Subduing the Heavenly Horses, Arriving at Zhou Mountain

Xuan Qing immediately examined the great formation. As it operated, countless baleful and murderous energies seeped out. This was clearly no ordinary formation and could only be broken by special means.

After instructing Bai Yu to guard him well, Xuan Qing sat cross-legged before the formation. Shielding his Divine Sense with the Green Lotus of Creation, he began to study it.

Time slowly passed. The formation began to fracture bit by bit, and countless streams of baleful energy started to draw inward, contracting toward the center of the formation as an aura of killing intent spread out.

At the center of the formation, a gray creature was gestating. It was as muscular as a fierce tiger, with wings on its back and the form of a yak. A Killing Sword hung beside it.

Xuan Qing told Bai Yu to get away at once. That killing intent was not something he could withstand.

This was a newborn strange beast born after Qiongqi's Origin had returned to heaven and earth following its death. Yet it was still filled with baleful energy, making others feel deeply uncomfortable.

This newborn Qiongqi was not bad, but it was simply too ugly, and its baleful aura was overwhelming. Once it emerged into the world, it would surely be no good thing.

If it could be altered, it would make a decent mount.

He then took out the Green Lotus of Creation and enveloped Qiongqi within it. He also produced a cluster of Three Lights Divine Water and began altering it with Manipulate Creation.

Slowly, a Kalpa passed. Most of Qiongqi's baleful energy had withdrawn, while a green vitality filled its entire body, transforming it into a little gray-white tiger.

"Now it looks much better. Otherwise, how could I ride it out in the future?"

Xuan Qing stored Qiongqi in the Green Lotus of Creation's inner space, placed the top-grade Killing Sword beside it, poured over a cluster of Three Lights Divine Water, then crushed countless Spiritual Fruits and infused them into it, allowing it to gestate slowly.

"Alright, it is time for us to depart."

Xuan Qing called back Bai Yu, who had been standing guard outside, and prepared to head for Zhou Mountain.

"Master, can Bai Yu ask you to save our Heavenly Horse Clan?"

Bai Yu pleaded to Xuan Qing with a pained expression.

"I am not some indiscriminate do-gooder. How am I supposed to save an entire clan? Even if I had the will, I do not have the ability."

"Master, our Heavenly Horse Patriarch was severely injured in the Fierce Beast War, and his cultivation fell to the Initial Stage of Grand Unity Golden Immortal. Our clan now has only a few hundred Clan Members left."

"Oh, then that is manageable. Let us go take a look at your clan territory. If it is not troublesome, I will lend a hand. But let me make this clear first: if it is too troublesome, I will not do it."

It was fine to lend them a hand, but if they expected him to become their nanny, then what did they take Xuan Qing for? He was taking in subordinates, not ancestors.

"It will not be troublesome, it will not be troublesome. I would never dare trouble Master with anything too difficult. I only thought that since I am leaving, perhaps I could leave behind a little help for the clan."

"Master, get on. I will take you there." Bai Yu carried Xuan Qing and flew toward the Heavenly Horse Clan Territory.

"Clan Leader, I am back!"

The moment the two arrived, Bai Yu shouted into the clan territory. Before long, every member of the clan rushed out, each looking utterly exhausted.

It turned out that they had been ambushed while fighting over the formation. Their clan had originally numbered over ten thousand, but only a few hundred had escaped alongside Bai Yu at the time, as most of their enemies had pursued Bai Yu.

The others had used the opportunity to flee back. Some were too severely injured to be saved, leaving only the Clan Leader and a little over a hundred Clan Members.

Some time ago, while Xuan Qing had been gestating Qiongqi, a Heavenly Horse had accidentally wandered in and been stopped by Bai Yu. Bai Yu had then learned of the clan's situation.

The moment Xuan Qing emerged from seclusion, Bai Yu began pleading for them. He could only rely on Master for help.

"Clan Leader, this is my current Master. Let us see whether Master can help us."

Bai Yu hurriedly explained to the Clan Leader.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist, but we have no need for any help. So few of us remain in the Heavenly Horse Clan. We only intend to find a place where we can keep the clan from perishing."

Indeed, the Clan Leader had already given up hope. He no longer wished to deal with the other two clans and only wanted to find a place to live in seclusion.

"Since you are Bai Yu's clansmen, I cannot simply stand by and watch you die. How about this,

I see that the Spiritual Qi within your Heavenly Horse Clan is full of vitality, making you suited to tending spiritual roots. Why not, like Bai Yu, help me manage my Dao Field?"

"My Dao Field lies far from the mainland. It is vast and free of much conflict, suitable for multiplying and thriving. Why do you not consider it?"

Bai Yu truly was a good man. Such a large group of free labor had delivered itself right to his doorstep. His Dao Field happened to be rich in resources yet devoid of living beings. If his strength allowed it, he would have wanted to seize a portion of them and bring them to the island.

"Is what you say true, fellow Daoist? I have only one Low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. I offer it to you in gratitude for your aid."

"No need. This thing is useless to me."

Once his physical body broke through to the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm, Xuan Qing would be able to withstand a Low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure head-on. This thing truly was of no use to him.

The Clan Leader looked at Xuan Qing in astonishment. He would not even accept a Low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure handed to him for free? It was an exceedingly precious treasure.

How could he know how wealthy the Heaven and Earth Demon Gods were? They simply did not think much of such things.

"Clan Leader, there is really no need. Master does not care for Low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures." Bai Yu hurriedly explained to the Clan Leader.

Fellow Daoist Xuan Qing was truly blessed by fortune. His Dao Field also appeared to be a Blessed Land. The future of his clan would surely be secure.

Xuan Qing took out several drops of Three Lights Divine Water and handed them to the Heavenly Horse Patriarch. He then took out a piece of jade, imbued it with his aura, and refined it into a token.

"This Three Lights Divine Water should help you recover from your injuries. Then take my token and go to Azure Nether Island. It contains the coordinates I have set.

If powerful enemies try to stop you, say that you are the subordinates of the expert who fought Luohu some time ago. That should allow you to pass unimpeded."

The Heavenly Horse Patriarch stared at Xuan Qing in shock. What was this fellow Daoist's background? He could casually produce Three Lights Divine Water and even possessed means to contend against Luohu. He had truly latched onto a powerful patron.

"Alright. Bai Yu, accompany them as well. I will be traveling next, and it would be inconvenient to bring you along."

Xuan Qing no longer paid them any heed. Once he had finished his instructions, he set off directly. As for the means to contend against Luohu, although it was a Formation, it was still his own. He was not boasting without basis.

Two Kalpas later, Xuan Qing finally arrived at the foot of Zhou Mountain.

Looking up, he saw sheer cliffs thrusting into the clouds as though they wished to pierce the heavens, while towering boulders stood in majestic splendor, like the heroic bearing of Great God Pangu when he had held up heaven and earth.

An immense pressure suppressed the entire Primordial Heaven and Earth, and Xuan Qing could not help marveling at Pangu's greatness.

"Great God Pangu, it has been a long time!" Xuan Qing clasped his hands toward Zhou Mountain and sighed.

Thinking of the Witch-Demon War, when Zhou Mountain collapsed, Innate Spiritual Qi vanished, and the Primordial Heaven and Earth declined, how could the Zhou Mountain before him have been broken by Gonggong?

Gonggong was only a Primordial Golden Immortal. Even a Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortal would be powerless here. There had to be schemes at work. Was it the Heavenly Dao, or surviving Chaos Demon Gods?

Xuan Qing stopped thinking about those schemes. With his current strength, it was all mere fantasy.

The moment he stepped onto Zhou Mountain, immense pressure descended upon Xuan Qing. Under such pressure, those below the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm could not even come to Zhou Mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, Xuan Qing thought for a while. He dug up some Zhou Mountain stones from the surrounding area and piled them into an Altar. He then took out some high-grade Spirit Jade and refined it into an Incense Burner.

He then returned to the mountain-climbing entrance, arranged the Altar and Incense Burner, gathered Primordial Sandalwood to make several sandalwood incense sticks, and bowed in the direction of Zhou Mountain.

This was the only thing he could do for the great god.

He placed the remaining sandalwood incense beside the Altar, hoping those who came after would continue the practice, so that one day, they would not even forget the great god who had split heaven and earth.

Suddenly, a ray of light shot forth, and the Altar embedded itself into Zhou Mountain, becoming one with it.

Did Zhou Mountain also think what he had done was right? Xuan Qing could not help feeling happy for Great God Pangu.

Xuan Qing wanted to climb step by step without relying on Magic Power and see how far he could go.

Three Kalpas passed, and Xuan Qing felt the pressure grow immensely. It was as though he carried a mountain on his back. He raised his head and looked upward.

The mountaintop was nowhere in sight. Looking down at the foot of the mountain and making an estimate, he had climbed roughly one-third of the way. Even at the Peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, he had only managed this much.

Then Grand Luo Golden Immortals could surely only reach the mountainside. If Zhou Mountain's pressure did not weaken, one would likely need to be a Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortal to reach the summit.

With that, Xuan Qing endured the pain in his physical body and continued climbing. The path to becoming stronger was always bitter. If he could not endure such hardship, how could he reach the pinnacle of the Prehistoric Era in the future?

Another Kalpa passed. Xuan Qing was already sprawled upon the ground. He had reached his limit.

Since that was the case, he might as well use this opportunity to temper himself properly. Xuan Qing resisted using Magic Power, took out a drop of Three Lights Divine Water, and drank it.

The power of the Three Lights Divine Water and the pressure of Zhou Mountain began to clash within Xuan Qing's body. His physical body crumbled on one side while being reborn on the other.

The effect seemed quite good, but it could probably be faster still. After some thought, Xuan Qing took out another cluster of Three Lights Divine Water and held it in his mouth.

Gritting his teeth, he continued crawling upward on Zhou Mountain. Whenever his physical body began to collapse too quickly, Xuan Qing swallowed a drop of Three Lights Divine Water.

In this manner, Xuan Qing felt increasingly powerful tearing pain rush into his soul. His will constantly grew stronger, but his consciousness began to blur.

More than a hundred Kalpas passed. A bright crimson ravine had been carved across Zhou Mountain. Xuan Qing's consciousness had long since dissipated, and only his subconscious instinct drove him forward.

The Three Lights Divine Water had long been exhausted, and a mass of flesh and blood clung to the ground.

A stream of pure white energy suddenly descended from Zhou Mountain upon the flesh scattered across the ground. Slowly, the flesh began to gather together, forming a white orb of light.

Not long afterward, Xuan Qing awoke. He moved his body and assessed his gains:

His will had become even more resolute. His physical body had broken through two realms, reaching the Later Stage of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal, while his cultivation had also reached the limit of the Mid-stage.

Now, with his physical body alone, he could contend against most Grand Unity Golden Immortals. Added to his own cultivation, he could kill any Peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal who came at him.

Those who cultivated the Great Dao Law cultivated the Primordial Spirit, Magic Power, and physical body together, though most people had somewhat weaker physical bodies.

Even with powerful divine abilities, at most they could fight across one minor realm.

Now, with the physical body of a Later Stage of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal and Mid-stage cultivation, Xuan Qing could kill ordinary Peak Grand Unity Golden Immortals. Anyone below that would be directly crushed.

This time, his gains had been immense. There was no further need for Xuan Qing to continue climbing.