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

Inside the South Heavenly Gate.

Enchanted by swirling clouds, the golden steps and jade steps are adorned.

Chen Jiao did not linger. He nodded slightly to the General of Qi Control and Thunder beside him and gave a brief instruction:

"Put him in the Heavenly Prison, keep him under strict guard, and await the Great Heavenly Venerable's decree."

"Your humble servant obeys!"

The General of Qi-Gathering and Thunder-Summoning received the order with clasped hands, his voice like muffled thunder.

He turned around, waved his hand, and the Thunder Generals escorted the four constellations, transforming into a beam of chilling lightning, heading straight for the Heavenly Prison.

Chen Jiao then turned to Zhu Lie, the Marshal of the Tianhe Navy, and said calmly:

"Marshal Zhu, please accompany me on a journey to the Milky Way to return this essence of the Weak Water to its rightful place."

Zhu Lie quickly straightened his slightly askew armor, a smile spreading across his face:

"I humbly obey the True Lord's decree! I, Old Zhu, will guide the True Lord!"

The two rode on clouds, leaving the South Heavenly Gate and heading towards the Milky Way.

Zhu Lie rode a cloud in front of Chen Jiao, stealing a glance at the black-robed True Lord beside him.

Seeing that his expression was calm and there was no trace of the fierceness he had shown when he suppressed the Star Lord, his heart began to stir.

He rubbed his hands together, trying to find a topic of conversation:

"The True Lord's descent to the mortal realm to quell the rebellion this time has demonstrated his great supernatural powers, which I, Old Zhu, admire to the point of prostration."

Speaking of which, it was thanks to Your Excellency, the True Lord, that the essence of the Weak Water was personally delivered to the Milky Way and entrusted to this humble general for guarding.

I, Lao Zhu, have always been diligent and conscientious, and I dare not slack off in the slightest.

Looking back now, it feels like it was just yesterday…

Chen Jiaoyun's gaze did not cease; he looked towards the Milky Way.

Upon hearing this, he simply chuckled.

Just as Zhu Lie thought he wouldn't respond, Chen Jiao's calm and even voice drifted over like a cold breeze:

"Oh?"

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes glancing at Zhu Lie's frozen smile out of the corner of his eye:

"Since he is so diligent..."

How did the essence of the Weak Water end up in the mortal realm?

Zhu Lie's smile vanished instantly, and beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

In an instant, countless images flashed through Zhu Lie's mind.

At that time, celestial officials would often hold banquets under various pretexts to invite him, the Marshal of the Heavenly River, to attend.

The banquet featured exquisite wines and delicacies, as well as celestial maidens dancing. With a gentle touch, her eyes sparkling, how captivating...

He often got quite drunk, and inevitably became somewhat lax in his duty to guard the Weak Water.

Zhu Lie felt a chill run down his spine upon reflection, and opened his mouth, wanting to offer a few words of explanation.

But then he met Zhenjun's unfathomable eyes.

All his words caught in his throat, finally turning into a few dry, awkward laughs. He quickly lowered his head and stammered:

"It was my dereliction of duty that led to this failure to take precautions. I will certainly reflect deeply on this and be more vigilant in the future."

Chen Jiao didn't look at him, his gaze turning to the increasingly vast expanse of the Milky Way ahead, his voice remaining calm:

"Your deployment of the navy to resist the Weak Water has indeed been quite arduous."

Zhu Lie was about to breathe a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

But Chen Jiao's tone suddenly shifted, turning icy cold:

"However, the crime of dereliction of duty is ultimately difficult to forgive! I hope you will take heed and refrain from making a grave mistake in the future..."

Chen Jiao turned his head, his eyes deep and cold:

"It prompted the Lei family to personally take action."

The last four words struck Zhu Lie's heart like four thunderbolts.

He trembled violently, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt down on the cloud.

It was as if one could already see the terrifying scene of the generals of Huangtian Shu Leifu descending upon the commander's mansion, wielding golden whips and thunder locks.

His face turned deathly pale instantly, and he quickly bowed and said:

"This humble general will remember, remember the True Lord's teachings! I will never dare to be negligent in the slightest again!"

Chen Jiao ignored him and said that was all he had to say.

After walking for only a short while, they arrived at the banks of the Milky Way.

Before me stretched a vast and boundless river, flowing silently, like a giant jade ribbon stretching across the boundless heavens.

The Milky Way is unlike any river on earth; its waters seem to be adorned with countless stars, radiating a gentle yet magnificent spiritual energy.

As Chen Jiao and Zhu Lie arrived on clouds, a patrol naval force rushed over from a short distance away.

The leading general was dressed in silver armor and held a long spear.

Upon seeing the two individuals, especially the figure in black robes in front, their expressions tightened, and they quickly led the group in bowing respectfully, their voices ringing out in unison:

"Greetings, True Lord! Greetings, Marshal!"

Zhu Lie waved his hand, signaling them to step aside and stand guard.

As the sky began to clear, Chen Jiao took out the essence of the Weak Water and flicked it lightly with his fingertip.

The light shimmered and then transformed into a wisp of smoke.

Amidst the swirling smoke and clouds, a woman with a slender figure quietly appeared before everyone's eyes.

Her eyes were cool and aloof, and though she wore no makeup, they were naturally full of affection.

His gaze seemed to hold a mist that had never dissipated for a thousand years, a gentleness tinged with an inescapable sorrow.

Unlike ordinary mortals, she is a fairy from the water.

The Water Fairy stood barefoot on the cold banks of the Milky Way, gazing at this place she once knew so well, yet had been forced to leave, and remained silent for a long time.

The river was calm and still, with no fish or dragons leaping or aquatic creatures frolicking. Apart from the eternally floating and sinking starlight, there was no sign of any living thing.

An indescribable sense of loneliness quietly crept into my heart.

The Water Fairy gently raised her almost transparent hand, as if she wanted to touch it, but her fingertips trembled slightly before touching the water, and then slowly lowered.

"I'm back..."

She murmured softly, her voice so ethereal it seemed to dissipate into the boundless silence.

"The Milky Way is still the same as before, still as cold as ever."

"There are no fish frolicking, no water plants swaying, not even a warm stone."

She stretched out her slender finger and pointed to the cold, shimmering spots in the river:

"Only these stars, they shine and then fade, fade and then shine again, and after thousands of years... it's still the same scene."

Chen Jiao stood silently to the side, neither urging nor speaking, but also gazing at this ancient and silent starry river.

Zhu Lie stood half a step behind Zhenjun, but his eyes couldn't help but glance at the Weak Water Fairy standing by the water.

That delicate fragility within the aloofness, that tenderness within the sorrow, caused the lazy and lecherous Tianhe Water General's heart to tremble inexplicably, as if he had been gently tickled by a feather.

Zhu Lie asked, "Is the fairy the spirit of the Weak Water?"

I, Old Zhu, patrol the river frequently, how come I've never seen a fairy here?

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Jiao gave him a cold glance.

Zhu Lie suddenly felt his whole body stiffen, as if a thunderbolt was held to his neck, and his soul almost trembled.

He quickly shrank back, took a few steps back sheepishly, lowered his head, and dared not look at it again.

He couldn't help but lightly slap his own mouth, inwardly cursing himself for being too talkative.

But the Water Fairy didn't even glance at him.

She gazed at Chen Jiao silently, as if Zhu Lie were merely an insignificant breeze.

After a moment of silence, her ethereal voice rang out again:

"True Lord".

"Now that I've parted ways with that person today, is there ever... a time when we'll meet again?"

Her voice was soft, carrying an indescribable sense of melancholy, as if she were asking a question, or perhaps talking to herself.

Looking down towards the lower realm, it seemed as if one could pierce through layers of clouds and see the figure in black robes holding a ruler.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao's dark robe sleeves twitched slightly in the starlight.

He looked at the fairy before him, who was born from the most yin and turbid water, yet exuded such pure emotions. His deep eyes remained unmoved.

The Milky Way flows silently beneath my feet, reflecting the eternal stars.

After a few breaths, Chen Jiao spoke calmly, his voice utterly still:

"The arising and ceasing of conditions are determined by Heaven."

…………

The matter of the Milky Way is settled.

The riverbank has returned to its ancient silence.

The starlight, like water, flowed across the boundless river, making Chen Jiao's figure in his black robe appear even more profound.

He was about to turn around and ride the clouds back to the Thunder Palace of the Radiant Sky Pivot.

Suddenly, a silver light leaped towards them from afar, moving at a considerable speed.

Upon closer inspection, it was revealed to be a boy with his hair styled in two buns, dressed in a silver-threaded Taoist robe, with delicate features and a pair of bright, lively eyes.

He skipped and hopped along the Xingsha Path by the Milky Way.

It was none other than the Silver Horned Boy under the tutelage of the Supreme Dao Ancestor.

As the Silver Horned Boy approached, his large, dark eyes glanced around among the solemnly standing heavenly generals before settling his gaze on the True Lord.

He grinned, revealing two canine teeth, strode forward, and gave a proper kowtow, his voice clear and crisp:

"This humble servant, Silver Horn, has come to pay homage to the True Lord by order of the Master!"

Zhu Lie, watching from the side, found it fascinating and muttered under his breath:

"Huh? That's strange!"

This silver-horned boy usually stays in the Tushita Palace and rarely leaves his quarters. How could he recognize the True Lord at a glance? Could it be that he has met him before?

Silver Horned Boy, with his extremely sharp ears, turned around upon hearing the sound, grinned at Zhu Lie with a hint of childish smugness:

Marshal Zhu Lie is unaware of this.

Before I came, my senior brother Jinjiao specifically gave me some instructions!

He imitated his senior brother, shaking his head and repeating:

"My senior brother warned me that if I arrived at the banks of the Milky Way and saw heavenly soldiers and generals gathered together, I wouldn't be able to recognize which one was the Radiant Heavenly Peaceful Law True Lord..."

The boy paused, then extended a finger, pointing it at the True Lord, his eyes sparkling:

"Then you should look carefully."

Among them, the one with the most refined and extraordinary bearing, standing out from the crowd at first glance... well... like the one standing atop a towering snow-capped peak, feeling the biting wind, is undoubtedly the True Lord!

After saying that, Silver Horned Boy chuckled twice, then quickly covered his mouth and secretly glanced at True Lord.

His words sounded innocent and naive, yet they made the surrounding heavenly soldiers and generals' lips twitch slightly. They wanted to laugh but dared not laugh out loud, so they could only try their best to keep their faces tight.

Even Chen Jiao, who always had a cold and stern expression, raised his eyebrows almost imperceptibly upon hearing this.

In fact, when the Golden Horned Boy patted him on the shoulder, he said the following:

"Junior brother, remember this well!"

If there are too many people and you can't recognize them, find the one with the coldest eyes, who stands there like a block of ice, and even immortals and gods dare not breathe loudly beside him.

Even a glance from someone of our cultivation level would make our calves tremble...

It must be the True Lord. Don't mistake him for someone else!

Silver Horn would naturally not dare to say such a description verbatim.

I had no choice but to rack my brains and carefully embellish my senior brother Jinjiao's heartfelt words.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao simply smiled calmly and asked:

"Has the celestial child come here? Does the Dao Ancestor have something to discuss with me?"

Silver Horned Boy quickly suppressed his smile, bowed respectfully again, and said solemnly:

"Reporting to the True Lord, my master has requested that you come to the palace for a discussion."

"I'm back..."

She murmured softly, her voice so ethereal it seemed to dissipate into the boundless silence.

"The Milky Way is still the same as before, still as cold as ever."

"There are no fish frolicking, no water plants swaying, not even a warm stone."

She stretched out her slender finger and pointed to the cold, shimmering spots in the river:

"Only these stars, they shine and then fade, fade and then shine again, and after thousands of years... it's still the same scene."

Chen Jiao stood silently to the side, neither urging nor speaking, but also gazing at this ancient and silent starry river.

Zhu Lie stood half a step behind Zhenjun, but his eyes couldn't help but glance at the Weak Water Fairy standing by the water.

That delicate fragility within the aloofness, that tenderness within the sorrow, caused the lazy and lecherous Tianhe Water General's heart to tremble inexplicably, as if he had been gently tickled by a feather.

Zhu Lie asked, "Is the fairy the spirit of the Weak Water?"

I, Old Zhu, patrol the river frequently, how come I've never seen a fairy here?

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Jiao gave him a cold glance.

Zhu Lie suddenly felt his whole body stiffen, as if a thunderbolt was held to his neck, and his soul almost trembled.

He quickly shrank back, took a few steps back sheepishly, lowered his head, and dared not look at it again.

He couldn't help but lightly slap his own mouth, inwardly cursing himself for being too talkative.

But the Water Fairy didn't even glance at him.

She gazed at Chen Jiao silently, as if Zhu Lie were merely an insignificant breeze.

After a moment of silence, her ethereal voice rang out again:

"True Lord".

"Now that I've parted ways with that person today, is there ever... a time when we'll meet again?"

Her voice was soft, carrying an indescribable sense of melancholy, as if she were asking a question, or perhaps talking to herself.

Looking down towards the lower realm, it seemed as if one could pierce through layers of clouds and see the figure in black robes holding a ruler.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao's dark robe sleeves twitched slightly in the starlight.

He looked at the fairy before him, who was born from the most yin and turbid water, yet exuded such pure emotions. His deep eyes remained unmoved.

The Milky Way flows silently beneath my feet, reflecting the eternal stars.

After a few breaths, Chen Jiao spoke calmly, his voice utterly still:

"The arising and ceasing of conditions are determined by Heaven."

…………

The matter of the Milky Way is settled.

The riverbank has returned to its ancient silence.

The starlight, like water, flowed across the boundless river, making Chen Jiao's figure in his black robe appear even more profound.

He was about to turn around and ride the clouds back to the Thunder Palace of the Radiant Sky Pivot.

Suddenly, a silver light leaped towards them from afar, moving at a considerable speed.

Upon closer inspection, it was revealed to be a boy with his hair styled in two buns, dressed in a silver-threaded Taoist robe, with delicate features and a pair of bright, lively eyes.

He skipped and hopped along the Xingsha Path by the Milky Way.

It was none other than the Silver Horned Boy under the tutelage of the Supreme Dao Ancestor.

As the Silver Horned Boy approached, his large, dark eyes glanced around among the solemnly standing heavenly generals before settling his gaze on the True Lord.

He grinned, revealing two canine teeth, strode forward, and gave a proper kowtow, his voice clear and crisp:

"This humble servant, Silver Horn, has come to pay homage to the True Lord by order of the Master!"

Zhu Lie, watching from the side, found it fascinating and muttered under his breath:

"Huh? That's strange!"

This silver-horned boy usually stays in the Tushita Palace and rarely leaves his quarters. How could he recognize the True Lord at a glance? Could it be that he has met him before?

Silver Horned Boy, with his extremely sharp ears, turned around upon hearing the sound, grinned at Zhu Lie with a hint of childish smugness:

Marshal Zhu Lie is unaware of this.

Before I came, my senior brother Jinjiao specifically gave me some instructions!

He imitated his senior brother, shaking his head and repeating:

"My senior brother warned me that if I arrived at the banks of the Milky Way and saw heavenly soldiers and generals gathered together, I wouldn't be able to recognize which one was the Radiant Heavenly Peaceful Law True Lord..."

The boy paused, then extended a finger, pointing it at the True Lord, his eyes sparkling:

"Then you should look carefully."

Among them, the one with the most refined and extraordinary bearing, standing out from the crowd at first glance... well... like the one standing atop a towering snow-capped peak, feeling the biting wind, is undoubtedly the True Lord!

After saying that, Silver Horned Boy chuckled twice, then quickly covered his mouth and secretly glanced at True Lord.

His words sounded innocent and naive, yet they made the surrounding heavenly soldiers and generals' lips twitch slightly. They wanted to laugh but dared not laugh out loud, so they could only try their best to keep their faces tight.

Even Chen Jiao, who always had a cold and stern expression, raised his eyebrows almost imperceptibly upon hearing this.

In fact, when the Golden Horned Boy patted him on the shoulder, he said the following:

"Junior brother, remember this well!"

If there are too many people and you can't recognize them, find the one with the coldest eyes, who stands there like a block of ice, and even immortals and gods dare not breathe loudly beside him.

Even a glance from someone of our cultivation level would make our calves tremble...

It must be the True Lord. Don't mistake him for someone else!

Silver Horn would naturally not dare to say such a description verbatim.

I had no choice but to rack my brains and carefully embellish my senior brother Jinjiao's heartfelt words.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao simply smiled calmly and asked:

"Has the celestial child come here? Does the Dao Ancestor have something to discuss with me?"

Silver Horned Boy quickly suppressed his smile, bowed respectfully again, and said solemnly:

"Reporting to the True Lord, my master has requested that you come to the palace for a discussion."