I'm Dreaming of a Journey to the West

"Oh!"

Li Chen exclaimed softly, muttering something to himself while stroking his chin. His eyes flickered, as if he was rapidly pondering something in his mind. After a moment, he slowly nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face.

In fact, even Li Chen himself knew very well that the request he had just made was a bit excessive and unreasonable. However, this was just a small test. After all, he knew the quality of the diamond bracelet very well.

If Taibai Jinxing expressed his willingness to give him this extremely precious Vajra Bracelet without hesitation, then there would be no doubt that there must be a huge conspiracy hidden in this.

Perhaps this was a carefully planned trap, waiting for him to foolishly jump into it! The other party was very likely deliberately throwing out this tempting bait - the diamond bracelet, with the purpose of luring him to the heavenly palace and then falling into the long-laid trap and ambushes.

However, when he saw Taibai Jinxing was slightly stunned after hearing his request, and then a look of thought and hesitation appeared on his face, Li Chen suddenly felt relieved. It seemed that things were not as bad as he had initially worried.

This reaction just shows that the Heavenly Court may be facing an unprecedented difficult situation at this moment, so that they have to carefully consider every decision, weigh the pros and cons, and dare not easily lure him into a trap set in danger.

Thinking of this, Li Chen's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile, and then he said loudly: "Haha, alright, alright, I was just joking with you, don't take it seriously! Since this is the case, then I will accompany you on this journey to the Heavenly Palace to see what is going on!"

Before he finished speaking, Li Chen's figure flashed, and a cloud of auspicious clouds suddenly rose from his feet. He rushed towards the Heavenly Palace like an arrow. Poor Taibai Jinxing was left far behind. He could only frantically wave his whisk, using all his strength to catch up with Li Chen who was getting farther and farther away.

After flying for a short while, Li Chen saw a towering, imposing gate looming in the distance. Like a towering beast, it stood silently between heaven and earth. As the distance closed in, he could see rows of broad paths meticulously carved from gold and jade in front of the gate, gleaming brightly in the sunlight.

However, when Li Chen actually approached this place, what he saw was shocking. The magnificent and glorious place he had imagined was no longer there, replaced by a dilapidated scene.

The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder, and the ground was littered with mutilated corpses, blood staining the earth red, as if a picture of utter tragedy unfolded before them. The once majestic armor was now shattered into pieces, scattered everywhere; and all kinds of weapons, some broken, some twisted and deformed, clearly witnessed a thrilling battle.

"Nantianmen!"

Li Chen gazed at the devastated scene, a wave of wonder filling his heart. He had never imagined the legendary entrance to Heaven would be reduced to this state. The horrific scene here was beyond words. The blood and shattered equipment betrayed the brutality of the battle. It was easy to imagine the desperate struggle between the escaped demon and the celestial soldiers and generals guarding the place.

At that moment, Taibai Jinxing's breathless voice came from behind: "My Lord! You're flying too fast! Wait for me!" Taibai Jinxing was running all the way, sweating and out of breath. As he ran, he complained: "Oh, I never thought you would be as impatient as that monkey, flying so fast, without any consideration for an old man like me!"

Hearing Taibai Jinxing's complaints, Li Chen seemed a little impatient, but he still stopped and waited for him to catch up, muttering, "Okay, okay, I'm already waiting for you here!"

After Taibai Jinxing finally ran over, the two of them rested for a moment before slowly walking towards the depths of the Heavenly Palace with heavy steps. Along the way, the surroundings were silent, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing on the empty road, making people feel particularly eerie and terrifying.

"stop!"

Four thunderous roars suddenly rang out, and four imposing figures clad in heavy armor leaped out of the darkness like lightning. The leader clutched a gleaming sword, its blade flashing with a chilling light; those beside him wielded exotic weapons such as fire dragon spears, four-stringed pipa, and Hunyuan Pearl Umbrellas. Each one carried a fierce aura, as if ready to devour the person before them.

Li Chen's heart sank as he took a closer look. These four figures were none other than the renowned Four Heavenly Kings—Zhengdu, the Magic Blue; Guangmu, the Magic Red; Vaisravana, the Magic Sea; and Dhritarashtra, the Magic Shou. He had long heard of the fame of these Four Heavenly Kings, and upon seeing them today, he felt their reputation was truly well-deserved.

At this moment, the surrounding space suddenly trembled as the Four Heavenly Kings appeared. Countless heavenly soldiers and generals emerged one after another. Each of these soldiers and generals, clad in golden armor and silver helmets, wielding a variety of sharp weapons, marched with measured and powerful steps, advancing mightily towards the location of Li Chen and Taibai Jinxing. For a moment, the cries of killing shook the earth, and the entire scene became extremely tense.

"Oh, it's Mr. Jin Xing! My apologies! My apologies!"

Upon seeing this, the Heavenly King of Growth, Mo Liqing, quickly sheathed his sword, took a step forward, and saluted Taibai Jinxing, his face then plastered with a friendly smile. However, despite his outward appearance of warmth and friendliness, his sharp eyes remained fixed on Li Chen, who stood beside him, as if trying to see through him.

"Four Heavenly Kings, this is the Jade Emperor's specially invited capable helper—the Immortal Li Chen. He has come to assist the Heavenly Court in conquering the abominable Twelve Ancestral Witches. I hope you Heavenly Kings will show some mercy and let us pass!"

Taibai Jinxing hurriedly explained with a smile on his face, and quickly took out a golden token from his arms, held it high and showed it to everyone, in order to prove that he was indeed Taibai Jinxing himself.

"Okay, go ahead!"

When the Four Heavenly Kings saw the token issued by the Jade Emperor, they knew that they were their people, so they ordered the heavenly soldiers and generals behind them to make way for Li Chen and Taibai Jinxing. So Li Chen and Taibai Jinxing went directly to the Lingxiao Palace to meet the Jade Emperor.

"Immortal Li Chen! To enter the Heavenly Palace, you need a token specially approved by the Jade Emperor. You will soon have such a token. With it, you can enter and exit the Heavenly Palace freely!"

As Taibai Jinxing spoke, he placed the token that he had just shown to the Four Heavenly Kings in front of Li Chen, allowing Li Chen to observe the token.

This token is exquisitely crafted, crafted from the finest uncut jade. It's imperfectly pure, and engraved with nine jade dragons. If it were sold in the mortal realm, it would be priceless!

"understood!"

Li Chen couldn't help but exclaim in amazement. He stared at the scene in disbelief with his eyes wide open, and secretly sighed in his heart: "I never thought that this heaven would be several times more beautiful than I imagined!"

At this moment, Li Chen's gaze was as if drawn by a magnet, firmly locked on this magical and magnificent world. He found that the depictions of the Heavenly Palace in any film or television work he had ever seen seemed too conservative and restrained.

Several massive pillars stood against the inner walls, each adorned with a dazzling, red-bearded dragon, its scales gleaming with golden light. These enormous dragons seemed lifelike, ready to break free and soar into the air at any moment. Then, upon the long bridges, swirled red-crowned phoenixes, their vibrant wings adorned with vibrant colors. Their graceful, dancing forms unfolded before our eyes like a vibrant, colorful scroll.

On the Longevity Star Terrace, exotic flowers that have never faded for millions of years bloom, their fragrance wafting through the air and enchanting. Beside the alchemy furnace, auspicious herbs, still lush and green despite thousands of years, emanate a refreshing aura.

When Li Chen arrived at the Pilgrimage Hall, he was deeply astonished by the scene before him. Immortals dressed in crimson gauze robes shimmered with dazzling starlight; those wearing hibiscus crowns shone with golden brilliance. Each held a jade hairpin, wore pearl-studded shoes, and wore purple ribbons and gold medallions that signaled their unparalleled status.

Looking up, golden nails are densely arranged and inlaid on the jade portal, and colorful phoenixes dance gracefully before the vermilion gate. The winding corridors and corridors are full of exquisitely carved scenes, which are breathtakingly beautiful. The three-tiered eaves and four pavilions are clustered together, and dragons and phoenixes soar among the layers, creating a majestic and imposing scene.

"My lord! Look quickly, we have finally arrived here. This is the famous Lingxiao Palace that is feared by all three realms!" Taibai Jinxing could not hide his excitement. His voice unconsciously rose by eight octaves, and he pointed at the magnificent palace in front of him with his hands and feet dancing.

Li Chen looked up in the direction pointed by Taibai Jinxing and saw the Lingxiao Palace towering into the clouds. Shrouded in mist, its buildings loomed in the air, resembling a fairyland. On either side of the steps in front of the palace, celestial consorts danced gracefully with their palm fans, while jade maidens held their fairy scarves respectfully, their expressions solemn.

Then there were the celestial generals guarding the palace gates. Each one had a stern expression, wielding divine weapons, and watching their surroundings intently, as if ready to respond to any emergency. The powerful aura they emanated was chilling. Meanwhile, the immortal nobles tasked with protecting the emperor were imposing and dignified, displaying the demeanor of immortals.

Walking into the hall, Li Chen's eyes were instantly drawn to the figure sitting in the center. This person had kind eyes and a smile on his face, emitting a peaceful and majestic aura.

He wore a golden dragon robe, embroidered with exquisite designs and auspicious symbols, appearing exceptionally regal. On his head sat a tiara, dangling from front and back were numerous tassels made of jade beads. Each tassel was meticulously carved and inlaid with the finest gold and precious jade. With the slightest movement of his head, the tassels clashed against each other, producing a crisp and melodious sound. Beside him, several celestial concubines stood on either side, gently waving long fans, bringing gusts of cool breeze.

On either side of this great figure stood two rows of immortals. The left row consisted of awe-inspiring celestial soldiers and generals, all of them burly, heavily armored, wielding gleaming weapons, and exuding immense power.

On the right is a group of well-mannered civil officials. Some of them hold tablets in their hands, while others stroke their beards. Each of their faces reveals wisdom and composure. It is obvious that they have all practiced for a long time and have achieved enlightenment and become immortals.