Walking the Dog, I'm Going West

After staying at Wa Huang Palace for a while, Chen Song felt like a salted fish about to be thoroughly pickled by the responsibilities of a "Saint Father" and the Dao Charm of a Saint.

"No, no, no, if I stay any longer, I'll start thinking I'm a serious and steady elder!" Chen Song rubbed his face, which was wet from Big White's licking. (This foolish dog had recently declared itself the "Saint Father's only designated mount" and was becoming increasingly smug.) He decided he absolutely had to go out and have some fun.

He proposed to Saint Nuwa that he wanted to go out to "travel, observe the people, and find more opportunities for the future of the Human Race."

Nuwa, now a Saint, had a much more detached mindset and wasn't as strict as the Three Pure Ones. She glanced at Chen Song and said indifferently, "Go if you wish. If you encounter any danger, just silently chant my name."

Her tone was calm, yet it carried the unique confidence and dominance of a Saint. The meaning was clear: in the entire Great Wilderness, there weren't many who could harm someone (or a dog) under her protection right under her nose!

Chen Song was overjoyed. "Thank you, Martial Uncle!"

Indeed, clinging to a Saint's leg was awesome! It gave him maximum freedom!

Without a word, he kicked awake Big White, who was stealing the spirit fruits offered by the Human Race. "Foolish dog! Stop eating! We're departing! Target—the western Great Wilderness! Let's have a spontaneous trip!"

In the past, he had been somewhat afraid that if he went to places near the west, someone shameless might say, "You have a connection with my West!" and forcibly convert him to the West. But now, with his first powerful backer, he wasn't worried at all!

"Woof! The West? It's a bit desolate there, but maybe there are some unknown specialties!" Big White's spirits immediately lifted upon hearing they were going out. It skillfully enlarged itself.

Chen Song flipped over and mounted it, waving his hand with high spirits. "Flying on my dog, roaming the Great Wilderness! Let's go!"

With Saint Nuwa as his backer, Chen Song felt his posture straighten considerably. Riding Big White, he rampaged wantonly through the western territories of the Great Wilderness, admiring the desolate scenery that was so different from the East.

They reached a barren valley, filled with a faint aura of blood and malevolence, which seemed out of place in the surrounding desolation.

"Huh? This place is a bit weird, boss." Big White twitched its nose, a hint of vigilance on its doggy face. "It smells like... rust mixed with rotten fruit?"

Chen Song also sensed something was wrong. Just as he was about to activate his divine sense to investigate, suddenly—

"Buzz buzz buzz—"

An irritating buzzing sound came from the depths of the valley. A dense, black "cloud" suddenly rose up and rushed towards them! As it got closer, they realized it wasn't a cloud at all, but countless strange mosquitoes, the size of fists, with sharp proboscises and a crimson body!

The one leading the pack was as large as a calf, its proboscis like a blood-red spear, exuding an aura of bloodlust and filth. It was the infamous Mosquito Daoist, who was born from the Sea of Blood!

"Hehehehe! Such delicious Blood Essence! Such pure spiritual energy! And the power of Merit! Heaven helps me!" The Mosquito Daoist let out a shrill cackle, its crimson compound eyes fixed on Chen Song and Big White. Especially on Chen Song, the rich aura of Merit and the Innate Wood Spirit energy were like a peerless delicacy to it!

"Holy crap! A mosquito spirit! And a super-sized one!" Chen Song was startled. "Big White! Run! This thing looks disgusting!"

"Woof! Watch this, my Energy Devouring Sprint!" Big White's scalp tingled too. Its four paws left the ground, lightning flashing (it had picked up some lightning attributes from spending time with Kui Niu), and it turned to flee.

"Trying to leave? Become my nourishment!" The Mosquito Daoist sneered, its wings vibrating. Its speed was incredibly fast, and it instantly caught up. Its blood-red proboscis, carrying the power to pierce through space, aimed straight for Chen Song's back!

At this critical moment—

"Hmph! You flies and mosquitoes, how dare you cause trouble on this ancestor's territory and prey on travelers?!"

A cold, domineering voice, as if containing the boundless killing intent of the Sea of Blood, suddenly rang out! The voice was filled with anger, clearly displeased at someone snatching food from its "doorstep."

Immediately, the sky of the entire valley was dyed crimson. Illusory waves of blood surged in the air, and an aura of Quasi-Saint pressure that made souls tremble descended with immense force, more than ten times stronger than the Mosquito Daoist's!

A flash of blood-red light, and a figure clad in a blood-red Daoist robe, with a sinister expression and the illusory shadows of the Yuantu and Abi killing swords swirling around him, appeared between the Mosquito Daoist and Chen Song.

It was the master of the Sea of Blood, Old Ancestor Minghe!

"Minghe!" The Mosquito Daoist shrieked, a mixture of shock and anger. "I found him first!"

"Scram!" Old Ancestor Minghe simply uttered a cold command, flicking his sleeve. A wave of blood, like a giant palm, slapped out, scattering the Mosquito Daoist and the swarm of mosquitoes behind it, sending them flying back into the depths of the valley.

"Minghe! You're going too far! This isn't over!" The Mosquito Daoist's venomous voice echoed from the depths of the valley, but it didn't dare to reappear, clearly showing extreme fear of Old Ancestor Minghe.

Having scared away his old rival, the Mosquito Daoist, Old Ancestor Minghe turned his gaze to the terrified Chen Song and Big White. His eyes lingered on the partially visible Earth Book Duplicate Seal at Chen Song's waist, the unrefined Merit of creating humans on his body, and the pure aura of Innate Five Elements. A glint flashed in his eyes, along with... curiosity.

Seeing this, Chen Song's eyes darted. He immediately jumped off Big White's back, putting on an incredibly natural smile, tinged with familiarity (and fawning), cupped his hands in greeting, and said in a clear voice:

"Junior Chen Song, many thanks to Martial Uncle Minghe for your assistance!"

The way he called him "Martial Uncle" was so smooth, as if he had practiced it a thousand times.

Old Ancestor Minghe was stunned by the address. A flicker of bewilderment crossed his sinister face. He scrutinized Chen Song carefully, certain that he didn't know this child, let alone have any martial lineage connection.

"Boy," Old Ancestor Minghe's voice remained cold, but with a hint of confusion, "why do you call this ancestor Martial Uncle?"

Chen Song wore an expression of "How could you forget?" and explained, "Martial Uncle Minghe, you, my master Laozi, Martial Uncle Yuanshi, Tongtian, and Martial Aunt Nuwa were all guests in Purple霄 Palace, listening to the Great Dao under the Dao Ancestor's tutelage. By seniority, you are of the same generation! It is only proper and fitting for me to call you Martial Uncle!"

His words were impeccable, directly invoking Hongjun Dao Ancestor as a shield and classifying everyone who listened to the Dao in Purple霄 Palace as "fellow disciples." After all, the Dao Ancestor had merged with the Dao and couldn't come out to refute him.

Old Ancestor Minghe's mouth twitched slightly upon hearing this. This method of forging connections... was indeed fresh and unconventional. However, when Chen Song mentioned "Martial Aunt Nuwa," his heart stirred.

He once again carefully sensed the unique aura of Merit on Chen Song, which faintly resonated with Nuwa's Dao of Creation. The terrifying light in his eyes flared again, like two clusters of blood flames ignited in the darkness!

"Boy!" Old Ancestor Minghe's voice carried a hint of urgency, and he no longer bothered with the "Martial Uncle" title. "The aura of Creation Merit on you... was it not at the place where Saint Nuwa achieved her Sainthood not long ago? Do you know how she attained Hun Yuan and achieved her Saint Position?!"

His demeanor was like that of a top student who had been stuck at a bottleneck for years, finally finding someone who knew the answer.