Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

Lu Yu's consciousness returned to his body, facing the land that had become somewhat empty, he smiled.

The Treasure Vase hung in the air, releasing a dazzling blue brilliance, as if an expanse of Wang Yang had descended upon this place, making Wood Immortal Hermitage seem illusory, as if it was draped in a thin layer of water curtain.

It was deep into the night by then, a silver moon hung high in the sky, casting down its silver gleam onto the water curtain. The water curtain gently swayed and gradually merged into the heaven and earth.

Lu Yu's figure also gradually faded, eventually disappearing without a trace. Shortly after, seven towering trees suddenly sprang up from the ground, lined up in an impressive manner.

Soon, figures walked out from the trees, the first to appear was Elder Eighteen, who, with a bow and a smile, said, "Fellow Daoists, if not now, when?"

"Elder Eighteen speaks sensibly." Upon this voice, figures also emerged from the other trees, among them were Gu Zhigong, Ling Kongzi, and Master Skyward, who had previously perished under fierce flames.

Following that, a female voice rang out, clear and melodious: "Fellow Daoists, enjoy yourselves freely!" It was indeed Xing Xian.

The four elders pointed at Xing Xian and said, "Good Fairy, just something is missing."

Xing Xian smiled slightly and with a gentle point, two girls in green attire appeared out of nowhere, landing beside Xing Xian, standing respectfully.
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"Haha, that's more like it!" Elder Eighteen clapped his hands and laughed.

The group slowly walked toward the cliff inscribed with 'Wood Immortal Hermitage,' entering into the Cave Heaven, looked at the already messy cave dwelling, exchanged smiles, and with their mana, they moved soil, planted trees, repaired paths and restored houses. Soon, they had returned the cave dwelling to its former state. The four sat in the previously existing pavilion, still discussing the heavens, speaking of the Dao and mysteries, as if nothing had happened.

While talking, Elder Eighteen suddenly caressed his beard and said, "Speaking of which, the legendary Tang Monk seems to be arriving soon."

"Who is Tang Monk?" Ling Kongzi asked with interest.

"He is a Holy Monk sent by the Great Tang of the Eastern Land to the Western Heaven to worship Buddhism and seek scriptures. It is rumored that he is a virtuous person who has practiced for ten lifetimes, and eating his flesh grants eternal life," Elder Eighteen said with a laugh.

Then his face showed a puzzled expression: "Strange, how do I know this."

However, his confusion was quickly forgotten, and the others around didn't seem to have heard it and continued talking, making the situation seem very strange.

"We, who have long lives, why bother meddling in these muddy waters!" Gu Zhigong said indifferently, clearly not very interested in the matter.

"I've heard that the Great Tang of the Eastern Land is a revered and prosperous country, a place where culture thrives in the Three Realms. That Holy Monk is also a paragon among men. I am keen on making his acquaintance, and see the elegance of a great country," Elder Eighteen said gently after sipping his tea.

"Oh! That sounds good. We, who have lived in the deep mountains for long, indeed haven't encountered such a personable figure. It would be regrettable not to meet him," Master Skyward also took interest.

"Now that you mention it, I too am quite interested in this Holy Monk. I hope to meet him when the time comes," Xing Xian interjected.

The group suddenly burst into laughter, "Naturally, we couldn't do it without you."

At this point, the few of them suddenly froze in mid-air, their expressions unchanged, as if time had become solidified. It was at this moment that a shadow of the Treasure Vase appeared above their heads, surrounded by an illusory ocean, encompassing the vast sky of stars and the silver moon, all shimmering with light.

The light flickered and vanished, and the shadow of the Treasure Vase gradually dissipated, as if puppets, the group suddenly revived with vitality and energy. It was then Xing Xian's turn to be puzzled, "I always feel like something just happened."

The others laughed and said, "The Fairy might be overthinking it, we've been here all along, with no incidents."

Xing Xian frowned slightly and muttered to herself, "Could it be just my imagination?" Shaking her head, she decided to disregard the matter and soon, they resumed their lively conversation.

Wood Immortal Hermitage remained the same as before, inhabited by the same people, but their way of life had undergone drastic changes. Yet, the strangest part was that these people felt no difference; in their memories, they had been living here for endless years.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Land Holy Monk, whom this group was concerned about, wasn't having an easy time. Determined to worship at the Mini Thunderclap Temple, he was trapped by a Demon and now bound deep within a cave, along with Bajie and Sand Monk.

"Ah! Since I left Eastern Land, who knows how many ages have passed. I've confronted mountains and encountered monsters, faced water and met demons, travelled through hardship—when will we ever reach Western Heaven?" Tang Monk sighed softly.

Bajie, on the other hand, laughed, "Master, Buddhism often says, 'see your nature to understand your mind'; if you can see yourself, Mount Ling is right under your feet. If not, even reaching Mount Ling would be in vain."

Tang Monk looked at Bajie surprisingly. If these words had come from his eldest disciple, he wouldn't have been surprised, but hearing them from Bajie, who was normally only known for his cunning, was a big shock.

"Bajie has made great progress in Buddhism recently!" Tang Monk exclaimed in admiration.

Bajie remained silent, thinking to himself, "With the scriptures at hand, constantly reflecting upon them, if one couldn't comprehend anything, then the treasures of heaven and earth would be wasted."

Recently, Bajie, holding the scriptures, had been pondering with Sand Monk and had many insights; his Mana and mental state had improved rapidly, and hearing Tang Monk's thoughtful words, he had inadvertently blurted them out without holding back.

"I wonder how Wukong is doing and when he can come to rescue us!" Tang Monk sighed softly.

"Master, just keep your mind at ease. Brother Monkey, with his broad Divine Skills and network, will naturally be able to rescue us. You just sit here and meditate, consider it your daily practice," Bajie reassured with a smile.

But he thought to himself, if anything serious happened to Tang Monk, that would be the biggest joke under the heavens. With All Saints guarding and protecting him, who would dare harm him? It's only because Tang Monk lost his True Spirit that he forgot his past, or he wouldn't be in this predicament. He had heard of the character of Golden Cicada, who was quite troublesome within Buddhism, indeed the Chaos Demon King.

Hearing Bajie's reassurance, Tang Monk felt a hint of safety and decided not to worry anymore; he closed his eyes tightly and silently recited the Heart Sutra taught to him by Master of the Black Nest.

Unbeknownst to them, to rescue Tang Monk, a storm had broken out outside. Monkey had mobilized numerous reinforcements, but unfortunately, the Demon had used a magical sack to capture all the Heavenly Court's warriors and Star Lords together, and was currently triumphantly returning to his abode.

In the distant sky, Maitreya and Precious Moonlight Buddha quietly watched everything occurring below.