Becoming a God from a Water Monkey

Chapter 1200: The End of an Era of Many Treasures (Part 1)

There is no lying in the "Ear Recognition Method".

Liang Qu's mood plummeted, and he tightened his webbed feet.

"How could he be unable to perform? Frog King is incredibly powerful, resourceful, and capable of strategizing and winning battles from afar. Could it be that he hasn't used his profound skills to collect longevity-promoting materials within the Great Swamp? Or has he already exhausted all the treasures in his home?"

"Don't worry, I'll go to the Tianbo Chamber of Commerce or to Pengze to find General Yuan. Both places have longevity treasures. Oh, and there's also 'Cannot Move,' which has the power to prolong life! Don't worry about the effects of the medicine; just hold on for two more months!"

"Don't move!" it swung its tail and scurried into the frog enclosure, and Big Fat and Little Fat immediately moved aside to make way for it.

In late October, I rushed to Huangzhou to use the [Longevity Seal] on Xu's parents. They recovered in late January and I paid it out. Now it's mid-February, and their "immobility" supernatural power will be restored in another two and a half months. I will then use it on the old toad.

"Alas...it's no use." The old toad sighed deeply, two more wrinkles appearing on its protruding round belly, making it even more wrinkled. "As a treasure, I am a different kind, born and raised by nature, seizing the creation of heaven and earth, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, cough cough, Liang Qing..."

Upon seeing this, Liang Qu understood the meaning. He racked his brains and pondered: "The changes of heaven and earth give birth to divine creatures. The blowing clouds exhale moisture, and the floating air is lush and abundant; the changes of life force, the frog is the spirit of creation nurtured by heaven and earth."

The old toad remained silent, its frog eyes filled with longing.

Liang Qu scraped the stomach fluid again: "Although Heaven is supremely divine, it still relies on the light of the sun and moon; although Earth is supremely spiritual, it still has the transformation of mountains and rivers. Even though a sage possesses the virtue of ten thousand people, he still needs the Three Dukes, Nine Ministers, Twenty-Seven Grand Masters, and Eighty-One Scholars to follow the Way of Heaven; Heaven and Earth demonstrate their boundless power precisely through the Frog King!"

Still no word.

Liang Qu quickly scraped off the stomach wall: "When the two energies interact, they give birth to all things. All things are born and change endlessly. Only the Frog King has obtained the best and is the most intelligent! Frog King, in this situation, my heart is truly filled with inexplicable grief. It's a complete mess, and I can't say anything more."

"Good, good! Liang Qing has poetic talent! Fatty, remember to have these three sentences engraved on my tombstone."

"Wow!"

Big Fat and Second Fat frogs looked up at the sky and wailed loudly, which led to the entire frog clan beginning to cry mournfully. The sound of frogs filled the air, and the frog king slumped down, becoming even more hunched over.

"Wow!!!"

The louder cries instantly drowned out the president and vice president.

A fat, dark-skinned creature lunged left and right, finally reaching the old toad's side. The fat catfish was heartbroken, a sight that brought tears to the eyes of all who heard it. A catfish had infiltrated the group of frogs, but since they were all plump, with smooth skin and large mouths, they didn't seem out of place at all.

"Alas... true friendship is revealed in times of trouble. Even a legless little frog has a heart full of loyalty. From now on, I will not remove you from the frog's list." The old toad's eyes were filled with reminiscence and melancholy. It changed the subject, "Minister Liang, where was I?"

"The longevity-promoting treasures that the Frog Master spoke of, the treasures that the Duobao clan seizes from the creation of heaven and earth..."

"Yes, to be honest, the longevity-prolonging treasure is useless to me, and my supernatural powers are also ineffective."

"Why?"

"Treasures, Xuan Turtle, Coral Crystal Insects... We, the extraordinary beings of heaven and earth, were born into this world against the will of heaven. Our lifespans are predetermined, and our destinies are destined to end. On the day I became a demon, lightning struck the Great Swamp for three days without ceasing. Wherever I went, there was a rolling pool of lightning. At that time, I also felt that my time was coming to an end. Fortunately, the Dragon Lord intervened. Therefore... I am no longer able to fulfill my duty."

Longevity-promoting treasures are useless...

Liang Qu accepted the Imperial Preceptor's Seal from the old toad, feeling as if he had been struck by a dull thud. Perhaps it was because his cultivation had progressed too quickly, but he had never experienced the death of someone he knew, not even his Uncle Chen's father, Chen Renxing, who could now eat two bowls of rice in one sitting and had a rosy complexion.

"Help me up."

Liang Qu helped the old toad, leaning against the lotus stem.

The old toad pulled a yellow bag from under its rear end, rummaged around in it, and pulled out a stack of waterproof land deeds, taking out two of them.

“In Pingyang Prefecture, I have four acres of ponds that belong to our frog clan. Your Majesty, you must keep them safe. The land here is very valuable. I bought them when they were cheap, and they can appreciate in value. They can grow to ten fish per acre. Unless absolutely necessary, do not sell them.”

Remember this well: the banks are surrounded by a vast marshland, with lotus flowers stretching for three thousand miles. This is truly a national policy implemented by the frog race for centuries. The demise of the frogs and the end of the policy are unacceptable. I remember there was a round stone in the pond that I found very comfortable to lie on. I like it very much now that I have this official seal; I'll use it as my monument.”

Liang Qu was inevitably a little embarrassed.

The Frog King carefully put away the small stack of contracts and sullenly agreed.

"In Huangzhou, there is a two-courtyard house. The pond inside belongs to us, as does the hundred mu of paddy fields. Big Fatty and Second Fatty, this is for you two brothers. In Jianshui, this elder has a hundred mu of ponds, which are already full of lotus flowers that bloom every year. Shuangli, this is for you."

Chief Bingyu Chan was filled with sorrow and stepped forward to take the land deed.

"And the old Dragon Lord's Cloud Immortal Island will belong to our Frog Clan until the next Binghuo Day. This is the lease agreement, and this one is the most expensive. Liang Qing, just leave it to the Dragon Palace."

"I still have two exquisitely crafted gold and silver cups in my household, gifts from the Dragon King at a banquet in the past. They hold great significance, and I give them to you as a wedding gift for you and the Dragon Princess. Place them in the Dragon Palace, and they will be returned to their rightful place."

Liang Qu gripped the lease agreement tightly, his thoughts wandering, a sense of guilt rising within him.

"My little house still has many treasure fish, treasure plants, treasure books, treasure mines, and trinkets. Alas, I've collected so many, but they're useless now... Frog Treasure..."

One by one, one by one, one by one, one by one.

The old toad distributed the treasures he had accumulated over his life to the giant frogs of the frog clan, one by one.

After it finished, it aged ten years in an instant. The skin on its back faded even more severely, as if it had weathered away all at once, losing its original bright and vibrant brownish-yellow color and forming a hard shell. Its belly was no longer as round and shiny as before, resembling a piled-up towel, and its head drooped down again and again.

"Elder!"

"Elder, don't die!"

"The frog clan cannot function without elders."

The grief could no longer be quelled; deafening cries echoed across the vast lake. The fishermen on the lake were horrified, and upon hearing the faint sobs, they knelt on their boats and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Don't cry, be quiet for a while, let me rest, rest..."

The frogs suppressed their grief, stopping their weeping, their sobs continuing unabated.

The dragon elders swimming on the outer edge sighed silently.

Elder Frog was a bit stingy, greedy, fickle, and treacherous, but without Grandfather Frog, they wouldn't even have the chance to pay for long-lasting breath.

The Frog King tilted its head back at a 45-degree angle, trying not to let the sadness fall, and once again recalled that afternoon when the old toad took it to the banquet, carrying a yellow bag, and stealing the Dragon King's gold and silver cups.

Under the hazy sunlight, the scattered light on the water ripples and flows into a stream of golden light, rising and falling silently.

Everyone, including the frog, was filled with tears.

finally.

The old toad tilted its head.

"Wow……"

"I told you not to argue! Not to argue! What are you two idiots arguing about all day long? You're both morons! Fools! Confused! I'm not dead yet!"

The crying stopped abruptly. The old toad suddenly opened its eyes, jumped up and hugged the big fat frog's head. It opened its frog arms and pulled hard on the big fat frog's mouth. Then it jumped onto the second fat frog's face and hit it with its head from both sides, followed by three kicks to the fat catfish.

"This elder is sleeping! Sleeping! Don't cry your big-headed devil!"

"Snapped!"

The skin bounced back, and white steam escaped.

The old toad did a 360-degree backflip, curled up into a ball, and lay still on the ground.

Big Fat looks at Little Fat, Little Fat looks at Fatty Catfish, Fatty Catfish cautiously approaches, its whiskers poking at it.

"Huhahuha..."

A low snore.

They were indeed sleeping, but none of the frogs were happy. The elders had already divided up their possessions, and there were only two days left. As for the treasure fish and treasure mines they had received, none of the frogs cared.

What's the point of getting the treasure fish if we've lost our core support?

No amount of precious fish can compare to the elder's last precious fish.

……

Clang, clang, the tiles fell to the ground and shattered. The hibernating rat snake, stiff and curled up on the roof, was lifted away by a monkey with a stick and then swept the dust off the roof with a broom.

Construction of the Prince's Mansion is in full swing.

Three monkeys, tails held high, carried the heavy beam across the courtyard. Upon seeing the king and queen pass by, they immediately lowered the beam, put their feet together, raised their tails straight up, pressed their right hands against their foreheads at a ninety-degree angle, turned their heads from left to right, watched them leave, and then carried the beam again. Liang Qu and E Ying returned to the pond to retrieve the round stone beneath the waterfall where the old toad often lay.

"How could someone die of old age out of nowhere?"

Sitting by the pond, Liang Qu's hands hung limply on his knees, looking dejected.

It was supposed to be a joyous occasion, the first time they had celebrated the New Year in the Dragon Palace. They should have been decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, celebrating the New Year together and enjoying family happiness.

However, the old toad's impending death shattered the lively atmosphere. Not only did the frog clan lack a leader, but Liang Qu also felt empty and lost a sense of security.

A great marshland without an old toad is like the Yangtze and Huai rivers without a true dragon.

Long E'ying lifted her skirt and sat down beside him: "How about we ask Frog King if he's willing to accept being led? If he can be promoted by force, that wouldn't be a bad idea?"

Liang Qu shook his head: "It probably won't work."

"Have you tried it, my husband?"

"I tried the Treasure Fish. It can command and communicate, but it can't advance in rank."

Long Eying exclaimed in surprise, "Is that so?"

Liang Qu nodded: "There are roughly three types of creatures that are naturally raised in the Great Swamp. One type is the Treasure Fish, ranging from small horned pomfret to medium-sized golden gong fish and large blood lions. The Dragon King is also a type, which will appear every two Jiazi (60 years) and is unique, even if the river itself reaches a certain size."

The third type is the 'different species' between the two: the maternal uncle's black tortoise Wucangshou, the iron-headed fish's coral crystal worm, and the frog clan's frog male.

All three of them are 'orphaned', having sprung from the Great Swamp. The Xuan Turtle, Crystal Insect, and Frog King can all bring good fortune and avoid misfortune, but the Treasure Toad is the most powerful among them. Let's see. In two more days, if the Frog King really doesn't work, I'll ask around..."

Liang Qu clearly remembered that the old toad had given him a piece of black tortoise shell, which was still buried at the bottom of the pond, showing that even among different species, there was a kind of hierarchical suppression.

"Wow."

The glossy black tortoise shell broke through the water bubble, and the ripples turned into white foam that clung to the pond stones.

"Haha, Xuan Gui, do you hear someone calling me?" Wu Cangshou poked his head out and greeted him warmly, "Prince Huai, Princess Huai! It's been a long time! You two have become even more handsome and beautiful. A perfect match, a match made in heaven."

"Speaking of which, lately in the Great Swamp, for some reason, there's suddenly an abundance of good stuff; I can't catch them all. The King is planning a banquet, and if you two have time… Wow, what a cloud of dust! And so many monkeys!"

Long Eying apologized: "Master Shou, the Liang Mansion has been reorganized and rebuilt into a Prince's Mansion these past two days, so there's been a lot of dust. My wife and I have moved to the Yang Mansion in Pingyang Prefecture. If you came today looking for Lord Su, he should be working at the River and Lake Office right now."

"I see. That makes sense. Now that he's been made a prince, the princely residence is much better, much more spacious. It needs to be built properly."

Wu Cangshou climbed onto the round rock, stretched out his limbs and basked in the sun. "I didn't come here to look for Turtle Mountain. I've just been too busy lately, searching for all sorts of treasures. I've also gained some insights, so I feel like it's a good day to come to the pond and sunbathe without being bothered by toads. Oh, this round rock in your pond is really nice. Of all the rocks I've slept on, this one is the most comfortable."

"Uncle Shou, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep with this stone anymore. I'll have Fatty make another one for me another day."

"Can't sleep?" Wu Cangshou was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, it's the male frog."

Wu Cangshou slapped his paw in fury: "This old frog, is it taking advantage of my tortoise claws? It even wants to take a rock home? This is intolerable! I'll fight it!"

"That's not it. It's because Frog King's birthday is approaching, and he wants to take the round stone from the pond back to carve a tombstone."

Wu Cangshou was taken aback, then asked suspiciously, "Your birthday is approaching, who?"

"Frog King".

"It's just a little toad, why call it a male frog? What's wrong with it?"

"My birthday is approaching."

"Who?"

The problem suddenly started looping, and Liang Qu opened his mouth.

“I know, I know.” Wu Cangshou waved his paw and fell into deep thought. “Back then, they said 196, and after ten years, it’s 206 this year. For a Hunting Tiger Treasure Toad, that’s indeed more than two and a half times longer. But I just don’t believe it… Where is that little toad now?”

"The territory of the Frog Clan".

"Pfft."

Wu Cangshou turned around and fell into the pond, crawled through the waterway, and paddled with all four limbs, heading towards the frog tribe's territory.

"What does Master Shou mean by this?" Long Eying asked.

"I don't know, maybe you'll find it hard to believe? I didn't want to believe it at first either."

The "Ear Recognition Method" was not lying; his vital energy and blood were in a state of decline, and he looked like he was nearing the end of his life.

"Never mind all that, let's get the stone out first. Eying, what's the usual style of a tombstone? Are there any regulations on its length, width, and thickness? What font would be best? You said Frog Grandpa is so old, should we hold a funeral as a happy occasion or a sad occasion? How much should we give as a monetary gift?"

"I'll check it out."

The New Year is approaching, and another important event is about to take place.

I've lost all interest in exploring the Blood River Realm.

Send the little star to stretch out its body and touch its feet, watching the clouds roll and unfold.

"Sigh, it's been almost a year, why hasn't Master come out of seclusion yet?" Lao Mengyao sighed as she lay under the peach tree. Looking at the fruit hanging on the branches, she reached out, picked one, and took a bite. "Why not eat it if it's free? Put it on Master's tab!"

night.

Lotus leaves sway in the breeze.

Wu Cangshou moved his limbs and quietly arrived at the Frog Clan's territory. He saw a "little toad" huddled under a lotus leaf, guarded by the Frog Clan. He was shocked to find that the toad's blood and energy were declining. It was originally full of vitality, but now its skin had faded and it looked like a roadside stone, which could not be found unless you looked carefully.

"Grandpa Longevity Turtle?" Frog Swim landed on the ground. "What brings you here?"

"Shh, this old man has come to take a look." Wu Cangshou waved his paw.

Frog Guerrilla thought for a moment and then made way.

The Western Tortoise and the Southern Frog have a long-standing friendship and know each other. Wu Cangshou is also a general under the Tortoise King. The Fortune and Prosperity Tortoise is a different species from Elder Frog, and they all know each other.

I guess we can be considered friends?

Without any obstruction, Wu Cangshou moved closer, circling the old toad to observe it, stroking its chin, looking at the moonlight, and then at the toad.

It certainly looked like it was about to die, but it still didn't quite believe it.

In the history of the Jianghuai region, the only treasure-bearing toad to become a demon has given birth to a demon king. This unprecedented toad is even rarer than the Dragon King, and its birthday is approaching so suddenly? The great marshland has only recently prospered, yielding so many treasures…

I only glanced at it once, and then watched it from dusk till dawn.

Sunlight pierces through the water, scattering golden needles along the edges of the lotus leaves.

The white sand is soft.

"what!"

Wu Cangshou suddenly realized what was happening, stretched out his tortoise claw, and slapped the old toad hard on the back.

A muffled thud, like striking a cowhide drum.

The old toad wobbled like a jelly.

"Hey!" Frog Guerrilla, filled with shock and rage, descended from the sky, smashing Wu Cangshou away. "You old bastard, what are you doing?! Does the Western Tortoise think my frog clan has no frogs?"

The entire frog tribe was alarmed and scurried out.

Wu Cangshou kicked off with all four feet, leaped over the water, and faced the steel fork and the anchor without fear.

The old toad slowly woke up, looked at the turtle head that had popped out, rubbed his eyes, and only then did he recognize that it was the black turtle Wu Cangshou, upon hearing a loud curse.

"Die my ass! You're clearly about to get promoted!"

(End of this chapter)