Chapter 88: The Dragon Palace Banquet, the Fox King of Ten Thousand Years

Cao Kong spoke of odd adventures from the road, and the Golden Money Leopard and the others recounted petty happenings in the mountains. It was all rather amusing, and soothing to the heart.

As the night deepened, the talk gradually waned. Cao Kong dismissed the crowd, then returned alone to the Twisting Peak Chain Cave to rest.

Yet what he called rest was cultivation.

So he began gathering the numinous essence of heaven and earth, and took a Great Dragon-Tiger Elixir. This pill was truly extraordinary, enriching vital energy, nourishing the five organs, and harmonizing the inner breath.

With the pill’s power, Cao Kong then sought out the Yellow Matron within the Earth Mansion. He walked only a hundred paces; whether he found her or not, he withdrew at once, and upon looking within his Crown Mud Palace, saw the golden liquid and elixir radiance there piled higher still.

Those hundred paces within the Earth Mansion, in the outside world, amounted to two hours, and their effect was equal to a full day and night of his cultivation.

Then he looked inward again and saw that his five organs had not been harmed by the Yellow Matron. The efficacy of the Great Dragon-Tiger Elixir surpassed all the pills the Golden Money Leopard had refined thus far.

This was only because the Golden Money Leopard’s cultivation was still not high enough, his years of alchemical practice were still too few, and they did not possess enough spiritual materials for him to work with.

Cao Kong silently calculated that one Great Dragon-Tiger Elixir would presently suffice for him to walk a little more than a hundred paces through the Earth Mansion, so long as he did not encounter the Earth Mansion’s wolves and jackals.

Even the finest medicine had three parts poison, and he could not take too many Great Dragon-Tiger Elixirs. By his reckoning, one pill every three days would be ideal, and the stock in his hands would last him about two years of cultivation.

It seems I still must go to the Dragon Palace banquet.

Cao Kong thought this to himself in silence. He already held many fine things, especially the Innate Sweet Dew and the Fire Jujubes.

The Innate Sweet Dew possessed immense allure for demons, while there were still several dozen Fire Jujubes left on the tree, each with the power to prolong life.

If he met the right buyer, the harvest would surely be substantial.

Then he turned inward to observe the Primordial Origin Scroll within his Crown Mud Palace. He had obtained this scroll from the Hall of Greeting to the Origin, but in recent days had been busy with other matters and had not examined it.

Now, as he focused and sought to comprehend its meaning, he felt his spirit grow clear and bright, yet gained little insight. Still, he noticed that the innate dao breath within his body had become active.

Upon closer examination, he was astonished to find that the scroll had rolled itself up and would no longer reveal itself to his gaze.

So it refuses even to be looked at for long?

Cao Kong’s eyes shifted, and he took out the Sword Classic to study. He found that his thoughts were clearer and more lucid than before.

Places that once required deep contemplation no longer seemed difficult, and a smile slowly appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Though he had not yet grasped the scroll’s profound mystery, its ability to refresh his spirit and brighten his mind was enough to surprise and delight him.

Time flew like a startled white colt, swift beyond measure.

In Hidden Mist Mountain, nearly a year had passed without notice. Through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, the spiritual orange seeds that the Wood Immortal had gifted Cao Kong were also planted.

And because Hidden Mist Mountain was rich in spiritual energy, and the Golden Money Leopard’s methods of care were exceedingly extraordinary, while Cao Kong often watered them with spring water infused with Innate Sweet Dew, they grew with astonishing speed and even bore fruit.

Cao Kong and the mountain’s myriad demons ate with great relish, and in less than two days the entire tree was stripped bare. Fortunately, the seeds remained; if planted, they might yield an entire grove of orange trees by next year.

Cao Kong reckoned the time and found that the day of the so-called Dragon Palace birthday banquet was nearly upon him. He therefore took a bundle of jujubes, the elixirs refined by the Golden Money Leopard, and some of his own spirit wine, and set out.

He held high expectations for this Dragon Palace banquet. If, while exchanging for spiritual materials, he happened to encounter any of the Three Waters of Water, Wood, or Fire, that would be even better.

The Golden Money Leopard and the others remained at home as usual.

Not long after, Cao Kong once again arrived before the Tongtian River. The old giant turtle was already waiting there, standing on a black awning boat. When he saw Cao Kong arrive, he smiled broadly. “True man, this way, this way.”

Cao Kong laughed and boarded the boat. The old turtle of the Tongtian River smiled and said, “Your timing is perfect. In less than three days it will be the birthday of the Dragon King of the Tongtian River. We may as well go early and take a look.”

Then, with a wave of his hand, he secretly moved his power, and the ripples of the water pushed the awning boat onward. Along the way, he told Cao Kong of the Tongtian River Dragon King’s origins.

He was a legitimate true dragon, and moreover held an official position in the Heavenly Court. Every three hundred years he delighted in holding a birthday banquet, and because dragons are fond of treasures, the exchange of treasures followed the banquet of the Tongtian River Dragon King.

Since the Dragon King’s strength and status were both extraordinary, few dared make trouble at the treasure exchange gathering, and all exchanges were made willingly.

The Dragon King had even declared that those who exchanged treasures at his banquet, if they later suffered misfortune because of it, might come seek him out.

This inspired considerable trust among many demons, who were eager to come.

As time went on, it became a custom, and most mountain gods, river spirits, and demons with cultivated skill came to attend, then exchanged with one another for what they needed.

Cao Kong listened in wonder as the black awning boat proceeded slowly onward. After traveling some thousand-odd li, they descended to a river surface, where many demonfolk and even mountain gods and sprites were already entering upon the waters.

The old giant turtle moored the awning boat at random, then reverted to his original form and led the way ahead.

Cao Kong followed him into the water. The scene beneath the surface was strange and marvelous, opening one’s eyes wide.

There were water lords of high status traveling in sedan chairs borne by shrimp soldiers and crab generals, full of pomp and ceremony.

There were wandering cultivators among the demons, each using their own arts to move through the water without hindrance.

And countless fish swam about, each shimmering with spiritual energy, twisting and dancing like whirlwinds, as though welcoming guests.

Soon they arrived at a Crystal Palace. Its grandeur was beyond compare; the imperial palaces of mortal kingdoms were not even worth mentioning beside it.

Before the palace stood a brilliant gate, guarded by armored water monsters. Nearby, an old turtle held paper and brush, keeping records and announcing the offerings.

The lord of Ten-Thousand-Fruit Mountain, the great king of spiritual intelligence, has arrived... offering one thousand-year spiritual fruit as a birthday tribute.

The Water God of the Black Water River has arrived, offering...

One name after another was proclaimed by the old turtle.

Then Cao Kong saw an elderly man with a full head of white hair and a face weathered with age, bearing none of the aura of a demon, as though he had returned to simplicity after all refinement. Beside him was a woman, exquisitely lovely, with the kind of face that could sink fish and shame birds, eclipse the moon and close down flowers. The elder led the woman to the Crystal Palace gate.

Unexpectedly, the old turtle immediately bowed in deep ceremony, then respectfully sent men to receive them inside.

Afterward, he cried out in excited tones, “The king of Myriad Thunder Mountain, the Ten-Thousand-Year Fox King, has arrived!!!”

Cao Kong was slightly startled. So it was this one.

He remembered that in Journey to the West, it was said that the Ten-Thousand-Year Fox King was the father of Princess Jade Face, who perished when his life span was exhausted, leaving her a fortune of a million strings of silver.

And because Princess Jade Face feared she would not be able to keep hold of the treasure, she married the Bull Demon King as a son-in-law two years later.

Even the Bull Demon King had been willing to become a son-in-law for the sake of her million-string fortune. One could imagine how vast the Ten-Thousand-Year Fox King’s wealth must have been. Most important of all, his life span was drawing near its end.

Cao Kong looked at the Fox King’s retreating figure and immediately formed a plan in his mind. Perhaps he could use the Fire Jujubes in his possession to make a trade with this man.

At his side, the old turtle of the Tongtian River lowered his voice and said, “True man, don’t keep staring. The Ten-Thousand-Year Fox King has formidable power; for a figure like him, there is nothing more taboo than being spied upon by others. Let us not make him displeased.”

At that moment, the old fox king seemed to sense something. Suddenly his steps paused, and he turned to look toward Cao Kong.

The old turtle of the Tongtian River shrank his head, thinking at once that it was his own words that had drawn the Fox King’s gaze, and was instantly filled with alarm.

Cao Kong neither hid nor flinched. He only smiled faintly. Who would have guessed that the Ten-Thousand-Year Fox King would actually nod slightly, his eyes flashing with surprise.

This Taoist... I cannot see through him.

The Ten-Thousand-Year Fox King thought this to himself.