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

The three of them left the Tushita Palace and rode on the clouds directly to the Cave Yin Palace below the Thirty-Three Heavens.

The road through the clouds is long and winding, shrouded in ethereal mist.

In a short while, they arrived before a celestial palace.

The green tiles shimmered like waves, and the palace gates were deep, seemingly leading to the deepest abyss, with the faint image of flowing water.

This place is the seat of the Great Emperor of the Lower Yuan Water Official, the Golden Palace of Yin Cave.

Water officials came out to greet them, and seeing that it was the Barefoot Immortal and River God Feng Yi personally leading them, they dared not be negligent.

The palace was quiet, with only the sound of flowing water and clear chimes. The shadowy images of rivers, lakes and seas could be seen between the pillars, creating an atmosphere that was both solemn and all-encompassing.

As they walked along the corridor, River God Feng Yi slowed his pace slightly, turned to Chen Jiao, and said in a low voice:

"Does the True Lord know that there are three Great Emperors in the Heavenly Court, who are in charge of evaluating the merits and demerits of the three realms of Heaven, Earth, and Water?"

The Heavenly Official bestows blessings during the Upper Yuan Festival, the Earthly Official pardons sins during the Middle Yuan Festival, and the Water Official during the Lower Yuan Festival is none other than our Lord, Emperor Yu the Great, who is in charge of relieving calamities.

His gaze swept over the reflection of the rushing river on the corridor wall, his tone carrying a hint of reverence:

"The Emperor's responsibility lies primarily in the word 'water'."

From the flowing Milky Way above to the tranquility of the netherworld below.

The waves of the four seas and five lakes, the canal transport of the eight wastelands and nine rivers, and even the rain and clouds, and the rise and fall of aquatic creatures, are all subject to examination.

Furthermore, it has the authority to inspect the waterways of the world and assess the merits and demerits of the water spirits.

The barefoot immortal clapped his hands and chuckled, adding:

"Therefore, under the command of Dongyin Palace, there are not only the Four Seas Dragon Kings and the Great Water Lords, but also the positions of Inspector and Performance Officer."

The cycle of water and the well-being of all living beings are largely determined by the Emperor's single thought.

Feng Yi nodded, pointing towards the depths of the palace:

"The Emperor's merit in controlling the waters was perfected, and he became one with the waterways, bringing blessings to all living beings."

"There must be a profound reason why we have invited the True Lord today."

As they talked, the three of them entered the palace gate.

The palace was not decorated with gold and jade. The walls were made of black jade, smooth as a mirror, reflecting the flowing water and clouds.

A refreshing mist wafts over you, and you can faintly hear the sound of flowing water, as if you were in the depths of an endless body of water.

The Barefoot Immortal stopped, nodded slightly to Chen Jiao, and smiled:

"The Great Emperor is in the front hall. He dislikes formalities, so please be as you please, True Lord."

Chen Jiao entered the main hall of Dongyin Palace.

The interior was simply furnished, with bare walls, except for a huge map of the waterways of the nine provinces hanging in the center.

The rivers and streams depicted in the picture are embroidered with silver threads, subtly reflecting the shimmering water.

A person stands below the picture, dressed in coarse cloth short brown clothes, with the cuffs rolled up to the elbows, revealing his strong, bronze-colored arms.

He was barefoot, his hair was casually tied back with a wooden hairpin, his face was rugged, and his brows bore the marks of years of wind and sun.

He didn't resemble an emperor who ruled over all the water elements of the world; he looked more like a man who had just returned from a river engineering project.

It was none other than the Water Official Emperor, Yu the Great.

"This junior pays respects to Emperor Yu!"

Chen Jiao felt respect and dared not be negligent, so he bowed and said...

Upon seeing Chen Jiao enter and pay his respects, the slight solemnity on Da Yu's face immediately melted away, revealing a genuine smile.

He laughed heartily, his voice booming like a bell, causing the Daoist aura of the Water Element within the hall to ripple slightly.

Before Chen Jiao could finish his greetings, he strode forward with strange yet swift steps, crossing the spacious hall in just a few strides and arriving in front of Chen Jiao.

"You're here?"

Yu the Great's laughter was loud and clear, carrying an overwhelming sense of heroic spirit.

He stretched out his calloused hand and, before Chen Jiao could finish bowing, steadily supported his arm and helped him up.

"There's no need to be so formal!"

Da Yu exerted great force in his hand, causing Chen Jiao's arm to sink slightly.

His gaze swept over Chen Jiao, and he nodded in satisfaction.

"Good! Good! You've done what I hadn't finished; I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"

Chen Jiao, supported so warmly, straightened up and bowed, saying:

"Your Majesty flatters me. I was merely fulfilling my duty."

"What do you mean by 'duty' or 'duty'!"

Da Yu waved his hand and pulled him toward the stone table:

"Come, come, sit down and let's talk!"

I have some fine, aged wine here; let me share it with you, and while we're at it, I'll tell you the details of how we quelled the unrest at the Weak Water!"

Seeing this, the Barefoot Immortal and Feng Yi exchanged a smile and quietly retreated to the side.

They knew the emperor's temperament well; he disliked formalities and empty talk. Treating him so frankly showed that they regarded the true ruler as one of their own.

Yu the Great pulled Chen Jiao to sit on the chair carved from an old tree root, while he himself sat imposingly on the blue stone opposite him.

With a wave of his hand, Yu the Great produced a jar that appeared to be made of coarse pottery and had some dried river mud on its surface.

The mouth of the jar is sealed with yellow clay, seemingly simple and unadorned, yet it subtly exudes a deep and mellow aroma.

"Try this."

Yu the Great broke the mud seal.

A richer aroma of wine immediately filled the air, not pungent, but rather carrying a warm and comforting scent of earth and grain.

He picked up two large bowls, both made of coarse pottery, from the table and was about to personally pour wine for Chen Jiao.

Seeing this, Chen Jiao stood up and reached out, his black sleeve flicking slightly as he took the wine jar first.

"With Emperor Yu here, there is no need for us to trouble ourselves."

He first filled the bowl in front of Yu the Great; the wine was slightly yellow and somewhat viscous. Then he poured himself about seven-tenths full.

Yu chuckled, didn't insist, and let him fill both bowls, shaking his head and saying:

"You're quite capable, but you have too many rules."

Having said that, he picked up the wine bowl, tilted his head back, and took a large gulp, exhaling a breath of wine-scented vapor, and sighed:

"happy!"

Chen Jiao also raised his bowl and slowly took a sip of the wine.

At first glance, it only had a heavy earthy smell mixed with a faint fishy smell, not the refreshing and pure taste of a fine wine, but rather a rustic and coarse one.

However, after a few breaths, an indescribable mellow and sweet aroma rose from the bottom of the tongue.

It felt as if a vast river was melting in my mouth, and the image of a hundred rivers flowing naturally appeared in my heart!

Furthermore, a trace of rich earth vein energy sank into the dantian, making the immortal essence around the body more solid.

"Good wine."

Chen Jiao put down his wine bowl, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

This wine may appear simple, but its inner meaning is so profound and far-reaching.

Seeing his expression, Yu the Great knew what he meant and clapped his hands and laughed:

"This wine is called 'Nine Rivers Soil,' it is not a divine brew, but an ordinary product."

He held the rough earthenware wine jar, his gaze deepening.

"When the nine rivers were dredged, the people along the banks were grateful for the water control efforts and presented him with a hundred bushels of millet."

I couldn't bear to refuse their kindness, so I ordered my soldiers to gather soil from the local area to build a kiln.

They took water that had just cleared from the muddy waves and built a stove on the riverbank to brew it.

"When new wine is first made, the sediment has not yet settled, and it is harsh on the throat when drunk."

Da Yu spoke calmly, yet with a touch of emotion, as he lightly tapped the rim of the bowl with his fingertips:

"It will take a hundred years to be buried under the newly built river embankment, absorbing all the moisture and earth's energy, before it can become so mellow."

When drinking, it is as if one sees a vast landscape flowing into one's throat, and the image of all rivers flowing into the sea arises spontaneously.

Chen Jiao stared at the wine in the glass, and saw what appeared to be tiny specks of dust floating in it.

It was just like the days when the floods were controlled, with the figures of thousands of people and soldiers mingling with the soil and sweat.

He said slowly, "The wine contains the weight of mountains and rivers, as well as the warmth of the people's hearts."

Upon hearing this, Yu the Great burst into laughter, his voice shaking the roof tiles, and his eyes gleamed with even greater admiration:

"Excellent! Controlling floods is not the work of one person alone, just like wine, which requires the right combination of water and soil to become a fine brew."

Having said this, Yu the Great put down his wine bowl and glanced at the map of the Nine Provinces' waterways on the wall:

"You handled the matter of the Weak Water well."

Instead of forcibly suppressing the flood with the divine iron scepter, he stabilized the water disaster, then channeled its essence back into its source, demonstrating a profound understanding of the art of flood control.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a dull sound: "Water, if blocked, will burst; if dredged, it will flow smoothly."

When I was managing the floods in the past, it was the same.

It's not about fighting the flood, but about understanding where it's headed and going with the flow, giving it a way out.

Chen Jiao listened attentively, his gaze falling on the slight ripples in the wine bowl, as if he had gained some insight.

"What Emperor Yu said is absolutely right."

He said softly, "If you go with the flow, the harm will disappear. If you force it against its nature, it will only lead to disaster."

Upon hearing this, Yu the Great filled another bowl with wine and laughed, saying:

"It seems you are not only incredibly capable, but also very insightful."

Come, drink again!

The two drank together, saying no more.

Inside the hall, the aroma of wine mingled with the steam, and the water feature on the wall shimmered with silver light, as if countless rivers were silently telling the timeless truths of water management.

Yu put down his wine cup, and the amiable expression on his face gradually faded.

His gaze was fixed on Chen Jiao, and he asked in a deep voice:

"What do you think of the ancient Xuanjiao clan, young friend?"