Just like that.
A thousand years quickly passed.
To the beings of the Primordial Wilderness, it was but a drop in the ocean.
Over those thousand years, Niu Ben spent each day basking in the sun, lying atop the bluestone at the mountain peak, drawing upon the power of the Earth Veins to cultivate. Life could not have been more pleasant.
At his side was often a stunningly beautiful fairy, kneading his shoulders and pounding his legs.
"Senior Brother, your body is so hard."
As Bixiao vigorously pounded Niu Ben's shoulders, she muttered under her breath, her pretty face full of curiosity.
Several decades ago, this liveliest junior sister under Tongtian had, for some unknown reason, begun frequently coming to Niu Ben's secluded mountain peak.
At first, she merely watched from afar. Later, once she had grown bolder, she came over to ask him all manner of questions and seek guidance on cultivation.
Niu Ben did not dislike this clever yet guileless junior sister, and he occasionally gave her some pointers.
Before long, the two became familiar with each other.
"Senior Brother, among those who obtained Primordial Violet Qi, who do you think will be the first to become a Saint in the future?"
As Bixiao massaged the solid base of Niu Ben's ox horns, she asked curiously.
Niu Ben kept his eyes closed and did not answer.
As a transmigrator, he naturally knew who would become the second to Prove Dao and Become a Saint after Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
"Then tell me, Bixiao. Who do you think it will be?" Niu Ben asked lazily.
"Isn't that obvious? Great Martial Uncle, of course!"
Without even thinking, Bixiao answered as if it were only natural, "Great Martial Uncle is the Head of the Three Pure Ones, the senior disciple brother of Pangu's Orthodox Lineage. His cultivation is probably the strongest beneath the Saints. He'll definitely be the first to become a Saint!"
"Haha."
Niu Ben did not answer, merely chuckling softly.
Indeed, the little girl was right. By ordinary logic, anyone would think so.
But becoming a Saint was not as simple as lining up to eat fruit.
Just then.
A figure suddenly appeared soundlessly outside the valley.
The newcomer wore a Daoist robe adorned with the Eight Trigrams and had refined, lean features. He was none other than Jade Cauldron True Person, a disciple under Yuanshi.
"Senior Brother Niu Ben." Jade Cauldron True Person cupped his hands in salute, his attitude highly respectful. "Outside Kunlun Mountain, there is an Ox Clan Being claiming to be your clansman. He has come looking for you."
Niu Ben slowly opened his eyes.
A clansman?
A trace of confusion flashed through his eyes.
Ever since coming to Kunlun Mountain, he had had no further contact with his clan. Why had someone suddenly come looking for him?
He sat up from the bluestone and nodded to Jade Cauldron True Person.
"Sorry to trouble you, Junior Brother Yu Ding."
"Let's go."
At his call, Bixiao hurriedly followed. The three turned into streaks of light and flew toward the mountain gate.
Meanwhile.
At the entrance to the towering Kunlun Mountain.
The clouds billowed like an ocean, immortal light swirled all around, and the divine rhythm of the Great Dao flowed without end, rendering this stretch of heaven and earth like an unattainable dream.
Simply standing at the entrance, Niu Zhuang found the omnipresent Innate Spiritual Qi so dense that it seemed to have formed tangible rivers. Every breath made him feel as though his demonic body were about to burst apart.
He, an Ox Clan Being with a burly frame and twin horns upon his head, stood there waiting anxiously.
Sweat had already soaked through his rough hide garment and ran down his bronze-colored skin, yet he was utterly unaware of it. His large, bell-like ox eyes were fixed on the ever-changing sea of clouds ahead.
His name was Niu Zhuang. By the order of Clan Chief Niu Ba, he had come to Kunlun Mountain in search of Young Clan Chief Niu Ben.
Had the Young Clan Chief really entered Kunlun Mountain?
And become the mount of the legendary Head of the Three Pure Ones, Taishang Daoist?
All along the way, doubts had gnawed at him. The thought was like a thorn, stabbing at his very soul.
No matter how he thought about it, it was simply too unbelievable!
After all, Kunlun Mountain was the Dao Field of the Three Pure Ones!
The Three Pure Ones!
They were formed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit, the most exalted beings in heaven and earth, beings who would even become Saints in the future!
Their Dao Field was a supreme holy land that countless beings of the Primordial Wilderness would not dare dream of attaining.
Their Azure Ox Clan was only slightly above the lowest rank among the entire Ox Clan.
Looking across the vast and boundless Primordial Wilderness Land, they were even more insignificant than a speck of dust.
What virtue or ability did the Young Clan Chief possess to enter such a supreme holy land?
And on what grounds could he catch the eye of Taishang Daoist, the Head of the Three Pure Ones, and be taken in as his mount?
Yet the clan chief's order weighed as heavily as a mountain. He dared not disobey, so he could only bury all his doubts and fears deep within his heart, grit his teeth, and make the arduous journey here.
Just as he was restless and lost in wild thoughts.
Rumble!
The sea of clouds ahead suddenly churned violently, as though an invisible hand had swept aside the mist of eternity.
Ten thousand rays of golden light, a thousand streaks of auspicious radiance!
Several figures, bathed in divine light and standing upon auspicious clouds, descended slowly before him like deities arriving from the Nine Heavens Above.
That vast, majestic, ocean-deep aura—merely the faintest trace leaking out—made Niu Zhuang's legs go weak, nearly causing him to collapse onto the ground!
He looked up in horror.
The man at the forefront had a robust build and retained a somewhat familiar honest look, but his eyes were as deep as the starry sky, as though they contained the ultimate truths of the Great Dao. One glance was enough to make a person want to sink into them.
Most importantly, the intense bloodline aura he carried, one sharing the same origin as Niu Zhuang's own, struck Niu Zhuang's heart like a thunderbolt!
It was the Young Clan Chief!
It really was the Young Clan Chief!
That resonance of bloodlines, that familiarity arising from the depths of his soul, could not possibly be false!
"Young Clan Chief..."
Niu Zhuang's lips trembled, and his eyes instantly reddened.
After seeing the newcomer clearly, he could no longer suppress the overwhelming excitement and grievance in his heart. He strode forward several steps, then dropped heavily to one knee with a thud, making the very ground tremble.
His voice was hoarse and trembling, thick with sobs.
"Niu Zhuang of the Azure Ox Clan pays respects to the Young Clan Chief!"
"Get up and speak."
Niu Ben's gaze remained calm as he casually waved a hand.
A gentle yet utterly irresistible vast force instantly lifted Niu Zhuang up, making him stand steady despite himself.
A stormy sea rose within Niu Zhuang's heart!
So powerful!
The Young Clan Chief's strength had already reached a terrifying realm he could not comprehend at all!
He steadied himself, but the urgency on his face could no longer be concealed.
"Young Clan Chief! Something... something terrible has happened to the clan!"
He spoke anxiously, so fast he nearly bit his tongue. "The Savage Ox Clan, another branch of the Ox Clan, somehow obtained an enormous opportunity. That old bastard of a clan chief actually... actually broke through to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm!"
"A Grand Unity Golden Immortal!"
Niu Zhuang's voice cracked, filled with fear and despair.
"After the Barbarian Ox Clan Chief's cultivation greatly advanced, his ambition swelled. He gathered more than a dozen vassal clans and called them the 'Ten Thousand Ox Alliance.' He wants to unite the entire Ox Clan and force every branch to kneel before him, submit as subjects, and hand over all our resources and breeding cows!"
"Clan Chief Niu Ba naturally refused, and conflict immediately broke out between both sides!"
"The Savage Ox Clan is too powerful. We... we are no match for them at all. Several clansmen have already been badly injured by them!"
"Fearing that he cannot hold them off, the clan chief risked everything to let me break through the encirclement and come to Kunlun Mountain to beg you, Young Clan Chief... to return and take charge!"
Before you continue