Chapter 428: Chapter 385, Exiting the Hangu Pass to the West
Inside the horse carriage, Bai Jin sorrowfully cried out: "Master! Senior Brother Duobao is our Jie Sect’s most senior brother, he always cared for us like an elder brother, sending him to Buddhism, I am greatly reluctant to part with him, this is a huge loss for our Jie Sect."
Senior Brother Duobao was deep in thought but hearing Bai Jin’s cries, he suddenly became clear-headed; his heart twitched as he let out a cold laugh, such fake tears. Instantly, he made up his mind that even if he went Westward, he would never again associate with Bai Jin.
Li Er said with a chuckle: "You make some sense, Duobao is indeed extraordinary. How about if I give you ten Nine Revolutions Golden Pills?"
"Master, not only is Senior Brother Duobao my blood brother, he is also the first disciple of our Jie Sect’s Daoist heritage, we must add more Golden Pills."
"Fine, I will add another five."
"Thank you, Master. Senior brother, rest assured and go! Your junior brother will make offerings to our Master on your behalf."
Duobao remained expressionless, chuckling silently—how can Immortals be so shameless? With someone so blinded by self-interest in charge of the Outer Door, how can Jie Sect not fall? Master, you have truly entrusted your legacy to the unworthy!
Li Er asked again: "Duobao, are you willing to go Westward and re-establish Buddhism there?"
After a moment of contemplation, Senior Brother Duobao bowed his head and said: "Your disciple is willing!"
"Excellent! On your journey Westward, if you have any doubts about cultivation, feel free to ask, and I shall answer them all."
"Thank you, Master!"
Following that, Duobao raised questions about his cultivation one after another, and Li Er answered each of them. As they traveled, the journey became longer and the land grew more desolate.
...
The mountains at the border between Nan Zhanbu Continent and the Western Continent stretched continuously, towering into the clouds, almost impassable.
Between these towering ranges stood a majestic and mighty pass, which seemed to cut through the mountains, embedding a city within them.
Above the pass, flags fluttered in the wind, whistling as they danced. Countless warriors tall and straight as Long Spears took their positions, guarding the border. This was Hangu Pass.
One day, Deputy General Yin Xi, following routine, went atop the city wall to inspect and suddenly saw in the southeast direction purple qi billowing and auspicious light swirling. Enveloped in obscurity, golden flowers fell from the purple qi, spreading a dazzling radiance.
Yin Xi’s heart was struck with alarm; this was the sign of a Saint descending to the mortal world, but which Saint was coming? The purple qi slowly moved towards Hangu Pass with great momentum, yet every soldier inside the city remained oblivious to it, indeed, they saw nothing.
Without considering more, Yin Xi promptly ordered loudly: "Quick, open the city gates!"
The Deputy General standing beside him immediately responded: "Commander, Hangu Pass is the gateway of Nan Zhanbu Continent, not to be opened lightly!"
Yin Xi sternly shouted: "A Saint is descending on Hangu Pass, quickly pass my order, open the city gates wide, and gather all civilian and military officials to join me in welcoming."
Seeing Yin Xi’s panic, the Deputy General felt a sense of urgency too and, saluting with a clenched fist, loudly complied: "Understood!" He then turned and ran toward the distance.
Yin Xi, with a sweep of his cloak, strode down toward the base of the city wall.
The towering gates of Hangu Pass thundered open, and Yin Xi, leading the officials from within the Pass, walked out and knelt reverently at the threshold to welcome the arrival.
Under the auspicious purple qi, a somewhat modest horse carriage approached against the wind and sand, slowly coming to a halt before the crowd.
Bai Jin lifted the carriage curtain and stuck his head out, asking: "Who blocks my way ahead?"
"Hangu Pass Commander Yin Xi leads the officials of Hangu Pass to respectfully welcome the Saint’s divine carriage."
Officials kneeling behind also called out in unison: "Respectfully welcome the Saint’s divine carriage!"
"How do you know that it is the divine carriage of a Saint descending?"
"When I was young, I learned the arts from strange people and understood the Observing the Qi and Cloud Skill. Days before, I saw the Eastern skies filled with purple qi for thirty thousand li, hence I knew a Saint would soon arrive, and I led the civil and military officials of the pass to come and pay respects."
Li Er’s voice came from within the horse carriage: "I am no Saint, merely a common decrepit old man, please make things convenient, sir, and let us pass."
Yin Xi hurriedly said: "The arrival of the Saint at Hangu Pass is a great honor for Hangu Pass, who dares to stop you?! Please bestow your name so that we, the ordinary people, may admire."
"Old man Li Er—"
Yin Xi exclaimed excitedly: "It turns out to be the Taoist Ancestor above, please accept your disciple’s bow." He kowtowed with deep respect.
This Taoist Ancestor is not that Taoist Ancestor; Taoist Hongjun is the Ancestor of Honghuang Preaching, Li Er is the Ancestor of the Honghuang Dao, because the Daoist worshipped The Three Pure Ones, which later evolved into the Three Pure Taoist Ancestors. Although they share the same pronunciation, their meanings differ.
Li Er’s aged voice rang out: "Everyone stand up!"
The people kneeling in front got up, standing aside to clear the path, looking at the horse carriage with awe and reverence.
Yin Xi hesitated for a moment, then humbly said: "As a disciple of Daoism, with the Taoist Ancestor gracing Hangu Pass with his presence, I wish to lead the ox and drive the carriage across the boundary for the Taoist Ancestor. Please grant your permission."
"Very well—" Li Er’s voice emerged from the ox carriage.
Bai Jin took a look at Yin Xi and said with a smile: "You indeed have good karma!" He lowered the curtain and sat back inside the ox carriage.
Yin Xi, delighted, hurried forward and came in front of Senior Brother Duobao to give a respectful bow.
Duobao handed the reins over, which Yin Xi took, leading the ox carriage towards the interior of Hangu Pass.
Creak creak—the ox carriage passed through the gates of Hangu Pass under the watchful eyes of all the soldiers and civilians, arriving in the Western Continent and continued Westward. After a while, the horse carriage stopped before a vast river.
Yin Xi respectfully said: "Taoist Ancestor, there’s no path ahead."
Bai Jin lifted the carriage curtain, Li Er stooped out from the ox carriage, stepping onto the lush riverbank.
Bai Jin too leaped out from the horse carriage, looked around, and said: "So, this is the Western Continent! It’s my first time here."
Li Er stretched out his hand to remove the Cow Nose Ring, casually threw it, and the ring hung glittering in mid-air, revealing a realm vastly different from the Western one, bustling with people, with elephants roaming about.
Li Er said: "Duobao, go now."
Bai Jin looked at Duobao, saddened, "Senior brother, I will miss you."
"Hmph—" Duobao snorted, then straightened his clothes, knelt towards the East, and kowtowed three times.
After getting up, he glanced around, transformed into a Jing Guang, and shot into the Cow Nose Ring, vanishing in an instant.
Inside the Cow Nose Ring, a realm appeared with an Imperial Palace, where the queen lay resting under a Bodhi Tree. She suddenly cried out in pain, going into labor, and a baby fell to the ground with a cry.
"Roar—"
"Growl—"
Nine Divine Dragons danced in the air, circling above the baby, opening their mouths to spray nine fountains to bathe the child, Phoenixes and Peacocks among a multitude of birds sang, while flowers of all four seasons bloomed, and in the ponds, Golden Lotuses grew as large as cartwheels.
The baby bathed in the Nine Dragon Fountain, took seven steps ahead, pointing one hand to the heavens and another to the earth, and exclaimed loudly: "Above the heavens and below the earth, I alone am honored!"
Boom—A Thunderbolt streaked across the sky, bathing the entire Imperial Palace in auspicious light.
Outside Hangu Pass, a Merit Gold Cloud flew into view, split into three in the sky: fifty percent descended towards Li Er, thirty percent towards the Cow Nose Ring, and twenty percent towards Bai Jin.
Li Er and Bai Jin waved to collect the Merit, with the thirty percent of Merit falling onto the Cow Nose Ring, making it shine even brighter with a silvery light.