Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

Lu Yu gazed at the fading silhouette of the monkey and deeply sighed. After all, the monkey had caused a disturbance in the Netherworld—it seemed that his ascension to heaven to take an official post was not far off.

"Who is this venerable being with such capability to break the Netherworld? I see that ever since he stormed out from behind the gates of hell, not a single person has been able to stop him for even a moment. Truly formidable!" Lu Xing and Liu Feihu exclaimed in admiration as they watched the monkey's majestic and domineering behavior.

As soon as the words were out, they saw dozens of powerful presences emerge within the Underworld, each with an aura as vast as the sea. The formidable air they exuded suddenly quieted the entire Underworld. Deep within the Underworld, a Buddha Light shone forth, redeeming all beings. These powerful beings quietly watched in the direction the monkey had left, their thoughts unknown.

The ordinary Shadow Souls in the Underworld had never seen such a scene before; almost all of the Great Spiritual Practitioners of the Netherworld had revealed themselves. Although they did not take action, the mere aura they emitted made them feel as if the sky was collapsing.

"It is not as divine as you imagine, simply an arrogant monkey!" Lu Yu disheartenedly said. The monkey did not see this scene and was unaware—he did not know that this was an intentional display by the Underworld, merely a ploy to gain a share of the pie from Journey to the West.

Otherwise, with so many experts in the Underworld, even if they could not defeat the monkey, they wouldn't let him leave so easily.

It was no easy feat to bring a Cultivator at the Five Qi Realm's soul to the Underworld without their noticing.

Besides, the Book of Life and Death is such a treasure—how could it be so easily altered? They were just fooling a greenhorn like the monkey who had just left his sheltered life.

However, Lu Yu had to admit, the monkey was truly a Child of Heavenly Destiny. Now, at the Five Qi Realm, he was definitely an invincible being.

The Five Qi Realm is a very magical realm, marking the beginning of the transition from mortal to Immortal. It is extremely difficult to enter this realm. Whether one has aroused one innate Qi or five, the difference in combat power is not significant.

What really affects the combat power of the Five Qi Realm is the mastery over Divine Skills and the differences in the Immortal Body. The monkey learned the Vajra Indestructible Body Technique passed down by his master—a top-tier Body Refinement Technique crafted just for him—and only the Innate Mysteries of True Monarch Qingyuan could compete with it.

Seeing the monkey causing havoc in the Netherworld, Lu Yu knew that his Golden Body had reached a great level of completion. Now, he could go anywhere in the vast world.

Shaking his head, Lu Yu knew he could not compare with the monkey, but he was very confident in the Body Refinement Technique he had understood.

The Tidal Body Refinement Technique is superior in accumulation, with a very high upper limit. As long as he diligently practiced it day and night, he would gradually close the gap between them.

Combined with his Boundless Sea Technique, he could achieve an effect greater than the sum of their parts, and he possessed the Great Dao Treasure Vase, able to gather three rays of Divine Water to nourish himself and immensely exceed the Body Refinement time of others. Altogether, the effects of his Body Refinement were quite astonishing.

Ever since encountering the monkey, Lu Yu had developed a yearning to depart. Seeing a fellow seeker of the Dao who already possessed such might, how could he slacken in his cultivation.

Ignoring his family's and Liu Feihu's attempts to retain him, Lu Yu transformed into a rainbow light and flew toward the place he first entered the Netherworld. Passing through the wasteland, he found that the Ferocious Ghosts were still caught in endless battles, unable to attain Transcendence.

He knew that this was because the Human Path had developed too quickly. In a short time, traces of humans had appeared everywhere on the great land. The Underworld was short-handed against such a vast number of souls, causing many souls to be unplaced and eventually forming the peculiar spectacle of the wasteland.

He thought to himself that if the so-called City Gods from previous lives existed, the situation would likely be much improved. Refining the Underworld's governance into smaller areas seemed to be the best solution to address this phenomenon.

Just then, a voice suddenly appeared, "Fellow Daoist, please halt!"

Those few words frightened Lu Yu into breaking out in a cold sweat. During the time of the Investiture of the Gods, this phrase was absolutely a curse—countless Immortals, who had gathered Three Flowers at the Top or reached the Five Qi to the primordial state, were sent to the Investiture of the Gods with just such a phrase, forever unable to live freely.

Turning his head, it wasn't the immortal from the legends, rather it was a burly man holding a giant axe, his vital energy surging all over his body. The astonishing vital energy was as brilliant as the sun, actually making Lu Yu's eyes feel sour.

"May I know why this fellow Taoist is blocking my way?" Seeing that the burly man was extraordinary, and considering he had no dealings with him, Lu Yu took the initiative to ask.

"In the name of the great and virtuous Empress Hou Tu, I am here to take sir to the place of reincarnation!" The words uttered by the burly man greatly surprised Lu Yu.

This legendary figure, a powerful member of the Witch Tribe who had transformed into reincarnation, was still alive, and it was unexpected that he would summon someone as insignificant as Lu Yu, who was puzzled and unsure of the reason.

"Do not be afraid, sir. The compassion in your heart has moved the Empress, and hence she knows. She has commanded me to invite you over for a talk."

Lu Yu could not help but be secretly astounded; what a sentiment to move heaven! This meant that none of his secret thoughts could escape the Empress's Dharma Eye.

Seeing Lu Yu's hesitation, the burly man spoke again: "Sir's compassionate thoughts may be beneficial to the Netherworld and the Underworld. Since the Empress has transformed into reincarnation, she naturally resonates with such feelings. Please hasten with me to the place of reincarnation and do not let the Empress wait."

Only then did Lu Yu feel relieved as he had many secrets in his heart, and he feared most having his thoughts spied upon.

The burly man led Lu Yu to the place of reincarnation, conversing along the way, and it was during this time that Lu Yu learned the burly man's name was Kui Ba, a member of the Witch Tribe that remained in the world. He had been serving Empress Hou Tu at the place of reincarnation.

In a short while, Lu Yu arrived deep in the Underworld, at the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk. Before him stood a massive disk that towered between heaven and earth, delineating the six paths with paintings of various creatures on it. Each of the six paths had a great path of its own, and souls would be stripped of their memories before being cast into them to be reincarnated.

Looking around, Lu Yu did not see Empress Hou Tu anywhere. Instead, he saw quite a few remnants of the Witch Tribe living there.

Suddenly, the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk shone brightly with six different colors intertwining and changing in the sky, eventually forming into a woman.

The woman's figure and appearance were obscured by the light, but the moment Lu Yu saw her, he knew she was Empress Hou Tu. That aura of the earth's embrace of all things gave people a profound sense of peace.

"Lu Yu, in the darkness, I sensed that you have ideas on how to change the situation in the Underworld. Could you please share with me in detail?" Empress Hou Tu's voice was magnetic, sounding particularly soothing.

Lu Yu hurriedly paid his respects to the compassionate goddess and then relayed everything he knew from his previous life about the City God system.

The heavens and earth resonated, and instantly, mystical yellow divine virtue descended. Lu Yu swiftly brought out the Treasure Vase to absorb this divine virtue.

This was the divine virtue of heaven and earth. Even though what fell was just a small part, it was enough for Lu Yu to benefit from for a lifetime. You don't have to look far to see that all the Buddhas strived for the divine virtue from the Journey to the West and how that turned out.

"You all heard that, did you not? What are your thoughts?" Empress Hou Tu's voice rang out once more.