Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

Marshal Canopy sat among the Immortal Gods, head bowed as he drank his sorrows away, his mind wandering to unknown thoughts.

This gathering at the Peaches of Immortality was a successful one, a meeting that fostered unity among the Immortal Gods. Amidst the laughter and jovial songs, the Heavenly Court swept away the gloom cast by the Monkey's havoc, as if everything had returned to the way it used to be.

With a drunken sway, Marshal Canopy staggered out of the Jade Pool, and an Angel by his side quickly offered support, asking with concern, "Marshal, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, the royal wine is just a bit strong this time. By the way, are you new to the Heavenly Court? You seem unfamiliar," Marshal Canopy murmured hazily, eyeing the Angel before him with puzzlement.

"I have only recently ascended to the Heavenly Court, so it is only natural that the Marshal hasn't seen me before," the Angel replied with neither arrogance nor servility.

Guided by the Angel, Marshal Canopy wobbled through the Heavenly Gate. As he turned to bid the Angel farewell, he heard the latter whisper with a soft laugh, "Take care, Marshal!"

These seemingly ordinary words took on a different meaning in Marshal Canopy's heart. For a split second, he thought he saw Chang'e, the one he adored, greeting him with a shy smile and a nod, stirring desires within him. So enraptured was he that he didn't even notice being led to the wrong door.

And so he wandered in a daze until he arrived at a palace surrounded by swirling mists and biting cold. A grand Osmanthus Tree stood in the distance, its fragrance overwhelming, snapping Marshal Canopy back to clarity.

Only then did he lift his head to see the palace sign: Guanghan Palace.

He thought to himself, "In my drunken stupor, I have stumbled upon the Star Lord's Mansion." Then, remembering that his beloved Chang'e served under the Star Lord, a desire surged within him. This thought ignited a fire that sent him into a restless fury. He raised his hefty fists and began pounding on the door, calling out Chang'e's true name.

Soon, the palace doors opened and a maid stepped out, informing him that the woman he sought was not there, nor was there any new Chang'e.

Marshal Canopy's anger flared up from the depths of his heart, evil rising to the edge of his boldness. He charged into Guanghan Palace, shouting, "How dare you deceive me, Marshal Canopy! Today, I will not rest until I find her."

Just as Marshal Canopy rampaged forward, a cool voice echoed from within Guanghan Palace, "Marshal Canopy, if you continue with such disrespect, do not blame me for not showing regard for Emperor Ziwei."

With the words settling, a lady dressed in white emerged, her figure graceful, her beauty unparalleled—even amongst countless fairies, none could match her. She was the Lunar Deity, known as the most beautiful in all three realms, and due to her renown, the name Chang'e became the highest praise any fairy could receive.

The stunning Star Lord now faced him with icy composure, her gaze fixed on Marshal Canopy. Disoriented and dizzy as he was, upon seeing the Lunar Deity, her peerless beauty struck him, and he couldn't contain the burst of desire, impulsively exclaiming, "I've heard of the Star Lord's beauty, and seeing you today, it's true you are a paragon of loveliness.

Why languish here alone in the cold emptiness of Guanghan Palace?"

With lust guiding him, he reached out to grasp the Lunar Deity.

The Lunar Deity was shocked by Tianpeng's audacity, only to see her frowning slightly and scolding, "What a fool, blinded by the Six Desires and unaware of it, not knowing what Emperor Ziwei sees in you?"

Being an ancient Immortal God, the Lunar Deity naturally had vast experience and insight, and in an instant, she perceived the energy of the Six Desires entwined within Tianpeng's heart and mind, guiding him into confusion, making his mind unstable.

Had Tianpeng not harbored lustful desires, seeing through with a clear heart and innate nature, he would not suffer this calamity; alas, he had fallen into the trap unknowingly.

However, the Lunar Deity was too lazy to bother with this matter. Just as Tianpeng's hand was about to touch her, a sudden chilling cold emerged from the ground of Guanghan Palace, instantly freezing the hand he stretched out into a block of ice, the biting cold climbing up from his feet involuntarily made him shiver.

At this moment, Tianpeng had completely lost his mind to desire, and with a loud shout, he broke free from the icy fetters, still reaching out towards the Lunar Deity. The Star Lord deftly dodged Tianpeng's attack with a slight flicker, and she frowned secretly, knowing Tianpeng had lost his rationale and paid him no further attention.

"My lady, let me handle this," a deep voice sounded beside the Lunar Deity. It was Wu Gang, who had received the news and hurried over.

Wu Gang was a strapping man, not very handsome, emanating an honest simplicity. He was dressed in coarse linen clothes, barefoot, with a hemp rope tied around his waist from which hung an axe. The axe appeared ordinary, like any woodcutter's axe in the mortal world, but it was capable of chopping the Innate Osmanthus Tree.

Enormous vital energy burst forth from Wu Gang's body, like a blazing sun, dispersing the cold air of Guanghan Palace, and his seemingly commonplace axe held off Tianpeng's nine-toothed rake.

"Take it outside to fight, lest you disturb the tranquility of Guanghan Palace," came the cool voice of the Lunar Deity.

Wu Gang simply uttered a compliant "Yes," and began pulling the fight towards the gate of Guanghan Palace. Tianpeng, obstinate and relentless, followed close behind.

While Wu Gang's reputation in the Heavenly Court was unremarkable, his combat power was extraordinary. Born of the Witch Tribe, his vital energy was so dense that Tianpeng had never encountered.

The axe in his hands was immensely powerful, with each swing generating strong gusts, and the vital energy wrapped around the axe blade gave Tianpeng a hard time, suppressing his mana and making him feel constrained all over.

With a mighty roar, he transformed into a giant holding the nine-toothed rake, readying a blow that seemed capable of destroying Guanghan Palace. Wu Gang couldn't let his wish come true. Vital energy exploded, and a blood-red flag seemed to flutter in the sky.

With the clash of the axe and rake, the disturbance swept across the Heavenly Court, and the grand noise had already alerted the Immortal Gods, who cast their gazes down to discover Marshal Tianpeng, beloved by Emperor Ziwei, inexplicably committing violence in Guanghan Palace.

"Tianpeng really does have an audacious courage; how dare he trouble the Lunar Deity, a figure of such stature," an Immortal God uttered in the void. Experience tales at empire

"Perhaps time has been too long, causing the world to forget the illustrious reputation of that one; the Witch Tribe has been silent for far too long."

"Punished by the heavens, if it weren't for Empress Hou Tu's protection with her own virtues, they would have vanished into smoke and clouds across the three realms long ago.

Now, being able to retreat from the world into the Underworld is considered extremely fortunate." These Immortal Gods, existing since ancient times, were aware of many past secrets, inadvertently revealing bygone tales from their conversation.

"This time Tianpeng is in for misfortune; no matter what, the emperor certainly won't let him off. Having offended the Lunar Deity, it's unlikely even Emperor Ziwei can intervene," they speculated.

And indeed, before the Immortal Gods even finished speaking, an Angel was dispatched with orders for the gods to quell the disturbance.