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

Chapter 566 A thief never leaves empty-handed; the Great Sage plots against the Golden and Silver Horned Beasts.
skyline.

In the Jade Capital Heavenly Treasure Palace, radiant light shimmered and ethereal mists filled the air. The rainbows between the pavilions and towers shone with dazzling light, reflecting the pure Taoist robes of the two boys, one in gold and the other in silver.

The immortals and deities who came and went were all extraordinary beings. When they saw these two boys, and recognized them as the incense-serving boys from the Tushita Palace of the Supreme Dao Ancestor, they all nodded in acknowledgment.

……

Just then, a nimble figure appeared before the Golden Furnace Boy and the Silver Furnace Boy.

It was none other than the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong.

Upon seeing this, the Golden Furnace Boy instinctively turned to the side, shielding his younger brother behind him. His small hands were hidden in his wide sleeves, cautiously groping around as if to confirm whether the treasure hidden in his sleeves was safe and sound.

He was extremely wary of Sun Wukong, because the monkey had visited the Tushita Palace many times in the past and had stolen a lot of things, leaving him with a considerable shadow. He was afraid that the mischievous monkey would do the same thing again today.

"Is this the 'Golden Horn King' of the Heavenly Realm?"

His expression of being on high alert made him look like a miniature "miser," which made Xiao Chen, who was watching from the sidelines, chuckle to himself.

The Silver Furnace Boy, standing beside the Golden Furnace Boy, was more obedient. Seeing his elder brother so nervous, he stepped forward slightly, bowed to Sun Wukong, and explained in a gentle voice:

"Reporting to the Great Sage, it is not that we have been slacking off or being negligent."

"With the Dan Yuan Conference approaching, my brother and I have been working tirelessly, day and night, to carefully refine several batches of Nine-Turn Golden Elixir in front of the alchemy furnace."

"Just now, we finished refining the last batch..."

His voice was clear and bright, carrying a hint of lightness after completing his task:

"The lord is merciful and, considering our hard work, has granted my brother and me two days of leisure so that we can go out for a walk and relax."

"Oh! I see! It was that old man Laozi who showed extraordinary mercy! How wonderful!"

Sun Wukong feigned sudden realization, his smile widening, but his eyes darted around, scrutinizing the seemingly ordinary yet subtly mysterious sleeves of the two men's Taoist robes.

Especially the area that the Golden Furnace Boy had just covered, according to his experience as an "old thief," the treasure was most likely hidden there.

As the saying goes, "A thief never leaves empty-handed!"

The title "Great Sage Equal to Heaven" also carries a hint of "thief-like" nature, which is both righteous and wicked.

Given his usual habit of "never leaving empty-handed," coupled with his shameless excuses like "I'm thirsty, I'll go in and ask for a cup of tea to soothe my throat" or "Oh, I just want to smell the aroma of this freshly baked elixir to satisfy my craving"... it's both shameless and laughable.

Sun Wukong would have to squeeze a few golden pills from these two "rich immortal boys" of the Tushita Palace before he would be satisfied.

But things are different now!
As the saying goes, "Money gives people courage."

Sun Wukong, almost with a hint of smugness, subconsciously patted the bulging, gleaming blue Ruyi treasure pouch at his waist.

Sun Wukong, now rolling in money, felt incredibly confident and stood up straighter than ever.

He's rich now, has treasures, and is very wealthy!
So, the "Great Sage Equal to Heaven," who usually only resorts to shamelessness and extortion, is now planning to try his hand at "decent business."

"Hehehe, Jin Lu'er, relax!"

Sun Wukong put on what he thought was an exceptionally kind expression and smiled at the still wary Golden Furnace Boy:
"I am not here to beg for your golden pills or other delicacies."

"I, Old Sun, am only thinking of our past friendship!"

After speaking, Sun Wukong's voice softened, taking on a tone of reminiscence:

“In the past, when I went to the Tushita Palace to ask for a drink of water and to find some peace and quiet, I was fortunate enough to receive your help a few times, with you two brothers serving me tea and water. You were quite hospitable.”

"You've at least served me, Old Sun, hot tea a few times..."

"I, Old Sun, will always remember this hospitality!"

He then changed the subject, extending a warm invitation:

"Well, I just happened to run into you two today, enjoying some rare free time. I'm so happy!"

"This is a perfect opportunity for me to extend my hospitality as an old acquaintance... uh... host?"

"No, no! It should be called 'a courtesy to an old friend'!"

"I, Old Sun, am hosting this event. Please try some of the fresh and exotic fruits I brought from the mortal realm."

"Let's go! Let's find a quiet and elegant place, sit down and discuss philosophy, enjoy tea and fresh delicacies. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"This is just me, Old Sun, returning the favor I did for you when you served me tea!"

Before he finished speaking, his furry monkey paw, covered in golden hair, had already been raised enthusiastically, as if to affectionately put his arm around the Golden Furnace Boy's shoulder.

Sun Wukong's sudden display of "brotherly affection" greatly startled the Golden Furnace Boy.

"Don't you dare lay a hand on me!"

The Golden Furnace Boy reacted swiftly, like a startled little animal, "whoosh," shrinking back to avoid the monkey's eager claws. He shook his head vigorously, his eyes filled with even greater wariness:
"You monkey! You always offer help for no reason—you're either up to no good or a thief!"

The Golden Furnace Boy's voice rose, carrying a resolute refusal:
"What good thing could come from a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken?"

"I'm not going, I'm not going!"

"Let's go, little brother, let's get away from this rascal quickly! Getting involved with him will only bring trouble!"

As he spoke, the Golden Furnace Boy reached out to pull the Silver Furnace Boy, but he took a step back, displaying a resolute look of guarding against any possibility of falling into the trap.

When Sun Wukong saw that his heartfelt performance and body language had only resulted in such a cold rejection, he was not angry at all; instead, the shrewdness in his monkey eyes shone even brighter.

"Hey! Don't rush!"

Sun Wukong wasn't annoyed; his monkey face remained beaming with a smile as he looked at the Silver Furnace Boy, a mysterious and boastful air that seemed to say, "You've all never seen anything like this before."

"Hehehe, little golden furnace, don't be in such a hurry to refuse!"

"These fruits of mine are no ordinary goods, they can't compare to the common fruits in the Heavenly Garden! They are very rare and precious!"

"This was something I, Old Sun, stumbled upon during my travels in the mortal realm. In the depths of the clouds, I accidentally entered the ruins of an ancient immortal's cave, shrouded in mist and where immortal traces were hard to find. It was a serendipitous find!"

"This fruit is called 'Jia Guo'!"

Sun Wukong gestured with his hands, his tone rising and falling, deliberately creating an air of mystery and allure:
"This fruit is shaped like a peach, plump and abundant; its leaves resemble jujubes, lush and green; its flowers bloom like gold and rosy clouds, truly a thousand auspicious hues!"

When he got to the crucial point, Sun Wukong's eyebrows danced with excitement, and spittle flew everywhere as he emphasized the delicious taste and unparalleled benefits of this wonderful fruit, which made the Silver Furnace Boy beside him tilt his head slightly and listen intently.

"This fruit is exceptionally sweet and juicy, with a smooth and creamy texture that leaves a lingering fragrance in the mouth, offering a unique and rustic flavor reminiscent of the mountains and fields."

"What's even more wonderful is its nourishing effect. Eating this fruit can greatly increase one's energy, and even after long periods of hard work, one will not feel tired or exhausted!"

"Eating fine fruits regularly can nourish the essence, energy, and spirit, open up the acupoints and marrow of the whole body, wash away accumulated fatigue and chronic illnesses, and make you feel energetic."

"At that time, you will be full of energy, and even if you brew three batches of golden pills, you will not feel tired at all!"

Sun Wukong proudly declared:

"Look at me, when have I ever been tired?"

"Back then, during the Battle of Flower Fruit Mountain, the Four Heavenly Kings, the Twenty-Eight Constellations, the Nine Luminaries... all attacked at once. We fought for a whole day, and they were all exhausted."

"But when have I, Old Sun, ever shown any signs of fatigue?"

"These miraculous effects come from eating this delicious fruit!"

After Sun Wukong finished speaking, he put on a "you're in luck" expression on his monkey face and rubbed his hands together as he continued to persuade them:
“I see that you two brothers have been cooped up in the alchemy room for the past few days. You must have overworked yourselves and damaged your mental and physical health.”

"This precious fruit is truly a top-notch treasure for relieving fatigue and nourishing the spirit! Wouldn't it be an extreme pity to miss out on such a wonderful opportunity?"

"Try it, I guarantee you'll never forget it, and you'll crave it forever!"

Jia Guo is actually a local specialty of Beiju Luzhou in the lower realm; it has never been seen or seen in the celestial realm.

However, every time Sun Wukong went to the Tushita Palace, he would shamelessly ask Laozi for something.

Both the Golden Furnace and Silver Furnace attendants witnessed these actions. Upon hearing this, the Golden Furnace attendant, though feeling that Sun Wukong had described this wonderful fruit as extraordinary, instinctively felt that there must be something fishy going on behind this matter, considering the monkey's many past offenses. He was about to refuse decisively when he pulled his younger brother away resolutely.

However, there is a force in the world called "the allure of delicious food".

It has an irresistible magic, especially for young people who are naturally innocent and have been confined to the alchemy room for a long time, eating dry food and snacks for many days.

The Silver Furnace Boy, who had been quietly listening, had his bright eyes wide open when Sun Wukong described it as "exceptionally sweet," "juicy," "fragrant," and "sweet and refreshing."

His small nostrils twitched slightly involuntarily, as if he could truly smell the enticing aroma of the fruit.

His throat involuntarily twitched slightly, making an extremely subtle swallowing motion, as if he were trying to swallow the imagined deliciousness.

Inside the alchemy room, flames roared and raged, and any fruit placed in it would be roasted dry and lose its moisture.

In these monotonous days filled with the smoke and fire of the alchemy furnace, who doesn't yearn for a touch of novelty and a hint of sweetness?
"elder brother……"

Silver Furnace Boy quietly reached out and carefully grabbed the wide sleeve of his elder brother Golden Furnace Boy's gleaming gold Taoist robe, shaking it slightly.

The Silver Furnace Boy then raised his face, which was more delicate than his brother's and appeared even more innocent and naive. His voice was soft and gentle, with a hint of coquettish pleading:

“Brother…that fruit sounds…so novel.”

"I've heard that it's much, much better than the dried apricots and peaches that the master keeps in his alchemy room..."

"I...I've never eaten this before...I'd like to try it..."

The voice was soft, sweet, and full of a child's curiosity and natural longing for delicious food.

The Golden Furnace Boy sensed his younger brother's subtle movements and the undisguised craving in his eyes.

He glanced helplessly at the silver furnace, but in the end, the elder brother's affection for his younger brother prevailed, and he had no choice but to compromise:

"Okay, little brother."

"Fine, fine, I'll do as you say this time!"

The Golden Furnace Boy, like a little adult, sighed resignedly, with a hint of helplessness and compromise.

However, he ultimately adhered to the principle of not easily owing favors to others, especially not owing this monkey a favor.

With a stern face, he solemnly said:

“Great Sage, since we have been so kind to invite you, my brother and I will humbly trouble you to try your so-called ‘fine fruit’.”

"But let me make this clear from the start!"

His small hand swiftly slipped into the wide sleeve of his robe, and when he pulled it out again, his palm held a warm, white, shimmering jade bottle, as if it had been carved from solidified fat.

He handed the jade bottle to Sun Wukong with an unquestionable air, his expression solemn, carrying the unique aloofness and self-restraint of a disciple of the Supreme Taoist Ancestor:
"Our family has its own rules!"

"We always operate on the principle of 'fair trade, no favors owed,' especially—we don't owe you, you monkey, any favors!"

When the Golden Furnace Boy uttered the words "you monkey," his tone became slightly more forceful, as if to emphasize:

"This fruit is a precious item that you obtained from the mortal realm."

"My brother and I will not eat much of your fruit, and we will never take advantage of you."

"This bottle contains a 'Five-Return Fire Pill,' which I personally refined in my spare time. It contains a wisp of pure fire elemental energy."

"Consider this pill our payment for the fruit, as a token of our gratitude. We hope that the Great Sage will not refuse it."

"Only in this way can we eat with peace of mind."

"Five-Return Fire Pill?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong secretly pondered:

"A fifth-grade golden pill? This Golden Furnace Boy is being far too stingy."

Sun Wukong clearly didn't fancy the elixir.

He wants better!

So, Sun Wukong waved his hand dismissively and said:
"Hehe, I, Old Sun, am genuinely treating you all today. I'm just offering you some fruit; there's no need to talk about money."

"Let's go, let's find a quiet place and enjoy ourselves to the fullest!"

After saying that, his furry paws slapped towards the Golden Furnace Boy's shoulder with lightning speed, as if trying to close the distance between them.

"Don't you dare lay a hand on me!"

The Golden Furnace Boy warily sidestepped, nimbly dodging Sun Wukong's "enthusiastic greeting." His face tense, he shoved the elixir bottle into Sun Wukong's hand without a word.
"Rules are rules, and they cannot be easily changed!"

"Only in this way can we enjoy your spiritual fruit with a clear conscience."

"If the Great Sage refuses again, or if he doesn't like this little thing..."

The Golden Furnace Boy raised his chin, a hint of stubborn dignity in his eyes, his gaze unwavering:

"Then please forgive us for not being able to enjoy this fruit; it's better not to eat it!"

These words were spoken with conviction, and despite his still-childish face, he carried a stubborn sense of discipline.

"Haha! You little rascal, you're even more well-behaved than your master!"

Seeing that he couldn't force it on, Sun Wukong was quite decisive and didn't waste any more words. He grabbed the jade bottle, casually weighed it in his hand, and then stuffed it into the brand-new "Ruyi Treasure Pouch" at his waist.

"Alright! Okay, okay!"

"'Five-Return Fire Pill' it is! Golden Furnace, I, Old Sun, appreciate your kindness!"

Immediately, Sun Wukong greeted them enthusiastically:

"I'm just treating you to some fruit, why would I charge you for it? Come on, come on!"

"Five-fold Fire Reversal Pill..."

Hearing this, Xiao Chen's heart stirred.

Such elixirs are actually recorded in "Journey to the West".

The time the Green Ox Demon went missing, it was the cowherd boy who picked up a pill and ate it.

Lao Tzu once said, "It must be that one of the 'Seven-Return Fire Pills' that I refined the other day fell out and was picked up and eaten by this fellow."

If the Five-Return Fire Pill is a Five-Turn Golden Pill, then the Seven-Return Fire Pill is undoubtedly a Seven-Turn Golden Pill.

The Seven-Turn Golden Elixir, while not comparable to the top-tier immortal elixir like the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, is still among the finest elixirs.

The Seven-Return Fire Pill, as its name suggests, is a fire-attribute elixir. For beings whose element is fire, it is an unparalleled tonic for nourishing their origin and refining their fire energy.

Coincidentally, Xiao Chen had a son who was a "fire gourd spirit".

At present, although Sun Wukong has not entered the Eight Trigrams Furnace, he has been forged by the Six Ding Divine Fire and developed an indestructible body.

However, if his fire gourd spirit son recovers to his original state, he can also spit out the Six Ding Divine Fire.

At that time, why would we need to borrow the Six Ding Divine Fire from the Eight Trigrams Furnace?

He could have let Sun Wukong enter the belly of the Fire Gourd Demon and borrow the power of the Fire Gourd Demon's Six Ding Divine Fire to forge an indestructible body.

This Five-Return Fire Pill was itself condensed from the essence of the fire in the Eight Trigrams Furnace, and its origin is the same as the Six Ding Divine Fire!
If the Golden Furnace Boy can produce a Five-Return Fire Pill, he can surely also produce a Seven-Return Fire Pill.

Does he have more fire-related artifacts hidden in his sleeve pocket?

Xiao Chen remained calm and composed, stepped forward, and greeted the two boys with a smile and a cupped-hand salute:

"This humble one greets the two celestial children."

(End of this chapter)