Journey to the West: From Fish-Chasing Boy to the Boundless Heavenly Venerable of the Golden Palace

"Brother Carp, please forgive my bluntness, but with your skills, isn't it a waste for you to be a menial servant? Why don't I go and introduce you to Commander Blackfish so you can become a brave soldier? Wouldn't that be better than serving others?"

A string of bubbles rose to the surface, and a carp and a mandarin fish swam quickly along the riverbed; it was Li Yue and the spotted mandarin fish.

"I am different from you; I have neither spikes nor sharp teeth, so I'll just be a menial servant."

Li Yue shook his head slightly, his tone indifferent.

Seeing that Li Yue had no ambition, the mandarin fish simply stopped talking.

The two fish swam very fast, about two hundred miles from the east bank, and saw a pavilion standing at the bottom of the river. When they got closer, they saw that the pavilion was inscribed with the four large characters "The Residence of the Water Turtle".

After transforming into human form, Li Yue intended to continue his secluded cultivation, but the Tongtian River stirred up trouble.

The sage who dug the nest recited the Heart Sutra three times, and the river was filled with lotus flowers and seven golden lotus seeds.

Several months have passed, and now three spirits have obtained the Golden Lotus Seed and cultivated to the Spirit Nourishing stage!

The strength of a demon's magic power is determined by its years of cultivation, or its level of spiritual attainment.

In addition, based on the stages of cultivation, it is divided into several realms.

Before undergoing the tribulation, there are three realms: Awakening of Spirit, Transformation, and Nourishing of Spirit.

Several months ago, there were no demons at the Nascent Soul stage in the Tongtian River.

Relying on their cultivation and supernatural powers at the Nascent Soul stage, those three monsters each called themselves Demon Kings!

He recruited subordinates, seized territory, and searched everywhere for the other four golden lotus seeds.

Fighting and killing continued everywhere, and the Tongtian River was in complete chaos.

"Who goes there!"

Two shrimp spirits guarded the entrance to the Water Palace. Recently, the three great demon kings have been causing trouble, and the Water Turtle's residence is also in a state of panic. When they saw any aquatic creatures coming, they shouted and used their shrimp spears to block the way.

"One of us!"

The mandarin fish stepped forward, spitting out a pebble waist tag engraved with the words "First Class," and pointed its fin at Li Yue.

"That is my elder brother, a carp spirit with 260 years of cultivation, who has recently come to join our Water Palace."

"So you're one of us. Let's go in."

The two shrimp spirits exchanged a glance, but did not question them further and let them pass directly.

It doesn't seem to be very bright, but then again, how big can a shrimp's brain be?

The gate opened, and Li Yue followed the mandarin fish into the Water Turtle's Abode. Looking at the pavilions and towers inside, he couldn't help but sigh as he walked in, thinking that there should still be a few of the stones he was looking for inside.

When he last came, the place was under renovation, and he traded stones for food. This time, however, he has come to sell himself.

The three demon kings caused too much trouble, and there was no place left for wild demons and rogue cultivators in the Tongtian River. Even if Li Yue was unwilling, he had no choice but to join a certain force.

After much deliberation, I decided to join the Water Turtle family.

The original Journey to the West also features the Old Turtle with a Lai Tou head, but not the Three Great Demon Kings.

They either left the Tongtian River or they died.

Of the four major forces in the Tongtian River at this time—the Three Demon Kings, the Old Turtle with the Lai Tou—the Water Turtle emerged victorious.

Those who join the Water Turtle clan will inevitably face calamity three hundred years later.

But it's better than losing your life right now.

As he pondered, Li Yue followed the spotted mandarin fish past an open space behind the palace. It should have been a garden, but the riverbed was only suitable for growing aquatic plants and flowers, so it was now being used for military drills and inspections.

On the training ground, many spirits were practicing, dividing into formations, each led by its own commander.

"Brother, are you really not going to reconsider? The menial tasks are numerous and the work is heavy. Unless you can transform into human form, it's hard to get ahead. Even if you become a steward in the future, you'll still be a step below the commander."

"Thank you for your kind offer, sister. I've already made up my mind."

"All right."

The spotted mandarin fish shook its head and led Li Yue past the training ground, straight to the kitchen.

A monster with a human body and a fish head stood there, with small eyes, a wide mouth, and a large head. It was a fat-headed fish that had become a monster, and it was directing a group of fish monsters to divide up the blood food.

"The silver carp."

At a call, the mandarin fish swam straight over with Li Yue.

"The mandarin fish have arrived."

The flower carp woman, who was scolding her little demons for their work, immediately put on a smiling face when she saw the spotted mandarin fish.

"Why did you come in person? You shouldn't have been assigned the task of collecting the blood offerings."

"I'm not here to receive blood offerings; I'm here to bring my elder brother."

The spotted mandarin fish pointed to Li Yue beside it and said directly.

"Have you forgotten that I told you before that I have an elder brother who has joined the Water Mansion and I want to place him under your command?"

"I remember, I remember. How could I forget what you told me?"

"Greetings, Steward."

The spotted mandarin fish gestured to Li Yue, who greeted him with a slight nod as a form of greeting.

"No need to be so polite. I'm good sisters with the spotted mandarin fish, and you're her brother, so you're family to me."

The silver carp smiled at Li Yue, then turned to the spotted mandarin fish.

"Your brother is with me, so don't worry, I will take good care of him."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Granny Flower."

The mandarin fish thanked him, gave Li Yue a few instructions, and then swam away, flicking its tail.

After the spotted mandarin fish left, Granny Flower Carp took a closer look at Li Yue.

"Judging from your physique, your cultivation level must be over two hundred years."

"Reporting to the steward, I have 260 years of cultivation."

"Then it's about to take human form."

The silver carp woman slightly widened her eyes, and her expression became much kinder.

After a moment, he couldn't help but ask again.

"Since you know the mandarin fish and are so skilled, why don't you become a warrior in armor instead of doing these odd jobs in my kitchen?"

"Don't laugh at me, sir, I'm a coward."

"Courage...hehe, that's normal. You're a carp spirit, unlike those with teeth."

The woman laughed so hard she nearly fell over, before stopping after a moment and waving her hand.

"From now on, you will be my deputy. As long as there is work to be done, just tell those newly awakened little brats to do it."

"Thank you for your guidance, manager!"

"No need for thanks. We serve together, and we should look after each other in this watery realm."

"The steward is right."

Li Yue nodded, but smiled inwardly.

This old woman who works with silver carp is quite adept at social niceties.

Since Li Yue was new to the place, Granny Hualian didn't arrange anything for him. Instead, she summoned a little fish spirit to take him to his lodgings to rest and familiarize him with the environment, explaining the situation of the Water Palace.

"Speaking of our Water Palace, the Palace Master is naturally the highest authority, followed by several Grand Commanders and Chief Stewards, most of whom are the Palace Master's children who have reached the Transformation Stage. After that, there are various commanders and managers..."

The little crucian carp spirit led the way while explaining things with great enthusiasm.

The entire water turtle population currently comprises nearly a thousand aquatic creatures, broadly categorized into five classes.

The first-rate one is naturally the old turtle with the bald head. Although it has never been able to transform into human form, its thousand years of cultivation have made its physical body so strong that it dominates the Tongtian River.

The second tier consists of three Grand Commanders and one Grand Steward, three of whom are the children of the old turtle, and the other is a water tiger in the late stage of human transformation.

The third rank consists of twelve commanders, and seven stewards from various parts of the Water Palace, such as Flower Carp Granny.

The fourth-class first-class brave warriors, although they have not yet taken human form, have cultivated their cultivation for more than two hundred years, such as the spotted mandarin fish.

Fifth-class and second-class brave soldiers, as well as various miscellaneous servants.

"The manager said you should rest today, and we'll assign you work tomorrow."

Having finished talking, and having arrived at their lodgings, the little crucian carp spirit flicked its tail and left.

Li Yue looked around and couldn't help but chuckle. This so-called dwelling was nothing more than a patch of water plants.

That makes sense, though. Would a fish spirit that hasn't yet taken human form also want to live in those pavilions and towers in the Water Palace?

"It's not bad."

Li Yue casually plucked a piece of waterweed and nodded slightly.

He joined the Water Turtle's group only to temporarily avoid disaster. Once he understood the situation on the shore and his cultivation and supernatural abilities were stronger, he would find an opportunity to leave. Why bother with these matters?

Since he was already there, he decided to make the best of it. After a short rest, Li Yue opened the Book of Erotic Sacrifices.