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

Chapter 615 The Immortals Gather at Yellow Crane Tower

"The one who burned down the temple and killed people is Ao Lie of the Western Sea!"

Several large, blood-red characters, menacing and glaring, are blatantly imprinted on the ruins of the Lüzu Temple!

Do it all.

A fierce glint flashed in Ao Lie's (White Dragon Horse) eyes as he took out the "death contract" written by the West Sea Dragon King himself, which exuded a bloodthirsty aura.

He used his magic to firmly affix it below those provocative words!

Since then.

The Dragon Clan of the Western Sea formally issued a life-or-death pledge to the Eight Immortals of Taoism, vowing to fight a decisive battle in the Western Sea.

This battle will determine not only who is superior, but also who lives or dies.

"Eight Immortals of the Daoist School, if you have the courage, come and accept this challenge!"

"Three months later, on the Western Sea, the azure waves will become a platform!"

"The two sides will fight to the death in the Western Sea, with heaven and earth as witnesses, and life and death in the hands of fate!"

Ao Lie roared at the ruined temple and the terrified crowd. The roar was powerful and full of dragon might, which made everyone's hearts tremble.

Among the onlookers.

An elderly man with white hair and beard, leaning on a cane, suddenly knelt down on the ground with a thud.

He gazed at the faintly visible fragments of Lü Dongbin's golden statue amidst the ruins, and the murdered temple keeper, and pleaded tremblingly:

"Prince of the West Sea Dragon, please calm your anger... The battle between immortals is of unpredictable divine power. Please have mercy and spare the innocent lives of this place!"

This old man is none other than the Jiangxia Earth God who guards this place.

"Heh heh heh, innocent lives?"

"We dragons work hard and diligently every year, bringing rain and clouds to ensure that the four continents have favorable weather."

"This gate was used by the Eight Immortals to kill, luring my young dragon son to flood Chang'an, drowning countless innocent lives."

"When they were harming people behind their backs, did they ever think of these innocent lives?"

"This was all the work of the Eight Immortals of Taoism, yet they try to distance themselves from it and slander us behind our backs."

"Hehehe, whether it's eating people behind their backs or eating people to their faces, isn't it still eating people?"

"It's just that they eat people in a more respectable way. What's the difference?"

Ao Lie sneered:
“When I look at the scriptures and books written by people in this world, I see the words ‘benevolence, righteousness, morality’ written on every page.”

I used to think that everyone in this world valued benevolence and morality.

"But it took me a long time to read it before I could make out the words between the lines. The whole book was filled with the words 'cannibalism'!"

"The so-called 'Eight Immortals of Taoism' who claim to 'save the world and save people' are nothing but a bunch of hypocritical scoundrels who harm others behind their backs!"

"What kind of uprightness is this? They're all just secretly devouring people behind the scenes!"

"What benevolence and morality? They've just changed the way they eat people, and they've found a high-sounding excuse to do so. That's the truth!"

"They harbor grudges, yet claim to be upright and honorable, while secretly plotting against each other?"

"Heh heh heh, is this their way?"

"Do you dare to fight openly and fairly?"

A fierce glint flashed in Ao Lie's eyes, and he slightly moved the sword in his hand.

A bright, swift sword light tore through the air and instantly sliced ​​across the top of the Earth God's head.

"bass!"

With a soft sound, the crown on the Earth God's hair bun broke in two and fell into the dust.

Ao Lie's sword tip flashed coldly, precisely lifting the broken half of the crown and placing it before the Earth God. He then sneered:
"Earth God? Since you are the Yin God of this place, you can pass on my message to the Eight Immortals of the Taoist sect!"

"We'll meet in the Western Sea in a month! If, by then... those cowards dare not keep their promise..."

"Let all their other temples and shrines... just like your crown! Just like this temple! Turn to rubble!"

immediately.

Ao Lie (White Dragon Horse) suddenly flicked his sleeves, and water vapor rose and churned around him!

The hundreds of elite "Raging Wave Guards" from the Western Sea, clad in heavy black armor and wielding water-splitting halberds, also transformed into streaks of deep blue water.

"boom!"

A dazzling, enormous column of water light shot into the sky, tearing through the low-hanging, leaden-gray clouds.

Amidst the shimmering water.

A lithe and majestic phantom of a "white dragon" is clearly visible.

The white dragon tumbled and leaped in the heavens, then vanished into the vast sky in an instant.

On the ground, only the charred ruins of the temple still smoldered, and fragments of the golden statue of Lu Zu twisted and deformed by the dragon's flames remained...

The seven shocking blood-red characters on the wall, below which lay a death sign radiating chilling murderous intent…

And the decapitated body of a temple keeper.
The air was filled with a pungent smell of burning and blood, a mixture that made people want to vomit.

The onlookers were already pale with fright, and some of the more timid ones even fainted.

Many more knelt on the ground, trembling and muttering:

"Please, Dragon God, calm your anger!"

"River God, please calm your anger!"

"We...we will return and offer many young boys and girls as sacrifices! We only beg the river god to spare our lives..."

……

It was almost the same moment that Ao Lie (the White Dragon Horse) set fire to the temple.

In the land of Jingchu, thousands of miles away, there is a secluded and blessed place in the mountains and streams, imbued with spiritual energy.

The mountains were layered with verdant peaks, and waterfalls cascaded down like silver ribbons into deep pools, their spray creating a misty haze.

The ethereal aura, like a thin veil, lingers among exotic flowers, rare herbs, and ancient trees, creating a serene and tranquil scene.

On the bluestone platform.

A man in a flowing blue robe was sitting cross-legged.

This person was none other than Chunyang Zhenren – “Lü Dongbin”.

Lu Dongbin, dressed in a simple blue robe, looked serene and peaceful, holding a white jade teacup, about to sip the sweet dew condensed from the essence of heaven and earth.

suddenly.

Without warning, the white jade cup cracked open with a sharp "crack," and the tea inside churned violently, spilling onto his sleeve and leaving a dark water stain.

A sudden, intense pang of fear gripped his heart, as if an invisible hand had seized it, and something intimately connected to him was about to suffer a devastating blow.

"Ok?"

Lü Dongbin, with his pure Yang Daoist mind clear and bright, instantly sensed something.

"This is……"

Lü Dongbin frowned slightly, and his clear gaze suddenly became sharp as lightning, piercing through the void and casting a distant shot towards the Yellow Crane Tower.

His divine sense flashed onto the broken and collapsed body of Lü Zujin.

Lu Zu's golden body suddenly opened its eyes.

Through the incomplete golden statue of Lü Zu, Lü Dongbin was able to glimpse the scenery to the side.

The Lüzu Temple next to the Yellow Crane Tower, once a place where believers gathered, incense burned brightly, and the foundation of their spiritual practice was concentrated, has now been reduced to a raging inferno!
The devout messenger he personally guided and entrusted with temple affairs—the old temple keeper—has already been decapitated and lies stiff in a pool of blood!
The golden statue that the local people had worshipped for many years is now crumbling and collapsing in the flames of the white dragon.

An important temple for worship and spiritual practice that he had established in the human world was completely burned down!
Even the temple keeper was killed.

“So brave!!!”

With a furious shout, the birds flying in the mountain stream scattered in fright.

"How dare you burn down my incense-burning shrine and kill my temple keeper!"

Even with his calm and composed Daoist heart, Lü Dongbin couldn't help but let out a low shout at this moment, and a powerful sword intent emanated from the sword box behind him.

"Zheng! Zheng! Zheng!"

Three sharp sword energies shot out of the box uncontrollably.

Three ancient pines, each as thick as a person could hug and with lush foliage, were cleaved in half by the sword energy that swept through the air!

"Kachacha..."

"Kachacha..."

Even the blue stone cushion and stone platform beneath his feet cracked inch by inch under the impact of the overwhelming force, spreading out dense cracks like a spider web!
This is a blatant insult! It is also a provocation against the Chunyang lineage!
If this grudge is not avenged, how can I face the Chunyang Sword in my hand? How can I face the thousands of believers who follow the Chunyang lineage?

"Heaven and earth are boundless, the universe borrows its power! The Supreme Lord Laozi hasten your wish!"

Lü Dongbin quickly calculated with his fingers, only to find that the secrets of heaven were unclear and chaotic. He only knew that the source was in the Western Sea, and that the malice was boundless.

"The Eight Immortals must gather; there is no time to lose!"

Lü Dongbin was furious. He suddenly stood up, his green robe fluttering without wind, and his body was surrounded by sword energy that seemed to be real.

Then, Lü Dongbin transformed into a streak of light and instantly vanished into the sky, urgently summoning the other seven immortals!

……

A few days later.

Tieguai Li, He Xiangu, Zhang Guolao, Zhongli Quan, Lan Caihe, Han Xiangzi, and the other eight Taoist immortals received Lü Dongbin's urgent message, which was filled with the rage of the heavens. They gathered at the Yellow Crane Tower from their Taoist temples, caves, and places of travel thousands of miles away.

The immortals stood by the railing, gazing into the distance.

It is a time of clear skies and crisp autumn air.

The Yangtze River flows mightily and boundlessly, its waves surging and roaring like a deep thunderclap.

On the river, thousands of sails race, water birds circle, and in the distance, where the water meets the sky, a lone sail slowly disappears into the blue sky.

This should have been a celestial paradise that refreshes the mind and soothes the soul.

But at this moment.

Inside the pavilion, however, the atmosphere was unusually heavy.

Lü Dongbin stood with his hands behind his back, his face gloomy and his eyes sharp.

Behind him, Tieguai Li leaned on his dragon-patterned iron staff, Zhongli Quan gently waved his banana leaf fan, He Xiangu held a lotus flower, Zhang Guolao rode a donkey backwards, Han Xiangzi played his jade flute, Lan Caihe carried a flower basket, and Cao Jingxiu held a jade tablet—the seven immortals had different expressions, but all of them exuded a solemn and murderous aura.

All eyes were on Lü Dongbin, who stood by the window overlooking the river.

Lu Dongbin stared at the words "The one who burned the temple and killed people was Ao Lie of the Western Sea" on the ruins of the Lu Zu Temple, and at the temple keeper who had been killed. He was furious and his aura was violent.

The anger of being desecrated and provoked, though not yet erupted, was like an undercurrent surging.

This secretly alarmed those who knew him, such as Tieguai Li (Li Xuan) and He Xiangu.

"This……"

He Xiangu moved gracefully to the window beside Lü Dongbin, gazing at the shocking and devastating ruins. Her beautiful and ethereal face was filled with disbelief, heartache, and shock.

He Xiangu's voice trembled slightly as she spoke:
“Brother Lü…this place…this is the foundation that our Daoist sect has painstakingly cultivated in the Jingchu region for many years!”

"This is the key place for us to spread the Tao in the human world!"

"The power of incense and prayer contained within it is immense!"

"The Western Sea Dragon Clan... how dare they be so heartless and insane as to burn the temple to the ground?"

"They're even targeting golden statues of deities and temple priests! This...this is practically severing the very foundation of our Taoist lineage in the human world!"

After speaking, He Xiangu frowned slightly and said with regret:
“If this continues, ordinary people will see that our Taoist sect cannot even protect its own temples and temple keeper. Who will still believe in us?”

"The prestige and influence of the Taoist sect will surely be greatly damaged!"

Upon hearing this, the immortals stared at the large characters that read, "The one who burned the temple and killed people is Ao Lie of the Western Sea," and remained silent, each pondering their own countermeasures.

Without him.

Behind this blatant provocation stands someone no ordinary person!
The attitude of Ao Lie, the third prince of the Jade Dragon King of the West Sea, represents the attitude of the West Sea Dragon King.

Ao Run, the Dragon King of the West Sea, is the lord of the West Sea.

That is the Four Seas Dragon God, who rules over a vast and boundless sea, commands thousands of ferocious aquatic creatures, holds the power to control clouds and rain, and is officially appointed by the Heavenly Court, holding a position equivalent to a regional governor!

The West Sea Dragon King Ao Run was far superior to the "Jing River Dragon King" who was tricked and killed by them!
The West Sea Dragon King Ao Run's profound cultivation of water magic over countless years, his important position in the Heavenly Court's water department system, the vastness of his sphere of influence, the formidable fighting power of his aquatic tribes, and even his subtle connection with the fortune of the human dynasty's "True Dragon Emperor"... all far surpass the ordinary demon kings and earth immortals that everyone has faced!

"Fellow Daoists."

Lü Dongbin broke the silence and said in a deep voice:

"These Western Sea Dragon Clan! How dare they burn down the incense and Taoist temple of my Chunyangzi! Kill my Chunyangzi's devout envoy and temple keeper! Judging from their actions, they must already know about our 'trap of the Jing River Dragon King' that day! They have come here to seek revenge!"

"Their actions are undoubtedly a declaration of war against us, the Eight Immortals!"

Zhang Guolao stroked his beard and slowly said:

"That's weird! That's weird!"

He was the first to voice the biggest question in everyone's mind:

“Our plan to harm the Jing River Dragon King is meticulously crafted, and we believe that no one knows the secrets behind it.”

"Even if we take a step back and assume that some clues are leaked, they should be as obscured as the moon in the clouds, making them difficult to discern."

"How did the Dragon King of the West Sea know that this was our doing?"

"They even went so far as to burn temples, kill people, and sign a life-or-death pact with such ruthless determination and no room for compromise?"

"There must be something fishy going on behind this! Could it be that someone..."

At this point, Zhang Guolao suddenly stopped, subconsciously scanning each fellow Daoist present with some inquiry and doubt in his eyes.

Zhongli Quan was leaning against the vermilion railing, gently waving the "Post-Heaven Banana Leaf Fan" in his hand that could summon the Six Ding Divine Fire, his usual bold smile gone.

He did not respond to Zhang Guolao's question, but simply gazed at the vast expanse of the river, as if admiring the scenery, but there was a subtle, almost imperceptible tremor in the depths of his eyes.

"Ok?"

Tieguai Li (Li Xuan) frowned slightly and looked at Zhongli Quan.

He originally went to Chang'an with Zhongli Quan, and the two of them jointly orchestrated the plan and schemes to plot against the Jinghe Dragon King.

The plot to harm the Dragon King of the Jing River was either leaked by him or by Zhongli Quan.

At this moment.

"Zhong Liquan..."

Li Xuanmo used the Taiqing Daoist method, and the Taiqing Daoist rhythm flowed from his spiritual platform and through his ten fingers.

His ten fingers instantly emitted a clear, jade-like light. Li Xuan swiftly manipulated the Supreme Purity Dao Technique, attempting to glimpse a trace of the truth amidst the chaotic fog of heavenly secrets.

In the blink of an eye, Daoist principles flowed from his fingertips, and the causal lines before his eyes were as tangled as a tangled mess, rushing past!

In the chaotic mist of celestial secrets, which was severely disturbed by external forces, he managed to forcefully pierce through a clear thread with his extremely high cultivation!

The source of the deduction points to the most crucial causal thread—which faintly points to… Zhongli Quan beside him!
Moreover, it seems that there is a long-standing grudge between Zhongli Quan and the West Sea Dragon Palace that has been buried for a long time and is unknown to everyone!
A sudden realization illuminated Li Xuan's mind.

That's it!

The core of all the sudden conflicts... all stem from this!

In the blink of an eye, Li Xuan quickly suppressed the fleeting clarity and indescribable complex emotions.

At this moment, powerful enemies surround us, and disaster is imminent.

"The Eight Immortals unite as one to fight against external enemies" is the right path!
We're all in the same boat now.

We must not allow the leak of inside information to cause suspicion and infighting on the Yellow Crane Tower, thus throwing ourselves into chaos and giving others a handle to use against us!

The reasons behind this, no matter how many questions or twists and turns there may be, must never be revealed at this time, in this place, or under these circumstances!

Li Xuan spoke in a deep voice, covering for Zhongli Quan:

“What Brother Zhang said is very true; there is indeed something strange about this matter.”

"but……"

Li Xuan paused, slowly scanning the assembled immortals, directing all doubts toward the external enemy:

"After some deduction, I have a feeling that Ao Run of the West Sea, as one of the Four Sea Dragon Gods, has eyes and ears all over the waters and aquatic creatures, and his ability to investigate is far beyond ordinary."

"Perhaps when we were planning our actions in Chang'an, we were not able to do it perfectly and inadvertently revealed some of our whereabouts."

"Although I tried my best to clean up afterwards, there were still a few clues that I had not completely eliminated. In the end, the cunning old dragon of the West Sea was able to see through a clue with his profound Taoist skills."

Li Xuan said decisively:
"This old mudfish from the West Sea seized on this pretext to stir up trouble, clearly using this as an excuse to seek revenge for the old grudges he incurred with our Taoist sect!"

"Hehehe, what a vengeful and ruthless Dragon King of the West Sea, Ao Run!"

"How dare he commit such a reckless act as burning down temples, killing people, severing my foundation, and ordering me to fight to the death!"

"How arrogant!"

Li Xuan's argument was watertight, pointing directly at the West Sea Dragon King's "using this as an excuse" and "seeking revenge for old grudges."

Although the doubts about the "internal leak" in the minds of the immortals present, including Lü Dongbin, Zhang Guolao, and He Xiangu, were not completely dispelled.

However, he was temporarily overwhelmed by the bloody provocation before him and the pressure brought by the West Sea Dragon Clan.

(End of this chapter)