Journey to the West: I have Nine Golden Crows Inside Me-Chapter 152 - 151: Seven Fairy Maidens Waiting for a Rabbit, Monkey and Horse (3000 words)
Chapter 152: Chapter 151: Seven Fairy Maidens Waiting for a Rabbit, Monkey and Horse (3000 words)
After the seasoned soldiers fell on the battlefield, they transformed into war souls under the influence of malediction. These souls were the best source of troops for the heavenly soldiers and the ghostly soldiers.
These war spirits had enormous potential, making them an excellent source of heavenly soldiers.
Jiang Chen was heading to the Great Prairie with the mission to find these war spirits.
Since the Human Race was clearly unwilling to provide him with any more support, he had no choice but to take matters into his own hands and look for heavenly soldiers.
Alas, if one wants something well done, they must do it themselves.
Jiang Chen didn’t know any monks, and the descendants of the Jiang Family were even less likely to accompany him to Heaven Court and become ordinary soldiers. Therefore, Jiang Chen had no choice but to set his sights on the war spirits.
The reason why he came to the Great Prairie in the north was obviously for the war spirits here.
From the time Jiang Chen and Liu Bang last saw one another, seventy or eighty years had passed. Several emperors have been replaced, and now, the one who ruled over the world was Liu Che, the son of Emperor Jing and the future Emperor Wu of Han.
Since Liu Che ascended the throne, he had launched several military campaigns against the Xiongnu, resulting in countless battles of varying degrees on the Great Prairie in the north.
But that doesn’t matter.
What mattered was that both sides had been waging bloody wars on the Great Prairie for years, turning every inch of its grassland red with blood. Countless heroic Han soldiers were buried there.
The Great Prairie, as the largest battlefield in the Nanbuzhan Continent at present, undoubtedly birthed countless war spirits.
That was exactly the purpose of Jiang Chen’s journey.
Haunted by the malediction, these war spirits were destined not to enter reincarnation. Instead of letting their souls wander on the battlefield and eventually vanish due to exhaustion, it would be better for Jiang Chen to take them away and turn them into heavenly soldiers.
For those war spirits, becoming heavenly soldiers also presented an opportunity, and with diligent practice, they might eventually achieve the Great Dao.
...
...
Just as Jiang Chen was hurrying to the Great Prairie, up in Heaven Court, the Seven Fairy Maidens were already at Douluo Palace, asking the Primordial Sovereign about Jiang Chen’s background.
"Venerable Sovereign, does your Taoist school have a disciple named Yu Dou?" the Red Fairy Maiden politely asked the Primordial Sovereign.
Besides Sun Wukong, who would dare to disrespect or challenge the sovereign in front of him?
At least, the Seven Fairy Maidens wouldn’t dare.
Upon hearing the question, the Primordial Sovereign opened his eyes on his embroidered mat and replied, "Yu Dou? No, no. There is no disciple with that name in the Taoist school."
Of course, he instantly recalled all the names of his innumerable disciples but found no one named Yu Dou.
Hearing the Primordial Sovereign’s response, the Red Fairy Maiden panicked and blurted out:
"No? How could there not be? Have you forgotten? The little thief deeply understands the Dao De Jing and easily grasped the Taoist school’s secret techniques. How could he not be a disciple of your school?"
The Primordial Sovereign, famous for his good temper, wasn’t angered by the Red Fairy Maiden’s questioning. He asked curiously, "In what way is he familiar with the Dao De Jing?"
Upon hearing his question, the Red Fairy Maiden realized her lapse in decorum but calmed down after seeing the Primordial Sovereign didn’t make a fuss. She explained to him, "Venerable Sovereign, you see..."
While speaking, she gestured with her hands, producing a mysterious light that turned into a bright mirror reflecting the shadow of Jiang Chen applying the secret techniques of the Taoist school.
"Hmm? It’s him." At first sight of Jiang Chen applying the unique techniques of the Taoist school, the Primordial Sovereign didn’t recall him, but upon seeing his face, he recognized him.
At the time in the Netherworld, Jiang Chen had nearly killed Sun Wukong, and for this, the Primordial Sovereign took a closer look at him and remembered his face.
However, even as he recognized Jiang Chen, the Primordial Sovereign didn’t mention it to the Seven Fairy Maidens. He merely stated, "This person is indeed using our school’s secret techniques, but I genuinely do not recognize him. He’s most likely not a disciple of our school."
"However, although I do not recognize him, Taibai Jinxing likely knows his origin. Why not ask him instead?"
The Primordial Sovereign, as always, didn’t want to get involved. Seeing the Seven Fairy Maidens’ animosity toward Jiang Chen, he found an excuse to brush them off. Moreover, he didn’t lie; Taibai Jinxing indeed knew the origins of Jiang Chen.
The Red Fairy Maiden asked in confusion, "Venerable Sovereign, how do you know that Taibai Jinxing knows this little thief’s origins?"
The Primordial Sovereign smiled and replied, "The term ’Yu Dou’ in Taoism refers to the North Star. If someone named themselves ’Yu Dou,’ it is likely related to that. As for matters concerning stars, asking Taibai Jinxing should be infallible."
"Thank you for your guidance, Venerable Sovereign." After obtaining the hint from the Sovereign, the maidens thanked him respectfully and left Douluo Palace to head for the residence of Taibai Jinxing.
Coincidently, not long after the maidens left Douluo Palace, they bumped into Taibai Jinxing halfway.
Upon seeing Taibai Jinxing, all seven maidens’ eyes brightened. They called out hurriedly, "Taibai Jinxing, please hold on."
Hearing someone call his name, Taibai Jinxing turned around to find the Seven Fairy Maidens. He stopped and asked them, "So it is the seven princesses. What important matter has trudged you to stop me?"
The Seven Fairy Maidens, upon reaching Taibai Jinxing, didn’t rush to inquire about Jiang Chen but first asked, "Taibai Jinxing, you seem to be in a hurry. Where are you going?"
Taibai Jinxing, assuming it to be their curiosity, answered, "The Jade Emperor has recently appointed a Heavenly God for Demon Suppression and assigned him a position at Gouchen’s Heavenly Palace. I have been ordered to supervise the construction of his residence."
Confused, the Fair Maidens retorted, "But it’s just a Heavenly God. Why did they go as far as to trouble you?"
Despite being a favorite in the Jade Emperor’s court, even figures like the Emperor Lord and other heavenly nobles would give due respect to Venus. How could such a figure be startled by a mere god?
"Ah!" Venus sighed helplessly, "That god is not just any mortal. He’s nobility among humans and a Buddhist bigwig. Don’t underestimate him."
The Jade Emperor was also speechless. He never expected Jiang Chen to become a Buddhist king in just a few decades. Having no choice, the Jade Emperor provided Jiang Chen with an official estate and ordered Venus to oversee its construction.
Realizing this, Venus found himself calculating the timing. He said, "So, are there any questions you ladies have? The Demon-Suppressing Heavenly God is about to assume office soon. I need to have his estate completed early."
Noticing that Venus intended to leave, the women asked swiftly, "Do you know someone called Yu Dou?"
As they said this, the Purple-Robed Celestial Maiden used magic to replicate Jiang Chen’s appearance.
He didn’t know who Yu Dou was, but he certainly knew Jiang Chen! After all, wasn’t his mission to build an official estate for Jiang Chen?
As expected, after seeing the image of Jiang Chen, Venus said, "I have never heard of this Yu Dou, but I do recognize the person in this image. That is the new Demon-Suppressing Heavenly God conferred by the Jade Emperor."
Upon hearing this, the Seven Fairy Maids were shocked, exclaiming, "What? This thief is the Demon-Suppressing Heavenly God? Wasn’t he the Taoist prodigy? How did he become both a heavenly scion of the human race and a Buddhist heavyweight?"
Being a human was one thing, but Taoist and Buddhist? There wasn’t any connection between those, right?
Seeing the reactions of the Seven Fairy Maids, it seemed like they knew Jiang Chen, so Venus couldn’t help but ask, "Do you ladies know the Demon-Suppressing Heavenly God?"
They shook their heads and then nodded. The Red-Robed Celestial Maiden ambiguously said, "Not exactly, we just had a brief encounter."
"Could you tell us more about this Demon-Suppressing Heavenly God? How does he possess these multiple identities?"
Telling the Seven Fairy Maids about Jiang Chen’s identities wouldn’t be a problem, but Venus was in a rush. He proposed to continue their conversation while walking.
After a moment, the Seven Fairy Maids came to a consensus and agreed. They planned to play the waiting game and would wait near the newly built estate of the Demon-Suppressing Heavenly God for Jiang Chen.
They imagined Jiang Chen arriving in the Heaven Court to find the Seven Fairy Maids waiting for him at his newly built estate. His expression would surely be priceless!
On the way, Venus divulged to Seven Fairy Maids about the Demon-Suppressing Heavenly God, real name Jiang Chen, a descendant of the Flame Emperor...
...
...
Jiang Chen was unaware of the situation in the Heaven Court. Even if he knew about it, he had no way to keep Venus quiet.
If he really tried, even with the age of the old man with the surname Li, he could still use his feather duster to not only threaten Jiang Chen’s life, but also leave him half-dead.
After all, he is a figure on par with the legendary Nanji Immortal.
Regardless of the situation in the Heaven Court, at this moment, Jiang Chen had already arrived at the Great Prairie in the North. However, he didn’t rush to find the Soul of War, but instead hid quietly.
Because, he’d noticed someone familiar.
No, not someone. Rather, a familiar monkey.
Unbelievably, at this place thousands of miles away from Huaguo Mountain, Jiang Chen saw Sun Wukong!
What was that monkey doing?
Jiang Chen looked closer and saw Wukong was pasturing horses!
Pasturing horses!!!
I...
Upon seeing Sun Wukong’s action, Jiang Chen was too stunned to describe his reaction.
This Sun Monkey is stirring things up!
If Jiang Chen remembered correctly, Sun Wukong had recently been recruited by the Heaven Court and given the title of Stable Manager. He was designated to take care of the horses in the Heaven Court.
Letting a monkey look after horses, whoever came up with this idea was a freakin’ genius!
Enough with the chatter. Since the monkey is a Stable Manager, letting the horses graze is within his job role.
But why is he pasturing them down in the mortal realm?
Even if Jiang Chen hasn’t visited Heaven Court, he knew they had their own pastures with varieties of spiritual and celestial grasses to feed the heavenly horses.
Heavenly horses were delicate creatures that fed only on spiritual and celestial grasses. Only such a diet could ensure they would possess great battle power.
And bringing the heavenly horses down to graze in the human realm, let alone common grasses that were unfit for them to eat, this would also lose their spirituality.
ps: I’m feeling unwell, but bear with me. Just to explain, I got vaccinated today, so...
Even so, I still wrote an additional thousand words today, as a sort of interest. I’ll try to keep up with the extra updates tomorrow.
Two thousand words, with a thousand-word interest over three days. That’s not a small interest rate...
So, please vote for me.
