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

Chapter 584 Contract
"There's nothing of great importance to it..."

Xiao Chen immediately composed himself, smiled slightly, and calmly explained:
"I've only heard that Lady Yunxiao, like you, was transformed from a lofty white cloud. However, she possesses great supernatural powers and extraordinary methods, truly a person of astonishing talent."

"During the Investiture of the Gods, Lady Yunxiao displayed great divine power and became famous throughout the Three Realms. She was truly an extraordinary figure who amazed the world and always admired me."

Xiao Chen changed the subject slightly, his tone carrying a perfectly timed hint of regret:

"When I was in the Heavenly Realm, I was not fortunate enough to see the true face of Lady Yunxiao."

"During this chaos caused by the Eastern Emperor, I only saw the Buddha Tathagata of the West personally arrive."

"But I didn't see Lady Yunxiao come out to stop Emperor Donghua, which made me a little suspicious, hence this question."

"Um……"

Upon hearing this, Fairy Su'e, whose doubts had been dispelled by Xiao Chen's praise and inquiry about Yun Zu's shared origin with her, nodded slightly to show her understanding.

Hesitated for a moment.

Fairy Su'e seemed to have weighed the pros and cons—given the tacit agreement of their "fate in the mortal realm," she should naturally show some sincerity.

Her slender fingers brushed against a wisp of lingering mist beside her, her voice lowered, carrying a hint of solemnity as if revealing a secret:

"As far as I know... since the Investiture of the Gods, Yun Zu was named 'Fairy Maiden of Response and Compassion,' in charge of the important task of the reincarnation and birth of mortal beings, and the key to the new life in the six realms of reincarnation. Her power is profound and concerns the very foundation of the order of heaven and earth."

“Normally… Ancestor Yun should be sitting deep in the Netherworld, personally managing the order of the Six Paths and maintaining the cycle of life and death.”

"As for the daily affairs of the Heavenly Court, or the Heavenly Court's wars and conquests, Ancestor Yun..."

At this point, Fairy Su'e paused briefly, her tone tinged with regret:
"Yun Zu may have already seen through the troubles involved, and now... he rarely gets involved anymore."

She touched on the point briefly, but also clarified the main area of ​​activity for "Yunxiao Niangniang" now – the "Netherworld".

"The Fairy of Clouds is not in the Heavenly Realm, but in the Netherworld..."

Upon hearing Fairy Su'e's words, Xiao Chen felt enlightened, and many clues instantly connected.

The world of Journey to the West is characterized by the "Three Realms and Six Paths".

The Three Realms refer to the Heavenly Realm, the Underworld, and the Human Realm.

Abbreviated as Heaven, Earth, and Human Realm.

Besides the Three Realms, there are also the Six Paths.

For example, when Li Shimin traveled to the underworld, he left the City of the Wrongfully Dead and headed to the Pingyang Road... and arrived at the place of "Six Paths of Reincarnation".

Li Shimin looked around and saw monks, nuns, Taoist priests, laypeople, beasts, birds, those who soared through the clouds wearing rosy robes, those who received ordination wearing golden fish pendants, and even demons and monsters, all running about in the cycle of reincarnation, each entering their own path, without understanding their meaning.

Judge Cui explained:

"This is called the 'Six Paths of Reincarnation'... The wicked will be reborn in the realm of ghosts and suffer endless torment."

It is also mentioned in Journey to the West:

"A hair can swallow the ocean, a mustard seed can contain Mount Sumeru... Upon enlightenment, one transcends the ten stages and the three vehicles, and is stagnant in the four forms of birth and the six realms."

As the "Fairy Maiden of Response and Worldly Circulation," Yunxiao Fairy is in charge of reincarnation in the mortal world, completing the birth of life and maintaining the order of the six realms of reincarnation.

Therefore, she is revered by the people as the "Goddess of Fertility," and her incense is very popular.

She most likely resides in the underworld, rather than the celestial realm.

"The Netherworld..."

Xiao Chen had been there before.

When he went to the Netherworld with the Bull Demon King before, his own cultivation was still shallow, and he was of low status and weak. There were many hidden mysteries in the Netherworld that he could not possibly see at that time.

Looking back now, the celestial realm had the Three Pure Ones, the Jade Emperor, the Four Emperors, countless stars, various deities, and thousands of heavenly soldiers...

In the human realm, there is the Buddha of the West, Guanyin Bodhisattva of the South Sea, Zhen Yuanzi, the ancestor of earth immortals, the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas, mountain gods and earth gods, and various demon kings...

As one of the Three Realms, how could the Netherworld's strength and resources be so shallow?

Let's examine its root cause.

The origin and rules of the Netherworld are now closely related to the ancient ultimate blood war that tore apart the primordial world and determined the fate of the protagonists of heaven and earth—the "War of the Lich Kings".

At that time, the witch and demon races were like fire and water, both wanting to dominate the primordial world and reign supreme over heaven and earth.

Therefore, the resentment deepened day by day, eventually leading to the outbreak of a major war.

That battle was truly devastating: the sky tilted to the northwest, the earth sank to the southeast; the sun and moon lost their light, stars fell; mountains and rivers collapsed, and countless lives were lost!

In this war between liches.

The demon emperor, Emperor Jun, leader of the demon race, perished on the spot when his divine body disintegrated and his true spirit was annihilated in the fierce battle.

Donghuang Taiyi also disappeared without a trace, like a stone sinking into the sea, with no news of him.

The calamity began when ten suns suddenly appeared in the sky. Yi shot down nine of them, and of the ten golden crow princes, only one survived.

The ten great demon saints, whose ferocity once shook the primordial world, have also suffered heavy losses.

Those infamous figures like Ci Tie, Gui Che, and Qin Yuan all perished in battle, while those who miraculously survived, such as Bai Ze, Ji Meng, and Shang Yang, mostly went into hiding.

The Wu Clan, the rivals of the Demon Clan, also paid an extremely heavy price in that cataclysmic calamity that destroyed the heavens and the earth and turned the world upside down.

The twelve Ancestral Witches, who inherited the essence and blood of Pangu, possessed immortal physical bodies, but most of them perished in the earth-shattering collisions, turning into nothingness.

Only Houtu, the ancestral witch, possessed great compassion. Witnessing the souls of all living beings wandering aimlessly in the world, she was moved to make a great vow. She resolutely gave up her divine body and Pangu bloodline, and evolved boundless power to create and construct the "Six Paths of Reincarnation" in the chaos, opening a path for endless souls to be reborn!
To pave a path for all beings to be reborn!
This is known as the "Six Paths of Reincarnation".

Houtu, the ancestral witch, transformed into the Goddess Pingxin, eternally presiding over the core of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, regulating the Yin and Yang order, quelling the ancient malevolent forces, and ensuring the orderly operation of the Netherworld.

From this point on, the Three Realms were in a state of:
"Above is the Heavenly Emperor, below is the Earthly Empress."

The remaining powerful members of the Wu clan, such as the War God Xing Tian and the Xuanming descendant Jiu Feng, were forced to abandon their past glory and blood feuds and submit to the command of the Goddess Hou Tu to assist in managing the cycle of reincarnation.

The Wu tribe used this to accumulate merit in order to maintain the precarious continuation of their bloodline and struggle for survival.

After this battle, the once mighty witch and demon races fell from their positions as masters of heaven and earth!

The demon race's power was squeezed into the miasma-filled and harsh environment of Beiju Luzhou, barely surviving.

The Wu tribe, on the other hand, barely managed to continue their bloodline by using the Netherworld as their only safe haven.

However, the Wu tribe also plotted to rise again and regain control of the territory.

Later, "Chi You, the God of War," led the Jiuli tribe, brave and fearless, in an attempt to compete with the Yellow Emperor for the fate of the human race and to revive the Wu tribe.

However, in the Battle of Zhuolu, Chi You was defeated by the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan, who took advantage of favorable timing, location, and popular support, as well as the assistance of the Heavenly Court.

The Jiuli tribe assimilated into the human race and became "common people".

Some members of the Wu tribe also retreated to the mountains and forests, no longer concerning themselves with worldly affairs.

Furthermore, because the Yellow Emperor received support from the Heavenly Court to defeat Chiyou, the great shaman Xingtian angrily attacked the Heavenly Court, vowing to kill the Heavenly Emperor in revenge.

In the end, Xing Tian was beheaded by the Heavenly Emperor, his head and body separated.

However, his fearless demeanor also earned him the title of "War God Xing Tian".

The Classic of Mountains and Seas records:
"Xingtian fought with the Emperor for godhood. The Emperor cut off his head and buried it in the wilderness of Changyang. Then he used his nipples as eyes and his navel as a mouth, and danced with a shield and axe."

This is the origin of the saying, "Xingtian wields his axe and shield, his fierce will remains steadfast."

Despite his fierce ambition, "War God Xing Tian" was powerless to reverse the tide of battle.

After Xing Tian's defeat, the Wu Clan declined and fell into a worse state than the Demon Clan.

Humanity, inheriting the destiny of heaven and earth and protected by the saints, will eventually rise to power in response to the calamity.

The Three Sovereigns ruled the world with ease, and the vast land gradually became peaceful.

The Five Emperors established order and educated the people, leading to the flourishing of human civilization.

The glorious era of humankind has begun!
"Bull Demon King, Princess Iron Fan, Banana Leaf Fan..."

"The Netherworld, Lady Yunxiao, the Primordial Golden Cauldron..."

His thoughts raced, and Xiao Chen's mind was racing.

Since the Bull Demon King is going to marry the Rakshasa Woman from the Underworld.

He, the Golden Horned King, was on good terms with the Bull Demon King, and they were like brothers.

As one of the groomsmen for the Bull Demon King's wedding, King Golden Horn will definitely accompany him to the Underworld to fetch the bride.

Isn't this the perfect opportunity for King Golden Horn to openly and legitimately infiltrate the Netherworld?

"When the Bull Demon King goes to fetch his bride, Princess Iron Fan's Banana Leaf Fan will surely be within my grasp and at my disposal, the Golden Horn King." "Even more so, if the opportunity arises, I might even be able to seize the Cloud Soaring Lady's mighty Hunyuan Golden Cauldron..."

"Hehe, that's truly an incredible stroke of luck!"

Xiao Chen pondered to himself.

In this world, although the Lich and Demon races were sworn enemies in the past, constantly fighting each other and accumulating countless blood debts.

However, both the Lich and Demon races are in such dire straits that even survival is a problem.

People are struggling to survive, living day to day, so how can they have the energy to dwell on the blood debts from millions of years ago?
As the saying goes, "If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold," and things in this world are ever-changing.

In this brutal world where the strong prey on the weak, there are no eternal friends, nor eternal enemies.

Only eternal interests.

With shared interests, the witch and demon races can turn hostility into friendship.

……

Xiao Chen and Fairy Su'e traveled together, chatting along the way.

This conversation about Lady Yunxiao subtly added a layer of deeper scheming to Xiao Chen's upcoming "journey to the Netherworld".

After they finished speaking, they said no more and rode side by side on Qiyun Mountain, heading straight for the Taiyin Palace.

The purpose of this trip was to report back to the Moon Goddess and inform her of the matter of cutting down the laurel branches.

Upon arriving at the solemn, grand, and imposing Taiyin Palace, one sees the palace doors wide open, but the majestic and awe-inspiring image of the Taiyin Star Lord is nowhere to be seen inside.

In the vast Taiyin Palace, only a few low-ranking celestial maidens could be seen standing respectfully with their hands at their sides.

The throne was empty; the Star Lord was nowhere to be seen.

Xiao Chen frowned slightly and asked:
Where is the Star Lord?

The fairy maidservant on duty gave a graceful curtsy, parted her lips slightly, and softly said:

"The Star Lord has just gone on a tour of the stars in the celestial sphere to ensure the rotation of the Moon Star. He will not return for another day."

"The Star Lord left a verbal instruction that if Yang Sili returns, there is no need to wait long; he may do as he pleases."

The fairy paused slightly, then added:
"If you have any matters to attend to, I can inform the Star Lord or forward them to him on your behalf."

"No need to trouble yourself."

Xiao Chen waved his hand and said:
"When the Star Lord returns from his moon tour and has some free time, please convey this message: Yang Guoshan, the Ceremonial Envoy of Yaochi, has obtained the divine cassia wood as ordered and has come to thank the Star Lord for his grace."

"I am deeply grateful for this kindness, and I will not refuse if I am ever asked to do so in the future."

The fairy maiden agreed:
"Yes, this servant will certainly relay your words to the Star Lord."

Xiao Chen bowed slightly, then turned his gaze to the elegant and graceful Fairy Su'e beside him, and said gently:
“Fairy Su’e, this trip to the Cassia Palace to fetch wood was entirely thanks to your thorough guidance and meticulous care.”

"Both morally and logically, Mr. Yang should visit and express his gratitude."

"May I inquire where the fairy resides, and may I trouble you for a moment?"

His words were sincere, and his gaze fell on the exquisitely beautiful profile of the fairy Su'e, conveying a profound meaning.

He, the Golden Horned King, has come to the Moon Star.

One is the Taiyin Divine Weapon.

The second is the fairy of the moon palace.

The Taiyin Divine Weapon is already in hand; all that remains is the Fairy of the Moon Palace before us.

but.

Xiao Chen knew clearly that this so-called "lifelong romance in the mortal realm" contract was a subtle compromise reached between the two parties amidst the taboos of the immortals and the tribulations of life and death; it was a naked exchange of interests.

Fairy Su'e has a shallow foundation and a low level of cultivation; she still needs peaches of immortality to prolong her life.

He intends to use this "lifelong romance in the mortal realm" to plan his journey to the West, and even to achieve a more far-reaching scheme.

This "visit to express gratitude" is nothing more than a "glamorous facade" to conceal the true motives behind the actions.

Upon hearing Xiao Chen's words, Fairy Su'e's heart pounded like a deer, her eyelashes trembled slightly, but she did not refuse on the surface.

She knew the deeper meaning behind Xiao Chen's words; it was merely a pretext. Their true purpose was something they had long understood without saying a word.

The fairy Su'e maintained her aloof demeanor and calmly instructed the fairy maidens before the palace:

"You shall wait here patiently for the arrival of the Star Lord."

immediately.

Fairy Su'e turned to Xiao Chen and said:

"Since Commandant Yang insists on rewarding you, then I will lead you to my Suyun Cottage for a short while and serve you a cup of tea."

Having said that, the fairy Su'e, her robes fluttering, turned and led the way.

Xiao Chen followed closely behind, and the two left the empty main hall, stepping under the frost-like and snow-like moonlight, and entered the more tranquil and secluded palace complex deep within the Moon Palace, shrouded in celestial mist.

……

As the saying goes, "The most dangerous place is the safest place."

If you act furtively and suspiciously, you're more likely to arouse suspicion; only by being open, aboveboard, and aboveboard can you get things done more easily.

This is the ingenious use of "the darkest place is under the lamp"—what is suspended high under everyone's gaze becomes a blind spot that is difficult to focus on.

The most dangerous place is the safest place.

Although Xiao Chen wanted to find an opportunity to privately settle the "love contract" and the peaches with Fairy Su'e, he naturally had to do it openly and honestly so as not to arouse suspicion.

Moreover, as the newly appointed celestial envoy of Yaochi, it was perfectly reasonable for him to express his gratitude to his colleague, Fairy Su'e, who had guided him to the Cassia Palace and familiarized him with the Taiyin Earth Vein.

Deliberately avoiding the topic will only arouse suspicion and cause unnecessary trouble.

……

The abode of the Fairy Chang'e is hidden in a more secluded and tranquil area outside the Moon Palace.

This place is not as solemn and majestic as the main hall of Taiyin, but it has its own elegant and otherworldly charm, and it is called "Suyun Xiaozhu".

Just as its name suggests, this palace is entirely formed from pure white clouds, making it elegant, simple, and spotless.

The clouds swirled and flowed between the eaves and window frames like living things, sometimes gathering like cotton, sometimes dispersing like smoke.

Occasionally, glittering stardust falls from the dome, splashing tiny ripples of light on the cloud wall, only to be quickly absorbed and disappear without a trace, adding to the dreamlike and ethereal atmosphere.

Xiao Chen followed Fairy Su'e to the door that seemed to be woven from mist.

The fairy Su'e gently raised her jade hand and slowly pushed open the door. In an instant, a refreshing and invigorating fragrance of osmanthus, mixed with the essence of Yin, wafted in, penetrating the heart and refreshing the mind.

Fairy Su'e turned slightly to the side and introduced softly:

"Yang Sili, this is my residence, Suyun Xiaozhu."

Xiao Chen nodded slightly, glanced around, and praised:

"It is indeed very elegant."

Suyun Xiaozhu.

The moment you step inside, the natural protective barrier surrounding the small building seems to sense it and activates silently.

An invisible field spread out, isolating the divine senses and thoughts of the outside world.

Even the cool, clear moonlight, scattered across the land, became soft and hazy in this small space, as if shrouded in a light veil.

at the same time.

Xiao Chen remained motionless, his fingertips flicking slightly. Several extremely subtle magical artifact fluctuations spread out like ripples, silently adding several layers of solid barriers around the small building.
In an instant, multiple invisible and extremely solid barriers were constructed, completely transforming this small cloud pavilion into an independent world, isolating it from the outside world and ensuring that the subsequent secret transaction would proceed without any mishap.

There was a "click".

The fairy Su'e turned around, took light steps, and gently closed the door that looked like it was made of mist.

Subsequently.

Xiao Chen followed Fairy Su'e into the room.

(End of this chapter)