A Sage's Mount

"What is this?"

All of Wang Pan's attention was fixed on that drop of ochre liquid.

Every cell in his body seemed to come alive at that moment, all screaming: Eat it!

Wang Pan's Ox Eyes grew redder and redder, while two streams of scorching breath billowed from his nostrils.

"No, I have to hold back!"

Wang Pan's powerful will took effect at that moment, allowing him to remain rational.

Wang Pan could sense an intense danger from the Dugu Family's group. Every one of them was far stronger than he was!

If he dared rush forward, he would likely be beaten to death on the spot the next instant!

"Daoist Priest, what is that?"

The Dugu Family members were also staring fixedly at the ochre liquid floating in midair.

"This is the blood of a divine beast—the blood of an Earth Qilin!"

The Old Daoist Priest's face was full of pain. He did not dare look at it any longer, afraid that he would change his mind.

One drop of Earth Qilin blood in exchange for ten percent of the Dugu Family's Dragon Tooth Rice.

He was certainly making a profit.

Dragon Tooth Rice might have wondrous effects in nurturing the younger generation, but Earth Qilin blood was equally rare!

If the Old Daoist Priest's branch had not declined somewhat in recent years, with its disciples weak and lacking even one outstanding talent, to the point that it risked being expelled from the Mysterious Heaven Sect—

The Old Daoist Priest urgently needed a large quantity of Dragon Tooth Rice to nurture his disciples. Otherwise, he would never have been willing to take out the Earth Qilin's blood.

With a flick of his finger, the Earth Qilin's blood abruptly exploded, forming an ochre sphere of light.

Then the Old Daoist Priest formed hand seals and unleashed Incantation Seals. Dense Runes circled the sphere of light.

Supporting the sphere in his palm, he flipped his hand downward and pressed it into the ground!

Boom!

Countless streams of ochre earth energy erupted. Layer upon layer of halos spread rapidly, shrouding the land!

In the fields, countless seedlings seemed to be stimulated as they grew wildly!

The next moment, they all withered and yellowed before turning into flying ash.

The Old Daoist Priest rose into the air and grabbed toward the sky. Countless materials immediately appeared.

Under the Old Daoist Priest's control, the countless materials sank into the earth and linked together.

The originally dark-red soil began transforming rapidly. Countless remnants of demon beast blood deposited in the soil surged forth, wrapping every grain of earth and turning it into tiny Blood Red crystals.

With the grand formation at its center, earth energy from hundreds of miles around was drawn out and gathered into this Spirit Field!

In midair, the Old Daoist Priest also let out a breath of relief. The most difficult part was already done; what followed would be much simpler.

"May spirit and heaven unite. By decree: let rain come!"

The Old Daoist Priest produced a small azure flag and waved it toward the sky!

Countless azure clouds immediately gathered, and fine rain fell into the fields, washing away all the filth left behind by years of irrigation with demon beast blood.

A refreshing fragrance of blood and flesh permeated the air. Threads of bloody radiance rose from the earth before sinking back into it, repeating in an endless cycle.

The Old Daoist Priest put away the flag and descended from the air.

"Is this an Azure Ox?!"

The Old Daoist Priest caught an accidental glimpse of it and became so excited that he nearly fell from the sky.

With a whoosh, the Old Daoist Priest appeared before Wang Pan. He kept circling Wang Pan, his eyes gleaming as he examined him.

"Moo!"

Wang Pan suddenly shuddered and let out a moo, hurriedly retreating several steps. His Ox Eyes were filled with vigilance.

The old man's eyes were truly shining. Foot-long beams of light shot from them, making Wang Pan feel uncomfortable all over.

"What a fine Little Calf!"

The Old Daoist Priest stared at Wang Pan, practically drooling.

"Dugu Family Head, I am willing to exchange ten percent of Dragon Tooth Rice for this Little Calf."

In his excitement, the Old Daoist Priest blurted it out.

"Daoist Priest, are you certain?!"

Dugu Sheng was dumbfounded, suspecting that he had misheard. The Old Daoist Priest actually wanted to use five percent of Dragon Tooth Rice to exchange for this Little Calf?

"This old Daoist is certain. This Little Calf is extraordinary—it is an Azure Ox!

Has your Dugu Family ever seen a blue-green ox?

The bloodlines of all Azure Oxen can be traced back to an Azure Ox from ancient times!

And that Azure Ox from ancient times was a Sage's mount!

Throughout history, Azure Oxen have appeared only four times. This is the fifth!

Whenever an Azure Ox appears, a Sage is sure to descend into the world!"

As the Old Daoist Priest spoke, his gaze never left Wang Pan.

"Moo! What are you looking at?!"

Wang Pan's bull temper flared. His eyes turned bloodshot as his hooves pawed at the ground.

His Ox Horns emitted a hazy Azure Light. The next moment, Wang Pan charged straight at the Old Daoist Priest!

Bang!

"Oh, this Little Calf has quite the temper. As expected of an Azure Ox—at such a young age, it already has such strength."

The Old Daoist Priest stretched out one hand and pressed it against Wang Pan's forehead. No matter how hard Wang Pan exerted himself, the Old Daoist Priest's body did not sway in the slightest.

"This is bullying a bull too far!"

Wang Pan had struggled for quite some time, yet the Old Daoist Priest was completely unharmed. Instead, Wang Pan had exhausted himself.

He plopped down onto the ground, thick breaths snorting from his nostrils.

"Daoist Priest, are you saying that the Azure Ox is a Sage's mount?"

"The Azure Ox appears alongside a Sage's descent. Now that this Azure Ox has appeared in my Dugu Family, does that mean the Sage has also appeared in my Dugu Family?!"

At first, the Dugu Family members had thought that it was merely a calf not even quite a Spirit Beast. Exchanging it for ten percent of Dragon Tooth Rice—only a fool would refuse!

But after hearing the Old Daoist Priest's words, the Dugu Family members were instantly overjoyed.

"That is not how it works. Though the Azure Ox has appeared in your Dugu Family, the Sage may not necessarily have been born in your Dugu Family."

"Still, the Azure Ox alone is enough to benefit your Dugu Family immensely. The Azure Ox is an auspicious omen.

Being born in your Dugu Family will also greatly increase your family's fortune and grant you enduring blessings!

Once it grows, its strength will be enough to protect an entire region!"

The more the Old Daoist Priest spoke, the more bitter he became. The Dugu Family would learn of this sooner or later, so he simply told them everything at once.

He had just done the Dugu Family a great favor. By rights, if he directly asked the Dugu Family for this Azure Ox, they would surely give it to him.

The Old Daoist Priest was confident that the Dugu Family absolutely did not know the calf's true value!

There had been no need to pay such a great price in exchange.

Yet the Old Daoist Priest had still done so, not because his character was noble, but because he feared the Dugu Family would turn against him once they learned the truth!

The Old Daoist Priest had taken advantage of the Dugu Family's predicament earlier without fearing that he would offend them because he knew they could not possibly turn against him.

But this was different. If he deceived the Dugu Family out of this Azure Ox, then once they learned its value, they would certainly fall out with him completely.

The Old Daoist Priest could withstand the Dugu Family members before him, but he could not withstand the Empress of Great Gan!

The Empress of Great Gan was Dugu Sheng's daughter. Once the Dugu Family flew into a rage, they would certainly inform the Empress of this matter!

Given the current Great Qian Emperor's favor toward the Empress, let alone a mere branch Sect Master of the Mysterious Heaven Sect like him, even the Mysterious Heaven Sect's Sect Leader would have to meekly yield!

After speaking, although the Old Daoist Priest knew the Dugu Family would certainly not agree to the exchange, he could not help asking, "Now that you know this, do you still wish to exchange with this old Daoist?"

The Old Daoist Priest's eyes were full of expectation.

"Daoist Priest, you jest. With such an auspicious omen, my Dugu Family cannot worship it enough. How could we possibly trade it to you? Do not mention this matter again!"

Dugu Sheng changed his expression faster than turning a page, immediately pulling a stern face as he spoke.

Although the Old Daoist Priest knew the Dugu Family would not agree, he had never expected the thick-browed, big-eyed Dugu Family Head to spout such nonsense!

If he had not revealed the Azure Ox's value earlier, and had only proposed exchanging ten percent of Dragon Tooth Rice for it—

These blind, foolish Dugu Family fools would probably have been eager to carry the Azure Ox right into his home!

Now that they knew the Azure Ox's value, they immediately changed their tune and stared at him as though he were a thief!

The Old Daoist Priest was so angry he could have spat blood. This Dugu Family was far too realistic!

"Once the Dragon Tooth Rice matures, remember this old Daoist's share."

The Old Daoist Priest left in a hurry, not daring to remain any longer for fear that evil thoughts would arise and he would be unable to resist snatching away the Azure Ox.

In his youth, the Old Daoist Priest had made his living through robbery and plunder. Later, he was taken in as a servant by a Mysterious Heaven Sect disciple. Who could have known that the Old Daoist Priest possessed extraordinary talent? In just a hundred years, he became the Sect Master of a Mysterious Heaven Sect branch, with formidable strength.

Though the Old Daoist Priest had cultivated his character and tempered his nature over the years, greatly reducing his murderous impulses—

A leopard could not change its spots. If not for the Empress Dugu, the Old Daoist Priest might truly have dared to act, slaughtering every one of the Dugu Family members before him!