They've all become top scholars in the imperial examinations, and you're telling me this i

Chapter 229 Pansiling

"Marshal Chen, rest assured, I will do my utmost and follow your lead."

The voice of the Pleiades star official was filled with utmost respect. He bowed deeply to Chen Guangrui, his waist almost parallel to the ground, his posture impeccably humble.

His brand-new brocade robe gleamed in the dim light of the clouds, and the seven-inch crown on his head, a symbol of his status, was perfectly in place, with the large pearl at the top of the crown radiating a warm and restrained luster.

Before he finished speaking, he gently brushed his fingertips across the already perfectly pressed collar and cuffs of his clothes, and then carefully straightened his crown.

That usually obsequious face was now plastered with a genuinely sincere smile, and his eyes and brows exuded a submissive air of "I will never fight west if the marshal points east."

Chen Guangrui's gaze swept calmly over him, her face expressionless, only nodding very slightly, her voice flat and emotionless.

"You flatter me, Star Lord. We will need to work together as one on this journey."

He knew perfectly well that these empty words from officialdom were just empty words and shouldn't be taken seriously.

The Pleiades star official straightened up, his warm smile undiminished, but he subtly leaned forward half a step, lowering his voice with just the right amount of inquiry.
"Marshal, I wonder where we intend to first subdue demons in the mortal realm? I hope you can help me make some preparations in advance, so as not to be caught off guard and hold you back."

He clearly wanted to extract some information about the new marshal's true intentions and strategies.

Chen Guangrui had already made his plans, but he had no intention of revealing them to the Pleiades Star Lord.

This old fox from Heaven has a complicated background and a mind as deep as a frozen pool. Who knows what thoughts are churning in his belly right now?
What I fear even more is that if he knew the real target, he would immediately find all sorts of excuses to evade and evade the issue.

Chen Guangrui's face showed a thoughtful expression at the right moment, and he slowly said:
"Star Lord, do not be hasty. This descent to the mortal realm is not for a one-time or one-place conflict. Subduing demons is like cooking a small dish of river fish; it requires precise timing and a gradual approach. Those powerful demons who occupy a region and have deep roots in the land can affect everything if you do the slightest thing. We need to plan carefully before we act. Right now..."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming relaxed and casual, as if discussing a picnic.

"Why not find some minor demons and monsters to warm up our muscles and get familiar with the mortal world? What do you think, Star Official?"

A glint flashed in the eyes of the Pleiades Star Lord, then he clapped his hands loudly and praised,

"Excellent, excellent! Marshal's words are truly golden advice. Steady and methodical, step by step, is very good. Let's first take advantage of the weaker targets to warm up the atmosphere for this great undertaking. If the Marshal says go east, I will never go west, even if it means going through fire and water!" His admiration was almost overflowing.

Chen Guangrui seemed not to hear his effusive praise, only giving a faint "hmm" in response.

The Pleiades star official's gaze seemingly casually swept over the empty space beside Chen Guangrui, then, as if suddenly remembering something, his face instantly changed to one of genuine concern, and he asked cautiously,

"Marshal, I have also heard that... you are often accompanied by a remarkably intelligent young master. I wonder if the young master accompanied you on this adventure in the mortal realm? If there are any errands or small tasks such as serving tea or water, I am willing to do them for you, so as not to disturb your peace."

He spoke so succinctly, as if he were simply trying to relieve the marshal's worries.

"Oh, Tang Sheng," Chen Guangrui said calmly, continuing to drift forward at a leisurely pace on the cloud.
"This trip is not for sightseeing; it is fraught with danger and unpredictable. Bringing a child along would be very inconvenient. I have already settled him in a safe place. With you and me here, the task of exorcising the demon is enough."

"The Marshal is insightful and far-sighted! Indeed, indeed!"

The Pleiades star official hurriedly responded and quickened his pace to keep up.

Just as the two of them had passed the towering, radiant gate tower of the South Heavenly Gate, two figures suddenly appeared on the misty cloud path ahead, blocking their way.

The red-clad youth stood on a blazing fire wheel, arms crossed over his chest, chin held high, his face screaming "I'm very unhappy." He was none other than the unruly Nezha, the Third Prince.

Beside him, a small, bald boy wearing a shrunken gray monk's robe blinked his big, dark eyes, with an expression that said, "I saw right through you." Who else could it be but Xiao Tangsheng?
Upon seeing Nezha, the Pleiades Star Lord immediately plastered his standardized smile on his face. He bent halfway down, his hand halfway raised, about to perform the Heavenly Court's proper greetings. But Nezha didn't even spare him a glance, his fiery eyes fixed intently on Chen Guangrui, launching into a barrage of questions.
"Chen Guangrui! You, the head steward of the Imperial Stables, are really not being fair! The Great Celestial Venerable ordered you to select generals to descend to the mortal realm to exorcise demons, and you selected this crowing rooster instead of me? What, do you look down on my two demon-slaying spears, the Fire-Tipped Spear and the Universe Ring?"

The sound was so loud that it caused the surrounding clouds to churn slightly.

Little Sugar crossed his arms, sighed with an air of maturity, and his clear, childlike voice carried a knowing teasing tone, "It's not just that he's not taking you along, look at my old man's attitude, he even wants to ditch me, his son. He's clearly planning to leave us both out of the loop and sneak off to show off his power!"

Looking at the two "troublemakers," one big and one small, Chen Guangrui felt his temples throbbing. He had deliberately chosen a time to avoid them, hoping to make the trip quick and efficient, avoiding any complications, especially Nezha, a powder keg ready to explode, and Tang Sheng, a precocious little devil.

Despite all his calculations, he was still caught red-handed. He sighed helplessly, realizing that shaking off these two quietly was now an impossible task.

Seeing Chen Guangrui remain silent, Nezha sprinted closer on his Wind Fire Wheels, his nose almost touching Chen Guangrui's, his voice still booming:
"Hey! I'm talking to you! Stop pretending to be mute! Let me tell you, I've circled your Imperial Stables and Flower Fruit Mountain twice already, my legs are practically worn out from running, and I finally managed to corner you here. Don't even think about trying to escape again! This time, wherever you go, I'll follow! Even the Heavenly King himself can't stop me!"

Tang Sheng immediately poked her little head out from beside Nezha's legs, waved her little fist, and declared her ownership in a clear voice, "Me too!"

Chen Guangrui frowned, trying to subdue this little tyrant with the ironclad laws of Heaven.

"Nezha! This is official business, not child's play! You descended to the mortal realm without orders, which violates the heavenly rules and is against the regulations!"

"Rules?" Nezha scoffed as if he'd heard the funniest joke, tilting his chin dismissively at the Pleiades Star Lord beside him, who was trying to maintain a smile.
"Rules? Even the Pleiades Star Lord, who is in charge of clocking in and announcing the dawn, is here by imperial decree. Who has the time to check on me, Nezha? Besides,"

His gaze suddenly sharpened, carrying a naked threat, and shot towards the Pleiades star official.
"Hey, you big, golden-feathered rooster over there! You're not going to go and tattle on this to the Jade Emperor, are you? Even if you do, I won't admit it! Anyway..."

He looked around at the churning sea of ​​clouds. "There's no third pair of eyes watching from here, is there?"

The perfectly trained smile on Pleiades' face instantly froze like a stone.

He glanced at the arrogant and powerful Nezha, then stole a look at the expressionless and unfathomable Marshal Chen Guangrui. He inwardly groaned, feeling as if he'd swallowed a hundred live flies. Offend Nezha? That would be disastrous! But if Nezha really followed him down to the mortal realm and caused some enormous mess, who would ultimately be blamed? He felt a chill run down his spine and could only manage a few dry laughs, vaguely dodging the question:

"Heh...hehe...Third Prince, you're joking. This humble official...this humble official is merely following the orders of the Marshal and acting accordingly."

This statement was tantamount to a promise not to inform on anyone, but it also cleverly shifted the final decision-making power and responsibility to Chen Guangrui.

Nezha was fairly satisfied with this sensible answer, snorted, and turned his attention back to Chen Guangrui. Suddenly remembering something, he looked Chen Guangrui up and down suspiciously and asked:

"By the way! I just stopped by Flower Fruit Mountain to look for you, hoping to bring that monkey along, but I didn't even see a single monkey hair! Chen Guangrui, tell me honestly, did you conspire with that monkey? Where did he go off to again? Did you two do something shady behind my back?" His eyes were full of scrutiny.

Upon hearing this, Chen Guangrui was so angry he laughed, and retorted,

"Collusion? Nezha, put your hand on your heart and tell me, haven't you been hanging around my Imperial Stables these past few days? Don't you know best whether I've been having any dealings with that monkey? Besides,"

His tone carried a hint of helplessness and sarcasm, "That monkey is naturally wild, capable of somersaulting 108,000 li in a single leap. He's always either visiting friends or searching for treasure, appearing and disappearing like a dragon. Isn't it perfectly normal that you can't find him?"

Nezha tilted his head and thought about it, and it seemed to make sense; the monkey did often disappear without a trace. He pursed his lips, no longer dwelling on Sun Wukong, and instead gave Chen Guangrui another fierce "warning":

"Alright! You've got a point! But remember this: this time you're going down to the mortal realm, don't even think about trying any tricks! Just take me to subdue the demons! You hear me?" His waving fist showed that he was no joke.

Chen Guangrui chuckled inwardly, but remained outwardly composed, readily agreeing, "Of course."

He hadn't yet recovered to his peak strength, so why wouldn't he take advantage of a powerful, free top-tier henchman who had offered himself up? He had calculated this perfectly.

……

Meanwhile, above the Thirty-Three Heavens, in the Tushita Palace, the alchemy room was filled with the exquisite aroma of medicinal herbs and the fire of the furnace reaching perfection.

Kui Mulang paced anxiously outside the alchemy room, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He glanced several times at the tightly closed door, inscribed with mysterious runes, inside which only the hissing of the furnace fire and the occasional soft clinking of elixirs could be heard. Laozi seemed completely immersed in his alchemy practice.

Time ticked by anxiously. Finally, an aged yet peaceful voice seemed to resound directly from the depths of Kui Mulang's consciousness, without any warning: "I am aware of the matter concerning Lingxiao Palace."

Kui Mulang's spirits lifted, and he immediately bowed to the tightly closed door, urgently transmitting his voice:

"I always felt that Chen Guangrui's behavior in the palace... had an inexplicable strangeness about it, which was definitely not his usual character!"

"Heh..." The voice carried a hint of detached understanding, "It's just that there's been a slight connection with that person. It's harmless and nothing to worry about."

Kui Mulang looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief: "This...this is harmless?"

The Great Celestial Venerable personally intervened; isn't that significant enough?
He was filled with doubts, but looking at the unmoving door to the alchemy room, he ultimately swallowed his questions. Chen Guangrui had been introduced to Heaven by Laozi himself, and Laozi naturally knew his true nature better than anyone else. If he said it was harmless, then perhaps… it really was harmless.

How could he possibly presume to guess the plans of such an important figure?
Just then, that ethereal voice resounded directly in his mind once more, carrying an undeniable command:
"You no longer need to worry about Chen Guangrui's matter. Quickly leave the Heavenly Court and go to the Little Thunderclap Temple to meet Maitreya Buddha and tell him... the plan needs to be put on the agenda. Hmm..."

The voice paused slightly, as if deducing something.
"Once everything is settled on the Buddha's side, these trivial matters at hand will naturally become insignificant."

Kui Mulang accepted the order, and just as he turned around, he seemed to hear the voice of Laozi, as if saying something like, "Even if you do this, it's too late." Kui Mulang wanted to stop and listen again, but he couldn't hear anything.

……

Chen Guangrui rode a cloud of auspiciousness, slowly and steadily piercing through layers of mist, descending to the mortal realm. The Pleiades Star Official followed closely behind, his official robes fluttering in the celestial wind. He constantly adjusted his posture, striving to maintain the majesty of a celestial official.

Nezha, riding on his Wind Fire Wheels, nimbly weaved through the clouds, occasionally creating a string of sparks. The most comical character was Xiao Tangsheng, who was held by the back of his collar like a little package, suspended in mid-air, his little arms and legs flailing, muttering in dissatisfaction, "Put me down."

The group slowly landed in a secluded mountain valley nestled among the vast mountains.

The moment we landed, a sweet scent of grass and earth filled the air. Beneath our feet lay a bottomless valley, with ancient trees reaching for the sky, their gnarled branches twisting and turning, and thick vines hanging down from the cliffs like green waterfalls.

The scene before me was serene and pleasant, full of spiritual energy; there was not a trace of demonic or malevolent aura.
As soon as Nezha landed, he stomped his foot on the bluestone slab in disgust, looked around, and frowned deeply.

"Hey! Chen Guangrui! What are you up to? Is this what you call exorcising demons? This place is beautiful, with clear waters, lush mountains, and fragrant flowers—it's even more beautiful than the Queen Mother of the West's back garden! You can't even smell a single demon or monster! Did you doze off in the clouds and fly to the wrong place?"

His fiery wheels impatiently scraped across the ground, leaving a few sparks.

The Pleiades Constellation Official cautiously observed his surroundings, the mountain wind ruffling his bright pheasant-patterned official robes and the tall crown atop his head. He raised his hand, meticulously straightening a stray tassel from his crown, before carefully speaking, his tone more tactful than Nezha's, but the meaning similar.
"What the Third Prince said... does make some sense. Marshal, please look around. This place has uniquely beautiful mountains and clear, spiritually rich waterways. The layout is balanced and peaceful, with a pure and flowing energy. It is definitely not a place shrouded in demonic clouds and gloomy fog, filled with resentment and filth. Marshal, should we... reconsider and find another place?" His words were tinged with a hint of probing.

Chen Guangrui didn't directly refute them. His gaze leisurely swept over the picturesque landscape, and he even took a deep, pleasant breath of fresh air, his tone carrying a lazy confidence.

"Who says that beautiful mountains and clear waters can't breed monsters? Monsters and spirits are also divided into different classes, refined and vulgar, high and low. Some prefer filthy swamps. Others..."

"I love such tranquil places and enjoy indulging in refined tastes. Since we've come all this way to Pansiling, wouldn't it be a waste of time if we didn't go in and take a look? Perhaps there are some elegant surprises hidden there."

Upon hearing the words "Spider Ridge," the Pleiades Star Lord's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason, as if gently constricted by an invisible, cold thread. However, his composure was impeccable; he maintained the calm and collected demeanor of a celestial official, nodding slightly and speaking in a steady voice.
"Since the Marshal has made such a wise decision, I will naturally follow suit. A careful investigation is, in any case, the prudent course of action."

However, he seemed to be adjusting his clothes and cuffs more frequently than usual.

(End of this chapter)