txolops Chapter 167 Fire Cloud Cave - Obtaining Treasure
Chapter 167 Fire Cloud Cave - Obtaining Treasure
Meanwhile, Li Fa and the traveler left the Banana Cave and rode on clouds in mid-air.
The traveler pressed on, "Old man, you just said you had a way to avoid harming Red Boy's spirit. What exactly is that method? Don't keep me in suspense, tell me quickly!"
Li Fa sighed and said, "Great Sage, you may not know this. I just thought about it carefully. The essence of the innate fire has been in Red Boy's body for many years and has long since merged with his bloodline. It has probably become his second primordial spirit."
If forcibly separated, at best the primordial spirit will be damaged, at worst the soul will be scattered, leaving one a living dead.
Upon hearing this, the traveler frowned as well: "This is troublesome. No wonder these peaches were planted with such painstaking effort by that old Taoist priest Guangming. We can't pick them, and we can't knock them down. What should we do?"
Li Fa said, "Great Sage, don't be anxious. I suddenly remembered something that might solve this predicament."
The traveler asked, "What is it?"
Li Fa said, "The Dividing Spirit Jade Disc. This treasure belongs to the Taiyi Salvation Heavenly Venerable. It can cause the primordial spirit of mortals to leave their bodies without harming their lives."
Previously in Wuji Kingdom, Manjushri Bodhisattva used this treasure to draw out the souls of the queen and prince, causing their physical bodies to appear dead.
"If we could use this treasure to separate Red Boy's soul from his body, and then draw out his essence of the Fiery Blaze separately, wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
The pilgrim slapped his thigh and exclaimed with delight, "Brilliant! How could I have forgotten about this! The sacred site of the Great Savior of Suffering, Taiyi, is in the Wonderful Palace of the Eastern Paradise. Let's go and ask him for help right now!"
Li Fa nodded and said, "That's right. There's no time to lose, Great Sage, come with me."
The two turned their clouds around and headed east.
Traveling through the clouds and mist, in less than half an hour, one could see thousands of auspicious clouds and ten thousand rays of light ahead, and a magnificent palace standing in the sea of clouds, which was the Miaoyan Palace of Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun.
The two descended from the clouds and arrived at the palace gate.
A gatekeeper fairy boy came forward to greet them, recognizing the pilgrim, and said with a smile, "Great Sage, what brings you here?" He then looked at Li Fa and asked, "And who is this?"
The pilgrim said, "Please inform the Heavenly Venerable that Sun Wukong and Denglizi are requesting an audience."
The celestial attendant went inside to announce their arrival, and shortly afterward, a hearty laugh echoed from within the hall: "Great Sage Sun Wukong and Daoist Plasma have arrived together! What rare guests! Please come in!"
The two men straightened their clothes and entered. There they saw the Great Sage Who Rescues from Suffering seated regally on a lotus throne, wearing a crown and robes of rosy clouds, surrounded by auspicious nine-colored light. His face was like a full moon, and his eyes like morning stars. Indeed:
Compassionate and always saving the world from suffering, the Supreme Heavenly Venerable is also known as Donghua.
Li Fa and the traveler stepped forward and bowed in respect.
The Celestial Venerable laughed and said, "Plasma, since we parted ways in Wuji Kingdom, I owe you a favor. I didn't expect you to come looking for me so soon. What brings you here this time?"
Li Fa smiled bitterly and said, "Heavenly Venerable One, I have come here to save a child."
He then recounted in detail how Red Boy was used by Daoist Guangming and how the innate essence of the Fire within his body was revealed.
Upon hearing this, the Celestial Venerable's expression gradually turned solemn, and he pondered, "Guangming... it seems this person is indeed highly skilled, and I do not know his true nature. However, it is truly hateful that he would do such a thing."
The pilgrim said, "Heavenly Venerable, I was just about to borrow your Divine Transformation Jade Disc to draw out Red Boy's primordial spirit so I can separate it from the essence of the Separating Fire. I beg the Heavenly Venerable's mercy!"
The Celestial Venerable looked at the Traveler and then at Li Fa, and nodded, saying, "Since you two have this intention, how can I stand idly by? I will lend you the Dividing Spirit Jade Disc."
Having said that, he took out a palm-sized jade disc from his sleeve. It was pure white, engraved with runes from all the heavens, and shimmered with spiritual light. It was the Dividing Spirit Jade Disc.
Li Fa accepted the gift with both hands, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Heavenly Venerable! I will return it as soon as I have finished using it."
The Celestial Venerable instructed, "Although this treasure can draw out the primordial spirit, it must not be used indiscriminately. It must not be used on others. Do you two understand?"
Li Fa said, "I understand. Heavenly Venerable, rest assured, I have my own plan."
The Celestial Venerable nodded and said, "That Daoist Guangming is incredibly powerful. Although you two are capable, you still need to be careful."
The two thanked the Heavenly Venerable again, bid farewell to him, and left the Miaoyan Palace.
Just as they stepped out of the palace gates and onto the cloud path, they suddenly saw a golden light rushing towards them from the front.
The golden light fell before the two, revealing a divine general.
But he was seen:
He wore an iron helmet and golden armor; his face was as black as charcoal, his beard as sharp as steel needles; a steel whip hung at his waist, and he trod on dark clouds. He was imposing and exuded a fierce aura.
The traveler recognized him at a glance and laughed, "Who do we have here? It's Marshal Zhao of the Mystic Altar! What brings you here?"
The newcomer was none other than Marshal Zhao Gongming of the Mystic Altar. Upon seeing the Monkey King, he laughed heartily, cupped his hands, and said, "Great Sage, it's been a long time."
He then turned to Li Fa, looked him up and down, and said, "This must be Daoist Plasma, right? I've heard so much about you."
Li Fa quickly returned the greeting: "You flatter me. This humble Taoist greets the Marshal. May I ask what brings you here, Marshal?"
Zhao Gongming took out a bead from his robes and held it in his palm.
The bead was no bigger than a pigeon's egg, its entire body crackling with electric light and faintly emitting a thunderous sound; it was truly strange.
Li Fa was taken aback: "Marshal, this is...?"
Zhao Gongming said, "This pearl is called the Thunderclap Pearl. Someone asked me to give it to you, Daoist."
Li Fa took the bead and asked, "May I ask, Marshal, who gave this to you?"
Zhao Gongming waved his hand and said, "That person said not to reveal his name. He only instructed me to give this pearl to the Daoist."
Li Fa asked, "Do you have anything to say?"
Zhao Gongming said, "I have nothing else to say, except that this pearl can be of great help to you. Do not use it lightly except in times of crisis."
Upon hearing this, Li Fa became even more puzzled and asked again, "Marshal, is it really impossible to say?"
Zhao Gongming laughed and said, "Daoist Master, please don't make things difficult for me. That person is incredibly powerful, and I dare not disobey him. Daoist Master, you only need to know that when this pearl is used, it can transform each of the Five Thunders into innate divine thunder."
The so-called innate thunder is thunder that existed before heaven and earth were born; even a Great Luo Golden Immortal would be severely injured by a single strike from it. However, once all five thunderbolts are used up, this bead will be useless. Daoist Master, please remember, it should not be used lightly unless absolutely necessary.”
Li Fa was shocked upon hearing this.
Innate Divine Thunder! If it could truly be unleashed, even a master like Daoist Guangming might not be able to withstand it.
He solemnly put away the Thunderclap Pearl, bowed, and said, "Thank you for the gift, Marshal. Please convey my gratitude to that esteemed person on my behalf."
Zhao Gongming said, "I will definitely bring it."
Having said that, he glanced at the Monkey King again and smiled, "Great Sage, I have official duties to attend to and cannot stay any longer. Farewell!"
The traveler cupped his hands and said, "Marshal, please take care."
Zhao Gongming leaped up in a golden light, and vanished in an instant.
The traveler approached Li Fa and whispered, "Old man, is this bead really that powerful? It can actually transform the Five Thunders into Innate Thunder. I've never heard of such a thing before. I wonder who the person who gave this treasure is, to have such a talent."
Li Fa pondered for a moment and said, "This person is no ordinary person, as he was able to instruct Zhao Xuantan to personally deliver the treasure, and with such a grand gesture. However, he refused to leave his name, presumably because he did not want me to remember him. Great Sage, there is no need to ask further. If fate allows in the future, you will find out."
The traveler laughed and said, "That's true. Now that we've obtained the treasure and borrowed the jade tablet, let's hurry to Jieyang Mountain to find Red Boy! If we delay any longer, someone else might beat us to it."
Li Fa nodded and said, "The Great Sage is right. Let's go!"
The two soared into the clouds and headed straight for the Broken Child Cave on Jieyang Mountain.