Chapter 62: Two Paths of Creation

Who is the Lord Taiyi, Savior from Suffering? A being who manifests in countless forms, beholds every manner of mortal existence, and so with but a glance saw through Cao Kong’s minor scheming. Yet the Lord took no offense, finding it rather amusing.

Cao Kong then bowed in respect and offered incense. As the fragrant smoke curled and spread, a blue haze swiftly enveloped everything. The world before his eyes dimmed; when he opened them again, he beheld purple mists and radiant clouds filling the firmament. He knew then that he had entered the Realm of Azure Splendor and Endless Joy.

There, he beheld a palace—the Sublime Palace of the Eastern Extremity. Fortune guiding him, Cao Kong pushed open the door and entered. Proceeding further, he reached a grand hall, opened its doors, and there beheld the Lord.

The Lord wore robes like rosy clouds, a ceremonial crown upon his brow, and smiled as he gazed at Cao Kong, holding a handful of dates—the very ones placed on a jade dish. Beside him sat a lion, none other than the Nine-Spirited Primordial Sage. Though the beast exuded awe-inspiring might, its gaze was full of grievance, and inwardly it resented why it alone had been brought here.

Looking upon the Lord, Cao Kong’s expression was reverent, his heart serene, a sense of deep kinship suffusing him as though in the company of a kindly elder. He stepped forward and performed the disciple’s salute.

“Disciple Cao Kong pays homage to Master.”

The Lord inclined his head with a smile. “I once promised that should you cultivate yellow sprouts or attain a divine power, I would grant you a gift of fortune. Yet within a single day, you have accomplished both. You have brought me joy.”

“It is entirely due to Master’s favor that I have reached this day,” Cao Kong replied.

The Nine-Spirited Primordial Sage stared in astonishment. He had only recently returned to the heavens, not even ten days past, and already Cao Kong had formed the yellow sprout? That was one thing, but he had also found a divine power?

The Sage himself had cultivated the Divine Powers of the Five Palaces, knowing well their difficulty; even he had required centuries to master a single one. At this realization, the lion could not help but grind his teeth—not out of jealousy, but out of bitter resignation. He had come first, after all.

The Lord stroked his beard and laughed heartily. “In former days, you showed kindness, and I rewarded you. Now you pursue the path with diligence and remarkable success; I must reward you again. Therefore, I shall grant you two gifts of fortune.”

Cao Kong’s joy doubled, and he kowtowed in sincere gratitude.

“Come closer,” the Lord said, his voice ever gentle.

Cao Kong stepped forward. The Lord tossed him a date, which Cao Kong could not help but swallow. As it melted upon his tongue, a surge of indescribable vitality settled within him—a purifying essence.

“This is the Primal Azure Vitality. It holds the creative power of the original beginning. You have gained the Divine Power of the Eight Winds in your Liver Palace, but the Eight Winds are wondrous and difficult to refine. With this essence, you will be spared decades of toil, and your divine power will swiftly stabilize and reach minor accomplishment.”

Hearing this, Cao Kong looked inward and saw the Primal Azure Vitality merging with the seed of divine power within his Liver Palace. The pure essence enveloped it, and he sensed the seed begin to show signs of sprouting.

“Thank you for your boundless grace, Master,” Cao Kong said, moved to tears.

Delighted and astonished, he marveled at the Lord’s extraordinary means. Beside him, the nine-headed lion’s eighteen eyes widened in disbelief.

What? The Divine Power of the Eight Winds? He had only ever heard of those who mastered one of the Eight Winds, but for Cao Kong to have attained them all—this was beyond comprehension.

At this, the grinding of the Nine-Spirited Primordial Sage’s teeth grew even louder.

The Lord continued, “My realm is the Azure Splendor and Endless Joy, and every third and ninth day of the month, the gates open wide to the mortal world. Your second fortune is this: each month, on the third and ninth days, you may enter this realm.”

“One day here equates to half a month in the mortal world. Thus, your cultivation will be further enriched. Call upon this realm with a sincere heart, and you shall enter.”

Cao Kong was shocked—this involved the manipulation of time itself. He bowed repeatedly in gratitude.

“May I soon master the true teachings and serve always at Master’s side.”

The Lord sighed with satisfaction. “Truly, you seek the Way. In that case, I will grant you another promise: if within a hundred years you achieve the Golden Elixir, I shall offer you a choice.”

“What choice is that?”

“The time is not yet ripe. Enough—off with you now.”

With a wave of his sleeve, the Lord Taiyi, Savior from Suffering, caused the scene to shift. In the blink of an eye, Cao Kong found himself back in the Cave of the Severed Peak, before the statue of the Lord.

Meanwhile, in the Realm of Azure Splendor and Endless Joy, the Nine-Spirited Primordial Sage was momentarily stunned. He asked, “Master, surely you do not mean to offer him another method for cultivating the Golden Elixir?”

The Lord looked at him approvingly. “Correct. All these years by my side, and you have learned to anticipate my thoughts.”

The Sage, though not Cao Kong’s formal master, felt great fondness for him and said anxiously, “But that other way is too perilous. You know as well as I that in all three realms, only one has dared attempt it, and even you…”

The Lord waved him off. “It will depend on his fate. I said I would offer him a choice.”

The Sage fell silent for a while, then said, “Master, might I have one of those dates?”

The Lord laughed. “No, these were given me by my disciple. Go find the fire dates Longevity Star left in the hall.”

...

As Cao Kong returned to the mortal realm, four kinds of heavenly winds swept out in all directions.

In the northwest, there was a wind called the Unending Wind—fierce and wild—blowing toward Leopard Head Mountain.

The Yellow Lion Demon was chanting the Golden Light Mantra of Taiyi when he sensed something amiss. Looking up, he saw the northwest wind, its sound howling, suffused with the resonance of the Way.

Startled, the Yellow Lion Demon leapt up. This wind was far from ordinary, grand and mysterious, and he could not help but shudder.

He quickly placed himself before his lesser demons, bellowing, “Halt! Who dares cause trouble atop my Leopard Head Mountain? Show yourself at once!”

But the wind did not cease, rushing straight for him. With panic rising, the Yellow Lion Demon channeled his demonic power into his palms, striking out as if to topple mountains, but he could not halt the wind.

It passed through as though nothing were there and swept over his face. Alarmed, he cried, “Such sorcery! I am doomed to suffer!”

He closed his eyes, bracing for the worst—but to his surprise, the fierce wind transformed into a familiar voice:

“My good brother Yellow Lion, I hope you are well. The sacred tree on our mountain has borne fruit—an occasion for joy. I invite you to Hidden Mist Mountain for a gathering of friends and wine—a time to ‘go all out together’.”

The Yellow Lion Demon was stunned. This wind had been sent by Cao Kong from Hidden Mist Mountain, and could find him precisely, even leaving a message. What a marvelous technique! He could sense that the wind’s power was not merely for transmitting messages—used in battle, it could topple mountains.

Awe and admiration for Cao Kong filled him. Cultivation was so arduous for most, yet for Cao Kong, progress came daily and gains were constant.

After a moment’s reflection, the Yellow Lion Demon laughed. “Prepare the sacred fruit! In a few days, your king will visit an old friend.”

The other three types of heavenly wind, owing to the distances involved, arrived one after another.

“To my friend the Willow Immortal, may you be well...”

In the tranquil, fragrant heights of Vine Shade Mountain, a thousand-year-old snake demon shivered as the Vast Wind swept across, then smiled—preparing a gift to visit an old friend.

At Mount Funiu, now suffused with incense unlike decades before, the mountain god felt a wave of melancholy as the Portal Wind arrived, but then joy, as he prepared for his first journey afar.

On Bamboo Joint Mountain, the Portal Wind swept over six lions, who felt a chill of loneliness; but upon hearing the message within the wind, their hearts were gladdened by their friend’s profound abilities, though they sensed the widening gap between them. There was no envy—only heartfelt happiness for their friend, and they set about cutting bamboo for a gift.

Half a month later, at the foot of Hidden Mist Mountain, guests arrived from the four directions.