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

Chapter 523 Su'e Removes Her Boots, Queen Mother Grinds Ink

In the rear garden of the Jade Pool Queen Mother's Palace, a profusion of flowers bloomed in profusion, their vibrant colors vying for attention and vying for the favor of the Jade Pool Queen Mother.

A gentle breeze blows, the flower branches sway gracefully, releasing a refreshing and intoxicating fragrance, attracting bees and butterflies to dance among them.

The Queen Mother of the West, dressed in an incomparably magnificent rainbow-colored robe, strolled leisurely among the flowers, sometimes pausing to gaze at the delicate and beautiful blossoms, and sometimes gently inhaling their fragrance, intoxicated by their captivating aroma.

Just as they were enjoying the flowers, the Queen Mother of the West summoned Xiao Chen and asked him to compose a poem to enhance the atmosphere.

For the ancients, poetry could not only express emotions and depict scenery, but also be set to music and sung in a melodious and graceful manner.

For future generations on Earth, a good song can be listened to on repeat hundreds of times.

For the ancients, listening to a piece of music set to a good poem was also a similar experience.

However, as the great Song Dynasty poet Lu You lamented:
"A good article is born of nature, and a skillful hand may occasionally bring it to fruition."

Good poems are like shooting stars in the night sky; they are rare and hard to come by.

It requires poets to possess keen perception, profound cultural knowledge, and agile talent in order to capture a fleeting inspiration in an unexpected moment and create a masterpiece that will be passed down through the ages.

Ever since the Queen Mother of the West heard Xiao Chen present her with the poem "Qing Ping Diao, Part 1"—"Clouds remind me of her clothes, flowers of her face; the spring breeze caresses the balustrade, and the dew is heavy..."

The extraordinary artistic conception and exquisitely beautiful words of "Qingping Tune, Part 1" were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples in her heart that were difficult to calm down for a long time.

After that, she found other poems and songs utterly uninteresting.

Those poems had lost their former charm and were no longer pleasing to her; she found them rather uninteresting.

After all, "Qingping Tune, Part 1" is a masterpiece by the poet Li Bai, and its literary talent is truly breathtaking.

The poem also cleverly incorporates mythological elements closely related to the Queen Mother of the West, such as the Jade Mountain and the Jade Terrace, as if it were tailor-made for her, perfectly matching her noble status and extraordinary temperament.

There is only one of its kind in the world.

This poem was written by Li Bai while he was drunk, so it's a rare and precious find.

Upon seeing Xiao Chen again, the Queen Mother of Yaochi felt as if her heart was being scratched by a cat, an unbearable itch.

She couldn't resist any longer and wanted Xiao Chen to display his talent once again and compose a poem for her to satisfy her longing for a masterpiece.

At the same time, the Queen Mother of the West also secretly harbored some intention to "test" her.

On her Jade Pool, grand and extraordinary banquets are often held to entertain all the immortals and Buddhas of the Three Realms.

At that time, celestial music will fill the air, auspicious clouds will swirl around, and all the immortals and Buddhas will gather together to celebrate this grand occasion.

At such banquets, it is necessary to "recite poems to add to the merriment".

……

"Poetry is recited at banquets to add to the festivities," which is actually a kind of banquet culture of the ancients.

For example, the famous "Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng" has been passed down through the ages. The wonderful line "The sunset glows and the lone wild goose fly together; the autumn water blends with the sky" was written by the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Bo at a banquet in the Pavilion of Prince Teng when he was suddenly inspired.

However, in the world of Journey to the West, in the world of gods and Buddhas, this banquet culture is not immune to the custom.

As recorded in "Journey to the West", after the Buddha subdued the unruly Sun Wukong with his supreme power, he set up a treasure basin on Mount Ling, filled with hundreds of exotic flowers and thousands of rare fruits, all of which were delicacies hard to find in the world, and held a grand and extraordinary "Ullambana Festival".

At the "Ghost Festival".

The Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and other beings of Mount Ling displayed their talents and presented poems to the Buddha.

There are poems of blessing...

There are poems wishing good fortune...

There were also birthday poems...

a lot of.

During the Ullambana Festival, for a time, all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats of Mount Ling presented poems to the Buddha, with a flood of poems, each more wonderful than the last.

Upon hearing this, the Buddha was very pleased. His face lit up with joy, and he immediately opened his mouth slightly to expound the supreme Dharma to all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats of Mount Ling, proclaiming the profound truth of the true fruition, which greatly benefited all those present.

This shows that writing poetry was an essential and important part of grand banquets in ancient times.

Poems were used to express gratitude or to record the grand occasion of the banquet... it can be said that "no banquet is complete without poetry".

The same thing happened at the Queen Mother of the West's "Jade Pool Banquet".

At the "Jade Pool Banquet," some fine poems are often needed to enhance the festivities.

This is also where she can make use of this heavenly soldier.

……

"The Queen Mother asked for a poem, I asked for a draft."

“I can recite a poem to the Queen Mother of the West, cater to her tastes, and take this opportunity to obtain a token for entering and leaving the Queen Mother of the West… and get the Nine-Leaf Lingzhi Grass.”

Upon hearing what the Queen Mother of the West said, Xiao Chen's mind raced with various thoughts, but he remained outwardly composed and showed no sign of it.

He bowed slightly, a perfectly measured smile on his lips, and said in a clear and respectful voice:

"Your Majesty's refined taste is certainly within my pleasure, and I shall gladly oblige."

"It just so happens that Her Majesty is admiring the flowers in the garden. The scene is truly breathtaking."

"I would like to offer a poem to Your Majesty on this topic, and I hope Your Majesty will not hesitate to give me your guidance and advice."

"Oh, you can actually compose a poem on the spot?"

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother of the West's eyes flashed with delight.

It should be noted that meticulously crafting a poem is not an overly difficult task for many talented individuals.

To compose a poem on the spot is quite different. One must have inspiration flowing like a spring and thoughts cascading like a waterfall in an instant to create a masterpiece. This level of difficulty is far beyond what is commonplace.

then.

The Queen Mother of the West gracefully raised her jade hand and waved it, giving a command to the celestial maidens attending her:

"Quickly bring a pot of 'stalactite nectar' from Kunlun Mountain."

A fairy maiden received the order, moved gracefully, and hurriedly departed.

Before long, the fairy maiden brought out a pot of stalactite nectar. The pot was crystal clear, with clouds and mist swirling around it, exuding a mysterious and alluring aura.

The Queen Mother of the West smiled and looked at Xiao Chen, slowly saying:

"I have heard that poets often need to drink alcohol to enhance their mood and inspire their creativity."

"This is the 'Stalactite Nectar' of Kunlun Mountain. It is made from a single drop of holy water that has been condensed over a thousand years by the 'Lingyun Stalactite' of Kunlun Mountain. It is extremely precious."

"After drinking it, not only can it increase magical power and prolong life, but it can also make people feel refreshed and inspired."

Upon hearing this, the fairy Su'e beside her immediately became extremely ardent, her gaze seemingly capable of igniting the jade liquor.

After all, her cultivation level was only average, and her lifespan was also limited.

The fairy Su'e's greatest desire was to obtain such a treasure that could increase magical power and prolong life, so as to improve her realm and extend her lifespan.

However, the Queen Mother rarely bestowed gifts lightly, yet now she was offering one to this mere silver-armored celestial soldier before her. This filled her with extreme resentment, and she couldn't help but mutter to herself:
"I don't know what abilities these heavenly soldiers have that have allowed them to win the Queen Mother's favor and receive this treasure. I'm so angry!"

"This person... don't I feel like I've seen him somewhere before?"

The Jade Rabbit Spirit also looked at the heavenly soldier with great curiosity. He was tall and handsome, with a confident and composed look in his eyes, which made him very likable.

The Jade Rabbit Spirit felt that this person seemed familiar, as if she had met him somewhere before, but she couldn't remember where. She was filled with doubt.

"Sister Yang Chan..."

Suddenly, the Jade Rabbit seemed to remember something. She remembered that back on the Moon Star, this heavenly soldier had just returned from the battlefield of Fangzhang Immortal Mountain, and was covered in wounds.

She and Yang Chan had treated the heavenly soldier's injuries.

At that time, Sister Yang Chan chatted with this heavenly soldier for a long time, and they got along quite well.

……

As the saying goes, "When wine enters a hero's gut, seven parts become moonlight, and the remaining three parts roar into sword energy; a single utterance from his embroidered mouth is half of the glorious Tang Dynasty."

It is clear that poetry and wine have been a perfect match throughout history.

At this moment.

He was offered wine by the Queen Mother of the West.

Moreover, this wine is no ordinary product; it is a rare treasure from the Jade Pool, and consuming it is extremely beneficial.

Xiao Chen didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up the wine pot, tilted his head back, and drank deeply. Most of the "stalactite nectar" slid down his throat in an instant, like a warm current flowing straight to his heart.

Unexpectedly, the wine consumed by the Queen Mother of the West, a Great Immortal or even a Quasi-Saint, was indeed extraordinary.

Mortals have their own wine, which they drink and will make them drunk. Immortals also have their own special wine, which they drink and will also make them drunk.

It should be noted that even with Sun Wukong's level of cultivation, he was already completely drunk after only drinking a small amount of ordinary "jade liquor and fine wine" from the Queen Mother of the West at the Yaochi banquet.

And this "Lingyun Stalactite" brewed by the Queen Mother of the West in the Jade Pool is even more extraordinary.

"What an amazing drink..."

Xiao Chen did not notice it at first, but after the wine entered his stomach, he felt a burning heat like flames burning in his body, and like surging tides rushing through his meridians.

However, at this moment, he was merely a celestial soldier with the cultivation of a Xuanxian, and his slight intoxication after drinking was normal.

If he were to forcefully suppress it with the cultivation of a Taiyi Golden Immortal, or swallow it with the great supernatural power of the small world within his abdomen, it would seem rather abnormal.

then.

Xiao Chen let the effects of the alcohol rise, letting the intoxication envelop his entire body like a cloud of mist, yet his mind became increasingly clear, waiting for inspiration to flow like a spring.

Seeing that Xiao Chen had already drunk most of the wine.

The Queen Mother of the West waved her hand and said softly:

"Brush, ink, paper, inkstone."

Upon hearing this, the fairy maidservant moved gracefully and quickly handed Xiao Chen a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

The brush was like the whiskers of a dragon or snake, the ink like the brilliance of a dark night, the paper like fragments of clouds and mist, and the inkstone like the foundation of a mountain—all were extraordinary objects.

Xiao Chen staggered as he took the pen.

At this moment, the Imperial Garden had just been watered, and the ground was still wet.

Just as Xiao Chen was about to take up the pen, the effects of the wine took hold, and he stepped into the wet puddle in the garden, his boots instantly covered in mud.

The Queen Mother of the West was so eager for a poem that she was like a cat craving food, impatient and restless.

Seeing this, the Queen Mother of the West, fearing it would disrupt Xiao Chen's poetry-writing, glanced at the mud-covered boots and said:
"Go and fetch the 'Ephemeral Shadow Boots' from my treasure vault."

So the attending fairy maidens obeyed the order and hurried off to the treasure vault.

Before long, the fairy brought a pair of "Ephemeral Shadow Stepping on the Sky Boots".

These "Ephemeral Shadow Boots" are also extraordinary magical treasures, radiating a seven-colored light, with the shadow of an ephemeral flower shimmering within them, making them breathtakingly beautiful.

The Queen Mother of the West laughed and said:

"These boots were meticulously crafted from the petals of the Great Luo Epiphyllum flower, which blooms only once every three thousand years by the Jade Pool, and the skin of a green python offered by the Dragon Palace in the lower realm. The boots are incredibly light."

"By activating these boots, one can create illusory images of ephemeral flowers beneath one's feet, allowing one to swiftly tread upon the clouds, a feat described as 'a fleeting moment, leaving no trace on the sky.'"

"Today, I bestow this upon you, hoping that you will fight bravely on the battlefield and protect the peace of the Three Realms."

"In that case, it will not be in vain for your words, 'I fear not being shattered to pieces, but only wish to leave my integrity in the Three Realms!'"

"And your spirit of 'though lowly in rank, I dare not forget my duty to the country'."

If this heavenly soldier was only good at writing poetry, he wouldn't deserve such a generous treatment from the Queen Mother of Heaven.

However, this heavenly soldier, disregarding his own personal fortune and fearing that he would be drawn into the conflict between her and the Jade Emperor, still wanted to advise her, hoping that she and the Jade Emperor could put aside their past grievances, join hands to govern the Three Realms, quell the rebellion as soon as possible, and restore peace to the Three Realms.

This long-lost sincerity and sense of responsibility from the celestial beings deeply moved her.

She intends to cultivate him.

Nowadays, most of the gods in the celestial realm are scheming and plotting, forgetting their responsibilities as deities.

To be honest, most gods are not as virtuous as this little heavenly soldier in front of them.

The Jade Emperor was busy with power struggles all day long, and so were the gods in the heavenly realm. For their own selfish interests, they fought endlessly, like a pack of vicious dogs fighting for food, displaying all sorts of ugly behavior.

In truth, Donghua Dijun's act of defying Heaven was ultimately driven by his personal feelings and lust.

The Jade Emperor was the same.

However, in the battle between the two sides, the great war in the heavens, it was countless living beings in the lower realms who suffered.

Because of the great war in the heavens, the mortal realm was flooded, and the landscape was transformed. Countless beings perished in the disaster.

This is exactly what is meant by: "When gods fight, mortals suffer."

And what she, the Queen Mother of Heaven, has always advocated is:
"When immortals are moved by love, the Three Realms are in turmoil; when immortals are driven by desire, the Three Realms are in turmoil."

Only those who restrain their personal desires and evil thoughts, and protect the common people, are worthy of being called gods.

Otherwise, what difference would there be between these celestial goddesses and the demons of the mortal realm?

It's just a matter of one person eating people indirectly and the other eating people directly.

This "anti-heaven war" waged by Emperor Donghua was actually caused by Wang Lingguan's improper enforcement of the law.

After all, Wang Lingguan killed the Peony Fairy right in front of Emperor Donghua.

Heavenly rules are very important.

The Queen Mother of the West hoped that all the gods in the heavenly realm would remember their divine duty as gods to protect all living beings, just like the heavenly soldier before her, instead of fighting and causing chaos all day long for their own selfish desires.

She saw in this young celestial soldier the long-lost sincerity and sense of responsibility of the heavenly gods, which is why she was willing to cultivate him.

Ideally, this celestial soldier would grow up quickly and become an enforcer of the heavenly rules in the hands of the Queen Mother.

It brought a "new atmosphere" to the Heavenly Court.

Xiao Chen, slightly drunk, staggered as he took the pair of Ephemeral Shadow Boots, his body swaying like a withered leaf in a storm, completely out of control.

"Plop" sound.

Holding the boots in his hand, Xiao Chen's steps were unsteady. Suddenly, he stumbled and almost fell in front of Fairy Su'e.

Upon seeing this, Fairy Su'e quickly took a step back with a look of disgust, her eyes filled with loathing, as if Xiao Chen were some kind of filthy thing.

The Queen Mother of the West saw that Xiao Chen was drunk and had difficulty putting on his boots, while Fairy Su'e happened to be nearby.

According to the rules, in the previous conflict between Fairy Su'e and the Jade Rabbit, Fairy Su'e should have been stripped of her position as a seventh-rank fairy and demoted to the mortal realm.

but.

Although this fairy Su'e has committed a grave error, she is still of some use to her at present...

She did not impose a severe punishment on him.

But she also wanted to take this opportunity to teach this fairy Su'e a lesson, to make her realize her place and not be like a proud peacock, with its tail held too high and not knowing its own limitations.

Therefore, the Queen Mother of the West directly commanded:

"Su'e, since he has difficulty moving around, then please take off his boots and put them on for him."

"Your Highness, shall I take off his boots?"

Upon hearing this, Fairy Su'e seemed to think she had misheard, her eyes widening in disbelief.

She thought to herself:

Who are you?

She possesses exceptional singing and dancing skills, second only to the fairy Chang'e in the Heavenly Court, and is the deputy head of the "Heavenly Court Song and Dance Troupe".

She was a seventh-rank celestial maiden in the Heavenly Court. Although her rank was not high, she was still a seventh-rank celestial official and had her own dignity and status.

To personally remove the boots of this tiny silver-armored heavenly soldier?

Is he worthy?
"If it were about taking off the Jade Emperor's boots, that would be more like it..."

Fairy Su'e thought to herself, filled with resentment and indignation.

However, she glanced at the Queen Mother of the West again and saw that the Queen Mother's expression was serious and left no room for doubt. Only then did she reluctantly lower her body and slowly squat down.

Xiao Chen smiled faintly and stretched his foot directly in front of Fairy Su'e.

As the saying goes, "Revenge should not be delayed overnight."

The golden toad and the jade rabbit are good friends.

He, the Golden Toad, wanted to avenge the Jade Rabbit and vent its anger in his own way.

then.

Without hesitation, Xiao Chen stretched his foot out in front of Fairy Su'e.

Fairy Su'e was extremely angry, and her face turned as red as a sunset.

She suppressed the humiliation in her heart, her hands trembling as she grasped Xiao Chen's legs and began to take off his boots.

(End of this chapter)