Journey to the West: Cultivation Begins at Jindou Mountain

Chapter 269 Changes
This Daojun Temple was built over many years with the full support of the Chechi Kingdom. In terms of both scale and magnificence, it surpasses even the Daojun Palace on Daojun Mountain.

However, this Daojun Temple lacks the most important ancient heritage and peaceful atmosphere of the Daojun Palace, appearing too ostentatious and magnificent, which is a step down from its original purpose.

Even those who don't believe in Daojun will unconsciously quiet down and feel reverence when they come to Daojun Palace on Daojun Mountain, but here, people only feel that it is magnificent.

However, it was clear that the three national teachers and Taoist priests of Chechi Kingdom did not think so. They were obviously very satisfied with the new Taoist Palace and were devoutly offering incense and paying their respects to the Taoist.

The burly, imposing figure at the head of the group, dressed in a magnificent Taoist robe and wearing a jeweled crown, was placing three sticks of incense on the incense burner in front of the statue of the Taoist Lord, and said with utmost reverence:
"This humble Taoist greets the Daoist Lord. Now that the Daoist Lord's Palace has been completed, my two fellow disciples and I will come to offer our respects every year."

The three of them have been practicing for quite some time now, and they greatly admire Taoism and look down on those bald Buddhist monks.

What the three immortals didn't know was that Daojun had already arrived at Daojun Temple through incense and faith, and was looking at the three immortals through the statue.

"Tiger demon, deer demon, sheep demon?"

"His skills are not bad, but they are too mixed and his aura is mottled. It is obvious that most of the techniques he has learned belong to unorthodox and unorthodox schools. Only the tiger demon's rain-praying technique can be considered the orthodox one of our Taoist sects."

Daojun looked at the three people in front of him and felt a sense of emotion.

These three mountain spirits, whose talents were far inferior to his and who had no background whatsoever, had managed to cultivate to their current level with remarkable difficulty.

Even for him, who had just been reincarnated into this world, the first few years were extremely difficult. He had sought the Dao for many years but could not even get a foothold. He knew that feeling all too well.

If he hadn't first met Zen Master Wuchao and received half a scroll of the Buddhist Heart Sutra, he probably would have had to find some other methods to learn in order to have some means of self-protection.

In these three realms, all beings with nine orifices can cultivate immortality, but most, if they are not destined for it, will search their entire lives and still not be able to even step through the door.

Although these three people in front of me are destined to cultivate immortality and are inclined towards the Taoist mystic sect, they lack the right opportunity and have only learned some unorthodox and heretical techniques. They have never stepped into the true mystic sect.

In conclusion, these three unorthodox cultivators who only admire the Xuanmen (mysterious sect) and call themselves Taoists cannot be considered true Xuanmen practitioners.

"And these three are burdened by karmic calamities, unaware of their impending doom; it seems their lives are numbered."

Actually, this is because after the Kingdom of Chechi was saved by the three immortals praying for rain twenty years ago, it persecuted Buddhism to the point of near extinction.

This doesn't even include the foreign monks. Of the more than two thousand monks in the country, most of them have died because of these three, leaving only about five hundred to grit their teeth and survive.

These three immortals did indeed bless Chechi Kingdom with favorable weather and abundant harvests, but many monks also died because of them, and the karmic burdens and calamities that plagued them arose from this.

If those three had saved the entire city back then and ignored the temple, accumulating merit and cultivating themselves, then over the years they would have accumulated great merit. Unfortunately, their character was too flawed.

Daojun pondered in his heart, looking at the three immortals before him, and began to deduce their future using the Great Dao of Cause and Effect. Soon, the future events of the three immortals were fully displayed before his eyes.

This matter is basically no different from what Daojun saw in his previous life. The cause was that the three immortals were hostile to Buddhism and enslaved monks for twenty years, creating a lot of karmic obstacles. The consequence was that when the pilgrimage team came, it would bring about a killing disaster.

Although these three have gone astray, they are not beyond redemption; they simply lack guidance. If a true Taoist master were to come and offer some pointers, these three would not be neither Taoist nor demonic.

Perhaps he can truly be saved once these three have paid off their karmic debts and sins.
Daojun understood and made his decision. He then left the Daojun Temple without going down to see the three immortals. The three immortals, along with their followers, offered devout prayers and were unaware that Daojun had already visited.

Several days later, in the clouds above Pingdingshan.

Laozi, the Supreme Lord, nodded slightly as he watched Tang Sanzang and his companions pass Pingdingshan and continue westward. Behind Laozi stood a pair of boys whose eyes still held a trace of fear.

These two boys were none other than Golden Horn and Silver Horn, who were testing Tang Sanzang and his companions at Pingdingshan.

Just now, Sun Wukong tricked them into giving away the master's Purple Gold Gourd. Instead, Sun Wukong trapped them inside the treasure, turning them into pus and blood. If the master hadn't come to stop Sun Wukong, retrieved the five magic treasures, and saved them, they would probably have died long ago.

Even though they knew in their hearts that the master wouldn't abandon them, watching themselves turn into pus and blood still filled them with fear when they thought about it.

Silver Horn had schemed and plotted, but he hadn't anticipated this outcome. It just goes to show that there was still a significant gap between them and the most notorious thieves in the land.
Laozi turned around, patted the two boys on the shoulders, and comforted them:
"Let's go, let's go back to the palace. You two have earned some merit this time, and you will benefit from it later."

"Yes, sir!"

On Mount Jindu, Niu Yi, who was sitting in the pavilion opposite the Earth God, enjoying tea and playing chess while gently stroking the little Qilin on his leg, was pondering the matter of the journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures.

More than ten days had passed since Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva sought him out to discuss the matter of Black Valley. Tang Sanzang and his party had already passed Pingding Mountain and were heading towards Wuji Kingdom.

There, Manjushri Bodhisattva of Mount Ling has set up a challenge, but he doesn't need to pay too much attention to it. After passing through Wuji Kingdom, there is Drill Mountain and Fire Cloud Cave in Dry Pine Stream.

At this time, the Red Boy, who had been taught a lesson by him at Flaming Mountain, was cultivating here, ruling the mountain as king, and the name of the Holy Infant King had long been known throughout the land.

However, Niu Yi had also calculated that this little demon had been defeated by him and suffered a great blow. She then trained hard for a hundred years in the Flaming Mountain. Later, with the help of her parents, she refined five Five Elements Chariots, arranged according to the five elements, to enhance the Samadhi True Fire, making it extremely powerful.

Niu Yi himself also cultivated the Samadhi True Fire, and he knew in his heart how powerful this supernatural power was, firstly because of the fire, and secondly because of the smoke.

His junior brother had once been in the Eight Trigrams Furnace and suffered the burning of the Six Ding Divine Fire. Even if Sun Wukong was no match for the Samadhi True Fire, he could withstand it for a while. However, his old ailment, the Fiery Eyes, was a serious problem. If his eyes were burned, it would cause illness, which would be fatal.
Niu Yi remembered that in his past life, Sun Wukong was facing Red Boy when Red Boy blew a mouthful of Samadhi True Fire smoke at close range. Sun Wukong's eyes were so stung that he had no choice but to retreat and plunge into the water, suffering greatly.

Fortunately, Niu Yi successfully concocted the potion and entrusted the local earth god of Jindu Mountain to leave it for Sun Wukong.

If Sun Wukong were to wash his eyes with that medicine every day, his old ailment of fiery eyes should be much better by now.

Once we reach Drill Mountain, we won't be in such a sorry state when we encounter Red Boy again.

Regardless, I only hope that his junior brother can get through this ordeal safely.
In the mountains and forests, Tang Sanzang and his companions were resting when Sun Wukong, carrying rice and a bag of steamed buns obtained through alms in his golden alms bowl, flew swiftly toward them.

Upon seeing his eldest brother, Sha Wujing, who was keeping watch nearby, quickly called out to his master and second brother, who were resting in the folds of the carriage. "Hey! Eldest brother is back!"

When Pigsy, who was clutching his belly, heard that his senior brother had returned, his eyes lit up, and he quickly got up with his somewhat clumsy and fat body.

"What! Monkey King is back?! That's great! We can finally eat! I've been starving!"

As Sun Wukong landed on the ground, he saw Zhu Bajie eagerly reaching for the alms bowl and bundle in his hands.

"Monkey King!! Oh, my dear brother! You're finally back! Hurry, hurry, my stomach is growling with hunger!"

Sun Wukong glanced at the fool and slapped away Zhu Bajie's hands, which were about to take the alms bowl.

"Go away! What's the rush, you idiot? Let your master eat first!"

After Sun Wukong finished speaking, he ignored the somewhat resentful Zhu Bajie, took the alms bowl and walked towards Tang Sanzang, presenting the bowl to Tang Sanzang.

"Master, the rice is still warm, please eat first. We also have some hot steamed buns."

"Okay~Okay~"

Tang Sanzang nodded, took the alms bowl, and began to eat, feeling rather hungry.

When Sun Wukong saw his master eating, he also opened his bundle, took out a steamed bun, and shared it with his two junior brothers. Zhu Bajie, with his big mouth and big appetite, took the most.

Sun Wukong put his share away, then walked to the side, took out a porcelain bottle from his clothes, uncorked it, tilted his head back, and dripped two drops of medicine into his eyes one after another.

"Whoo~"

Sun Wukong shook his head, feeling a cool sensation in his eyes again. Moreover, his Fiery Eyes of Truth had become even clearer after using the potion recently.

This greatly pleased Sun Wukong.

"This porcelain bottle is no ordinary bottle; it has been expanded using the technique of the Pot Heaven. The medicine inside should be more than enough to cure my old Sun's eyes."

"But who exactly gave this medicine to me, Old Sun?"

Sun Wukong pondered to himself that his chronic eye ailment had been caused by being fumigated in Laozi's Eight Trigrams Furnace for a full forty-nine days. If it were so easy to cure, it wouldn't be called an chronic eye ailment.

In Sun Wukong's view, even the gods in heaven didn't have much ability, and the refining of this stuff must be extremely difficult. Who would be so kind to him, not only sending him medicine but also leaving him this eye drop specifically for treating his chronic ailment?
Could it be him?

Sun Wukong was struck by a sudden inspiration, and a figure inexplicably appeared in his mind. It was none other than the divine physician Daojun who had helped him revive the ginseng fruit tree and had won his favor.

For some reason, Sun Wukong became more and more certain that the matter of the eye drops was related to this Daoist Lord whenever he thought of this person, and his eyes lit up.

Niu Yi hadn't expected that he had underestimated his junior brother. Even after just one meeting, his junior brother had already noticed something amiss. No need for several meetings;
Sun Wukong pondered for a while, while Sha Wujing quickly waved to him and called out:
"Senior Brother! We've finished eating, and Master is calling us to set off!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong snapped out of his reverie, leaped a few steps to the luggage, helped his junior brother Sha pack, and the three of them set off again.

Regardless of whether this eye drop is related to that Daoist, there will be a day when they meet again, and he can ask about it then. If it really is him, he will truly have to thank him properly.

The Heavenly Court, the Heaven of Separation from Hatred, within the Tushita Palace.

A look of surprise flashed across Laozi's eyes as he refined elixirs in front of the Eight Trigrams Furnace, then he smiled and said:
"Heh~ There's been another change. The appearance of this doll is quite a surprise."

On Mount Jindu, Niu Yi, who was about to bring the teacup to his lips, suddenly stopped. His eyes quickly noticed that the Great Dao of Cause and Effect in this world seemed to be giving him some feedback.

A look of surprise appeared in Niu Yi's eyes, and he seemed a little strange. He put down his teacup and began to do some calculations with his fingers.

Seeing this, the Golden-Hooped Earth God opposite looked at Niu Yi with some surprise and concern, and asked:
"But what happened?"

Niu Yi smiled and shook his head, saying:

"Don't worry, Earth God, something has happened, but it's not anything bad."

After Niu Yi finished speaking, he nodded to the blue ox, who was also looking in this direction not far away, to reassure him.

Seeing this, the green ox turned its head to look at the orange tree in front of it, its hand seals constantly changing, clearly casting some kind of magic or supernatural power.

Niu Yi pondered again, not expecting that his junior brother was even more perceptive than he had imagined. He had only met Niu Yi's divine avatar once before realizing that the eye medicine was related to him.

Coupled with that inexplicable goodwill, it's likely that soon, this junior brother Wukong will have to go to heaven again to seek help from the divine physician Daoist.
This is really
Niu Yi shook his head helplessly. This turn of events was something he hadn't expected. If things continued like this, his disguise as a divine physician would be exposed before long.

And from now on, he will probably be quite busy, just like the message he just received from the Great Dao of Cause and Effect.
However, having so many things under one's own control might not be such a bad thing.

On the Green Ox's side, streams of energy were rapidly flowing from the Green Ox's body into the orange tree in front of him. The orange tree in front of him began to stretch its branches and its energy rose, clearly showing signs of another upgrade in its grade.

A moment later, when the orange tree in front of him was taller than the other orange trees, Qingniu nodded in satisfaction, and the fat cat on his shoulder also wagged its tail happily.

When Niu Yi saw this, he came to his senses. He knew that his brother, the rhinoceros, had a unique aura, even more unique than his own treasure aura, which was why Dou Dou clung to him on their first meeting.

(End of this chapter)