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

Chapter 591 Dragon Clan Feud

In the battle of the Huai River, Qingfeng was stained with blood.

Lu Dongbin, under the orders of his master Zhongli Quan, slew a demonic dragon in the Jianghuai region, believing himself to be acting on behalf of Heaven. Little did he know that this demon had some connection with the Jinghe Dragon King.

This yellow dragon is no ordinary spirit; it has a close relationship with the little yellow dragon, son of the Jing River Dragon King and the guardian of the Huai River's water palace.

He was none other than the brother-in-law of the Little Yellow Dragon, the Dragon King of the Huai River!

For Lü Dongbin, the Pure Yang Immortal who had just slain the dragon with his flying sword and made a name for himself, this relationship was truly an unpredictable karmic entanglement.

……

At the Dragon Palace on the Huai River, the bells tolled long and the horns wailed.

As soon as the Dragon King issued his decree, the Huai River Water Palace immediately entered a terrifying state of boiling.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

“Beep, beep, beep!”

The tolling of the death knell lingered, and the mournful sound of the bugle echoed mournfully from the dark depths of the water.

The algae swayed, and the corals lost their color.

In an instant, scales gleamed and weapons gleamed coldly!
The water patrol yaksha, clad in a scale-covered helmet, with a face as blue as indigo and eyes like copper bells, wielded a heavy water-splitting fork, producing a dull, slicing sound as it broke the water.

The shrimp soldiers, clad in heavy armor, were densely packed together, like a surging torrent of steel. Their crimson claws opened and closed like battle axes, making a cracking sound and gleaming coldly.

Countless eel spirits, blackfish captains, and carp captains transformed into streaks of black wind, their scales shimmering with eerie light, wielding poisoned water-splitting daggers and sharp bone spears, exuding murderous intent!
……

Organized groups of shrimp soldiers, crab generals, fish and turtle elites surged and rolled like an overwhelming black tide.

Driven by the turbulent tide of revenge, and guided precisely by the light of the secret treasure "Dinghai Soul-Searching Mirror," they rushed straight towards the green-robed swordsman, Lü Dongbin, who was unaware of the impending calamity and thought he had accomplished his mission and was about to leave!

Although Lü Dongbin had already glimpsed the path to immortality, he tested his sword by slaying a dragon, thus beginning to show his prowess.

However, their foundation was still shallow, and now they suddenly faced the encirclement and suppression of the Dragon Palace aquatic elites who were well-equipped, well-coordinated, and brought with them great treasures. They felt the pressure was overwhelming!

The cold, sharp light emitted by the Dragon Palace's secret treasure, the "Sea-Stabilizing Soul-Searching Mirror," was like a leech clinging to his bones, firmly locking onto his pure yang aura. No matter how swift and unpredictable his movements were, whether he used earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a technique for concealing oneself in the mountains and forests) or clouds and mist to obscure the secrets of heaven, under the illumination of that mirror light, he was like the most dazzling lone star under the dark dome, with no way to hide!
In an instant, Lü Dongbin faced an unprecedented siege!

Although the Pure Yang Sword was sharp, it was still quite difficult to withstand this fierce attack that combined land and water forces and continued unabated.

From all directions, water arrows poured down like a torrential downpour, their force enough to pierce through metal; giant waves transformed into water dragons and beasts, charging fearlessly; and crab generals and yakshas wielding heavy weapons took turns attacking, each strike heavy and powerful, making Lü Dongbin's wrists go numb.

Lu Dongbin had no choice but to wield the Pure Yang Ancient Sword as a protective halo that was impenetrable to water!

The sword flashed, and the blazing pure yang sword energy spun around him like the sun, desperately trying to block the fierce attacks coming from all directions, both on land and water.

The splashing water droplets were as sharp as crossbow bolts piercing the air, carrying a fierce momentum; the enormous aquatic demon generals charged in turn, like waves crashing against reefs, unstoppable.

Lu Dongbin sometimes hid in dense forests and secluded valleys, and sometimes he moved and turned amidst raging waves. Every parry and every dodge was extremely dangerous. His clothes were gradually stained with wounds and water stains. It was truly a heart-stopping experience, with life hanging by a thread!
As the poem says:

"Ten years of sharpening a sword, the frost blade has never been tried!"

The edge of a sword comes from sharpening.

Crisis is also the best whetstone!
This desperate, desperate run, this high-pressure, breathless battle, is also a whetstone.

In this high-pressure battle of life and death, a desperate rush.

The unparalleled sword intent of the former Donghua Emperor, which once looked down upon the three realms and slayed immortals and gods, quietly flowed in his bloodline.

Lu Dongbin's unparalleled natural talent and potential in Daoist arts were fully unleashed. His pure Yang true essence circulated like a surging river, and his three-foot-long sword became increasingly agile and sharp. The chilling sword energy soared straight into the sky, and his understanding of swordsmanship also improved at a speed visible to the naked eye!

He fought and retreated, his figure leaping and darting between the dense forest and the riverbank.

The sword moved with him, and wherever it passed, thick ancient trees were cut in half by the sword energy. The fierce sea patrol yaksha chasing in the lead was split in two, man and yaksha, and the blood of the monster was splashed like rain!

Lu Dongbin charged forward, his sword sweeping away countless pursuers.

His inherent untamed nature and disdain for worldly constraints made him not in a hurry to distance himself from the demon dragon. Facing these dragon palace minions, he offered no explanation, but instead intended to use the sword in his hand and the pride between his brows to challenge the arrogant aquatic dragons.

A feud has been brewing.

Finally, during a breakout encounter, Lü Dongbin's cultivation level surged.

"Bah!"

With a clear shout that shook the wilderness, the Pure Yang Sword suddenly transformed into a dazzling rainbow light that cleaved the heavens and the earth, and its overwhelming sword energy fiercely tore through the thick water curtain!

This sword strike not only instantly forced back the surging aquatic demon soldiers, but also instilled fear in them.

The indestructible sword, amidst the lightning-fast, breathtaking chaos of battle, swiftly swept across the neck of a dragon prince clad in heavy armor with dragon patterns, exuding a chilling aura—the eldest son of the Huai River Dragon King and the grandson of the Jing River Dragon King!

"Clang—crack!"

The sound of a sharp blade piercing through the sturdy dragon scale armor was deafening!
The eerie, blood-red, scalding dragon blood gushed forth like a spring, instantly staining the surrounding waters a blinding crimson!
The dragon prince, adorned with a jeweled golden crown, clad in heavy armor, and exceptionally fierce, hadn't even seen the sword's path before he felt a chill on his neck and was instantly decapitated!

"Your Highness!!!"

"The Dragon Prince... the Dragon Prince has fallen!!!"

A horrified scream exploded in the water, and countless sailors looked ashen-faced.

The eldest son of the Huai River Dragon King and the eldest grandson of the Jing River Dragon King actually perished at the hands of a mortal Taoist!

The stench soared to the heavens, and the underwater palace wept blood.

The crimson dragon blood that gushed into the Huai River was like a death pact signed between heaven and earth, with blood as ink and resentment as the contract!

This sword strike completely severed the last shred of hope.

From this moment on.

From this point on, a blood feud was formed between the Jinghe Dragon King lineage and the Pure Yang Sword Immortal!
……

Several months have passed in the blink of an eye.

In a secluded bamboo forest in the mountains, a stream murmurs.

Zhongli Quan stood with his hands behind his back.

When Lü Dongbin returned, his brows, while retaining his usual carefree spirit, now held a more profound and sharp quality, a result of the tempering of sword energy.

The master and disciple met again.

"Dongbin."

Zhongli Quan slowly turned around, a perfectly measured sigh etched on his face, his brows furrowed slightly, and he spoke with deep meaning:
"Although you killed that dragon prince with your sword to slay a demon, his status was noble. This act may have created a huge enmity with the Jinghe Dragon King's lineage."

"The Dragon Clan is a major clan in the Three Realms, united across the four seas, with deep roots throughout the Three Realms. Their vengeance may be endless..."

Zhongli Quan mentioned the fear of the Dragon Clan's revenge with feigned concern, his expression suggesting he was deeply worried about his disciple's future.

Lu Dongbin was wiping the blade of the Chunyang Sword when he heard this. He simply smiled nonchalantly and took a sip of his fine wine, seemingly unconcerned.
“Master, you are overthinking it. I slew that evil dragon to save the people from the flood.”

"I have acted uprightly and sat honestly, so what is there to fear?"

His sword-like eyebrows were slightly raised, revealing the untamed arrogance and unruliness inherent in the Pure Yang Immortal.

"Carry the three-foot sword in the box on your back, for the sky and to show that you are not fair!"

"The Tao is in your body, and righteous thoughts are in your heart."

"If we were to cower and hesitate because of a mere grudge against the dragon clan, wouldn't that be going against our true nature and losing our 'pure yang' essence?"

He stroked the gleaming spine of the sword, which seemed to respond, emitting a clear, resonant hum, its proud aura soaring to the heavens.
"Follow the natural way, do good deeds, and you will have a clear conscience. What are petty grudges and grievances worth mentioning?"

"Although the Dragon Clan is powerful, I, Chunyangzi, am no ordinary person. If they dare to invade, I will make sure they never return!"

After speaking, Lü Dongbin flicked his wrist, a flash of cold light, and the sword steadily returned to its ancient sword case.

Then, he casually hung the vermilion wine gourd, which exuded an enticing aroma, on the green sash around his waist, the jade clasp jingling softly.

Lü Dongbin turned his head, his gaze passing through the carved window lattice and landing on the distant Jianghuai towns that had returned to peace.

As dusk settled, countless lights began to twinkle, and the bustling city returned to its warm and peaceful state. A familiar, carefree smile, as if he were playing with the world, unconsciously crept onto his lips.

"The demonic aura here has been quelled, the turbid air has dissipated, and the people have regained some peace. Today..."

Lü Dongbin's gaze passed over the pavilions and eaves, and the twilight mist, landing on a distant place where the faint sounds of string and wind instruments, red sleeves swaying, and the subtle fragrance of perfume could be heard:
"Such a beautiful day and scenery, how can we let it go to waste?"

"Ah, let's drink a big toast! Master, this disciple will take his leave for now."

"Nothing to do today, I'll go to the brothel to listen to music and arrange flowers!" With a slight sway of his blue robe, his figure gracefully disappeared into the hustle and bustle of the mortal world, heading straight for the brothel.

Zhongli Quan stood still, watching his disciple's dashing and unrestrained figure gradually disappear into the distance, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"Hehehe..."

The afterglow of the setting sun cast unpredictable light and shadow on his face, but only a hidden, calculating, and cold arc quietly appeared on his face, lingering for a long time.

……

Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Deep within the Tushita Palace of the Heaven of Separation and Hatred.

The fire in the Eight Trigrams Furnace flickered, its brightness uncertain.

Laozi closed his eyes and lowered the curtain, seemingly unaware of the mortal realm below.

However, the causal relationships between heaven and earth, the gradually condensing and flickering Taoist fortune on the Eight Immortals of the Taoist sect, and the quietly planted Taoist seeds, are all clearly reflected in his "non-action" Taoist heart, which is devoid of sorrow or joy and sees through all things.

……

The old days.

In the vast celestial realm.

Then there were the Heavenly Incense Immortal (the previous incarnation of Tieguai Li, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism), the Flower-Directing Female Official (the previous incarnation of He Xiangu, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism), and the Palace Secretary (the previous incarnation of Han Xiangzi, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism)... all of whom were banished to the mortal realm.

The younger brother of the Barefoot Immortal, the "Hair-Draped Immortal," was the previous incarnation of Lan Caihe, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism, and was also banished to the mortal world...

……

During this time, Tieguai Li (Li Xuan) joined the clan of Laozi and became a descendant of Laozi's clan. Therefore, Li Xuan was accepted as a direct disciple by Laozi.

Even when Li Xuan was still an infant, Laozi had already instilled the true meaning of the Tao Te Ching into his heart, laying the foundation for his Taoist path.

Thereafter.

Laozi himself would often visit Li Xuan, giving him personal instructions and imparting to him the supreme Dao and its profound methods.

Laozi himself once took Li Xuan on a spiritual journey to the ethereal fairylands of Penglai and Fangzhang, broadening his horizons and deeply cultivating his Daoist foundation.

From enlightenment and the test of receiving the teachings, to the reshaping of his body and the bestowal of treasures to save the world... Li Xuan received meticulous guidance from Laozi.

Li Xuan was a descendant of Laozi's clan, sharing the same surname and lineage. He was also granted magical treasures and Taoist arts by Laozi and accepted as his direct disciple.

Therefore, Li Xuan was ranked first among the Eight Immortals of the Taoist sect.

Laozi devoted himself to cultivating Li Xuan into the future leader of the Eight Immortals of Taoism.

……

At the beginning of the chaos, there was a white bat spirit with a long lifespan, who "lived old but did not die," which suited Laozi's wishes, so he was taken in as a disciple of the Taoist sect.

……

Lü Dongbin, a disciple of Zhongli Quan, wanders through the mortal world and shoulders the mission of guiding fellow Daoists such as He Xiangu and Han Xiangzi to embark on the path to immortality...

……

All these upheavals and opportunities were orchestrated by the Supreme Dao Ancestor behind the scenes, who was described as "quiet and inactive, yet capable of doing everything."

The Heaven of Separation and Sorrow beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Laozi, the Supreme Lord, silently observed all of this happening and developing from the tranquil Tushita Palace.

Looking back through the Three Realms, the rise and fall of Taoism is like the ebb and flow of the tide, vividly clear before our eyes.

In the past, the three schools of Taoism—Chan, Jie, and Ren—were one family, sharing the same spirit and flourishing.

As the saying goes, "Red flowers, white lotus roots, and green lotus leaves—the three religions are originally one family."

Whether it's the Chan Sect, the Jie Sect, or the Ren Sect, they are all Taoist sects and belong to the Taiyi Xuanmen.

The Three Pure Ones, the founders of the three religions, were also transformed from three pure energies; they all share the same origin.

However, since the Investiture of the Gods, the fortunes of Taoism have fluctuated wildly.

The Jie Sect of Taoism was thus destroyed, its past glory vanishing like a dream.

In the lower realm, the lineage of the Jie Sect was almost completely severed, with only a few fragments remaining.

After the Investiture of the Gods.

The teachings also underwent changes.

The Twelve Golden Immortals of the Jade Void Sect either abandoned Taoism for Buddhism, heading west to seek the Dharma and find a new path...

Perhaps fearing the malevolent energy of the mortal world and the prospect of further bloodshed, he secluded himself in the deep mountains to cultivate diligently, vowing to sever his three corpses in order to transcend worldly suffering...

The Chan sect was gradually declining, and its members were few and far between.

Two dogs fight, play off.

Western Buddhism, acting as the "fisherman," ultimately profited and rose to prominence.

Today, the spread of Buddhism from the West to the East is powerful and sweeping across the land.

As for human education, although it adheres to the concept of non-interference and follows the way of heaven, it does not forcibly interfere with worldly disturbances.

However, with the extinction of the Jie Sect and the disappearance of the Chan Sect, the heavy responsibility of maintaining the orthodox tradition of Taoism ultimately fell on the shoulders of the Ren Sect.

The Tao follows the natural way and governs through non-action, but it still needs someone to inherit and carry it forward in order to continue the lineage of the Tao.

Without someone to pass on the teachings, even the most exquisite Taoist methods will be like a tree without roots or water without a source, eventually drying up, and the Taoist school will gradually decline.

Now, the Three Pure Ones have all transcended the Three Realms and are living freely in the unknowable realm.

And he, Laozi, became the universally recognized "Supreme Ancestor of Taoism" in the Three Realms, firmly sitting in the position of the leader of Taoism in the Three Realms.

In the Three Realms, the Taoist sect reveres him, honoring him as the "Supreme Ancestor of Taoism." He also needs to devise plans for the Taoist sect to ensure its continued prosperity.

……

As the "Taoist Ancestor" of the Three Realms, Laozi (Taishang Laojun) deeply felt the crisis of the Taoism lineage. Therefore, he opened the gates of the Human Sect and widely accepted disciples, intending to revitalize the Taoist tradition in the human world and promote the Taoist teachings.

He had long harbored a plan, intending to use the image of the "Eight Immortals" to express the idea that "all living beings can become immortals."

Laozi (the Supreme Lord Lao) devised eight symbols representing "male, female, old, young, rich, noble, poor, and lowly," allowing them to experience the myriad aspects of the mortal world, attain enlightenment, and become immortals, thus proclaiming to all beings in the Three Realms:

"Throughout the Three Realms and Six Paths, all sentient beings, regardless of their birth, social status, gender, age, wealth, or poverty, as long as they harbor a sincere heart devoted to the Dao, can enter my Daoist school and seek the path to immortality when the opportunity arises!"

This seed of belief that "the Tao can be learned and immortality can be attained" will be sown across the earth along with the story of the Eight Immortals of the Human Teachings, taking root and sprouting.

This is the fundamental strategy for ensuring the long-term continuation of the Taoist tradition and the endless burning of incense.

……

Today, the fortunes of the Eight Immortals have gradually returned to their rightful places. Each of them has gone through numerous tribulations and tribulations, manifesting their divine powers and spreading the Daoist teachings in the human world.

As for the Western Sea Dragon Clan...

Heaven and earth are not benevolent, and all things are dogs.

The sage is not benevolent; he regards all living beings as ants.

……

This day.

Inside the brothel, in the embroidered chamber, the warm curtains hung low, concealing the enchanting scenery within.

The incense burns quietly in the golden beast-shaped incense burner, its wisps of smoke rising slowly and eventually dissipating into nothingness.

The scent of orchids and musk floated silently, permeating the air.

Inside the boudoir, the spring night was fleeting; after several rounds of passionate lovemaking, their souls softened and their bones went limp, indulging in the greatest pleasures of the world.

Outside the window, the sky was already beginning to lighten, about to break the dawn.

Inside, the red candle had burned out and turned to ashes.

(End of this chapter)