Chapter 76: Drinking Down a True Immortal, Healing the Earth’s Veins (Seeking Tuesday's Readers)

With the bat demon vanquished, the yellow lion spirit and his companions had no time to express their gratitude to Cao Kong, instead rushing toward Bai Ze. Bai Ze, who had been the first to suffer wounds during the battle and was severely poisoned, now lay barely breathing, unconscious. They tore the tattered garments from his body and saw that the poison was fierce and relentless, already threatening to invade Bai Ze’s heart meridian. His tendons bulged like venomous serpents, showing a purplish-black hue. Should the poison reach his heart, none but immortals could hope to save him.

Seeing this, the remaining six lions frantically searched through their spiritual treasures, attempting to cure Bai Ze, but nothing proved effective. The bond among the seven lions was deep; witnessing Bai Ze’s wretched state, each had tears glistening in their tiger eyes, anxiety overwhelming them as they turned to Cao Kong for hope.

“Brother Cao, your powers are vast. We beg you, please save Bai Ze.”

“Let me try,” Cao Kong replied, though he held little confidence. Fortunately, he possessed the essence of wood and earth among the Five Elements, both capable of nourishing life. Perhaps there was a chance. The yellow lion spirit and the others stepped aside as Cao Kong attempted to channel traces of wood and earth essence into Bai Ze. Bai Ze’s complexion eased slightly, yet the poison showed no sign of receding.

Cao Kong frowned, recognizing the difficulty of dispelling this toxin. His wood and earth essence could provide temporary relief, but not a lasting cure. Having read many tomes on rare treasures in the Azure Harmony Realm, he knew of precious materials, but sadly, none were at hand, making the situation more vexing.

Just as despair began to settle over them, a plume of white smoke emerged from the earth, revealing a little old man with white hair and beard, hunched as he hurried forward.

“Master Immortal, I am the Earth God of Bamboo Ridge. I may know a way to counteract this poison.”

Cao Kong looked at the Earth God in surprise—how had he appeared so suddenly?

“Please, Earth God, speak. If you can save our brother Bai Ze, the six lions will forever be in your debt.”

A flicker of joy crossed the Earth God’s eyes, though he protested, “I dare not make promises. Whether success is possible depends on fate. The bat demon’s poison is innate, further compounded by absorbing other toxins over time. Yet in this world, nothing is more subtle than one thing subduing another. The bat demon was born in the Coiling Cavern, and within the cavern lies a liquid capable of neutralizing its poison.”

The six lions rejoiced, instantly recalling the milky-white liquid often found in the cavern. They had tasted it before—its spiritual essence was ordinary, so they had paid it little mind. Never did they imagine it would now become their lifeline.

But the Earth God quickly cautioned, “Do not celebrate yet. I said, the poison is mixed; the liquid may only suppress it, not fully cure. So, the outcome depends on fortune.”

The six lions were already deeply grateful. The yellow lion spirit transformed into a gust of wind, gone and returned in a flash, holding the milky-white liquid in his hands, its crystal brilliance belying its weak spiritual energy.

Cao Kong was delighted. His knowledge from the Wine Canon and Azure Harmony Realm allowed him to recognize most rare treasures. He said, “So it is this—this is Stalactite Marrow. Wait a moment; it is effective against poison, but must be activated by a spiritual substance. Let me blend it with divine nectar.”

He took three drops of innate nectar and infused them with the earth essence from his body, nourishing the Stalactite Marrow until it radiated a crystalline glow and a fragrant aroma. He then fed it to Bai Ze, and as expected, the poison in Bai Ze’s body began to retreat.

“The sickness will fade slowly, like drawing silk. For complete recovery, several months will be needed. In that time, he must continue to take spiritual liquid and Stalactite Marrow.”

Cao Kong spoke, and the six lions were overjoyed—so long as Bai Ze could heal, time was no concern. They breathed a sigh of relief and made a solemn bow to both Cao Kong and the Earth God.

The Earth God smiled. Normally, he would not meddle, but these lions were pure-hearted, and there lingered the presence of a mysterious figure he could not fathom. With Cao Kong, a true cultivator, present, the Earth God was pleased to extend a hand, hoping to forge a bond of goodwill.

“Since the matter is settled, I shall take my leave,” the Earth God said, but Cao Kong suddenly interjected, “Earlier, as I battled the demon, I heard the Earth God sighing.”

The Earth God paused, his face sorrowful as he gestured to the withered, decaying forests around them and sighed, “Ah, the bat demon’s poison is potent. Just now, he unleashed it without restraint, and it seeped into the mountain veins. As the Earth God of this land, I am miserable. Who knows when these mountains will thrive again? If Heaven learns of this, I may be punished.”

Cao Kong smiled, “I possess a method to restore the earth veins and nourish the land—perhaps I can help you.”

He referred, of course, to the “True Spirit of Qi Distribution” technique. Since the Earth God had shown kindness, Cao Kong was glad to reciprocate.

The Earth God was overjoyed and was about to ask how, when he noticed Cao Kong’s gaze shift to a certain spot: the Ruyi Golden Hook hovering in midair.

The Ruyi Golden Hook trembled, a golden radiance bursting forth as if someone were summoning it, then it sped eastward.

Cao Kong’s expression cooled. The bat demon had carried the Ruyi Golden Hook—clearly a gift from the Ruyi True Immortal. To aid such evil was unforgivable, and now it sought to return?

With that thought, Cao Kong raised his hand, forming a giant palm of golden light that seized the Ruyi Golden Hook firmly. The hook struggled, but now ownerless, its power was rootless and could not withstand Cao Kong. Soon, he held it in his grasp.

Far to the east rose a mountain, within which stood the Ruyi Temple. Inside dwelled a Daoist, resplendently dressed but hideous in visage, with red hair and steel teeth, terrifying to behold.

He had sensed earlier that his Ruyi Golden Hook was being wielded by the bat demon, but then the connection vanished. The Ruyi True Immortal understood—the bat demon must have perished—so he repeatedly cast spells to summon his treasure back. Yet, it was to no avail.

“Damn it! I should never have lent my Ruyi Golden Hook to the bat demon, even for his flattery. Now it’s trouble.”

He raged, unwilling to lose the magical treasure he had refined for years. Again he cast a spell, using the link between himself and the hook to send a divine message into the void.

“I am the Ruyi True Immortal. The bat demon is dead—his fate sealed. I won’t blame you. Return my Ruyi Golden Hook, and all grievances are forgotten. Otherwise, bear the consequences.”

In Bamboo Ridge, all present sneered at his words.

Cao Kong, unperturbed, crushed the divine message. How ridiculous—he spoke as if he were above them all, utterly oblivious.

Back in Ruyi Temple, the Ruyi True Immortal grunted in anger as his divine message was shattered. Furious, he wondered if his reputation was insufficient, and so he cast another spell.

“My elder brother is the Mighty Bull Demon King. Do not bring disaster upon yourselves!”

“Noisy,” replied Cao Kong, severing the connection with his own thought. The Ruyi True Immortal grunted again in impotent rage, left with nothing but fury and a vow to reclaim his Ruyi Golden Hook.

Meanwhile, in the mountain, the six lions tended to Bai Ze, while Cao Kong discussed the restoration of the earth veins and nourishment of the land with the Bamboo Ridge Earth God, offering aid through his magic.

Yet in the midst of this spellcasting, Cao Kong was suddenly delighted—how unexpected, his method of restoring the damaged mountain veins yielded unforeseen rewards!