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

Chapter 600 Joining Forces to Slay the God
"Anyone who dares to stop me, I will tear them to pieces!"

Say it.

The crimson dragon aura surrounding the Qiantang Dragon King surged like a volcanic eruption, causing the water inside the palace to violently tremble and emit a hissing sound as if it could not bear the weight!
The once calm 800-li Dongting Lake suddenly became turbulent.

Seeing the Dragon King of Qiantang turn around, about to transform into a streak of crimson light, break through the palace gate, and soar into the sky.

Upon seeing this, the Dragon King of Dongting was terrified, his soul nearly leaving his body!

He no longer cared about saving face or maintaining his dignity; he rushed forward, grabbed the sleeve of the Qiantang Dragon King's robe tightly, and shouted:

"Second brother! Wait! Wait! You must not act rashly!"

"Have you forgotten your current predicament?!"

"Back then, you were incredibly powerful and received divine favor, being appointed as the 'Yellow River Dragon King' and the 'Four Rivers Dragon God,' enjoying immense glory."

"However, in the past, because of your violent nature and reckless actions, you caused a great flood on the banks of the Yellow River, and had a fierce battle with the Great Sage King Yu, thus creating a great karmic debt!"

"Later, the heavens were enraged and you were demoted to the title of 'Dragon King of the Wei River.' All your past glory has vanished like smoke."

……

The Wei River is the largest tributary of the Yellow River.

The Jing River is the largest tributary of the Wei River.

The Jing River and the Wei River converge in the Chang'an area, forming the natural wonder of "clear separation between the two rivers".

The Book of Songs records: "The Jing River is muddy because of the Wei River, yet it flows smoothly."

According to the Old Book of Tang, Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, once killed a white horse and made the "Alliance of the Wei River" with the Turkic Khan outside Chang'an.

……

The status of a city changes; the capital city was the most prestigious in each dynasty.

Correspondingly, the status of the river also changes, with periods of rise and fall, each with its own time.

……

In the past, during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the area around Chang'an was not yet a true imperial capital; its prosperity and prestige were not yet apparent.

Later, the Qin Dynasty swept across the land, unified the Central Plains, and established its capital in Xianyang, where Xianyang began to show its power and influence. (Chang'an and Xianyang are adjacent, not far apart.)
The "Great Han Empire," building upon the foundation laid by the Qin Dynasty, established its capital in Chang'an, near Xianyang, ushering in a glorious era for Chang'an.

The Tang Dynasty also made Chang'an its capital, making it the center of the world at that time, extremely prosperous and unparalleled in history.

……

From then on, Chang'an became the capital of thirteen dynasties, with a total duration of over a thousand years.

As recorded in the original text of "Journey to the West":

"Chang'an, the capital of Shaanxi, is the place where emperors of all dynasties established their capitals. Since the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties, the three prefectures have been adorned with flowers, and eight rivers flow around the city."

Chang'an gradually became the capital city of emperors.

The Jing River, Wei River, Feng River, Ba River, and other "Eight Rivers of Chang'an" were the moats protecting the imperial capital of Chang'an and were known as the "water veins of the capital".

The status of the Eight Rivers of Chang'an rose dramatically, becoming one with the Four Rivers (Yellow River, Yangtze River, Huai River, and Ji River), collectively known as the "Eight Rivers and Four Rivers".

However, tracing back to the past, before the Qin Dynasty.

The area around Chang'an was not yet a place where emperors established their capitals.

The Jinghe River is of average importance, being merely a tributary of the Weihe River, a tributary of the Yellow River.

That is, the Jing River is a tributary of the Yellow River.

At that time, the previous Jing River Dragon Kings were not particularly distinguished, and their status was far inferior to that of the Yellow River Dragon King, the four major river dragon kings. They could only work silently in one body of water and had little to show for it.

But the "current" Jinghe Dragon King has married a good wife.

This wife was no ordinary person; she was the younger sister of the Dragon King of the West Sea.

From then on, the Dragon King of the West Sea became the brother-in-law of the Dragon King of the Jing River.

From then on, the Dragon King of the West Sea and the Dragon King of the Jing River became related by marriage. The Dragon King of the West Sea naturally became the brother-in-law of the Dragon King of the Jing River, and the two families formed a close and intertwined relationship.

The world of Journey to the West is a world of relationships.

In the world of Journey to the West, you have to consider background and connections; personal effort alone is useless.

With such a powerful ally as the Dragon King of the West Sea.

The fate of the Jinghe Dragon King was also completely transformed.

From then on, the current Jinghe Dragon King, relying on his "nepotism" with the West Sea Dragon King, was able to rise through the ranks among the aquatic creatures, eventually taking control of all eight rivers of Chang'an, including the Jinghe, Weihe, Fengshui, and Bashui rivers. He became the supreme ruler of the waterways of the capital city of Chang'an, and was awe-inspiring and invincible.

Furthermore, under the meticulous planning of the Dragon King of the West Sea.

The sons of the Jinghe Dragon King and the sister of the West Sea Dragon King, namely the West Sea Dragon King's nephews, directly ascended to the positions of Dragon God of the four major rivers: the Yangtze River Dragon King, the Yellow River Dragon King, the Huai River Dragon King, and the Ji River Dragon King. Their power and influence were unparalleled for a time.

At this moment.

The dragon gods of the Yangtze River, Yellow River, Huai River, and Ji River are all sons of the Jing River Dragon King.

The Dragon King of the West Sea is the brother-in-law of the Dragon King of the Jing River.

The Jinghe Dragon King also controlled the waterways of the eight rivers in Chang'an, making him incredibly powerful and influential, a true overlord among the aquatic creatures.

……

However, the previous Dragon Kings of the Jing River, Wei River, and other eight rivers in Chang'an did not have a "brother-in-law" like the Dragon King of the West Sea, nor did they have any kinship ties with the Dragon King of the West Sea.

At that time, Chang'an was not the capital city, and had not even been established yet.

Therefore, at that time, the Dragon Kings of the eight rivers in Chang'an, such as the Jing River and the Wei River, did not actually hold a very high status.

……

The Dragon King of Dongting Lake gripped the sleeve of the Dragon King of Qiantang Lake tightly, earnestly advising him:

“My dear brother, after you were demoted to the ‘Dragon King of the Wei River,’ you should have been content with your lot and devoted yourself to cultivation to atone for your past sins.”

"However, you were at odds with the Heavenly Generals, and in the midst of the battle, you made a mistake and accidentally injured one of them."

"If it weren't for my brother's tireless efforts to plead for you back then, you wouldn't be alive today."

"Now! You have been banished by the Heavenly Court, your dragon horns have been cut off, your dragon scales have been stripped off, and you have been banished to the bottom of the Qiantang River to reflect on your sins. You are now a sinner with no hope of redemption."

"The Heavenly decree still rings in your ears. You must remember this lesson and never act recklessly again!"

"And the Dragon King of the Ji River is one of the four great dragon gods, in charge of the Ji River, and holds a lofty position!"

"Then the Jing River Dragon King is even more powerful, serving as the chief administrator of the eight rivers and the rain-controlling dragon god officially appointed by the Heavenly Court!"

"They are all righteous gods appointed by the Heavenly Court, holding positions in the Heavenly Court's Water Department, and their influence is deeply entrenched!"

"We are merely dragon kings from the lower realm."

"If you act impulsively and kill the Jinghe Dragon King or his son, you will commit a heinous crime of murder, which is tantamount to treason!"

"At that time, the Heavenly Court will be enraged and unleash its mighty thunder."

"The heavenly soldiers and generals will arrive in an instant; how could we spare you?"

"This is nothing more than a momentary pleasure."

"At that time... not only could I not save Qiongzhi, but I also needlessly lost your life!"

The Dragon King of Qiantang was held back by his elder brother, and his furious dragon aura almost overturned the side hall.

He suddenly swung his arm, and the immense force was like a tidal wave, almost knocking the Dragon King of Dongting to the ground.

The Dragon King of Qiantang, his eyes bloodshot like those of a ferocious beast ready to devour its prey, glared at his elder brother and roared:
"Brother! Don't mention these things anymore! That's just my personality!"

"Kindness must be repaid, and grudges must be avenged!"

"I only know that if I don't vent this anger, I'll be unworthy of being Qiongzhi's uncle! I can't bear to see my own niece suffer such a humiliating disgrace; I'd rather be dead!"

"Who cares about any Heavenly Gods! Who cares about any Rain-Controlling Dragon God!"

"Today I will storm the Dragon Palace of the Ji River and tear that beast apart with my own hands! I will avenge my niece Qiongzhi and seek justice for her blood debt!"

"At worst, we'll all perish together!"

Even if I'm shattered to pieces, I'll drag them down with me!

Before he finished speaking, he broke free from the Dragon King of Dongting Lake's grasp, turned around abruptly, and faced Lü Dongbin, who was standing quietly to the side.

Despite his burning rage, the Dragon King of Qiantang suppressed his fury, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and though his tone was extremely angry, it carried a rare hint of solemnity and gratitude:

"Master Lü! My niece Qiongzhi has suffered greatly this time, being abused in every way by that heartless scoundrel." "Thanks to your compassion and righteous words, you brought this heartbreaking news of the suffering of our dear relative from afar!"

"I, the Dragon King of Qiantang, will forever remember this noble act and this kindness! If you ever need my help in the future, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Before he finished speaking, the violent aura that Qiantang Dragon King had been accumulating around him had reached its peak!
"Whoosh-!"

A deafening dragon roar suddenly exploded from the depths of his throat!
In an instant, it was as if the sky had collapsed and the earth had split open inside the side hall!
The entire Dongting Dragon Palace trembled violently, its crystal walls buzzing, and countless pearls and jades inlaid on it fell down, striking the smooth ground with a continuous tinkling sound.

Thick, almost tangible, crimson clouds, mixed with destructive dragon breath, surged from the seven orifices of the Qiantang King, shooting straight to the dome!
"Boom!"

"Boom!"

……

A blinding crimson light instantly enveloped the side hall, and thick bolts of lightning appeared out of thin air, with electric snakes dancing wildly and deafening crackling sounds. An aura of destruction permeated the surrounding area!
At the core of this world-destroying phenomenon, a phantom of a giant crimson dragon, over a thousand feet tall and exuding a fierce and awe-inspiring aura, suddenly appeared!

This giant dragon has crimson scales that bristle like blades, and its fiery mane flies wildly, stirring up a raging storm!
Its dragon eyes were like two bolts of blood-red lightning that ripped the sky, and its scarlet giant tongue flickered in and out, emitting a scorching, heaven-burning breath.

Its broken dragon horn adds to its ferocious and violent aura.

However, its enormous, thousand-foot-long dragon body was tightly bound by several "dragon-locking chains" as thick as palace pillars and flowing with ancient Taoist inscriptions.

This boundless ferocity, burning away the flames of anger, wrapped in countless thunderbolts and lightning bolts, was poised to break free of its shackles, burst forth from the Dragon Palace, and rush straight towards the Ji River!

The entire vast Dongting Lake area, and even the surrounding eight hundred miles of misty waters, trembled in fear under the wrath of the Qiantang Dragon King!
The Black Dragon of the North belongs to the Water element.

The Azure Dragon of the East belongs to the element of wood.

The White Dragon of the West belongs to the metal element.

The Southern Red Dragon belongs to the element of fire.

The crimson dragon before us corresponds to the fire element of the south, representing the power of destruction and explosion!

However, the dragon has nine sons, and each of them is different.

What exactly are the offspring of a dragon?
Before the baby is born, it's really unclear.

Sun Wukong once asked the Dragon King of the West Sea with a surprised look:
"How many brothers-in-law does your sister have?"

"How could a monogamous marriage produce so many bastards?"

The Dragon King of the West Sea replied to Sun Wukong:
"Dragons have nine kinds, and each kind is different."

……

Just as this thousand-foot-long crimson dragon was about to break through the sky and disappear...

"Qiantang Dragon King, please calm your thunderous rage and listen to what this humble Taoist has to say."

Lü Dongbin's clear and melodious voice pierced through the thunder and rang out clearly.

His gaze was like lightning, fixed on the huge crimson dragon's eye, but a flash of inspiration struck him!
I just heard that the Dragon King of Qiantang was the former Dragon King of the Yellow River and the Dragon King of the Wei River...

The power shifts, the changes in Chang'an's waterways... a vague yet extremely bold idea instantly took shape in his mind!

The Dragon King of Qiantang, with his enormous eyes like a lava lake, suddenly turned to Lü Dongbin, his raging fury slightly subsiding, revealing a questioning intent:

"Master Lü, what do you have to say?"

The crimson dragon hovered in the surging water, its overwhelming power undiminished, awaiting only an answer from Lü Dongbin.

Master Lü faced the dragon's might, which could burn mountains and boil seas, with a calm and composed expression, his robes fluttering slightly in the turbulent energy flow.

He spoke loudly:

"Every word the Dragon King of Dongting just said is true!"

"The current Jinghe Dragon King is indeed a righteous god appointed by the Heavenly Court. He holds a high position and great power, and his foundation is deep. His power is not to be underestimated. It would be unwise for a wise man to confront him rashly."

His tone shifted, and a cold glint suddenly appeared in his eyes:

"However, to be honest, Lord Qiantang, I also have an irreconcilable blood feud with the Jinghe Dragon King's lineage!"

"In the past, when I slew the dragon in the Jianghuai region, I also killed its wicked grandson..."

"This is a blood feud, an irreconcilable enmity, and cannot be resolved amicably!"

"The Jinghe Dragon King's lineage has also hunted me down many times."

Lu Dongbin's voice was resolute, and a soaring sword aura faintly emanated from his body. Although it was not released outwards, it caused the raging red dragon's aura to freeze.

"but."

Lü Dongbin said:

“This enmity runs deep, but ‘slaying the god’ is no easy task.”

"The body of a righteous god in the Heavenly Court is the greatest talisman for the Jinghe Dragon King. In the past, I was weak and alone, and could only temporarily avoid his attack."

"But..."

A confident yet chilling smile played on his lips as his gaze swept over the Dragon King of Dongting and the Dragon King of Qiantang before him:

"Times have changed! I am no longer alone!"

"We, the Eight Immortals of Taoism, have returned to our positions, each displaying our unique abilities, and united as one. We are now fully capable of challenging the Jing River Dragon King's lineage to a duel!"

Lü Dongbin paused, looking at the body of the Lord of Qiantang, which was filled with destructive power:

"Besides, there are countless paths to justice; why must we be bound by the need for violence to punish evil and uphold justice?"

"We haven't reached the final step yet, why must we fight to the bitter end?"

"If the Dragon Lord were to act rashly and seek only momentary pleasure, not only would he fail to save Princess Qiongzhi from her plight, but he would also endanger his own life and the lives of countless beings in the Dongting Lake! This is something a wise man would not do!"

"I still have some fellow Daoists, each with their own supernatural abilities and extraordinary wisdom."

"Why not summon them together, gather them in one place, and devise a foolproof plan to join forces and slay the god!"

"We must not only rescue Princess Qiongzhi from her predicament and avenge this great injustice, but also... completely sever our long-standing grudge with the Jinghe Dragon Clan! We must accomplish this in one battle!"

"Slay this Heavenly Rain God in one fell swoop."

These words were like a thunderclap, a wake-up call!
The enormous, mountain-like phantom of the Qiantang Dragon King paused slightly amidst the surging waters and chaotic lightning.

The raging, unparalleled ferocity seemed to be stirred by the profound foresight contained in these words and the overwhelming momentum of "the Eight Immortals joining forces to slay the Dragon God".

The enormous dragon eyes stared at Lü Dongbin, and a trace of thought and consideration gradually seeped into the depths of its burning anger.

"good!"

After a moment of silence, the Qiantang Dragon King finally uttered a single word as powerful as thunder from its enormous mouth.

The crimson light flashed violently, and the enormous dragon body quickly withdrew its world-destroying aura like the receding tide. The violent energy surged back and finally manifested as a human form.

Lü Dongbin nodded, his gaze sweeping over the Dragon King and his wife of Dongting Lake and the Dragon King of Qiantang Lake, and resolutely said:
"The most urgent task is to pool everyone's wisdom and devise a comprehensive plan."

"I will now send a message to my seven fellow Daoists, instructing them to come to Yueyang Tower immediately to discuss the important matter of dealing with the Jinghe Dragon King's lineage!"

Now that things have come to this point, the situation is clear.

"I am willing to listen to the strategies of the Pure Yang Immortal."

Qiantang Longjun spoke firmly, choosing to trust.

The Dragon King and Dragon Queen of Dongting exchanged a glance, both seeing in each other's eyes a burning determination and a resolute will to fight to the death.

Their daughter's tearful accusations, their younger brother's rage, the humiliation suffered by the Dongting aquatic tribes, and Lü Dongbin's displayed wisdom and strength... left them no choice but to back down.

Even oxen have the instinct to lick their calves.

Even a tiger, though fierce, will not eat its cubs.

Parents will go through fire and water for their children.

When their children are in trouble, they will naturally do everything in their power to help them.

The Dragon King of Dongting Lake took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing all the fear in his heart, and said in a deep voice:

"This matter concerns the life of my daughter, and even more so the survival of my Dongting lineage. As Qiongzhi's father, how can I stand idly by and do nothing?"

"I will follow your advice, Master! I am willing to exert all the power of Dongting Lake to save my daughter from this sea of ​​suffering!"

Upon hearing this, the Dragon Queen of Dongting nodded emphatically, tears glistening in her eyes, as if she had a thousand words to say, but they all boiled down to one resolute statement:

"I agree! I will do everything in my power to save my daughter, avenge the humiliation of Dongting Lake, and make the Jinghe Dragon King's lineage pay the price!"

(End of this chapter)