Shen Nong entered the ten thousand mountains alone and found a way to prevent being harmed by the poisonous fog and miasma within. The disciples of the Medical School also detoxified the human race from the poisons administered by the Wu shamans!
Kong Xuan, holding the Bitter Bamboo given by Taishang, appeared at the front of the two armies and aimed the Bitter Bamboo in his hand towards Chi You's mount, the Iron Eater!
As soon as the Iron Eater saw the Bitter Bamboo in Kong Xuan's hand, its eyes lit up, and it trotted towards Kong Xuan!
Seeing his mount being lured away by Kong Xuan, Chi You was instantly furious and said:
"Who are you? Return my mount quickly, and I will spare your life!"
Kong Xuan heard this, looked at Chi You, and burst into laughter!
"Do you see? It ran towards me on its own. If you have the ability, call it back yourself. I will not stop you!"
Chi You was enraged upon hearing this. He had no idea what sorcery Kong Xuan had cast on the Iron Eater to make it run towards him faster than it would towards its own mother!
Kong Xuan ignored Chi You. Seeing the Iron Eater running towards him, he transformed into a peacock, held the Bitter Bamboo in his mouth, and flew towards Kunlun!
Kong Xuan had no interest in participating in the conflict between humans and Wu shamans. He had come this time only for the black, rolling creature!
Kong Xuan flew ahead, holding the Bitter Bamboo, and the Iron Eater stumbled along behind him!
Kong Xuan, with the Bitter Bamboo given by Taishang, managed to lure the Iron Eater back to Kunlun!
On Kunlun Mountain, Taishang looked at Kong Xuan and the Iron Eater at the mountain gate and immediately said to Yuanshi and Tongtian:
"Second brother, third brother, come and sit with me at my Taqing Peak!"
After speaking, Taishang led the way. Seeing this, Yuanshi also got up and headed towards the Taqing Palace with Taishang!
Tongtian, seeing Kong Xuan leading the Iron Eater towards Taqing Peak, let out an displeased snort and also got up and headed towards Taqing Peak!
At the summit of Taqing Peak, Taishang found an empty space and waited for Kong Xuan's arrival!
Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao, seeing that Taishang, who had not returned to the palace for a long time, had surprisingly come to Taqing Peak, also waited curiously to see what business had brought their master back!
Upon returning and seeing Taishang, Kong Xuan handed the Bitter Bamboo back to him!
"Eldest Uncle-Master, your disciple has not failed in his mission and has brought this fellow back!"
Taishang nodded, took the Bitter Bamboo from Kong Xuan's hand, and the Iron Eater, seeing the Bitter Bamboo returning to Taishang, immediately ran towards Taishang! It wanted to snatch the Bitter Bamboo from Taishang's hand!
Seeing this, Yin Jiao quietly said to Jin Jiao:
"Brother, is this silly-looking thing not very smart? It even dares to try and snatch Master's belongings!"
Jin Jiao looked at the Iron Eater's simple-minded appearance and said to Yin Jiao:
"It indeed doesn't look very clever!"
Taishang looked at the Iron Eater nudging him at his feet and chuckled, saying:
"Don't worry! Don't worry! I'll give it to you soon!"
After speaking, Taishang tossed the Bitter Bamboo into the air above the empty space. Immediately, he waved his Taiyi whisk, and the Bitter Bamboo exploded in mid-air, turning into a cloud of green smoke that fell onto the empty space at the summit of Taqing Peak!
As the smoke settled, Taishang took out five drops of Sanguang Divine Water and tossed them into the sky. A water column suddenly shot up from the mountainside of Taqing Peak, and a gentle drizzle began to fall on Taqing Peak!
As the rainwater landed, bamboo shoots immediately sprouted from the ground. In a short while, the summit of Taqing Peak was covered in a sea of bamboo!
Seeing that he had suddenly appeared in a sea of bamboo, the Iron Eater was stunned for a moment before it began to voraciously hug and chew on the green bamboos!
Seeing this, Taishang nodded with satisfaction and then said to Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao:
"Jin Jiao, Yin Jiao, from now on, this little fellow will be the guardian spirit beast of my Taqing Peak!"
Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao looked at Taishang with hesitation.
Seeing their expressions, Taishang opened his mouth and said:
"Say what you want to say!"
Upon hearing this, Yin Jiao lightly nudged Jin Jiao with his shoulder!
Jin Jiao scratched his head and smiled sheepishly at Taishang!
"Master, it's nothing, nothing!"
After Jin Jiao finished speaking, Yin Jiao whispered to Jin Jiao:
"Brother, what is Master thinking? Using this thing as the guardian beast? I'm afraid if the house is burgled, this fellow wouldn't even notice, would he?"
Although Yin Jiao's voice was low, how could it escape the ears of the others? Taishang furrowed his brow!
"Yin Jiao, what did you say?"
Yin Jiao, seeing that Taishang had heard him, scratched his head and said:
"Master, I said this little fellow looks very endearing! Right, brother!"
Upon hearing this, Jin Jiao immediately replied:
"Ah! Yes, yes, yes, Master, my brother said exactly that!"
Taishang glared at the two of them irritably. Tongtian immediately seized the opportunity and said:
"Elder brother, Yin Jiao is right. I think it would be better to let it go to my Shangqing Peak!"
Taishang shook his head and looked at Tongtian, saying:
"Third brother, this is the guardian beast of my Taqing Peak. You shouldn't contend with me for it!"
As Taishang finished speaking, two bovine bellows echoed from afar!
"Moo! Moo! Moo!"
Then, Taishang's Ban Jiao Qing Niu (Horned Green Ox) and Tongtian's Kui Niu (Kui Ox) galloped towards the bamboo sea!
Seeing two oxen entering its territory, the Iron Eater bared its fangs fiercely at the Ban Jiao Qing Niu and the Kui Niu!
The Ban Jiao Qing Niu ignored the Iron Eater and went straight into the bamboo sea.
Seeing that its threat was useless, the Iron Eater charged at the Kui Niu!
The Kui Niu, seeing such a small creature daring to bare its teeth at it, a flash of disdain crossed its bell-sized eyes. As the Iron Eater approached, it kicked the Iron Eater out of the bamboo sea in one go!
It then arrogantly called out to the Iron Eater twice before continuing to eat bamboo leaves!
Seeing the Kui Niu and the Qing Niu trampling on its beloved bamboo right in front of it, the Iron Eater had no choice but to run to Taishang's feet and throw a tantrum!
Taishang chuckled and then said to the Kui Niu and the Qing Niu:
"Kui Niu, Qing Niu, since you also like to stay in this bamboo sea, do not bully this little fellow!"
The Qing Niu was indifferent. The Kui Niu, upon hearing Taishang's words, nodded slightly and walked deeper into the bamboo sea on its own!
Yuanshi suddenly said to Taishang:
"Elder brother, this bamboo sea was formed by your Bitter Bamboo and Sanguang Divine Water. It can calm the mind. From now on, I will cultivate here!"
Upon hearing this, Tongtian exclaimed, "Shameless!" What was this talk of calming the mind? Yuanshi had plenty of treasures that could calm the mind, so why would he care about such a minimal effect? Tongtian knew his second brother's true wealth!
Tongtian's eyes rolled, and he immediately said:
"I will stay here to protect second brother."
Hearing this, Taishang looked speechlessly at Yuanshi and Tongtian, whose eyes were glued to the Iron Eater!
However, Taishang then thought, from now on, he would also have a national treasure. He no longer wanted to speak to those who did not have a national treasure!
There was a reason this Iron Eater could be considered a national treasure. It was truly enjoyable to pet!