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

Chapter 540 The Merit of Flood Control, Erlang Shen Breaks Through!

Inside the Kangjin Temple, before the desk.

Kang Jinlong stood quietly, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, and deep within her cold and beautiful dragon eyes, it seemed as if a turbulent sea was churning, and a thousand thoughts were tangled in her heart like a tangled mess.

It's an unbreakable tangled mess...

In her memory, Yang Guoshan was actually quite disciplined and would never have done such a reckless thing.

but.

Monsters in the lower realms have always been audacious and reckless.

And there was also the evidence of him groping her chest before.

That's hard to say.

The thought flashed through my mind, and an indescribable, complex feeling surged into my heart like a tide.

Especially those devilish hands that had once offended her...

Memory overlaps with reality.

"Um……"

The intense heat from that instantaneous contact felt like a tangible brand, burning fiercely from the delicate skin of the peaks, reaching straight to the heart.

Startled, her slender fingers trembled slightly, and she instinctively pressed her hand against the heaving part of her chest.

She actually had no prejudice against the identity of a monster.

After all, many of the Twenty-Eight Mansions are also beings of the demon and immortal types.

She used to be a demon dragon.

However, she was granted a celestial register and an official title, thus becoming a deity in the Heavenly Court.

Suddenly.

That figure appeared in my mind...

Yang Guoshan... is so similar to that "Yang Guo" who was once glimpsed in the Di Yan Mountains... Why is he so similar?
This sudden sense of similarity was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in her heart and arousing her doubts.

Just like when we were in the Earth Flame Mountains.

That grab just now was like a wolf's sudden attack, swift and unrestrained.

How similar...

As the saying goes, "A good man fears being pestered three times, and a virtuous woman fears being pestered by a man."

Once upon a time, after the battle of the Earth Flame Mountains.

The intense heat emanating from those jade peaks felt like a blazing branding iron, deeply imprinted on her skin and etched into her heart, haunting her like a nightmare.

Every time she recalls it, she feels unbearably ashamed and indignant.

When she thought of that face, "lean and handsome, with sword-like eyebrows and phoenix eyes full of power," she felt relieved.

Their first encounter at Fengling Ferry, upon seeing Yang Guo, sealed their fate and wasted their youth.

That fleeting glimpse of the "Earth Flame Mountains" illuminated a dark corner in her heart.

From that moment on, the feelings remained unresolved.

Of course.

in ancient times.

If a woman is rescued by a man, and upon looking up at him, she sees that he is handsome and refined, she will gracefully bow and speak softly:

"I am deeply grateful for your rescue, young master. I am a frail woman and have no way to repay you. If you do not despise me, I am willing to offer myself to you in return for your kindness."

If the woman is ugly, she will bow slightly and speak respectfully:

"Thank you so much for your help, brave warrior. I will never forget your kindness. In my next life, I will serve you faithfully and repay your life-saving grace."

A matchmaker takes a man to propose marriage, and if he is good-looking...

The woman lowered her head shyly and spoke softly:

"In matters of marriage, one should strictly follow the wishes of one's parents and the words of the matchmaker. Daughter's decision is entirely at her father's discretion."

However, if the man is ugly, the woman will show her reluctance and politely decline:

"Daughter wishes to stay with her parents for several more years to fulfill her filial duty and repay their kindness in raising her."

If someone is handsome, it's called "flirting"; if someone is ugly, it's called "harassment".

Why did those female demons want to capture Tang Sanzang and force him to marry them on the journey to the West? And why was the Queen of the Women's Kingdom willing to offer the wealth of her entire kingdom to make Tang Sanzang her king and herself her queen?

To put it bluntly, they just thought "the Imperial Brother of the Tang Dynasty" was handsome and dashing.

Even the male demons, upon seeing Tang Sanzang, exclaimed, "His flesh is so tender and his skin so delicate! He must taste delicious!"

This has been the pattern throughout history... Everyone will look at a face and judge people by their appearance. This may be cruel, but it is true.

In fact, the ancients judged people by their appearance, which was even more serious.

In ancient times, those who were ugly could not even become officials.

Pang Tong, nicknamed "Phoenix Chick," was of average appearance, and Liu Bei initially didn't even notice him, almost missing out on him.

According to Tang Dynasty records, Zhong Kui was ugly. He went to the capital to take the imperial examination, but was not awarded the title of top scholar because of his appearance. In despair, he committed suicide by hitting his head against a pillar.

……

"is it him?"

Kang Jinlong couldn't help but ponder to herself, her brows furrowing even deeper. She subconsciously tidied her slightly disheveled clothes, as if trying to calm the turmoil in her heart.

Before my eyes, the image of the "slender and handsome lower realm demon" I encountered in the Earth Flame Mountains, with "sword-like eyebrows reaching his temples and phoenix eyes exuding power" unconsciously appeared.

After all, love affairs in this world are just like Guo Xiang's relationship with Yang Guo. Only when Guo Xiang personally unveils that mysterious mask and sees the "ordinary" true face beneath it can she deeply understand the infatuation and helplessness of "meeting Yang Guo and being doomed for life".

At this moment.

Mind this.

Kang Jinlong felt as if the spot on her jade peak that had been touched was branded by a scorching hot iron, burning unbearably, as if a raging fire was burning beneath her skin, threatening to devour her whole.

A blush instantly rose on her face, like the magnificent clouds on the horizon, lingering for a long time, adding to her delicate and shy demeanor.

Kang Jinlongnu's gaze involuntarily followed the tall, straight figure that disappeared outside the palace gate. Her eyes were deep and unfathomable, as if they held a thousand unspoken words, yet remained silent.

All those deep emotions were hidden in that fleeting glance.

Among women in the world, there are those who are cold on the outside but warm on the inside; this is called "inner charm".

Kang Jinlong was just like this kind of woman, usually cold as ice, like an ice queen, making people dare not look directly at her.

Actually, I have a very passionate heart.

At this moment.

Her eyes, usually cold and aloof, became incredibly complex, as if a raging storm was churning within her, threatening to break through the facade of an icy beauty, and her inner passion was about to burst forth.

In her heart, was she truly horrified and enraged by that man's audacious offense, wanting to tear him to pieces to vent her hatred?
Is it filled with murderous intent, wanting to eliminate them as quickly as possible to maintain one's dignity and prestige?
I am overwhelmed with shame, troubled by these inexplicable feelings, and do not know how to deal with them.

Is it resentment at being wantonly offended, with a heart full of unwillingness and resentment?
still is……

A subtle, almost imperceptible doubt, which even she herself could not quite grasp, along with a strange, heart-pounding sense of familiarity, lingered in her heart, impossible to shake off.

It upset her.

The dashing figure from the Di Yan Mountains of yesteryear and the upright figure who had just brazenly grabbed her face collided and overlapped before her eyes!
Her fingertips brushed lightly across her clothes, as if she could still feel the lingering warmth of his burning palm. That warmth seeped through her clothes and reached her heart, making her restless and her breathing rapid and barely perceptible.

"is it him?"

A faint, almost imperceptible murmur, tinged with confusion, lingered quietly in the vast, silent hall, which was filled with divine power, before finally dissipating silently in the wind.

After a long time.

"Hey……"

A barely audible murmur, like a sigh or an endless surge of emotions, was finally swallowed up by the solemn and profound shadows of the temple, along with the subtle flickering of the candlelight on the table.

Only a faint trace of melancholy remained, slowly spreading in the air...

……

One day in heaven, one year on earth.

Time flies by like a white horse flashing past a crack in the wall. In the celestial realm, it is but a fleeting moment, yet on earth, the world has undergone tremendous changes.

……

Long ago, Emperor Donghua and Fairy Peony had an affair, which violated the heavenly law.

At that time, Wang Lingguan, the "God of Justice" in the Heavenly Realm, was ordered to enforce the law. However, he acted rashly and mishandled the law, which led to the death of the Peony Fairy.

Emperor Donghua harbored rebellious intentions and suddenly launched a war against Heaven in the Heavenly Realm.

Who is Donghua Dijun?

He is the head of all male immortals, the Eastern Emperor, the immortal elder of the Three Islands and Ten Continents, the number one immortal of the Misty Clouds, and the reincarnation of the former Heavenly Emperor, the Eastern King.

His magical powers were profound and his might shook the three realms; his forces were deeply entrenched and intertwined.

In an instant.

The winds and clouds changed drastically, and the world was thrown into chaos.

High above the heavens, the armies of immortals and gods swarmed like locusts, obscuring the sun. In their clash, their radiance blazed like wildfire, burning the very sky. The battle cries shook the heavens, like thunder splitting the heavens, echoing through the clouds.

In a desperate attempt to break the enemy's encirclement, Marshal Tianpeng resolutely opened the Heavenly River sluice gate, diverting the "Heavenly River Weak Water" to flood the rebellious army of Emperor Donghua.

However, the Weak Water of the Heavenly River is the essence of the Heavenly River, possessing extraordinary spirituality, intelligence, and cunning.

Amidst the chaos and disorder of the great war in the celestial realm, the Heavenly River and the Weak Water seized the opportunity to escape, splitting into eight routes, surging and roaring down to the mortal world like wild horses.

The Milky Way and the Weak Water, one stream transforms into ten thousand, their force surging like a ferocious beast unleashed from its cage, rampaging without restraint.

The Milky Way and the Weak Water, wherever they pass, create raging torrents that roar and surge like wild beasts unleashed from their cages, wreaking havoc without restraint.

For a while.

The mortal realm below was instantly transformed into a vast swamp, a boundless ocean.

Houses collapsed instantly under the impact of the flood, like building blocks, with rubble flying everywhere, leaving a scene of utter devastation; fertile fields were submerged, turning into a vast, boundless ocean.

The people suffered immensely, their cries of despair echoing through the heavens; their tragic state was heartbreaking to witness. Displaced and homeless, their cries of sorrow filled the land, a sight too horrible to behold, a sight that evoked deep sympathy.

Even more absurd creatures from the lower realms, upon hearing news of the flood, stirred up trouble and, thinking themselves in control, acted recklessly.

The water tiger bared its fangs and claws, its ferocious appearance leaving blood splattering wherever it went.

Water monkeys are agile and can move through the water, dragging people into the water and causing countless deaths.

The dragon, however, churned up the rivers and seas, creating towering waves and causing even greater disasters...

For a while.

The human world is like a purgatory, and the descendants of Yan and Huang, the common people, suffer unspeakably.

Later, the "Great Yu the Great," who had once been credited with controlling the floods, felt compassion for the common people and the suffering of humanity. Thus, he resolutely left the Fire Cloud Cave.

The Great Yu the Great, a highly respected and powerful ruler, knew that Yang Jian was an outstanding talent among the descendants of the human race. Therefore, he imparted all his lifelong knowledge of water management to Yang Jian without reservation, including the exquisite secrets of "surveying water veins", the powerful methods of "slaying dragons and calming waves", and the supreme supernatural power of "moving mountains and filling seas".

Moreover, Emperor Yu the Great bestowed the Xuanyuan Sword, the sacred sword of the human race, upon Yang Jian.

This Xuanyuan Sword is an ancient divine weapon with boundless power. It is invincible in slaying demons and monsters, and can help him to slay water monsters from all directions and quell floods in the human world.

After receiving the true teachings of Yu the Great on flood control and the Xuanyuan Sword, Yang Jian knew the weight of his responsibility and dared not slacken in the slightest.

He once climbed Mount Ling and committed a crime. He should have been confined to Guanjiangkou to reflect on his mistakes and atone for them.

However, since the Heavenly Court governs the Three Realms, flood control is also one of its responsibilities.

After weighing the pros and cons.

The Heavenly Court temporarily lifted Yang Jian's confinement, ordering him to first control the flood, and to deal with him after he succeeded.

Since then.

The mortal realm below.

Erlang Shen Yang Jian embarked on his long and arduous journey of flood control.

Over the course of more than a decade.

Erlang Shen led his troops and the Heavenly Army's water troops, traversing mountains and valleys, braving dangers and crossing rivers, enduring hardships and remaining steadfast in his mission.

Wherever he went, Erlang Shen would carefully survey the terrain and plan waterways to guide the floodwaters, ensuring they flowed in an orderly manner and no longer wreaked havoc.

He wielded a mountain-splitting axe, splitting mountains in his path, causing rocks to crumble and waterways to flow freely; he also held the Xuanyuan Sword, its sword energy crisscrossing, slaying any monsters he encountered, causing water monsters to flee in terror.

Erlang Shen worked tirelessly day and night to divert the floodwaters into the sea.

After years of unremitting efforts to manage it.

Erlang Shen finally succeeded in controlling the floods.

Across the land of Kyushu, the floodwaters are gradually receding.

Yang Jian and his sister Yang Chan used their supernatural powers to send the Milky Way back to the Milky Way, restoring clarity to the world.

Since then.

The earth is revitalized, all things are reviving, and life is in full bloom.

Houses were rebuilt, and people lived in peace and contentment, with laughter echoing through the streets and alleys.

The fertile fields were cultivated again, and the harvest was bountiful, with the fields overflowing with fruit.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva once made a great vow:

"One cannot become a Buddha until hell is emptied!"

During the process of water management.

Erlang Shen, moved by the suffering of the people from floods, felt a surge of compassion and made a great vow:

"The floods will not cease, and the work of controlling them will not stop!"

Its sound was like a great bell, resounding throughout heaven and earth.

Upon hearing this, and given Erlang Shen's merit in controlling the floods, Erlang Shen was bestowed with "merits from heaven and earth," and auspicious light surrounded him.

At this moment.

Erlang Shen's cultivation level has advanced further, and he has made another breakthrough.

He was only a hair's breadth away from the transcendent, carefree realm of the Great Luo Golden Immortal.

It can be said.

Erlang Shen could break through to the realm of Great Luo Golden Immortal at any time.

However, Erlang Shen did not rush to achieve success and chose to break through immediately.

There is no other reason.

In terms of talent and aptitude, he is undoubtedly extraordinary, and his comprehension is exceptional.

However, in terms of origin, he is actually a "human-god hybrid," and his power mainly comes from the divine bloodline of his mother, "Fairy Yunhua."

He still has the blood of an ordinary mortal flowing through his veins.

This makes his lineage slightly inferior to that of innate deities such as Kong Xuan, Lu Ya, the Three Immortal Maidens of Sanxiao, Zhen Yuanzi, Kunpeng, and Xi Wangmu, or their direct descendants.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, his cultivation level will likely reach the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, which is about right.

However, he obtained the Xuanyuan Sword, the sacred sword of the human race, and was blessed by the human race's fortune, as well as the protection of his merits in controlling the floods, so the situation was very different.

Merit and virtue are the highest reward from Heaven for acts that eliminate calamities and maintain the balance of the Three Realms. They are extremely precious and can only be encountered by chance.

The Queen Mother's Golden Hairpin and Lao Tzu's Diamond Bracelet are both magical treasures crafted through later processes.

However, the "Queen Mother's Golden Hairpin" was associated with the Queen Mother of the West, and the "Diamond Bracelet" was associated with Laozi. Both of them were imbued with the merits of heaven and earth, and thus transformed into "acquired merit treasures". They were reborn and their power was in no way inferior to innate spiritual treasures.

This merit of heaven and earth can not only improve the quality of magic treasures, but also reshape the cultivator's "foundation" (innate aptitude).

When the merits and virtues accumulated in heaven and earth reach a certain level, one can even directly become a saint; this is the path of "becoming a saint through merits and virtues".

In the mythological world, being on the right foot is of utmost importance.

It can be said that one's foundation determines their potential.

Erlang Shen received the "Golden Body of Merit" technique from the human emperor Yu the Great, which allows him to improve his foundation and break through realms by borrowing the merits and fortune of the human race.

He is using the power of this heaven and earth's merits to enhance his innate qualities.

If he were to elevate the "bloodline of an ordinary mortal" within him to the level of a "primordial human."

Then his cultivation level will reach the Quasi-Saint stage, on par with "Kong Xuan", "Lu Ya", "Buddha Tathagata", "Sanxiao" and so on.

It's not impossible.

therefore.

Erlang Shen did not rush to break through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. Instead, he chose to use the power of heaven and earth's merits to improve his aptitude over the years, hoping to achieve a higher realm in the future.

……

Erlang Shen was credited with controlling the floods and his merits benefited all living beings.

The raging floodwaters were gradually tamed by his divine power, the land returned to peace, and the people were able to live and work in peace.

The people of the lower realm were grateful for his kindness and remembered his achievements, and revered him as the "Water God" and the "God who controls water".

Therefore, the divine tablet of Erlang Shen was enshrined high in the temple, where incense burned continuously, and people worshipped him for generations, praying for his protection and eternal peace.

From then on, the name Erlang Shen spread far and wide, and his deeds were passed down from generation to generation.

The "Erlang Slaying the Dragon" painting was also passed down to later generations, commemorating his heroic feat of controlling the floods and slaying the monster.

Moreover, numerous sites related to Erlang Shen's water management, such as the "Water God Platform," "Horseshoe Well," and "Erlang Platform," still exist, telling the story of Erlang Shen's hardships and achievements in water management and allowing future generations to glimpse that magnificent period of history.

Erlang Temples are found all over China, countless in number, and their incense is always burning brightly.

On the birthday of Erlang Shen, his followers go to temples to hold worship ceremonies, burn incense and pray for health, peace, good weather, and abundant harvests.

……

The stories of "Erlang Shen controlling the floods" and "Erlang Shen slaying the water monster" have been witnessed by many people and recorded in various places.

Many ancient texts also contain detailed descriptions of Erlang Shen's achievements in controlling floods:
For example, the "Collection of Imperial Edicts of the Song Dynasty" records: "The wise and virtuous King Zhaohui (Erlang Shen) descended from heaven and was capable of all kinds of transformations. 'Controlling the floods and saving the people' was the mandate of the heavens; his achievements and virtues are recorded in historical documents."

In his poem "Erlang Shen (Qingyuan's Birthday)," Yang Wujiu wrote: "...Everyone says it is the Heavenly Emperor, and they also praise the divine gift, which specially made him clear the sea and the world. 'Capturing the dragon at Guankou, calming the water at Lidui,' let's not ask whether his achievements surpass those of the ancients."

The Qing Dynasty Daoguang edition of the "Zhaocheng County Gazetteer" records: "The Listening Water Stone is located in Fanhuoyu, fifty li southeast of the county. According to local legend, Erlang Shen (Erlang God) came here to control the flood. At that time, the flood was raging, and Erlang Shen stood on the stone to listen to the sound of the water in order to observe the water's flow. Thus, this relic was left behind."

(End of this chapter)