Golden Roc and Kong Xuan, the Mosquito Daoist Who Drank Flower Nectar

Time flew by. Xiao Teng and White Lotus had lived in Western Kunlun for five thousand years.

On this day, Xiao Teng and White Lotus left Western Kunlun with the Calabash Kids.

During their journey, Xiao Teng distributed the Yellow Center Plums among the Calabash Kids.

"Daddy, this fruit is so delicious. Do you have any more?" Seventh Gourd asked.

"There were only nine after thirty thousand years of growth. One for each of us—where would there be any extra?"

"That's such a shame." Seventh Gourd was somewhat disappointed.

"It's fine. If you want some later, come to Western Kunlun and ask for them yourself. That depends on whether you have the ability," Xiao Teng said.

"When the time comes, we'll go together," Third Baby said eagerly.

If all seven Calabash Kids went to ask for some every thirty thousand years, Queen Mother of the West probably would not grow tired of eating Yellow Center Plums.

"Even if you go ask for them, you can't go empty-handed. Understand?"

"Don't worry, Daddy. We understand."

Strictly speaking, the seven Calabash Kids had taken human form far earlier than Xiao Teng, and they had experienced far more than he had.

After leaving Western Kunlun, White Lotus flew westward. She still had to continue repairing the western earth veins.

White Lotus could clearly sense that, as she repaired the western earth veins, her comprehension of the Grand Dao of Healing deepened more and more, and she grew ever closer to the Grand Dao.

She felt that if she repaired all the western earth veins, she might truly be able to attain the Dao and become a saint.

Xiao Teng did not immediately return to Mount Kongtong. He planned to take the Calabash Kids on a tour of the Primordial World.

Before the Shaman-Demon Tribulation began, he wanted to see whether he could find a few more treasures.

Once the tribulation began, the entire Primordial World would descend into chaos again. At that point, they could return to Mount Kongtong and enter seclusion.

"Daddy, those two phoenix eggs seem to have hatched. Should we go back and take a look?" Er Wa asked.

"They hatched?" Xiao Teng was both surprised and delighted.

"Then let's head back first."

With that, Xiao Teng rushed back to Mount Kongtong with the Calabash Kids.

The moment they stepped through the mountain gate, they saw a black shadow and a streak of golden light darting through the mountains in pursuit of each other. Six-Eared Macaque was chasing the Golden-winged Roc with fury written across his face.

"You rascal, stop right there! Don't run around!" Six-Eared Macaque shouted as he accelerated.

But the Roc spread his wings like a bolt of golden lightning. His speed was so extreme that each time Six-Eared Macaque was about to seize him, he would cleverly slip free.

Although Six-Eared Macaque's cultivation realm surpassed the Golden-winged Roc's, his speed could not compare. He could only watch helplessly as the Roc flashed before his eyes, unable to do anything about it.

"Let me have a go at you."

A flicker of excitement flashed through Liu Wa's eyes as he shot toward the Roc like an arrow. Liu Wa used his unique movement technique, wind rising beneath his feet. In the blink of an eye, he had caught up behind the Golden-winged Roc.

The Golden-winged Roc sensed Liu Wa closing in and was startled. He had not expected anyone to be able to keep up with him.

He immediately beat his wings with all his might. Golden light blazed all over his body, and his speed surged sharply once more as he tried to widen the distance between them.

The two chased each other back and forth above Mount Kongtong, neither willing to yield. For a time, it was impossible to tell who was superior, leaving only streaks of light and shadow crisscrossing the mountains.

Six-Eared Macaque walked over and said, "Sir, you've finally returned. If you hadn't come back, the Golden-winged Roc would have turned Mount Kongtong upside down."

"He was just born. It's normal for him not to know any better," Xiao Teng consoled him.

"By the way, where's the other one?" Xiao Teng looked around and asked.

"There's also a Peacock. He's quite quiet, just staying over there on the cliff face."

Following the direction Six-Eared Macaque pointed, Xiao Teng walked to a towering cliff.

Kong Xuan stood there quietly, tall and straight, his five-colored feathers swaying gently in the breeze. He gazed into the distance with deep, tranquil eyes, as though immersed in his own world and utterly indifferent to the surrounding commotion. No one could fathom what he was thinking.

"Daddy, I caught him."

At that moment, Liu Wa came running over with a smug expression, gripping the Golden-winged Roc by the neck.

Though the Golden-winged Roc's speed was astonishing, his magical power was still shallow. After their chase and contest, his strength gradually failed him, and he was ultimately captured by Liu Wa.

His wings hung limply, and his eyes held a trace of terror and pleading.

"That's enough. Put him down. Don't strangle him to death."

Seeing this, Xiao Teng hurriedly spoke to stop him.

As though granted a pardon, the Roc broke free from Liu Wa's grasp and swiftly flew behind Xiao Teng to hide.

He cautiously poked out his head and looked at the Calabash Kids around him, secretly wary of them. He felt that not a single one of them was easy to provoke.

"Since both of you have already been born, I'll give you names. Peacock, from today onward, you will be called Kong Xuan. And you, Golden-winged Roc, will simply be called Golden Roc. From now on, you will address me as Sir, just like Six-Eared Macaque."

"Yes, thank you, Sir, for bestowing our names," Kong Xuan and Golden Roc answered in unison.

"By the way, where is the Mosquito Daoist? That fellow hasn't been causing trouble, has he?" Xiao Teng turned to ask Six-Eared Macaque.

"No. He usually stays by himself and is quite well-behaved."

Xiao Teng felt somewhat reassured and headed toward the place where Mosquito Daoist usually stayed.

As soon as he approached, he saw Mosquito Daoist intently drinking flower nectar, looking thoroughly content.

Mosquito Daoist noticed Xiao Teng's arrival, and his expression immediately turned panicked as he hastily explained.

"I haven't harmed the origins of any living beings. I was only drinking flower nectar."

"That's good. I've gained some new insights recently. Come study your divine ability with me again," Xiao Teng said.

The moment Mosquito Daoist heard this, his face changed drastically, and he turned to flee.

But how could Xiao Teng allow him to escape?

Xiao Teng merely extended a hand. An invisible force instantly enveloped Mosquito Daoist, and with a fierce grasp, Xiao Teng directly dragged him back.

Xiao Teng's study of Mosquito Daoist's divine ability had achieved preliminary success during this period. He still needed Mosquito Daoist's cooperation to master it completely.

After Golden Roc and Kong Xuan joined Mount Kongtong, the mountain became even livelier.

The Calabash Kids also had more playmates. The ten little ones played from dawn until dusk every day.

Whenever he had time, Xiao Teng had no choice but to remind them about their cultivation.

Ten thousand years later, Xiao Teng finally mastered Mosquito Daoist's divine ability. Based on his own insights, he named it the Star-Absorbing Art.

Xiao Teng tried using the Star-Absorbing Art to absorb several mid-grade spirit treasures. He discovered that he could only extract their origins, but had no way to transform those origins into his own power.

That ability to transform origins belonged only to Mosquito Daoist. No one else could learn it at all.

But for Xiao Teng, the Star-Absorbing Art was enough. He did not need to absorb others' origins for cultivation, yet he still very much wanted the ability to absorb origins.