Of the Primordial Violet Qi, who will be the first to achieve sainthood in the future?

And so it went.

Soon, a thousand years had passed.

To the living beings of the Primordial Wilderness, that was but a drop in the ocean.

Over this millennium, Niu Ben simply basked in the sun each day, lying on the azure stone atop the mountain peak, drawing on the power of the earth veins to cultivate—a life of utter ease.

A peerless immortal maiden was often by his side, massaging his shoulders and tapping his legs.

"Senior Brother, your body is so hard."

Bixiao muttered softly as she pounded Niu Ben's shoulders with effort, her pretty face full of curiosity.

Decades ago, this most lively Junior Sister under Tongtian's tutelage had, for reasons unknown, started frequently visiting Niu Ben's desolate mountain peak.

At first, she only watched from afar. Later, emboldened, she came closer to ask all sorts of questions and seek guidance on cultivation matters.

Toward this mischievous yet guileless Junior Sister, Niu Ben felt no aversion and occasionally offered a pointer or two.

As time passed, the two grew familiar.

"Senior Brother, among those who obtained the Primordial Violet Qi, who do you think will become a Saint first?"

Bixiao asked curiously as she massaged the base of Niu Ben's sturdy horns.

Niu Ben closed his eyes and did not answer.

As a transmigrator, he naturally knew who would be the second to Prove Dao and Become a Saint after Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

"And you, Bixiao—who do you think it'll be?" Niu Ben countered lazily.

"That goes without saying! It'll be Great Martial Uncle, of course!"

Bixiao answered without a second thought, as if it were only natural. "Great Martial Uncle is the foremost of the Three Pure Ones, the Senior Disciple Brother of Pangu's Orthodox Lineage. His cultivation is likely the strongest beneath the Saints. Surely he'll be the first to become a Saint!"

"Haha."

Niu Ben didn't reply, only let out a soft chuckle.

Indeed, the girl wasn't wrong. Under normal logic, anyone would think that.

But becoming a Saint wasn't as simple as lining up for fruit.

Just then.

Outside the valley, a figure appeared silently.

The newcomer wore a gossamer Eight Trigrams Daoist robe, his face gaunt—none other than Yuanshi's disciple, Jade Cauldron True Person.

"Senior Brother Niu Ben." Jade Cauldron True Person clasped his hands in a respectful salute. "Outside Kunlun Mountain, there's a being of the Ox Clan claiming to be your clansman, here to seek you out."

Niu Ben slowly opened his eyes.

Clansmen?

A flicker of doubt crossed his gaze.

Since coming to Kunlun Mountain, he'd had no contact with his clan. Why would someone suddenly come looking for him?

He sat up from the azure stone and nodded at Jade Cauldron True Person.

"Much obliged, Junior Brother Jade Cauldron."

"Let's go."

He called out, and Bixiao beside him quickly followed. The three turned into streams of light, flying toward the mountain gate.

At that moment.

At the entrance of the towering Kunlun Mountain.

Clouds and mist surged like a sea, immortal light swirled, and the rhythm of the Great Dao flowed without cease, rendering this realm like a dreamy illusion—visible yet unreachable.

Just standing at the entrance, the omnipresent Innate Spiritual Qi was so dense it seemed to have turned into a tangible river. Every breath made Niu Zhuang feel as if his demonic body was about to burst.

He, a burly Ox Clan being with a pair of horns on his head, waited with a face full of anxiety.

Sweat had already soaked through the rough beast-hide garment he wore, trickling down his bronze skin, but he was oblivious. His bull-like eyes, as big as copper bells, stared fixedly at the shifting sea of clouds before him.

His name was Niu Zhuang, and he had been sent by Clan Chief Niu Ba to find Young Clan Chief Niu Ben at Kunlun Mountain.

Had the Young Clan Chief really joined Kunlun Mountain?

And become the mount of Taishang Daoist, the foremost of the legendary Three Pure Ones?

All the way here, that thought had gnawed at him like a thorn, stabbing his soul with pain.

No matter how he looked at it, it was too far-fetched!

After all, Kunlun Mountain was the Dao Field of the Three Pure Ones!

The Three Pure Ones!

They were incarnations of Pangu's Primordial Spirit, the most honored beings in heaven and earth, who would even become Saints in the future!

Their Dao Field was a supreme holy land that the billions of beings in the Primordial Wilderness dared not even dream of.

Their Azure Ox lineage was merely mid-to-lower tier within the entire Ox Clan.

Gazing across the boundless, endless Primordial Wilderness, he was as insignificant as a single speck of dust.

What virtue or ability did he possess, that the Young Clan Chief could be accepted into such a supreme sacred land?

And on what grounds could he be chosen by the Taishang Daoist, foremost of the Three Pure Ones, to become his mount?

Yet the clan chief's command was as heavy as a mountain, and he dared not disobey. He could only bury his doubts and fears deep in his heart, grit his teeth, and journey here without rest.

Just as his mind was unsettled and wandering in wild thoughts—

Boom!

The sea of clouds ahead suddenly churned violently, as if an invisible hand had parted the mists of ten thousand ages.

Golden light blazed in every direction, a thousand auspicious colors streamed forth!

Several figures bathed in divine radiance, treading on Auspicious Clouds, descended like gods from the Nine Heavens Above, landing slowly before him.

That vast, boundless aura, deep as an abyss—even a mere wisp of it leaking out made Niu Zhuang's legs go weak, nearly collapsing to the ground!

He looked up in shock.

The one at the forefront had a sturdy build, his face still bearing a familiar, honest look, but his eyes were as profound as the starry sky, as if they contained the principles of the Great Dao, drawing anyone who gazed into them into their depths.

Most importantly, the bloodline aura emanating from him—identical in origin, thick and intense to the extreme—struck Niu Zhuang's heart like a thunderbolt!

It was the Young Clan Chief!

It really was the Young Clan Chief!

That resonance of bloodline, that deep-seated familiarity from the soul itself—there was no way it could be fake!

"Young Clan Chief..."

Niu Zhuang's lips trembled, and his eyes instantly reddened.

After seeing the newcomer's face, he could no longer suppress the surging waves of excitement and grievance within him. He rushed forward a few steps, then with a heavy "thud," dropped to one knee, the entire earth shaking from the impact.

His voice came out choked with tears, hoarse and trembling.

"Niu Zhuang of the Azure Ox Clan, pays respects to the Young Clan Chief!"

"Rise and speak."

Niu Ben's gaze was calm as he casually waved a hand.

A gentle yet utterly irresistible, vast force instantly lifted Niu Zhuang, forcing him to steady himself.

Niu Zhuang's heart churned with even greater turmoil!

So strong!

The Young Clan Chief's strength had already reached a terrifying level beyond his comprehension!

He steadied his mind, and the urgency on his face could no longer be hidden.

"Young Clan Chief! The clan... something huge has happened to the clan!"

He spoke urgently, his words tumbling out so fast he nearly bit his tongue. "The Savage Ox Clan, also of the ox tribe, somehow obtained a tremendous opportunity from somewhere. That old bastard of a clan chief of theirs actually... actually broke through to the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal realm!"

"Primordial Unity Golden Immortal!"

Niu Zhuang's voice cracked, filled with fear and despair.

"After the Barbarian Ox Clan Chief's cultivation soared, his ambition exploded. He gathered over a dozen vassal clans, calling themselves the 'Ten Thousand Ox Alliance,' and wants to unify our entire ox tribe! He demands that all our branches kneel and submit to him, handing over all resources and breeding cows!"

"The clan chief, of course, refused, and a conflict broke out on the spot!"

"The Savage Ox Clan is too strong. We... we were no match at all. Several of our Clansmen were severely injured by them!"

"The clan chief feared he couldn't hold out, so he risked everything to let me break through the encirclement and come to Kunlun Mountain, to ask you, Young Clan Chief... to return and take charge!"