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

Chapter 547 Monkey and Toad Make Their Meeting
skyline.

Beside the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Palace.

The scenery in the Peach Garden is absolutely beautiful.

In the center of the garden, the peaches that ripen once every six thousand years are mostly ripe.

At the tip of the peach tree, purple mist swirled, and mysterious Dao patterns meandered and flowed, reflecting the ever-changing glow of the sunset.

Its rich aroma is almost tangible, deeply refreshing. A powerful life force is contained within, surging and surging. Just by looking at its form and smelling its fragrance, one's mind is stirred, as if one's lifespan is being increased invisibly.

Further into the depths of the Peach Garden, the atmosphere becomes even more extraordinary, like that of a celestial being.

Clouds and mist rise and swirl, auspicious clouds intertwine like brocade, and peaches the size of pomelos appear and disappear among the lush foliage.

The hundreds of plump, large peaches, bathed in the nine-colored glow of the sunset, appeared and disappeared.

Their purple light flowed endlessly, emanating a breathtaking Daoist aura and a life force!

Without a doubt, this is the rare treasure of heaven and earth that takes nearly ten thousand years to mature—the nine-thousand-year-old purple-veined yellow-kernel peach!

Its purple patterns are just beginning to bloom, and spiritual energy is wrapped around it like silk threads. The elegant sweet fragrance seems to be able to cleanse the soul. The restrained brilliance is full of traces of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. It can be called a truly supreme treasure!

Deep within the garden, newly planted peach seedlings can be seen, full of vitality, striving to sprout branches under the nourishment of the rich, watery innate spiritual energy.

In several areas, the spiritual energy was so dense that it was almost impossible to transform, forming small pools of milky white spiritual liquid.

Along the pond, various kinds of medicinal herbs and lingzhi mushrooms grow in competition.

It must be said that this monkey is quite adept at raising horses and tending peach trees.

They're quite dedicated, actually.

Long ago, Sun Wukong served as the Keeper of the Heavenly Horses, tending the horses in the Heavenly Court and raising them to be plump and spirited.

Today, Sun Wukong is in charge of the Peach Garden, and the peach trees are lush and vibrant thanks to his care.

With his hands behind his back, Sun Wukong leisurely led the way, his movements as agile as lightning, sometimes leaping lightly, sometimes running swiftly.

His eyes were sharp, and he frequently pointed out the scenery in the garden, talking incessantly:
"Brother Yang, do you see those peach trees over there? They're blooming so profusely!"

The branches were laden with buds, ready to bloom; in a few hundred years, it would surely be a tree laden with bountiful peaches.

Immediately afterwards, Sun Wukong grabbed Xiao Chen's sleeve and eagerly pointed to another spot deep within the tree canopy, shrouded in purple mist:

"Brother Yang, look over there! Do you see it?"

"Those big peaches, their color changed from red to purple, a shiny purple, exuding a vibrant energy! And the smell, tsk tsk, just one whiff and I, Old Sun, feel completely relaxed, as if my very bones are filled with divine energy!"

Sun Wukong clicked his tongue, a hint of regret flashing across his face:
"What a pity, what a pity, it's still a little short of being fully cooked... We can't rush it! Good things have to be cooked slowly."

Sun Wukong tilted his head slightly, a smug look on his face. He was clearly quite satisfied with the Peach Garden, which he had carefully tended and which was now thriving. He felt a great sense of accomplishment.

“What the Great Sage says is true… This scene has truly broadened my horizons.”

Xiao Chen followed closely behind, responding humbly and politely, but his gaze remained impassive yet sharp as a hawk, slowly scanning the famous Peach Garden of the Three Realms.

Scattered throughout the garden were a few strongmen and local deities, all engrossed in their work and diligently cultivating the land. When the Great Sage Equaling Heaven arrived, they merely bowed respectfully from afar before quietly retreating to the side, as if they were used to such scenes and had long since become accustomed to them.

At the edge of the Peach Garden, several squads of golden-armored celestial soldiers could be vaguely seen patrolling. Their eyes were sharp as lightning, and they were extremely vigilant, but their vigilance was more focused on the outer perimeter and the paths leading to other celestial palaces.

After all, Sun Wukong, as the nominal "manager" of the Peach Garden, was the most powerful gatekeeper of the Peach Garden.

"The Great Sage manages the garden skillfully. The peach trees in this Peach Garden are lush and verdant, the immortal fruits are full of spiritual energy, the order is perfect, and the life is vibrant. The immortal peaches are tempting. It is truly a great wonder of the Three Realms, and people can't help but marvel at it!"

Xiao Chen sighed at the opportune moment, his tone sincere, perfectly satisfying the monkey's sense of accomplishment.

"Hehehe! Of course! Don't you even know who's guarding this place!"

"With me, Old Sun, on my side, even a dead tree stump will sprout a few new shoots!"

"How could this peach orchard not prosper and flourish?"

Sun Wukong beamed with delight at the praise, proudly shaking his furry head, his monkey tail swaying merrily behind him, his entire body of fur unfurling.

As the two ventured deeper into the area, the surroundings gradually became quieter.

“Come on, Brother Yang, I’ll take you to a good place.”

Sun Wukong skillfully pulled Xiao Chen along, and with a few leaps and bounds, they climbed up a nine-thousand-year-old peach tree, the tallest tree in the garden, with gnarled branches like a dragon and a canopy like a canopy, as if walking on flat ground.

The top of an ancient tree.

A thick, horizontal branch, resembling a natural bed, looks very comfortable.

Sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, casting dappled shadows like scattered gold, illuminating the two as if they were draped in a golden veil.

The view here is superb, offering a panoramic view of most of the Peach Garden; at the same time, it is extremely secluded, making it difficult for outsiders to detect, truly an excellent scenic spot.

What's even more amazing is that the surface of the broad branches is exceptionally smooth, as if it had been carefully polished, obviously because Sun Wukong often used it as a recliner, and it still retains a faint peach fragrance and... Sun Wukong's unique hair smell.

Sun Wukong grinned, revealing two sharp fangs, and comfortably leaned back in his "old spot," patting the branch beneath him, and said smugly:

"This peach tree is the largest and thickest in the entire peach orchard. Lying on it and overlooking the scenery is the most pleasant thing to do."

"Such magnificent scenery, do you, the poet immortal of the Jade Pool, have any inspiration?"

"Come, come, quickly recite a poem so that I, old Sun, can also absorb some literary air!"

Xiao Chen chuckled inwardly, but remained outwardly composed. He casually flicked his sleeve and gazed into the distance at the peach blossoms.
"In Peach Blossom Valley dwells a Peach Blossom Hermitage, in which dwells a Peach Blossom Immortal; the Peach Blossom Immortal plants peach trees, and picks peach blossoms to sell for wine money. Sober, he sits before the flowers; drunk, he sleeps beneath them..."

Xiao Chen casually recited Tang Bohu's "Peach Blossom Hermitage Song," his tone leisurely and carefree, as if he were immersed in that fairyland of blooming peach blossoms.

However, just as Xiao Chen was reciting poetry...

Xiao Chen emitted a condensed, needle-like, and virtually inaudible divine thought, which precisely pierced Sun Wukong's ear:

"The king of heaven overshadows the tigers of earth!"

This was the secret code he and Sun Wukong agreed upon when they went down to the mortal realm to weather the storms together.

Just like the secret code he used when playing cards with the Black Bear Spirit.

……

If we encounter a dangerous situation, when the situation is extremely precarious and tensions are high, then we should be prepared to act decisively.

The black bear spirit would then ask, "Master, one against two, shall we?"

If Xiao Chen responded: "It's blown up!"

That means, "Brothers, grab your weapons and chop this bastard down!"

If Xiao Chen said, "That's too much!"

That means: "It's okay, don't worry about me, everyone go do your own thing."

If Xiao Chen said, "I've finished playing my cards."

That's what they said: "I'm out of options. The wind is howling, let's all run for our lives!"

Back when Yang Jian transformed into a green dragon spirit and went to Yuntai Mountain to test the "Golden Horn King," the Black Bear Spirit used this code.

……

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong paused almost imperceptibly!
Within those discerning golden eyes, two golden rays flashed and disappeared in an instant, passing over Xiao Chen's entire body as if they were tangible, attempting to pierce through layers of disguise and directly perceive his true nature.

Sun Wukong's eyes were sharp and filled with an incredulous scrutiny, as if he wanted to see through Xiao Chen from the inside out, down to every inch of his bones and flesh!

However, no matter how hard Sun Wukong tried to investigate, he was still unable to see through the true identity of the person in front of him.

After a while, the golden light slowly receded.

A look of seriousness and deep doubt flashed across Sun Wukong's monkey face.

He tentatively responded with his own divine sense, his tone filled with extreme vigilance:
"Pagoda suppresses the river demon."

Xiao Chen's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile, and he said:

"Monkey, why is your butt red?"

Sun Wukong's eyes lit up, and he said:
"I feel refreshed!"

Subsequently.

Sun Wukong seemed uneasy, and finally, still not entirely sure, he pressed on with another question:
"A pheasant that keeps its head down and burrows in will never make it to Tianwang Mountain!"

Xiao Chen answered fluently: "There's plenty of rice on the ground, hey, we have a solid foundation!"

……

When the second half of the slang matched perfectly, the last trace of scrutiny on Sun Wukong's face instantly transformed into a tidal wave of wild joy!

That familiar code was known only to the Golden Horned Toad.

That familiar, almost vulgar yet subtly cryptic slang, belonging to "themselves."

Only the "golden-horned toad" would have that barely perceptible mischievous ending when following the previous line!

All of this left Sun Wukong with no more doubts—the seemingly unfamiliar "Immortal Yang" before him was none other than his long-lost sworn brother—the Golden Horned Toad!
"Oh my God!"

Sun Wukong slapped his thigh, and the monkey's tail under his robe stood up excitedly, and every hair on his body stood on end, almost as if he was about to jump up.

He darted forward, his movements as swift as lightning, his long arms outstretched, ready to give his long-lost brother a tight hug, just like back in the Water Curtain Cave of Flower and Fruit Mountain.

But his arm, stretched out in mid-air, abruptly stopped.

The identity of the Monkey King and the countless eyes of the Heavenly Court instantly felt like ice water had been poured over his head!
Those piercing golden eyes swept warily around—the Peach Garden seemed peaceful and serene, and the strongmen pruning branches and sweeping the land in the distance, though busy with their own tasks, were ultimately the eyes and ears of the Heavenly Court, and could not be ignored.

Sun Wukong's eyes sharpened and calmed once again.

He instantly regained his serious demeanor, his voice suddenly becoming loud and clear, filled with an official's enthusiasm:
"Wonderful! Wonderful indeed! 'The Peach Blossom Immortal planted peach trees'... Brother, this line is truly extraordinary! Your writing is elegant and refined! It suits my taste perfectly, very good! Excellent!"

He patted Xiao Chen's shoulder exaggeratedly, his voice so loud it could make the ground beneath the eavesdropping walls tremble.
"However, as the saying goes: 'Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but literature is born in the belly!'"

"Simply admiring the beautiful scenery and composing poems is not enough to make it a complete experience!"

"Let's go! We've had our fill of exploring the Peach Garden. Let's go to my residence for a visit."

"I still have several jars of fine wine hidden in my Qitian Palace, the kind of good stuff even the Jade Emperor envies! If I drink with you, I guarantee your inspiration will flow like a torrent..."

"Cough, cough, cough... like a gushing spring!"

"and……"

Sun Wukong put on a serious face, lowered his voice slightly, which made him seem even more solemn:

"Now that I, Old Sun, am in charge of the Peach Garden, the peaches for this Peach Banquet will naturally be selected and prepared by me, Old Sun. This is a grand event in Heaven, and no carelessness is allowed."

"I happen to have some ideas about the Peach Banquet, and I'd like to discuss them with you in detail!"

Xiao Chen understood immediately, bowed, and said loudly:

"Great Sage, how dare this humble immortal disobey your great favor?"

"It is truly an honor for this humble immortal to be invited by the Great Sage."

Subsequently.

Sun Wukong then led Xiao Chen all the way to the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Mansion.

"Boom!" a sound.

The heavy vermilion gate was closed from the inside by the gatekeeper.

Inside the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Palace.

Two attendant celestial officials stepped forward, bowing and saying:

"Great Sage, would you like some tea?"

Sun Wukong, with a dignified expression, waved to the two celestial officials who had just come to greet him and said:

"Go! Go! Go!"

"Hey! Listen up!"

"I, Old Sun, need to discuss the Peach Banquet with this Immortal Yang. I won't see anyone else! Don't bother me!"

"Anyone who dares to make a fuss and disturb our business will be punished severely with the stick in my hand!"

The Monkey King's imposing aura was revealed unintentionally, sweeping around like a storm, frightening the two celestial officials into silence. They bowed and retreated swiftly, fearing they would be affected by this aura.

Sun Wukong continued walking without stopping, leading Xiao Chen through the main hall and corridors, winding and turning as if walking through a maze, until they reached a study in a secluded room deep within the mansion.

The study is elegantly furnished, with ancient landscape paintings hanging on the walls, the Four Treasures of the Study on the desk, and several open Taoist classics.

He slammed the heavy wooden door to the study shut with a bang, instantly cutting off all sight of the inside and outside.

The "official" expression on Sun Wukong's face vanished instantly.

at the same time.

Sun Wukong took the precious iron rod from his ear, and with a soft "hum," it transformed into the Ruyi Jingu Bang, as thick as a bowl, as it flew in the wind.

"Hey hey hey..."

Holding his Ruyi Jingu Bang (Golden Cudgel), Sun Wukong's eyes gleamed. He drew a circular trajectory in the air above the ground, silently reciting:
"Hey! Great Sage Equal to Heaven, you have established your own territory, making the world seem like a stone's throw away. Gods and demons, flee in terror! Rise!"

In an instant, the void hummed and trembled wherever the Ruyi Jingu Bang (the magic cudgel) swept across!
The surrounding space rippled like the surface of water after a pebble was thrown in, creating circles of pale golden ripples!

An invisible yet incredibly strong spatial barrier suddenly rose up, enveloping the entire study like an impregnable fortress, completely isolating it from any possibility of exploration, deduction, or spying from the inside or outside.

It has built an insurmountable defense for the study.

This is precisely Sun Wukong's great supernatural power of drawing a prison on the ground, which can isolate detection and also serve a protective function.

The intelligent stone monkey is capable of transformation, understands the seasons, knows the advantages of the land, and can move stars and change constellations.

This is one of his most treasured supernatural abilities, originating from the innate spatial perception of a natural stone monkey. Its power is unparalleled, and even a Great Luo Golden Immortal would find it difficult to fathom.

Sun Wukong focused intently on observing the golden circle's stable operation, and only after confirming it was functioning correctly did he breathe a sigh of relief, a smug smile spreading across his face.
"Hehe, perfect! Now, no matter if it's a clairvoyant or a god with super hearing, or some blind deity who tries to predict the future, they won't be able to find out a single word from us brothers!"

With a flick of his wrist, the Ruyi Jingu Bang (the magic staff) suddenly shrank and disappeared back into his ear.

"Good heavens, your habit of 'claiming territory' hasn't changed at all."

"After more than a hundred years, your skills have become even more refined and sophisticated."

Xiao Chen saw it clearly, his eyes filled with a hint of mockery and teasing, and he smiled slightly as he joked.

"Hey hey hey."

Sun Wukong waved his hand with a grin.

"This celestial realm is not like our Flower Fruit Mountain. It is full of hidden dangers. It's always good to be careful. Better safe than sorry."

After speaking, Sun Wukong's expression suddenly turned serious, and a rare seriousness appeared on his monkey face, with his eyes revealing a deep vigilance and wariness towards the Heavenly Realm.

Out of caution.

"This is so true!"

Xiao Chen nodded in deep agreement and smiled:
"Monkey, your land-claiming technique is naturally foolproof. I'll add another barrier to make it even better!"

After speaking, Xiao Chen activated his left little finger, which had been fused with the magic weapon "Queen Mother's Golden Hairpin".

His left little finger trembled slightly, and the fingertip hummed.

A soft golden glow, like mercury spilling onto the ground, instantly spread from the fingertips!
The golden light, like a light veil, danced gently across the room, blending perfectly with the spatial barrier set up by Sun Wukong, forming an invisible yet indestructible barrier.

This is precisely the unique magical power of the Queen Mother's Golden Hairpin, capable of shielding it from deduction and preventing prying.

The double barrier is now complete!
With the protection of Sun Wukong's "drawing a circle on the ground to create a barrier" and the "Queen Mother's Golden Hairpin Barrier," there should be no worries.

At this moment.

Sun Wukong could no longer contain his excitement and suddenly rushed in front of Xiao Chen. His hairy hands almost cupped the other's face and rubbed it hard, but he forcibly restrained himself at the last moment.

Sun Wukong's monkey eyes widened, and he lowered his voice, saying with a mixture of surprise and delight:
"Toad! Is it really you?!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen grinned, revealing his signature "Toad Spirit" smile, a smile he hadn't shown in a long time and only displayed in front of the person he trusted most.

Xiao Chen grinned, revealing his toad-like mouth, and laughed:
"Monkey, it's been over a hundred years since we last met. How have you been?"

This moment.

It's as if time has turned back, and the years have rewound.

They, a monkey spirit and a toad spirit, seemed to have returned to those glorious years when they roamed the four continents together, crossed oceans, wandered through streets and alleys, and sought the Tao together.

(End of this chapter)