Chapter 59 Breaking Through the Barrier

The monster encountered by Liuchou was none of other than the Ancestor of Demons who had slain Master Kuhu years ago and subsequently annihilated several cities of the Buddhist Realm. He styled himself the Immortal of the Six-Winged Golden Cicada, also known as the Golden Cicada.

Speaking of the enmity between the Golden Cicada and the Western Lingshan, one must recall the most famous battle during the ancient War of Conferred Gods, later generations called the Battle of Ten Thousand Immortals.

Back then, the Master of Heaven of the Jiejiao Sect commanded the realm, summoning all disciples to assemble an array known as the Ten Thousand Immortals Array to contend with the army of the Zhou Dynasty. Jiang Taigong burned incense and reported to the heavens, inviting various immortals from the Yuxu Palace to lend their aid. As the battle progressed, reclusive immortals from everywhere emerged to assist, ultimately breaking the Ten Thousand Immortals Array. Jiejiao was utterly defeated, and even the Master of Heaven was taken back to the mountains by his master, the Patriarch Hongjun, to be sealed away, where he remained to this day.

At that time, the Master of Heaven had a disciple named the Holy Mother of the Turtle Spirit, who was captured by the Taoist Jieyin and stuffed into a cloth bag. The Golden Cicada happened to be hiding inside that bag. Finding the Holy Mother's demonic energy to be pure and mighty, he could not restrain himself and devoured her entirely, leaving behind only an empty shell.

However, the Golden Cicada was merely a minor demon back then, and how could he endure such terrifying demonic energy? The blood within his body boiled like mountains, churning and tearing, almost causing him to explode. Fleeing westward, he happened to encounter the Twelve-Ranked Lotus Platform of the Western Teaching's Taoist Jieyin. In a single breath, he devoured three ranks of the lotus, which finally neutralized and stabilized his condition, gradually restoring his true nature.

Consequently, the Western Teaching's Twelve-Ranked Lotus Platform was forever short of three ranks, remaining perpetually inferior to the Eastern Human Teaching.

After Duobao inherited the Western Teaching and renamed it the Tathagata, he naturally set his sights on those three ranks of the lotus. He dispatched countless Hu monks to patrol the Great Zhou, specifically searching for the whereabouts of the Golden Cicada. After sending out innumerable Hu monks, they finally tracked down the Golden Cicada and set out to apprehend him.

However, having cultivated for a millennium, the Golden Cicada was no ordinary creature. How could he simply allow himself to be captured? He immediately vanished into the mortal realm, using the distractions of the three thousand mundane worlds to play cat-and-mouse with the agents sent by Lingshan, all while seeking a way to break the deadlock!

The Golden Cicada was no stranger to the divination of heavenly secrets. Although not his specialty, he could barely manage a glimpse. During these days of hiding and fleeing, he had peered into the future multiple times, yet could not escape the shackles of Lingshan. Having no other choice, he transformed into a human form and sneaked into Haojing, visiting the Great Zhou ancestral temple to seek a personal audience with Ji Xu, a member of the Ji clan royalty who presided over the ancestral temple.

Ji Xu was the granduncle of the current Emperor of the Great Zhou, well over seventy years old. He managed matters concerning ancestor worship, rituals, and ceremonies for the Ji clan, and most importantly, he was the descendant of the Ji clan who inherited King Wen's innate Sixty-Four Hexagrams of the Book of Changes. The fortunes, misfortunes, and destinations of the Great Zhou all rested in his hands.

A hexagram of supreme misfortune!

Under such a divine hexagram, even the Golden Cicada panicked. He pleaded once more, and Ji Xu, having no alternative, cast the hexagram again. After much hesitation, he finally revealed that although the hexagram showed no path of survival, it still contained a tiny trace of variable. If he wished to avoid being reduced to a prisoner and slave, he could only pray for this trace of variable to multiply, seeking life amidst change. Though it might not guarantee his life, it would allow him to guard his fundamental root and prevent him from forever becoming a slave bereft of freedom.

The variables of the Heavenly Dao were not something the Golden Cicada could manipulate, yet he still found himself drawn toward the Western borders, wandering through the Zhou territories.

Naturally, Liuchou knew nothing of these matters, nor would the Golden Cicada ever imagine that this two-foot-tall, ugly, ferocious, and weak-looking macaque could be the key tied to the evolution of heavenly destiny. The only reason he attacked was out of a passing whim, seeing that they shared origins in Mount Mei.

The Golden Cicada was quite satisfied with Liuchou's submissive attitude. After Liuchou re-performed the greetings, he asked, "I have been away from Mount Mei for a long time. Do you know the current situation on the mountain?"

"The situation on Mount Mei?"

There was naturally no need to conceal such matters. After pondering for a moment, Liuchou recounted everything that Chang Xiangzhi had previously told him. As he spoke, the Golden Cicada's expression gradually grew dark and profound, his gaze flickering.

Regarding the Gate of Haotian, the Golden Cicada knew far more details than the descendants of the Seven Saints, and much more clearly.

What was sealed within that gate was the Demon-Binding Banner left behind in the mortal world by Goddess Nuwa when she ascended to the Ninety-Nine Heavens and attained sagehood. Aside from serving as proof of being the co-ruler of all demons, it possessed supreme divine power and was one of the nine supreme chaotic treasures of heaven and earth.

The War of Conferred Gods was personally initiated by Goddess Nuwa, but as the war progressed and grew increasingly fierce, it gradually slipped beyond the control of the Five Sages. Terrified by the boundless potential and endless desires of the human race, and deeply fearing that the demon race would ultimately be exterminated by humans, Goddess Nuwa left this item behind as a seal when she ascended to the heavens, granting a final hope to the demon race.

The Gate of Haotian was the channel through which Goddess Nuwa opened this space to retrieve the Demon-Binding Banner. She originally thought the human and demon races would enjoy at least another ten thousand years of peace, yet who could have expected that merely a millennium later, events concerning this matter would already have transpired.

Go back and take a look?

The thought had barely arisen in the Golden Cicada's mind before he immediately dismissed it. Without a doubt, Mount Mei was undoubtedly the location most heavily monitored by Lingshan, and returning would mean certain exposure. Pondering over and over, the Golden Cicada suddenly caught sight of Liuchou before him. A thought stirred in his heart, and he said:

"Do you know what the Gate of Haotian, seized by those demons this time, actually is?"

Liuchou shook his head. "I do not know." He smiled faintly and added, "Since this item is a supreme treasure, what relation does it have to minor demons like us? Knowing or not knowing makes no difference."

The Golden Cicada nodded and said indifferently, "Well said. However, from this moment on, this matter has everything to do with you."

"Please enlighten this humble ancestor," Liuchou said, slightly startled and speaking directly.

"When Goddess Nuwa ascended, she left the Demon-Binding Banner, our demon race's supreme treasure, in a small world known as the Void Realm. That place is fraught with danger, devoid of all living things, and even the likes of us can hardly endure there for long. Goddess Nuwa used supreme divine power to carve out a path, and the Gate of Haotian is the starting point of that path.

"It is difficult for our demon race to survive in this world, and the Demon-Binding Banner is our ultimate safeguard. We must never take it lightly. Since I am bound by important affairs and lack the leisure, I can only entrust this to you. If possible, go and find that snake girl of the Chang family; do not allow the treasure to fall into the hands of ordinary people."

How could Liuchou be willing to shoulder such a burden? He immediately said, "Ancestor, it is not that Liuchou is shirking responsibility, but my cultivation is truly low and I am incapable of bearing such a heavy burden. Furthermore, I am still fleeing the pursuit of the human race; I have the will but lack the strength..."

"No matter. All you need to do is return to Mount Mei once, investigate the truth, and you are not required to actually track the person down." Pausing briefly, a trace of desolation crossed the Golden Cicada's face as he murmured, "Heaven's will toys with people; how can our kind interfere? We can only do our best!"

"Then... then I can only try." Hearing that he wasn't strictly required to hunt down the person and could treat it as a secondary task, Liuchou felt slightly more at ease and reluctantly agreed. In any case, he was fleeing with Qingmei and could not return directly to the West; heading anywhere else was all the same. It was better to comply with the Golden Cicada's request. If he could go, he would; if not, surely no harm would come of it. "I only ask ancestor to understand that this junior has meager abilities and will only do my utmost, but I can offer no guarantees."

The Golden Cicada smiled faintly. "Since I am asking you to do something, as your ancestor, I naturally won't watch you risk your life in vain." With a wave of his hand, three pills materialized in his palm, crystal-clear like modern glass marbles, with starlike flickers shimmering within.

"...These pills contain my demonic power. Though merely one percent, they can temporarily elevate your cultivation to the realm of a monstrous demon. Even if you encounter that brat from earlier, you will have the strength to escape and accomplish your mission." The Golden Cicada turned solemn and stern. "Though it is only one percent of my power, it is still more than your body can bear. One pill is your absolute limit, and consuming one will leave you weak for seven days. You must never be greedy; if you swallow all three at once, your body will undoubtedly burst apart. Remember this well!"

Overjoyed, Liuchou hastily bowed again. "Thank you, ancestor."

As for the warning about swallowing all three pills together, Liuchou engraved it deeply in his heart and dared not take it lightly.

Having concluded his business, the Golden Cicada did not linger. Summoning a cloud, he departed, having already stayed here longer than intended. Any longer, and he feared he might be detected...

***

Simultaneously.

That night, Xiyi was brightly lit. Although a prison break had just occurred, it mattered little to the majority of ordinary soldiers. More important news had just arrived and was quickly spreading everywhere.

The team of demons that had crossed the Qinling Mountains finally encountered an enemy ambush while resting and reorganizing at Yunzhan Manor, suffering heavy casualties. The remaining defeated soldiers had retreated back along the Qinling Mountains. The demon military leader, Drill-Wind, was injured and fled, while two other half-step great demons were routed, and their primary commander was captured.

As for who captured him or where he was imprisoned, that was not something ordinary soldiers could know. Not a single person in Xiyi could have guessed that the one who broke out of prison in Xiyi today was none of other than the commander of the demon army they were gossiping about. If they had known, who knows if they could have laughed so cheerfully.

Lie Gang's life or death was unknown, but Zhi Song, the division commander left behind in his Brave Tiger Army, was an old acquaintance of his. They had competed fiercely in their youth, and seeing Lie Gang step by step ascend to the position of commander of the Eagle-Swooping Army while he remained a mere division commander stirred restless feelings in his heart. Learning today that the Eagle-Swooping Army had been annihilated, he knew intellectually that he shouldn't celebrate, yet he still couldn't resist setting up a banquet to drink with numerous officers, celebrating victory under the guise of celebrating the frontline triumph.

Amidst such an atmosphere, Xiyi was naturally jubilant. The garrison soldiers had exceptionally lifted the military ban. Bonfires blazed everywhere, and fat sheep and robust dogs sizzled merrily over the flames. Grease dripped into the fire, curling up wisps of blue smoke and scattering the rich aroma of meat far and wide. Rejoicing at having escaped the flames of war this time, the soldiers of Xiyi beamed with joy and laughter.

With the Eagle-Swooping Army wiped out and the Brave Tiger Army displaying its might, the Brave Tiger Army deliberately sought to boost morale. Officers of all ranks found pretexts to grant rewards, and large wicker baskets of coins and silk were carried in and distributed on the spot to the soldiers, eliciting roaring cheers and plunging the scene into a frenzy.

The fires of war having subsided, the army exceptionally lifted the ban on alcohol. With wine and meat laid out before them, the soldiers cheered in unison. Just as night was falling, two teams of mechanical beasts escorted a large number of demon prisoners back. Seeing such a spectacle, the camp grew even more boisterous and thunderously excited.

Recounting the battle conditions at Yunzhan Manor, the returning soldiers gestured wildly, exaggerating the fierceness of the combat and praising the Brave Tiger Army to the heavens. They were immediately rewarded by the garrison soldiers of Xiyi with massive bowls of liquor and fat meat, eating and drinking with gusto.

Three rounds of wine had already passed in the military camp, and the returning squad leaders had taken their seats. The atmosphere grew even more harmonious as everyone cast aside hierarchy, drinking toasts together and showering flattery on the officers, taking advantage of their high spirits amidst waves of laughter.

Just as everyone was drinking heartily, an announcement suddenly rang out from outside the soldiers:

"General of the Heavenly Mountain Escaping Troops stationed in Xiyi, Ye Jiang the Night Mirage, has personally arrived, stating there is urgent official business to discuss with Division Commander Zhi Song."

"Hmm? At this late hour, what urgent business could there be?" Zhi Song was already flushed with drink, smiling as he said to the others, "Could it be that news of our victory has already reached Haojing, and the rewards and enfeoffments have arrived? Someone, invite Night Mirage in so she can read it aloud on the spot to add to the festivity!"

The generals laughed merrily. The deputy commander knew that drinking in the camp was against regulations and wanted to remind him, but seeing the commander's high spirits, he thought better of it and let the soldier return with the message, figuring that since they had won a great victory, and the Heavenly Mountain Escaping Troops were never a conventional unit anyway, such a situation should pose no problem...

As he was thinking this, Ye Jiang strode in, fully armored—completely different from her usual lazy proprietress persona. Close behind her was Tu Mirage, likewise clad in crimson armor from head to toe, having retrieved the armor from her mustard seed pouch and put it back on.

Zhi Song laughed heartily, raising his wine cup to greet them. "Ah, you all have arrived rather late. You must... you must..." He only managed two words before his voice choked off abruptly. Drawing closer, he suddenly discovered that both Ye Jiang and Tu Mirage wore expressions as cold as ice, entirely devoid of color!

Ye Jiang stared coldly at Zhi Song, then fiercely kicked the nearest low table, sending the entire table flying. Wine and dishes splattered everywhere, wine pots crashed to the ground, and several officers were drenched in gravy, looking utterly wretched.

The generals were inwardly shocked. Although the Heavenly Mountain Escaping Troops belonged to a different command structure than the Sixteenth Army, it was extremely rare for someone to throw such a public tantrum without giving any face. Furthermore, there was no lingering grudge between them; being greeted with a smile only to be treated thus immediately provoked Zhi Song's fury. He shouted: "Night Mirage, what is the meaning of this?"

Only then did Ye Jiang turn her face, her voice as cold as ice, speaking word by word: "Commander Zhi, what time is it, and you still have the mood to feast? Yang Pass has fallen, and the demon army has entered the Zhou territory!"

"Yang Pass has fallen? The demon army has entered?"

Clang! The generals' complexions instantly shifted from flushed red to pale white, drained of all color, and the wine cups in their hands shattered into powder on the floor!