Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

The young Earth God was very fond of the person before him, for he always felt a special aura about the other, like a spring breeze sweeping across the land, like the white clouds drifting in the sky, like the clear streams flowing through mountain ravines. Looking at him, it was as if he could see the entire world.

"I don't quite understand, but I always feel that you are undertaking a great task," said the Earth God, gazing at Hong Jun.

The Earth God's words brought a pleased look to the young man's face. He spoke with a smile, "Is that so? I have passed through many places and met many people, but they all think I am wasting my efforts. The heavens and earth are boundless, yet I insist on finding a path to explore their mysteries."

The young Earth God shook his head and replied, "I don't understand what they are saying, but I just feel that you will succeed."

At this time, the Earth God was not yet tainted by the secular world, innocent and merry, maintaining a pure heart of a child. As a Divine Spirit nurtured by nature, he possessed intuition far beyond the reach of ordinary beings.

"Then thank you for your auspicious words. I am planning to rest here for a moment before I continue on my journey. Would you like to join me?" the young man invited.

However, the Earth God shook his head. Bending down, he caressed the frolicking young animals on the ground, wearing a warm smile as he said, "I'd rather not go. This place is my home. I like life here, the plants and trees, even more, the animals that live here."

A hint of disappointment crossed Hong Jun's face. The Earth God was the first person on his long journey to recognize him and the first person he had invited to join him on his journey. But it was clear that each had their own aspirations. Compared to Hong Jun's tireless pursuit of the Great Dao, the Earth God preferred to stay here, enjoying the tranquility between heaven and earth.

"That's a pity. However, it's just as well. Out in the world, there is too much strife and deception. It's better that you don't experience it," he said.

"But I also like the outside world. Those mysterious places always have a certain charm. If you encounter any fun things, or if one day you grow tired, you can always come to me. I will surely treat you to the best food here," the Earth God said with a radiant smile.

Seeing this, Hong Jun couldn't help but smile too. He looked at the Earth God and said cheerfully, "It's a promise!"

Old Earth reminiscing about the past, the young man almost seemed to cross the barrier of time to stand before him again. His aged face was adorned with a joyful smile, just like many years ago.

"Grandpa, what happened next? What happened next?" Xiao Longnu urged the Earth God to continue the story from the past, a story about the Ancestral Master that could excite anyone who heard it.

"Afterward, Hong Jun left the place where I lived and continued his pursuit of the Great Dao. Although I wasn't sure of his situation, every now and then, I would hear of his adventures through various means. These were the places he found interesting, the novel things he encountered, shared with me. I knew he was keeping his promise."

"Sometimes, he would also come to me to voice his troubles or to talk about his ambitions. I have always believed that one day he would reach his goal."

"As time passed, Hong Jun finally achieved his goal, creating a path of cultivation, providing those struggling in darkness a way to seek the light," the Earth God's aged voice echoed across Putuo Island, as everyone around him listened quietly to his words.

Through Old Earth's descriptions, they seemed to see the man who pursued his dreams finally achieving them, feeling happy and excited, and they too were happy for him.

"After that, he gradually came to be known as the Ancestral Master, becoming a major figure who presided over heaven and earth. But this had little to do with me. At that time, I was completely unaware of these things and was still living carefree in my little corner of the world."

"Later on, Hong Jun told me that he had broken through the barriers of the heavens and the earth and traveled beyond them. There, he encountered countless evil and bizarre creatures that loathed all order, embodiments of Chaos, wantonly destroying worlds of order. It was there that he found a withering willow tree and learned about Transcendence."

"So the willow branch in the Bodhisattva's Purifying Vase comes from there?" Dragon Princess asked curiously.

The Earth God nodded slightly and said, "Because he obtained information about Transcendence from the willow, Hong Jun had tried to revive it in our world, but found it impossible to bring it back to life regardless of his efforts. It seemed as if death was its predetermined end, unchangeable no matter what."

The Earth God's words helped the three youngsters understand the origin of the willow, but as to why something belonging to the Ancestral Master ended up with the Bodhisattva, Dragon Princess sneakily glanced at Earth Grandpa and understood. After all, the current Earth God was the Earth God of Putuo Island, so it was understandable that the Bodhisattva had the willow branch.

Old Earth looked at Dragon Princess and said with a smile, "Smart girl, you're right. I gifted the willow branch to the Bodhisattva. My place was shattered during the great calamity of the Dragon Clan. It was Hong Jun who preserved my divinity and spared me from death. Afterwards, he used the fragments from then to build Putuo Island and from that point on, I became the Earth God of Putuo Island."

"Later, when Guanyin ascended this island and passed my trials, I allowed this land to become her dojo. As an old recluse, keeping the willow branch would've been a waste, so I gave it to Guanyin."

No sooner had Earth finished speaking than he felt a heavy weight on his thigh. Looking down, he saw Little Black Bear hugging his leg, his little eyes wide open as he shouted, "Hand over any other treasures you have."

Seeing Little Black Bear's clingy face, Earth couldn't help but laugh. He tried to move his leg and found that Little Black Bear was holding on tightly, as if he had grown there. Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire

"Get down now. I don't have any more treasures here. You sneak into my house to steal food every day; there's no way you don't know that," he said.

"I won't get down. You gave such an amazing thing to the Bodhisattva, you must have more treasures. Give me two," Little Black Bear demanded, his little eyes rolling around unceremoniously.

"Bang!" A strong knock from Xiao Longnu's hand hit Little Black Bear's head, and her roaring voice followed, "You've grown bolder, haven't you? Is that how you talk to Earth Grandpa? Do you not want to eat ever again?"

At that moment, Xiao Longnu stood with her hands on her hips, her eyes wide open, staring at Little Black Bear, looking absolutely formidable.