Eternal Life by Daily Divination

Its head was that of a dragon, but its body was a horse’s. Wings sprouted from its back, and its entire form was a brilliant crimson. Its flowing mane looked as if it were ablaze, and its aura was nothing short of remarkable.

Upon getting a clear look at the Demon Beast,

a name instantly surfaced in Li Chang’an’s mind.

Dragon Horse!

He stepped forward and asked, "Are you, by chance, a Dragon Horse?"

"I am! You Junior Cultivators do have some discernment."

The Dragon Horse held its head high, its eyes glinting with arrogance, and its tone was equally haughty.

This arrogance was not without reason.

The Dragon Horse was a Celestial and Earthly Spirit Beast.

Celestial and Earthly Spirit Beasts were natural beings born of the world itself. Their bloodlines were exceptionally noble; at the very least, they possessed a Celestial Grade Bloodline!

According to ancient texts, throughout the entire, long history of the Cultivation Immortality Realm, fewer than five Dragon Horses had ever appeared.

"It’s really a Dragon Horse!"

Wu Shuo also drew near, a fervent heat kindling in his eyes.

An ordinary Cultivator might go their entire life without ever seeing such a Celestial and Earthly Spirit Beast.

He recalled something he’d once heard.

The Dragon Horse was the most supreme mount in all existence.

If a Cultivator could get one to willingly sign a Spirit Contract, the world itself would grow more attuned to them.

The Cultivator’s personal luck, fortune, and opportunities would all skyrocket.

In the Ancient Times, even a Divinity Transformation Great Power would covet the allegiance of a Dragon Horse.

Wu Shuo, clinging to a sliver of hope, asked, "Dragon Horse, would you be willing to leave this small Secret Realm and follow me to see the wider world?"

"You?"

The Dragon Horse sized him up, its face a mask of utter disdain.

"You’re old, you have no potential, and your strength is pathetic. Why should I follow you? To care for you in your dotage and arrange your funeral?"

"I..."

Wu Shuo opened his mouth, resentful, but the Dragon Horse was telling the truth.

He had no way to argue and could only give up.

Li Chang’an felt a stir in his heart and asked, "Would you be willing to follow me?"

"You’re no different!"

The Dragon Horse was just as disdainful, refusing to step out of the Array.

"You’re just a Low Grade Spirit Root who got lucky with Core Formation. You’ll never even reach the Nascent Soul stage in this lifetime, so what makes you think you’re worthy of my allegiance? My master, even if not a Divinity Transformation Celestial Monarch, must at least have the potential to become one!"

This Celestial and Earthly Spirit Beast’s standards were incredibly high; it looked down on Li Chang’an completely.

Li Chang’an didn’t press the issue.

His own fortune was already great enough; he didn’t need to enhance it further by forming a contract with this Dragon Horse.

’So be it. It can’t be forced.’

Li Chang’an memorized the location of this small Secret Realm.

’When my Array Dao Skill improves, I’ll come back and break the Array here.’

"Daoist Wu, let’s go."

"Alright."

Wu Shuo suppressed his resentment and resignation, casting one final glance at the small Secret Realm.

The two of them were just about to leave.

Just then,

another voice suddenly echoed from within the small Secret Realm.

"Hold on! Hey, you, the pretty-boy scholar! This old ox is willing to go with you!"

"Hm?"

Hearing this, Li Chang’an instinctively glanced at Wu Shuo’s face.

Wu Shuo’s face was sallow; he certainly didn’t fit the description of a "pretty-boy scholar."

He and Wu Shuo turned around together, looking back toward the small Secret Realm.

And there,

beside the Dragon Horse, another strange-looking Demon Beast had appeared.

This beast’s head was also that of a dragon, but its body was an ox’s. It was pitch-black from head to tail, and its aura was just as impressive.

Li Chang’an looked puzzled and asked, "And you are...?"

"This old ox is a Celestial and Earthly Spirit Beast, of course! A Long Niu!"

"A Long Niu?"

Li Chang’an was stunned.

He had heard of the Dragon Horse, but never a Long Niu.

None of the ancient texts he had ever read contained any mention of a Long Niu.

Wu Shuo, beside him, looked equally dumbfounded.

Evidently,

he had never heard of one, either.

The Long Niu looked disappointed and asked, "You mean neither of you have heard of me?"

Li Chang’an shook his head. "No."

"Where there’s a horse, there’s an ox. Horses and oxen have always gone together. That’s not so hard to understand, is it?"

"I suppose that’s true..."

Li Chang’an suppressed his astonishment.

The aura of this Demon Beast before him was indeed very similar to the Dragon Horse’s; it had to be a Celestial and Earthly Spirit Beast as well.

He asked, "Long Niu, you really want to follow me?"

"That’s right. For someone with a Low Grade Spirit Root to reach Core Formation, you must have great fortune on your side. Maybe you’ll go far on the Immortal Path. This old ox is willing to take a gamble!"

The Long Niu’s attitude was the complete opposite of the Dragon Horse’s.

The Dragon Horse couldn’t understand it.

"Old Ox, you really want to leave?"

"I do. I was born in this little world, and frankly, I’m sick of it."

"But this Array is one-way out. Once you leave, you can never come back."

"Doesn’t matter!"

The Long Niu had made up its mind. It looked at Li Chang’an.

A Celestial and Earthly Spirit Beast like him had no need to follow anyone.

Yet, he had a faint feeling that following Li Chang’an would bring him great benefits.

"Pretty-boy scholar, what do you say?"

"Alright!"

Li Chang’an agreed at once.

He had more than enough resources to support a Celestial and Earthly Spirit Beast.

After receiving his affirmative reply, the Long Niu took a single step, walking out of the Array and coming to stand before Li Chang’an.

He opened his mouth and spat out a wisp of pure Qi, which transformed into a Spirit Contract before them.

"Pretty-boy scholar, sign the contract with me."

This was the very same Celestial and Earthly Spirit Contract recorded in the ancient texts.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Li Chang’an signed the Spirit Contract.

In that instant,

he faintly perceived that he had been enhanced in some way.

’It must be my fortune.’

The power of fortune was invisible and intangible; one could only judge its level through their own experiences.

Li Chang’an’s fortune was already quite good, far greater than that of an ordinary Cultivator.

"There, the Spirit Contract is formed!"

The Long Niu swallowed the Spirit Contract and reared up on its hind legs. Through the contract, it learned Li Chang’an’s identity.

"So, your name is Li Chang’an. I may be following you, but you can’t treat me like a mount."

"Of course."

After signing the Spirit Contract, a sense of rapport and closeness grew between the man and the ox.