At this moment, Niu Ben had transformed into his true form. Though his expression could not be seen, his blood was boiling within him. Only the final step remained before his Bloodline Ancestral Return would be complete. By then, he too would possess the foundation of an Innate Demon God.
"Moo!"
That roar was like a provocation against the Heavenly Dao.
At last, the ninth Thunder Tribulation descended.
The Chaos Divine Thunder carried the power to destroy heaven and earth as it struck toward Niu Ben.
Niu Ben let out a long roar toward the sky.
His four hooves galloped upward, stepping upon the clouds as he charged directly into the Chaos Divine Thunder.
When everyone saw this scene, their faces filled with disbelief. What kind of courage and confidence was this? He actually dared to confront the Chaos Divine Thunder head-on.
The Chaos Divine Thunder could directly reduce even a peak Grand Luo Golden Immortal to ashes.
Even a Quasi-Saint could suffer grave injuries from the slightest carelessness.
Only those who had reached the realm of a Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortal could ignore the Chaos Divine Thunder.
Niu Ben had only just entered the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm, yet he dared to face it head-on. Everyone's hearts leaped into their throats as they stared unblinkingly at his figure.
The instant the ninth Chaos Divine Thunder came into contact with Niu Ben—
Heaven and earth seemed to lose all color.
The Chaos Divine Thunder was swallowed into Niu Ben's belly once more.
His enormous body blotted out the sky and covered the sun, with the light of Chaos Divine Thunder flashing across him.
This was the final step of Bloodline Ancestral Return, as well as the most crucial one.
He had to undergo complete destruction. Otherwise, the Bloodline Ancestral Return rewarded by the system might not reach perfection.
At this moment, he felt as though every bone in his body had been shattered and reforged. The pain made him unable to resist roaring toward the heavens.
His agonized cry spread outward.
Smiles appeared on the faces of the Three Pure Ones. They withdrew the Magic Treasures floating around them, their hearts filled with anticipation.
They now understood that this was not a transformation Thunder Tribulation at all, but an elevation of one's foundation.
Niu Ben's aptitude and foundation were improving at a terrifying speed.
After he withstood the ninth Thunder Tribulation, a ray of rosy light descended from the heavens and entered Niu Ben's body.
In that instant, Niu Ben sensed the changes taking place within him.
The Chaos Divine Thunder had wreaked havoc and destruction within his body, but that ray of rosy light repaired it all.
The rhythm of his entire body was gradually changing as well.
From its initial verdant hue, it slowly evolved into purple. The patterns across his body seemed to contain the profundities of the Heavenly Dao. Merely observing them from afar made everyone feel they had gained greatly.
Then, the system's voice suddenly rang out in his mind.
[ Ding! ] [ Congratulations, Host. Your bloodline has evolved into an Innate Demon God. Cultivation required for the next stage of Bloodline Ancestral Return: Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortal! ]
A smile unconsciously appeared on Niu Ben's face. Although his strength was still at the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm—
His foundation had broken through to that of an Innate Demon God.
This was a foundation surpassing even that of an Innate Divine Being, a bloodline possessed only by the most supreme beings.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun possessed the bearing of an Innate Demon God, and so did the Three Pure Ones. They also had Pangu's World-Creating Merit upon them.
Di Jun and Emperor Taiyi were the same.
They had been born with the Fortune of heaven and earth within them. Even reincarnated Chaos Godfiends could at most possess a foundation equal to his.
Yet this was secondary.
What mattered most was the improvement to his physique.
Niu Ben's already formidable body had received an even greater enhancement, reaching the state of a Top Grade Acquired Spiritual Treasure. The Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique had also entered its sixth revolution.
Without any unforeseen circumstances, he could achieve the Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm through his own aptitude and foundation alone.
Once the Heavenly Tribulation vanished, the sky became clear once more.
Kunlun Mountain's immortal aura drifted through the air, and the terrifying pressure from before was gone.
Everyone watched as Niu Ben returned to human form and stood in the void. The aura emanating from him became ever more terrifying, like a vast and boundless abyss of Chaos.
He was countless times more terrifying than any Grand Luo Golden Immortal they had ever seen.
And who were the Three Pure Ones?
Naturally, they noticed the changes in Niu Ben's bloodline.
The three exchanged glances.
Shock appeared in their eyes.
Innate Demon God!
"This..."
Yuanshi Tianzhong and Tongtian could hardly believe it.
Taishang's heart was greatly shaken, but his face remained calm.
One had to know that the foundation of an Innate Demon God was the strongest foundation in the Primordial Wilderness. All such beings were born with immense Fortune, or were reincarnations of Chaos Demon Gods.
But now—
Niu Ben had actually reversed his bloodline, going from the bearing of an Innate Divine Being directly into the body of an Innate Demon God.
The Three Pure Ones had never heard of any creature in the Primordial Wilderness possessing the ability to improve its own foundation.
They could not comprehend it.
In the end, they could only attribute the reason to the Heavenly Tribulation.
Perhaps the final Chaos Divine Thunder had caused Niu Ben's foundation to transform and rise.
Moreover, they could tell that Niu Ben had likely chosen the path of sanctifying the body.
Only Pangu had sanctified his body and walked the path of strength.
At that moment, the three suddenly appeared before Niu Ben.
Niu Ben was startled, especially when he saw their gazes. He felt like a little lamb being watched by predators.
He had still been sensing the changes in his strength. Once he came to his senses, he hurriedly bowed.
"Greetings, Master. Greetings, Two Martial Uncles!"
The more Taishang looked at him, the more satisfied he became. With a flick of his sleeve—
The next moment, they appeared at Taishang's Dao Field.
Taishang felt deeply moved. Back then, he had accepted Niu Ben as a mount merely to settle a karmic tie. He had intended only to let Niu Ben follow him and keep him safe from harm.
Yet he had never expected Niu Ben's strength to rise to such a terrifying level.
His foundation had even reached the bearing of an Innate Demon God.
As the eldest brother, how could he not understand what his two younger brothers were thinking?
Before either of them could speak, he smiled gently.
"From today onward, Niu Ben, you are no longer my mount."
Panic rose in Niu Ben's heart. He was utterly bewildered. Why was he being driven away now that he had become stronger and stronger?
That was the thought that instinctively arose in him. Taishang was the thickest tree in his eyes. So long as he clung to that tree, whether it was the current Witch-Demon Great Tribulation, the future Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods, or the lesser Tribulation of Journey to the West, he could remain detached from them all.
He hurriedly said, "Master, why are you driving me away?"
"Have I done something wrong?"
When Taishang heard this, he felt rather speechless. He had not expected this ox to think that way.
He could not help but laugh, then explained, "Ox, do not overthink it."
"With your current strength, you have already advanced into the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm. It is no longer appropriate for you to remain my mount, so today I intend to accept you as my Senior Disciple. Are you willing?"
As soon as those words were spoken, Niu Ben froze on the spot.
He was not being driven away?
Taishang was even going to accept him as his Senior Disciple.
Then from now on, he would be the rightful Senior Disciple Brother among the Disciples of the Three Pure Ones.
The surprise had come far too suddenly.
Before you continue