Looking at the rather dazed Nine-Tailed White Fox, Zhang Daoling suppressed a smile and avoided looking at the White Fox staring fixedly at the incense.
These five sticks of golden incense were different: several times taller and thicker than those used to summon the Nine-Tailed White Fox. No wonder the White Fox coveted them.
Following the same procedure, Zhang Daoling lit the five sticks of golden incense, bowed respectfully in every direction, and recited the divine incantation: "Deep incense fragrance answers heaven and earth; burning fragrance pierces the Heavenly Gate..."
As the fragrance drifted skyward, Zhang Daoling continued the incantation, then shouted, "I respectfully invite the Four Sacred Beasts to descend!"
Four waves of oppressive power arrived. Incense smoke swirled, and four figures materialized within it.
Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise-the Four Great Sacred Beasts.
After undergoing tribulation transcendence, they had traveled to different places to cultivate.
During their tribulations, apart from Azure Dragon and Little White, the married pairs of the other three sacred beasts had merged into single, hermaphroditic beings.
There was now only one White Tiger, one Vermilion Bird, and one Black Tortoise in all heaven and earth.
Little White and Little Green addressed each other as elder sister and younger brother. They did not live together, each pursuing their own cultivation.
They had not merged during their tribulations either, remaining independent beings, while Azure Dragon joined the ranks of the Four Sacred Beasts.
The Four Great Sacred Beasts had signed contracts, becoming Daoist guardian immortal beasts.
Little White was somewhat special. Although she had also signed a contract, she was not one of the Four Sacred Beasts.
When the contracts were first signed, Little White had not wanted to sign one. She did not need incense offerings to aid her cultivation.
Only