Chapter 101: The Aid of Taibai

“Slash!”

A voice, majestic as a heavenly decree and as indifferent as the golden autumn, carrying the weight of worldly judgment, resounded.

In an instant, above the eastern sky, Venus blazed brilliantly.

At that very moment, the radiance of Venus even surpassed the sun.

Clang!

Suddenly, golden tones echoed from the heavens, and a white rainbow of golden light descended to the mortal realm.

“Roar—”

The Azure Dragon bellowed fiercely, struggling desperately, summoning the vital energy of the wood element that infused the entire Azure Dragon Mountain, striving to seize a sliver of survival.

Thus, white brilliance, azure energy, golden sound, and wild winds manifested throughout the whole mountain.

The myriad demons dwelling there felt a deep unease, as though calamity and death were imminent and beyond their control.

At this moment, an elder atop Venus noticed the star’s power was being continuously drawn forth. His expression flickered with surprise before turning into a smile—knowing this technique bore a profound connection to his heavenly court.

“So the Azure Dragon has revealed itself, engaging in a struggle of life and death—this actually aids me.”

The Azure Dragon, hidden within the wood element, was extraordinarily adept at concealment. Thus, if Venus had intended to suppress the Azure Dragon back then, it would have had to eradicate all the wood energy within Azure Dragon Mountain, a cruelty he could not bear.

But now, with the Azure Dragon willingly revealing itself, it was a prime opportunity—to sever its divine spirit while preserving its form, thereby benefiting the entire Azure Dragon Mountain.

With a smile, he said, “I shall lend you a hand.”

Raising a duster in hand, a torrent of stellar energy poured like mountains and seas onto the Geng Xin metal sword within Azure Dragon Mountain, accompanied by a trace of Venus’s divine consciousness to jointly suppress the Azure Dragon.

The golden sword gleamed, breaking through the eight winds, overcoming the wood element, and striking directly at the Azure Dragon’s head. It wielded the intent of a mortal’s killing spirit, tearing its consciousness apart in a cataclysmic upheaval.

Whoosh~ whoosh~

Across the mountain and plains, the wind gradually subsided. The Azure Dragon in Cao Kong’s sight leaked its spiritual energy, lamenting ceaselessly, its soul near dissolution from the mortal world.

The dragon’s abyssal, ocean-like eyes revealed hatred as it summoned its last ounce of strength, transforming the remaining wood energy under its control into a long current flowing toward Cao Kong.

Instinctively sensing danger, Cao Kong opened his mouth, releasing an earth sword, using the earth element of Wu Ji to resist—but it was utterly ineffective.

For this was no ordinary attack, but a force of destiny. How could mere defense hold?

Yet behind this destiny lay a thick malevolence. The Azure Dragon had infused all its resentful energy into the wood energy.

To accept this wood energy was to accept its hatred.

He intended to bewilder Cao Kong’s primordial spirit, cloud his wisdom, and corrupt his spiritual essence with this malice.

Yet, as the wood energy poured into Cao Kong’s body, the jade Ruyi within his Mud Pellet Palace radiated brightly, protecting his spiritual foundation and dispelling all malice and resentment invisibly.

Seeing no hostile aura on Cao Kong, the Azure Dragon’s once gleeful eyes turned to shock.

It opened its mouth again, but before it could utter a word, its divine consciousness crumbled to ashes, vanishing into the void.

Seizing the moment, Cao Kong harnessed this force of destiny with divine will, condensing the immense wood energy flowing toward him into a wooden sword—condensed to the utmost limit achievable by himself.

The sword shimmered vividly green, exuding a pure and spirited aura, naturally controlling the wind.

In terms of quality, this sword was the finest among all elemental swords Cao Kong possessed. In magical duels, wielding this sword as a focus to unleash the Eight Winds technique would yield mutual enhancement.

As for the remaining wood energy, he felt a stirring in his heart and captured it into his liver palace to nourish the seeds of divine ability.

A day later, Cao Kong suddenly opened his eyes. The seeds of divine power had grown robust enough that they could no longer absorb more wood energy.

So he scattered the surplus across Azure Dragon Mountain, further enriching its spiritual vitality.

Recalling the previous ordeal, he breathed a sigh of relief—indeed, it had been perilous—but a smile appeared at the corner of his lips as he contemplated his own condition and the immense gains he had reaped.

‘However, the power of that sword seems excessively strong—not merely the infusion of Venus’s stellar force, but also a certain “intent.”’

Cao Kong mused. Among the three deadly strikes of the golden radiance, he had only cultivated the mortal-level killing intent and the terrestrial-level killing intent, but not the celestial-level. Yet that sword clearly carried the killing intent of both heaven and earth.

Otherwise, the Azure Dragon would not have fallen so swiftly.

‘Could it be… Venus itself?’ Cao Kong wondered, though he dared not be certain, having never met the elder.

He put the thought aside and soared on the wind to seek out the Monkey Lion.

Arriving at the original location, he saw the Monkey Lion gripping his weapon, alert as if facing a formidable foe. Only upon seeing Cao Kong did he relax.

“Brother Cao, you scared me to death! Shortly after you left, Azure Dragon Mountain trembled, and suddenly Venus shone brilliantly in the sky. Then, vitality surged one moment, only to wither like autumn’s decay the next—so bizarre.”

Cao Kong smiled but said nothing of the Azure Dragon, casually brushing off the matter.

“Brother Monkey Lion, now that this is over, let’s visit those three rhinoceros demons, then depart.”

“Agreed.”

Monkey Lion led the way, guiding Cao Kong to the entrance of the Profound Hero Cave.

Cao Kong gazed at the characters “Profound Hero,” which were not naturally formed but man-made, and faintly imbued with the aura of metal weaponry.

Entering the cave, he felt his mind sink deeply—a familiar sensation, reminiscent of the time he explored the Wood Mansion and was ensnared by the Wood Mother.

“So that’s it,” Cao Kong murmured, finally understanding why the three rhinoceros demons possessed Taoist energy and why they were so obsessed with the fragrant oil.

This Profound Hero Cave was likely a place of impurity within the pure spiritual land of Azure Dragon Mountain, where prolonged residence would tempt one’s heart like the Wood Mother, awakening the deepest desires within.

“Brother Cao, what are you talking about?” Monkey Lion asked curiously.

“Brother Monkey Lion, look—the name ‘Profound Hero’ is man-made, probably meant as a warning for future generations.”

Monkey Lion looked even more puzzled.

“There is a saying: ‘Clad in purity to roam freely, yet contrasting with the profound and heroic darkness.’ Purity symbolizes noble character, while profound darkness represents greed and impurity. Those three rhinoceros demons dwelling long in this corrupted cave inevitably fall under its sway, hence their infatuation with the fragrant oil.”

Monkey Lion, half understanding, said, “I don’t think those three rhinoceros demons are truly evil. We should warn them.”

Cao Kong considered the many gains he had made in Azure Dragon Mountain and nodded.

“That’s reasonable. Brother Monkey Lion, you will inevitably deal with them in the future. It’s better you form a good relationship.”

Monkey Lion did not refuse. Together, they entered the Profound Hero Cave, easily following the scent of the fragrant oil to find the three rhinoceros demons, who were then indulging in the oil.

“Gentlemen, I have retrieved what I needed and will bother you no longer. I take my leave.”

The eldest, King Bihan, spoke: “No problem. Though Azure Dragon Mountain stirred strangely a day ago, the spiritual energy has not diminished. Still, our deal must be honored.”

Cao Kong nodded: “Naturally.”

Monkey Lion added, “Don’t you three think you’re a bit too obsessed with this fragrant oil?”

King Bishu immediately retorted, “Obsessed? How are we obsessed? We eat it every day without feeling obsessed!”

Monkey Lion was left speechless.

I recommend a friend’s book for those interested: *Journey to the West: Immortality Begins with the Great Spirit King.*