Chapter 96: The Robe Conceals the Spirit Root, the Herb Still Yields Jade Nectar

Cao Kong shook his head slightly. Forget it, forget it. With five hundred years still remaining before the Great Calamities, when the time came, he would know how to make the right choice.

Then he turned his gaze to the neatly folded Taoist robe and crown beside him.

According to what his master, the Supreme Savior of Heavenly Mercy Taiyi, had said, these two items were bestowed upon him as magical treasures for him to explore and understand their wondrous uses.

He unfolded them, donned the robe and crown, and began to sense their subtle powers.

Before long, Cao Kong discovered their profound mysteries.

When gathering the qi of heaven and earth, the robe had the effect of concentrating spiritual energy, repelled all dirt, and, with just a thought, could transform into countless different garments.

As for the crown, worn upon the head, Cao Kong had yet to fathom its deeper essence, but it made him feel clear-headed and invigorated, aiding his meditation and breath control.

“If these are the only abilities it reveals so far, though marvelous, they hardly justify the title of ‘creation and transformation’ my master spoke of. There must be something I have yet to discover,” Cao Kong thought to himself.

He then proceeded to inscribe talismans on the sleeves, visualizing a miniature space folding into a mustard seed—this was a technique taught to him by Qingfeng Mingyue, the art of storing the vast within the small.

To perform this art, the talismans had to be inscribed on the corresponding garments. Having decided to wear this robe in the future, he engraved the talismans accordingly to facilitate storage.

After engraving, Cao Kong extended his divine sense to inspect the results—and suddenly, his entire body stiffened.

He realized that beyond the talisman’s space, the robe itself contained another layer of space.

As for its vastness, it was as towering as Mount Tai, as boundless as the Northern Sea.

Swish, swish, swish.

Cao Kong silently destroyed the few zhang of space he had just imagined storing—there was no need for it anymore.

“Ah? There seems to be something else inside,” Cao Kong exclaimed in surprise. He probed with his divine sense and glimpsed at the very center of the robe’s internal space, where a spiritual fruit lay sealed by profound energy, accompanied by a small note.

Looking at the fruit, Cao Kong’s heart skipped a beat.

The fruit appeared like a child less than three days old, fully formed with limbs and features.

At once, Cao Kong knew exactly what it was: the primordial spiritual root born from the chaos before heaven and earth parted—the Ginseng Fruit!

This fruit, when eaten, extended one’s lifespan by 47,000 years, as if seizing the quintessence of heaven and earth.

He glanced at the note, which bore a line of small characters: “Collect all the spiritual ingredients, and this fruit will manifest.”

Cao Kong smiled suddenly, understanding what his master meant by spiritual ingredients—it must be the legendary elixir wine centered on the Ginseng Fruit described in the “Wine Classic,” the “Caoyu Yuli.”

For ordinary mortals, drinking it granted longevity for ten thousand years, enhanced vitality, balanced the five energies, and within a century, one could naturally gain magical power and ascend to immortality.

For cultivators, it greatly amplified their power, nurtured the five energies toward their origin, and expanded the path of the Dao.

Thinking of this wine’s effects, Cao Kong was deeply tempted, yet also troubled—finding these spiritual ingredients was no easy matter.

The Ginseng Fruit was opposed by the five elements: metal caused it to fall, wood withered it, water dissolved it, fire scorched it, and earth buried it. Yet the wine required all five elemental materials—rare and hard to find both in the mortal realm and the heavens.

“Well, there’s still some hope. No matter how difficult, can it be harder to find than the Ginseng Fruit itself?” Cao Kong comforted himself with a good attitude.

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One month later, Cao Kong had fully stabilized the root of his Golden Core. He was now capable of refining away all impurities to return to pure primordial essence, and then to cultivate the five energies toward their origin.

Refining out the impurities to return to pure essence was a delicate process, relying on both diligent effort and deep understanding of the Dao, so Cao Kong was unhurried, polishing day after day.

He recalled the three methods taught to him by his master, the Supreme Savior Taiyi: the transformations of Heavenly Gang and Earth Sha, the law of Heaven and phenomena of Earth, and the grand escape of the Five Elements.

Cao Kong always believed the Golden Core was fundamental, with all techniques serving to protect the Dao. Thus, after thoroughly stabilizing his Golden Core over a month, he prepared to practice.

Among the three, he first studied the transformations of Heavenly Gang and Earth Sha—the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gangs and Seventy-Two Earth Sha transformations—a technique both for transformation and disaster avoidance.

From this method, Cao Kong understood his master’s painstaking care. Though it was a technique for enduring calamity and evading tribulations, the master had passed down the method of evasion early on for Cao Kong’s benefit.

Cao Kong pondered the technique and discovered its profound mystery. Though it appeared to be transformation, once performed, it was a change of form and root alike, as if self and object both faded away.

Only a trace of true intent and true knowledge remained—this was the root and the self.

“No wonder it can evade disasters. If this technique is mastered thoroughly, one thought can transform into something else entirely, making it difficult for heaven and earth to detect or trace, thus the calamity naturally dissipates,” Cao Kong grasped the essence at a glance.

With inspired resolve, he attempted to practice. Though this method was theoretically extremely difficult, having already attained the Golden Core and comprehended the cyclical unity of heaven and earth, the boundless fusion and transformation, he pondered for a moment.

Focusing his breath and spirit, he uttered the Daoist command: “Change.”

In the next moment, Cao Kong transformed into a great tree rooted firmly in the soil, yet his true knowledge and intent remained, absorbed into his golden nature.

He could transform into other forms or revert at any time.

However, Cao Kong knew his current change was merely physical and could only deceive those with shallow cultivation.

Only when he could fully live as a tree—absorbing sunlight from the heavens and nutrients from the earth, fully embodying the tree’s principles—would it be a fundamental transformation, granting him the power to deceive even the greatest of heavens.

“Mountain Master! Mountain Master!”

A voice called out. Cao Kong looked up to see a youth clad in dark blue robes—Gray Fox Hu Yan.

“Mountain Master, Lord Yellow Lion and the others have arrived to pay respects; they brought many things,” Hu Yan said, glancing around but seeing no sign of Cao Kong. “Strange, where did the Mountain Master go?”

“I’m here,” Cao Kong suddenly replied.

But Hu Yan still did not see him, searching left and right. Cao Kong then secretly invoked his divine power and, with a bang, changed from tree back to human, startling Hu Yan.

Cao Kong chuckled and quickly reassured him.

“Hu Yan, wait here for me. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the Seven Lions brothers. I should go down the mountain to greet them.”

“Ha ha! Brother Cao, you’re a bit late—we’ve already arrived,” came a hearty voice. The lions were here, and Cao Xiang was chatting and laughing with them.

“Brother Cao, you’ve been cultivating for fifteen whole years. We’ve missed you greatly,” said the Yellow Lion Spirit as he appeared before Cao Kong.

Once a fierce-looking man, his appearance now unchanged but his demeanor completely transformed—where once wildness lurked beneath, now a gentle kindness radiated.

The other five lion spirits showed the same; their once-clear eyes now held the weight of many experiences over fifteen years.

“Ah, Brother Nao Lion,”

Yellow Lion Spirit smiled, “No rush. We knew when you awakened from your cultivation, and we’ve been sending secret messages to each other. He should be on his way back from Qinglong Mountain.”

Cao Kong’s heart stirred—Qinglong Mountain, a place known for its exquisite Yimu essence.

Two chapters remain, to be released soon. These are to make up for monthly and initial subscription chapters. Currently, ten chapters are owed. Today, I went out to accompany a good friend for wedding attire, so I’m a bit late.