Since achieving success in his cultivation, Red Boy went out to occupy a mountain and become king, ruling the Fire Cloud Cave alone. He had a large group of lesser demons under his command, and the mountain gods and local deities within a radius of a hundred miles all submitted to him.
As a demon, he was naturally possessed by evil nature and had harmed many living beings. He had also eaten human flesh and drunk human blood. Otherwise, he wouldn't have tried every means to kidnap Tang Sanzang and eat his flesh after hearing that eating Tang Sanzang's flesh could grant him longevity.
Jiang Liu condensed a dozen drops of essence blood, then used the technique of transforming objects into form a small demon and sneaked into the Fire Cloud Cave.
Red Boy's cave was ablaze with red, filled with red mist and draped in red gauze, hence its name, Fiery Cloud Cave. Red Boy himself was incredibly cute, dressed in a fiery red bib and robe, barefoot, his lower body bare, his face glowing red, his skin rosy and fair, his complexion a delicate pinkish-white. He resembled Nezha somewhat, but was much fatter.
But the way he ate meat and drank alcohol with gusto, paired with that adorable face, was really incongruous.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" A little demon rushed into the cave from outside, shouting and kneeling on one knee. "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! A monkey with a hairy face and a thunder god's mouth has come to attack us..."
"A hairy face and a thunder god's mouth?" Red Boy put down the wine jar and muttered, "Could it be that Tang Sanzang has already arrived... Men, prepare the Five Elements Chariot, let's go out and take a look!"
Jiang Liu, disguised as a little demon, mingled among them, watching Red Boy's every move and expression. To seize the Bull Demon King's weapon, the Iron Cudgel, there was no need to take it by force; he could simply transform into Red Boy and outwit him.
The monkey with the hairy face and thunderous mouth outside was naturally transformed by Jiang Liu using his transformation technique, in order to test Red Boy's supernatural powers and prepare to gain the Bull Demon King's trust.
Although Red Boy was only the size of a child, he wielded a ten-foot-long fire-tipped spear and immediately pointed it at the monkey that Jiang Liu had transformed into, saying, "Hey, where did you come from, monkey? Why are you trespassing on my Red Boy's mountain? Don't you know my name, Red Boy..."
"Red Boy? What name? I've never heard of him. This mountain and this cave belong to me today. You're all young, so hurry up and pack your things and get out of here. If you don't leave, I won't hesitate to send you to the Western Paradise!"
"Arrogant! No one has ever dared to speak so arrogantly in front of me, Red Boy. Let's see what you're capable of!"
After saying that, Red Boy, holding the Fire-Tipped Spear in one hand, leaped onto a small cart in the middle, and punched himself twice on the nose with his fist in the other.
Then he chanted a spell, breathed fire from his mouth, exhaled thick smoke from his nostrils, and his eyes blazed with flames. Flames surged from the Five Elements Chariot. After several more breaths, the red flames blazed high, the entire mountain ablaze with fire.
"Haha, let's see what you've got. If I don't burn you into a hairless monkey today, I, Red Boy, will climb back to the Flaming Mountain and cultivate for another five hundred years."
The fire was indeed Samadhi True Fire, but it was only used in a very ordinary way, not as good as the blue lotus that Jiang Liu condensed using Samadhi True Fire after integrating all his supernatural powers.
It only possesses the most basic abilities of Samadhi True Fire: high temperature and indestructibility. Although these two characteristics are powerful enough to be considered extremely powerful among fire-based divine abilities, it lacks some variation and cohesion.
Once the flames are unleashed, the sky is filled with fire, but the attack is too scattered and the energy is not concentrated, so how can the terrifying power of the Samadhi True Fire be unleashed?
Only by taking another step forward in the path of fire, and controlling the Samadhi True Fire as easily as one's own arm, can one be said to have truly mastered this powerful flame.
The monkey, whose movements were constantly shifting, formed a fire-avoiding hand seal. This seal was one of the "Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations," and when cultivated to a high level, it could evade all flames in the world. The Samadhi True Fire, the Solar True Fire, the Six Ding Divine Fire in Laozi's Eight Trigrams Furnace, and even the flames released from the Innate Supreme Baby Lotus Lantern could not harm it.
Of course, this requires extremely high skill.
With Jiang Liu's understanding of the rules of fire, even without using the fire-avoiding technique, Red Boy's Samadhi True Fire could not harm him, because his mastery of Samadhi True Fire was several levels higher than Red Boy's.
Seeing that the Samadhi True Fire couldn't burn the monkey, Red Boy's Fire-Tipped Spear flashed and he pounced on him.
A crimson light shot out from the Fire-Tipped Spear, and even hotter flames burst forth from the tip of the spear, seemingly distorting the very space around them.
boom!
Jiang Liu, in his monkey form, waved his right hand casually, and a stick came crashing down, tearing a gash in the raging flames and striking the Fire-Tipped Spear directly.
"ah……"
Red Boy felt an irresistible force coming at him, and he could barely hold onto his Fire-Tipped Spear. But he was hot-tempered and refused to admit defeat so easily. He roared to the sky, his face contorted with rage, and with a flick of his Fire-Tipped Spear, he struck again.
On the tiger's mouth of his hand holding the fire-tipped spear, there was a tear, with drops of blood dripping down, and a burst of flames rose up.
Every drop of blood is a burst of Samadhi fire.
Clearly, he has already channeled the power of the flames into his blood.
The Asuras were born in the Blood Sea and were born with the killing talent of the Styx Ancestor. Red Boy, who has half Asura blood, is naturally very talented in martial arts. As a demon, his physical body is also extremely strong.
However, he had only cultivated for a short time and devoted most of his energy to comprehending the Samadhi True Fire. Although his potential was limitless, his combat strength was somewhat lacking.
Jiang Liu didn't really want to kill or subdue him. Instead, he wanted to learn about Hong Hai'er's supernatural powers, understand his personality and combat skills, and then cooperate with him to force him to use his trump card without harming him.
The two exchanged blows, fighting back and forth for dozens of rounds.
Jiang Liu then created an opening, pretending to have half his body burned off, and left in a sorry state.
Chapter 445 Bull Demon King
Although the Flaming Mountain is the territory of the Bull Demon King, he does not live there.
Even with his immense strength, Old Niu couldn't withstand facing a volcano every day. Therefore, his cave dwelling was located in the Banana Cave of Cuiyun Mountain, a blessed land with beautiful scenery and lush mountains, perfect for cultivation.
Ancient sites spanning millennia, traces of immortals dating back ten thousand years. A phoenix sings amidst verdant phoenix trees, a dragon dwells hidden in the flowing waters.
It has a rather ethereal feel to it!
The Third Holy Mother found a secluded spot nearby and began cultivating her acupoints while preparing to meet Jiang Liu.
Jiang Liu naturally intended to transform into Red Boy, but before heading to the Banana Cave, he used the technique of borrowing objects to explore the cave thoroughly before obtaining some spiritual herbs and entering Cuiyun Mountain.
Princess Iron Fan, the Rakshasa, was overjoyed to see her son return and did not notice anything unusual.
Since her husband, the Bull Demon King, took a concubine, he had been away from home for many years. Princess Iron Fan was naturally extremely lonely and empty. However, as an Asura princess who had achieved success in cultivation, she could quietly pass the time by going into seclusion and meditating.
Princess Iron Fan smiled broadly as she looked at the elixirs presented by Red Boy. Although these things were not particularly valuable to her, they were a gift from her son, and the thought behind them made her extremely happy.
"Mother, I have come back this time for two reasons. First, to visit you, and second, to discuss important matters with Father. I wonder if Father is there?"
Princess Iron Fan sighed deeply, looking somewhat distressed, and said, "Where else could he be! He's either at a daily banquet or at that fox spirit's place. He hasn't been back for a long time. Now that you're back, I'll send a little demon to call him back!"
After saying that, he sent the little demon to the Moyun Cave on Jilei Mountain.
Mount Jilei, Moyun Cave, this is the abode of the Jade-Faced Fox.
There once lived a powerful fox king, who had lived for ten thousand years and possessed considerable strength. However, he could not escape the cycle of fate, the three calamities and six tribulations, and ultimately died. The fox king left behind a daughter named Princess Jade Face.
The vast legacy left behind by the Fox King was naturally left unattended. Knowing she couldn't protect it, the Jade-Faced Fox sought out the Bull Demon King, who possessed great supernatural powers, and offered to contribute his entire fortune to become his son-in-law.
This must be why, on his deathbed, the Fox King, worried about his daughter, instructed her to find a man as soon as possible. However, this man had to meet two conditions: first, he had to be capable enough to protect her; second, he had to be honest and kind, not someone who would deceive her for her inheritance.
The Bull Demon King was naturally a perfect fit and readily accepted the offer. Firstly, the Jade-Faced Fox was exceptionally beautiful, and secondly, by taking over the territory of the Ten Thousand Year Fox King, his power would expand once again.
The nominal mother of Golden Horn and Silver Horn was a nine-tailed fox demon, originally an old demon under the command of the Fox King. After the Fox King's death, she carved out her own territory.
If it weren't for the Bull Demon King, the nine-tailed fox demon would have inherited everything from the Fox King. Unfortunately, the Bull Demon King, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, intervened, which greatly angered the nine-tailed fox. However, since she couldn't defeat the Bull Demon King, she had no choice but to accept it.
Jiang Liu didn't go directly to Moyun Cave on Jilei Mountain; he did so to lower the Bull Demon King's guard. This Banana Cave on Cuiyun Mountain was his dwelling, and it was his wife, Princess Iron Fan, who had summoned him back. He couldn't very well use his magic to check if his wife and son were real!
If that were to happen, Jiang Liu's trip to Moyun Cave on Jilei Mountain would be even more likely to be exposed.
Even if Princess Iron Fan did not suspect anything, Jiang Liu did not dare to be careless. His mother naturally knew her son very well. Although Jiang Liu's transformation technique could even transform his soul, and even with the Divine Eye he might not be able to see through it, it was not that he was undetectable.
A mother is the person most familiar with her child.
Jiang Liu made up an excuse and went to Flaming Mountain to take refuge.
When the time was almost up, we returned to the Banana Cave on Cuiyun Mountain and saw a mythical beast resembling a Qilin. It had a dragon's mouth, a lion's head, fish scales, an ox's tail, tiger's claws, and deer antlers. The crimson beast lay in front of the cave. Needless to say, this was the Water-Avoiding Golden-Eyed Beast.
The Bull Demon King's mount can be ridden to any place, whether it's the sky or the sea. It is quite loyal to its master, but it seems to be able to recognize faces but not scents. It can ride the clouds and float on water. It is intelligent and spiritual, and is a branch of the dragon race.
"My son is back!" A deep voice came from the cave, and a giant man, three meters tall with a pair of bull horns on his head, appeared before them. He was extremely imposing, like an iron tower.
"Father……"
"I heard from your mother that you have something important to discuss with your father. I wonder what it is? While you are the king of the Fire Cloud Cave on Mount Hao, have you neglected your cultivation?"
"Father, look!" Jiang Liu said, mimicking Red Boy's mannerisms and unleashing the Samadhi True Fire, though he was slightly more skilled than Red Boy.
"Indeed, our cultivation has not been delayed. Now the Three Realms are in turmoil, and the demons of Beiju Luzhou have already marched south. We don't know what their purpose is. The Buddhist sect also has a great conspiracy. Although we are not afraid, we must still act with caution!"
“Father’s reprimand is correct. I returned for this very reason. I’ve heard that Tang Sanzang is coming soon, and that eating a piece of his flesh will extend one’s lifespan…”
"My son, you should abandon this idea and not harm Tang Sanzang. Tang Sanzang's eldest disciple became sworn brothers with you five hundred years ago. Although we haven't been in contact for a long time, I don't know how much his cultivation has improved. But five hundred years ago, his strength was already extremely formidable... Moreover, the Buddhist sect and the Heavenly Court are both paying attention to Tang Sanzang. I didn't pay much attention to this matter before, but my fellow disciples have recently contacted me... The Three Realms are about to undergo a great change!"
Fellow disciples?
Jiang Liu was puzzled, but he didn't ask any more questions. His purpose in coming here was to trick the Bull Demon King into giving him the weapon "Mixed Iron Cudgel". He wouldn't ask any more questions.
Too much talk leads to mistakes.
The Bull Demon King recounted the dangers involved, and finally asked, "My son, did you return just for that Tang Sanzang?"
“That’s one reason. Recently, a few demons have come to the area around that mountain. They are not very strong, but their magic weapons are powerful. Moreover, demons are constantly spying on us. I want to borrow one of Father’s treasures to intimidate the demons.”
"Oh, what do you want?" The Bull Demon King frowned slightly.
"I wish to borrow my father's weapon."
"That stick was perfect for my father's use..."
Princess Iron Fan immediately turned pale and said, "It's just a stick made of rotten materials, and you're already reluctant to part with it? Child, your mother will give you a banana leaf fan, why would you want a broken stick!"
“My dear wife, such a precious treasure is not suitable for Red Boy. You keep it safe! Since you want the Iron Cudgel, do you know how heavy it is? Sun Wukong’s Ruyi Jingu Bang weighs 13,500 jin. My Iron Cudgel, although not quite as heavy, still weighs nearly 10,000 jin. Although my son’s cultivation has improved a lot, he still needs to be careful when using this Iron Cudgel!” Bull Demon King shook his head and said.
Ten thousand catties is something that Red Boy, who has the blood of both the demon race and the Asura race, can naturally lift, but to use it as easily as an extension of his arm is still quite difficult.
A heavy, black iron rod suddenly stood upright in front of Jiang Liu with a loud "boom." It was completely black. Although he already knew that it was made from the remains of the Nine Provinces Cauldron, Jiang Liu still felt a sense of surprise when he actually faced it, and a surge of excitement welled up in his heart.
"If I obtain another fragment of the cauldron, I can comprehend the mysteries of another province and take another step forward on the path to becoming a human immortal... How can I take it? I'm willing to offend the Bull Demon King; I must obtain one of the nine cauldrons..."
Chapter 446 Purple Lightning Hammer
Watching Jiang Liu, in his guise as Red Boy, fly away on a red cloud, Princess Iron Fan finally stopped smiling, rubbed her face which had become stiff from laughing, and said to the Bull Demon King, "So easily you gave away your handy weapon, Old Bull, are you really willing to do that?"
The Bull Demon King stared in the direction Jiang Liu had left for a long time before turning his gaze away. He didn't answer, but instead said, "That transformation technique was truly exquisite. Madam, did you see any flaws?"
"There are no flaws. If it weren't for the Holy Mother's instructions, I would have almost already thought he was Red Boy," Princess Iron Fan said, shaking her head.
"Among the Three Realms, the two most accomplished up-and-coming figures in the art of transformation are Erlang Shen Yang Jian and the Monkey King. My Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations are no less than theirs, but it seems that the abbot of the Hidden Dragon Temple is the most skilled in the art of transformation within the Three Realms!" the Bull Demon King said in a deep voice.
Princess Iron Fan was slightly surprised and said, "So strong? Yang Jian cultivated the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts, the protective divine art of the Chan Sect, and achieved physical sainthood in the Investiture of the Gods, which is why he has such profound attainments in the art of transformation. The Great Sage Equaling Heaven was originally a naturally born and nurtured stone monkey, and he also cultivated the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts. Old Bull, your demon body has also undergone countless trials and tribulations. How could he, a mere mortal, have reached such a level after only a few years of cultivation? Unbelievable, truly unbelievable!"
"The Heavenly Dao has changed. My sworn brothers from the Demon Master's Hall in Beiju Luzhou have appeared in Xiniu Hezhou, and the Holy Mother Wudang is gathering disciples of the Jie Sect. My master has already issued a decree... It's certain that a great upheaval will occur within the Three Realms. That Jiang Liu, although only at the Heavenly Immortal level, we sensed that the vigorous bloodthirsty energy within him is even more vast than that of demons of the same level. It's hard to imagine why a human would not cultivate the Dao but instead focus on physical cultivation, and even reach such a level..."
"No wonder the Holy Mother of Wudang is so serious, needing you to sell her karma. That mixed iron rod was made mainly from the remains of the Liangzhou Cauldron, so it can be considered a flawed merit weapon. He is a human, so how could he possibly revive the Nine Provinces Cauldron?" As the Asura Princess, Princess Iron Fan is not like that Jade-Faced Fox who is just a pretty face. She has strength, magic weapons, and knowledge.
The Bull Demon King, holding Princess Iron Fan's hand, returned to the Banana Cave. As they walked, he said, "Madam, you've just come out of seclusion, so you probably don't know yet! He has successfully forged the Nine Provinces Cauldron, and the Nine Provinces Merit Artifact is now under his control. Even the benevolent corpse of the Buddha Julusun, Kumarajiva, went to test it out, but suffered a crushing defeat and lost the Immortal Binding Rope..."
"No wonder my good-for-nothing sister also fell into his hands!"
The Bull Demon King was slightly surprised and asked, "Which sister of yours?"
The Styx Ancestor created the Asura race. The Asura Demon King, Mara, and his consort Uma gave birth to seventy-two Asura princesses, with Princess Iron Fan being just one of them.
"Who else could it be but the youngest, Honglian! Only she would be so careless as to barge into Qianlong Temple and be captured by him..."