Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao-Chapter 250 - 29: The Truth Behind the Calamity

Little White Dragon departed from Eagle Sorrow Stream, where the vegetation was flourishing. With the dragon’s departure, the creatures of the area no longer lived in trepidation, and the once serene place was reinvigorated with life.

As a dragon, Little White Dragon had a voracious appetite. When in the ocean, food was aplenty, but since arriving at Eagle Sorrow Stream, he had been constantly worried about food, to the point where many large animals were eaten clean from the vicinity.

The remaining animals, in their fear, fled the area, which is why Tang Monk’s white horse ended up being eaten, as Little White Dragon had been hungry for some days by then.

During this time, the animals around sharply noticed that the once-dreaded apex predator had inconspicuously left Eagle Sorrow Stream.

Thus, many animals returned, bringing back the hustle and bustle of former days to the land, competing once more and reestablishing balance.

On this clear day, a majestic eagle descended from the sky, accurately snatching up a fish that was freely swimming in the water, and with a whoosh, carried it aloft, a meal sufficient for a day.

As the eagle flew over the cliff, it was startled by a figure and took such a fright that it involuntarily dropped the fish. The fish, regaining freedom, struggled in midair before falling back into the water, immediately hiding below the surface, no longer daring to emerge.

It was a scholar in a green robe, standing at the very top of Eagle Sorrow Stream, overlooking the entire land; it was Lu Yu.

After settling the future Empress, Lu Yu left behind an avatar to continue guarding Wu Meiniang, while his true body had quietly embarked on a westward Journey to the West. In his plans, his journey westward was still full of unresolved mysteries, and there were chances that could not normally be touched, which he could not forsake.

However, having indeed delayed for considerable time, by the time he arrived at Eagle Sorrow Stream, the Tang Monk and his disciples had long since departed.

Even so, Lu Yu was not without gain; he was now focusing intently on Eagle Sorrow Stream.

Twin threads of thunder shot from his eyes, as his whole gaze seemed enveloped by thunder. Through his eyes, at the deepest part of Eagle Sorrow Stream, the heart of the Spirit Vein had already changed its appearance.

The once mighty Spirit Vein had been aggressively displaced by the domineering Fortune and Destiny of the Human Path, yet at that node, a dazzling light shone, alternately bright and dark, as if breathing.

The more Lu Yu watched, the more astonished he became. In his mind, this scene closely resembled the acupoints in his body during cultivation, absorbing and expelling Spiritual Energy.

"Why does this so closely resemble acupoints? Is it only here, or are there others?" Lu Yu murmured to himself, a notion dawning in his mind that perhaps the trials and tribulations of Journey to the West were connected to these nodes.

So, he quickly mounted the clouds and continued westward, passing by the Guanyin Zen Temple and Gaolaozhuang village. He discovered that, indeed, at every place where Tang Monk had stayed for a longer period, such nodes had appeared, varying in size, just like the acupoints in a human body.

However, Lu Yu was certain that these acupoints were definitely not human, and perhaps only at the end would it become clear which creature they belonged to.

"This also means that the so-called tribulations are merely meant to have Tang Monk linger longer above the nodes. If that is the case, aren’t the demons not the most important aspect? Rather, it’s the territories they control that are most critical. This implies that I could have the opportunity to replace some of these demons and become the tribulation in their stead."

Lu Yu was shocked by the sudden thought that surfaced in his mind, but the more he pondered it, the more feasible it seemed. He quickly glanced around, and perhaps due to a guilty conscience, he always felt like someone was spying on him.

Yet this idea continued to swirl in his mind, refusing to leave. He had even begun to consider which demons along the Journey to the West could be replaced.

After all, many demons have powerful backers. If I were to secretly swap places with one, it would surely be exposed. Perhaps the high and mighty powers above wouldn’t care about such a minor move from me, but the patrons behind those monsters certainly would think differently, since opportunities to safely and securely obtain virtues like this were exceedingly rare.

After some calculation, it seemed there weren’t many options. Ahead, there only seemed to be a White Skeleton Demon. The Red Child coming after had the backing of the Bull Demon King, and having old ties with him, it didn’t seem right to make a move.

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The Three Immortals of the Tarrycat Kingdom obviously had a master guiding them from behind, or else how could they, as demons, have learned so many spells?

It was the three Rhinoceros Demons that appeared to lack any backing. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck, and an image of a frail Taoist who once escaped from his grasp appeared in Lu Yu’s mind—the Centipede Demon that once fled from his hands, the Jinguang Taoist who later became the Demon Lord of a Hundred Eyes.

"It seems the best target would actually be him. Talk about karma!" Lu Yu thought secretly to himself, having made up his mind to meddle in the Journey to the West.

"However, the most urgent task is to infiltrate the ranks of the Golden Horned King and Silver Horned King as soon as possible, ideally to secure a duty guarding the treasure.

The Treasure Vase has now been cultivated to a bottleneck, and only through the artifact refining methods of the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord is there a chance to rise to the next level," Lu Yu murmured to himself, with a clear plan for his future.

He looked down deeply at Gaolaozhuang village beneath his feet. By then, Monkey had already subjugated Bajie and had left with the Tang Monk and others. Beneath the village, a small cluster of Fortune and Destiny emanating from the Human Path occupied a node in the earth spirit vein, radiating a dim light, belonging to one of the smaller acupoints.

Lu Yu took note of the locations of these acupoints, a strong intuition telling him that when he remembered all of their positions, he would gain an immense harvest.

Looking up, he realized that unbeknownst to him, he had caught up with the scripture-seeking entourage.

At that moment, guided by Bajie, the Tang Monk and his companions were visiting an enlightened sage, a priest of Buddhism who called himself the Master of the Black Nest.

The abode of Master of the Black Nest was most peculiar, neither a temple nor a house, but a grass nest built atop a giant Fragrant Cypress Tree. No one knew what kind of dry grass it was made of, flames seemed to flicker around it, and it was bathed in brilliant golden light, remarkably eye-catching. Experience new tales on novelbuddy

As the Zen Master conversed with Tang Monk, he bestowed upon him a scroll of the ’Heart Sutra’: "Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, practicing deeply the Prajna Paramita, perceived that all five skandhas are empty, thus completely relieving all suffering. Shariputra, form is no different from emptiness, emptiness no different from form; form is emptiness, emptiness is form."

When the Zen Master taught the sutra, golden flowers appeared, with the sound of the Buddha’s teachings lingering in one’s ears, not ceasing. Various small animals with spiritual nature also gathered around, sitting earnestly beneath the Fragrant Cypress Tree to listen to the Zen Master’s teaching.

Lu Yu was among them, pricking up his ears to listen attentively; after all, opportunities like this were rare.