Chapter 138: Dongfang Shuo and the Wager Match

As Cao Kong finished speaking, Daoist Manqian raised his eyebrows slightly, feeling somewhat unconvinced. With a look of skepticism, he said:

"I spent ten years failing to take it, yet you claim you can take it immediately without even trying. I simply don't believe it."

Cao Kong laughed and said, "In that case, how about we make a wager? Let us wager a single copper coin."

Daoist Manqian grew interested. "Since it is a wager, there must be a proper stake, only then will it be thoroughly enjoyable."

"That won't do. I have absolute certainty of winning."

Hearing this, Daoist Manqian mused inwardly:

*‘That treasure was nurtured by heaven and earth, and is exceedingly extraordinary. I failed to make an inch of progress in ten years. If he is able to take it, either his cultivation and methods are extraordinary, or his foundation and heritage are profound.*

*Regardless of which of the two categories this person before me belongs to, making friends with him under the guise of a wager is a wholesome affinity.’*

Therefore, he chuckled playfully and said, "Then I cannot agree to that. I am a person who loves gambling dearly, and whenever I gamble, I enjoy a substantial stake. You have already hooked my gambling worm, Daoist friend, so don't even think about backing out."

With a flip of his hand, he produced a small brocade pouch. "Inside this pouch is an exotic creature with rather remarkable effects. If you win, Daoist friend, it is yours."

Seeing Daoist Manqian in such high spirits, Cao Kong thought to himself: *‘If that's the case, after winning, brewing more spiritual wine to share and drink with him will also be a wonderful affair.’*

Thus, he smiled and nodded. "If you win, Daoist friend, I am quite well-versed in the methods of brewing wine. From now on, your supply of wine is on me."

Daoist Manqian burst into hearty laughter, extended a hand, and said, "Please."

"I must trouble you to lead the way, Daoist friend."

The two walked all the way to the summit of the mountain. Upon it sat a giant boulder, entwined with a vine, and upon the vine hung a gourd whose color was striking indeed.

Its hue was exceptionally pristine, its shape proper and regular, and its spiritual charm was profound, with faint auspicious qi and celestial talismans faintly inscribed upon its surface.

Yet within a radius of ten zhang, there were extremely faint ripples of light—a restrictive barrier.

Cao Kong employed his Spirit-Appraisal Technique to observe, and beheld countless rays of multicolored light soaring into the sky, while a thousand strands of auspicious qi shrouded the ground. Its dazzling brilliance was even more magnificent than the divine light of the harrow he had once seen in the hands of Marshal Tianpeng.

He could not help but draw in a sharp breath. No wonder Daoist Manqian, a disciple of the Eastern Florescence Emperor, had guarded this place for ten years.

Daoist Manqian, standing beside him, helpfully explained:

"Daoist friend, I observed this gourd using the methods of my sect and divined its origin. It was formed by the convergence of the heavy and turbid qi from the primordial beginning of heaven and earth, combined with a half-wisp of primordial wood qi from the same era.

Tsk tsk, you must know that when heaven and earth first opened, all things in the world were newly born, possessing infinite spiritual charm. Yet this object simultaneously incorporated the heavy terrestrial qi and primordial wood qi, possessing inherent nurturing powers.

Such a treasure, if acquired and cultivated into a magic weapon, would have limitless utility. However, I discovered that the moment one enters within ten zhang of this object, one falls into hallucinations and is met with repulsion. Because it is a divine object protecting itself, I have never been able to obtain it."

Hearing this, Cao Kong immediately knew this must be the handiwork of the Nine-Spirited Sage. He could not help but inwardly admire the Sage's superb methods, which had kept even Dongfang Shuo completely unaware, leaving him to believe it was entirely natural.

He smiled and said, "Let me go and try."

Looking at the luminous ripples, Cao Kong suddenly felt a stirring in his heart, realizing he could walk right in even without producing the Nine-Spirited Sage's jade talisman.

Thus, he walked straight toward the gourd, closing the distance step by step.

Daoist Manqian also watched intently, wondering what method Cao Kong would use to take it: divine powers? Or a treasure?

Suddenly, he saw Cao Kong approach the luminous ripples, where the heavy turbid qi and the living qi of wood condensed into a murky illusion.

In the span of a breath, Cao Kong felt as though his own self had plunged into a muddled and hazy realm of bewilderment. If an ordinary person entered this realm, their mind and spirit would panic without end, filled with the intent to retreat.

Yet Cao Kong felt that this underlying meaning was exceptionally familiar and comforting.

*‘Heavy and turbid qi… the foundation of an Earth Immortal.’*

With a crystal-clear consciousness, Cao Kong's lips curved into a smile as he marveled at the sublime methods of the Nine-Spirited Sage, who had used the heavy turbid qi of this gourd as a foundation to create its own defense.

He strode forward, secretly operating the technique of [Breathing True Spirit, Presiding over the Earthly Yuan]. All the so-called heavy and turbid qi was now at his command.

In an instant, all the various illusions shattered, and the heavy and turbid qi parted ways, clearing a path for Cao Kong. Afterward, it clung closely to his body, acting affectionate and dependent.

Moreover, the gourd vine seemed to be guided by some invisible traction; it crept along the giant boulder, stretching out inch by inch into the empty air until it reached directly before Cao Kong, just like presenting a treasure.

Witnessing this scene, Daoist Manqian's gaze suddenly froze, his lips pressed tightly together, and he remained utterly silent.

At this moment, this carefree Daoist felt a sharp pang in his heart.

Recalling how he had been unable to advance even half a step for ten whole years, and then looking at how effortlessly the Daoist before him had acquired it, a wave of disparity washed over him.

Yet he watched as Cao Kong plucked it with a smile, with the utmost ease. The gourd vine, and even the giant boulder entwined by the gourd, all transformed into yellow and cyan qi, embodying both the myriad phenomena of heavy turbidity and the vibrant rhythm of wood qi.

A faint voice echoed:

"Daoist friend, open the gourd. This dual qi and the gourd are of the exact same root and origin. Take it in, and do not let it dissipate into the mortal world."

Cao Kong immediately opened the gourd stopper. Just as he was about to urge it with his magical power, he saw all of the yellow and cyan qi surge into the gourd.

Daoist Manqian then raised his hands in a bow, his tone carrying a trace of bitterness as he said, "Congratulations, Daoist friend, on acquiring a supreme treasure. This treasure is nurtured by heaven and earth, a rare fortune within the Three Realms."

Before long, his expression relaxed once more, and he laughed magnanimously:

"I simply lacked the affinity for this object. It turns out I have lost the wager. Here you go, Daoist friend."

With that, he tossed the earlier brocade pouch to Cao Kong.

"Inside is an exotic creature called the Slumber-Bug. There are five pairs, male and female, all of which can be used for breeding. Activate them with your own magical power and flick them into the nasal passages to make others fall into a deep, peaceful sleep, with no side effects whatsoever."

Cao Kong put away the gourd without rushing to study it. With a flick of his hand, he stowed it into his sleeve, then smiled and held up the brocade pouch. "Then many thanks, Daoist friend."

Daoist Manqian waved his hands repeatedly. "A bet is a bet. I still have at least that much integrity."

Saying this, a competitive glint appeared in his eyes:

"However, Daoist friend, although I lost this time, you claimed that within a thousand years, a supreme king of thieves would appear who would make me willingly bow and acknowledge him as the lesser thief. That I simply cannot accept, and I wish to wager with you once more."

Cao Kong smiled wryly and shook his head repeatedly. "No, no."

Daoist Manqian laughed instead. "I won't allow that. You win a single wager and want to run away? That's hardly fair."

Thinking of a certain lawless monkey, Cao Kong thought to himself: *‘If I continue to gamble with you, that truly wouldn't be fair to you.’*

He could only say, "The next thousand years are so vast. Who can say for sure what kind of events will transpire? You would be at too great a disadvantage, Daoist friend."

Pointing at himself, Daoist Manqian laughed and said, "Turning the corridors, ascending the treasured pavilions, thrice plucking the peaches of immortality in heaven—do you know who I am, Daoist friend?"

Cao Kong burst into laughter. "A banished immortal hiding deeply in the golden portals; Your Excellency is none of other than Dongfang Shuo."

Dongfang Shuo smiled upon hearing this. Being a person of supreme wit, he understood that Cao Kong was alluding to his past days as an official during the reign of Emperor Wu.

"Since you recognize me, Daoist friend, why do you utter such words?"

"The future is uncertain. Who can say for sure?"

"Hehe, but I still wish to wager. If such a king of thieves truly appears, I shall certainly look up to his bearing." Dongfang Shuo's appetite for gambling was immense.

Helpless, Cao Kong had no choice but to agree to the wager with him, with both parties setting down their respective stakes.

A few minutes later, Chapter 2 will be released.