Identifying Foodstuffs is a Talented Ox

The Green Ox missed again, its mouth closing on empty air.

It stared blankly at the ginseng fruit, so close, its aroma intoxicating, yet always just out of reach. Confusion and an even greater longing filled its bovine eyes.

Shaking its massive head, sending water splashing, it rose onto its hind legs, refusing to believe it, trying to reach with its front hooves.

Chen Song flicked his wrist, a trace of magic flowing out. The ginseng fruit and other items, tied to the Wood Essence Qi threads, seemed to gain sentience and floated upward again, maintaining a perfect, tantalizing distance—visible but unattainable.

"Moo--!"

The Green Ox let out a low growl, tinged with grievance and impatience. Its massive body fell back into the water, creating a huge splash. It glared with its deep, pool-like eyes, fixed on Chen Song, then at the fruit. Two streams of white mist, carrying potent Water Essence Qi, billowed from its nostrils. It was clearly undergoing a massive internal struggle.

Behind a rock, Big White trembled, clutching Chen Song's thigh with its paws. "Woof! Big Brother! Stop playing! Just give it to it already! Look, its drool is about to raise the pond level! What if it gets angry and charges?"

This Green Ox was clearly more powerful than him. If the fight he'd had with the Kui Niu had been with this Green Ox, who knew who would have been sent flying.

Though the Kui Niu said nothing, it restlessly stamped its hooves on the ground, feeling that his young master's "bull-teasing" method was... perhaps a bit too much of a test for a bull's patience.

Seeing that the time was right, Chen Song steadied the threads, letting the ginseng fruit, fire date, and pine nuts hover about a foot in front of the Holy Water Buffalo's nose. He plastered what he considered a very sincere smile on his face:

"Fellow Daoist Green Ox, look, doesn't this fruit smell good? Do you want to eat it?"

The Green Ox's huge head instinctively nodded, its eyes following the fruit's movement.

"Join me, become a mount for my master, The Grand Pure One Laozi. How about it? My master is a direct descendant of Pangu, and will undoubtedly become a Saint of the Heavenly Dao in the future... Let alone this one fruit, you'll have no shortage of heavenly treasures, spiritual elixirs, and miraculous medicines in the future! It's much better than sleeping alone at the bottom of this deep pond, right? What do you say? Consider it?" Chen Song began to persuade it again.

Kui Niu: These words sound a bit familiar?

A flicker of hesitation crossed the Green Ox's eyes. It was accustomed to its carefree existence here; suddenly being asked to acknowledge a master, it was naturally reluctant.

But the aroma of the ginseng fruit was constantly agitating its nerves. It let out a low growl, its voice muffled, "Moo... I cultivate here in peace, it is very good... Why should I leave with you?"

Chen Song had anticipated this response and wasn't worried. With his other hand, he produced a fire date brimming with spiritual energy and dangled it before the Holy Water Buffalo's eyes. "Oh? Is that so? Then what about this one? And this one? There will definitely be others in the future! Even tastier ones!" He then conjured a small handful of five-needle pine nuts as if by magic.

A richer aroma wafted out, forming an even more potent temptation. The Green Ox's eyes widened even further, and the "gurgling" sound from its throat grew louder.

Seeing this, Big White, hiding behind the rock, became anxious. It jumped out and shouted, "Woof! Big Brother! Those are my rations! How can you feed them to a bull? Bulls eat grass!"

The Kui Niu couldn't help but grumble, "Young Master, this... isn't this a bit too preferential?" It had been beaten into submission back then, and this Green Ox was actually enjoying the temptation of snacks just by being "lured"? Unfair!

Chen Song glared back at them, "Shut up! I'll give you double the rations later!"

Then, with a smile, he turned back to the Holy Water Buffalo, "Old Green, look, is my sincerity enough? Opportunity knocks but once, and time waits for no one! As long as you nod, this fruit is yours immediately! And there will be more in the future!"

The Holy Water Buffalo looked at the various spiritual fruits dangling before it, felt the pure aura of the Taishang Immortal Method emanating from Chen Song, and the faint, heart-stopping pressure of the Xuanhuang Pagoda. It then glanced at the Kui Niu, whose aura was no weaker than its own, and the white dog, who, though cowardly, didn't seem easy to provoke...

A fierce battle ensued in its massive bovine brain between instinct and appetite.

Ultimately, the craving for delicious food and the yearning for a "full belly" future overcame the desire for carefree freedom and took precedence.

"Moo..." It let out a low moo, as if accepting its fate. Its huge head slowly lowered, its horns gently touching the water's surface, signifying submission. "I... I am willing to accompany Fellow Daoist to Kunlun and pay respects to Master."

"Haha! Good! The wise recognize the times! Ah, no, a wise bull!" Chen Song was overjoyed. He reeled in his wrist, and the ginseng fruit, fire date, and pine nuts floated gently towards the Green Ox.

The Kui Niu's tears of envy flowed uncontrollably from the corners of its mouth. A triple combo! It and that wretched dog had never even experienced that!

The Green Ox eagerly swallowed it in one gulp, feeling the immense vitality spread within its body. It closed its huge bovine eyes in comfort, letting out a satisfied "Moo-hmm" sound. The resistance it had felt towards Chen Song dissipated by more than half.

Chen Song clapped his hands. Task accomplished! He looked triumphantly at Big White and the Kui Niu. "See! This is what you call wisdom! The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting!"

Big White let out a sour whine, "Woof... it's just fishing... a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse..."

The Green Ox, recognizing the situation, shrank to the same size as the Kui Niu and Big White and came before Chen Song.

Chen Song looked at the Green Ox. Even when smaller, it was still majestic, yet now it had a slightly simple and honest look due to its love for food. A sense of accomplishment surged within him. He patted the Green Ox's head and smiled, "Old Green, that's what I'll call you from now on. You're one of our brothers! Follow my master, and I guarantee you'll eat well, live well, and have a boundless future!"

The Green Ox obediently lowered its head, gently rubbing its large horns against Chen Song in affection, letting out a satisfied "Moo-hmm" from its throat. Clearly, the three-in-one snack gift package had an immediate effect.

With the major issue of his master's mount resolved, Chen Song was in high spirits. His gaze drifted towards the distant, majestic, sky-piercing mountain range—Buzhou Mountain. Formed from the spine of the Great God Pangu, it was the pillar of the Great Wilderness and the stronghold of the Witch Race.

"Since the mount is settled, and I'm already here, why not visit the Witch Race's territory and say hello to the Ancestral Witches? Wouldn't it be a wasted trip otherwise?" Chen Song's eyes darted around, and he instantly made up his mind. "Let's go! We're going to the Witch Race to hang out with our brothers! Big White, Old Ox, Old Green, let's go!"

Upon hearing they were going to the Witch Race, Big White immediately perked up. "Woof! The Witch Race! You mean those muscle-heads! Great, great! They must have lots of different kinds of food there!" This silly dog's thoughts never strayed far from food.

The Kui Niu and the Green Ox exchanged glances, both hesitant. The Witch Race was a top power in the Great Wilderness. Each of the Twelve Ancestral Witches was a Quasi-Saint level mighty being, and most of them had fiery tempers. Just showing up unannounced like this...

"Young Master, the land of the Witch Race, is it perhaps too..." The Kui Niu carefully chose its words.

"What's there to be afraid of!" Chen Song waved his hand dismissively. "I have a relationship with the Ancestral Witches from fighting together under the Dao Ancestor's nose (being kicked out of Purple Heaven Palace)! We're very familiar! Besides, we're going for a friendly exchange, for fun! Not to challenge them!"

Saying this, he patted Big White's head. Big White skillfully grew larger, and Chen Song mounted it, pointing enthusiastically towards Buzhou Mountain. "Target, Witch Race tribe! Full speed ahead!"

Seeing that their dissuasion was ineffective, the Green Ox and the Kui Niu could only follow.

The closer they got, the more they could feel the wild, majestic aura washing over them.

Giant stone houses, rough totem poles, and the dense Bloodline Power permeating the air all testified to the unique style of the Witch Race. Around the outskirts of the tribe, many Witch Race members were active, either honing their bodies or returning from a hunt. Each was tall and possessed vigorous Blood Essence.

The arrival of Chen Song and his companions immediately attracted the attention of the Witch Race's patrol warriors.

Several burly Great Witches, armed with giant axes or bone spears, took to the air and blocked their path. The one leading them had a rugged face, bulging muscles, and a dense aura of malevolence. He was the Great Witch You, famous in later generations.

"Halt! What cultivator dares to trespass upon the lands of my Witch Race!"