Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

"Master, it's not right for us to just leave like this, we should at least say goodbye," Big Black Donkey said, shaking his head. He didn't really want to say farewell; he was simply too reluctant to let go of the good life he had before.
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You see, back in Willow River Bay, as the teacher's mount, Big Black Donkey enjoyed truly VIP treatment. Out of gratitude to Lu Yu, the children would brush his coat and cut grass for him every day, giving him a contentment that made him forget his worries.

"All you think about is pleasure. I've already collected the Spiritual Charm of the tea tree. There's no point in staying any longer. Why linger and leave behind only sorrow?" Lu Yu gently tapped Big Black Donkey's head and spoke slowly.

During his time in Willow River Bay, Lu Yu had been very comfortable, actually waiting for the opportunity when the tea tree was about to sprout. It was then that the Spiritual Charm was most vibrant, and collecting it wouldn't damage the tree itself, which was the foundation of the villagers' livelihood in Willow River Bay. If he were to harvest it recklessly, wouldn't that harm so many people?

That went against Lu Yu's own principles.

Once the Spiritual Charm was collected, he no longer had the desire to stay. After all, he had long been blessed with longevity, while these villagers did not live beyond a hundred years. Staying would only leave behind sadness. Perhaps this was why immortals often lived secluded lives.

As the two were talking intermittently, a voice suddenly came from the forest.

Big Black Donkey's ears perked up in an instant. He excitedly said, "Could it be robbers?"

Lu Yu also looked around at the surroundings. Deep in the old forest, where could the human voices be coming from? He rode Big Black Donkey towards the direction of the sound, and soon saw a young monk in a white monk's robe, explaining Buddhism to a small black bear.

"Form is no different from emptiness, emptiness no different from form. Form is emptiness, and emptiness is form. Feeling, thought, impulses, consciousness are all likewise," the young monk said, his demeanor compassionate and peaceful, speaking neither quickly nor slowly, his words carrying a deep Zen spirit.

"I won't listen; I won't listen," the stubborn little black bear said, covering his ears and speaking loudly in a childish voice.

"Besides, I'm a black bear. I don't want to learn Buddhism; I want to be a demon, a great demon," Little Black Bear said fiercely, finishing his sentence with a roar that seemed a bit off.

"The Buddha's compassion opens the door to convenience. All sentient beings can enter into Buddhism, even demons," the monk said.

"I really don't want to. What's so good about being a monk? It's better to be a demon, to do whatever I want," Little Black Bear stubbornly stared at the young monk's shiny bald head.

Thud went a sound, as the monk knocked his hand on Little Black Bear's head, producing a noise. Lu Yu clearly saw that the moment the monk's hand touched the bear's head, it seemed as if it were made of colored glaze.

"Deluded in your attachment, how could you see the Tathagata?"

"Whoever wants to see him can go ahead; I certainly won't," the little bear said before biting at the monk's hand. The monk quickly pulled back his hand, not expecting Little Black Bear to cling so tightly, lifting him off the ground in the process.

Lu Yu was secretly astounded. The monk's physical body was terrifyingly strong, yet there wasn't a trace of mana flowing through him, making it unclear what the situation was.

Just then, the struggling duo seemed to notice Lu Yu's approach. The monk quickly flung Little Black Bear off and gave a greeting to Lu Yu: "Amitabha, this humble monk has seen the layman."

"Master, there is no need for such formality; it is I who have intruded upon your preaching uninvited. I hope you can forgive me!" Lu Yu also responded with a gesture of respect.

While the two on this side were being polite, the other two started to show a bit more hostility.

"Hey, you dumb donkey, what are you staring at? Haven't seen a bear as handsome as me before, have you? Want to be my lackey?" Little Black Bear arrogantly said in his characteristic baby voice.

"Oh, look at me and my fiery temper. What kind of bear dares to act tough in front of your Black Lord, eh? Recruiting lackeys—are you even weaned yet, kid?" Big Black Donkey disdainfully responded, his face so mockingly expressive it was practically begging for a punch.

"Grrr, you're asking for it." Little Black Bear lost his temper and charged without a second thought.

Big Black Donkey was not about to show any weakness; he couldn't believe he might lose to a mere cub. When the big and the small black figures collided mid-air, they both groaned in pain, but to save face, they both endured silently, pretending it was no big deal.

However, given that Big Black Donkey was older and slightly larger, he had a slight advantage in the fight. Nonetheless, his annoying mouth didn't stop for a second, mocking every small advantage as if he had already won, which infuriated Little Black Bear to the point of smoking with rage, wishing to tear this insufferable Big Black Donkey into pieces.

"Grrr!" Little Black Bear roared, suddenly growing in size, and his huge bear paw slapped Big Black Donkey down to the ground, followed by a severe beating.

Lu Yu quietly watched the two engage in battle, quite surprised when Little Black Bear transformed because he was clearly not an ordinary black bear but a Terran Barbarian Bear.

The Terran Barbarian Bear is one of the Ancient Ferocious Beasts, innately capable of harnessing the power of the earth. As long as they stand on the ground, they possess endless strength.

Moreover, to protect themselves better during their youth, they take on the form of a small ordinary black bear, but they can enlarge themselves during combat, unleashing strength far beyond their natural abilities, quite similar to the Divine Skills of Law of Heaven and Earth.

As Lu Yu recalled this knowledge, Big Black Donkey had already been beaten into begging for mercy, tears filling his eyes as he accused Little Black Bear of brutality.

Little Black Bear seemed shocked by the scene before him; why was Big Black Donkey crying? It seemed too weak, unfitting of a Greater Demon's dignity.

In the moment Little Black Bear was stunned, Big Black Donkey flipped over and fled, swiftly ducking behind Lu Yu and shouting, "Savage cub, all you know is brute force! I, Black Grandpa, won't stoop to your level." He even seemed a bit smug, feeling like a cultured individual unlike Little Black Bear, who only knew brute force.

Little Black Bear grew furious; he was shocked by Big Black Donkey's shamelessness and charged forward, bashing into Lu Yu's legs. The force of the impact was not slight, and had Lu Yu not been prepared, he might have been toppled over.

"Alright, stop it now," Lu Yu intervened.

Little Black Bear was still fuming and was not ready to accept Lu Yu's goodwill, biting at Lu Yu. However, Lu Yu had long since achieved his Immortal Body, and Little Black Bear couldn't harm him at all. Instead, Little Black Bear ended up with a bit of a toothache from the rebound.

Looking up in surprise at Lu Yu, Little Black Bear arrogantly said, "And who are you, some Scholar who dares to meddle?"