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

Chapter 524 New Armor
skyline.

The Jade Pool Golden Mother Palace stands majestically.

The garden behind it was a riot of flowers, yet it could not conceal a delicate situation.

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

His movements were slow and stiff, as if he were carrying a heavy burden, as if he were completing an extremely difficult and humiliating task.

Every little action reveals his inner resentment and anger.

At this moment.

After taking off Xiao Chen's old boots, Fairy Su'e took the "Ephemeral Shadow Stepping on the Sky Boots" and began to put the boots on Xiao Chen.

As Su'e was putting on her boots, she seemed to sense the mockery and strange looks from the group of fairies around her.

Especially the gaze of the Jade Rabbit Spirit.

"The Jade Rabbit must be laughing at me!"

Fairy Su'e's face flushed with a mixture of shame and anger, as if she had been scorched by a raging fire, turning as red as dripping blood, almost as if it were about to burst through her skin.

The fairy Su'e lowered her head and looked down, not daring to look at those around her, for fear of seeing those mocking faces and feeling ashamed.

Upon seeing this, the Jade Rabbit Spirit smiled happily, her smile as radiant and sweet as spring blossoms.

The Jade Rabbit secretly thought to itself:
"Su'e, Su'e, you've finally met your end!"

"You've always bullied me because of your status and position. Now it's your turn to suffer!"

……

Just like the "robe and trouser belt" of Laozi, it is the magic weapon "Golden Rope" that can bind all the evil spirits in the world.

Its "Bull Nose Ring" is also a magical treasure called "Vajra Ring," which can capture all kinds of divine weapons.

As one of the three giants of Heaven, the Queen Mother of the West can be said to be the "richest woman" in the Three Realms.

The Queen Mother of the West possesses countless magical treasures, each one incredibly powerful.

There are many powerful magical treasures, such as the Kunlun Mirror, the Plain Cloud Banner, the Queen Mother's Golden Hairpin, the Nine Treasures Flowing Cloud Fan, the Pure Water Bowl (Qiankun Bowl), and the Nine Phoenix Imperial Carriage.

Among them, the plain-colored cloud banner of the Queen Mother of the West shone brightly in the Investiture of the Gods. At that time, Yin Jiao held the Heaven-Turning Seal, which was extremely powerful and invincible, putting Jiang Ziya's army in a difficult situation.

later.

Princess Longji then used the Queen Mother of the West's "plain-colored cloud banner" to help Jiang Ziya "break Yin Jiao's Heaven-Turning Seal".

In "The Lotus Lantern", when Yang Chan was imprisoned on Mount Hua, Chen Xiang wanted to save his mother, and Yang Jian wanted to save his sister, so they split Mount Hua apart.

However, the Queen Mother of the West used her magic water bowl (Qiankun Bowl) to cover Mount Hua.

Even someone as powerful as Erlang Shen, the True Lord Yang Jian, couldn't break through the Queen Mother of the West's "Pure Water Bowl" in a short time.

Finally, Chenxiang, having absorbed the wick of the Lotus Lantern and grasped the divine axe, exerted all his strength to finally break the "Pure Water Bowl".

This shows just how amazing the power of the Queen Mother of the West's magical treasures is.

The pair of boots that the Queen Mother of the West casually bestowed upon King Golden Horn were no ordinary items.

"Tanying Sky-Stepping Boots..."

Xiao Chen glanced at the boots and saw that the boots were a deep and restrained turquoise color, with extremely fine, almost invisible scale-like dark patterns on the surface.

The boot opening and key areas are adorned with several faint, almost transparent, moon-white epiphyllum petal-shaped decorations, with a faint silver sheen flowing from the edges of the petals.

After Fairy Su'e personally put boots on Xiao Chen.

"These shoes are indeed quite extraordinary..."

Xiao Chen couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

The shoes felt incredibly light underfoot, as if they were nothing at all, as if my feet weren't wearing boots at all, but rather stepping on soft clouds, with a warm and slightly cool touch.

These Ephemeral Shadow Boots are exceptionally flexible, allowing for precise adjustments to their fit to perfectly conform to the shape of the foot. Wearing them feels like walking on clouds, with no sense of restriction, as if they have become one with the feet, a natural and seamless integration.

Before any magical power was used, extremely faint, smoky, and misty blue clouds swirled around the boots, occasionally revealing barely visible ephemeral images of ephemeral flowers that would vanish in a flash.

After activating the magic power, a bluish-green light flowed around the boots, and the phantom of the epiphyllum flower became clear and vivid.

Those who wear these boots immediately feel much lighter, as if they could ride the wind and soar through the heavens, carefree and unrestrained.

Not long after.

A familiar notification sound came to Xiao Chen's mind.

Several lines of large golden characters appeared in Xiao Chen's mind:

"Host, we have encountered the B-grade magic weapon 'Ephemeral Shadow Boots'. These boots are made from the petals of the Great Luo Ephemeral Flower and the skin of the Ten Thousand Year Green Python. They are incredibly light and can be considered a peerless treasure."

"The Great Luo Epiphyllum is planted in the Great Luo Heaven Realm, bathed in the essence of the sun and moon, and appears once every three thousand years. Its bloom lasts only for a moment, and that moment is eternity."

"Therefore, the Great Luo Epiphyllum contains the ultimate pure power of the void and the Daoist charm of an instant and eternity."

"The texture of its petals is between reality and illusion, light as a feather, almost transparent, and possesses a certain spatial power, as if one can travel between the realms of reality and illusion."

"This green python skin is actually the skin of an Eastern Azure Dragon, originating from an 'Eastern Azure Python' that failed to transform into a dragon and undergo tribulation."

"When this azure python underwent its tribulation, its skin was tempered by wind, frost, thunder, and fire, making it extremely tough, impervious to water and fire, and difficult to be harmed by swords and blades. Moreover, it possessed a trace of the dragon race's innate ability to control the wind and clouds, like a dragon in water, with extraordinary momentum."

"Later, this treasure was seized by a great master who was proficient in the laws of space and the art of weapon crafting. At the moment the 'Great Luo Ephemeral Flower' bloomed, he used his supreme divine power to seize the nine core petals of it."

"The skin of the 'Eternal Green Python' was then melted with heavenly fire to remove its ferocious aura, and it took eighty-one days to complete this boot."

"Because the Great Luo Ephemeral Flower possesses a certain spatial power, this boot is not only a magical artifact, but also embodies the profound mystery of spatial movement."

"By activating these boots, illusory images of ephemeral flowers can bloom beneath one's feet. Stepping on them not only allows one to harness the power of the wind and clouds but also slightly distorts the space beneath one's feet, achieving an effect akin to 'shrinking the earth,' enabling one to walk on clouds without leaving a trace and fly at high speed."

"When using escape techniques, it's like adding wings to a tiger."

"Scan and copy?"

……

After obtaining detailed information about the "Ephemeral Shadow Treading the Clouds Boots".

"Ephemeral shadow boots, lotus silk cloud-walking shoes..."

Xiao Chen seemed to understand something.

He has finally acquired the shoes that form part of his "new attire".

These shoes are actually quite similar to the armor worn by Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong's attire consisted of a majestic three-piece set: a phoenix-winged purple-gold crown, a chainmail golden armor, and "lotus-silk cloud-walking shoes."

Among them, the phoenix-winged purple-gold crown, with its phoenix wings lightly raised as if about to take flight, exudes nobility and extraordinary status; the chainmail gold armor, with its shimmering gold, interlocking rings, is indestructible and demonstrates unparalleled defensive power.

The "Lotus Silk Cloud-Walking Shoes" are light and agile, as if walking on clouds, free and unrestrained.

As the saying goes, "Clothes make the man, and gold makes the Buddha."

When Sun Wukong appeared in such magnificent attire, that was the true "Great Sage Equal to Heaven, the Handsome Monkey King"!
All the Dragon Kings who saw it gave it a thumbs up and praised it:

"What a magnificent Monkey King! He is imposing and awe-inspiring, truly a hero rarely seen in the Three Realms!"

The demons of Flower Fruit Mountain were overjoyed to see Sun Wukong, their eyes shining brightly and they exclaimed in praise:
"Your Majesty, what a magnificent display! What a magnificent display!"

however.

When Sun Wukong sheds his elaborate attire on his journey to the West, wearing only a brocade robe, a tiger-skin skirt, and suede boots, he transforms into "Sun Xingzhe".

The image of Sun Wukong is thus greatly inferior.

When other demons saw Sun Wukong from afar, they would usually curl their lip and say disdainfully:

"Your Majesty, a hideous monkey with a hairy face, a thunder god's mouth, bulging cheeks, and a hunched figure has come to visit."

These monsters would call Sun Wukong a "consumptive," a "short monkey," and so on.

Even the Scorpion Demon looked at Sun Wukong with disgust, her eyebrows raised, and she scolded him:

"You lazy, unruly monkey! How dare you trespass into my home and spy on my appearance!"

This can be seen.

A proper set of clothing is of paramount importance in shaping the image of a demon king!

Although the Golden Horned King was originally a treasure-filled toad with countless magical treasures, making him like a mobile treasure trove, he did not rely on armor for protection.

However, the armor is ultimately just what one wears when going out into the world, a way to present a majestic image on the battlefield.

Isn't he handsome? Isn't he cool?

That was a matter of utmost importance, concerning one's face and prestige.

but.

The "Ephemeral Shadow Boots" owned by King Golden Horn were clearly much more high-end than Sun Wukong's "Lotus Silk Cloud-Walking Shoes".

Sun Wukong's "Lotus Root Silk Cloud-Walking Shoes," as the name suggests, are made of "lotus root silk." Although they have some marvelous features, they were ultimately a gift from the Dragon King and thus of limited quality.

However, the "Ephemeral Shadow Boots" worn by King Golden Horn were personally bestowed upon him by the Queen Mother of the West. As the "richest woman in the Three Realms," the Queen Mother of the West was extremely wealthy, and her generosity was naturally far greater than that of the "Dragon King of the North Sea" in the lower realm.

This "Ephemeral Shadow Treading the Clouds Boots" is far superior to the "Lotus Silk Cloud-Walking Shoes" in both material and craftsmanship.

Now, King Golden Horn possesses these peerless battle boots – the "Ephemeral Shadow Treading the Sky Boots".

If you can also gather the crown, armor, robe, and other items, then a complete and imposing outfit will be ready.

At that time, he will surely awe all around and demonstrate the might of the supreme demon king!
“Copy, and let the two merge...and apply them to the left and right soles of the feet respectively.”

Xiao Chen commanded in his mind.

Not long after.

Xiao Chen felt a buzzing sound in his mind, and that familiar notification tone rang out:
"The Ephemeral Shadow Boots have been successfully fused."

"At the same time, the host's cultivation level will increase by five hundred years!"

In an instant, a warm current flowed quietly from the soles of his feet. The warm current, like a gentle stream, flowed softly over every inch of his skin, bringing a sense of comfort wherever it passed.

His left and right feet gradually underwent some amazing changes.

With these Ephemeral Shadow Boots, King Golden Horn's speed will surely reach new heights!

There are many treasures in the heavens.

This trip to the Heavenly Realm is also a good opportunity for King Golden Horn to search for treasures and improve his strength.

King Golden Horn first touched the "Queen Mother's Golden Hairpin," a magical artifact of acquired merit on the head of the Queen Mother of the West in Yaochi, and from then on, his abilities in creating and breaking barriers, controlling water, and many other aspects increased significantly.

Now, having received the "Ephemeral Shadow Boots" bestowed upon him by the Queen Mother of the West, his speed has been further enhanced, making him even more agile and adept.

At this moment, Xiao Chen only wanted to say one thing to the Queen Mother of the West, the "richest woman in the Three Realms":
"Rich woman, I'm hungry. I need some food."

"Give me another suit of armor, a crown, and a battle robe..."

However, he also knew that most of the most powerful treasures in the Heavenly Realm were in the hands of the "Three Giants of Heaven"—the Jade Emperor, the Supreme Ancestor of Taoism, and the Queen Mother of the West.

If you want to get your hands on a high-level magic weapon in the Heavenly Realm, the best way is to start with the three giants of the Heavenly Court.

Among the three giants of the Heavenly Court.

The Supreme Dao Ancestor resides in the Tushita Palace of the Heaven of Separation from Hatred, transcending the Thirty-Three Heavens, and is mysterious and unpredictable.

The Supreme Taoist Ancestor's magical treasures, such as the Banana Leaf Fan, the Jade Purification Bottle, the Purple-Gold Red Gourd, the Golden Rope, and the Seven-Star Sword.

He has absolutely no access to it.

Moreover, this Supreme Dao Ancestor is far too powerful. As the incarnation of the Supreme Saint in the Heavenly Court, the Supreme Dao Ancestor is skilled in divination and has uncanny foresight. He is one of the strongest people in the Three Realms today.

As for the Jade Emperor, he was suspicious and unpredictable, and serving him was like walking on thin ice; the slightest mistake could lead to one's death, making him extremely difficult to deal with.

Only the Queen Mother of the West is slightly inferior to the Jade Emperor and the Supreme Dao Ancestor in terms of cultivation and strength.

Moreover, as the incarnation of the benevolent corpse of the Queen Mother of the West, the Queen Mother of Yaochi naturally inherited the characteristics of the benevolent corpse.

As the saying goes, "A kind person is often bullied, and a good horse is often ridden."

Good corpses are inherently kind and gentle, approachable and easy to get along with.

"It seems that I, King Golden Horn, will have to visit this Jade Pool more often."

"I, the Golden Horn King, also want to touch as many of the treasures on the Queen Mother's body as possible."

"Maybe we can find even more amazing treasures."

"Now is the time to win the favor of the Queen Mother of the West once again."

"Perhaps the Queen Mother of the West will smile and be in a good mood, and give me some other magical treasures."

"Then I'll have all the armor I need."

Think about this.

The phrase "Three Hundred Tang Poems" flashed through Xiao Chen's mind like lightning.

These three hundred Tang poems have been passed down through the ages and are all masterpieces, each containing endless talent and charm.

However, among the vast sea of ​​Tang poems, there are very few that can surpass Li Bai's "Qingping Tune, No. 1"—"The clouds remind me of her clothes, the flowers of her face; the spring breeze brushes the balustrade, and the dew is heavy..."

almost none.

Moreover, this poem needs to perfectly match the scenery of the Jade Pool before him, and to "take flowers as the theme" is... quite challenging.

Xiao Chen was well aware of the challenges involved, but he did not back down at all; on the contrary, he was very interested.

"The Imperial Garden, flowers, the Queen Mother of the West..."

Xiao Chen murmured to himself, his mind racing as he pondered how to cleverly blend these elements into a poem.

He slowly walked to the desk, his posture upright and his eyes focused. He reached out, picked up the brush, dipped it lightly in the ink, and pondered for a moment.

Suddenly, inspiration struck like a spring.

Xiao Chen's mind suddenly cleared, and his brush seemed to be divinely inspired. On the long scroll carefully unfolded by the fairy maidens, he wrote with flowing, elegant strokes:
"The peony behind the pond is charming but lacks elegance, while the lotus on the pond is pure but lacks passion."

This is the opening line of "Appreciating Peonies" by Liu Yuxi, a poet of the Tang Dynasty. It is a famous line praising peonies that has been passed down through the ages, and once written, it exudes an extraordinary spirit.

Of course, the most famous part of this poem is the last two lines:

"Only the true national color of peony can move the capital when it blooms."

It can be said that this poem established the peony's status as the "national flower" and the "king of flowers."

Since then, the peony has become a symbol of "national beauty and heavenly fragrance," attracting countless literati and poets to admire it.

As the Queen Mother of the West, the most revered person in Heaven and the head of all female immortals in the Three Realms, she possesses an elegant demeanor, ethereal beauty, and unparalleled charm. The title "national beauty and heavenly fragrance" is truly well-deserved and fitting.

The phrase "national beauty and heavenly fragrance" in this poem is quite fitting for the Queen Mother of the West, the celestial queen.

However, the original line of the poem is "peony in front of the courtyard", but here it is naturally "peony at the back".

However, the distinction between "in front of the court" and "in the rear" is merely a matter of location, with little difference between them.

Xiao Chen secretly calculated in his heart:

"If I can win the favor of the Queen Mother of the West with this poem, I, the Golden Horn King, might just get my hands on a new set of armor."

The Queen Mother of the West was fond of poetry and literature, possessed outstanding talent, and had a deep understanding of the art of poetry.

She swayed her plump, rounded buttocks, which resembled peaches, and moved with light, lotus-like steps to the poetry scroll.

The moment her gaze fell upon the words Xiao Chen had written, her beautiful eyes sparkled with delight, revealing a hint of surprise and admiration.

Knowing this was a masterpiece, the Queen Mother of the West couldn't help but part her lips and praise it:
"Excellent! This sentence suits my mind perfectly."

"His brushstrokes flow like dragons and snakes, displaying an elegant charm; he is truly a master of poetry, worthy of being praised throughout the three realms!"

Having said that, the Queen Mother of the West lowered her eyes to look at the inkstone. Seeing that the ink was gradually fading, like the clouds on the horizon about to disperse, she frowned slightly and said:

"Hand over the inkstone."

After saying that, she actually stretched out her slender hand and picked up the ink stick herself.

The Queen Mother of the West moved gracefully, slowly grinding ink, all to inspire Xiao Chen's poetic inspiration so that he could write another beautiful poem to delight his ears and eyes.

However, a sense of unease arose in Xiao Chen's heart as he wrote these words.

Poetry needs to be paired with people to complement each other.

Xiao Chen frowned slightly, pondering to himself:

"Peony is beautiful... but using it here seems somewhat inappropriate..."

In Li Bai's "Qingping Tune, Part 1", he uses clouds to describe his clothes and flowers to describe his appearance. The spring breeze brushes the railing, and the dew is heavy. If he were not seen on the top of the Jade Mountain, he would be meeting her under the moon on the Jade Terrace.

"Qunyu Mountain" is the residence of the Queen Mother of the West, and "Yaotai" can also refer to Yaochi or a magnificently decorated pavilion, namely Yaotai Palace.

This poem is a perfect gift to the Queen Mother of the West, and feels entirely appropriate.

But "Appreciating Peonies" is different.

There is indeed a "Peony Fairy" in the Heavenly Court.

The Peony Fairy is the incarnation of the peony.

What's even more taboo is that the Peony Fairy had an affair with the Eastern Emperor, violating the Heavenly Laws and committing a grave offense against the Queen Mother of the West.

At this moment, to recite "Only the peony is truly a national beauty, its blooming season stirs the capital" in front of the Queen Mother of the West would be tantamount to provoking her and courting death.

If the Queen Mother of the West were to fly into a rage, he would surely be thrown into the Heavenly Prison and never be able to escape his fate.

At that point, all our efforts will be in vain.

But now the arrow is on the bowstring, and it must be released.

With the pen in his hand and the Queen Mother of the West personally supervising him, Xiao Chen had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue writing.

(End of this chapter)