Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 79, Seizing the Lotus Cave Treasure (Part 5)
Meanwhile, King Silver Horn, having lost the Purple-Gold Red Gourd and been seriously injured, finally gave up his stubbornness and asked King Golden Horn to invite Ao Tu.

King Golden Horn summoned two lesser demons, Fine-Headed Ghost and Clever Insect, and said:

"You two, go to the Dragon-Suppressing Cave immediately and respectfully invite the Great King of Ling Mountain."

The meticulous ghost asked, "Great King, where is the Dragon-Suppressing Cave?"

King Golden Horn said, "Why don't you recognize the old lady's house?"

The clever insect said, "Your Majesty, you don't know, the Dragon-Suppressing Cave no longer exists. Last time when the two of us went to deliver congratulatory gifts, the old lady changed the Dragon-Suppressing Cave to the Dragon-Welcoming Cave!"

Upon hearing this, King Golden Horn roared, "You two idiots! I'm talking about the Dragon-Welcoming Cave! Get there now!"

This is because these little demons, even if they take human form, are not fully intelligent and are ultimately inferior to humans, who are the most intelligent of all beings.

The clever ghost and the quick-witted insect agreed and turned to leave.

Silver Horn King said weakly, "Wait, brother. These two fools are more trouble than they're worth. Don't let them go. Go and invite them yourself."

King Golden Horn said, "Brother, it would be easy for me to go and invite him myself. But what if that monkey comes back? What will happen to your safety then?"

Silver Horn King said, "Brother, it's alright. It's getting dark, so go and invite him tonight. That monkey is a famous monkey king, after all; he wouldn't sneak into someone's house in the middle of the night to cause trouble."

King Golden Horn said, "Alright, my good brother, you stay here and rest well. I'll be right back. Sharp-Eyed Ghost and Clever Insect, serve the Second King well. If anything happens to the Second King, I'll hold you responsible!"

The clever ghost hurriedly replied, "Great King, we will certainly serve the Second King well!"

The clever insect said, "Great King, we will not let anything happen to the Second King!"

By this time, it was already getting dark outside.

King Golden Horn exited through the back door of Lotus Cave, and Zong Yun hurried towards Dragon-Suppressing Cave.

Inside the Dragon-Suppressing Cave, Ao Tu was sitting cross-legged on the bed, cultivating.

Little Nine lay to one side, its nine fox tails swaying back and forth listlessly.

She was still young, only a hundred years old, and could not concentrate on cultivation like Ao Tu.

She wanted to play with Ao Tu, but dared not disturb him.

Once, when Ao Tu was cultivating, she became somewhat enamored with the taste of it, and since Ao Tu had always treated her well, she tried to freeload off him, which resulted in her being severely punished by Ao Tu.

"When will Your Majesty finish your cultivation?"

Xiao Jiu thought to herself, resting her chin on her hand.

Here, Ao Tu was looking inward at himself.

Since consuming the essence of the Ancestral Dragon, his bloodline has undergone tremendous evolution, especially his dragon bones and scales, which are now imprinted with endless innate laws.

Even now, the power of the ancestral dragon's essence blood within him has not been completely exhausted.

At the same time, the essence of the Ancestral Dragon's blood greatly increased his magical power, exceeding the limit of the Golden Immortal realm. If he wished, he could start working on breaking through to the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm now.

However, at this step, Ao Tu hesitated again.

After consuming the essence of the Ancestral Dragon, he saw a new path.

That's a more powerful path, and if you succeed, the rewards will be immense.

The so-called realm of Taiyi Golden Immortal did not exist in the early days of creation. Celestial Immortals and Golden Immortals also did not exist at that time.

At that time, all life born from heaven and earth was innately sacred, and was born into an immortal realm.

This statement is not entirely accurate, because for those beings, immortality is not a state of being, but something they are born with. They are the manifestation of the laws of heaven and earth, so naturally they do not die.

The beings of that generation, such as dragons, phoenixes, qilin, and golden crows, did not have the complex cultivation system we have today.

They are born immortal, and afterwards they will not cultivate into Taiyi Golden Immortals, but will directly attain the Great Luo Dao, transcending everything and wielding the power of heaven and earth.

It was a brilliant era, with countless extraordinary individuals emerging.

However, beings born later could not transcend and attain enlightenment as easily as the first generation.

The chances of later beings attaining enlightenment are extremely slim.

Alternatively, one can create something from nothing, single-handedly carving out a new path between heaven and earth.

Such people are extremely rare throughout history, and this is the most difficult path to enlightenment.

Alternatively, one can forcibly seize power from the previous enlightened ones and prove one's own Great Dao.

Although this method is also very difficult, there are still some opportunities. In certain great eons, there will be chances to take advantage of them.

A typical example is that the three clans of dragon, phoenix, and qilin once occupied a great deal of power in the world. Later, after the great calamity, the three clans declined, and this power was divided among the various clans, with most of it being seized.

Both of these paths are extremely difficult. The process is fraught with peril, and most people perish along the way, with very few succeeding.

Besides these two, there is another more common and safest option: to become a disciple of those who have already attained enlightenment and great supernatural powers.

The realm of Taiyi Golden Immortal originates from this.

This is a realm that has been defined, situated between the Golden Immortal and the Great Luo Immortal.

Of course, the name for this realm varies across different schools of thought, but the essence is the same.

A great master bestows a cultivation technique, and once his disciples cultivate to the Taiyi Golden Immortal level, they can borrow a portion of the laws and authority wielded by the great master.

This is the Taiyi Golden Immortal.

Afterwards, with continued cultivation, one can attain the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm under its laws. However, this Great Luo realm is attained under the laws of others, residing under their control and subject to their control; it is not a true Great Luo realm, nor is it true transcendence.

Some people are arrogant and, even if they have the strength to prove their Dao, they are unwilling to do so. Instead, they seek other opportunities and try to prove their Dao to the true Great Luo realm.

For example, Guanyin Bodhisattva is one of them.

She is a Buddhist disciple who has mastered the laws of Buddhism. Her strength has long surpassed that of a Bodhisattva, but she is unwilling to become a Buddha. Instead, she seeks another way to prove her own path.

Ao Tu previously cultivated the Dragon Clan's inherited techniques. If he were to advance to the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, he would be able to wield a portion of the Ancestral Dragon's authority.

However, after obtaining the essence of the Ancestral Dragon, Ao Tu possessed some of the power of innate beings and was born with a grasp of some of the laws of heaven and earth.

Although these things are insignificant, they represent a breakthrough from zero to one.

This made him realize that he might not need to follow the path of the Ancestral Dragon, but instead emulate the innate beings of the early days of creation, directly accumulating magical power from the Golden Immortal realm and then attaining the Great Luo realm.

To be honest, this is a far-fetched idea.

How could a being like him, born countless generations later from the dragon race, possibly be compared to those beings from the very beginning of creation?

The difference in skill level is too great; they're not even in the same league.

But if he can continue to receive this six-month-long reward of vital essence, he might actually have a chance to succeed.

Taking this one route would be too arduous.

This is a road that no one has ever walked on.

Ao Tu had no idea what lay ahead, where the thorns lay, where the abyss lay, and perhaps one wrong step would lead to utter ruin.

If there were a primordial being placed before him at this moment, allowing him to contemplate and comprehend it, that would be ideal.

By comparing himself to his own situation, he could see what he lacked, where he was deficient, and where he had shortcomings.

Unfortunately, such an idea is wishful thinking.

Where are there any naturally born beings anymore?

Those primordial beings from the beginning of time have either already attained enlightenment or perished; how could he possibly find them?

Opening his eyes, Ao Tu saw nine white tails swaying beside him. He reached out and rubbed them, saying, "It would be great if you were a primordial being."

Xiao Jiu shook her head in confusion, moved her body closer, lay on top of Ao Tu, and said with a blush, "Your Majesty."

But then they heard a little demon outside call out, "Your Majesty, Lord Golden Horn has arrived and requests your presence."

Ao Tu said, "Understood."

He lifted the little fox off his body and tossed it onto the bed. Ao Tu then got up and walked outside.

Xiao Jiu said resentfully, "Why did you come at this time?"

Outside, King Golden Horn was waiting anxiously.

Upon seeing Ao Tu emerge, he hurried forward, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said:
"Brother Long, I didn't listen to you before, and now I'm facing a terrible disaster."

Ao Tu asked, "What's wrong?"

King Golden Horn said:
"Today, Tang Sanzang and his disciples passed through the mountains. My brother fought two battles with Tang Sanzang's eldest disciple, Sun Wukong, in an attempt to capture him, but suffered a crushing defeat. He was not only severely injured, but Sun Wukong also stole the treasures from the cave. I implore Brother Long to set aside past grievances and help my brother and me."

Ao Tu said, "I already told you this beforehand, but your brother didn't listen. Who can you blame?"

King Golden Horn said, "Brother Dragon, this is all our fault. My brother has now sincerely repented. He sent me to invite you, begging you not to hold his previous boastful words against us, and to go and help him."

Ao Tu said, "Alright, we're all family, let's not stand on ceremony. Let's go."

King Golden Horn was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Please come in quickly!"

Ao Tu took the Immortal Binding Rope from the Nine-Tailed Old Fox, and then went to the Lotus Cave with the Golden Horn King.

Upon arriving at Lotus Cave, Ao Tu went inside, where the Silver Horn King was lying on a couch.

When he saw Ao Tu arrive, he hurriedly tried to get down, but he couldn't stand up. He coughed up blood and said weakly, "I regret being so reckless that day. Now I'm in this state, cough cough!"

Ao Tu said to King Silver Horn, "Let bygones be bygones. Your injuries are serious, so don't talk too much. I have the Three Lights Divine Water, which has been condensed for ten thousand years, and it can cure injuries. Let me fetch it for you."

Upon hearing this, the Silver Horn King felt a mix of emotions.

He had expected that Ao Tu would mock and ridicule him for his appearance, but to his surprise, Ao Tu disregarded past grievances, did not mention the past, and even used divine water to heal him.

King Silver Horn shed tears, filled with admiration for Ao Tu, and pressed Ao Tu's hand, saying:

"That Three Lights Divine Water is something you painstakingly condensed over ten thousand years, so it should not be used lightly. Although my injuries are severe, they will not kill me. I will recover after a period of rest."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Don't worry, this divine water was refined by my family. If I run out, I'll ask her for more. She is a very compassionate person and can't bear to see people suffer. If I don't save you, she will blame me."

When Silver Horn King heard this, he thought it was just Ao Tu trying to comfort him. How precious was the Three Lights Divine Water? Who could give it away so easily?
Ao Tu took a drop of the Three Lights Divine Water and flicked it onto Silver Horn King. Instantly, Silver Horn King's injuries healed, and he felt light and healthy again.

Silver Horn King rose, bowed, and said with tears in his eyes:

"I am deeply grateful and will not thank you in words. If you do not mind, Silver Horn is willing to become your elder brother!"

King Golden Horn bowed down together and said:

“Brother Long, your healing of my brother is the same as your healing of me. I am also willing to pay my respects.”

(End of this chapter)