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

Xuanqing Cave in Yunmang Mountain.

The air was thick with moisture, and all was quiet.

Chen Jiao sat quietly on the stone couch, his eyes deep and unfathomable, as if reflecting a vast sea of ​​clouds.

"Yang Feng..."

The name rolled gently through his mind.

Before I set out to fight demons in the Eastern Heavenly Domain, I casually assigned Yang Feng, the commander of the Thunder Cavalry, and his elite troops to patrol the key points of the Cloud Road at the Southern Heavenly Gate.

When Yang Feng heard that he was to be transferred to the leisurely patrol duty of the South Heavenly Gate Cloud Path, this usually resolute and brave general showed a rare moment of astonishment on his face.

His thick eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if he were puzzled. His lips moved, but he ultimately remained silent, quickly suppressing his astonishment and transforming it into a deep but firm voice:

"This humble general... obeys."

That look of wanting to say something but holding back, yet choosing to obey unconditionally.

Looking back now, I still find it amusingly naive.

A faint smile flickered across Chen Jiao's lips.

What was once a casual, seemingly harmless move has now become an impenetrable barrier in the way of certain individuals.

"With him around, Zhang Qingyang... has no choice but to obediently follow the rules and procedures."

The laws and regulations of the Heavenly Court require reporting, inspection, and approval at each level; how can they be completed overnight?

The time spent on this is enough for many things to settle down.

"Oh……"

Chen Jiao picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and felt a sense of comfort as the warm spiritual tea entered his stomach.

For him, time is exactly what he needs most right now.

He no longer paid attention to the entanglements in the heavens, but turned his gaze inward, feeling the flow of the demon core in his dantian, the balance of water and fire, and the hidden generation of clouds and thunder.

Outside the cave, five sections of green willow trees struck by lightning, which had been planted recently, were sprouting new green buds, with faint traces of lightning swirling around them.

It quietly draws upon the earth's water essence and the heavenly thunder essence to nourish the mountain lord.

The shouts of Black Fatty and Shrimp Big urging the little demons to train could be faintly heard, carrying the vibrant energy of someone who had survived a calamity.

……

Deep within the Xuanqing Cave, the lights were dim.

Chen Jiao sat quietly before a jade table, which was sparsely furnished, containing only a dozen or so storage items arranged in a row:

A beautifully crafted ring shimmering with light, a jade shell box filled with misty vapor, five brocade pouches of different colors, and three brocade pouches with uniform sword patterns.

These are the collections of Xuan Guang Shangren and a group of Sword Pavilion disciples, half of the treasures of the Spirit Serpent Mansion, and the remaining inventory of the Hidden Truth Hall.

This is a very profitable period, and now is the time to take stock of the harvest.

Chen Jiao unleashed his vast divine sense, and after a long while...

He personally sorted through what he had learned, removing the dross and keeping the essence, and categorized it accordingly.

Chen Jiao accepted all the rare and useful items.

Apart from that, various spiritual materials, elixirs, talismans, and ordinary magical artifacts, though numerous and valuable, were no longer of interest to him.

"Black Fatty".

The catfish spirit guarding the outside room quickly bowed and went inside.

"What are your orders, sir?"

Chen Jiao pointed to the seven or eight storage bags of different styles on the table.

"These shall be stored in the treasury according to this list. Any rewards due shall be distributed according to the old custom."

"Yes, sir!"

Black Fatty, having already received the order, immediately stepped forward upon seeing the situation.

His face was full of respect and excitement as he carefully picked up the heavy storage bags, speaking in a gruff but low voice:

"Rest assured, sir, I will ensure that all these items are accounted for, recorded in the jade register, and stored in the deepest part of the storeroom without a single mistake!"

Chen Jiao gave a faint "hmm" and waved his hand.

Black Fatty felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He bowed again, then, carrying the storage bag, left the quiet room and headed towards the newly established storage area deep within the cave.

He knew that after this battle, Yunmang Mountain's resources had increased many times over.

Following the master means a bright future!

Chen Jiao held in his palm the dark-colored jade slip he had obtained from the Xuan Guang Sword Pavilion's Hidden Truth Hall—[Xuan Tian Sword Qi General Record, Water Section].

The jade slip felt cool to the touch, yet it seemed to contain a vast, boundless ocean and a sharp edge capable of cutting through everything.

He immersed his consciousness into it, not in a hurry to explore the specific techniques, but quietly felt the vast sword intent that originated from ancient times.

Countless fine, star-like, and ever-flowing runes slowly flowed through my heart, initially obscure and difficult to understand, like trying to see flowers through a fog.

He did not become anxious, but instead closed his eyes slightly and focused his mind.

With a deep understanding of the fundamental power of water, one can carefully comprehend its intricacies.

Gradually, those runes no longer felt cold and unfamiliar.

Instead, it transforms into the ebb and flow of tides, the rushing of rivers, the gathering and dispersing of clouds and mist, the condensation of frost... the profound truth of the ever-changing forms of water.

This book, "Complete Record of Sword Qi," is less a sword manual and more a fundamental classic that elucidates the Great Dao of Water, using water as its foundation to derive supreme sword qi.

A cool and sharp thought, like a stream formed by melting snow in early spring, began to seep quietly into his heart along with his consciousness.

"The highest good is like water, which benefits all things without striving... Yet, the softest thing in the world can overcome the hardest thing in the world..."

Ancient scriptures echoed in his heart, gradually merging with the sword intent in the jade slip.

Although Chen Jiao had read the Tao Te Ching, he had never felt it as deeply as he did today.

His words were precious and insightful, pointing directly to the source, like the divine voice of the Great Dao.

He was completely absorbed in his thoughts, and all his past insights into the Way of Water, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, surged into his mind.

He once summoned spiritual rain to cleanse the demonic atmosphere, he once rode the clouds and controlled the water, and he once used a tiny amount of water to exterminate the Sword Pavilion.

At this moment, many scattered insights gradually connect and become integrated.

However, as his understanding deepened, the sword principles contained in the jade slip began to reveal their true brilliance.

It does not teach specific sword techniques, but rather focuses on how to refine the properties of water into a kind of magical energy that can be changed at will.

"What is contained in this volume is not limited to the form and image, but emphasizes the flow of meaning."

Gazing upon the vastness of rivers and seas, one understands their inclusiveness; observing the winding streams, one perceives their ever-changing nature; feeling the ethereal clouds and mist, one comprehends their impermanence; experiencing the biting frost and snow, one recognizes their resilience and sharpness.

Water is ever-changing, sword energy follows its form, gathering and dispersing at will, combining strength and gentleness...

The magical power of the [Vast Ocean Whale Dragon Profound Chapter] within his body began to circulate on its own, mutually verifying and merging with the profound meaning of this Sword Qi General Record.

Around the demon core, the originally vast and boundless water elemental power began to become more condensed, faintly revealing a hint of the sharpness of a sword.

It was as if he controlled not just water elements, but billions of invisible water swords.

He cleared his mind of all distractions and became completely absorbed in it.

Inside the cave, it seemed as if invisible moisture began to slowly circulate with his breath.

The water flows gently, and the sword's intent subtly emerges.

Sometimes it is like spring rain nourishing all things, delicate and silent; sometimes it is like waves crashing on the shore, containing immense power.

His aura resonated with the sword intent of the jade slip, and countless water-light and sword shadows faintly appeared behind him.

Like a mirage, ever-changing, yet carrying a long-lasting, all-pervasive sword intent.

Unaware of the passage of time during his cultivation, Chen Jiao was completely immersed in his understanding of the Way of Water.

Every drop of water, every trace of an undercurrent, seems to contain the supreme principles of swordsmanship.

He did not rush to condense the sword energy, but like an old craftsman, patiently honed his understanding and perception of water and sword.

Gradually, his aura merged more and more deeply with the Daoist principles of the jade slip.

In the void of the cave, the faint water and sword shadows no longer scattered.

It begins to flow along a mysterious trajectory, like rivers flowing into the sea, like clouds gathering into rain, subtly outlining the pattern of the great way of simplicity.

Just as Chen Jiao came to the realization that "water has no constant shape, and sword has no fixed form, yet their ultimate goal is stillness, which is the way to return to one's destiny."

Sensing something, the water and sword shadows around him resonated with it, and for a moment he faintly touched upon the true meaning of the water element's origin, "stillness."

In a faraway, unknown place, within an ancient and unadorned Taoist palace shrouded in purple mist.

A figure dressed in an ordinary gray Taoist robe sat quietly on a chaotic-colored futon, seemingly sensing something.

Her eyes, which had been closed, opened slightly.

His gaze was calm and serene, yet it seemed to penetrate the void and illuminate all realms.

"Huh?" He seemed somewhat surprised.

The Taoist palace was completely silent, save for the faint, ebb-and-flowing echoes of Taoist chants.