The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 191 - 187: The Heaven-Avoiding Coffin Hidden in the Scroll

Chapter 191: Chapter 187: The Heaven-Avoiding Coffin Hidden in the Scroll

The tale speaks of how Daoist Equal to Heaven battled with Huang Tuqiu in the Flat Peach Garden, driving him to a state of utter disarray, with a single palm strike nearly shattering all his internal organs.

As Huang Tuqiu struggled to his feet, Daoist Equal to Heaven’s face darkened, and he barked, "Will you release the captive or not? If not, do not blame me for being merciless!"

Huang Tuqiu would never consider returning something already within his grasp, and besides, those Seven-Colored Flat Peaches were truly rare treasures. Eating just one had unimaginable effects, and if he could refine Tao Yao, he would naturally reap tremendous benefits. However, Tao Yao possessed an amulet, and with his mana, the refining process would still be too difficult.

Huang Tuqiu cried out, "Help! Someone is forcibly entering the Peach Garden!"

Daoist Equal to Heaven chuckled coldly, "This place has already been enveloped by my mana rules; your cries will not carry beyond it!"

Huang Tuqiu’s complexion shifted. After clashing with Daoist Equal to Heaven a couple of times, he knew he was no match, and that continuing the fight could prove perilous.

"Fine, if you press me so relentlessly, then I’ll have to unleash my killer move!" Huang Tuqiu gritted his teeth.

He truly did not wish to release the prisoner, preferring to sacrifice an uncontrollable killer move rather than let go of this great opportunity to become a Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal. Consuming those nine peaches could likely lead to an immediate ascension to Mixed Yuan Golden Immortality. Such treasures were practically defying the heavens, and having the Creator’s mana wasn’t an impossibility! While the realm could be slowly cultivated, with terrifying mana at his disposal, would he have to worry about losing to others?

With a flick of the scroll in his possession, Huang Tuqiu unleashed it, and with a thunderous boom, a majestic authority emerged. A pitch-black coffin tumbled out from the unrolled scroll.

The moment Huang Tuqiu unveiled the coffin, he quickly distanced himself, fearful of its contents. It had always been hidden within the scroll since the day he found it. Once, when he was being pursued, he summoned the coffin, and the very pressure from it crushed his pursuer to death - Huang Tuqiu barely survived, protected only by holding the scroll. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, he would never summon the coffin.

"What is this thing?" Daoist Equal to Heaven was startled. The crushing pressure was even more horrifying than the fists of the Mahoraga.

In haste, he spread his arms wide, and with four thunderous roars, four mountainous Swallowing Dragon Steles descended from the heavens into the Peach Garden, causing heaven and earth to tremble. The pressure that struck the steles caused an explosive sound, bouncing it back, and ensuring it did not penetrate.

Wukong had, in total, acquired five Swallowing Dragon Steles; Daoist Equal to Heaven had four, while Enlightenment Dao held one. Now that these four Divine Steles were simultaneously invoked, they managed to withstand the terrifying pressure.

"Heaven-Avoiding Coffin, capable of evading anyone’s calculations and forever untainted by karma! Crafted from the first Primordial Ancestral Tree during the creation of heaven and earth." The four Swallowing Dragon Steles spoke simultaneously.

Daoist Equal to Heaven hadn’t anticipated that by utilizing four Swallowing Dragon Steles, he could discern the origin of the coffin. Named "Heaven-Avoiding Coffin," it could evade anyone’s calculations and remain forever untouched by karma, having been made from the Primordial Ancestral Tree present at the inception of the cosmos. But who could be inside the coffin? One of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors? Or perhaps a great power grievously injured during the Middle Ancient Times?

The individual inside the Heaven-Avoiding Coffin was roused by the Swallowing Dragon Stele, scolding, "Dare you desecrate me, using me to fight your battles?"

The pressure reversed direction, rolling back onto Huang Tuqiu.

This time, it was as if a million Mahoragas were simultaneously unleashing their Fist Seals, absolutely petrifying. The mere pressure was this mighty!

"Boom!"

Huang Tuqiu’s body exploded as he shrieked, "Mercy!"

But the pressure persisted, descending once more, and with another muffled thud, Huang Tuqiu burst into a mist of blood, dying a horrific death.

Huang Tuqiu’s ascension and downfall were both tied to the scroll; now, having summoned the Heaven-Avoiding Coffin from within, he had not expected Daoist Equal to Heaven to counter the dreadful pressure with the Swallowing Dragon Steles, nor that those inside the coffin would be awakened. Enraged, the individual could not endure such humiliation, especially from someone as audacious as Huang Tuqiu using him against others. The pressure alone crushed Huang Tuqiu into pulp, his Primordial Spirit unable to escape, rendering all his cultivation fruitless.

In comparison with the occupant of the Heaven-Avoiding Coffin, Huang Tuqiu’s cultivation was like that of an ant, effortlessly crushed without needing a physical confrontation, instantly blasted to smithereens! It is worth noting that such beings are capable of slaying the Projections of the Heavens and are likely Saints who have achieved Primordial Limitlessness. But who could have inflicted such grave wounds on them, forcing them to seek refuge within the Heaven-Avoiding Coffin?

With Huang Tuqiu’s death, and with no one left to control the Magical Treasure, Tao Yao tumbled out of the scroll and landed on the ground, crying out, "That hurts!"

Upon seeing the Heaven-Avoiding Coffin, she cried out, "Father, have you returned?"

There was no response from the coffin, perhaps deep in thought, until it finally uttered after a moment, "I am not your father."

Tao Yao, recognizing that the voice differed from the one she had heard hiding at the bottom of the Peach Garden, felt a pang of sadness and said, "You and my father rested in the same kind of box; do you know where he has gone?"

"He will come back," came the indifferent reply, the voice devoid of any emotion, having shown a hint of anger only when Huang Tuqiu had defiled him.

The emperors of the human world were often such cold and detached figures, as were many with advanced mana cultivation. Standing high above the rest, everything else seemed to them no more than passing clouds and mist, easily forgotten, mere trifles.

A Swallowing Dragon Stele descended from the heavens, positioning itself beside the other four. This was the emergence of the sixth Swallowing Dragon Stele!

By calculation, there should be three more Swallowing Dragon Steles yet to be unveiled. Their locations were unknown, yet given the unfolding circumstances, they were likely to appear eventually.

After giving the Swallowing Dragon Stele to the Heaven-Avoiding Coffin, it shot into the sky and disappeared without a trace.

Daoist Equal to Heaven waved his hand and collected all five Swallowing Dragon Steles.

"Tao Yao, are you all right?" Daoist Equal to Heaven asked with a smile.

"Who are you?" Tao Yao looked at him, feeling somewhat unfamiliar yet somewhat familiar.

"Haha, this is one of my avatars. Didn’t you just ask me to come to your rescue? Here I am!" Daoist Equal to Heaven said with a smile, picking up the scroll and bamboo staff from the ground.

The power of this scroll seemed quite remarkable, as it appeared capable of sealing some things. The bamboo staff was also powerful enough to shatter the Xia Dynasty Dragon Seal he had written, clearly a fine Magical Treasure.

Tao Yao was delighted and exclaimed, "So it’s you! Why aren’t you a monkey anymore, and now you’ve turned into a human?"

Daoist Equal to Heaven rolled his eyes and said, "I told you, this is not my true form."

Tao Yao walked over and pinched his face, saying, "Hey, you really aren’t wearing a mask!"

Daoist Equal to Heaven couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time, gently evading, and gave both Magical Treasures to Tao Yao.

"Take these Magical Treasures and refine them for your protection, so you won’t get captured again."

Taking the two Magical Treasures, Tao Yao played with them in her hands for a moment before collecting them, saying, "Thank you! I’ll refine them well later."

Daoist Equal to Heaven said, "You might as well come with me to Flower-Fruit Mountain. The Heavenly Court is still too dangerous, and if you get caught again, it won’t be so easy to rescue you! Plus, your father has also disappeared, and who knows when he will return. With his vast Divine Skills, he will definitely find you once he’s back. If not, I’ll say hello to Laojun and have him inform your father you are at Flower-Fruit Mountain when he returns."

Having been captured this time, Tao Yao was quite frightened, almost getting refined, which scared her considerably.

After pondering for a moment, Tao Yao said, "Then you need to speak to the old gentleman first!"

Daoist Equal to Heaven laughed and said, "Of course, I’ll talk to him! Rest assured."

Tao Yao nodded and said, "Then I’ll go with you to see Flower-Fruit Mountain. If it’s not fun, I’ll come back. If it is fun, I’ll stay a bit longer!"

Daoist Equal to Heaven said, "Let’s go. You first enter my Swallowing Dragon Stele. I’ll take you out of the Heavenly Court, and once we’re there, I’ll let you out."

With an assenting noise, Tao Yao waited for Daoist Equal to Heaven to release the Swallowing Dragon Stele, then dove straight in. After that, Daoist Equal to Heaven collected the Stele and left the Peach Garden.

Leaving the Peach Garden, no one noticed him, nor did they know that a great battle had just taken place inside, with Huang Tuqiu being crushed to dust under the pressure of the Heaven-Avoiding Coffin.

This might also be the result of karma. Acquiring the scroll granted him the chance to become an immortal and enjoy the blessings of immortality for countless years. But now, due to his own doing, he was killed by the same scroll. Alas! Each bite and each sip should be taken with caution. The Dao of Immortals is perilous, and there are far too many who have lost their countless years of cultivation to become mere jesters. That’s why Subhuti repeatedly emphasizes valuing one’s life, for it is precious and rare.

Daoist Equal to Heaven went straight to the Southern Sky Gate, where many people came to Jade Void Palace to listen to lectures, resulting in crowds entering and leaving through the Southern Sky Gate. This gate is in charge of the comings and goings of the immortals above, and documentation is needed for passage; otherwise, it would be a severe crime.

Daoist Equal to Heaven descended to the mortal world, released Tao Yao, and then took her on the clouds towards Dongsheng Immortal State.

"Wow! The scenery outside is really beautiful," exclaimed Tao Yao, who had lived her entire life in the Peach Garden and never witnessed the outside world. This first trip out, naturally evoked wonder and amazement.

Daoist Equal to Heaven laughed and said, "Of course, what kind of scenery can you find in the Flat Peach Garden? I’ll take you around to broaden your horizons!"

Tao Yao nodded eagerly, saying, "Yes, yes! But I’m worried that father won’t find me."

Daoist Equal to Heaven slapped his forehead and said, "Your father, with his vast Divine Skills and boundless Mana, only needs to make a simple divination to find you. You needn’t worry! Did you see the person in the same box where your father sleeps? The one who captured you could not withstand even a moment in his presence; a single wave of pressure could crush him to dust."

Tao Yao nodded again, feeling much more at ease in her heart.

After bringing Tao Yao back to Flower-Fruit Mountain, Daoist Equal to Heaven planned to enter the Sea of Thunder to cleanse his Primordial Spirit and elevate this body to the Indestructible Realm.

To find out what happens next, please await the next installment. (To be continued. If you like this work, please cast your recommendation votes and Monthly Tickets at Starting Point (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)