Chapter 14: Exotic Beast Mount

After the grand formation took effect, the entire Cloud Dream Marsh rang with cheers.

To Qi and the other primordial divine sages, ninety thousand years is but a fleeting moment; time holds little meaning for them.

But for ordinary living beings, ninety thousand years is the inheritance of many generations.

Ordinary primordial wilderness beings, it is perfectly normal for cultivators to have lifespans of tens of thousands of years.

But lifespan is a threshold; on the path of seeking the Dao, those with long lives often tread more steadily and go farther.

Because they do not take reckless risks due to lifespan, they have more time to polish their cultivation and make up for deficiencies.

Primordial divine sages are even born without lifespan limits, their Dao fruition complete; they have ample patience to wait for opportunity, or sufficient strength to seize it.

Indeed, they are exceptionally favored by heaven.

Thus, they are born already indebted to the cosmic karma of heaven and earth.

In ordinary times, when nothing happens, fortune lends its support.

But whenever a great calamity befalls heaven and earth, they must inevitably enter it once to lessen its harm to the world.

If they do not usually accumulate merit, when a great calamity comes they will naturally have a place for themselves.

Qi originally had no need to enter this calamity, for he possessed merit; heaven and earth sent a warning, intending to let him withdraw.

Yet unexpectedly, Qi voluntarily entered the calamity to investigate the warning's cause, and subsequently summoned Di Jun and Taiyi.

Di Jun and Taiyi then drew in Fuxi and Nüwa, so that the five beings who were not originally destined for the calamity all joined it.

Without Qi, Di Jun and Taiyi would merely need to sit on the Sun Star and watch the shifting winds and clouds, or go forth from the mountains to casually strike down the beast tide.

Nüwa and Fuxi, meanwhile, have Pangu's awe-inspiring presence guarding Mount Buzhou; they need only occasionally sweep the surroundings to rest easy.

Now that all have entered the great calamity, success brings great merit, and grand fortune aids and protects the Dao.

Failure means death and the dissolution of the Dao, awaiting rebirth in quiet.

At this moment the five were feasting in the Pond Heart Pavilion, and everyone felt a little drunk.

Spiritous liquor could never make the five drunk, yet Nüwa somehow made it intoxicating to a great degree!

Qi and Taiyi played the xiao, Fuxi accompanied with the qin, Di Jun kept the beat to the music, and Nüwa leaned against a pillar, humming softly in harmony.

At this moment the five were in high spirits, especially Qi, who had not rested for ninety thousand years.

Now that the grand formation is complete, the heavy stone in their hearts has fallen, and they cannot help but indulge in unrestrained revelry.

Fortunately they all understood, and having laboured long, they likewise relaxed together.

At this moment thunder rumbled in the Cloud Dream Marsh; the crowd looked up in puzzlement, for by the season there should have been no thunderstorms lately.

Di Jun produced the River Chart and Luo Book, waved his hand over it, and the treasure's surface rippled like water, revealing the source of the thunder.

There they saw a huge white water buffalo wading through the Cloud Dream Marsh, bellowing at the shore.

Its call could summon the thunder from heaven.

Once it reached the shore, everyone could behold its full appearance.

The beast stood tens of thousands of feet tall, its hair all white, and it bore three tails.

"It would make an excellent mount."

Fuxi said.

Upon seeing its appearance, Qi also expressed agreement.

Compared with the many spiritual beasts and ferocious beasts of today, its appearance better suits Qi's aesthetic.

Moreover, it is innately able to command thunder, and its lineage is certainly extraordinary.

Seeing that the other four showed no interest, Qi asked, "Does anyone among you wish to take it?"

Taiyi and Di Jun directly said they had no interest in a mount, for it is too slow.

Nüwa said she did not like this sort of mount; she prefers flying birds such as the splendid phoenix.

Fuxi also said he prefers exotic beasts like dragon horses, feeling no affinity for this kind.

"Since none of you want it, I'll take this bargain."

Qi said with a smile.

"Since fellow Daoist has obtained a fine steed, let us drink a cup."

Fuxi could truly be called the king of cheering on.

They paid no heed to the beast's thoughts, nor need they; simply walking alongside the primordial divine sages is itself a tremendous fortune.

Moreover, a deity has spread the fame of the Cloud Dream Marsh far across these tens of thousands of years; any beast that comes running now can only have one thing in mind.

"I have heard that a great deity dwells long in the Cloud Dream Marsh; I have come here with effort, and if such a being truly exists, it must have already noticed me just now."

"Now I only await its summons; then I will bow and ask to become its mount or attendant, which surely it will not refuse."

"If I am fortunate enough to enter its service, there is no place in the vast Primordial Wilderness I cannot go."

Thinking of this, the little ox excitedly flicked its tail; it is not a Golden Immortal, and the Primordial Wilderness is very dangerous for it.

Its aim in coming here is merely to find a reliance, so it can cultivate in peace and avoid this beast tide.

To become a disciple, it does not harbor such lofty hopes.

Ordinarily, the disciples of the primordial divine sages are only manifestations of heavenly-earthly spiritual omens.

It has no affinity with those primordial strange beasts or ordinary living beings.

Most require an extraordinary lineage and astonishing fortune.

As a primordial strange beast, its lineage is still quite extraordinary, and it retains the possibility of becoming a mount or attendant.

Were it an ordinary living being, one would scarcely even catch sight of it.

Its goal is to become a mount, seeking stable food and clothing, a leisurely life free of worry.

Furthermore, as a mount it can occasionally listen to discourses on the Dao, and its seniority is usually high.

Even a deity, once it has a disciple, would not dare to look down upon it.

It had inquired with many strange beasts, and many great gods liked this kind of strange beast.

Its color is clean, it also has a bit of an omen, and it is still one of the mainstream bovine mounts; the prospects are great!

Qi reached out and grabbed from afar.

The three-tailed white cow was seized out of thin air.

The cow-cow was still a bit frightened; seeing itself easily caught, it glanced around and hurriedly knelt.

"Little cow pays respects to all you great gods! I don't know if you have any orders."

Now there are many people, the little cow doesn't know which one to bow to.

"I see you have some affinity; I happen to lack a mount—do you wish to accept?"

Qi asked.

"Thanks to the great elder's favor, the little cow is willing!!!"

"Since you agree, go find a small island nearby to settle; if I need to go out, I will call you."

Qi didn't mind either.

It's just a mount; normally it's not needed, just later for attending banquets as a means of transport.

Besides one person going out, visiting friends, fighting enemies—this thing has no other use.

Seeing the white cow go off to find a small island to graze, Qi no longer paid attention to this little interlude, and continued feasting with Taiyi and the others.

And the cow-cow was now extremely excited; no wonder it is the Great God's Dao Chang, with medicinal grass everywhere and rich spiritual energy.

Little did they know, this is the core of Yunmze Marsh, the very essence of Yunmze Marsh.

If it weren't for the enormous consumption in building the great array tower, the entire core region would have no mundane things.

Only fairy grass condenses dew, and the spiritual spring flows with sound.

A super grand array turned an affluent innate deity into one of the poorest.

If the grand array and spiritual treasure were removed, it could even be said to be the poorest of innate deities.

After all, no innate deity's Dao Chang would be nothing but medicinal grass.

Fortunately, the cow-cow's knowledge is shallow; otherwise, with any comparison, it would likely feel chilled in its heart.

"Now the grand array is complete; we only need to drill a bit, and we'll be free from worry in this great calamity."

Everyone sighed.

(End of chapter)