What kind of monster is this bull?!

The next moment, azure light swirled around the Azure Ox's body, and with a shake, he transformed into a sturdy, simple-faced young man.

Niu Ben revealed his human form, his gaze calmly sweeping over the two opposing factions.

"What are you all trying to do?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it rang clearly in everyone's ears, carrying a natural weightiness.

"All of us are disciples of the Three Pure Ones, from the Orthodox School of Xuanmen, yet now we're at each other's throats, weapons drawn, over an external possession."

"With such conduct, how can you face your masters' teachings? How can you call yourselves disciples of the Three Pure Ones?"

Niu Ben's tone was flat, without a trace of anger, yet it struck like heavy hammers against the hearts of everyone present.

Duobao Daoist and Golden Spirit Holy Mother's expressions shifted slightly. Though the disciples were fierce, they respected their teachers and the Way. At these words, their aggressive aura unconsciously receded.

On Guangchengzi's side, however, their faces turned rather ugly.

Especially Cihang Daoist, who stood behind him. Her brows arched sharply, and a look of undisguised contempt and disdain appeared on her cold, clear face.

"What do you think you are?"

Cihang Daoist stepped forward, holding the Jade Pure Bottle, her voice sharp as she spoke: "You're nothing but a mount under Great Martial Uncle's seat, and yet you dare to point fingers and spout nonsense here?"

"We act on our master's orders. Since when does a beast like you get to lecture us!"

At these words, the atmosphere in the field froze once more.

Everyone wore expressions of eager anticipation, waiting to see the show.

They wanted to see how this Azure Ox, so favored by Master Taishang, would respond to True Person Cihang's public humiliation.

Niu Ben's gaze slowly settled on Cihang Daoist.

This person.

In the future, during the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods, she would betray the Daoist sect, defect to the West, and transform into that "Great Compassionate" Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Right now, she was far from the solemn, merciful visage of later ages. Her sharp words and arrogance were laid bare.

Niu Ben felt no ripples in his heart, only a trace of amusement.

"What qualifications do I have?"

He looked at Cihang and slowly repeated her words, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

Before his voice faded, his figure vanished from its spot without warning.

Cihang Daoist's heart leaped violently. An unprecedented sense of crisis enveloped her entire body. Instinctively, she tried to channel her protective magic.

But it was far too late.

Smack!!!

A crisp, resounding slap exploded in the silent valley like a thunderclap!

Under the horrified gazes of everyone present, Niu Ben's figure appeared before Cihang Daoist like a ghost. One heavy hand landed solidly on her cold, clear face.

Boom!

Cihang Daoist flew backward like a kite with its string cut, a spray of blood mixed with a few broken teeth shooting from her mouth. That single slap sent her crashing into a distant cliff wall, collapsing rocks and billowing dust burying her instantly, her fate unknown.

The entire valley fell into deathly silence.

Everyone was frozen in place, their eyes wide as saucers, mouths gaping as if they could swallow a fist, faces full of disbelief.

One... one slap?

She had sent Cihang Daoist, one of the Twelve Golden Immortal disciples under Primordial Heavenly Lord and a Golden Immortal at the initial stage, flying with a slap?

What kind of monster was this ox?!

Niu Ben slowly withdrew his hand, as if he had done nothing more than a trivial matter.

He looked again at the stunned Guangchengzi and the pale-faced creatures, speaking calmly.

"Now, do I have the qualifications?"

"You... you dare to harm my junior disciple!"

Guangchengzi was the first to react. His eyes instantly turned bloodshot, boundless fury surging to the top of his head.

With a furious roar like a thunderclap on flat ground, the entire valley buzzed and trembled.

He never imagined that a mere mount would dare to strike so viciously right in front of him!

This wasn't just a slap to Cihang's face—it was a slap to his, Guangchengzi's, face, and to the face of every disciple under Primordial Heavenly Lord!

"Outrageous!"

Guangchengzi's hair bristled with rage. He unleashed his magic power without reserve, the terrifying pressure of a Primordial Unity Golden Immortal sweeping out. The phantom of the ancient seal above his head instantly solidified!

"You beast! Today, I will suppress you and beat you back to your original form!"

"Beast?" Niu Ben heard this and laughed.

That simple face now wore a smile that was chillingly cold.

He took a step forward, and a presence no weaker than Guangchengzi's—purer, more brutal—exploded outward!

That was not magical power, nor the rhythm of the Dao—it was a power born from the depths of bloodline, pure to the extreme, the force of the physical body itself!

"Guangchengzi, put away that self-righteous face of yours."

Niu Ben stared straight at the furious Guangchengzi, his tone dripping with contempt: "Never mind Cihang, but today, even if it's you, say one more useless word, and I'll still beat you without hesitation!"

"You!"

Guangchengzi trembled with rage. He had never suffered such a profound humiliation.

Above the Nine Heavens, in the Dao Fields of the Three Pure Ones.

On the face of Primordial Heavenly Lord, usually as calm as an ancient well, a clear trace of anger finally surfaced.

"Outrageous!"

He snorted coldly, and the entire Jade Purity Palace trembled in response.

A mere mount dared to humiliate his Personal Disciple like this—it was practically a challenge to the authority of him, Yuqing Primordial Lord!

Inside the Upper Purity Palace, Tongtian watched the scene on the light screen and burst into laughter, clapping his hands.

"Hahahaha! Well struck! Brilliantly struck!"

"This ox pleases This Seat! This is exactly how it should be—teach those arrogant bastards a proper lesson!"

He had long been fed up with Primordial's "Origin determines all" doctrine. Today, Niu Ben's actions spoke his mind perfectly, filling him with immense satisfaction.

In the Taiqing Realm, Taishang Daoist slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze seemed to pierce through endless time and space, landing on Niu Ben, who was swinging his fist to meet the Kunlun Seal.

Deep within those calm eyes, a flicker of something extraordinary passed by, unnoticed by anyone.

This ox... the power within his body...

This mount of his seemed far more interesting than he had imagined.

He, Guangchengzi, was one of the Three Pure Ones transformed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit, the foremost disciple beneath Yuqing Primordial Lord, a true and proper heir of the Mystic Gate, a Great Expert at the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal realm!

And his opponent? Nothing but an ox! A mount!

"Fine! Fine! Fine!" Guangchengzi laughed in fury. "You're asking for death!"

Yet, facing Guangchengzi's strike born of rage, Niu Ben showed not a trace of fear.

He didn't even bother to summon a Magic Treasure.

"Well met!"

With a low shout, Niu Ben stomped his feet hard against the ground, and the entire valley shook with the impact!

Inside him, the hundred or so Earth Fiend Divine Ox Shadows that had just recently condensed let out a silent roar all at once!

Boundless power surged through his bones and tendons, flooding into his right fist!

A faint jade-like luster flowed across the surface of his skin.

The next moment, facing the Kunlun Seal crashing down with earth-shattering force, he neither dodged nor evaded—simply, directly, threw a punch!

He wasted no more words. With one hand forming a seal, he pointed sharply at the great seal above his head.

"Go!"

Hum!

That great seal blazed with light, swelling as it caught the wind, instantly growing to the size of a small mountain. It carried a terrifying momentum that could suppress all things, smashing straight down toward Niu Ben's head!

The Kunlun Seal!

A Low Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, born from Kunlun Mountain itself.

A protective treasure bestowed upon Guangchengzi by Primordial Heavenly Lord, weighing tens of thousands of jun, with boundless might!