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

Chapter 616 Laozi of the Tushita Palace Borrows a Treasure
Southern Jambudvipa.

The land of Jingchu.

Standing atop the Yellow Crane Tower, leaning on the railing, one can feel the breeze and gaze at the Yangtze River.

The river flowed mightily and ceaselessly, while the sky was clear and bright.

This was originally a place to climb high and enjoy the scenery, a place that evokes a sense of ethereal beauty and tranquility.

But at this moment.

Inside the pavilion, however, there was a heavy and ominous atmosphere, as if a storm was brewing.

The north wind swept through the corridor, seemingly carrying a bone-chilling cold.

Li Xuan shouted angrily at the Dragon King of the West Sea:
"Hehehe, what a West Sea Dragon King Ao Run... vindictive and ruthless... daring to burn down temples, kill living beings, sever my foundation, and sign a life-or-death oath!"

"Extremely arrogant!"

"Double standards" are human nature; they are instincts ingrained in people's bones.

Few people in the world can truly be impartial; most are strict with others but lenient with themselves.

People always carry several sets of standards in their hearts. When faced with a problem, they will use whichever standard is in their favor.

If you harm others, they deserve it; you are acting on behalf of Heaven.

If someone comes seeking revenge, it means that they are vindictive, ruthless, and arrogant.

This is human nature.

but.

At this moment.

I heard what Li Xuan said.

The immortals were furious that the Dragon King of the West Sea had come to kill them for revenge.

But the atmosphere inside the pavilion grew increasingly heavy and quiet.

For a while.

None of Lan Caihe, Zhang Guolao, Han Xiangzi, or the others responded.

Without him.

"Bullying the weak and fearing the strong" is also human nature.

Just as Mr. Lu Xun said:

“The cowardly are enraged, yet they draw their swords against the weaker.”

When the Eight Immortals of Taoism heard that the Jing River Dragon King had been harmed, they believed it was a just cause, saying that the Jing River Dragon King deserved his punishment, and thus they acted on behalf of Heaven.

When the Eight Immortals of Taoism heard about the battle with the Dragon King of the West Sea, they hesitated, because the Dragon King of the West Sea was powerful and they feared they would be no match for him.

The immortals looked up at the ruins of the Lüzu Temple. The smoke had not yet dissipated, and on the charred and broken walls, the seven large characters "The one who burned the temple was Ao Lie of the Western Sea" were carved as if by a knife and axe, revealing a naked provocation.

He Xiangu frowned, her slender fingers unconsciously twisting the lotus petals, her worry evident in her expression.

Zhang Guolao lowered his head, stroked his beard, and remained silent.

Zhongli Quan had already put away his banana leaf fan, and his usually forthright face was now as still as an ancient pool. Only when his gaze swept over the "life and death contract" did a glint of cunning and smugness flash across his eyes.

Lan Caihe, whose usually unrestrained nature had subsided, stopped shaking the flower basket in his arms and stared at the blood-red words with suppressed anger in his eyes.

Han Xiangzi held the jade flute horizontally, his fingertips trembling slightly, as if silently playing the melody of his inner anxiety.

……

"West Sea Ao Moang, Ao Lie..."

As Zhong Liquan looked at all this, his heart was filled with turbulent emotions.

Remember the past.

He was still a carefree cowherd under the tutelage of Laozi.

At that time, outside the South Heavenly Gate, he had a fierce conflict with Ao Moang and Ao Lie of the Western Sea.

In the midst of the conflict, he became distracted, causing Laozi's Green Ox Demon to escape.

As a result, he was banished from the Tushita Palace to the mortal world by Laozi.

From then on, he fell from the pure meditation cushion in the Tushita Palace into the mortal world, and began to carry his sins.

Imagine the Tushita Palace, such a pure and tranquil place. Every day, he sat upright on a clean futon, listening to Laozi preach and expound the Dharma, accompanied by the blue ox. How carefree and at ease he was!

But once he made a mistake, he fell from the clouds to the mortal world, and from then on, he carried the burden of guilt, walking in the world and being accompanied by mortals filled with filth.

As for the Crown Prince of the West Sea, Ao Moang, relying on the prestigious position of the West Sea Dragon Palace, he was arrogant and domineering, looking down on everyone.

Ao Lie, the third prince of the Jade Dragon in Journey to the West, was also young and arrogant, completely unaware of the immensity of heaven and earth, and acted recklessly.

Even so, they remained high and mighty in the West Sea. Ao Moang firmly held the position of Crown Prince of the West Sea, and Ao Lie was still the Third Prince of the Jade Dragon of the West Sea, enjoying all the riches and honors.

And what about his cowherd son?
However, due to a mistake, he was banished to the mortal realm, gradually drifting away from the pure and serene path of immortality, and could only struggle with guilt in the human world.

Why?
Why can Ao Moang and Ao Lie still live freely and unrestrained, while he has to suffer this hardship?
This grudge must be avenged!
Otherwise, his thoughts will not be clear!

And the scheming of many years is about to come.

Zhongli Quan's gaze swept over Lü Dongbin's gloomy face, then over Tieguai Li's serious expression, finally settling on the shocking death pact at the foot of the wall. He smiled knowingly and said:

"how?"

Zhongli Quan pointed the tip of his fan at the death warrant outside the window and laughed:
"Should we accept or not accept this 'life-or-death contract' from the old mudfish of the West Sea?"

"Next is the dragon's den and tiger's lair. The West Sea Dragon King Ao Run has been operating in the West Sea for countless years, and his foundation is unfathomable. There is also a powerful enemy like 'West Sea Ao Moang'."

"If you don't answer..."

Zhongli Quan sighed:
"We have broken the backbone of the Taoist sect in full view of everyone!"

"In the future, who in this world will worship at our temples and chant my true name?"

"The name of us, the Eight Immortals of Taoism, is likely to become a laughing stock in the Three Realms."

As Zhong Liquan finished speaking.

The atmosphere at the Yellow Crane Tower instantly plummeted to freezing point.

The eyes of the Eight Immortals of Taoism were all focused on Tieguai Li (Li Xuan) and Lü Dongbin.

Is it to endure this humiliation and continue to "plot in secret" for some future purpose?

Or will they resolutely accept the challenge and fight the Western Sea Dragon Clan in a fair and square battle, spilling blood across the three realms to prove their courage?

This choice concerns the reputation, the path of Taoism, and even... life and death of the Eight Immortals of Taoism!
after all.

A life-or-death agreement means that neither party will be held accountable for their life or death.

Han Xiangzi frowned, looking worried, and said:
“Brother Zhongli is absolutely right. However, this ‘West Sea Dragon King’ Ao Run is a supreme god of the four seas, in charge of the West Sea, and commands hundreds of millions of aquatic creatures. His strength is unfathomable and far beyond what the ‘Jing River Dragon King’ can compare to.”

"Moreover, the Dragon King of the West Sea has been deeply rooted in the Heavenly Court's Water Department for many years, so that if he moves one part, the whole thing will be affected."

"Even if we accept this battle, what are our chances of winning? It's really hard to predict."

"If we are unfortunate enough to perish in battle, not only will our own spiritual attainment be in jeopardy and our lives be lost, but we also fear that we will ruin the lineage and foundation that we have painstakingly established in the human world."

"This will ruin the Supreme Dao Ancestor's boundless plan to promote the teachings of humanity!"

"If the Supreme Dao Ancestor were to hold us accountable at that time, how would we explain ourselves?"

As the saying goes, it's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark.

"Or, we can do it again, in the shadows..."

Han Xiangzi's implication was that everyone should be patient for a while, and that taking a step back would open up a wider world; they should not act rashly.

Either.

Just like last time when we "secretly harmed the Jinghe Dragon King," we also secretly devised a way to "secretly harm the West Sea Dragon King."

Lü Dongbin was transformed from a pure yang energy of the Eastern Emperor.

His pure Yang sword spirit still remains, and the image of Qian metal is manifested. The Qian hexagram is pure Yang, hence he is called the Pure Yang Ancestor.

Qian, representing the ultimate yang, is precisely:

"The brave are angry and draw their swords against the stronger ones."

at the moment.

Unlike the Jinghe Dragon King.

Since the Dragon King of the West Sea has directly signed a life-or-death agreement, it means that the two parties have reached a consensus:
"While determining superiority and inferiority, and deciding life and death, neither life nor death will be pursued further."

Then they would not need to worry about their status as righteous gods of the Heavenly Court, nor about the retaliation from the Heavenly Court forces behind the West Sea Dragon King.

"Humph!"

"Are you afraid now?"

"They've come knocking on our door; there's no way to avoid it now."

Lü Dongbin snorted coldly and said:
"The ways of the world and the hearts of men are like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you'll fall behind!"

"Today, my temple has been burned down and my temple keeper has been killed. If we immortals still cower like turtles and swallow our anger, how can we establish our authority in the Three Realms and spread our teachings to all people?"

"Hundreds of millions of people on Earth are watching!"

"If this incense and the Daoist spirit are broken, all our hard work in building this place will turn to ashes and rubble in an instant, and it will never exist again!"

After saying this, Lü Dongbin laughed again:

"Moreover, this crisis may well contain an opportunity for a turnaround!"

"How revered is the Dragon King of the West Sea in the human world? Human kings all compare themselves to the 'True Dragon Son of Heaven' to highlight his nobility!"

"If the Eight Immortals each relied on their own abilities and displayed their supernatural powers, and crossed the sea to the west, on the vast waves of the Western Sea, under the watchful eyes of all races, they would join forces to 'subdue the Dragon King'..."

He paused, his eyes flashing with a sharp glint:

“Isn’t this ‘subduing the Dragon King’ a magnificent ‘miracle’?”

"When the time comes, the Eight Immortals will cross the sea, each displaying their unique abilities, and subdue the Dragon King. This feat will be enough to awe the four seas and bring glory to the four continents!"

"To ordinary people, it is a living miracle!"

"If we win this 'Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea' battle, it will not be a disgrace, but a supreme tale of our Taoist sect's might shaking the eight wastelands and benefiting all living beings!" "Wherever there is a place in the world where the Dragon God resides, wherever there are people who have received the Dragon God's grace or suffered the Dragon God's calamity, who does not know it, who does not know it?"

"This foundation of incense and Taoism will not only remain undamaged, but will also burn like a raging fire, spreading throughout the land!"

"Wouldn't that make it more beneficial for us to spread our teachings among humankind?"

Compared to the worries of the other immortals.

Lu Dongbin saw the opportunity behind this challenge – the Eight Immortals of the Taoist sect could use the Western Sea Dragon Clan as a "stepping stone" to reach the pinnacle of prestige in the human world.

It is:

"The Eight Immortals crossed the sea, each displaying their unique abilities, subdued the Dragon King, and manifested their divine power in the human world."

Zhang Guolao stroked his long, snow-white beard, shook his head with a mature and prudent expression, and sighed:
"Brother Lü's heroic spirit is truly admirable."

"However... Ao Moang of the West Sea is the bravest among the dragons of the four seas. His three-edged golden mace is unmatched among the aquatic creatures!"

“This Ao Moang of the West Sea is hailed as the ‘Number One Young Dragon of the Four Seas’. How could he be compared to a mere mortal demon dragon?”

"If we're talking about real, hard-fought combat skills, how many of us can reliably defeat him?"

"Not to mention the old dragon that sits in the West Sea, I'm afraid... alas, we are probably no match for him, and we will only damage our reputation."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his concerns were obvious: he worried that he would be defeated in a magical battle and lose his own life instead.

The voice just fell.

Lan Caihe suddenly slammed the flower basket full of exotic flowers and plants onto the ground.

With a muffled "bang," the petals scattered and flew everywhere.

The carefree attitude in the young man's eyes had long been replaced by anger.

Lan Caihe shouted loudly:
"Zhang Guolao! Are we just going to put up with this?"

"The burning of incense-burning temples is like removing the fuel from under a pot! The killing of devout believers is like cutting off my arm!"

"If someone smashes our temple or kills our people, would we not dare to utter a single word, and cower like cowards?"

"With the world's opinions, who will still worship us as gods? People will only laugh at the Eight Immortals of Taoism for being weak and easily bullied, and for being paper gods!"

"At that time, who would still be willing to recite my Taoist classic 'Tao Te Ching' or believe in the lineage of Taiqing?"

"The very foundation upon which this preaching is built has already crumbled by half!"

Lan Caihe's resounding, straightforward, and fearless words struck the hearts of everyone like a heavy hammer, resonating deeply.

If the dignity of the orthodox tradition is lost, how can we talk about spreading the teachings and propagating the Dharma?
These words caused all the immortals present to fall into deep thought.

Zhongli Quan had been waiting for this very statement. Seeing that the discussion had subsided, before anyone else could speak, he clapped his hands and exclaimed in praise:

"Chunyangzi possesses the Dao and is fearless; his courage is commendable!"

“What Fellow Daoist Zhang said is reasonable and shows that he has considered all aspects.”

"Fellow Daoist Lan is full of youthful vigor and his talent is readily apparent."

"Indeed, in a direct confrontation of cultivation levels and magical power, we would find it difficult to shake the fundamental strength of the West Sea Dragon Clan."

He changed the subject, glanced around at the assembled immortals, a meaningful smile appearing on his face, and slowly said:

"Gentlemen, do not forget our origins! Where do we come from?"

"We are disciples of the Taiqing Sect and are protected by the Supreme Dao Ancestor!"

"If we ask our teacher for a favor, and he takes pity on us and lends us a few of the treasures that were once used to subdue demons and suppress the world, how could we not win this battle?"

"No matter how hard the 'dragon scales' of the Western Sea Dragon Clan are, can they be harder than the 'Diamond Bracelet,' 'Jade Purification Bottle,' and 'Seven-Star Sword' in your hands, Teacher?"

He pointed out that "leveraging existing resources" is the most crucial path.

Zhongli Quan was originally a cowherd in the Tushita Palace, tending cattle for Laozi.

The "teacher" he referred to was naturally Laozi, the Supreme Lord of the Tushita Palace.

"This……"

Upon hearing this, all the immortals were startled, and their gazes instantly focused on Li Xuan, awaiting his response.

Li Xuan was a descendant of Laozi's clan and was accepted as a direct disciple by Laozi, who highly valued him.

When Li Xuan was young, Laozi (Li Er) disguised himself as a beggar and personally gave him the Tao Te Ching to enlighten him. He also took the unenlightened Li Xuan on a spiritual journey to the fairyland and taught him many core Taoist methods.

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.

Therefore, Li Xuan was the leader among the Eight Immortals of Taoism and was also the closest to Laozi.

Compared to Li Xuan, they were more like disciples of Laozi, or outer disciples.

All the immortals hoped that he would step forward and ask for instructions.

Upon hearing this, Li Xuan pondered for a moment, then, meeting the eager gazes of the immortals, slowly said:

“I understand the intentions of all my fellow Daoists.”

“What Junior Brother Zhongli said is also a feasible plan. This matter involves a wide range of issues, and we do need to consult our teacher for instructions.”

"Allow me to burn incense and pray, and let my soul wander to the Tushita Palace to ask the truth."

"We await Master's instructions, and then we will understand."

……

That night.

Beside the Yellow Crane Tower.

The crescent moon hangs high, its clear light spilling onto the river's surface, creating shimmering ripples.

The moon is bright and the stars are few; crows fly south, circling the tree three times before landing on a branch.

In a quiet, secluded room, before an incense table adorned with a portrait of Laozi, Li Xuan respectfully lit three sticks of sandalwood incense to calm the mind and focus the spirit.

Wisps of green smoke rose and coalesced into lines, seemingly possessing the power to pierce through the void and guide Li Xuan's soul.

"Profound and mysterious, the gateway to all wonders..."

He silently practiced the "Taiqing Heart Sutra: The Chapter on the Astral Projection of the Primordial Spirit," closed his eyes slightly, and peacefully drifted into a dream.

In Li Xuan's dream.

In the void, a door opened for him.

In a daze, Li Xuan's soul left his body, following the mysterious and profound pull in the dark, traversing the fierce winds of the nine heavens, crossing the boundless sea of ​​stars, and finally arriving at the heaven beyond the heavens—the Heaven of Separation and the Tushita Palace!

It is:

"The fragrance permeates the three realms, and the smoke rises to the highest heavens."

"A single petal of incense leads to the realm of mystery; beyond the Great Luo Heaven, one can see a true immortal."

Inside the alchemy room of the Tushita Palace, the scenery was completely different from that of the mortal world.

In the Tushita Palace.

Inside the Eight Trigrams Furnace, flames roared. This fire was no ordinary flame; it was the "Six Ding Divine Fire" that melted all things in heaven and earth, and it was exceptionally intense.

What gushed out from between the nine orifices and eight holes of the furnace wall was not furnace ash and smoke, but a misty, condensed, and lingering elixir-like vapor that intertwined in the air to form mysterious and illusory Taoist characters. Sometimes it transformed into the shape of a dragon, leaping through the air; sometimes it condensed into the shadow of a phoenix, fluttering and dancing.

The entire alchemy room was radiant with light, and the air was filled with a refreshing and unique fragrance, the original aroma of countless divine medicines being refined by the Dao fire.

Today is no ordinary day, as the "Dan Yuan Conference" is about to begin.

The fire in the Eight Trigrams Furnace was ignited even more fiercely, all for the purpose of refining the "Nine-Turn Golden Elixir" to be supplied to the Dan Yuan Assembly.

The Golden Furnace Boy and the Silver Furnace Boy, with solemn expressions and dressed in Taoist robes of wind and fire, were concentrating on making hand seals, carefully controlling the power of the furnace fire.

He was focused and did not dare to slack off in the slightest.

Near the Bagua Furnace.

Several newly formed Nine-Turn Golden Pills floated within, their golden light contained within, and their surface shimmered with Dao patterns, seemingly pulsating with life.

It exudes terrifying life energy and boundless Daoist charm, as if it contains the microcosmic prototype of the creation of the world and the universe, inspiring awe in people who look at it.

At this time, some of the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir had been successfully produced and were carefully put into the gourd by the Golden Furnace Boy and the Silver Furnace Boy.

The image of Li Xuan's soul solidified and manifested within the alchemy room.

The Golden Furnace Boy and the Silver Furnace Boy (King Golden Horn and King Silver Horn from the journey to the West), upon noticing the approaching figures, immediately put down their work, bowed respectfully, and said:
"Senior brother is here."

Although they were attendants of Laozi, and were of noble birth, they dared not be the slightest bit negligent in their etiquette towards Li Xuan, a disciple with impeccable lineage who was regarded as a relative and direct descendant of Laozi.

Li Xuan was a disciple personally taught by Laozi (the Supreme Lord Lao), the head of the Eight Immortals of Taoism, and enjoyed human sacrifices, ranking among the most revered righteous gods in Taoism.

The Golden Furnace Boy and the Silver Furnace Boy were merely attendants of Laozi.

As the saying goes, "Even a seventh-rank official is in front of the prime minister's gate."

Although the Golden Furnace Boy and the Silver Furnace Boy have special status due to the high position of Laozi, their influence is dependent on Laozi and they do not have independent divine positions.

Within the sect.

Regardless of strength, let's just talk about status.

Compared to a "personal attendant," a "personal disciple" naturally has a higher status.

For example, the personal disciples of the Tongtian Sect Master, such as Duobao Daoren and Jinling Shengmu, naturally held a higher status than the "Seven Attendant Immortals" such as Chang'er Dingguang Xian, Qiushou Xian, and Jinguang Xian.

……

The Golden Furnace Boy and the Silver Furnace Boy served Laozi for many years.

Li Xuan didn't put on airs, bowing in return to the Golden Furnace Boy and Silver Furnace Boy, and said:
"Junior brothers, no need for formalities. You've worked hard refining pills."

After speaking, Li Xuan's gaze swept past the alchemy furnace and landed on the white-haired, ancient-looking, and seemingly one-with-the-Daoist Laozi on the fire-and-wind futon.

Although Laozi's eyes were slightly closed, he calculated with his fingers and had already seen through everything in the world.

When Li Xuan arrived.

Laozi did not raise his head, but simply flicked his sleeve, and a futon formed from the primordial energy silently appeared in front of Li Xuan's soul.

Li Xuan stepped forward and bowed deeply in reverence.
"Disciple Li Xuan pays respects to Master. May Master live a long and prosperous life!"

(End of this chapter)