Heaven and Earth Manifestation

Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun stared blankly at the humanoid Niu Ben before them, the stormy waves in their hearts refusing to subside for a long while.

One hour!

In merely one hour, a little Heavenly Immortal demon had undergone such a terrifying Thunder Tribulation right beneath their eyes, shedding his old form and being reborn. Not only had he leapt into the ranks of Golden Immortal great powers, but even his innate foundation had transformed into that of an Innate Divine Being!

That was above Innate Beings, yet below Innate Demon Gods!

It was simply unheard of and unseen!

In the Primordial World, one's innate foundation determined one's entire life. That was an ironclad rule!

When had they ever seen a living being alter his innate foundation postnatally, and undergo such an earth-shattering leap at that?

"Th-this..." Hong Yun pointed at Niu Ben, stammering so badly that he could not form a complete sentence. In the end, he could only turn to Taishang, his face plainly asking, "Where did you find this monster?"

Zhen Yuanzi's Dao Heart was steadier. He forcibly suppressed the shock in his heart and cupped his hands toward Niu Ben in greeting, his attitude having clearly changed.

"Congratulations, young friend, on successfully overcoming your tribulation, attaining the Golden Immortal Dao Fruit, and transforming your innate foundation. A most joyous occasion indeed."

"You praise me too highly, Senior. This junior is Niu Ben. I merely succeeded by luck." Niu Ben hurriedly returned the salute, keeping his posture extremely humble.

He understood that what they respected was not him, a newly advanced Golden Immortal, but the Taishang Daoist seated calmly behind him, as well as the unimaginable potential he had displayed.

At last, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Taishang Daoist's placid face.

He glanced at his mount, feeling rather satisfied as well.

He had thought he was merely settling a karmic matter and taking in a beast of burden on a whim. Who would have thought that he had picked up a piece of uncut jade?

No, this was no longer uncut jade. This was a mine containing divine Chaos gold!

"Your breakthrough took place in Wuzhuang Temple. You benefited from Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi's Dao Field and ate his Ginseng Fruit, so you must remember this karmic debt." Taishang spoke evenly, immediately identifying the crucial point.

Zhen Yuanzi's heart stirred at those words, and he immediately stroked his beard and laughed.

"Fellow Daoist Taishang, you overstate it! For Fellow Daoist Niu Ben to break through at my Wuzhuang Temple is the honor of this blessed land!"

Who was he? The future Ancestor of Earth Immortals, someone who valued karmic destiny above all else.

The Azure Ox before him possessed boundless potential, and behind him stood the future Head of the Three Pure Ones. If he did not forge such a good connection now, then when would he?

With a sweep of his sleeve, the phantom image of an ancient, weighty, earthen-yellow tome emerged in his palm.

The moment the tome appeared, a heavy aura that suppressed the four extremities of heaven and earth and bore all living things spread through the air.

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

"Fellow Daoist Niu Ben, our meeting today is fate. This Earth Scroll of mine commands the power of the Primordial Wilderness Land and possesses supreme defensive ability. Today, I shall give you a strand of Origin Qi as a congratulatory gift!"

Before his words had faded, the Earth Scroll's phantom trembled slightly, and a strand of Mysterious Yellow aura flew out, instantly entering Niu Ben's brow.

Boom!

Niu Ben felt as though his Primordial Spirit had been suppressed beneath a supreme Divine Mountain. Then, a defensive Dao rhythm sharing the same origin as the earth, indestructible by all things, flowed through his entire body.

This strand of Origin Qi could not allow him to directly control the Earth Scroll, but in a moment of danger, it could draw upon a trace of the Primordial Earth Membrane's defensive power to protect him!

This was an incredibly generous gift!

Hong Yun watched with envy from the side. Zhen Yuanzi had truly invested heavily!

Niu Ben's heart shook violently, and he hurriedly bowed deeply. "Many thanks for Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi's generous gift!"

Taishang silently watched the scene without stopping him.

Since Zhen Yuanzi had given a gift, Hong Yun naturally could not be stingy.

He extended a finger and lightly pointed it at Niu Ben.

A flash of clear light appeared, and a suit of armor, gleaming with flowing radiance and forged entirely from some unknown azure immortal metal, manifested upon Niu Ben's body.

Its surface bore naturally formed Dao patterns, its treasure light restrained. It was unmistakably a Low Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!

"This is the Azure Profound Treasure Armor. It combines offense and defense. You have only just entered the Golden Immortal realm, so it suits you perfectly."

Hong Yun's voice remained calm, as though what he had given away was not an Innate Spiritual Treasure that countless great powers would fight desperately over, but an ordinary article of clothing.

"Ding!"

"God-Tier Choice System activated."

"God-tier Choice triggered. Please make your selection."

Choice One: Accept the treasure after offering thanks and continue keeping a low profile. Upon completion, receive one gourd of Three Lights Divine Water.

Choice Two: Activate the Chaos Divine Ox Scripture and use Chaos Origin aura to preliminarily refine the Azure Profound Treasure Armor, displaying the extraordinariness of your cultivation technique and drawing Taishang's attention. Upon completion, receive the reward: divine ability [Heaven and Earth Manifestation].

Heaven and Earth Manifestation!

This was one of the Primordial Wilderness's famed supreme divine abilities!

Niu Ben's heart jolted, and he barely hesitated.

Fortune was sought amid danger; opportunities had to be fought for!

He respectfully bowed to Taishang and said, "Thank you, Senior, for this treasure!"

Then, with a thought, all seven hundred Earth Fiend Divine Oxen within the Chaos Space in his dantian roared in unison.

A nearly imperceptible yet incomparably pure strand of Chaos Origin Qi flowed along with his mana and into the Azure Profound Treasure Armor upon his body.

Buzz!

The Azure Profound Treasure Armor let out a clear hum. The Dao patterns on its surface seemed to come alive, rapidly merging with Niu Ben's aura at a speed far beyond ordinary refinement.

A faint gray current, seemingly capable of devouring all things, flickered across the treasure armor's surface before vanishing.

Hong Yun might not have been able to discern anything from this scene.

But Taishang and Zhen Yuanzi's pupils both contracted!

They had sensed it!

That aura... though faint, its essence seemed to surpass even their Innate Dao Bodies!

That was... the aura of Chaos!

For the first time, genuine ripples arose in Taishang Daoist's serene, detached eyes.

He looked at Niu Ben as though he wished to see through him completely, inside and out.

Could it be... that his mount's innate foundation was not that of an ordinary Innate Divine Being, but rather... connected to the Three Thousand Demon Gods?

The moment this thought arose, even Taishang's Dao Heart could not help but erupt into towering waves!

The visit to Wuzhuang Temple came to a perfect end.

Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun personally escorted Taishang and Niu Ben beyond the borders of Longevity Mountain, their attitudes incomparably warm throughout their conversation.

Hong Yun in particular linked arms with Niu Ben and addressed him as brother, utterly disregarding the vast disparity in their cultivation. Clearly, he had resolved to befriend this "Brother Niu" of limitless potential.

After bidding farewell to the two great powers, Niu Ben transformed back into his Azure Ox form and carried Taishang eastward once more.

After becoming a Golden Immortal, his speed had increased by hundreds or thousands of times. His four hooves trod upon empty air as he raced like wind and lightning, while the magnificent mountains and rivers beneath him rapidly receded.