Chapter 72: Encountering Demons In Black Pine Forest
Yet the Jade Emperor issued an edict to seal the stars.
Li Tianwang led the gods down to the mortal realm to subdue Kui Mu Lang, but they suffered a defeat on the battlefield. The Nine Luminaries were captured, the other gods were disunited, Li Tianwang lost face, and he did not know how to break the formation, so he was anxious at heart.
The gods had no choice but to temporarily cease fighting and rest, to discuss countermeasures.
After discussing for two days, they achieved nothing.
Li Tianwang again dispatched the Fire Department True Gods to lead the Fire Department Soldiers down to challenge.
Those Fire Department True Gods led their own soldiers down to challenge, using fire magic treasures, releasing fire soldiers and fire horses, fire dragons and fire rats, tens of thousands of fire crows, to engage in battle.
In the end, it was the same as yesterday: with a flash of starlight, they were taken into the formation.
Not long after, that Fire Department True God and all the soldiers under his command lost consciousness and were captured.
Li Tianwang saw that the Fire Department had been captured, his brows knitted in worry, and he was troubled with no plan.
Nezha said: “Father King, do not worry for now. Although the stars are sealed, star power still descends to the mortal realm, there must be a reason for it. Wait for your son to go to Gou Chen Palace and consult Gou Chen the Great to clarify the origin of this formation.”
Wukong saw this and said: “Third Prince, hold on. Old Sun has not yet visited Gou Chen Palace, take Old Sun along.”
Nezha said: “When you were in the Heavenly Realm, had you not seen Gou Chen the Great?”
Wukong said: “I have seen him, but I have never visited Gou Chen Palace. Now that the Westward Journey is becoming ever more difficult, Old Sun thinks to go and get acquainted.”
Nezha said: “Very well, let’s go together.”
The two ascended to heaven and arrived at the Antarctic Crimson Clouds Palace, Gou Chen Upper Palace.
It was truly an immortal palace and hall.
Its peak touched the highest heavens, its ridges extended into the Milky Way. Star peaks were arrayed, meteor stones staggered.
Below the heavenly abyss, divine light shone brilliantly; in the Milky Way, spiritual essence glowed.
In the Starlight Hall, radiant mists flowed long; from the Combat Soldiers Pavilion, purple fogs arose.
Purple light shimmered, agate tiles layered; blue light dotted, glazed tiles piled.
Eastward a row, westward a row, divine palaces and precious towers; southward a stretch, northward a stretch, treasure pavilions and jade towers.
Wukong and Nezha asked the divine officials to report to the Emperor, and Gou Chen the Great received them upon hearing.
The two met Gou Chen Upper Palace Heavenly Sovereign Great Emperor, and Nezha fully recounted the previous events, asking:
“Your Majesty, I do not know why, but although the Jade Emperor has clearly issued an edict to seal the stars, that formation can still draw star power down to the mortal realm, with undiminished might.”
Gou Chen the Great said:
“Nezha, you do not know. At the beginning of heaven and earth, the Zhou Tian Stars evolved. The stars have spirits and gave birth to innate sacred beings, their authority even above the Heavenly Court’s imperial edicts. That formation contains their remnant laws, hence it can bypass the Heavenly Court and draw star power down to the mortal realm.”
Nezha suddenly understood.
That formation was actually an ancient remnant, and it had fallen into Kui Mu Lang’s hands—who knows how he obtained it, to have such fortune.
Nezha hurriedly said: “Thank you, Your Majesty, for the explanation.”
Wukong said: “Your Majesty, do you have a method to break the formation? Teach Old Sun to destroy this formation and rescue Master and Junior Brother.”
Gou Chen the Great said: “There is one way.”
Wukong hurriedly said: “Your Majesty, please speak.”
Gou Chen the Great said: “The Queen Mother has a banner called the Plain Color Cloud Realm Banner. Every time there is a grand banquet at the Jade Pond, this banner is raised, the heavens clear and the earth brightens, and all the immortals know to come to the Jade Pond banquet, hence it is also called the Assembly of Immortals Banner.
If this banner is borrowed, it can block the sky and cover the sun, unbreakable by myriad spells. Roll this banner down, and all beings in the realms will be drawn into the banner, and that formation will naturally be broken.”
Wukong said: “This… I’m afraid it will be hard to borrow.”
Gou Chen the Great said: “That depends on your fortune.”
Wukong repeatedly thanked Gou Chen the Great for his guidance, then left Gou Chen Palace together with Nezha.
Wukong said to Nezha: “Such a supreme treasure, I’m afraid the Queen Mother will not lend it lightly. Old Sun stole and ate immortal peaches in the past, disrupted the immortal peach banquet, and now it’s hard to face the Queen Mother. Better if the Prince goes to borrow it.”
Nezha rolled his eyes and said: “Those Five Directions Banners are innate treasures; you can’t borrow them, how can I? Why don’t you have me go borrow Grand Master’s jade ruyi? There might be a chance to borrow it. Then no need to break any formation; I’d just drop it below and smash Kui Mu Lang dead.”
Wukong said: “Good! Good! This method is excellent!”
Nezha angrily hit Wukong.
“You monkey!”
Wukong just laughed.
Nezha said: “Enough, I’ve thought of a way. Let’s go find the True Warrior Emperor.”
Wukong said: “Find the Emperor?”
Nezha said: “The Emperor has a Zao Diao Banner. Though it does not have the divine power of the Queen Mother’s Plain Color Cloud Realm Banner, it can still obscure the sun, moon, and stars. I’ll borrow that banner, cover the sun, moon, and stars, and you break the formation.”
Wukong was overjoyed and said: “Great! This time it’s really thanks to your help!”
Nezha lightly snorted and went down to the mortal realm toward Wudang Mountain.
Wukong hurriedly followed.
The two arrived at Wudang Mountain, met the Emperor, and fully recounted the previous events.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor cast a spell and summoned the Zao Diao Banner from the divine palace at the Northern Heavenly Gate.
It turned out that the Zao Diao Banner was kept in the True Warrior Emperor’s divine palace in the Heavenly Court.
Thanks to the Emperor summoning it with a spell, otherwise the two would have had to make another trip.
The two borrowed the Zao Diao Banner and returned to Bao Xiang Kingdom.
Li Tianwang saw the two return and hurriedly went forward to ask: “Do you have a plan to break the formation?”
Nezha said: “We have a method to break the formation; please Father King lead troops to assist.”
Hearing this, the Heavenly King assembled the soldiers and generals, one hand holding the tower, the other holding a knife, and went down with Wukong to challenge.
Kui Mu Lang led the star constellations out and laughed:
“Marshal of the Heavenly Horses, out of helpers? How did you even call Li Tianwang down?”
Wukong laughed: “My child, this time it’s different!”
As soon as the words fell, Nezha unfurled the Zao Diao Banner in mid-air, covering the sun, moon, and stars completely. Truly, heaven and earth were dyed black, the universe adorned in indigo.
The field immediately became pitch black, without a sliver of light; faces could not be seen, only voices heard.
Kui Mu Lang hurriedly unfurled the formation diagram, and the stars responded, dropping starlight down, but it was all blocked by the Zao Diao Banner in mid-air, unable to enter the formation.
Wukong laughed: “My child, now your formation can’t show off! Take this!”
Wukong unleashed his three heads and six arms supernatural power; the Golden Cudgel became three, six hands, three sticks, all striking together.
Li Tianwang at the side saw this, fearing he would be hit, carefully retreated to one side.
In the darkness, Wukong’s fiery golden eyes flashed, and he swung his cudgel wildly, beating the twenty-eight star constellations including Kui Mu Lang into chaos—some fled, some were injured.
Ao Tu saw this scene, flew out of the palace, and came to mid-air.
Ao Tu’s golden eyes shone brightly, shooting out two beams of golden light, and he clearly saw Nezha holding the Zao Diao Banner, standing in mid-air, covering the sun and moon.
Nezha saw Ao Tu and recognized him, angrily saying: “It’s you!”
Ao Tu laughed: “Little Nezha, last time this king kindly spared your life; now that we meet again, hurry and come to thank me for saving your life!”
Nezha recalled the humiliation of Ao Tu grabbing his hair last time and was instantly furious. One hand controlling the Zao Diao Banner, the other hand struck toward Ao Tu.
Ao Tu extended his dragon claw and fought Nezha for a few bouts, not falling behind.
Nezha, one hand controlling the Zao Diao Banner, did not wish to fight long and planned a quick victory, so he manifested his dharma form, becoming three heads and six arms, took out six magic treasures, transforming them into hundreds of millions, and hurled them at Ao Tu’s head.
Beneath Ao Tu appeared a Three-Grade Golden Lotus, standing on that lotus platform. No matter how many divine weapons rained down like meteors, with the golden lotus protecting his body, no spell could break through.
Nezha fought for a long time with no effect; Ao Tu raised his hand and summoned the Dragon-Binding Rope, binding toward Nezha.
