Bang bang bang!
Accompanied by the faint sound of hooves.
A yellow ox appeared in Chen Nan's sight.
It was about two meters tall, strong and robust, with a pair of dark ox horns that gleamed with metallic luster, giving it a very sharp impression.
Its aura was not strong.
Only Upper God King realm.
But it had a pair of deep eyes.
The yellow ox spoke human words, "Are you its master?"
Chen Nan said politely, "It's my brother. My brother is arrogant and disrespectful. If he has offended you, senior, please be magnanimous and spare its life!"
The yellow ox snorted coldly, "Your little brother is indeed quite arrogant, relying on his God Venerable realm cultivation and not putting Grandpa Ox in his eyes. However, Grandpa Ox is not one for endless fighting, I've only cut off eight of its heads for a drink."
It paused and looked at Chen Nan, "Why do I find you a bit displeasing?"
Chen Nan felt a bit bewildered and couldn't help but ask, "So?"
"You find me displeasing, is it because I am dashing and exceptionally handsome?"
He didn't know why he said such a brazen thing.
Not only did the yellow ox find him displeasing.
He also found the yellow ox displeasing.
"Sharp-tongued!" The yellow ox snorted, a blast of air erupting from its nostrils, exuding an imposing aura, "Your people are in my cave. If you wish to see them, you must defeat me first!"
"Bold ox demon, how dare you disrespect our Saint Lord! To defeat you, our Saint Lord need not lift a finger, I am more than enough!" Feng Wu stepped forward. He had offended Chen Nan before and now wanted to redeem himself.
The yellow ox completely ignored him, lifting its front hoof and kicking out.
Pfft!
Feng Wu spat blood and was sent flying thousands of meters in an instant.
???
???
???
Everyone was stunned.
When the yellow ox attacked, there was no fluctuation of divine power, nor did it use any magical abilities.
Yet, it rendered Feng Wu, who was in the Upper God Venerable realm, completely powerless.
Even witnessing it firsthand.
They found it hard to believe.
"I understand!" Chen Nan grinned, "You find me displeasing because my zodiac sign is the horse, and you are one of the twelve beast gods, the Ox God."
"Ox and horse are incompatible, I get that."
Speaking of which.
Chen Nan hadn't expected to encounter one of the twelve beast gods in the Third Heaven.
But on second thought, it made sense.
The twelve beast gods belonged to the ancient gods.
Although they were not saints.
As long as humanity endured.
As long as there were people with their zodiac signs.
They were immortal beings.
"Come!" the yellow ox said, "Considering you are younger, I will give you three moves!"
Chen Nan: "To deal with you!"
"One move is enough!"
With that said.
A golden staff appeared in his hand.
It was the Pillar of Merit.
The Pillar of Merit floated in the night sky.
It erupted with dazzling golden light.
Thunder roared in the night sky, and the wind howled.
The scene was like the end of days.
The yellow ox stared blankly at the incredibly familiar pillar before its eyes, a look of disbelief dawning in its gaze. Then, it bent its front hooves and begged Chen Nan, "Stop fighting, I surrender, I surrender!"
Perhaps others did not recognize what the golden pillar represented.
But the Ox God knew all too well.
After all.
The twelve beast gods themselves lived in the Hall of Merit.
Guarding the Hall of Merit.
It naturally knew what it meant for Chen Nan to possess the Pillar of Merit.
It meant he was the last hope of the Three Realms.
It meant he bore the heavy responsibility of rebuilding the Heavenly Court.
And it.
Had to assist him.
Chen Nan put away the Pillar of Merit and asked, "You didn't harm my woman, did you?"
The Ox God quickly shook its head, "That girl's zodiac is the ox, how could I possibly harm her?"
"That's good then."
Chen Nan also breathed a sigh of relief. If the Ox God had truly harmed Xuan Qingniao, it would have had to pay a heavy price, no matter what.
"You unfeeling wretch, you've forgotten about me after they chopped off eight of my heads! Didn't you even consider helping me get revenge?" the Nine-headed Flame Lion roared from the mountains.
The Ox God said indignantly, "Serves you right!"
"Rightfully so!"
"Who told you to occupy my Niu Niu Cave?"
"If you had spoken more politely, would Grandpa Ox have chopped off your heads?"
The Nine-headed Flame Lion immediately fell silent.
It had just entered the God Venerable realm and intended to occupy Niu Niu Cave.
But it discovered.
This ox was too terrifying; its proudest assets were no match for the opponent.
Not only that.
It was also kicked unconscious.
When it woke up, this ox was eating lion heads...
"Let's go, take me into the mountains first," Chen Nan said faintly, then led the people of the Phoenix tribe to Niu Niu Cave and met Xuan Qingniao who was cultivating in a cave.
Xuan Qingniao's meridians were severed, making cultivation futile.
But she had never given up.
"Take this!" Chen Nan produced the Phoenix Grass.
Xuan Qingniao slowly opened her weak eyes. Upon seeing the Phoenix Grass, a flicker of excitement immediately flashed in her eyes.
Even though she hadn't taken the Phoenix Grass yet.
The scent emanating from the Phoenix Grass made her feel warm all over, an indescribable sense of relief.
"Thank you!"
She said a word of thanks and reached out to take the Phoenix Grass.
Chen Nan: "You're welcome. It's also my way of fulfilling my promise to your grandfather and your father!"
Xuan Qingniao's pupils trembled violently. She asked with some reluctance, "You braved Phoenix Ridge to retrieve this medicine, solely to fulfill a promise to my grandfather and father?"
Chen Nan: "Otherwise? Do you think I've fallen in love with you?"
A bitterness welled up in Xuan Qingniao's heart.
She thought Chen Nan was doing all this because he liked her.
After all, she was the recognized beauty of the Cold Blade Tribe.
But she never dreamed.
That he had endured hardships simply to fulfill a promise to her grandfather and father, not because he liked her.
Looking at Xuan Qingniao's slightly bitter gaze, Chen Nan said, "Don't be discouraged. If you want me to fall in love with you, then after your injuries heal, give me more..."
Xuan Qingniao frowned, "More what?"
Chen Nan cleared his throat, "A few more times!"
Xuan Qingniao was stunned for a moment, then let out a sharp shriek, "Bastard!"
"Scram!"
"This grandmother doesn't want to see you!"
Chen Nan knew when to stop and immediately left Xuan Qingniao's cultivation cave.
Upon coming outside, the Ox God had already arranged for the tribe members to prepare food, and then said, "Senior, I have already heard from the Phoenix tribe members about your intentions."
"Rest assured, we of Niu Niu Cave will follow your footsteps to the death!"
"And obey your commands!"
"I have already gathered thirty thousand Great Demon Oxes, and they are on their way!"
"Once they arrive."
"We can head east, raze the demon strongholds."
"Reclaim the occupied rivers and mountains, and territories."
Chen Nan nodded with satisfaction, "This task is long and arduous, but I believe that if we unite as one, we can annihilate the demons in one fell swoop!"
The Ox God said solemnly, "Rest assured, the beings of the Three Realms, united we are a fire, scattered we are stars. We are not afraid of them!"
Boom!
Without any warning.
A terrifying wave of energy erupted from the cave where Xuan Qingniao was cultivating, followed by Xuan Qingniao's weak moan, "Chen Nan... you... come quickly... I can't bear it anymore..."