Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

"Wait, you're saying that the person who fought with Nezha is a human race scholar!" Lu Yu only then realized that since he could fight with Nezha so fiercely, he must not be an unknown person, yet he had never heard of this name nor knew from which mountain top he appeared, exhibiting such vast Divine Skills."

"Reporting to the Great King, according to the patrolling Yakshas, this scholar has been to Huaguo Mountain twice and is a good friend of the Great Saint, who treats him differently from ordinary people.

It is said that at the last gathering at Huaguo Mountain, this esteemed person even defeated the Serpent King!" At the time, those in the sea didn't believe it and thought it was an exaggeration, as the Serpent King is a fearsome Demon King; how could he be defeated by an unknown scholar? Today they watched from a distance the fight between Nezha and Lu Yu and realized that the rumors were true."

"Turtle Minister, go prepare an invitation, and invite this scholar to the Dragon Palace for a chat!" Although Lu Zhang did not possess high Mana, he was very skillful in dealing with people.

Otherwise, he would not have monopolized the position of the East Sea Dragon King for so many years, considering that the internal strife within the Dragon Clan is no less intense than that of the mortal Imperial Family."

So, Lu Zhang would never miss any opportunity to make acquaintance with distinguished individuals, only that last time the monkey was truly unruly, and the Old Dragon King, fearing trouble, had reported to the Heavenly Court."

Lu Yu was leading the monkeys in planting Spirit Fruit at Huaguo Mountain. Although Huaguo Mountain had been burnt to barrenness, its terrain remained unchanged, still qualifying as a Blessed Land. Given that the Spirit Fruit could grow within a few years if planted well, and especially since Lu Yu possessed the Divine Water, the task was even more efficient."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Suddenly, a tunnel appeared in the sea, and two patrolling Yakshas escorted the Turtle Minister from the sea, walking straight up to Lu Yu and respectfully said, "Our Great King invites the gentleman to the Dragon Palace for a discussion, may we have the honor of your presence?" After speaking, they handed over the Dragon King's invitation."

Lu Yu had long wanted to meet this well-known figure, knowing that although the East Sea Dragon King's Mana had always been weak, his fame was immense. Almost every myth in China seemed to include this Dragon King, which was quite rare."

"Please, Turtle Prime Minister, tell the Dragon King that Lu will arrange some affairs and then come to visit."

Hearing Lu Yu's words, the Turtle Minister could sense Lu Yu's temperament and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Knowing that Lu Yu wasn't possessed with the monkey's fierceness but instead was surrounded by a clear aura with a radiant fortune evident in his appearance, which was clearly that of a true ascetic with vast Divine Skills and a friendly attitude, was indeed a fortunate matter for the East Sea, which lacked high-end battle power."

That night in the Dragon Palace, the lights were brilliant, with all sorts of luminous jewels lighting up the entire Crystal Palace like daylight, while fish maidens, dragging their long fishtails, were busy decorating the palace. The shrimp soldiers and crab generals also shifted from their usual slackness to diligently standing guard and performing their duties."

All the individuals in the Dragon Palace knew a distinguished guest was soon to arrive; the Dragon King deeply valued this visitor from the human race, hence no one dared to neglect."

At Huaguo Mountain, Lu Yu chanted the Water-Avoidance Spell and walked leisurely towards the seabed of the East Sea, careful to feel the essence of the ocean. The Cultivation Technique he comprehended was the Boundless Sea Technique, originally inspired by his observations of the vast and majestic ocean waves while sailing across the seas."

As such, having the ability to deeply understand the ocean's nature was greatly beneficial to Lu Yu's usual cultivation. The ocean was boundless, deep, and tranquil, yet it nurtured a vitality entirely different from that of the land; all these experiences were precious treasures, ultimately becoming nourishment for Lu Yu's cultivation."

Soon, the Crystal Palace came into view before Lu Yu, the grand and opulent sight truly startled him. The palace made entirely of transparent crystals was indeed spectacular, set against the blue ocean creating a unique charm unlike anything even seen during the information explosion era of his previous life."

Lu Yu's arrival delighted the Dragon King, who displayed a humble demeanor that somewhat overwhelmed Lu Yu.

The food in the Dragon Palace was completely different from that on land; each dish was enveloped in bubbles that kept the steam from escaping. What astonished people even more was that when one inserted chopsticks into them, the bubbles did not hinder the eating process. Instead, this method enhanced the aroma of the food, giving Lu Yu a very novel experience.

Lu Yu and the Dragon King enjoyed their conversation immensely, with one seeking friendship and the other seeking a favor, naturally leaving both host and guest thoroughly pleased.

Eventually, they came to an understanding: the Dragon King would ensure that Huaguo Mountain would have favourable weather conditions in the future, while Lu Yu would lend a hand to the Dragon Palace, within his principles.

Lingshui Pass was located to the north of Jinzhou, with the Jin River as its natural defense. It had always been a strategic military location, which is why its walls were built exceptionally high and massive. From a distance, it resembled a giant beast crouching on the land of Yonzhou. The ancient walls still bore the mottled marks of past wars.

Deng Yuan, as the commanding general of Lingshui Pass, was currently hosting a banquet for many officials in his residence, where the sound of strings and bamboo flutes was endless and dancing girls moved gracefully, earning applause from the audience.

Amidst the mingling of guests, a soldier announced loudly, "General, Lu Zhang of Yuzhou has already mobilized a large army and is advancing towards our Lingshui Pass!"

This statement instantly obliterated the festive atmosphere, leaving the officials looking at each other, unsure of what to do.

"Haha! I had long suspected that Lu Zhang, upon capturing Jinzhou, would not give up his thieving intentions. I had already ordered all the boats on both sides of the river to be burned. How could that old thief Lu Zhang cross the formidable Jin River? Gentlemen, rest easy; after a few days unable to cross, the thieves will naturally retreat," Deng Yuan laughed heartily.

Only then did everyone's hanging hearts settle down, chiding themselves for being overly anxious. Though Deng Yuan was not a legendary general, he was renowned in Great Chen for one thing.

He was known as the "Turtle General" in Great Chen, famous for his messy offensives but excellent at defense. In every battle, he would hold his grounds and slowly exhaust his opponents with his ample provisions.

The music and dance resumed, and everyone raised their cups in celebration, naturally praising the general's brilliant and mighty strategies, all immersed in a joyous atmosphere.

On the opposite bank of the Jin River, however, Lu Zhang was listening seriously to the reports of his subordinates: "General, all the boats within a hundred miles have been seized by the other side, not leaving us even a small boat."

"This Deng Yuan truly lives up to his name as the Turtle General, having seized all the boats nearby in advance. Now, all we can do is stare at the Jin River and sigh helplessly!" Lu Zhang was somewhat speechless, as Deng Yuan had already set up a defensive stance without any fight, proving him to be quite a character.

"It seems this campaign can only return without accomplishment. I had originally planned to use the momentum of capturing Jinzhou to seize Lingshui Pass in one go, thereby opening the gates to Yonzhou.

Now, it looks like we will have to return to recuperate and wait for another battle in the future." Lu Zhang was still reluctant to let go, the strategic position of Lingshui Pass was too vital, gaining control of it a day earlier meant securing initiative a day earlier. In a world where heroes contend for supremacy, being a step slow meant being slow in every step.