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Chapter 224 By the way
Emerging from Laozi's secluded chamber, which isolated him from the world, and standing once again in the alchemy room, Chen Guangrui felt a slight chill on his back; the cold sweat hadn't completely dried. Laozi then handed him a jade bottle containing three perfectly round, translucent elixirs that emitted a strange glow.

"This is even more precious than the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir. Keep it safe. If you consume it, you'll at least have the abilities of Nezha."

Laozi's voice was very calm, as if he were giving out ordinary objects.

Holding the jade bottle, Chen Guangrui felt a little more at ease, sensing the warm, smooth texture of the jade and the immense spiritual power contained within the elixir.

That's why Laozi said that in the Heavenly Court, peaches of immortality and golden pills are both highly valuable commodities; one can increase an immortal's lifespan, and the other can increase an immortal's strength.

With this thing, who would bother with proper cultivation?

It's no wonder that if peaches weren't scarce, people would seem more inclined to be closer to Laozi (the Supreme Lord Lao).

Ultimately, strength is the foundation for survival in this Heavenly Court.

As for Red Boy, Laozi directly ordered this "third-generation demon" to stay and serve in the Tushita Palace.

Chen Guangrui clicked his tongue inwardly. Indeed, being born into the right family is a skill. This person's father is a demon king, and her mother a Rakshasa woman; with a powerful background, she was born into a high position. Looking at himself, he had climbed his way up from the ground, becoming a stable boy and still trembling with fear, as if walking on thin ice. The difference was stark…

As for what happened next, Lao Jun didn't say anything more. With a flicker of his figure, he returned to the front of the Eight Trigrams Furnace, as if the earth-shattering secret he had just heard was just an illusion of Chen Guangrui's.

As Chen Guangrui took Tang Sheng's hand, about to leave the terrifying Tushita Palace, the two boys, Jinlu and Yinlu, immediately surrounded him, their faces full of curiosity.

"Chen Guangrui, you're finally out!" The lively Silver Furnace Boy spoke first, his eyes sparkling.

"What interesting things did you see and hear during your demon-slaying trip to the mortal realm? Tell me quickly!"

Chen Guangrui's feelings were complicated. There was nothing fun to be had. He thought for a moment, then tugged at the corner of his mouth, "There's nothing seriously fun, but I did learn a pretty... impressive phrase."

They had already left the alchemy room, and there was no one around.

"What did you say? What did you say?" The Silver Furnace Boy became even more excited, and the Golden Furnace Boy, though silent, also pricked up his ears.

Chen Guangrui looked around, lowered his voice, and deliberately added mysteriously, "Just one sentence: Your father is no good. It's a curse word used in the lower realms. I'm just telling it to you two, but you mustn't learn it, and you absolutely mustn't curse at each other while refining pills."

The moment the words left his mouth, a chilling pressure descended upon him, like an invisible fist slamming into his soul, causing him to shudder, his face to turn pale instantly, and he almost lost his balance.

He immediately fell silent, understanding that this was Laozi's silent warning. Although he had been warned, a twisted sense of pleasure inexplicably welled up inside him. "You've made me suffer so much, can't I at least vent my anger with a few curses?"

Hmph, if I don't curse, someone else will.

However, to his utter surprise, the Silver Furnace Boy's eyes lit up, and he immediately turned to Tang Sheng, who was blinking, and shouted, "Did you hear that, Tang Sheng? Your father is no good!"

Jinlu Tongzi pursed his lips and said, "That's right, Tangsheng, your father is no good. He even tricked us into going to the Moon Palace to watch Chang'e take a bath."

Chen Guangrui's face turned completely black, and the veins on his forehead throbbed. Was this how the script was written?
……

The Lingxiao Palace. With its glazed tiles and white jade steps, it was enveloped in an aura of immortality, solemn and dignified. This was not a grand court assembly, but a small-scale meeting to discuss the summary and rewards for those who had subdued demons in the mortal realm. Chen Guangrui stood in the palace; this was the first time in his life he had stepped into this place.

He gazed at the Jade Emperor, the Great Heavenly Venerable, who sat high on his throne, his face blurred in the auspicious light, and the celestial generals with profound auras on both sides, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions.

He recalled that when Sun Wukong first arrived in Heaven, he was allowed to enter this hall, while he himself had fought his way to the death for so long and had only just entered the hall. Looking at it this way, it seemed a bit unfair.

But then he thought again, Sun Wukong's direct arrival at the Lingxiao Palace was the result of countless people's meticulous planning. He smiled bitterly; wasn't he just as meticulous? It was just that being schemed against was a truly unpleasant experience.

Celestial Master Xu Jingyang, holding a jade tablet, loudly reported on the achievements of this battle.
"Your Majesty, this time when we descended to the mortal realm to subdue demons, Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, led 100,000 heavenly soldiers, but we encountered obstacles at Leopard Head Mountain and Golden Gourd Mountain and were unable to complete our mission."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing, who was standing at the front of the hall, instantly blushed, his hand supporting the remaining base of the tower trembled slightly, and he bowed his head deeply. Some celestial officials who were unaware of the situation looked astonished.

Master Xu continued, "However, Chen Guangrui, the Keeper of the Heavenly Horses, was ordered to rush to the aid of Lion Camel Ridge. He used thunderous methods amidst the tens of thousands of troops to wipe out the 200,000 demon soldiers of Lion Camel Ridge in one fell swoop and kill the three giant demons: the Green Lion, the White Elephant, and the Golden-Winged Roc! This great achievement shook the Three Realms!"

A chorus of soft gasps filled the hall as many eyes turned to Chen Guangrui.

Chen Guangrui thought to himself, "Where are all these demon soldiers in Lion Camel Ridge? It must be Nezha bragging and dragging me along. But since it's all Nezha's opinion, I can't really refute it."

The Jade Emperor's gentle yet majestic voice came from the throne, "Excellent. Chen Guangrui has rendered meritorious service in eliminating the demon, and should..."

"Great Heavenly Venerable!" The God of Literature stepped forward, interrupting the Jade Emperor. He bowed deeply to the Jade Emperor, his voice clear and resonant.

"Your Majesty, I must say. The demons that Heavenly King Li vanquished were no ordinary men. The Green Ox Demon of Golden Gourd Mountain was incredibly skilled, and Heavenly King Li's defeat was not due to a lack of fighting ability. As for the Leopard Head Mountain..."

He didn't say it explicitly, but everyone knew that the Green Ox Demon was Laozi's mount, and no one could defeat him.

The God of Literature paused, then emphasized his words.
"The nine-headed lion perched atop it is an ancient and extraordinary creature, possessing great supernatural powers and boundless magic. This demon is far more powerful than ordinary demons. Although Li Tianwang did not achieve complete victory in his battle against this great demon, he did his best to maneuver and inevitably suffered losses. His merits and demerits still need to be carefully examined."

The God of Literature spoke eloquently, portraying Li Jing's defeat as a glorious loss, a valiant fight against a powerful enemy. He then shifted his focus, pointing to Chen Guangrui...

"As for Chen Guangrui's merits, they are certainly true. However, in the battle of Lion Camel Ridge, he also received strong support from Zhenwu Emperor, the Dragon King of the West Sea, and many other immortals, as well as various fortuitous events. Although his merits are great, it would be unfair to judge him based on this and say that Heavenly King Li is inferior to Lord Chen."

Chen Guangrui listened with his eyes downcast and his face expressionless. He knew perfectly well that this Wenqu Xingjun was a staunch supporter of Li Jing, and these words were meant to help Li Jing regain his honor while downplaying his own contributions.

After Master Xu Jingyang and the God of Literature finished speaking, he slowly spoke again.
"What the Star Lord says is quite true. I had overlooked something earlier and was unable to say everything." He turned to the Jade Emperor and said clearly.
"Reporting to the Great Heavenly Venerable, there is one more matter. Just before Chen Guangrui was summoned to Heaven, he had already taken the opportunity to wipe out the Nine-Headed Lion Demon King, who was causing havoc in Leopard Head Mountain, and all his demon followers."

"What?!" The composure on Wenquxingjun's face froze instantly, and he exclaimed in shock. He turned sharply to look at Chen Guangrui, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Li Jing trembled violently, abruptly raising his head to stare intently at Chen Guangrui's back. His expression was incredibly complex, containing shock, shame, and the humiliation of being completely outshone.

Just moments ago, Wenquxing was desperately trying to excuse Leopard Head Mountain's defeat, praising the monster's power, only to be slapped in the face by Master Xu's casual remark, "Eliminated it in the process." This was like a stab to the heart for Li Tianwang, making him feel more ashamed than any mockery.

(End of this chapter)