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

Chapter 425 Riding a dragon over a thousand branches, soaring through heavy clouds

Immortal Lord Qinglin then led Chen Jiao through courtyards and gardens, going deeper and deeper into the land.

The surrounding wood element essence became increasingly pure and rich, gradually forming a bluish-green mist, and every breath was full of vitality.

After walking for a short while, the view suddenly opened up before us.

The majestic Jianmu tree, reaching for the sky, finally came into clear view.

Looking up at its towering grandeur, one can quietly feel its vastness.

Its trunk is so thick that it would take hundreds of people to encircle it. The bark is bluish-gray with natural vein patterns, giving it an ancient and dignified appearance.

The branches, like coiled dragons, reach into the misty blue haze high above, making it difficult to see the entire canopy.

All that could be seen were endless layers of green leaves, blocking out the sky and exhaling an ancient and boundless aura.

A vast and gentle ancient Taoist aura emanates from every inch of this towering divine tree, enveloping the surrounding area and bringing awe to all things.

The sacred tree stands silently, supporting the sky and the earth, eternally towering.

Chen Jiao raised his head and gazed at the divine tree that stretched from the sky to the earth, exhaling the pure energy of eternity. Even his usually calm eyes showed a rare hint of emotion.

The Jianmu leaf in his sleeve was slightly warm, as if it were resonating and telling a story.

Chen Jiao knew the roots and feet of this tree.

The world is incomplete, the ancestral roots have collapsed, and the path between heaven and man has been severed.

The Azure Emperor found a branch whose life force had not yet been extinguished, and with his supreme creative power, he nurtured and enlightened it. After countless years, it regained its vitality and stood majestically once more.

What they were trying to do was to leave behind a faint possibility for future generations to reconnect the bridge and communicate with the gods again.

The towering Jianmu tree before us, though not as legendary as the ancestral root that connects the three realms and guides all spirits, is still lush and verdant, supporting a grotto-heaven and absorbing boundless vitality.

Chen Jiao then exclaimed, "This tree has grown tall and majestic; it has finally fulfilled my grand ambition."

"Jianmu Tree————"

Immortal Lord Qinglin paused under the tree, looked up and gazed at it quietly. Upon hearing this, he was also filled with reminiscence and said slowly, "In the past, when the five emperors jointly ruled the heavens and the earth, the ancestral root of the Jianmu tree reached the heavens above and the netherworld below, covering the thirty-three heavens. It was a bridge connecting humans and gods and traversing the three realms."

All living beings in the world who have the affinity for the Dharma, possess virtue, and understand the Way can follow its branches upwards, pay homage to the gods and saints, and seek the truth and enlightenment.

What a magnificent sight it was, truly a time of perfect harmony between heaven and earth.

Immortal Lord Qinglin sighed softly, "Alas, the past cannot be retrieved, and the old scenes are now gone."

He composed himself and turned to Chen Jiao, saying, "True Lord, please produce two talismans."

Chen Jiao took out the azure dragon-patterned jade talisman and the emerald phoenix-shadow jade talisman from his sleeve.

Immortal Lord Qinglin accepted the jade talismans and said with a smile, "These two sacred jade talismans could have guided the two destined individuals into the inner hall together."

However, the karmic connections of all the fellow Daoists have now been exhausted in the outer garden, except for the True Lord, whose ties with the Jianmu Palace are the deepest, and who are favored by destiny.

After saying this, he casually tossed the two jade talismans lightly toward the main trunk of the Jianmu tree.

"hold head high!"

"Hey!"

The dragon's roar was clear and melodious, and the phoenix's cry was melodious and linger

The two jade talismans shone brightly, transforming into two pure and powerful azure vortexes that merged with the energy of the Jianmu tree.

Then, from within the blue mist, a pair of enormous, majestic dragon eyes, gleaming with hidden lightning, slowly opened, and light pierced through the mist, landing on Chen Jiao.

A blue mist surged, and clouds suddenly rolled in front of him.

Chen Jiaoxuan floated on the water, his figure remaining perfectly still.

As the blue mist gradually dissipated, the entire form of the azure dragon was revealed, its body stretching for an unknown length, hidden among the branches and clouds higher above.

The dragon's head was almost within reach, yet it bowed its head, as if in a gesture of respect.

Immortal Lord Qinglin stood quietly with a smile, holding a whisk in one hand.

Without further hesitation, Chen Jiao stepped onto the smooth, jade-like forehead of the azure dragon.

With his feet firmly planted, the azure dragon stretched out its long body, letting out a clear and melodious roar, carrying him slowly upwards, against the thousands of descending green mists, swimming towards the highest point of the Jianmu tree.

Ahead, the blue mist parted again, and a magnificent blue phoenix spread its wings that drooped over the clouds, stirring up the clear wind and streams, leading the way and scattering specks of clear light.

Dragons soar and phoenixes lead the way, rising straight into the azure sky.

As his figure rose higher, Immortal Lord Qinglin sent a gentle message into Chen Jiao's ear, carrying a sense of relief and understanding: "True Lord, the Jade Talismans of the Two Saints must be kept safe, for there may be other mysteries within. Now that the pivot of fate has shifted and the destiny has been determined, this humble Daoist—"

Angelica sinensis.

Chen Jiao's mind stirred slightly, and he lowered his eyes to look down.

Below, before the Jianmu tree, a pale, moon-white figure, as small as a mustard seed, bowed to him from afar.

Then, a clear light flowed around the Immortal Lord, his figure gradually fading, and a relieved smile appeared on his face. He murmured to himself, his voice dissipating with the wind: "All matters are settled. Your Majesty, fellow disciples—Qinglin, return."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure suddenly dispersed, transforming into a wisp of misty green energy, like clouds and fog, rising gently and returning to the vast and boundless core of the cave, merging with the immeasurable essence of the Jianmu Palace, leaving no trace.

"When one has a guiding principle in one's heart and one's actions are in accordance with the Dao, one has grasped the key to one's own destiny."

In the past, I sought the Dao at Xuantai; today, I have dispersed from the Dao and returned to my true self.

The teachings of the emperor in blue robes from years past still echo in my ears.

Today, the young disciple who once sought enlightenment has finally seen through the illusions, taken control of his own destiny, dispersed from the path and returned to his true self, and is now completely in harmony with this ancient sacred ground that has protected us for eternity.

The Way of Qinglin begins here, and it will also end here.

Chen Jiao stood atop the Azure Dragon, his black cloak fluttering in the wind, gazing silently at the empty Jianmu tree for a moment.

Qinglin Miaohua Immortal Lord perished in the ancient war between Dao and Demon, leaving only a trace of his aura residing in this palace. Therefore, although his Daoist spirit is in harmony with that of Jianmu Palace, it remains merely an outward manifestation of his spirit.

Chen Jiao then bowed solemnly towards the spot where the energy had dissipated, and towards the entire majestic Jianmu Palace, and said softly, "Fellow Daoist—take care."

The azure dragon roared, and the blue phoenix cried out, as if bidding farewell, or perhaps offering guidance.

The dragon's body soared, piercing through layers of blue mist and the branches of the Jianmu tree, and sped towards the place hidden at the highest point.

The scene below gradually blurred, leaving only the outline of the towering tree and its ever-flowing, vibrant life.

As Chen Jiao's thoughts raced, he suddenly had an epiphany.

Qinglin Miaohua — The two characters "Miaohua" contain hidden mysteries.

This person's Daoist aura flows and transforms, originating from the same source as the Jianmu Palace, yet also existing independently. He can transform the illusory into the real, and generate phenomena through the Dao, perfectly embodying the true meaning of wondrous transformation.

Then it dispersed into green rain, miraculously transforming into the Dao, returning to its original source, and becoming the Qi of the grotto heaven once more.

Could it be that one's name predetermined one's fate, and one's title foreshadowed one's end? Name and destiny are in harmony, actions and principles are aligned, and one's true nature is revealed through transformation.

The Dao is so profound and subtle that it has reached this level!

The Jianmu tree stands tall and majestic, reaching towards the sky.

As the blue mist dissipated, Chen Jiao rode the azure dragon, leaping over a thousand branches and piercing through heavy clouds, finally reaching the highest point of the Jianmu tree.

On a vast expanse of jade-green leaves of the Jianmu tree, a quiet and secluded courtyard lies.

A tall, simple, blue wooden door, about three zhang high, stood silently in front of the courtyard.

The azure dragon murmured softly, bowing its head and prostrating itself.

Chen Jiao stepped off the dragon's head and walked to the door.

The blue phoenix let out a clear cry, its wings fluttering lightly. It transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the gate, where it appeared to be perched on a branch.

The Azure Dragon also rose up and merged into the other side of the door, transforming into the Azure Dragon Hidden Waves form.

"Squeak!"

With a soft sound, the wooden door silently opened inward.

Inside the gate, there were no sprawling palaces, only a simple courtyard and a quiet room.

The room was sparsely furnished, containing only a small table, two cushions, and three offerings.

The table is made of green jade, and the cushion is woven from fine grass, its color already warm and lustrous.

The offerings to the Three Pure Ones consist of only a censer, a painting, and a teapot.

The incense burner is a small bronze Boshan incense burner, with wisps of smoke rising from it;

The painting hangs on the plain wall, depicting a tree reaching to the sky, with a figure in a blue robe standing with his hands behind his back, gazing at the heavens.

The teapot, also made of green jade, was placed on the side of the table. White steam rose from the spout, as if a spring was boiling on its own, and the aroma of tea wafted out.

Apart from that, the four walls were bare, with only the blue mist seeping in from outside the window, the air filled with the aura of Jia and Yi, and the room filled with clear light.

The light reflected off every table, painting, and teapot, giving them a serene and ethereal glow, free from dust and noise.

A censer of fragrant incense leads to the profound and mysterious; a Daoist painting reflects one's true nature; a pot of spiritual inspiration nourishes one's true self.

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