodded slightly, said no more, and turned to face the ancient bronze cauldron.

Unlike the pig demon before him, he did not rush to exert his strength. Instead, he stood quietly in front of the cauldron, closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment, as if sensing the weight of the cauldron.

Immediately, the Mountain Demon King sat down on his horse, his arms wrapped around the cauldron. No matter what move he made, no demonic energy surged forth.

However, all the cultivators in the hall felt a very slight tremor coming from the ground beneath their feet.

It was as if the entire floating city lord's mansion was being slightly shaken by an invisible force.

The muscles in the Mountain Demon King's arms slowly tensed, and beneath his dark brown skin, it seemed as if an undercurrent was surging.

"Um……"

A low, muffled groan escaped from the mountain monster's throat.

His eyes widened, gleaming with sharp light, and his arm, which was pressed against the cauldron, suddenly shot upwards!

"Buzz!"