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

Chapter 514
The Heaven of Separation and Hatred, within the Tushita Palace.

Laozi looked at the spot where Donghua Dijun had disappeared, shook his head slightly, seemingly with regret, yet also with expectation.

Immediately, he slowly turned around, his gaze falling on the white peony lying quietly beside the Eight Trigrams Furnace.

"The essence of plants and trees, inheriting the Dao and taking form!"

With a gentle touch, Laozi sent a soft, clear light emanating from his fingertip, which landed on the white peony.

Touched by this pure light, the white peony was imbued with spirituality; its petals trembled slightly and slowly transformed into a human form.

The woman was dressed in a pure white fairy robe, her figure graceful, like a white peony blooming in the clouds, otherworldly and untouched by worldly dust.

Her appearance was exquisite, with eyebrows like distant mountains shrouded in mist, and eyes as bright as stars, containing endless tenderness and deep affection, instantly evoking feelings of pity in those who saw her.

With long, glossy black hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall, exuding a faint peony fragrance, this was none other than the Peony Fairy.

However, at this moment, although the Peony Fairy had a physical body, she had no soul. She was like an exquisite statue, beautiful but lifeless, just standing there quietly with empty eyes.

The art of resurrection, the act of bringing the dead back to life, is truly a miraculous feat of defying fate. Only when one's vital energy is gathered and one's spirit returns can one regain vitality.

Essence, Qi, and Spirit are the foundation of life, like the three legs of a tripod, none of which can be missing.

The breath of a recently deceased person is not yet extinguished, like the flickering flame of a candle, weak yet still retaining a glimmer of life; their soul is not yet dispersed, like a wisp of silk, still holding a sliver of hope for returning to its rightful place.

Providing assistance at this critical moment is like righting a capsizing boat in a storm, making it easier to get it back on track and restore its vitality.

Even a recently deceased person can be resurrected by a powerful sorcerer who casts a "resurrection" mantra and rebuilds the body.

However, the longer someone has been dead, the harder it is for them to be resurrected.

The longer one has been dead, the more one's vital energy dissipates, like morning mist meeting the sun, gradually vanishing into nothingness; the further one's soul travels, the more it is like a lone goose separated from its flock, lost and adrift, its whereabouts unknown.

At this point, reviving it would be like rowing against the current, fraught with difficulties and dangers, and every step forward would require a huge price to pay.

Especially those like the Peony Fairy, whose physical bodies have vanished without a trace and whose souls have also dissipated, leaving only a few remnants, like broken walls and ruins, utterly dilapidated.

He had been dead for quite some time.

To bring it back to life is tantamount to rebuilding a pavilion on ruins; the difficulty is beyond imagination, making it an extremely challenging task.

Humans possess essence, energy, and spirit.

The physical body is the vessel of Qi and Shen (spirit), a tangible and substantial entity within the human body, which can be called "the essence of the human body".

It is the foundation of life, bearing all the functions and activities of life, like the cornerstone of a building, stable and crucial.

If the essence is depleted, the foundation of life will be shaken, a hundred diseases will arise, and vitality will gradually be lost, just like a towering tree. If the foundation is unstable, the branches and leaves will wither and eventually die.

Therefore, nourishing the physical body is the foundation of nourishing life, and it must be taken very seriously.

"Qi" is the energy that moves within a living organism and is the source of life's power.

Having qi proves that a person is still alive; losing qi means death.

Qi is like the water of a river, flowing continuously within the human body, nourishing the five internal organs and promoting the circulation of qi and blood.

Although immortals have transcended the mortal realm, they still need this "breath" to maintain the functioning of life.

On the journey to the West, Sun Wukong fought with Red Boy. Red Boy unleashed the Samadhi True Fire, which was extremely hot and accompanied by billowing smoke.

Although Sun Wukong possessed great supernatural powers, he was unable to withstand such an attack and was injured by the Samadhi True Fire and thick smoke.

In the chaos, Sun Wukong threw himself into the stream to put out the fire, but the cold water forced him to his feet and caused his "fire to attack his heart." His three souls left his body, and he was so distressed that his "heart was blocked with qi" and his throat was cold. His soul was scattered and he lost his life!

At this moment, Sun Wukong's "physical body" was unharmed, and his "soul" was also intact, but his "qi" was almost gone, and his whole body was cold, except for a little warmth in his chest.

When you stop breathing, you naturally die.

Later, Pigsy rubbed his hands together to warm them, then sealed his seven orifices with a massage technique...

In a moment.

The "qi" penetrated through the three gates, turned to the Mingtang (a point on the forehead), and broke through the orifices... Only then did Sun Wukong come back to life.

"God" refers to the spirit, representing a person's consciousness and spirit.

"God" is like a beacon, hanging high on the path of life, illuminating the darkness ahead, guiding the direction of actions, and governing the turmoil of thoughts.

Essence transforms into vital energy, vital energy transforms into spirit, and spirit governs essence and vital energy. The three circulate and transform into each other, forming a marvelous "iron triangle of life".

Essence, Qi, and Spirit are like three legs of a tripod, none of which can be lacking.

To resurrect a person, especially one who has been dead for some time.

It is necessary to first reshape its essence, nourish its body with the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, and restore its vitality.

Then gather its energy again, and use immortal techniques to guide the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into its body to replenish its life energy.

Finally, invoke the god, with utmost sincerity and powerful magic, to bring back the lost soul.

At this moment, the Peony Fairy's physical body has recovered, but she still lacks "qi" and "spirit".

Subsequently.

With a wave of his hand, Laozi sent the "Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill" into the mouth of the Peony Fairy.

Immediately afterwards, Laozi injected another stream of immortal energy. That stream of immortal energy moved like a serpent, following the Peony Fairy's throat, passing through the Chonglou, turning to the Mingtang, going straight to the Dantian, and then returning from the Yongquan point to the Niyuan Palace...

Wherever the celestial energy passed, it seemed as if spring thunder rumbled within the Peony Fairy's body, her vitality gradually returning, her meridians flowing anew like dried-up riverbeds nourished by spring rain...

Her body trembled slightly, and her face gradually regained its color...

At this moment.

The energy has gathered; all that remains is for the spirit to return.

Laozi lightly flicked the Taiyi whisk in his hand. The whisk was pure white, and the silk ribbons fluttered gently, seemingly containing endless mysteries.

Lao Tzu murmured:
"The soul is back!"

Its sound was like a great bell, echoing in the Tushita Palace, penetrating the barrier of reincarnation, and calling back the lost souls.

In an instant, the Tushita Palace shone brightly, like a bright moon in the sky, illuminating the way home for the departed souls.

The spirits, like lost lambs, returned at the sound and gradually coalesced.

Amidst the light, the Peony Fairy's three souls and seven spirits began to rapidly coalesce, gradually taking on a substantial form, as if a new life had been born from nothingness.

The divine powers of Laozi are terrifying; he can reshape the souls of living beings in this Tushita Palace, bring the dead back to life, reverse yin and yang, and turn death into life!
The Peony Fairy slowly opened her eyes, her gaze filled with confusion and doubt, as if she had just awakened from a long dream.

The portraits of the Three Pure Ones, the patriarchs of Taoism, were naturally worshipped by the gods of Heaven.

The Peony Fairy looked around and saw Laozi, bowed slightly, and asked softly:

"Supreme Dao Ancestor, where am I? What has happened?"

"My mind went blank. I felt as if I had gone through countless years, but I couldn't remember anything."

Lao Tzu smiled slightly and slowly recounted the whole story:

"Peony Fairy, you perished for some reason, but fortunately, Emperor Donghua sacrificed his own fortune to ask this old Taoist to revive you."

"Now, you have been reborn, but Emperor Donghua..."

At this point, Lao Tzu sighed softly, as if filled with endless emotions.

Upon hearing the words "Emperor Donghua," the Peony Fairy's eyes instantly brightened, and she eagerly asked:
"What happened to Emperor Donghua? Where is he?"

Lao Tzu sighed softly and said:

"To save you, the Emperor dispersed his own fortune and entered the cycle of reincarnation."

"However, I have already granted you a lifetime of love in the mortal realm. In the future, someone will teach me to enlighten him and help you continue your relationship."

Upon hearing Laozi's words, the Peony Fairy's eyes reddened, tears welling up. She bowed again, her voice choked with emotion, and said:

"Many thanks to the Dao Ancestor for saving my life, and many thanks to the Emperor for everything he has done for me."

"I will definitely wait for the Emperor in the mortal realm to continue our predestined relationship."

Lao Tzu nodded, his gaze kind, and said:
"Please rest assured, fairy, this old Taoist will make arrangements. However, since you have just been reborn, you still need to recuperate properly."

"Moreover, at this time, the reincarnation of Emperor Donghua may still be an infant."

"Know that one day in heaven is equivalent to one year on earth."

"The spiritual energy in this Tushita Palace is abundant. You can stay here for a few days and wait until you recover your strength. After the Eastern Emperor has grown up, you can go to the lower realm."

Subsequently.

With a slight flick of his sleeve, Laozi used a gentle celestial power to guide the Peony Fairy to a nearby futon, allowing her to sit down and recuperate in peace.

Although the Peony Fairy was anxious and wished she could descend to the mortal realm immediately to find the reincarnation of the Eastern Emperor.

However, how could she dare disobey the decree of the Supreme Dao Ancestor? Thus...

The Peony Fairy bowed gracefully in gratitude and said:
"Peony respectfully obeys the command of the Supreme Dao Ancestor."

Then, the Peony Fairy slowly closed her eyes, circulated her meager spiritual power, and began to absorb the rich spiritual energy in the Tushita Palace to nourish her newly reconstructed body.

……

"Now the Eastern Emperor has descended to the mortal realm, initiating the grand event of the return of the Eight Immortals to their rightful places in Taoism."

"Of the Eight Immortals of Taoism, one is now complete..."

Laozi stood with his hands behind his back. As he turned around, his deep gaze pierced through the layers of clouds outside the Tushita Palace, as if searching for the trajectory of the Heavenly Dao in the darkness. He was thinking about the other seven immortals of the Daoist sect.

"Recently, the Heavenly Court has banished another batch of immortals to the mortal realm..."

Laozi lightly raised his right hand, flicked his whisk, and a faint light flickered at his fingertips as he made a calculation.

In an instant, the mysteries of heaven and earth surged through my heart like a tide.

A moment later, a slight smile appeared on his lips as he murmured:
"It is only natural, it is the will of Heaven, this is a sign of the great prosperity of Taoism."

……

Inside the Tushita Palace, celestial energy abounded, and auspicious light swirled around.

Laozi sat upright before the Eight Trigrams Alchemy Furnace, exuding an aura of transcendence.

His gaze was deep, like a vast galaxy, scrutinizing all matters within the palace.

The roaring fire in the furnace illuminated his ancient face, adding to his majesty and mystery.

Laozi (Taishang Laojun) arranged all matters, large and small, in the palace in an orderly manner.

He would sometimes stroke his long beard, pondering the progress of the elixir refining; at other times, he would wave his whisk, instructing the boys to organize the scriptures and clean the halls...

After all matters in the Tushita Palace have been arranged.

Laozi slowly rose and walked towards the palace gate.

He then went to summon the Old Man Under the Moon to arrange the love affair between the Pure Yang Immortal and the Peony Fairy in the mortal realm.

Just at this time.

"Da da da!"

"Da da da!"

……

A burst of hurried footsteps, like a sudden downpour striking the steps, shattered the tranquility in front of the Tushita Palace gate.

The cowherd boy rushed over, looking trembling and flustered.

His once rosy face was now deathly pale, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat, and his eyes were filled with terror and unease. His clothes were also disheveled, clearly the result of his frantic running.

The cowherd boy at this moment is completely different from the arrogant and conceited man he was in front of the South Heavenly Gate.

At that time, at the South Heavenly Gate, the cowherd boy faced "Ao Moang of the Western Sea" and "Ao Lie, the Third Prince of the Jade Dragon of the Western Sea," with a face full of disdain and words full of contempt.

The two sides got into a dispute. He was no match for "Xihai Aomoang", and the Green Ox Demon did not help him, choosing to stand by and watch.

The cowherd boy stormed off in a huff, causing the Green Ox Spirit to descend to the mortal realm.

But now, he is like a plucked rooster, utterly pathetic.

When they arrived at the Tushita Palace...

The cowherd boy fell heavily to his knees with a thud, his knees hitting the ground with a dull thud.

Tears welled up in his eyes and rolled down his cheeks like broken beads. He sobbed uncontrollably and said:
"Dao Ancestor, this disciple deserves to die a thousand deaths. My dereliction of duty is unforgivable. The Green Ox... the Green Ox has run away!"

“In these days, I have been searching everywhere and asking all kinds of immortals and gods, but I have not been able to find any trace of it.”

As the cowherd spoke, he kept kowtowing, his forehead hitting the ground with a thud. Soon, his forehead became red and swollen, and blood began to seep out.

"The blue ox ran away?"

Laozi frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure appearing on his originally peaceful face.

This blue ox was no ordinary creature; it was his mount, which had followed him for many years and possessed great supernatural powers.

Now that the Green Ox has descended to the mortal realm, who knows how much trouble it will cause.

Laozi slowly raised his hand, made a calculation with his fingers, and in an instant, he understood the ins and outs of the matter.

It turns out that the descent of the green ox to the mortal realm was not accidental, but rather a predestined opportunity.

The cowherd's dereliction of duty is a testament to the cyclical nature of cause and effect, where everything is predetermined.

"Your negligence in herding the cattle has caused the ox to run away, which is a serious offense."

"Considering that you have always been diligent and honest, and have never made any major mistakes, I will spare your life."

"But you must be banished to the mortal realm to enlighten someone and help them become an immortal, so that you may atone for your sins."

"This is your tribulation, but also your opportunity. I hope you can cherish this opportunity and fulfill your mission."

Lao Tzu spoke in a deep voice, his voice not stern, but carrying an undeniable authority.

"This... banishes me to the mortal realm."

The cowherd was startled, as if struck by lightning, and his face turned deathly pale instantly.

He never imagined that he would be banished to the mortal realm for such a mistake, and for a moment, his heart was filled with fear and despair.

He had also looked down upon the mortal world from heaven.

In the mortal world, there is birth, aging, sickness, and death...

In the mortal world, there are those who toil and struggle for a few coins.

There are figures weaving through the streets and alleys, their backs bent under the weight of life's burdens, their clothes soaked with sweat, yet unable to catch their breath...

Some people, starving, struggle in the abyss of hunger, their eyes filled with a longing for food—the most primal instinct for survival…

Those who lack food, clothing, shelter, and transportation shiver in the cold wind, enduring the onslaught of wind and rain in their humble dwellings; the bitterness of life is their constant companion...

How bitter is life for mortals!
Although immortals also suffer, compared to mortals, their lives are truly those of "immortals."

He feared he wouldn't be able to endure the hardships of the mortal world.

The cowherd immediately bent down, his forehead pounding heavily on the ground with a loud "thump," and begged for mercy, tears streaming down his face:
"Dao Ancestor, no, no! This disciple knows he was wrong, he really knows he was wrong."

"I beg the Dao Ancestor to have mercy and not banish this disciple to the mortal realm to suffer the torments of reincarnation!"

“This disciple is willing to work day and night in the Tushita Palace to atone for my dereliction of duty.”

"This disciple will definitely repent and never repeat his mistakes!"

Lao Tzu remained unmoved and calmly said:
"This is the will of Heaven, and cannot be defied."

"The Way follows nature; the will of Heaven is predetermined, and there is a reason for it."

"Go now. Once you have completed your mission, you will return to Heaven and rejoin the ranks of the immortals."

Say it.

With a gentle wave of his sleeve, Laozi sent forth a soft yet infinitely powerful ray of light.

The cowherd boy felt a bright light before his eyes, and his body was involuntarily pulled by a mysterious force. In an instant, he disappeared from the Tushita Palace and was banished to the mortal world.

This "cowherd boy" is none other than Zhongli Quan, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism, and also the teacher of Lü Dongbin.

Zhongli Quan was responsible for enlightening Lü Dongbin and initiating the "Return of the Eight Immortals of Taoism".

……

Looking back on those days.

In the Zixiao Palace, the Eastern King Duke once served tea to the Taoist Taiqing with the courtesy due to a teacher, to show his sincerity.

It goes through many cycles of reincarnation.

From "Dongwanggong" to "Donghuadijun", and then to "Chunyang Zhenren" Lü Dongbin.

That pure yang energy ultimately returned to the tutelage of the Taiqing Sage, becoming "the disciple and grand-disciple of the Taiqing Sage".

This predestined fate may have been arranged by fate.

(End of this chapter)