Just then, Taishang Daoist's calm, unruffled gaze fell upon Niu Ben once more from atop the high platform.
This ox seemed to have an opportunity of his own.
With that single glance, Niu Ben felt as though he had been seen through completely, inside and out—from the origin of his bloodline to the depths of his soul. He had no secrets left to hide.
"The cultivation technique you practice does not seem to exist within the Primordial Wilderness. It should be a technique inherited through your own bloodline," Taishang said calmly, as if merely stating a fact.
Niu Ben's heart tightened. He did not dare conceal anything and respectfully transmitted, "In reply to Master, that is indeed so."
He knew that before a Saint, any lie was meaningless.
"Your technique focuses on tempering the body, supplemented by the Primordial Spirit. It is quite profound and shares a similar essence with the methods Pangu left behind," Taishang continued. "However, your foundation is still shallow. You need external methods to reinforce your Dao Foundation."
As his words fell, he flicked a finger.
Two clear lights flew from his fingertips, transforming into two ancient Jade Slips that floated before Niu Ben.
"These two methods, one is the [Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique], and the other is the [Grand Clarity Elixir Scripture]. I grant them to you."
Niu Ben's ox heart pounded wildly, and his huge eyes widened round!
The Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique! That was one of the Primordial Wilderness's supreme body-tempering techniques. Legend had it that it had been transformed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit, an unparalleled method that pointed directly toward the Great Dao of Hunyuan!
And the Grand Clarity Elixir Scripture! This was Taishang Laojun's signature art, the very ancestor of alchemy!
"The [Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique] was transformed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit. It possesses the power of nine revolutions and can allow one to achieve sainthood through the fleshly body. However, this method is incomplete. Half of it remains scattered outside, in the hands of the Wu Clan."
"Kunlun Mountain is rich in spiritual qi. Go find a secluded place yourself, open a cave dwelling, and cultivate diligently."
After saying that, he closed his eyes and ignored him.
Yuanshi and Tongtian, seated upon the high platform, merely gave him indifferent glances and said nothing. In their eyes, it was perfectly normal for their eldest brother to reward his mount with a few things.
"Yes, Master."
Niu Ben answered respectfully. He carefully put away the Jade Slips, forcefully suppressing the excitement in his heart as he slowly withdrew from this core Dao Field.
He transformed into a streak of Green Light and flew toward the depths of the Kunlun Mountain range.
Behind him lay the unfathomable Dao resonance of three Future Saints. Before him stretched a brand-new path of cultivation that belonged to him alone.
There was only one thought in his heart: become stronger!
In this Primordial World, where great powers were everywhere and Golden Immortals were as common as dogs, only one's own strength could be relied upon!
Kunlun Mountain truly deserved its title as the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Mountains, the Primordial World's Number One Divine Mountain.
The mountain range rose and fell without end, stretching for who knew how many tens of millions of miles. Strange peaks towered within it, immortal waterfalls hung upside down, and the spiritual qi was so dense it nearly became tangible. Even a random blade of grass contained pure medicinal power and would have been an extraordinary spiritual root in later ages.
All manner of Innate Beings frolicked among the mountains, while rare treasures and exotic beasts could be found everywhere. It was a peaceful scene of an immortal realm.
Niu Ben sped onward, spreading out his divine sense as he searched for a suitable place for a cave dwelling.
He did not head toward the peaks with the densest spiritual qi. Most of those places already had owners—either nominal disciples of the Three Pure Ones or powerful Innate Great Powers.
He knew his place well. As a mount, there was no need for him to compete for attention.
In the end, he found an inconspicuous Green Stone Mountain within a relatively remote mountain range of Kunlun Mountain.
Although this mountain's spiritual qi was inferior to that of the main peaks, it was quiet, and its interior was hollow—perfect for opening a cave dwelling.
Niu Ben immediately descended. His massive body transformed into human form, and he extended a finger toward the cliff face of Green Stone Mountain.
Golden Immortal mana surged forth. The incomparably hard rock was sliced apart like tofu, and a deep cave entrance appeared out of thin air.
He stepped inside and followed the proper method, quickly carving out a spacious stone chamber within the mountain's belly. He then laid down several simple concealment and defensive formations before finally sitting cross-legged in satisfaction.
The cave dwelling was crude, but at least he now had a nest of his own on Kunlun Mountain.
He eagerly took out the two Jade Slips.
As his divine sense entered the Jade Slip containing the [Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique], a vast, majestic, and incomparably profound cultivation method flooded into his mind.
"Transform the body into heaven and earth, wield strength enough to uphold the heavens; upon completing the Nine Revolutions, remain Indestructible Through All Calamities..."
Niu Ben immersed himself in it, and the more he comprehended, the more alarmed he became.
He then looked toward the other Jade Slip, the [Grand Clarity Elixir Scripture].
What it recorded was not merely various pill formulas. It also contained Taishang Daoist's supreme understanding of the Dao of alchemy, from analyzing medicinal properties and controlling the heat, to the ultimate realm of using heaven and earth as the furnace and the sun and moon as fire. It encompassed everything, broad and profound.
"I've struck it rich! I've truly struck it rich this time!" Niu Ben rejoiced wildly within.
With this elixir scripture, he would be able to turn the spiritual herbs scattered all over Kunlun Mountain into medicinal pills that improved his cultivation. His cultivation speed would surely advance by leaps and bounds!
Suppressing his excitement, Niu Ben began a long period of secluded cultivation.
He first spent a thousand years beginning to refine the Low Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [Azure Profound Treasure Armor], merging it with his own aura.
Afterward, he began cultivating the [Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique] while comprehending the [Grand Clarity Elixir Scripture].
Within the cave dwelling, Niu Ben's body became increasingly solid and resilient with each circulation of his cultivation technique. A faint jade-like luster even appeared on the surface of his skin, and every inch of his flesh contained explosive power.
One day, while Niu Ben was deep in seclusion, he was suddenly awakened by a burst of noisy commotion.
His brows furrowed, and his divine sense instantly extended beyond the cave dwelling, probing toward the source of the sound.
He did not fly over directly. Instead, he restrained his entire aura and moved through the mountain forest like a mortal, approaching the direction from which the argument came.
Before long, he arrived at a valley.
Within the valley, countless rays of rosy light shone, and streams of Auspicious Qi rose. It was unmistakably a Top Grade Acquired Spiritual Treasure!
Below the spiritual treasure, two groups stood in a tense confrontation, weapons drawn.
Niu Ben focused his gaze, and his ox heart nearly leaped out of his throat.
Good heavens, what time was this?
The main cast of the Investiture of the Gods was already about to start fighting?
Golden Spirit Holy Mother shouted in a sweet voice, "Cihang, stop spouting nonsense. I clearly discovered this treasure first. What gives you the right to claim it belongs to you?"
Daoist Cihang held the Jade Pure Bottle in his hand. His expression was calm, but his tone carried a trace of coldness. "Junior Sister Jin Ling, that is not quite right. My Senior Brother Guangchengzi deduced through Heavenly Mechanism that this treasure would emerge. We came to collect it under our master's orders. How can that be called robbery?"
"You are utterly shameless!" Golden Spirit Holy Mother's pretty face flushed red with anger.
At that moment, Guangchengzi, who had remained silent all along, finally spoke.
His imposing gaze passed over Golden Spirit Holy Mother and landed directly on Duobao Daoist. His tone was calm, yet it carried an arrogance that allowed no objection.
"Junior Brother Duobao, this item is fated to us and should belong to Junior Sister Cihang. You have no objections, do you?"
Before you continue