Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

"You still have the nerve to say that, none of my treasures have ever escaped your mouth, yet this time you couldn't even protect the little girl, and here you are, bragging and boasting. From now on, don't even think about getting any delicacy from me." The old Earth God's eyes were wide with anger, and his beard was bristling, as he roared furiously at Little Black Bear, spitting all over his face.

"No, old man, I really was fighting hard to protect Sister Dragon Princess! If you don't believe me, ask her!" Little Black Bear was instantly anxious. Delicacies were rare on Putuo Island, and only at the Earth God's place could he feast to his heart's content. He was not willing to give up such a long-term diner.

After speaking, he even gave the Dragon Princess desperate looks, signaling for her to speak on his behalf.

Seeing Little Black Bear's pitiful appearance, the Dragon Princess couldn't help but let out a light chuckle. She took the Earth God's hand and said, "Grandfather, please forgive him just this once. Little Black really did fight bravely to protect me this time."

Seeing this, the Earth God's face softened into a kind smile again. He stamped his cane on the ground and said, "I'll let you off this time, but if there's a next time, don't you dare come through my door again."

Little Black Bear wore a fawning smile on his face, willing to put his dignity aside as long as there was food involved.

"By the way, Grandpa, do you know the origin of that Willow that saved us?" the Dragon Princess asked curiously. Little Black Bear and Red Child perked up their ears, listening intently.

The Earth God, stroking his beard with a somewhat proud expression, said, "The origin of this Willow, even if you ask all the immortals in the Three Realms, there probably aren't many who know, but I happen to be one of them."

"Grandpa, please tell me about it," urged Xiao Longnu, tugging at his hand and coquettishly shaking it as she saw Earth God begin to tease them with suspense.

"Little ancestor, slow down, you're shaking my old bones apart. Just wait, I will tell you slowly," pleaded the Earth God.

"This Willow isn't a thing from the Three Realms; it was something brought by the Ancestral Master from beyond heaven and earth. It possesses unimaginable powers and is said to be the molt of a powerful being from beyond."

"There are beings beyond the heavens?" questioned Little Black Bear. To his knowledge, beyond heaven lay Chaos, where no beings could possibly live.

"How can there be no beings beyond the heavens? Pangu the Great God himself came from Chaos, and within it are countless powerful beings, far beyond your imagination. And when I'm speaking, don't interrupt, or you'll get no more treats!" the Earth God said sternly to Little Black Bear.

Little Black Bear immediately covered his mouth with his paws, his eyes looking pitifully at the Earth God, appearing extremely adorable.

But the Earth God was already used to such tactics and, after a glance, continued, "This Willow possessed powers beyond the understanding of everyone at the time. It could revert the powers of all things in the world back to their original source and also absorb all kinds of powers. Most incredible was its seeming ability; everyone's imagination about it would twist and deviate from the truth."

"Many even quickly forgot about it after seeing him. Only under the influence of the Ancestral Master, did people break free from this terrifying influence and thus learned of a new word: 'Transcendence!'"

"Transcendence!" Hearing this, the three little fellows' eyes widened, exclaiming in unison.

No wonder they were so astonished. They had not expected the Willow apparition that saved their lives to have such a terrifying origin. This was Transcendence, a state only known to be achieved by the Ancestral Master up until now.

Even the Saints who now dominated the Three Realms, established its rules, and directed its course, were still desperately pursuing this seemingly unattainable Realm.

The Earth God looked at their shocked faces with satisfaction and said with a smile, "Yes, that's Transcendence, power only possessed by Transcendents, and this molt was likely left by one."

Overwhelmed by this information, the three little fellows felt dizzy. They sensed that a tiny corner of the mysterious veil of the Three Realms was finally lifting before them. Yet even this tiny corner made them feel as though they were staring into the Abyss, a sensation borne from fear of the unknown and the powerful.

A new question arose at that moment, wondering how the Earth God of Mount Putuo came to know these secrets, given that he said only a handful knew them in the entire Three Realms.

"But Grandpa, you said that not many know this secret, so how did you find out?" Xiao Longnu asked, puzzled.

The Earth God lifted his head, looked at the blue sky, and with a nostalgic expression, he sighed deeply before saying, "Because a long time ago, I traveled with Hong Jun for a while."

"Back then, he wasn't yet called Ancestral Master; he was just a young man seeking knowledge on the path of cultivation. At that time, I had already developed sentience and lived alone in the endless mountains for many years," the Earth God said slowly.

His memory had already traveled through endless time and space, returning to that unforgettable era.

Back then, he was a young Earth God, and there were no so-called Divine Positions for Earth Gods; there were only Divine Spirits born in response to heaven and earth, naturally able to control the land and rivers. However, their Mana was weak, and they were often enslaved by much more powerful beings.

The Earth God was lucky; where he was born, there were no powerful beings, which allowed him to live a carefree life. This also meant he lacked ambition and after countless years, he still possessed the same power as in the beginning.

Back then, he often roamed in a sea of flowers and played with the young of various animals. When hungry, he ate wild fruits from the mountains, and when thirsty, he drank the clear water flowing through the mountain streams. Life passed carefree, and he didn't know the passage of time.

Until one day, in the mountains, he met a young man in a hurry, a weary expression on his face, walking through the mountains. At that time, the Earth God had never before seen such a similar being, so driven by curiosity, he appeared before the young man. Enjoy new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" the newly born Earth God asked.

"I am Hong Jun, and I'm here in search of the Great Dao," replied the young man with a spring breeze-like smile that made one feel instantly amiable.

"What is the Great Dao?" the Earth God didn't understand what the term meant.

"The Great Dao is the principle by which the world operates, the source of the genesis of all things, the foundation for the proliferation of life, and the reason for being powerful," the young man said smilingly, but at that time, the Earth God did not grasp his meaning.