The Primordial World was vast and boundless.
Niu Ben revealed his true Azure Ox form. His four hooves trod the air, auspicious clouds forming beneath them. He sped eastward at incredible speed, yet not the slightest bump disturbed Taishang on his back.
The sea of clouds ahead suddenly surged, then rippled like water.
The space before them was gently torn open by an invisible hand, and three graceful figures stepped slowly out of the void together.
They approached from afar and stopped in front of them.
The void instantly settled once more, revealing the figures of three female immortals.
In that instant, the surrounding clouds were dyed in brilliant colors by the radiance emanating from them.
One wore a pale blue gown patterned with clouds. Her temperament was tranquil as a deep pool, making it difficult for anyone to harbor irreverent thoughts.
One was dressed in a goose-yellow palace gown, her curved brows and eyes naturally carrying a touch of liveliness and sweetness.
The last wore a neat emerald outfit, standing tall and straight, with heroism and charm intertwined in her distinctive bearing.
Niu Ben was instantly dumbstruck.
Good heavens, these were what real fairies descending to earth looked like.
Compared to those later generations of beauties enhanced by countless filters, each of these three was naturally flawless, carrying an innate immortal charm.
While Niu Ben was silently marveling, the three immortals had already arrived before them.
The three female immortals' gazes swept past Niu Ben and fell upon Taishang Daoist on the Azure Ox's back. They quickly restrained their auras, stepped forward, and bowed in unison, their movements elegant and impeccably precise.
The blue-clad woman at the front spoke first, her voice cool and pleasant.
"Your niece Yunxiao greets Great Martial Uncle."
"Your niece Qiongxiao greets Great Martial Uncle." The woman in the goose-yellow palace gown sounded much livelier.
"Your niece Bixiao greets Great Martial Uncle!" The final woman in green spoke crisply, with a forthright tone.
To Niu Ben's ears, their voices were no less than three bolts of heavenly lightning exploding in his mind.
Yunxiao?
Qiongxiao?
Bixiao?
The Three Xiaos!
Niu Ben's bovine heart jolted, and his whole body went numb.
These three were renowned throughout the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods in later generations!
They were no ordinary female immortals.
During the future Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods, they would be the ones to set up the infamous Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation.
Wielding the Primordial Golden Dou and establishing the Nine-Bend Yellow River Grand Formation, they had severed the Three Flowers atop the heads of Chan Teachings' immortals, scattered the Five Qi in their chests, and nearly wiped out all Twelve Golden Immortals in one fell swoop.
They had beaten Chan Teachings until it lost all face, ultimately forcing Primordial Heavenly Lord himself to step in and bully the younger generation.
These three graceful, ethereal beauties before him were the same ruthless figures who would one day radiate murderous intent and stop at nothing to avenge their brother?
The enormous contrast made Niu Ben's heart pound wildly several more times.
He had not expected to encounter them here so soon.
Taishang Daoist slowly opened his eyes, swept his calm gaze over the three women, and nodded slightly.
"So it is my nieces."
After paying her respects, Yunxiao softly asked, "Great Martial Uncle, did you also sense Master's message and return to discuss the Dao?"
Taishang Daoist's expression remained unchanged. "No. Why do you ask?"
Yunxiao explained respectfully, "In reply to Great Martial Uncle, Second Martial Uncle and my Master are preparing to expound the Great Dao at Kunlun Mountain. My sisters and I returned from the East Sea under Master's orders."
So Primordial Heavenly Lord and Tongtian were going to give a lecture as well.
"Let us go. We will see your Master and the others." Taishang Daoist's tone was calm, yet carried unquestionable authority.
"Yes, Great Martial Uncle."
The Three Xiaos Immortals answered respectfully, then consciously followed behind the Azure Ox.
Niu Ben continued speeding onward, but his heart began to float with excitement.
These were the Three Xiaos Ladies! Future Quasi-Saint-level powerhouses, and now they were obediently following behind him—his prestige was through the roof!
(His inner thoughts flooded with frantic comments: Family, who gets it? The Primordial Wilderness' top girl group was serving as my entourage!)
But Niu Ben quickly came to his senses. The prestige belonged to Master; he was merely an accessory.
The group pierced through clouds and fog, and the towering Kunlun Immortal Mountain crashed into view.
The oppressive presence of the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Mountains washed over them. The Jade Void Palace's Dao Field was packed with people—immortal masters with transcendent bearing, snarling ferocious beasts, every top figure of the Primordial Wilderness gathered here like collectibles!
Atop the central platform of the Dao Field, two figures suppressed the entire scene.
The one on the left wore an apricot-yellow Daoist robe, chains of laws coiling around him, his face practically declaring, "Stay away from me." He was none other than Yuqing Primordial Lord.
The green-robed figure on the right was even more formidable. Sword qi surged like the Milky Way plunging three thousand feet, making Niu Ben lower his head at lightning speed—
Naturally, he was Tongtian, the future master of the Interception Sect.
"Elder Brother has returned." The moment Yuanshi spoke, Green Light came blazing in from the horizon.
Taishang rode the Azure Ox through the clouds, with the Three Xiaos Immortals behind him, their attendant-like presence in full force.
Buzz—
An invisible Dao rhythm swept across the entire gathering. The onlookers were instantly cleansed of all distractions and bowed deeply at a perfect ninety degrees in unison:
"Greetings, Great Martial Uncle!"
(Niu Ben secretly reveled in it: This was what they called "I am only a mount, yet I enjoy sect leader treatment.")
Sword light flared wildly in Tongtian's eyes. "Elder Brother, have you made a breakthrough?"
Taishang drifted down gracefully. "Mm."
Yuanshi's gaze pierced through the void. "Elder Brother, have you gained new insight into the Saint Path?"
"No."
Tongtian's gaze suddenly locked onto Niu Ben. "Elder Brother, this mount..."
Taishang did not even raise his eyelids. "Niu, greet your Martial Uncles."
Immortal light erupted!
Niu Ben instantly transformed into a handsome young man, panic flooding his heart:
"Niu Ben greets Second Martial Uncle and Third Martial Uncle."
What kind of figures were Primordial Heavenly Lord and Tongtian? With one glance, they saw through Niu Ben's true nature.
He possessed the foundation of an Innate Divine Being and Golden Immortal cultivation.
"His foundation is rather extraordinary. He even carries a trace of the Trace of Chaos." Primordial Heavenly Lord nodded slightly, his tone indifferent.
Tongtian, meanwhile, laughed. "Haha, what an interesting little ox. Elder Brother, you have a good eye."
Both of them could see that Niu Ben's potential was immense, far beyond that of ordinary Innate Beings.
Primordial Heavenly Lord looked at Taishang and solemnly proposed, "Elder Brother has returned from afar. The three of us brothers have not discussed the Dao for a long time. Why not take this opportunity to explore the Great Dao together?"
Taishang Daoist looked at his two brothers and slowly spoke a single word.
"Good."
As that single word fell, the Three Pure Ones sat cross-legged atop the high platform.
The lecture on the Dao officially began.
Taishang Daoist spoke first. No heaven-shaking phenomena accompanied him; his voice was calm as he spoke of Purity and Non-Action, of Dao Follows Nature.
The ancient Dao texts flowing from his lips seemed to transform into the most fundamental laws between heaven and earth, seeping silently into the hearts of every living being like a gentle rain nourishing all things.
Next, Primordial Heavenly Lord spoke. His voice was solemn and majestic as he expounded Following Heaven and Responding to People, dividing the Heavenly Dao Order into ranks and classes.
As he spoke, heavenly flowers rained down and Golden Lotuses sprang from the earth. Boundless Profound Yellow Merit Qi gathered above the Dao Field.
Finally, Tongtian let out a hearty laugh, his voice bold and unrestrained as he explained the profound truth of Seize a Thread of Life, Teaching Without Discrimination, and how all things could seek the Great Dao.
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