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

Chapter 611 Tuogu
With the decree from Heaven descended.

Inside the Jinghe Water Palace, a gloomy and desolate atmosphere prevailed.

Inside the underwater palace, the once arrogant and domineering shrimp soldiers and crab generals were now all dejected and their faces showed sorrow.

The fish that are usually so lively and agile seem to have sensed impending doom, hiding among the water plants and rocks, not daring to make a sound.

Little Dragon Ao Tuojie, the once spirited and arrogant Prince of the Jing River, now seemed to have all his bones drained away, slumped on the cold jade steps.

His enormous crocodile eyes were filled with unprecedented fear and confusion. His former arrogance had vanished without a trace, replaced by endless despair and regret.

Dragon-Slaying Platform!
That was a place that made the dragons of the Three Realms tremble with fear; the punishment of being torn to pieces was one of the cruelest in the Three Realms.

His father's somber and desperate analysis shattered his last shred of hope.

He then suddenly realized that the price he had paid for his impulsive gamble was his father's life!

That bet was made out of youthful impulsiveness, but no one expected it would lead to such serious consequences.

A surge of emotions, a mixture of shame, fear, and resentment, rushed over him like a tidal wave.

"Father!"

The little alligator dragon screamed hoarsely as it struggled to its feet on the jade steps:

"Father! I will take responsibility for the trouble I have caused!"

"How can we implicate my father?"

"If you were to die in my place, this would be..."

"How will my brothers, the dragon clans of the four seas, and all living beings in the world view me?"

"Wouldn't I, Tuo Jie, become that shameless coward who clings to life and drags my old father down with him?"

"How can I possibly live on in this world?"

"Your child... Your child would rather die right here on these steps than bear such eternal infamy!"

Young men are full of vigor and pride, and they value their reputation highly.

At this moment.

The young man's passion and dignity burned fiercely at this moment, and his sense of shame even overwhelmed his fear of death.

Faced with such shame and disgrace.

He would rather suffer the agony of being slowly sliced ​​to death on the execution platform himself than bear the shameful shackles of having his father die in his place.

Looking at his son's grief-stricken and remorseful appearance, the Dragon King of the Jing River showed no blame in his eyes, only a calm and entrusting gaze that came from a profound understanding of life and death.

The Dragon King of the Jing River slowly opened his mouth and instructed the little alligator dragon:

"Jie'er, let me ask you this: is it easier to die or to live?"

The little alligator dragon pondered for a moment, a hint of confusion flashing in its eyes, then said firmly:
"Dying is naturally easier."

"Yes, it's easier to die."

The Dragon King of the Jing River nodded slightly, slowly raised his hand, and patted the little alligator dragon's shoulder heavily, saying earnestly:
"Death is but a momentary pain; blood will splatter five steps away, and then all is over!"

"But those who are alive have to bear a heavier burden, shoulder more responsibilities, and endure inner torment... Living is so difficult!"

"To live is to face the world's gaze, to bear the rise and fall of the family, and to struggle forward in adversity."

"So, let your father do this simple thing."

"Throughout my life, I have experienced countless trials and tribulations and have long since become indifferent to life and death. For me, death is nothing more than a relief."

"And this difficult task is entrusted to you."

The Jing River Dragon King instructed the little alligator dragon:

"My son...you must remember that the most important thing in this world is to live."

"What is face, what is pride? In the face of life and death... all are meaningless!"

As the saying goes, "If you raise a child but do not teach him, it is the father's fault."

“My son, you don’t need to blame yourself or feel guilty.”

"The root of your misfortune today lies with your father!"

"It's my fault... for spoiling you too much and indulging you excessively, which has made you so ignorant and reckless, causing such a terrible disaster!"

"Now, I am willing to die to save your life, hoping that you can repent and start anew."

His gaze seemed to pierce through the dome of a crystal palace, looking towards the vast sea of ​​stars, filled with boundless hope:

"My father is getting old and his health is declining."

"And you... there are still countless mountains and rivers yet to be traversed, suns, moons, and stars yet to be witnessed, and the ever-changing world yet to be experienced..."

"You have not even glimpsed a fraction of the vastness and wonder of this primordial world!"

"Only by surviving can we have a future and hope."

While talking.

The Jing River Dragon King looked at the Jing River Dragon Queen, who was already weeping uncontrollably and nearly fainting, and his voice was low and solemn:
"Madam, we... have been targeted by the Eight Immortals of the Daoist Sect."

"The Eight Immortals of this sect have profound roots, unfathomable supernatural powers, vicious schemes, and ruthless methods. They are by no means easy to deal with!"

“If you cut the weeds without removing the roots, they will grow again when the spring breeze blows.”

"After I die, I fear they will eliminate us completely and will not easily let go of our Jinghe Dragon Clan."

“The rest of us children each have our own duties, but we are scattered in different places, not free, and unable to take care of each other.”

"You must instruct them to be careful in their words and deeds, to be cautious in everything they do, and to walk on thin ice, so as not to give anyone a handle to use against them or cause any trouble! Otherwise, they will surely fall into an abyss of no return."

finally.

The Dragon King of the Jing River finally turned his gaze back to the little alligator dragon, his eyes filled with reluctance and worry:

"Only you, Jie'er... are young and impetuous, which worries your father the most..."

That concludes this discussion.

His cloudy dragon eyes gazed towards the West Sea, and he earnestly instructed the Jing River Dragon Queen (sister of the West Sea Dragon King):
"If I die... then you... take Jie'er and go to seek refuge with her uncle, the Dragon King of the West Sea."

“Report this matter in detail, and beg your elder brother to protect you, my widow and your orphan, for the sake of our blood ties and the years of affection between my husband and me!”

"That is the Dragon Palace of the Deep Sea, with a deep foundation, and the Dragon King of the West Sea and 'Ao Moang' are stationed there."

"I doubt that even if the Eight Immortals of the Daoist sect are arrogant and domineering, they would dare not venture into the heart of the West Sea Dragon Palace to seek revenge!"

"Remember...remember..."

"The Western Sea... is your only way out!"

His voice lowered, yet carried a heavy weight of entrustment, as he entrusted the future of this orphan and widow to the Dragon King of the West Sea.

……

Upon hearing this, the Dragon Queen of the Jing River felt as if her heart was being torn apart, her liver and intestines breaking.

On one side is her husband, facing certain death; his journey is fraught with peril, and their fates are uncertain.

On one side is the young child who has committed a fatal crime; how can his tender shoulders bear such an overwhelming responsibility?

An overwhelming grief, like a surging tide, nearly tore her apart, leaving her utterly devastated.

She could only clutch tightly at the sleeves of the Jinghe Dragon King's magnificent yet faded robe, as if grasping at the last vestige of warmth and reliance in this world.

Tears streamed down her face like broken pearls, each drop landing on her sleeves and soaking them. Her silent weeping spoke volumes, far surpassing any words spoken.

The old dragon king of the Jing River had not yet finished speaking.

At this moment.

Kang Anyu, one of the six brothers of Meishan, reappeared deep within the water mansion, and said sternly:
"Second Master grants permission!"

"Jing River Dragon King Ao Yuan, the time has come, come with us on our journey!"

The Dragon King of the Jing River took a deep look at his wife and children, his eyes filled with longing and reluctance, as if he wanted to etch their images into his soul.

Immediately, he opened his dragon mouth wide, and an unprecedentedly powerful dragon might suddenly erupted!
In an instant, the crystal palace shone brightly, and the water surged!
As the Great Dragon God in charge of rain in the Heavenly Court and the chief administrator of the Eight Rivers, the Jinghe Dragon King is considered a prodigy of the dragon race, and his strength is naturally not weak.

In the past, he roamed freely throughout Chang'an and the surrounding rivers, commanding the wind and rain with great power and prestige.

All of a sudden.

This great dragon god who once ruled over the eight rivers of Chang'an, all the pure cultivation and dragon race's original power within his body, were frantically condensing like hundreds of rivers flowing into the sea!
The power surged and churned within him, eventually coalescing into a single mass.

"Roar--!"

A deep dragon roar, filled with pain and resolve, rang out.

A dazzling light flowed, and a brilliant dragon pearl, embodying tens of thousands of years of his pure cultivation and life essence, was slowly exhaled from his mouth.

The moment the Dragon Balls left the body.

The once robust figure of Jinghe Dragon King Ao Yuan seemed to have been drained of its energy in an instant. The luster of its dragon scales dimmed rapidly, and its once straight back became slightly hunched, as if it had aged tens of thousands of years in an instant.

"Jie'er, catch!"

Without hesitation, the Jinghe Dragon King shoved his dragon claw forward!
He slammed the dragon pearl, which contained supreme power and heritage, into the little alligator dragon's body with a powerful palm strike.

This is the culmination of tens of thousands of years of cultivation by the Old Dragon King of the Jing River. The little alligator dragon is the son of the Old Dragon King of the Jing River, connected to him by blood, as if born from the same root, and can easily absorb the power of this dragon pearl.

The Dragon Balls entered his body.

A warm yet immense power instantly filled the little alligator dragon's limbs and bones.

It also made him instantly understand his father's selfless sacrifice and entrustment.

"Ow—!"

The little alligator dragon let out a painful roar that reverberated throughout the underwater palace.

An immense, overwhelming power surged violently into his limbs and bones like a burst dam.

The little alligator dragon's body expanded and deformed uncontrollably, its bones making a teeth-grinding "crackling" sound, and its scales peeled off and regenerated in the blue light, becoming thicker and harder, shimmering with a cold metallic luster.

The little alligator dragon's cultivation level skyrocketed under the catalysis of the dragon ball, and its crocodile-elephant characteristics quickly faded and transformed.

Suddenly, a pair of thick, majestic dragon horns sprouted from the top of its forehead.

Its originally rough body was covered with golden scales, gleaming with pure dragon might.

At this moment, the little alligator dragon is beginning to show its majestic dragon appearance and its ferocious crocodile body, and has become a real, powerful beast that is half dragon and half crocodile!

"Ugh—!"

The little alligator dragon trembled violently, not only from the increase in power, but also from the excruciating pain in its soul.

"Father...!"

Feeling the immense power surging within him, belonging to his father, the little alligator felt as if his heart was being torn apart.

The greater the power, the deeper the pain of loss.

He tried to rush forward, but the undeniable light in the Dragon King's eyes pinned him to the spot.

His knees buckled, and he collapsed to his knees once more. Tears streamed down his face like a dam bursting, his cries of regret and grief heart-wrenching.
"Father! It is my fault! It is my fault that I have harmed you! Father—!"

"My son... your father... is leaving."

The Dragon King of the Jing River gazed deeply, deeply at his son's transformed appearance, his eyes no longer filled with sternness or harshness, but only with endless reluctance and profound expectation.

With his last breath, he said:

“My son, I have just… pondered again… the deep-seated blood feud between the Eight Immortals of Taoism and my Jinghe Dragon Clan…”

The Dragon King of the Jing River paused, then said helplessly:
"Their roots... run too deep... and behind them are... powerful figures with connections to the highest levels..."

"This is beyond the reach of us insignificant dragons..."

"You... from now on... forget about it... forget this hatred... live well... live peacefully..."

"Don't let hatred blind your eyes and devour your mind..."

"To live a good and peaceful life...that is the greatest comfort...to your father..."

"Remember!"

After saying that, he turned around abruptly and walked step by step toward the grim array of heavenly soldiers.

"Father--!"

The little dragon let out a heart-wrenching cry and struggled to rush over, but was held back tightly by the Turtle Prime Minister and several loyal shrimp soldiers and crab generals. It could only watch helplessly as its father's figure disappeared in the blinding divine light.

Kang Anyu solemnly waved his hand:
"Lock it up, take it with you!"

The heavenly soldiers stepped forward, their heavy, dark gold chains rattling loudly.

The cold, ruthless hook pierced through the collarbone of Ao Yuan, the Dragon King of the Jing River, and coiled around his body.

This once mighty and powerful Heavenly Rain God, who ruled over the eight rivers, only trembled slightly without uttering a groan. He was escorted by the heavenly soldiers and transformed into a streak of light, soaring into the sky. He left his water palace, his wife and children, and headed to the final execution platform—the Execution Platform!

What awaits him is the merciless guillotine of Heavenly Law.

……

Not long after.

"Roar!"

Suddenly, a mournful and desperate dragon roar, filled with the sorrow of the dragon race, faintly came from the distant horizon, and then stopped abruptly.

Subsequently.

A huge dragon head, dripping with blood, fell from the heavens.

The dragon's eyes were still wide open, filled with unyielding spirit and endless worries, carrying a heavy stench of blood.

On the dragon's head, the scales were shattered, as if it had been scraped by a sharp blade, leaving the flesh and blood a bloody mess, with blood gushing out like a torrent, instantly staining half the sky red.

Followed by.

"Pfft!"

A deep, muffled thud as it plunged into the water shattered the deathly silence of the underwater palace.

With a loud "thud," the enormous dragon head slammed down on the cold crystal steps of the Jinghe Water Palace, splashing up a spray of scarlet water.

The dragon head rolled a few times, and finally, with its blood still wet, it stopped right in front of the little alligator dragon, which was limp and disoriented on the ground.

The dragon's mouth was slightly open, as if it still had unsaid.

That was the head of Ao Yuan, the Dragon King of the Jing River!

At this moment, the Jinghe Dragon King died and his body and head were separated, his soul departing from the Execution Platform.

Thus, the "Great Dragon God of Rain in Heaven" fell.

"It's the Dragon King's head!"

"The Dragon King was really killed by the Heavenly Court!"

"The sky is falling!"

……

In an instant, exclamations and cries rose and fell.

The little alligator dragon trembled violently.

He abruptly broke free from the support of the Turtle Prime Minister, stumbled forward, and with trembling hands reached out to carefully and tenderly cradle the still-warm head.

Those familiar dragon eyes pierced through the water, straight into the depths of his soul—there was reluctance, sorrow, and silent entrustment... but not a trace of blame for his rebellious son!
The father entrusted his head to him and his life to him.

The Jing River Dragon King died; the little alligator dragon lived.

The immense grief and belated realization, like the icy waters of the Jing River, completely overwhelmed the little alligator dragon.

He held his father's head tightly, his cheek pressed against the cold scales, his body trembling violently from extreme pain, yet no more tears could be shed, only a silent lament rolling in his throat.

……

"Hu... Husband..."

Upon witnessing her husband's head being severed from his body, the Dragon Queen of the Jing River felt a sudden darkness before her eyes. She coughed up a mouthful of hot blood, which instantly stained the front of her magnificent robes red, and she fainted on her back.

With the core leadership collapsing, the Jinghe Dragon King perished.

The Jinghe Water Palace was thrown into chaos instantly.

When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.

Once the leader falls from power, his followers will also scatter.

"The Old Dragon King is dead!"

"The Heavenly Court is about to settle scores! Run!"

"Pack your bags and get out!"

"Open the vault and take the gold and silver!"

"This golden treasure chest is mine!"

"This chest of silver is mine!"

"Don't try to take it from me!"

"I kill you!"

……

Terrified, the shrimp soldiers and crab generals, fearing they would be implicated and punished by the Old Dragon King of the Jing River, rushed towards the treasury like hungry wolves, looting gold, silver and valuables.

They fought and struggled, neither willing to give in, creating a chaotic scene.

Then, like a school of fish disturbed by a sudden disturbance, they frantically rushed towards various exits, seeking refuge in other underwater realms, wishing they had been given two more legs.

The wise and composed Prime Minister Turtle, seeing the tragic scene before him, was also moved to tears, utterly bewildered.

The Turtle Prime Minister waved his arms in vain, trying to maintain order, and shouted hoarsely:

"Don't panic! Don't be flustered!"

But that sound, amidst the chaotic cries and fleeing, seemed so weak and powerless, and was instantly drowned out by the noise.

(End of this chapter)