A Variable, Starting with a Cow?

The next moment, a rift silently split open in the void above the valley.

Infinite Dao resonance and mystic light poured forth, as three indistinct yet supremely imposing figures stepped out from the rift.

The moment they appeared, it was as if time itself in the entire Primordial World had frozen for an instant.

The wind ceased, the clouds scattered, and even the flowing spiritual energy obediently prostrated itself.

Every disciple present—whether previously arrogant and domineering or gleefully watching—froze stiff, their expressions instantly transforming into unparalleled reverence and terror.

"Greetings, Master!"

"Greetings, Great Martial Uncle, Second Martial Uncle!"

Led by Duobao and Guangchengzi, the two groups of disciples knelt in unison, not daring to lift their heads.

The two battered figures who had just struggled out of the cliff face, Guangchengzi and Cihang, were so terrified their souls nearly fled. Suppressing their injuries, they prostrated themselves fully.

Niu Ben raised his head and looked at the three figures.

Taishang, Yuanshi, Tongtian.

He felt no surprise at this.

His earlier words, though seemingly a reprimand to the two groups of disciples, were in part also directed at these three.

As a transmigrator, he understood better than anyone.

If the Three Pure Ones never split, they would be the most unassailable existence beneath the Heavenly Dao in this Primordial World.

Today, he had spoken his piece and taken things to the extreme.

As for where these three would ultimately go from here, that was beyond the control of a single ox.

In the void, Taishang Daoist's eyes of non-action slowly swept over the crowd below, finally settling on Niu Ben.

"What the ox said just now is very true."

His voice was as calm as water, yet it contained the ultimate principles of heaven and earth: "All of you belong to the same lineage of the Three Pure Ones, sharing the same root and origin. You should stand together in unity, not harm one another like brothers."

At Taishang Daoist's side, the Primordial Heavenly Lord, radiating an aura of majesty and order, for once did not refute.

He looked at his own disheveled disciples, then at the unruly Jie Teachings followers opposite, and finally fixed his gaze on Niu Ben, his expression complex.

"Indeed."

The Primordial Heavenly Lord gave a cold snort, his authoritative voice echoing through the valley: "Ignorant of the bonds between fellow disciples, disrespectful to the teachings of your masters, fighting over external things—you have shamed the face of the Three Pure Ones! All of you, return and face the wall for a hundred years, and reflect well!"

At these words, Guangchengzi and the others turned ashen, but dared not utter a single complaint, merely kowtowing to accept the punishment.

On the other side, Tongtian looked at his own disciples and barked out a command.

"You're the same! Get back and face the wall to reflect!"

Duobao and the others shrank their necks, obediently accepting the order.

When the Three Pure Ones spoke together, who dared disobey?

"Ox, come to Taiqing Hall."

Taishang Daoist's voice rang out again.

With that, the three figures, along with Niu Ben, vanished instantly from the valley, leaving behind a group of crestfallen disciples staring at each other.

Inside Taiqing Hall, immortal mists swirled, and Dao resonance was naturally perfected.

The figures of the Three Pure Ones manifested, taking their seats on three Cloud Beds.

A long silence settled over the great hall.

Finally, Taishang Daoist, as the Senior Disciple Brother, let out a soft sigh.

"Who would have thought that we three brothers today would see less clearly than the ox."

A rare hint of self-mockery appeared on the Primordial Heavenly Lord's usually stern face.

"Yes, Big Brother. We were fixated on differences in teachings and divisions among our disciples, forgetting the foundation."

"The Three Pure Ones are one family." Tongtian's voice carried a note of emotion. "It's we who have unknowingly changed."

At this moment, the slight rift caused by disputes over Dao lineages, under Niu Ben's seemingly crude disruption, miraculously began to dissolve.

Three streams of Qi Fortunes, sharing the same root yet independent, showed signs of converging and merging once more.

And at that very moment.

Outside the chaos, within the Purple Firmament Palace.

The Dao Ancestor Hongjun, seated cross-legged on the high platform, slowly opened his eyes. His Dao thoughts seemed to transcend time and space, instantly perceiving the shift in the Three Pure Qi Fortunes.

"Interesting."

Hongjun's face bore neither joy nor sorrow as he uttered two faint words.

"Who would have thought that the Qi Fortunes of the Three Pure Ones have reconnected. A variable, born from an ox?"

He bent his fingers to calculate, but the Heavenly Dao was shrouded in chaos, unclear and indistinct.

The Dao Ancestor Hongjun then waved his hand.

An invisible power of the Great Dao instantly descended, completely shrouding the Three Pure Qi Fortunes that had just begun to converge, making it impossible for the outside world to spy on them any further.

Having done all this, his gaze seemed to pierce through the endless chaos, looking toward some unknown location.

In the Taiqing Hall, Niu Ben's figure also appeared.

He respectfully bowed to the three above.

"Ox greets Master, greets Second Martial Uncle, greets Third Martial Uncle."

Primordial Heavenly Lord looked down at Niu Ben below, the complexity in his eyes deepening.

This ox had struck his disciple, yet had also awakened him, leaving him with a mix of emotions at this moment.

In Primordial Heavenly Lord's calm, well-like eyes, a rare trace of approval flickered, and his dignified yet indifferent voice seemed to fall from the Nine Heavens Above.

"Ox, what you did this time was not bad."

As soon as the words fell, Primordial Heavenly Lord flicked his finger.

Hum!

A mass of Mysterious Yellow Origin Qi, no larger than a thumb, yet radiating an endless ancient, weathered, and profound aura, floated lightly before Niu Ben.

That aura seemed to contain the supreme principles of World-Creating; just a single glance made Niu Ben's soul tremble!

"This is a wisp of Heaven and Earth Origin Qi, greatly beneficial to your cultivation. I bestow it upon you."

Niu Ben's breath instantly stopped, his heart pounding wildly, nearly leaping out of his throat!

Heaven and Earth Origin Qi!

Jackpot!

He had truly hit the jackpot this time!

Trembling all over with excitement, he quickly prostrated himself, his voice carrying a tremor.

"Disciple Niu Ben, humbly thanks Second Martial Uncle for his generous gift!"

Beside him, the burly Tongtian saw this and let out a bold laugh, not stinting as he waved his sleeve.

"Hahaha!"

Whoosh!

A streak of Azure Sword Light, too fast for Niu Ben to react, instantly plunged into his brow's Purple Mansion!

Boom!!!

Niu Ben only felt as if a universe filled with infinite formation diagrams had exploded in his sea of consciousness, billions of profound runes swirling endlessly!

"You ox, decisive in killing, your temper suits my Original Body best! I see your physical body is unmatched in strength, but your skill in transformation is somewhat crude. This is my early insight into the Great Dao of Formations—I bestow it upon you as well. Study it well, and do not disgrace my name!"

This was an unparalleled fortune that would make even a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal green with envy!

Having just obtained the Heaven and Earth Origin Qi, and now receiving the True Solution of Formation Dao, the successive immense surprises left Niu Ben's mind reeling, filled only with ecstasy!

Almost by instinct, he bowed deeply once more.

"Disciple humbly thanks Third Martial Uncle!"

At the head seat, the non-interfering Taishang Daoist, his eyes seeming to pierce through the ages, merely watched him quietly, smiling without a word.

"Go, return to your cave, go into seclusion, and do not waste this opportunity."

"Yes, Master!"

Forcing down the surging excitement in his heart, Niu Ben respectfully bowed, then retreated step by step from the Taiqing Hall.

He transformed into a Stream of light, heading straight back to his cave dwelling on Kunlun Mountain.

Feeling the Heaven and Earth Origin Qi within him—alive and rejoicing—and the vast, ocean-like formation insights in his mind, the fervor in his eyes nearly burst forth!

At this moment, there was no more hesitation!

With a thunderous boom, the ten-thousand-jin stone door of the cave was sealed shut by the formation!

Seclusion!