Journey to the West: Demon Emperor: Beginning as a Little Toad

Chapter 503 The Golden Horn Meets the Silver Horn in the Heavenly Realm

After leaving the secret chamber of the God of War.

Xiao Chen then strolled around the residence of the Martial Star Lord to see if there were any other good magical treasures or weapons that he had missed, and copied them as well, making the trip worthwhile.

Arriving at a quiet place, a teahouse came into view.

Xiao Chen paused slightly, as if an invisible string in his heart had been gently plucked, and a familiar aura faintly wafted over.

"Ok?"

"This is……"

Xiao Chen narrowed his eyes slightly and followed the faint aura as he slowly stepped into the tea room.

The tea room is quiet and elegant, like a secluded sanctuary.

The faint aroma of Wuyi rock tea rises gently, lingering around the nose, bringing a sense of tranquility and dispelling all worries.

Xiao Chen's gaze swept casually across the table, finally settling on a "tea pet" on the tea table.

Tea pets, for tea connoisseurs, are like pets on the tea table.

Tea pets, as the name suggests, are pets nurtured by tea, or objects to be played with while drinking tea, adding a touch of leisure and elegance to the pleasure of tea tasting.

For tea connoisseurs, nurturing tea pets is truly a delightful experience.

There are many types of tea pets.

The Pixiu is majestic and awe-inspiring, seemingly capable of attracting wealth and treasures; the toad is endearing and adorable, symbolizing abundant wealth; the Ruyi foot has a unique shape, symbolizing good fortune and auspiciousness...

The elephant, with its massive size, symbolizes peace and prosperity; the innocent and adorable children bring vitality and energy; the round and plump golden pig symbolizes abundance and happiness...

These are all quite common tea pets.

Tea pets are generally ceramic handicrafts made of purple clay or Chengni clay, but some are made of porcelain or stone.

At this moment.

In the tea room of the God of War, there was a toad tea pet.

This is not surprising.

However, to Xiao Chen's surprise, this toad tea pet was actually alive!
It was a silver toad.

Inside the tea room of the God of War, a warm and lustrous jade tea tray had become the cage of this silver toad.

Toads are inherently yin creatures, preferring cool, shady places. They feed on the moonlight, and only under the gentle caress of the moon can they cultivate themselves and achieve great things.

But now, the true form of this silver toad has been sealed within the purple clay body by Wuqu Xingjun using a branding iron with the Big Dipper pattern.

The silver toad skin was half-fused with the clay, as if forcibly bound together by an invisible evil force, unable to struggle or escape.

Its back is inlaid with seven meteorite nails arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper, corresponding to the positions of the stars Tanlang, Jumen, Lucun, Wenqu, Lianzhen, Wuqu, and Pojun, forming the "Big Dipper Array".

This formation was like an invisible shackle, firmly binding him to the tea table, unable to move, and leaving him at the mercy of others.

The once free-spirited silver toad, with its webbed paws swirling in the waves, is now confined to this small space. Its back, deprived of the moonlight, has gradually become dull and lifeless under the repeated stains of tea, losing its former vitality.

You can tell.

The owner of this teahouse often torments the silver toad by pouring boiling tea over it.

The scalding hot tea poured down like sulfur rain, directly onto the silver toad, scalding its skin until it turned red and its three toes curled up.

Those webbed feet that were once meant to hold the moon have now become a fleshy cushion to endure the burning pain. Every sip of water feels like a thousand arrows piercing the heart, causing excruciating agony.

What's even more appalling is that...

The owner of the teahouse even used a purple clay brush dipped in aged tea to draw tea mountain patterns on its back.

The ink slowly seeped into its texture, turning the silver toad's originally pure and agile body into a plaything like a sheet of rice paper, to be manipulated at will, devoid of any dignity.

The scalding hot tea was repeatedly poured over the silver toad, causing its skin to develop mottled, golden-brown scabs. The half-melted state of the toad skin and the clay added to its pitiful appearance.

In this dark and sunless room, the silver toad naturally could not see the moon, much less absorb its essence for cultivation.

Over time.

Its once blue pupils lost the brilliance they held when gazing at the moon, turning into two murky gray wisps.

This silver toad has become a breathing ornament on the tea table, a "living work of art" fed with suffering, for people to admire and play with.

despite this.

But Xiao Chen recognized the silver toad at a glance; it was none other than his little brother, "Silver Horn."

To outsiders, toads may all look the same: covered in poisonous bumps, with four legs and a big mouth, with no distinguishing features whatsoever.

But in the eyes of a toad, they are naturally different, each with its own unique appearance and aura.

"Silver Horn... went out to travel and has been missing ever since."

"I never imagined I'd be captured and taken to the Heavenly Realm, only to become a living tea pet for the God of War..."

Xiao Chen was actually full of doubts. How exactly was Silver Horn captured and brought to the Heavenly Realm?

But now is clearly not the time to delve into this in detail.

Although Silver Horn was tortured to the point of near death by Wuqu Star Lord, it was clear that he was still alive.

But living is more painful than dying; one cannot live, nor can one die, and can only suffer endless torment.

"This toad tea pet is quite interesting."

"Wrap it up carefully for me, so as not to damage it."

Xiao Chen's lips curled into a cold smile, and a glint of cold light flashed in his eyes.

Two quick-witted heavenly soldiers immediately stepped forward and carefully wrapped the silver toad.

Xiao Chen accepted the silver toad, secretly plotting how to cure Silver Horn.

……

After they had searched the house of the God of War, Wuqu Xingjun, they were done.

Xiao Chen then registered all these items and handed them over to the Heavenly Court's treasury.

Afterwards, he rushed back to treat Silver Horn and had no interest in attending the An Tian Conference for dinner and drinks.

then.

Xiao Chen and Princess Wansheng then went straight back to the Yang residence.

……

skyline.

The Dongyang Jade Pavilion, the Taixuan Palace, the Yujing Golden Palace, and other celestial palaces and treasure halls stand in a row.

The magnificent palaces and pavilions appeared and disappeared in the celestial light, surrounded by auspicious clouds, showcasing the solemnity, sanctity, and transcendence of the heavenly realm.

At the Heavenly Assembly, immortals gathered in great numbers, celestial music filled the air, and auspicious clouds streamed down.

In the hall, a celestial official carrying a gilded incense burner moved gracefully among the banquet tables.

He was the incense-offering immortal official, the previous incarnation of "Iron-Crutch Li, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism".

At this time, Tieguai Li did not yet have the disheveled hair, bushy beard, huge eyes, bare belly, and ugly appearance, nor did he have the appearance of having his hair bound by a golden headband and his iron crutch limping. Instead, he was a handsome young man with clear eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding heroic spirit.

He was tall and imposing, and in charge of incense offerings in the celestial realm, responsible for burning incense and praying for blessings. Every gesture he made exuded the demeanor of a celestial being.

The flower-official in charge was none other than He Xiangu, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism.

Her face was stunningly beautiful, like the most delicate flower in spring, vibrant and beautiful.

The flower-bearing official's eyes were bright and lively, like a clear spring, crystal clear; her eyebrows were like distant mountains, slightly raised, with a hint of playfulness; her lips were like newly blossoming cherries, red and moist, making one feel tenderness and wanting to kiss them. Her temperament was gentle and graceful, and every frown and smile revealed tenderness.

Her skin was as white as snow, with a rosy glow, as if you could squeeze water out of it with a gentle pinch.

The Flower Official, in conjunction with the Flower Fairy, is in charge of the abundant flowers in the celestial realm. She takes meticulous care of them every day, resulting in a celestial realm filled with fragrance and vibrant colors.

This Antiy Labs Conference.

The Incense Master is responsible for managing the incense offerings and must ensure that the incense is placed in the proper position to highlight the solemnity of the Heavenly Peace Assembly.

Holding an incense burner, he carefully moved among the banquet tables. At each place, he gently placed the incense burner in the designated spot, then put his hands together, chanted incantations, and added incense to pray for the immortals.

The female flower arranger was in charge of the floral arrangements. She carefully selected various flowers and skillfully combined them to create a magnificent atmosphere for the An Tian Assembly. She moved among the flowers, sometimes bending down to pick blossoms, sometimes standing up to tidy the branches. Her movements were light and graceful, like a butterfly in flight, adding a touch of liveliness and gentleness to this solemn event.

The incense-wielding celestial official and the flower-wielding female official each have their own duties.

however.

It's unclear when it started, but the incense official's gaze kept drifting towards the flower lady.

Whenever he saw her stunning beauty and gentle demeanor, a strange emotion would well up in his heart, his eyes filled with admiration and tenderness, as if he had a thousand words to say but couldn't bring himself to speak.

The female official in charge of flowers seemed to sense something as well, occasionally glancing back and meeting the gaze of the fairy official in charge of incense.

at last.

The incense-offering celestial official mustered his courage and whispered:
"The lady-in-waiting's attire today is so beautiful that it makes all the flowers in the hall pale in comparison."

The flower-serving lady was slightly taken aback, then lowered her head shyly and responded softly:
"Please don't make fun of me, celestial official. You look especially energetic today."

gradually.

They actually started laughing and joking around at this solemn Heavenly Peace Assembly.

The incense official deliberately sprinkled the incense ash from the incense burner onto the skirt of the flower official. The ash fell like snowflakes, leaving traces on the flower official's gorgeous skirt.

The female official in charge of flowers feigned anger, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, hands on her hips, and said coquettishly:

"How can you be so naughty!"

You've ruined my perfectly good skirt!

The incense-offering official approached with a grin, saying ingratiatingly:
"Don't be angry, madam, I was just trying to make you happy."

"How about I help you clean up this incense ash?"

The flower maidservant rolled her eyes at him and said reproachfully:

"Who needs your help? Stay away from me, or you'll cause trouble again."

Although he said that, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.

However, the joyful atmosphere did not last long.

The two had another argument over the coordination between the placement of the incense and the arrangement of the flowers.

The incense master must ensure that the incense burner is placed in the core area of ​​the ceremony so that the smoke rises vertically and avoids obstructions to guarantee the purity of the fragrance and highlight the solemnity of the event.

The female flower arranging official was responsible for the floral arrangements, advocating for a banquet to be surrounded by lush flowers to create a sense of visual depth, but this required occupying the space around the incense burner to place large floral arrangements.

This is how the conflict arose.

If an incense burner is surrounded by flowers, the diffusion of smoke will be obstructed, which will affect the purity and solemnity of the incense.

If the flowers are placed far from the center of the banquet, it will diminish the magnificent atmosphere of the celebration and fail to achieve the effect expected by the female flower master.

At this moment.

The flower-official was leading some fairy maidens to hang vines and flowers above the incense burner, which interfered with the upward path of the incense smoke.

This scene greatly angered the incense master.

"Beautiful flowers shouldn't block the way!"

The incense official, displeased by the sight, forcibly transplanted the already fixed flower clusters, damaging the flower arrangement.

He used all his strength to uproot a carefully arranged flower and threw it aside.

The female official in charge of the flowers was furious to see her hard work ruined. Her eyebrows furrowed, her eyes widened, and she roared:
"Fragrance Master, how could you be so reckless as to ruin my carefully arranged flowers!"

The incense official blushed and argued:

"I was just joking with you, why are you taking it so seriously! This petty behavior of yours is not like your usual self."

The female official in charge of flowers was not to be outdone and retorted:

"There's a limit to jokes. You shouldn't have been so reckless!"

"If you continue like this, I'm really going to get angry!"

The incense-offering celestial official crossed his arms and said defiantly:

"Okay, okay, I admit I was wrong, but you don't have to be so fierce."

The flower-serving lady stamped her foot and said angrily:

"I'm being mean? You ruined the flowers I worked so hard to arrange, and you're blaming me?"

The incense official and the flower official, these two goddesses, were exchanging words back and forth, neither willing to give in, their pretty faces flushed red, and the atmosphere became quite tense for a time.

It looked like a fight was about to break out.

This scene was witnessed by several old-fashioned and conservative deities.

They stared at the two men, their brows furrowed, whispering amongst themselves, their eyes filled with suspicion and dissatisfaction.

A white-bearded immortal frowned and muttered to himself:

"These two are behaving like this; they must be harboring worldly desires. What kind of behavior is this!"

Another dark-faced deity chimed in:

"That's right, that's right. To be so presumptuous in such a solemn occasion in the Heavenly Realm is truly against the Heavenly Rules."

"The rules of the Heavenly Realm are strict; how can they be allowed to act so recklessly!"

The white-bearded immortal was so angry that his beard stood on end.

"Severe punishment is necessary to serve as a warning to others!"

The black-faced immortal said indignantly.

……

In the celestial realm, it is a great taboo for immortals to yearn for mortal life.

Once confirmed, they will be severely punished; Marshal Tianpeng and Wuqu Xingjun serve as cautionary tales.

then.

A deity hurriedly went to the Jade Emperor's throne, looking anxious and indignant, and reported:

"Your Majesty, the incense official and the flower official have desires for mortal life, which violates the heavenly rules. We beseech Your Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly!"

……

at the same time.

The palace secretary in front of the Jade Emperor (the previous incarnation of Han Xiangzi, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism) also encountered some problems.

The Palace Secretary (the previous incarnation of Han Xiangzi, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism) was supposed to stand beside the Jade Emperor, attentively recording important matters at the Heavenly Peace Assembly.

But for some reason, perhaps influenced by the lively atmosphere of the banquet, or perhaps because of some worries on her mind, she was momentarily lost in thought.

The pen in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

The palace secretary hurriedly bent down to pick it up, but in his haste, he accidentally knocked over the glass cup on the Jade Emperor's table.

That glass cup was a precious item used exclusively by the Jade Emperor for drinking wine.

For a while.

The nectar and liquid poured down like a waterfall, soaking the robes of a great god beside him.

There was a "pop" sound.

The glass cup rolled off the table, crashed heavily to the ground, and shattered into countless pieces.

The great deity was immediately enraged, his face turning ashen, his eyes wide with fury, and he pointed at the secretary in the palace, berating him:

"You little fairy, how could you be so clumsy as to break His Majesty's glass cup? What is your punishment?"

"Do you know that this glass cup is a rare treasure, cherished by His Majesty? How dare you be so audacious!"

The palace secretary turned deathly pale, trembling with fear. His legs buckled, and he immediately knelt down, begging the Jade Emperor for mercy:
"Your Majesty, please calm down. I broke this glass cup in a moment of distraction. It was not intentional."

"I beg Your Majesty to spare this humble one!"

(End of this chapter)