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

"Buzz..."

A deep, soul-stirring hum came from inside the iron pillar.

The entire sea trembled slightly, causing the surrounding water elements to ripple.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone.

The Sea-Stabilizing Divine Iron, which had remained as dark and stubborn as a rock for millennia, suddenly emitted wisps of warm and pure golden light from its deepest recesses.

At first, it was like the first rays of dawn breaking through the thick clouds, and then the light gradually grew stronger.

Streaks of golden light pierced the dark outer shell of the iron body like sharp swords, shimmering and illuminating the dark depths of the sea.

The barefoot immortal's hand, which was waving a fan, paused in mid-air, and he laughed:

"Just as I expected!"

Chen Jiao remained calm, seemingly oblivious to this astonishing phenomenon.

He slowly raised his right hand and stroked it directly onto the surface of the iron pillar that was bursting with golden light.

The tentacles were not cold and hard as expected; instead, they had a strange, warm feel to them.

It was as if I were touching not metal or stone, but some kind of sleeping creature.

However, the anticipated sense of blood connection and spiritual communion did not materialize.

What entered his mind was an extremely obscure and vague consciousness.

Like a newborn infant, in a state of chaos and undeveloped, there are only some intermittent fluctuations of instinct, but no clear thoughts can be formed.

Chen Jiao frowned slightly, unable to understand for a moment what this consciousness was trying to express.

Just now.

"Clang!"

A clear, melodious sword cry suddenly rang out.

The Thunder Yang Subduing Demon Sword, personally forged by the Supreme Dao Ancestor, spontaneously unsheathed itself from his waist.

Before Chen Jiao could even command it, it had already flown to the side of the Sea-Stabilizing Divine Iron.

The sword tip lightly touched the iron pillar, producing a series of delicate, clear sounds.

In an instant, the golden light within the divine iron and the thunder patterns on the sword shone brightly at the same time.

One is surrounded by lightning and possesses a natural Daoist charm; the other is imbued with golden radiance and is profound yet without sharp edge.

Countless auspicious energies arose out of thin air, surrounding the two treasures of the Dao Ancestor.

A moment of silence.

The golden light emanating from the Dinghai Divine Iron suddenly subsided, then burst forth with a roar.

Adhering to the surface of the iron pillar, the dark outer shell is covered with the accumulated deep-sea water vapor and dust of thousands of years.

Like a weathered stone shell, it peeled away inch by inch and disappeared into the surrounding seawater.

But the Sea-Stabilizing Divine Iron had changed its appearance.

Each end is fitted with a gleaming golden hoop, engraved with dragon and phoenix seal script, its precious light subtly shimmering.

The middle section is made of jet-black, shiny divine iron, neither gold nor jade, with an inner luster.

The iron body is free of any impurities, possessing only a natural sense of weight and spirituality.

This was the Ruyi Jingu Bang, which would later become awe-inspiring throughout the Three Realms.

The Thunder Sun Demon-Subduing Sword emitted a pleasant sword hum, the lightning on its blade vanished, and it suddenly turned around.

It hovered lightly beside Chen Jiao's hand, the tip of the sword trembling slightly, pointing to the blank space at the top of the golden hoop, as if making a gesture.

Chen Jiao gripped his sword and aimed it at the golden hoop above.

The sword's spirit, through mental connection, transmitted a clear thought:

"Please...name."

As if to say:

Covered in dust for millennia, it shines again today. It shall have a name, to determine its cause and effect.

Chen Jiao stood before the golden hoop, his black robe fluttering slightly in the radiant light.

He sensed the inscription on the sword, a message conveyed by the spirit of divine iron, and his heart rippled slightly.

This Dinghai Divine Iron is the essence of innate Geng metal, refined in the Eight Trigrams Furnace of the Daoist Ancestor, and nurtured for ten thousand years by the merits of Emperor Yu's flood control efforts.

There is an ancient cause and effect within it, a wisp of the Emperor's legacy.

"Name is destiny," Chen Jiao thought to himself.

To inscribe a name for such a spiritual creature is tantamount to resetting its destiny.

Like Chen Jiao's Thunder Yang Demon-Subduing Sword, which contains the true meaning of subduing demons, it should be able to sweep away all demons.

What name should be engraved? How should it be engraved?

It must conform to its nature and follow its principles.

In a flash, the decision was made.

He decided to accept this immense destiny, which began with the Supreme Taoist Ancestor, was inherited by the Water Official Yu the Great, and even concerned a certain destined person in the future.

Chen Jiao examined the dark gold and black iron staff beneath his feet, pondered for a moment, and then suddenly spoke, his voice calm and even:

"Small."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire Divine Iron flashed with a faint light, and its majestic shaft contracted in response.

In an instant, the length of a hundred feet was reduced to a little over twelve feet, and the thickness of a few dozen people's embrace became as thin as a bowl.

Chen Jiao then said, "Make it even smaller."

The divine iron shimmered with light once more, and in an instant, it shrank to the size of an embroidery needle, hovering quietly in the water, incredibly agile.

"Big," Chen Jiao said again.

The embroidery needle suddenly grew to a very high size.

It blinks and returns to its original state, but the decline continues.

It grew to over ten zhang in length, as thick as a palace pillar, and a powerful and heavy aura spread out, causing the surrounding seawater to tremble.

"As expected, the transformations were as desired, and supernatural powers arose spontaneously."

Chen Jiao nodded slightly.

Since he was going to name this treasure, he naturally couldn't just copy what he remembered.

By assessing its supernatural powers and abilities, the cause and effect can be considered complete.

Then, he stretched out his right hand and gently grasped the staff that had returned to its original length of twelve feet.

Bring your five fingers together.

Contrary to expectations, it is not cold and lifeless upon first touch; instead, it has a warm and substantial feel.

It was as if I were holding a section of a sleeping ancient mountain range, or a piece of frozen starry sky.

"It weighs exactly 13,500 jin (6,500 kg)."

Chen Jiao felt the precise weight coming from his palm and had already made up his mind.

He nodded slightly, then released his hand.

The divine iron remained suspended in its original position, motionless.

With a wave of his hand, Chen Jiao summoned the Thunder Yang Demon-Subduing Sword, which had been humming and swirling beside him, and it transformed into a gentle stream of light, falling into his palm.

He gripped the hilt of the sword, and with his left hand, he ran his fingers along the spine of the blade, transferring a wisp of pure, blazing white lightning energy into the sword.

"Buzz—!"

The sword suddenly crackled with lightning, its tip emitting three inches of condensed, almost tangible lightning, its sharpness imbued with a majestic and righteous aura capable of warding off all laws.

Chen Jiao focused his mind and suppressed the thought of inscribing the name "Iron Pole Soldier of Will".

His gaze was like lightning, locking onto the spot beneath the golden headband, the black iron rod.

Immediately, Chen Jiao lowered his wrist, and the tip of his sword, crackling with lightning, steadily struck the staff.

As the sword tip crackled with lightning, he seemed to hear the crackling of divine fire within the Eight Trigrams Furnace.

I saw the waves as Emperor Yu held the iron rod and measured the rivers and lakes, his robes billowing in the wind.

At this moment, as I wield the sword to inscribe my name, it is as if I have received the torch that has been passed down through the ages, and with each stroke of the pen, a new chapter begins.

"Sizzle—"

A soft yet exceptionally clear sound of metal rubbing against metal rang out.

The sword tip struck the spot like a branding iron hitting snow, sinking in silently.

Where the lightning passed, a powerful, gnarled mark was left on the staff, its edges shimmering with tiny, blazing white lightning.

Chen Jiao wielded his sword with lightning speed and steady wrist.

The sword tip, as it traces lines, moves like a dragon or snake in a painting, carrying an indescribable Daoist charm.

The Ruyi Jingu Bang (Golden Cudgel)

He continued carving the eight characters without stopping his sword strokes.

[Weighs 13,500 jin].

With each word spoken, the aura of the iron rod solidified a little more.

Once the last character "斤" is carved—

"boom!"

The entire Ruyi Jingu Bang suddenly emitted a dazzling light.

The thirteen newly engraved characters on the staff each radiated a dazzling golden light.

The edges of the characters flickered with blazing white lightning, merging with the original precious light of the staff, flowing and changing, mysterious and extraordinary.

A sense of perfect harmony between name and reality, and the conclusion of cause and effect, then spread out.

Chen Jiao sheathed his sword and took a step back, observing the situation.

The Thunder Yang Demon-Subduing Sword also hovered quietly beside him, its blade radiating an inner brilliance, as if it had completed an important mission.

The Ruyi Jingu Bang (the magic staff) weighs 13,500 jin (approximately 6,

This name and weight have now completely merged with this innate divine iron, making them inseparable.

Those who wield this staff must possess the great resolve and freedom to break free from constraints and to understand that their own mind is the law, in order to truly wield its wondrous power.

Where the mind leads, external things cannot hold it back. All physical forms can be cast aside, leaving only a glimmer of spiritual clarity and freedom.

…………

As the sword tip parted from the iron, the golden light of the characters gradually faded.

The three people who had been watching quietly were now snapping out of their solemn and dignified state.

Zhu Lie stared wide-eyed, his mouth agape.

His gaze shifted back and forth between the engraved iron rod and the True Lord's calm profile, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

He couldn't even touch the mourning staff just now, but now the True Lord could control it as if it were his own arm.

He felt both envy and horror.

Zhu Lie pointed to the newly engraved characters on the staff, his tongue almost tied in knots:

"So...the name is engraved on it?"

This is something I, Old Zhu, cannot even touch, yet you, True Lord, wield this sword as if it were tofu…

However, treasures possess a spirit.

The Ruyi Jingu Bang suddenly flashed with golden light, startling Zhu Lie so much that he hurriedly stepped back, shut his mouth, and dared not utter a word.

Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East Sea, stroked his long beard with one hand and put the other behind his back, appearing calm.

However, the tips of his fingers, which were stroking his beard, trembled almost imperceptibly.

He stared at the line of inscriptions on the iron rod, a complex light flashing in his eyes.

This precious iron that stabilizes the sea has been stored in the East Sea for ten thousand years, and only today has it been given its true name, but the one who engraved the name is not its owner!

The implications of this left Ao Guang deeply moved, and he murmured:

"Could this be the will of Heaven?"

The Barefoot Immortal, who had been observing silently, finally stroked his beard and spoke, his voice calm yet tinged with surprise:

"After this staff was named, its precious light became restrained and harmonious, and its spirituality was emanating but not restless."

This is no longer a simple inscription and naming; rather, the True Lord uses his supreme divine power to give it a proper name and define its nature, just as he enlightens and awakens the minds of a child.

Such methods are something I have never seen before in my life.

From this day forward, this Ruyi Jingu Bang (the magic staff) will likely never remain a dormant object again.

The barefoot immortal marveled.

Such extraordinary events even made this carefree immortal, who nominally resided in the Heavenly Court but lived a life of leisure in the mortal world, secretly tremble with fear.

The Great Immortal turned to Chen Jiao and asked with a smile:

"The True Lord used the divine weapon of the Dao Ancestor as a pen to inscribe his name."

But does this mean that the cause and effect of this staff will be intertwined with that of the True Lord from now on?

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao did not reply immediately.

He gazed quietly at the seemingly brand-new Ruyi Jingu Bang, its black iron body reflecting the faint shimmer of water, and the golden hoops at both ends crackling with subtle lightning.

After a long silence, he calmly said:

"Once the name is determined, the conditions will naturally follow."

It is not that I wish to be involved in its cause and effect, but rather that the long-buried mission of this object is only now beginning to unfold.

Chen Jiao stretched out his palm and gently patted the golden cudgel, as if comforting a child.

The golden cudgel suddenly emitted a muffled hum, its body shimmering with golden light, as if it were somewhat reluctant to part.

After a moment's hesitation, a wisp of pure, white-gold energy, as thin as a hair, suddenly emerged from the tip of the rod.

He lowered his gaze slightly and glanced at the golden cudgel.

"Um?"

The tone rose slightly, carrying a hint of unspoken dissatisfaction.

The buzzing of the golden cudgel abruptly stopped, as if a child whose little scheme had been seen through by an elder, and the golden light on the cudgel dimmed slightly.

Finally, as if making a firm decision.

The buzzing of the golden cudgel abruptly stopped, as if a child whose little scheme had been seen through by an elder, and the golden light on the cudgel dimmed slightly.

Finally, as if making a firm decision.

Several soft "pop" sounds rang out from the golden hoop on the head of the staff, like koi spitting bubbles in a pond, as it obediently exhaled two strands of pure innate Geng metal energy.

Three strands of platinum light floated side by side, slowly rotating in front of Chen Jiao, emitting a heart-palpitating innate metal elemental fluctuation.

Upon seeing this, Chen Jiao nodded slightly.

With a flick of his sleeve, he absorbed three strands of innate Geng metal energy into his sleeve.

"Let's go, the time has come."