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

"The Seven Swords of Primordial Chaos, the first sword—Primordial Chaos First Judgment."

As the sword fell, the entire primordial chaos trembled violently.

A terrifying wave swept across all directions, and amidst the extreme chaos, an ultimate order emerged.

All the violent energy subsided, and everything, both tangible and intangible, became stable.

Earth, water, fire, and wind began to separate, and the rudiments of laws quietly sprouted.

After that sword strike, a faint light suddenly flashed through the chaos.

Though fleeting, it left a deep imprint on Ye Feng's mind, like a startled glimpse of a beautiful woman.

He was trembling all over, almost unable to control himself.

That is the starting point of "Tao".

That was the first sword strike at the beginning of the "Heavenly Way".

This time, the system's reward is simply astonishing.

After a long time, the chaotic scene gradually dissipated.

Ye Feng opened his eyes and found himself still inside the Yiyuan Palace.

But the image of that Taoist's casual sword strike kept echoing in his mind.

He kept recalling and replaying the events, putting himself in the Taoist's body.

Imagine yourself standing in boundless chaos, wielding your sword to cut out the first thread of rule, cleaving through the ancient fog.

……

The matter of Ye Feng comprehending the Primordial Sword will be left aside for now.

Li Jing, having suffered a defeat, hastily retreated back to the Heavenly Court.

He moved extremely fast and arrived at the South Heavenly Gate in a short while.

However, the flow of time in the mortal realm and the heavenly palace is different, so there will naturally be a delay between the two places.

After his death, he first dismissed the heavenly soldiers, and then went to the Lingxiao Palace with Wen Zhong, Luo Xuan and other star lords.

Upon arriving at the palace, the celestial officials announced that the morning court bell had been rung, and everyone stood solemnly awaiting the Jade Emperor's summons.

Meanwhile, in another part of the Heavenly Court—the Gouchen Hall.

Emperor Gouchen was also waiting for the battle report.

Suddenly, Marshal Tianyou appeared flustered and rushed in.

"Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!"

Emperor Gouchen's heart sank, but he remained outwardly calm and asked indifferently, "How is the war in the lower realm progressing?"

Marshal Tianyou kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Golden Crow on Flower Fruit Mountain was extremely ferocious. Although Daoist Chisongzi trapped it with the Pure Yang Immortal Pot, in the end, the Golden Crow broke free of the pot, and Daoist Chisongzi disappeared without a trace."

"Even worse, the Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta of Buddhism was also severely injured, his Dharma body was severed, and only his sixteen-foot golden body managed to escape."

Emperor Gouchen's pupils contracted slightly, he stood with his hands behind his back, and his fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly.

Even he was shaken by the battle situation.

The Golden Crow's abilities have actually reached such a level?

Far beyond expectations.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, and the hall fell silent except for the wisps of incense smoke.

Marshal Tianyou lay prostrate on the ground, secretly peeking out.

He had been deeply impressed by Ye Feng while still in Heaven, and during this campaign, he dared not approach at all, staying far behind the rear guard, retreating even more thoroughly than Li Jing. Seeing the situation deteriorating, without waiting for orders, he transformed into a streak of light and returned directly to Heaven.

That is why they were able to be the first to report back.

"Your Majesty..." he whispered tentatively, his voice trembling slightly.

Emperor Gouchen opened his eyes, slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Excellent! As expected of someone of the Golden Crow bloodline, only such a person is worthy of my personal attention."

He turned around and said calmly, "Get up. This has nothing to do with you. Step down."

Marshal Tianyou breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly kowtowed to take his leave, and flew away as fast as he could.

He feared that Gouchen would issue another order, commanding him to return to Huaguo Mountain to die.

After he left, Gouchen lowered his head and pondered.

Ye Feng's power far exceeded expectations, even causing Chi Songzi to fall into his trap, making him a major threat.

Especially now, the situation in Heaven is turbulent, with the Jade Emperor's attitude towards him ambiguous and unclear, making the situation worrying.

We must make plans early.

To ensure complete safety, his gaze darkened slightly as he thought of the two supreme treasures sealed in the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury.

Those two things are precisely the kind that can subdue the Golden Crow.

If we can obtain it, victory will be assured.

The only difficulty is that the Jade Emperor would never easily hand over such a precious treasure to someone else.

Only by devising clever schemes can we succeed.

As he was pondering, he took out a celadon bowl from his bosom.

The black mist in the bowl surged and churned, as if it contained another world, within which countless ferocious demon kings rose and fell and struggled, all of them peerless evil demons that he had suppressed for many years.

In the Lingxiao Palace, the Jade Emperor sat regally on the nine-layered cloud platform.

The civil and military officials stood in rows on the left and right, solemn and dignified.

Li Jing knelt at the foot of the steps, while Wen Zhong, Luo Xuan, Nezha, the two Heavenly Kings, the Twenty-One Constellations, the Seven Killings Star Lord, and the three Marshals stood silently behind him.

The generals apologized for their defeat, and the atmosphere was somber.

Li Jing reported the Battle of Huaguo Mountain in its entirety, without daring to conceal anything.

The Jade Emperor remained calm and did not utter a word, but the gods all changed color.

They were especially horrified to hear of the death of Chisongzi and the escape of Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva with only his golden body.

What kind of beings are they? Two Great Luo Golden Immortals!

Even within the Heavenly Court, there are very few.

That golden crow actually possesses such combat power.

"Your Majesty, as I was leaving, the monkeys of Flower Fruit Mountain declared that if their master was not granted the title of 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven,' they would raise an army to rebel against Heaven and seize the throne in the Lingxiao Palace!"

After Li Jing finished speaking, he lowered his head and awaited punishment.

The hall erupted in uproar.

The immortals were furious, denouncing him for his arrogance and disrespect, and for his presumptuous attempt to undermine the authority of Heaven.

Zhang Tianshi stepped forward from the crowd: "Your Majesty! This demon has uttered rebellious words and defied the Heavenly Rules. I humbly request that Heavenly troops be dispatched again, and additional divine generals be added, to ensure that Flower Fruit Mountain is razed to the ground!"

As soon as he said this, voices of agreement arose everywhere.

The Jade Emperor remained silent, his expression unreadable.

At this moment, Venus stepped forward slowly and said with a smile, "I'm afraid this suggestion from the Celestial Master is not the best course of action."

Zhang Daoling turned around: "What are your thoughts, Lord Chang Geng?"

Venus stroked his beard and laughed, "In my humble opinion, Ye Feng and the Monkey King are not inherently evil. Those with great supernatural powers should be appeased rather than suppressed. Since he desires the title of 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven,' what harm is there in bestowing it upon him?"

The entire hall was stunned; the immortals stared in disbelief, looking at this person as if he were insane.

"Star Lord, what do you mean by that?" someone asked in a trembling voice.

Venus smiled faintly: "Why are you all so angry? It's just an empty title. We'll grant him the name, but not real power, and give him a mansion to live in seclusion, so he can no longer disturb the mortal world. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

Master Zhang frowned: "How can you say it's all name and no substance?"

"Establishing an office without performing any duties, receiving a salary without taking responsibility, is like being a carefree immortal. It puts their minds at ease and avoids the ravages of war; why not do it?"

"Besides, this matter originated from the provocation by the God of War, and although the monkey's attack was fierce, it was for a reason. Since things have come to this, it would be better to stop."

"Furthermore, Ye Feng's strength is astonishing. Even a Great Luo Golden Immortal was defeated. If another war breaks out, the Heavenly Court will suffer heavy losses and its vitality may be damaged."

"He was originally the Golden Crow, who was once enfeoffed as the Great Emperor of Tai. He always kept to his duty and intimidated the demons of the lower realm. The Monkey King's affairs had nothing to do with him; at most, he had shielded him, but his crime did not warrant punishment."

"Now that our Heavenly Court has pardoned the Monkey King's crimes and even bestowed upon him the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven, why not take this opportunity to recall the Great Emperor Tai to his throne? Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

Upon hearing Venus's words, Zhang Tianshi was startled and blurted out the answer.

This old sage's ability to smooth things over is truly unmatched.

However, Venus was highly experienced and held a prestigious position, so he could not directly refute the Jade Emperor. He could only turn his attention to the Jade Emperor and await his judgment.

The Jade Emperor sat on his high throne, silent, with a slight hesitation between his brows.

At this moment, another celestial being stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "While the words of the Star Lord Chang Geng are eloquent, where is the majesty of our Heavenly Court? Isn't this an act of bowing down to Flower Fruit Mountain and showing weakness?"

"Insolence!" Venus's expression changed drastically, and he shouted sternly, "How dare you speak ill of the Heavenly Venerable! The Great Heavenly Venerable is the ruler of the Three Realms, whose grace is like rain and dew, and whose majesty is like thunder. How has he ever dishonored the dignity of the Heavenly Court?"

This shout was so imposing that the celestial official was immediately speechless, his face turned pale, and he dared not say another word.

Venus's expression softened slightly, and he continued, "Moreover, this time we dispatched a large number of celestial soldiers, with the Thunder and Fire Departments all descending to the mortal realm to capture the demon, yet they still returned empty-handed. If we were to launch another campaign, I ask you all, who else could we send?"

After a moment's thought, Zhang Tianshi slowly said, "The True Martial Demon-Subduing Emperor is one of the Four Emperors. His demon-subduing supernatural powers are unparalleled in the Three Realms, and his fame is widespread. He may be able to shoulder this important task."

Venus snorted coldly: "What kind of status does the True Martial Emperor have? How can he be moved lightly? Besides, he guards the Southern Continent, a vast territory teeming with demon kings. If he were to leave his post, the demons would run rampant, and who would maintain order?"

Zhang Daoling was speechless for a moment.

Jambudvipa is the very foundation of Taoism, with believers everywhere and the Taoist tradition flourishing. If one's words cause unrest, one will surely be criticized by fellow believers.

He pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the immortals, when suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him.

"The God of Wealth, Zhao Gongming, can also subdue demons."

Upon hearing this, all the immortals turned their heads and focused their gazes on one of the immortals among the civil officials.

The man, who was holding a jade tablet and was originally drowsy, was suddenly awakened by the gazes of the crowd.

It was none other than the Mysterious Altar Daoist Lord – Zhao Gongming.

He was a formidable figure in the Three Realms during the Investiture of the Gods, and was a highly skilled disciple of the Tongtian Sect Master, possessing exceptional combat prowess.

Even Wen Zhong had to show him respect.

Back then, with his twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls, he defeated the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, and even Daoist Ran Deng nearly perished.

If not for the trapping of the treasure coins, it is uncertain whether Zhou's army could have entered the pass.

Even without his magic weapon, his strength still surpasses that of most Golden Immortals, far exceeding that of ordinary Grand Luo Golden Immortals.

Although his cultivation stagnated after being listed, he remains a key and influential official in the Heavenly Court.

Zhao Gongming wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, shook his head and laughed, "Master Zhang, please don't make fun of me. I am in charge of the world's wealth, and my responsibilities are immense. How could I abandon my post?"

"Furthermore, as a civil official, I am the one who, since ancient times, has been the military general who dons armor and goes to war, while the civil official strategizes and plans. Now, I am being asked to go to the front lines to kill the enemy. Isn't this a reversal of the proper order? This is inappropriate, inappropriate. I would like to ask you to choose another capable person."

His words were firm and left no room for negotiation.

Zhang Daoling smiled awkwardly, realizing that he had made a mistake in his haste. Upon reflection, he realized that it was indeed difficult to send the God of Wealth to the battlefield.

After much deliberation, he hesitated before speaking, "Then...why not ask Doumu Yuanjun for help?"

Before he could finish speaking, several cold, sharp gazes pierced towards him.

Zhao Gongming and the other immortals of the Jie Sect all had slightly cold expressions, and the atmosphere suddenly froze.

Zhang Daoling immediately sensed something was wrong and shut his mouth.

Doumu Yuanjun, also known as Jinling Shengmu, is one of the four disciples of Tongtian Jiaozhu. She commands the stars in the heavens and is the head of the Jie Sect in the Heavenly Court.

With such a high status, why would someone like him take action against a mere Flower Fruit Mountain that has no Great Luo Realm cultivators?

This proposal is a complete slap in the face to the Jie Sect.

While he was hesitating, he suddenly remembered someone and hurriedly said, "Emperor Gouchen governs the demon races of the Three Realms. This matter falls within his jurisdiction, and he may be entrusted with an important task..."

"This matter shall be handled as suggested by the Star Lord Chang Geng," the Jade Emperor suddenly spoke, his voice clear and firm. "We will once again recruit the two demon kings of Flower Fruit Mountain and welcome them to the Upper Realm."

Zhang Daoling's voice stopped abruptly, the last syllable fading until silence returned.

He looked up at the Jade Emperor's throne, but his vision was blurred.

After a moment, he seemed to understand, his expression turned serious, and he quickly bowed and said, "I will obey Your Majesty's decree."

After the court meeting was over, Taibai Jinxing led the order to the lower realm.

The Western Paradise.

A golden light descended from the sky and fell into the Eight Treasures Merit Pool.

This pool gathers immeasurable merit and contains the mystery of endless life. It is known as one of the two wonders of heaven and earth, along with the Heavenly Immortal Pool in the Heavenly Palace.

The golden light sank into the pool, and about half a day later, a bald monk emerged from the water.

Its whole body glowed with a faint golden light; it was naked and untouched by dust.

As he clasped his hands together, a banana leaf drifted in the wind and transformed into a robe, which he draped over his shoulders.