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

Chapter 575 Wu Gang Chopping Down the Cassia Tree with His Axe

The Moon hangs high in the deepest part of the Milky Way, its radiance vast and serene, like frost falling, covering a cold and lonely lunar land.

In the sky, billions of stars, like devout subjects, guard and protect it, shining brightly.

It is:

"Heaven and earth were dark and yellow, the universe was vast and boundless. All the stars revolve around the moon, and the constellations are arrayed in order."

This is not Xiao Chen's first time visiting Taiyin Star.

He and General Curtain had visited Taiyin Star when they returned from the battlefield at Fangzhang Immortal Mountain.

The area of ​​the Moon is actually very large, vast and boundless, and its boundaries are unknown at a glance.

As soon as Xiao Chen stepped onto the Taiyin Star, he felt all the pores on his body open up, as if a sense of harmony from the source arose spontaneously.

The sun, like a golden crow, shines brightly, representing Yang; the moon, like a toad, shines brightly, representing Yin.

Toads are considered yin creatures and are said to "worship the moon and absorb its essence."

The Taiyin star is the moon.

Above the Taiyin Star, the power of Taiyin is extremely pure, permeating the entire area. With each breath, one feels as if absorbing the essence of the cool moon, which is refreshing and invigorating, and one's cultivation level also increases slightly.

For Xiao Chen, this place was undoubtedly a uniquely advantageous cultivation ground.

If King Golden Horn could cultivate on the Taiyin Star, his cultivation level would probably advance by leaps and bounds.

……

The master of the Taiyin star is the Taiyin Star Lord.

The Taiyin Star Lord is a first-rank star lord appointed by the Heavenly Court, in charge of all things in the Taiyin constellation, wielding immense power.

She is the supreme ruler of the Moon Palace.

On the journey to the west, when the Moon Goddess was in India, she appeared in a divine manner and went down to the mortal world to capture the Jade Rabbit Spirit.

The Moon Goddess governs all the immortals in the Moon Palace.

Chang'e, Su'e, and the Jade Rabbit are all fairy maidens under his command.

Of course.

The Taiyin Star Lord is the master of the Taiyin Star and the head of all the immortals of the Taiyin Star.

But the Queen Mother of the West is the Heavenly Queen, the head of all female immortals in the Three Realms, and is extremely powerful.

The Queen Mother of the West is the ruler, and the Moon Goddess is the subject.

The Moon Goddess is a celestial star deity who, although in charge of the Moon constellation, must obey the Queen Mother of the West.

No matter how great the Moon Goddess is, she can never surpass the Queen Mother of the West.

Even the Queen Mother of the West and the Moon Goddess dare not disobey the orders of the Moon Goddess.

Xiao Chen's purpose in coming here this time is clear:
"I wish to enter the primordial laurel forest deep within the Moon Palace and cut down a branch of laurel."

Such important matters should first be addressed by paying respects to the Lord of the Moon Palace and obtaining the decree of the Taiyin Star Lord before proceeding.

However, Xiao Chen now holds two positions in the Heavenly Realm, which is quite extraordinary.

Firstly, he was a seventh-rank Sky Patrol Captain, responsible for patrolling the heavens to protect the peace of the celestial realm.

Secondly, he was appointed as the seventh-rank Yaochi Master of Ceremonies and Literary Envoy, in charge of the rituals of Yaochi and to compose eulogies for the Yaochi banquets.

Their status was already different from that of ordinary heavenly soldiers.

……

Lunar star.

The majestic and austere Taiyin Palace stands in the core area of ​​the Moon Palace.

The guards in front of the palace were all celestial soldiers in silver armor, their armor covered with a light layer of frost, their eyes sharp as knives.

Xiao Chen stepped forward slowly, his expression calm. He took out two identity tokens from his person, symbolizing his roles as the Sky Patrol Captain and the Jade Pool Ceremonial Envoy, and presented them with both hands, speaking earnestly:

"Please inform the Moon Goddess that Yang Guoshan, under the command of General Curtain-Roller, has come with the General's order to request materials for weapons."

The guard took the token, carefully verified its authenticity, and upon hearing that it was sent by General Juanlian, he dared not be negligent in the slightest. He immediately turned around, hurried into the hall, and reported the matter.

Shortly after, the guard turned around, bowed, and said:

"Immortal Yang, the Star Lord requests your presence."

"Good work."

Xiao Chen nodded slightly and stepped into the hall.

Upon entering the hall, the scene inside was immediately breathtaking, far more magnificent and ethereal than what one could see from the outside.

The dome, as if inlaid with a flowing galaxy, with stars flickering and shimmering, seems to be telling the endless mystery of "the waxing and waning of the sun and moon, and the arrangement of constellations."

The ground was paved with a single piece of black ice jade marrow, so shiny it could reflect a person's image, mirroring the faint light from the dome, creating a dreamlike scene.

Walking on it, the sound of footsteps is light and slow, seemingly swallowed up by the boundless silence.

The cool moonlight is everywhere, yet it is not dazzling; it only purifies the mind and dispels all distracting thoughts.

Inside the palace, the moonlight shone brightly.

Above the Cloud Terrace.

A goddess, as serene and aloof as the moonlight, and of unparalleled solemnity, sat upright; she was none other than the Lord of the Moon Star—"The Moon Goddess".

She was tall and slender, wearing a simple, snow-white gauze palace dress that flowed down her back. Her skin was as smooth as fresh snow, with a translucent glow in its whiteness.

The Moon Goddess's flowing silver hair was bound by an exquisite star crown, adding to her sacred and majestic aura. A nine-intricate silk sash was wrapped around her waist, from which hung a seven-star golden sword symbolizing her authority.

What's most striking is what's behind her.

A constantly rotating illusory moon floats in the air, its faint, cool halo highlighting her deep, abyss-like eyes, and radiating an inviolable divine majesty.

It is truly the appearance of "the moon goddess descending to earth".

Beside the Moon Goddess.

On the left is a silver toad with a deep, silvery-gray aura, its eyes unfathomable, quietly guarding the Star Lord as if listening to his teachings.

On the right is a jade rabbit, pure white with bright red eyes, holding a pestle and mortar, a jade rabbit spirit.

The jade rabbit stood there obediently, blinking its bright red eyes from time to time, revealing a touch of playfulness and cuteness.

On either side of His Highness.

A group of beautiful and ethereal moon palace fairies, led by Chang'e, Su'e, and Ni Chang, stood at attention, heads bowed.

It truly is like "a galaxy of stars surrounding the bright moon".

Xiao Chen's gaze inadvertently swept over Fairy Su'e, where he saw her standing gracefully, her fair face as white as if covered with a thin layer of frost, and her bright eyes appearing exceptionally clear under the moonlight.

When Xiao Chen's figure appeared at the palace gate.

The fairy Su'e's clear, bright eyes lingered on him briefly, a subtle ripple flashing across her face, a hint of resentment mixed with anticipation, before she quickly concealed it.

It restored the unique purity and aloofness of the Moon Palace Fairy.

Only her jade-like hands, barely perceptible, twitched slightly, hidden beneath the moon-white sleeves of her robe.

It seemed as if he was trying to conceal the turmoil in his heart.

Xiao Chen entered the hall, bowed respectfully, and his clear voice echoed in the spacious hall:
"Yang Guoshan, the Sky Patrol Captain under General Curtain Roller and the Jade Pool Master of Ceremonies and Literary Master, pays respects to the Moon Goddess."

"Lieutenant Yang, please rise."

The Moon Goddess nodded, her voice clear and cold.

"Thank you, Xingjun."

Xiao Chen stood up, took out a dark black iron token, and said loudly:
"Reporting to the Star Lord, I am here by the grace of General Curtain-Raising, who grants me this token to obtain a branch of the Primordial Laurel Tree for use as material in forging weapons."

As he spoke, he presented the dark, black iron token belonging to the Curtain-Raising General with both hands.

The fairy Su'e moved with light, silent steps as she descended from the cloud platform, embodying the epitome of a moon palace fairy—cool and noble.

She walked up to Xiao Chen, extended her delicate hand, and took the heavy token.

The instant their fingertips touched, a faint, warm scent carrying a familiar fragrance entered Xiao Chen's palm, so fast it seemed like an illusion, yet so clear it was like a brand. At the same time, beneath her seemingly lowered eyelids, her gaze quickly rose to meet Xiao Chen's for a moment.

His eyes seemed to hold a thousand words, yet he hesitated to speak, as if asking:
"Where are my big, flat peaches?"

immediately.

"Star Lord, please take a look."

Fairy Su'e turned around and steadily presented the token to the table in front of the Moon God.

Her movements were fluid and elegant, as if the subtle touch had never happened. Her expression remained calm and serene, noble and aloof.

The Moon Goddess ran her jade-like fingers along the smooth, cool surface of the token, a slight smile playing on her lips, as if recalling the past:
"Oh, the primordial laurel tree? It does stir up old memories for me."

"The 'Demon-Subduing Staff' that General Rolling Curtain carries with him was forged from a branch of the primordial laurel tree on my Taiyin Star."

She paused, her gaze scrutinizing Xiao Chen with a hint of consideration:

"General Curtain Roller actually sent you to retrieve the branch of the Primordial Laurel Tree."

"It seems that General Curtain-Roller relies on you quite a bit, and he must often give you pointers on staff techniques and martial arts?"

Xiao Chen knew that the Moon Goddess's question was intended to ascertain the depth of his relationship with the Curtain-Raising General, so he answered solemnly:

"The General has shown me great kindness and loyalty, and has been generous in teaching me martial arts and Taoist arts, imparting all his knowledge to me."

"Whenever I encounter difficulties, he will give me careful guidance, from which I have benefited greatly."

"I will forever remember this kindness of nurturing me!"

After speaking, Xiao Chen bowed to show his respect to General Rolling Curtain.

The Moon Goddess's gaze was as cold and clear as moonlight. She glanced subtly at the "Yaochi Master of Ceremonies and Literary Scriptures" token at Xiao Chen's waist, which represented his status as a close attendant of Yaochi, and then seemed to casually sweep over the Jade Rabbit and Chang'e standing below the steps.

Her eyes flickered almost imperceptibly. She picked up a glass cup from the table, took a small sip of the cold Moon Dew, and then slowly spoke:
"I have heard that Immortal Yang once composed an impromptu poem for the Queen Mother of the West at the Jade Pool Holy Land. His talent was so outstanding that it amazed everyone present and won the favor of the Queen Mother of the West, thus earning him the position of 'Jade Pool Master of Ceremonies and Literary Scriptures'?"

Her words carried a hint of inquiry, and her gaze shifted, glancing once more at the Yaochi token.

Xiao Chen understood. On that day in the Golden Mother Palace of Yaochi, the Jade Rabbit and Su'e were both standing by her side. It was not surprising that the Moon Goddess knew about this.

"My lord, this is indeed true."

Xiao Chen readily admitted it, displaying a humble attitude:
"This humble general was fortunate enough to win a smile from Her Majesty. I am deeply grateful for Her Majesty's favor and have been promoted to a minor post. I am truly humbled and dare not claim any merit."

His humble and appropriate answer confirmed the fact that he was "highly appreciated by the Queen Mother of the West".

Upon hearing this, the Moon Goddess's eyes flashed with divine light, and several thoughts raced through her mind.

The Curtain-Raising General was a close guard of the Jade Emperor, wielding considerable power, and she had indeed owed him a favor in the past.

Today, General Rolling Curtain sent someone to retrieve the branch of the Innate Laurel Tree, and she should indeed repay this favor.

However, the Moon Goddess had other considerations.

In fact, a mere sky patrol captain is not worth her much trouble.

The key lies in the position of "Yaochi Master of Ceremonies and Literary Scriptures".

The position of "Jade Pool Master of Ceremonies and Literary Praise" is not of high rank, but it is considered to be a close attendant to the Queen Mother of the West, and is located in the central position of the Jade Pool.

The position of Yaochi Master of Ceremonies and Literary Envoy allows one to frequently move around in front of the Queen Mother of the West, reciting etiquette and composing poems to praise the banquet. It is a close and intimate position where one can have a say in things!
In the Three Realms, the Queen Mother of the West is the head of all female immortals, in charge of marriage, offspring, and longevity...

During the chaos caused by Emperor Donghua.

She bypassed the Queen Mother of the West and reported directly to the Jade Emperor about the Peony Fairy's secret affair.

At the Heavenly Peace Assembly, the Queen Mother did not publicly issue any punishment, but her subtle and indirect hints at the assembly were enough to make her feel uneasy.

This made her constantly uneasy.

The Queen Mother's mind was as deep as the sea, and this latent grudge still troubled her to this day.

In officialdom, personal relationships are the foundation of one's career, and "bestowing favors and forming connections" is a common unspoken rule.

Today, I'm doing this favor for him. If this newly promoted "Imperial Attendant" can put in a good word for him with the Empress, or perhaps leave a good impression for future use...

In the future, if I need something, perhaps I can find another way to get help from the Queen Mother of the West.

Think about this.

The frost on the face of the Moon Goddess melted slightly, revealing a faint smile.

She spoke slowly:
"This innate laurel tree is an innate spiritual root transformed from the origin of the Taiyin spiritual vein. It grows and thrives in symbiosis with the essence of the moon. Nourished by divine power, it is born with the supernatural power of immortality."

"It is the divine tree of the immortal divine trees."

“When ordinary knives and axes are used against him, the wounds heal in an instant; the axe marks disappear as soon as they are swung.”

“A few branches can be cut down and regenerated, which will not harm the original laurel tree, so it is not a big deal.”

She changed the subject, her tone becoming even warmer:

"Weapons are essential to the life and death of military generals, and they are also ritual implements for the master of ceremonies."

"Now, 'Yang Sili' has been appointed to an important position in Yaochi. As a close minister of the Queen Mother, he bears the heavy responsibility of Yaochi's etiquette and dignity."

“In the land of Yaochi, every visit is a grand gathering of immortals, and all who come and go are high-ranking immortals. How could ‘Yang Sili’ not have a divine weapon that can signify his status and is easy for him to wield?”

"Considering that the Queen Mother of the West appreciates your talent, I will grant you an extra gracious gift: a branch of the Primordial Laurel Tree!"

"You may cut down two laurel branches yourself. You may enter the primordial laurel forest and choose the one with the strongest spiritual energy and the best quality!"

His words carried a deeper meaning, no longer simply mentioning the name of General Rolling Curtain, but seemingly linking this favor closely to Xiao Chen personally.

The words of the Moon Goddess contained a great deal of information.

On the surface, her promise of two sprigs of innate laurel wood seemed generous, but on a deeper level, she clearly pointed out:

"This gift is a token of our appreciation in recognition of your status as the 'Wangchi Master of Ceremonies and Literary Envoy'."

Although Xiao Chen didn't know why the Taiyin Star Lord had suddenly gifted him a branch of innate laurel wood, such an unexpected joy was exactly what he wanted!
"This humble general kowtows to thank the Moon Goddess for her great grace and favor!"

He quickly bowed to express his gratitude, his tone sincere.

The Moon Goddess nodded slightly, her cool gaze lingering on his face for a moment before she said with a hint of deeper meaning:
"The Curtain-Rolling General gave you the token as a favor."

"This other branch... is a gift from this Star Lord to the Ceremonial Envoy of Yaochi."

"Yang Sili, you need to understand the difference between these two."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen suddenly understood; this was the Taiyin Star Lord "pointing out" to him.

The implication was that he should not forget the convenience she had made for him this time. It was not only a gift, but also a favor, and an expectation that she might repay him in the future.

Within the celestial ranks, the intricate web of human relationships and social interactions is the silent rule of officialdom.

The goodwill formed today may, at some point in the future, become a space for tacit understanding and a stepping stone for mutual understanding.

As the saying goes, "Reciprocity is key, and officials protect each other," this is the way to survive in the imperial court.

Xiao Chen immediately made a promise to the Moon Goddess:

"This humble general thanks the Star Lord for his generous gift! This kindness and gratitude will forever be etched in Yang Guoshan's heart!"

"In the future, if you need anything, please just give the order."

Its voice was clear and resonant, echoing in the cold and serene realm of the moon palace, revealing its sincere intent.

The Moon Goddess nodded slightly, her eyes gleaming with a clear light, seemingly quite pleased with his tact.

She thought to herself that since she had already given the favor, she might as well do it more thoroughly. This would not only show her magnanimity as the Moon Goddess, but also lay the groundwork for future interactions.

Therefore, the Moon Goddess, with a solemn expression, gave Xiao Chen some advice:

"This innate laurel tree is extraordinary. It is incredibly resilient and was transformed from the origin of Yin, containing the power of ultimate Yin and ultimate softness."

"This power is mysterious and unpredictable; it can heal axe wounds instantly, and the wounds will heal as soon as they are chopped."

"Ordinary immortal soldiers, even with the blessing of immortal magic, can hardly make any progress."

"Even if you cut it down for a month, ordinary immortal soldiers would find it difficult to damage a single branch or leaf of the innate laurel tree. Instead, they would be devoured and destroyed by its Yin power, losing all their spirit and becoming nothing more than scrap metal."

Therefore, to achieve the goal of "plucking the laurel in the moon palace", one must rely on the merit of "Wu Gang's axe to chop down the laurel".

(End of this chapter)