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Chapter 243 You are not Jin Chanzi
The venomous mist and demonic wind transformed from the scorpion demon carried Xuanzang at an astonishing speed, disappearing into the towering mountains to the southwest in the blink of an eye.

Chen Guangrui and Nezha followed closely behind, transforming into rainbow light and relentlessly pursuing it. However, the demonic wind was strange, darting left and right among the overlapping mountains, and after several turns, it completely disappeared without a trace, making it difficult to detect even a trace of its demonic aura.

At this point, the black bear also arrived, and there were no more clues to be found.

"Damn it." Chen Guangrui landed on the bare mountain ridge, his face grave as he looked around. Before him stretched endless, desolate mountains, jagged rocks, sparse vegetation, and utter silence. Nezha also landed nearby, gripping his Fire-Tipped Spear tightly, scanning the area warily, but finding nothing either.

"Chen Guangrui, that demon's escape technique is strange, and it has no aura at all. What should we do?" Nezha asked with a frown.

Chen Guangrui's gaze was calm. After a moment's thought, he said in a deep voice, "This place is a desolate wilderness, and there must be deities watching over it. Since we have lost track of them, according to the rules, we should question the local earth god."

Without further hesitation, he immediately began to chant incantations and recite the true words of the Xuanmen School. He pointed to the ground and shouted, "Lord of this place, come to see me at once!"

As the incantation ended, a wisp of green smoke rose from the ground, revealing a short, stocky old man wearing a turban and a black robe, carrying a cane—the local earth god. Upon appearing, he bowed deeply to Chen Guangrui, then cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Nezha, his expression tinged with a hint of apprehension.
"I am a local deity and was unaware of the arrival of Marshal Tianpeng and the Great God of the Three Altars and Seas. Please forgive my failure to greet you properly."

Chen Guangrui had no time for pleasantries and directly demanded, "Lord, do you know what kind of demon that kidnapped the Tang Dynasty monk is, and where its lair is? Report back immediately."

Upon hearing this, the Earth God trembled, a troubled expression on his face, clearly aware of the gravity of the situation. He glanced furtively at Chen Guangrui's cold, stern face, then at the gleaming Fire-Tipped Spear in Nezha's hand. Swallowing hard, he dared not conceal anything and could only bow and say...

"Reporting to the Marshal, Great God. That demon... is no ordinary being. She is a powerful demon dwelling in a mountain called Poisonous Enemy Mountain, a thousand miles to the south. There is a cave in that mountain called Pipa Cave!"

"The female demon in the cave is incredibly powerful, especially her poisonous stump, which is extremely vicious. It even shook the golden body of the Buddha in the Western Paradise, causing him great pain for a long time! My magical power is too weak to provoke her. Just now, I saw her carrying a person who looked like a holy monk towards the Poisonous Enemy Mountain. She must be returning to her lair."

Upon hearing "poisonous stakes that destroy horses," Nezha's expression changed slightly, but he didn't say anything.

"Poisonous Enemy Mountain, Pipa Cave..." Chen Guangrui's eyes were sharp as knives as he memorized the name. "How do you get to that mountain?"

"Marshal, just head due south and travel quickly for about a thousand miles. When you see a mountain with extremely treacherous terrain and shrouded in black mist, that is Poisonous Enemy Mountain."

The local earth god quickly pointed out the direction and added, "If the marshal arrives at the foot of the mountain, he can ask the mountain god there for the exact location of the cave. Due to the limitations of my duties, I dare not leave my territory without permission and will take my leave now!"

After saying this, the Earth God bowed again, turned into a wisp of green smoke, and disappeared into the ground in an instant.

"Hmph! These local deities always run away when trouble arises." Nezha snorted coldly, clearly dissatisfied with the land deity's slippery nature.

"It's my duty, and my actions are understandable. Let's go!"

Chen Guangrui had no time to argue. He called out to Nezha, who transformed into a rainbow of light once more and flew off at lightning speed toward the due south direction indicated by the land deity.

A thousand miles is but a short distance for those of their cultivation level. Soon, an extremely steep mountain, exuding an ominous aura, looms before them. This mountain is indeed as the local deity has described, exceptionally treacherous.

The cliffs rise ten thousand feet high, the mountain soaring to the heavens. Its roots are thick with the earth's veins, its summit reaches the heavens. Thick thorns surround it on all sides, tigers and wolves howl from the front and back. Strange rocks stand jagged and imposing like ghosts, withered vines hang upside down like coiled snakes. The ravines are deep and bottomless, a chilling wind blows fiercely, penetrating to the bone.

"Such heavy evil energy and resentment; who knows how many lives have been lost here?" Nezha frowned, the red tassel on his Fire-Tipped Spear fluttering without wind, clearly agitated by the sinister aura here.

Chen Guangrui's expression was also solemn. The demonic aura here was far stronger than that of Pansiling and Huanghua Temple. He dared not be negligent, and once again made a hand seal and chanted an incantation, saying loudly, "Where is the mountain god of this mountain? Come to see me quickly."

The incantation echoed through the valley. A moment later, a figure emerged from behind a massive boulder on the left side of the mountain. The figure landed and transformed into an old man with white hair, dressed in the robes of a mountain god, leaning on a cane adorned with coiled dragons. He strode quickly to Chen Guangrui and Nezha, bowing deeply to them.
"This humble god, the Poisonous Mountain God, pays respects to Marshal Tianpeng and the Great God of the Three Altars and Seas! I have failed to greet you properly and beg your forgiveness."

"No need for formalities." Chen Guangrui looked at the mountain god. "Mountain god, is this mountain Poisonous Enemy Mountain?"

"It is indeed Poisonous Enemy Mountain," the mountain god replied respectfully.

"Is there a cave in the mountains called Pipa Cave? Does a female demon live in the cave?" Chen Guangrui's eyes were like torches as he stared intently at the mountain god.

The mountain god felt a chill run down his spine under Chen Guangrui's gaze and dared not conceal anything, so he quickly said...
"Marshal, you are wise! This mountain is indeed Poisonous Enemy Mountain, and deep within it lies a Pipa Cave. A powerful female demon queen dwells there. She is an enlightened scorpion with immense supernatural powers, especially her stinger, which contains a potent venom that even an indestructible body would find difficult to withstand. I, your humble servant, am intimidated by her power and can only barely maintain the mountain's stability; I am utterly powerless to govern the cave. That demon is exceptionally ferocious; normally, none of us mountain gods or local deities dare approach within a hundred miles of her cave."

"It really is her." The black bear demon's fighting spirit surged. "I'm charging in right now!"

At this moment, his master was kidnapped, and he was anxious, so he wanted to smash open the cave door.

Upon hearing this, the mountain god's face showed fear, and he hurriedly advised, "Brave warrior, calm down! Marshal, please reconsider! That scorpion demon is truly formidable; its venom is incredibly potent. In the past, it once..."

Before he could finish speaking, his expression suddenly changed, and he abruptly looked up at the sky.

Three streaks of light flew rapidly toward them and landed beside Chen Guangrui and Nezha in the blink of an eye. It was Sun Wukong with Tang Sheng, and the Black Bear Spirit who had just arrived, panting and carrying a large black-tasseled spear and a huge bundle on his back!

"Father!" Tang Sheng landed, his face still somewhat pale, but his eyes filled with anxiety. "Where is the demon?"

Sun Wukong, with his fiery eyes, scanned the surroundings and clicked his tongue twice, "Such heavy poison gas! What a treacherous place, is the monster's lair in these mountains?"

Chen Guangrui nodded and pointed to the treacherous mountain in front of him, "This is the mountain, the Poisonous Enemy Mountain. The Pipa Cave in the mountain is the lair of the Scorpion Demon."

The black bear spirit was already impatient and raised his black-tasseled spear, ready to charge forward: "I can't wait any longer, I'm going to smash down that demon's cave and rescue my master."

"Wait a minute," Sun Wukong said swiftly, grabbing the black bear demon's arm.
"You black bastard, you're too reckless. You don't even know how strong your opponent is, yet you're trying to smash up their cave entrance."

The monkey, on the other hand, was all smiles and grins. After all, it wasn't his master who was being captured, so he was happy to watch the show.

The usually cautious black bear was clearly thrown into disarray at this moment.

Chen Guangrui also spoke up to stop it.
“Brother Monkey is right. Even Buddha suffered from the scorpion demon’s poisonous stinger, so it’s no small matter. We must not act rashly.”

He turned his gaze to Tang Sheng with a hint of concern: "Tang Sheng, this place is filled with poisonous miasma, which may affect the evil energy in your body. You shouldn't have come."

Tang Sheng stubbornly shook his head: "Father, I don't know why, but I just can't let it go. I feel like I have to come here to feel at ease. Besides, with Master protecting me, I'm not afraid!"

As he spoke, he moved closer to Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong grinned, patted Tang Sheng on the shoulder, and twirled his golden cudgel in his hand, clearly approving of his disciple's decision.

"Marshal, what do we do now? We can't just wait here." The black bear spirit was still anxious, staring at the dark, gloomy mountain valley as if his master were suffering inside. Chen Guangrui's gaze sharpened as he swept over the crowd. "A direct assault is too risky, especially with that scorpion venom. We need to find a way to counter it..."

Before he finished speaking, his brow twitched, and he looked up at the sky on the other side.

A golden light approached rapidly from afar, landing before the group in the blink of an eye and revealing the figure of the Pleiades Star Lord. He had clearly followed the trail as well, and upon landing, he bowed to Chen Guangrui, saying, "Marshal, I'm late."

When Chen Guangrui saw the Pleiades Star Lord, a glint flashed in his eyes, and he nodded, "You've come at the right time. The master of this cave is none other than the Scorpion Demon. Star Lord, you are her natural nemesis, and you are the key to this exorcism."

Upon hearing this, the Pleiades Star Lord looked towards the direction of the Pipa Cave, which was shrouded in poisonous fog. His expression was solemn, and a complex look flashed in the depths of his eyes, which then turned into a firm one: "It is my duty, and I cannot shirk it!"

With everyone gathered and their goal clear, Chen Guangrui waved his hand without hesitation and said, "Let's not delay, let's go straight for the Pipa Cave!"

At that moment, Chen Guangrui, Nezha, Pleiades Star Lord, and Sun Wukong protected Tang Sheng, with the Black Bear Spirit following closely behind. Guided by the Mountain God, they flew towards the deepest valley in the mountain where the black mist was the densest and the demonic aura was the most intense.

Before long, the group arrived at an extremely secluded mountain hollow. Black mist billowed here, and a pungent, fishy stench filled the air, so thick it was almost impenetrable. Pushing aside layers of withered vines that clung together like ghostly claws, a dark cave entrance suddenly appeared on the steep mountain wall.

The cave entrance is marked by jagged rocks that resemble the bared fangs of a giant beast, with three eerie ancient seal characters carved crookedly above them: Poisonous Enemy Mountain Pipa Cave.

The cave was pitch black and deathly silent, but the constant flow of a nauseatingly sweet and pungent poisonous fumes spoke volumes about the lurking danger within, far more so than any roar. Scattered near the cave entrance were more skeletons, some of which were an eerie purplish-black, clearly indicating death by poisoning.

"This is it!" The black bear spirit looked at the cave entrance, thinking that his master might be suffering inside, and his anxiety overwhelmed him, and he could no longer restrain himself.

He roared, "Monster! Give me back my master!"

Without waiting for Chen Guangrui's command, he swung the heavy black-tasseled spear, his demonic power surging, and like a mad bear, he smashed it fiercely towards the tightly closed, huge stone door covered with strange patterns.

"Boom!"

A deafening roar echoed through the mountain valley. The black bear demon, enraged, unleashed a powerful attack. Even the exceptionally thick stone door was shattered, sending stone fragments flying and shaking violently. A hole the size of a watermelon was blasted into the door panel.

Just as the enormous sound of the door being smashed and the echoes of the stone door shaking were still reverberating in the valley.

"Hahahaha!"

From deep within the cave, a sharp, manic laugh erupted without warning, filled with unbelievable shock, rage, and utter collapse – the sound of a woman's laughter.

The laughter was like the mournful cry of a night owl, or the scraping of metal, piercing the eardrums with a deep sense of despair and hysteria.

"Hahahaha, impossible! You're not Jin Chanzi! No, you're not Jin Chanzi at all!"

A shrill female voice echoed and collided repeatedly in the deep cave, filled with the rage of being deceived and fooled, and utterly broken down.

Above the Thirty-Three Heavens, in the Tushita Palace of the Heaven of Separation and Hatred.

Inside the alchemy room, the fire in the Eight Trigrams Furnace had just been extinguished, but the furnace mouth was still warm, and the misty purple aura and faint fragrance of elixirs filled the entire space. Laozi lightly swept his whisk, and the furnace lid opened with a sound. Several perfectly round, translucent, and radiant golden elixirs flew out and landed in the purple-gold gourd he had prepared beforehand.

"Golden furnace, silver furnace," Laozi said calmly, "the elixir has been refined. You may all go and rest."

The Golden Furnace Attendant and the Silver Furnace Attendant, who were standing by the furnace, bowed and accepted the order: "We will obey the Ancestor's decree." The two carefully tidied up the utensils and respectfully withdrew from the alchemy room.

The vast alchemy room fell silent, with only the faint glow of the embers and the lingering aroma of the alchemy. In this stillness, a figure hurried in, carrying a heavy worry in his eyes; it was Kui Mulang, one of the Twenty-Eight Mansions.

His face was solemn. He strode to the seat of Laozi, bowed deeply, and said with barely suppressed anxiety, "Ancestor!"

Laozi put the purple-gold gourd into his sleeve and calmly looked at Kui Mulang, as if he had expected his arrival: "What is troubling you?"

Kui Mulang raised his head, his eyes filled with even deeper worry.
"Please forgive me, Ancestor. News has come from the lower realm that the connection with the Women's Kingdom... has also been completely uncovered by Chen Guangrui! His methods are ruthless; he not only broke the deadlock but also directly exposed our connection with Pilanpo. Now, on the Buddhist side, Pilanpo's situation is probably..."

He paused, a flash of ruthlessness and confusion crossing his face.

"This Chen Guangrui has been making frequent moves lately, opposing us at every turn. I really don't understand why he's so audacious. He's become a major threat, acting recklessly. Should we... eliminate him completely to prevent future troubles?"

Kui Mulang clenched his hands slightly at his sides, making a subtle "clean up" gesture.

"Calm down." Laozi's voice remained calm and composed. He gently raised his hand, stopping Kui Mulang's murderous intent.
"You're right that he clarified our connection with Pilanpo. But did you see that he also severed the link between the Eastern Emperor and the Western Paradise?"

Kui Mulang was taken aback, a thoughtful expression on his face: "This..."

A faint, cold smile seemed to curve at the corners of Laozi's lips, as if he were watching an interesting game of chess.

"His move was to punish both sides equally. It seemed to have disrupted the situation and offended both sides, but in reality, he wanted to find a way out of this mess and extricate himself from the situation. He wanted to tell everyone that he, Chen Guangrui, was not a pawn of either side, but was acting according to his own conscience... Ha, self-salvation? The idea is acceptable, but the method is too naive and too ridiculous."

He shook his head slightly, as if appraising a child's clumsy trick. Then, Laozi changed the subject, casting his gaze upon the deep void outside the alchemy room, and asked in a deep voice,
"How's the situation on Mount Sumeru?"

Kui Mulang immediately composed himself and replied respectfully.

"Reporting to the Ancestor, everything has been prepared according to plan and there is no chance of anything going wrong."

"Hmm." Laozi responded calmly, flicking his whisk again, his gaze deep and unfathomable.
"That's good then. Chen Guangrui... let's ignore him for now. He won't be able to cause trouble for long. Let the pilgrimage team continue on their way. When they reach Mount Sumeru..."

Laozi's voice lowered, carrying an indifferent and ruthless air of complete control.
"That will be the moment when the dust settles and everything becomes clear."

Upon hearing this, Kui Mulang's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly understood the profoundness of Laozi's scheme. He bowed deeply again, all worry gone from his eyes, leaving only cold reverence and expectation. "Your subordinate understands! I will obey the Ancestor's decree!"

Inside the Tushita Palace, the fragrance of elixirs wafted, and the warmth of the furnace gradually dissipated. Only endless scheming and the impending storm silently brewed high above the Lihen Heaven.

(End of this chapter)