Journey to the West: Demon Emperor: Beginning as a Little Toad

Chapter 608 West Sea Dragon King
Deep in the Western Sea.

West Sea Dragon Palace.

The luminous pearl bestowed by the Jade Emperor casts its clear light, illuminating the crystal palace in the Western Sea in a dreamlike and enchanting way.

The coral tree swayed gracefully in the soft glow of the light.

A very high-profile private banquet is underway.

On the main seat, Ao Run, the Dragon King of the West Sea, wore a black dragon robe and exuded a calm and composed aura.

To the left and right of him sat the Dragon King and Dragon Queen of the Jing River (sister of the Dragon King of the West Sea), their brows furrowed with deep sorrow.

The eldest prince of the Western Sea, Ao Moang, and the third prince of the Jade Dragon, Ao Lie (the white dragon horse), also sat together.

During the banquet.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, the gentle strains of music, and the abundance of delicacies, fine wines and spirits gleamed like pearls.

The scene appeared peaceful on the surface, but beneath the calm exterior, a deep contemplation was brewing within the hall.

Amidst the clinking of glasses and exchanging toasts.

The Jinghe Dragon King finally suppressed the surging family blood feud in his heart. After the West Sea Dragon King's earnest persuasion and analysis of the pros and cons, he reluctantly nodded and agreed to the reconciliation with the Eight Immortals of Taoism.

“Sister, brother-in-law, in a few days, I will invite Lü Dongbin, Zhongli Quan, Tieguai Li, and the other Eight Immortals of Taoism to the Dragon Palace of the West Sea for a chat…”

Seeing this, Ao Run, the Dragon King of the West Sea, felt a little relieved and was about to raise his cup to speak again, hoping to ease the tense atmosphere.

"Report!"

A sudden, urgent shout from outside the hall instantly disrupted the rhythm of the banquet.

A sea patrol yaksha stood anxiously outside the temple gate.

"What's all this noise? Disturbing the feast!"

The Dragon King of the West Sea, Ao Run, frowned deeply and asked in a deep voice, a sharp glint flashing in his dragon eyes.

Having received permission, the patrol yaksha hurriedly led another patrol yaksha, clad in the distinctive scale armor of the Jinghe River Water Palace, into the hall and reported:

"Your Majesty, it is the people of the Jinghe Water Palace who have an extremely urgent matter and need to find the Jinghe Dragon King!"

The patrolling yakshas of the Jinghe River Palace had been waiting anxiously. Upon seeing their Dragon King, they immediately prostrated themselves on the ground, their voices trembling with tears:

"Dragon King! Dragon King! Something terrible has happened at home! Tragedy has struck!"

"Prime Minister Turtle has urgently ordered me to immediately summon the Dragon King back to his residence to make a decision! Delay...delay could lead to unforeseen circumstances!"

As he spoke, the water patrol yaksha was trembling like a leaf. He pulled out a palm-sized "tortoise shell" that shimmered with rapid water ripples from his bosom, raised it high above his head, and presented it to the emperor.

This is the letter that Prime Minister Turtle, through a secret method, wrote to the Dragon King of the Jing River.

When the Jinghe Dragon King read the letter, his heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition instantly gripped him.

The Dragon King of the Jing River felt a chill on his neck, his expression changed drastically, and the hand holding the jade slip trembled slightly.

"Brother-in-law?"

Ao Run, the Dragon King of the West Sea, was closest to him and witnessed the sudden and dramatic change in the Jing River Dragon King's situation. His heart sank, and he quickly asked in a deep voice:

"What has happened? Why are you so pale? Tell me quickly!"

"Brother..."

The Dragon King of the Jing River swallowed hard, momentarily speechless, and then tremblingly handed the jade slip to Ao Run.

The Dragon King of the West Sea, Ao Run, took the jade slip, scanned it with his divine sense, and his brows instantly furrowed into a knot, his expression darkening. He said solemnly:
"How could a mortal old Taoist know the secrets of your Jinghe Water Palace, let alone... how could he possibly know the details of the Chang'an Cloud and Rain as decreed by the Heavenly Court?"

There must be something incredibly strange about this!

Ao Run, the Dragon King of the West Sea, with his sharp eyes, made a judgment in an instant:

"It seems someone has set a trap to frame you!"

Then, remembering another key point mentioned in the letter, his tone became even more urgent:
"My nephew Tuolong is young, impulsive, reckless, and simple-minded, making him easy for others to take advantage of!"

"If we fall into the trap, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

"Sister, brother-in-law, there's no time to lose! You must return to the manor immediately and handle this matter personally! There's absolutely no room for delay!"

The Queen of Jinghe, standing to the side, had already lost her composure, her previous composure completely gone.

Tears streamed down her face like pearls from a broken string, uncontrollable. She gripped the Jing River Dragon King's arm tightly, her nails almost digging into his robes, her voice filled with a mournful sob:

"Jie'er... will he be alright? My Jie'er..."

The Jing River Dragon King, realizing the gravity of the situation, comforted his Jing River Dragon Queen before quickly rising and urgently speaking to the West Sea Dragon King:
“Brother, I understand.”

"I'll head back to the manor now."

"I apologize for my rudeness today; I will visit you again another day to express my gratitude!"

Having said that, he turned around and tried to transform into a beam of light to leave, but his mind was shaken so badly that his steps became unsteady and he staggered, clearly indicating that he was in complete disarray.

"Wait a minute!"

The Dragon King of the West Sea, Ao Run, reacted swiftly, grabbing his brother-in-law's arm. Gazing at him intently, he spoke earnestly, every word conveying a brother's deep concern and earnest advice for his brother-in-law:
"Brother-in-law, remember what I told you: revenge only leads to more revenge, when will it ever end?"

"Patience brings calm; yielding a step reveals a vast and boundless horizon!"

"Our dragon race is now weak and no longer as powerful as it was in ancient times, nor does it possess the glory of the past. This is an undeniable fact!"

"When traveling through the three realms, if you encounter a powerful and invincible force, you must bow your head when necessary and yield when appropriate! Never act rashly out of momentary impulse!"

"The cycle of karma is inescapable, and retribution is inevitable."

"Today, 'a tiger fallen into the plains is bullied by dogs, and a dragon swimming in shallow waters is mocked by shrimp,' so we should just lie low for now."

"However, the tiger lies in the deep mountains, listening quietly to the howling wind; the dragon lies on the shallow beach, waiting quietly for the tide."

"My dragon race can be small or large, can hide or rise; when small, we can hide our form; when large, we can stir up clouds and mist; when hidden, we can lurk within the waves; when rising, we can soar through the universe."

"Seize the opportunities presented by the changing times and roam the world freely."

"As long as we preserve our usefulness and bide our time, we will wait for the day when we can finally find our place!"

"Back then... Hmph, 'The true dragon soars into the sky, hating the heavens for being too low!'"

"This truly reveals the true nature of my dragon race!"

When the Dragon King of the Jing River heard his brother's heartfelt words, every single one struck his heart like a heavy hammer.

The panic and fear that had almost overwhelmed reason upon hearing the devastating news were forcibly suppressed by these words.

The Dragon King of the Jing River took a deep breath, nodded vigorously, and solemnly said:
"Brother's teachings are invaluable! I will remember them well and act with caution to live up to your expectations!"

Seeing that his expression had calmed down, Ao Run, the Dragon King of the West Sea, said no more, and suddenly waved his hand, shouting to those outside the hall:

"Guards! Seize my 'Western Sea Crystal Dragon Chariot' at once!"

In an instant.

A magnificent chariot, entirely carved from translucent crystal and inlaid with countless deep-sea pearls, and drawn by four agile blue-water dragons, appeared silently in the water in front of the palace.

The carriage's lines were smooth, exuding an indescribable aura of majesty.

Wherever this crystal dragon chariot of the Western Sea passed, the surging waters automatically parted, forming a smooth passage. All the aquatic creatures along the way were filled with awe and fear, and they all gave way.

Ao Run pointed to the precious chariot that symbolized the power of the West Sea Dragon King and said to the Jing River Dragon King:

"Brother-in-law, in times of emergency, we must act expediently!"

“I will lend you this ‘Crystal Dragon Chariot of the Western Sea’ to ride.”

"This chariot is the most precious treasure of my Western Sea. It can travel on water, making waterways unobstructed. Wherever it goes, aquatic creatures give way. It can travel thousands of miles in an instant!"

"You shall drive this carriage along my Western Sea waterway and return swiftly to the Jing River!"

The Dragon King of the Jing River gazed upon the crystal dragon chariot of the Western Sea before him, his heart filled with a mixture of gratitude and anxiety, beyond words. He could only bow deeply and say in a solemn voice:
"Thank you for your kindness, brother!"

The Jinghe Dragon King immediately said no more.

He took the equally anxious and tearful Queen of the Jinghe River in his arms and stepped into the radiant crystal dragon carriage.

"hold head high--!"

The four agile dragons riding the dragon chariot, their scales as green as jade, let out a long, drawn-out roar as their hooves pounded the waves.

The enormous chariot instantly transformed into a dazzling, deep blue light, tearing through the dark and abyssal waters of the Western Sea, and sped off towards Chang'an in the Southern Continent!

In the blink of an eye, the Crystal Dragon Chariot of the Western Sea disappeared into the vast western sea, leaving only a rapidly receding water trail.

"Hey……"

"When the tide is about to come, the wind must rise first!"

The light from the luminous pearl still shone coldly, illuminating the furrowed brows of Ao Run, the Dragon King of the West Sea. He gazed in the direction where the imperial carriage had disappeared, and let out a long, silent sigh, as if endless worries were hidden in his heart.

Ao Moang and Ao Lie exchanged a glance, both seeing the worry in each other's eyes.

……

Meanwhile, the Dragon King of the Jing River, riding his crystal dragon chariot from the West Sea, traveled day and night, his heart burning with anxiety, heading straight for Chang'an in the Southern Continent.

It is near the territory of Chang'an.

Even before the dragon chariot landed, the sight seen through the crystal barrier was enough to terrify the Jinghe Dragon King!
But we see:

The river was surging and roaring, its waters murky and turbid.

The riverbanks breached in multiple places, and the floodwaters raged like a wild horse, rampaging and crashing through the land. Countless homes were submerged, roofs floated away, and families were destroyed and people perished.

Vast tracts of fertile land were submerged, turning into a boundless ocean; rice seedlings were destroyed, and cries of despair filled the air.

In the flood, the carcasses of cattle and sheep drifted with the current.

“It’s bitter!”

"Dragon King, spare my life!"

"We will certainly perform the sacrifice properly and dare not be negligent!"

……

The refugees struggled to survive, crying out in despair, looking like ants, utterly miserable.

……

Beneath the floodwaters lay a scene of utter devastation, a truly shocking sight.

The Dragon King of the Jing River thought to himself:
"Not good!"

Today, the human emperor, who calls himself the "Son of Heaven," worships the gods with utmost devotion.

The Heavenly Court's Rain Department has issued a strict order to the human capital of the Southern Continent, Chang'an, that is, to ensure favorable weather and abundant harvests in order to preserve its ancestral temples!
The current capital of Chang'an, the human capital of the Southern Continent, has been struck by this great flood.

Wouldn't this shake the very foundation of the gods' worship in Heaven?

"Hurry, faster!"

The Dragon King of the Jing River dared not look any longer, and urged the Chi Dragon to speed up. He took the Dragon Queen of the Jing River and rushed straight into the Jing River, rushing towards the depths of the Jing River Water Palace like lightning.

Upon entering the Water Palace.

A strong, pungent smell of blood immediately hit me.

The Jinghe Dragon King looked closely and saw that the little alligator dragon had tied up several fishermen and was throwing them into a cauldron to boil them!

A huge bronze cauldron was being fiercely scorched by the dark blue True Fire of the Water Palace. Boiling water was churning inside the cauldron, and steam was billowing out.

Several fishermen had been thrown into the cauldron, their flesh and skin peeled off, leaving only pale skeletons floating in the murky soup, a truly gruesome sight!
A group of water spirits, shrimp soldiers, and crab generals were feasting around the cauldron, sharing the rotten meat that was seeping out of the cauldron, enjoying it immensely!

The Dragon King of the Jing River glanced at it but didn't pay much attention. After all, in this mythical world, crocodiles eat people, dragons eat people, tigers also eat people... just like people eating fish and shrimp, the strong prey on the weak, and only the fittest survive.

Humans also often offer sacrifices of young boys and girls to the river god, so that the river god may enjoy them and pray for favorable weather.

This is for "offering sacrifices to the river god".

Even more so, some people drowned themselves in the river.

There were those who were drowned in pig cages, those who were thrown into the river...

There were also those who committed murders on the river and whose bodies were dumped there…

It can be said that the number of human corpses in the Jing River, Wei River, Ba River, etc. is countless.

Of course, these water spirits didn't stand on ceremony and enjoyed the offerings of those who jumped into the river, those who were drowned, and the sacrificial items.

Eating a person is no big deal to the Jinghe Dragon Palace.

Right now, the more important thing is that deadly disaster!

"Dragon King! Dragon King! Your old minister has been longing for your return!"

The Turtle Prime Minister, who had been anxiously waiting, rushed forward as if he had seen a savior, tears streaming down his face.

The Dragon King of the Jing River, preoccupied with other matters, grabbed the Turtle Prime Minister and urgently inquired:

"Turtle Six Armor, what exactly is going on? Tell me quickly and in detail!"

"Dragon Lord, it's like this..."

Prime Minister Gui quickly recounted the entire story, from Dongfang Kuai's appearance and the bet made by the little alligator dragon to the alteration of the rain forecast and the devastation of the flood in Chang'an, without daring to conceal anything.

Conversation room.

Upon seeing his father's return, the little dragon showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, his face beamed with pride as he approached him, his eyebrows dancing with delight.

"Father, you have no idea!"

“A few days ago, a sorcerer named Dongfang Kuai came to Chang'an City and instigated fishermen to fish extensively for the aquatic creatures of my Jing River. He caught many aquatic creatures with the potential to transform into dragons from the eight rivers of Chang'an!”

"Later, I used a little trick and made a bet with him, and drove him away without lifting a finger! Hehehe!"

"evil creature!!!"

Before the little alligator dragon could finish speaking, a surge of overwhelming rage mixed with fear rushed straight to the top of the Jinghe Dragon King's head.

The Jing River Dragon King could no longer contain himself. With a sharp "smack," he delivered a powerful slap to the little alligator dragon's face, causing it to stagger. His angry roar boomed like thunder:

"Look what you've done! You idiot! You're such an idiot!"

"You've been tricked and sold out, and you're still here counting the money for them! You've committed a terrible crime!"

"Father, why did you hit me?"

The little alligator dragon was stunned by the beating, covering its cheek and looking at its furious father in disbelief.

Seeing this, the Dragon Queen of the Jing River, heartbroken for her young son, rushed forward to protect the little alligator dragon, and shrilly scolded her husband:
"Dragon Lord! Can't we talk this out? Jie'er is still young and doesn't understand. Why did you hit him?!"

Looking at his fiercely protective Queen, and then at his youngest son, oblivious to his impending death, the Dragon King of the Jing River felt an overwhelming sorrow and sighed deeply to the heavens:
"Alas, loving mothers... how spoiled their children are!"

"This disaster all stemmed from overindulgence and spoiling!"

He turned his gaze back, staring intently at the little alligator dragon, his voice hoarse with despair:
"You wretched child! Take me to Dongfang Kuai's stall! He hasn't been gone long; he might have left some clues! Hurry!"

"Hmph, I'm not going!"

The little alligator dragon was beaten and was full of resentment. He stood there with his neck stiff and didn't move, sulking with his father.

Seeing this, the Dragon King of the Jing River became even more enraged and slapped him hard again, shouting:

"You damned brat! Hurry! Any later, and even your father... won't be able to save your life!"

These words struck like a thunderbolt!

The Dragon Queen of the Jing River trembled violently, her face filled with terror, and she exclaimed:

"What do you mean, my husband? Why do you say such a thing?!"

The Dragon King of the Jing River looked pale and said:

“A few days ago, the Heavenly Court ordered my Jinghe Water Palace to bring rain to Chang’an City.”

“The imperial edict clearly states: Clouds will appear at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM)... Rain will fall at the hour of Si (9-11 AM)... A total of four feet four inches and forty-four points of water will be collected.”

"These are heavenly laws and regulations, written in black and white, and there are copies in the Heavenly Court as well. No mistakes are allowed."

"Who would have thought that this wretched child... would actually make a bet with someone! In a moment of pride, he dared to be so audacious as to secretly alter the time of the rain and... the number of raindrops!"

The Dragon King of the Jing River pointed outside the palace, his voice trembling:
"This wicked creature flooded Chang'an, causing a devastating flood."

"The horrific scene you witnessed in the air just now was all caused by this karmic calamity!"

Do you know how much the harvest of human farming depends on rain from heaven?

"Rain is the lifeblood of the human world!"

"If there is a severe drought, the human world will be filled with starving corpses, and white bones will be exposed in the wild. The suffering of living beings will be unspeakable!"

"If there is a great flood, the land will be filled with disaster victims, who will exchange their own children to eat, and the human world will be turned into a hell!"

"Whenever there is a severe drought or flood, there will be many disaster victims and refugees, and wars are likely to break out. 'Great chaos in the world' is just around the corner."

"Only when the weather is favorable can the country be prosperous and the people live in peace."

"Therefore, rainwater is an important means for the Heavenly Court to control the human world."

"Rainwater is also an important means for the Heavenly Court to control the incense offerings in the human world."

Why is the Heavenly Court so powerful today?

"The Heavenly Court firmly holds the power to control rainfall in the human world."

"Although the Western Spirit Mountain is powerful and possesses great supernatural abilities, it cannot be touched in the slightest by any means to control the rainfall!"

"Monks can't pray for rain."

"Even if it were the golden-bodied Arhats of Mount Ling, or the Bodhisattvas themselves, with towering pavilions and incense offerings, and he chanted sutras for three days and three nights until his throat was hoarse."

"He couldn't even get a single drop of rain."

"Only the Heavenly Court can send rain!"

"The amount of rainfall is entirely determined by the Heavenly Court!"

"This is the very foundation upon which the Heavenly Court controls the human world, and it is also the absolute embodiment of the Heavenly Court's majesty!"

"When it will rain and how much rain will fall are all calculated in advance by the Heavenly Court."

"Who dares to bring rain without permission?"

"Who dares to change the decree to bring rain?"

"This is the most serious crime in Heaven; to commit it... to commit it is certain death! There will be no leniency!"

"Under the wrath of Heaven, those who disobey the decree will surely be... annihilated, body and soul, and never to be redeemed!"

(End of this chapter)