Chapter 56: The Golden Sun’s Triple Strike, Four Varieties of Spirit Wine

From the heights of Hidden Mist Mountain, Cao Kong gazed into the distance and saw, some thousands of miles away, mountains collapsing and monsters soaring in flight. In the sky above, six weapons appeared, each transforming and multiplying: one became two, two became three, until countless forms manifested, all hurled toward the demons. Witnessing such a spectacle, he finally understood the vastness of Nezha’s divine abilities—those ninety-six cave-dwelling demons were subdued by a single hand.

The years passed swiftly, and another autumn arrived. Hidden Mist Mountain brimmed with spiritual energy; it mattered not how tall the mountain stood, for its fame lay in the presence of immortals. Though Cao Kong had not ascended to immortality, he could gather the winds and nurture the mountain’s essence. Through diligent cultivation, he felt himself growing ever more attuned to Hidden Mist Mountain. Focusing his mind, he could command the clouds and mists, gathering spiritual energy into a single point, a power surpassing that of ordinary mountain gods, moving toward the realm of blessed lands.

In his Daoist practice, his progress deepened steadily. Once, upon arriving at Hidden Mist Mountain, he could condense seven drops of innate nectar; now, he could produce ten drops each day. The five elements within him were gradually harmonizing, awaiting the moment they would merge into one, so he could generate qi and fluid, harmonize dragon and tiger, seize Kan and fill Li. As for the divine arts of the liver palace, he still sought them, the path distant and uncertain, and his supply of Cleansing Heart Pills was entirely depleted. He had other auxiliary materials, but no more spiritual bamboo. Cao Kong even considered venturing out to seek the bamboo himself.

One day, resisting greed and errant thoughts, he ceased his search for the liver palace, sighing in admiration at the difficulty of divine arts. The Five Palace Divine Arts Manual says that with great perseverance, one may attain a single divine art in a thousand years. Yet seeking them within the palaces was like walking a path in darkness with no end in sight, no gains, enduring the temptations of the Wood Mother—a truly arduous journey.

Quickly recovering his composure, Cao Kong practiced the sword, expelling golden qi. The sword manifested as a seamless whole, owing to the golden marrow Nezha had left behind. Previously, Cao Kong’s golden sword had been forged from the mountain’s gold marrow, born of earth and thus yang. Nezha’s gift was yin gold, and the fusion of yang and yin gold embodied the principle of harmony, enhancing the sword’s power. This brought him both satisfaction and vexation, for his Method of Condensing the Primordial Five Elements required not only gold but also other elements: wood, water, fire, earth, and their yin and yang. Seven in all, and quite difficult to obtain.

Yet once gathered, the power would be unparalleled—five elements cycling, unified into primordial chaos. In future battles, he would neither be overcome nor subdued, inherently superior. Cao Kong sensed that achieving this unity of the five elements was crucial for his destiny; perhaps that was why the Nine-Spirit Sage hurriedly descended and departed—an act orchestrated by the Supreme Celestial.

With sword in hand, Cao Kong practiced, not with the traditional Western Seven Constellations sword, but with a new chapter from the Sword Canon: the Nine Luminaries—specifically, the Golden Luminary, also known as the Great White Star. The sword had three aspects of slaughter: Heaven’s slaughter, shifting stars and constellations; Earth’s slaughter, dragons and serpents rising from the land; Man’s slaughter, upheaving heaven and earth. At his current level, Cao Kong could only practice the sword of Man’s slaughter. When wielded, the sword’s killing intent was boundless, with all things around him withering. Even his mind echoed with the clangor of battle, befitting the star of slaughter and the star of arms.

The clash of swords left his heart filled with the sound of metal, the sword too fierce and damaging to the spirit. Had he not first achieved minor mastery of the Western Seven Constellations sword, practicing the Golden Luminary would have been detrimental to his Dao and cultivation of mind. This made Cao Kong ponder the Great White Venus above—why did he always appear gentle and kind, respected even by the Monkey King? As the master of the Golden Luminary, presiding over slaughter and warfare, he should be a god of war, yet in the Journey to the West he was ever benevolent, advising but never intervening. Was it that the highest realm of warfare is to conquer without fighting?

“The Great White Venus is truly remarkable. If fate allows, I must seek his guidance someday,” Cao Kong murmured in admiration. While he mused, he failed to notice a morning star flashing in the eastern sky, as if an old man winked slyly. Smiling at his own fanciful thoughts, Cao Kong resolved that meeting the Great White Venus would only be possible after achieving immortality; for now, he should focus on perfecting the sword of Man’s slaughter.

Yet, even with minor mastery, the Golden Luminary sword could not be practiced often, unless he possessed Cleansing Heart Pills. Ah, Cleansing Heart Pills—always those pills. In cultivation, tranquility of mind was paramount; whether seeking divine arts or practicing the sword of slaughter, they were essential.

After settling his mood, Cao Kong checked on his brewing wine. He had set aside a plot of land in the mountain specifically for this purpose. Over the year, his spiritual rice had ripened twice, yielding abundant harvests, and he produced large quantities of spiritual wine: Ice and Fire Brew to strengthen the body; Lingzhi Wine to replenish essence; Vitality Wine to aid the circulation of qi.

He had also crafted another wine, aged with prepared rehmannia, cornelian cherry, peony bark, yam, poria, and alisma—but best left unmentioned, for it was not to be shared openly.

Of these four wines, Ice and Fire Brew was Cao Kong’s favorite. Its flavor was exquisite; upon drinking, a gentle warmth rose, followed by a coolness, ice and fire cycling in harmony, bringing comfort and tempering the body. His progress in refining essence and cultivating qi was swift, but his physique lagged slightly, hence his fondness for Ice and Fire Brew.

“Hu Yan, Hu Ping, I have some old friends on Leopard Head Mountain, Bamboo Joint Mountain, Ox-Herd Mountain, and Phantom Mountain. I’ll give you their locations—go ahead and bring them some wine in advance,” he instructed.

On the path of cultivation, having friends was a great joy, and Cao Kong never forgot his companions. Since Nezha subdued the ninety-six cave demons, the Western continent had grown peaceful, and the four little foxes drank spiritual water and wine daily, cultivating diligently and advancing steadily. Sending them was reassuring.

The four foxes, solemn as if entrusted with a sacred mission, replied in unison, “Master of the Mountain, we will deliver it.”

“Ah, no need to go to Bamboo Joint Mountain or Leopard Head Mountain—two foxes to each of the other places will suffice,” Cao Kong said, smiling. He glanced skyward, where seven lions stood upon a cloud, majestic and imposing.

His attunement with Hidden Mist Mountain grew ever deeper; its clouds and mists were his eyes and ears, and he could sense when powerful beings entered its bounds.

“Ha ha, Brother Cao, it’s been too long!” The lions’ voices boomed, shaking the forests.

“Brothers of the Seven Lions, I’ve missed you dearly,” Cao Kong replied.

Suddenly, an explosion sounded and the seven lions paused, puzzled. From a cave emerged a money leopard, its fur singed and face blackened, grumbling, “I was refining pills when you all started shouting. My batch failed, and I got blown up for my trouble.”

The seven lions appeared embarrassed, but the money leopard rolled its eyes and said, “Today, unless you and your brothers drink heartily with me, you’re not leaving.”

“Good one, money leopard—daring to tease us! Ha ha ha ha ha!” The seven lions looked at each other and burst into hearty laughter, their spirits soaring.