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

Chapter 574 Reaching the Moon Palace and Forging the Divine Weapon of Taiyin!

Xiao Chen looked helpless and shook his head with a sigh:
"Just now, when I exerted all my strength, I... I couldn't control the force and completely lost control..."

"The Great General's divine power was already astonishing, and my sudden surge of power has only made it more chaotic. I am truly... ashamed!"

"Hahaha!!!"

Upon hearing this, General Rolling Curtain was taken aback for a moment, then burst into a hearty laugh:
"So that's how it is. The Primordial Water Peaches are rare treasures of heaven and earth. You are fortunate to receive a gift from the Queen Mother of the West; it is your good fortune."

"These celestial treasures contain boundless spiritual power, and the effects vary from person to person when they are consumed."

"It must be the power of the peaches of immortality that has unleashed your potential and greatly increased your strength. This is a fortunate thing, so why should you feel ashamed!"

General Rolling Curtain nodded slightly, his eyes filled with admiration and satisfaction.

Say it.

He strode up to the white jade pillar pierced by the cold iron spear.

The spear was deeply embedded in the stone pillar, with only about a foot protruding above it.

The general simply extended one hand, his five fingers gripping the butt of the spear like iron claws, and gave a low shout:
"rise!"

Without any visible exertion of his strength, a sharp cracking sound was heard, and the twelve-foot-long cold iron spear embedded in the hard stone pillar was pulled out by him with one arm!
His movements were relaxed and graceful, as if he were casually picking a flower.

He casually tossed the long spear between his fingers, and the Curtain-Rolling General clicked his tongue in amazement:
"Tsk tsk, this spear is forged entirely from cold iron, over twelve feet long and weighing over three thousand catties, which is not light at all... Indeed..."

He tossed the gun to the soldier, then turned and looked at Xiao Chen with lightning-fast eyes, his tone resolute:
"Fine! What a 'nice problem'! But—"

He strode forward, his eyes fixed on the enemy, radiating a powerful aura.

"If we military generals do not have a suitable divine weapon to assist us, we are like birds with broken wings or tigers without teeth."

"This must not be taken lightly!"

"It is a great regret in life if one cannot exert one's full strength due to the lack of a suitable weapon."

After saying this, General Curtain-Roller threw the demon-slaying staff in his hand, which had been shining brightly and had accompanied him in protecting Lingxiao for countless years, into the air towards Xiao Chen!

"Take it!"

The Curtain-Rolling General laughed loudly, displaying a heroic and imposing demeanor:
"Let's test this old fellow's strength! Let's see if this staff can hold up your newly acquired 'divine power'!"

A dark light pierced the air and arrived in front of him in an instant!
A glint of light flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes, and he steadily reached out with both hands to catch the Demon-Slaying Staff.

Shortly after, the familiar notification tone sounded:

"Host, it has been touched..."

Xiao Chen gripped the staff handle tightly. In an instant, he felt a strange power, both profound and agile, emanating from the staff. It resonated perfectly with his toad-based power, as if the two were of the same origin and complemented each other.

This is precisely the "Taiyin Power" contained within the Demon-Slaying Staff, as gentle and profound as the moon's radiance.

After copying the Demon-Slaying Staff...

Xiao Chen immediately brandished his staff. His movements were agile, the staff flashing, and although his moves were slightly clumsy, they possessed a thunderous force.

The wind howled, stirring up invisible waves of air that caused the clouds and mist inside the hall to churn and the wind to rage.

General Rolling Curtain praised:

"Not bad, it seems you can now wield my demon-slaying staff."

The rehearsal was completed.

Xiao Chen stopped his stance and stood still, stroking the staff with his hand, uttering a heartfelt exclamation:

"The general's staff is extraordinary, as heavy as a mountain yet as agile as the wind! It is truly a peerless divine weapon that can be used at will!"

Those below were filled with envy.

Immediately, Xiao Chen handed the Demon-Subduing Staff back to General Curtain-Roller, his face showing a questioning expression:

"May I ask, General, what kind of divine materials and rare artifacts were used to forge this divine weapon that rivals the creation of heaven and earth?"

"It has such miraculous effects, it's truly amazing."

General Curtain-Roller received the Demon-Subduing Staff, a hint of emotion in his eyes, and stroked the staff with a smile:
"This precious staff of mine was originally a branch of the 'Primordial Laurel Tree' in the Moon Palace."

"This 'Primordial Laurel Tree' is an innate spiritual root nurtured by the essence of the moon at the beginning of chaos, and it has long been sentient!"

"Its branches were cut down by Wu Gang, the woodcutter from the moon palace, and then meticulously carved and forged by the divine craftsman Lu Ban with his superb skills."

"It contains the essence of primordial Yin metal energy and is surrounded by the extraordinary brilliance of starlight and pearls. After being nurtured by countless suns and moons, it has long been spiritual and divine, and is incomparable to ordinary weapons of the mortal world!"

"This staff can be made as I wish, long or short as I please, thin or thick as I please."

“Thousands of years ago, I was appointed General of the Curtain-Raising Ceremony. I was bestowed this staff by the Jade Emperor as a special favor to protect me. Since then, it has accompanied me in subduing demons and monsters, and has never left my side.”

……

In ancient times, the cassia tree in the moon was also called "Saluo tree" or "Qian tree".

Wu Gang refers to the mythical legend of "Wu Gang chopping down the cassia tree".

In the Qing Dynasty, Zeng Pu wrote in Chapter 5 of his novel *Nie Hai Hua*:

"If Wu Gang's jade axe, used to prune the cassia tree, were to cut off even a branch or two and be given to our master, our master could pass the imperial examination and be named 'Plucking the Cassia Branch from the Moon Palace'."

……

"The innate spiritual root of the laurel, a divine weapon imbued with the essence of the moon..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen seemed to be deep in thought.

In fact, the weapon of his superior, General Curtain-Rolling, "Demon-Subduing Staff," is like the Ruyi Jingu Bang of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong, and the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Sword of Erlang Shen, Yang Jian, both of which are "divine weapons" that can change at will!
This precious staff is made of divine material, specifically the branches of the primordial cassia wood from the Moon Palace.

It is:

“It comes from the shadowless place of the moon palace, carved from the sacred wood of the Solomon tree. Its length or length is up to my whim, and its fineness or coarseness is up to my will.”

However, Xiao Chen also keenly noticed that although General Curtain-Roller possessed the weight and strength of this precious staff, its transformative function of "lengthening or shortening at will, thinning or thickening according to one's intention" was not fully utilized in his hands.

Buried.

Xiao Chen looked at the Curtain-Raising General, his voice filled with urgency and earnestness, and said:
"Such divine weapons that defy the very creation of heaven and earth, this humble general... this humble general is filled with immense envy!"

"General!"

He clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, requesting:
"I still have many Heavenly Blessing Points here. I wonder if I might be fortunate enough to exchange them for... a branch of the same innate cassia wood from the same source?"

"Even if it costs me all my Heavenly Blessing Points, I will not hesitate!"

……

This is called "managing upwards".

Managing upwards in the workplace is an art.

General Roller Curtain was his leader.

If you have a problem or a difficulty, it is wise to go to your supervisor and ask them for help in solving it.

……

Upon hearing this, the Curtain-Rolling General's laughter grew even louder, tinged with a mischievousness, as he pointed at Xiao Chen and said:

"Hahaha! Yang Guoshan! Your appetite... is truly enormous!"

"The innate laurel tree is an innate spiritual root; your few Heavenly Blessing Points are not enough to exchange for it."

"Hey……"

Xiao Chen's face instantly filled with extreme "disappointment" as he gazed longingly at the demon-slaying staff.

He sighed deeply, his voice low and somber:

"As the General said... such a peerless divine weapon and wondrous artifact is ultimately... ultimately unworthy of a lowly general like myself, whose affinity with immortality is too shallow..."

That long sigh was filled with an intense longing for a powerful weapon and a deep regret at not being able to obtain it; it was all there.

General Curtain-Roller saw that he was "sincere and earnest" and, considering that he was a trusted and beloved general who had followed him from overseas to the Heavenly Court, and who had always been capable and had made many merits.

He slightly closed his tiger-like eyes, pondered for a moment as if weighing the pros and cons, and then said:
"Although the primordial laurel tree is a precious primordial spiritual root, its branches grow back after being cut down."

“After a few branches are cut off, the laurel tree will grow back after a while, so it doesn’t matter.”

"How about this."

The general suddenly turned around, his steps swift and powerful, and went straight back to his desk.

The Curtain-Rolling General retrieved a dark, heavy iron token that exuded a chilling, iron-blooded aura.

The token only has two ancient seal script characters: "卷帘" (juǎnlián).

The Curtain-Rolling General slowly said:
“The Moon Goddess owes me a favor from before.”

"Alright then, you take my command and go to the Moon Star to pay your respects to the Moon Star Lord."

"The Moon Goddess, out of consideration for my use of the word 'curtain-rolling,' will naturally allow you to enter the innate laurel forest deep within the Moon Palace, and permit you to personally cut down a branch of laurel wood to help you forge a weapon to your liking!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen was moved to tears and immediately pledged his loyalty:

"The general has shown me great kindness and recognition."

"This humble general, Yang Guoshan, dares not fail to go through fire and water for the Great General, and do everything in his power to repay him! Even if it means nine deaths and one life, and his liver and brains are spilled, he will never flinch!"

Upon hearing this, General Rolling Curtain's lips curled up slightly, revealing a smile, but his eyes showed a moment of listlessness.

only the guy drinking water knows it's cold or hot.

He can feel it.

Ever since the chaos in Donghua, the An Tian Assembly, and the conversation between the Buddha and the Jade Emperor.

The Jade Emperor seemed to have lost the trust he once had in him.

The reasons behind this are like trying to see flowers through the fog, difficult to grasp.

but.

Since things have come to this, let it be.

Thinking of Wang Lingguan's fate, General Rolling Curtain felt a pang of sorrow.

Wang Lingguan was once a powerful and glorious figure, but he ended up in such a state. How could people not feel disheartened?
However, these young immortals in front of us are still full of vigor and ambition.

Just like when I first entered the Heavenly Court.

The Curtain-Rolling General's tiger-like paw landed heavily on Xiao Chen's shoulder, and he said in a deep voice:
As the saying goes, "Even a clever housewife can't cook without rice."

"A good general without a suitable weapon is like a divine bird with a broken wing; he may have lofty ambitions, but he will find it difficult to spread his wings and fly high!"

"This is a matter of life and death, and should not be underestimated."

"Since you've already gone, you must make the most of it and solve the weapon problem once and for all."

His gaze was intense, like a raging fire:

"Remember! You must personally select it from within that Primordial Laurel Forest!" "Take the branch of the finest laurel wood, one with the deepest spiritual essence, the most solid texture, and the most unobstructed veins!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen solemnly replied:

"The general will remember it."

"This humble general will certainly live up to the General's trust and will find the finest branch of cassia wood to forge a divine weapon, bringing glory to the General in the army!"

The curtain-rolling general slammed the curtain down again:
"Seeing your spirited demeanor today reminds me of when I first ascended to the Heavenly Realm. I was just like you, full of vigor and eager for divine weapons to realize my ambitions."

"I hope you will cherish this opportunity and strive for excellence!"

"Do not fail to live up to the profound meaning I have placed in your upbringing!"

After saying that, he changed the subject and inquired about the important matter:

"Yes, so what brings you here to see me today?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen immediately became solemn and bowed to report:
"Reporting to the Great General! Before ascending to the Heavenly Realm, I was born in the Shu region of the Southern Continent, in the Shu Mountain Immortal Sect."

"Recently, we have learned that a powerful demon is wreaking havoc around Mount Shu, harming living beings and causing heavy losses to our Mount Shu sect disciples!"

"This matter has been reported to the local earth god of Shushan and has reached the ears of the heavens, and the heavenly court has also heard about it."

"Upon hearing of this perilous situation facing my sect, I am filled with anxiety!"

"I humbly request the Great General's permission to personally lead my heavenly troops down to the mortal realm to eliminate demons and protect the righteous path, so as to relieve my sect from its dire straits!"

Ancient etiquette emphasized the relationships between "Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher".

This means to respect Heaven and ancestors, be filial to parents and elders, be loyal to the emperor and love the country, and respect teachers and value education.

When the sect is in trouble, disciples should step forward and go back to rescue it; this is a matter of course and a matter of course.

After listening, the Curtain-Rolling General pondered for a moment, then spoke loudly:
"Evil spirits are causing havoc in the lower realms, wreaking havoc and poisoning the lives of countless people. It is our duty to help your sect in this calamity!"

"Since you are a disciple of Mount Shu and a celestial general, it is your duty to subdue demons and monsters!"

"This request is perfectly reasonable! Granted!"

"You may take my command and dispatch your troops, muster your generals, and immediately descend to the mortal realm to wipe out the demons and cleanse Mount Shu!"

Xiao Chen bowed respectfully, his voice firm and resonant:
"Thank you for your kindness, General! I will certainly live up to your expectations!"

"Within a few days, this humble general will capture that wicked creature alive and bring him before the execution platform for public execution!"

Yang Guoshan was indeed a former disciple of the Shu Mountain sect.

The current Shushan Patriarch.

However, the demon that came out from near Mount Shu was actually transformed from a "life-bound hair" of Sun Wukong after he descended to the mortal realm.

Of course, the divine power of even a single "life-bound hair" of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong, is extraordinary.

It's not something that ordinary people or immortals from the lower realms can handle.

Yang Guoshan is now a "Celestial Patrol Captain," a celestial general who commands hundreds of celestial soldiers and is capable of independently descending to the mortal realm to subdue demons.

This was the "golden cicada shedding its shell" strategy that he and Sun Wukong had previously discussed.

This would allow him to legitimately descend to the mortal realm to subdue demons, steal the Nine-Leaf Spirit Herb, and then use it to escape.

And the Curtain-Rolling General:
“I am the most respected in the Southern Heavenly Gate, and I am the most honored before the Lingxiao Palace… I wear a ‘Tiger Head Plaque’ at my waist and hold a demon-subduing staff in my hand.”

The Curtain-Rolling General is in charge of the Heavenly Gate Guards and commands the Spirit Officials before the Palace, "holding the Tiger Head Token".

The "Tiger Head Talisman" was similar to the "Tiger Tally," and it carried the power to "deploy troops."

The Yuan Dynasty document "Postscript to the Bronze Tiger Tally" clearly records that "the tiger tally of the Yuan Dynasty was commonly called the tiger head plaque", confirming its military dispatch function.

……

During this trip to the Heavenly Realm, he made good use of General Curtain-Rolling, and their relationship was quite good.

But the friendship that King Golden Horn gained by using a false identity and General Curtain Rolling might only be a false friendship.

"He is titled 'Curtain Roller,' a celestial general, the Lingxiao Zhentian Jiangque General, and the Imperial Attendant of the Nine Heavens Jade Pivot."

Before leaving, Xiao Chen gazed intently at the imposing back of the Curtain-Raising General, a thought flickering in his mind, and sighed:
"Alas, today he is still a majestic and powerful general, but tomorrow he may have turned into the silent and unspeakable Sha Wujing on the journey to the west."

"Life is unpredictable, and fate is hard to fathom."

"I really don't know how many variables are hidden in this world."

……

After that, Xiao Chen took the Xuan Tie General's Token of "General Rolling Curtain" and rode on auspicious clouds, heading straight towards the Taiyin Star, which was bathed in clear light.

……

It is mentioned in "Journey to the West":

"After Pangu separated the world, the Three Sovereigns ruled the world, and the Five Emperors established order. The world was then divided into four major continents: the Eastern Continent of Victory, the Western Continent of Bull and Cow, the Southern Continent of Jambudvipa, and the Northern Continent of Julu."

Detailed records can also be found in the ancient mythological masterpiece, *Yi Shi*.

"In the beginning of time, when chaos reigned and Pangu was born... his breath became wind and clouds, ever-changing; his voice became thunder, shaking all directions..."

"The left eye is the sun, illuminating the earth; the right eye is the moon, casting its gentle light... The teeth and bones are made of metal and stone, incomparably hard..."

Right now.

Pangu, the great god, created the world and, with his supreme divine power, transformed himself into all things, thus creating this complex and wonderful world.

Pangu had two eyes.

The left eye transformed into the sun star, and the right eye transformed into the moon star.

Above the eyes grow eyelashes, which are no ordinary things, but contain the power of the great god Pangu.

The eyelashes on the Sun Star (Pangu's left eye) transformed into the "Primordial Fusang Tree," the resting place of the Golden Crow, hence the name "Golden Crow Carrying the Sun."

Therefore, the "innate Fusang tree" is the "tree of the sun," containing endless yang energy.

The Classic of Mountains and Seas, Overseas Eastern Classic, records:

"Above Tang Valley is the 'Fusang,' where the ten suns bathe and reside in the water. Nine suns reside on the lower branches, and one sun resides on the upper branch."

……

The eyelashes on the Taiyin star (Pangu's right eye) transformed into the "innate laurel tree," which is known as "plucking the laurel in the moon palace."

The “Innate Laurel Tree” is rooted in the Yin and grows by absorbing the essence of the moon. It was transformed from the eyelashes of Pangu and is known as the “Wood of the Yin”.

The laurel tree, born of nature, contains the mysterious and unpredictable "power of Taiyin".

The Western Han Dynasty text *Huainanzi* records:

"Yi asked the Queen Mother of the West for the elixir of immortality. Yi's wife, Chang'e, stole it and fled to the moon, where she took on the body of a 'toad' and became the 'moon spirit'."

The Tang Dynasty text *Youyang Zazu* records:

"An old saying goes, 'There is a cassia tree in the moon,' and there is a toad there. Hence, other books mention 'the cassia tree in the moon.' The cassia tree is five hundred feet tall, and there is a person below who constantly cuts it down, but the tree heals itself after being cut."

in fact.

This "Innate Laurel Tree" is no less remarkable than many other innate spiritual roots, including the "Innate Ren Water Peach Tree," the "Innate Fusang Tree," the "Innate Bodhi Tree," the "Innate Gourd Vine," the "Seven Treasures Tree," and the "Ginseng Fruit Tree."

It's even slightly better.

After all, although the "innate gourd vine" and "ginseng fruit tree" are innate plants, they have been born by absorbing the essence of heaven and earth through the vicissitudes of time.

But ultimately, it cannot compare to the power directly transformed from the eyelashes of the Great God Pangu, which contained the power of the Great God Pangu.

The "Innate Laurel Tree" is a Yin wood, the most Yin-attribute wood in the world, and is revered as the "Innate Laurel Tree".

Its inherent "yin power" is mysterious and unpredictable. If it can be fully unleashed, it will surely amaze the world, make ghosts and gods weep, change the color of the wind and clouds, and shake the mountains and rivers.

However, no one has yet appeared who can unleash the power of the "Innate Laurel Tree" Yin essence.

The strength of weapons in the world is closely related to the person using them.

The Ruyi Jingu Bang (the magic staff) is merely a stabilizer for water, forged by Laozi from "nine-turned fine iron," and is not considered a weapon at all.

The Three-Pointed Double-Edged Sword was merely transformed from a three-headed dragon. Although it had its unique features, its origins were not the strongest.

However, the one who uses the Ruyi Jingu Bang (the magic staff) is Sun Wukong, while the one who uses the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Sword is Yang Jian.

Because Sun Wukong and Yang Jian are strong.

Therefore, the Ruyi Jingu Bang (Golden Cudgel) and the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Sword are very powerful and have become famous divine weapons throughout the Three Realms.

Therefore, the strength of a weapon does not depend entirely on its material and origin, but rather on who wields it.

If the user's strength is mediocre, even the most powerful weapon will be difficult to unleash its full potential.

The foundation of a primordial spiritual root like the "Innate Laurel Tree" is absolutely no less than that of the Ruyi Jingu Bang (Golden Cudgel) and the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Sword.

The key question is: who is using it?

He is the Golden Horned King, whose true form is a toad.

For a toad, a weapon crafted from a natural laurel tree would naturally be the most suitable.

A glint of light flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes:

"I am a toad, a creature of the Yin, and my union with this Yin laurel is a match made in heaven."

"If one can fuse this innate laurel branch into one's own halberd, one will surely be able to forge a truly omnipotent divine weapon that is as one wishes and contains the great power of the Taiyin."

"With this divine weapon in hand, my strength will surely increase greatly!"

Water belongs to Yin, and so does metal.

The golden toad is an aquatic creature and a beast that brings wealth; it is a creature associated with Yin.

There is an ancient saying, "to pluck the laurel in the moon palace," which means to achieve great success and pass the imperial examination with flying colors.

For a toad, there is no weapon more suitable than the "Moon Palace Laurel," a type of wood associated with Yin.

This weapon is compatible with its own attributes, allowing it to unleash its maximum power.

It is:

"The sun, which contains the golden crow, is called the sun; the moon, which is called the moon palace, is called the moon."

"How could the moon be weaker than the sun?"

Everything depends on the success of the campaign and the master's command!

He, the Golden Horned King, is going to the Moon Palace to "pluck the laurel in the Moon Palace and forge the Taiyin Divine Weapon!"

……

(On the last day of the month, my monthly tickets are about to expire. I'm updating a long chapter of 5000+ words early. Please give me your monthly tickets! Thank you everyone!)
(End of this chapter)