The next moment, immortal light flowed around the Azure Ox's body. With a shake, he transformed into a broad, honest-looking young man.
Niu Ben revealed his human form and calmly swept his gaze over the two opposing groups.
"What are you all trying to do?"
His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying an innate sense of weight.
"You are all disciples of the Three Pure Ones, of the Orthodox School of Xuanmen, yet now you stand here with swords drawn, ready to clash over some worldly possession."
"How can such conduct be worthy of your masters' teachings? How can you call yourselves Three Pure Ones' Disciples?"
Niu Ben's tone was calm and held not the slightest trace of anger, yet his words struck the hearts of everyone present like heavy hammers.
Duobao Daoist, Golden Spirit Holy Mother, and the others' expressions shifted slightly. Though their disciples were fierce and valiant, they still respected their masters and valued the Dao. After hearing these words, their arrogance unconsciously diminished somewhat.
Guangchengzi's side, however, looked rather displeased.
Especially Daoist Cihang, standing behind him. Her willow brows rose sharply, and undisguised contempt and disdain appeared on her cold face.
"What are you supposed to be?"
Daoist Cihang stepped forward, holding the Jade Pure Bottle in her hand. Her sharp voice rang out. "You are merely a mount beneath Great Martial Uncle. How dare you point fingers at us here and spout such nonsense?"
"We act under our master's orders. Since when was it your place, an animal, to lecture us?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere froze once more.
Everyone revealed looks of anticipation.
They also wanted to see how this Azure Ox, so highly regarded by Master Taishang, would respond to True Person Cihang's public humiliation.
Niu Ben's gaze slowly fell upon Daoist Cihang.
It was this person.
During the future Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods, she would betray the Daoist school, join the West, and become that "greatly compassionate and merciful" Guanyin Bodhisattva.
At this moment, she was still far from possessing the solemn, treasured appearance she would have in later generations. The sharpness and arrogance in her words were fully exposed.
Niu Ben felt no ripples in his heart. He merely found it somewhat amusing.
"What qualifications do I have?"
He looked at Cihang and slowly repeated the question, with no hint of joy or anger in his voice.
Before his words had faded, his figure vanished from where he stood without warning.
Daoist Cihang's heart jolted. An unprecedented sense of danger enveloped her body, and she instinctively tried to circulate her magic power to protect herself.
However, it was already too late.
Slap!!! A crisp, resounding slap exploded through the silent valley!
Under everyone's utterly horrified gazes, Niu Ben appeared before Daoist Cihang like a ghost. His heavy palm landed solidly across her cold face.
Boom—!
Daoist Cihang flew backward like a kite with its string cut. She spat out a spray of blood mixed with several shattered teeth, sent flying by that single slap. She crashed hard into a distant mountainside, collapsing it. Rocks tumbled down, dust billowed through the air, and she was instantly buried beneath the rubble, her fate unknown.
The entire valley fell deathly silent.
Everyone stood petrified. Their eyes were wide, their mouths gaping wide enough to fit a fist, their faces filled with disbelief.
O-One slap?
And one of the Twelve Golden Immortals beneath Primordial Heavenly Lord, Daoist Cihang, an early-stage Golden Immortal, had been sent flying?
What kind of monster was this ox...?!
Niu Ben slowly withdrew his hand, as though he had merely done something insignificant.
He looked again at the dumbfounded Guangchengzi and the beings whose faces had turned pale with fear, then spoke calmly.
"Do I have the qualifications now?"
"Y-You dare injure my junior sister!"
Guangchengzi was the first to react. His eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and boundless fury surged straight to the top of his head.
His furious roar was like thunder erupting from level ground, making the entire valley hum and tremble.
He had never imagined that a mere mount would dare strike so ruthlessly before his very eyes!
This was not a slap to Cihang's face. It was a slap to Guangchengzi's face, to the faces of every disciple beneath Primordial Heavenly Lord!
"Insolence!"
Guangchengzi's rage surged to the heavens. He no longer held back his magic power, and the terrifying pressure of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal swept forth. The phantom of the ancient great seal above his head instantly solidified!
"You beast, today I will suppress you and beat you back into your original form!"
"Beast?" Niu Ben laughed.
Yet the smile on his honest face was especially cold.
He stepped forward, and an aura no weaker than Guangchengzi's—perhaps even purer and more overbearing—erupted with a roar!
It was not magic power, nor was it the Dao's rhythm. It was a power of the flesh that originated from the depths of his bloodline, pure to the extreme!
"Guangchengzi, put away that self-righteous face of yours."
Niu Ben stared directly at the enraged Guangchengzi, his tone filled with contempt. "Forget Cihang. Even if it were you today, if you dare say one more word of nonsense, I'll beat you just the same!"
"You!"
Guangchengzi trembled with rage. When had he ever suffered such humiliation?
Nine Heavens Above, the Dao Field of the Three Pure Ones.
At last, a clear trace of anger appeared on Primordial Heavenly Lord's otherwise placid face.
"Outrageous!"
With a cold snort, the entire Jade Purity Palace trembled.
A mere mount dared to humiliate his Personal Disciple so thoroughly. This was simply a challenge to the authority of Yuqing Primordial Lord!
Within the Upper Purity Palace, Tongtian watched the scene in the light screen and clapped his hands with laughter.
"Ha ha ha ha! Well struck! Excellent!"
"This ox suits my tastes! This is exactly how those arrogant fools should be dealt with!"
He had long been displeased with Yuanshi's doctrine of judging people by their origins. Niu Ben's actions today had practically spoken his heart for him, leaving him immensely satisfied.
Within the Taiqing Realm, Taishang Daoist slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze seemed to pierce through endless time and space before settling upon Niu Ben, who was throwing a punch toward the Kunlun Seal.
A glint no one noticed flashed through the depths of those calm eyes.
The power within this ox...
This mount of his seemed far more interesting than he had imagined.
He, Guangchengzi, was one of the Three Pure Ones formed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit, the chief disciple beneath Yuqing Primordial Lord, a legitimate direct descendant of the Mystic Gate, a mighty Grand Unity Golden Immortal!
And his opponent was merely an ox! A mount!
"Good! Good! Good!" Guangchengzi laughed in extreme anger. "You brought this upon yourself!"
Yet in the face of Guangchengzi's furious strike, Niu Ben showed not the slightest fear.
He could not even be bothered to bring out a Magic Treasure.
"Come!"
With a low shout, Niu Ben stomped both feet fiercely against the ground, and the entire valley shook!
Within his body, the hundreds of Earth Fiend Divine Ox Shadows that had only recently condensed let out silent roars at the same time!
Boundless strength flowed through his muscles and bones, surging into his right fist!
A faint jade-colored radiance circulated across the surface of his skin.
The next instant, facing the Kunlun Seal as it crashed down, he neither dodged nor evaded, simply throwing a punch!
He said nothing further. Forming a hand seal with one hand, he pointed fiercely at the great seal above his head.
"Go!" Buzz!
That great seal shone brilliantly and expanded with the wind, instantly becoming the size of a small mountain. Carrying a terrifying force capable of suppressing all things, it smashed down upon Niu Ben's head!
The Kunlun Seal!
A Low Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, born from Kunlun Mountain.
It was the protective treasure Primordial Heavenly Lord had bestowed upon Guangchengzi, heavier than ten thousand jun, with boundless might!
Before you continue