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

The True Lord holds a halberd with his head suspended high in the sky, standing majestically above thousands of waves.

The Moon God's long, disheveled head swayed slightly at the tip of his halberd, emitting the last vestiges of his fading starlight.

It reflected the True Lord's profile, which was calm and almost indifferent.

Behind him, a group of warriors, some shrouded in lightning and others exuding a murderous aura, stood solemnly in guard, their killing intent so intense it seemed to weigh down the entire world.

Below, the sea was still turbulent, but the flow of the Weak Water had slowed down somewhat.

It seems that there are immortals or gods doing their best to stop it.

The surviving cultivators and aquatic creatures all looked up at the sea, their expressions varied and their thoughts complex.

Not far away.

Ao Ying stared blankly at the figure of the True Lord's battle robe billowing, her hand unconsciously clenching the Flowing Cloud Water God Seal in her sleeve.

Her lips were slightly pale, and her eyes held a complex and unfathomable expression.

I felt a bittersweet mix of sadness from past rejections and a thrill at witnessing its awe-inspiring power.

In the end, it all turned into a barely audible sigh, dissipating in the sea breeze.

Although she was the daughter of the Dragon King, she was ultimately just a water goddess in the Flowing Cloud Sea.

He was still the same Yilie Tianjun she had once caught a glimpse of, and who had even dared to block her path.

But he is none other than the current Supreme Lord Huangtian Jingfa, who reigns high in the heavens and wields the power of thunder and death.

Like the blazing sun, its radiance was so dazzling that even looking up at it was almost blinding for the little dragon girl.

Distance has never been so clear.

Princess Wansheng, standing beside her, also paled at this moment, her beautiful eyes filled with undisguised astonishment.

Previously, she had been quite dismissive of her sister Ao Ying's infatuation with this Heavenly True Lord.

She had always thought that these divine generals and celestial officials who spent their days waging war, even if they had supernatural powers, were nothing more than crude and reckless killers who knew nothing of romance.

However, at this moment, I witnessed the True Lord Jingfa fighting in the heavens above, before countless living beings in the East Sea.

Before a vast army, he wielded his halberd to quell the calamity that threatened to overthrow the heavens, and with a flick of his finger, he quelled the impending disaster.

She had to admit how shallow her previous thought that he only knew how to fight and had no charm was.

This kind of commanding and domineering demeanor has a breathtaking quality that transcends appearance and goes straight to the source of power!

It was a majestic indifference, standing atop the clouds, looking down upon all living beings.

He was completely different from the handsome demons and water princes she knew.

However, the thought only crossed her mind for a moment before she gently shook her head.

Princess Wansheng's gaze shifted slightly, landing on the figure in black robes and dark hair amidst the waves beside her.

Chen Jiao stood calmly on the crest of the wave, his expression as serene as ever.

It was as if the earth-shattering events surrounding him, such as the fall of celestial lords and the descent of true lords, had nothing to do with him.

His gaze was calm as he looked into the depths of the Weak Water, as if scrutinizing something, or perhaps waiting for something.

Princess Wansheng's lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

Her gaze returned to Ao Ying's slightly forlorn face beside her, and she thought to herself:

"Sister Ying."

What you're eyeing is that divine light from the heavens, which coldly illuminates the darkness but brings no warmth.

Such awe-inspiring divine power inspires reverence, yet also conveys an insurmountable sense of alienation.

The True Lord reigns in the heavens like the sun and moon, his majesty unfathomable.

But she, Wan Sheng, is ultimately a demon, a dragon that roams rivers, lakes, and seas.

The Xuan Ling before her was a member of the same aquatic tribe as her, and they both practiced the demonic path.

He was incredibly capable and decisive, yet not entirely cold-blooded.

It is closer to the law of the jungle among the demon race.

Xuan Ling is like a dragon swimming in the sea, free and at ease.

Such figures seem more real to us, more worthy of our appreciation, and even... inspire a bit of imagination.

A sea breeze swept by, ruffling a few strands of her dark hair.

Princess Wansheng withdrew her gaze, lazily straightened her sleeves, and gently smoothed out the ripples in her heart caused by the True Lord's majesty.

She is a demon, the Princess of Ten Thousand Saints of the Azure Pool, with the pride and untamed spirit of the demon race flowing through her veins.

What she cherished most was the freedom she found beneath those towering waves.

Even the best gods are still gods from heaven.

She casually smoothed her hair and moved with delicate steps.

He quietly moved half a step closer to where Chen Jiao was.

The deep sea reflects the divine might in the sky, as if it were a prison, and also reflects the majestic dragon-shaped formation on the sea surface.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder; each has its own charm and allure.

Xuan Gu Shangren stood frozen in place beside Chen Jiao.

He looked up at the True Lord holding a halberd with his head hanging from it in the sky, and the majestic generals behind him, their faces as imposing as a forest of menacing warriors.

The sea breeze whipped at him, making his clothes flutter, but it couldn't dispel the stunned look on his face.

Xuan Gu couldn't help but recall his more than two hundred years of cultivation.

Yu Donghai struggled to survive, proceeding cautiously and meticulously, employing every possible scheme.

What they seek is nothing more than the perfection of the Golden Core, or even a glimpse of the Great Dao of the Nascent Soul, which would allow them to become a sect leader and ancestor, living a carefree life in their own domain.

In the past, he thought this was the pinnacle of cultivation and the ultimate in power.

But today, I witness this scene.

Like a mayfly seeing the blue sky, it realizes its own insignificance.

One by one, figures descended from the clouds, without uttering a word or making a move.

Simply standing there, the aura it exudes seems to be able to stabilize mountains and rivers and purify the universe.

With a single punch and a single halberd from this law-abiding True Lord, the eleven renowned Star Lords fell like rain!

Under such divine might, my meager skills and narrow ambitions are utterly insignificant.

A bitter and self-deprecating feeling welled up in Xuan Gu's heart.

Just moments ago, he was still filled with lingering fear after narrowly escaping death in the Blackwater Abyss, and sighing with regret over the fall of True Man Liyang.

Compared to what's happening before our eyes, it's as insignificant as children playing around.

Master Xuangu took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, trying to calm his turbulent emotions.

After a long while, a very soft sigh finally escaped his lips and dissipated in the whistling wind.

"With a flick of the wrist, star lords fell like rain. Wherever the halberd tip pointed, all laws fell silent."

Such power... such a spectacle...

He shook his head and said hoarsely:

"We rogue cultivators, who compete for a few spiritual veins in remote and desolate places and spar with our fellow cultivators, think that we have seen great storms."

In retrospect, they were nothing more than frogs in a well, merely a laughingstock.

As he finished speaking, he lowered his eyes slightly, concealing the fleeting longing and bitterness in them.

Before him stood the unfathomable Daoist Xuanling, and above him shone the radiant Jingfa True Lord.

Xuan Gu suddenly felt that his struggles over the past few hundred years seemed so pale and powerless at this moment.

He gazed at the still turbulent, dark sea, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

What he saw today allowed him to glimpse the higher, farther, more magnificent, yet cruel and merciless scenery on the path of cultivation.

He withdrew his gaze and turned to Chen Jiao.

His delicate, melancholic face revealed a complex expression that mingled bitterness and relief.

"Only today do I realize what the might of Heaven truly means, and what the difference between heaven and earth is."

My past competitive spirit is utterly insignificant in the face of such a grand vision.

He paused, his voice growing even lower:

"The path of cultivation is a long, dark night. To witness this scene today, I wonder if it is a blessing... or a curse?"

He slowly lowered his head, no longer daring to look at the awe-inspiring sight of the heavens.

His gaze fell on his hands, which were slightly pale from practicing the Xuan Yin method.

With the cultivation of the Golden Core stage, one might still be able to dominate a region in this lower realm.

But in front of truly important figures, they probably wouldn't even qualify to be a proper pawn.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao did not respond immediately.

He glanced down at the shrimp soldiers and crab generals, the water spirits and monsters amidst the waves below, their gazes filled with either fear or fascination.

"The power of immortals and gods is indeed awe-inspiring."

Chen Jiao's tone was flat, revealing no emotional fluctuation:

"However, few of them are born to be able to reside high in the heavens and wield thunder today."

His expression remained unchanged despite Xuan Gu's dejected sigh.

"The road ahead is long, and each has its own path."

It's natural to feel insignificant when faced with a towering mountain. But there's no need to belittle oneself.

Chen Jiao's tone shifted slightly, and he glanced at Xuan Gu, his gaze deep and unfathomable:

"What we cultivators seek is nothing more than to guard the small space in our hearts and to walk steadily on the narrow bridge under our feet."

As for how high the sky is, how vast the sea is... once you've seen it, keep it in your heart, but don't let it become a shackle on your mind.

After saying this, Chen Jiao said no more and turned his gaze back to the distance.

The sea breeze brushed against the hem of his dark robe, without stirring even the slightest ripple.

Xuan Gu listened intently, pondering these seemingly ordinary yet profoundly meaningful words.

The overwhelming despondency in his eyes was gradually replaced by a glimmer of clarity.

Yes, the True Lord is the True Lord, the Heavenly Court is the Heavenly Court, and I, Xuan Gu... am still Xuan Gu.

It is an immense stroke of luck that I have survived this deadly trap in the Blackwater Abyss.

Why bother comparing yourself to those beings in the heavens, only to add to your troubles?

He breathed a long sigh of relief, and the burden in his chest seemed to dissipate considerably.

Xuan Gu looked up and gazed deeply at Chen Jiao's tall and solitary back, a complex and unfathomable light flashing in his eyes.

Brother Xuanling was able to remain calm and composed while sharing the same sky with such Heavenly Court True Lords and fierce warriors.

His background and demeanor are probably far beyond my comprehension.

Perhaps... following closely behind Brother Xuanling is the best path for me in this turbulent world?