Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

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"Sleepy Worm!" the Monkey exclaimed with surprise, looking at the insect in Lu Yu's hands.

"You've actually cultivated it," said the Monkey, his tone filled with joy.

The Sleepy Worm was originally won from the Growth King in a bet, but what the Growth King gave him were juvenile worms, which meant they would decrease one by one as they were used.

Ever since the Peach Banquet, the Monkey had taken a particular liking to this Gu Insect, feeling as if it had been custom-made for him, and he loved it dearly. If it weren't for the unique relationship between Lu Yu and the Monkey, he would never have considered parting with the Sleepy Worm.

Now seeing the mature worm in Lu Yu's hands, he naturally knew that Lu Yu had deduced the cultivation method for the Sleepy Worm, and no longer had to worry about running out of them.

"I once came across the technique of cultivating Gu, and with the natural-born Liquor Worm as a reference, it was quite normal to infer the cultivation method for the Sleepy Worm. However, this kind of Gu Insect draws on a person's fatigue. If it drew too much, I feared it might harm the person's very foundation. Therefore, I hadn't been able to cultivate it.

Only recently did I get the opportunity to truly bring it into existence," Lu Yu explained to the Monkey.

"Good Scholar, don't forget what you promised me back then," the Monkey immediately said with a sycophantic smile.

How could Lu Yu not understand the Monkey's character? It was clear that he wanted the Sleepy Worm, but Lu Yu had planned to give it to the Monkey anyway. Now that he had the cultivation method, he could produce more given time. The Monkey was not only a good friend in this world but also a significant figure in his life.

Without the Monkey, there would be no Lu Yu today, so it was fitting to give him a Sleepy Worm.

"It was meant for you," Lu Yu said, handing over the Sleepy Worm. The Monkey took it with great delight, looking at it more and more cheerfully.

"That Growth King is extremely stingy. After winning a few Sleepy Worms from him in a bet, he absolutely refused to give me any more. Now that I have this mother worm, I can finally use them without any worries," said the Monkey, chuckling, as he already planned how to use the Sleepy Worm.

Lu Yu looked at the Monkey without saying anything. He found that sometimes the Monkey seemed as mature as an accomplished Immortal, and at other times like a mischievous child. Perhaps this was what they called a pure heart.

Lu Yu sat down cross-legged next to the Monkey, took out his Wine Gourd, and handed it to him. The two chatted casually and drank together, quite contentedly. However, most of the time, it was Lu Yu speaking while the Monkey listened quietly. After all, being trapped on the Five Elements Mountain meant that aside from cultivation, there wasn't much else he could discuss.

"By the way, do you still remember Golden Cicada?" Lu Yu asked after taking a sip of his drink.

"That Monk who established karma with me." The Monkey seemed to recall something and asked with a smile.

"Yeah."

"I remember, he's a very interesting Monk, completely different from what I had imagined," the Monkey said with a grin, seemingly recalling the carefree Monk.

"You might not like who he is now," Lu Yu said with a light sigh. It was as much for the Monkey as it was for himself; the Golden Cicada of his memories, always smiling, ultimately changed beyond recognition by reincarnation.

"He is a tough character. I admire him," said the Monkey after some thought, his heart filled with respect for such a person, admitting to himself that he could not be so resolute.

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"I wonder when I will be able to break free; I'm starting to miss Huaguo Mountain," the Monkey said suddenly, looking up at the sky.

Lu Yu also raised his head and looked at the sky. Tonight's moon was particularly beautiful. There were no clouds at all, only a full moon hanging on the horizon, casting silver light upon the land.

Lu Yu suddenly understood Monkey. With such a round moon, no wonder Monkey was yearning for Huaguo Mountain. After all, that was his home, the destination of his soul.

At this moment, he didn't know how to comfort his friend and could only silently join him to gaze at the full moon on the horizon.

Meanwhile, the monkeys of Huaguo Mountain were also sitting above the Shuilian Waterfall, staring at the huge full moon over the Eastern Sea. Suddenly, a monkey spoke, "When will the Great King come back? It's been many years; I miss him."

As the sea bore the bright moon, we shared this moment from the ends of the earth.

After saying goodbye to Monkey, Lu Yu set off once again. Kyushu was still in turmoil, but with the merging of fortunes and destinies, there would eventually come a day of unification. Lu Yu didn't want to witness the chaos of these troubled times. Perhaps this was also why many Immortals chose not to emerge into the world.

Divine Skills were no match for fate, and in the face of overwhelming trends, their power was as insignificant as ants, unable to make any difference.

Time flowed on, unaltered by the will of man. All living beings on this land reproduced, grew, fought, and played out a drama that was uniquely their own life's theater.

Numerous heroes came and went, each leaving their own distinct mark upon this land.

After claiming the title of Emperor, Ran Min also sought the Immortal who had once aided him but to no avail. In a corner unknown to the world, a Scholar in a green robe was staring with delight at a wild tea plant. He carefully examined the tea bush's growth and recorded its characteristics, putting aside all worldly distractions.

As time passed, the darkest era on the land of Kyushu gradually came to an end. A divided land eventually unites. As the Sui Dynasty was established, the so-called troubled times finally ended. But the peace didn't last long; within a few years, the world was once again in chaos.

This time, it was a grand age where countless heroes inscribed their legends on this land, building their fame on innumerable bones.

In the end, the powerful Great Tang Dynasty was established, and Li Yuan finally sat upon the throne he had dreamt of, bringing unity once more to the land.

The Li family became the new rulers of this land. As Li Yuan looked upon the majestic rivers and mountains, he felt boundless pride and ambition — this was his world.

However, his brow furrowed slightly, as he had noticed that his sons seemed to have started to struggle amongst themselves. The assertiveness of his second son, Li Shimin, had aroused the jealousy of his eldest son, Li Jiancheng.

As an Emperor, Li Yuan was well-versed in the art of balance. He used the rivalry between his two sons to stabilize his rule. But lately, he felt a sense of foreboding, as if something bad was about to happen. The conflict between his sons was deepening, and Li Yuan felt he was losing control.
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At the same time, Lu Yu once again appeared at Five Elements Mountain to visit the Monkey imprisoned beneath.

After talking with Monkey, he said, "Monkey, after today, it would not be good for me to visit you any longer."

Monkey was stunned by Lu Yu's words, unsure of his intentions. But being as clever as he was, he quickly guessed what was happening and asked with a look of surprise, "Am I going to get out soon?"