Journey to the West: Starting with the Hunting of the Three Demons of Twin Fork Ridge

Chapter 112 Treasure Elephant Kingdom - Great Luo Immortal Fruit

After they had gone some distance, Li Fa came out from the back hall, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your consideration, Lord Lao. I will take my leave now."

Laozi waved his hand and said, "Wait! I have something else to do."

Li Fa said, "Laojun, please speak."

Laojun said, "Although Kui Mulang is dead, he is still one of the Twenty-Eight Mansions. Now that one mansion is missing, the operation of heaven and earth will be disrupted. We must find someone to fill his void so that everything can be in order."

Li Fa's heart skipped a beat, and he said, "What Laozi means is..."

But then Laozi took out a ring from his robes, tossed it into the air, and a shadow appeared in the sky.

Li Fa looked closely and saw that it was indeed Baili Bo. He didn't know which ravine he was hiding in, sitting cross-legged in meditation.

Laojun asked, "Do you recognize this demon?"

Li Fa said, "His name is Baili Bo. I am sworn brothers with him. How does Laozi know him?"

Laozi smiled slightly and said, "Although I am in the Tushita Palace, I occasionally look down at the mortal realm. Your brother here has quite a background."

Li Fa hurriedly said, "Please enlighten me, Laozi."

Lao Jun pointed to the image in the circle and slowly said, "Do you know why he is called Baili Bo? 'Bo' is the name of an ancient mythical beast. It has a single horn on its head, looks like a white horse, has serrated teeth, and feeds exclusively on tigers and leopards. It is fierce and intelligent. He is the human form that this beast has cultivated."

Li Fa nodded, recalling the first time he met Baili Bo, when Baili Bo revealed his true form as a white-bodied, black-tailed unicorn.

Lao Jun continued, "He was originally from Jinping Prefecture. He cultivated himself from a young age and possessed extraordinary supernatural powers. He lived in Xuan Ying Cave on Qinglong Mountain."

When Li Fa heard the words "Qinglong Mountain Xuanying Cave", his heart skipped a beat—wasn't that the territory of the three rhinoceros demons in the original story?

Laozi seemed to see through his doubts and continued, "It was only because the Western religion wanted to recruit him, but he refused, which led to a conflict, and that's why he fled to the East."

After he fled, the Xuan Ying Cave on Qinglong Mountain became empty. How could the Western Sect let such a sacred mountain cave go? Not long after, they sent three rhinoceros demons to occupy it.

Those three wicked beasts, one called King Bihan, one called King Bishu, and one called King Bichen, are now ruling and tyrannizing there, specializing in swindling offerings by falsely claiming to be Buddha and committing all sorts of evil deeds.

Li Fa suddenly realized, thinking to himself: So that's how it is! No wonder the three rhinoceros demons appeared on Qinglong Mountain in the original story; they were taken over from Baili Bo.

Lao Jun continued, "When Baili Bo fled to White Tiger Ridge, he encountered that Corpse Demon. You know what happened after that."

Li Fa suddenly realized, "I see."

Lao Jun laughed and said, "It is both time and fate. He belongs to the earth element, while Kui Mulang belongs to the wood element. Wood can overcome earth, so when he encountered Kui Mulang, he encountered his nemesis, which is his tribulation."

Who would have thought that he would meet you, not only surviving but also obtaining the inner core of the Kui Wood Wolf and eating the ginseng fruit, greatly improving his foundation. Now he has transformed from earth to wood, perfectly suited to fill the gap in the Wood constellation.

Li Fa was overjoyed upon hearing this and asked, "Does the Dao Ancestor mean that he should fill the vacancy of Kui Mulang and be included in the Twenty-Eight Mansions?"

Laozi nodded and said, "That is exactly what I meant. Are you willing?"

Li Fa said, "The Dao Ancestor's favor is something I, as his brother, would naturally be more than happy to accept. But... I wonder if he himself is willing?"

Lao Jun laughed and said, "That's not difficult. Let me ask him."

Li Fa was overjoyed upon hearing this and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Dao Ancestor. I will go find him right away."

Lao Jun laughed and said, "No need to search anymore, just watch me bring him here."

He then reached into the circle to grab something.

Meanwhile, deep in the mountains, Baili Bo was sitting cross-legged, regulating his inner energy.

He retrieved the relic from the Boyue Cave and, as instructed by Li Fa, fled a thousand miles away, hiding in this desolate mountain wilderness, not daring to show his face.

As he was practicing his internal energy, he suddenly felt a darkness above his head. When he looked up, he saw a huge hand that blotted out the sky had firmly grasped him.

Baili Bo was terrified and tried to struggle, but he couldn't break free.

I felt dizzy and the wind was whistling in my ears. In the blink of an eye, I had landed in a palace.

He looked closely and saw a magnificent alchemy furnace in the hall, filling the room with a strange fragrance.

An old Taoist priest sat upright on a prayer mat, smiling as he watched him. Standing beside him was none other than his sworn brother, Li Fa!

Baili Bo was both surprised and delighted, exclaiming, "Brother! You... what are you doing here? Where... where is this?"

Li Fa stepped forward and helped him up, saying, "Brother, don't be alarmed. This is the Tushita Palace. This is the Supreme Dao Ancestor."

Upon hearing this, Baili Bo was struck dumb, and he knelt down with a thud, repeatedly kowtowing: "This humble demon Baili Bo pays his respects to the Dao Ancestor! May I ask what decree the Ancestor has summoned this humble demon to?"

Laozi smiled slightly and said, "Stand up and speak."

Baili Bo stood up cautiously, his hands hanging down, not daring to raise his head.

Li Fa then recounted the whole story. Upon hearing it, Baili Bo's knees buckled, and he knelt down again, hugging Li Fa's legs and bursting into tears: "Brother! Brother! Why did you do this! You risked so much for your younger brother! You...you..."

Li Fa helped him up and laughed, "We're brothers, why are you saying such things? Get up quickly, don't be disrespectful in front of the Dao Ancestor."

Laojun looked at the two of them, nodded slightly, and said, "Rare indeed. You little demon, you are truly a blessed person."

Baili Bo quickly turned around and kowtowed to Laozi again: "I will never forget the kindness of the Dao Ancestor!"

Laozi waved his hand and said, "No need to thank me. The Tao follows the natural order, and everything is ordained by Heaven."

Laozi then said, "You encountered the Corpse Demon and had your cave taken away; this was your first tribulation. You encountered Kui Mulang and had your relics taken away; this was your second tribulation. You met your elder brother and were rescued; this was your third tribulation."

The three tribulations have passed, and your foundation has greatly improved. Furthermore, you have swallowed the inner core of the Kui Wood Wolf, and have now transformed from earth to wood, perfectly suited to fill the deficiency of the Wood element.

Upon hearing this, Baili Bo finally understood and said in a trembling voice, "The Dao Ancestor means... he wants the little demon... he wants the little demon..."

Laojun laughed and said, "Indeed. Kui Mulang is dead, and the Twenty-Eight Mansions are missing one. Your foundation is complete, and you can fill the gap, entering the Twenty-Eight Mansions as the first of the seven mansions of the White Tiger in the West. Are you willing?"

Baili Bo was stunned for a moment, as if he had heard a heavenly voice.

Li Fa nudged him from the side and said, "Brother! Hurry up and thank the Dao Ancestor for his great kindness!"

Baili Bo finally came to his senses, knelt down with a thud, kowtowed to the ground, and cried out in tears, "Dao Ancestor! Dao Ancestor! What virtue or ability do I, a lowly demon, have to accept such kindness! I... I, a lowly demon, am willing to go through fire and water for Dao Ancestor without hesitation!"

Lao Jun laughed and said, "No need to thank me. You should thank your elder brother. If it weren't for his daring plan to kill Kui Mulang, you wouldn't have had this opportunity."

Baili Bo turned around, faced Li Fa, and kowtowed three times: "Brother! Your kindness and virtue are beyond repayment! In the future, if you ever need my help, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Li Fa quickly helped him up, saying, "We're brothers, why say such things? You've achieved enlightenment, and I'm happy for you too."

Laojun looked at the two of them and nodded slightly. He then said to Baili Bo, "The turmoil has not yet subsided. You will first serve as a fire-tending boy in my Tushita Palace. When I choose a day to report to the Jade Emperor, you can officially enter the ranks of immortals and obtain the Great Luo True Fruit."

Baili Bo agreed, and from then on, Kui Su, also known as Kui Su, kowtowed again to express his gratitude.

Laozi waved his hand and said, "Alright, you may step back and wait in the back hall. I have something to say to your brother."

Baili Bo, knowing his place, quickly bowed and withdrew.

After he had gone some distance, Laozi turned to Li Fa and said, "Don't forget about the matter of Golden Horn and Silver Horn. Although they are demons in the mortal realm, they are my servants and are not inherently evil. If you kill them, you must preserve their true spirits and bring them back to me."

Li Fa said, "This junior will remember."

Laozi continued, "Now that you have a solid foundation and possess the Vajra Indestructible Technique, the Five Elements Great Escape Technique, and the Five Thunder Orthodox Method, you can be considered a figure of considerable importance in the Three Realms. However, there are always heavens beyond heavens and people beyond people, so do not be complacent."

Li Fa bowed and said, "This junior will humbly follow the teachings of the Dao Ancestor."

Laozi nodded and said, "Go now. Your brother is still waiting for you in the back hall. Say goodbye properly. After he enters the constellations, he will no longer be able to stay by your side often."

Li Fa was filled with emotion. He bowed to Laozi again before retreating to the back hall.

Upon arriving at the rear hall, they continued their endless conversation and expressed their deep affection and loyalty until Laozi asked Baili Bo to start the fire, at which point the two reluctantly parted ways.

Li Fa bid farewell to Laozi, rode on a cloud, left the Tushita Palace, and went down to the mortal realm.

This is exactly:

A bond forged in life and death, a deep friendship; yet, parting brings tears to our eyes.

If we meet again in the clouds someday, our sworn brotherhood will still be the same.