Chapter 75: The Eight Winds’ Divine Marvel, the Golden Hook of Wish Fulfillment

The night was endless, and though it was morning, no dawn shone.
A monstrous being descended from the heavens, suspended upside down in the darkness, its vast wings stretched wide, casting morning into night, and enveloping the summit of Bamboo Mountain in shadow.
Its voice was sharp as a devil’s song piercing the ear, making one dizzy, as if a sword stabbed and churned through the mind—a pain beyond measure.
Looking up, one saw a yellow-throated, black-winged bat demon with crimson eyes and fangs, enormous—over thirty yards tall. Its fleshy wings flapped, stirring a foul wind all around.
Without a pause, the monster opened its bloody maw, revealing rows of jagged teeth like saw blades.
A roar thundered forth, an invisible demonic sound pouring out like a celestial river, engulfing the Seven Lions.
Years ago, the Seven Lions had suffered greatly at the hands of this bat demon, and knew its power well. Daring not to hesitate, they unleashed their magic and martial arts, scattering in all directions.
Where the sound struck, grass, earth, and stone alike turned to ash, inch by inch. The Seven Lions shuddered—should they be hit, they would be lucky to escape with their lives.
This ancient demon, once wounded and driven off by the Nine-Spirit Sage, had now returned, stronger than before.
Yet the Seven Lions, brave and fierce, shouted in anger, “You wicked fiend! Our ancestor spared you once, yet you dare return? The enmity between us is as deep as the sea. Today we settle it!”
With that, each Lion wielded their weapon, striking at the bat demon.
Clubs, spears, axes, triple-pronged maces, spiked cudgels, and the Four-Bright Shovel—the Seven Lions, each with their sharp arms, fought and defended, tearing through forest and startling beasts.
Eight monsters were locked in battle: the seasoned demon, cruel and cunning, conjuring fierce winds and demonic sounds; and the seven brothers, united in heart, skilled and murderous.
The bat demon laughed wildly, its voice echoing with magic, constantly disturbing the Seven Lions’ minds, causing their coordinated attack to falter.
Seizing the opening, the bat demon moved like a ghost behind Bai Ze, slashing at him with wings as sharp as blades. Bai Ze, startled, raised his hammer to block.
At that moment, the demon let out a piercing scream, shaking Bai Ze until his soul felt torn from his body, his eyes dazed and hollow. Before he could recover, pain shot through his chest.
He fell like a ragged sack, crashing to the ground. Blood poured from his chest, turning purple and black—the bat demon’s wings were poisoned.
“Bai Ze!”
The remaining six Lions cried out in shock and anger, wanting to rush to his aid, but unable to break free. The bat demon’s speed was uncanny, its sonic and wind attacks relentless, not to mention its poisonous arts—truly impossible to guard against.
Now deprived of Bai Ze, their combined attack lost its perfection. Gradually, they grew weary, defeat and death looming ever closer.
Grief filled their hearts. They thought, at least they had not brought Cao Kong, else he too might have met disaster.
With a swish,

The bat demon unleashed blades of wind, slicing at the Six Lions’ flesh and bone, blood splattering. The ancient demon seized the chance to swallow it, his face twisted in pleasure.
“Wonderful, simply wonderful.”
Humiliation burned in the Lions’ eyes. The fiend’s perverse delight in torture and blood-drinking was unchanged from years past.
“Aaaah! I’ll fight you to the death!”
The Yellow Lion, unable to endure the disgrace, raised the Four-Bright Shovel, attacking without defense, fierce and unyielding.
The bat demon snorted coldly, “Boring.”
He prepared to kill, a fierce shout stunning the Yellow Lion in place. His fangs grew longer, and he lunged forward like a specter, eager to drain the Lion’s life essence.
“Begone!”
A thunderous voice echoed from afar—it was Cao Kong, harnessing the power of the Seven Eastern Constellations, his shout infused with the essence of Wood, roaring like a green dragon and thunder.
All who harbored evil or walked crooked paths would feel dread at this sound.
Sure enough, the bat demon looked up. In one moment, a giant wind like ram’s horns pierced the distant sky, a thousand miles away.
The next, that wind had churned the cloud sea into chaos and swept before him.
“To harm Cao’s friends, suffused with foul and wicked air, committing endless sins, you shall be punished!”
From the wind emerged a figure, cold-eyed. With a single breath, three divine lights shot forth. The bat demon sensed mortal danger.
He roared, not daring to be careless, his body flashing as he unleashed his full strength, sending out demonic sound and poison. The once invisible sound waves now took form—black and purple, revolting to behold.
“This sound can shatter the soul, venomous to the extreme. This foul demon has lived three thousand years and possesses poisonous arts. Brother Cao, you must be cautious!”
The Lions, seeing Cao Kong arrive, felt both joy and concern, calling out in warning.
Cao Kong listened, riding the scene wind to dodge. In this world, myriad magical arts abound, and he would not recklessly court danger.
Even the Western Buddha had once suffered from a scorpion’s sting.
To avoid strength and strike weakness was the way to victory.
Where the demonic sound passed, grass wilted, earth and stone burned by poison, all spiritual energy lost.
Faintly, Cao Kong heard cries and sighs, but he did not lose focus. He commanded his three swords, their song like dragons and tigers.

Among the Twenty-Eight Constellations, the Seven Eastern and Seven Western were mastered by Cao Kong, their divine intent revealed, unseen yet subduing foes before the fight.
The Azure Dragon shone upright, the White Tiger fierce and savage, slaughtering the bat demon, his defeat obvious.
“Daoist, let me go and I shall never return. Otherwise, do not blame me for a fight to the death.”
Cao Kong said nothing, but grasped his golden sword, intent on finishing the fiend.
Seeing this, the bat demon abandoned hope. Suddenly, a wish-hook appeared before him.
He chanted, “True Immortal above, grant me victory. Wish-Hook, obey my will.”
Upon finishing, the Wish-Hook flew toward Cao Kong like a python or dragon. Cao Kong sensed danger, his mind focused, and golden light burst from his body.
Clang!
The Wish-Hook, like a poisonous dragon, bit at Cao Kong’s ankle. Fortunately, the golden light protected him, the sound of metal ringing out, but a patch of golden glow was missing from his foot.
‘This hook is extraordinary!’
Cao Kong was startled, feeling he had heard of it before.
He grew ever more cautious, summoned the Eight Winds, and prepared to strike with thunderous force. At Five Villages Temple, he had fully mastered the Origin Green Qi, and the Eight Winds art was accomplished.
Having achieved mastery, his powers reached a new realm—drawing on the force of heaven and earth as his own, like a god incarnate, his might immense.
Roaring winds swept in, the scene wind fierce, blowing from the Li position, carrying fire and flame. The relentless wind was made for killing, burning holes in flesh and bone, turning men to ash. The vast winds chilled and slew all things...
Each of the Eight Winds had its own divine power. When they rose, heaven and earth grew dark, even ghosts and gods quaked in fear.
The bat demon was buffeted aloft, powerless to resist, spinning like a windmill, his body and spirit nearly torn apart. The Wish-Hook, now without a master, hung suspended in the air.
“Do not kill me! I serve the True Immortal of Wishes—have mercy, I beg you!”
Cao Kong realized the hook’s origin, but did not halt. He sneered,
“Your stench and wickedness are intolerable, your sins many. What of being a follower of the so-called True Immortal of Wishes? You deserve death!”
With that, the Eight Winds surged forth, blowing the bat demon’s flesh and bones to dust and ashes.