Chapter 112: Following One's True Heart

“Lately, if you feel a sudden insight, when you encounter people or situations, there is no need to force anything; simply follow your true heart.”

Before the statue of the Great Compassion Heavenly Sovereign who Saves from Suffering, Cao Kong, as usual, bowed respectfully to his master.

Suddenly, these words arose in his mind.

Cao Kong’s expression flickered with surprise—this was the first time his master had ever “reminded” him like this.

He thought to himself, Could it be that some great figure might soon visit Hidden Mist Mountain?

His whole body shivered unexpectedly.

His master, the Great Compassion Heavenly Sovereign who Saves from Suffering, was one of the Four Sovereigns in terms of authority and held the esteemed rank of Heavenly Sovereign within the Daoist tradition.

Few in the world could stand on equal footing with his master, let alone prompt such a deliberate reminder.

Could it be that great someone…?

Cao Kong shivered again, then dismissed the thought. Overthinking was useless; it was impossible to guess which great figure it might be. He would wait until the arrival was certain.

Soon, his heart filled with calmness. With clarity of mind, no matter how great the visitor might be, he would simply act in accordance with his true heart.

...

In the Qinghua Chang Le Realm,

The Nine Spirit Primordial Saints gazed at the Great Compassion Heavenly Sovereign, hesitating.

“Master, although junior brother Dong Zhen is extraordinary, it’s hard to believe he could attract that one’s attention, much less a personal visit…”

He was not truly worried; that one had cultivated since childhood, enduring one thousand seven hundred and fifty kalpas, each kalpa spanning one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred years. His thoughts and gaze encompassed nothing but Heaven and Earth.

His curiosity was simply piqued—how could Cao Kong have drawn that one’s notice?

The Great Compassion Heavenly Sovereign smiled and said, “Come to think of it, this is largely thanks to you.”

The Nine Spirit Primordial Saints, with nine puzzled faces, wondered what he meant.

“Didn’t you once share with Dong Zhen that eight-character mantra? It was precisely these words that led to his enlightenment.”

The Nine Spirit Primordial Saints fell silent, then showed a hint of regret.

He had indeed done so, but his intention had been merely to express that it is better to master a few things well than to learn many superficially—he had only spoken in a somewhat mystical manner.

What exactly had Dong Zhen comprehended???

...

Time flew swiftly.

Spring gave way to summer, and in the blink of an eye, autumn arrived again.

...

Since his enlightenment and the revelation of the truth in early spring, Cao Kong no longer spent time on myriad spells and techniques.

The key was the fragment of the “Primal Origin” he had grasped, which rendered his heart like a mirror lake—calm and clear. As long as he held onto the essence, spells were but tools easily employed.

In fact, if someone cast a spell before him and its energy pattern was captured by Cao Kong’s perception, he could replicate and wield it.

Of course, this did not work for obscure or mysterious spells, which depended on his level of cultivation.

Thus, each day he gathered the energy of Heaven and Earth to replenish his Golden Core, employed the Great Escape of the Five Elements, and contemplated the Way of the Five Phases, using the transformations of the Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branches to understand the changes of the cosmos.

His Daoist cultivation surged unconsciously. Within three to five years, he would accumulate Wood Phase energy to the threshold, awaiting the next spring to harness the revival of the earth and manifest the Wood Phase.

Regarding the laws of Heaven and the image of Earth, through the “Primal Origin,” he had comprehended their meaning: embodying the void and truth of the Dao, harmonizing with nature.

Using his own microcosmic cycle, he could carry the primordial qi of Heaven and Earth, imitating Heaven and Earth, transforming his form into a great body that filled the void, possessing immense power in every movement.

Yet, he could not manifest this now, for though his Dao cultivation was advanced, his actual power was still insufficient.

Even though his Golden Nature had reached the state of “still water without wind, autumn moon without cloud,” with internal and external cycles fully connected and inexhaustible magical power, the act of manifesting the great cosmic law would consume energy faster than he could absorb it, making it unsustainable.

But once his cultivation level rose, embodying the laws of Heaven and Earth would become his greatest protective technique.

As for the spiritual path, which required incense offerings as its foundation, Cao Kong paid it little mind and had no intention to cultivate it earnestly, simply leaving the Four Foxes to handle it.

In fact, after hearing the Four Foxes mention that incense offerings greatly benefited Cao Kong’s cultivation, the Yellow Lion Spirit and others began to promote the Benevolent Heart Saving Sovereign during their trade excursions.

Occasionally, when encountering mortals in distress, they would help them and attribute it to the manifestation of the Benevolent Heart Saving Sovereign.

Thus, with the frequent apparitions of the Four Foxes and the efforts of the Yellow Lion Spirit’s group, the incense offerings for Cao Kong subtly expanded from the Kingdom of Qindao outward.

In this regard, it felt like an unintentional success, a planted willow that grew into a shade-giving tree.

As for Cao Xiang, after three years with Golden Horn, his alchemy skills grew ever more refined. Through internal and external refining, his cultivation progressed steadily, accelerating the expansion of the Yellow Lion Spirit’s trade caravans.

After all, precious pills were hard to find. Exchanging rare herbs and treasures for better pills was a guaranteed profit for the demons.

There were occasional attempts at theft or plunder, but none could stand against the Seven Lions united. The weaker ones were executed; the stronger escaped severely wounded, fleeing far away.

A month or two later, the Immortal Willow and the Mountain God of Mount Funiu visited Hidden Mist Mountain.

Thanks to Cao Kong’s previous advice, the Mountain God had appeared in a dream to villagers of Passing Road Village and obtained the title of Village Protector, which lifted his spirits. For a mountain god beset by hardships, peace was a blessing.

With the village’s offerings, if fortune smiled upon him again from above, he might be elevated to a deity of fortune and virtue—fulfilling his life’s purpose.

The Immortal Willow, however, wore a worried look. His lifespan was less than a few hundred years, and if he did not transform into a dragon or advance further, he would soon face the King of the Underworld.

Seeing this, Cao Kong was at a loss for words but said he would ask the Yellow Lion Spirit and others, during their trade journeys, to help find items that might extend the Immortal Willow’s life or methods to transform into a dragon.

The Immortal Willow thanked him repeatedly.

The group then drank the spirit wine deeply, until their merriment waned and they parted.

Gradually, the Changhe wind weakened while the Guangmo wind grew stronger.

Winter—twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Cao Kong was gathering the energy of Heaven and Earth when suddenly a wave of fluctuation came to his soul.

Stepping out of Zheyu Cave, he looked up at the sky and saw, within the firmament, those eyes that discern truth peering down—radiant with a myriad of colors, resplendent and mysterious beyond measure.

Such a sight alone could spawn countless phenomena.

Cao Kong was deeply moved, mesmerized, as he once again perceived the truth—the “Primal Origin.”

His Golden Nature blossomed anew, from soul to body to spirit, all aligned with the Dao. He must meet this “person.”

He sensed the presence located to the south, some one hundred eight thousand miles away.

With a single thought, no mountain could block him.

Riding the void wind on this bitter winter day, he harnessed the Guangmo wind and sped directly southward.

Mountains and waters could not impede him in the slightest; the endless mountain ranges passed beneath him, the scenery changing as if the mortal world had transformed.

At last, after crossing ninety thousand miles, as night fell and dawn’s rosy light blossomed, he arrived at the Southern Jambudvipa.

There, at the foot of a mountain named Tai, he felt a strange illusion.

The mountain was so grand that he seemed as insignificant as an ant; even the sun, moon, and stars paled in comparison.

Ascending the mountain, he found on its summit a figure clad in jade crown and splendid robes, standing tall.

Five minutes later, the next chapter will follow. These two chapters have been carefully crafted.