Chen Song rode Big White, with Four Unlike following behind and carrying half a sack of Spirit Fruits. The moment they stepped beyond the barrier of Auspicious Valley, he was considering returning to Kunlun Mountain to share some Kirin Cliff specialties with Laozi and Tongtian when Big White suddenly bristled. "Woof! Boss! Something's wrong with the wind!"
Before the words had even landed, the clouds overhead were torn apart with a crash. A bluish figure wrapped in bone-shattering gale winds plunged down. Who else could it be but the persistent Feilian?
"You disciples of the Three Pure Ones! Did you think hiding in Kirin Valley would keep you safe? If I don't grind you, the murderer, to dust today, I swear I will never let this go!" Feilian was clearly bursting with pent-up rage. The pressure of a Quasi-Saint descended like a tidal wave, making even the air feel like blades.
Although Four Unlike was an anomaly among the Kirin Clan, when had he ever seen such a scene?
He instinctively tried to hide behind Chen Song, but Feilian caught sight of him from the corner of his eye. A wind blade slashed toward him. "And you, you vile beast! Daring to mix with people from the Three Pure Ones? I'll take you down too!"
"Damn it! You won't even spare the mount?" Chen Song reacted quickly, yanking Four Unlike behind Big White. At the same time, he summoned the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda. A dark yellow barrier unfolded with a hum, tightly protecting the three men and one dog.
Bang! The wind blade struck the pagoda's shield without leaving so much as a mark. Feilian's eyes turned red. "The Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda, so what? I refuse to believe I can't wear you down!" As he spoke, he raised a hand and condensed a wind dragon, preparing to blast through it with the divine power of a Quasi-Saint.
How could Chen Song dare confront him head-on? Running was obviously the first choice!
Clutching the pagoda seal, he shouted, "Big White! Full speed! Back to Kunlun!"
Big White had long since been scared out of his wits. His four paws kicked against the clouds as if rockets had been strapped to them, and with a whoosh, he became a streak of white light.
Feilian pursued relentlessly from behind. Gale winds swept up shattered stones and pelted the pagoda shield with a crackling barrage, like firecrackers going off.
"Boss! He's catching up!" Big White wailed, his dog fur blown straight back by the wind. "My dog ears are about to get blown off!"
Four Unlike curled up at the back, still clutching the sack of Spirit Fruits tightly in his arms. He asked in a small voice, "Can... can we really make it back to Kunlun? That demon saint is so fierce..."
"Don't worry! Once we reach Kunlun, my Master and Martial Uncles can handle him with one finger!" Chen Song sounded tough, but inwardly, he was nervous too. The Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda could protect its owner, but Feilian was a Quasi-Saint. If he truly latched onto them, things would be troublesome.
Fortunately, Kunlun was not too far away. Big White also burst out with the fastest speed of his life—even when Spirit Fruits he normally hated to waste fell from the sack, he did not dare stop to pick them up. At last, just as Feilian's wind dragon was about to coil around the pagoda shield, they saw the outline of Kunlun Mountain in the distance.
"Second Martial Uncle! Save me! I found you a mount and brought it back!" Chen Song shouted toward Kunlun, his voice cracking.
Almost the instant he cried out, a jade-white streak of light shot out from the Thatched Hut on Kunlun Mountain. It was so fast that its path could not be seen. With a bang, Feilian's wind dragon was instantly scattered. The phantom of the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi hung in the air as Yuanshi's characteristically cold voice carried over. "Feilian, you dare cause trouble at the foot of Kunlun? Do you think my Yuqing Immortal Method has gone too long without someone to test it on?"
The moment Feilian saw the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, his face went pale. No matter how arrogant he was, he did not dare challenge the Three Pure Ones, especially Yuanshi, who was notoriously protective of his own. If they truly fought, Feilian would gain nothing. Yet he could not swallow his anger and leave just like that, so he could only glare hatefully at Chen Song. "Boy, I'll spare you today for Fellow Daoist Yuanshi's sake! Don't let me catch you alone next time!"
With that, he transformed into a streak of green light and fled even faster than he had arrived, not daring to leave behind even a single parting threat.
Only after Feilian's presence had completely vanished did Chen Song collapse onto Big White's back, panting heavily. "That scared me to death... Second Martial Uncle, if you'd come one step later, I'd have brought you roasted demon saint..."
Yuanshi landed before them. His gaze first swept over Four Unlike, who was shrinking back behind the others, and his eyes brightened slightly. Then he looked at Chen Song's bedraggled state and could not help frowning. "You went out once and brought back a demon saint to cause trouble. You really know how to create problems for the Three Pure Ones."
"How is that my fault? He attacked first!" Chen Song hurriedly pushed Four Unlike forward. "Second Martial Uncle, look! This is the mount I found for you, Four Unlike! He's an anomaly of the Kirin Clan, able to take human form at the peak of the Golden Immortal Realm. He suits you perfectly!"
Four Unlike stumbled from the shove and quickly cupped his hands toward Yuanshi. "This junior is Four Unlike. Greetings, Senior Yuanshi."
Yuanshi circled Four Unlike once, then lightly tapped a finger. A beam of Yuqing Immortal Light descended onto Four Unlike's body. Sensing the pure Kirin bloodline within him, the corner of Yuanshi's mouth finally lifted into a faint, nearly imperceptible smile. "Mm. His foundation is indeed good, and his transformation is stable. He is better than certain beasts who only know how to run."
That was clearly a jab at Laozi's Green Ox and Tongtian's Kui Ox.
At that moment, Green Ox was lying by the entrance to the Thatched Hut, chewing his cud, while Kui Ox gnawed on alchemy scraps beside him. Hearing those words, one snorted through his nostrils while the other flicked his tail. They had clearly caught the implication.
When they returned to the courtyard of the Thatched Hut, Laozi and Tongtian also came out after hearing the news. The moment Tongtian saw Four Unlike, he laughed and patted Chen Song on the shoulder. "Not bad, Senior Disciple Nephew! You really found Second Brother a mount? He looks smarter than my Kui Ox."
Yuanshi folded his arms and deliberately had Four Unlike walk two laps around the courtyard before saying leisurely, "Elder Brother, Third Brother, look. Not only can my mount take human form, but his bloodline is pure. He won't disgrace the Three Pure Ones when we go out to discuss the Dao. Unlike Green Ox and Kui Ox, who still have to maintain beast forms and cannot even speak a complete sentence properly."
Green Ox: Are you being polite?
Kui Ox: I can make thunder! Can you?
Laozi held a bamboo staff and lightly tapped Yuanshi's arm. "At your age, you're still competing over mounts?" Then he turned to Chen Song, helplessness in his eyes. "You went out once and provoked a demon saint. If you dare run around again, I'll lock you in the Alchemy Room and make you copy the Taiqing Heart Calming Incantation a hundred thousand times."
Tongtian also leaned over, deliberately putting on a stern face. "Exactly! If you go out again, at least bring the Purple Lightning Hammer I gave you! Otherwise, no one will save you if you run into Feilian again."
Chen Song nodded frantically. "This disciple knows his mistake! I'll never run around again!" Yet inwardly, he muttered, At least they didn't say how long they'd lock me up. Once you become Saints, can you really keep me confined?
Laozi seemed to see through his thoughts and said calmly, "Your Second Martial Uncle, Third Martial Uncle, and I have already shown signs of breaking through to sainthood. The great calamity of the primordial world has also begun to reveal itself. Behave yourself. Once we attain the Saint Position, it will not be too late for you to go out again."
The moment Chen Song heard that, his eyes lit up. Saints! His three powerful backers were about to become Saints! With Saints protecting him, why would he need to go out and stir up trouble? Wasn't it better to stay in Kunlun, eat and wait to die—no, cultivate diligently—and wait to cling to the Saints' thighs?
He patted his chest and promised, "Master, rest assured! This disciple will definitely enter seclusion and cultivate properly! I'll strive to break through soon and not disgrace the Three Pure Ones!"
Hearing the words "enter seclusion," Big White immediately sidled over. "Woof! If Boss enters seclusion, can I stay with him and eat Spirit Fruits and pine nuts?"
Yuanshi looked at Chen Song's face, which practically declared that he wanted to lie around forever, and shook his head helplessly. "Fine. You may all stay. Four Unlike, since you have entered my sect as a mount, you must follow the rules. Do not learn idleness from that lazy dog."
Four Unlike hurriedly nodded. "This junior understands! I'll definitely learn properly!"
Only Big White drooped his ears and muttered softly, "Woof... Why am I getting dragged into this too..."
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