Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

The Angels attending by the side of their Lord were each astonished, gazing at their Master; through countless ages, this Lord had always been in slumber, rarely awake, let alone revealing a smile like this. It made them wonder what he had seen in Arthur.

Yet Arthur was completely baffled, feeling an unprecedented pressure as all creatures atop the Sacred Mountain fixed their gazes upon him, a pressure even the recent descent of the gods had not imposed.

Surrounded by these inquisitive eyes, Arthur remained silent. He could feel the curiosity of those around him, but could only offer a wry smile, for he did not know why the Lord was smiling; such a mighty being was not someone a minor figure like him could please.

"Go back!" The Lord's voice suddenly rang out, echoing majestically over the Sacred Mountain, compelling all creatures to involuntarily bow their heads.

Arthur then felt relieved. He quietly lifted his head for a glance at the Lord; his face was obscured by the Holy Light and indiscernible, yet Arthur could sense an immensely vast power. In the presence of this force, he felt as insignificant as an ant—a disparity in essence of life.

The Holy Light radiated brilliantly, causing Arthur to wince from the pain in his eyes and instinctively close them. When he reopened them, he found himself still inside the Church, surrounded by the observing crowd, while the Old Monk looked at him with a face full of joy.

The Old Monk had never dreamed that Arthur would actually receive a summons from the Lord—what an extraordinary honor. Initially, he had only hoped for an Angel to glance down and bless Arthur, but Arthur had indeed found favor with the Lord, his soul entering Heaven's Mountain, and it seemed he had even pleased the Lord.

For just before, he had felt a profound joy emanating from deep within his soul. As an Ascetic Monk who had served the Lord for many years, the elder understood this was the pleasure of the Lord transmitted onto him.

Accompanying this was a powerful strength; in this moment, the Old Monk could vividly feel the strength within him growing continuously—this was a blessing from the Lord. He knelt devoutly before the Divine Statue, softly chanting hymns in praise of the Lord.

The Divine Statue above shone with dazzling Holy Light, warming all who felt it. Many who were sick or weak distinctly felt their bodies strengthening—this Holy Light seemed to heal diseases and enhance physical vigor.

Therefore, more and more people began to kneel and, like the Old Monk, chant the hymns.

Arthur chose not to kneel, even in the direct presence of the Lord he had not knelt, let alone before a mere statue, for he was destined to be a King and held a pride uniquely his own.

This worship session lasted a long time, only ending as the Holy Light gradually faded to imperceptibility. The congregation stood up, still not having had their fill; within this session, they had found spiritual solace and physical enhancement—an indeed worthwhile journey.

But the greatest beneficiaries of this worship were none other than Arthur and the Old Monk. At this time, the Old Monk's complexion was rosy, looking like a newborn aside from his white hair. He barely looked old at all, his body enveloped by a robust aura—a sign of suddenly having received great power, yet unable to fully control it.

Within Arthur's body flickered a faint Holy Light, making his body even stronger and his recovery rate greatly enhanced.

As the crowd dispersed, the Old Monk turned and passionately asked Arthur, "Did you see the true form of my Lord?" It otherwise seemed difficult to explain what had previously occurred.

Arthur nodded slightly, narrating everything he had experienced. The Old Monk listened with both envy and jealousy; ever since he had been called by the Lord in the wilderness and began his path of asceticism, he had faced countless hardships and dangers, yet he had never had the chance to step into the legendary Heaven's Mountain and meet the Lord face-to-face.

And here was Arthur, who had never believed in the existence of the Lord, so easily receiving such an opportunity. How could he not feel both envious and jealous?

"However, I believe that the lord did not delight in me; when he smiled at me, it felt as if he was smiling at something behind me," Arthur recalled the incident and said.

At this moment, the Old Monk had regained his composure. After pondering for a long time, he spoke, "Naturally, it would not be because of us that he felt joy. For an existence such as my lord, we are akin to plankton in his eyes. Our birth, aging, sickness, death, joys, and sorrows cannot evoke his empathy. In a sense, the level of difference between us is too vast."

"For my lord to rarely show pleasure, only a being of similar strength in this world could possibly do so."

Hearing the Old Monk's words, Arthur instantly fell silent. By this point, he had guessed that the lord probably saw Mr. Lu behind him; only an existence like Mr. Lu could appear significant to such a mighty being.

"Someday, I too want to become an existence that cannot be ignored," Arthur secretly vowed in his heart.

"I haven't congratulated you yet. This time, by encountering my lord directly at Heaven's Mountain, you have reaped tremendous benefits," the Old Monk turned and congratulated Arthur.

Only then did Arthur realize that since leaving Sacred Mountain, indeed a miraculous transformation had occurred to his body, though whether it was for better or worse, he wasn't sure. However, an existence like that probably would not stoop to scheme against someone as insignificant as him.

"You are quite fortunate; the Holy Light has purified your soul and body. Today, you probably exceed the realm of mortals, and could be considered a Divine Spirit."

No sooner had he spoken than the Old Monk suddenly made a move, his finger lightly grazing Arthur's skin. A blood mark gradually appeared on his arm.

However, the Old Monk's attack did not cause further damage, merely opening a small cut which quickly began to bleed. Arthur's blood was different from before; a faint Holy Light shimmered in its redness, looking quite miraculous.

And Arthur's wound healed at a visible rate, disappearing in an instant without even leaving a scar.

Arthur watched this scene in disbelief—he did not know when his body had changed to this extent. Such a terrifying healing power was, quite literally, a miracle, possible only for the Divine Spirits of legends.

"This is just the beginning. As the Holy Light begins to transform your body, your Life Force will become even more formidable. Regenerating a severed arm would not be beyond you now. After all, you met my lord directly; even a slight influence is enough for you to bridge the gap between Human Gods. Congratulations, from now on, you are a true divine being," the Old Monk said with a smile.

The enhancement of Arthur's strength was also a beneficial matter for him, since they had signed a covenant and were now inseparable allies. The other's strength would only make it easier for him to achieve his goals.

Besides, the Old Monk had another concern: this world was facing a crisis of destruction. If they could gain the lord's favor, perhaps they could revive this dying world. Given the lord's unparalleled strength, in the Old Monk's eyes, no one could match him. With such a powerful being's watchful eye, they should be able to avoid the crisis of destruction.

Arthur clenched his fist gently; he could feel that the Old Monk's words were true as his body seemed to undergo a miraculous transformation. He could sense an ethereal door appearing before him; by pushing it open, he could enter a new world, one known as the realm of Divine Spirits.

While the Old Monk and Arthur rejoiced, within the divine kingdom, the Demon also noticed that soaring pillar of light and the sanctified radiance, displaying a disgusted expression and muttering under his breath, "This bothersome fellow, truly has started to preach in this world, an incessant pest."