Chapter 95: If You Cause Trouble

The two words, "Dongzhen," resounded in Cao Kong's mind like the strike of a great bronze bell.

When Taiyi, the Heavenly Lord of Salvation, bestowed these two words upon him, it felt as though a layer of ignorance shrouding his Dao heart was shattered, allowing his already extraordinary Dao heart to perceive the ultimate truth of heaven and earth even more clearly.

"Your disciple, Dongzhen, bows in gratitude to Master." Cao Kong spoke with the utmost piety and respect, knowing in his heart that this was a supreme blessing bestowed by his master.

"It is time to present the apprenticeship petition," the Nine-Spirited Grand Sage reminded him from the side.

Cao Kong immediately took the petition, signed his name with a brush, and then recited the various oaths written upon it.

Never to stray from the Great Dao, never to disobey the master's teachings, to strictly observe the precepts...

He presented the petition with both hands. Taiyi, the Heavenly Lord of Salvation, accepted it with a smile. Out of thin air, a Daoist robe and cap appeared in his hands.

"Come forward. I shall perform the rite of crowning and robing, and bestow upon you the Daoist register."

Cao Kong stepped forward. He saw the Heavenly Lord of Salvation use his finger as a brush. Wisps of Primordial Azure Qi flowed out, condensing into a Daoist register that pressed directly into the space between Cao Kong's brows.

This qi was brimming with vitality, possessing the creative power of the primordial beginning. Even though Cao Kong had already formed his Golden Core, he felt that his own golden essence was far inferior to this Primordial Azure Qi.

It was not that his golden essence was lacking, but rather that the Primordial Azure Qi was simply too profound and miraculous.

A simple, ancient azure register materialized on Cao Kong's forehead, shining brilliantly with a pure, spiritual green light before quickly fading from view.

Yet Cao Kong could feel that the register remained, constantly generating a gentle stream of vitality that nourished his golden essence. Though the effect was subtle, it worked continuously, as natural as the cosmic circulation of the heavens.

The Heavenly Lord of Salvation personally placed the Daoist cap on Cao Kong's head and smiled.

"I once said that if you could form the Golden Core within thirty years, I would grant you a great fortune. This robe and cap are that fortune. They are dharma treasures, and you may slowly unravel their mysteries in the days to come."

"Yes, Master."

Beside them, the Nine-Spirited Grand Sage also spoke: "Since you are now the Master's personal disciple, and I have witnessed this ceremony, I must offer a token of my own."

With that, a strand of golden fur drifted from his body, turning into a fine hair as it landed in Cao Kong's palm. "If you encounter grave danger, activate this, and I shall appear."

Cao Kong bowed to the Nine-Spirited Grand Sage in deep gratitude. This was a monumental gift; if such a day ever came, this single hair could save his life.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

At that moment, the Heavenly Lord of Salvation spoke softly, "Do you still remember what I said at the very beginning about the other choice for your Golden Core Path?"

"Your disciple remembers. I am eager to hear Master's guidance."

"The path you cultivate is the orthodox Golden Core Path, an extraordinary path that seizes the creative power of heaven and earth and usurps the profound mechanisms of the sun and moon. Now that you have formed the Core, you are tolerated by neither ghosts nor gods. Thus, every five hundred years, you must undergo the Three Calamities—the tribulations of fire, wind, and thunder. Survive them, and your lifespan will equal the heavens; fail, and your body will perish, your cultivation dispersing into nothingness."

Hearing this, Cao Kong could not help but feel a shiver of dread. Because he had comprehended the Golden Core Path, he held great reverence for heaven and earth, knowing the vastness of the cosmos and the boundless, terrifying power it wielded.

One must know that even the Monkey King in the original legends felt his skin crawl upon hearing of the Three Calamities, repeatedly bowing to Patriarch Subhuti to beg for a method to evade them.

The Heavenly Lord of Salvation continued, "Therefore, all who cultivate the Golden Core in this world must clarify their minds and realize their true nature to evade these Three Calamities beforehand. Only then can they achieve everlasting life. I, too, know the methods of evasion."

Pausing for a moment, the Heavenly Lord of Salvation added:

"However, what I know is not just the method of evasion, but also the method of weathering the tribulations directly. The latter is far more perilous than the former. I wonder if you are willing to learn it. Though, throughout the ages, almost no one has ever successfully survived the Three Calamities by weathering them directly."

Cao Kong's eyelids twitched. He was someone whose heart was entirely set on the Dao, whose sole desire was to seek the Great Dao and attain limitless longevity.

Normally, having formed the Golden Core, it would suffice to persist in his cultivation and learn the shapeshifting arts to evade the calamities. Yet, since his master had specifically brought up the method of weathering them, he could not help but ponder deeper.

"May I ask, Master, what is the difference between these two methods?"

The Heavenly Lord of Salvation spread his hands and smiled warmly:

"I have never cultivated the method of weathering them either, so I cannot tell you the exact difference. But what I can tell you is this: compared to weathering the tribulations, the method of evasion is a shortcut. After all, facing the tribulations directly is the longest and most distant path in heaven and earth."

Beside them, the Nine-Spirited Grand Sage opened his mouth to speak several times but held back in the end. When it came to one's fundamental path of cultivation, Cao Kong had to make his own choice.

Cao Kong fell silent, momentarily unsure of how to choose. His limited experience and knowledge constrained his understanding.

The Heavenly Lord of Salvation spoke gently once more:

"There is no rush. You have only just formed your Golden Core, and the Three Calamities will not arrive for another five hundred years. You have plenty of time to contemplate this."

Cao Kong nodded. His spiritual intuition told him that the choice presented by the Heavenly Lord was of paramount importance, directly affecting his fundamental path, and required the utmost caution.

Seeing Cao Kong's solemn expression, the Heavenly Lord of Salvation smiled. "Since you have just entered the Golden Core stage, how about I explain the mysteries of the Golden Core to you today and teach you a few techniques?"

Cao Kong was overjoyed. Listening to the Heavenly Lord's sermon, he lost all track of time, utterly enthralled as all the doubts he had accumulated were resolved one by one.

After an unknown amount of time, the Heavenly Lord ceased his teaching and smiled:

"The time is drawing near, and you must return. Your destiny lies in the mortal realm. Go now, go. Once your journey is complete, we, master and disciple, shall meet again in the heavens."

He paused to reflect, then added:

"It is a good thing to set your heart on the Dao, but you must not confine yourself to bitter cultivation alone. You must travel and experience the world. However, the mortal realm is a crucible, filled with all manner of strange things, and the swirling red dust of the world can easily blind one's eyes. If you should cause trouble in the future..."

Cao Kong said solemnly, "The path of the Dao and the choices of life rest on myself alone. If I cause trouble, I will not utter a single word about Master, and will only claim to be a solitary traveler."

At these words, the Nine-Spirited Grand Sage could not help but chuckle.

The Heavenly Lord of Salvation stroked his beard and laughed heartily. "If you cause trouble, simply call out my name. I shall heed your call and come to rescue you."

Hearing this, Cao Kong felt the warmth of his master's deep affection. His eyes grew hot, and his voice trembled slightly with emotion:

"Your profound kindness, Master, will always be kept in my heart. I hope to serve by your side soon to repay this grace."

"Speak not of debts. You are my true disciple; I will naturally ensure your safety. Go now, go."

The Heavenly Lord of Salvation nodded with a smile, and Cao Kong felt the entire world recede from him.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself back inside the Zheyue Interlocking Cave. Before him stood the statue of Taiyi, the Heavenly Lord of Salvation, and the three incense sticks in front of it had already burned to ash. The night had passed in the blink of an eye.

Moreover, on the kneeling cushion before him lay a Daoist robe and cap.

A wave of warmth flowed through Cao Kong's heart. He bowed three times and kowtowed nine times toward the divine statue before rising to his feet.

Inspired by the Heavenly Lord's sermon, countless ideas bloomed in his mind. He fetched paper and ink, writing down his thoughts and insights in a journal.

Once he was finished, Cao Kong turned his inner vision toward his Niwan Palace. Within it resided several techniques transmitted by the Heavenly Lord, two of which were the Transformations of the Heavenly Dipper and the Earthly Fiend.

A sudden thought struck him: *Master said that almost no one has ever survived the method of weathering the tribulations. That implies someone actually did. I should have asked who that person was.*

(By the way, a close friend of mine asked me to help her try on wedding dresses today, so my updates will be a bit slow. No need to wait up, my deepest apologies! There is one more chapter, which I am posting now, and then I will get straight to writing the next.)