Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

"You have an abundant reserve and have contributed to the salvation of this world, which is why you have this opportunity," Zhu Ganglie said shaking his head with a smile. "Had I known this sooner, I wouldn't have given up this chance to you. A mistake, indeed, a mistake!"

"Thank you, Marshal, for your generosity!" Lu Yu said with a bow of thanks.

He knew that despite what the Pig Demon said, he had actually intentionally given up this opportunity to him; otherwise, with his insight, he would not have missed out on such a chance.

"Don't thank me; it's also because you have gathered enough merit that you could grasp this fleeting opportunity. Put on me, I'm afraid it would only go to waste. I am already a reincarnated being, and my once-solid foundations have not yet recovered. I wouldn't be able to hold onto it," Zhu Ganglie said.

As he spoke, a forlorn look involuntarily appeared on his face. The contrast between being the high and mighty Marshal Canopy and now known as the Pig Demon Zhu Ganglie tormented his soul and spirit.

Luan Erjie was his only light, warming his heart, already riddled with countless wounds, but now she too had left him, and the world remained as cold as ever. Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

"I can't go back anymore!" the once Marshal Canopy suddenly sighed.@@novelbin@@

"Daoist Lu, do you have any wine? I suddenly feel like drinking." He turned and said to Lu Yu with a sense of loss.

Lu Yu could hardly imagine that the man in front of him, with a hint of vicissitude and sorrow, was the same lustful and lazy Second Brother he remembered. This was completely different from his past impression.

Perhaps this was the charm of being human. A person would never have just one face, one emotion. What one sees may not necessarily be the truth; many people hide their true selves beneath thick layers of protection, carefully guarding the light at the bottom of their hearts.

Lu Yu took out his Wine Gourd and tossed it to the melancholic man before him.

He took the Gourd, tilted his head back, and took a deep drink. Wine flowed into his sorrows, and tears quietly traced a path down his cheeks. He let out a long breath and said, "I used to think that if I could live a simple life with Erjie in this lifetime, it wouldn't be so bad, but fate has played with me after all. In the end, I'm just a lonely man."

"The ancestors of the human race once said, 'When Heaven is about to place a great burden on a man, it first strains his heart and muscles, exhausts his body and will, starves his flesh and bones, deprives him of all that he treasures. Perhaps there is still a great task waiting for you in this world,'" Lu Yu consoled him.

"But has Heaven ever asked me if I'm willing," Zhu Ganglie said, his emotions becoming agitated.

Then he dejectedly sat down and said, "Perhaps, they view us just as we view the City Lord and his son in death, this may be the common fault of the mighty."

"Heaven and Earth are heartless, treating all beings as straw dogs," Lu Yu murmured.

Looking up at the sky, Lu Yu felt as though he could see through the layers of space and glimpse the indifference of the powerful ones seated above the Nine Heavens, devoid of sorrow or joy.

Just then, the water currents beneath the lake had fully connected, and a vital force began to emerge within the lake. The once stagnant water of the great lake was now teeming with life. It was unclear where the underground rivers led, but fish had begun to appear in the newly formed lake, infusing it with vibrant energy.

This was accompanied by changes in the small world—the shifting of earth veins and the joining of water currents represented seismic shifts for such a tiny universe.

The vanished shadow of the Immortals in the sky reappeared, but this time the Green Lotus Sword Immortal wore a genial expression, with a wine flask on one side of his waist and a Treasured Sword on the other.

Standing in the void, he no longer carried the aura of slaying, appearing suave and debonair instead.

The Sword Immortal's ethereal figure in the sky saluted Lu Yu with cupped hands.

The surface of the calm lake suddenly shimmered with ripples, as the Sword Immortal walked upon it. Wherever his feet touched, green lotuses sprouted. With each step, a green lotus emerged, gradually bringing him in front of Lu Yu.

He slowly extended two fingers, glimmering with a resplendent light, and lightly touched Lu Yu's forehead. In an instant, countless pieces of knowledge flooded into Lu Yu's mind.

Lu Yu seemed to see a green lotus that, in ancient times, transformed into a human form. It roamed the earth, feeling immensely curious and intrigued by everything in the world.

Just then, it saw a young Taoist lecturing under a large tree. Drawn in, it went over and sat beside the Taoist.

The warm voice of the Taoist reached its ears, "The Sword Dao is a path of slaughter, yet also one of heart and will. If one possesses a strong heart and will, even a blade of grass can cut down the sun, moon, and stars."

Then an unforgettable scene appeared in Lu Yu's mind. The young Taoist casually plucked a blade of grass from the ground and, with a gentle wave, dazzling sword light flickered, and stars fell like rain.

"I want to learn the sword," the newly sprouted green lotus declared with conviction.

"Very well, then I shall teach you," the Taoist replied softly.

Suddenly, Lu Yu's mind was filled with a wealth of knowledge about the Sword Dao. In the end, he saw the Taoist bidding farewell to the green lotus, which asked, "Teacher, you haven't told me your name."

"They all call me Hong Jun!" the Taoist said with a light laugh.

"We meet again." However, as Hong Jun turned to leave, his gaze fixed on the green lotus and he mysteriously uttered those words.

The memory ceased abruptly there, yet it struck Lu Yu like a tsunami. In that moment, he could clearly sense that the Ancestral Master, through the green lotus, seemed to be looking at him. The last statement wasn't directed at the green lotus; it was meant for him.

"We meet again," Lu Yu pondered the significance of those words, but he couldn't recall ever meeting this Ancestral Master, which left him utterly perplexed.

As Lu Yu was still lost in thought, the Green Lotus Sword Immortal smiled kindly at him and said, "I hope you'll take good care of me!"

After speaking, the ethereal figure of the Sword Immortal vanished instantly, turning into a glowing lotus seed that fell into the palm of Lu Yu's hand.

Lu Yu examined the lotus seed in his hand. Despite its ordinary appearance, it possessed astonishing Spiritual Charm. Lu Yu could clearly feel a powerful consciousness sleeping within it.

"I never imagined that the Green Lotus Sword Immortal had truly perished. This is his legacy, containing his lingering soul. It's a pity that the soul is too fragmented; I fear it doesn't even have a chance at reincarnation," Zhu Ganglie said softly after glancing at the lotus seed.

"You might not be aware, but this Sword Immortal was born in the Ancient Times. He once listened to an Ancestral Master's lectures. His Sword Dao Cultivation was said to be unparalleled in the world. Additionally, he was adept at poetry, enjoying the reputation of a Poetic Swordsman, and countless Female Immortals fell for him. Sadly, his whereabouts later became unknown.

Who would have thought he'd meet his demise," the old Pig Demon explained in detail to Lu Yu, his admiration for the Green Lotus Sword Immortal clearly evident.

"I know," Lu Yu simply said, surprising the old Pig Demon. He looked at Lu Yu with wonder, seemingly incredulous, but he didn't inquire further. After all, everyone has their own secrets.