At the Nameless Mountain, the Divine Observation Mirror shone brightly, rippling with mysterious light. Around it, disciples of the Heaven-Shaming Academy were gathered, whispering and observing. Among them stood Jiang Chen, his expression calm yet sharp as his gaze never left the mirror's surface.
Beside him, Bai Tian Feng was in quiet conversation with some fellow disciples, her elegant presence catching the morning light. Yet in that moment, the atmosphere shifted. A faint rumble echoed across the skies.
Everyone looked up.
From the heavens descended a colossal figure—a bull walking upright like a man. His body was enormous, clad in thick, iron-hard hide, with bulging muscles like mountains. His head was that of a bull, horned and majestic, with eyes that gleamed with stubborn defiance. He looked exactly like the legendary creatures of western myth—a living Minotaur.
On his broad shoulders sat two young boys. Though they had matured since last seen in the mortal realm, their resemblance to Bai Tian Feng was unmistakable. They were Bai Tianhao and Bai Tianwu, the elder brothers of Bai Tianlong.
As Bai Tian Feng caught sight of them, her eyes lit up, a rare and heartfelt smile breaking across her face. "Brother Hao! Brother Wu!" she called out with a voice that trembled with emotion.
The disciples nearby turned their heads in surprise. So these were her brothers—direct descendants of the Bai clan who had already ascended higher than their peers.
But before the reunion could warm the air, a mocking voice rang out.
"Hah! Look what the bull dragged in."
The speaker was none other than Wulin, the mischievous monkey whose antics had caused endless troubles even in the immortal realm. He grinned, sharp teeth flashing. "Old bull, shouldn't you have arrived seven years ago? What took you so long—did your hooves get stuck in the mud?"
The massive bull snorted, smoke flaring from his nostrils. This was Niu Tian, the Divine Bull. He straightened, his voice rumbling like thunder as he retorted:
"I still came, didn't I? That's better than you, wasting seven years fooling around in the Monkey Clan. In the end, you still had to cry for Master to save you when those old monkeys got angry. Don't act like you're any better!"
The disciples burst into muffled laughter at the jab.
Wulin's eyes narrowed, his tail flicking. "Little bull, do you dare say that again to my face?"
Normally, Niu Tian would have shrunk back at this point. Even with his thick skin and unshakable pride, he knew better than to get pummeled by Wulin's mischief-fueled fists. But this time… something was different.
He planted his hooved feet firmly on the ground, nostrils flaring. His bull eyes locked on Wulin without fear.
"I'm not scared of you, old monkey!"
Wulin raised a brow, his grin vanishing. He studied Niu Tian carefully. Inwardly, he thought:
This stupid bull… what is he plotting?
Niu Tian stood his ground, nostrils flaring, but before the tension between bull and monkey could ignite further, Wulin's brows suddenly furrowed. His sharp monkey eyes glinted, then his expression shifted as though he sensed something beyond the mortal sky.
With a teasing yet heavy tone, he suddenly called out:
"Since you're already here… aren't you going to show yourself, little worm?"
The words rolled across the heavens like thunder. But within his tone was not only mockery—it carried a trace of ancient sorrow.
The next instant, the skies above the Nameless Mountain cracked apart. From the rift, golden light poured down, illuminating the land with sacred brilliance. A colossal figure emerged: a five-clawed golden dragon, its body stretching endlessly, scales radiant like suns, claws sharp enough to tear worlds apart.
The oppressive aura of supremacy washed over every disciple present. Their knees almost buckled under the sheer majesty. Even Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed as he steadied his breath.
The golden dragon's mighty gaze softened as it fell upon Wulin. Its voice, deep and resonant, shook the skies:
"Elder brother… it's been a while. Elder brother Wulin."
Wulin bared his teeth in a sharp grin, his tail flicking behind him.
"The five-clawed worm is here. But only in the form of a clone." His mocking laughter rang out. "Where is your real body? Why do you only send a fragment here? Come with your true body if you dare!"
The dragon's golden eyes dimmed slightly, and its head lowered.
"My true body still guards the Slaughter City. That was the Master's command. I cannot abandon it. I… must follow orders."
At this, Wulin's mocking grin turned cold. His gaze pierced straight into the dragon's soul.
"Yes… you are one of the top five beasts under Master, standing at the late stage of the Dao Ancestor. Of course you'd be the most obedient dog." His voice dripped with sarcasm. "The most loyal dragon of Master, aren't you?"
The words landed like heavy stones.
The five-clawed golden dragon visibly trembled, its majestic form faltering for an instant. Its throat tightened, but in the end—it chose silence.
Wulin snorted loudly, his laughter gone, his eyes heavy with disdain and old pain. He turned away, placing his focus once more on the Divine Observation Mirror before him.
"Stay silent then, worm. You've always been good at that."
The golden dragon's clone lingered silently above, a divine shadow against the sky—yet wordless, chained not by strength, but by loyalty.
---
Wulin's tail flicked once as he finally tore his gaze away from the golden dragon. His sharp monkey eyes fixed once again upon the Divine Observation Mirror, the reflection of Bai Tianlong cultivating within its depths.
With a commanding tone, one that allowed no rebuttal, he spoke:
"That boy is still only at the Qi Condensation stage. I know the two of you worms have likely come dragging gifts for him." His voice cracked like a whip. "But you will wait until he steps into Foundation Establishment before giving them."
The disciples nearby stiffened, their hearts thumping under the weight of his aura. Even the colossal golden dragon hovering above trembled faintly.
Wulin continued, his voice ironclad, every word heavy with conviction:
"Do not shower him with treasures inappropriate for his level. Do not tempt him with shortcuts. A cultivator who relies too heavily on external things will only cloud his Dao Heart. If that boy grows dependent on such crutches, his foundation will rot."
The final words landed like divine decree, leaving neither the golden dragon nor the old bull with room to argue.
In silence, the two mighty beasts exchanged glances—then lowered their heads in reluctant acceptance.