Xuan Qing immediately examined the grand formation. As it operated, countless strands of fierce, baleful qi poured forth. This was clearly no ordinary formation and could only be broken by special means.
After instructing Bai Yu to protect him, 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 shatter bit by bit, while countless strands of baleful qi drew inward and contracted toward its center. A surge of killing intent spread outward.
At the center of the formation, a gray creature was being conceived. It was as strong as a tiger, with wings on its back and the appearance of a yak. A Killing Sword hung beside it.
Xuan Qing immediately told Bai Yu to retreat. This killing intent was not something he could withstand.
This was a newborn strange beast formed after Qiongqi's Origin had returned to heaven and earth following its death. However, it was still full of baleful qi, making others feel deeply uncomfortable.
This newborn Qiongqi was not bad, but it was far too ugly and its baleful qi was overwhelming. Once it emerged into the world, it would certainly be no good thing.
If he could alter it, it would make a decent mount.
He immediately took out the Green Lotus of Creation and enveloped Qiongqi within it. Then he retrieved a mass of Three Lights Divine Water and began to reshape it with Manipulate Creation.
Gradually, one Kalpa passed. Most of Qiongqi's baleful qi had been restrained, and verdant vitality filled its entire body. It became a little grayish-white tiger.
"This looks much better. Otherwise, how could I ride it out in the future?"
Xuan Qing placed Qiongqi inside the Green Lotus of Creation's inner space, set the top-grade Killing Sword beside it, poured a mass of Three Lights Divine Water over it, then shattered countless Spiritual Fruits and infused them into it, allowing it to gestate slowly.
"Alright, it's time for us to set off."
Xuan Qing summoned back Bai Yu, who had been standing guard outside, and prepared to depart for Zhou Mountain.
"Master, could Bai Yu ask you to save the Heavenly Horse Clan?"
Bai Yu wore a pained expression as he pleaded with Xuan Qing.
"I am not some indiscriminate do-gooder. How could I save an entire clan? Even if I had the desire, I do not have that ability."
"master, our Heavenly Horse Patriarch was severely injured during the Fierce Beast War. His cultivation fell to the Early Stage of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal. Now, only several hundred clan members remain."
"Oh, then that is manageable. We can 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."
Lending them a hand was fine, but if they expected him to become their nanny, what did they take Xuan Qing for? He was taking in subordinates, not masters.
"No, no. I would never dare trouble Master with anything too difficult. I only thought that since I am leaving, perhaps I could leave behind some 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'm back!"
The moment the two arrived, Bai Yu shouted toward the clan territory. Before long, every member of the clan rushed out. All of them looked utterly exhausted.
It turned out they had been ambushed while fighting over the grand formation. Their clan had originally numbered over ten thousand, but only several hundred had escaped alongside Bai Yu. Most of their enemies had pursued Bai Yu.
The others had seized the chance to escape back. Some were too badly injured to save, leaving only the Clan Leader and a little over a hundred clan members.
When a Heavenly Horse had accidentally wandered in while Xuan Qing was gestating Qiongqi some time ago, Bai Yu had stopped it and learned of the clan's circumstances.
The moment Xuan Qing emerged from seclusion, Bai Yu began pleading on their behalf. He could only rely on Master for help.
"Clan Leader, this is my current Master. See if Master can help us."
Bai Yu hurriedly explained to the Clan Leader.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist. However, we do not need much help. So few members of the Heavenly Horse Clan remain. We only wish to find a place where our clan can continue without perishing."
Indeed, the Clan Leader had already given up. 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. In that case,
I see that the Heavenly Horse Clan is filled with life-rich spiritual qi, making you well suited to tending Spiritual Roots. How about you help me manage my Dao Field, just as Bai Yu does?"
"My Dao Field is far from the mainland. It is vast and free of conflict, suitable for multiplying and thriving. Why not consider it?"
Bai Yu really was a good fellow. 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 permitted it, he would have wanted to seize some of them and bring them to the island.
"Is what Fellow Daoist says true? I have only one Low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. I offer it to Fellow Daoist as thanks 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 directly withstand a Low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. This thing truly was useless to him.
The Clan Leader looked at Xuan Qing in astonishment. He did not even want a Low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure given to him for free. It was an extremely 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.
Fellow Daoist Xuan Qing truly possessed deep fortune. His Dao Field also seemed 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. Then he took out a piece of jade, infused 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 to Azure Nether Island. It contains the coordinates I have set.
"If powerful enemies block your way, tell them that you are subordinates of the expert who fought Luohu some time ago. That should ensure you can pass unimpeded."
The Heavenly Horse Patriarch stared at Xuan Qing in shock. What background did this Fellow Daoist have? He casually produced Three Lights Divine Water and even possessed means capable of resisting Luohu. He had truly latched onto a mighty branch.
"Alright, Bai Yu, accompany them as well. I am about to travel abroad, and it would be inconvenient to bring you along."
Xuan Qing ignored them after that. Once he had made the arrangements, he departed directly. As for his means of fighting Luohu, although it was a formation, it was still his. He was not boasting without reason.
Two Kalpas later, Xuan Qing finally arrived at the foot of Zhou Mountain.
Looking upward, sheer cliffs pierced the clouds as though they would break through the heavens, while towering boulders stood in rugged splendor. It was as if Great God Pangu's majestic figure, holding up heaven and earth, stood before him.
An immense pressure suppressed the entire Primordial Heaven and Earth, and Xuan Qing could not help sighing 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 deteriorated, how could the Zhou Mountain before him have been broken by Gonggong?
Gonggong was only a Primordial Origin Golden Immortal. Even a Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortal would be powerless here. There had to be a scheme behind it. Was it the Heavenly Dao, or the surviving Chaos Demon Gods?
Xuan Qing stopped thinking about those schemes. With his current strength, everything was merely wishful thinking.
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 reach Zhou Mountain.
After thinking for a while at the foot of the mountain, Xuan Qing dug up some stones from Zhou Mountain and piled them into an altar. Then he took out some high-grade Spirit Jade and refined it into an incense burner.
He then returned to the mountain entrance, set down the altar and incense burner, gathered Primordial Sandalwood to make some sandalwood incense, and bowed toward Zhou Mountain.
This was the only thing he could do for Great God Pangu.
He placed the remaining sandalwood incense beside the altar, hoping that those who came after would continue the practice, so that one day they would not even forget the great god who split heaven and earth.
Suddenly, a ray of light flew out, and the altar embedded itself into Zhou Mountain, becoming one with it.
Did Zhou Mountain also think that 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, to 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 mountain peak could not be seen at a glance. Estimating from the foot of the mountain, he had climbed roughly one-third of the way. As a Peak Primordial Unity Golden Immortal, he had only made it this far.
A Grand Luo Golden Immortal could surely only reach the mountainside. If Zhou Mountain's pressure did not weaken, one would likely need to reach the Primordial Chaos Great Luo realm to reach its summit.
Thus, Xuan Qing endured the pain in his body and continued climbing. The road to becoming stronger was always bitter. If he could not endure this hardship, how could he reach the peak of the Prehistoric Era in the future?
Another Kalpa passed, and Xuan Qing was already sprawled on the ground. He had reached his limit.
Since that was the case, he might as well take the chance to temper himself properly. Xuan Qing resisted the urge to use Magic Power, took out a drop of Three Lights Divine Water, and swallowed it.
The power of the Three Lights Divine Water collided with the pressure of Zhou Mountain inside Xuan Qing's body. His physical body crumbled on one side while being reborn on the other.
The effect seemed good, but it could probably be faster. After thinking for a moment, Xuan Qing took out another mass 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 crumbled too quickly, Xuan Qing swallowed a drop of Three Lights Divine Water.
In this way, Xuan Qing felt increasingly powerful tearing pain surge into his Primordial Spirit. His will continued to strengthen, but his consciousness gradually became blurred.
More than a hundred Kalpas passed. A crimson ravine had been carved across Zhou Mountain. Xuan Qing's consciousness had long since dissipated, and only the instinct of his subconscious drove him onward.
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 onto the flesh and blood scattered across the ground. Slowly, the flesh gathered together and formed a white sphere of light.
Not long afterward, Xuan Qing woke up. He moved his body and examined his gains:
His will had become even firmer. 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, relying on his physical body alone, he could contend with most Grand Unity Golden Immortals. Combined with his cultivation, he could kill any Peak Primordial Unity Golden Immortal below the peak.
Those who cultivated the Great Dao Law cultivated their Primordial Spirit, Magic Power, and physical body together. It was simply that most people had weaker physical bodies.
With powerful divine abilities, one could at most gain the combat strength to cross a minor realm.
Now, with a Later Stage of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal physical body and mid-stage cultivation, Xuan Qing could kill ordinary Peak Primordial Unity Golden Immortals and crush anyone below that level.
This time, his gains were enormous. Xuan Qing had no need to continue climbing.
Before you continue