Journey to the West: Deer Power Immortal, Starting from Becoming a Disciple of the Supreme Lord Tais

Just as the black fish spirit was about to unleash its power, it suddenly felt its body sink, and it was directly sucked into the alchemy furnace.

"What's going on? What kind of sorcery did you use?" The black fish demon was terrified and struggled desperately inside the alchemy furnace, causing it to shake violently and almost tip over.

It struggled inside, trying to break free of the furnace, but the furnace walls, though seemingly thin, were as solid as copper and iron. No matter how it rammed, it only bulged on the outside and quickly recovered.

Lu Qingxuan emerged from the mist with a smile on his face. With a wave of his hand, the furnace lid fell down, and he said unhurriedly, "There's no need to struggle. This is what I use to refine pills. Although it's not some kind of immortal treasure, it's still quite extraordinary."

Even if you have hundreds of years of cultivation, you still can't break through it. It only needs a spiritual fire to enter it to refine you.

"At that time, your flesh and blood will turn to ashes, but your inner core will remain. Then your cultivation will not have been in vain."

Upon hearing this, the black fish demon's expression changed drastically, and it struggled even more fiercely, gritting its teeth as it said, "Little Taoist, quickly release me! If you know what's good for you and let me out, we can go our separate ways, and we can pretend today's events never happened. If you don't know what's good for you, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Lu Qingxuan couldn't help but laugh: "You're already a sitting duck, a fish in a pot, and you still dare to talk about being impolite? I'd like to hear how you're going to be impolite!"

The black fish demon remained silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled coldly, "Little Taoist, do you know who I am? If you kill me, aren't you afraid of incurring a terrible disaster?"

Lu Qingxuan raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious. This black fish demon had cultivated for hundreds of years, entrenched itself in the Clear Water River, and committed all sorts of evil deeds; it certainly had a big mouth.

"Tell me, where do you come from? If you're truly a spirit beast under some great deity, I might actually have to give you some face."

Seeing that Lu Qingxuan was somewhat wary, the black carp spirit became even more emboldened. It straightened its body in the furnace and said arrogantly, "I'm not afraid of scaring you to death when I tell you! My elder brother is the koi carp in the lotus pond in front of Guanyin Bodhisattva's seat on Luojia Cliff of Mount Putuo in the South China Sea! When the Bodhisattva preached, it often listened to the sutras by the pond and gained some spiritual energy. It has long been able to transform and has great abilities."

I am his sworn brother, as close as brothers. If you dare to lay a finger on me, my elder brother will come after you. At that time, not only you, but even your sect's ancestors will suffer the consequences!

Lu Qingxuan was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

The black fish demon felt a chill run down its spine at his arrogant laughter and snapped, "What are you laughing at?"

Lu Qingxuan, having finished laughing, wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes and said, "I laughed at you for bragging without thinking. Your elder brother is a koi carp under the seat of Guanyin Bodhisattva? Koi carp live in the Bodhisattva's lotus pond, listen to the wonderful Dharma scriptures, and cultivate the golden body of enlightenment. How could they become sworn brothers with a demon like you who harms living beings and eats young boys and girls? You must have been deceived!"

The black fish spirit angrily retorted, "What do you know! I have known my elder brother since childhood. Later, it had a fortuitous encounter and was enlightened by the Bodhisattva and taken to the South China Sea."

We only see affection, how could you possibly understand? Before it left, it taught me a magic technique, saying that if I ever encounter difficulties, I can mention its name. If you know what's good for you, quickly let me out!

Lu Qingxuan listened to the black fish spirit's detailed account, which seemed to suggest that it had some origin.

But then again, this black carp spirit is neither a calamity in the Journey to the West, and ultimately it is only related to the koi. It is impossible to get him to spare its life.

Moreover, this black fish demon has eaten forty-nine boys and girls, and its hands are stained with blood. If it is released today, who knows how many more lives it will take in the future.

As for the ancestors of the sect...

Let alone a koi fish, what if Guanyin Bodhisattva herself came?

He simply refused to believe that anyone in this world would dare to lay a hand on the Supreme Dao Ancestor.

"It's absolutely impossible to let you go. If you live, what will happen to the children you ate?" Lu Qingxuan said calmly.

Hearing the resolute tone in Lu Qingxuan's words, the black fish spirit panicked and struggled desperately in the furnace: "Little Taoist, are you really not afraid of my elder brother? You dare to offend someone under the Bodhisattva's command? Aren't you afraid of divine retribution!"

Lu Qingxuan stopped boasting, sat cross-legged, made hand seals, and chanted the True Fire Incantation.

A crimson flame emerged from his fingertip and entered the furnace through the air vent at the bottom.

In an instant, a raging fire erupted inside the alchemy furnace, turning the entire furnace body a deep red.

The black fish demon let out a piercing scream from inside the furnace: "Little Taoist, you will die a horrible death! My elder brother will avenge me! He will tear you to pieces and ensure you never reincarnate!"

As the cursing continued, the voice weakened, turning into intermittent groans and pleas: "It hurts...it hurts so much, Daoist Master...Daoist Master, spare me, this little demon will never dare to do it again..."

Lu Qingxuan remained unmoved and added another flame.

The temperature inside the furnace soared, and even the furnace walls faintly emitted a white light. The black fish demon's screams gradually subsided, turning into a faint hiss.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the incense burner finally quieted down.

Lu Qingxuan withdrew his true fire, raised his hand and waved it. A wisp of white smoke rose from the furnace, and the black fish spirit's body had already turned into a pile of ashes, leaving only a thumb-sized inner core.

Having obtained the inner core, Lu Qingxuan weighed it in his palm before putting it into his sleeve.

Looking into the furnace again, there were still a few unrefined black scales buried in the ashes. Lu Qingxuan collected them all and kept them for other uses.

By the time everything was done, it was already broad daylight.

The morning light shone on the Qingshui River, making it sparkle. Lu Qingxuan flashed back to the Zhou family's location.

The door creaked open. Zhou Mingyuan, who hadn't slept all night, suddenly had a glimmer of hope when he saw Lu Qingxuan return. He quickly led him into the courtyard.

"Master, what about the river god..." Zhou Mingyuan asked cautiously.

"Don't worry, the river god has already been eliminated." Lu Qingxuan smiled slightly.

Zhou Mingyuan was stunned for a moment, then his eyes reddened, and he knelt down with a thud, kowtowing three times to Lu Qingxuan: "Daoist Master, you saved my family and the people of the county. I will never forget this kindness and virtue!"

His voice choked with emotion, and his forehead pounded against the bluestone slab with a loud thud.

Lu Qingxuan quickly helped him up, saying, "Please get up quickly. I was just doing my duty. The black fish demon has been brought to justice and can no longer harm people."

As they were talking, Madam Zhou heard the commotion and came out of the house. When she heard that the River God had been exorcised, she was first stunned, and then covered her mouth and cried.

She turned and threw out the words, and soon her voice echoed through the alley.

"The River God is exorcised! The Taoist priest has exorcised the River God!"

That shout caused an uproar throughout East Street.

"What? The River God is gone?"

"Really besides that?"

"Has the Taoist priest returned?"

One door after another opened, and people wearing undergarments rushed out, bombarding the door with questions.

Lu Qingxuan stood in the Zhou family's house, surrounded by more and more neighbors.

Upon hearing Lu Qingxuan's confirmation, everyone looked at him with awe and a hint of relief at surviving a calamity.