In Purple Cloud Palace, Hongjun asked the Heavenly Dao for advice: "Heavenly Dao, how did Dijun suddenly achieve sainthood? Can the situation still be controlled?"
The Heavenly Dao was brimming with confidence. "It can be controlled. Taiyi gave his Primordial Violet Qi to Dijun. It's harmless. The Witch Clan still has a trump card. As things stand, the two clans are perfectly balanced."
Hongjun secretly nodded and thought, That's good. As long as it can be controlled, everything is fine. Then he continued asking the Heavenly Dao, "What should we do now?"
The Heavenly Dao pondered for a moment. "Since Tongtian has achieved sainthood first, find a way to sow discord among the Three Pure Ones. You can't let their relationship become too close. After all, all three of them were transformed from Pangu's primordial spirit, and their potential is not weak."
Hongjun nodded and began making calculations. All the Heavenly Dao wanted was balance. At present, there was only one saintly sect, which could be said to have overwhelming dominance. Naturally, that was unacceptable to the Heavenly Dao. Things that reached their peak would decline. It seemed that after the Kalpa of the Witch and Demon Tribes, the Interception Sect would not fare well either.
Elsewhere, a system transmission sounded in Xuanxiao's mind: "Ding! Nuwa creating humans is inevitable. Quest issued: Molding Earth to Create Humans. Help Nuwa create humans. Quest reward: one Phoenix Severing Sword."
Xuanxiao was speechless. "Are you really this busy? What kind of treasure is the Phoenix Severing Sword? Can I wait until Zhen Yuanzi's wedding is over before I go?"
"You can. It's only a few days away. Recently, I think you should find mounts for the Three Pure Ones. At least get familiar with them," the system replied casually.
"Uh, do these little details really matter? I always feel that whether or not I give them mounts, Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle won't attack me. After all... they can't beat me right now anyway." Xuanxiao muttered his reply, then went to help his elders find mounts after all.
Finding mounts went unusually smoothly this time. Wonder why? Because the system had even provided precise coordinates. Thus, Xuanxiao first arrived at Golden Dou Mountain. When he saw a Unicorn Rhinoceros, he went over and began chatting with him. "Divine beast, the rhinoceros. Not an ordinary rhino, but one with formidable strength. How about I give you a great opportunity?"
The Unicorn Rhinoceros rumbled, "Uh, no thanks. I'm perfectly happy staying here by myself. I know you, Mystic Emperor of the Heavenly Court. Don't even think about sending me to Heaven to become a general. That job is too dangerous."
Xuanxiao said, "You make it sound as though hiding by yourself makes you safe. Think about it. If the Witch Clan catches you, you'll end up as a pot of beef. You'd be better off following me."
The Unicorn Rhinoceros shook his head. "What's so good about following you?"
"You know what a saint is? Follow me, and you can become a saint's mount. Not bad, right?"
The Unicorn Rhinoceros looked disdainful. "If you like being a mount so much, be one yourself. I'm not doing it. What benefits does a saint's mount get?"
Xuanxiao was speechless. He went up and punched him directly. "I said you have to do it, so you have to. Otherwise, I'll kill you and stew you for meat right now. Are you coming?"
The Unicorn Rhinoceros looked helpless. "Fine, I'll listen to you. A saint's mount should get decent treatment. I'll go with you. But, Mystic Emperor, remember this: once my cultivation succeeds in the future, I'll return this punch."
Xuanxiao curled his lips and thought, You? Return my punch? Take your time cultivating. You don't even know how huge the gap between us is right now. By the time you find out, you won't have that idea anymore. With that thought, Xuanxiao nodded and headed to the next destination.
Not long after, at Liubo Mountain, East Sea, two oxen were locking horns. One of them had only one leg and was called Kui, a beast of thunder. The other was called Kui Niu, a huge ox with a Taiji diagram carved on its head. It looked exactly like the legendary mount of Sect Master Tongtian.
Xuanxiao was delighted. While the two oxen were locking horns, he went up and struck both of them on the neck with a hand chop, knocking them unconscious. Done. He put them directly into the Qian Kun Bag and headed back to Kunlun Mountain.
Not long after, in Taiqing Palace on Kunlun Mountain, Xuanxiao said to Laozi, "Eldest Uncle, I brought you a mount. Look at this Unicorn Rhinoceros. Doesn't it suit your taste perfectly?"
Laozi looked at the Unicorn Rhinoceros before him and grew fonder of him the more he looked. He casually took out a golden pill and fed it to the Unicorn Rhinoceros. The Unicorn Rhinoceros immediately advanced from the Taiyi Peak to Great Luo. Overjoyed, he said, "So I'm going to be Laozi's mount? Taiqing Saint is unparalleled in the Dao of Alchemy. If I follow my master, my cultivation will definitely soar. It won't be long before I can challenge Xuanxiao."
Seeing that Laozi was in a good mood, Xuanxiao greeted him and left Taiqing Palace. On his way out, he conveniently took a gourd of golden pills and dashed away.
Afterward, Xuanxiao went to Yuqing Palace and said, "Second Uncle, I brought you a mount. This fellow isn't easy to subdue, and I don't know whether he'll listen. But he does have one advantage: Kui Ox has no fur. I know you dislike furry creatures. Once he wakes up, you can subdue him yourself. He hasn't been subdued yet."
Yuanshi helplessly shook his head. "You knocked him unconscious and dragged him here without even caring whether he agreed?"
Xuanxiao nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, Second Uncle. If he refuses to be a mount later, tell me. I've never eaten a divine beast before. Kui Ox possesses the power of thunder, so he should taste pretty good."
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