198: How could a cow... be so strong?!

Before Xuan Yangzi could finish his words, the spiritual power of his Mid-stage Saint Realm surged within him. Although his injuries had not healed, his Aura could not be defeated!

However, just as he was about to teach this arrogant old ox a lesson—

“Om—!!!”

An indescribable, terrifying pressure, as if from the primordial ancient times, like a volcano dormant for eons suddenly erupting, violently burst forth from the seemingly ordinary body of the Azure Sky Python Bull King!

In an instant, a majestic Aura, as heavy as an ancient divine mountain and as vast as a sea of stars, enveloped Xuan Yangzi!

The strength of that Aura far exceeded any Saint Realm known to Xuan Yangzi!

It was a terrifying power almost at the Great Saint Realm, or even a higher level!

Xuan Yangzi's half-condensed spiritual power was instantly scattered by this pressure. He felt as if an invisible giant hand had clutched his throat, his breathing suddenly hitched, and his face instantly turned pale!

He staggered back three steps, almost falling to the ground, his finger pointing at the Azure Sky Python Bull King trembling uncontrollably, his eyes filled with extreme shock and disbelief!

“I... What the hell?!!!”

Xuan Yangzi's voice changed pitch, almost a shriek: “You... you, you, you... you’re this strong?!!!”

He was completely dumbfounded! His mind was blank!

This old ox, who usually just lay around lazily, either farming or napping, and occasionally got teased by him... was actually such a deeply hidden and terrifying existence?!

He had always thought this old ox was at most a Saint Realm Yao Beast, able to tend the garden on Zizhu Peak only because of his Junior Brother's favoritism, perhaps at most an Early Stage Saint King Realm... But now, this Aura... this pressure... this was simply outrageous! How could an ox... be this strong?!

He secretly glanced at Gu Changge beside him and saw that his Junior Brother still looked calm and composed, as if nothing had happened. He immediately understood—his Junior Brother must have known the old ox's true identity all along!

“Senior... Junior Brother...” Xuan Yangzi's voice was dry, with a hint of a sob, “This... this ox... it...”

Gu Changge then slowly turned around, his gaze calmly sweeping over the awe-inspiring Azure Sky Python Bull King, and said faintly: “Alright, rein it in a bit, don't scare Senior Brother.”

Upon hearing this, the Azure Sky Python Bull King snorted, and the terrifying pressure receded like a tide, instantly returning to its lazy, harmless appearance.

It shook its big head, slowly lay back down on the ground, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.

Xuan Yangzi: “...”

He stood frozen, his mouth slightly open, eyes wide, his head buzzing as if a million bees were flapping their wings simultaneously.

Re... reined it in? Just like that... reined it in?!

That pressure that almost made me wet myself... just vanished?

This old ox... is it... is it toying with me?!

Yes, it is toying with me!!!

He looked at Old Huang’s leisurely, even innocent expression, as if saying, “What happened just now? I don’t know anything,” and then compared it to his own pathetic state of being scared almost to Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, retreating three steps... First, a huge sense of absurdity and grievance welled up within him.

I, the dignified Sect Master of Qingxuan Sect! A Mid-stage Saint Realm expert! Was actually scared like this by an... an animal that I usually treated as a meat supply and a plow ox?!

If this got out... where would I put my old face?! Would I still be the Sect Master?!

Then came a feeling of being deeply deceived and kept in the dark.

Junior Brother! Gu Changge! You knew all along! You must have known all along that this ox was unusual!

You actually kept it from me all this time! Watching me occasionally tease it, and even thinking about eating its sirloin... Was I the only fool in the dark?! Did I look like a clown in its eyes?!

It's one thing for Junior Brother to be unfathomable... but even a random ox he raises is a Great Saint Realm or even higher?!

Gu Changge looked at the still-shaken Xuan Yangzi, his tone still calm: “Since Senior Brother is hungry, there’s a small snake kept in the cold pond behind the mountain. Its meat is tender and contains Dragon Qi; it might barely suffice for your recovery and stabilizing your cultivation.”

As soon as he finished speaking—

“Hiss—!!!”

Deep in the back mountain, at the bottom of a deep, cold pond, a sleeping flood Dragon suddenly jolted awake from its slumber!

Its giant flood Dragon pupils suddenly contracted, and an inexplicable chill instantly swept through its entire body, making it shiver uncontrollably, stirring up turbulent waves throughout the cold pond!

“???”

The giant head of the Underworld Flood Dragon emerged from the water, looking around warily and confusedly, its Divine Sense frantically scanning its surroundings, “Wh... what just happened? I suddenly felt a chill?!”

It felt a strange sense of dread and grievance; it was sleeping soundly in this cold pond, who had it offended?

Xuan Yangzi was still reeling from shock, but upon hearing the words “tender meat” and “contains Dragon Qi,” his eyes instantly lit up!

The appetite that had been scared away by the old ox suddenly surged back. He swallowed hard, rubbed his hands, and a excited smile appeared on his face, as if he could already smell the aroma of meat wafting from the pot.

“Small snake? Good, good, good! Snake meat is good! Especially one that’s almost transformed into a flood Dragon... uh... no, it’s already transformed into a flood Dragon?! Even better! A great tonic! Absolutely a great tonic! The more Dragon Qi, the tastier, Junior Brother!”

Xuan Yangzi wiped away non-existent drool, glanced around, and calmed down a bit.

“By the way, Junior Brother, where is Junior Niece Ling Xi? Why haven't I seen her? And Elder Silent Extinction and Junior Brother Shi aren't on the peak either... Where... where have they all gone?”

“Nothing major. Just a few old fellows whose Lifespan is nearing its end, thinking Xiao Ruobai has clues to some undying divine medicine, and they’re pursuing him closely.”

He spoke lightly: “I saw that Xi'er had been in the tower for a long time, so I let her go down the mountain to stretch her limbs and help her two Senior Brothers. Silent Extinction and Senior Brother Shi were worried, so they secretly followed to look after her.”

Xuan Yangzi: “!!!”

Clues to undying divine medicine?! Being chased by old monsters?! And “pursuing him closely”? This is called nothing major?!

His vision went black, and he almost fainted!

“Un... undying divine medicine?! My heavens!” Xuan Yangzi’s voice trembled.

“Junior Brother! This... this is not a joke! Those old fogeys will do anything to prolong their lives! Although the three of them are exceptionally talented, they’ve only been cultivating for a short time... Elder Silent Extinction and Junior Brother Shi... Is... is that enough?!”

He didn’t fully understand the true strength of the Lord of Annihilation, only feeling that he was a mysterious expert invited by his Junior Brother, but how powerful exactly, he had no idea.

Although Shi Wanshan was strong, he was only at the Mid-stage Saint Realm.

In his opinion, when facing something like undying divine medicine, which could attract great powers of heaven and earth, one could never be too cautious!