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

Longevity Hill is a mountain range with layers of peaks and ridges, shrouded in clouds and mist.

There is a celestial abode in the mountains called Wuzhuang Temple, which is the ancestral home of earth immortals.

The pine-covered slopes are serene and the bamboo paths are tranquil. White cranes come and go, carrying floating clouds, while monkeys occasionally offer fruit.

A wide pond lies before the gate, casting long shadows of trees; cracked stones are pierced by moss. The palace, majestic and imposing, rises high; its pavilions, ethereal and shrouded in crimson light, seem to have fallen from the clouds.

The serene and ethereal atmosphere is beyond description, and the desolate universe is beyond words. This place is not under the jurisdiction of the Three Realms, and time flows leisurely here.

There is a revered immortal in the temple, whose Taoist name is Zhen Yuanzi and whose holy title is "Yu Shi Tong Jun". He is the ancestor of earth immortals, with unfathomable supernatural powers and extremely high seniority.

The number of immortals and celestial beings under his tutelage is countless, and currently, there are still forty-eight enlightened beings serving by his side.

At this moment, deep within the Wuzhuang Temple, in a quiet and secluded hall.

Zhenyuan Daxian, holding a jade whisk, sat cross-legged on a futon. His aura was naturally harmonious, unassuming yet captivating, bringing a sense of tranquility to those who saw him.

The disciples sat on either side of the Great Immortal, holding their breath and listening intently to the wondrous sound.

Zhenyuan Daxian is demonstrating the profound Dao of the Earth Immortals, elucidating the secrets of longevity, and speaking of the wonders of the earth's spiritual veins, the principle of coexistence with the world, and the power to harmonize Yin and Yang.

As the story reached its most exquisite part, spiritual energy spontaneously gathered within the hall, transforming into golden lotuses that bloomed and faded intermittently; the fragrance of plants and trees also wafted in without wind, filling the room with a sweet aroma.

Upon hearing this supreme and wondrous Dharma, the disciples either frowned in deep thought or closed their eyes to comprehend it, all of them completely absorbed in it, as if drinking fine nectar.

Just as he was getting to the point, Zhenyuan Daxian suddenly paused, and the jade whisk in his hand also gently stopped.

All the disciples were gently pulled back from their profound state of mind, and they looked up blankly, wondering why their master had stopped speaking.

Zhenyuan Daxian slightly raised his eyelids, as if gazing through the clouds of the universe and looking towards the distant horizon. A smile immediately appeared on his lips as he stroked his beard.

Where are the gentle breeze and the bright moon now?

Zhenyuan Daxian called out in a gentle voice, breaking the profound silence in the hall.

These two, Qingfeng and Mingyue, are the two youngest disciples under the Great Immortal.

The immortal was always protective of his disciples, and he was even more tolerant and loving towards these two younger ones, which inevitably fostered a lazy and somewhat indolent nature in the two boys.

At this moment, on a futon leaning against a pillar at the corner of the hall, Qingfeng rested his chin on his hand, nodding his head slowly, already lost in the dreamlike state of Zhuangzi's butterfly dream.

The moon beside him was even more straightforward, its body slightly tilted to one side, its breathing even and long.

The sage preached, and the profound words that entered my ears were a matter of fate.

However, the boy's mind was not yet settled and his cultivation was still shallow. At first, he found the profound Dao novel and fascinating, but after a while, it was like listening to a heavenly book. Before he knew it, he had gone to meet the Duke of Zhou in his dreams.

Suddenly hearing his master call roll, Qingfeng jolted awake from his slumber and looked around blankly.

Then he saw his fellow disciples looking at him with either smiles or helplessness. Qingfeng immediately blushed with embarrassment and hurriedly nudged Mingyue next to him with his elbow.

Mingyue opened her eyes groggily with a "hmm," and saw Qingfeng winking at her, and then saw her master and fellow disciples all looking in her direction, before she was fully awake.

Startled, he scrambled to his feet, stood still beside Qingfeng, hurriedly straightened his clothes, bowed deeply, and replied in unison:

"Disciple is here."

Zhenyuan Daxian saw the two children's embarrassed state but showed no sign of reprimanding them. He simply said gently:

"Don't panic. I've stopped preaching today because there's something I need you two to do down the mountain."

Upon hearing this, Qingfeng and Mingyue exchanged glances, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Among their fellow disciples, their magical abilities were considered inferior, and their master rarely gave them any orders.

Qingfeng steadied himself and bowed, saying, "I am willing to share Master's burdens. But may I ask what urgent matter it is?"

Zhenyuan Daxian chuckled and said:

"Do not worry, do not worry. It is not about you two sweeping the path and the gate, nor is it about dangerous matters of subduing demons and monsters."

It is because soon a celestial being will come from the west and pass through the territory of my Longevity Mountain.

I observed that he held an important position and traveled extensively, so his journey was inevitably hurried.

If we miss this opportunity without taking a break, and this gets back to his teachers later, they'll blame me for being stingy as the host, unwilling to part with a few ginseng fruits to entertain my guest.

Zhenyuan Daxian stroked his long beard, a smile in his eyes, and continued:

"Therefore, I command you two to take my name card and wait for him on the road he is sure to pass, and sincerely invite him."

When he travels through the Wanshou Mountain area, please make sure to visit my temple for a chat, so as to establish a good relationship and show proper courtesy.

Upon hearing this, not only was Qingfeng and Mingyue stunned, but the other forty-six disciples in the hall also showed expressions of surprise, exchanging incredulous glances.

Who is my master?

The ancestor of earth immortals, he is a ruler of the world. Not to mention ordinary immortals, he can be called a fellow Daoist by the Three Pure Ones and is also an old acquaintance of the Four Emperors.

Even the legendary immortals like the Three Stars of Penglai and the Nine Elders of Yingzhou, when discussing seniority and lineage, would often address each other as juniors.

The gates and walls of Wuzhuang Temple are high and steep, making it impossible for ordinary immortals to even catch a glimpse of it, let alone taste the fruit of the ginseng fruit tree.

This ginseng fruit tree is a spiritual root formed in the primordial chaos, before the separation of heaven and earth.

It blooms once every three thousand years, bears fruit once every three thousand years, and takes another three thousand years to mature.

Having obtained thirty of these in nine thousand years, one can live to be three hundred and sixty years simply by smelling them, and one can extend one's life by forty-seven thousand years by eating one. They are rare treasures in the Three Realms, and are not to be given away easily.

Mingyue couldn't help but ask curiously, "Master, who is this passing immortal?"

"Why do you treat me like this, even offering me ginseng fruit?"

Qingfeng quickly echoed, his face still showing confusion:

"Yes, Master. That ginseng fruit tree only produces thirty fruits every nine thousand years."

When the garden first opened, you and your disciples shared two pieces each. Now, the garden only has twenty-eight pieces left at most.

If I were to give it away so easily to someone else, and word got out, wouldn't all the immortals in the heavens think that my master's ginseng fruit was actually like this...?

He ultimately didn't dare to utter the word "despise," but the meaning was clear.

Upon hearing this, Zhenyuan Daxian was not angry at all; instead, he stroked his beard and laughed heartily. After laughing, he shook his head and said:

"You two children are too inexperienced to understand the intricacies of the matter. Do you really think that immortal who is about to pass by is an ordinary person?"

"He is a highly accomplished disciple of the Supreme Dao Ancestor, and the Pure Law True Lord personally appointed by the Jade Emperor."

Now, I am acting on the mandate of Heaven, patrolling the four continents to investigate good and evil deeds and criminal records.

He will be passing through my territory of Wanshou Mountain this time, and it is both a matter of courtesy and reason that I should see him.

This is the proper way to treat guests, and it is also in accordance with the etiquette of our Xuanmen sect.

Qingfeng and Mingyue then realized what was going on.

Seeing the change in the two children's expressions, Zhenyuan Daxian knew they had grasped the general idea. He then looked at all the disciples in the hall, his voice clear and profound:

"How can the value of things be determined by hiding them away, keeping them secret, or not revealing them?"

The spirit is a gift bestowed by the creation of heaven and earth, and the fruits it bears are governed by its own karmic laws.

To bestow upon those who possess the true Way, and to assist them in their practice, is to make the best use of resources and to follow the natural order.

If one keeps things hidden away and doesn't share them with outsiders, one falls into a lower category, losing the original intention of heaven and earth to nurture the spirit and wait for the right person. How is that different from those stingy and miserly creatures in the mountains and fields?

"Give at the right time, to the right person, and to the right place, and a single fruit can create endless good karma and reveal boundless wonders."

The choices, timing, and conditions involved are what constitute spiritual practice and the true path.

Whether you are guarding the mountain, practicing the Way, or interacting with others in the future, you must understand this principle.

One should not judge the value of something solely by its rarity, nor should one judge closeness or distance solely by its external status or position.

The key lies in the heart, in the Way, and in that mysterious connection and predestined affinity.

Upon hearing their master's words, all the disciples fell into deep thought. Their initial surprise and confusion vanished, replaced by admiration.

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