Chapter 3: The Supreme Golden Light Spell—The Limits of Magic?

Very soon, Cao Kong and the Golden Leopard established themselves on Leopard Head Mountain. At first, the dozens of lesser demons living in the mountain were timid and wary, but Cao Kong possessed considerable wealth. With gold and silver paving the way, he bought wine, food, and warm clothing for these demons. Accustomed to a life of poverty, they quickly succumbed to the allure of these gifts, becoming exceedingly attentive to Cao Kong and the Golden Leopard. Experiencing the peculiar pleasure of being fawned over by so many, the Golden Leopard developed a newfound respect for money, previously held in contempt. This thing... truly works wonders!

That night, after the banquet prepared by the Yellow Lion Spirit, Cao Kong and the Golden Leopard retired to the caves arranged for them. Once the lesser demons departed, Cao Kong sat quietly in his cave. Though he had now settled on Leopard Head Mountain, he knew that changing the Golden Leopard’s fate—escaping death—would be a long road ahead. Simply joining was not enough; they needed to forge connections and bonds with the Nine-Spirit Saint. Only then, when the great calamity arrived, might the Nine-Spirit Saint protect them.

But it was still too early to consider such things. Having just arrived, everything needed to proceed slowly and carefully. Although the Yellow Lion Spirit had welcomed them, staying for long was another matter entirely.

Cao Kong then used his demonic power to set a barrier at the cave entrance so that anyone approaching would alert him. Then, he sat down to meditate, ready to cultivate as was his unwavering habit for decades. During the day, he had listened to the Eighty-Character True Mantra, marveling at its mysteries but unable to fully comprehend it—it was, after all, stolen… well, appropriated.

Now, with night deep and silence reigning, it was the perfect opportunity to study. Cao Kong had been in this world for decades; his transformation from leopard to human was owed to the crude breathing techniques inherited in his bloodline. Now, possessing a profound method, he could hardly contain his eagerness.

“Golden light shines upon the house—Taiyi Dao Qi flows through ancient and modern times…” Cao Kong recited silently, feeling as though countless secrets lay within these words, yet separated from them by a thin veil he could not pierce.

As his mind struggled to grasp the meaning, his obsession grew. At that very moment, the jade ruyi in his mind flared with light, impacting his spirit.

In an instant, Cao Kong felt a shift in his sea of consciousness. Eighty mysterious characters appeared, each glowing with radiant gold, sacred and extraordinary. Though unlike any script he knew, their meaning was clear—they were the Eighty-Character True Mantra he had recited.

Each word seemed to expound the ultimate truths of heaven and earth, drawing his spirit into their depths. Cao Kong’s mind trembled violently, his eyes revealing a trance-like fascination as he recited aloud:

“Golden light… Taiyi Dao Qi flows…” With each word, a corresponding golden character shone brightly in his mind, uniting spell, mouth, body, heart, and Dao.

He recited sixteen characters in succession, and the intangible sound of the Dao resounded in his mind. The sixteen golden characters intertwined, unleashing a force beyond description.

Buzz!

The air around him rippled, surging like a mountain collapsing or waves crashing.

Swish!

A misty golden light rose from Cao Kong, luminous and ethereal, resembling the primordial Qi of heaven and earth, subtly transforming his body.

The demonic energy he had painstakingly cultivated for years was silently and fundamentally transformed, its quality becoming pure and exalted.

Were a true Daoist cultivator present, they would show envy—even jealousy—for this was the innate Qi dreamed of by all Daoists.

Cultivating this Qi was as if the gates of immortality had been flung open!

Those who achieved such Qi in the Three Realms were none other than individuals of the highest Daoist lineage.

But Cao Kong, oblivious, continued his meditation, wholly engrossed in the twenty characters, forgetting all else.

His long-cultivated demonic energy was gradually refined and transformed into innate Qi.

Meanwhile, above the heavens, purple clouds billowed and auspicious light shone, a scene of immortal grandeur.

There, equal to the sky, stood a realm with a palace called the Lion Hall.

Within lay a nine-headed divine lion, resting quietly yet exuding a majestic presence akin to true yang, inspiring awe.

Suddenly, the lion raised its heads, golden light flickering in its eyes, and exclaimed in surprise:

“How strange! The pride of lions I met in the mortal realm recently had such remarkable aptitude? I’ve only been back in the palace for a few dozen days, which is merely decades in the mortal world, and already one of them has comprehended the Taiyi Golden Light Mantra? Did I misjudge them?”

The Nine-Spirit Saint felt a surge of joy. Though renowned throughout the realms, he had no true disciples—a regret in his heart.

Now, the group of lesser demons he had encountered by chance had grasped a first-class secret technique, stirring his desire to take a pupil.

‘Hmm, I should go down and have a look. Their talent may be excellent, but their character must be tested as well,’ thought the Nine-Spirit Saint, preparing to descend. Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the door, and he sighed inwardly at the trouble.

A celestial child entered, clad in rainbow robes—this was the Lion Attendant, who cared for his daily life and watched over him.

After all, before attaining the Dao, he had stirred great commotion across the Three Realms; surely no one thought the title “Nine-Spirit Saint” was self-bestowed?

The Lion Attendant was most rigid and would never allow him to descend to the mortal realm at will.

The Nine-Spirit Saint quickly devised a plan to delay. If the Lion Attendant lingered, he would entice him to the Great Nectar Hall for a few drinks.

It was well known that, despite his rigidity, the Lion Attendant was extremely fond of wine.

“You lion, why are you looking at me like that?” the attendant asked suspiciously.

“Haha, for some reason, I suddenly want a drink. Why don’t we go to the Great Nectar Hall and share a few cups together?”

“That… might not be proper,” said the attendant, though his eyes betrayed eagerness.

All nine heads of the Nine-Spirit Saint laughed; success was assured—he could soon roam the mortal world again.

…

As dawn broke, Cao Kong emerged from that strange state, feeling invigorated and refreshed. A night spent cultivating this method had proven far more effective than absorbing moonlight essence in the mountain, and he felt no fatigue whatsoever.

He looked inward, only to find the demonic energy once stored in his lower dantian had vanished without a trace!

Cao Kong was stunned, unable to comprehend it. Was all the demonic energy he had painstakingly cultivated over the years gone?

Had he ruined himself?

No… not ruined. If all his demonic energy were lost, he would not feel so clear and invigorated.

With a thought, a misty golden light blossomed in his palm, radiating gold beams, wondrous and extraordinary.

He could clearly sense that this golden light was many times stronger and purer than his previous demonic power.

First surprised, then delighted, he closed his eyes to seek the source of his magical power.

Not in the lower dantian, nor in the middle dantian—the golden energy came from… the upper dantian!