Journey to the West: I am the fiercest bird under Bodhi's seat

Once this plan succeeds, Flower Fruit Mountain will immediately become a major threat to the Heavenly Court. Then, it won't be ordinary generals like Li Jing, Nezha, or the Twenty-Eight Constellations who arrive.

Doumu Yuanjun personally arrived, Zhenwu Dangmo Emperor came riding on clouds, and Gouchen Shanggong Tianhuang Emperor descended to the mortal realm with his sword... Which of these top-level combat forces hidden in the celestial realm is not an existence that can shake the three realms with a stomp of its foot?

In an instant, Flower Fruit Mountain will be reduced to ashes.

He held his wine glass, gazing silently at Sun Wukong, and sighed inwardly:

Wukong, oh Wukong, the world is no longer what it used to be.

Ye Feng would never raise the banner of the ancient demon race at this moment.

All the demon kings of Flower Fruit Mountain, including Sun Wukong, appeared to be shrewd and capable on the surface, but in reality, they were only slightly clever at the tactical level, barely reaching the level of an ordinary person.

As for strategy?

Never mind... they don't even know how to spell the word "strategy".

If we really act according to their words, not to mention how the Heavenly Court will react, the demon race itself will be thrown into chaos.

Although he possessed the bloodline of the Golden Crow and wielded the Demon Emperor's Sword, he was not the only Golden Crow. Lu Ya was still alive and living a carefree life—even the legitimate son of Emperor Jun, of noble birth, dared not act rashly. So what was he?

If he rashly claims the title of supreme ruler, not only will the demon kings of the four continents, who are used to being unruly, not accept it, but even the former demon master Kunpeng might not be able to sit still.

That person is at the Quasi-Saint realm; even I, in my current state, might not be able to withstand a single finger from him.

Not to mention the many ancient demon gods hidden deep within Beiju Luzhou and in the primordial starry sky, whose attitudes are unpredictable and whose allegiance is unclear.

He would only do something like this, where he's surrounded by enemies from both inside and outside, with no way to advance or retreat, unless he's out of his mind.

"The banner of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven may be raised," Ye Feng finally spoke, his tone as calm as still water, "but the name of the ancient Heavenly Court must never be mentioned."

Sun Wukong was taken aback and asked urgently, "Why?"

He was also planning to recruit soldiers and gather talented individuals.

Ye Feng rolled his eyes, too lazy to explain: "Why so many whys? This matter doesn't need discussion, just listen to me."

He was highly respected in Huaguo Mountain, and even the monkeys shrank back when he finished speaking.

"Fine, I won't fight then. Who cares?" he muttered, his voice so low it was almost inaudible.

Ye Feng ignored him, got up and walked out of the Water Curtain Cave, leaving only one sentence: "You all prepare yourselves and intensify your drills. If my prediction is correct, the heavenly army will arrive soon."

Upon hearing this, the demons all stiffened, immediately abandoning their playful laughter and adopting solemn expressions.

Let's leave Flower Fruit Mountain aside for now.

Let's look at the Heavenly Court again.

Above the Lingxiao Palace, the Jade Emperor, the Great Heavenly Venerable, sat solemnly on his dragon throne, exuding majesty. Below, the celestial ranks stood in formation, with constellations guarding him.

Wen Zhong stepped forward and reported: "Your Majesty, the Great Emperor of Tai has abducted the demon monkey and shattered half of the Southern Heavenly Gate. Nine of the Twenty-Eight Mansions have perished, and their true spirits have been enshrined in the Investiture of the Gods, awaiting their resurrection."

"Furthermore, the sword he uses is called the Demon Emperor Sword. It was originally Emperor Jun's sword and has always been kept in the Heavenly Treasury."

"Oh?" The Jade Emperor's eyes flickered slightly, but he still did not express his opinion.

The immortals in the hall paled in shock.

Zhang Tianshi immediately stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty! This monkey is unruly and has killed the Martial Virtue Star Lord, violating the Heavenly Rules; that Golden Crow has sheltered a criminal, trespassed into the treasure vault, and stolen important artifacts, harboring treacherous intentions! This is a sign of plotting to restore the Demon Court, and cannot be tolerated. Please send heavenly troops immediately to raze Flower Fruit Mountain to the ground and restore order to the Heavenly Court!"

The Jade Emperor remained silent for a long time without responding, then slowly asked, "What do you all think?"

Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I request permission to descend to the mortal realm to capture this demon! This monkey, upon first arriving in Heaven, showed no respect for his elders. Your Majesty, in your magnanimity, did not pursue the matter, yet these creatures not only show no remorse but continue to commit heinous acts. If this wickedness is not eradicated, where will the dignity of Heaven be?"

At this moment, the other three of the Four Celestial Masters also stepped forward and said in unison, "We humbly request Your Majesty to issue an order to subdue the demon."

The Jade Emperor's gaze was calm as he slowly opened his lips: "Since all my ministers have made this request, who is willing to lead the army into battle?"

Li Jing stepped forward, cupped his hands, and replied, "Your humble servant is willing to assume the position of commander."

The Jade Emperor nodded slightly: "Granted his request. Order the Great God Nezha of the Three Altars and Seas, the four marshals of the Lingxiao Palace (Wang, Yang, Gao, and Li), the twenty-eight constellation stars, the gods of the Thunder Department, the gods of the Fire Department, and the three stars of Po Jun, Tan Lang, and Qi Sha to descend to the mortal realm immediately to annihilate the demonic forces."

As one deity's name after another was mentioned, Li Jing's expression gradually became more excited.

Don't be fooled by the Jade Emperor's concise words; none of the generals he dispatched were ordinary. These deities were all pillars of the Heavenly Court, possessing formidable fighting prowess.

The Thunder Department and the Fire Department were particularly prominent, being the two main forces among the four departments of the Heavenly Court, specializing in conquest. Normally, Wen Zhong and Luo Xuan were arrogant and conceited, and never showed any respect to this Grand Marshal who vanquished demons.

Now, however, we must obey their orders.

Not to mention the three star lords Po Jun, Tan Lang, and Qi Sha, who all control the fate of killing and calamity. A single one of them descending to the mortal realm would be enough to destroy a demon king.

Although nine of the Twenty-Eight Mansions are still nurtured in the Investiture of the Gods and have not yet recovered, the remaining nineteen are no ordinary beings and are capable of great use.

As for Nezha's abilities, he knew them perfectly well.

Although this lineup did not represent the full strength of the Heavenly Court, it was still extremely majestic.

In Li Jing's view, dealing with Ye Feng and Sun Wukong, two Taiyi Golden Immortals, was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Even if a true immortal were to personally arrive, they would still be unable to escape being captured.

He accepted the imperial decree, expressed his gratitude, and bowed as he withdrew.

The Jade Emperor lightly waved his sleeve, announcing the end of the court session. He then rose and led the way to the Hall of Fragrant Breeze.

The gods departed one after another, and Venus also quietly withdrew from the Lingxiao Palace.

He remained silent throughout the entire court assembly. This was because he had been the one who proposed the appeasement policy in the past, and now, if a campaign were to be launched, it would be awkward for him to either agree or dissuade the enemy.

I decided to keep quiet and observe from the sidelines.

After leaving the palace, a soft sigh escaped his lips. Just as he was about to return to his residence, a celestial official stepped forward.

"Chang Geng Xing Jun, the Great Heavenly Venerable has decreed that you are summoned to the Pi Xiang Palace."

Venus was startled, but dared not hesitate, and immediately followed the celestial official.

Meanwhile, the court assembly at Lingxiao Palace had just concluded.

Deep within the Heavenly Palace, amidst another magnificent palace complex.

A figure rode swiftly through the clouds, finally stopping in front of a magnificent palace.

The palace was magnificent and imposing, with the roof painted with the three elements of heaven, earth, and man, the base depicted the sun, moon, and stars, and the four walls were adorned with lifelike images of countless demons paying homage.

A plaque hangs high above the main gate, bearing three large gilded characters: "Gouchen Palace".

This was the residence of Emperor Gouchen.

The visitor was none other than Marshal Tianyou, who had previously laid an ambush outside the Thai Royal Palace.

He stood before the palace and said to the guards, "Is the Emperor here? Inform him immediately."

The guard bowed and hurriedly went inside to report.

A moment later, a celestial official came out to greet him and led him into the hall.

Upon entering the main hall, one sees a person standing with their back to the wall, gazing at a huge painting.

The scroll unfolds with a magnificent and dynamic composition, its imagery vivid and lifelike.

The image depicts a figure dressed in imperial robes, riding a nine-dragon imperial chariot, followed by countless gods. The emperor's gaze is like lightning as he parts the clouds and descends to the mortal realm.

The lower realm is filled with towering mountains and boundless rivers and seas, its vastness far surpassing the four continents of the present world.

On the earth, twelve terrifying and malevolent creatures dwelled—some with two snakes wrapped around their feet, some with four wings and six legs, and some with bird heads and human bodies, their auras overwhelming.

Countless bizarre and gigantic beasts followed in its wake.

Upon seeing the Emperor's arrival, the twelve ferocious creatures roared in unison, their resentment soaring to the heavens.

In an instant, it soared into the air, transforming into a giant that blotted out the sky, and pounced on the emperor.

The emperor calmly alighted from his carriage, raised his hand and summoned a bell that appeared in the air and trembled slightly.

The image was silent, yet Marshal Tianyou's heart trembled violently. It was as if the ancient tolling of a bell rang in his ears, piercing through the river of time and space, and resounding in his sea of ​​consciousness.

"Ah!" He groaned, his ears throbbing with pain, and he collapsed to his knees. His vision went black, his ears were ringing, and he lost all five senses.

Before he fell to the ground, he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye—centered on the golden bell, everything was annihilated, heaven and earth returned to chaos, all things turned into nothingness, until the entire painting was swallowed up.

The scene abruptly ends there.

Emperor Gouchen sighed softly: "Taiyi's bravery is unparalleled throughout the ages."

After speaking, he turned around, flicked his sleeve, and the scroll closed on its own.

Then, with a light tap of his fingertips, two orbs of light appeared, drifted to Marshal Tianyou's ear, and quietly disappeared into his body.

A refreshing coolness arose instantly, and my hearing returned to normal.

Marshal Tianyou hurriedly rose and bowed in thanks.

Emperor Gouchen waved his hand, his face cold and stern, and said calmly, "Speak, who did the Jade Emperor send to Flower Fruit Mountain to subdue the demon?"

Upon hearing the question, Marshal Tianyou hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, the Jade Emperor has appointed Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, as the commander-in-chief. Under his command are the Twenty-Eight Constellations, the Heavenly Lords of the Thunder and Fire Departments, the Star Lords of Po Jun, Tan Lang, and Qi Sha and San Sha, as well as the Great God Nezha of the Three Altars and Seas, and the Four Marshals of the Lingxiao Palace."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Gouchen raised the corners of his lips, revealing a cold glint in his eyes: "As expected, the Jade Emperor, that old fox, is just putting on an act, actually making excuses and evading responsibility, clearly trying to annoy me."

Marshal Tianyou was taken aback: "Your Majesty, what do you mean by that?"

In his view, this force, though not at its full strength, was enough to sweep away all evil forces. Even a Great Luo Golden Immortal would find it difficult to escape unscathed. The chances of victory in the campaign against Flower Fruit Mountain were extremely high.

Gouchen glanced at him sideways and snorted, "That Golden Crow is exceptionally gifted and wields the Demon Emperor's Sword; its combat power is no less than that of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal. If the Jade Emperor truly intended to eliminate it, why didn't he send a genuine Grand Luo Golden Immortal to oversee the battle?"

"This is a warning to me. I rule over all demons and my status is equal to that of the ancient Demon Emperor. However, the demon kings in the mortal realm are now ruling their own territories and do not obey the Heavenly Court's orders. I have repeatedly requested the Demon Emperor's Sword to go down to the mortal realm to wipe them out, but the Jade Emperor has refused on the grounds that 'only those with the bloodline of the Golden Crow can use this sword.'"

"Now that the Golden Crow has just ascended to the Heavenly Realm, it has been bestowed the title of Great Emperor and easily obtained the Demon Emperor's Sword—do you really think the Heavenly Treasury is a place you can come and go as you please?"

Gou Chen sneered twice, and Marshal Tianyou felt a chill run down his spine.

He regretted speaking too much, but as a trusted confidant of Gouchen, he had long shared both honor and disgrace, and had no way to retreat. He could only ask in a low voice, "Then... Your Majesty, what should we do now?"

Gouchen remained calm and smiled indifferently: "There's no need to worry. I know the Jade Emperor's thoughts perfectly well. It's laughable that his actions seem to be paving the way for me."

"Once I slay the Golden Crow, seize its bloodline, and retrieve the Demon Emperor's Sword, I will immediately become the rightful ruler of the demon race. At that time, with a single call, the demon kings of the four continents will bow down and submit. Even the Jade Emperor will have to be wary of me."

After speaking, he slowly opened his palms, revealing one hundred and eight ancient bronze nails. The nails exuded a sinister aura, surrounded by swirling green flames and shimmering with an eerie light, instantly chilling the entire hall.

Gou Chen whispered, "This is the former treasure of the Xuanming tribe—the Netherworld Divine Fiend Nail. The Ancestral Witch Xuanming was a descendant of Pangu, in charge of rain. The divine weapon he forged was specifically designed to counter the true fire of the sun, making it the mortal enemy of the Golden Crow tribe."

Marshal Tianyou was startled, thinking to himself: The Emperor had indeed planned ahead, even managing to find such an ancient treasure of the Wu tribe.

Immediately, a chill ran through me: Could it be... that the Great Emperor intends to send me with this treasure to ambush the Golden Crow?

He hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, you are wise. My cultivation is shallow, and I am afraid I am not capable of undertaking such an important task."

Gou Chen glanced at him indifferently: "I don't need you to take action."

Marshal Tianyou breathed a sigh of relief. Ever since the scene where Ye Feng killed Marshal Yisheng in front of him, a shadow had been cast in his heart that had not yet faded.

But if it's not myself, then who is it?