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

The ink-black expanse depicts an endless, boundless sea.

Above the dome, an ancient black dragon soared through the clouds and mist, its body crackling with crimson lightning like dragons and snakes, while azure waves surged, creating a terrifying atmosphere.

Beneath the vast ocean, an ancient dragon whale, its blue shadow rising and falling, carries the vast sea on its back, spewing forth towering waves from its massive mouth, seemingly attempting to resist.

Upon closer inspection, however, the majestic dragon whale, under the illumination of the black dragon's lightning, actually appeared to be bowing its head in submission.

Like all rivers flowing into the sea, they can never defy their master.

The entire painting is characterized by its vigorous and ancient brushstrokes, and its majestic and desolate artistic conception, vividly depicting the scene of ancient dragons and whales vying for supremacy and the black dragon reigning supreme.

Whale Cloud followed his gaze and saw the ancient painting. A complex expression flashed across her face, a mixture of reminiscence, emotion, and an indescribable melancholy.

He put down his teacup and said softly:

"Fellow Daoist, you've also noticed this painting?"

This was passed down from our ancestors, depicting the ancient tale of our Dragon Whale clan and the Black Dragon lineage vying for supremacy in the North Sea.

His tone was calm, yet carried the weight of years.

Chen Jiao looked at Jing Yun, waiting for him to speak.

Whale Cloud sighed softly, its gaze returning to the painting, as if looking through the scroll at a time long since forgotten:

"Although the scene depicted in the painting is no longer verifiable, according to the elders of the tribe, in ancient times, when the order of heaven and earth was not yet established, a hundred tribes vied for supremacy."

My ancestor, the Dragon Whale, once followed the lineage of the Black Dragon, roaming the four seas.

At that time, the Lord of the Black Dragon was a being of unparalleled supernatural power, and was the lord to whom our race submitted.

He paused, his voice lowering slightly:

"Unfortunately, times change, and the Xuanjiao lineage gradually declined."

The dragon clans of the four seas submitted to the Heavenly Court and became the supreme beings of the water element.

For the sake of our survival, our Dragon Whale clan had no choice but to submit to the Four Seas Dragon Clan.

After speaking, he remained silent for a moment, then shook his head and smiled, a smile tinged with bitterness and self-mockery:

"The old stories are as blurred and indistinct as the ink marks on this painting."

Future generations can only rely on this painting to imagine the grandeur of their ancestors.

He did not elaborate on the fate of the Dragon Whale clan after they switched allegiance to the Dragon clan, nor did he comment on who was right and who was wrong.

But that sigh perfectly expressed the helplessness of life's changes and being unable to control one's own destiny.

Chen Jiao listened quietly, his gaze sweeping over the domineering and soaring black dragon in the painting.

His expression was calm and undisturbed, except that his fingertips gently caressed the rim of the teacup.

The room fell silent for a moment, with only the ancient painting hanging quietly.

The ink is deep and dark, as if sealing away an ancient era that was both magnificent and full of regrets.

Chen Jiao sat quietly for a moment, then his gaze returned to the ancient painting, looking at the figure of the black dragon in the painting, which looked down on the vast sea and dominated the dragon whale.

He suddenly put down his teacup and said to Jingyun:

"Since you speak of ancient tales, fellow Daoist, observing the majestic appearance of the black dragon in this painting, can you discern what makes it so extraordinary?"

Upon hearing this, Whale Cloud was slightly surprised, wondering why he had suddenly brought up this matter.

After a moment's thought, I answered truthfully:

"According to the fragmentary records of my clan, the ancient Xuanjiao ancestor was born from the interaction of innate water essence and a bit of pure yang thunder essence, which is different from ordinary aquatic creatures."

Its body is incomparably strong, and its soul is unruly and difficult to tame. It can command all waters and also generate thunder.

However, thunder also has different categories. The thunder that is usually controlled by the black dragon is mostly the Yin thunder of Gui water or the Zheng thunder of Ren water.

Only those with exceptional talent and ancestral bloodlines can ignite a wisp of innate pure yang thunder essence within the yin water element.

He transformed water into fuel, ignited thunder to create malevolent forces, and forged the divine power of Crimson Thunder.

The painting depicts a Xuanjiao Great Sage wielding crimson lightning and our clan's patriarch at the time.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao's lips curled into a slight, almost imperceptible smile.

He didn't say anything, but slowly raised his right hand, his five fingers slightly spread.

The next moment, a crimson halo quietly emerged from his palm, initially faint, then suddenly blazing brightly.

The lightning was deep and fierce, with a surging and turbulent flow within it, like a ferocious young dragon awakening, meandering and swimming within a radius of about a foot in his palm, emitting a low, crackling sound like a muffled drum.

Whale Cloud's pupils suddenly contracted, and the teapot in his hand made a soft "clink".

He stared intently at the ball of crimson lightning, his usual composure finally breaking as his face was filled with astonishment.

"This is……"

His voice trembled slightly.

Paintings are inanimate, and legends are fictional, but the real, innate supernatural power before our eyes cannot be faked.

This Flood Dragon Demon King's true form is actually an ancient Xuan Flood Dragon!

Moreover, the purity and power of his bloodline supernatural abilities far exceeded his imagination.

Chen Jiao clapped his hands together, and the Crimson Demon Lightning vanished instantly, as if it had never appeared.

The overwhelming pressure within the pavilion dissipated, leaving only the lingering aroma of tea, but it could not soothe the turmoil stirring in Jingyun's heart.

Whale Cloud remained silent for a long time, seemingly weighing its options.

Finally, he looked up at Chen Jiao, his eyes now filled with determination, and lowered his voice to say:

"Now that Fellow Daoist Xuanling has revealed his true form, Jingyun dares not hide anything any longer."

Fellow Daoist, are you aware that the Flowing Cloud Sea is now rife with undercurrents and lurking dangers?

Chen Jiao's eyes narrowed slightly: "I'd like to hear the details."

Whale Cloud's gaze swept over the tightly closed pavilion door, ensuring complete isolation between inside and outside, before he said in a deep voice:

"It's all because of my brother, Whale Roar."

His tone was filled with pain and helplessness:

"More than a hundred years ago, before Her Highness the Dragon Maiden came to the Flowing Cloud Sea, it was my Dragon Whale Clan that was responsible for guarding it."

However, with the arrival of the Dragon Princess, her brother could only serve as the General Commander of Zhenhai, no longer wielding absolute power as before.

The elder brother pondered day and night, determined to take the Dragon Maiden's place and even restore the ancient glory of the Dragon Whale clan.

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the pavilion suddenly froze!

Master Xuangu gasped, his face showing surprise and doubt.

Unexpectedly, the seemingly loyal and courageous General Whale had such ambitions.

Chen Jiao remained calm and waited for what was to come.

Whale Cloud continued, his tone growing increasingly heavy:

"However, my elder brother's actions are too radical, even... he's willing to negotiate with a tiger for its skin!"

"To seek help from a tiger?" Master Xuangu asked in bewilderment.

"yes!"

Whale Cloud nodded emphatically, a deep worry on his face:

"He made contact with a... a mysterious being whom he addressed as 'Master'."

This unusual undercurrent is most likely the work of this person.

"Collecting water-related spiritual materials from the market may also be one of its requirements."

Whale Cloud's tone was solemn:

"My elder brother took this matter very seriously, and over the past three years, he has devoted almost all the resources available in the clan to it."

They even monopolized the market, plundering spiritual items, and were not to be trifled with.

I tried to dissuade him several times, but he was determined, believing that this was the only chance for the Dragon Whale clan to rise to power.

"My brother actively facilitated this trip to the Blackwater Abyss, ostensibly to relieve Princess Dragon Girl's burdens, but in reality... it's probably part of that master's scheme."

Chen Jiao's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained impassive:

"Do you know who that person is?"

Whale Cloud shook its head:

"My brother is very secretive about this. I only vaguely know that his existence inspires great awe in him, to the point that he is even willing to be his lackey."

As Whale Cloud concluded, his tone was filled with helplessness and resolve:

"As a member of the Dragon Whale Clan, I naturally do not wish to see my brother do such a dangerous thing, dragging the entire clan into an abyss of no return."

However, I am of low status and have little influence, so I cannot stop it.

I hope you understand the meaning of what I've said today.

After speaking, he seemed to have unloaded a heavy burden, or as if he had exhausted all his strength, and slumped back in his chair.

Silently, he poured himself a cup of tea that had long since gone cold and drank it all in one gulp.

Silence fell once more in the room, the aroma of tea lingering.

But it couldn't dispel the pervasive chill.

Master Xuangu, who was listening nearby, was terrified, and cold sweat broke out on his back.

Chen Jiao listened quietly, his eyes remaining calm.

He picked up the cool tea, took a sip, and his gaze fell once again on the ancient painting on the wall.

In the painting, a black dragon gazes down upon the vast sea, its power unparalleled.

This somber silence did not last long.

"boom--!"

A deep, muffled bang suddenly came from the direction of the market, causing the pavilion to tremble slightly.

Immediately following was a sudden burst of noise.