The First Demon of the Chan Sect

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....

Looking at the empty Zixiao Palace, Hong Jun pinched the bridge of his nose and said with a wry smile: "Those who are destined to come will always come; Taiyi, your survival bodes ill for the land of Huaxia Heaven and Earth!"

Immediately, all over the Huaxia Land, within the hermitages of various Saints, Hong Jun's summons rang out: "Thou shalt hasten to Zixiao Palace, make haste!"

At East Kunlun Mountain, Li Qingming, who had just returned to a side hall of Yuxu Palace, was startled and thought to himself, "What now? Hong Jun really can't sit still even with just two hundred years left!"

Within the Three Pure Ones Hall, The Three Pure Ones who were meditating with closed eyes opened them one after another.

Tongtian said: "Could it be that something has changed?"

Primordial shook his head and replied: "Listening to the urgency in Master's tone this time, we should make haste!"

"Let's go!" Laozi gave a fleeting glance to the other two and was the first to break through the sky and depart.

At Wanshou Mountain's Wuzhuang Temple.

"Zhen Yuanzi, what do you think it is this time?" Nether River, rubbing his bleary eyes and looking listless, asked.

Zhen Yuanzi glanced at Nether River, rose into the sky, and said: "I don't know, but if you dawdle any longer, I'm certain you'll be the last one to arrive!"

"Damn it, Zhen Yuanzi, you old geezer, wait for me!" Nether River instantly leaped up, fully awake, transforming into a streak of light that vanished from Wuzhuang Temple.

In Western Sumeru Mountain, at the Great Leiyin Temple.

Jieyin stood respectfully in front of Xuanhu and sneaking a glance at the expressionless Shakyamuni, said: "Master, will you be heading there this time?"

"Not this time," Xuanhu waved his hand and said with a slightly raised brow: "Take Shakyamuni with you; it's time for him to meet them!"

"Yes!" Jieyin performed the Buddha's salute, turned to Shakyamuni, and said: "Junior brother, let's go!"

"By Master's decree, how dare I disobey?" Shakyamuni abruptly opened his eyes, and behind him, an immense six zhang tall Buddha figure suddenly appeared.

...

It was still that same Zixiao Palace, but different now was the absence of child attendants at the palace gate and the doors were tightly shut. The bare stone stairs were even covered with a thick layer of dust, leaving Zixiao Palace empty, appearing quite desolate.

The Three Pure Ones were the first to arrive at Zixiao Palace, followed by Nuwa, Zhen Yuanzi, Nether River, and Houtu. Perhaps due to the distance, by the time Jieyin arrived with Shakyamuni, the assembly of Saints had already grown impatient.

Therefore, before Jieyin had a chance to salute the assembly, Li Qingming remarked sarcastically: "Oh! Saint Jieyin, did you take your child to fetch soy sauce?"

"Soy sauce?"

None of the saints understood the modern twenty-first century term, but without a doubt, they knew it wasn't anything complimentary.

Fortunately, as if unheard, Jieyin, with one hand, performed the Buddha's salute to the saints, and said: "Amitabha Buddha! My apologies to the benefactors. Having not left Great Leiyin Temple for a long time, I'm a bit unfamiliar with the way; please excuse me!"

"Creak!"

Just then, the tightly shut doors of Zixiao Palace swung open.

"Enough with the chatter, hurry inside!" Tongtian bellowed, his eyes suddenly lighting up as he noticed the bald little monk following behind Jieyin and said: "Huh! This little monk is quite the looker! Surely, you must be Zhunti's reincarnation, Shakyamuni!"

Upon hearing this, the saints also turned their gaze upon the inconspicuous little monk, their eyes betraying varied and profound meanings.

Shakyamuni saluted Tongtian and the saints, bowing and said: "Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk, Shakyamuni, greets All Saints, may the Saints live eternally!"

"Jieyin, the Taoist Ancestor Hong Jun has clearly decreed that All Saints gather at Zixiao Palace. What is your reason for bringing a Quasi-Saint?" Nether River seized the opportunity to poke and immediately piped up.

"Since it is the Saints that are summoned here, then how would Donor Li Qingming explain his presence?" retorted Jieyin, raising his brow without much saltiness in his tone.

"What are you all doing at the palace gate? Enter the hall!"

Just as Nether River was about to retort, the voice of Hong Jun came from within the hall.

With no other choice, Nether River glared at Jieyin before entering the main hall.

The saints took their seats according to their usual order.

However, Li Qingming and Shakyamuni, who came as avatars, were not Saints after all. They could not sit on the Wind and Fire Cushions and had to kneel behind the seated saints, half a step out of place.

Once everyone was seated, a grey silhouette flickered and appeared on the seat of honor on the high platform. Hong Jun looked at everyone with eyes still as before.

Upon seeing the Taoist Ancestor Hong Jun, the saints prostrated on the ground and respectfully saluted: "We disciples greet Master (Taoist Ancestor), may Master (Taoist Ancestor) live eternally!"

Hong Jun lightly flicked his sleeve and said, "Dispense with the formalities!"

"Thank you, Master (Taoist Ancestor)!" The Saints once again bowed and then sat back down on their cushions.

Glancing across the Saints, especially pausing on Li Qingming and Shakyamuni, Hong Jun said expressionlessly, "The summoning of you all today is no small matter. In bygone years, the Demon Race, out of selfish desires, stirred a catastrophe, causing floods across the Nine Provinces. After the Demon Race was driven back, Taiyi, unwilling to accept defeat, secretly colluded with the Outer Realm Dao Chasers, in a mad attempt to lure them into our realm and destroy the Huaxia Land!"

"What?"

The Saints were shocked and outraged, but quickly suppressed their anger, asking, "Master (Taoist Ancestor), is this the truth?"

Hong Jun nodded slightly, and with a flick of his sleeve, he replayed the events that had unfolded deep within the Sun Palace that night. The scene unfolded, displaying every detail vividly.

"That damned Taiyi, so utterly heartless and mad!" Tongtian smashed his fist onto the bluestone floor of Zixiao Palace with a "bang", his face flushed with rage.

"He certainly deserves death!" Primordial's face was also very unpleasant.

Jieyin feigned solemnity and chanted a Buddha's name, "Amitabha Buddha, put down the butcher's knife and become Buddha on the spot!"

Shakyamuni stammered and whispered softly, "Demon Race, Demon Race!"

It seemed that even after two lifetimes, Zhunti's long-windedness still remained.

Li Qingming and Nuwa, listening to the Saints' mocking and ridicule of Taiyi, showed no reaction, but Shakyamuni's comment had effectively stirred up a hornet's nest.

"Bald-headed monk, what are you implying? What's wrong with my Demon Race?" Li Qingming asked loudly, with no hint of politeness.

Similarly, as a Saint of the Demon Race, Nuwa's pretty face also turned red and her eyes blazed.

Shakyamuni's normally beaming face instantly darkened; even after regaining his past life's memories, and his deep resentment towards Li Qingming, his fear of Li Qingming's ferocity was something he could not suppress.

Seeing the three glowering at each other, Jieyin inwardly groaned and quickly came forward to mediate, "Amitabha Buddha! Two Benefactors, what Shakyamuni meant is that although the Demon Race caused a great flood, in the end, it was in accordance with Heaven's Will. He meant no other offense, please forgive him!"

Just as Li Qingming was about to let the matter go, Nuwa tightly pursued the issue and said, "I do not care whether you are Zhunti or Shakyamuni, the affairs of my Demon Race are not to be commanded by your Buddhist Sect!"

Looking up at the unperturbed Hong Jun, Nuwa bowed and said, "Master, as the Saint of the Demon Race, since Taiyi is the Demon Race's East Emperor, he should be disciplined by me! I earnestly request Master to leave this matter to me!"

Hong Jun pondered for a while, and after glancing at the somewhat distracted Li Qingming, he said, "Qingmingzi, you are the Demon Race's North Emperor and know everything about the Demon Race like the back of your hand. On this occasion, you shall accompany Nuwa to Little Beiming and must execute Taiyi!"

Li Qingming was currently preoccupied with the Demon Suppression Tower placed in Little Beiming, and Hong Jun's words aligned perfectly with his own thoughts. Therefore, he bowed and said, "Disciple follows Master's command with utmost respect!"

"There's no need to report back to me after handling this matter! The Path to Heaven opens soon, return to Zixiao in two hundred years!" After saying this, Hong Jun's form gradually dissipated within the Zixiao Palace.

"Amitabha Buddha, there are matters awaiting me in the West, I shall take my leave first!" No sooner had Hong Jun left than Jieyin, anxious as a rabbit's father, hurriedly bowed to the Saints, took Shakyamuni, and flew back to the West in a stream of golden light.

Seeing this, Zhen Yuanzi also stood up, dusted off his sleeves, and said, "Fellow Daoists, disperse! A great calamity is imminent, the more preparation, the better the odds of success!"

"In that case, see you in two hundred years!"

"I must go, dear Fellow Daoist!"

"We shall take our leave now!"

In no time, the once bustling Zixiao Palace gates were left with only Li Qingming and Nuwa.

After giving the stunningly beautiful Nuwa a glance, Li Qingming said, "Master Uncle, Taiyi's collusion with the Outer Realm Dao Chasers probably went unnoticed by the transformed Great Sun, Di Jun. Although Di Jun has transformed into the Sun Star, the matter originates from the Three-legged Golden Crow Clan; it would be best to inform Di Jun."

Nuwa nodded slightly and said, "It should be so!"

...

Although the original Sun Star had shattered, the Sun Star transformed by the Three-legged Golden Crows appeared unchanged, still brimming with True Sun Fire.

In the center of the Sun Star stood an immensely large Three-legged Golden Crow, as if it had been there since time immemorial.

Its towering stature reached millions of feet, its full wings like iron bars, gleaming with a metallic luster. Its dark, powerful three legs stood firm, bulging muscles filled with explosive strength. When it spread its wings, limitless True Sun Fire surged, setting the entire Sun Star ablaze with raging flames, dominating the Huaxia starry sky.

Every day, two Little Golden Crows towed the Sun Star, presiding over sunrise and sunset. Although monotonous, Di Jun had grown accustomed to it. Besides, with his son by his side, even loneliness was bearable.

However, today, two uninvited guests broke the long-standing peace and monotony of the Sun Star.

Standing outside the Sun Star, looking at the intensely hot Sun Star, Li Qingming smiled faintly and called out, "Who's on duty today? An old friend is visiting, why not come out and greet me promptly?"

"Quack quack..."

Suddenly, two sonorous cries resounded from the northeast corner of the Sun Star, followed by a deluge of flames and a wave of scorching heat.

Li Qingming instinctively stood in front of Nuwa, squinting at the increasing intense heat of the oncoming flames, and shouted loudly, "Little Jiu, Little Ten, is it you?" (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)