Chapter 112: Great Battle With Red Boy
However, Taibai Jinxing proposed to recruit the Sea of Blood Great King.
Why did Taibai Jinxing make such a proposal?
The reason for this matter lies in reshaping the ancient stars, Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations.
The Sea of Blood Great King facilitated this matter, first benefiting the Jade Emperor, next benefiting Doumu Yuanjun, then benefiting Gou Chen and Zi Wei, and Taibai Jinxing also benefited from it.
Therefore, he proposed to recruit.
The Jade Emperor smiled upon hearing this and said: “According to your proposal, recruit the demon as the Great Sage of the Peaceful Netherworld of the Blood Sea. What rank of official position should be granted?”
Taibai Jinxing said: “Your Majesty, allow this old minister to ask the Great Sage.”
The Jade Emperor said: “Ask him yourself.”
Taibai Jinxing turned to Wukong and asked: “Great Sage, how does that demon’s ability compare to yours?”
Wukong’s eyes flickered as he said: “That demon has some ability. His martial arts are on par with Old Sun, slightly weaker than Old Sun.”
Taibai Jinxing said: “Your Majesty, that demon’s ability is close to the Great Sage’s. It would be better to grant him an official position of the same rank as the Great Sage, and by imperial decree build a Great Sage of the Peaceful Netherworld mansion on the left side of the Peach Garden. What does Your Majesty think?”
The Jade Emperor said: “Very good.”
Wukong hurriedly said: “Your Majesty, wait a moment.”
The Jade Emperor said: “Wukong, what is it?”
Wukong said: “Your Majesty, since ancient times, the left is honored and the right is lowly. Old Sun’s Great Sage, Equal of Heaven mansion is on the right side of the Peach Garden. If the Great Sage of the Peaceful Netherworld mansion is built on the left side of the Peach Garden, wouldn’t it overshadow Old Sun? Please, Your Majesty, find another good location to build that fellow’s mansion.”
The Jade Emperor couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing this.
The immortals also laughed.
Guanyin Bodhisattva also smiled faintly.
Wukong anxiously said: “What are you all laughing at?”
The Jade Emperor said: “In that case, follow Wukong’s proposal. By imperial decree build the Great Sage of the Peaceful Netherworld mansion on the right side of the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven mansion, and recruit that demon to heaven to receive his position.”
The Jade Emperor immediately ordered the Star Lord of Literature and Virtue to draft the decree, and Taibai Jinxing to go to the mortal realm to deliver the decree.
Guanyin Bodhisattva then stepped forward and said:
“Your Majesty, wait a moment before delivering the decree. There is one matter to report to Your Majesty.”
The Jade Emperor said: “What does the Bodhisattva have to say?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said:
“My Buddha has said that the black lotus in that demon’s hand is the most evil and wicked thing of heaven and earth, opposing the heavenly dao, reversing yin and yang, and polluting the Three Realms. If this evil is not eliminated, it will bring endless harm.”
The Jade Emperor’s face showed displeasure upon hearing this, and he asked:
“What does the Buddha Ancestor intend to do?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said:
“The Buddha Ancestor specially ordered me to offer a treasure to Your Majesty, which can ward off evil.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva took out the Golden Sarira and presented it to the Jade Emperor.
The Jade Emperor’s expression softened slightly, and he asked: “What is this?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “This is the sarira of the Holy Buddha.”
The Jade Emperor pondered and said: “What method does the Buddha Ancestor have to subdue the demon?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “The Buddha Ancestor has said that if the True Warrior Emperor is asked to act, he will surely subdue the demon.”
The Jade Emperor was silent.
How could he not know that asking the Great Emperor Zhenwu to act would subdue the demon?
But he did not want to subdue that demon.
It was just that the Tathagata Buddha…
Taibai Jinxing said: “Your Majesty, the True Warrior Emperor guards the north, sweeping away demons and subduing monsters. He has little leisure and much business, so it may be difficult for him to come subdue the demon.”
The Jade Emperor said: “What you say is extremely right.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “Your Majesty, do not worry. The Buddha Ancestor has already sent Manjushri Bodhisattva to Wudang Mountain to invite the Emperor.”
The Jade Emperor looked over upon hearing this.
Guanyin Bodhisattva lowered her eyes.
At this time, the Heavenly Master came to report: “The True Warrior Emperor and Manjushri Bodhisattva seek an audience.”
The Jade Emperor calmly said: “Announce them.”
The True Warrior Emperor and Manjushri Bodhisattva entered Ling Xiao.
The True Warrior Emperor was unaware of this series of schemes. Seeing the Jade Emperor’s calm expression, he bowed and said: “Your Majesty, Manjushri Bodhisattva said that a demon from the mortal realm has offended the sovereign and disturbed heaven and earth. He specially asked this minister to come, awaiting Your Majesty’s judgment.”
The Jade Emperor said: “Manjushri Bodhisattva has also come.”
Manjushri Bodhisattva saluted and said: “Your Majesty, my Buddha feared that Great Bodhisattva Guanyin could not subdue the demon, so he specially ordered this poor monk to go to Wudang Mountain to invite the True Warrior Emperor. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”
The Jade Emperor smiled and said: “Manjushri Bodhisattva is single-minded in subduing demons, with a heart of compassion. What sin is there?”
Manjushri Bodhisattva said: “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your mercy.”
The Jade Emperor said: “True Warrior, We now order you to go to the mortal realm to subdue demons and eliminate the demon scourge.”
The True Warrior Emperor said: “As decreed.”
The Great Emperor Zhenwu turned to prepare to go to the mortal realm.
The Jade Emperor said: “Wait a moment.”
The True Warrior Emperor stopped.
The Jade Emperor said: “True Warrior, on this trip, did you bring your mount horse?”
The True Warrior Emperor was stunned and said: “I did not bring one.”
The Jade Emperor smiled and said: “Taibai Jinxing, quickly go to the Imperial Horse Stable and select a good horse.”
Taibai Jinxing received the decree and said to the True Warrior Emperor:
“Please go with me to select a good horse, Emperor.”
The True Warrior Emperor then went with Taibai Jinxing to the Imperial Horse Stable.
The new Marshal of the Heavenly Horses was a minor immortal from the mortal realm. Having just taken office not long ago, he saw Taibai Jinxing and the Great Emperor Zhenwu coming together and was terrified, hurriedly coming to pay respects.
Taibai Jinxing said: “Quickly release the horses for the Emperor to select.”
The Marshal of the Heavenly Horses, upon hearing this, hurriedly ordered his subordinates to release the Heavenly Horses.
The Heavenly Horses rushed out together.
Taibai Jinxing saw a red-maned Heavenly Horse among them, hooked it over with his fly whisk, and said: “Emperor, what do you think of this horse?”
The True Warrior Emperor said: “Good horse.”
Taibai Jinxing then went to lead the Heavenly Horse by the reins, but suddenly, the reins broke for some reason. The Heavenly Horse was startled and escaped.
The Marshal of the Heavenly Horses was frightened and knelt on the ground, saying: “This official was negligent in management and deserves death. I will go catch this horse right now.”
Taibai Jinxing smiled and said: “Do not chase. Let him go this time.”
The True Warrior Emperor understood in his heart and smiled: “Jinxing is right. Let him go this time.”
The Marshal of the Heavenly Horses was baffled and did not understand.
Taibai Jinxing selected another Heavenly Horse. The True Warrior Emperor assembled his soldiers and generals, and went to the mortal realm to subdue the demon.
Wukong and Guanyin Bodhisattva accompanied to assist.
Just as they exited the South Heaven Gate, Nezha the Third Prince was seen hurrying over holding the Demon Slaying Sword.
Wukong said: “Third Prince, I heard you are still seriously injured. Why are you coming?”
Nezha said: “I heard my father is in trouble. As his son, filial piety comes first, so I hurried here.”
Wukong said: “Why are you holding a sword?”
Nezha said: “That demon injured my father and wanted to carve his flesh and shave his bones!”
Wukong said: “Third Prince, your filial piety is so great. Old Sun admires it!”
Thus, the True Warrior Emperor led, with Guanyin Bodhisattva, Wukong, and Nezha assisting together, bringing soldiers and generals of various sizes, arriving at Six Hundred Li Drill Mountain, at Broken Arm Mountain.
Wukong pointed and said: “Emperor, this is that demon’s cave mansion.”
The True Warrior Emperor, upon hearing this, ordered his subordinates to set up formation, surrounding the demon’s cave mansion tightly.
In the Blood Sea Cave, the sky suddenly darkened. Red Boy went out to check: no sun above, no fields below, no wind moving, no tree sounds, so he hurriedly reported:
“Great King, heaven has sent people again.”
【Current progress: three hundred ten days】
Ao Tu smiled and said: “Looks like a master has come this time. Let me go meet him. If I do not return, do not worry. Sun Wukong and the others will come to save you.”
Ao Tu stood up.
Red Boy lowered his head. He realized he might not see this old demon again.
Red Boy suddenly grabbed Ao Tu and looked up, asking: “Great King, have you never thought of harming me?”
Ao Tu lowered his head upon hearing this, grinned showing sharp teeth, and smiled: “What are you saying? My favorite thing to eat is kids like you!”
Red Boy was startled and let go.
Ao Tu laughed loudly and turned to leave.
“Remember, tie yourself up!”
Outside, heavenly might was vast.
In terms of soldiers and generals, the True Warrior Emperor only brought over a thousand to form the array, but the majestic presence filling heaven and earth was awe-inspiring without anger, making all living beings tremble in fear, far surpassing Li Tianwang with his one hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals.
This was the oppressive feeling from true Grand Unity.
The Great Emperor Zhenwu, who single-handedly tore through Northern Jambudvipa, could not be underestimated by anyone.
Ao Tu stood outside the cave, feeling as if the entire world was against him.
The surroundings were silent.
Ao Tu said: “Who are you, daring to invade my mountain realm?”
The True Warrior Emperor appeared in the air and said: “I am the Supreme Emperor of the Northern Pole, Zhenwu Yuxu Shixiang Xuan Tian, by the decree of the Jade Emperor, come here to exterminate the demon.”
Ao Tu said: “What ability do you have to dare exterminate me?”
The True Warrior Emperor said: “I have one banner and one sword, both can subdue demons.”
Ao Tu said: “Where are the banner and sword?”
The True Warrior Emperor took out the Precious Sword and Zao Diao Banner.
Ao Tu saw this and said: “Your one banner and one sword are inferior to my treasure.”
The True Warrior Emperor said: “What treasure do you have?”
Ao Tu took out the Soul Scattering Gourd and said: “Do you recognize this treasure?”
The True Warrior Emperor said: “I do not recognize it.”
Ao Tu said: “This is an immortal treasure I took from the Netherworld Blood Sea. How could you recognize it?”
The True Warrior Emperor smiled: “So it’s the treasure you stole from the Netherworld Blood Sea.”
Ao Tu said: “Stole? I am the Sea of Blood Great King. As long as the Blood Sea does not dry up, this king does not die. This is my treasure. How can you kill me!”
With that, Ao Tu struck first, spewing red sand all over the sky, scattering souls and seizing spirits.
The True Warrior Emperor saw it and praised: “Good treasure!”
He raised his hand to take out the Zao Diao Banner, covering heaven and earth, sun and moon, all four directions, wrapping Ao Tu inside.
Ao Tu unleashed all his magic power, striking the red sand onto the Zao Diao Banner.
The Zao Diao Banner trembled.
The True Warrior Emperor saw it and sighed again: “What a good treasure.”
He pointed, and the Great Dao of yin and yang flowed, steadying the Zao Diao Banner. No matter how the red sand filled the sky, yin and yang flowed, standing firm unmoved.
The Soul Scattering Gourd was fully activated but could not shake the Zao Diao Banner at all.
Ao Tu saw this, put away the gourd, and sighed: “It is my insufficient magic power that has made you dusty.”
The Soul Scattering Gourd had spirit and trembled lightly.
At this time, the Great Emperor Zhenwu took out the Precious Sword, opened a gap in the Zao Diao Banner, and slashed with the sword.
The Precious Sword immediately parted yin and yang, laws flowed, vitality extinguished, no way to escape.
Ao Tu sighed: “This body’s fate ends here.”
Ao Tu was not afraid. After all, this body was just an incarnation; if it died, the true body could create another.
Ao Tu quickly put the Black Lotus into the Soul Scattering Gourd, then threw the Soul Scattering Gourd into the void. The innate spiritual treasure had its own spirit and would hide in the void, awaiting the true body to retrieve it.
After doing this, the Precious Sword had already slashed down.
Ao Tu closed his eyes waiting for death, but for some reason, the True Warrior Emperor’s Precious Sword missed, only chopping Ao Tu’s right shoulder.
The right shoulder turned to flying ash.
Ao Tu was stunned and saw a gap in the Zao Diao Banner in the northwest direction.
It turned out that when the Great Emperor Zhenwu held the sword to slash Ao Tu, he opened a gap in the Zao Diao Banner, but the sword strike deviated slightly, missing the vital spot.
Ao Tu hurriedly escaped through the gap.
The Great Emperor Zhenwu was shocked and said:
“No good, the demon is escaping. Quickly block the demon!”
The subordinate soldiers and generals hurried to intercept.
But how could their speed compare to Ao Tu’s?
He had just taken half a step when Ao Tu had already turned into blood light and escaped through the gap.
The True Warrior Emperor said annoyedly: “No good, a moment of carelessness let the demon escape. How should I explain to His Majesty?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “Emperor, do not be annoyed. The demon has not gone far. Pursue now and he will surely be captured.”
The True Warrior Emperor said: “What the Bodhisattva says is extremely right. Turtle General, quickly bring the Heavenly Horse. I will ride it to pursue!”
The Turtle General, upon hearing this, went to fetch the Heavenly Horse.
The Great Emperor Zhenwu waited in place.
If he really pursued, Ao Tu would have already perished.
This move was precisely the True Warrior intentionally letting Ao Tu go.
Originally, this time was fully enough for Ao Tu to escape.
Unexpectedly, ahead, Manjushri Bodhisattva riding the Green Lion blocked the path.
Manjushri Bodhisattva said: “Demon, hand over the Black Lotus and follow me to Spirit Mountain to confess your sins.”
Ao Tu saw Manjushri ahead and True Warrior behind, himself severely injured, no way to live. He looked up and laughed loudly:
“Manjushri, what ability do you have to dare call yourself the teacher of the seven Buddhas? Today, this king will experience your skills!”
Ao Tu’s body shook, transforming into three heads and six arms, striking at Manjushri Bodhisattva.
Manjushri Bodhisattva manifested her dharma body to fight Ao Tu.
The two fought, evenly matched in physical body. But Ao Tu had one arm severed by True Warrior, greatly weakened, and his treasures all entered the void, so he was somewhat disadvantaged.
Manjushri Bodhisattva’s seated Green Lion seized the opportunity, bit Ao Tu’s right leg, and Ao Tu staggered.
Manjushri Bodhisattva slashed off Ao Tu’s left arm with a sword, and a demon-binding rope appeared in her hand to bind Ao Tu.
Ao Tu saw this and prepared to self-detonate.
Suddenly, a blast of black smoke and fierce fire sprayed from behind Manjushri Bodhisattva.
Red Boy puffed his cheeks, fully spraying Samadhi True Fire, and said:
“Great King, hurry and go!”
Ao Tu saw this and couldn’t help scolding: “Idiot, you are just a pawn of this king. I told you to stay in the cave, why didn’t you listen?”
Red Boy said: “Since I acknowledged you as Great King, how can I watch you die before me? If I did that, how is it different from watching my father die before me? I know you treat me well and never really thought of harming me. Great King, you go. I will hold him off!”
Ao Tu scolded: “You Heavenly Soldier, what can you hold off?”
But he saw Manjushri Bodhisattva cast a supernatural power called “Eight-Cornered Auspicious Cloud Golden Lamp”, atop her head. Red Boy’s Samadhi True Fire could not invade it.
Manjushri Bodhisattva countered by summoning an object, the Dragon Subduing Pile, which instantly bound Red Boy to it.
Ao Tu looked around: ahead Manjushri Bodhisattva on Green Lion blocking, behind Great Emperor Zhenwu riding horse coming, above Guanyin Bodhisattva, Great Sage, Equal of Heaven, Great God of the Three Altars, Heavenly Soldiers and Divine Generals surrounding, his own treasures all gone, both arms severed, subordinate captured.
This was truly the heavens and earth borrowing force when times are good, heroes helpless when fortune turns.
Red Boy said: “Great King, today we fought all the gods. To die with you, I have no regrets!”
Ao Tu scolded: “Idiot, the Blood Sea does not dry, this king does not die! This king has forty-eight thousand lives. How many lives do you have?”
Red Boy was stunned.
Manjushri Bodhisattva said: “Demon, do not boast. You falsely claim the Blood Sea, how could I not know? Take this sword!”
Ao Tu fought Manjushri, increasingly difficult.
In the distance, the Great Emperor Zhenwu was riding horse coming. Ao Tu should have calmly self-detonated at this time, but Red Boy…
Ao Tu helplessly used a trump card.
Ao Tu’s eyes turned to double pupils, a vertical eye opened on his forehead, lightning gathered in his throat, hurricane in his mouth, fire on left arm, water on right arm, left leg like metal, right leg like wood, thick earth tail grew behind, wings on back, spikes on spine.
The gods above saw this and all exclaimed: “What is this?”
Everyone said they did not know.
The Great Emperor Zhenwu reined his horse and said: “This demon is strange, truly strange!”
Below, Ao Tu said: “Red Boy, today’s karma—if you do not steal the Banana Fan and send it to this king in the future, it will be great unfilial conduct!”
