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

A middle-aged man dressed in a simple gray-blue robe stepped out.

He was tall and slender, not as imposing as his brother Jingxiao, but rather lean and strong.

His face bears some resemblance to Whale Howl, but lacks some of its domineering nature. His eyes are clear and peaceful, with a hint of melancholy between his brows.

It was a whale cloud.

He appeared to be about to leave, or had just finished handling some business in the cabinet.

Upon opening the door, he saw Chen Jiao and Xuan Gu. He paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Upon seeing Xuan Gu Shangren clearly, his smile became more genuine, and he cupped his hands in greeting:

"Who do we have here? It turns out to be Fellow Daoist Xuan Gu. I am so sorry for not welcoming you properly."

His gaze then shifted to Chen Jiao beside him. Sensing the unfathomable aura emanating from him, Jingyun's surprise deepened, and he couldn't help but ask:

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Gu, may I ask who this gentleman is?"

Master Xuangu quickly returned the greeting and stepped aside to introduce him:

"Fellow Daoist Jingyun, this is Fellow Daoist Xuanling from Yunmang Mountain. He has come here at the invitation of Her Highness the Dragon Maiden."

We two were taking a leisurely stroll through the market and stopped by your pavilion for a visit.

Whale Cloud repeated the sentence in a low voice, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, clearly indicating that he had also heard of the name of the Flood Dragon Demon King.

He solemnly cupped his hands in greeting to Chen Jiao:

"So it is the Demon King Jiao! My apologies for my overreaction."

Fellow Daoist's reputation has been renowned in recent years, and seeing you today, it is indeed well-deserved!

Chen Jiao's gaze sharpened slightly as he sized up the man.

Although Whale Cloud was dressed simply, he possessed a calm and reserved demeanor.

Judging from his demeanor, he did not seem dejected and downcast, but rather had a sense of profound stillness.

Chen Jiao returned the greeting with a cupped hand and said calmly:

"Fellow Daoist, you are too kind. It is but a little empty fame, nothing to mention."

Whale Cloud smiled slightly:

"The market is bustling, and it's rare to have such a distinguished guest in this secluded place."

"If you two fellow Daoists don't mind, would you please come inside for a short while and have a cup of tea?"

He stepped aside to make way, his demeanor composed, his words warm yet not obsequious, displaying a natural air of composure.

Chen Jiao nodded: "I'm sorry to bother you."

The three then entered the pavilion.

The hustle and bustle of the market outside was immediately shut out, and the interior of the pavilion was elegantly furnished with the gentle fragrance of sandalwood.

Only a few rows of jade bookshelves displayed a few jade slips and seashell books, creating an exceptionally tranquil atmosphere.

A low tea table is placed by the window, on which sits a purple-green teapot and several white jade teacups.

On the small red clay stove beside it, a pot of spiritual water was just about to boil, making a soft bubbling sound.

"My humble abode is simple and unadorned; I hope you two fellow Daoists will forgive my poor appearance."

Whale Cloud led the two to sit down at the tea table, picked up the teapot, and moved with practiced skill and fluid movements.

The tea soup was poured into the cup, its color clear and emerald green, and a refreshing and spiritual aura spread out, revealing it to be a top-quality deep-sea spiritual tea.

"This tea is called 'Undersea Smoke,' which grows in the crevices of rocks in a deep sea trench. It takes a hundred years to yield just one ounce, and it has the effect of clearing the mind and brightening the eyes."

Fellow Daoists, please.

Jingyun gently pushed the teacup in front of the guest, her tone calm.

Chen Jiao picked up the teacup; it was warm to the touch. The tea soup entered his mouth, initially with a slight chill, which quickly transformed into a mellow warmth that flowed through his meridians—truly an extraordinary tea.

He nodded slightly: "Good tea."

He could tell that although Whale Cloud seemed to be in a bad situation, he still had a strong foundation and was not a truly destitute person.

Whale Cloud smiled slightly and shook his head, saying:

"It cannot compare to the celestial wine of the Dragon Palace, nor to the novelties sought after in the market."

I apologize for making this a laughingstock of you two.

Master Xuangu took a sip of tea and praised it:

"Abundant spiritual energy, condensed and not dissipated, is already quite rare."

He put down his teacup, looked at Whale Cloud, and chuckled softly:

"Fellow Daoist Whale Cloud, this place is indeed a good place to retreat from the world and cultivate in seclusion."

Upon hearing this, Jingyun glanced at the bustling streets faintly visible outside the window and sighed softly.

"Fellow Daoist, you flatter me."

It's just that they're keeping their old business, and a few old customers, out of nostalgia, still come to sit here.

It's good to have some peace and quiet.

His words seemed to convey endless emotions, yet he was unwilling to say more.

Master Xuan Gu took another sip of spiritual tea, closed his eyes to savor it for a moment, and then put down the teacup and looked at Whale Cloud.

It seemed to be mentioned unintentionally:

"To be honest, fellow Daoist, we were just walking through the market, hoping to find some suitable water-attribute spiritual materials, but we found that there were very few of them of good quality."

Whale Cloud paused slightly in the hand holding the teapot, glanced at Xuan Gu, then looked at Chen Jiao, who was calmly observing the tea with his head down, and sighed softly.

He poured himself a cup and slowly said:

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Gu is a discerning person."

In this market nowadays, any water-attribute spiritual item of slightly better quality will appear.

Regardless of the type, all items will be prioritized for purchase by the Dragon Whale Clan.

Over time, the merchants learned to be discreet and began to send their best goods to the Dragon Whale Clan's treasury first.

He spoke in a flat tone, as if stating a fact that had nothing to do with him.

But the helplessness in his words was hard to completely conceal.

Master Xuangu frowned and said:

"Is this really true?"

There are many water-based cultivators in this East Sea. What should they do if they need such spiritual objects for cultivation or emergency situations?

Whale Cloud shook his head, finished the remaining tea in his cup, and said softly:

"My elder brother... must have his own reasons."

Perhaps, it was in response to the changes in the Blackwater Abyss.

It's just tough on those independent cultivators who rely on the market for cultivation.

He paused, then turned to look at Chen Jiao:

"Fellow Daoist Xuanling needs a water-attribute spiritual item?"

If it were ordinary items, my humble storeroom might still have some left; though not top-grade, they would still be usable.

Chen Jiao did not answer, but instead asked:

"General Whale seems quite concerned about the Blackwater Abyss?"

Whale Cloud's gaze sharpened slightly, and he pondered for a moment before saying:

"The disturbances in the Blackwater Abyss are related to the peace of the sea. As the chieftain, he has an inescapable responsibility and is naturally concerned about it."

only……"

He was about to speak, but then swallowed his words, only saying:

"I am not entirely clear on the details either."

Whale Cloud declined to elaborate on the details.

Chen Jiao took in the fleeting look of helplessness and caution in Jingyun's eyes.

Within the Dragon Whale Clan, the clan leader, Whale Roar, holds absolute power, while his younger brother, Whale Cloud, finds himself in a rather delicate and even difficult situation, unwilling and unable to easily criticize his brother's actions.

The three of them then chatted over some spiritual tea about their experiences in the sea and their cultivation insights.

Whale Cloud is erudite, especially in his unique insights into seabed topography and water element changes. His words reveal his profound knowledge, which makes Master Xuan Gu nod repeatedly.

Chen Jiao mostly listened quietly, occasionally interjecting with a few words that always hit the nail on the head.

Whale Cloud never mentioned his brother Whale Roar again, but this deliberate avoidance itself speaks volumes.

After several rounds of tea, Chen Jiao's gaze inadvertently swept over a scroll on the far wall.

At first I didn’t notice, but upon closer inspection, my mind was involuntarily jolted.

The scroll appears to be made from the skin of some exotic animal; the edges are slightly worn, which only adds to its sense of age and weight.

The painting depicts not ordinary landscapes, flowers, and birds, but a vast and boundless sea of ​​ink.

The waves surged to the sky, their ink-black color seemingly capable of swallowing the heavens and the earth.

Above this raging sea, two enormous figures, one black and one blue, are facing off in a fierce battle!