Gou Zai Xi You Dao Chang Sheng

Li Yan and his companion traveled at breakneck speed until they had traveled thousands of miles away before slowing down.

Looking back, one could see the sea of ​​clouds surging in the direction of the East China Sea, with two beams of light faintly visible.

They hovered in the sky for a moment, then dispersed.

He turned to Sun Wukong and said, "Your Majesty, Ao Shuo has already gone to the Heavenly Court."

Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed, and he grinned:

"Brother, what a brilliant idea! That dragon cub really did go and complain!"

Li Yan smiled slightly, but said, "Your Majesty, please don't be impatient. This matter is not yet resolved."

"It's not over yet? Wasn't the Flood Dragon Demon King already killed?"

Li Yan shook his head and said, "Killing the Flood Dragon Demon King is only the first step. The real issue is the aftermath."

"That Flood Dragon Demon King has entrenched himself in the East Sea for tens of thousands of years; how could he possibly let his wealth and treasures fall into the wrong hands?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's golden eyes lit up.

"Brother, you mean to raid his base?"

Li Yan nodded slightly.

"Indeed. However, Your Majesty must remember that you must still act as the Roc Demon King this time."

Sun Wukong laughed, "I know, I know! I haven't flapped my wings enough yet!"

After saying that, the two of them concealed their auras and transformed into two faint beams of light, flying low close to the sea surface.

After traveling stealthily for about half an hour, the island resembling a giant dragon appeared on the sea ahead.

The island was no longer as brightly lit and filled with demonic energy as before.

When the Demon King Jiao died, his demon soldiers and generals had already scattered like birds and beasts.

The vast island was deserted, with only the sea breeze blowing, carrying with it a mournful sound.

Li Yan and Sun Wukong landed on the island and looked around.

On the island, pavilions and towers stood side by side, all the wealth plundered from the people by the Demon King over the years.

Unfortunately, the place is now deserted, with only some heavy, immovable objects scattered on the ground.

Sun Wukong scanned the area with his golden eyes, pointed to the largest palace in the center of the island, and said:

"Brother, that guy's lair should be there!"

Li Yan nodded slightly, and the two walked towards the palace.

Upon reaching the palace, they saw that the palace doors were wide open and the interior was in complete disarray.

Tables and chairs overturned, curtains torn.

Clearly, when those demon soldiers and generals fled, they also took some loot and amassed quite a few benefits.

Li Yan opened his Eyes of Cause and Effect and observed carefully.

Deep within the palace, a faint, radiant light flowed, yet it was concealed by a layer of restrictions, appearing and disappearing intermittently.

His gaze sharpened, and he pointed to a spot behind the hall, saying:

"Your Majesty, something strange is happening there."

Sun Wukong immediately strode towards that place.

Upon reaching the back of the hall, one sees a stone wall, smooth as a mirror, blending seamlessly with the surrounding rocks, showing no signs of anything unusual.

Li Yan raised his hand and placed it on the stone wall.

Golden light surged from his palm, slowly seeping into the stone wall.

A moment later, intricate patterns appeared on the stone wall, faintly forming a huge array.

Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed, and he said, "Is this a restriction?"

Li Yan nodded slightly.

"This is the [Xuanwu Sea-Suppressing Formation], based on the true form of Xuanwu and sourced from the waters of the four seas, specifically designed to protect the treasure vault."

"Even a Taiyi Golden Immortal would find it difficult to forcibly break through unless they knew the method to break it."

Sun Wukong asked, "What should we do then? Brother, can you break this?"

Li Yan pondered for a moment and then slowly said:

"This humble Taoist priest may give it a try."

As soon as he finished speaking, he closed his eyes and focused his mind.

He focused his mind into the grotto, drawing upon the power of the twelve-petaled golden lotus.

A golden light surged from the lotus, flowing down his arm and into the stone wall.

Golden light entered and slowly merged with the patterns of the formation.

The Xuanwu Sea-Suppressing Formation is based on the true form of Xuanwu.

Xuanwu is the god of the north, a combination of a tortoise and a snake, and is the master of water.

Its nature is extremely yin, its substance is extremely soft, yet it is indestructible.

To break this formation, one must use yang to overcome yin, and hardness to overcome softness.

With a slight thought, Li Yan activated the true fire of the sun within the cave.

The true fire of the sun, crimson with a hint of gold, slowly seeped into the formation along the path of golden light.

As the true fire of the sun entered, the patterns of the formation immediately trembled violently.

The phantom images of a tortoise and a snake surged within the formation, desperately resisting.

However, the true fire of the sun is an extremely yang and strong substance, which is the nemesis of the yin and soft power of the Black Tortoise.

After a short while, the phantom image of the tortoise and snake gradually faded away.

The array patterns also began to crumble inch by inch.

Click!

Click!

Finally, a crack appeared in the stone wall.

The gap widened until it eventually became a doorway.

Within the portal, a faint light flowed, and a hidden aura of treasure wafted towards us.

Sun Wukong's golden eyes shone brightly, and he went first into the gate.

Li Yan followed closely behind.

Enter the portal.

What came into view was a huge underground palace, hundreds of feet in circumference and several feet high.

The four walls were made of white jade and inlaid with countless pearls, making the underground palace as bright as day.

In the center of the underground palace, there was a mountain of treasures.

Gold, silver, jewelry, agate, coral, pearls, and jade—a dazzling array, countless in number.

Divine weapons, swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks, gleamed coldly and exuded a menacing aura.

Miraculous medicines, in jade bottles and gold boxes, layer upon layer, with a fragrant aroma that is refreshing and invigorating.

Taoist scriptures and practices, written on bamboo slips and jade scrolls, were piled up like mountains, faintly radiating a precious light.

Sun Wukong stared wide-eyed.

"Good heavens! How many treasures has this guy amassed over the years!"

Li Yan was not as overtly joyful as Sun Wukong.

His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept over the treasure mountain with meticulous care.

The eye of cause and effect has been opened.

All that could be seen were countless threads of cause and effect wrapped around the treasures.

The golden thread was as thick as a child's arm, connecting to the old followers of the Demon King Xiangjiao.

The red thread, as thin as a hair, points to the sea creatures that were once oppressed by the Flood Dragon Demon King.

There were also some grayish-black threads wrapped around the blood-stained weapons, faintly exuding resentment.

Li Yan shook his head slightly.

This Flood Dragon Demon King has been entrenched in the East Sea for tens of thousands of years. Although he has amassed many treasures, he has also incurred countless karmic debts.

These treasures are a source of trouble in his hands, but may not be a blessing in the hands of others.

but,

Li Yan's gaze shifted, landing on the three artifacts at the very top of the treasure mountain.

The three artifacts were placed separately on a jade platform, with faint protective barriers circulating around them.

Even through the barrier, one could feel the immense aura emanating from those three artifacts.

The causal threads wrapped around it, but they were not gray or black; instead, they shone with a brilliant golden light.

That was a true treasure, and although it had a karmic connection with the Flood Dragon Demon King, it was untouched by bloodshed.

With a slight thought, Li Yan immediately headed towards the jade platform.

Sun Wukong was squatting in front of a pile of gold and silver jewels, grabbing a handful of pearls, and grinning from ear to ear.

Seeing Li Yan head towards the jade platform, he quickly followed.

"Hey bro, what good stuff's up there?"

Li Yan raised his hand and pointed.

"Those three are the real treasures."

Sun Wukong scanned it with his golden eyes.

On the jade platform, three objects lay quietly.

The first item was a fist-sized pearl, entirely dark blue.

The sound of seawater flowing and waves could be faintly heard within, almost imperceptible.

The second item was a scroll of bamboo slips, entirely green with distinct bamboo joints.

On the surface of the paper, four ancient characters are engraved: [Canglang Daojing].

The third item was a small sword about three inches long, its surface as clear as crystal.

On the blade, dragon patterns flowed faintly, the sword energy was restrained, yet it revealed a chilling sharpness.

Sun Wukong stared, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"These three treasures look far superior to any gold or silver jewelry!"

Li Yan nodded slightly.

"This precious pearl is called the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, and it belongs to the Dragon Palace of the North Sea."

Legend has it that a single "Sea-Stabilizing Pearl" can calm the waves of a thousand miles away.

When the Flood Dragon King and the North Sea Dragon Palace formed a marriage alliance, this Sea-Stabilizing Pearl was one of the betrothal gifts.

"This bamboo scroll is the [Canglang Dao Jing], which records the cultivation methods of the ancient aquatic tribes."

Although it doesn't quite reach the level of the Heavenly Dipper and Earthly Fiends transformations, it is still a rare water-based Daoist scripture.

"As for this small sword..."

Li Yan's gaze narrowed slightly.

"This sword is named [Dragon's Roar]. It was made by the Flood Dragon Demon King using his own shed dragon horn, fused with ten thousand years of flood dragon poison."

It was crafted by the master craftsman of the North Sea Dragon Palace.

On the day the sword was forged, a dragon roared through the nine heavens, and within a hundred miles, all demons fled in terror.

"These three treasures are the true essence of this underground palace."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong nodded repeatedly.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's take them!"

Li Yan replied, "Your Majesty, please do not be hasty. These three treasures are all protected by protective barriers."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong stretched out his furry hand and then withdrew it, scratching his ears and cheeks as he said:

"It's just a few halos of light, isn't it?"

"Smash it down with this club, who cares about any restrictions or limitations, smash it to pieces!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan shook his head slightly, raised his hand to point around the jade platform, and said slowly:

"Your Majesty, please look carefully. These three restrictions, though seemingly independent, are in fact interconnected and mutually reinforcing."

The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl is a supreme treasure of the water element, and its restrictions are based on the true form of the Black Tortoise.

The Canglang Daojing is a Daoist scripture belonging to the Wood element, and its prohibitions are based on the true form of the Azure Dragon.

As for the Dragon Roar Sword, it is a divine metal weapon, based on the true form of the White Tiger.

Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed, and he looked in the direction Li Yan was pointing.

Around the jade platform, three faint, illusory figures could be seen swirling.

Tortoise and snake intertwined, their colors a deep, dark blue.

The green dragon meanders, its verdant greenness almost dripping with moisture.

The white tiger sat crouching, exuding a chilling aura.

Between the three illusory figures, the flow of energy created a mysterious balance.

"This is the [Three Talents Locking Yuan Formation]."

Li Yan's eyes shimmered with starlight; his Eye of Cause and Effect had already opened.

"The Black Tortoise suppresses water, the Azure Dragon suppresses wood, and the White Tiger suppresses metal."

The three elements each occupy a region, and their vital energies interact and counteract each other.

If one of them is to be forcibly broken, the other two will take advantage of the situation and rise up, and the combined power of the three will be multiplied.

"At that time, let alone obtaining the treasure, even escaping unscathed will be quite difficult."

Sun Wukong scratched his head and said, "What should we do then? Are we just going to watch these three treasures sit there?"

Li Yan pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "This humble Taoist has a method that may be worth trying. However, it requires Your Majesty's assistance."

Sun Wukong immediately patted his chest and said, "Brother, just tell me what you need me to do!"

Li Yan pointed to the three illusory figures:

"This Three Powers Locking Yuan Formation is based on the Three Powers and uses mutual generation as its function."

Water nourishes wood, wood nourishes metal, and metal nourishes water.

The three elements cycle endlessly, generating and regenerating continuously, thus making it indestructible.

"However, in the way of Heaven and Earth, where there is life, there must be restraint."

If the cycle can be broken using the principle of mutual restraint, then this formation will collapse without a fight.

Sun Wukong said thoughtfully, "Brother, just tell me, what should I, Old Sun, do?"

Li Yan smiled slightly and pointed at the illusory image of the azure dragon: "Your Majesty, please look at that azure dragon, which is an image of the wood element."

Wood can generate metal, but it can also be overcome by metal.

The Peng Demon King, in which the Great King has now transformed, is a descendant of the Golden-Winged Roc, born from the metal element of the West.

This energy is precisely the nemesis of the wood element.

Then he pointed to the white tiger:

"This white tiger is an image of metal."

Metal can generate water, but it can also be overcome by fire.

Although this transformation of mine is in the form of the Lion Camel King, I can still incorporate the true fire of the sun into my fist techniques.

This fire is an extremely yang and strong element, perfectly suited to overcome metal.

Sun Wukong's golden eyes lit up, and he said, "Brother, do you mean I, Old Sun, should go and deal with that Azure Dragon?"

"Brother, go deal with the White Tiger? What about the Black Tortoise?"

Li Yan said, "Once Your Majesty and I have broken the Azure Dragon and White Tiger, the three powers will be out of balance, and the Black Tortoise will naturally reveal its weakness."

At that time, I, this humble Taoist, will use the power of my grotto-heaven to manifest the virtue of the earth, and thus suppress it in one fell swoop.

Sun Wukong nodded repeatedly: "Okay! Let's do it this way!"

After saying this, the two looked at each other and each took their place on one side.

Sun Wukong took a deep breath, and his aura changed.

The pair of dark blue wings trembled slightly, with a faint golden light flowing around their edges.

The next moment, it spread its wings and transformed into a streak of blue light.

The illusory azure dragon was originally a wisp of dragon energy that the Flood Dragon Demon King had refined into the formation using a secret method. Although it had no intelligence, it possessed instincts.

Sensing the overwhelming aura of Geng metal, they immediately became alert.

The dragon twisted its body and opened its mouth to spew out a beam of emerald light.

The beam of light contained vibrant life, yet also concealed deadly intent.

That is the wood-elemental supernatural power, [Azure Dragon's Breath].

Upon seeing this, Sun Wukong folded his wings together, which condensed into a golden blade of light in front of him.

The blade of light was as thin as a cicada's wing, yet it was incredibly sharp.

Facing the verdant pillar of light, it slashed straight down.

laugh!

The sound was like a sharp blade cutting paper, crisp and pleasant.

The verdant pillar of light was cleaved in two by the golden blade, scattering to both sides.

The blade of light continued its relentless advance, heading straight for the illusory image of the Azure Dragon.

With a roar, the illusory azure dragon transformed into countless streaks of azure light, scattering in all directions.

A streak of blue light appeared as a small dragon, baring its fangs and claws, lunging at Sun Wukong.

There were hundreds of them, densely packed and overwhelming.

Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed, and he flapped his wings repeatedly, unleashing golden blades of light from the tips of his wings.

Those light blades, like celestial maidens scattering flowers, slashed in all directions.

Hiss!

A series of soft sounds rose and fell.

The small dragons were all struck by the golden blades of light, turning into specks of blue light and dissipating into the void.

Meanwhile, Li Yan also made his move.

He stood before the phantom of the white tiger, his fists clenched tightly.

A faint crimson-gold flame flickered on the edge of the fist.

Those flames were the true fire of the sun within the grotto.

This fire is drawn from the heavens, incorporating the essence of the sun and moon; it is supremely yang and powerful, capable of burning anything.

The white tiger phantom sensed the intense heat and immediately became agitated.

It sat in the void, its body surging with malevolent energy, which transformed into streaks of white light that slashed towards Li Yan.

Those blades of light, imbued with the sharpness of Geng metal, are powerful enough to split mountains and shatter rocks.

Li Yan clenched his fists repeatedly.

Punches rained down, their shadows filling the sky.

With a punch, a ball of crimson-gold flame shot out and collided with the white light blade.

Boom boom boom boom!

The entire underground palace trembled slightly.

Flames and light blades clashed and corroded each other, their light dazzling.

Within that light, the faint phantom of a golden crow swirled, while the true form of a white tiger roared.

While throwing a punch, Li Yan silently practiced the "Mastering the Five Thunders" technique from the Thirty-Six Transformations of the Heavenly Gang.

This method was originally a technique for controlling thunder.

But at this moment he did the opposite, using the power of thunder magic to activate the true fire of the sun.

Thunder is the pivot of heaven and earth, the mechanism of yin and yang transformation.

Using the power of thunder to ignite flames is like adding fuel to the fire, with the wind fanning the flames.

The true fire of the sun suddenly surged several times over, transforming into a sea of ​​fire that swept towards the white tiger's illusory figure.

The white tiger phantom roared repeatedly, spewing out beams of white light from its mouth in an attempt to disperse the sea of ​​fire.

But that sea of ​​fire was formed from the true fire of the sun, extremely yang and strong, so how could it be so easily dispersed?

The white beam of light fell into the sea of ​​fire, only causing the fire to surge, but it could not break through.

Seeing this, Li Yan threw another punch.

This punch incorporated the power of "Shaking Mountains and Shaking Peaks".

The fist's momentum was like a mountain, its intent like a peak, crashing down on the white tiger's phantom like Mount Tai pressing down on it.

The white tiger phantom was unable to dodge in time and was struck squarely on the back, shattering into pieces.

boom!

At this moment, Sun Wukong had already killed all of the hundreds of small dragons.

However, although the illusory image of the Azure Dragon was destroyed, its true form still remained.

Its body shone with a brilliant blue light. It opened its mouth and inhaled, drawing all the dissipated blue light back into its body.

In an instant, the illusory image of the azure dragon returned to its original state, but its aura was slightly weaker and no longer as solid as before.

Sun Wukong's golden eyes flickered slightly: "You can absorb it back? I, Old Sun, would like to see how many times you can absorb it!"

Just then, Li Yan's voice came: "Your Majesty, please wait!"

The Azure Dragon represents the element of wood, which governs growth and is most adept at restoration.

As he spoke, Li Yan had already arrived in front of the Xuanwu phantom.

In an instant, the power of the twelfth-grade golden lotus was activated.

From within that lotus flower, a profound aura emanated, which was none other than the virtue of fertile earth.

Thick earth is the essence of Kun (the earth's energy), the mother of all things.

Its nature is extremely generous, its virtue extremely profound; it can bear all things and suppress all waters.

Although Xuanwu is the supreme ruler of the water element, it has lost its prestige in the face of the power of the earth.

Li Yan raised his hand and pressed a palm down on the Xuanwu phantom.

Golden light surged within his palm, faintly resembling the image of mountains and rivers.

Wherever the golden light passed, even the void seemed to freeze.

The Xuanwu phantom sensed the heavy aura and immediately panicked.

The tortoise and snake struggled desperately, trying to break free from the golden light.

Wherever the golden light passed, even the void seemed to freeze.

The Xuanwu phantom sensed the heavy aura and immediately panicked.

The tortoise and snake struggled desperately, trying to break free from the golden light.

But the golden light pressed down on it like a mountain, and it couldn't break free no matter what it did.

As Li Yan unleashed his palm strike, the golden light intensified dramatically.

The next moment, the tortoise and snake shattered inch by inch, turning into specks of ghostly light that dissipated into the void.

Immediately afterwards, the three symbols were completely broken, and the restrictions around the jade platform also dissipated.

The three treasures lay quietly on the jade platform, completely unhidden.

Sun Wukong was overjoyed. He somersaulted to the front of the jade platform and reached out to grab the Dinghai Pearl.

Li Yan raised his hand to stop him.

"Your Majesty, please wait."

Sun Wukong was taken aback and asked, "What's wrong?"

Li Yan pointed to the three treasures: "Although these three treasures are no longer protected by any restrictions, they are still entangled with karma."

By accepting the gift directly, the king has become entangled with the karma of the Flood Dragon Demon King.

If someone uses this to deduce the truth in the future, they might find some clues.

Sun Wukong scratched his head and said, "Are we just supposed to look at it like this and not take it?"

Li Yan shook his head slightly and said, "It can be taken by law."

Having said that, a wisp of [Golden Light of Returning to the Source] emerged from between his brows, transforming into a bridge of light that extended to the front of the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl.

The moment the light bridge touched the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, the pearl trembled slightly, and a faint blue aura surged from within.

That azure aura was a wisp of divine imprint left in this pearl by the Demon King Jiao during his lifetime.

This mark is connected to the life of the Flood Dragon Demon King; even after his death, this mark has not disappeared.

Li Yan was prepared.

On the bridge of light, golden light flowed, transforming into countless fine threads that coiled around the azure aura.

The silk threads seeped inside, slowly merging with the deep blue aura.

The azure aura struggled for a few moments before being enveloped by layers of golden threads.

Ultimately, it transformed into specks of light and dissipated into the bridge of light.

This is a variation of the "Seven Arrows with Nailhead" technique from the Thirty-Six Transformations of the Heavenly Gang.

Using golden light as an arrow and cause and effect as a guide, the divine imprint was gradually peeled away from the pearl.

It neither harms the precious pearl itself nor leaves any trace of cause and effect.

A moment later, the divine imprint within the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl was completely stripped away.

The pearl trembled slightly and emitted a clear chime.

The sound was like waves crashing on the shore, long and drawn out.

Li Yan opened his eyes and raised his hand to beckon.

The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl slowly rose and landed in the palm of the hand.

Li Yan felt a warm sensation flowing from his palm into his mind.

Within its gentle warmth lies a vast power of water.

With a single thought, one can command the waters of the four seas and calm the waves of ten thousand miles.

He put the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl into his cave and placed it next to a twelve-petaled golden lotus.

The lotus flower sensed the aura of the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, its petals trembled slightly, and a golden light shone down, enveloping the pearl within.

This is to nurture the precious pearl with the power of the lotus, so that its spiritual essence is not lost.

Then, Li Yan repeated the process, peeling away the divine imprints on the Canglang Dao Scripture and the Dragon Roar Sword one by one.

The Canglang Daojing was a scroll of bamboo slips.

When the brand was peeled off, a verdant aura emanated from the bamboo slip.

That verdant air contained vibrant life, yet it also concealed a hint of chill.

It is the image of Yin and Yang intertwined left behind by the Jiao Demon King, who, in the form of an aquatic creature, comprehended the Daoist scriptures of the Wood element.

Li Yan used the Gui Cang Golden Light as a guide and the True Fire of the Sun as an aid to gradually refine the Yin Cold.

Only the pure vitality remains, merging with the Taoist scripture itself.

When the refining was complete, the bamboo slip trembled slightly.

On the surface of the surface, countless aquatic characters faintly emerge, flowing endlessly.

The Dragon Roar Sword, however, was the most difficult to deal with.

This sword was forged by the Jiao Demon King using his own shed dragon horn, and is connected to his very being, sharing the deepest karmic bond.

When the divine imprint on it was peeled off, a monstrous aura surged from the sword.

Amidst the malevolent aura, the faint phantom of a dragon could be seen, baring its fangs and roaring incessantly.

Li Yan remained expressionless as he activated the power of the twelfth-grade golden lotus.

From within the lotus flower, a chaotic aura surged forth, completely enveloping the malevolent energy and the phantom of the dragon.

Chaos is the beginning of all things, and also the end of all things.

The malevolent aura and the phantom of the dragon fell into the chaos, like a mud ox entering the sea; after struggling for a few moments, they gradually dissipated.

In the end, there was no trace of the Flood Dragon Demon King left on the Dragon Roar Sword.

Li Yan raised his hand and the small sword fell into his palm.

All three treasures were obtained.

Li Yan let out a long breath.

This process of removing the brand, though it only took a short time, consumed a lot of my energy.

Especially the Dragon Roar Sword, the depth of its karma far exceeded his expectations.

If it weren't for the twelve-petaled golden lotus suppressing the situation and the assistance of the golden light of Guizang, it would have been truly difficult to handle.

Sun Wukong stared in disbelief, scratching his head and saying, "Brother, your skills are truly divine!"

I, Old Sun, thought I could just take the treasure and leave, but I never imagined there were so many tricks involved!

Li Yan smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty has always been generous and doesn't care about such trivial matters."

"In this world, cause and effect are intertwined and omnipresent."

If we do not sever this cause and effect today, we will surely suffer the consequences in the future.

"In this world, cause and effect are intertwined and omnipresent."

If we do not sever this cause and effect today, we will surely suffer the consequences in the future.

Therefore, I would rather go to more trouble than leave any future problems.

Sun Wukong nodded repeatedly: "Brother, you're right! I'll remember that!"

As he spoke, Li Yan's thoughts stirred slightly, and he sank into the Mirror of the Mind.

On the mirror surface, lines of small golden characters slowly emerged.

Using the Seven Arrows of Nailhead technique, the divine imprint of the Flood Dragon Demon King within the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl was removed, severing the causal link.

[Aura of Destiny +800 (Using the Dharma to obtain treasures, leaving no future troubles)]

[Using the true fire of the sun to refine the cold, yin energy in the Canglang Dao Scripture, restoring it to its original state]

[Aura of Destiny +600 (Water and Fire in Harmony, Yin and Yang in Balance)]

[Use chaotic energy to suppress the malevolent energy within the Dragon Roar Sword and obliterate the illusory dragon image.]

[Aura of Destiny +1000 (Chaos transforms into all things, cause and effect are eliminated)]

[Having acquired the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, the Canglang Dao Scripture, and the Dragon's Roar Sword, the grotto-heaven's treasure vault has gained even more riches.]

[Aura of Destiny +1500 (Treasure Circulation, Fortuitous Encounters)]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Energy: 22200/10240]

Li Yan nodded slightly.

This effort, though somewhat mentally taxing, yielded considerable rewards.

He withdrew his focus, looked at Sun Wukong, and said:

"Your Majesty, this underground palace also contains countless gold and silver treasures, divine weapons, elixirs, and Taoist scriptures and techniques."

"If Your Majesty sees anything you desire, please feel free to take it."

As he spoke, with a thought, the golden light of Guizang swept away, erasing the cause and effect within.

"Brother, I, Old Sun, am not really interested in these gold and silver treasures."

However, we could collect some of those miraculous medicines to nourish the children.

Also, reading more of those Taoist scriptures and practices will help you to integrate and master them in the future.

Li Yan nodded and said, "Your Majesty's words are reasonable. I also had the same thought."

At that moment, the two used their supernatural powers to collect all the treasures in the underground palace.

Sun Wukong took out a Qiankun bag and blew on it.

The bag grew larger in the wind, transforming into a giant sack that held all the elixirs, Taoist scriptures, and cultivation techniques.

Li Yan stood still and waved his hand.

A golden light surged from his sleeve, transforming into countless fine threads that wrapped around the treasures.

Wherever those silk threads passed, the treasures vanished into thin air and were absorbed into the cave.

Within the grotto, a special area was carved out and named the "Treasure Pavilion".

The treasure pavilion was built upon the power of a twelve-petaled golden lotus, with eight trigrams array patterns flowing around it to suppress the flow of fortune.

Once the treasures fell into the container, they each returned to their proper place, neat and orderly, without the slightest disorder.

A moment later, the entire underground palace was completely empty, with no treasures left behind.

Even the white jade used for building the wall and the pearls inlaid in it were taken by Li Yan.

In his words, these white jade pearls, though not rare items, were still the wealth and resources plundered from the people by the Demon King.

Rather than leaving it here for later generations to obtain, it's better to store it in a grotto, where it might come in handy in the future.

Sun Wukong withdrew his supernatural powers, returned to his original state, and stood in the center of the empty underground palace, grinning from ear to ear.

"Brother, this trip has been incredibly profitable! That Flood Dragon Demon King has been searching for tens of thousands of years, and it's all gone to us!"

Li Yan smiled slightly, but said, "Your Majesty, do not be too happy too soon."

Although I obtained the treasure, I also incurred karmic consequences.

Sun Wukong was slightly taken aback and said, "Oh?"

Li Yan shook his head: "Although the Flood Dragon Demon King is dead, the entity behind him still exists."

Ao Shuo has already gone to the Heavenly Court to file a complaint. Although we are acting in the guise of the Lion Camel King and the Roc Demon King, it is still hard to guarantee that our deception will not be discovered.

Sun Wukong asked, "What do you think, brother?"

"I have a plan that may solve the problem once and for all."

Sun Wukong said, "Brother, tell me quickly!"

Li Yan said, "Your Majesty, please consider, who did Ao Shuo accuse when he went to the Heavenly Court to lodge a complaint?"

Sun Wukong said, "The Lion Camel King and the Roc Demon King."

Li Yan nodded and said, "That's right."

If the Lion Camel King and the Roc Demon King were truly still alive, then there would be further evidence to corroborate this matter.

What if they suddenly die?

As he said this, a meaningful glint flashed in his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's golden eyes immediately lit up.

"Brother means, let's go and take those two real demon kings too..."

Li Yan nodded slightly.

"If we can get rid of them, we can not only cut off the northerners' support, but also turn Ao Shuo's complaint into an unsolved case."

"Great plan! Brother, let's go!"

Li Yan raised his hand to stop him.

"Your Majesty, please wait. This matter requires careful consideration."

"The Lion Camel King and the Roc Demon King are both ancient demons with unfathomable cultivation."

Though not as formidable as Your Majesty, they should not be underestimated. If we proceed rashly, I fear we will find it difficult to succeed.

Sun Wukong asked, "What do you mean, brother?"

"I will first deduce the location of the two demons' cave, the depth of their cultivation, the strength of their supernatural powers, and the details of their magical treasures."

Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle.

The monkey nodded: "Brother, take your time with the deductions. I, Old Sun, will protect you!"

Li Yan immediately sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and concentrated.

The mind sinks into the mirror of the heart, stimulating the energy of destiny.

On the mirror, the numbers representing the aura of destiny began to fluctuate rapidly.

22200.

22000.

21000.

20000.

……

A brilliant golden light shone forth, and countless golden threads surged from the mirror, winding and swirling, enveloping the mind within.

The scene before my eyes suddenly changed.

Chaos surged, the five elements flowed, and the eight trigrams manifested.

Li Yan stood there, eyes closed, concentrating intently, carefully deducing the situation.

I don't know how much time passed.

Two images gradually emerged from the chaos.

The first image is of a majestic mountain.

This is the location of the Lion Camel King's cave.

The scene shifts to deep inside the cave.

Deep within the cave, there stood a stone palace.

In the center of the stone hall, a figure sat cross-legged on a throne.

The figure was eighteen feet tall, with broad shoulders, a thick back, and bulging muscles.

His red hair stood on end, like flames burning.

Its face was rugged and ferocious, with large, round eyes, a gaping maw, and exposed fangs.

His body was filled with surging demonic energy and soaring malevolent aura.

Who else could it be but the Lion Camel King?

Li Yan observed carefully.

The Lion Camel King exuded an aura as vast as the sea, faintly revealing the appearance of a Taiyi Golden Immortal.

Beside him stood a huge mountain-splitting axe.

That axe was cast entirely from black gold.

A faint glint of blood flowed across the axe blade.

It is the Lion Camel King's signature weapon, the Mountain-Splitting Axe.

The Lion Camel King closed his eyes and regulated his breathing, his aura fluctuating in strength.

When strong, it's like a volcanic eruption; when weak, it's like a candle flickering in the wind. This is a sign that the injury hasn't healed and it's difficult to fight for long.

Li Yan nodded to himself.

Although the Lion Camel King possessed profound cultivation, this was the perfect opportunity to take advantage of his illness and kill him.

The scene then changes.

The second image is of a cliff face.

That cliff stands by the sea, thousands of feet high.

The walls are smooth and barren.

On the cliff face, there is a crack, and deep within it, a faint, eerie light flows.

That is the location of the Peng Demon King's cave, called [Hun Tian Cliff].

Li Yan looked along the crack and saw a naturally formed stone chamber deep within it.

Inside the stone chamber, a figure was squatting on a stone platform.

The figure was slender and tall, like a bamboo pole.

Its body is covered in bluish-gray feathers, with a subtle luster.

It has a pair of huge wings on its back, folded at its sides, with sharp edges.

His face was sharp and fierce, with a hooked nose and hawk-like eyes.

Upon closer inspection, Li Yan discovered that the Peng Demon King's aura was also at the Taiyi Golden Immortal level.

However, there are several faint cracks on its wings.

Golden light flowed within the crack, lingering for a long time.

Those were the injuries left by Sun Wukong's golden cudgel.

Although Peng Demon King was known for his speed, he was not able to completely dodge that blow back then.

The wings were damaged and have not yet healed.

There were no weapons beside him.

But when Li Yan looked closely with his Eye of Cause and Effect, he saw that there was a faint glow of precious light flowing around the edges of the Peng Demon King's wings.

Within that precious light were countless tiny runes.

It is the natal magic weapon of the Roc Demon King, crafted from his own feathers, called the [Chaos Blade].

This blade is integrated with the wings and is usually hidden among the feathers. When facing an enemy, it transforms into thousands of light blades that cover the sky and are impossible to defend against.

Li Yan secretly made a mental note of it.

The scene then changes.

What emerges are the weaknesses of the Lion Camel King and the Roc Demon King.

The Lion Camel King is renowned for his strength, possessing a powerful physique and the supernatural ability to "move mountains and fill seas," capable of moving mountains and filling oceans.

However, its weakness lies in its primordial spirit.

He was originally the descendant of the blue lion, the mount of Manjushri Bodhisattva. Although he was influenced by Buddhism, he failed to cultivate an indestructible primordial spirit.

If it can be broken by attacking with the primordial spirit, then the result will be twice as good with half the effort.

Peng Demon King is known for his speed. His supernatural power, "Soaring straight up ninety thousand miles," allows him to travel a thousand miles in an instant, moving as fast as the wind.

However, its weakness lies in its wings.

Although those wings were transformed from a natal magic weapon, they were also the most fragile.

If its wings can be broken with a heavy blow, making it unable to escape, it will be as if its legs have been severed, leaving it at the mercy of others.

Li Yan memorized all this information.

The image gradually faded away, and chaos returned to silence.

Li Yan slowly opened his eyes, his pupils shimmering with starlight, and the faint phantom images of the Lion Camel and the Roc Demon flashed by.

Sun Wukong quickly stepped forward and asked, "Brother, how is it?"

Li Yan explained his deductions to him in detail.

As Sun Wukong listened, a fierce glint flashed in his golden eyes.

"It seems that a day in heaven is equivalent to a year on earth, so now is the perfect time to make our move!"

Li Yan said, "Well, I have a plan called 'shifting forms and using someone else to do the dirty work.'"

Sun Wukong's golden eyes darted around, and he said, "Brother, do you mean we should disguise ourselves as heavenly soldiers and generals?"

Li Yan nodded slightly.

"Your Majesty should consider this: if the Heavenly Court truly intends to pursue this matter, it will surely send heavenly soldiers and generals to capture the Lion Camel and the Roc Demon."

"Let's take advantage of this time difference, arrive first, and, as heavenly soldiers and generals, slay those two demons."

"In this way, there will be no way to prove it when the person is dead."

Sun Wukong nodded repeatedly, grinning, "That's a brilliant plan! Brother, who should we pretend to be?"

Li Yan pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Your Majesty can dress up as the Third Prince Nezha, and I will dress up as the Heavenly King of Growth."

These two were both famous generals in the Heavenly Court, known to everyone.

"Given their appearance and actions, even if someone were to witness them, no one would suspect anything."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately closed his eyes and concentrated.

A moment later, his aura changed.

That lean and slender figure transformed into the appearance of a young boy.

His face was as white as powder, his lips as red as cinnabar, his eyes shone with golden light, he was wrapped in a sash, held a fire-tipped spear, and rode on a wind-fire wheel.

Li Yan also silently used the method of transformation and change of form, and his body swayed, transforming into the appearance of the Heavenly King of Growth.

His face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and his eyes were like copper bells.

Wearing a golden helmet, golden armor, a sword at his waist, and a golden whip in his hand, he was majestic and exuded a murderous aura.

The two looked at each other and nodded in unison.

"Walk!"

Two beams of light shot into the sky and disappeared towards the western horizon.

It should be known that Lion Camel Ridge is located within the territory of Xiniu Hezhou, which is tens of thousands of miles away from the East China Sea.

Li Yan and Sun Wukong traveled swiftly, their movements as fast as lightning.

A moment later, a majestic mountain appeared in the sea of ​​clouds ahead.

Li Yan opened his Eyes of Cause and Effect and observed carefully.

On the mountaintop, inside a huge cave, a figure sat cross-legged.

His aura was as vast as the sea; he was none other than the Lion Camel King himself.

"Your Majesty, the Lion Camel King is in the cave."

When we make our move, Your Majesty will use the form of Nezha to launch a frontal assault.

I, a humble Taoist, will use the appearance of the Heavenly King of Growth to provide support from the side.

"We must strike with deadly precision; we must not give him a chance to escape."

Sun Wukong nodded and said, "I understand, I understand!"

After saying this, the two descended from the clouds and headed towards Lion Camel Ridge.

When they reached the mountainside, they saw a group of little demons patrolling the mountains.

Upon seeing these two figures, they were all terrified.

"Heavens...heavenly soldiers and generals!"

"Run! Run!"

They dispersed after a brief commotion.

Li Yan ignored them and continued upwards with Sun Wukong, heading straight for the mountain peak.

Upon reaching the entrance of the cave, Sun Wukong, wielding his Fire-Tipped Spear, roared, "Lion Camel King! Come out and face your death!"

The sound was like thunder, rolling down and shaking the entire Lion Camel Ridge.

A moment later, a figure soared into the sky from the depths of the cave.

The Lion Camel King stood in the void, his demonic aura surging around him, holding a mountain-splitting axe, and looked at Li Yan and Sun Wukong.

Upon seeing the two men, he was first taken aback, then his expression changed drastically.

"Nezha? King of Growth? What brings you here?"

Sun Wukong sneered and said, "I've come to capture you by the Jade Emperor's decree! Surrender now!"

Lion Camel King's expression darkened.

"Take me? What crime have I committed?"

Sun Wukong said, "You colluded with the Roc Demon King to murder the Flood Dragon Demon King, a relative by marriage from the North Sea Dragon Palace, and you still dare to say you are innocent?"

Upon hearing this, the Lion Camel King's expression changed repeatedly.

"The Demon King is dead?"

When did I ever kill him? I have been recuperating in this cave all these days and have never gone out!

Sun Wukong sneered, "Still dare to deny it?"

Before his death, the Jiao Demon King confessed that it was you and the Peng Demon King who did it!

The Lion Camel King's face turned ashen, his heart filled with both shock and rage.

Having lived for tens of thousands of years, how could he not see that there must be something fishy about this?

But at this moment, these two heavenly soldiers and generals were clearly here to take his life.

Even if he explained it ten thousand times, no one would believe him.

With this in mind, the Lion Camel King steeled his resolve and gripped his mountain-splitting axe tightly.

"If you're determined to frame me, you'll always find a pretext! Since you insist on taking my life, then let's see who's the real deal!"

Having said that, he swung his axe down.

This axe strike, imbued with a burning rage, possessed earth-shattering power.

Wherever the axe blade passed, the void shattered inch by inch.

Within that axe-wielding motion, there was a faint phantom image of a ten-thousand-foot-tall mountain pressing down from above.

It was the Lion Camel King's famous supernatural power, "Moving Mountains and Filling Seas".

Sun Wukong flicked his Fire-Tipped Spear, which transformed into a streak of red light as he met the giant axe head-on.

when!

The entire Lion Camel Ridge was trembling violently.

Countless rocks tumbled down, and trees broke.

Sun Wukong was slightly startled.

Although the Lion Camel King was still recovering from his injuries, the force of that axe blow was no small matter.

The Lion Camel King was also taken aback.

Although he didn't use his full strength in that axe strike, he still used about 70-80% of his power.

Even a Taiyi Golden Immortal of the same level would find it difficult to withstand.

But Nezha was able to catch it steadily without yielding an inch.

At that moment, Li Yan, disguised as the Heavenly King of Growth, arrived behind the Lion Camel King.

He brought his golden whip down on her head.

This whip, seemingly simple, actually contains a hidden mystery.

The whip's power combines the strength of "shaking mountains and shaking peaks" with the power of "mastering the five thunders".

A single lash of the whip is like a mountain collapsing, a thunderous roar.

Lion Camel King's expression changed, and without thinking, he dodged to the side.

The golden whip grazed past him, causing a sharp pain.

Lion Camel King tensed slightly; the armor under his ribs shattered, revealing a bloody gash.

Lightning flashed faintly over the bloodstain.