Chapter 128: The Essence of Gui Water and the Falling Fetus Spring

Cao Xiang withdrew his vital energy, his brows knitted in a deep frown. He remained silent for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh.

The sound of that sigh nearly frightened the life out of Liu Xian. Liu Xian had suffered damage to his foundational essence after failing to condense the Silver Flower; while serious, it should not have been fatal. Yet, the way Cao Xiang sighed made him feel as though his death were imminent, leaving him ready to arrange his final affairs.

"How is it? Is there any hope for me?" Liu Xian’s heart hung in suspense.

Hearing this, Cao Xiang realized Liu Xian had misunderstood and offered a wry smile. "Do not misunderstand. I sighed because, while I know how to treat this injury and our mountain possesses the necessary spiritual herbs, your constitution is of the Water element. Furthermore, given your advanced age and the damage to your foundation, you must be nourished by the Essence of Gui Water before the medicine can be applied. Unfortunately, my Hidden Mist Mountain lacks this Essence of Gui Water, so..."

Liu Xian let out a long breath of relief and said, "It is no matter. It was my own haste that led to this bitter fruit, after all."

Cao Kong, standing to the side, remained silent. He knew Liu Xian was speaking lightly, but the dimness in his eyes betrayed his true feelings. With the threat of a shortened lifespan looming and his foundation already damaged, it was difficult for anyone to remain indifferent.

Just as Cao Kong was about to change the subject, the Seven Lions arrived on a cloud, their faces beaming with joy. The Yellow Lion Spirit and his kin had been engaged in commerce for several decades, and the reputation of the Nine Spirits Chamber of Commerce had grown significantly. Despite their years of experience, while the Seven Lions remained bold and boisterous, they had become remarkably observant. Sensing the atmosphere, they asked with confusion, "Has something happened?"

Since it was a rare gathering, Liu Xian did not wish to dampen everyone’s spirits because of his own plight. He forced a smile and asked, "Nothing at all. You brothers look so joyous—have you encountered some good fortune?"

Hearing this, the Seven Lions recounted the source of their delight. It turned out they had been conducting business with Princess Iron Fan of Green Cloud Mountain when a Taoist suddenly appeared. Princess Iron Fan introduced him as the Ruyi True Immortal. The Seven Lions had never forgotten that years ago, when the Bat Demon came to Bamboo Joint Mountain to seek revenge, he had brandished the Ruyi True Immortal’s golden hook during his battle with Cao Kong. To the Seven Lions, this was no different from aiding a villain. If not for Cao Kong’s profound supernatural powers, they surely would have perished.

The Seven Lions had kept this grudge buried in their hearts, but never expected to encounter him while trading. A desire for vengeance flared. Of course, they were no longer hot-headed youths; they knew Princess Iron Fan and her husband were not to be trifled with, and the Nine Spirits Chamber of Commerce could not afford to ruin its reputation. Thus, they greeted him warmly on the surface, completed their transaction with the Princess, and made an excuse to leave. They then hid in the shadows, waiting for the Ruyi True Immortal to be alone so they could shroud their presence and ambush him.

As expected, the Ruyi True Immortal eventually ventured out alone. The Seven Lions seized the opportunity; six attacked while one kept watch, beating him to within an inch of his life. However, the Ruyi True Immortal possessed some hidden means and produced a talisman with an extraordinary aura that sent a wave of lethal danger through the Seven Lions. Sensing the situation turning against them, they fled on their clouds, which accounted for the joy they displayed upon their arrival.

Upon hearing the name Ruyi True Immortal, Cao Kong was slightly startled. A flash of inspiration crossed his mind, reminding him of something he had previously overlooked. For years, the Seven Lions had searched for the Essence of Gui Water without success. And what is Gui Water? In the heavens, it is rain and dew; on earth, it is clear spring water. If there were a spring of extraordinary spiritual essence on the ground, it would very likely contain the Essence of Gui Water.

The mention of the Ruyi True Immortal triggered his memory: in the original legends, this immortal had seized control of the Falling Fetus Spring within the Broken Fetus Cave of Mount Jieyang in the Kingdom of Western Liang. That spring could dissolve the fetal energy caused by the Mother-Child River; it was indeed a spiritual spring and highly likely to contain the Essence of Gui Water.

At this thought, Cao Kong’s heart raced. If the spring contained the Essence of Gui Water, he could both save Liu Xian and gather the Five Elements Essence needed to forge the Hunyuan Sword. However, Cao Kong did not speak of it immediately, choosing to keep the matter to himself. After all, if the spring held the essence, it would still be there whenever he went. If it did not, speaking of it now would only give Liu Xian false hope.

He invited everyone to sit, setting out a feast of rare spiritual fruits and fine wines aged for decades. During the banquet, the Seven Lions spoke vaguely of the Chamber of Commerce’s growing prosperity, suggesting they might soon be able to trade for the Essence of Gui Water or life-extending herbs, all to put Liu Xian at ease. Liu Xian was deeply moved and raised his cup in gratitude.

Cao Kong listened, taking it to heart. He realized that even if the Essence of Gui Water existed, it would only solve the immediate crisis. Liu Xian’s innate talent was insufficient; the possibility of him plucking the Silver Flower was slim. To truly extend his life, he would need to transform from a serpent into a dragon, gaining a new lifespan and a path forward in his cultivation. 'If there is an opportunity in the future, I must keep an eye out for methods of dragon transformation,' he thought. Cao Kong did not have many friends, but if he could help, he was more than willing.

When the banquet ended and the guests dispersed, Liu Xian bade farewell to Cao Kong, offering him some spiritual seeds from his sleeve as a gift. Throughout these years, every time Liu Xian visited, he had been perfectly courteous.

Cao Kong accepted the seeds and smiled. "How about you stay here on Hidden Mist Mountain for a few days, Brother Liu?"

"Does the Mountain Master have something in mind?"

"Allow me to keep you in suspense. In a few days, you will know."

Liu Xian pondered for a moment. It was only a few days, and there was nothing pressing back home, so he nodded in agreement. Cao Kong instructed Hu Yan to arrange lodging for Liu Xian, then rode the wind eastward, intending to find the Kingdom of Western Liang.

His journey was incredibly swift, for his mastery of Wood and Fire had reached the stage of returning to the origin, and his cultivation level was far beyond what it had been. In less time than it takes to burn half a stick of incense, he arrived above the Kingdom of Western Liang. It was easy to recognize, for the city was populated entirely by women.

He traveled along the clouds, searching toward the south. Whenever he encountered a mountain, he consulted his *Chronicles of Mountains and Rivers* to identify it. After some effort, he located Mount Jieyang and arrived at the Broken Fetus Cave. The cave was easy to spot, as the name was carved into a stone tablet nearby.

Cao Kong walked straight inside and immediately sensed a dense aquatic aura. However, the moment he entered, he felt a sinister, venomous presence. A black light flashed before him, and a foul, bloody stench rushed toward him. A strike whistled through the air, but it hit nothing but empty space; the blow shattered the mountain rock, causing the entire cave to tremble.

Cao Kong had mastered the Great Escape of the Five Elements. With his wind-based evasion, he could travel four thousand miles in a single thought; he would not be easily caught by such a trick. He reappeared amidst a gentle breeze, calmly looking at the monster before him—a black spider over ten feet long, its body sleek with a red, hourglass-shaped mark on its abdomen.

Cao Kong frowned, seeing the many white bones scattered throughout the cave. He realized that women from the kingdom who had come to fetch water must have been slaughtered by this spider spirit.

The spider, seeing Cao Kong reappear, displayed intense killing intent and caution in its demonic eyes. It surged with dark energy and spat a stream of spider silk. Cao Kong watched with indifference, exhaling a breath from his lips.

"Divine Wind of the Three Purities!"

In the next instant, the divine wind struck. The spider shuddered, a look of utter disbelief in its eyes, before its body began to disintegrate. Its vitality vanished entirely, and its flesh and bones dissolved into dust, leaving nothing behind.