Golden-Winged Great Peng

Dao Xuan was worried about the Gourd Baby's injuries and had no intention of staying.

The Five Spirit Qilin, being intelligent, understood its master's thoughts. Its four hooves trod on auspicious clouds, transforming into a five-colored stream of light that sped like lightning towards the direction where the Gourd Baby and the Six-Eared Macaque had been sent.

Its divine sense had already spread out like a tide, locking onto the valley tens of thousands of miles away.

It arrived in a moment.

It pressed down its cloud and landed in the valley.

The scene before its eyes made Dao Xuan pause slightly.

The expected image of the Gourd Baby looking wronged and the Six-Eared Macaque anxiously guarding it did not appear.

Instead, in the air above the valley, treasures flashed and rumbled!

The Gourd Baby, standing on the Seven-Colored Gourd, its small face tense, its big eyes filled with seriousness (and a hint of grumpiness), was locked in a fierce battle with a Golden-Winged Great Peng!

The Peng had a wingspan of dozens of feet, its feathers shimmering with golden light, as if forged from gold. It was magnificent and extraordinary, its aura clearly at the mid-stage Golden Immortal level!

Its claws were as sharp as hooks, and every dive tore through the air, creating piercing sonic booms!

Even more eye-catching was an ancient pottery jar clutched in its claws.

The jar, though seemingly crude, emanated an unfathomably profound Dao Rhyme. Yin and Yang energies flowed ceaselessly from its opening, sometimes grinding the void like a millstone, sometimes piercing and slicing like a sharp sword, possessing astonishing power!

Although the Gourd Baby was protected by the Seven-Colored Gourd, a top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, its seven-colored treasure light was radiant, its defense unparalleled, blocking all attacks from the Yin and Yang energies.

However, he was, after all, young and lacked combat experience.

His offensive methods were also singular: either he would activate the gourd to shoot seven-colored rays of light at the Peng, or he would swing his little fists, pouncing with a fierce, childish might from a distance.

Though the power was not insignificant, it was always dodged by the Golden-Winged Great Peng's extreme speed and agile movements, or cleverly neutralized by its Yin and Yang energies.

For a time, golden light and colorful clouds intertwined, Yin and Yang energies collided with seven-colored treasure light, and the rumbling continued. They were evenly matched, neither able to overcome the other.

The Six-Eared Macaque, on the ground, was so anxious it scratched its ears and leaped about.

It was only at the Earth Immortal level. The mere residual energy from such a Golden Immortal-level battle made it tremble with fear; it couldn't get involved at all.

It could only shriek at the top of its lungs:

"Little Master, watch out on your left!"

"Ah! The bird's jar is smoking again!"

"Quick! Hit it with the gourd!"

It was so anxious that all six of its ears stood up like antennae, wishing it could rush up and take the blows for the Little Master.

Dao Xuan quietly landed beside the Six-Eared Macaque, which didn't notice him at all, still jumping around.

"Six-Eared," Dao Xuan said calmly.

"Huh?!" The Six-Eared Macaque jumped in fright and turned its head sharply. Seeing that it was Dao Xuan, it was overjoyed, as if it had seen a savior. With a thump, it knelt down:

"Immortal Master! You've finally arrived! Quickly save the Little Master!"

"Get up and speak. What happened?" Dao Xuan's gaze remained on the two fighting in the air, his brows furrowed slightly.

The Six-Eared Macaque quickly got up and spoke rapidly, with a hint of embarrassment and grievance:

"Reporting to Immortal Master! You used your great divine power to send us out of the formation just now, breaking through the spatial rift..."

"This... this humble one's cultivation is low, I couldn't control my body..."

"This... this landing spot... was just... just a little bit off..."

It scratched its head, its six ears drooping, its voice growing softer:

"This humble one's backside... landed precisely... precisely on the face... of that Great Peng bird..."

Dao Xuan: "..."

Even with his clear Dao heart, the corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch slightly.

Imagine the scene...

A golden monkey, descending from the sky, precisely landing its backside on the noble face of a proud Golden-Winged Great Peng...

This was no mere offense; it was a profound humiliation!

The Six-Eared Macaque continued with a mournful face:

"That Great Peng bird was at that moment... uh... perhaps preening its feathers? Or contemplating bird life?"

"After being sat on by this humble one like that... it exploded on the spot! Its feathers all stood on end!"

"It felt immensely insulted and flew into a rage, wanting to tear this humble one to shreds to vent its anger!"

"How could the Little Master, who is benevolent and kind, stand by and do nothing? He immediately stood in front of this humble one and reasoned with that flat-feathered beast..."

"But that bird was unreasonable, relying on its high cultivation and that strange jar, and attacked directly!"

"The Little Master, to protect this humble one, started fighting with it! They've been fighting for quite a while!"

The Six-Eared Macaque finished speaking like a bamboo tube pouring out beans, looking expectantly at Dao Xuan, full of lingering fear and guilt.

After listening, Dao Xuan also shook his head with a wry smile.

What is all this?

A bloody incident triggered by a deviation in the "landing point"?

He looked at the magnificent and extraordinary Golden-Winged Great Peng in the sky, its feathers brilliant, its claws clutching a Yin-Yang clay pot, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

The purity of this Peng's bloodline and the nobility of its aura were far beyond those of the mixed-blood Great Pengs he had seen before!

Especially the ancient clay pot in its claws, with Yin and Yang energies flowing within, creating Dao Rhyme naturally, as one integrated whole, subtly hinting at the evolution of chaos!

It was definitely not an ordinary item!

Dao Xuan's heart stirred, and he secretly activated the Xuanmen's divination technique, counting on his fingers.

Although the Heavenly Opportunity was obscure due to the approaching great tribulation, combined with the Peng's appearance, aura, and especially the resonating Yin and Yang energies of its Origin...

A title instantly surfaced in his mind!

One of the Phoenix's sons! The first and purest Golden-Winged Great Peng in existence!

Its elder brother, Kong Xuan, wielded the Five-Colored Divine Light that shook the Great Desolation, rumored to be able to brush aside anything below a Saint!

The one before him, though not as famous, possessed a companion treasure that contained the innate Yin and Yang Origin, a supreme treasure!

"So it's him..." Dao Xuan understood.

Looking at the clay pot, and then thinking of Kong Xuan's Five-Colored Divine Light, Dao Xuan's thoughts raced.

This Peng had peerless bloodline talent and a companion treasure with infinite potential, but it seemed it hadn't fully refined and mastered it yet. Its combat style appeared immature; even though it had the cultivation of a mid-stage Golden Immortal, it couldn't defeat the Gourd Baby, who lacked combat experience.

If it could be properly trained and taught the Great Dao, its future achievements might not be inferior to its brother Kong Xuan's!

A thought of "picking up a bargain" arose in Dao Xuan's mind.

At this moment, the battle in the sky was fierce.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng, unable to win after a prolonged fight and being entangled by a baby, felt its dignity severely wounded and became increasingly agitated.

It let out a sharp cry and fully activated the clay pot in its claws!

"Yin and Yang rotate, grinding the universe!"

Buzz!

The Yin and Yang energies at the mouth of the clay pot spun wildly, transforming into a giant black and white grinding disc phantom. Carrying the terrifying Dao Rhyme that could obliterate all things, it descended upon the Gourd Baby!

Its might was several times stronger than before!

The Gourd Baby's little face turned pale. Feeling immense pressure, it quickly activated its Seven-Colored Gourd.

The seven-colored treasure light surged, forming a solidified light shield to protect its entire body!

Boom!

The black and white grinding disc slammed fiercely onto the seven-colored light shield!

The light shield vibrated violently, its seven-colored light flickering unstably!

The Gourd Baby was shaken, its Blood Essence churning, its little face even paler, and the Seven-Colored Gourd beneath its feet wobbled.

Although it blocked the attack, it was clearly struggling.

"Little Master!" the Six-Eared Macaque cried out in alarm.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng's eyes flashed with ferocity, and it was about to activate the clay pot again.

"Enough."

A calm yet supremely majestic voice, like thunder from the ninth heaven, exploded directly in the depths of its Primordial Spirit!

The Golden-Winged Great Peng's feathers instantly stood on end! A great fear originating from the depths of its bloodline caused its movements to freeze abruptly!

It looked down in horror.

In the valley, a Daoist had appeared at some unknown time.

He wore a Blue Gauze Headband, his face like mutton-fat jade, his eyes clear and brows elegant, his demeanor refined, exuding the aura of a high-ranking Xuanmen immortal.

He stood there quietly, his presence as profound as the sea, as if he had merged with the entire world.

Although he wasn't emitting any oppressive aura, he made the Golden-Winged Great Peng feel a suffocating pressure!

It was as if it were facing an insurmountable ancient divine mountain!

Dao Xuan looked at it, his gaze deep.

"Son of the Phoenix, with pure bloodline, yet here you bully the weak and act ferociously. Does this not disgrace the reputation of your parents?"

The Golden-Winged Great Peng's origins were exposed, and it was even more shocked. However, pride prevented it from bowing its head, and it shrieked:

"Who are you? How dare you meddle in my affairs! This monkey insulted me first, this is a personal grudge!"

"A personal grudge?" Dao Xuan smiled faintly. "This humble Daoist is Dao Xuan of Xuanmen. This child is my disciple, and this monkey is my attendant. If you wish to harm them, you make an enemy of this humble Daoist."

"Dao Xuan?!" The Golden-Winged Great Peng's pupils contracted violently!

Although it had lived near the Undying Volcano in the southern lands for a long time, it had heard of this name!

The chief disciple of Xuanmen! A direct disciple of the Taiqing Dao Venerable! Fought the Ancestral Witches to a standstill at Undying Mountain!

Its heart was instantly filled with immense fear!

But the pride of a Phoenix's child made it hold back, not immediately fleeing.

"Hmph! So what if he's the top disciple of Xuanmen? This Lord..."

It didn't even finish its threats.

Dao Xuan was too lazy to listen any further.

"Stubborn and unrepentant."

He didn't use any magical treasures. He simply raised his right hand and, from afar, gently grabbed the arrogant Golden-Winged Great Peng in the air!

The movement was smooth and unhurried, without the slightest hint of aggression.

However!

The moment he raised his hand!

The Golden-Winged Great Peng felt the surrounding space instantly solidify!

It was as if it had fallen into the thickest amber!

Its proud speed was now so slow that it couldn't even move a single feather!

Its claws, capable of tearing through space, now felt as heavy as mountains!

The Yin and Yang pottery jar in its claws, filled with infinite power, instantly dimmed. Its Yin and Yang energies were suppressed by an invisible force, forced back into the jar!

An irresistible, incomprehensible, vast power, like the entire world collapsing, descended upon it!

"Screeeech--!" The Golden-Winged Great Peng let out a cry of terrified despair!

It struggled with all its might, burning its bloodline, its golden light flaring!

But before that power, it was like an ant trying to shake a tree, utterly useless!

The phantom of Dao Xuan's palm magnified infinitely in its eyes!

The next instant!

The world spun!

The Golden-Winged Great Peng felt its vision go black, its massive body shrinking rapidly and uncontrollably!

Its golden light receded, its feathers retracted.

In the blink of an eye.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng, with wings spanning dozens of feet and a majestic presence, had transformed into a palm-sized, small, delicate Peng bird with golden feathers and eyes filled with terror and confusion!

Dao Xuan had remotely seized it and was now holding it gently between two fingers.

As if plucking a real... little bird.

"Teacher!" Seeing Dao Xuan easily capture the great enemy, Gourd Baby cheered and flew down on his Seven-Colored Gourd, his little face full of admiration.

"Immortal Master's divine abilities are vast!" Six-Eared Macaque was so excited he prostrated himself.

Dao Xuan looked at the small Golden Peng struggling in his fingers, unable to even stir a breeze, feeling its pure and potent Phoenix bloodline, and the Yin and Yang pottery jar in its claws still emitting a faint Dao Rhyme.

He was satisfied.

Although this journey had its twists and turns, the harvest was substantial.

The Treasure Dropping Golden Coin had been obtained.

And now he had "picked up" a Phoenix's child with infinite potential.

"Let's go."

Dao Xuan casually stuffed the small Golden Peng, still confused and struggling, into his wide sleeve.

The action was natural and smooth, as if he were just putting away a small trinket.

Small Golden Peng: "???"

Gourd Baby curiously leaned over, pawing at Dao Xuan's sleeve and peeking inside.

Six-Eared Macaque also stretched his neck.

Dao Xuan lightly patted the Qilin's neck.

The Five Spirit Qilin let out a low growl and rose into the clouds.

The Seven-Colored Gourd, carrying Gourd Baby and Six-Eared Macaque, followed closely behind.

Three streams of light, they set off again, leisurely flying towards the sky.

However, this entourage...

A teacher riding a Qilin.

A "son" sitting on a Seven-Colored Gourd.

A Six-Eared Macaque acting as a groom.

And in his sleeve... a Golden-Winged Little Peng questioning its life.

This combination, no matter how you looked at it, exuded a kind of... increasingly strange harmony?

Dao Xuan sat upright on the Qilin's back, feeling the Golden Peng's futile flapping in his sleeve, the corners of his mouth curling up.

His journey through the Great Desolation was indeed full of "surprises."