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

Chapter 576 The Wood of Taiyin
"To 'pluck the laurel from the moon palace,' one must rely on the power of 'Wu Gang's axe to chop down the laurel tree.'"

"This axe can break through the hardness of the innate laurel tree."

The Moon Goddess sat regally on her Moon Throne, having finished her explanation, and turned her gaze to the Moon Goddess standing to one side, issuing her decree:
"Su'e, quickly take this decree of mine and inform Wu Gang, ordering him to use the 'Axe to Chop Down the Cassia Tree' to assist the Jade Pool Master of Ceremonies, Wen Song."

"As required by the Jade Pool Master of Ceremonies and Literary Scriptures, the necessary laurel wood will be harvested."

"No delays allowed!"

After speaking, the Moon Goddess lightly tapped her fingertip, and a Moon Decree condensed from moonlight steadily landed in the palm of Fairy Su'e.

The decree issued by the Taiyin Star Lord directly solved the key step for Xiao Chen in obtaining the spiritual materials he needed.

"This humble servant will obey the Star Lord's decree."

Upon hearing this, Fairy Su'e immediately curtsied, her posture respectful and graceful.

"This Yang Guoshan..."

Her gaze inadvertently swept over Xiao Chen, her mind racing, and she couldn't help but think of the large peach that Yang Guoshan had promised her.

"Large-fruited flat peaches..."

Deep within the cool, clear eyes of Fairy Su'e, a hint of expectation and an indescribable complex emotion were suppressed.

At this moment, Xiao Chen's mind was already racing.

The Moon Palace has several treasures, each with its own unique wonders.

One is the "Jade Rabbit's Pestle," a pestle used by the Jade Rabbit to pound medicine. Its origin is extraordinary, as evidenced by a poem:

"The Immortal Root is a piece of mutton-fat jade, which took countless years to shape. I obtained it when chaos first opened, and I was the first to be judged by the primordial chaos."

This pestle possesses immense power, far surpassing ordinary magical artifacts. A poem also praises its power:

"This weapon has a grand name, but compared to your golden cudgel, it's like the pestle used to pound medicine in the Moon Palace—one strike and a person is dead!"

When the Jade Rabbit Spirit uses the "Jade Rabbit Pestle" to pound medicine, it can use the essence of Taiyin to refine the elixir of immortality. This symbolizes the wonderful method of "condensing Yin and returning to the origin," and is truly a treasure of the immortals.

One of the treasures in the Moon Palace is the "Wu Gang's Axe for Chopping the Laurel Tree," also known as the "Axe for Breaking the Laurel Tree in the Moon Palace."

It was used by Wu Gang to chop down the cassia tree.

Although the primordial laurel tree was transformed from Pangu's eyelashes, it contains the origin of Taiyin and symbolizes the immortality of Taiyin.

But the universe is wondrous in its creation, and all things are mutually reinforcing and mutually restraining.

This "Toad Palace Laurel-Plucking Axe" is one of those rare treasures that can restrain the innate power of the laurel tree and truly damage its trunk.

Its secret lies in the power of "breaking through yin and severing spirits," which specifically counters the laurel tree's miraculous self-healing ability, making it truly the laurel tree's nemesis.

The "Toad Palace Climbing Laurel Axe" was created specifically for the "Toad Palace Climbing Laurel" and symbolizes destructive power; it is also a remarkable magical weapon.

Its power is comparable to that of the "Jade Rabbit's Pestle".

"The Jade Rabbit's pestle... I've already obtained it."

"Wu Gang's axe to chop down the cassia tree, the axe to pluck the cassia tree in the moon palace... just hearing the names of these weapons makes me, King Golden Horn, feel a connection to them."

Xiao Chen's mind raced, and he firmly remembered the Moon Goddess's "generosity" with its ulterior motives.

He bowed again and thanked them loudly:
"The Star Lord's grace is boundless and his love is supreme!"

"Yang Guoshan will never forget the kindness of the Star Lord in granting his wish today!"

"If there is any need for me in the future, I, Yang Guoshan, will certainly do my best!"

When Xiao Chen made his promise, he didn't even blink, always using "I, Yang Guoshan" to make the promise.

What does Yang Guoshan's promise have to do with King Golden Horn?

"good!"

"Since you have this intention, I am pleased. I hope you will not fail to live up to your words today."

The Moon Goddess nodded gracefully, her wide, moon-veiled sleeves fluttering as she waved her hand.

"Go."

Watching Su'e lead Xiao Chen out of the main hall, their figures gradually disappeared into the palace corridor bathed in the cold moonlight.

The Moon Goddess's eyes were deep and unfathomable, as if she were deep in thought.

……

The palace corridors are winding.

The fairy Su'e moved gracefully ahead, leading the way.

Xiao Chen followed closely behind.

The path beneath our feet is paved with black jade, so shiny it reflects the boundless, ever-flowing starry sky above.

Walking on it feels like stepping into a vast void, with stars twinkling all around, as if you could "pluck the stars from the sky".

"Da da da……"

"Da da da……"

In the cool moonlight, the sound of their footsteps echoed in the empty palace corridor.

Ahead, the silhouette of the fairy Chang'e, outlined by the moonlight, appeared even more graceful and ethereal.

She didn't turn around, but her voice entered Xiao Chen's ears softly, like a whisper:

"That innate laurel forest, whose domain name is 'Laurel Palace,' is vast and boundless, forming its own little world..."

After speaking, she paused briefly, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, as if considering how to describe that mystical place more clearly and accurately.

After a short while, she parted her lips slightly and continued:
"The majesty of the palace lies in its mother tree."

"The mother tree of the innate laurel tree is the most precious among them."

"The Primordial Laurel Tree is an ancient divine tree born at the beginning of chaos. Its roots are deeply embedded in the core of the Taiyin Star, its trunk pierces through the void, and its branches reach into the vast sea of ​​stars, enough to support the movement of the stars."

The fairy Su'e's voice carried a hint of awe and reverence for the primordial laurel tree. She tilted her head slightly and said:

"The primordial laurel tree, with its swaying, can cause the displacement of galaxies and the collision of stars, shaking the heavens and earth."

"This is the supreme power of the primordial laurel tree."

"The Taiyin star was transformed from the eye of Pangu."

"Legend has it that the primordial laurel tree was formed from the eyelashes of the god Pangu when he created the world. It was born with the moon and carries the supreme power and creation power of the god Pangu."

"Its immortal tree body is the very essence of the Yin principle."

"Like human eyelashes, which have many strands."

"The mother tree of the laurel tree also has many roots."

"The mother tree is so tall that it cannot be measured, its shade blocking out the sky and the moon. Its bark is as black as ink, and the natural patterns on it are like human eyelashes."

"Its leaves contain the essence of moonlight, and its bark is dark brown."

"Over the years, we've also grown some saplings."

"These saplings either differentiated from the original essence of the mother tree or were carefully cultivated by humans."

“It is over a million feet tall and resembles the mother tree in shape, but it ultimately lacks the most core primordial chaos origin.”

"Therefore, although its power is extraordinary, it is still far inferior to the mother tree by even a fraction."

"Ordinary people who come here to cut down the cassia tree will find it difficult to succeed without the special blessing of the Star Lord or the assistance of the 'Axe for Plucking the Cassia Tree in the Moon Palace'..."

The fairy Su'e glanced at Xiao Chen with a slight shift in her gaze:
"Even with the power to move mountains and fill seas, one can only sigh at the mother tree and settle for second best by trying to break off a few branches of the offspring."

"And in the laurel forest, the trees with veins on their trunks that do not resemble upper eyelashes are the seed trees."

"You must carefully distinguish, and be careful not to take the wrong one."

"I see……"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen suddenly understood and gained a clearer understanding of the laurel palace and the innate laurel tree.

The place called Guidian, which the Jade Rabbit Spirit once mentioned, is the place referred to in the line "Living with me in the Moon Palace for a long time, and always residing beside the 'Guidian'."

That must be the place where the innate laurel forest is located.

As for Wu Gang, he is recorded in the "Classic of Mountains and Seas: Classic of the Seas Within":
"Bo Ling, grandson of Emperor Yan, had an affair with A Nu Yuan Fu, the wife of Wu Quan. Yuan Fu was pregnant for three years..." This means that Wu Gang (also known as Wu Quan) killed Bo Ling in anger because his wife had an affair with Bo Ling, the grandson of Emperor Yan. As a result, Emperor Yan banished him to the Moon Palace to cut down the immortal cassia tree.

From then on, Wu Gang was forced to chop down the tree for ten thousand years without rest, serving eternally in the Moon Palace as punishment.

This is tantamount to sentencing Wu Gang to life imprisonment and permanent forced labor.

Wu Gang naturally exists in the world of Journey to the West, and he resides on the Taiyin Star.

The Curtain-Rolling General once said:
"This precious staff of mine... was originally a branch of Thoreau from the moon, which 'Wu Gang' chopped down..."

...All these legends point to the Moon Palace.

……

Fairy Su'e's words undoubtedly clarified the level of Xiao Chen's goals, making him understand what he was seeking on this trip.

It is naturally the branch of the mother tree of the primordial laurel tree, which bears the divine pattern of Pangu and contains the purest essence of Taiyin!
Xiao Chen understood immediately and thanked Fairy Su'e:

"Thank you for enlightening me, fairy."

Being near the solemn Taiyin Palace, the two tacitly understood that it was not advisable to say too much.

then.

The fairy Su'e moved with light, graceful steps, leading Xiao Chen directly towards the mysterious "Gui Palace," leaving only a series of light footsteps that gradually dissipated in the palace corridors.

……

The Taiyin star is vast and desolate, with a unique landscape.

Looking around, the moon's surface was almost devoid of vegetation, with only an endless expanse of dark rocky land covered in frost and snow, cold, desolate, and vast.

In the area, there are numerous "craters" of varying sizes and strange shapes.

These craters on the moon range in height from tens of thousands of feet to hundreds of feet, scattered among the stars.

The moon is called "Toad Palace" for a reason; its surface is bumpy and uneven.

It's just like the "poisonous bumps" that grow on a toad's body.

Seeing this scene, Xiao Chen secretly set his sights on these "craters":

"In this situation, these craters in front of me are so similar to the 'poisonous bumps' that cover my toad's back."

"What a coincidence that I, King Golden Horn, am destined to be here!"

In an instant, a bold and novel idea for weapon forging suddenly took shape in Xiao Chen's mind.

His usual weapons were mostly axes and halberds.

Since the Moon God has bestowed upon us two innate laurel woods as an extra blessing, why not use them to forge two divine weapons of our destiny?
Firstly, naturally, it is necessary to create the "free-flowing and ever-changing" Fangtian Halberd.

The wonder of this halberd lies in its endless variations.

Xiao Chen planned to use the laurel mother tree branch as the core, integrating it into the tree to create a myriad of wonders.

In this way, with the halberd in hand, whether long or short, thick or thin, it can be used at will, changing unpredictably and making it impossible for the enemy to defend against.

Secondly, a "giant axe that can change size at will" must be forged.

The axe is a heavy weapon, the one used by the god Pangu to create the world. Naturally, the heavier the better, so as to demonstrate its power.

Xiao Chen pondered in his heart:

"Why don't I use another branch of natural laurel wood as the handle of my axe?"

"Forge another Taiyin Divine Axe."

Looking at the craters on the surface of the moon, Xiao Chen seemed to be deep in thought.

The natural laurel wood is exceptionally tough and can bear immense weight, making it an excellent material for axe handles.

And those ring-shaped mountains on the Taiyin Star, refined by the moonlight for billions of years and containing the vast essence of Taiyin, could serve as the core of the giant axe's blade.

The "giant axe" crafted in this way can truly move mountains and fill seas, its size is at will, and with a swing it can shatter mountains and rivers and change the color of the world!

Thinking of this, Xiao Chen thought to himself:
"Wonderful! These Taiyin Mountains must have been formed from the essence of Taiyin, and they are truly destined to be connected with me, King Golden Horn."

"Perfect for my needs in forging and casting axes!"

As Xiao Chen looked at the various craters, he grew increasingly fond of them, feeling that each one contained unparalleled power, as if they were quietly waiting for him to awaken and refine them into a powerful weapon in his hand.

Moving these enormous objects would inevitably cause a huge commotion.

Xiao Chen's mind raced as he pondered to himself:

"This matter should not be publicized or carried out at this time and place, lest it cause unnecessary complications."

"It seems I'll have to ask that monkey for help to get a few mountains."

They traveled for a short while longer.

As I walked, a strange, rich, and refreshing osmanthus fragrance unexpectedly pierced through the chill of the Moon Star and went straight to my nostrils.

This fragrance is unlike any other osmanthus scent in the world; it seems to contain concentrated moon essence, pure, elegant, and otherworldly.

Each breath invigorates the spirit, as if enlightened, leaving the whole body feeling refreshed and invigorated, as if wisps of moonlight are circulating within, cleansing every inch of the body.

The fairy Su'e parted her red lips slightly and introduced Xiao Chen in a soft voice:
"Master Yang, the Gui Palace is just ahead."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen's spirits lifted, and looking up, he saw the magnificent Gui Palace standing before him.

This scene is truly breathtaking and awe-inspiring!
Looking ahead, where heaven and earth meet, a vast and expansive forest rises from the ground, reaching straight to the boundless starry sky.

That is the Cassia Palace!
Among them, countless towering trees stood proudly, their entire bodies shrouded in a dreamlike, ever-flowing mist of moonlight.

The legendary innate laurel tree is even more enormous, towering and majestic, like a giant pillar supporting the vast cosmos.

Its towering height reaches into the clouds, piercing the sky, and even looking as far as the eye can see, it is difficult to discern the end of its canopy.

The dark black tree trunk stretched to the heavens and the earth, exceptionally thick, as if it could bear the weight of the world.

On the tree trunk, natural patterns intertwine, resembling the eyelashes of Pangu, subtly moving.

Every subtle fluctuation caused the stars in the sky to twinkle and respond, as if in resonance.

Its branches and leaves spread out like a giant umbrella, covering the sky above the moon.

Its leaves are crystal clear, just like ice that has been condensed over millions of years. Within the veins of the leaves, a pale golden divine light flows endlessly, emitting a soft and cool moonlight that is enough to illuminate a star field.

Beneath the tree canopy, the scenery is even more spectacular.

On those branches that stretch across the starry sky and are thicker than mountains, one can see stars, some bright and some dim, some large and some small, dwelling and adorning the landscape.

It is unknown how many stars from the primordial universe truly dwell on this enormous branch, like abundant fruit hanging from its branches.

Throughout the forest, a cold, silvery-white mist lingers year-round, thick as a sea of ​​smoke, impossible to dissipate.

The cold mist, seemingly imbued with spirit, swayed and curled among the sacred trees, adding a touch of tranquility and solitude to the Osmanthus Palace.

The ground of the Cassia Palace is not ordinary soil, but rather the condensed essence of the moon, flowing like liquid to form a silvery ground where light and shadow move.

Walking on it is like stepping on clouds and mist, soft and light, yet carrying a hint of coolness that penetrates the heart, instantly making one feel refreshed and clearing away all distracting thoughts.

Even stars have a lifespan.

As far as the eye can see, tiny star nuclei, like newly blossoming pearls, quietly cling to the branches, absorbing the abundant essence of the moon, like infants suckling milk, drawing upon the essence of heaven and earth, waiting to grow strong and transform into brilliant stars.

Some ancient stars, their brilliance dimmed and their lifespan exhausted, streaked with a faint tail of light, and fell like shooting stars into the depths of the forest. They gave their last primordial essence back to the ancient sacred tree, transforming themselves into nourishment for new stars…

Meanwhile, high and secluded in the tree canopy, new stars were quietly conceived and grew in the moonlight and mist, eventually breaking away from the divine tree and escaping into the boundless sea of ​​stars with their nascent light...

The universe and stars, their birth and death, their brilliance flowing and transforming, all evolve within this space.

The vastness and grandeur of the laurel tree is beyond the imagination of ordinary people and cannot be fully described in words.

It is:

"The golden crow carries the sun, and Tang Valley is the place where the sun rests."

"To the moon palace, pluck the laurel; the laurel reaches the sky; the stars perch on the branches."

The laurel tree, with its roots reaching the moon and its branches reaching the sky, is a celestial abode for stars. Through the cycles of creation, it nurtures the universe and stars, serving as the pivot of Yin and Yang in the universe.

This is called "Taiyin Wood"!
(End of this chapter)