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

Chapter 631 Maitreya Heavenly Palace, the Magic Treasure Golden Bell

Now, Fulilong, upon hearing Huangmei's impassioned and heartfelt words, truly stirred up the pent-up sorrow in his heart!
With his father's revenge unavenged, he is trapped on Mount Ling, spending his days striking the bell, not knowing when it will end.
Thinking back to the former glory and majesty of the Jinghe Dragon Palace, and then looking at its current predicament of being trapped in a cage and achieving nothing.

Futile Dragon felt a surge of inner fire, and a powerful fighting spirit welled up within him!
If he had made a name for himself on Mount Ling and attained Buddhahood, would those who plotted against his father have dared to act so recklessly?
He tried in vain to climb step by step to the top of Mount Ling and become the "high-ranking dragon".

He wanted to use his power and strength to protect his younger brother and his family.

"In vain, in vain, a lifetime of striking the bell, all for naught..."

Fu Laolong pondered the name that had accompanied him through his years on Ling Mountain, a trace of humiliation and resentment flashing in his dragon eyes.

Thinking of the tragic death of his father, Ao Yuan, the Dragon King of the Jing River.

Futile Dragon secretly swore:

"How can a man who was born in the world of heaven and earth live in depression for a long time among men?"

"If given the opportunity, I will surely rise up, protect my family, and bring glory to the imperial court!"

“I don’t want to be this ‘futile dragon,’ I want to be the great dragon god who protects the Dharma, and I want to become a Buddha and an ancestor.”

"My father is dead, but I must carry on his will and make the name of the Jinghe Dragon Clan resound throughout the Three Realms!"

However, beneath this grand ambition, a hidden worry lingered in his heart.

In vain, the dragon raised its head, its eyes blazing, staring directly at Huang Mei's confident face, and asked in a deep voice:

"Senior Brother Huangmei, the future you have painted is dazzling and extremely tempting."

"If this path succeeds, needless to say, I will have no regrets even if I have toiled my whole life!"

"However, this path is fraught with peril and thorns. Your opponent is Jin Chanzi, the second disciple of the Buddha, and Guanyin Bodhisattva is plotting and scheming behind your back!"

"What if we are defeated?"

"Defeated? Hahaha!"

Upon hearing this, Huang Mei burst into loud laughter.

He stood with his hands on his hips, his yellow eyebrows raised, and his eyes flashing with a fiery light, and said in a loud voice:

“When I was traveling in Jambudvipa, I heard ordinary people talking about the past and present, telling the stories of the ‘Xiang Yu’ and the ‘King of Hanzhong’.”

"Although Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, was powerful enough to lift a tripod, he was defeated at the Wujiang River and eventually committed suicide; although the King of Hanzhong was weak and not good at fighting, he still gained a vast territory, ruled the world, and became the emperor."

"Until the very last moment, who can predict whether that village head of Pei County can defeat Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, and take the world?"

"The weather is unpredictable, and fortune can change in an instant."

"The affairs of the Three Realms are ever-changing and unpredictable; who can say for sure?"

“Right now, the old Buddhas of Mount Ling are all ranked by seniority, occupying their lotus thrones and enjoying the honors and honors bestowed by the gods.”

"We, the rising stars, may have soaring ambitions and the ability to move mountains, but without great fortune, we cannot achieve our goals!"

How much longer must we stand here below, looking up at each other?

When will we finally get our turn to shine?

"This mission to spread the scriptures to the East is the best opportunity for me."

"If we don't seize this opportunity and fight with all our might, when will we brothers ever have a chance to rise above our circumstances? Must we wait until the seas dry up and the rocks crumble, until even the most powerful instruments are worn through?!"

Looking at the almost burning obsession and wild confidence in Huang Mei's eyes, Fu Laolong felt a surge of emotions, and the words "futile efforts" felt like thorns in his back.

He persisted in pressing for a definitive answer:

"Senior brother, your words are witty and your eloquence is impeccable. I am deeply impressed."

"Although the Bell Tower of Mount Ling confines me, it is also a temporary place for my clan to catch its breath."

"If I betray you and follow you, I will have completely cut off my way out."

"However... if fate plays tricks on us, things don't go as planned, and we fail at the last minute, then you and I... will ultimately be one step behind and lose."

"How should we conduct ourselves at that time?"

As he spoke, a deep worry was hard to conceal in the depths of his eyes.

"Humph!"

Huang Mei's rousing laughter gradually subsided, eventually turning into a barely audible hum.

He slowly turned around, his gaze once again falling upon the vast and boundless sea of ​​clouds in the Southern Continent.

After a long silence, Huang Mei finally spoke slowly and calmly:
"Hmph, lose?"

"Hehehe... If I, Yellow Eyebrows, lose..."

"That is naturally because Jin Chanzi spread the scriptures to the East, and his merits were fulfilled."

"The people of the Southern Continent will naturally build temples for Jin Chanzi, write books about him, sing his praises for his merits in obtaining and spreading the scriptures, and spread the stories of Jin Chanzi."

"They will portray the hardships Jin Chanzi faced on his journey to obtain the scriptures, and the compassion he showed when he spread the scriptures, in a way that is earth-shattering and deeply moving."

"From then on, Jin Chanzi sat high on the lotus throne, receiving worship from all directions, becoming a Buddha and an ancestor, and his name will be passed down for ten thousand generations."

"And I, Huang Mei, will probably become a clown in the 'Journey to the West' story, a laughing stock who overestimates his abilities, a despicable villain who highlights Jin Chanzi's boundless Buddhist power, and a stepping stone for Jin Chanzi to achieve his supreme merit."

At this point, Huang Mei made a self-deprecating remark:

People would say: Haha, what 'Yellow-Eyebrowed Buddha'? He's just a mere 'chalice boy,' yet he dares to dream of replacing Jin Chanzi, the second disciple of the Buddha, on the journey to the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures. How laughable!

“From this day forward, he, Jin Chanzi, is a Buddha, and I, Huang Mei, am a demon.”

"The victor is king, the loser is a bandit; it's nothing more than that."

Of course.

But King Yellow Eyebrows suddenly laughed.

"Hahaha!"

King Yellow Eyebrows burst into loud laughter, his voice shaking the heavens.

He suddenly straightened his back, opened his arms, and said loudly:

"But so what?"

"Whether it's wishful thinking or ignorance of one's own limitations, it doesn't matter."

"I, Huang Mei, will become a Buddha and a patriarch, and my name will be passed down for ten thousand generations!"

"Let future generations know that there was once a bell-ringing boy who dared to swing his staff at the 'true Buddha' designated by the Tathagata Buddha!"

Say it.

Huang Mei's gaze was like a torch, burning fiercely, as he stared intently at Fu Laolong once more. He extended his palm and solemnly said, word by word:
"My dear brother, even ordinary people know this: if a great man cannot live on five tripods of food, he should die cooked in five tripods!"

"What about us gods and Buddhas? We already possess extraordinary power, how can we be content with mediocrity and doing nothing?"

"Rather than striking the bell for a thousand years and chanting scriptures for ten thousand years on this sacred mountain, living in obscurity and silence, why not make a grand gamble and fight to the death!"

"I will fight with all my might to achieve a great and lasting legacy, so that my name will be sung for generations to come!"

"I, Huang Mei, am determined to compete and see who is better than Jin Chanzi. Let's gamble on who wins and who loses."

"If I, Huang Mei, cannot leave my name in history and be praised by future generations, then let me be infamous for ten thousand years and be cursed by ten thousand people, I will have no regrets!"

Huang Mei laughed again:

“If he, Jin Chanzi, wins, he will be the Buddha and I will be the demon; it is only natural.”

"But if I, Huang Mei, win, I will be the Buddha, and he, Jin Chanzi, will be the demon. What's wrong with that?"

"A futile dragon!"

Huang Mei's voice boomed like a bell, his palm hovering in mid-air:
"Are you willing to take this gamble with me?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Laolong felt a mix of emotions surging within him.

What does "futile" mean?
He toiled all day long, but to no avail, ending up with nothing. Was this the fate destined for him, the "futile dragon"?
He believed in fate, but he never resigned himself to it. He believed that life and death were predetermined, but wealth and status should be earned through one's own efforts!

Fu Laolong thought of his father's hatred, which weighed heavily on his heart and could not be avenged; he thought of himself trapped in this corner of Lingshan, repeatedly striking the bell of relief every day, but no one could relieve his own suffering, which made him extremely frustrated.

Now, after listening to Huang Mei's rousing speech, about his grand plans to spread the scriptures in the East, become a Buddha and ancestor, and glorify the Dragon Clan, and even the tempting promise of being transferred from the Buddha's control to Maitreya's seat, I was truly enlightened, as if the clouds had parted and the sun had risen.

At the beginning of his journey, a trace of hesitation remained in Long Chu's eyes.

However, in just a moment, that last trace of hesitation vanished completely, replaced by a resolute determination and burning ambition.

He thought to himself:
"Rather than wasting my lifespan here on this bell tower, watching my father's revenge go unfulfilled and my younger brother fall into danger, I'd rather fight to the death and seek a bright future! Even if it means eternal damnation, it's better than this endless futile effort!"

Fululong suddenly stepped forward, his dragon claws slamming heavily onto Huangmei's outstretched palm!
"Snapped!"

A crisp clap echoed through the spacious and solemn bell tower, drowning out the faint chanting of Buddhist hymns in the distance.

In vain, the dragon stood tall and proud, shouting loudly:

"Yellow Eyebrows, I'll do as you say!"

"From this day forward, never again utter the words 'futile efforts,' for they are an eyesore to me!"

"I entrust my life to my senior brother, gambling on this immense fortune and striving for a future!"

"To avenge my father, protect my younger brother, and attain Buddhahood and ancestorhood—all this depends on this one act! I swear I will never turn back!" Seeing this, Huang Mei was overjoyed and proclaimed loudly:
"Alright! Fu Laolong, since I have made a promise to you, I will do my best to fulfill it and live up to your trust."

"If it succeeds, then you and I will ascend the lotus throne together, receive incense offerings for ten thousand generations, and enjoy supreme honor."

A ruthless and resolute glint flashed in his eyes as he said:
"If we are defeated, we will fall into the deepest hell together, but I, Huang Mei, guarantee that we brothers will walk side by side, and we will not be lonely on the road to the underworld!"

"Right now, you are in trouble here. You can leave the matter of the Western Sea to your foolish brother. I will definitely help you solve your problems!"

"Once the situation in the Western Sea changes and the dust settles, I will immediately inform my master and transfer you to my Maitreya Heavenly Palace, freeing you from the Buddha's bondage."

"At that time, it will be the time for you and me, brothers, to stir up the winds and clouds in the East!"

present.

The bell-ringer and chime-chime boy of Lingshan made a pact with their hands on the solemn and sacred bell tower of Lingshan.

The oath has been made, and heaven and earth bear witness.

The Vajra Prajna Bell hung silently, reflecting two ambitious faces.

……

Meanwhile, Huang Mei and Fu Laolong made a pact with each other at the clock tower, and a surge of heroic spirit was surging in their hearts, eager to show their skills.

He dismissed the futile dragon, rode a dim yellow light, and headed straight for Maitreya Buddha's residence on Mount Ling—the "Maitreya Heavenly Palace".

This "Maitreya Heavenly Palace" is located deep in the auspicious clouds behind Mount Ling, and it is truly:

The mountains reach the azure sky, the palace pierces the heavens. Mist and clouds gather auspicious clouds, the sun and moon emit auspicious light.

The old cypress trees stand green against the mountain mist, like autumn waters and the sky merging into one color; the wildflowers bloom red like the morning glow, like peaches and apricots in full bloom.

Layer upon layer of palaces, with flying eaves and brackets subtly resembling the Eight Heavenly Dragons; towering pavilions, with carved beams and painted rafters, reveal the solemnity of the Seven Treasures.

Indeed, in the future Maitreya Heaven, he will be the foremost being in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss!
This is the palace of "Namo Maitreya Laughing Monk" on Mount Ling, the Maitreya Heavenly Palace.

Upon arriving at the palace, they found the palace gates ajar, but there was no sign of the guardian deities.

Huang Mei's heart stirred slightly, and he quickly stepped into the hall.

The hall was empty and silent; the ever-smiling, pot-bellied Maitreya Buddha was nowhere to be seen.

Only the three sticks of incense in the incense burner were almost burned out, with wisps of smoke rising, adding to the sense of loneliness and desolation.

"Is Master in? Your disciple Huangmei requests an audience!"

Huang Mei stood respectfully and called out loudly, his voice echoing in the empty hall, but only eliciting repeated echoes.

No one answered.

Only his own voice.

Huang Mei's heart sank little by little.

Why isn't Master here?
At this moment, the West Sea is about to be engulfed in turmoil. He was just about to take advantage of his master's influence to realize his grand ambitions, but his master was nowhere to be found. This left him feeling as if he were suspended in mid-air, with nowhere to hold on, and a sense of anxiety welled up in his heart.

He suppressed his frustration and began to scan the hall, trying to find a clue or guidance.

Suddenly.

Huang Mei's gaze settled on the cloud bed where Maitreya Buddha usually meditated.

There, a sandalwood tray sat quietly, simple and solemn, exuding a faint sandalwood fragrance.

On the tray, an object sat neatly, attracting all of Huang Mei's attention.

This object is shaped like a pair of enormous cymbals, with a dark gold color throughout, and a subtle flow of innate Daoist energy.

The cymbals are engraved with dense Sanskrit mantras. Upon closer inspection, each character appears as small as an ant, with a golden light emanating from them, as if they were slowly flowing with life.

The cymbal has a rounded edge, yet it exudes a sharpness that can cut through anything.

A heavy aura of suppression, imprisonment, and gathering of all things swept over them, making Huang Mei's breath catch in his throat.

It is the "Golden Bell" that Maitreya Buddha carries with him.

This cymbal is no ordinary object; it is:
"Forged from a single point of gold at birth, and polished by countless eons of Buddhist teachings. Shaped like a full moon divided into two halves, its light shines like flowing clouds and illuminates the Milky Way."

"It contains the power of Heaven and Earth within, and manifests the waves of Bodhi and Prajna on the outside. Do not say that all Buddhists are compassionate; beneath this treasure, even flesh and blood will wither!"

……

Maitreya Buddha possesses profound magical powers and unfathomable supernatural abilities within Buddhism, and also wields several extraordinary treasures, making him awe-inspiring throughout the Three Realms.

One of its magical treasures is the Human Seed Bag.

The Human Race Bag is a powerful weapon for group attacks.

When it is used, it can capture many gods and immortals in an instant.

On the journey westward, the Yellow-Eyebrowed King threw this bag, and in an instant, the Twenty-Eight Constellations, the Five Directions Protectors, Prince Xiao Zhang, and a host of other immortals and gods were all taken into the bag.

Although those who are captured will not suffer direct harm, they will become weak and powerless, completely losing the ability to resist.

In this battle, the Human Race Bag demonstrated its ability to "annihilate entire groups."

However, this treasure also has its shortcomings.

One drawback is that the human-shaped bag has no killing power; it can only control people but cannot take their lives.

Secondly, it has a drawback: when facing fast-moving individuals, the human-shaped bag appears somewhat ineffective.

If the opponent is too fast, the human-shaped bag will have difficulty controlling it.

Take the battle between Sun Wukong and the Yellow-Eyebrowed King as an example.

When Sun Wukong first encountered the Human Seed Bag, he didn't know what it was and was caught off guard, getting trapped inside.

But after Sun Wukong became wary of the human-seed bag...

Thereafter.

Facing the human race bag.

Sun Wukong could escape from the human-shaped bag multiple times by using his somersaults.

Even with his magic bag, the Yellow-Eyebrowed King could not capture Sun Wukong.

The second magic weapon is the "magic weapon Golden Bell".

In terms of "single-target lethality", the Golden Bell is actually far superior to the Human Race Bag.

The golden bell is completely different from the human race bag.

The Golden Bell is not a magic weapon for group attacks, but rather possesses immense power and specializes in the technique of "extreme single-target imprisonment".

Once the golden cymbal is raised, it can capture any deity, whether immortal, Buddha, saint, demon, or monster. The cymbal itself will change shape, fitting perfectly and changing size at will.

The golden gong can be as large as hundreds of feet or as small as a mustard seed, firmly trapping the target within it.

Even with the power to move mountains and fill seas, and the ability to perform seventy-two transformations, there's no way you can escape!
If one is trapped in the golden bell for three days and nights, one will not be able to escape.

The person inside will be refined by the extremely powerful Buddhist fire contained within the golden bell, their bones and flesh will be destroyed, leaving only a pool of pus and blood, which is extremely dangerous!
However, the way of Heaven is constant, and even the most precious treasures have flaws.

The magical treasures in the Journey to the West world are mutually reinforcing and mutually restraining.

This golden cymbal also has its drawbacks.

One drawback is that this golden cymbal is a metal magic weapon, which is afraid of the "power of Kang metal".

Just like Kang Jinlong in the Twenty-Eight Mansions, who once used his dragon horns to break through the golden bell.

Secondly, the golden bell has a low defense and is easily broken.

I still remember when Sun Wukong was trapped in the Golden Bell, he borrowed the horn of the Golden Dragon, drilled through the eye at the tip of the horn, revealed his true form, drew his iron cudgel, and struck the cymbals with it.

It's a pity that such a precious Buddhist artifact has been turned into hundreds or thousands of scattered pieces of gold!
This shows that Sun Wukong's staff could shatter the golden bell from the outside with its power.

From then on, the golden cymbals broke.

When the Yellow-Eyebrowed King fought Sun Wukong again, he no longer had the Golden Jade, so he had to use the Human Seed Bag.

Although the golden cymbal is powerful, it becomes extremely vulnerable once it encounters a force or means that can restrain it.

This characteristic also greatly limits its sustained effectiveness in combat, significantly reducing its deterrent power.

……

"Jin Rao!"

Huang Mei's pupils contracted sharply, and his heart pounded wildly.

This is one of the most treasured possessions of his master, Maitreya Buddha!

He had served his master in the past and sensed the aura of this treasure; he would never mistake it for something else!

Once this treasure is unleashed, no matter if you are a Taiyi Golden Immortal or even a Daluo Golden Immortal, even if you possess heaven-reaching and earth-shattering supernatural powers, once you are caught by it, you will be like a turtle in a jar, unable to escape!
The overwhelming joy instantly overwhelmed his previous anxiety.

Although his master, Maitreya Buddha, was no longer present, he left behind his personal magic weapon, the Golden Bell, to assist him!
……

(It's the last day of the month, so I'm updating early. Please give me a monthly pass if you have any. Thank you for your support!)
(End of this chapter)