[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-sky-fell":3,"chapter-after-the-sky-fell-after-the-sky-fell-chapter-866":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","After the Sky Fell",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2281722,4462,"Chapter 866: Niu Niu","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-866",866,"\u003Cp>After seeing off Li Shaoqing, Li Yi did not rush to investigate the strange site in Tianchang City; under current circumstances, this matter was trivial—after all, powerful enemies had crossed over, and countless cities had been destroyed; who had the heart to care about petty matters?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the past few days, he had remained within the building to recuperate, allowing Chi Lian’s power to nourish his Primordial Spirit manifestation, while also observing the pace at which the Dao Court was being constructed within the danger zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had to be said—the speed of construction by dozens of Daoist experts was astonishing; only a few days had passed, and he had already seen towering mountains rise from the earth, palaces lined up like fish scales, terrain reshaped, rivers diverted, great lakes dammed, and supernatural creatures hunted across hundreds of li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This large-scale activity had also startled some deeply hidden supernatural beings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive, mountain-sized wild ox was sprinting swiftly across the land, moving at incredible speed; everything in its path was crushed to fragments—even mountains could not stop it, as it simply punched through them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its breath exhaled searing heat, as if it could ignite the forests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a magnificent wild ox! This is no transformation of a Heavenly Demon from the Demon God Realm—it’s a rare breed from the Wild Wastes. Fellow Daoists, don’t kill it; let this humble Daoist tame it and bring it back to guard our gates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Daoist named Qingfengzi’s eyes lit up as he spotted the wild ox; he immediately sent a mental message to nearby Daoists, urging them to hold back and not strike it down in one blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah! Qingfengzi, you’d better move fast, or that wild ox will vanish completely,” the Yuanyang Daoist laughed in reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This wild ox is no weakling—it can fly and burrow underground; capturing it won’t be easy. Need help?” other Daoist experts added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you all for your kindness, but this humble Daoist can handle it alone,” Qingfengzi said, activating the Wind-riding Technique; his form surged like a gale sweeping across the heavens, racing straight toward the wild ox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, others abandoned any thought of intervening; even as the wild ox passed nearby, they merely glanced at it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Qingfengzi’s actions immediately triggered realization in the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since they were rebuilding the Dao Court and reestablishing their sect here, they naturally needed to plan for the future—some of these supernatural beings were too valuable to kill outright; if they could selectively tame them, it would strengthen their sect’s foundations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, many Daoist experts began searching for valuable supernatural creatures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Yi had been present, he would have immediately recognized the wild ox being chased by Qingfengzi—it was the same beast he had tamed in the Wild Wastes, though on Earth it had a name: Niu Niu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to the invasion of the Demon God Realm and the collapse of order, Niu Niu had cleverly slipped out of Tianchang City, plunged into the danger zone, hidden its presence, and moved only under cover of night, thus evading danger after danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Niu Niu had never strayed far from Tianchang City, because it always believed its master would one day come to retrieve it—if it ran too far, the master might never find it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this group of Sanhua Realm Daoist experts had made too much noise in building the Dao Court; even though Niu Niu had hidden well, it was still uncovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sanhua Realm Daoist experts were equivalent to Mountain Lord-level warriors in the Wild Wastes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Niu was no match for them, so it could only flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, an attack struck from behind, landing precisely in front of Niu Niu, forcing it to halt abruptly; its massive body tumbled several times across the ground before finally stopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop running—you can’t escape my grasp. Judging by your demeanor, you possess intelligence. Come with me willingly, don’t struggle uselessly; my patience is limited.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingfengzi arrived riding the wind, smiling as he looked down at Niu Niu on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Niu lifted its head, exhaling a torrent of fierce blood qi; its horns glowed brightly, as if preparing to fight to the death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Want to fight? Very well—let me show you my strength, so you won’t resist later,” Qingfengzi said calmly; he intended to slowly wear down the beast’s will until it was fully tamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as Niu Niu was about to attack, it suddenly caught a peculiar scent, then immediately turned its head toward Tianchang City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only Niu Niu—Qingfengzi beside it also sensed a presence rapidly approaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Taiyi?” Qingfengzi froze, instantly recognizing the source of the aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among Daoists, Li Yi’s aura was uniquely distinctive—so unusual that even from afar, one could identify it with certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cloud of auspicious light drifted over, and Li Yi appeared atop it; he had originally intended to inspect the Dao Court’s construction progress, but Qingfengzi’s earlier mental message had drawn his attention, so he briefly glanced this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That one glance yielded an unexpected discovery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Niu, the beast he had lost long ago, had appeared in the danger zone—he had assumed it had perished alongside Shan Yi during the Demon God Realm’s invasion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Qingfengzi, I’ll help you capture a Mountain Lord-level beast someday—but this one, Niu Niu, please let it go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi said: “Niu Niu is my mount, brought from the Wild Wastes. For certain reasons, I left it in Tianchang City; after the turmoil that followed, it returned to the wild. I never expected its hiding place would be exposed by the Dao Court’s construction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing Li Yi, Niu Niu’s large eyes instantly filled with tears, its short tail wagging frantically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All alone—no, all alone as a beast—it had suffered terribly. Food and drink were scarce, its cultivation had stagnated, and it was on the verge of becoming a mere wild ox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t want this. It longed to return to civilization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the outside world was too dangerous; only by hiding in remote mountains and wilds could it survive—otherwise, it would have been snatched up long ago as lunch by some great demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingfengzi sighed: “I never realized this beast was your mount, Master Taiyi. My mistake—I failed to recognize it. I apologize to you, Master Taiyi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then bowed deeply to Li Yi in apology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Qingfengzi, you’re too courteous. This incident reminds me—should any of you need mounts or guardians for your gates, I’ll invite you all to journey to the Wild Wastes. That world is a great treasure trove, rich in resources, worth thorough exploration. I only wonder if any among you specialize in beast taming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingfengzi replied: “Leave this to me—I’ll inquire among the other Daoists. I’m certain we can find some methods.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s best,” Li Yi nodded, then turned to Niu Niu: “What are you standing there for? Come back to Tianchang City. Don’t stay in the wild anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Niu let out two pitiful low moans in response, then slowly rose into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wild beast from the Wild Wastes had cultivated both Daoist methods and physical cultivation; it now stood at the Nascent Soul realm, so flight posed no problem—yet it was accustomed to running freely across the land; flying made it too conspicuous, too easy a target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After bringing Niu Niu back to Tianchang City, Li Yi stationed it at the entrance of the building, assigning it to guard the gate; since he had returned, the home needed to feel alive again, not lifeless and empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>◆ttkΛn◆￠O\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Dao Court is nearly complete. Once I’ve dealt with the remaining threats in Tianchang City, I’ll go to the Four Seas and Eight Zhou to bring everyone back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guard the gate well. Don’t wander off,” Li Yi tossed Niu Niu a large chunk of Demon King meat as a treat, then stepped onto the auspicious cloud and flew toward the old district of Tianchang City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Niu’s mouth watered at the sight of such a massive piece of Demon King meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it looked like an ox, it had nothing to do with cows—it never ate grass. So when it saw this huge chunk of meat, it eagerly bit into it, sensing the surging energy within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Niu’s eyes filled with happy tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, life was far better with a master. Life as a stray beast was unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi found the strange building that Li Shaoqing had mentioned in the old district.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding buildings in the old district had crumbled into ruins, yet one old residential building stood intact, its architecture preserved exactly as it had been before the Heaven’s Fall incident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rusty security bars, narrow windows, dark and cramped stairwells, and a yellowish hallway light still glowing in broad daylight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this building, Li Yi felt a pang of nostalgia—it resembled his own childhood home. But he disliked such places; he had lived alone in one for years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi’s gaze shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thunderclap split the sky; a silver lightning bolt, like a ferocious beast, crashed down with pinpoint accuracy onto the old building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power of such a strike could have obliterated the entire district, but Li Yi controlled the force, concentrating it into a single point with minimal impact on the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet after the silver lightning passed,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the old building remained untouched—just as Li Shaoqing had said. It seemed severed from this timeline, shielded by some strange force; even Li Yi could not erase it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be residual spiritual residue?” Li Yi’s mind involuntarily recalled his days as a messenger delivering letters in World 36.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a past he could never bear to revisit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>oco\u003C\u002Fp>",1618,"2026-06-20T01:27:08.613Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a340414a22ea9d9e557615e47fa9ed5fa529eb0eae996720e2c645b2ec323179","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-867","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-865",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-sky-fell-cover.jpg"]