Primordial Era: From the Creation Lotus to the First Disciple of the Three Pure Ones

Before he could finish speaking, the Kui Niu glared with its single eye, its light blazing like the sun and moon, and its voice suddenly rose in pitch, filled with humiliated rage.

"What?! Compensation? To cultivate with you? You are incredibly rude, Taoist! Although my brother Si and I are not as skilled as you, we are still extraordinary beings from the primordial world, and we have our own pride! How can we become someone else's mounts and servants? You are trying to forcibly take us in and humiliate us!"

Although the horned green ox was calm, a hint of anger and vigilance flashed in its huge eyes, and its heavy demonic power rippled around it.

He said in a deep voice, "We are grateful for the immortal's life-saving grace (referring to stopping them from continuing their 'sparring' and getting injured), but we cannot comply with such an humiliating request! My brother and I would rather die on this deserted island than kneel down and become someone's mount!"

Its massive horns rose slightly, aimed at Qinglian, and though it knew it was no match for her, it adopted a posture of preferring to shatter like jade.

Qinglian was speechless for a moment, realizing that she had acted too hastily and that her words were indeed inappropriate.

At this time, the three masters had not yet become saints. In the primordial world, it was not uncommon for powerful beings to subdue strong beasts as mounts, but most of them were either forcibly subdued or followed voluntarily.

If you start by saying "I'll introduce you to someone" with good intentions, to the other person it sounds like you're condescendingly "taking them in as a slave."

Especially for the Kui Niu, which is unruly and unyielding, and the Qing Niu, which is calm and proud, this is an utter disgrace!

"Fellow Daoists, please calm your anger!"

Qinglian quickly waved her hand, her face filled with sincere apology. "It was a slip of the tongue; I had no intention of insulting you. My intention was not to take you two as servants, but to introduce you to a sect with a bright future, one worthy of your status and background!"

He took a deep breath, his expression becoming extremely solemn, and declared loudly, "My Daoist name is Qinglian, and I am the chief disciple of the three Daoist Venerables of Kunlun Mountain: Taiqing Laozi, Yuqing Yuanshi, and Shangqing Tongtian!"

These words were like a thunderclap!

"Mount Kunlun?! The Three Pure Ones?!"

The giant bull's eyes widened instantly, filled with unbelievable shock!

The names of the Three Pure Ones are now widely known among the top powers in the primordial world! Having listened to the Dao at Zixiao Palace and obtained the Primordial Purple Qi, they were personally designated by the Dao Ancestor as the future Heavenly Dao Saints! They are destined to be supreme beings who will stand above all living beings!

Kui Niu's eyes, which were as bright as the sun and moon, flashed intensely, and its one leg trembled slightly, clearly indicating that it had suffered a great shock.

Though unruly, it is not ignorant. The Dao Ancestor has decreed that it will become a future sage! The weight of these seven words surpasses that of the countless mountains and rivers of the primordial era!

Qinglian continued, her voice carrying a pride and certainty stemming from her sect: "My three masters possess the potential to become saints, personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor Hongjun as the six future saints of the primordial world! Their saintly positions are ordained by Heaven, and their attainment is only a matter of time! When the saints travel, Heaven and Earth will resonate, and all laws will follow. How can they be without a means of transportation? How can ordinary spirit beasts be worthy of the saint's esteemed position?"

He stared intently at the blue ox and the Kui ox: "I observe that Fellow Daoist Si is physically strong and powerful enough to shake mountains. He is calm and composed, which is in harmony with the way of the earth and the true meaning of my great master Laozi's non-action and the natural way of the Dao!"

"And Fellow Daoist Kui, with his single leg he can control thunder, summon wind and rain, his light shines like the sun and moon, his voice resounds like thunder, his power is magnificent, his might is awe-inspiring, just like the supreme sharpness of my third master, the Tongtian Sect Master, who cuts through a single thread and shatters all laws with his sword!"

Qinglian's words struck Erniu's heart like a resounding bell.

"If one could serve under a future sage, act as his mount, listen to his teachings, and absorb his Daoist wisdom, what an unparalleled opportunity this would be! How could it be compared to an ordinary mount? This would be a smooth, unobstructed path leading side by side to comprehend the Great Dao! When the sage attains enlightenment, you, as his mounts, would be of noble status, revered by all living beings in the primordial world, blessed with good fortune, and with limitless prospects! Wouldn't this be a thousand times better than wasting your days on this desolate island, passing your days with mere 'sparring'?"

Qinglian's words were like a boulder thrown into the hearts of the two giant beasts, stirring up a monstrous wave!

To be the mount of a sage! To walk alongside a sage! To listen to the Great Dao! To be blessed with good fortune!

These words are incredibly tempting to these ancient, exotic species that possess powerful bloodlines and potential but lack guidance and can only explore on their own!

In particular, Qinglian pointed out the similarities between their individual characteristics and Laozi's teachings on the Great Dao, which made them feel truly "seen" and "recognized".

The two giant bulls fell silent. Their massive heads hung low, as if they were communicating intensely in their own way.

After a long while, the more composed blue ox with flat horns slowly raised its head. In its huge eyes, the previous anger and vigilance had disappeared, replaced by a solemnity born of deep thought.

It spoke in a deep, resonant voice, yet with a hint of decisiveness: "The words of the Azure Lotus Immortal... are truly enlightening. If one could truly serve under the Supreme Saint and listen to the Great Dao, it would be an unparalleled blessing for the rhinoceros! However... the position of the Saint, is it truly..."

"The will of Heaven is set; the trend of the times is irreversible!"

Qinglian interrupted decisively, her tone filled with absolute confidence in her sect, "Our three masters are in seclusion in Kunlun, comprehending the Primordial Purple Qi; their time to become saints is not far off!"

At this moment, the Kui Niu also raised its head, its single eye still showing its arrogance, but with a greater sense of longing for the future and a hint of trepidation.

It stomped its single foot heavily, its voice booming like thunder: "Fine! I'll believe you this once! If I can truly become a disciple of the Sage of Shangqing and follow the Sage's supreme sword path that destroys all laws and seizes life, even as a mount, it will be an honor for me! But if what you say is false..." It didn't finish its sentence, but the threat was clear.

Qinglian smiled slightly, unperturbed by Kui Niu's arrogance, but rather appreciating its straightforwardness: "I swear on my Dao heart that every word I have spoken is true. The three masters' attainment of sainthood is the ordained destiny of Heaven!"

Seeing Qinglian make a vow of Dao, the last trace of doubt of the two giant bulls vanished.

"In that case," the massive blue ox leaned forward slightly, as if in greeting, "I (the blue ox with flat horns) am willing to accompany the immortal to Kunlun, awaiting the sage's decree!"

"Kui Niu, I am willing to go!" The one-legged Kui Niu roared, the lightning around its body receded, and the wind and rain subsided.

"Excellent!" Qinglian was overjoyed. This trip not only resolved a farcical conflict, but also found such a suitable mount candidate for the Grand Master and the Third Master. It was truly an unexpected delight.

He smiled and said, "Since you two fellow Daoists have made your decision, why don't you first travel around the East Sea with me? When the time is right, we will return together to Kunlun to pay our respects to our master. What do you say?"

"I will obey the immortal's arrangements!"

The two giant bulls responded in unison.

The blue ox followed steadily beside Qinglian, like a moving mountain;

The Kui Niu leaped on one leg, nimbly following on the other side. Although it had restrained its supernatural powers, strange ripples still spread across the sea when it landed on its single leg, and the clouds in the sky also swirled slightly.

Qinglian, accompanied by two strangely shaped primordial beasts, continued her journey into the depths of the East Sea.

The desolate island was left behind, but a legend about the future sage's mount quietly began on the East China Sea.

The fortune of the Kunlun lineage seems to have gained even more weight and mystique because of Qinglian's journey. The dark clouds of the Great Calamity still loom, but Qinglian's path has become broader with each opportunity and choice she makes.