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Chapter 234 Still relying on this business for a living?
As auspicious clouds descended, Chen Guangrui, Pleiades Star Lord, Nezha, and Tang Sheng set foot on the land of the Western Liang Women's Kingdom. Upon entering the city, the scene before them made them pause in their tracks.

The streets were bustling with people, yet not a single man was to be seen. Whether street vendors or pedestrians, everyone present was a woman. When these women saw the four grown men suddenly appear, they were first startled, then their eyes gleamed with an indescribable light, like hungry wolves eyeing their prey. Exclamations and laughter instantly filled the air.

"Look! Men!"

"Wow, it really is a man!"

"Come quick! A man has come to town!"

"One, two, three, four... four, a whole four men!"

A crowd surged forward, completely surrounding the four of them. Countless burning gazes swept over them, pointing and whispering, their faces beaming with excitement and curiosity; some even boldly reached out to touch them.

Surrounded by onlookers, Tang Sheng wasn't afraid at all; instead, his face flushed with excitement, and his bright, dark eyes darted around, scanning the women watching. He stood on tiptoe, trying to squeeze his head through the crowd, muttering to himself.

Surrounded by onlookers, Tang Sheng wasn't afraid at all; instead, his face flushed with excitement, and his bright, dark eyes darted around, scanning the women watching. He stood on tiptoe, trying to squeeze his head through the crowd, muttering to himself.

"Goodness, so many older sisters, but not a single older brother? There must be something strange about this place! There must be! I need to take a good look; maybe I can strike it lucky and find some fun treasures!" He seemed to already sense some kind of "special" opportunity beckoning to him.

He was like a weasel that had entered a chicken coop, looking at this and that.

This made Nezha next to him grin. Six years old, and he's already like this at six. What will he be like when he grows up?

He doesn't look like a monk at all.

The Pleiades Star Lord had never seen such a spectacle before. Being so brazenly observed and judged by a group of women made him feel extremely uncomfortable. He immediately straightened his back, solemnly adjusted the golden pheasant crown on his head with both hands, and meticulously smoothed out every possible wrinkle on his official robes. With his chin slightly raised, he tried his best to maintain the dignified bearing of a celestial official, attempting to appear even more majestic and imposing under the watchful eyes of the crowd, using his celestial authority to intimidate these audacious mortals.

Just then, a few clear voices came from the group of women watching, their voices neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for them to hear:

"Tsk, look at that guy in the official robe. His hat is quite tall and imposing, and he looks intimidating, but his appearance... tsk, not so good."

"Yeah, that kid in the red shirt next to me looks fierce and doesn't look like someone you want to mess with."

"That little monk has a completely bald head and his eyes are always darting around; he looks very cunning."

"The scholar-looking one is still the most handsome, fair-skinned and refined."

"Yes, yes, just like those monks on their pilgrimage who passed by before. Out of the four of them, only the handsome monk was worth looking at."

These words, like fine needles, pierced precisely into the ears of the Pleiades Star Lord. His face, which had been striving to maintain its dignity, instantly turned a deep shade of liver, his chest heaved violently, and a surge of rage rose to his head. He, a dignified and imposing celestial star deity, had actually been told that "he's just... ugly..."

What do I look like? Well, what do you think I look like?
Even the Pleiades star official wanted to turn into a rooster and peck at those people.

To be compared to others, to be said to be the only handsome scholar, was an utter disgrace! He instinctively wanted to step forward and argue with those ignorant women, to properly demonstrate the charisma of this celestial official.

However, Chen Guangrui's calm voice rang out even faster than his movements. Though not loud, it strangely drowned out the surrounding noise and clearly reached the ears of the gossiping women.

"Ladies, you just mentioned that the monk on his pilgrimage is here too?"

The women who had been mentioned were engrossed in their discussion when they heard this. They paused, their attention immediately drawn to Chen Guangrui. They smiled and nodded, chattering amongst themselves.
"Yes, yes! They were also four monks, who said they came from the Tang Dynasty in the East!"

"The leader was a handsome elder with fair skin, very respectable."

"Oh my, they're hilarious! Those monks made a huge fool of themselves as soon as they arrived!"

"They drank the water from the Zimu River outside our city."

"Oh dear, that river is the source of childbirth for our Western Liang Women's Kingdom. Regardless of gender, as long as you drink the water from that river, you're guaranteed to get pregnant,"

"Hahaha, those monks, especially the two fat and one thin monks, their bellies were bulging like they were carrying big watermelons. They were rolling on the ground in pain, groaning and crying out that they were about to give birth! It made us sisters laugh so hard!"

The women got more and more excited as they talked, vividly describing the pathetic state of Tang Sanzang and Zhu Bajie clutching their stomachs and groaning in pain, which drew a burst of laughter from those around them.

Nezha, listening from the side, felt his hair stand on end. His brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly, and his face revealed undisguised extreme disgust, as if he had swallowed a fly. "Pregnancy? Childbirth? A man giving birth? Ugh!"

Just imagining the scene sent chills down his spine, and the fiery wheels beneath his feet flared up with a "poof" sound.

Chen Guangrui ignored Nezha's disgust; he had grasped the key information and immediately pressed the women who were talking the most enthusiastically for answers.
"Girls, do you know where the Abortion Spring is? Do you know how the monk who went on his pilgrimage is doing now?"

An older, more composed-looking woman answered.
"The Abortion Spring is located in the Broken Child Cave on Jieyang Mountain south of the city. It seems that the handsome monk sent a dark-skinned disciple to fetch water, saying he wanted to drink from the Abortion Spring. It's been quite a while now, and the disciple hasn't returned. We heard about it from the sisters guarding the city gate; the news has spread throughout the city, and everyone is waiting to see them give birth."

Upon hearing this, Chen Guangrui understood.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples must have mistakenly drunk the water of the Zimu River.

Nezha, who was standing nearby, heard everything clearly and couldn't help but ask Chen Guangrui, "Hey, Chen Guangrui, should we go find those monks on their pilgrimage and see what's going on?"

His tone carried a hint of mischief, after all, a man giving birth was truly an unheard-of spectacle.

Chen Guangrui did not answer Nezha, but turned directly to the older woman who had spoken earlier and asked in a calm tone, "Miss, is the Abortion Spring in the Broken Child Cave of Jieyang Mountain in the south of the city? How do I get there?"

“Yes, go out the south gate and travel three thousand miles south. When you see a barren mountain, that’s Jieyang Mountain. There’s a cave halfway up the mountain, that’s Po’er Cave.” The woman nodded affirmatively.

Having obtained the exact location, Chen Guangrui said no more and turned to leave. "Let's go," he uttered only one word, heading clearly toward the south gate.

The group left the city quickly. Three thousand li was but a moment's travel for even immortals. Soon, a steep, barren mountain with exposed rocks came into view—this was Jieyang Mountain. Sure enough, there was a dark cave entrance halfway up the mountain, with the three characters "Po'er Cave" crookedly carved on the stone wall. However, the monster guarding the spring, as expected, did not appear, nor were there any signs of a struggle. Only a familiar figure was pacing restlessly at the cave entrance, carrying a staff, occasionally scratching his ears and cheeks—it was none other than the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong!
"Hey, Brother Chen, what are you doing here?" Sun Wukong jumped over, twirling his golden cudgel on his shoulder.

Nezha, arms crossed and riding on his Wind Fire Wheels, asked curiously, "Monkey, what are you doing wandering around the cave entrance in this desolate wilderness?"

Sun Wukong waved his hand, looking somewhat sullen. "Don't mention it. I, Old Sun, was just passing by when I remembered that the Bull Demon King had some business dealings around here, and I wanted to catch up with him. But now his business has grown big, and he's become arrogant too; I can't even find a trace of him. I, Old Sun, will just wait here and see if he comes."

Chen Guangrui understood. He looked at Sun Wukong and asked, "You mean the Bull Demon King is still up to his old tricks near the Women's Kingdom?"

Sun Wukong snorted coldly, his fiery eyes flashing with anger.

"It's more than just a business deal. This Women's Kingdom only has girls. As for what happened to the boys, you'll have to ask that old ox."

"I'm here. I just sent his younger brother to deliver the message. He should be back soon."

Did Sun Wukong send a message through Ruyi Zhenjun? As for how the message was delivered, that remains unknown. Chen Guangrui looked at the golden cudgel in his hand, guessing that force must have been used.

No sooner had the monkey finished speaking than a gust of sulfurous wind swept across the ravine. A massive, towering figure, shrouded in dark clouds, landed with a thud in the open space in front of the cave, shaking the ground.

The newcomer wore a polished silver helmet, a suit of brocade and gold armor, pink-soled suede boots with rolled-up toes, and a three-strand lion belt with interlocking silk around his waist. He was none other than the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, the Bull Demon King! He held a mixed iron cudgel, his bull-like eyes, like copper bells, stared at Sun Wukong, and two thick wisps of white breath spewed from his nostrils.

"Hey! Sun Wukong!" The Bull Demon King's voice was like thunder, shaking the rocks. He saw that Sun Wukong had no trace of the sworn brotherhood they once shared.

"You wretched monkey! I, Old Niu, have just gotten a little peace and quiet, and you come to cause trouble. My brother is peacefully guarding this Abortion Spring, what's it to you? Why did you drive him away? Today I'm going to settle this score with you!"

Sun Wukong was not afraid of him at all. He chuckled and weighed the golden cudgel in his hand.

"Old Niu, come here, come here. It's been hundreds of years since you've stretched your muscles. Let's see how sharp my old Sun's stick is!"

Just as the two were about to start fighting, Chen Guangrui stepped forward and calmly spoke, his voice not loud but clearly drowning out the Bull Demon King's roar, "Wait."

Only then did the Bull Demon King notice Chen Guangrui and his group. When he saw Chen Guangrui, his massive body paused slightly, and a hint of fear flashed in his eyes.

Chen Guangrui didn't look at Sun Wukong; his gaze fell on the Bull Demon King.

"Old Niu, didn't I tell you to leave? The Tongtian River wasn't enough trouble for you, so why did you come back to this Women's Kingdom territory and even meddle in the Abortion Spring?"

The Bull Demon King was stumped by Chen Guangrui's question, his face twitching with frustration and helplessness. "Lord Chen, I, the old bull, also have to make a living. The business on the Tongtian River is unstable; the Heavenly Court is cracking down hard, and the aquatic creatures below are causing trouble. And this Abortion Spring, and..."

He lowered his voice, glanced at Sun Wukong, and said without explicitly stating, "This area around the Women's Kingdom is the result of my years of hard work and accumulation. You want me to leave, and I will leave, but with such a large business and so many mouths to feed, I, Old Bull, also need to make a living. I can't just starve, can I?"

Chen Guangrui looked at him, her tone calm yet carrying a knowing pressure.

“Making a living? Old Niu, do you really think there’s nothing wrong with your business? You only care about collecting money, but have you ever thought about the mothers who were forced to give birth? Have you ever thought about the babies who were thrown into the Tongtian River? This isn’t making a living, it’s committing atrocities. I let you go last time to give you a way out. If you’re not afraid of death, then go ahead and continue.”

He paused, then looked up at the sky. "Right now, don't you know how many eyes are watching this place, both in the sky and on the ground?"

The Bull Demon King's face turned pale and then red after Chen Guangrui's words, especially the phrase "everyone in heaven and on earth is watching," which sent a chill down his spine. His massive body swayed, and much of his ferocious aura dissipated. He looked at Chen Guangrui, a hint of pleading appearing in his bull eyes.
"Lord Chen, I, Lao Niu, am a rough man, but I do know fear. So tell me, what should I do? What about my brothers..."

"Hey!" Nezha, who was already impatient, flared up his Wind Fire Wheels and pointed his Fire-Tipped Spear directly at the Bull Demon King. "Chen Guangrui, why waste your breath on this stupid bull! Since he still wants to fight, let me, your humble servant, deal with him! It'll be a good opportunity to stretch my muscles!"

His eyes gleamed with a fighting spirit as he looked at the Bull Demon King with a defiant gaze.

Chen Guangrui glanced at Nezha and nodded slightly. "Alright. Nezha, I'll leave the Bull Demon King to you. Be careful what you do."

"Hey, don't worry!" Nezha grinned, his Wind-Fire Wheels blazing with flames, and he transformed into a streak of red light, charging straight at the Bull Demon King. "Old Bull, take this!"

The Bull Demon King was already annoyed by Chen Guangrui's words, and when he saw that Nezha, this brat, dared to provoke him, he was furious. "You little brat, you're asking for death!" He swung his iron cudgel with immense force, smashing it down on Nezha like a collapsing mountain.

Nezha was incredibly agile, his Wind-Fire Wheels drawing scorching trails in the air as he easily dodged the heavy blow. With a flick of his wrist, his Fire-Tipped Spear shot towards the Bull Demon King's ribs like a venomous snake.

The Bull Demon King, relying on his thick hide, neither dodged nor evaded, sweeping across the battlefield with his iron cudgel. Nezha, however, suddenly rose higher, chanting incantations, and transformed into three heads and six arms, attacking the Bull Demon King.

Caught off guard, the Bull Demon King roared repeatedly, wielding his iron cudgel to parry, the clanging sounds echoing throughout the room. Nezha's attacks were like a whirlwind, the six divine weapons possessing extraordinary power, forcing the Bull Demon King to retreat repeatedly, his brute strength rendered useless. His armor was slashed by the Demon-Slaying Sword, sparks flying and deep marks left on it.

"I'm furious!" The Bull Demon King, enraged by the attack, roared and his body swelled, instantly revealing his true form! He was a white bull, as large as a small hill. His head was like a towering mountain, his eyes gleamed, his horns resembled two iron towers, and his teeth were like rows of sharp blades. This great white bull pounded the ground with its hooves, shaking the mountains and the earth. With its head lowered and horns raised, it charged towards Nezha in mid-air with a devastating momentum.

Nezha, however, remained calm and composed, a cold smile playing on his lips.
"Hmph, all show and no substance!" He put away his other magical treasures, quickly formed hand seals in front of his chest, and uttered a mantra. He then opened his mouth and unleashed a torrent of pure, incomparably powerful flames, imbued with the might of heaven and earth!

This is the Samadhi Fire. This fire is neither ordinary fire nor heavenly fire, but rather the result of refining essence, qi, and spirit into Samadhi and cultivating the essence of separation. It is most capable of subduing evil spirits.

The blazing white Samadhi Fire surged like a celestial river reversed, instantly engulfing the charging white ox! The ox's hide, harder than gold and iron, and its sharp horns sizzled and emitted billowing black smoke as they were burned by the fire.

The Bull Demon King let out a deafening roar of pain. His massive body struggled and rolled violently under the scorching heat of the Samadhi True Fire, but it was like being stuck in a quagmire, unable to break free. Instead, his skin was burned open and charred black. He could no longer maintain his original form, howling as he rapidly shrank back to human form, collapsing to the ground, his body emitting blue smoke, looking utterly wretched and completely powerless to resist.

He lay on the ground, groaning in pain, his eyes filled with fear and pleading as he looked at Chen Guangrui: "Lord Chen, spare my life! I, Old Niu, truly submit..."

At this moment, the Bull Demon King was terrified by Nezha's Samadhi True Fire. He lost his previous stubbornness and begged for mercy without saying anything. It was clear that he had admitted defeat this time.

Just then, on the mountain path near the cave entrance, a burly, dark figure was huffing and puffing as he climbed upwards. The figure wore black iron armor and carried a bulging bundle on his back. Upon seeing the scene at the cave entrance, especially the Bull Demon King lying on the ground and Chen Guangrui and the others standing, he visibly froze, his steps halting. The newcomer was none other than the Black Bear Spirit.

(End of this chapter)