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

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Inside the Han family courtyard, the smoke and dust gradually dissipated.

All that remained was a scene of devastation, with broken bricks and stones, and destroyed flowers and trees.

The lion-like monster transformed into its true form, its ferocious appearance vanished, and it lowered its head and lay submissively in the deep pit, its massive body displaying an attitude of docility.

It dared not raise its head, and emitted a muffled growl from its throat, speaking in human language:

"The Dragon King is incredibly powerful, and the little demon is completely convinced and dares not act recklessly again."

"I beg the Dragon King to spare my life. This lowly demon is willing to serve as your mount for now."

His words were earnest, and his posture was extremely humble, a stark contrast to his previous arrogant and boastful demeanor.

Xuan Ling remained expressionless, showing neither smugness nor leniency.

With a casual gesture, the Azure Thunder Halberd, which was stuck upside down in the ground, let out a soft hum and flew up on its own, transforming into a streak of azure light and disappearing into his sleeve.

Then he lowered his gaze to the listless lion-like monster at his feet, its blue fur stained with dust, before slowly speaking:

"Since you have the ability to change your appearance and deceive people, you are not entirely useless."

And you shall accompany me back to Qingchi Ridge to await my orders. However…”

He paused slightly, his gaze turning cold: "Under my throne, I do not keep idle things, nor do I tolerate rebellion."

Now that you have submitted, you should obey my commands. If you harbor any disloyal thoughts or do anything rebellious…”

His tone wasn't harsh, but the chill in it made the lion-like creature's mane stand on end, and it hurriedly buried its head deep into the ground.

"This little demon wouldn't dare!"

Xuan Ling said no more, turning to look at the three behind him: Master Yu Jin, Han Chengzong, and Han Liyan. The array light in the courtyard had dissipated, and the light of day had returned.

Seeing that the commotion had subsided, Master Yu Jin could not hide his joy. He quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said:

"Your Majesty's divine might subdues this scoundrel with a flick of your finger. If Your Majesty had not personally intervened, this scoundrel's rebellion would have nearly overthrown the Aolai Kingdom's rule, and the consequences would have been unimaginable."

"This humble Taoist priest...is ashamed to have failed the King's trust."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Ling shook his head slightly and said in a deep voice:

"This is not your fault. This monster has some background, its transformation and concealment techniques are exquisite, and its cultivation is far superior to yours."

You have managed to stabilize the court and prevent any unrest despite their covert interference, and you have also acted decisively to send a message to me when things seemed hopeless. You have already fulfilled your responsibilities.

I am aware of your hard work and effort.

Upon hearing this, Master Yu Jin trembled slightly, raised his head to look at Xuan Ling, and seemed to be in a daze for a moment.

He paused for a moment, then bowed deeply again and said softly:

"Your Majesty is wise... This humble Taoist priest thanks Your Majesty for your compassion."

Han Chengzong and Han Liyan stood to the side, taking in the entire exchange, each with their own thoughts.

Han Chengzong observed that Xuan Ling dealt with the demon by combining kindness and severity, determining rewards and punishments in just a few words.

He also comforted his subordinates, demonstrating composure and skill in managing them, which secretly impressed me.

Thinking back to when the family was in dire straits, it was the King who stepped in to save it and bestowed upon them the true magic, which led to the Han family's current prosperity. The kindness is still vivid in my mind.

Han Chengzong composed himself, straightened his robes, took two steps forward, bowed deeply to Xuan Ling, and said sincerely:

"This old man, Han Chengzong, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Today, having witnessed Your Majesty's divine might, I am even more impressed by Your Majesty's magnanimity. The Han family's current prosperity is entirely due to Your Majesty's past kindness and long-term care.

The entire Han family is deeply grateful for this kindness and virtue, and will never forget it.

Xuan Ling turned his gaze to the old man with white hair and beard and a respectful expression, and couldn't help but nod slightly.

He still remembered this wise and principled old man.

With a gentle flick of his sleeves, a soft, spiritual energy surged forth, steadily supporting Han Chengzong, who was about to kneel, preventing him from performing a grand ceremony.

"No need for formalities. What happened in the past was nothing more than a small favor for me."

The Han family's current success is also due to your own diligence and skillful management. There's no need to dwell on the past.

Supported by spiritual energy, Han Chengzong couldn't bow down. Hearing this, he was filled with emotion and shook his head repeatedly, saying:

"I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's words. However, kindness is kindness, and I would never dare to forget it."

"Without Your Majesty, there would be no Han family today. I have never slackened in this thought and resolve."

Xuan Ling knew that the old man was upright and sentimental, so he didn't say anything more and turned his gaze to the girl standing quietly to the side.

Han Liyan stood gracefully in the courtyard, dressed in plain clothes with black hair, her figure elegant and poised, looking up at them.

Compared to when we first met in the dilapidated courtyard several years ago, the little girl who was trapped in a desperate situation yet remained stubborn is now very different.

At this moment, her brows showed less anxiety and more a calmness that came from a budding understanding of the path and a sense of composure.

In the blink of an eye, the little girl who was almost used as a medicinal ingredient back then has grown into a female cultivator who is about to establish her foundation.

A sense of melancholy swept through Xuan Ling's heart.

Those who cultivate the Tao are oblivious to the passage of time. On the path of cultivation, the years do not manifest outwardly, but rather in the heart.

When Han Liyan saw Xuan Ling looking at her, her heart skipped a beat for no reason, as if a gentle breeze had swept across a still lake, creating ripples.

She subconsciously lowered her eyes to avoid those unfathomable, deep red-gold vertical pupils, but her ears quietly warmed slightly.

She steadied herself, suppressing the flutter in her heart and the complex emotions of a long-awaited reunion.

With hands folded in front of her, she offered a graceful bow, her voice clear and melodious, like pearls falling onto a jade plate.

"Junior Han Liyan pays respects to Senior."

Xuan Ling's gaze lingered on Han Liyan for a moment. Seeing that her aura was steady and her foundation was solid, he had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

Hearing the unease in his voice, he simply hummed in response.

The response made Han Liyan's heart inexplicably tighten.

She was usually calm and composed, but at this moment she had lost most of her usual composure and self-control.

I fear that my progress in cultivation is too slow, that I have failed to meet the expectations of my seniors, and that I have let them down.

She took a deep breath, lowered her head and said, "I am deeply grateful to Senior Li Yan for bestowing upon me the true teachings. Since receiving them, I have diligently practiced them day and night, never daring to slack off for a single day."

However… I am of dull talent and have only average comprehension. I have wasted so much time and effort, barely managing to grasp the basics of Foundation Establishment. My progress is slow, and I have truly failed to live up to the expectations of my predecessors.”

As Han Liyan spoke, her tone gradually lowered, her long eyelashes drooped slightly, and her fingertips unconsciously tightened around her sleeves.

Xuan Ling listened, but his expression remained calm. He did indeed have a certain special regard for this young girl.

Back then, she didn't seek external elixirs or pills, but only the true transmission of Taoist teachings. This devotion to the Tao and her spirituality were truly rare.

As for the speed of cultivation, he has witnessed far too many exceptionally talented individuals perish along the way during his cultivation journey.

I have also seen many people with solid foundations rise to the top later on, and I don't care much about it.

Xuan Ling then said, "Natural gifts are bestowed by heaven and earth and given by parents; they cannot be forced."

The Way resides neither in heaven nor on earth, but solely within the heart. The path to the Way is long and arduous, yet it is not elsewhere, but right beneath your feet.

"With diligence and perseverance, upholding integrity and taking steady steps, the clouds will eventually part and the moon will shine brightly."

You possess a spiritual and wise heart, are able to remain calm and steadfast, and be courageous and fierce—this is the most precious quality.

Judging from your aura, your fiery nature is already evident, your inner spiritual light is present, and your foundation is quite solid.

Several years have passed, from initially grasping the basics to nearing the foundation, in terms of the method you have practiced...

"You've already achieved success through diligence, so how can you call it 'slow'? There's no need to belittle yourself."