ragginovel Chapter 3 Pilgrimage
Chapter 3 Pilgrimage
"Fellow Daoist, please!"
The Jiazi God General invited Chen Xuan to heaven to receive his investiture.
But as he looked up at the towering cloud bed, he hesitated, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.
It wasn't that he changed his mind at the last minute and didn't want to go to heaven.
Rather, he is currently only at the Earth Immortal level, with meager cultivation. Although he is a terrestrial immortal with the ability to cut through rivers with a single finger, he only knows the shallow art of "climbing clouds" and does not understand the method of riding the clouds.
"Fellow Daoist, please come again!"
After a moment of stunned silence, seemingly noticing Chen Xuan's predicament, Jiazi Divine General Wang Wenqing cast a spell, separating the auspicious cloud beneath his feet and lifting Chen Xuan up.
"You flatter me."
Chen Xuan just smiled awkwardly and then went up to heaven with the group of gods.
……
Not long after.
Upon first ascending to the heavens, one feels as if entering paradise.
But then I saw golden rays rolling in red, and auspicious clouds spraying purple mist.
Chen Xuan was thoroughly entertained and his horizons were broadened.
Looking out, one sees the South Heavenly Gate, made of deep blue glass and adorned with bright, precious jade.
On both sides stood dozens of generals, each a pillar of strength, holding a halberd and a banner; below them were a dozen or so golden-armored gods, each wielding a halberd, whip, knife, or sword.
The South Heavenly Gate was built of glazed tiles and precious jade, with bright colors, and was guarded by a large number of heavenly soldiers and generals, including the Four Heavenly Kings and the four brothers of the Demon Clan, showing the majesty of the Heavenly Court.
Among them, a vast and ethereal celestial figure particularly caught the eye, causing the Jiazi Divine General to feel a chill in his heart upon seeing it.
"Grand Master Xuandu? What brings him here..."
General Wang Wenqing frowned slightly and murmured.
"Grand Master Xuandu?"
Chen Xuan was no stranger to this person.
This is the chief disciple of the Sage of Taiqing, the only direct disciple of the Human Sect, and one of the most powerful beings in the world—the Grand Master Xuandu!
According to seniority, even if the current Buddha, the Tathagata Prabhutaratna, met him, he would still respectfully address him as "Senior Brother"!
Chen Xuan had no idea why the Grand Master Xuandu, who was not cultivating in the Eight Views Palace, had suddenly come to the Heavenly Court.
Unexpectedly.
Chen Xuan never expected that Grand Master Xuandu's rare appearance in the Heavenly Court was specifically aimed at him.
"Greetings, General Jiazi."
Upon seeing Chen Xuan, Grand Master Xuandu's eyes flashed with a spiritual light. He quickly stepped forward, stopped the twelve divine generals, and bowed with a smile, saying, "I was ordered by my master to come and find this boy to report to the Eight Views Palace. Unexpectedly, he was brought to heaven by you divine generals. Please do me a favor and allow me to take him on a pilgrimage."
Now, this Grand Master Xuandu wore a nine-ridged Taoist crown, with bright pearls reflecting off his eyebrows. His face was like jade, his eyes like bright stars, and he was gentle and kind.
However, his manner of speaking was extremely intimidating, leaving no one daring to disobey.
Geek!
These words were spoken.
The gods turned pale.
Chen Xuan felt a chill run down his spine. "Oh no, is he coming for me?!"
……
"Reporting back to the Grand Master, this...is putting me in a difficult position..."
The Jiazi God General gave a bitter smile, hesitated to speak, afraid of displeasing the other party, and remained trembling with fear.
He was genuinely afraid that the Grand Master Xuandu would suddenly say, "Difficult to handle? If it's difficult, then let's not do it!"
"It's alright. After I report back to my master, I'll have Fellow Daoist Chen Xuan go to the Lingxiao Palace to meet the Great Heavenly Venerable. Is that alright?"
Grand Master Xuandu smiled again, his smile kind and approachable.
The Jiazi God General nodded, clasped his hands in a salute, and then led the other gods to the Lingxiao Palace to report back.
Left standing there, only the Four Heavenly Kings and a group of gatekeepers stared at each other, bewildered.
No, Chen Xuan is just a mere Earth Immortal. What merit or ability does he have to first gain the favor of the Jade Emperor, and then have the Grand Master Xuandu, a disciple of the Sage of Taiqing, personally visit him and block his way to demand his return?
Weird!
--------
Thus, Chen Xuan, who was completely bewildered throughout the entire process, had no choice but to accompany Grand Master Xuandu to the Eight Views Palace for pilgrimage.
Throughout the journey, Chen Xuan pondered a question:
Why would the Supreme Saint, the head of the Six Saints, appoint the Grand Master Xuandu to lead him on a pilgrimage?
We can't just...
Let's use him to refine pills!
hiss--
That can't be!
He hadn't even figured out the Jade Emperor's offer of amnesty yet, and now this added trouble, which made Chen Xuan very distressed.
Seriously, what kind of tricks are these Journey to the West bigwigs up to?!
The might of Heaven is like a prison, and the heart of the sage is like an abyss; nothing could be more fitting!
"Fellow Daoist Chen Xuan, although your origins belong to the demon race, you are the most benevolent Yi Wood spirit who has transformed and attained the Dao. The method you cultivate is also the power of my Daoist school, full of righteous energy, clear and upright. Fellow Daoist... you truly have profound blessings."
Along the way, Grand Master Xuandu noticed that Chen Xuan seemed preoccupied and had some concerns, so he quickly softened his tone and spoke.
The words conveyed goodwill and appreciation, which reassured Chen Xuan considerably.
Perhaps he could pry something out of Grand Master Xuandu.
"You flatter me, senior," Chen Xuan first bowed in return, then tentatively asked, "May I ask, senior, the Supreme Saint is the leader of the Six Saints and the chief disciple of the Dao Ancestor. Why would such a great being summon me, a newly formed spirit of grass and trees? Or perhaps... a little demon?"
Grand Master Xuandu smiled and said kindly, "Your holy heart is as deep as an abyss; I cannot fathom it, nor would I dare to. Everything will naturally become clear once I see my master."
Unable to get a clear answer, Chen Xuan had no choice but to give up in frustration.
It is said that the Eight Views Palace stands atop the Thirty-Three Heavens.
Layer upon layer of magnificent palaces and pavilions, their glazed tiles shimmering with iridescent colors amidst the clouds.
In the center of the hall stands a majestic three-legged purple flame alchemy furnace, its body engraved with innate Dao patterns. With the lid slightly ajar, a wisp of azure-gold divine fire rises into the air, sometimes transforming into a dragon, sometimes condensing into a lotus flower, illuminating the hall brightly.
The air was filled with the fragrance of cinnabar and ethereal mist, which made one feel serene and tranquil.
A magical lamp, named the Eight Views Palace Lamp, hangs on one side.
The lamp body is neither jade nor gold, and the wick is an innate, inextinguishable divine flame. The light is soft yet illuminates the entire sky, and the lamp shadows sway, reflecting mountains, rivers, and stars.
Beneath the palace lantern, a green ox with horns lies quietly beside a cloud-shaped couch. Its horns are like jade, its hair like flowing clouds, and its aura is as steady as a mountain.
"This is... one of the four great divine lamps of the primordial world—the Eight Scenery Palace Lamp! And... the sage's mount from the original Journey to the West—the One-Horned Rhinoceros King—the Blue Ox with Flat Horns!"
Upon seeing what was before him, Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow, his eyes widening once again.
Let's not even talk about that top-grade innate spiritual treasure.
Let's talk about that blue ox...
This is a powerful being capable of fighting Sun Wukong for hundreds of rounds.
The monkey, unable to subdue the ox, mobilized a large force of heavenly reinforcements, but all his efforts were in vain.
While we can't rule out the possibility of some 'acting' involved, the fact that it could become a saint's mount suggests it must have some merit!
Although Chen Xuan, who was at the Earth Immortal level, couldn't see through the opponent's strength, he could feel a powerful sense of oppression coming from in front of the Green Ox with Horned Horn.
I couldn't breathe!
"Green Ox greets Senior Brother Xuandu!"
The green ox, who had been lazily taking a break just a moment ago, immediately stood up and nodded in respect upon seeing the arrival of Grand Master Xuandu.
"Yes, Niu Niu, you've worked hard."
"It's not hard work!"
……
After a brief exchange, the Green Ox with horns watched Grand Master Xuandu enter the hall, only glancing at Chen Xuan briefly before turning back to lie on the ground and snoring.
"Disciple greets Master. Fellow Daoist Chen Xuan has arrived. Disciple takes his leave."
He led Chen Xuan into the main hall, bowed, and then took his leave.
Only Chen Xuan remained.
And an elderly man in his eighties sitting with his back to the alchemy furnace.
The old man was barefoot, dressed in a Taoist robe with the Bagua symbol, and his hair was combed into a Taoist bun tied up with a wooden branch. Although he was languid, he still exuded an air of otherworldly elegance.
It inexplicably commands respect!
"Chen Xuan, a demon immortal from the lower realm, pays respects to the Sage Taiqing!"
Chen Xuan quickly bowed and greeted them, showing utmost respect while also feeling a little nervous.
After all, this is a living embodiment of the Three Pure Ones!
Moreover, he is the first of the Three Pure Ones, the Supreme Pure Moral Heavenly Venerable!
The foremost of the Six Sages of Heaven and Earth!
It wasn't the clay sculpture enshrined in the Taoist temple in his previous life!
Even though it was just a clay sculpture, Chen Xuan had to kneel and perform a grand ceremony when he went to the Taoist temple to offer incense, let alone now that he had seen the real person.
and so……
How could he not be excited!
"To have forged a foundation of chaotic Dao with a demonic body... and to possess the Xuan Tian Treasure Mirror, a supreme treasure of the Daoist sect... Hmm, indeed impressive!"
The vast and profound sound of the sage suddenly echoed, its sound resonating like the grand and resonant tones of a great bell, lingering endlessly.
Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan felt his Dao heart tremble, his expression turning solemn: "The Chaos Dao Foundation?! A supreme treasure of the Dao Sect?! Am I... really that awesome??? Hiss—"