Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

The two little ones froze their joyful expressions upon hearing the words and looked towards Liu Qingyun's stern face, uttering a soft "ah". "Ah what, since you have the free time to tease others, you naturally don't need to rest. Starting tomorrow, I will personally oversee your cultivation," Liu Qingyun said in an uncompromising tone. The two little ones immediately hung their heads, but seeing Liu Qingyun's ashen face they knew that the eldest apprentice brother was truly serious this time and didn't dare to act spoiled or cute. They quickly and obediently nodded in agreement. Xiao Qi quietly covered his mouth at the side, letting out a knowing smile. Seeing the two little ones getting their comeuppance brought him secret delight. The two little ones glanced resentfully at Xiao Qi, who was snickering, but immediately received a knock on their foreheads, leaving them no choice but to put on a glum face. In their hearts, though, they missed their teacher terribly, believing that if he were here, they wouldn't have to endure such days. Meanwhile, the teacher whom the two little ones deeply missed had already ridden the clouds to a mountain peak. The mountain was graceful and splendid; lush plants and a kaleidoscope of colors adorned the deep mountains. Upon closer inspection, one would find that these colorful elements were not vibrant wildflowers but various types of poisonous insects, and hidden within this mountain forest was a Taoist temple. Blue bricks and gray tiles contributed to its simple and rustic charm. Yet, no one dared to come within a thousand li of it, all because it was the home of the Demon Lord of a Hundred Eyes. This person appeared to have the aura of a blessed immortal and was quite likeable. To the unwary, he might well seem like a wise man who had attained the Dao, but "Demon Monarch" particularly wasn't a title associated with the benevolent sort. In the past, many a cultivator met their demise at his hands, and his mastery over poison skills was unparalleled. Countless experts died with bitterness in their hearts. However, in recent years, this Demon Monarch seldom made any moves, preferring seclusion in his Taoist temple, rarely venturing out, which had somewhat diminished his notoriety. Lu Yu gazed at the temple atop the mountain and smiled to himself, "Indeed, a fine spot has been chosen." He casually made his way into the mountain, where many poisonous insects lurked in the dense forest, each with a powerful venom. An average person bitten by these creatures would likely face immediate death. Perhaps it had been a very long time since any humans had ventured up the mountain, and these poisonous insects became exceptionally enthusiastic upon seeing Lu Yu, crazily lunging towards him. However, as they neared Lu Yu, they would be incinerated to ashes by flames that spontaneously erupted from him. This seemed to provoke the insects' ferocity, as countless colorful poisonous insects frantically attacked Lu Yu. A strong poison gas gathered in the air, forming a green mist that quickly enveloped the entire forest. Lu Yu seemed unaffected by the poisonous fog, continuing to tread leisurely forward, his body flashing with blue light, and if one listened closely, the sound of the tide could be heard from him. At the same time, within the Taoist temple, the Demon Lord of a Hundred Eyes who had been meditating with crossed legs slowly opened his eyes, frowning as he looked towards the outside of the temple, where dense poison mist was rising. With a light call, a tall and thin Taoist with a face full of pockmarks and one uncannily pure white eye—lacking any hint of black—entered from outside. "Honored Master, for what matter have you summoned me?" the Taoist asked in a soft voice, kneeling on the ground. "Go see what's happening outside the temple, why are the children in such an uproar," the Demon Lord of a Hundred Eyes said softly. The Taoist agreed and walked towards the outside of the temple. In fact, he had also noticed the commotion outside, but he regarded it as just another group of righteous people seeking to eliminate demons and defend the Tao. Such situations occurred every few years, but each time, he would drag the corpses out of the forest after the poisonous fog had dissipated. Because of this, he was so indifferent, not bothering to go out and investigate the news. Today, for some reason, his Honored Master had actually asked him to check, which made him shake his head quietly. Although his heart was full of complaints, his face remained as usual, without the slightest change, just like a wooden person. Serving the Demon Lord of a Hundred Eyes for many years, he had grown accustomed to his master's ruthless reversals of attitude, and had cultivated a face as undisturbed as still water, not letting any excitement within reveal any change. Taking out a Detoxification Pill, he placed it under his tongue and slowly opened the grand door of the Taoist Temple, walking outside. After all, it was a task assigned by the Demon Lord of a Hundred Eyes, and even though he found it unreliable, he would still execute it meticulously. Over the years, any fellow disciples who had questioned their master had long become food for the poisonous insects scattered across the mountains. Straw sandals stepping on the Green Stone Slab sounded crisp, as some poisonous insects lying on the Green Stone Slab were crushed under the Taoist's sandals. The Taoist, indifferent, had already experienced such scenes countless times in his life and was accustomed to them, moving slowly towards the direction of the poisonous fog, leaving behind a trail of wet marks on the Green Stone Slab. Before he reached his destination, he smelled a burning stench in the air, extremely unpleasant, much like the smell that wafted when his junior brothers sneaked out to catch poisonous insects and roast them in his younger days. The Taoist sighed softly. The friends of those days were now gone, leaving only himself; the others had become food for the insects and turned into fertilizer scattered throughout the forest. "It seems to be a cultivator skilled in Fire Techniques, I wonder if any Magical Treasures and Cultivation Techniques will remain. You people really puzzling, isn't living good enough? Throwing away your lives for laughable justice. But don't worry, I'll take care of your body. As for your possessions, I'll treat them as my reward," the Taoist murmured to himself. As he turned a corner, the Taoist saw his objective and couldn't help but widen his eyes. In his view, a Scholar in a green robe was leisurely walking on the Green Stone Slab, with countless poisonous insects wildly converging towards him, yet unable to touch a whit of him. He was like a Scholar out on a stroll, examining the mountains around him with great interest, the frenzied insects around him seemingly nonexistent, he looked so at ease, so composed. At that moment, the Scholar in the green robe looked up at the Taoist, causing him to tense up uncontrollably, staring nervously at the Scholar, feeling as though his heart was pounding like a drum. However, his years of training enabled him to keep a straight face, asking with a voice tinged slightly with tension, "Who are you, and what is your purpose in these mountains?" His voice trembled somewhat, and his enunciation was not quite clear, due to the long time he had spent without conversing with others. "I am here looking for an old friend," the Scholar in the green robe replied with a warm smile on his face, making the Taoist feel as though a spring breeze was caressing his face, filling his heart with warmth, and bringing back a flood of memories.