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

Zhu Lie grimaced as he slid down the wall, rubbing his aching shoulders, back, waist, and hips, looking sullen, and dared not approach any closer.

Seeing Zhu Lie's disheveled appearance, Ao Guang shook his head and sighed softly.

His tone carried a hint of helplessness and a touch of warning:

"Marshal Zhu, why are you in such a hurry?"

Such innate divine objects are not to be handled lightly or carelessly.

He turned to face the dark, heavy Dinghai Divine Iron, his eyes filled with reminiscence and awe, and slowly said:

"This divine iron has stood there ever since Emperor Yu of ancient times placed it deep in the eye of the East Sea after he successfully controlled the floods, in order to suppress the water element and calm the waves."

"Tens of thousands of years have passed, and it seems to have fallen into eternal slumber, never to display any more wonders."

Ao Guang reached out, pointing vaguely at the iron pillar, his voice low and deep:

"No matter how much incense and spiritual energy my Dragon Palace offers it, it remains dark and gloomy."

Gone is the glorious, awe-inspiring power he once displayed alongside Emperor Yu, cleaving the waves and controlling the flow of water.

"It is as if its inherent spirituality has been exhausted, or it has voluntarily sealed away all its supernatural powers, leaving only this immortal iron body to silently guard the sea frontier."

The Dragon King paused slightly, glancing at Chen Jiao and the Barefoot Immortal, his brow furrowing slightly:

It's not that Xiaolong is stingy.

If we were to use the power of this Sea-Stabilizing Divine Iron to quell the Weak Waters today, I'm afraid... it would be no easy task.

We must find a way to awaken its long-dormant spiritual essence.

All eyes were focused on the seemingly ordinary iron pillar, and the atmosphere was heavy.

The warehouse fell silent for a moment.

Only the Sea-Stabilizing Divine Iron remained standing silently, its dark light contained within.

It seemed to be silently confirming the Dragon King's words, and it seemed to be sleeping, waiting for a master who might never come.

Chen Jiao stood quietly in the Hai Cang Treasury, his gaze fixed intently on the dark and gloomy Dinghai Divine Iron.

The dazzling jewels of the surrounding Dragon Palace seemed unable to taint this iron even slightly.

It stood there silently, as if it had merged with the deep sea.

This iron is made from the essence of primordial Geng metal, extremely hard and pure. Furthermore, it was personally refined by the Dao Ancestor, and contains the supreme Daoist rhyme that governs creation.

It can be called the pinnacle of gold craftsmanship in the world.

However, Emperor Yu placed it in the deepest part of the East Sea eye, which, besides suppressing the water elemental, probably had another deeper meaning.

With a slight thought, Chen Jiao's divine sense, like invisible water, quietly spread out.

One can see the vast and spiritual energy of the East China Sea continuously flowing into the sea eye.

The sharp and potent Geng metal has not diminished in the slightest despite being moistened by water vapor for thousands of years.

On the contrary, under the continuous scouring and enveloping influence of the Ren water, it appears increasingly introverted and profound, concealing its sharpness, and subtly creating a mysterious pattern of clear water and golden gold.

It turned out to be the case.

A knowing glint flashed in Chen Jiao's eyes.

The East China Sea Eye is a place where the essence of water from all over the world converges, and its vitality is most abundant.

The water from the sea eye nourishes day and night, neutralizing the excessive killing energy of the metal element.

Like a precious sword hidden in its sheath, nurturing its spiritual essence.

When the time is right, when God is encountered, or when a great change occurs, this iron will surely regain its former glory, or even surpass it.

Chen Jiao's eyes flickered slightly, and a more profound thought involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

"The Dinghai Divine Iron has been dormant here for ten thousand years, nourished by the Ren water, and has gradually reached the perfect state of mutual generation of metal and water."

What's missing... perhaps, is a wisp of the purest and most powerful primordial fire energy (丙火) to complete this final ignition.

The five elements flow in cycles; fire can overcome metal, but it can also refine metal.

If the innate Bing fire is used to stimulate the innate Geng metal, which has been nurtured by Ren water for thousands of years, it will be like thunder breaking through chaos, and will surely unleash unimaginable power.

"When that time comes..."

Chen Jiao raised his eyes, his gaze seemingly piercing through the palaces and the sea, looking towards the direction of Flower Fruit Mountain.

"When the stone monkey, which contains a breath of innate Bing fire energy, arrives and encounters this iron, their energies interact."

This is the moment when the true brilliance of this Sea-Stabilizing Divine Iron is revealed.

'

Gold is contained by water, but reveals its true nature when it encounters fire.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it was a complete upheaval.

It's as if I can already see the earth-shattering scene of Bing Fire approaching Metal and divine iron resounding through the sky someday in the future.

Chen Jiao withdrew his gaze, lost in thought.

Having cultivated to the realm of true immortals, he had long understood that the Five Elements were the foundation of the Great Dao.

If one day the five elements within one's heart flow harmoniously and endlessly, that is the state of perfect immortality.

While the common Qi of the Five Elements is rare, it is still traceable.

However, the innate five elements of Qi were created at the beginning of the creation of heaven and earth, and every strand of them contains the true meaning of the Dao. They cannot be obtained without great opportunities and great fortune.

The ancient Xuanjiao clan was born from the essence of primordial water.

The reason for its decline is the gradual disappearance of innate energy and the flourishing of acquired spiritual energy.

This iron was forged from the essence of innate Geng metal, and it contains the pure innate Geng metal energy that Chen Jiao desired.

If only I could gather a single strand...

Chen Jiao was deep in thought.

Suddenly, a mournful wail came from beside him, mixed with Ao Guang's helpless sigh.

But Zhu Lie was unwilling to give up. Upon seeing this treasure, his heart burned with an unbearable desire.

He tentatively reached out to touch the divine iron, but was once again repelled by an invisible force, falling even more miserably.

Ao Guang shook his head repeatedly, while the Barefoot Immortal stroked his beard in silence, a look of understanding on his face.

"What...what should we do!"

Zhu Lie rubbed his sore bottom, his face contorted in a mournful expression, and said:

"The treasure is right in front of us, but we can't touch it or use it!"

Are we just going to stand by and watch the Weak Water wreak havoc in the East Sea? Everyone will suffer the consequences!

Ao Guang's expression was solemn. Upon hearing this, he shook his head slightly and sighed.

It's not that Xiaolong is unwilling to do his best.

Since Emperor Yu placed this iron here, it has been as if it had grown together with the spiritual veins of the East Sea.

Let alone driving it, even getting it to loosen its grip even slightly is by no means an easy task.

Forcing it would likely shake the sea eye and trigger an even greater catastrophe.

His words revealed a deep sense of powerlessness.

On the other side, the Barefoot Immortal gently shook his head, stroked his beard, and sighed:

"Although I am honored to be among the immortals, I know that my fortune is shallow and I am probably not destined to be with such innate divine objects."

You can't force it, you can't force it.

"What should we do?" Zhu Lie muttered.

The Barefoot Immortal suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze falling on Chen Jiao, who was standing silently to the side, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

He stepped forward, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Chen Jiao, and spoke in a gentle yet solemn voice:

"True Lord, the old Taoist and the Dragon King have come here on the Emperor's orders to assist you in resolving this calamity at the Weak Water."

"Since the Emperor has made this arrangement, he must have his own profound reasons."

He paused slightly, his gaze shifting to the Divine Iron of the Sea-Stabilizing Mountains, his tone becoming meaningful:

"Please look, True Lord. This iron is a divine object from the beginning of time. It has been lying dormant here for ten thousand years, and its spiritual power has been obscured."

Marshal Zhu is untouchable, the Dragon King is uncontrollable, and even I, an old Taoist, know that my fortune is shallow and I am not fit for this task.

It cannot be shaken in the slightest unless one is destined and virtuous.

Perhaps the Emperor's words of assistance were meant to point out that the True Lord was the destined one whom this Sea-Stabilizing Divine Iron had been waiting for in the unseen realm?

Upon hearing this, the sea cave fell silent.

Zhu Lie opened his mouth, looked at Shen Tie, then at Zhenjun, a look of doubt on his face.

Ao Guang's expression also shifted, his gaze focusing on the True Lord with a hint of anticipation.

Chen Jiao raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

He had just been thinking about how to quietly borrow a few strands of innate Geng metal energy.

It was somewhat unexpected that they were now being told they were destined to meet.

Chen Jiao pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly, his voice steady as ever:

"In that case, I shall give it a try."

Having said that, he took a step forward, and with a flick of his black robes, he was already about ten feet away from the Iron Treasure of the Sea-Stabilizing Divine Treasure.

Suddenly, the sea trembled.