The ecstatic Li Qingming, pulling Li Qingquan to the ground to express their gratitude, offered fragrant tea.
Li Yanran, on the other hand, performed a graceful and generous courtesy, addressing him as "Senior Brother!"
Thus, Li Qingming finally sighed in relief in his heart, confident about the upcoming calamity!
At the base of Mount Sumeru on the Western Continent, ten thousand li away.
"Ah! Hong Jun, you've spoiled my good deed, I will eradicate your existence!" A bundle of shadows constantly inflated and contracted, emitting a ghastly shriek.
Beside it, a pool of pitch-black water, on which floated a black lotus. This lotus, blossoming in eleven grades, continuously rose and fell, pulsing with a dense evil Qi!
...In the following centuries, The Three Pure Ones stayed on Ten Thousand Bamboo Island, earnestly teaching the Li Qingming brothers.
Li Yanran, as a disciple sister of The Three Pure Ones, also listened in. Over these centuries, Primordial went from teaching Yuqing Skills to the Yuqing Immortal Skill, to the Thunder Skill, and to his own specialty, the Refining Technique.
Laozi and Tongtian also wholeheartedly instructed the three in the Alchemy Dao and Array Dao.
To Laozi and Tongtian's delight, Li Yanran showed a great talent for the Alchemy Dao, and the ostensibly simple-minded Li Qingquan was actually quick to grasp the Array Dao.
The six of them lived comfortably on the island.
One day, Primordial stood at the highest peak of the Ten Thousand Bamboo Island and said to Li Qingming and Li Qingquan beside him, "At this moment, chaos has erupted across the Primordial Continent. Beasts, birds, and scaled creatures fight incessantly for the interests of their clans, stirring up a miasma over the land.
Primordial sighed and continued, "Alas! As direct disciples of Pangu, it is our duty to protect this realm for the Pangu God. We, The Three Brothers, have decided to go to the continent to halt the strife between the clans, to ensure the peace of all beings. Now, although Qingmingzi has not yet undergone Transformation, he has already advanced to the middle stage of Taiyi Xuanxian. Qinglingzi has also begun his journey as Taiyi. I wish Qingmingzi to travel with us across the Primordial, and Qinglingzi to stay here on the island with Zi Yan, our fellow disciple. Would that be agreeable?"
Li Qingming's eyes sparkled with excitement, and he said enthusiastically, "I shall obey the Master's sacred mandate!"
Li Qingquan also bowed in acceptance.
Half a year later.
In the southern part of the Primordial Continent, three Taoist priests arrived.
An elder in the middle riding a blue ram; to his right, a middle-aged man straddling a Four Unlikes creature, with a cute little beast bearing dark circles on its shoulder; and to the left, a young man riding a Kuiniu beast. It was none other than The Three Pure Ones and Li Qingming, who had just left the South Sea.
At this moment, Li Qingming asked, "Master, where shall we go first on this mission?"
The impetuous Tongtian Sect Leader said, "We should first find that old man. He saved our lives last time, and we left in a hurry without expressing our thanks. It's against the proprieties!"
Laozi nodded slightly and said, "It is indeed proper to do so! Yet now, with the warring of the Three Clans, all beings are in turmoil. We, as the legitimate lineage of Pangu, should intervene!"
Primordial Venerable took Li Qingming from his shoulder and placed him on the head of the Four Unlikes, pointing towards Mount Buzhou, which pierced the heavens, and said, "We are the manifestation of the Pangu God's Primordial Spirit, and since our Transformation, we have yet to pay homage to the backbone of the Father God, which is rather disrespectful! I think we should first visit Buzhou, save the living beings along the way, and then seek out the old man. What do you think, elder brother?"
Laozi contemplated for a long moment before replying, "What you say is reasonable, let us do so!"
Let us leave aside the party of three people and one beast heading straight for Mount Buzhou.
At this time, within the Dragon Clan's territory, situated slightly northwest in the Desert North, a dramatic scene was unfolding.
"Ha ha ha, Feng Yan'er, it's futile to resist. Just submit to me graciously!" A Seven-clawed Golden Dragon, in the sky with his claws and teeth bared, chased after a strikingly beautiful Phoenix.
The Phoenix at this moment had lost several of its tail feathers, and its slender wings were spotted with blood, revealing its exhaustion.
"Ao Tian, you're dreaming! Even if I die, I will not agree to you!" Feng Yan'er cried out harshly, her voice filled with both anger and helplessness.
"Heh heh, that's not up to you! An Long, stop her for me! Once I've had my fun with her, I will reward her to you all!" Ao Tian suddenly spoke to the air.
"Roar"
Four black Jiao Dragons appeared out of nowhere, blocking Feng Yan'er's path. They formed a Four Symbols formation, trapping Feng Yan'er with no way out.
Left with no choice, Feng Yan'er transformed into her human form and landed on the ground, revealing an exceptionally beautiful woman:
Hands like soft branches, skin like creamy jade, neck delicate as an insect, teeth like gourd seeds, with fragile beauty and arching brows.
Glaring at Ao Tian, Feng Yan'er said, "Brother Thirteen went missing in your territory. I've searched the South Sea and couldn't find him anywhere. It must've been you who kidnapped him. Release my brother at once. Otherwise, if our two clans go to war, we will annihilate the Dragon Clan!"
"Ha ha ha! What a joke! Even if my Dragon Clan did capture Feng Shisan, what could you possibly do to me?" Ao Tian laughed arrogantly towards the sky, "You can't even protect yourself, and you're still thinking about that Feng Shisan! You really are a pathetic—woman."
"You... Fine! 'Southern Ming Li Fire'" A ball of deep blue flame, following Feng Yan'er's delicate cry, flickered on and off in her palm.
"Whoosh"
Ao Tian, completely unprepared, was hit squarely by the blue flame. His once decent-looking face was instantly charred black; the pain that penetrated his bones was not something a lazy, greedy, cowardly lecher could withstand.
"Aoao"
Ao Long cried out in agony, jumping up and down, roaring, "You wretched feathery woman, you don't appreciate the wine I offered and now you'll suffer the punishment. An Long, what the hell are you waiting for? Attack her! And remember, don't hurt this little wench!"
An Long and the others, although quite annoyed deep down, still had to obey since they were the direct offspring of the Ancestor Dragon.
The four dark Jiao Dragons pounced towards Feng Yan'er, constantly assaulting her with various magic spells. The already injured and fatigued Feng Yan'er was no match for the four of them, and she quickly lost the battle. Her clothes were torn into strips!
The parched Ao Tian waved his hand, saying, "You guys, guard the surroundings carefully!"
"Cackle! I've recently recovered from a serious injury and am in need of blood food; I never expected to stumble upon such delicacy right outside my door! Truly, the Great Dao is with me! Cackle cackle cackle!" An ominous voice suddenly sounded from all around. Along with the voice came a bone-chilling oppressive aura.
Hearing this voice, the Four Guards of An Long stood with their hair on end, shivering uncontrollably.
"Cackle, 'Soul Eater,' swallow for your lord!" A gust of wind along with a shadow swept over the Four Guards. Something strange happened - the guards, originally standing in the Four Symbols formation, turned into thick black smoke upon the gust's passing and dispersed into the air.
"What a relief!"
A young man clad in black robes, with an evil but handsome appearance, said, "I didn't expect you to be a direct bloodline of Tian Long, adored by him. And that little girl is also someone of significance, the little Princess of the Phoenix Clan! Ha, it's true that undiscovered treasure can be found without much effort! I will use the both of you to complete my lord's plan, cackle!"
Both the stunned Feng Yan'er and Ao Tian were too late to dodge and were engulfed by the black wind transformed by the young man, vanishing without a trace in an instant!
This part of the world returned to tranquility!