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

A year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the Xuanqing Cave of Yunmang Mountain, the atmosphere grew increasingly profound and unfathomable.

Chen Jiao sat quietly by the spiritual spring, his body's energy flowing smoothly and harmoniously. He had reached the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment and could faintly touch the mysterious barrier of the Golden Core.

His eyes, opening and closing, shone with divine light, as if clouds and thunder were rising and falling. He was only a thin veil away from condensing his demon core.

After being injured that day, the Azure Scale Demon Lord fled into the depths of Azure Pool Lake and has not shown himself again.

Although Qingchi Ridge is nominally still under their jurisdiction, the four demon generals are well aware that Xuanling Cave Master of Yunmang Mountain is already an uncrowned king. They are just waiting for the right opportunity.

The mountains and valleys have finally found some rare peace.

Chen Jiao had a deep and far-sighted plan in mind. He knew that the Venerable Xuan Guang had just completed his Golden Core and his foundation was unstable. He would need to go into seclusion for several years to consolidate it.

However, the Azure Scale Demon Lord is plagued by inner demons, which are not easily cured.

If we act hastily at this time, it will only arouse suspicion.

Therefore, he lived a secluded life, honing his cultivation and refining sword pills while managing Yunmang Mountain and training his demon followers to be disciplined and orderly.

On this day, Black Wind arrived riding on a monstrous wind and brought up a matter:

"Fellow Daoist Xuanling, are you aware that there has been a floating gathering three thousand miles to the west recently?"

This market was organized by the Golden Mirage Demon Lord of Floating Wave Mountain. Although it cannot compare with those ancient markets, it still brings together many like-minded people from the surrounding area to exchange goods and services.

How about we go for a walk together?

Chen Jiao's eyes flickered slightly.

The Golden Mirage Demon Lord is a renowned Golden Core demon with a long history. He is gentle in nature, dislikes fighting, and especially loves collecting rare treasures.

Its true form is a rare illusory golden mirage, skilled in illusion and transformation. Although this floating market is not large in scale, it is known for its strange and unusual goods, often containing unexpected items.

Several days later, the two rode their escape light away from Yunmang Mountain and headed west.

Fubo Mountain is located in a vast marshland. Although the mountain is not high, it is shrouded in clouds and mist, making it look like a dream.

At this moment, on a wide open beach at the foot of the mountain, there were many figures, and the aura of demons and spirits was mixed, but there was no sense of death.

Simple stone platforms and wooden stalls are casually placed, some with lotus leaves as mats, others with clouds and mist as a screen, creating a unique scene.

Those who came and went had different appearances, some of whom were completely transformed and dressed in fine clothes like scholars and gentlemen.

Some retain certain features of the original organism, with scales on the apex.

Some even manifest directly in their demonic form, occupying a corner and scrutinizing visitors with piercing eyes.

Most of them are at the late stage of Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, with occasional demon cultivators at the late stage of Foundation Establishment or even the Perfection stage passing by. Their aura is powerful and attracts attention.

Chen Jiao and the other demon paid a small amount of spirit stones as a threshold, concealed their auras, and then stepped inside without attracting much attention.

Upon entering the mountains, one sees a wide valley that is already bustling with people and incredibly noisy.

There are no permanent buildings in the valley, only all sorts of oddly shaped stalls planted on the ground.

There were tents supported by huge animal bones, with wind chimes of scales that shimmered with an eerie light.

Some places simply spread banana leaves on the ground and fill them with all sorts of exotic flowers and fruits.

Even more outrageous, an old tortoise spirit transformed its carapace into a stall, displaying a dazzling array of water-borne treasures.

The stall owners were either squatting or sitting, with various items displayed in front of them.

"Ancestral secret recipe for transformation cream! Apply it for three days, and I guarantee your horns will shrink, your scales will become smoother, and you'll transform into a more handsome person! I'd like to exchange it for a minor earth-burrowing technique."

"Take a look, have a look. This hundred-year-old Nine-Nine Dragon Grass can withstand nine days and nine nights of fierce battle without a problem! Let's exchange it for a bottle of Yellow Sprout Pill to strengthen the body and replenish vital energy."

A nearby stall owner, a bull demon with a face full of scars, sneered upon hearing this:

"Pah! Your lousy grass couldn't be sold ten years ago, it's all withered and brittle, and you're still bragging about it!"

Why not try my Mighty Mountain-Pounding Pill? One pill will give you the strength to lift a cauldron, guaranteeing you can dig your cave fast and deep.

He patted his round belly, spitting as he spoke.

"Mount a mountain? They've probably just solidified their own brains!"

A fox demon across from them chuckled softly, her eyes alluring.

"Young man, come and see my freshly made fox tail incense. It's made from the tip of a Hehuan fox demon's tail. Fairies will feel weak in the knees from the smell, and demons will tremble at the thought! It only costs ten low-grade spirit stones per bundle."

A burly wild boar demon nearby shouted:

"Come on! Last time I bought your incense, I almost attracted that female bear demon from the next mountain, and she practically destroyed my cave!"

"That's because you're using the wrong dosage, little pig brother~"

Even more remarkably, an old locust tree, seemingly possessed, waved its branches and shouted:

"Trees for rent! Sturdy and durable, perfect for binding people and demons, building nests and haunts—it can do it all! Only five mid-grade spirit stones per day!"

The shouts were varied and carried a strong sense of vulgarity and streetwise charm, crude yet vibrant.

There were also more respectable stalls trading elixirs, spiritual materials, and incomplete cultivation manuals on jade slips.

Black Wind laughed heartily and patted Chen Jiao on the shoulder:

"This Floating Wave Market is still as lively as ever! Fellow Daoist Xuanling, let's go and find some useful items."

Black Wind was clearly familiar with the place, and he greeted familiar demon cultivators from time to time.

Chen Jiao's gaze swept across the stalls, which mostly contained items suitable for Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages, and were mostly ordinary to him.

He wasn't in a hurry, just strolling leisurely, occasionally stopping at stalls selling rare minerals, spiritual plant seeds, or ancient scrolls, picking them up to examine them closely, and exchanging a few words with the stall owners in hushed tones.

Upon reaching a corner, they saw an old turtle spirit setting up a stall, which mainly sold spirit clam pearls and water jade commonly found in the underwater realm.

Chen Jiao's gaze fell on one of the inconspicuous pieces of ore, which was dark copper in color and had natural cloud and thunder patterns on its surface.

This item is called Gui Water Thunder Pattern Copper. It is a type of soft metal, belonging to Yin Water, but containing a trace of Yang Thunder essence, which is in line with his philosophy of water and thunder complementing each other.

This item might be useless to ordinary aquatic creatures and Lei Xiu, but it is a rare find for him.

He stepped forward, but instead of picking up the ore directly, he casually picked up a spirit clam pearl and played with it, using his divine sense to communicate with the old turtle spirit and ask about its price.

After a few words, the mineral was exchanged for a bottle of nourishing pills that were beneficial to the cultivation of aquatic creatures, and both parties were overjoyed.

After walking for a while, they bought several pieces of lightning-struck green willow wood containing the vitality of Yi wood from the stall of an old willow tree spirit.

This tree, struck by lightning, did not die; instead, it contained the power of lightning to bring about its own life.

They walked to a secluded corner and saw a demon cultivator who looked like a down-on-his-luck scholar squatting on the ground.

In front of him was only a coarse cloth, on which was placed a sheathed longsword about three feet long, completely black and without any luster.

The scholar looked haggard and weak, as if he were seriously injured.

Chen Jiao's gaze fell on the sword. Its scabbard was simple and unadorned, yet it possessed a sharpness that was not yet unleashed.

He bent down, his fingertips lightly touching the scabbard. A strange sensation, icy cold yet containing the stirring of thunder, traveled from his fingertips.

"What is the name of this sword? What is its price?" Chen Jiao asked.

The scholar looked up, a glimmer of hope in his eyes, and said in a hoarse voice:

"Obtained unintentionally, its name is unknown."

All that is known is that it is born from thunder, and its scabbard is made of mysterious magnetism, which can seal the sword's evil energy.

"Exchange...exchange for a bottle of healing and life-saving elixir, or something of equal value."

After a brief examination, Chen Jiao knew that the sword was made of extraordinary material, and the magnetic scabbard was even rarer, capable of nurturing the sword spirit and isolating its aura, which suited his needs perfectly.

He took out a jade bottle containing three Qingyuan Heart-Protecting Pills obtained from Elder Liu Yizi of the Sword Pavilion. The pills were relatively mild and best suited for healing injuries.

"Is this enough?"

The scholar took the jade bottle, and after a moment's sensory experience, his hands trembled slightly with excitement:

"Enough! That's enough! Thank you, fellow Daoist!"

He hurriedly put away the pills, handed the longsword to Chen Jiao, and then left in a hurry, as if afraid that Chen Jiao would change his mind.

Black Wind approached, examining the black-sheathed longsword, and asked with a puzzled expression:

"Old Hei, this sword looks lifeless to me, fellow Daoist, why..."

Chen Jiao remained silent, channeling a wisp of Crimson Thunder True Essence, and gently pushed the sword guard with his thumb, revealing an inch of the sword blade.

In an instant, a blinding flash of lightning shot out, accompanied by a deep sword hum, and the surrounding air seemed to freeze.

He immediately sheathed his sword, and the lightning and sword cries abruptly ceased.

Black Wind gasped and exclaimed in admiration:

"Good heavens! It's actually a lightning-attribute magic sword! Fellow Daoist, I admire your keen eye!"

The two continued strolling around.

As Chen Jiao approached a stall selling unusual stones, he bent down to examine a Void Stone with natural cloud patterns when he suddenly sensed someone approaching him.

Turning his head, he saw an ordinary-looking, yellow-faced man with an aura around the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, who was also examining the goods on his stall.

The man appeared ordinary, but his eyes were clear and deep, occasionally flashing with a glint of light, unlike those of an ordinary person.

He picked up an inconspicuous piece of warm jade, bargained with the stall owner for a few words, and then readily bought it.

As she turned around, her eyes met Chen Jiao's seemingly unintentionally. She nodded slightly, a faint smile appearing on her lips, before disappearing into the crowd.

Chen Jiao's heart stirred slightly.

In that instant, he keenly sensed that although the man's aura was well concealed, it subtly blended seamlessly with the entire Floating Wave Mountain, and there was a vast and profound artistic conception far exceeding the Foundation Establishment stage hidden deep within.

"Could it be...?"

He remained calm and continued his tour with Black Wind, acquiring several useful spiritual materials. It wasn't until sunset that he left Floating Wave Mountain as the demonic currents dispersed.