"If I just left like this, this little girl would probably never forgive me."
West Queen Mother couldn't bear to leave her behind. Besides, she really did like this little Qing Niao, and the two of them were destined to share a deep bond.
With that thought, West Queen Mother stopped. "Qing Niao, I am still in need of a mount for my travels and an envoy to represent me. Would you be willing to follow me?"
Qing Niao had been berating herself nonstop. At these words, she widened her eyes in disbelief and froze for a moment.
Someone beside her nudged her, bringing her back to her senses. She hurriedly knelt. "Your Majesty, Qing Niao is willing! Qing Niao is willing!"
West Queen Mother smiled and nodded. She reached out and tapped Qing Niao between the brows, leaving a mark there. Along with it came the inheritance of the Immortal Dao of West Kunlun.
Qing Niao knelt again to give her thanks.
"You may spend the next few days saying goodbye to your clansfolk. When I leave, you can come with me to West Kunlun."
With that, West Queen Mother followed Yuan Jin inside.
All that remained was Qing Niao, the object of everyone's envy.
Don't think that being a mount made one inferior. It depended on whose mount you were.
If you could become the mount of West Queen Mother, Head of Female Immortals and mistress of West Kunlun, then countless divine beasts in the Primordial Wilderness would probably be willing to take the position.
Besides, hadn't West Queen Mother just bestowed the inheritance of West Kunlun? That was the treatment of a disciple.
This Mystic Immortal Qing Niao really was blessed.
Who knew why Her Majesty liked her? Was it because Qing Niao was silly? A bit of a simpleton?
Jealousy had already left the other female immortals here seething with resentment.
Ever since Tongtian had arrived in the south, he had wandered across the land, dressed in a simple blue Daoist robe and looking just like an ordinary mortal. He followed the pull of his heart as he went.
Whenever he encountered evil members of the Monster Clan or Witch Clan along the way, he killed them without mercy.
On this day, as Tongtian was about to head to Southern Heaven, a streak of purple-gold suddenly shot out of the void.
A Purple Gold Divine Rat came hurtling toward him in a panicked escape. The magic power within Tongtian stirred on its own, and the rat was knocked to the ground.
The rat seemed to suddenly remember something and immediately fled.
Tongtian paid no mind to the purple-gold rat as it ran off and continued on his way.
"Stop!"
A hurried voice came from behind him.
He turned to look. Three members of the Monster Clan stood there, each with the cultivation of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
Tongtian was speechless. He had kept a low profile to avoid trouble and steer clear of the Witch and Monster Two Clans, yet now some juniors were ordering him around like this.
Tongtian was proud by nature. He glanced at them but said nothing; he couldn't be bothered to quarrel with three Grand Unity Golden Immortals.
"My second brother told you to stop. Didn't you hear him? Are you deaf?"
One of the Monster Clan men behind him rushed over and blocked Tongtian's path.
Those words truly angered Tongtian.
But before he could speak, the man in front continued.
"Boy, you reek of that stinking rat. Are you one of his accomplices?"
Another Grand Unity Golden Immortal stepped forward from behind and called out, "Third Brother, don't be so rude."
The young Daoist before him seemed utterly ordinary, yet there was an indescribable quality about him. He didn't want the three brothers to invite trouble, so he said:
"Fellow Daoist, the three of us are pursuing a rat that stole our treasures. Your clothes happen to carry its scent. Have you seen it? Could you tell us where it went?"
Hearing his elder brother's words, the second brother—the one who had spoken first—said, "Elder Brother, why waste your breath on him? This little Daoist is obviously the rat's accomplice. Just kill him."
Tongtian shook his head helplessly. If his eldest and second brothers ever heard about today, they would probably laugh him to death. This would become a disgrace he, Tongtian, would never live down.
Ignoring the two Monster Clan members, he addressed their eldest brother directly. "Keep your eyes open in your next life. I'll give you the chance to be reborn and cultivate anew."
Before the three could respond, three sword auras burst from his body. Two of them were annihilated in body and soul; only the eldest brother was given the chance to be reborn and cultivate anew.
When it was done, Tongtian said, "Come out."
The void shimmered, and the purple divine rat from earlier appeared where it had been. Then it transformed into human form.
"This junior pays his respects to the Immortal."
Tongtian asked, "Is it true that you stole their things?"
The rat grew anxious at his question and hurriedly replied, "No, no!"
After a moment of panic, he added, "Reporting to the Immortal, this junior was born from the innate void and can be considered a divine being. I simply emerged into the world late, so my cultivation is weak."
"But because I cultivate the Void Law, I can ignore the obstructions of formations and see through the concealment of innate auras. That allows me to find many spiritual treasures and spiritual roots, which is why I'm also called the Treasure Rat. I named myself Duobao."
After hearing him out, Tongtian swept his Dharma Eye over Duobao. Under his gaze, Duobao felt that not a single secret remained hidden from him—even the Void Law had been frozen.
"You speak the truth, and your origins are quite good."
Tongtian was pleased by what he saw. The Void Law Duobao cultivated was a good match for his Shangqing Immortal Dao. A moment's divination had also revealed that the two of them were indeed destined to meet.
He didn't say so aloud, however. Being destined to meet was one thing; taking someone as a disciple was not a decision to make lightly.
Once he accepted a disciple, that person would become his eldest disciple.
"Thank you for your praise, Immortal."
"Mm. You and I are fated to meet. Would you be willing to serve as my mount today and take me to Southern Heaven?"
Duobao hesitated, then asked, "May I ask the Immortal's name?"
Though Duobao's cultivation was weak—he was only a Golden Immortal—he was still an Innate Deity. He couldn't just let someone ride him without even knowing who they were.
"I am Shangqing Tongtian."
"This junior is willing! This junior is willing! It's Duobao's good fortune to carry you, Great Immortal."
As soon as he finished speaking, Duobao revealed his true form: a handsome Purple Gold Divine Rat.
Tongtian laughed at how readily Duobao had agreed, then sat cross-legged on the rat's back.
Duobao traveled through the void, occasionally appearing in the sky. His speed was astonishing.
As they went, Tongtian spotted two people up ahead and told Duobao to stop.
They were Nuwa and Fuxi, who had been the first to arrive in the south.
"Greetings, Senior Brother."
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Tongtian."
"Tongtian greets Junior Sister and Fellow Daoist."
The three exchanged greetings.
"May I ask where you're going, Senior Brother?"
Tongtian replied, "I came here after receiving a premonition."
Then he seemed to suddenly realize something. "Did the Heavenly Dao summon you here as well?"
Nuwa and Fuxi nodded solemnly.
Seeing this, the three of them felt no joy; instead, their expressions turned grave.
In the Primordial Wilderness, the three of them were among the strongest. Yet the Heavenly Dao's summons had brought them all here. That was proof enough that whatever was happening was no simple matter—it would be troublesome!
His sudden premonition before setting out had been right after all.
The three fell silent for a moment.
Tongtian was brimming with fighting spirit, afraid of nothing. "Whatever it is, I, Tongtian, can cut it down with a single sword!"
Nuwa and Fuxi agreed. Since the Heavenly Dao had summoned them here, they must be capable of resolving the matter. If they weren't, their teacher would step in.
There was no point worrying themselves over nothing.
With their resolve firm, they set off for Southern Heaven.
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