‘Make soup.’

His body twitching several times, hanging upside down beneath a great tree, the Golden-Winged Great Peng slowly opened his eyes, still haunted by terror, his gaze falling on a withered old tree trunk.

He… he seemed to have had a terrifying nightmare.

In the dream, the Heavenly Court appeared empty, and he had unexpectedly made it smoothly to the Vast Cold Palace, only to be slapped flying by Immortal Lady Chang’e…

The Three Realms’ greatest beauty was an expert comparable to a great disciple of the Saints.

Just as this thought crossed the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s mind, he realized he was currently hanging upside down, hearing the crackling of fire nearby, along with some casual conversation…

His immortal power was completely sealed, his bird-form primordial spirit bound by nine cyan light rings, utterly unable to move even slightly;

Using all his strength to struggle, he only managed to slowly rotate half a circle, seeing three figures sitting three zhang away.

A white-haired elder, a familiar strong man, and that ‘bull demon’ he had met earlier.

The white-haired elder noticed his movement and looked over, showing a kindly smile, saying: “You’re awake?”

The Golden-Winged Great Peng dazedly nodded, not knowing how to respond.

The white-haired elder said gently: “Don’t be afraid, the wing removal process went very smoothly.”

The Golden-Winged Great Peng’s mind went blank.

The strong man and bull demon to the side turned their heads, each holding a large ‘roasted wing’ in their hands, smiling slightly at the Golden-Winged Great Peng.

“Tastes quite good.”

“Very chewy.”

The Golden-Winged Great Peng felt an icy chill in his heart, his face filled with grief and indignation. He was about to curse in anger but suddenly felt extremely weary. He ‘looked up’ and spat out a mouthful of blood, fainting again from rage.

Elder Long Shou puzzled: “This fellow, why doesn’t he just check himself?”

Wu Gang laughed: “Where did the Western Paradise find such a specimen?”

The Blue Bull took a bite of the roasted spirit bird wing, praising: “It is chewy. Who would have thought these spirit bird wings would taste better than the leg meat.”

Elder Long Shou shook his head with a light laugh: “Now I understand why his sister said we could just kill him outright.

Keeping him around is useless, he only brings trouble to the Phoenix clan. Better to kill him.”

“Why not take him as your mount?”

Wu Gang said: “This creature’s extreme speed is truly formidable. He hasn’t even revealed his true form since entering the Heavenly Court. His true form’s flight speed might not be far off from Kun Peng’s.

If he could reach that speed, it would be rare in heaven and earth.”

The Blue Bull muttered: “A mount needs to have spirit. This dimwit… forget it.”

Yet Elder Long Shou was slightly tempted, sitting there in thought for a while.

Taking him as a mount certainly wouldn’t be appropriate, after all, the Golden-Winged Great Peng was Kong Xuan’s brother. Killing him versus taking him as a mount were two completely different matters.

He had to consider Kong Xuan’s feelings, as she was the future sister-in-law personally approved by his master.

Then, perhaps having the Golden-Winged Great Peng serve their side, using his extreme speed to carry them at crucial moments…

Big Sister Kong Xuan probably wouldn’t mind that.

But…

“Trying to subdue such a creature would be quite troublesome,” Elder Long Shou rubbed his forehead, feeling it would be a double torture of his spirit and willpower.

Wu Gang laughed: “Just wear him down. Phoenix clan or not?

I have some ancient spirit-binding incantations used to control great demons, perfect for this situation.”

Elder Long Shou pondered silently, closing his eyes as the Taiji Diagram slowly revealed its true form in his left palm.

He had already begun communicating with the Taiji Diagram.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng’s temperament could be described in one word: foolish, or in three words…

Especially foolish.

Too clever for his good, blatantly obvious, recklessly bold, extremely arrogant, somewhat capable, defiant to everyone, just wanting to be praised and flattered—once flattered enough, he’d do anything.

Taming a Golden-Winged Great Peng with such a temperament would truly be a hundred times harder than defeating him.

But it wasn’t impossible.

In his previous life, he had heard about eagle training, and the principles were similar.

If it won’t kill him, torment him to death’s door!

Of course, this would need to be combined with some psychological counseling, and gradual guidance, finally wearing down the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s spirit and changing his inherent sense of superiority.

Elder Long Shou breathed out softly and said quietly:

“Senior, have you heard of chain formations?”

Wu Gang was somewhat confused, and the Blue Bull beside him was also puzzled.

…

Originally, when the Golden-Winged Great Peng challenged the Heavenly Court, Elder Long Shou had only wanted to teach him a lesson while dampening the Western Paradise’s气势, without any thought of subduing him.

But…

The Golden-Winged Great Peng’s temperament was what it was.

If they let this golden peng leave the Heavenly Court smoothly this time, he would think he had fallen for the Heavenly Court’s schemes from start to finish and would pursue an endless feud with the Heavenly Court;

He would never consider who first boasted about breaking into the Heavenly Court, and who had rushed headlong into the Southern Heavenly Gate…

Elder Long Shou had encountered such people in his previous life and still felt lingering fear.

Therefore, this time they must either completely subdue him or cripple the Golden-Winged Great Peng, leaving the Phoenix clan a seed…

No sooner said than done.

Elder Long Shou first discussed with the Blue Bull and Wu Gang for a while, then hurried about various parts of the Heavenly Court.

First obtaining the Jade Emperor’s permission, then Wood Duke’s support, he gathered several hundred heavenly immortals and deities in the Fourth Heaven’s most spacious area.

A million celestial soldiers went to the Netherworld to dig channels and ditches, while hundreds of immortals and deities forged formation bases.

Of course, the crucial formation bases at the chain formation’s connecting points were still personally forged by Elder Long Shou and sent to the Heavenly Court…

He moved some spirit stones from the Heavenly Court’s treasury and requisitioned a batch of precious materials from the Four Seas Dragon Palace, striving to build a vast chain formation in the shortest possible time!

This formation didn’t need to be too solid, as it would have the support of the Taiji Diagram’s yin and yang energies throughout;

What mattered were the maze and entrapment formations within, which would keep the Golden-Winged Great Peng constantly feeling pressure, constantly reminding him he was within a formation.

In just three days, over a thousand formation bases were simultaneously activated on a vast sea of clouds in the Fourth Heaven, creating a magnificent spectacle.

One of Elder Long Shou’s paper avatars sat cross-legged at the formation’s eye, slowly raising the Taiji Diagram, bringing dozens of interconnected entrapment formations under the protection of the yin-yang dao.

Meanwhile, Elder Long Shou activated a paper avatar in the Shang clan territory, wandering in a small forest outside the city, soon hearing a thread of Big Sister Kong Xuan’s transmitted voice:

“What is it? Is there something urgent? The Seven Emotions reincarnation body is fine, currently playing in the city.”

Elder Long Shou’s eyes brightened… that voice!

It already had three parts gentleness, and three parts warmth, and the tone had risen considerably!

—Previously Kong Xuan had been undifferentiated yin and yang, in a neutral stage, but now was shifting toward yin attributes.

Elder Long Shou said loudly: “Friend, there’s no need to appear in person, I just came to seek your approval on one matter.

Your younger brother previously broke into the Heavenly Court, wanting to get close to Immortal Lady Chang’e in the Vast Cold Palace, and has now been captured by me… and strung up.”

“Just kill him, no need to consider my feelings.”

Kong Xuan’s words were completely calm.

Elder Long Shou hesitated somewhat, then said: “I was thinking of subduing him to serve the Heavenly Court…”

Kong Xuan was silent for a while, and then a five-colored divine light appeared before Elder Long Shou, condensing into a phantom figure.

Kong Xuan’s true form wasn’t suitable for meeting others at this time.

Looking at Kong Xuan’s phantom figure now, her features had gained several parts of gentleness, her form becoming graceful and delicate. Though not exactly a world-shaking beauty, she possessed her unique charm…

Kong Xuan frowned: “What use would the Heavenly Court have for him? Causing trouble and ruining fortune?”

“The golden peng’s extreme speed could be greatly useful,” Elder Long Shou said seriously. “No matter how lightly you speak of it, I really can’t just kill him.

He is still your brother and the Phoenix clan is already diminished in numbers.”

Kong Xuan unconsciously pursed her lips, her phoenix eyes staring at Elder Long Shou, then letting out a soft sigh.

“I didn’t want to keep owing you favors, but you…

Fine, if you can change that arrogant nature of his, make him cause me less trouble in the future, I can even personally persuade him.”

Elder Long Shou smiled: “We’re family, no need to talk about favors. If my senior brother heard this, he would surely scold me.”

Kong Xuan’s gaze turned to the side…

If what he saw wasn’t wrong, if what he sensed wasn’t wrong, if Elder Long Shou’s understanding of women wasn’t wrong!

Was that a tiny bit of shyness?

Praise the master, the senior brother’s good fortune was almost halfway there!

Kong Xuan asked: “Do you need me to do anything?”

“Not much,” Elder Long Shou said, “I need to borrow a thread of your aura, and ideally, let me use a recording pearl to capture your phantom’s back view…”

Though Kong Xuan didn’t understand why, she nodded without hesitation.

Elder Long Shou asked Kong Xuan to wait while he busied himself in the small forest, manipulating clouds and selecting camera angles, quickly producing several recording pearls and taking some shots of Kong Xuan’s phantom.

The eagle-taming work continued with urgent preparation…

Thus, three days later.

In the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, various immortals, deities, and celestial generals gathered together, sitting behind several rows of low tables, watching an ‘extra-large bronze mirror’ laid out on the floor.

The Jade Emperor sat on the high platform throne, wearing white robes and smiling, with prepared fruits and fine wine beside him, waiting for the show to begin.

Elder Long Shou sat at the front below the high platform, sharing a table with Wood Duke.

When the time was right, Elder Long Shou stood up and made a dao salute to the Jade Emperor:

“Your Majesty, everything has been prepared. Shall we begin subduing this Golden-Winged Great Peng?”

“Hahaha!”

The Jade Emperor couldn’t help laughing: “Long Geng, proceed as you see fit. I am ready to watch a good show.”

Elder Long Shou bowed in acknowledgment, swung his horsetail whisk at the bronze mirror, and spiritual light flashed across its surface, presenting a clear scene.

Outside the Vast Cold Palace, at the trunk of a great tree growing near the Moon Palace, the Supreme Lord’s mount—the Blue Bull—and Wu Gang, the mortal enemy of the osmanthus tree and the Heavenly Court’s number one illegal logger, stood with folded arms before the Golden-Winged Great Peng.

Upon seeing Wu Gang, the assembled immortals and deities recalled what they had witnessed earlier, that Immortal Lady Chang…

Pah!

How dare they directly speak the Greater Yin Star Lord’s honorific!

The scene of the Greater Yin Star Lord slapping the Golden-Winged Great Peng flying kept replaying in their dao hearts.

Best not to provoke, best not to provoke.

The Blue Bull tilted his head as if listening, and smiled: “It’s about to begin, friend. I’ll take this bird away.”

“Alright,” Wu Gang casually summoned a great axe, pointed his finger to untie the rope suspending the Golden-Winged Great Peng, and handed it to the Blue Bull.

The Blue Bull smiled: “Senior Brother Long Geng says to thank Immortal Lady Chang’e for her assistance this time.”

“Her Highness has instructed that Water God can make any requests, friend need not mention such small matters.”

Wu Gang waved his hand, shouldered his axe, and returned to the osmanthus tree, loudly chanting:

“To ascend nine heavens and view the bright moon, first temper iron bones for thirty thousand years!

Hahaha!”

The Blue Bull chuckled, thinking to himself about how few years his Senior Brother Long Geng had cultivated…

Then, the Blue Bull grabbed the immortal rope, hoisted the unconscious Golden-Winged Great Peng onto his shoulder, and descended toward the Fourth Heaven.

The journey was smooth and uneventful, with the Blue Bull easily reaching the outer perimeter of the chain formation;

The Blue Bull found a large tree, hung up the Golden-Winged Great Peng, and blew a breath of immortal qi at him.

Hoh, smells like roasted wings.

“Kid, wake up.”

The Golden-Winged Great Peng shuddered several times, and slowly opened his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down several times, his face somewhat pale.

His wings, his arms… were still there?

The Blue Bull casually summoned a blue stone, calmly sat down, and smiled at the hanging Golden-Winged Great Peng, saying:

“So, did you meet Immortal Lady Chang’e?”

The Golden-Winged Great Peng immediately shuddered and cursed: “Let me down!”

“Let you down?”

The Blue Bull clicked his tongue: “Water God didn’t instruct that, so I dare not make that decision.

Water God only told me to watch you and recite some rules to you.”

The Golden-Winged Great Peng raged: “So you are indeed Water God’s man!”

The Blue Bull calmly said: “I am a Saint’s mount, and you are about to become a Saint’s disciple’s mount. We’re generations apart, you’d better show some respect.”

The Golden-Winged Great Peng’s eyes bulged, then he looked down at the stone surface below and laughed forcefully:

“Hahaha! Even if I’m flayed and my tendons extracted, even if I die without a burial place, I will never become any creature’s mount!

A Phoenix clan male fears not death, my heart holds nirvana!”

“Dim-witted and stubborn,” the Blue Bull shook his head, looking regretful, “you’re probably beyond saving… Do you know how much effort Water God spent dealing with you?”

The Golden-Winged Great Peng remained silent.

The Blue Bull snorted, glanced down at the small writing in his palm, and continued: “Not even half a portion.”

The Golden-Winged Great Peng gave a cold laugh and turned his head away.

“Having won already, why mock?”

“Forget it, rotten wood can’t be carved, withered grass won’t fill the stomach.”

The Blue Bull took out a scroll from his sleeve and announced loudly: “Let me just complete Senior Brother Long Geng’s instructions and return to the Doulu Palace to eat peaches.

Listen up, I’ll only recite this once!

‘Twelve Basic Rules for Human Dao Mounts.’

First rule, when being ridden, maintain stable flight, no sudden advances or stops, this is different from flying by yourself…”

Point by point, item by item, the Blue Bull read from the scroll in his hand, patiently explaining each word.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng kept turning his head and gritting his teeth, wishing he could seal his ears, but he couldn’t use any magical power at all.

He could only maintain an excellent expression of [Not listening, not listening, Blue Bull chanting sutras].

In the Lingxiao Hall.

East Wood Duke puzzled asked: “Water God, didn’t you say you wouldn’t take him as a mount, but rather have him serve the Heavenly Court?”

Elder Long Shou smiled: “This is just a small calculation.”

Throughout the Lingxiao Hall, ears perked up.

Elder Long Shou said:

“Though we intend to recruit him for the Heavenly Court’s use, we can use some reasonable methods.

Initially, set a terrible future for him—becoming someone’s mount.

Subsequently, gradually make him bow his head and submit. Once he accepts the fate of becoming a mount, we’ll turn around and tell him he need not be a mount but can be a proud general serving the Heavenly Court. How will he react then?

He will immediately be filled with hope, reduce his resentment toward the Heavenly Court, and feel grateful to it.”

Wood Duke’s face showed sudden understanding, and the surrounding immortals and deities nodded in approval.

Dirty, really dirty.

A righteous deity quietly asked: “Water God, is it alright for you to openly speak of such calculations…?”

“No matter,” Elder Long Shou smiled, “just continue watching, today we shall be upright and convinced through virtue.”

The Jade Emperor laughed: “Come, play music.”

Several immortal musicians immediately came from the hall’s corner and began to jest—ahem, began playing and singing, letting melodious music float through the air.

Half an hour later…

The Blue Bull’s mouth was parched, and he took a drink of sweet fruit wine, “Did you listen at all?”

“Hmph!”

The Golden-Winged Great Peng tossed his head with some abandon.

“Hey! You little bird!”

“Enough.”

A light sigh came from behind, and the Blue Bull turned to look, immediately smiling and making a dao salute.

The sea of clouds stirred, condensing into a hundred-zhang-tall phantom.

This phantom resembled a dharma body, with white hair, white eyebrows, and white robes, sitting serenely on the sea of clouds, his face full of compassion, surrounded by a faint halo, with an obscure dao rhythm spreading out.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng stared in surprise, unconsciously sensing this dao rhythm, but felt somewhat dizzy.

The supreme principle of taiji contained within the Taiji Diagram was not something a being without even the slightest foundation in the Supreme Clarity Dao could comprehend.

—Wielding the diagram’s authority.

Elder Long Shou’s voice boomed like a great bell in the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s ears:

“Wicked creature! You brazenly invaded the Heavenly Court and secretly attacked the Greater Yin Star, your crimes deserve a hundred deaths, how dare you be so arrogant?”

“You can let me down!”

The Golden-Winged Great Peng shouted firmly: “This poor dao merely suffered a sneak attack. In a one-on-one battle with you, I might not lose!”

“Do not remain obstinate,” Elder Long Shou sighed, “I thought to spare your life out of friendship with an old friend, but since you seek death so earnestly, so be it.”

At that, the hundred-zhang-tall phantom slowly raised his hand, and the Golden-Winged Great Peng crashed directly to the ground, the nine fetters on his primordial spirit simultaneously dissipating.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng flipped up with a jump, his eyes flashing fiercely. He lowered his head and roared, his form transforming into a golden line, charging forward instantly!

Without the slightest hesitation or delay!

The Golden-Winged Great Peng spread golden wings behind him, instantly piercing through Elder Long Shou’s phantom form’s heart!

In the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, all the immortals and deities raised their eyebrows, shocked by the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s ferocity.

But with a flash of light, the Golden-Winged Great Peng vanished from the scene, leaving only the Blue Bull’s sigh:

“This fool, we didn’t even need to act, he entered the formation himself.”

Elder Long Shou’s phantom showed a slight smile, nodded slightly to the Blue Bull, and dispersed into the sea of clouds.

Meanwhile, the scene in the great bronze mirror in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall quickly split into two views.

One view showed an aerial perspective of the Golden-Winged Great Peng charging left and right within a containment formation, his form easily blocked by streams of yin and yang energy, frantically spinning in circles.

The other view showed Elder Long Shou sitting at a node of the chain formation, leisurely brewing tea, with a crooked tree beside him.

Two ropes hung down from the tree’s branches, tied to a wooden sign with three large characters written on it.

Same familiar formula, same familiar taste…

[Lost Your Way?]