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

Chapter 577 Choosing a Tree for the Cassia Palace
Heaven and earth give birth to wondrous things, and all things are mutually generating and mutually restraining.

The sun represents the extreme of masculinity, with the sacred Fusang tree inhabited by the spirit of the golden crow; the moon represents the extreme of femininity, and also has wondrous trees bearing the brilliance of the stars.

Looking back to the ancient times, when chaos was first created and all things were renewed, the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* (specifically, the *Overseas Eastern Classic*) already recorded this:
"Above Tang Valley grows the Fusang tree, where ten suns bathe and reside in the water. Nine suns dwell on the lower branches, and one sun dwells on the upper branch."

This primordial Fusang tree is the resting place of the ten golden crows.

The blazing sun hangs high on the branches, its magnificent scene and vastness are truly beyond description.

This is also confirmed in Journey to the West:
"Originally, there were ten suns, but Yi, skilled in archery, shot down nine crows, leaving only the Golden Crow, the true fire of the sun. There are nine hot springs in the world, all transformed from the crows..."

In ancient times, there were ten suns in the world.

The golden crow carries the sun, and ten suns patrol the sky, their rays shining brightly and illuminating the universe.

Fusang, supporting the blazing sun, is the divine tree that shelters the ten suns.

This clearly demonstrates the immense size of this innate Fusang tree.

And how could the innate laurel tree, which was also formed from the eyelashes of the great god Pangu and carried the great power of the yin, be inferior to the innate fusang tree in its wondrous qualities?

The laurel tree, with its roots reaching the moon, its branches reaching the sky, and stars perched on its branches.

The universe revolves, yin and yang alternate, and the sun and moon rise and fall. The principles of this are fully revealed at this innate laurel tree.

Upon witnessing the magnificence of the Primordial Laurel Tree for the first time, Xiao Chen was quite awestruck.

"This is the innate laurel tree..."

As they got closer to the Gui Palace.

Guidian Forest.

The ancient, primordial atmosphere of creation and the creation of the world is overwhelming.

It contained the primordial power of the Yin, as cold as ice and essence, which caused the toad bloodline around his body to resonate with it, as if there was some mysterious connection that stirred his mind.

far away.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The sound of chopping down the cassia tree pierced through the layers of cold moonlight mist, shaking the soul.

Its voice, carrying an unwavering persistence and solitude, resounded throughout this land where starlight scatters.

A few moments.

The fairy Chang'e descended from the auspicious clouds, her toes lightly touching the ground where liquid moonlight flowed, creating ripples.

With a solemn expression, she took out a scroll shrouded in a clear light, which was the decree of the Moon Goddess.

The fairy Su'e parted her cherry lips slightly, and her clear, cool voice rang out amidst the magnificent Guilin forest and the muffled sound of axes:
"The decree of the Moon Goddess has arrived! Wu Gang, the axe-wielder, heed the decree!"

The imperial edict shone with divine light, drawing the surrounding moonlight to converge and worship upon it like water, demonstrating the authority of the Moon Goddess.

Not long after.

From the depths of the misty haze supported by the mother tree, a tall and imposing figure slowly stepped out.

It was none other than Wu Gang, the eternal prisoner of the Moon Palace and the woodcutter of the Cassia Palace!
He was dressed in coarse cloth, with an extremely robust physique, his muscles bulging like cast iron rocks; his tendons were intertwined like the roots of an old tree; his shoulders and back were broad and thick, as if he could carry mountains and peaks.

Two heavy weapons were conspicuously hanging from his waist:

The axe blade was badly worn, the handle was rough, and it had a mottled, ancient look. This was an old axe used for felling cassia trees, bearing witness to his arduous work of felling cassia trees for thousands of years.

The other axe gleamed with a cold light, its blade shimmering with mysterious golden wood grain. Moonlight seemed to entwine around it as if it were alive, constantly emanating from it. This was the "Toad Palace Laurel-Plucking Axe," specifically designed to break the innate, indestructible divine nature of the laurel tree!
The power to cut down the cassia tree has grown for ten thousand years.

Wherever Wu Gang walked, the moon-like patterns under his feet spread out like ripples on water, and his body exuded the vicissitudes of thousands of years of struggle against heaven and earth and the divine tree, as well as immense power.

He stopped three steps away from the fairy Chang'e, his eyes piercing and his voice booming:
"Wu Gang is here! What business does the Star Lord have with me?"

The fairy Chang'e gently held the decree in her jade-like hand, her expression solemn, and proclaimed in a clear voice:

"The decree of the Moon Goddess: Wu Gang, the axe-wielder of the Cassia Palace, shall wield the 'Cassia-Cutting Axe' and assist Yang Guoshan, the scribe of the Jade Pool, in felling the necessary cassia wood."

"Implement it immediately, without any mistakes!"

"The Moon Goddess has given other instructions, allowing Yang Sili to choose two laurel branches within the laurel palace."

Upon hearing this, Wu Gang immediately knelt on one knee and accepted the imperial decree, saying:
"Wu Gang respectfully obeys the Star Lord's decree!"

After standing up, Wu Gang's gaze sharpened and fell on Xiao Chen, as if he were sizing up the person holding the command. He said in a deep voice:
"Yang Sili, please come with me."

He spoke in a somber tone and said little more.

Without delay, Wu Gang led Xiao Chen and Fairy Su'e straight into the depths of the magnificent forest composed of countless towering laurel trees.

As you venture deeper into the forest, the scenery becomes increasingly magnificent.

Above, the Milky Way is no longer a distant backdrop, but a dazzling dome within reach.

The ground beneath your feet is a silvery flow of liquid moonlight, smooth as a mirror, reflecting the starlight of the sky. Walking on it is like strolling in the Milky Way, with each step shattering starlight and splashing silvery light.

In Guilin, tiny specks of stardust may fall, merging into the icy, soul-stirring, yet strangely vibrant fragrance of osmanthus.

Its aroma is refreshing and invigorating.

With each breath, it felt as if I was swallowing a wisp of the cosmos's essence, cleansing my bones and invigorating my spirit.

One after another, divine trees containing endless Yin essence stand before us, like giant umbrellas piercing the sky, their branches and leaves intertwined, blocking out the sun.

"The power of Taiyin..."

Xiao Chen felt refreshed and invigorated, and the toad bloodline within his body resonated joyfully.

Xiao Chen took a deep breath, suppressing the throbbing deep within the toad's essence.

As he walked along, his gaze was intense. He couldn't help but reach out and touch the thick, black tree trunk, marked with ancient, natural patterns like the eyelashes of Pangu, feeling the surging power flowing within it.

The strange texture, cool to the touch yet imbued with the power of Yin, made him love it.

He looked left and right, touched the wood carefully, and pondered how to select the most suitable material.

Seeing his keen interest, Wu Gang spoke up:

"Please examine it carefully, Mr. Yang, and let me know which section of branch you find suitable."

Xiao Chen had previously received guidance from Fairy Su'e and already knew that the osmanthus tree with its bark as black as ink and naturally formed patterns like human eyelashes was the mother tree of the innate osmanthus tree.

Only the branches of the mother tree possess the supreme value of containing the purest essence of Yin and bearing the divine markings of Pangu.

Although the sapling is also magnificent and tall with lush branches and leaves, it ultimately lacks the primordial chaos and original spirit of creation, and its texture and luster are much inferior.

Therefore, Xiao Chen was very purposeful and directly chose the mother tree of the Innate Laurel Tree.

The Guidian Forest is vast, with nearly a thousand laurel trees.

Among them, there are more than one hundred mother trees of the primordial laurel tree and several hundred saplings. The laurel palace is a vast little world of its own on the Taiyin star.

Most human eyelashes are longer in the middle and shorter on the sides.

Like human eyelashes, the laurel grove is thickest in the middle and slightly shorter towards the outside.

The primordial laurel tree in the central area has roots like dragons, intertwined and reaching deep into the ground, drawing endless Yin energy; its branches seem to penetrate into the center of the starry sea, connecting with the stars and drawing their essence, exuding a magnificent aura.

His gaze swept over the thickest tree in the center, its branches seemingly reaching deep into the heart of the starry sea. Suddenly, a thought struck Xiao Chen, and he turned to Wu Gang, asking:

"General Wu, from which sacred tree did General Curtain-Roller use the material to forge the Demon-Slaying Staff?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Gang pointed to the giant tree in the center, which seemed to support the entire palace sky, its branches entwined with a torrent of starlight visible to the naked eye, and said loudly:
"The primordial laurel branch used by General Curtain Roller is the main branch of this tree."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen looked up and saw that this innate laurel tree was the core of the laurel palace, just like a king residing in the center, ruling over all the trees.

Its trunk is incredibly thick, its branches and leaves are lush and dense, blocking out the sun, and its branches are entwined with a torrent of starlight, like a cascading Milky Way, dazzling and spectacular.

The Curtain-Rolling General took the main branch from this innate laurel tree.

It is the "first branch" that branches off from the main trunk of the laurel tree.

However, Xiao Chen still felt that the Demon-Subduing Staff was too light.

The strength of a branch is definitely not as great as the strength of a tree trunk.

After all, branches are derived from the trunk.

The trunk supports the branches.

Compared to the innate cassia branch.

He wanted the "trunk" of the natural laurel tree even more.

As the saying goes:
"If you do not take what Heaven has given you, you will suffer the consequences; if you do not act when the time is right, you will suffer the calamity."

If you do not accept what God has given you, you will be punished; if you do not act when the time is right, you will suffer disaster.

Since he has come to the Cassia Palace, and both the Curtain-Rolling General and the Moon Goddess have granted him the right to "cut down the Cassia Tree in the Moon Palace".

Now that he "holds the decree of the Taiyin Star Lord" and has the "banner of the Curtain-Raising General," he can freely choose two branches of innate cassia wood. How could he let such a heaven-sent opportunity slip by?

If you don't choose the right one, you'll waste this great opportunity and will surely regret it later.

As for what will happen in the celestial realm, will it attract attention?

Xiao Chen pondered to himself:

"Two or three days later, I, King Golden Horn, will have already left the Heavenly Realm and disappeared into the mortal world, living a carefree life. Why should I care about the future?"

With this thought in mind, his gaze hardened, and he made up his mind: "Forget about branches, I'll get the trunk!"

"I, King Golden Horn, will take the entire innate laurel tree without making a choice."

However, the laurel tree that General Rolling Curtain used as material was the core of the laurel palace.

He definitely couldn't just cut it off and take it away.

As for the other innate laurel trees, he still has some chance.

then.

Xiao Chen then turned his gaze to the mother tree of the innate laurel tree on the outer edge of the laurel palace.

Each of these primordial laurel trees originated from a single eyelash of Pangu, making them all extraordinary beings.

soon.

Xiao Chen identified a mother tree in the outer area that was of superior height, thickness, and spirit.

Although this tree is not the core, the Pangu eyelash lines on the black ink bark are deep and clear, as if engraved with the ultimate truth of heaven and earth, and the chaotic primordial aura contained therein far exceeds that of ordinary mother trees.

Its branches and trunk are as gnarled and strong as a dragon coiling in the sky, with a majestic momentum that can support the stars!

"Thank you for your trouble, General Wu!"

Xiao Chen pointed to the target tree, his voice steady and powerful:
"This is the one!"

Upon hearing this, Fairy Su'e's clear eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.

She couldn't help but turn to Xiao Chen, her eyes flickering as if silently asking:

"Why go to such lengths instead of seeking what is near at hand? Why not choose someone from the same source as General Juanlian?"

"Wouldn't the branches of the central tree be even better?"

Xiao Chen shook his head slightly, indicating:

"My mind is made up, and I have my own ideas. There is no need to say more."

Wu Gang has two axes behind him.

The axe was badly worn, with a rusty blade and a rough handle.

The other axe gleamed with golden light, reflecting the moonlight, and its blade contained hidden golden wood grain, making it look extremely extraordinary.

Upon hearing this, Wu Gang took out the axe with golden wood grain hidden in its blade from behind him, looked at the innate laurel tree, and asked:

"Which branch does Master Yang wish to take?"

"Generally speaking, the first branch that leaves the ground is the thickest and is the most suitable material for making weapons."

"General Wu Gang, I don't want the branch..."

Xiao Chen shook his head, his voice resolute:
"I want the entire trunk of this naturally formed laurel tree!"

"I would also like to trouble General Wu Gang to cut down this primordial laurel tree for me."

"what?!"

A gasp of surprise came almost simultaneously from both Fairy Su'e and Wu Gang.

Wu Gang was slightly taken aback at first, then looked at Xiao Chen with a strange expression.

He glared at Xiao Chen, his eyes looking at him as if he were looking at a reckless madman who overestimated his own abilities.

immediately.

Wu Gang grinned, revealing a rugged yet mischievous side, and said:

"Yang Sili, do you know how enormous this tree is, connecting heaven and earth and bearing the stars?"

"The trunk of this mother tree of the laurel palace is comparable to that of even a towering divine peak!"

"This thing is probably not something I can control!"

"Back then, General Curtain-Roller only took one main branch to make the demon-subduing staff."

"You really intend to use such a colossal object as a weapon?"

His words were earnest, as if he were advising Xiao Chen not to act impulsively.

The fairy Su'e's willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly, like distant mountains shrouded in mist. Her fair hand, hidden beneath her moon-veiled sleeve, gently clenched—she couldn't understand why Xiao Chen would give up the best option that was readily available, and her heart was filled with doubt.

Xiao Chen laughed loudly, his arrogance rising, and he appeared quite conceited.

"Haha, General, you're overthinking it!"

"To be honest, General, although I hold the civil post of the Jade Pool Master of Ceremonies, I am also a Sky Patrol Captain under the Curtain-Raising General!"

His words were generous and bold, fully displaying the heroic spirit of a military general.

"I come from a military background and have honed my strength over the years. My power may even surpass what the general knows!"

"Recently, I have had a stroke of good fortune, and my divine power has greatly increased. I once wrestled with General Curtain-Rolling in the martial arts arena, and I can also wield his demon-subduing staff."

"The weight of this divine tree is astonishing to the eyes of the world. I, Yang, am eager to test its power and prove my strength!"

"This is a blessing bestowed by the Moon Goddess and the Curtain-Rolling General. How could I possibly be afraid and back down?"

"General Wu, you only need to follow orders to cut down the enemy. Whether he can be used by us or not is none of your concern!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Gang looked at Fairy Su'e with a questioning gaze, as if asking:
"This requirement far exceeds the norm. The Star Lord's decree only states 'fell the cassia tree,' without specifying the thickness of the trunk, but this is an entire section of the mother tree's trunk..."

Fairy Su'e looked at Xiao Chen with a questioning expression, her eyes seemingly filled with doubt:
"You really want such a huge thing?"

Xiao Chen nodded slightly, meaning:

"I really want to take it."

The group exchanged glances, everything was understood without words, as if they had reached a tacit agreement.

The fairy Su'e looked at Wu Gang, parted her lips slightly, and said:

"General Wu, there is no need to worry."

"The Star Lord once clearly stated: 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 naturally endowed with the supernatural power of immortality."

"It is an immortal and indestructible divine tree."

“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.”

"After the branches of this innate laurel tree are cut down, it will absorb the essence of the moon and grow back, just like the moon waxing and waning, which is a natural phenomenon."

"This does not damage the 'root' of the innate laurel tree, so it is not very important."

That's absolutely true; trees have an extremely strong vitality.

As long as the roots of the primordial laurel tree, that is, the "stump," are still there, it will absorb the essence of the yin and, given time, grow into a complete tree again.

This is just like the ginseng fruit tree.

Ginseng fruit trees are difficult to cure because even the roots are gone.

On the journey west, at the Wuzhuang Temple.

Sun Wukong used his divine power to "push mountains and move ridges," knocking down the ginseng fruit tree and uprooting it.

The poor leaves fall and the roots sprout from the soil; the Taoist priest cuts off the herb and restores the elixir!
As Sun Wukong said:

"Spiritual root! Spiritual root! I've severed its root!"

For a tree, if the roots are gone, the tree is gone.

As long as the roots remain, the tree will remain.

……

Fairy Su'e continued:

"Moreover, the Moon Goddess once said that the necessary laurel wood should be harvested according to the needs of the Jade Pool Literary Envoy."

"The intention of the Moon Goddess is to fulfill your wishes; please do as she says, General Wu."

She cleverly repeated what Xingjun had said.

These words not only relayed the original words of the Moon Goddess, but also provided a legal basis for Xiao Chen's "willfulness".

The decree of the Moon Goddess only required "felling trees," without prohibiting the main trunk.

At the same time, it also implicitly emphasizes that this is a "special favor" bestowed by the Star Lord upon Yang Guoshan.

After hearing the fairies' reasonable and well-founded defense, Wu Gang understood. Since the decree of the Moon Goddess was so, he no longer needed to obstruct it.

But he also laid out the unpleasant truth upfront, saying in a gruff voice:
"Very well! Since it is the Star Lord's grace and the Fairy's command, I, Wu, am merely a prisoner wielding an axe, and I only know how to obey orders!"

"but--"

Wu Gang's tone shifted abruptly, carrying a rough warning and a hint of anticipation:
"Lieutenant Yang, I'm only responsible for felling it, not for carrying it for you!"

"If you cannot move the weight of this star yourself, do not blame me for standing idly by!"

"Just how powerful are you? I, Wu, must see for myself!"

(End of this chapter)