Divine Ability [Heaven and Earth Manifestation]

Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun stared blankly at the humanoid Niu Ben before them, the shock in their hearts surging like a tempest that refused to settle.

One hour!

In just one hour, a mere Heavenly Immortal little demon, right under their noses, had weathered that terrifying tribulation, shed his mortal shell, and not only leaped to become a Golden Immortal Great Expert, but his Origin had also transformed into that of an Innate Divine Being!

This surpassed Innate Beings, falling just short of the Innate Demon God level!

It was utterly unheard of, never before seen!

In the Primordial World, Origin determined one's fate for life—that was an iron law!

When had anyone ever seen a being reverse their Origin after birth, let alone with such earth-shattering upheaval?

"This... this..." Hong Yun pointed at Niu Ben, stammering, unable to string together a complete sentence for a long time. Finally, he could only turn his head to look at Taishang, his face screaming, "Where did you dig up this freak?"

Zhen Yuanzi's Dao Heart was more composed. Forcing down the turmoil within, he clasped his hands and bowed to Niu Ben, his demeanor already shifting.

"Congratulations, young friend, on surviving your tribulation and attaining the Golden Immortal Dao Fruit, with your Origin transformed. Truly a cause for celebration."

"Senior flatters me. This junior, Niu Ben, merely succeeded by luck." Niu Ben quickly returned the bow, keeping his posture low.

He understood clearly—the respect wasn't for him, a newly minted Golden Immortal, but for the Taishang Daoist sitting serenely behind him, and for the unfathomable potential he had just displayed.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile finally flickered across Taishang Daoist's usually placid face.

He glanced at his mount, feeling quite satisfied inside.

He had thought he was merely settling a casual karmic debt and acquiring a beast of burden, but instead, he had stumbled upon a rough gem.

No, this was no longer a rough gem—this was a mountain of ore hiding Chaos Divine Gold!

"Your breakthrough here, in Wuzhuang Temple, was aided by Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi's Dao Field and nourished by his Ginseng Fruit. You must remember this karmic debt," Taishang said flatly, pointing out the crux of the matter.

Hearing this, Zhen Yuanzi's heart stirred, and he immediately stroked his beard with a hearty laugh.

"Taishang Daoist, you speak too seriously! For Fellow Daoist Niu Ben to break through in my Wuzhuang Temple is an honor for this blessed land!"

What kind of man was he? The future Ancestor of Earth Immortals, who valued Destiny and karmic ties above all else.

Before him stood an Azure Ox with boundless potential, backed by the future leader of the Three Pure Ones. If he didn't forge this good karma now, when would he?

With a sweep of his sleeve, the phantom of an ancient, heavy earth-yellow tome materialized in his palm.

As the book appeared, a profound aura of suppressing heaven and earth's four poles and bearing all living things spread out.

It was his Innate treasure, a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure—the Earth Scroll, the Primordial Earth Membrane!

"Fellow Daoist Niu Ben, our meeting today is a matter of Fate. This poor Daoist's Earth Scroll commands the power of the Primordial World's earth, with unmatched defensive might. Today, I gift you a strand of its Origin Qi as a congratulatory gift!"

Before his words faded, the phantom tome trembled slightly. A Mysterious Yellow stream of light flew out, instantly sinking into Niu Ben's brow.

Boom!

Niu Ben felt as though his Primordial Spirit had been crushed by a supreme divine mountain, and then a defensive Dao resonance, rooted in the same source as the earth and unbreakable by all things, flowed through his entire body.

This strand of Origin Qi wouldn't let him directly control the Earth Scroll, but in a moment of crisis, it could draw upon a sliver of the Primordial Earth Membrane's defensive power to shield him!

What a monumental gift!

Hong Yun watched from the side, his eyes burning with envy. This Zhen Yuanzi had truly spared no expense!

Niu Ben's heart shook violently. He quickly bowed deeply. "Many thanks for the generous gift, Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi!"

Taishang watched this scene silently, making no move to stop it.

Since Zhen Yuanzi had given, Hong Yun thought to himself that he couldn't be stingy either.

He raised a finger and gently pointed at Niu Ben.

A flash of clear light passed, and a suit of armor, shimmering with flowing light and forged from an unknown azure divine metal, materialized on Niu Ben's body.

The armor was inscribed with natural Dao patterns, its treasure light subdued—it was unmistakably a Low Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!

"This is the Azure Profound Treasure Armor, balanced in offense and defense. Now that you've just entered the Golden Immortal realm, it suits you well."

Hong Yun's voice remained calm, as if he were giving away not an Innate Spiritual Treasure that countless Great Experts would kill for, but an ordinary piece of clothing.

"Ding!"

"God-Tier Choice System activated."

"Triggering God-Tier Choice. Please make your selection, Master."

Choice One: Thank them, accept the treasure, and continue to keep a low profile. Completion reward: One gourd of [Three Lights Divine Water].

Choice Two: Activate the Chaos Divine Ox Scripture, use Chaos Origin Qi to preliminarily refine the Azure Profound Treasure Armor, revealing the extraordinary nature of your cultivation technique and drawing Taishang's attention. Completion reward: Divine Ability [Heaven and Earth Manifestation].

Heaven and Earth Manifestation!

This was one of the Primordial World's most famous top-tier divine abilities!

Niu Ben's heart pounded. He barely hesitated.

Fortune favors the bold; opportunity must be seized!

He bowed respectfully to Taishang, voicing his thanks. "Thank you, Senior, for the treasure!"

Then, with a thought, within his Dantian's Chaos Space, seven hundred Earth Fiend Divine Oxen roared in unison.

A wisp of Chaos Origin Qi, so faint it was nearly imperceptible yet pure to the extreme, flowed along his mana and surged into the Azure Profound Treasure Armor on his body.

Hum!

The Azure Profound Treasure Armor let out a crisp, resonant hum. The Dao patterns on its surface seemed to come alive, merging with Niu Ben's aura at a speed far exceeding normal refinement.

A faint layer of grayish mist, as if capable of devouring all things, flickered across the armor's surface and vanished in an instant.

Hong Yun might not have noticed anything unusual about this scene.

But Taishang Daoist and Zhen Yuanzi both sharply narrowed their eyes!

They sensed it!

That aura... though faint, its essence was so lofty that it seemed to surpass even their own Innate Dao Bodies!

It was... the aura of Chaos!

For the first time, a true ripple stirred in Taishang Daoist's serene, indifferent eyes.

He gazed at Niu Ben, as if trying to see through him from the inside out.

Could it be... that this mount of his had an Origin not as an ordinary Innate Divine Being, but rather... tied to the Three Thousand Demon Gods?

The moment this thought arose, even with Taishang Daoist's Dao Heart, it stirred up a towering storm!

The visit to Wuzhuang Temple concluded smoothly.

Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun personally escorted Taishang Daoist and Niu Ben out of Longevity Mountain's territory. Their words and demeanor had become exceedingly warm.

Hong Yun, in particular, grabbed Niu Ben and called him "brother," completely ignoring the vast gap in their cultivation levels. It was clear he had made up his mind to befriend this "Brother Niu" of boundless potential.

After bidding farewell to the two Great Experts, Niu Ben once again transformed into his Azure Ox form, carrying Taishang Daoist on his back as they headed east.

Having become a Golden Immortal, his speed was now thousands or even tens of thousands of times greater than before. His four hooves trod the air, swift as wind and lightning, while the magnificent mountains and rivers below blurred past in a rush.