A Tiny Bit of Defensive Formations, a Quasi-Saint Ferocious Beast Turned into Flower Fertilizer

Time flowed on, and the Primordial World knew no years.

For mortal beings, ten thousand years were enough for seas to turn into mulberry fields and for dynasties to rise and fall a hundred times.

Yet on today's Mount Sumeru, ten thousand years were no more than the time it took Taiyuan to take a nap, or Jieyin and Zhunti to swing their hoes a few times.

But for the western lands, those ten thousand years had been a complete rebirth.

The once-charred earth had long since vanished, replaced by a supreme immortal realm filled with a thousand threads of auspicious qi and myriad rays of rosy light.

How could this still be that barren wasteland Rahula had blown to ruins?

If an outsider stumbled in here, they would likely think they had accidentally wandered into the back garden of Dao Ancestor Hongjun's Purple Cloud Palace.

The reason was simple: the system's rewards were simply too generous, and Taiyuan, this "landlord," was equally willing to spend lavishly.

[ Ding! Congratulations, Host, for persisting in farming for ten thousand years. Reward: ten tons of Nine Heavens Breathing Soil. ]

[ Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully cultivating top-grade acquired Spiritual Grain. Reward: one vat of Three Lights Divine Water. ]

[ Ding! Congratulations, Host, for resisting the urge to go out despite dearly wanting to. Reward: one Chaos Spirit Spring. ]

Following the principles of a terminal hoarder, Taiyuan would bury anything in the ground as long as the system gave it to him—whether Breathing Soil or divine water.

The core region of Mount Sumeru was now truly a place where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold.

The soil beneath one's feet, even a single handful taken outside, would make Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals fight until their heads split open, because it was mixed with Nine Heavens Breathing Soil and could grow without limit and repair itself.

The little streams flowing by the roadside were crystal-clear, fish frolicking within them. Even an ordinary grass carp that drank this water could transform into a dragon if released into the mortal realm, because its source was that Chaos Spirit Spring.

Thin mist curled through the mountains. What entered one's lungs with every breath was not air, but Innate Spiritual Qi condensed to the point of liquefaction.

One breath could extend a mortal's life by ten thousand years, or spare a cultivator ten years of arduous cultivation.

Even the once-barren cliff faces were now covered in all kinds of Purple Ganoderma Jade Grass, each plant possessing at least ten thousand years of medicinal age.

"Elder Brother, this Five-Needle Pine seems to be in fine condition today. It has borne another thirty fruits."

Zhunti hummed an unknown little tune, carrying that glittering golden Sky-Turning Shovel over his shoulder as he strolled out of the rear mountain's medicinal garden, tossing a crystal-clear pinecone in his hand.

How did the present Zhunti retain even a trace of the miserable air of the future Western Sage?

His Daoist robe was woven from Ten-Thousand-Year Heavenly Silkworm Silk, its defensive power comparable to a Mid-Grade Acquired Spiritual Treasure. The Straw Sandals beneath his feet faintly exuded the drifting grace of flowing clouds.

His complexion glowed red with health, and he was brimming with vitality.

Jieyin was squatting beside the clear Merit Pool—the expanded version of the original puddle—carefully dividing the roots of that Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit. Hearing this, he smiled. "Of course. Yesterday, Elder Brother buried two more Chaos Primordial Stones beneath its roots. If it still fails to grow well after that, then there truly is no justice in heaven."

The two exchanged a smile, each seeing the other's contentment.

Not even immortals would trade away days like these!

Who still remembered that godforsaken dump where not even birds would shit?

The West was now the Primordial World's wealthiest "hidden tycoon."

Inside an elegant, tranquil Bamboo Hut halfway up the mountain—

Taiyuan lay sprawled on a reclining chair carved from Ten-Thousand-Year Warm Jade, covered by a thin blanket woven from Fire Phoenix Feathers, sleeping soundly.

Though he was asleep, a closer look would reveal that the terrestrial veins and qi currents of all Mount Sumeru seemed to resonate in rhythm with his breathing.

With every breath, the entire great formation flickered with the faintest, nearly imperceptible glimmer.

"The Primordial World is too dangerous. With such a huge family estate, if we don't have some defensive measures in place, I can't even sleep soundly."

That was something Taiyuan often said.

For the sake of that peace of mind, over these ten thousand years, he had used nearly every defensive formation diagram the system had rewarded him with.

[ Simplified Chaos All-Heaven God-Sha Great Formation ]

[ Innate Five Elements Inverting Heaven and Earth Formation ]

[ Nine Bends Yellow River Miniature Bewitching Formation ]

Layer upon layer, link after link.

Forget Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals—even Hongjun before becoming a saint, if he wanted to force his way in, would probably have to worry several strands of his beard white at the entrance before finding a way through.

Taiyuan was very satisfied with this. This was what the art of lying low was called. This was what true security felt like.

However.

The tree wished for stillness, but the wind would not cease.

Just as Taiyuan dreamed of pummeling the Three Pure Ones with his fists and kicking Hongjun with his feet, a terrifying pressure that made heaven and earth change color suddenly descended upon the western border.

At the farthest edge of the West, black clouds blanketed the sky.

They were not storm clouds, but baleful qi and resentment condensed to their utmost density.

Within those roiling black clouds, a colossal beast as massive as a mountain range was charging wildly forward.

It had the body of a sheep and the face of a man, eyes beneath its armpits, tiger fangs and human claws. Its cry resembled an infant's wail, yet it carried a greed and savagery that made one's hair stand on end.

Taotie!

Ancient Ferocious Beast, one of the Four Ferocious Beasts!

Although during the Dragon-Phoenix First Tribulation, it had been grievously wounded by Ancestor Dragon, its body nearly shattered, leaving only a wisp of remnant soul that fled with part of its essence blood.

Even so, it still possessed the terrifying combat strength of a Half-Step Quasi-Saint.

At this moment, Taotie was hungry to the extreme.

It had fled all the way from the east, hunted by the Qilin Clan until it reached this place. It was already at the end of its tether and desperately needed to devour vast quantities of spiritual energy and flesh and blood to recover its wounds.

"Hm? Such dense spiritual energy!"

Taotie's pair of murky, scarlet giant eyes abruptly locked onto Mount Sumeru in the distance.

In its perception, the mountain ahead was like a beacon amid the darkness, giving off an incomparably enticing scent.

That was the scent of an Innate Spiritual Root!

That was the scent of Nine Heavens Breathing Soil!

And two Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal-level "snacks" besides!

"Roar—!"

Taotie let out an excited roar, its rolling soundwaves directly shattering the clouds across a radius of ten thousand miles.

"In these barren Western Lands, there is actually such a treasure land? Heaven is helping me! If I devour this blessed land, not only will my wounds fully heal, I may even return to my peak!"

Without the slightest hesitation, it opened its gaping maw, as though it could swallow heaven and earth, transforming into a black hurricane of destruction as it viciously slammed toward Mount Sumeru.

On Mount Sumeru.

Jieyin, who was about to water the golden lotus, suddenly froze.

Zhunti, who was munching on fruit, dropped the pine cone in his hand with a "plop."

The two looked up at the same time, their faces instantly turning deathly pale.

"Th-That... what is that?!"

Zhunti's voice was dry. His Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal divine sense allowed him to immediately sense that suffocating pressure.

That ferocious might far surpassed a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal!

It was the pressure of a Quasi-Saint, standing above all living beings!

"It's the Ancient Ferocious Beast Taotie!" Well-traveled and knowledgeable, Jieyin recognized its origin at once, his pupils violently contracting. "Damn it! How did a remnant of the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity end up here? With such might... it's likely already attained Quasi-Saint cultivation!"

Quasi-Saint!

Those two words were like a mountain, crushing down heavily upon their hearts.

Though they had advanced rapidly over the years and had already reached the early stage of Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, before a Quasi-Saint, they were still no more than ants.