Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao-Chapter 688 - 339 Rakshasa Island_2
"It's lucky to have you. If one day you become an immortal, don't forget to come and see me. By then, I'll have the bragging rights to say my friend became an Immortal," said Cui Heming optimistically and cheerfully, quickly putting his unhappiness behind him as he laughed and spoke to Chenxiang.
"I will!" Chenxiang promised solemnly.
Then he waved goodbye to Cui Heming in a carefree manner and, with the little Monkey in tow, boarded a large ship that was moored nearby.
Cui Heming watched his friend's dwindling figure with a deep sigh. Knowing they might not meet again in this life, as the saying goes, "A few days in the cave, a thousand years in the world." It's possible that by the time Chenxiang blinked, Cui Heming would already be old and grey—a thought that he reckoned might be quite amusing.
Yet, Cui Heming knew he couldn't abandon his father, mother, and the vast family enterprise of the Cui family. He acknowledged that such a choice was beyond him, leaving him with nothing but a helpless sigh.
On the other hand, Chenxiang, followed by the excited Monkey, boarded the large ship. The Monkey immediately began to frolic around, bursting with excitement. The Captain, born into the Cui family, was quite familiar with the pair and was unfazed by their presence. However, many of the sailors couldn't help but secretly observe the Monkey—a creature that could speak human language.
Chenxiang, unlike Sun Shier, didn't have the luxury to enjoy such leisure. As Huaguo Mountain drew closer, his anxiety grew. Could he successfully find a master to teach him? And after finding one, could he learn enough skills to rescue his mother? Truth be told, he was not confident at all.
He was no longer the naive youngster of before; he had some understanding of the hardships and pains he'd encountered. He looked up at the vast, turbulent sea.
The blue ocean met the azure sky, turning the whole world blue, except for a few white seagulls racing across the canvas, adding a touch of splendor to the monotonous scene.
Chenxiang, who had never really seen the ocean before, felt his somber mood brighten at the sight. He resolved to rescue his mother and reunite the family.
As night fell, the full moon rose from the sea, bathing the ocean with a silver glow—sparkling and utterly beautiful. Chenxiang, leaning against the railing, found his restless heart calmed by the scene. The nameless technique within him began operating, and a powerful aura enveloped him.
The Captain, who had been about to invite Chenxiang for some food, was surprised to find an indescribable quality about him at that moment; it was as if Chenxiang embodied the grandeur of mountains and rivers, even the fragrance of flowers and grass. He didn't understand why this was happening but felt instinctively that he shouldn't disturb Chenxiang.
So he quietly retreated and instructed the other people on the ship not to bother Chenxiang.
Sun Shier, who had been lying on his bed in boredom, hurried out of the cabin when he heard this news. He was stunned at first sight of Chenxiang.
Could this be the legendary Enlightenment? The Monkey couldn't be sure, but at that moment, his heart was filled with envy towards Chenxiang. Such a realm was something many cultivators yearned for but might never encounter—not a single soul around him had ever fallen into such a state of Enlightenment. free𝑤ebnovel.com
At that moment, the ordinarily mischievous Monkey became incredibly quiet, knowing well the rarity of the opportunity. Any careless interruption could be seen as a grave offense.
It was unclear how much time passed before Chenxiang finally emerged from that mysterious state, and as he looked up, the sky began to lighten at the horizon. A red sun slowly rose from the east, casting thousands of rays of light, causing the entire sea to shimmer brilliantly. Flying fish leaped from the water, scattering motley droplets that sparkled in the sunlight like brilliant pearls.
Chenxiang stretched, feeling not at all tired after a night of sitting quietly. Quite the opposite—he had never felt so invigorated.
Turning, he saw the Monkey wearing an expression of envy and resentment and asked in surprise, "What's wrong with you today? I don't remember offending you."
"Do you have any idea what you did yesterday?" the little monkey asked angrily.
"What did I do? Haven't I always been here? What else could have happened?" Chen Xiang asked, puzzled.
"That was the realm of enlightenment, an opportunity that so many long for but never reach. Within the three realms, only Mr. Lu's Enlightenment Tea Tree possesses such an effect. Even so, not everyone gets to experience such a realm. How did you manage it so easily..." The little monkey hopped up and down as he spoke.
He had always believed that he was the most talented monkey on Huaguo Mountain. He could console himself after losing a fight to Chen Xiang, saying that the path to cultivation was not about brute force but about understanding the Great Dao between heaven and earth.
However, in the blink of an eye, Chen Xiang had entered the realm of enlightenment, leaving the proud little monkey speechless.
Chen Xiang looked at the little monkey, who was a mix of envy and jealousy, and only then did he realize he had a great opportunity last night. But when he tried to speak of his gains, he found himself at a loss for words. It was a mysterious state, where all his gains were hidden in his heart, only to be revealed when his realm advanced. It was truly as if "In here lie the truths, try to explain, forget the words."
As the ship sailed, they drew ever closer to Huaguo Mountain, and the surrounding islands became more remote. The captain navigated the ship with a solemn face; a moment's carelessness in these unfamiliar waters could mean the ship's destruction and loss of life.
"That over there is the legendary Rakshasa Island!" exclaimed the little monkey excitedly, pointing to a dark silhouette emerging in the distance.
"I've heard from Ao Xi that Rakshasa Island is inhabited by Rakshasas and Asuras. The Rakshasas are extremely beautiful while the Asuras are incredibly ugly. As a result, the women on the island are very fond of foreign men, but those hideous Asuras despise outsiders and might even kill on sight," said the little monkey with great enthusiasm as he introduced Rakshasa Island to Chen Xiang.
"Uncle Cui, is there any way we can avoid docking?" Chen Xiang asked, frowning upon hearing this.
After all, if the island was truly as Sun Shier had described, setting foot there would likely lead to endless trouble. It would be best to steer clear if possible.
The captain was well aware of the situation, but all he could do was give a wry smile and shake his head, saying, "I'm afraid that's not possible. We don't have much freshwater left on the ship. If we don't resupply here, we won't be able to continue the voyage."
Hearing this, Chen Xiang nodded and said, "If that's the case, then I'll choose a few steady individuals to accompany me ashore. We must be extremely cautious. Sun Shier did say none of the island's inhabitants are ordinary, and if it comes to a fight, we are no match for them."
Chen Xiang led a group of people slowly off the ship. The shore was already crowded with islanders. As he scanned the scene, it was exactly as Sun Shier had described: the women had skin as white as snow and were all stunningly beautiful, while the men were exceptionally ugly, burly in stature but with protruding fangs and a savage demeanour.
The women looked at Chen Xiang's handsome face and showed signs of joy, some even boldly tossing flowers his way, startling Chen Xiang. The ugly men displayed resentful gazes; if it were possible to shoot knives from their eyes, Chen Xiang would have been slashed a thousand times over by now.
But Chen Xiang wasn't particularly scared. Since falling into the realm of enlightenment that day, his Divine Sense had awakened, allowing him to sense the strength of those around him. Although these Asuras were imposing in stature, Chen Xiang could clearly feel that none of them were a match for him.
"What a handsome young man we have here. May I ask what brings you to Rakshasa Island?" An old woman with silver hair parted the crowd and stepped forward, looking at Chen Xiang and asking.
"Elder, we are headed to—"
