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

Welcome to the fantastical world of Xianxia novels! The entrance is here:

The two of them flew over several mountain ranges on clouds.

The terrain ahead gradually opened up, revealing a continuous stretch of verdant mountains that stretched for eight hundred miles.

Surrounded by peaks, a vast, clear blue lake lies in the center, its surface shimmering like a mirror. The mountain air is filled with mist, and cranes flutter gracefully in the forest.

It is the 800-li Qingchi Ridge.

Master Xuangu stood with his hands behind his back on the cloud, and couldn't help but feel surprised.

He knew that Brother Xuanling possessed great supernatural powers and his Taoist magic was unfathomable.

Unexpectedly, there are such subtle and skillful methods for managing blessed lands and regulating the earth's spiritual energy.

It far surpassed any other independent monastery he had ever seen before.

Upon closer inspection, a watchtower several meters high stands at the strategic pass in the mountain, guarded by eagle demons.

Occasionally, groups of lesser demons dressed in uniform leather armor and wielding weapons would patrol along the cleared paths, their steps orderly and their eyes alert, clearly well-trained.

The sound of metal clashing could be heard from time to time, as the demons specializing in forging were busy in the weapon-making room.

In the distance, on a vast open plain, more than a thousand demon soldiers were lined up and training.

The leader, a wolf demon general at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, held a command flag and shouted in a well-organized manner, while the demon soldiers advanced and retreated with discipline.

Xuan Gu's gaze swept over them, and he was secretly alarmed.

The most unusual place is the flat area at the foot of the mountain.

Many human peddlers set up stalls and bargained with fox demons who had transformed into human form.

The peddlers were clearly regulars; they showed no fear on their faces, but instead expertly unfurled their cloths and displayed everyday items such as needles, thread, salt, and iron.

The fox demon manager at the head of the group fiddled with an abacus, while the little demons behind him busied themselves weighing and exchanging baskets of spiritual herbs and ores.

The place was orderly, even more so than the markets in many human towns.

Xuan Gu gazed at the orderly scene of demons and humans living together, then looked at Chen Jiao's calm and composed profile beside him, and finally took a deep breath.

What Brother Xuanling runs is no ordinary cave dwelling or Taoist temple.

Clearly, it is a demon kingdom in its early stages, with its own laws and regulations, and its potential is beginning to emerge!

Chen Jiao and Xuan Gu rode the clouds straight down to the main peak of Yunmang Mountain, passing through several naturally formed cloud and mist barriers.

Then you see an ancient cave dwelling embedded in the mountain wall, with the two characters "Xuanqing" carved on it, the strokes of which are deep and powerful.

The platform in front of the cave is spacious, with a babbling spring and exotic flowers and plants scattered throughout, all meticulously maintained.

The three flower fairy sisters were overjoyed to see their master return to the mountain, and they all bowed in unison.

The wisteria is cool and serene, the mountain peach is lively and vibrant, and the pear blossoms are shy and demure, each with its own unique charm.

Shan Tao's eyes sparkled, and she said with a grin:

"With the master gone, this cave is much quieter."

Chen Jiao had just sat down inside the cave.

Then they heard a series of slightly hurried yet deliberately light footsteps coming from outside, accompanied by an air of barely suppressed excitement.

Immediately, several figures appeared in the light and shadow at the cave entrance.

Leading the group were his old subordinates, Xia Da and Hei Fei.

The two little demons have not slacked off these days and have now broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage. When they saw their master return, they were overjoyed and bared their teeth and claws.

"Master! You're finally back!"

Subsequently, eight Foundation Establishment demon generals, led by the Green Ape Demon General, also filed in.

Each of them spoke with composure, their eyes filled with genuine reverence, and they all bowed down in unison: "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Chen Jiao's gaze swept over them.

Seeing that Xia Da and Hei Fei's cultivation was stable, and that the three sisters had made their cave dwelling even more elegant, and that the old subordinates such as Qing Yuan were all capable, they nodded slightly.

They also noticed that behind the Green Ape and the others were seven or eight unfamiliar demon cultivators.

Judging from their auras, they were all at the Foundation Establishment stage, and at this moment they all bowed their heads respectfully, not daring to look directly at each other.

Clearly, during his absence, the "Dragon Demon King" became increasingly famous, attracting a constant stream of people seeking refuge, and his forces grew ever stronger.

Inside the cave, a large number of people gathered, exuding a demonic aura yet maintaining perfect order.

Chen Jiao sat at the head of the table, his expression calm, receiving the greetings of his subordinates, who were all loyal and had different personalities, and listening to their reports on recent events.

Master Xuangu stood quietly to the side, taking in the scene and pondering to himself.

Although Brother Xuanling's foundation is not yet fully developed, its grandeur is already evident, its rules are strict, and its followers are united, making it far superior to that of ordinary demon kings.

It is conceivable that once Brother Xuanling achieves the Nascent Soul Demon Lord status, the news of the Jiao Demon King's name truly shaking the four directions will spread far and wide.

At that time, the scene of demon cultivators from all directions coming to join them, and even human cultivators attaching themselves to them, will be even more magnificent.

At that time, not to mention these Foundation Establishment demon generals, even Golden Core cultivators will probably flock here.

On this Qingchi Ridge, Golden Core cultivators are probably no longer rare, and it is likely to become a true gathering place for heroes.

Xuan Gu lowered his eyes, suppressing all the thoughts in his mind, and his fingers clenched slightly in his sleeve.

His cultivation level at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm is already quite remarkable in ordinary places.

However, in such a thriving force that is poised to become a significant power, if one cannot consolidate their position and demonstrate their value as soon as possible...

I fear that when many Golden Core cultivators emerge in the future, my own level of cultivation will inevitably become mediocre, and I may even be overshadowed by those who come after me.

An invisible sense of urgency, like a deep, dark current, quietly crept into my heart.

He was dressed in black robes and had dark hair; his demeanor was profound and he possessed the air of a powerful ruler.

A mountain breeze blew in from outside the cave, bringing with it the sound of distant pines rustling in the wind, and also causing the dark blue robe of the Xuan Gu Master to flutter.

…………

Chen Jiao listened quietly as his demon generals reported on their affairs.

The Azure Ape Demon General, who commanded all the generals, bowed slightly and explained all the matters one by one.

Within the 800-mile-long Qingchi Ridge surrounding Yunmang Mountain, there are now over ten thousand demon soldiers, divided into five camps, each commanded by a Foundation Establishment demon general, including the Wolf Demon General.

They took turns guarding key mountain passes day and night, and also practiced battle formations in several open valleys.

There are three alchemy rooms and five equipment workshops in the mountains, all managed by the Red Scorpion Taoist, with the Poisonous Centipede Demon assisting from the side. With fire and poison complementing each other, the quality gradually improves.

The alchemy room produces 800 bottles of hemostatic powder, 300 pills of qi-restoring pills, and 200 packets of various poison powders every month.

Although they lack rare elixirs, they are self-sufficient in commonly used medicines for healing and restoring energy.

Inside the workshop, the fire burned continuously, and the skilled demons who crafted weapons worked in shifts day and night to forge armor and repair weapons.

The mineral veins in the mountains are under the responsibility of the Iron Mountain Demon General. Seven veins have been discovered, mostly containing common spiritual ores such as refined iron and cold copper, as well as a small amount of associated water jade and mica.

Every day, a group of demons specializing in mining ventured deep into the mines, extracting minerals according to the veins. The extracted ores were all registered, categorized, and stored in the warehouse.

The spirit plant garden is managed by the three flower fairy sisters, and it grows low-level spirit plants such as hemostatic grass and mind-calming flower, which are growing very well.

The spirit fish in Qingchi Lake are all guarded by Xia Da and Hei Fei, and are caught regularly. They can be used to feed the demon generals and soldiers, and the surplus can be sold.

Lady White Fox is in charge of the Treasury Trade, and Qingchi Ridge has now established stable trade routes with four small human markets in the surrounding area, as well as three adjacent demon forces.

Caravans come and go every month, escorted by demon soldiers, transporting ores, spiritual plants, and demon beast materials in exchange for finished pills and spiritual materials that Qingchi Ridge cannot produce itself...

The Green Ape Demon General spoke slowly and clearly, explaining all sorts of complicated matters in a logical and organized manner.

Only his steady voice echoed within the cave, making the mountain winds and pine breezes outside the window seem distant.

Chen Jiao sat quietly listening, while Xuan Gu Shangren stood to one side with his eyes lowered, neither of them uttering a sound.

From the mundane reports, one can glimpse the growing depth and quiet expansion of the 800-li Qingchi Ridge.

After the green ape finished reporting, the cave fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of the gurgling spring water audible.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

This ape was indeed meticulous and experienced, managing Qingchi Ridge quite well.

His gaze then swept over the demons standing solemnly inside the cave.

After a moment's hesitation, his voice, calm yet clear, echoed throughout the cave:

"Three days later, a banquet will be held at Yunmang Mountain, inviting demon cultivators from all directions, as well as various mountain and water deities, to attend the gathering."

Upon hearing this, the demons in the cave fell silent for a moment, then their eyes lit up with excitement.

Chen Jiao continued, "At that time, I will announce to all that the Nascent Soul stage has been achieved."

Inside the cave, all was quiet for a moment, with only the clear sound of the spiritual spring dripping onto the stone platform.

The shrimp's raised pincers froze in mid-air, and the fawning smile on its fat, dark face froze.

The demons stared blankly at the figure in black robes at the head of the table. They felt that after only three days, the king's aura had become as deep and vast as the sea, and sitting there felt like a mountain pressing down on their hearts.

When he left, the king was at the Golden Core stage and already commanded great respect in the region.

Now he has returned... and he is actually a Nascent Soul Demon Lord!

This seemingly casual remark struck the hearts of every demon cultivator like a thunderclap.

The difference between the Nascent Soul and the Golden Core may seem like just one realm, but in reality, they are worlds apart, signifying long lifespans and earth-shattering supernatural powers.

The newly recruited demon generals lowered their heads even further, holding their breath, perhaps harboring some ulterior motives earlier.

At this moment, however, all of that transformed into deep awe and trembling.

Previously, I had only heard of the mighty name of the Flood Dragon Demon King, but now I know that he is actually a Nascent Soul cultivator!

Black Fatty was the first to react, collapsing to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling:

"Congratulations, Master! Congratulations on your successful completion of the Nascent Soul stage! Heaven blesses Qingchi Ridge!"

This sound seemed to awaken all the demons, who immediately knelt down in a flurry, their cries of congratulations filled with barely suppressed excitement and awe.

The shrimp kowtowed repeatedly, grinning foolishly, unable to utter a single coherent sentence.

They understood that from this day forward, Qingchi Ridge was now presided over by a Nascent Soul Demon Lord, and could truly be called a powerful force within its own domain!

"also."

Chen Jiao's tone remained calm:

"Taking advantage of this grand event, I will personally establish a market for cultivators, located at the foot of Qingchi Ridge."

From now on, fellow Daoists from all over the world are welcome to come and trade, exchanging what they have and what they need.