Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

Lu Yu glanced at Xuan Yue, said nothing, and instead walked steadily towards the spring.

Seeing this, Xuan Yue couldn't help but puff up her cheeks in annoyance. This guy had always been like this. She then dutifully followed behind Lu Yu.

Lu Yu slowly approached the spring and gently pointed with his hand. The calm water suddenly boiled furiously, churning incessantly.

As Xuan Yue watched in astonished silence, a large door made of green stone slowly rose from the water. The thick stone door seemed to be etched with magical patterns,

"This…" Xuan Yue had never seen such a magical scene and was so surprised she couldn't speak. At the same time, she felt incredibly fortunate to have followed Lu Yu; otherwise, she would have never found this place.

However, Lu Yu did not rush to push the stone door open but instead examined the patterns on it with great interest.

Seeing this, Xuan Yue couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's wrong? Is there something amiss with the stone door?"

"Nothing much, it's just that I find these restrictions quite interesting. It seems that the cultivator who set them was a rare genius," Lu Yu said because these Restrictions were entirely different from the popular ones known to the world at present, with a strong personal touch. It was clear that the person who had set up the restrictions was a genius in the art of Formation; a pity that he died here.

Lu Yu sighed softly and flicked his sleeve gently. The restrictions seemed to be wiped away, disappearing without a trace. Only then did he step forward and slowly push open the stone door.

The heavy stone door made a creaking sound as sunlight streamed through the opening, illuminating this space untouched by anyone for who knows how many years.

To Xuan Yue's surprise, despite having been sealed for countless years, the space had no hint of decay but instead was filled with a fresh fragrance.

Step by step, Xuan Yue followed closely behind Lu Yu, carefully observing the surroundings. After passing through a long corridor, a spacious cave dwelling came into view.

There were stone stools and tables, a huge Alchemy Furnace, and several bookshelves with Jade Talismans and books on them. There was a cushion woven from some grass placed in the center of the cave, facing the Alchemy Furnace.

Even after so many years, not a speck of dust had settled in the cave, and there was not the slightest unpleasant smell in the air. Instead, there was a scent of medicinal herbs that, despite the passage of years, still lingered throughout the cave.

Lu Yu carefully looked around and sighed softly, "It seems this person was not someone who committed great evils. The events of the past are probably more complicated."

From one part, one can glean the whole; through the layout of the cave, Lu Yu could surmise that its owner was likely a person indifferent to fame and fortune, immersed in the pursuit of cultivation.

On a stone bed not far away, there was a seated skeletal figure with a golden arrow feather quietly placed beside it, radiating a brilliant light.

The moment Xuan Yue saw the arrow feather, she knew it was the object she had been tirelessly searching for, the National Treasure of the Kingdom of Women mentioned in the books.

Lu Yu was also very surprised as he looked at the arrow feather with a scorching breath being released from above. Opening his Dharma Eye, he seemed to have seen the remnant soul of the Golden Crow wailing within the arrow feathers.

"Could this be the legendary arrow feather used by Hou Yi to shoot the sun?" Lu Yu speculated in his heart.

Just at that moment, a burst of laughter suddenly came from outside the cave, and a man wearing a black robe with a blind right eye appeared, accompanied by a beautiful lady in splendid attire, at the entrance of the cave.

"Haha, my dear fellow disciple, you've hidden for so many years, yet I've still found you. Xuan Yue, my dear girl, you are indeed the fated person I deduced, and you've actually managed to find this place."

Xuan Yue, however, looked at the arriving woman in shock, her tone filled with disbelief as she asked, "Teacher, how could it be you?"

In her memory, her teacher was glamorous and scholarly, a famous sage in the Kingdom of Women, and very passionate and generous, especially patient toward the children.

The legends she knew were mostly from her teacher's mouth. In her eyes, her teacher was the person who opened the doors to the world for her. Therefore, when she saw her teacher appearing in the cave with a man, her shock was unimaginable.

The woman sighed lightly and said, "Xuan Yue, I deliberately let you see that ancient book. Watching you grow up, I naturally know your personality. As long as you knew the tale and discovered that the prime minister harbored betrayal in his heart, you would certainly think of this treasure since you've always wanted to prove your capability to your sister."

"Therefore, I left the map of this place for you and secretly assisted you in leaving the Imperial Palace, just so you could successfully locate the Cave Heaven, for Yuan Hao's divination showed that you are the key to unlocking it."

"Why, Teacher, why would you do this?" Xuan Yue asked, puzzled.

"Because I want to see the world outside. Xuan Yue, do you know that our Kingdom of Women is merely a small Cave Heaven created by an immortal? Out there is a vast world, while we are forever trapped here, caged like birds, never seeing the view outside."

"As I pursued knowledge relentlessly and ultimately learned everything, the longing for freedom filled my heart. I should be a free bird; the blue sky is my destiny, not being confined to this tiny space, living aimlessly."

"Later, I met Yuan Hao, who told me about the outside world. Such a desirable world, with women and men who can marry and have children, leading a happy life, and not having to drink that cursed River of Mother and Child and giving birth to those inexplicable children."

"To break this cage, our power alone is not enough; only the legendary national treasure has the ability to open up space. Therefore, only by finding the national treasure can I achieve my wish and gain true freedom."

While the two were conversing, the man named Yuan Hao had already walked to the front of the skeleton and grabbed the golden arrow feather radiating a fiery aura.

"Fellow disciple, fellow disciple, you actually refused to let me have this treasure even in death. However, fate makes fools of people, and now your junior disciple has obtained it. Rest assured, I will make everyone in the Kingdom of Women accompany you in death, so you won't be lonely in the netherworld." At this moment, Yuan Hao's face bore a cruel smile, and the words from his mouth were chilling.
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The woman who had just been heart-to-heart with Xuan Yue instantly changed her expression. She stared straight at Yuan Hao's face and asked, word by word, "Are you deceiving me?"