Chapter 42 - Each Makes Their Move, The White Dragon Dreams
Chapter 42: Each Makes Their Move, The White Dragon Dreams
Though Patriarch Bodhi spoke of punishing Qin Chuan, in truth, the “punishment” was simply to have him recite the Huangting Scripture in quiet meditation atop Mount Fangcun.
With the Journey to the West tribulation now set in motion, the heavenly secrets of the outside world had fallen into chaos. Qin Chuan had already shown his face before many of the most powerful beings across the Three Realms.
At such a time, only Mount Fangcun remained a truly safe haven. If he were to be forcibly converted and brought to the Thunderclap Monastery in the West, even Patriarch Bodhi might be unable to save him.
Inside the cave, Qin Chuan sat cross-legged, eyes closed, his mind calm and still.
With a single thought, his Xuanming True Form and Golden Crow Spirit appeared on either side of him.
The Xuanming form stood solemn, silent as an abyss. Its body was like night, its aura like the sea—profound, unfathomable, radiating the awe-inspiring majesty of Xuanming.
The Golden Crow shone brilliantly, like the rising sun. Its form burned like flame, its light gleamed like gold—dazzling and radiant, exuding the splendor of the sun spirit.
The two stood side by side—one dark, one light; one yin, one yang. They were like the dual principles of Heaven and Earth, embodying the fundamental laws of all creation.
“A full Yuanhui, huh…”
Qin Chuan opened his eyes and murmured, gazing at the Xuanming True Form and the Golden Crow Spirit.
During his 39 years of secluded cultivation on Huaguo Mountain, he had made no progress in breaking through to the Da Luo Golden Immortal realm. Now, with this rare opportunity, he naturally sought to consult Patriarch Bodhi.
The path to Da Luo required meeting two essential conditions:
First, one must transcend the classical elements—earth, water, fire, and wind—as well as yin, yang, and the five phases. One must master the myriad phenomena, create something from nothing, and become the embodiment of the Dao itself. At this stage, one begins to touch the essence of Heavenly Laws.
Second—while relatively simpler—one must reach the absolute peak of the Taiyi Golden Immortal level and possess extremely deep and vast magical power.
Heaven and Earth have a lifespan. One Yuanhui consists of twelve Huì (epochs), totaling 129,600 years.
The magical power of a Da Luo Golden Immortal is measured in Yuanhui.
Tathagata once told the Monkey King that the Jade Emperor had endured 1,750 kalpas of hardship, each kalpa lasting 129,600 years—meaning the Jade Emperor possessed at least 1,750 Yuanhui’s worth of power.
In contrast, the Xuanming and Golden Crow forms, condensed from ancestral witch blood and solar true fire, had only just one Yuanhui of power each.
As for Qin Chuan himself, even after consuming five-needle pine, peaches of immortality, and golden elixirs, he was still some distance away from achieving a full Yuanhui of power.
There are four main ways to grow magical power:
- Step-by-step cultivation through meditation.
- Magical elixirs and divine fruits—like five-needle pines, peaches of immortality, or golden pills. However, even innate spiritual roots offer their greatest effect only upon the first consumption.
- Faith-based incense offerings and Heavenly Merit.
- Sudden Enlightenment—a single flash of insight can save one countless years of arduous cultivation.
On Fangcun Mountain, time slips by unnoticed.”
Meanwhile, in the Western Thunderclap Monastery, Tathagata was delivering a sermon.
Golden lotuses surged forth, celestial flowers rained down, and miraculous visions filled the air.
Bodhisattvas, Vajras, the 500 Arhats, the 3,000 Revealed Disciples, bhikkhus, and bhikkhunis—all the great holy beings were immersed in bliss as they listened.
But suddenly, an unharmonious snore broke the tranquility. The Buddhas turned their gaze toward the source—only to see a strikingly handsome young monk, with red lips and white teeth, snoring away in deep sleep without the slightest concern for decorum.
Tathagata paused his sermon and said, “Jin Chanzi, why do you not heed my teaching?”
Still groggy, Jin Chanzi rubbed his eyes and yawned, “Master, your disciple has been negligent and failed to uphold your teachings. I was lost in thought and could not focus on the lecture.”
Tathagata Buddha said, “Since you show no reverence for my teachings and dare to disregard the Great Dharma, then go and endure a few more lifetimes before returning to seek enlightenment.”
With a wave of his hand, Jin Chanzi cried out in alarm as he transformed into a beam of golden light and was cast out of the Thunderclap Monastery.
The assembly of Buddhas all placed their palms together and chanted:
“Amitabha…”
Heavenly Realm – 33rd Heaven – Tusita Palace.
Within the alchemy chamber of the Tusita Palace, the Grand Supreme Elder Lord (Taishang Laojun) sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion.
The Bagua Furnace, once kicked over by the Monkey King, had been restored to its original place. The Six Ding Divine Fire within blazed fiercely.
Suddenly, the grand doors creaked open. A large, portly figure approached and bowed deeply.
“Heavenly Marshal Tianpeng greets the Grandmaster.”
The Elder Lord opened his eyes slightly. With a gentle wave of his horsetail whisk, the lid of the Bagua Furnace sprang open. A gleaming object shot out and floated in front of Tianpeng.
The Elder Lord said softly, “I have reforged your weapon. This is the Precious Gold-Raking Rake, weighing exactly a full zàng (ancient Chinese unit of measure). Now, I have a task for you.”
Tianpeng bowed respectfully, “Whatever my Grandmaster commands, Tianpeng shall carry out even unto death!”
The Elder Lord shook his head lightly:
“No need for such extremity. After this task, I shall have Xuan Du formally accept you as a disciple.”
As Marshal Tianpeng left the Tusita Palace, he did not return to the Milky Way navy. His expression was strange, as though deep in thought.
Suddenly, he spotted a group of moon maidens gliding past on clouds. Tianpeng’s eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he gave chase, calling out:
“Fairies! Fairies! Wait for me!”
Celestial Court – Palace in the Clouds
The Jade Emperor, seated upon the Eight-Scene Imperial Chariot, was patrolling the heavenly realm.
Arriving at a sea of clouds, he dismissed all attendants, leaving only one burly heavenly general at his side.
The Jade Emperor turned to him and said quietly, “Curtain-Lifting General.”
The general cupped his fists and replied, “Your Majesty.”
Gazing into the cloud sea, the Jade Emperor’s eyes turned solemn.
“The Queen Mother has a glass chalice in the Jade Pool. Go and shatter it.”
The general was silent:
“…”
Western Sea Dragon Palace
A place of deep beauty and mystery—like a hidden treasure trove of Heaven and Earth.
Inside the palace: pearls and coral, jade walls and gemstone pillars glistened like a hall of underwater gems. Crystal towers and glass pavilions shimmered with light filtered through sea water, with the sun and moon as lamps, illuminating a world of wonder.
Sacred turtles presented omens. Dolphins played in the water. Auspicious energies danced throughout. Among coral groves, fish darted like living rainbows. Seaweed swayed gently, and pearls glimmered in the current.
The palace was particularly festive today. The third prince of the Northern Sea Dragon King, Ao Lie, had just been betrothed to the Princess of All Saints, daughter of the Dragon King of Myriad Saints, who resided in the Greenwater Pool of Wildstone Mountain.
Inside the grand hall, Ao Lie sat alone at a table, drinking gloomily. In human form, he looked like a refined young noble, elegant and poised—like a jade tree swaying in the wind.
After three cups of wine, he was already tipsy.
“My royal father is far too weak,” he muttered.
“For the grand Western Sea Dragon Palace to marry into a wild mountain clan? It feels like we’re the ones begging for the match.”
He sighed again.
“The dragon race has truly fallen. In better days, a dragoness like that—average beauty at best—would never have been considered worthy of my hand.”
As he drowned his sorrow in drink, he fell into a deep, dream-like sleep. The wine jug was empty, his cup tipped over, and wine had spilled across the table.
Suddenly, he heard a song echoing faintly through the air:
“Watching the chessboard wear down,
Chopping wood to rhythmic sound.
In cloud-wrapped valleys, slowly I roam,
Selling firewood for wine,
Laughing wildly to delight in my soul…
When paths cross—be it immortal or sage,
We sit in stillness and recite the Huangting Page.”
Ao Lie stirred awake and looked around in alarm. All he saw were towering ancient trees and a unique, picturesque landscape. Clearly, this was no longer the Dragon Palace.
A sense of dread welled up in his heart.
Then, from afar, he heard a melodious, free-spirited song. Steadying his nerves, he followed the sound and came upon a woodcutter chopping logs and singing with wild joy and freedom.
Ao Lie stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
“Esteemed Immortals, greetings. I am Ao Lie, Third Prince of the Western Sea Dragon Palace. May I ask where I am and why I’ve appeared here?”
The woodcutter paused, glanced at him, then smiled.
“This is the Spirit Platform on Mount Fangcun. You are here because you and I share a fated bond of master and disciple.”