Primitive Age of Xianxia (Honghuang style xianxia story)

"The mortal flesh and all spiritual constructs within are the foundation upon which cultivation is built. The quality of your foundation matters very much. It must be as good as possible to be able to transition to the True Immortal realm."

Da Hai raised his hand and created a water mirror. The image of a spiritual sea was visible within a diagram of the body of a fish. It then faded into that of a crab, a shark, a stingray etc. he showcased the 12 prime meridians to all those present, who in turn nodded in understanding.

"Once the Qi Sea is opened, the following flood of Qi necessitates the formation of the Spiritual Palace within it, in order to properly regulate the sudden influx of Qi. This is called Foundation Establishment. The Spiritual Palace shall serve as the second step in your path towards immortality."

Da Hai changed the diagram on his projection to showcase a theoretical Spiritual Palace. This was all knowledge he inferred from the Dao, for he had no experience regarding the mortal stages of cultivation. All realms signified the appearance of a new spiritual structure within the body.

"The Qi Sea then collapses in on itself, condensing into a solid mass of crystallised spiritual energy, the Golden Core. The Core Formation realm is defined by such a spiritual core, this is the elixir of life, enhancing the longevity of a cultivator. It is both rich in vitality and spiritually powerful. There are however grades of Golden Cores, only the highest quality spiritual cores can be classified as a proper Golden Core."

The image in the water mirror changed again. It showcased the spiritual core breaking apart, shocking many of those watching it. Those who were attempting to form one were listening intently. The Golden Core cracked and birthed a figure similar in appearance to the diagram of a human.

"Nascent Soul, condensed essence of a being. The very foundation of the universe is the essence of the Dao. Condensation of essence is crucial to commune with the Dao of the cosmos. Once your Golden Core is ready, it shall give birth to your condensed essence in a process called Nascent Birth. Take care to raise your Nascent Soul well, for it is tied to your cultivation," he paused. "Any questions?"

"Dare to ask," an old daoist with a Nascent Soul said. "Is it possible to form multiple Nascent Souls?"

"Theoretically, it is possible. However Nascent Birth only occurs once during cultivation. The creation of a second soul would also degrade the initial soul. However the process should be possible," he said.

No sooner had he finished speaking, a mackerel cultivator attempted to birth his Nascent Soul. He was attempting to follow the path of twin souls. However as soon as the second soul was born, he turned pale. Both of his souls were wrinkled and weak looking.

"And that is one of the consequences. You were reckless Bi Cha Mackerel," Da Hai lectured the reckless fish.

"Please," the fish in human form kowtowed. "Great ancestor, please show me how to fix my mistake," he begged.

"Your souls have already been born and are complete. What can I do to fix it? At most I could just overload your cultivation and send you to an early grave," Da Hai sighed in disappointment. "You were reckless. Perhaps out there in the wild there may exist herbs or treasures which could help you. But I know not of any such herbs or treasures."

Embarrassed and heartbroken, the fish turned around and left the hall. He had no face to show after that embarrassing display. The piranha and lobster cultivators who sat besides the mackerel breathed a sigh in relief. They silently thanked the mackerel for his sacrifice.

"Any other questions? No? Very well then. The next step is to directly commune with the Dao. The 3000 Great Daos which make up the foundations of the Universe are exalted and inaccessible, but the 108,000 lesser Daos are still within reach. They are remnants of the 108,000 lesser Chaos godfiends who perished during creation. All Daos can be summarised into three categories, auxiliary, elemental, and conceptual."

"The first involves Daos relating to techniques and skills such as fighting, fishing, swimming, building, etc. The second refers to natural phenomena visible to us, fire, water, the rain, clouds, lightning, earth, germination, etc. The third is the most abstract and quite rare, they include abstract concepts such as time and space, ying and yang. Mortals have a hard time conceptualising such Daos."

He showed the diagram again and revealed the 12 prime meridians. He zoomed in on them and showcased special Qi entering them.

"Because of your Nascent Soul, you can commune with the Dao, and by extension the natural Primordial Immortal Qi of the Primitive universe. You have to use the Immortal Qi to refine your meridians into immortal meridians so that they can handle and channel immortal Qi."

"Do so and you can be considered a Saint of the Earth. From then on you must forge the inner cosmos. Countless stars in the body that resemble the starry skies are all the minor meridians which add additional capacity for channeling immortal Qi."

"Once you have refined all meridians in the body, the inner cosmos is complete. If you are on this step then congratulations, you are now halfway to immortality. Now take your insights in the 108,000 lesser Daos and illuminate yourself into them. Success in just any one is necessary to draw in the Immortal Tribulation."

Da Hai waved his hand and showed them an image of the five elements.

"Tribulation tempers your body and prepares the Immortal physique. This allows for an intimate connection to the Dao. Use this understanding to draw in the Five Element Qis of Creation. The Wuxing, fire, water, earth, metal, and wood, each is represented by a luminary star as well as a natural force from which life arose. Your bodies are created from a template made from the five elements. Now you must draw in the true Heavenly Five Element Qi."

Da Hai waved his hand and the mirage disappeared, "Now that the basics are out of the way. Let's begin the real sermon." When he spoke, everyone below the Immortal realm stood and respectfully bowed. They then proceeded to leave the great hall, for they knew this lesson was not for them and they couldn't stay.

"Dao is the centre of the cosmos, the beginning and the end. The contradictory elements defined by the Taijitu. There exists 3000 Great Daos birthed by the remnants of the mightiest of Chaos godfiends. They serve as the supporting base at the core of the universe, holding up the Heavenly Dao. The East Sea is rich in the Daos relating to water, the sea, the weather, life, and myriads of transformations of the turbulent yet calm waves."

Da Hai truly began his lecture on Dao. He did not discuss his own Dao of Distant Seas but rather talked about all his inference on the 3000 Great Daos. He spoke of the intricacies of each one, and how it related to the universe.

Of course Da Hai only spoke briefly on Daos he wasn't familiar with. As a Da Luo Golden Immortal with his own unique Dao Path, the 3000 Great Daos were unnecessary for him. He could infer their details directly and used this knowledge to impart his lecture. Of course, any casual insight he spoke about was a significant boost to those listening.

Those especially talented, like the Colossal Shark Ancestor, Mosasaur Ancestor, Plesiosaur Ancestor, Rapid Turtle Patriarch were making quick progress. Each of them could sense the cusp of the Golden Immortal realm drawing nearer and nearer.

For those with a lesser aptitude, at the True and Profound Immortal realm, they were becoming more and more enlightened, allowing them to detect and cultivate in the five elements. As Da Hai spoke, he began focusing on the Daos relating to the sea. He began speaking about more intricate, more abstract details that slowly transcended their realm of understanding.

About 30 years into the lecture, many Profound Immortals appeared, while a smaller minority reached the Heavenly Immortal realm. About 50 years later, many had reached the peak of Heavenly Immortal. Then Da Hai's words became weird.

What he spoke about became so abstract, so otherworldly that those listening could scarcely understand. They could occasionally only understand a word or two, but that was it. They could tell Da Hai was explaining the many Great Daos of the sea in detail, but they couldn't even comprehend those explanations.

About 100 years later, things stopped making sense entirely. Only the super geniuses like Colossal Shark Ancestor still understood bits and pieces. Among those foreign masters, a seagull was the only one who could compete.

At 200 years, many felt their heads hurt at Da Hai's speech. Yet they could also feel more connected than ever to the Dao. Their Dao realms were rapidly improving with every one in a million words they caught. Soon, Da Hai stopped talking.

Da Hai spoke on the Dao for 500 years, illuminating the countless masters of the East Sea. "I have imparted my knowledge of the Dao to you. Anything more is up to your creation. However, heed my warning, every Dao you create is unique, as such only you can follow it successfully. If you wish another to cultivate your Dao, they will forever be trapped." Without elaborating further Da Hai's figure disappeared from the great hall.

"You may leave now, the sermon is over. You are, however, not allowed to attempt the Golden Immortal tribulation on Yingzhou. Please leave," he commanded.

All those previously seated got up and cupped their hands. They saluted towards the floating 12th grade white lotus in deep respect and reverence. "Many thanks to Great Teacher Da Hai," they said.

"We are eternally grateful to the saint of Yingzhou, the Great Master of the Seas," they all kowtowed and soon all left.

"We must build an altar to the Great Teacher when we return," Colossal Shark Ancestor commanded his subordinate sharks. "I will attempt the Golden Immortal tribulation and enter secluded cultivation for a thousand years. When I come out, I expect to see a place of worship for the great saint of Yingzhou."

Those subordinate sharks bowed to their ancestor in respect. Their clan had managed to acquire 400 Heavenly Immortals in an instant, thousands of Profound Immortals and tens of thousands of True Immortals. Countless others were also attempting the tribulation soon.

Other clans such as the mosasaur, plesiosaur, pteranodons, dolphins, sea turtles, seagulls, stingrays, manatees etc all reached the same decision. They were determined to all build altars of worship to their teacher.

Back on Yingzhou, Da Hai who coiled upon one of the Fusang tree's branches munched on spiritual mulberry fruits. He was playing with a mysterious profound golden glittering light in his claws.

The mysterious power of heavenly merit, a perceived form of luck in the world, or simply good fortune. The Heavenly Dao had deemed Da Hai's attempt to help living beings progress as a deed of great merit and saw fit to reward him.

Da Hai played with the merit for a while, learning as much as he could. This reward mechanic of the Heavenly Dao was quite interesting. Merit was like a currency that buys one of three things: good fortune, enlightenment and cultivation.

Good fortune allows for good things to happen to you. Da Hai thought of the protagonists in stories he'd read. Merit acts good fortune, basically their plot armour. Miraculously surviving impossible injuries and getting away from dangerous situations, Discovering long lost secrets and powerful treasures, all can be accomplished by good fortune, paid for by merit.

Merit could also help in cultivation. It upgrades the grade of spiritual palace, spiritual cores, and Nascent Souls. It makes forming internal spiritual structures easier. It makes everything easier and faster to cultivate.

The last important exchange was Dao enlightenment. With enough merit, one can be forcefully pushed into the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm. Da Hai assumed this is the limit, as all realms afterwards necessitates the creation of a new, original Dao. Merit at most can only enlighten someone to a complete version of one of the 3000 Great Daos and help form the Primal Unity.

Da Hai sighed, if only further cultivation was as easy. According to novels, you just have to consume the merit, and poof, you're a Saint of the Great Dao. He laughed mockingly, the most merit can do for him is open a window to Pangu's understanding of the Dao. He'd have to do the rest himself.

Nevertheless this was still extremely helpful. Da Hai rested on the branch and began silently cultivating. He didn't plan to leave for at least another 10,000 years.

...

South Seas, Deep Ocean Palace.

Si Hai sat on a sea throne decorated with numerous treasures and statues depicting himself fighting against the former beast emperor Shenni. Many years after the war, he had recruited many sea tribes of the North, West and South under his wing to form his own empire in the four seas.

Si Hai smirked triumphantly. In the early days, he was convinced by Hundun to join Shenni. He was promised a lot of benefits. Luckily he jumped from that sinking ship. Being a survivor and someone who knew Shenni's territory, he managed to gain a lot of goodies along the way.

Since then he had conquered the north and south seas. The west sea was also held by him, albeit on a tenuous treaty with the devilish Dao. The eastern sections of the North and South seas were also not very pleased with his rule. The north especially suffered from Shenni and remembered him well.

The East Sea however was where he'd done little in terms of progress. He was planning to slowly take over it as well, and soon. After all, it was his divine given right, his name does mean Four Seas after all.

Si Hai played around with the harpoon in his hand when a shrimp minister rushed into the throne room.

"Your majesty, your majesty, I have news from the East Sea," he cried, catching Si Hai's attention.

"Oh? Do tell," he motioned for the shrimp to continue. What he heard sent him into confusion, rage, and disdain.

"Form the armies," he commanded the generals in the throne room. "March for the East, it seems a little snake needs a lesson in humility."

"Your majesty, will we be taking all three armies as well?" A sea snake general asked.

"Unnecessary, with the strength of our foe only the southern army is enough," the self-styled Emperor of Four Seas marched out of his palace, harpoon in hand in the direction of the East Sea.

 

On the southern edge of the East Sea, on one of the many islands near the dimensional border. The Sky Beat daoist of the Azure Scale Crane clan was celebrating her recent breakthrough to the Golden Immortal realm. She was joined by many of her clanmates and comrades, some refugees from the period of Shenni's war and some fellow natives of the East Sea.

"Congratulations to lady Sky Beat, you are the first among this group of cultivators" a toad man happily toasted. He was soon joined by many other daoists at the Heavenly Immortal level.

They each sipped on spiritual tea from their cups. In this era wine was still a complete unknown. Da Hai had yet to spill the secrets of its production, though so many years had passed since its inception. Currently, the most popular drink in the Primitive World was either spiritual tea, or whatever spiritual fruit juice the various beings could get their hands on.

Sky Beat daoist blushed in embarrassment as more and more people at the celebration party toasted her. "It's nothing much, I still have a long way to go before I catch up to my seniors," she insisted.

"Don't sell yourself short, sister Sky Beat, you've even surpassed your clan's ancestor. That's a major accomplishment. Those Innate gods of the past are nothing to you now," a hawk woman said.

"Ah! Don't say that, what if the Great Sage of Yingzhou heard you?" A lemur frantically reminded her. Everyone laughed, having a good time.

"Hm?" The noise from the waves caught Sky Beat's attention. The waves of the water were becoming more and more violent. Sky Beat pinched her fingers and calculated before frowning in dismay.

"Fellow daoists, something's coming through the dimensional border," she announced.

"What? Who's come all the way out here?" The same lemur asked in alarm.

Suddenly, the dimension wall separating the South and East seas was torn apart. Much to the shock of everyone at the celebration, an army of sea creatures marched out,dressed in coral armour. They were led by a proud Bull Shark cultivator at the peak Heavenly Immortal realm carrying a harpoon.

Upon seeing the beautiful Sky Beat he smiled and called out, "Greetings fellow daoists of the East."

"Greetings," Sky Beat and her friends cupped their hands and saluted this unknown individual. She looked uneasily at the army that had come with the shark general. These creatures looked to be ready for a fight.

"Are fellow daoists residents of the East Sea?" the shark general asked rather pompously. The immortals on Sky Beat's side frowned, this shark was very rude. Didn't he know he stood before a Golden Immortal?

"Yes, this one is indeed a resident of the East Sea," Sky Beat confirmed.

"Very well, then. Submit yourselves to his majesty Emperor Si Hai, rightful ruler of the Four Seas." he announced.

"What? Preposterous!" The immortals of the east sea were furious. Even the normally calm Sky Beat glared at the shark. This arrogance was simply too much.

"Also, by orders of his majesty, hand over the fool who calls himself Master of the Seas," the shark general said disdainfully. 'Doesn't these fools know there is only one ruler of the Four Seas?' He thought.

"For your own good, I suggest you follow my commands," he said self-righteously.

"Our own good?" Sky Beat raised her eyes, "It seems you are the one who doesn't know what's good for you." The shark gritted his teeth in anger on hearing this. Who was this woman to tell him what was good or not.

"Then you leave me no choice," he signalled for his army to arrest these fools. Sky Beat scoffed, 'Where did these fools get their confidence from?'.

"You leave me no choice," Sky Beat leapt into action. She had been itching to test her Golden Immortal cultivation base for a while now.

"Careful, this lady is a Golden Immortal," a shrimp commander called out to his troops. The bull shark general my seem way over his head and arrogant, but he wasn't stupid. They had countermeasures ready against an opponent of a higher realm.

"Rally the formation," he commanded. The sea soldiers gathered into battle positions and interweaved their power. They formed together into a spiritual giant resembling a Kraken.

Suppressing The Waves Formation!

The kraken was made of sea green light and emitted monstrous might. It clashed head on against Sky Beat without losing an inch.

"What?" Sky Beat was shocked and quickly deployed her primordial spiritual treasure. A seal appeared to block the kraken's tentacles.

"You should give up, his majesty is already on his way," the kraken roared in many voices speaking in unison. It opened its vertical mouth and shot out a blast of energy. Sky Beat crossed her arms with the seal and barely managed to block the attack.

"Okay, let's get serious then," Sky Beat's eyes glowed in white. Spreading her arms she unleashed her true form, a pure white crane with azure scaled legs and razor sharp talons several hundreds of meters tall. Sky Beat slashed across the spiritual skin of the kraken, peeling off the transparent texture.

"The might of a Golden Immortal is incredible," the shark general mused. "But you are incomparable to the gods of the past, don't think you're all that." The formation's tentacles transformed into rippling swords and cut at Sky Beat. The crane defended with her seal and stabbed through one of the swords with her beak.

"Fellow daoists, let's show these invaders what we've got," the other East Sea creatures also joined the fray. Soon the kraken was besieged by many Heavenly Immortals.

"Damn it we need reinforcements," the shark general crushed a stone in his grasp sending the signal. The dimension wall rippled, before being torn once more.

To the horror of Sky Beat, more armies made of hundreds of thousands of immortals came through. They formed more and more formations around them, much to their dismay.

"We must retreat," Sky Beat said. She unleashed a blinding flash of light with her seal before turning around to run.

"Small thing," a majestic voice called out. All of a sudden, it was as if time stopped, reality froze, and Sky Beat's brain could no longer function properly. She didn't even know what was happening, just that one second she was flying and in the next, her wings were missing.

Blood sputtered in the air, making the nearby waters red. Sky Beat's maimed form was held by the throat by a gargantuan tanned man standing upon a whirlpool. He donned plated armour made of turtle shells and fish scales and wore a crown of corals on his head. He was clean shaven with shaggy hair and held a long harpoon in hand.

"Small thing, you put up quite a resistance," the giant Si Hai said smiling. He looked in amusement as if the Golden Immortal was little more than a toy.

"Who… Who are you?" She stuttered, all the while spilling mouthfuls of blood. Si Hai laughed heartily at her question.

"I am your emperor, the Supreme Ruler of the Four Seas," he proclaimed. "I've come seeking the one you call Master of the Seas. Just who has such arrogance to call themselves such."

Sky Beat widened her eyes. She had vaguely recalled this name from an acquaintance from the south. Apparently Si Hai was busy pacifying the north sea a few millennia back. Why would Si Hai come to the unassuming East?

"You… You're looking for the Saint of Yingzhou?" She stuttered. Si Hai smirked, "So that's his name." He raised the crane's head to his face and bit down.

"Not bad, Golden Immortal creatures are quite tasty," he said, licking his lips. The bull shark general and his fellow generals of the south looked petrified. They did not dare step out of line one bit.

"Streaking Blue," he said. The bull shark general nervously stepped forward, "Yes, your majesty?"

"You did good out there, not everyone can hold a Golden Immortal back for so long," he commended. The shark nervously cupped his hands and bowed, "Many thanks to your majesty for such praise, this slave is undeserving."

"Hm, good," Si Hai swallowed the entire crane in one gulp taking pleasure in the flavour of digesting Dao essence. He took out a fish hook and threw it to the bull shark. "This is a low grade xiantian spiritual treasure, it's your reward," he said.

"Many thanks, many thanks, this undeserving slave will work his hardest to fulfill your orders." the shark knelt very submissively. Si Hai nodded satisfied. It was good, these creatures knew their place.

"Good, continue the march, it's time the East Sea also joins the fold," he commanded. He wanted to reach Yingzhou soon and see just who this so-called Saint was. He swiped his left arm out, distantly, and all the fleeing Heavenly Immortals exploded into red mist.

Sometime later, across the sea, the Azure Scale Crane ancestor was deeply troubled. His sister, Sky Beat, had not returned for quite some time. He had heard similar stories from his allied clans that their members did not return after travelling south with her. They had been demanding an explanation from him, an explanation that he didn't know how to give.

Si Hai marched across the southern parts of the East Sea, easily conquering many tribes along the way. As a mighty Da Luo Golden Immortal, very few things could even touch him in the vast wilderness.

In Yingzhou, serpentine eyes opened in dismay. Da Hai had felt a disturbance and it deeply bothered him. He had been receiving a lot of incense merit recently, a constant stream from worship of his likeness by the various sea creatures in the Yingzhou who had benefited from his lecture. However he'd also heard pleas for help, which had increased dramatically recently.

The eight-headed snake untangled himself from the Fusang tree and slithered back onto the ground. He calculated the recent events and felt even more troubled.

"Si Hai moved so fast?" He sighed in annoyance. After his last lecture, Da Hai became an exalted existence that was worshipped in the East Sea. He was intrinsically tied to the East Sea innate creature clans. Si Hai's invasion had already caused them harm.

Da Hai flicked his claw and took out a wheel. This was a high-grade xiantian spiritual treasure, the Cycling Waves Wheel. It was extremely good at detecting the flow of karma. Previously a treasure like this was useless, but with the advent of the Heavenly Dao, it became a treasure of great importance.

Da Hai aimed South and the Wheel began spinning. Da Hai's serpentine eyes could see lines of karma in the shape of spindles running across the wheel. It did not take long to find Si Hai, following that golden line Da Hai could see a figure in the distance wrapped in black lines.

Above the East Sea, the celestial mountain Yingzhou seemed to fade from reality before completely disappearing. Across the vast ocean, Si Hai who was marching with his troops suddenly sensed something.

Currently he was observing a prelude to battle between his forces and an alliance made by the East Sea clans. For the first time since forever, the three titans of Colossal Shark, Mosasaur, and Plesiosaur tribes had allied. All three ancestors stood at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm and had already caught Si Hai's interest.

Si Hai was contemplating whether they were worth more as dinner or as generals. On one hand, it would strengthen his forces greatly, but on the other hand, Golden Immortal innate creatures tasted really good.

Before he could decide, however, a massive celestial mountain manifested near him. The ancestors of Colossal Sharks, Mosasaur, and Plesiosaur all bowed in reverence. Si Hai saw this and realised that this must be Yingzhou.

He saw a pathway open up towards the mountain and smiled. He raised his hands, "Men, wait here. I have an audience to attend to." Without another word he departed for Yingzhou.

At the same time, the innate creatures of the East Sea alliance received a voice transmission from Da Hai. "I'll sort this out, do not attack but be on the lookout. Retaliate if you must," he commanded. Because of this both sides halted any plans of battle for now.

Si Hai strolled up Yingzhou until he saw Da Hai's palace. He had a greedy look the whole time, this mountain was a truly valuable place. He pushed open the doors into the main hall.

Unlike the previous time Da Hai hosted visitors, his stage went unused. Instead, he set up a table with tea in the middle of the hall. Da Hai waited for Si Hai, sitting patiently in his human form.

"Fellow daoist, please," he politely gestured at the tea.

 

"Hehe, if it isn't fellow daoist Da Hai. It's been awhile," Si Hai greeted as he sat down on the offered seat. He felt quite comfortable here, evidently Da Hai knew how to treat guests well.

"I am sorry about your loss, I understand you and daoist Five Elements were close," he said while drinking a mouthful of hot tea, much to Da Hai's surprise. At Da Hai's questioning look, he clarified, "I found out from my own sources."

"Yes, I lost a friend that day."

"Indeed, I owe my life to him. He saved me during the final battle at Mt Buzhou, you know?" Da Hai was quite suspicious, Si Hai was acting quite friendly. Officially, this was the first meeting between the two but Si Hai seems to be talking to an acquaintance.

Da Hai sipped tea in silence while Si Hai kept talking. He got the feeling Si Hai was buttering him up.

"I never thought I'd run into fellow daoist Da hai out here in the East. What's more, to see that you have joined those of us at the Da Luo Golden Immortal realm. Truly you did not disappoint us chaos godfiends," Si Hai laughed heartily.

"So, how about it?" He asked.

"How about what?" Da Hai returned the question.

"You don't have to be coy with me. We're both from the sea, I already rule the vast oceans of the Primitive World, but I could always do with more help. That fiend Qiong Qi has already thrown his lot in with Luohu but you my friend, your bravery knows no bounds," he complimented.

"Oh? I do not think my actions warrant such praise," Da Hai scratched his cheek and looked away.

"Haha, fighting Taowu while being a whole realm lower. That's the stuff of legends," he laughed with a broad smile. "I need someone like you by my side, a fellow Da Luo Golden Immortal," he finally made the offer.

"Why though? You're plenty strong yourself, I'm sure by now Qiankun, Shangxia, Wangshu, or even Yingyang would have also reached the Da Luo Golden Immortal realm. You had no reason to invite me specifically," Da Hai retorted. Si Hai frowned slightly and drank his tea.

"Fellow daoist, we are both brothers born of the sea. It's only natural we should work together," he said with an amiable smile.

"Are you that afraid of Luohu?" Da Hai said, also with an amiable expression. However his words came out as mockingly as possible, making Si Hai really displeased. However, the prospects of recruiting a Da Luo Golden Immortal, which will greatly bolster his reputation and power, made him bottle his rage up for the moment.

"The devilish Dao is a problem for all of us. You of all people should have more than enough reason to despise them," he said. Da Hai did not respond but his silence was very telling. Si Hai could see the pressure on Da Hai's teacup increasing to the point where the utensil was on the verge of shattering.

"See, this is why you should join me. I will name you Great Emperor of the East Sea, with the addition of your strength and Yingzhou to my forces, the devilish Dao will be defeated in no time. What's more, you'll get an endless source of food, plenty of treasures and slaves," he smiled more and more as he made that offer.

"Wow, you really don't know anything about me," Da Hai calmly said before finishing his tea. Si Hai frowned, for he did not expect such a reaction.

"I do not see a point in conquering nor enslaving others. You and I share a common enemy, but that does not make us allies," he said.

"Careful with your words Da Hai, you'll be wise to join me," Si Hai warned. Da Hai waved his hands and put away the tea set. He stood up and walked past Si Hai.

The doors of the main hall opened, "I think you should go, fellow daoist. I have no desire to be under anyone."

Si Hai also got up from his seat chuckling, "Oh Da Hai, do you really think I was asking?" A profound aura filled the great hall shaking the entire building.

"Outside please," Da Hai gestured for the door. Si Hai smirked and exerted more pressure on the building. The structure began making creaking noises much to Da Hai's dismay.

"Fellow daoist, I must insist we take this outside," he asked once more, releasing his own power. The creaking noise stopped as Da Hai canceled out Si Hai's power. The two stood in a stalemate, staring at one another.

The great hall suddenly exploded, showering the area with bits and pieces of broken wood and furniture. Da Hai and Si Hai stood opposing one another in an open space filled with rubble.

"I spent a lot of effort to build that," Da Hai said unhappily.

"Then you should've accepted my proposal."

Da Hai placed two fingers on his forehead and sent a voice transmission outside of Yingzhou. "Defend your homes," he said. Si Hai had also done the same for his troops, albeit his command was a lot more vicious.

Si Hai waved his tanned arm and drew a long harpoon. He pointed the bladed end at Da Hai, as if signalling him to attack. Da Hai clasped both hands.

A massive surge of water caught Si Hai and tried to crush him. Si Hai merely smirked and split the wave with one stroke. However both halves of water condensed into giant sea serpents who bit at Si Hai.

"Haha, Da Hai you're quite funny, using water against me?" He gripped one serpent construct tightly before hurling it into the other, splattering both into millions of droplets. These small droplets froze in the air and shot back at Da Hai like a shower of bullets.

The Ocean Swallowing Water Jug appeared on Da Hai's right palm, drawing all the water back in. No drop was leftbehind, all were sucked into the jug.

Seeing no progress, Si Hai leapt at Da Hai for a stab. The eastern sea god bent out of the way but had to jump back again against a follow up downward swing. The harpoon struck the earth hard, but no damage was seen.

Si Hai looked at the floor in wonder, 'This mountain was truly something special'. Da Hai launched pure energy blasts at Si Hai, while the latter spun his harpoon like a helicopter blade, perfectly blocking the attacks.

Si Hai took out a sickle and chain from his pocket dimension and threw it towards Da Hai. Da Hai's left hand transformed into a webbed claw with a single long sickle claw and repelled the sickle. Si hai jumped with the chain held in his hand pulling the sickle back.

He threw it in an arc while stabbing at Da Hai. Si Hai's harpoon was a top grade xiantian spiritual treasure and incredibly sharp. Da Hai's 12th grade white lotus appeared in his right palm and blocked the bladed edge.

However the sickle swerved around the Lotus, aiming at Da Hai's neck. He leaned back narrowly avoiding the blade and twisted his left claw catching the sickle. Si Hai's eyes glowed slightly, surprising Da Hai as the sickle's hooked blade elongated into a spring-like trap that wrapped around Da Hai's entire left arm.

He swung his left hand, creating a long arc of water that froze into ice shooting up towards Si Hai who had taken flight. Si Hai smirked, stabbing the harpoon down and collapsing the ice entirely. His other hand commanded the chain to perfection.

The chain was wrapping around Da Hai. Si Hai tightened his fist and the chain followed his command. They wrapped tightly around Da Hai's form.

"Not bad Da Hai, but too bad for you, that chain can trap anything in this world," Si Hai flaunted. Da Hai didn't look worried, his body turned into water and he stepped back, easily slipping out of the trap much to Si Hai's shock.

"Well, that's a surprise," Si Hai's smirk disappeared. "Let's end the warmup, I have a schedule to follow," Si Hai's tanned form disappeared in a hurricane of water. Si Hai had opted to reveal his true form.

Standing many kilometres tall, easily reaching the clouds of Yingzhou. Si Hai resembled a cookie cutter shark's head with pale white skin and no eyes attached to a slim neck and a bony white scaled body. He had large wings that resembled fins in two sets of two on his back, four long arms each with four fingers. His lower half was a set of four octopus tentacles.

"You are really emphasising the number four, aren't you," Da Hai commented in good humour.

"Enough jest, submit now or face the consequences," Si Hai commanded once more. Da Hai chuckled and shook his head. "Very well Da Hai, It seems this one will have to teach you a lesson," the harpoon enlarged into a massive weapon held in Si Hai's right upper hand.

He held a scroll in his lower right hand, the sickle and chain in upper left, and a fishing net in lower right. "You are no match for me," he announced, unleashing the full might of his Dao.

Da Hai felt an unfathomable wave of Dao essence wash over him. Si Hai pushed out with the fishing net which expanded many thousands of times, enveloping Yingzhou entirely.

Da Hai, in response, brought out the Chaos Cauldron. The starry flames of the Cauldron shot out, burning away at the net. He also held up his sword and swung it leaving a trail of water. This was the Teardrop Sword. While t's sharpness wasn't great, combined with the strength of the Chaos Cauldron, it was able to cut apart the massive net.

Si Hai retrieved the net and roared in anger, shaking Yingzhou. He unleashed an unrelenting tsunami with the scroll, the water within contained his profound meaning. Just a single droplet could've brought a man to enlightenment.

However Si Hai's opponent was also a sea god. Da Hai created his own wave spewing out from the Ocean Swallowing Jug. The surface of Yingzhou was covered in two clashing oceans with only the mountain peaks and the Fusang tree visible.

"Foolishness," Si Hai announced. He pointed up, creating a drill of cosmic energy and made it descend on Da Hai. Da Hai released the 12th grade white lotus whose petals were unbothered by the attack. Si Hai then swung his harpoon down, pushing the lotus and Da Hai into the sea.

"My waters are superior, you cannot win this, just submit," he ordered. Da Hai was wholly pushed into the roaring seas. His wave was overtaken completely by Si Hai's wave.

Undeterred, Da Hai merely smiled, he pushed his arms out and held a large flag. It was the Xuanyuan Water Control Flag. With a single swing Da Hai took command of the ocean, pushing it up and surprising Si Hai.

"What?" Si Hai called out as his whole body was overwhelmed by the ocean of water pushing him off his tentacle feet and crashing into a mountain of Yingzhou.

The Xuanyuan Water Control Flag's special ability was in its name. It was unmatched in control over water, even if the water belonged to someone else. Da Hai commanded the ocean and pounded Si Hai into the mountain.

"Enough!" Si Hai roared, his very breath dispelled the water barrage. Charging forward, he swung his harpoon with four hands at Da Hai. Da Hai brought up the Teardrop sword, it combined with the 12th grade white lotus into a longsword with a white petal edge.

Both forces clashed with ferocity splitting the heavens. The winds generated from their clash uprooted many trees on the Island. It was quite a funny sight as Si Hai was a giant while Da Hai was only 1.7 metres tall.

"You know, I quite liked my garden," Da Hai said as he maintained his grip.

"Your hands are slipping Da Hai, your Dao is inferior to mine," Si Hai did not make small talk. He directly pointed out his advantage.

Da Hai nodded, "Indeed, my current Dao is a little inferior to yours. But do remember where we are fighting." Da Hai's voice became more transcendent, more profound. Si Hai found that he was unable to see properly. He felt incredibly small, surrounded by fog.

"In a direct discussion on the Dao you'd certainly win. However, you picked your arena poorly," Da Hai's figure disappeared. Si Hai swung his head around trying to see the sea god but found himself covered in fog.

He struck out everywhere only to hit nothing but fog. "Where are you!" He roared and stabbed the ground in rage. He pushed the full might of a Da Luo Golden Immortal into a single strike misspelling the fog revealing his location.

He was in his true form many kilometres tall and stood among rubbles of Da Hai's palace. His harpoon was pulled from the ground as he looked up. Da Hai stood high above him on one of Fusang tree's branches, both hands behind his back.

"On Yingzhou, I am supreme, remember that," as Da Hai spoke, Si Hai felt infinitely smaller. He felt sixteen glaring serpentine eyes stared down at him with the ominous shadow of a gargantuan white tree.

"What is this?" Si Hai was struck with an incredible force pushing him up against his will. "Argh!" The emperor spat out mouthfuls of blood unable to block the attack. His battered body flew helplessly, though he immediately operated a fleeing technique, reaching Yingzhou's border in an instant.

A second force slammed into him, driving him hard into the sea floor outside Yingzhou. Si Hai barely managed to look up and saw a scene that terrified him. Eight smoky snake-like heads extended from Yingzhou like a god descending from heaven. Each one opened its mouth in unison blasting Si Hai once more.

"I am outside Yingzhou, don't think too highly of yourself," he moved to intercept but the blast did an enormous amount of damage to him again. "Sneaky bastard!" He roared as he suffered another blow and flew through several leagues of clouds before finally descending and hitting the open ocean.

The celestial mountain stood before him with Da Hai standing at the entrance. Si Hai gritted his teeth and turned around, he pushed off into the water, swimming as quickly as possible. He displayed the full power of his cultivation and fled with all his might, leaving his army behind.

Since Da Hai was empowered by Yingzhou, he could easily fight off Si Hai. Even killing him on Yingzhou wasn't an issue. However at the last moment Da Hai changed his mind. Si Hai was better alive than dead. Besides, a replacement has already been preordained. Da Hai made a note to plan for the future.

He scanned the remnants of the sea and noticed losses weren't too bad. The overall superior cultivation of the East Sea cultivators outmatched the strength of the South Sea army. While formations were good, a genuine Golden Immortal was simply too much to handle for those with inferior cultivation bases.

...

Mt Yujing.

Hongjun frowned as he pinched his fingers on the Jade Disc of Fortune. 'Why can't I divine anything?' He thought with frustration. For whatever reason, the events of the East Sea were hidden from him. He even considered leaving Mt Yujing and going east to check for the reason.

However, Luohu has been eyeing him hungrily for some time. If he went east, Luohu might just be spiteful enough to attack Mt Yujing in his absence and cause untold destruction.

 

News travelled fast, and soon enough, Da Hai's image as a powerful expert was cemented in the hearts of all creatures living in the East Sea. The story of his battle with Si Hai spread rapidly, eventually becoming a local legend in the east..

Of course, the events were exaggerated again and again as it went along the rumour mill. From the story of the two having an epic duel, to Da Hai defeating the wannabe-conqueror with a single slap, to Da hai outright killing him and replacing him with a clone, the stories about the fight kept becoming more and more outlandish. As Da Hai had made no attempts to dissuade these rumours, they just kept spreading and getting even more ridiculous.

South Sea

Si Hai slammed his tanned fist on his throne. His injuries were severe, but not fatal in any way. However, he was forced to stay in his palace to heal. As a result, his empire was already near crumbling. While the West Sea was still peaceful for the most part, the North Sea was in open rebellion against him..

Si Hai had been forced to send a large portion of his army to the North Sea to quell any dissenters. He rubbed his temples tiredly, Shenni had really left him a big mess. He couldn't even enjoy a good meal recently.

"Damn you Da Hai, I'll get you back for this," he growled. "But those illusions, I need to come up with something," he began pondering. "Yingzhou's very nature is mysterious. I've never seen anything like it. My Dao really was powerless, my water control is negated by that damned flag, and physical force is useless if I can't see shit," he sighed, disappointed.

Si Hai's Dao of the Supreme Seas was shaken. He couldn't overcome Qiong Qi all those years ago, but that made sense as Qiong Qi was an ancient life form with a fierce reputation. But the Da Hai he'd lost to wasn't supposed to be all that strong.

"Information from the devilish Dao isn't that reliable, but what else is new," he said in a self-deprecating manner. He decided for the time being to go into secluded cultivation. This way he would take what he'd seen on Yingzhou and try to come up with some techniques to guard against illusions.

After Si Hai's decision, massive armies of the South Sea travelled westward and eventually northwards. While it may seem counterproductive to take such a long route instead of a more direct route crossing the Central Continent, it was actually for the better. The marching speed of the sea creatures that made up his army was greatly enhanced underwater, not to mention they were in friendly territory.


East Sea
For Da Hai, the long game had begun. Si Hai had unknowingly bought him a lot of time. Time he was determined to use well. On Yingzhou's beach, Da Hai practiced with his Teardrop Sword, comprehending various combat techniques in the process. Over time his application of his Dao in combat gained a sharper edge.

"Combat ability is good, but it must be balanced with Dao realm," Da Hai put down the sword. Although he owned the bladed weapon, he felt it was not really suitable for him. He placed it back into his pocket dimension and contemplated.

The Dao of Distant Seas was already fully formed. Da Hai was now in the process of improving it. Pellucid Divine Water had been a great help in that regard. Da Hai looked up at the night sky, catching a glimpse of the starry skies. He saw the stars hanging stationary in their positions, glowing in starry might.

Although they were fully visible, they existed in another dimension entirely, each star containing extraordinary power. Yet the starry sky of the current year was not the vast expanse of the Three Realms, it was many times smaller and weaker. But they still seemed completely out of reach to many immortals of the world.

"So close yet so far away," he said in amazement. The sea god sat down on the beach and began meditating. Due to Yingzhou's nature, he remained undisturbed for many years. As time went on Da Hai continued cultivating beneath the sea of stars.

"The abyss of the Dao is so profound, no matter how deeply I reach, there always seems to be something more. Is this what true infinity feels like?"

It was an indescribable feeling, although Da Hai personified the ocean, he could not help but feel infinitely insignificant when he peered into the Dao. "To think Pangu comprehended this in entirety," he said in amazement.

The very nature of near and far were contradictory. Yet they fit together so well. Da Hai's body seemed like it was fading in and out of existence. He slowly opened his eyes and tested various cosmic abilities.

Rivers of water surrounded him, transforming into a stream of stars before catching fire, exploding into a winding stream of apocalyptic fire. Da Hai changed the elements again and again, from fire to brownish soil to electrifying lightning.

"All things belong to the ocean, for the ocean encompasses all things," he muttered as he fell ever deeper into enlightenment.

Yingzhou was sealed off and disappeared from this plane of reality. However the denizens of the East Sea did not forget Da Hai or his deeds. His reputation in their eyes became even more exalted.

As the millennia went on, many more Golden Immortals arose in the East Sea. The sudden surge of strength made many of the land dwellers envious. The few land dwellers who had good relationships with the sea clans could obtain some clues, but those deeper inland were stuck even worse.

Those who were aware of the Eastern Supremacy Hongjun looked towards Mt Yujing, hoping for some sign.

Over 30,000 years later, a sudden change occurred a few thousand kilometres off the coast of the East Sea. Thunderous lightning struck deep into the ocean floor shocking many passing cultivators.

"What's this?" A mighty Golden Immortal who was passing by exclaimed. He was an elder of the Azure Rain Snake clan, specifically one of the strongest second generation experts of the East Sea named Flowing Rain serpent.

Upon seeing the vast buildup of primordial Qi and tribulation lightning, he became incredibly excited. Xiantian spiritual treasures had become exceedingly rare, the vast majority were owned by the original innate gods and the very strongest of clans. Even his own clan only had a half a dozen low grade xiantian spiritual treasure.

"These signs, it's at least a high-grade treasure. Perhaps something even better." Flowing Rain smiled in excitement. He couldn't believe his incredible luck. "The heavens have truly blessed me today, ha ha," he laughed in happiness.

BOOM!

Mighty rounds of tribulation lightning struck the ocean. The aura was so great, even strong Golden Immortals like Flowing Rain retreated. The snake looked around to see if anyone else had noticed the commotion. Thankfully their location was a rather secluded one, quite far from the ocean centre and a bit away from the shore.

BOOM!

Flowing Rain waited for nine days of consecutive tribulation. He didn't mind the wait. As a being who had achieved the Dao fruit of Longevity and tore himself out of the River of Destiny, he was ageless. Waiting for ten thousand years was nothing to him, much less a measly nine days.

On the dawn of the tenth day, mysterious golden light shone from the heavens. Dark tribulation clouds parted to reveal auspicious signs. A mysterious imperial aura could be felt making even Flowing Rain feel as if he wanted to kneel.

"Can this treasure be so strong?" He muttered in amazement. He was about to reach into the sea when he detected something. Something he had not expected.

A sudden surge of life-force erupted from the ocean. A thunderous roar rumbled through the surrounding area. The majestic aura of a Golden Immortal was felt for kilometres around sending Flowing Rain into shock.

'Shit, did someone actually find this as well?' He was fully prepared to attack but felt off. This life-force was nonexistent a mere moments ago. Rather it looked to have just come into existence.

Before he could react, the vast ocean erupted in an explosion kicking up a tsunami hundreds of metres in the air. Three gargantuan serpentine figures rose with one golden shadow in front and two behind.

The leading figure resembled a sea serpent yet was vastly different, with gleaming golden scales. It was long, easily ten thousand kilometres in length. It had a head resembling a crocodile with rows of fierce, serrated teeth, it had ears resembling an ox and antlers of a deer. It had a wild mane of hair and long catfish whiskers twirling in the air. Its body winded across the sky producing auspicious clouds wherever it stepped.

It had four limbs, each long and resembled muscular scaled human arms. Its hands were thick with muscle, resembling a hawk's claw. Nine digits stretched from each of its claws, sharp and deadly. In its right claw was a huge azure coloured pearl. In its left claw was a chain of beads totalling twenty four. They were both top grade xiantian spiritual treasures

The following creatures looked less impressive, the one on the right was slightly smaller than the lead. It had yellowish scales and a white belly. It too also possessed nine digits on each of its claws but they were green in colour. The most unique aspect of him was the two massive feathered wings coming from its shoulders. They casted a massive shadow that enveloped the ocean.

The third figure on the left was equal in length to the winged one. It possessed auspicious azure scales. Its antlers had the texture of trees and its mane resembled a bush of greenery. Its nine digit claws were more rounded and overall it looked more kind.

All three stood atop auspicious clouds generated by their bodies. They looked incredibly imposing. Each of them held the aura of Golden Immortals.

"Elder brother, we have finally done it, after all these years we have finally transformed," the winged one said excitedly. The azure one also nodded one excitement.

"Hm," the golden one agreed. However he turned his eyes and saw Flowing Rain. The sea snake was staring right at the treasures in his hands. He felt incredibly uncomfortable and slightly offended.

Flowing Rain was openly salivating. He was grinning ear to ear when he saw the two. "You lot, hand over the xiantian spiritual treasures," he said with open greed.

"Has this guy gone mad?", "There are three of us and one of you," the winged one and the azure one said in unison. They were gearing up for a confrontation as well.

"Hmph, I can tell you're all only beginner Golden Immortals. Let me tell you, your father here has been at the Golden Immortal realm for over ten thousand years. Do the right thing and hand them over," he said with madness evident in his eyes. He couldn't let this opportunity slide no matter what.

"No," the golden said and scoffed. "We brothers are dragons, the highest gods born of Pangu's Qi. What right do you have to make demands of us? Worm," the dragon said with rage on his face.

"That is right, big brother, let's teach him a lesson in humility," the winged dragon chimed in as well. The azure dragon readied his flaws for a charge.

"Ignorant brats," Flowing Rain transformed into a serpent over ten thousand kilometres long. His scales resembled rain drops, rounded and uneven. "Let's see if you dare," he charged at the golden dragon in the centre.

ROAR!

The golden dragon did not back down nor use his treasures. With his titanic body, he grappled at Flowing Rain. "Do not interfere," he roared at his brothers behind him.

The two fought in the sky above the ocean but the superior one was clear. Flowing Rain was being pushed back. Much to Flowing Rain's shock, the golden dragon hurled him back into the water with a single swipe of his claw. The dragon dived in after him, all thirty-six claws at the ready.

"You fool, water is my origin," Flowing Rain laughed in mockery. He swam fluidly in the sea and attacked the dragon. The golden dragon merely smirked, "So's mine," he said.

With equal fluidity, the dragon danced around the serpent, biting into Flowing Rain's neck and drawing large amounts of blood. The dragon's many claws ripped into Flowing Rain's stomach, easily puncturing his scales. The water surrounding them was dyed red with blood and random innards which flowed out.

"How was it brother?" The azure dragon asked.

"Weak, couldn't even put up a good challenge," the golden said unceremoniously. He didn't even struggle that hard against the snake.

"Yinglong, Qinglong, let's go. I want to see what this world has to offer us," he commanded. "I am Zulong, heavens hear me, I am the Supreme one of the sea," he roared in arrogance, announcing to the world his challenge.

In the distant south, a mighty firebird burning in Nanming Divine Flame and rich in yin. Her cry could be heard for millions of kilometres. Her call made all the avians in the world flutter. They could all sense it deep down, their empress had appeared.

In the barren north, the cry of an auspicious beast reached the ears of many. A four legged hoofed, scaled horse like beast with catfish whiskers stood majestically atop a mountain. His presence drew in the luck o the world. Countless golden auspicious phenomena culminated into his being, An ambitious smile blossomed across his face.

 

Meant to continue posting but this fever, stomach ache, body pains combo is killing me.

---

Just with one sentence, Zulong, the eldest of the three dragons, challenged all experts in the four seas. Many may not have heard nor noticed him, especially those too far away. But many within the East Sea did, and boy, were they furious.

Many of the first generation innate creatures, ancestors of their respective clans, wore dark faces. Their East Sea was ahead of the curb in terms of cultivation compared to the South, West, and North. It is then understandable why the 'upstart' Ancestor Dragon managed to trigger them all.

An expected result was clearly seen when not even a week later, the White Sand Crab ancestor and the Pale Ghost Manta-ray ancestor tracked the three dragons down. The end result was a beating of a lifetime for the two ancestors.

In the end they only managed to escape with their lives when they offered low grade xiantian spiritual treasures of their own to the three brothers. The following encounters with East Sea Golden Immortals were much the same. They learned very quickly that Zulong, Yinglong, and Qinlong were not jokes.

BOOM!

The Great Force Sea Snail patriarch's shell cracked under the pressure of Zulong's claws. The nine clad golden dragon claws easily dispatched the snail's spells and directly attacked. The snail didn't know what hit him.

"Impressive, you withstood my strength," Zulong complemented. He was happy to have found the first true resistance among the east sea denizens.

"Don't get cocky brat, my clan isn't famed for our spells," the snail lifted his head with great force, striking the dragon with a burst of superior strength.

Zulong raised his eyebrows, "Haha, to have overpowered me, how would you like to be my underling?" These words deeply offended the snail ancestor. One must understand that in the East Sea, the most respected individual was the Great Saint of Yingzhou, Da Hai. In comparison, Zulong was still very green.

"Like I said brat, don't get cocky," the snail warned. His mollusc body rippled with muscles. Zuloung spun his long body and struck out with a claw, only to be met with an equal force from the snail's body.

"Big brother seems to be having some trouble," Qinglong said worriedly. He looked just about ready to charge in for a helping hand. However Yinglong stopped him with a raised arm. The two were in human forms at the moment, with the notable addition of deer antlers.

"Third brother, wait. He's fine on his own."

"What, but just look, big brother is struggling."

"Oh, you know how Zulong gets when we interfere unnecessarily. Besides look at them. Big brother is fine," Yinglong assured and pointed with a claw.

Zulong, who was previously overpowered physically, swam around the snail. He held the azure coloured orb, the Dragon Pearl, and brought it down in a smash.

The snail's shell had expanded, rolling the entire snail into it to become a huge, spinning wheel of destruction. He kicked up columns of sea water and split the ocean floor sending up soil and sea grass all the way into the clouds.

The two forces met with terrifying might. The young golden celestial dragon clashed against the spinning snail with his dragon's pearl. Profound lights of the azure colour wrapped in auspicious clouds burst forth with great force.

BOOM!

Both sides broke apart, splitting the ocean in the process. Zulong was leaking a trail of blood from his mouth. The Great Force sea snail patriarch's shell was completely smashed apart. He helplessly fell back into the waves.

"Big brother!" Yinglong and Qinglong cried out when they saw what had happened. They quickly rushed for a helping hand. Zulong's elongated dragon body shrunk into a human shape.

Zulong's Dao body was incredibly fit and muscular. He looked to be in his early twenties, handsome and prideful. He had the look of a charismatic leader. Adorned on his head of black hair were two deer like antlers.

"I'm fine," Zulong exclaimed. He showed his minor injuries, his gleaming golden scales were only slightly damaged but otherwise he was still alright.

"That was a good challenge, senior," Zulong said with recognition. The snail had shown himself to be the greatest foe he had faced thus far. As such, Zulong was willing to recognise him as an elder.

"I warn you for your own good," the snail patriarch's voice called out softly as the figure of his elderly human form rose out of the sea. He held his spleen in discomfort as he rose into the air. "The seas are not as simple as you think, Dragon. I can tell you are an inborn creature, an innate god."

"Your forefathers, innate gods of the first generation, the reincarnated chaos godfiends, still roam these lands. Take care of your words," he said. Zulong however did not seem to pay them much heed.

"Yes, they are strong, but in time I will surpass them. I am born of Pangu's Qi, my talent is much higher than some relics of a bygone era," Zulong proclaimed with pride. The old snail simply shook his head, this dragon was a little too proud.

"The offer still stands, I can do with some servants as capable as you," Zulong offered.

The snail was unimpressed, "You still don't understand boy, divine from the Heavenly Dao, you'll see what I mean." With that said the snail vanished back into the ocean leaving a visibly displeased Zulong behind.

"Brother, should we chase after him?" Yinglong asked the golden dragon. Zulong did not respond to his younger brother. He merely looked on in the horizon in thought

"He has a point though, there exist at least two terrifying existences in the four seas that we know of," Qinglong wisely counselled. "Not to mention some of the strongest chaos godfiends of the past are still roaming the wilderness."

"The keyword here is the wilderness third brother," Zulong slowly replied. "The whereabouts of Yang Mei, Si Chen, Yinyang, Shen Feng, and the Destiny Demon god are unaccounted for. Qiankun and Shangxia were crippled during the last war before our birth."

"That leaves the ones we know of. The saint of Yingzhou Da Hai, whose location varies, Hongjun, who has not been involved with the world, Luohu, who rules the west, Si Hai, who hasn't been seen for thousands of years, and Wangshu, who is presumably still in the starry sea," Zulong rubbed his chin in thought. His eyes glowed in heavenly wisdom

"Only two really dwell in the waters and only one is our true opponent," he concluded. Yinglong and Qinglong were not slow, they could understand why he would believe so.

Da Hai mentored many experts of the seas, not just the East. However he's historically never attempted to rule. Zulong's ultimate goal was to dominate the oceans as his kingdom, and that meant his only real opponent was Si Hai.

"Let's go second brother, third brother. We have yet to visit the core territories of the most prominent clans," he commanded. "You should also work on achieving Primal Unity soon. We already have one complete great Dao inside us, becoming Taiyi Golden Immortal is only a matter of time."

"Yes big brother, you are wise," they bowed in unison. Their faith in Zulong's power never wavered even once. Zulong possessed two top grade xiantian spiritual treasures, not to mention his own physical body strength.

Zulong also possessed auspicious might, able to draw in merit naturally from the world as well as produce powerful spells. His foundation was actually superior to a lot of chaos godfiends.

Yingzhou

In a luxurious room of Da Hai's restored palace, a water mirror showed the mirage of the three dragons travelling across the open ocean. The mirage sat atop a candelabrum which had streams of water coming out of its three handles instead of fire. They formed the base of the mirage.

Da Hai observed the reckless actions of the dragons. Though they proved to be very powerful, they were a little too arrogant. They were blatantly looking down on their predecessors.

It was true that their origin as Pangu's Qi made them exceptional talents. But the chaos godfiends should not be taken lightly under any circumstances. Especially because the ones still roaming the primitive world were at the very top of the totem pole.

"This kid… he's a little too confident in himself. Does he think Luohu will just sit back and watch him take the West Sea?" Da Hai muttered in amusement as he bit into a sesame seed ball. "While it's true Luohu holds little interest in the oceans thus far, you shouldn't discount him yet," he lectured. "That is not even mentioning Si Hai," he shook his head.

"And this should be a full house," a soft feminine voice said excitedly, laying down a combination of five poker cards. Wangshu placed triple threes and a pair of fives. She smirked at Da Hai.

"Full house with three twos," Da Hai unceremoniously flipped his hand over much to Wangshu's chagrin. This was the 328th game they've played over the course of the last week. Every single time, Da Hai had a perfect hand.

"Cheater," Wangshu spat as she collected the cards.

"You shuffled each and every single time," Da Hai said as he ate another sesame seed ball. "You can only blame your poor luck," he retorted secretly thanking the constant stream of merits he'd been getting. The only real way to win, luck sacking like a pro.

"Why is two even the biggest? It's a much smaller number than ten," Wangshu complained as she got to shuffling again. She hadn't even touched her plate of her own hand made dim sum.

"Because the game is called big two, that means two is the biggest."

"Dumb game, got anything else to play with these?" She asked, holding up the deck. "By the way, can I keep them?"

"Well we already tried goldfish and standard poker, those are the only games I know. And yes you can keep them," he said.

"Great, what about that other rainbow deck?" She pointed at a pile of uno cards scattered on the floor from her previous temper tantrum at losing.

"Meh, go ahead," he said to her grin. "How long are you going to stay here?" He asked.

"As long as I want, you wouldn't believe how empty the starry skies are now that Yang Mei's gone," she said with some sadness. Da Hai nodded in understanding, the great wilderness held much more than the starry skies.

In the current state of the Primitive World, the great wilderness was the only location where anything happened. 'It's not really primitive anymore, though' thought Da Hai. Going by the developments of the universe, the Primitive World had already transitioned out of its most primitive state.

'I guess Primordial? Well the Dragon-Phoenix period and the Demon-Wu period are both primordial so which is what?' He wondered.

"What's wrong? Don't like my sweets?" Wangshu snapped Da Hai out of his thinking.

"No no, just wondering about the current state of the universe."

Wangshu frowned, "Thinking too much on Hongjun and Luohu will end up stressing you out, it's incredibly demoralising."

"Yeah I know, and that wasn't what I was thinking about," he corrected. He took another bite and marvelled at the taste. Somehow Wangshu had magically figured out how to make dim sum from his description.

"What are your plans so far?" She inquired as she handed out a new hand. She openly smirked when she saw her cards and let out a small giggle.

"I'll keep waiting for now. Eventually those three will get into some trouble then can't escape from, and that is when I'll strike," he admitted while gazing at his own had of nothing but twos, aces, and kings. Merit was a godsend.

 

With thunderous momentum, Zulong and his brothers tore through the experts in the East Sea one after the other. The trio proved to be too powerful for many ancient life forms to handle, and eventually all the sea clans admitted defeat. However, while they acknowledged their defeat, they refused to bow to the dragon.

For the past three thousand years, Zulong's mood has become progressively worse. He gave all his opponents a choice to serve but they all refused.

"Perhaps you're too soft brother," Yinglong had advised him to take a harsher stance. He advocated for a serve or die mentality which Zulong could see the merits of.

On the other hand, Qinglong had advocated for peaceful negotiations. The azure dragon believed that wanton deaths with reckless abandon will give them a terrible image in the eyes of the denizens of the East Sea.

Throughout the years, the duo of Yinglong and Qinglong had remained at the Golden Immortal realm whereas Zulong had managed to form the primal unity and reach the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm. With their strength they were able to best the Colossal Shark ancestor who was publicly recognised as number one beneath the Saint of Yingzhou in the East Sea.

"Brother, I believe we'd need more prestige in order to establish a power base," Qinglong informed him. Zulong nodded, however they'd already defeated most of the experts of the east. The only option left was to go to the other seas.

"It is publicly acknowledged that the North, South, and West Seas are inferior to the East," he mused. "Qinglong, Yinglong, where do you think the chaos godfiends are hiding these days?"

"Brother you can't seriously be thinking of challenging our predecessors right?" Qinglong yelled out. Although Yinglong stayed silent, his facial expression displayed much the same disbelief. "Zulong listen to me, chaos godfiends are in another dimension of power," they tried to convince.

"Well what choice do we have?" Zulong defended. "Besides, my cultivation isn't far from theirs, I also have two top grade xiantian spiritual treasures on me. We can take a chaos godfiend down together," he boasted.

"Big brother you're smarter than this, don't let frustration get to your head," Yinglong advised. They attempted to dissuade Zulong for hours. However the elder dragon was a little too stubborn and reckless.

"Brother, you know I am always loyal to you but you must see reason. Promote to the Da Luo Golden Immortal realm first then talk about defeating chaos godfiends."

"Yes, you are right brother. My apologies, the years of no progress are getting to me," Zulong admitted. His youthful face showed clear anger, annoyance, and frustration. 'It seems the benevolent route is unavailable,' he thought.

"Yinglong, Qinglong, who's a big shot we can kill off safely to get the message across but is also not too valuable of an asset," he demanded.

"Well, the big three clans' experts are out. Turtles, dolphins, and crab clans are also out. I'd say seagulls but they recently began farming spiritual herbs so they're out," Yinglong contemplated who to pick.

"How about the Calamity Serpent?" Qinglong brought up.

"Oh that pretentious prick," Zulong scowled. "Well boys, we've found our target. what's his last known location". His brothers shrugged. "There's a crab village not far from here, we'll ask them," he commanded.

The three dragons were prepared to move when they suddenly sensed something. The three antlered men turned their heads to look at the westward sky. The clouds had darkened, conglomerating into a huge mass.

"Is it normal for the clouds to look so ominous?" Qinglong said.

"No brother, unless there's some sort of auspicious phenomenon occurring by way of the Heavenly Dao, this is certainly not natural," Zulong, Qinglong, and Yinglong tensed as a great aura manifested far above them.

It was as if the heavens themselves were crying in joy, singing the praises of a lord of heaven. Violent winds kicked up the waves generating hurricanes above the east sea. Mighty thunder rumbled their eardrums.

Deep below them, hordes of roaming sea creatures recognised danger and fled. If the dragons were less prideful they would've too. For the aura they sensed far outstripped anything they had ever felt before.

They heard sonorous voices singing in praise. They heard the chanting of a million sky demons. They heard the winds chiming high above the clouds. They heard bells ringing signifying divine descent.

"This kind of natural phenomenon," Zulong muttered in amazement. The clouds, the winds, the hurricanes radiated profound insight into the Dao. As a Taiyi Golden Immortal, Zulong had already stopped relying on the primitive world for insight. But even he struggled to fathom what he was witnessing.

"Hm, top grade xiantian spiritual treasures, not bad not bad indeed," the sonorous voice hummed along with an ancient divine voice who spoke. The three dragons could feel their hearts thumping in their chest. Was the feeling of mortals' meeting with God?

"Your ancestor here has been a bit lacking in treasures, don't you think as respectful juniors you should help this senior out?" The ancient voice asked. The clouds flashed an image within. A titanic whirlwind of smokey air with red eyes carried by massive featured wings attached to the whirlwind. He had no legs nor arms, the only appendages it had were spherical balls of air held by near invisible strings of air running through his body.

"And who may I ask is this ancestor," Zulong did not back down. Despite all the feelings in his chest telling him to submit, to venerate, to worship, he stood tall. Even Qinglong and Yinglong were brought to their knees.

"Arrogant brat, you do not know to whom you speak," the voice roared in anger. The hurricane became violent, fierce, ripping away at Zulong's human flesh peeling it away to reveal gleaming golden scales. However his normally gleaming scales had lost much of its lustre in the face of the unknown assailant.

"Your ancestor here is the ancient godfiend Shen Feng, the ancestor of divine winds. The war god of the north, the exalted patriarch of the heavens, the most august of heavenly phenomenons," Shen Feng's sonorous voice rumbled throughout the heavens reaching the ears of those in the east sea. His figure towered over Zulong.

"Well you definitely got your wish," Qinglong laughed, trying to lighten the mood. However the trio were all sent quivering as Shen Feng approached.

"Brothers listen to me," Zulong said with seriousness. "I will use everything I have to delay him. Take this chance to run, run as far as you can," he commanded, unleashing waves of meritorious golden light.

"But brother, what about you?" The two looked frantic at the implication of Zulong's words. None of the brothers were willing to abandon their family, they couldn't possibly leave their brother behind.

"Fools!" Zulong roared, swinging his fist back and knocking the two many kilometres away. "I am born from Pangu's Qi of the Yang aspect. I have plenty of merit, I'll figure out a way," he reassured his retreating siblings.

"Brave of you," Shen Feng chuckled. "I could respect your balls brat so I'll give you one last chance," a stream of air approached the dragon-man resembling a palm.

Zulong wasted no time, he exploded in a burst of golden light uncurling his serpentine draconic form. His nine digit claw ripped the wind palm apart.

"You'll have to take it from my corpse," he challenged. The ancestor of divine winds chuckled in mocking amusement. Zulong's feeling of dread became palpable. His ten thousand kilometre length appeared insignificant before Shen Feng. His profound cultivation became nothing.

His mind became distorted, his Dao heart trembled. His vision was blurred, he couldn't tell if it had been a few seconds or a few hours. It was as if the time itself began distorting. Zulong shook his head to regain composure, the amount of natural phenomenons generated by a Da Luo Golden Immortal was terrifying.

Shen Feng did not participate in the Shenni war, he had defected from Shenni and planned to escape to the chaos. Luckily he had no need to, as the problem was resolved. In the tens of thousands of years since, he'd recovered to the Da Luo Golden Immortal realm and regained a fraction of his former divine might.

His current strength was far superior to the four evils who fought during the war. Of course after so many years they were bound to have many improvements making victory in a direct confrontation improbable. However Shen Feng was more than capable of crushing an inexperienced Taiyi Golden Immortal like Zulong.

The dragon couldn't even begin moving when his golden body was batted away. Zulong spat out mouthfuls of blood, he just barely stabilised himself. He couldn't believe it, was the gap between Taiyi and Da Luo so large?

He manifested the Dragon Pearl and the twenty four Ocean Calming Pearls. The combined might of both treasures unleashed unspeakable power from the sea.

"Hmph!" Shen Feng snorted. He clapped his wings and dispelled Zulong's attack much to his shock. "You are weak, unable to truly utilise those spiritual treasures. They are wasted on you," Shen Feng's smokey face had a greedy look, his massive form flew towards Zulong at blinding speeds.

"ROAR!" Zulong brought up both treasures and met the godfiend head on. In an instant he was blown back like nothing, dropping the chain of beads but was able to hold onto the single azure pearl.

"Brother!" To Zulong's fearful surprise, Qinglong and Yinglong caught the golden dragon.

"You fools," he scolded but secretly he felt very grateful.

"We couldn't leave you brother, we are one family. We came into the world together and we must support each other," they insisted. Qinglong and Yinglong unleashed their true forms and dashed for the twenty four sea calming pearls. "Don't you dare steal from our elder brother," they roared at Shen Feng.

"Wait brothers, treasure isn't as important as your life," Zulong called out frantically chasing after them. Shen Feng found the whole situation amusing. He casually slapped away Qinglong and Yinglong with a wing.

"Brats these days don't know what's good for them," he mocked. He toyed with the three with little effort nor care. The treasures were already as good as his.

"Bullying juniors? Really Shen Feng, have you truly fallen so low?" The three brother's feeling of dread doubled as another profound aura appeared. Natural phenomenons generating sonorous voices sung in the air, profound scriptures flashed across the waves.

Illusions of dancing fairies, marching deities, and celebrating immortals sung in brilliant radiance as the waves parted. Shen Feng's storm clouds slowly receded as the cloudy outline of an eight headed serpent surfaced. A younger male with a short beard and long yellow hair walked from within the water.

"Da Hai," Shen Feng said slowly in recognition. "This business has nothing to do with you, leave," he commanded. Da Hai ignored the wind god and looked at the state of the dragons.

"Spawned from the Yang rich half of Pangu's Qi, the personification of the masculine form known as the ancestral dragon Zulong. He is a creature of great destiny. Why must you harm juniors," Da Hai accused.

"Taking the higher ground? You hunger for their treasures too," Shen Feng accused back.

Da Hai turned his attention to the three dragons and said, "You three have destiny with me, are you willing to worship me as your master and join my Yingzhou lineage?"

The dragon siblings couldn't believe their good luck. Although this meant bowing their heads for now, they would also get a teacher at the Da Luo Golden Immortal realm. They'd heard of Yingzhou as well, it was one of the best environments for cultivation.

The three dragons assumed human forms and bowed. "Greetings master," they said in unison. Da Hai chuckled softly, 'they may be arrogant but they aren't stupid'. In truth, Zulong felt slightly unhappy at his choice, however given the circumstance it was the only option that will save his brothers.

"Shen Feng, you have bullied my disciples. I give you one opportunity to scram from here," he warned. Shen Feng's smokey face contorted in anger.

"Da Hai, watch your tone," he flared up his power causing tsunamis in the open ocean. The sea floor began cracking and the heavens split in two, distant dimensional walls were also beginning to shake.

"On the cusp of Hunyaun already?" Da Hai exclaimed in surprise but then laughed. The profound aura of the sea crashed down as well, not losing out one bit to Shen Feng. In fact, it slowly began overtaking the wind god.

Shen Feng gulped. Da Hai was proving to be far more impressive than he had thought. The wind dissipated and Shen Feng's figure disappeared into the horizon. Da Hai couldn't help but slap the title 'coward' on the godfiend.

"Shen Feng is many things, but brave is never one of them. Do not worry, he won't trouble you again," Da Hai informed the dragons. "Take this as a lesson, there are always bigger fish in the sea."

Da Hai waved his hands, closing up the injuries of the dragons. He picked up the twenty four ocean calming pearls and handed them back to Zulong.

"We thank master for your teachings," Zulong, Yinglong, and Qinglong said. Da Hai nodded, "Follow me back to Yingzhou, we have much to talk about and work on."

 

The mystical celestial mountain Yingzhou materialised there, allowing the three dragons entrance into their new home. Da Hai had done little to renovate the place in the intervening years, aside from restoring the buildings Si Hai destroyed.

Da Hai made sure to wow the dragons beforehand. If he were to create a good impression, then being kind and humble was not ideal. He needed to be impressive, to inspire awe and respect.

As such Da Hai did not restrain his power. While he did not flaunt it, he made no attempt to suppress it either. The end result was that his new disciples occasionally experienced nausea and disorientation when they looked at him for too long.

Da Hai took one step onto the beach of Yingzhou. "The celestial mountain is home to many illusions, so be careful not to wander too carelessly lest you encounter one and fall prey to it," he informed them. "That being said, in the future you may use them to strengthen your Dao hearts."

"Yes master, disciple understands," the dragons said with a bow. They too had noticed the mystical clouds atop some of Yingzhou's mountain peaks. Zulong made a mental note to stay away from those places until he had improved his power.

Da Hai led them into the main palace complex and pointed towards the mountain. "Yingzhou is a vast island with many mountains. You may build your abodes anywhere you wish," he said. "Go now, and find a place to stay, meet me when your injuries have healed. Then we may continue with the ceremony," he instructed.

"Yes master," the three dragons nodded in understanding. They took a step back and flew across Yingzhou scouring for a good location. All of Yinghzou was saturated in primordial Qi and rich Dao laws, as such they were simply looking for places pleasing to the eye.

Da Hai watched the three go off in anticipation. He could feel the beginning stages of his plan taking form. According to legends, the dragons always held an advantage compared to the avians and the beasts. Thankfully the dragons were also the faction he could easily gain access to.

"I see you've accomplished what you said," Wangshu said when Da Hai returned to the great hall. "But I wonder, was it truly rise to recruit such a rowdy bunch?"

"You disapprove?" He asked.

"Zulong is someone who holds great ambition, pride, and confidence in himself. If you are not careful, he could easily be your own downfall," she warned.

"I will educate him in patience, besides he has two advisors who temper him," Da Hai countered. Seeing her unconvinced face he added, "This is the most effective way to defeat Hongjun and Luohu. The dragons will grow to be monstrous."

"How are you so sure? Your confidence in strangers is concerning."

"You've been observing them with me for all this time, can you not say they aren't talents?" He retorted. "Besides, what other methods are there? I'm open to suggestions."

Wangshu could not respond to that. She was the first and only ally that Da Hai had recruited thus far though that was mostly due to their friendship. If Yang Mei was back in the world then he'd surely help out as well, but he was missing.

Creating schemes to go against either Hongjun or Luohu was truly difficult. The thought of giving up his own Dao to make the Heavenly Dao fade out of reach had briefly crossed his mind. However Da Hai shook his head at that proposal.

What's stopping either Ancestor from comprehending his Dao? The answer is nothing. As long as one's comprehension and Dao realm are high enough, all Dao becomes a mere transformation of one's own Dao.

This left the only option of killing Hongjun and Luohu. This was the easiest course of action and the true result Da Hai wanted to accomplish. However he'd made an oath of obligation to Pangu and is thus favoured by the Heavenly Dao, in anticipation that he would help the Heavenly Dao break free of the influence of the two Ancestors.

Da Hai had scratched his head numerous times over the years. He was ultimately selfish, just like Hongjun and Luohu. He did not want to give up his hard work for a small possibility. He wanted to kill his friend's murderers, he wanted to ruin everything they've built.

In the current world, Hongjun and Luohu were too much for him to handle. What's more, they were cultivating equally as fast as himself, possibly faster. 'If only life was easy,' Da Hai sighed.

"I will trust in your decision. Though I hold reservations, I wish you the best, " Wangshu said before leaving Yingzhou for the starry skies. She was someone whose personality clashed with the dragons.

Wangshu, despite her proclamation as ruler of the stars, wasn't a monarch. Nor did she hold the ambition of one. She was like a friendly samaritan who would fight and protect for her community. She'd held a bad impression of anyone with the ambition of kings. Given the three examples in the primitive world, she did have a point.

Da Hai observed the three brothers who had decided to make their abodes on a lake southeast of his own palace. They had already gone into the process of healing their wounds.

'They will be powerful assets,' he thought while striking his beard. 'They will be most useful in the conflicts to come'. In the end, that is all they will be, tools to achieve his end goal. The ancestral dragon was destined to die, in this way he'd be able to benefit Da Hai as well.

Thirty years later, the trio of dragons made their way back to Da Hai's palace. Their wounds had finally fully recovered under the rich ambient primordial Qi. Though their cultivation had stagnated, they were ready for Da Hai's lesson.

The three lined up before Da Hai and knelt and kowtowed before Da Hai. They then brought out spiritual tea for the sea god who accepted them emotionlessly.

"From henceforth, you are my, Da Hai's direct disciples. Zulong, you are the first disciple under me, you are the ancestral Nine-Clawed Golden Dragon whose cry resounded in the heavens. Born from Pangu's Yang Qi, you are a talent most profound. As the eldest, you have a responsibility as the face of Yingzhou's second generation, look after and guide your younger brothers."

"Yinglong, you are my second disciple. You were born of Pangu's Yang Qi and the ambient power of heavenly winds. You are the Sky Dragon who shall soar above the clouds. As the second eldest, be respectful to your elder brother and look after your younger brother."

"Qinglong, you are my third disciple. You were born of Pangu's Yang Qi and the true power of Eastern Extremity Azure Essence of Wood. You are a saint who shall guide the creatures below. Look after your elder siblings, do not let them walk astray."

After the introduction Da Hai began expounding on the Dao. He spoke about the nature of the Dao and his own insights into Grand Dao. He spoke on the everlasting eternity, without beginning nor end, the absolute infinity.

His words were so profound that as time went on, the three brothers struggled to comprehend even a single word. Da Hai saw this and smiled, he pointed a finger at the trio.

Zulong felt light headed. He found himself in a corridor with millions upon millions of scrolls. He picked one up and began reading. The ancient language of the chaos godfiends resounded the complex nature of the Dao.

Zulong picked out more scrolls and read further. He saw diagrams of himself as a dragon. Texts written about vast empires and the symbol of heaven which denotes the right to rule. As he read, the Dao being discussed broke away from natural phenomena and into concepts of rulership, leadership and domination. He witnessed vast empires and governments ruling over the world.

Yinglong found his own scrolls as well. He read on the transformations of the elements, natural forces and the Dao which described harmony between different opposing forces. The Dao spoke to him of earthly principles, of the ongoings of natural order and elemental transformations.

Qinglong found himself in a hallway, reading on scrolls with deep insight into cosmic phenomenons. His readings lead him towards the stars, of the elemental phenomenons denoted by heavenly bodies. Of the countless luminaries that blotted the starry skies.

Da Hai nodded in satisfaction as the trio fell into deep meditation. They were unlikely to wake up anytime soon. He disappeared from the great hall, leaving behind some of his own written tomes containing numerous spells.

He would need to teach these dragons many things. If they were to aid him in defeating Hongjun and Luohu then they needed to realise their full potential before their inevitable demise.

Mt Yujing

Hongjun looked at the Jade Fortune Disc in frustration. His divination into the Four Seas had been fruitless thus far. He did not know what was wrong. Once upon a time he could divine easily and see anywhere unhindered in the world.

His mind suddenly snapped to an individual he had not thought about in quite a long time. Many years ago he encountered a godfiend at the base of Mt Buzhou who he could not see through. The power of the Jade Fortune Disc was not activated, but as the owner he received an unconscious enhancement to his divination skills.

He had brushed off that oddity at the time as his own realm had been low and his control of the Disc incomplete. Now he was starting to grow suspicious. He rubbed the edges of the Disc and sighed.

Even after all these years the Disc had yet to completely submit. The Pangu Banner and the Taiji Painting had long submitted, but the Disc had stubbornly refused.

He traced the butterfly pattern on the Disc injecting more power into the treasure. His frown grew deeper as the more he insisted the harder the disc fought back.

Stopping his latest attempt Hongjun leaned back and rested. He took in the sights of Mt Yujing around him to take his mind off the annoyance that was the Jade Fortune Disc. It was unlikely to be cooperative again for a while.

Hongjun suddenly looked South and North. The two he had been keeping an eye on were progressing in their cultivation smoothly. He slowly stood up from his seated position. He considered taking the phoenix and qilin as disciples.

"Luohu can't be allowed to reach them first," he said. Releasing the Taiji Painting, he enveloped the entire mountain. He locked space and time, isolating Mt Yujing from the outside world. The barrier grew stronger and stronger, encompassing the entire mountain in a shield.

"There should be three destined gods of this generation. Two I am aware of, but the last is elusive," he said after he became satisfied with his work.

The Taiji Painting wasn't a mere xiantian spiritual treasure, its true grade was a chaos spiritual treasure. Its grade was much higher than anything Luohu or anyone in this world owned. Even if Luohu attacked with all his might, it'll take long enough for Hongjun to rush back. Though the downside was that Hongjun had drastically lowered his defence.

Hongjun flew away, heading south while taking extra care to hide his tracks. It would be bad if the devilish Dao became aware of his absence.

Mount Buzhou

Pangu's statue's eyes slowly opened. A wisp resembling a butterfly landed on the bridge of the statue's nose. It stood there with faint radiance looking very pleasing with its purple sparkly light.

"I see," Pangu said. "I apologise, I cannot save you nor wield you anymore. Please, continue helping my disciple as much as you can. That is all I ask."

The purple wisp butterfly lifted off of Pangu's nose and flew away. The statue's light began fading again.

"Heavenly Dao owes me too much to turn against you, the Cosmic Butterfly's remnant will obstruct Hongjun as best it can. Disciple, I hope you the best, I hope you know what you're doing".

The statue dimmed completely leaving the twelve pools of blood on their own, continuing in their development.

 

Two men clashed swords atop a spiritual lake. They danced around each other, each displaying graceful moves whilst slashing at the other. They flipped and dashed across the lake with fluid ease, stepping on water without ever causing a ripple.

One of the two men, who was on the defensive, was dressed in simple black robes and had a head full of spongy-looking blond hair. His opponent who was pushing on the offensive had antlered horns and was dressed in form fitting black combat robes.

The older man with a short beard and blond hair was Da Hai, while the younger man with antlered horns was Zulong. The two clashed multiple times with the exchanges ending in a similar result. Zulong would attack rapidly, going in for the kill while Da Hai defended, dodged and weaved out of the way, parrying anything he was unable to dodge.

Qinglong and Yinglong stood and watched from the side. Their early morning was disturbed by their master and eldest brother's spar. The two dragons had, in the years since entering Yingzhou, finally promoted their cultivation to the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, however they still fell short compared to Zulong.

"You're too aggressive," Da hai lectured. He sidestepped a burst of sword light twisting around and landed the edge of his blade on Zulong's throat. "You are impatient and it shows in your swordsmanship," Da Hai sheathed his blade and walked away.

"Continue to temper your mind. If you continue to act so recklessly, then you won't see much success" he instructed before disappearing. Zulong threw his sword down in frustration.

"What's the point of that exercise," he growled. "We're not even proper swordsmen," he complained sitting down with his brothers.

"Master has always emphasised patience," Yinglong replied.

"Master also insists on teaching us more and more powerful spells. Why bother with all this dancing around when I could just fire away and be done with the problem," Zulong scoffed.

"It's not necessarily a contradiction, you are the most hot headed of us brothers," Qinglong said. Throughout the year Zulong had remained hotheaded and aggressive. His pride had diminished little and his arrogance remained untamed.

Unknown to them, Da Hai watched from the shadows. He remained undetected due to an invisibility spell that faded him from this dimension, rendering him completely untraceable.

'He cannot be allowed to remain hot-headed. I do not want any incidents with Luohu nor Hongjun prematurely,' he thought. The education of the dragons wasn't going too well. He had taught them many spells derived from the Dao, but Zulong's temperament remained largely unchanged.

"I don't want a weapon recklessly charging in when I don't want to. Perhaps I chose wrong," he murmured. "Your empire needs to be a strong one, one that will stand against Luohu and Hongjun, at least for a time."

Later that week, Da Hai led Zulong into a library. He took out a scroll and unfurled it, handing it to Zulong. The contents were historical writings on conflicts which occurred between various tribes of innate beings, their wars and their rulers.

"Where did you find time to collect all these?" Zulong inquired.

"I didn't, I wrote them all in my spare time. Unbiased accounts of rise and fall of various tribes in the world," Da Hai revealed. These records were created as a way to pass the time. Information he gained by viewing the world around him from Yingzhou. Over a hundred thousand races were recorded, many of whom had already gone extinct over the years.

"Information that I think may prove useful to you," Da Hai explained while waiting for Zulong to begin reading.

"I do not see the point of all these. Lesser beings and their failures," he scoffed. "Master, wouldn't it be more productive to simply focus on power?"

'An intelligent tool is better than a bumbling one that needs twenty-four hour supervision,' Da Hai wanted to say. But he suppressed his frustrations deep within his heart.

"Just do as your master says," he said rubbing his temples. "Whatever Dao you form must be as perfect as can be for you. The current trend you're walking is too much like Shenni," he reminded.

Zulong was surprised, for Da Hai had hardly ever brought up the Beast Emperor of the past. "Like him?" He wondered after Da Hai had left. The beast emperor was little more than a children's tale these days. Zulong knew little of him beyond what tidbits he'd heard over the years.

Da Hai monitored Zulong's progress the closest of all. Even when he trained Yinglong and Qinglong, he still kept an eye on the ancestor dragon.

"Master, I know you worry for my eldest brother," one day Qinglong told him. "Eldest brother is extremely stubborn, but he is very grateful for master's education and protection. He just struggles to express it," he said.

Da Hai nodded wordlessly. It seems he'd won Qinglong and Yinglong's trust more so than Zulong's. His younger disciples were very diligent and in comparison to Zulong. It almost brought a smile to his face, almost. He always reminded himself that he shouldn't get too attached.

Qinglong comprehended the essence of the stars beneath the starry skies just like Da Hai did many years ago. Da Hai could visibly observe the transparent form of heavenly bodies beginning to form within the dragon. A small welling of pride permitted his chest.

'Stop it, I shouldn't get too invested,' he told himself. He soon left Yingzhou to do some sightseeing, something he hadn't done for many tens of thousands of years. The current yuanhui was already progressing towards its mid stages rapidly. Da Hai wanted to see if he could find some old acquaintances.

Starry Skies

A being of pure wind was running desperately, being chased by an incredible amount of cosmic lunar radiance. Shen Feng was deeply regretting his choices now. Who said the starry skies were safe? Who dares say it now?

Wangshu's power was far beyond the wind god's expectation. She was even more terrifying than Shenni had been that year. The mass of air flew across the cosmos with all its might, avoiding tendrils upon tendrils of lunar radiance.

Cosmic light whipped at him, exploding stars were thrown at him, space and dimensions continuously trapped him. The six armed wooden monstrosity that chased him groaned, and her snarling faces breathed out cosmic star bombs at him.

"Fuck this place," the wind god bolted downwards. His wings were ripped apart by Wangshu who tore at Shen Feng's back.

Shen Feng's body spun, generating massive winds like a spinning top managing to somewhat cut Wangshu. He slammed into the dimensional barrier with all his might, tearing a hole in reality. Appearing above the north continent, the terrified wind god quickly fled while Wangshu stayed in the stars.

"The hell was that about?"

Wangshu turned her attention downwards seeing two figures she hadn't seen in a long time. Da Hai was there, except he looked older, into his forties now. His beard was much longer and wrinkles were present on his face.

Another man was with him playing a game of elephant chess. Wangshu recognised him as the Ancestor of Qiankun who she hadn't seen since the end of the Shenni War.

"Fellow daoists, what a coincidence," she greeted, landing softly on their position. "I did not expect to meet you guys again so soon."

"It is a surprise to us too, fellow daoist," Da Hai answered. "Who knew just weeks from leaving the East Sea that I will see you and fellow daoist Qiankun again," he said with a joyful laugh.

Wangshu took in Da Hai's appearance, "You looked different. Definitely much different than years past."

"If you mean like an old fart then you're right. He's like us old fogeys now. Oi Da Hai, make your move already," Qiankun hurried the sea god along.

"Indeed, things have been stressful as of late," Da Hai admitted. He placed the general piece forward.

"Are you trying to lose?" Qiankun scolded as he easily took the general and sighed in visible disappointment.

"Well I'm not exactly the best player so forgive me if I make mistakes okay," He snapped back.

"You play like a distracted man, you barely put any thought into any of your moves," Qiankun criticized while Wangshu chuckled.

"Is it your disciples?" She enquired before receiving a knowing nod from Da Hai. "Well this was bound to happen, taking them in never really struck me as a natural choice."

"Wait, what's this about disciples?" Qiankun asked.

"Few thousand years ago, I took in three of the new generation of innate gods as my disciples," Da Hai admitted. There was no real need to lie in front of Qiankun, he wasn't affiliated with Hongjun nor Luohu and generally stayed by himself. Even during the chaos period Qiankun hardly interacted with people.

"Already huh, time sure flies by," Qiankun murmured. "Are these disciples the reason you look so stressed out?" He was met with silence but he could infer much from Da Hai's facial expression.

"I see, well raising disciples is never easy, during the chaos I remember…" Qiankun began rambling on various events of the past. Things Da Hai didn't really care to listen to.

"I told you to not accept them. Your heart is not wholly in it," Wangshu said to Da Hai. "I don't think this relationship is compatible, as the Dao dictates, let nature take its course."

Qiankun raised an eyebrow, "What did you specifically scout them out for tutorship?" He was met with a telling silence and sighed, "I don't know nor care why you specifically chose these disciples of yours but I do know one thing. A master is a father or life, you took them in to raise them, if that wasn't your goal then you shouldn't take in disciples."

Da Hai portrayed an uneasy expression. He rubbed his forehead. Qiankun got up as well, "I'll give you some time to think."

"He's right, you know," Wangshu said after Qiankun left.

"Do you disagree with my actions?"

"Oh wholeheartedly, you never had the intention of raising disciples, you wanted allies who didn't exist. So you went for the next best thing. This manipulation is not like you, it's the antithesis of what Dao represents."

"Then what do you think I should do?" Da Hai retorted.

Wangshu couldn't maintain eye contact, "I don't know, no one wants to risk their lives for someone else. No one wants to risk their lives, period. Especially not chaos godfiends."

"If only I was born earlier," Da Hai cursed.

Wangshu didn't stay in his company for long. She soon left for the starry skies and entered her own secluded cultivation that was previously disturbed. She passed by two spirits beneath the laurel tree and sealed her palace.

After Da Hai left, a horse-like figure walked out of the mountain. The ancestral Qilin, Zulin, had wondered here where the great ancestors had previously sat and chatted. Zulin looked at the elephant chess set that was still here.

"Very spiritually active," he said while looking around. Seeing no one coming he quickly snatched up the chess set and fled the scene. No one really cared to stop him.

Yingzhou

The three brothers sat by each other drinking some of the wine they found(stole). Three cups lay where the three sat in a triangular formation.

"You should lighten up brother," Qinglong said flushed. "Master only wants the best for us."

"Right, right," Yinglong agreed. "Master had allowed us to make leaps and bounds in cultivation. You should have more faith in him."

Zulong sighed while drinking his own serving, "I am grateful for master, he gave us refuge when we were too arrogant to recognise our own faults." He waved his hand generating a deadly amount of mystical force forming a construct of water which gave off an oppressive might. "He taught us so many powerful spells, just that."

"Just what? Master rescued us, gave us a home, and recognised our talents, simple as that. What could possibly irk you?" Qinglong asked.

"And here I thought you were the perceptive one," Zulong sighed. "Something just seems off. Something I have a bad feeling about, I just don't know what. He wants something from us, brothers listen to your older brother. Something just really rubs me the wrong way."

The two dragons looked stunned at Zulong's warning. "Brother I think that's a little too much. Master has done much for us that we should be grateful for."

"I do not deny that," Zulong said. "But don't you two know that there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world?" The atmosphere grew very heavy after that.

"Zulong, a master is a father for life. No matter what master is still master. He has taken time to tutor us for all these years, why must you… hai," Qinglong sighed taking another drink.

"Sorry, it's just… I don't know why I have this feeling," Zulong apologised with a look of guilt.

"We should put these away before master finds out," Yinglong said when his brothers began leaving. They nodded and began packing the cups. But that was when Da Hai reentered Yingzhou.

Needless to say, Da Hai was not impressed to find the three drinking from his own stash.

 

On the beachside of Yingzhou, Da Hai performed a series of movements resembling a dance, reminiscent of the waves in the East Sea. This was known as the Fading Tides Fist, a modified martial arts form the original Da Hai once used. However whereas the original was a vicious form aiming to overwhelm the opponent, the modified version was a more subtle, flowing form.

"Cement my movements into your minds," Da Hai instructed when he completed the course. "Remember, the key is to guide your opponents into a state of vulnerability then strike them at their weakest," he reminded while folding his arms and moving back along the sand.

"Right, I can do that," Qinglong enthusiastically said. He immediately began applying what he had learned into his practice. Da Hai formed a small smile at the sight.

Yinglong and Zulong attempted to copy their youngest sibling's movements. The two made similar movements as Qinglong but there was a noticeable difference. While Yinglong was somewhat doing them, Zulong's movements were stiff.

Da Hai frowned slightly. Zulong was messing up his exercises in precision again. He seemed to be holding back a lot of force, forcing himself to perform the form hence creating a very stiff display.

Da Hai could tell that Zulong was unhappy. He sighed and rubbed his temples. He seemed to be doing this a lot lately.

Zulong saw Da Hai's actions and gritted his teeth. His fists clenched and as he made the next move he accidentally released a huge burst of power. The blast rushed out into the ocean, parting the waves much to Zulong's embarrassment.

"Perhaps we shall stop here for today," Da Hai said, unfolding his arms. "The latest batch of mulberry fruits recently ripened. Remember, you may only take one of the mulberry fruits, they may be beneficial to your physiques, but don't be too greedy," he said.

While Da Hai did not mind the dragons eating the spiritual fruits he took care of. He did however run out of supply often. The Fusang tree wasn't almighty and the dragons were a gluttonous bunch. Da Hai rubbed his nose bridge and thought, 'Perhaps I should find some caretakers'.

Seeing their master leave just like that left the dragons feeling embarrassed. Qinglong, who was doing fine, went to comfort his brothers.

"It's no use," Zulong kicked the sand into the air in a fit of anger. "Nothing I try works, it just doesn't," he roared in frustration. He took a moment to calm down.

"Sorry for snapping brother," he apologised while looking Qinglong in the eyes.

"No harm done big brother," Qinglong said cheerfully. "Come, I'll show you how." The azure dragon spent the next few hours reintroducing the martial arts form.

Zulong and Yinglong looked impressed. Qinglong really had taken to it like a fish to water. None of his movements were wasted. Qinglong resembled their master performing the techniques.

"So raise your hands like this, feel the primordial Qi pulsing up your arm, let it flow smoothly… no not like that, smoothly, I said smoothly," Qinglong gave out advice after advice to help Zulong and Yinglong. However Zulong still ran into similar issues as his first attempts.

"These techniques, these movements, they are so restricting," Zulong complained. His fists crackled in fierce power. Qinglong took this moment to move forward and calm the elder dragon down.

Yinglong looked at the side, pondering. He looked at his own palms who morphed into their dragon claw form. He looked at his green tinted scales adorning his claws. Slowly he manifested his feathered wings as well.

"What's the matter, second brother?" Qinglong called out along with Zulong who had managed to compose himself again. They noticed the transformation and grew curious.

"I agree with eldest brother," Yinglong said, "but not wholeheartedly. The movements don't suit me but they aren't repulsive." He clasped his hands and meditated for a while.

Under the supervision of his brothers, Yinglong began testing a new form. It bore resemblance to the original martial form of fading tide fist but had distinct differences. Yinglong's body and movements resembled a cloud rather than the waves. He danced across the sky and with each footstep, generated auspicious clouds.

His brothers felt a mesmerising sensation watching their second brother move. His attack then became fierce, transitioning from an auspicious cloud to a thunderous storm cloud. He punched, with his claws resembling lightning strikes.

He then proceeded to punch and kick at extreme speeds. Qinglong likened him to a downpour. A flurry of blows just like a storm cloud will continuously rain. Then Yinglong retreated, restoring his previous calm state.

Qinglong and Zulong looked in wonder. Their brother was truly intelligent. To devise a totally new martial form so quickly was astonishing. As Yinglong moved he began realising something.

Deep within his inner cosmos. The perfected union of Dao and body trembled. Mysterious transformations of earthly elements, supernatural phenomenons appeared swirling in a mass of purple clouds.

The cosmos began raining as in the real world Yinglong's eyes glazed over in enlightenment. He breathed in and out multiple times repeating his martial form. Zulong and Qinglong looked in amazement as their brother reached an epiphany.

"The clouds, the rain, the desolation of the land is swept away as I arrive," he spoke softly. Great wisdom in the Dao materialised in tangible form for his brothers who were left gaping in wonder. Yinglong's body radiated clouds, radiated rain, radiated lightning, as he proceeded to shed his human form.

Erupting in an explosion of splendour, three flower crowns appeared atop his head. Enormous amount of Dao radiance appeared supporting his inner cosmos. The ten thousand kilometre winged dragon roared into the heavens. Within his dantian, a sapling had taken root, sprouting into a small trunk with some nubs.

"Incredible," Zulong and Qinglong uttered out in amazement at their brother's accomplishment. The winged dragon danced across the air repeating his martial form in an elongated body resembling a dancing dragon. He brought rain and prosperity to the lands of Yingzhou, causing flowers to start blossoming on the beach.

"What is this?" Even Da Hai who had returned with an empty barrel of wine dropped his barrel at this sight with a look of wonder. The thud of the wooden container caught the attention of the three dragon disciples.

"Greetings master," the three bowed in submission. Da Hai trudged up to them immediately, cleansing the alcohol from his system. He waved his arms around like a fool before blossoming out into a smile.

"How... how amazing! Truly spectacular Yinglong," he laughed in joy. "Well done, disciple, that was splendidly done," he laughed in wild joy, so much so he shed some tears.

"Finding one's own path is a complex thing, what you have done in less than five thousand years of birth is faster than any lifeforms I have ever witnessed," he praised in uncontrollable pride. His open showing of emotions shocked the three dragons, they had never seen their master like this in the thousands of years they'd known him.

Yinglong transformed back into his human form as Da Hai celebrated in pride. His middle aged face showed a wide smile. "Come, this calls for a celebration," he announced, leading the three to his palace.

Although Zulong felt incredibly happy for his brother, he couldn't help but feel ashamed. He was the eldest, yet why was he the worst.

That night Zulong meditated by himself in his cave abode. The rocky walls were filled with cracks and dents, all victims of his frustrations. Luckily for the dragon, Yingzhou was incredibly durable.

Da Hai sat by himself in his own private chambers as well looking at the ceiling. He was frowning the whole time. Time and again he had to remind himself, the dragons were a means to an end. They were destined for death, he shouldn't get too attached.

He needed the dragons for their potential. He needed three powerful fighters who could help him kill Luohu and Hongjun. But somewhere deep down was a feeling he desperately tried to crush.

"A means to an end, a means to an end," he whispered again and again.

 

"Perhaps you should try a different approach," Wangshu said before taking a sip of her own wine. It was the time of year where the lunar cycle came to completion and the moon goddess descended for a visit to her longtime friend and companion.

The two chatted and ate privately while the dragons practised outside. They were uninterested in the occasion and simply paid their respects to their aunt-master.

As Wangshu was of the same generation as Da Hai and was even born before Da Hai, she technically held the status of his senior sister though he never acknowledged her as such.

For if we were to go into the semantics, Wangshu was half a disciple to Yang Mei who was brothers with the original Da Hai. Da Hai himself was like a spawn of the original, which made him of the same generation as a disciple would be, making them martial siblings.

The fact that Wangshu was technically Pangu's daughter cemented this fact. As a result, the dragons respectfully referred to her as aunt-master.

"And what approach will that be?" Da Hai asked while handing out poker cards.

"Well you want to teach him proper rulership right?" She said looking at her hand.

"I want him to learn a lot of things, patience, caution, rulership, statesmanship, and to temper his reckless mind," he complained.

"So many things you have no clue about," she said, taking some pleasure at Da Hai's embarrassed frown. She had remained unchanged over the years, looking every bit as beautiful as she did years ago. Da Hai on the other hand had grown many decades older in appearance, resembling a man just past his prime years though still very much powerful.

The physical appearance of cultivators played no role in their power, insight, nor age. All children are taught this from the moment they begin cultivating. It was an important fact to remember for all living beings.

"You are right," Da Hai finally said after several moments of silence. "The best I could ever do was force him to read books," he rubbed his temples and sighed.

"I'm surprised the boy isn't full on resenting you by this point," Wangshu said casually. "If you wanted an effective tool you'd need his full trust, I see you have that with Qinglong and Yinglong but not with Zulong. What happened, Da Hai?"

"I…He is a most difficult challenge," he leaned back looking very tired and stressed. "I don't know what to do for him, more books? More meditation?"

"Why not take him to the sea clans?" She suggested it as if it was the simplest thing in the world. As a matter of fact it was and Da Hai looked like he wanted to throw himself out the window or better yet grab the nearest blunt object and bash himself.

This was how master and disciple found themselves travelling out into the sea. The first time in thousands of years that Zulong had seen the East Sea.

The many intervening years had done little to diminish Zulong's fearsome reputation in the past. Though many of the newer generations had never met him, they at least knew of the big bad dragon who had terrorised their elders.

"Why are we out here master?" Zulong asked, irritated. His frustrations were clearly understood by Da Hai, which was why he did not grow angry.

"For you to learn how to be a proper ruler," he said, driving the auspicious cloud they rode on into the water.

"I know how to be a ruler, I've led my brothers for many years," Zulong retorted.

"You know how to be a leader, not a ruler," Da Hai said firmly. "I too know little of the subject but I do know those who do." Da Hai travelled many kilometres into a large underwater city bustling with activity.

"Turtles?" Zulong looked at his master. "Is this some sort of joke?" When he saw no look of humour on Da Hai he was outraged. "Master, these are the most cowardly lot of sea creatures in the world, all they do is hide in their shells and cower in front of others. What could I possibly learn here?"

"The Primordial Sea Turtle clan is the clan with the most successful nation beneath the waves. They can teach you much if you are to become the Sea's emperor," Da Hai explained to Zulong's disbelieving face.

"I will trust you on this master," he begrudgingly said. Zulong followed Da Hai and descended into the turtle's palace where the turtle king waited.

"Greetings Great One," the turtle king did not dare sit on his throne. He humbly abdicated for Da Hai to take the main seat. Zulong meanwhile looked longingly at the ocean throne, picturing what could be, what will be.

"Zulong, for the next thousand years you will work under the turtle king as one of his ministers," he said. Zulong looked furious at those words. He didn't hesitate to release his overbearing aura, scaring the turtle ministers, kings and princes.

"Master, why on earth do I have to serve these, these," his enraged gurgling was ignored by Da Hai who wore a cold expression.

"Ignorant fool, I'm doing this for your own good," Da Hai lifted his hand and Zulong felt terrified. He was captured in a ring of azure energy restricting his movements. With one stroke Da Hai forcibly sealed Zulong's mighty cultivation.
"You will work with them and learn all you can. Trust master on this Zulong, you will learn much here," Da Hai said desperately.

"What have I done to deserve this punishment master?" Zulong lifted his head once he was dropped onto the marble floor. He looked up in a mix of fury and betrayal. "Hasn't this disciple been loyal and filial? I have tried all you have asked for so many years, why would you subject me to this place?"

Da Hai sighed, "Zulong, this is for your own good. I hope you will understand, this place is the best for you to learn all you can. To teach what I have failed to teach."

Da Hai ordered the turtles to treat Zulong as just another minister. He informed them that they did not have to be afraid of the dragon, now or in the future. With that said he left the dragon under the care of the turtles.

"Did I make the right choice?" he questioned himself.

And so the years went by. Da Hai travelled back to Yingzhou to check on Qinglong and Yinglong before leaving to roam the primitive world. He felt relieved of a burden for the first time ever.

He traveled across the East Continent discreetly wandering from clan to clan. The world had indeed evolved in the years he'd been living as a hermit on Yingzhou.

Many Golden Immortals had popped up over the years. Many more immortals had risen up in the world. In this day and age, Golden Immortals were something most clans had on hand. The strongest clans had at least several Golden Immortals amongst their numbers.

Da Hai nodded, this was indeed within his expectations. According to legends, although the Primitive World's power ceiling might have been lower than the Three Realms, their concentration of experts was an order of magnitudes higher.

Da Hai expected Taiyi Golden Immortals to start popping up soon enough.

Across the lands, various surviving innate gods were engaged deeply in cultivation. All of those remaining had reached the Da Luo Golden Immortal realm. None of them were pushovers, every single one of them being ancestral existences of the highest order. The greatest beings in the world.

Da Hai stood atop the mountains of the South Continent wondering where the Ancestral Phoenix was. The mystical firebird of legends had not been seen at all since her inception. In fact neither had he heard any news of the Ancestral Qilin aside from that one sighting many years ago.

He wondered for a bit then noticed something. A colony of silkworms were biting into a mulberry tree's leaves. This reminded Da Hai of the thought he had for caretakers.

He reached forward and grabbed a handful of silkworms and smiled. "You'll do," he said and soon left the scene. He briefly looked at a distant location many hundreds of thousands of kilometres away and smiled, "So that's where you were."

A while after he left two women wandered into the same place. Heading the two was an extraordinarily beautiful woman in an enchanting red dress and an elegant crown. Trailing behind her was a younger woman in a dress of red and yellow and a slightly less elaborate crown.

"Sister, are we sure we should come here so soon?" The younger woman said. This was Zhuque, the vermillion bird and younger sister to Zufeng, the ancestral phoenix.

"Don't worry little sister, the old immortal has already left. He came here for a reason and I want to know what," Zufeng commanded with a regal air.

On her command, various avians appeared and thoroughly searched the land. Unknown to them Da Hai watched from the sidelines in curiosity.

"But big sister, shouldn't we be worried about offending that old senior just now?" Zhuque asked.

"Of course not, he didn't even notice us which proves that he isn't very capable. Besides, give your big sister enough time and I'll stomp him and all others beneath my feet," she said with triumph. The avians around her knelt and clapped in reverence.

Da Hai who observed from the side could only think of her as very similar to Zulong. "The balls on this woman," he muttered. "Arrogant to the point of mental retardation," he was about to approach when he felt a familiar aura around her.

He detected faint tracking signals on her person and immediately recognised it. "So Hongjun got to her first, huh," he sighed in disappointment. It would've been good to recruit Zufeng as the other major player of this era.

Though truth be told he was already driven crazy by Zulong alone. He didn't want to deal with the other two ancestors as well. Da Hai decided to leave her be for now. He could sense that her cultivation was still below that of Zulong.

"Perhaps we should ask the old senior about the identity of that immortal?" Zhuque said to Zufeng. Da Hai paused, he considered silencing the sisters. In fact his arm charged up an energy blade.

But then he felt someone observing him. Looking up, he could faintly detect the Heavenly Dao. 'Of course,' he thought. 'They were born of Pangu's Yin Qi, they deserve to live,' he laughed bitterly.

However much to his luck, Zufeng shook her head. "No need to ask the old man, we do not need anything from him," she dismissed arrogantly. Da Hai silently thanked the Heavenly Dao for bestowing such arrogance on the woman.

With this small heart attack over Da Hai retreated back to Yingzhou. Upon his return, he deposited the silkworms on the Fusang tree and left them to grow. Once they matured, he would instruct them.

Turtle Palace

The turtles didn't really force Zulong to work nor watch, they left him alone for the most part. After Da Hai left Zulong spent much of his time initially raging and cursing his master's name. After he calmed down he began meditating to cool off his anger.

As the weeks passed he stayed in meditation, never speaking to anyone. Eventually he had suppressed much of his wrath, enough so as to not damage the furniture anymore. In these moments he tried to understand why Da Hai would punish him so.

Why was Zulong banished from Yingzhou? Had he proven himself unacceptable after being surpassed by his brothers? He could understand that sentiment, at least.

Zulong was the eldest, but thus far he was the weakest. He had learned many powerful daoist magic under Da Hai but the more nuanced aspects of the Dao was something he struggled with. He sat in his room, left alone to his own devices, to his own thoughts for several years.

Around nine years after Da Hai's departure, the turtle king knocked on Zulong's door.

"Enter," Zulong said. The turtle king breathed a sigh of relief. It would seem the dragon wasn't all rage after all. He pushed the door open to see a trashed room. The damages had evidently been there for years.

"Master Zulong, you cannot stay here forever," the turtle king nervously said. Zulong glared at the turtle, terrifying him enough for him to release cold sweat.

"The hells wrong with you, you're a Golden Immortal. I'm at your mercy, grow a pair will you," the younger man scolded the turtle. Zulong couldn't help but feel angered at the turtle's lack of proper courage. "What is it you want?" He asked.

"Well, the Great One, his most majestic Saint of Yingzhou had ordered you to study here," the turtle began. He had waited years hoping for the dragon to cool off so that he could begin his task. On one hand the dragon was fearsome but on the other hand, Da Hai had personally ordered his education into the workings of the state.

Turtle king felt like he was being put in a very terrible position. But he sucked it up and decided to do his job.

"Master made a mistake forcing me here," Zulong said in disgust as he confronted the cowardly turtle. He did not truly want to speak ill of Da Hai, but he felt justified in doing so. He walked up to the turtle towering over the old man, "I'm not interested in whatever useless thing you think you can teach." He slammed the door in the turtle's face.

"No luck?" The turtle ministers said when the turtle king returned to the throne room. The turtle king shook his head.

"I hope he'll come around soon, otherwise I don't even want to think about the consequences," the turtle king said. He immediately made a mad dash for the temple and knelt in front of a statue of an eight headed Da Hai curling along a mulberry tree.

"Oh great Ancestor of the Seas please forgive this small one's mistake, please forgive," he pleaded with incense offerings. Below Da Hai's statue, three statues of dragons could also be seen.

The ministers performed the same actions. When they saw the statue acknowledging their gifts, they bowed and left. They all knew that they were in for a hard time fulfilling the instructions of Da Hai.

On Yingzhou, Da Hai who was contemplating what to do while playing with his piece of silk sighed. "It seems this will be even harder than I thought."

 

The kingdom of the Primordial Turtle clan flourished for many years, ruling from their capital city of Gui Cheng. The Turtle king was a primordial existence who was already quite old during the Shenni war, succeeding Da Hai's own birth by only ten thousand years or so. As such he was quite intelligent in forging alliances and trades with other clans in order for his own to survive.

Having braved many challenges without resorting to violence had been a great personal achievement for the king. However the responsibility Da Hai had saddled him was truly headache inducing.

"Daddy, I'm back!" A youthful girl who looked around sixteen years old ran into the throne room followed by several turtle and shark guards. Turtle king looked up in surprise.

"Yu'er, you're back," he exclaimed in pleasant surprise. He quickly got off his throne and hugged his daughter in tearful joy. "Oh daddy has missed you, silly girl," he laughed in true joy.

Gui Daiyu was the only daughter of the Turtle king from his marriage with a princess of the Colossal Shark clan who herself was the daughter of the Colossal Shark ancestor and the Mosasaur ancestor's sister. The apple in her father's eye, Gui Daiyu had been in her maternal home for several centuries.

"You're back, and so soon? Did something happen?" Turtle king inquired. Gui Daiyu shouldn't be back so soon. Last he had heard, she was receiving training under her grandfather, the Colossal Shark ancestor.

"Well, grandfather said that since I excelled so much in his teachings, I could come back early," she giggled and held out her hand. Turtle king examined her cultivation and gasped in astonishment. The little girl of yesteryear who was born mortal had very quickly ascended to a Heavenly Immortal realm expert.

Turtle king could already see the foundation of a flower crown of the Three Splendours. This kind of talent was extremely rare, Gui Daiyu was still less than a thousand years old. This was less than a fraction of a Heavenly Immortal's lifespan.

"So, what's been going on dad? Why does everyone seem so nervous?" She asked chipperly. Her father suddenly froze, contemplating whether to tell his daughter or not.

She was largely unaware of the dangers of the Primitive World, having been sheltered for a majority of her life. Turtle king looked nervously at the ministers around him who returned the same nervous look. The shark guards looked at their turtle allies in confusion as a result.

"Hey, what do you think's the matter?" One of the sharks leaned in on another and whispered.

"No idea bro. They're turtles, so anything somewhat scary scares them," the other answered.

"Yea, it could be anything," the first shark nodded, then asked another question. "Remind me why are we in an alliance with them again?"

"They're rich," the other shark answered. Out of all the factions in the East Sea, excluding Yingzhou, the Primordial Turtles were the wealthiest and had the most knowledge in miscellaneous advancements. They were the best alchemists, the best smiths, the best farmers, not to mention their nigh impenetrable defence.

Gui Daiyu crossed her arms and said, "Well dad?" The turtle king could tell she was expecting an answer fast. However he was deeply concerned that she may offend the mighty Zulong. He may be defenceless now but he is one of the few disciples of the Great Saint of Yingzhou.

"Well um… Yu'er why don't you go visit the city again like you always do? We've recently built a new temple," he said, trying to divert her attention.

"I've already been there though," she grumbled. "Why do we need so many temples for one guy anyway? And stop diverting the topic dad, what's going on?"

Turtle king quickly put his finger in her lips, shushing her. "Silly girl, don't say such things lest you offend the Great Saint of Yingzhou." He carried on on a tangent while his daughter gave him an unimpressed look.

"Okay fine, I won't look too deeply into this," she finally said. She then quickly added an , "I promise". Seeing this the turtle king sighed in relief.

"Haha, that's good, all's good, now how about we tour the city again like the old days?" His daughter answered with a happy nod. "Very well, men, ready the sea carriage."

However unknown to the king, Gui Daiyu held her fingers crossed behind her back. No guards who were standing behind her reported though, seeing as this was the most favoured child in the East Sea.

That same week, when the turtle king had left the palace for an inspection on the underwater herb farms. Gui Daiyu snuck around the palace.

She quickly noticed a place that was infrequently visited by the servants. A place that seemed to be permeated with a dark aura that she can't quite put her finger on.

"What exactly is going on?" She wondered till she arrived before the guest room. She remembered this room as the same one which hosted her maternal grandfather many years ago. It was a very high class guest room.

"I said I didn't want to be disturbed, leave," a rude male voice commanded from within. Those words held so much force, Gui Daiyu felt almost compelled to obey.

'Some sort of unique bloodline ability?' She thought curiously. All innate creature clans had some sort of unique ability but not all were that useful and most were very similar. Those clans with exceptional abilities were almost always at the very top of the food chain. Her own Primordial Turtle clan had their shells which were harder than most spiritual treasures in the world.

"I said leave," the rude voice commanded again much to her chagrin. The princess gritted her teeth, seething in anger.

"I am the princess of the Primordial Turtle clan, who are you to order me around?" She retorted. "Now I order you to open this door and reveal yourself."

The voice on the other side growled in annoyance. She could almost feel the water becoming chilly. She could vaguely hear cursing, something about idiotic turtles and stupid master.

'Could he be talking about my Primordial Turtle clan?" She thought in offended anger. She grabbed hold of the door handle and tried to yank it open. It came off fairly easily given her enormous strength.

"I said to LEAVE!" A young man with a fierce look and deer like antlers roared back at her. He looked extremely arrogant that it just pissed her off to no end.

"And just who are you to command me stranger?" She yelled back. It was then that she noticed the trashed room and grew even more furious. "Do you know what you've done?"

"Oh? What of it?" The antlered stranger taunted. Gui Daiyu gritted her teeth and mentally chanted her royal lessons in etiquette. It didn't help much as she immediately commanded, "You better apologise and fix this room or else."

"Or else what?" The antlered stranger growled.

"Or else I teach you a lesson you'll never forget."

The stranger laughed as if he heard the most amusing thing in the world. "Teach me? Me? Oh that's rich, your granddaddy here made your ancestors quake in their little water caves. Who are you to teach me a lesson, hm?" He chuckled, "Nothing but a nobody from a worthless clan."

"Worthless?" Gui Daiyu roared and punched the stranger. Her speed shocked him. He could barely react before he was thrown to the wall. "All talk no bite," she mocked.

The young man got up groggily onto his feat. He looked absolutely humiliated, he Zulong was a mighty innate god several thousand years her senior. The same god who once terrorised the East Sea with absolute might. Being pushed around by a puny Heaven Immortal quickly ignited his anger even higher.

He tried to call forth his mighty strength and howled in frustration when he couldn't bring it forward. 'It's fine,' he thought. 'My cultivation base is sealed but my physical strength is still there.'

He charged forward to attack the turtle princess who met him in hand to hand combat. The strength displayed by Zulong surprised Gui Daiyu. He was able to fight her, who had trained with the best the Colossal Sharks and Mosasaurs had to offer.

Zulong was extremely aggressive, but he lacked proper form and all his attacks were wild. He however made up for it with insane physical strength that dwarfed hers easily. Gui Daiyu knew she had to resort to a more technical approach to win.

Meanwhile Zulong was frustrated. He couldn't exert anywhere near what he was truly capable of. He couldn't help but curse Da Hai at his current situation. This woman was pushing him to the brink.

Gui Daiyu leapt back and kicked out waves of water in an arc like wave. They all impacted Zulong who couldn't utilise Qi to defend. He had to tank every attack with his body. However, although his cultivation was sealed, his dragon scales were still incredibly hard and he didn't receive any damage.

"Hah!" Gui Daiyu got past the staggering Zulong and sent a palm attack directly into his chest, easily sending him crashing through the wall. The dragon couldn't right himself in the water and was thrown outside into the courtyard.

By now the fight had caught the attention of some guards. However they were too far away to do anything as Gui Daiyu swam after Zulong in top speed. She unleashed a barrage of palm strikes at the dragon's abdomen ending with a kick that rocketed him into the ground.

He impacted the floor hard creating a crater. However much to Gui Daiyu's shock, he was not even remotely injured. 'Just what is he made of?' She thought with wonder.

Zulong slowly got up to his feet and stared at the woman. He was huffing and held onto his own knees for support. All this time he had been attempting to call forth his dragon physique but had been unsuccessful. He was forced to rely on his Dao body.

"Yah!" Zulong charged in for his own aggressive attack. Each of his punches carried immense weight, weight that was able to push the princess back with each block. As such Gui Daiyu countered his strong punches with quicker nimble strikes at his meridians.

These were sharp attacks some shrimp instructors had taught her. She'd never thought that she'd be forced to use them. Using various martial forms, Gui Daiyu danced around Zulong, skilfully dodging and attacking, whittling him down step by step.

With each successive exchange, she guided Zulong into an advantageous position for herself. Before he realised what happened, she'd caught his arm in a wrist lock, twisting it around him and flipped him onto the ground.

Zulong found himself unable to exert any strength at all. He began to realise he had lost the exchange. He was shocked to his core. Completely frozen in shock.

Gui Daiyu meanwhile was sweating and felt incredibly tired. Her spell repertoire was lacking to begin with hence she relied on her martial ability. This was the most difficult fight she had ever had since she began training.

They were both sweaty and fatigued, something they were both unused to as the princess had never been in a real fight while Zulong never experienced difficult fights like this before.

"What have you done?" The turtle king who ran through the gates into the palace courtyard screamed. He immediately ran up to the two and manhandled his daughter off of Zulong.

"Hey what are you…" before Gui Daiyu finished, the turtle king slapped her, surprising her. Her father had never struck her before and at this moment she too became frozen not knowing how to proceed.

"Idiot girl," he immediately got onto his knees. "Please exalted lord, forgive my idiot daughter. She is young and naive, she doesn't know any better." The ministers who trailed after him all began kowtowing and begging.

"What?" Gui Daiyu who held her red cheek did not know how to react. Just who was this man to make her father so subservient? She knew her paternal side wasn't known for their bravery but this was a little too out of character.

"What are you waiting for? Kneel!" Turtle king grabbed Gui Daiyu and forced her to kneel as well. "Quickly apologise!" He commanded.

"Enough, no harm done," Zulong who had gotten back onto his feet waved to the people kowtowing to get up. He flexed his biceps as the turtles were still apologising. He groaned in pain.

"What are you waiting for? Thank his highness!" Turtle king immediately changed his words and offered deep thanks. However Gui Daiyu was still too shocked at the scene to speak.

"Idiot girl, this is the exalted Zulong, the ancestral dragon and personal disciple of his exalted majestic Saint of Yingzhou. Oh what have you done, our clan is doomed, doomed. Oh wuwuwuwu wu," the turtle king began crying.

'Disciple?' Gui Daiyu was slowly realising the gravity of the situation. She felt her previous courage drop and a petrifying fear enveloped her.

Zulong was expressionless when he walked up to her. The king and ministers seeing this closed their eyes and accepted her death. They could do nothing at this point but curse the girl for her stupidity.

However, no attack came. Zulong reached for her arms and helped her up wordlessly. He looked at her with begrudging respect and said, "Be proud of your accomplishment."

He wordlessly walked back to the ruined room and said, "Leave, I need some time alone."

"Oh thank you, thank you, my lord, thank you for your mercy. Daiyu, why aren't you thanking him!" The turtle king cried hysterically.

"I said leave!" Zulong roared and following this, the turtles hurriedly left, dragging their princess away. She spared him one last look of shock before she was taken away.

Zulong sat down and leaned on the broken wall. Many thoughts raced through his mind. However one thing was certain, he had indeed lost that fight.

 

Thud!

Stone hit stone with a thud sound as Zulong placed the last piece of the broken wall back in its place. He carefully applied the special substance the turtle alchemist used to fuse back the stones in place. The cracked lines remained, but at least now it was a wall again.

Zulong then moved on from the wall. He quietly passed a petrified turtle servant holding a jar of the special substance and began placing a piece of the ruined table's leg back in place. This process continued for a while.

Zulong worked in silence. He only ordered tools to be brought to him, glues, hammers, a new leg. The dragon was not skilled, but he had made continuous improvements throughout his time repairing the furniture. All the while he did not speak anything of Gui Daiyu.

The joints were simple enough to figure out though. Zulong wasn't wholly accurate in lining up the wood and stone. Sometimes his grip would be too strong and he'd crush them. But he was undoubtedly making progress.

Without any rest, Zulong completely renovated his room in a little over a week. It was shabby to say the least. The former luxurious residence had been demoted to a common hovel. The turtle helper was however unwilling to say that out loud.

"Hey you," Zulong called out to the turtle.

"Uh ye…yes?"

"Stop stuttering, and tell me where's that princess of yours?" He asked the shaking turtle.

"Oh ah, her… Um," the poor turtle debated whether to tell Zulong or not. However seeing Zulong beginning to get impatient he decided to answer. "His majesty had elected to punish the foolish princess," he admitted.

"Punish?" Zulong raised an eyebrow. "Where is she at the moment?"

"It was decided for the princess to work in the fields," the turtle said.

"Right, so where are the fields?" Zulong asked. "Wait, actually what are these fields?"

The turtle hastily brought out a stone tablet from his storage pouch. "Ah, that will be the spiritual herb farms. She should be there," he handed the tablet to Zulong. It was a simple map of the turtle kingdom.

Zulong looked at the map in a sense of familiarity. He had seen similar drawings in his master's palace during his long reading sessions. He had never really paid too much attention but he was getting a sense of déjà vu from the tablet.

Zulong soundlessly left the turtle heading in the direction of the farms. The stuttering creature hurriedly sent a mental message to his superiors. He was terrified of the prospects of the dragon killing the princess.

The turtle king sat in the middle of his meeting. He has been experiencing many headaches since the incident between Zulong and Gui Daiyu. His advisors were imploring him to banish the princess to appease the dragon. Some were even calling for her head.

However, the intricate alliance he had built would fall apart the moment she died. But on the other hand Zulong was too important to ignore. Even the Sharks, Mosasaurs, and their underlings can only swallow their hatred in that scenario.

However, the personal feelings of a father stopped him from making any drastic decisions. For now, their esteemed guest had been keeping quiet and only made odd requests for materials, so the Turtle king ignored the issue for now.

"Your majesty! Your majesty!" A turtle servant ran abruptly into the chamber catching the attention of all the ministers present. It was one of the head butlers of the palace, of some renown though his cultivation was only at the True Immortal realm.

Some of the ministers growled in annoyance. They did not like to be disturbed by just anybody, especially not a servant. Hence the king signalled for him to speak.

"Speak quickly servant, what is it," he said.

"Ah your majesty, urgent news, urgent news! Esteemed guest Zulong had left his room," the servant frantically said. Immediately the atmosphere changed. The orderly chamber descended into complete anarchy as ministers acted like terrified chickens.

"We must find him immediately, men let's go before he gets too far," the turtle king grabbed his closest guards and ministers and bolted out of the room. The urgency was tangible. "Hurry, he could be anywhere by now!"

"Your majesty, let me divine his location!" A turtle minister exclaimed and opened his palms to count. "What? Why isn't this working?" The same turtle exclaimed.

"No time ministers, let's move it," the king called out.

"But I haven't told them where he went," the butler who was left by himself quickly ran after. However his low cultivation ensured that he couldn't catch up at all.

Zulong, unaware of the situation at the palace, made his way to the fields. He couldn't fly, hence he ran with his legs. Although the loss of his extreme speed was bothersome, he was still quick on his feet.

The spiritual herb farms weren't far away from the capital. It was fairly large and hence easy to find. Zulong looked at the tablet map again to confirm he had the right place. Finding someplace was difficult without the aid of divine sense.

He looked up and noticed a familiar woman working the fields. It was a strange sight. He remembered a ferocious warrior who was unafraid to go toe to toe against him who was now working the fields amidst commoners.

Even stranger was her enthusiasm in doing so. It looked like she was enjoying her time there. Zulong did not know what he was expecting but he certainly did not expect this.

The same person who had defeated him looked so ordinary doing such demeaning work. As a sovereign he'd expected her to at least be commanding these farmers. To think this was the same person who gave him his first defeat.

Zulong did not count his fight against Shen Feng as a proper defeat. He acknowledged the wind god as a supreme being of the same stature as himself. But to lose against a lower life form was something he'd never expected to happen to him. Even if such an event were to happen, that person must be of extraordinary disposition.

"Hey Daiyu, can you help old Green with the azure spirit grass?"

"Sure thing sir," the princess replied and happily went to help another turtle farmer. She aided the older gentlemen in pulling out the grass and collected them in baskets. Zulong noticed that none of the individuals present aside from Gui Daiyu were even immortals.

'Why would someone do this?' He wondered. He saw no point in doing such manual labor. An exalted immortal should not be so happy to do these things. He could understand begrudgingly accepting punishment, but this was beyond his comprehension.

He was noticed by one of the farmers at the outskirts. It was an older turtle below the immortal realm. He swam up to the dragon who was silently observing the fields with his arms folded.

"Hello there stranger," he greeted politely. Zulong did not respond nor acknowledge the turtle's existence. "Uh, are you the new applicant?" He asked while receiving no response. "Rude," he commented.

"Leave my sight before I make you," the dragon threatened as if he was talking about the weather. Although his words carried no true malice the turtle farmer still jumped back in fright.

"Hey!" Gui Daiyu called out. She had noticed the dragon and came over. Although she was not as frightened as the farmer she was still evidently nervous and unsure of the situation. Yet she stood bravely sliding the farmer behind her.

"You don't say that here, especially not to my people," she countered. "Why are you here…If I may ask?" She quickly added with haste.

"Mild curiosity," Zulong admitted after a while. "I expected a fellow monarch, yet I found this," he said in some disappointment.

"Monarch? I guess I can be considered such," Gui Daiyu put a finger on her lip. "I'm a princess still though so not really? I mean, I am the designated heir, not that that's going to happen anymore," she said with a small self-deprecating laugh.

"Why's that?" He asked, raising one of his eyebrows.

"I think you already know the answer to that," she countered.

"You proved your strength, your power is surely above and beyond your peers. You'd surpass your pathetic excuse of a father within…" Zulong counted his fingers and did some calculations based on Gui Daiyu's performance. "Within like two thousand years or so?" He guessed. It was difficult without divine sense but he was experienced enough to grasp her cultivation during their exchange.

"I insulted you," she corrected with slight hesitation. "I jeopardised our entire clan, endangering all our lives. Do you not understand this?"

Zulong silently thought back on the scrolls in Da Hai's library and nodded in understanding. "Strength is what is ultimately important. Just take your crown back after surpassing the weak coward."

"Please stop insulting my father, he's a good king," she said.

"You don't deny what he is."

"My father led our entire clan to prominent influence. We are the resource centre of the entire East Sea. Alchemy, smithing, and formations are some of the most important resources for cultivation and we have them in droves, " she proclaimed in pride.

"Someone will just come and steal all of it."

"A finite solution. We take our secrets to the grave and they'd use up all we have stored," she countered. "Besides, not everyone is obsessed with fighting and conquering. A kingdom's purpose is to bring order and stability, as my father had done," she said in admiration and pride. She gestured towards the prosperous city and farms.

"Yet you lack proper strength to protect it all," Zulong countered. "What's stopping a mole from betraying you all?"

"We're not as stupid as you think we are," Gui Daiyu pointed at herself. "We have allies, powerful allies that enjoy our benefits and protect us. Our people are united, they work in harmony each contributing to our clan. They are indebted to my family as we are indebted to them."

"What, the commoners?" Zulong scoffed. "What would you care about these lower creatures?"

"They are the backbone of our society," Gui Daiyu retorted. "They ensure that we are able to do the things we do. They grow and mine, build and gather. They are key to our kingdom. Let me ask you, what is a kingdom without its people?"

"Their purpose is to serve their ruler obediently, as is proper of lesser creatures," Zulong recited. Gui Daiyu looked extremely unimpressed.

"You see so little worth in us?" She asked.

"I do not understand why you as a superior being will so willingly, so eagerly partake in such manual chores with your lessers," he admitted.

Gui Daiyu frowned, this man was so thick headed. She looked back at the farmers still harvesting the newest batch.

"Perhaps you should show him the system princess," an elderly man with a straw hat swam over.

"Mr Greeny," Gui Daiyu greeted. "Yes, that is a good idea," she turned towards the dragon. "Would you like to see how our kingdom functions?"

Zulong contemplated, the princess insisted that there was merit. She was also someone who had overcome him even if he was in a severely weakened state.

"Young man, it will at least be entertainment for you to pass the time," old Greeny said.

"Young man? Who do you think you are?" Zulong threatened. Gui Daiyu took this moment to step in front of the old man.

"Esteemed guest, please. He's just a weak mortal, completely not worth your time. Do you kill everyone who even looks at you wrong?" She said with a frown.

"Why do you even care?"

"Because he is my subject," she declared.

Zulong saw the determination on her face. "Oh what the hell," he shrugged. "What have you got to show me?"

"Fantastic," Gui Daiyu smiled, eager to show off her nation. "Follow me, I'll show you around.

Old Greeny watched the duo go off with a satisfied smile. "Finally got him out," he said softly, unheard by everyone.

As the duo faded into the lands a group of soldiers approached. "Hey you there," they called out. "Have you seen an angry antlered-man around?"

"He went that way," old Greeny pointed at the opposite direction the duo went in. "You just missed him," he said with a smile.

"Ok thank you. You there, report to his majesty at once," the leading soldier called out another soldier. While they left, some soldiers could be heard complaining about divination not working.

Old Greeny was suddenly engulfed by azure light revealing a middle aged Da Hai. "Hope this pans out well," he said before disappearing, unseen by anyone.

 

In many ways, the kingdom of turtles was by far the most advanced civilization within all Four Seas. Although their reputation hadn't spread past the East Sea and its coast, their influence and monopoly on cultivation resources granted them a unique status in the vast oceans.

One of the greatest ingenuities of the turtles was their ability to mass produce immortal spiritual weapons. The turtles were amongst the first to truly excel in forging and this showed with their early successes in forging primordial spiritual treasures in the image of various exalted Xiantian spiritual treasures.

Since the great sermon many thousands of years ago, the primordial turtle clan's ability to create treasures had improved massively. In the years that followed, they had perfected a mass production assembly line that was able to field armies equipped with treasures. Of course the quality can never compare to genuine xiantian spiritual treasures, or even lesser primordial grade treasures and only hovered around the immortal grade.

Gui Daiyu led Zulong through one of these facilities consisting of hundreds of turtles working in tandem. The facility was emptied of water and contained large amounts of spiritual fire.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Gui Daiyu said, pointing at the assembly line of workers. Starting with the group's carriages, carrying raw materials of luminescent sea iron and azure copper. These were delivered to experts of the immortal realm who melted the metal. Another group smiths poured the metal into ready-made casts, then passed to immortal hydromancers.

Zulong nodded slightly, "I guess so." He said while observing one of the halberds produced. He dragged his fleshy fingers across the warm metal, frowning at the sensation. He missed his scales.

Zulong was reminded of his personal treasures, the Twenty-Four Sea Calming Pearls and the Dragon Pearl. Both items were at the pinnacle of Xiantian spiritual treasures. Compared to both, this halberd was simply too subpar.

"But there are so many," he murmured in wonder. He placed the halberd back on the sea of racks. The storage area was half full and already contained thousands of immortal spiritual treasures.

"And you just churn out spiritual treasures like nothing?" He asked.

"Well, yes. To many of the weaker clans, weapons like these are integral to their fighting force. Not many can afford to be like us major clans." she explained.

"Back when I roamed the seas, I found Golden Immortals everywhere. Surely they'd have a few," Zulong said.

"When you roamed the sea?" Gui Daiyu took a minute to think, "Well that was before I was even born but I do know a few things. Golden Immortals are numerous but the number of clans out there easily dwarfs them by an order of magnitude. Only the higher end clans have Golden Immortals. How many did you run into?"

"Hundreds, dozens of strong ones and many more weaker ones. Nevertheless, there were indeed hundreds of Golden Immortals," Zulong said without hesitation. "That was thousands of years ago, though. Without a doubt there'd be over a thousand by now."

Gui Daiyu chuckled much to Zulong's chagrin. "There are hundreds of thousands of clans out there in the East Sea alone. Not everyone has a Golden Immortal for protection. Not everyone can just raise one, either."

Gui Daiyu signalled for Zulong to follow her. She led him across the business district of the city. It was an area which sold crucial cultivation resources such as pills and herbs, along with raw materials for forging. They also passed by many shops selling various luxury goods as opposed to those catering to basic needs.

Zulong stared at a piece of artwork being auctioned from a window. Then he saw jewellery displayed in a nearby store. "What is the point of all this?" he muttered.

"Come on, the pill hall's not far from here," Gui Daiyu called out to the dragon. She led him to a tall structure, a massive building where many alchemists roamed. She led him inside the building, showcasing many shelves upon shelves of pre-made alchemical pills that boosted cultivation. Pills rich in certain types of Qi and Dao laws.

"Pills are incredibly useful for cultivators. They are the reason we've been able to strengthen ourselves and our allies massively in recent years," Gui Daiyu explained while introducing the dragon to the place.

The early alchemists of this era learned to combine special spiritual herbs into medicinal pills for the purpose of healing, cultivation, and various effects. Although the higher one's cultivation was, the lower the effects became, they were still useful for those in the early stages of cultivation.

Zulong picked up a red pill and closed his eyes, but in the end he couldn't sense anything from it. Gui Daiyu took the pill from his palm and explained that it was an Earth Soil pill, designed for immortals attempting to master the earth element of the Wuxing. A crucial step in advancing through the True Immortal and Profound Immortal realms.

"This is the backbone of our civilization," Gui Daiyu spread her arms and announced in pride. "This is what allows us to flourish, it's what allowed us to gain favour with the strongest experts in the East Sea."

She pointed out into the streets. "With our strength secured, it afforded us room to grow in other directions as well. Just in case you were wondering, cause you know, I saw you gazing at the shops earlier," she quickly explained.

She looked at him expectedly, "Pretty cool huh?" Zulong looked around the place with many glancing passerbys. All alchemists with varying levels of expertise and cultivation, all functioning like a well oiled machine just like the weapons facility he was at.

"All this just for lesser beings?" He said.

"Well it's better than living in caves, scavenging for food, and praying for the next godfiend you meet to not kill you, then pray that they won't extort you, then pray even harder that they'll save you from disasters." she said.

"Yeah, I guess it's pretty cool," Zulong muttered. His gaze landed on the city outside. Even with his cultivation sealed, his eyesight was still very powerful.

"Common, there's still a lot more I need to show you," Gui Daiyu announced with her hands on her hips, encouraging the dragon to see more of the city. She showed him everywhere from open parks made to appreciate beauty, to art galleries, to people selling fictional stories of all things.

For someone who had spent his whole life fighting and training, it was a wholly unique experience. The way civilians just went about their daily lives evidently brought the princess muchpride. The people in turn greeted her with open arms and adoration. In contrast, the dragon was unknown to the average mortal.

"My family holds the heart of the people," she explained to Zulong. "We have their faith and trust and thus their loyalty."

"Working together huh," Zulong walked with Gui Daiyu for a long time. He simply explored the sights. Not too long after, the duo stood before a large construction site. A new temple complex was in the process of being built as per orders by the turtle king.

"Your servants follow your orders perfectly," Zulong said as they sat on a hillside watching the temple's construction.

"Of course, we're very careful of who we put in charge, else something terrible might happen," Gui Daiyu admitted.

"And by having competent ministers, it frees your father up to improve his cultivation."

"That is correct, our trusted ministers require little supervision. They are loyal to us and we to them," she said.

"And in the event this proves otherwise?" Zulong questioned.

"I think you know the answer to that," Gui Daiyu answered with a sinister tone. Zulong nodded in acceptance. It would seem that the dragon needed to reevaluate the turtles.

"Civilisation, it is quite impressive," Zulong relented. Sitting beside him, Gui Daiyu smiled triumphantly. Zulong began reflecting on what he'd seen over the tour, on the many signs of cooperation between the masses and their adoration for their ruler.

Suddenly, gut Daiyu jumped up. Zulong turned his attention to the princess as she left him behind. At the construction site, a five hundred metre stone statue had fallen as the floating platform transporting it gave in due to its weight. It was going to hit a group of weak turtles who were transporting materials underneath.

Despite being an important building site, powerful cultivators were not stationed here. Most Immortals were either in the army, cultivating in seclusion, worked as a minister or some other important post that required their expertise.

Gui Daiyu arrived almost instantaneously and caught the statue with her great strength. However she felt the immense weight of the statue and her eyes widened in realisation. "Ocean suppression sea stone!" She exclaimed in shock.

It was one of the heaviest substances in the entire world with a unique property of immense weight and extreme sturdiness. It was incredibly impractical to use for forging artefacts because it was such a stable and heavy substance.

Even a crownless Heavenly Immortal like Gui Daiyu struggled beneath the statue. As she was sweating profusely, she felt a huge amount of weight being taken off her. Looking back she saw Zulong lifting the statue with his own incredible physical strength.

"Move out of the way!" Zulong commanded the turtle workers who immediately scrambled away from the construction site. "Gui Daiyu, I'm going to throw it onto the ground on three," he reassured the struggling princess.

In a feat of great physical might, Zulong pushed the top end of the statue up, flipping it back onto its base with a mighty thud. The dragon wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Ocean suppression sea stone on a fucking statue?" He asked, bewildered at the sheer extravagance of such an act.

Though impractical to work with, this material was also very rare in the East Sea. He examined the statue which must've been very difficult to make. He frowned upon getting a closer look.

"Is that supposed to be master?" He asked, pointing at the features he vaguely recognised as his master, if slightly inaccurate. "He's nowhere near as good looking as this statue shows." he declared when the turtles nodded.

"What is going on? Why aren't there Heavenly Immortals or even my father here to supervise if you're going to move a statue made of ocean suppression sea stone?" She demanded in anger.

"Your majesty, a thousand apologies," the head worker kowtowed in fear. "The foreman left in a hurry after receiving a royal decree but we also had a deadline to meet. If the temple for the Great Saint of Yingzhou is not completed, I'm afraid there will be repercussions."

"I don't think he cares about that at all," Zulong said, though this was largely ignored amidst Gui Daiyu's furious lecture.

"Fuck it, if the deadline is so important then I'll do it. Zulong, you're plenty strong, so help me," she called out to the bewildered dragon. He decided he couldn't leave the girl to move the statue on her own given that it nearly crushed her just moments ago.

When the king and his ministers finally caught up to the duo, they were bewildered to find the two getting along wonderfully, helping the turtles with the temple.

 

Vast amounts of Heavenly Starry might conglomerated within the vast emptiness of the starry skies. Various elemental extremities formed and disappeared amidst the stars. The quakings of such a phenomenon caused the stars themselves to pulsate in excitement.

It was as if a new world was being born. Stabilising elements such as the Wuxing, transformations of fire, water, earth, metal, and wood formed the distant image of the five planets. Changes of the seasons, various natural phenomenons of the world appeared in the void between stars.

Among the starry phenomenon, the star of Jupiter glowed the brightest. The essence of springtime overtook summer, spring, and autumn. Jupiter swallowed Saturn, Mars, Venus, and Mercury. Wood consumed the rest of the five elements.

A resounding explosion erupted in the starry skies. Jupiter exploded, lighting up the eastern quadrant of the universe in a burst of starry light. Countless luminaries formed the serpentine physique of a dragon.

Nine digit radiant claws, azure scales, catfish whiskers, and deer like antlers. The majestic form of the Azure dragon, Qinglong manifested above the eastern heavens. The aura of a matured cosmic tree could be felt.

Da Hai and Wangshu who watched Qinglong complete his path were both pleased with his progress. Cultivation within the starry skies was truly beneficial to the azure dragon, far more than cultivation in the East Sea had been.

"Nephew has done well, barely eight thousand years old and he has already progressed his cosmic tree to this stage. It shouldn't be too long before he crosses into Da Luo Golden Immortal realm," Wangshu complimented with delight.

Da Hai who stood with a stoic expressionless posture nodded. "Indeed, Qinglong's progress had now overtaken Yinglong. All that's left now is Zulong," he said. The distinct sound of genuine pride could be heard from his voice. "Of course I can't give you enough credit. Without your help, I'm afraid Qinglong would've never reached this stage."

"Don't mention it, it's only natural for me to assist you, Da Hai. Speaking of your eldest, how is he?" Wangshu asked.

"The tracking seal says he's still in the primordial turtle clan's territory, but other than that I do not know. I haven't checked up on him for a while," Da Hai admitted.

"Well considering my younger nephew's progress, I think it's time you focus on Zulong," Wangshu took a glance at the East Sea and focused. Her eyes glowed in silvery light, and if one were to stare into them they'd find themselves staring at the totality of the Milky Way.

"That Daiyu girl has been a good influence on Zulong," she said. Da Hai nodded "She could do what I couldn't, and teach him the path of a ruler."

"And they look absolutely adorable together," the goddess said with a cooing smile. Da Hai raised an eyebrow at Wangshu. Was there something he missed from his disciple's and Gui Daiyu's interactions?

"You'd think with your knowledge of 'modern sensibilities' you'd understand," Wangshu emphasised the modern part when she saw Da Hai's confusion. It took Da Hai a short moment to recognise what she actually meant.

"Oh, I guess you could call what they have romantic," Da Hai admitted, scratching his cheek in embarrassment. "I'm not too invested in that. I haven't thought back on them for a long long time," he said.

"Twenty thousand years isn't that long," Wangshu countered. Da Hai gave her a look of mock annoyance. She heard him mutter a low 'smartass'.

"Oh hey look, Qinglong is coming back," Da Hai suddenly said, changing the topic and pointing to the dragonic figure flying towards them. The ten thousand kilometre long dragon shrunk and kept shrinking until it was only a dozen metres or so.

For dragons, they could change their size however they wish, though ten thousand kilometres is their true length. However this length wasn't the limit they could grow to.

Qinglong transformed into a young man and cupped his hands in a polite greeting to Da Hai and Wang Shu. "Master, aunt-master, thank you for guiding me all these years," he thanked the two deities.

"Good, your progress is very impressive," Da Hai said in suppressed happiness. He maintained a stoic look all the time.

'And to think you say you don't care,' Wangshu silently thought as Da Hai praised his disciple. She sighed in her heart, 'Five Element's death really broke you little brother. You can only lie to yourself for so long. Da Hai, I wonder when you will realise how terrible you are at this.'

As one of her first friends since her birth till now and after experiencing life and death together, the goddess felt that she had a pretty good grasp on Da Hai's personality. Perhaps even more so than Da Hai.

"If it is not too much to ask master, I would like to remain in the starry skies to further comprehend the Dao," Qinglong said. "With permission from aunt-master, of course," he hurriedly added.

"It's fine, I do not mind," Wangshu accepted the dragon's request. Da Hai nodded expressionlessly.

"Thank you master, aunt-master. I will do my best," Qinglong said excitedly. His Dao fruit had already reached the pre-sprouting stage. The realm of Da Luo Golden Immortal wasn't far. He did wonder how his brothers were doing.

"If this is all, I'll take my leave," Da Hai said before raising his hand to break dimensions.

"Master, can I ask how my big brother is doing?" Qinglong asked before Da Hai could leave.

"That is what I'll be checking," Da Hai promptly left without another notice. Qinglong nodded satisfied, he had already seen his master's eyes. He was genuinely worried about Zulong.

Da Hai traversed through the void between dimensions before exiting above the skies of the East Sea. He scanned around before confirming his location before diving below the surface. It did not take long for him to reach the turtles' capital city.

The city was as extravagant as the last time he was here, with the noticeable addition of another temple complex which dwarfed all the others. However Da Hai largely ignored it after taking a brief look. The use of materials was a bit wasteful, and the incense merit is produced by the individual, not inanimate objects.

He passed through the palace walls and manifested within the throne room. There was a distinct lack of a king present, hence the ancient sea god loudly cleared his throat. The various servants, after an initial shock induced heart attack, informed him of the king's location. The old turtle was spending some 'quality time' with his latest concubine.

"Doesn't matter," Da Hai said. "I'm looking for my disciple, I did not see him in the capital."

"Oh, esteemed guest Zulong? Well he should be at the new settlement," the turtle minister said.

"Settlement? What happened while I was gone?" Da Hai asked curiously.

"Ah Great Saint, the thing is that a few centuries ago, the esteemed guest informed the king that he wished to run a city of his own and, I quote 'Let's put your methods to the test'," the turtle minster procured a royal decree with fully signed off permissions for a new city several dozen kilometres away from the capital.

"Well, this isn't too far," Da Hai's figure faded away, disappearing in a flash of light. He reformed once again at the location he read off the decree. He was met with a growing city when he arrived above.

Da Hai did not quite know what he was expecting. He had left for the starry skies a while back for Qinglong's sake and hadn't been back in the East Sea for quite some time. After hearing that Zulong is running a city, he's first thought was a brutal spartan society where all wordlessly obeyed their god king.

What he got was a lot less extreme. Da Hai immediately noticed the impressive military presence roaming the streets and guarding the defences. He'd also noticed the shape the city was built in. 'Defensive formation,' he thought.

The Feng Shui of the city's layout adhered to what he was familiar with. Da Hai was not a pioneer in formations but he had studied the naturally forming illusion formations on Yingzhou and had written some lesser derivatives of it. It would seem Zulong had taken some inspiration from them.

Da Hai made note of nine concentrated points of primordial Qi. This formation wasn't built to trick the mind but to entrap and eviscerate the enemy. It resembled a nine digit dragon claw spread out like a palm.

Da Hai landed at the city gates and took in the sights. It was for all intents and purposes, pretty flashy. Zulong had spared no expense in wowing those entering the gate. There was a heavy presence of statues of dragons, murals of dragons, carvings of a particular dragon overcoming famous cultivators in a dominating fashion. The golden coloured paint and distinct facial features were easy to identify for the sea god. To Da Hai, it screamed massive ego.

Da Hai walked into the city without any guard nor merchant noticing. He observed the military police roaming the streets, taking note of their elaborate armours and quality weaponry.

Da Hai dashed across the water passing through elaborate pagodas and temples held up by pillars showcasing dragon imagery. The palace at the centre of the city was built tall and strong.

It was a massive complex taking up half of the city, easily dwarfing even the royal palace of the turtle king. Da Hai snorted in amusement when he saw the massive complex. As if there weren't enough statues of Zulong outside the palace. The only exception was a single statue of a turtle placed in the centre of the courtyard.

Da Hai walked into the main courtyard below the main hall's stairwell. He didn't even understand why the stairs were necessary for an underwater palace. But then he remembered his own palace and the long stairwell.

A man and a woman were talking to each other within the great hall. The man was dressed in elaborate black robes and sat upon a massive throne with a backrest carved to resemble millions of dragons rising into the sky. His own disciple sat in it listening to the woman talk.

Da Hai recognised her as the princess Gui Daiyu. She was saying something relating to the new traders from the shrimp clans passing through. The girl had matured a bit since he last saw her a thousand years ago. She now resembled a young woman into her early twenties just like Zulong.

Da Hai scanned the main hall. Various ministers and servants were going about their day. presenting reports and suggestions. Da Hai cleared his throat.

"It seems you've been quite busy Zulong," he said in a normal voice. It wasn't loud but everyone heard it crystal clear. Zulong and Gui Daiyu's attention were both on Da Hai in an instant.

"Ma…master?" Zulong uttered. He immediately got up from the throne and ran down to greet Da Hai with many ministers trailing behind him.

"I/we greet master/Great Saint of Yingzhou," they said with a bow.

"Don't stand on ceremony, I only came for Zulong. Those who are unrelated may leave," he said politely, if a bit stiff. Zulong looked back and silently communicated with Gui Daiyu. They sent knowing signals to each other. The princess bowed in respect and led the ministers away leaving the master disciple duo.

"Quite a place you've built," Da Hai said after a few moments of silence. The awkward tension was not dispersing at all, as both individuals didn't really know how to proceed. Da Hai elected to go for a standard question.

"Yes, I spent much effort planning with my architects," Zulong admitted.

"Architects? I'd thought you'd prefer to do the job yourself rather than leaving it to lesser beings." Zulong flinched at Da Hai's words.

"I realised inputs from those more experienced than I was useful," the dragon admitted without a hint of shame. This was a massive improvement from earlier.

"That is good," Da Hai said. "How are you finding the experience of running a city?"

"It has been a more complex experience than I'd thought. Yu'er has been a great help in the matter," he said simply. Da Hai raised his eyebrows at his reference to the princess. It was quite an intimate remark.

"I noticed the thriving markets," he said while thinking, 'Heavens, this is awkward'.

"Indeed," Zulong nodded. "The turtle's techniques were very primitive compared to your collection master. I improved on what they had and it proved to be a success."

"That is good, very good," Da Hai nodded.

"Would you like to see the sites?" Zulong offered.

"Yes, I'd like that."

The tour wasn't anything new. Da Hai had already seen everything in the city the moment he arrived. It wasn't anywhere near as large as the capital. You could easily fit a dozen of Zulong's cities into the turtle's capital. What it did have over the capital was superior cultivation materials and treasures.

The pills here were of noticeably higher quality as well as the treasures sold. Zulong informed Da Hai of a few inputs he gave to Gui Daiyu who tested them out which produced the end result. His lack of proper cultivation was what prevented him from doing it himself. Da Hai felt slightly guilty at the mention.

"Zulong, how are you?" Da Hai finally asked when the duo passed by a park. Zulong, who was introducing the pretty coral arrangements, looked back. He had a conflicted look as if he was thinking.

"Were you displeased with me?" Da Hai asked.

"Oh I was furious," the dragon replied. "At least initially. The years had made me think back on a few thoughts I'd had. I'd say, I've been good. I realised something and met Yu'er, that is Gui Daiyu," he quickly corrected.

"I see, it was the right decision after all," Da Hai wordlessly reached out with his palm and struck Zulong's abdomen. The change was immediate. Gui Daiyu, who was sorting some tablets, looked up in shock. The monstrous aura of a Taiyi Golden Immortal was unleashed in full force.

The might was so strong that it blew water currents up to the surface. The surface of the East Sea erupted in an explosion of sea water, causing ripples that could be felt for many kilometres.

The gargantuan shape of a grinning golden celestial dragon swam across the currents. He danced and danced, twisting and twirling within the turtle's territory. He easily danced from the capital back to his city and laughed in celebration.

"I am BACK!" Zulong roared in triumph.

"Congratulations to Zulong/city lord/ esteemed guest for regaining his power," many individuals across the turtle's nation congratulated.

"Zulong, come down here," Da Hai commanded. The dragon turned his head and flew back. He transformed into his former human form but was brimming with a vitality he previously lacked.

"How are you feeling," Da Hai asked.

"Never better master, I have never felt better in all my life."

Da Hai stroked his beard in thought. Zulong seems to have changed for the better. His disposition was much more stable than before. However Da Hai didn't really know what to teach next. Zulong was very stable now but his cultivation had fallen behind.

Da Hai thought back to many years ago, when he imparted his martial art form. 'He always complained about those flowy movements, wait flowy movements, movements that's it,' Da Hai was reminded of how Zulong fought the East Sea cultivators many years ago. He was reminded of the dragon's ferocious disposition.

"Zulong, come back to Yingzhou with me. I have something to teach you," he commanded.

"Ah!" Zulong looked a bit reluctant. He looked back at the palace, at a specific feminine figure within. "I'll be back in a bit, if you'd excuse me master," he said seeking permission to leave. Da Hai nodded.

Zulong came back soon afterwards, having discarded his rich black robes for more form-fitting combat and training robes. Da Hai nodded his head and blitzed away.

"Keep up," he commanded. Zulong chased after his master. It was exhilarating to have his power back. The dragon felt slightly out of practice.

Back at the palace, the turtle princess Gui Daiyu stared longingly at the departing duo.

Yingzhou had changed in the years Zulong had been gone. Yinglong was taking care of the place, watering the plants and feeding the carps which Da Hai had captured a while back. The silk worms had cultivated to become immortals and transformed into moths.

The seven moths had taken human forms as beautiful fairies who tended to the Fusang tree. They were also the maids who cleaned Da Hai's palace under the management of Yinglong.

"It's good to be home!" Zulong exclaimed when they landed.

"Brother you're back," Yinglong yelled in happiness, his serious demeanour in front of the moth fairies abandoned.

"Yes, I'm back. Look at you little brother, you're so strong now," the brothers reunited with a hug. It was a joyous moment for them.

"Zulong, if you're done, meet me at the back mountains where the fields are," Da Hai said before walking away.

"Yes master," Zulong obeyed the order. "I'll catch up later," he waved goodbye and followed after the sea god. He met back up with Da Hai who had his back turned to him in the grass fields in on elf the back mountains.

"Previously, I showed you the Fading Tides Fist, do you remember," he asked.

"Uh well, about that," Zulong nervously scratched his head. He really didn't want to recall that embarrassment.

"It's fine if you don't, I realised that that style is not suited for you," Da Hai turned around and brought his hands to his chest. "It was not suited to your disposition." Zulong looked on the floor feeling ashamed.

"I am incom…", "But that is fine."

Da Hai interrupted the dragon before he could finish.

"I learned Fading Tides Fist from my predecessor's own martial style. I think the original art should be more agreeable with you," Da Hai said. Zulong's eyes widened in excitement, he grinned at the prospects.

"Then what are you waiting for," he said, smiling excitedly. "Show me the moves master."

Da Hai stomped the ground hard, startling the dragon. His stance was aggressive and resembled a raging tidal wave. "The Fist of the Great Sea cannot be shown, It must be felt," the thrashing sound of a restless tsunami could be heard when Da Hai spoke.

The master and disciple pair began their session just like that. They'd continue to train for the many years to come. Within fifty years, a cosmic tree that dwarfed anything Qinglong and Yinglong could produce was formed.

 

"He should be here by now," Zulong grunted impatiently with his arms folded.

"No rush big brother, you know how he is. He's probably sightseeing, so give little brother some time," Yinglong reassured.

The two dragons drifted above the East Ocean waiting for a hole in reality to open. According to their master, Qinglong should be exiting the starry skies around this area. The brothers had not been together for a long time. Now with Zulong's return, they were only waiting for the azure dragon.

As the duo were chatting, the sky above the East Sea began distorting. Reality itself split in two and two nine digit azure claws gripped both sides of the cut and ripped it open. The azure dragon Qinglong flew out of the void between dimensions and returned to the vast wilderness.

"Brothers," Qinglong cried out in happiness. The titanic dragon transformed into a young man in his early twenties who greeted the elder dragons. They shared a hug and laughed in happiness at their reunion.

"My younger brothers have worked hard. It makes me proud as the eldest sibling," Zulong ruffled Qinglong and Yinglong much to their chagrin. Nevertheless they smiled in contentment.

"Nonsense, how can we compare to elder brother? Not only reaching the apex of Taiyi Golden Immortal, but also building the greatest city this side of the world? You are the exceptional one," Yinglong and Qinglong praised.

"A small matter, a small matter," the three reminisced together as they continued on their journey. The clouds above the East Sea conglomerated, bringing into being the mystical form of Yingzhou. Da Hai had revealed the mountain's location again.

Da Hai appraised his disciples with satisfaction. Going by his calculations, Zulong should have overtaken Zufeng and Zulin. However he was still a distance from being able to challenge the godfiends of old. However, that distance wasn't large.

The sea god gazed down at his hand. It was covered by silk bandages. Just the reminder of his spar against Zulong gave him shudders. No magic of any kind was used, and he only barely managed to win.

It wasn't because Zulong was a better fighter then Da Hai nor was he more experienced as a combatant. The dragon's physical strength was just that mind boggling. Da Hai's bones had fractured and he had no doubt that if they both assumed their true forms, Zulong would still be physically stronger.

"There is not much left here for them anymore," he muttered as the dragons went to Zulong's abode for a drink. The moth fairies were busy doing chores around Yingzhou and the carps were not sentient yet.

The dragons drank and ate the rich mulberry fruits from the Fusang tree and exotic seafood. Zulong brought out things he'd collected over the years from various juices, dishes, and his own attempts to mimic Da Hai's wine. This was all done through special pouches enchanted with its own pocket dimension.

Innate creatures were animals themselves. During conflicts they too would hunt and consume each other though always from other clans. The act of consuming those within one's own clan was seen as deeply taboo. Zulong had been presented numerous types of meat many times during his tenure as city lord.

"Elder brother, how far are you from becoming a Da Luo Golden Immortal?" Qinglong asked after he swallowed a slab of eel meat.

"Shouldn't be far, my Dao fruit is already beginning to take shape. Give me a few thousand years and I'll break through," Zulong said confidently.

"Yes, then we can finally begin with elder brother's dream," Yinglong said. "Have you given any thought on how the conquest will begin?"

"We already have a base with the turtles and I can convince them to join our side easily. The East Sea itself will be simple," the ancestral dragon said.

"How so?" Qinglong asked.

"Can't you figure it out dumbass? Just by virtue of who our master is will make the task a simpler stroll," Zulong explained. Qinglong slapped his forehead at the realisation. He felt a bit embarrassed at having forgotten that detail.

"Master has never taken any interest in controlling the East Sea nor founded any kingdom. His intentions are clear, from the beginning he's been grooming me to take command of the sea," Zulong said. His brothers nodded, that detail was very obvious even without hindsight. Zulong's education specifically geared more towards his ambition than cultivation.

"The other seas will be troublesome," Zulong murmured. "I've only vague ideas about them. The south is supposedly peaceful, if very militarised, the north is very desolate, and the west is too far away for any concrete news."

"Big brother, why not visit and have a look?" Qinglong offered.

"Yes, that's a good idea," Zulong smiled.

"But brother, we have no idea on their exact situation," Yinglong countered. "I think it's better to consolidate ourselves in the East and then slowly expand outwards. Keep to what we're familiar with."

"Second brother, what's the harm in exploring outside the East Sea? Big brother is fully confident in gaining the east. I say it's better to scout the rest of the seas first," Qinglong retorted.

"Are we sure that isn't your wanderlust talking?" Yinglong criticised.

"I won't deny that," Qinglong said. "We've been cooped up in the east for so long. We're nearly ten thousand years old, for heaven's sake, yet we still haven't seen more than the east."

"So what? Most creatures don't live past a few thousand years. We can always explore later,"

"And I say we can consolidate later. What's the hurry in forming our kingdom now?"

"And what's the hurry in seeing the world? Who knows if the opportunity granted to us by big brother will vanish after we return?"

"That's enough, brothers," Zulong announced, tapping the table. "Both of your ideas are valid. But Qinglong is right, we should familiarise ourselves with the rest of the world first."

"But big brother, is now not the perfect opportunity?" Yinglong asked. "We already have a base, and you are a known friendly individual in the East Sea. This will not be like that year, we have a status with master at our backs and a proven leader in you."

"Our divine status awarded by master will always be present now or a hundred thousand years from now. We can afford to wait," Zulong reassured. He took a long drink from his glass.

"My decision is final, tomorrow I will inform master of our plans," he announced. His brothers could only nod their heads. With that, plans were made and the brothers began preparing their journey.

…

Mt Sumeru

The heart of the devilish Dao was thriving with billions of new recruits joining each year. The spread of the path had allowed many powerful experts to arise. The legions of the devil ancestor were at this period of time the greatest in the world.

The mountain was enveloped by rich spiritual power. Enough power to crush even Golden Immortals. The disciples of the devilish Dao know not to wantonly enter Mt Sumeru. The home of their ancestors was not a place anyone could step into. Only a few beings resided here.

Luohu, dressed in comfortable rich robes that were a mixture of black, red, and gold strolled through the mountain. He hummed to himself a tune Da Hai would've recognised as a song from earth. 'Not Gonna Die' by Skillet.

The devil ancestor was without any weapons. He still wore his amiable smile and appeared very friendly. He strolled along a rocky ravine that was a well known track for those living on the mountain. The second in command of the devilish Dao requested this place.

Luohu walked out of the ravine to a small cliff face overlooking distant temples and courtyards. The western continent had flourished over the years. Many temples and schools were set up to train those in the devilish Dao, to embrace sensual emotions and live by the desires within.

The true name for the devilish Dao founded by Luohu should be the path of seven emotions and six desires. The Devil who lives by this principle does whatever he or she pleases. The Devil is omnipotent, infinite, he is free to decide all things in this world. Strive to become the devil, to break all chains set upon oneself by outside forces. Accept the truth within, embrace all emotion and desires.

"Found you," Luohu called out. Another figure was sitting by himself upon the cliff overlooking the Sun star setting in the horizon. His face was adorned with three dark eyes glowing with pupils that were bright white lights. He had long silvery hair and tanned brown skin. He was Mara, the demon king of the sixth heaven.

"What do you want," the demon king said, displaying no emotion in his flat tone.

"Why do I need a reason to see my younger brother?" Luohu laughed and plopped down beside Mara. "Frankly, I'm sick of your moody attitude. Every year, every single fucking year, you stop doing your job and sit here and mope."

Luohu pointed at a distant mountain, "You're lucky Hundun is willing to cover for you."

"And here I thought you advocated freedom," Mara chuckled.

"You can do whatever you want, but I too can do whatever I want," Luohu countered. Mara chuckled before going into full blown laughter.

"I'll get back to instructing after next week," Mara said. "It's not too long of a break anyway. Let them do whatever they want for the week."

"Fine," Luohu relented. "But this same shtick is getting old Mara. When will you stop moping?"

"When that blue bastard dies," the demon king replied. "When the stars go out, when you merge the universes. I'll hunt him down myself and personally take this head," he grinned with demented glee.

"And I will be by your side, that was our pact," Luohu said. "Even after all these yours, your rage still burns strong. It's good motivation, isn't it, Kama?"

"Kama is gone," Mara corrected. "Only Mara is left. I am the demon king of the sixth heaven. Second in command of the devilish Dao and rest assured, I am your friend and ally till the end of days. So says our pact."

"I have never doubted you," Luohu smiled.

"So why come here asking for things you already know?" Mara inquired.

"Boredom, 99% of the new initiates died and the foundation hall is quite empty at the moment," Luohu admitted. "Besides, you enjoy the company."

Mara grunted. "You made the test too hard. Too many seedlings die."

"Only the best of the best of the best deserves to follow my teachings," Luohu defended. "Only they deserve to cultivate the seven emotions and six desires. It is not a path for the faint of heart. Only the strongest deserve to be devils."

Mara gave him a look before sighing. Luohu was very set in his ways. "If only you can put them to use," he said.

"You think I'm too passive?"

"You have an army in the billions. Attack Mt Yujing now," Mara said. "You overestimate the old man."

"You underestimate Hongjun," Luohu retorted. "That old villain holds many powers. The army will only get in the way. My lineage shall not be extinguished by recklessness."

"Suit yourself," Mara shrugged. "We have the clear advantage anyway. When will you attack?"

"When I am sure I have surpassed him," Luohu said. "You do not know Hongjun like I do. If he wished, he could easily compete with the Destiny Demon God at his peak. We must remain vigilant and cultivate. When I achieve Wuji, I will fight Hongjun myself. I am confident in my Dao."

"But not at the moment?" Mara asked.

"No, My Dao is still not perfect. I am still lacking," Luohu admitted.

"Well we have to rectify that," Mara got up. "I'll come to discuss the Dao with you next week. Now leave me," he gestured for the Devil Ancestor to leave.

"Fine, you better not be late," Luohu said, disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

…

Unknown location

A twisting realm of mystical power beyond mortal comprehension permeated the space of endless, colourless void. Gleaming bright stars shot in and out of focus, swirling around a god. A great divinity whose might was renowned during the chaos sea.

A being resembling a tall brute with thick muscles. He had glowing blue eyes but no mouth. An angular head and long protruding horns like a crown. His shoulders had faces of snarling beasts, both had long fleshy tongues that twirled around his pale skin like a floating ribbon.

His stomach was the face of a snarling wolf. Yellow eyes glaring across all things, as if it could see the existence of all things. His arms were long and bulky, fit with huge muscles. His palms were wide claws, like that of a bears.

His bottom half was not that of a humanoid. Below his waist was a mass of thick muscular legs along a centauric body. His feet were muscular, agile and paw-like. He had no fur and was all skin, pale white skin.

The Destiny Demon God, best of all chaos godfiends. Standing above the four strongest chaos godfiends. Stronger the Yang Mei, mightier than Huoyun, more frightening than Sichen, fiercer than Demon Ape.

He cultivated in silence within his own self created dimension away from the vast wilderness and starry seas. Since time immemorial he had ignored the existence of the world and focused solely on his own cultivation. To recover the might of Hunyuan Daluo.


Suddenly, a cut appeared within his dimension. Destiny Demon God opened his eyes. The cut separated into a gateway and four figures exited.

A middle aged man who was half black and half white. The chaos godfiend, ancestor Yingyang. He had not appeared once during the Shenni war and word had it that his presence would have turned the tides of the war.

A monstrous being, pale brown skin with ten feathery wings. They leaked bronze light emanating temporal mysteries. This being's face looked haggard and old, childish and immature, experienced and wise, young and virile all at the same time. He had four human-like arms and two legs.

Destiny Demon God recognised this man. A fellow competitor for strongest during the chaos period. Sichen, the god of time, an ancient chaos godfiend who held the mysteries of time. In one arm, he held up the morning, in another, daytime, swinging a third brought dusk, the last arm funnelled into midnight. He was the only one who knew his location.

The third figure was a younger man. An unassuming daoist priest who wore a compass on his sash. Just seeing this man gave people vertigo. It was as if he was standing upright, upside down, horizontally, and vertically at the same time. He was everywhere yet still in one position. Shangxia, the ancestor of directions.

The final figure gave Destiny Demon God a pause. He barely recognised this figure. An old man in simple purple robes, long fluffy white beard and long white hair tied up in a high ponytail. Hongjun, a relative unknown who came empty handed.

Yet Hongjun was clearly the leader. He held himself up in the highest position. Sichen, Shangxia, and Yingyang followed in his wake. Destiny Demon God noted their look of respect and reverence.

"The audacity to come here," he spoke for the first time in a hundred thousand years. His voice reverberated across this side of all creation. His presence was awe-inducing. Sichen, Yingyang, and Shangxia felt the urge to prostrate themselves.

Yet Hongjun stood still, unaffected. "Fellow daoist, we're only here to talk," he said lightly.

"The audacity to command me," Destiny Demon God began moving. He was slowly raising his right arm. A single attack from him, even in a diminished state, will easily slap a peak Daluo Golden Immortal to death.

"I'm afraid there has been a misunderstanding. Fellow daoist, we're only here to talk," Hongjun insisted politely.

Destiny Demon God scoffed. He moved to attack.

But no blows were exchanged. Destiny Demon God stopped before he reached Hongjun. He narrowed his eyes, gazing at the purple light in Hongjun's eyes, then at the purple clouds below his feat. He starred at Hongjun, who appeared very relaxed.

"Talk," he said. That was how negotiations between mighty figures began.


Yingzhou

"Master," Zulong announced when he knocked on the door.

"Come in," Zulong nodded at Da Hai's voice. He opened the door to Da Hai's study. His master was doing some light calligraphy on a piece of silk sheet. He could make out the characters of the chaos godfiend's language.

The head moth fairy was by his side with an ink pot in hand and spare brushes. She stood demurely with little presence. Ordinary cultivators will not even notice her presence.

"Master, I have a request to make," Zulong began.

"I know what you want to say," Da Hai said much to Zulong's expectations. After all, nothing happened in Yingzhou without Da Hai's notice.

"You have my permission to go on your trip," Da Hai said. He raised his hand over the silk sheet. The characters glowed in hot blue light before setting. Da Hai took the calligraphy piece and placed it into a silk satchel.

He levitated the satchel and threw it to Zulong who caught it with his hands. "These are some single-use talismans," Da Hai explained. "They contain my own power and should be enough to defend you when necessary."

"Many thanks master," Zulong bowed in respect.

"No need to thank me. Remember to ensure your safety first," Da Hai said.

"This disciple will remember that," Zulong said while putting the silk satchel away. He looked at the head moth fairy and thanked her as well. She and her sisters were responsible for producing the silk Yingzhou now used for clothing, talismans, and forging treasures. It was a good resource. Zulong wondered if he could borrow her to work for him in the future. It will be more productive with him than his hermit of a master.

Da Hai nodded in satisfaction. He watched the dragons leave in anticipation. He could feel his own heart thumping. "Soon, just wait brother."

 

Their departure from the east sea was done relatively unceremoniously. The dragons left Yingzhou and stayed for a time within the turtle's territory before ultimately leaving northwards. It was during their stay that Yinglong and Qinglong met Gui Daiyu.

The princess had a wilful but kind disposition. She was also incredibly talented in the arts of cultivation and management. It was no wonder Zulong trusted her to take care of his city.

"Here, keep these with you," Zulong said just before they had left. He handed a small bag to Gui Daiyu. Contained within are some of the talismans Da Hai had given him as well as a bag of mulberry fruits from the Fusang tree.

"These can help you form the flower crowns," the dragon reassured.

Gui Daiyu took the bag with a small frown, "Do you have so little faith in my ability?"

"I will never dare," Zulong laughed. "Just a small assurance, even if you don't need them then at least give them to your family or whatever promising talent pops up." The golden dragon looked very sad when the time to depart came.

"Do you really have to go?" Gui Daiyu had asked him shortly after accepting the gifts.

"I have to," Zulong admitted. "But I will back, it won't be long, I promise."

"You better," the princess said playfully punching Zulong's shoulder. Zulong grunted and held his shoulder in mock pain. "Should I be worried if little old me can hurt you?" She said.

"Haha, only you Yu'er, only you," Zulong replied.

"Heavens, is this really big brother?" Yinglong exclaimed in wonder as he watched the scene. Qinglong standing beside him was also gaping. The youngest dragon couldn't even fathom what he was seeing.

"Perhaps we're still on Yingzhou, master's illusions are very potent," Qinglong suggested. "Or perhaps I'm so drunk that I'm still dreaming."

"Quite right brother," Yinglong faced the azure dragon and pointed at his cheek. "Give me your best shot," he said.

"Enough out of you two," Zulong scolded. He smacked both dragons on the back of their horned heads while Gui Daiyu chuckled behind him. Zulong's cheeks were flushed at his brother's behaviour.

"We'll settle things when I get back. Take care Yu'er," Zulong said with a bright smile but embarrassed. He grabbed the scuffs of his brother's robes, "Come on you rascals."

The brothers travelled northwards, bypassing a lot of water. They had picked this direction because of the relative obscurity of the north sea.

This body of water had remained largely a mystery to the rest of the world. After the Shenni war, there had not been much if any news at all. Most modern cultivators considered the north sea a ghost town.

Zulong wagered that his master probably knew the ongoings of the north sea. At his realm of power, not much can be hidden. Da Hai could very easily peer through the view of the Heavenly Dao and uncover secrets Zulong was not aware of.

The northwestern borders of the east sea was a desolate place. Very few hints of civilisation were present. Zulong was saddened when he saw the empty waters. A strong sense of loneliness permitted this place. Zulong didn't like it.

"Let's pass into the north sea," Qinglong said in anticipation when the trio reached the border. It didn't take much effort to pass through. The dragons very easily reached the northernmost oceans of the primitive world.

The dragons were met with misty black waters when they passed through. It was very cold here, much too cold for mortal life to occur. The waters were rich with Yin energy, gathered from the long years of war.

"The north continent was said to be ravaged by Shenni," Yinglong recounted. "Records say that the north continent is a desolate cold hellscape devoid of meaningful life. A continent filled with misery." The winged dragon sighed.

"Aiya, tsk tsk, to think just the north sea is like this. I dread to think of the mainland," Qinglong said feeling deeply uncomfortable. For the lively azure dragon, this ghostly world was an experience which he did not appreciate.

"Be that as it may, we must press on," Zulong announced. He waved his arm in a wide arc. The dragon in a flashy display of power wiped out the mist. He blew away the Yin energy making his brother uncomfortable with a sneer. "The audacity to make my brother uncomfortable," he spat.

Zulong's feat touched ice cold water. His shoes began collecting ice. Zulong snorted, he heated the cup of his feat and melted the ice. The waters were almost supernaturally cold.

"The water here is special," Qinglong said when he too touched the ocean surface. "The coldness did not originate from the north sea itself."

"I expected so," Zulong replied. "Qinglong, do you think the three brilliance sacred water may be the cause of this?"

"No brother, the three brilliance sacred water is a life giving force. This is something else entirely," Qinglong said. He was intimately familiar with some of his master's treasures and had encountered the three brilliance sacred water plenty of times. In fact, he had even swam in it during his stay in Wangshu's palace.

"This is likely a diluted variant elder brother," Yinglong said. "The source must be much more extreme. We must be careful, this could potentially even hurt us," he advised.

Zulong nodded, "Let's move on, the north holds much mysteries and I want them all found." The next few years were spent wandering the north sea. The icy climate did not change, not in a year, not in a decade, not in a century.

The dragons spent over a hundred years exploring. They found very few treasures, often poor low rank xiantian treasures scattered about on some corpse of a godfiend. Or broken fragments of better treasures lying alongside deceased Taiyi Golden Immortals.

"These are our forefathers," Zulong said solemnly. The trio stood admits a mountain made of corpses. Each one appeared distinct and alien. Each one carried the oppressive might of Taiyi Golden Immortal. Chaos godfiends, long fallen, left to rot in the waters of the blackened north sea.

Yinglong walked out from beside the ancestral dragon and placed a small incense holder. He placed it on a small auspicious cloud while Qinglong placed some incense on it.

"They should've at least been offered a funeral," Zulong said as they paid their respects. He transformed into a gigantic golden dragon and dived into the sea. With his claws, he dug a massive grave and placed the corpses within.

"Proud godfiends deserves this at least," he muttered solemnly.

"Us younger generation innate gods are lucky," Qinglong said. "Did master live through this massacre?"

"What an idiotic thing to say, master fought in the war, of course he would've lived through it," Zulong scolded. The ancestral dragon created more and more auspicious clouds. He fouled them into a solid shrine with serpentine dragon statues protecting them. "There, now they at least have some dignity."

This was not the last gravesite they discovered. The north sea was littered with them. Hundreds of ancient godfiends who were born in the north and did not join Shenni. Each one died like dogs, thrown into the waves. Their treasures were smashed apart as Shenni considered them filth born of Pangu.

"So many years and yet no life," Qinglong wondered out loud. "Is the north sea truly desolate?"

"Master once said that the north sea was part of Si Hai's empire. I doubt it's lifeless," Yinglong replied. "The ocean is a vast place. The population density should be much smaller than the east."

"Spread out and find some. I want to take a look at my future subjects," Zulong commanded. He threw them both bags of talismans. "Defend yourselves if you must, but try to make peaceful contact first."

"Of course brother," Yinglong and Qinglong said respectfully. Suddenly, their eyes snapped to the side. A fast figure blitzed across the water with lightning speeds.

"Villains, DIE!" A fish man wielding a halberd swung at Zulong. Zulong raised an eyebrow in amusement. He held up his hand and effortlessly caught the blade between his fingers.

"Greetings innate creature, who might you be?" He asked with curiosity. He motioned his brothers to not attack, he was not about to waste his only source of information.

"GRR, just die already," the fish man struggled. He let go of the handle and drew a saber. He swung it in an arc, catching the icy water in a fast circulation of power. The saber's edge became ice cold as he swung at Zulong's arm.

Zulong made no attempts to dodge. The saber slashed across the dragon's forearm with a screech. Vague scaly outlines could be seen beneath Zulong's ripped sleeve.

Zulong frowned and thought, 'This blade could tear the moth fairies silk?' He squinted his eyes, closely examining the blade. 'That's not metal at all!' He blinked in surprise.

The fish man, undaunted, returned with another attack. This time he aimed for Zulong's neck. However, just like last time, the blade slid across the dragon's skin with a screech. The fish man looked at his blade nervously.

"It's dull?" He exclaimed in surprise. Before he could react, Zulong's hand was already gripping his face. The fish man screamed in pain as the dragon's fingers dug into his skull.

"A Profound Immortal small fry dares attack me even after I greeted you politely? What is the world coming to, tsk tsk," he snorted. With one eye, he discerned the fish man's cultivation and age.

This cultivator was tens of thousands of years old. Much older than even Zulong. But he was also much weaker than Gui Daiyu. Zulong grabbed hold of the saber and closely examined it etching each and every little detail into his mind.

"A blade of ice resembling steel. Cold to the touch, sharp enough to cut through most things. Even the shells the primordial turtles are so proud of will be pierced by this blade. Unfortunately, those shells were like paper to steel in comparison to Zulong's scales.

"What is this material?" Yinglong said in wonder as he took hold of the blade.

"Definitely not of the north sea, normal sea water can never form something this profound," Qinglong said.

"Talk, my brothers are asking," Zulong said tightening his grip before loosening.

"Just kill me, I will never speak to you abominations," the fish man howled in agony. He screamed profanities in the godfiend language's rather colourful insults. Zulong tightened his grip, he was careful not to kill the fish man but was very willing to hurt him.

"Insult me again, I dare you," Zulong threatened. "You are making this very difficult for me. Just do us both a favour and tell me. I'll release you immediately." As a sign of goodwill, Zulong let go of the fish man.

"Foolish bastards," the fish man leapt into action aiming for Zulong's abdomen. However, the dragon's iron fist rammed into his skull. The thunderous sound of a Profound Immortal's skull cracking could be heard.

"That wouldn't have killed and it was light tap, I could do a lot worse," Zulong threatened.

"Fuck off," the fish man seeing he had no chance turned tail and darted in extreme speeds across the water. However, he couldn't even make it one step before auspicious clouds restrained him.

"Damn it," he screamed in frustration as he struggled. Despite their flimsy appearance, the clouds held firm. They were like celestial ropes, not allowing the fish man to move at all.

"Can we kill him?" Qinglong asked in annoyance. "He's clearly not co-operating."

Zulong sighed, his fist lit up in golden light. "You leave me no choice, I will ask for forgiveness at the violation. But you don't deserve my kindness," he said.

Zulong gripped the fish man's head and began reading his mind. He broke all mental defences effortlessly and tore out every information he could find. The dragon's frown deepened as he continued reading.

"I feel sorry for you. But you are my enemy," he said before crushing the fisherman's skull. The Profound Immortal's head was splattered to bits of brain matter floating in the water. The body was strong enough to not rot but it couldn't resist the water's departure. It froze to ice almost instantaneously.

Zulong waved his hand and disintegrated the corpse. "Come on, I know where their city is," he said motioning for his brothers to follow.

 

Within a damaged underwater fort, a talisman displaying the image of a fisherman shattered to pieces. The resounding explosion caught the attention of a fisherman caretaker at the True Immortal realm.

"Oh no!" He cried out in fright and rushed out of the fort. He swam past the dozen or so posted guards in a hurry. In his hysteria, he didn't properly defend against the cold. The edges of his robes began collecting ice.

However, he ignored it in favour in rushing to the commanding elder. His merman clan did not have much manpower. The death of anyone was big news. The higher ups must know.

"Big news, big news!" He called out.

"Halt," a burly fish man roared. He raised his palm and forcefully stopped the hysterical fish man. "What is it that have you so panicked?" He asked.

"Elder Bao, big news, big and terrible news," the fish man caretaker made out between huffs. "Elder Ri, who ventured out earlier had perished," he said solemnly.

"Impossible! Brother Ri is one of our premier experts just a hairs breath away from the Heavenly Immortal realm. He wields one of the great sabers of our clan, it is impossible for him to just die," elder Bao said in disbelief.

"But it is the truth, elder Ri's life binding talisman shattered," the fish man said sadly. His air of depression was shared by elder Bao.

"Oh this is terrible, the annual sealing of the monstrous evil is coming soon," elder Bao moaned depressingly. "Who will take his place?" He hung his head in defeat.

"Perhaps we should call for the emperor to come deal with the evil," the fish man suggested.

"Absolutely not!" Elder Dao roared. "Have you forgotten what they did to us? Those filthy innate gods cannot be trusted. They are animals who prey on our kind."

"Of course I have not forgotten elder Bao," the fish man said. "But think logically, what other choice do we have?"

"We'll fight," elder Bao said with great conviction. "We've suppressed the great evil for generations and will continue to do so. We have prevented his coming so it should be weak. With the patriarch's help, we can kill it."

Elder Bao turned to the fish man caretaker. "Notify, the rest of the elders. We must prepare ourselves." He took note of the fish man's trembling figure and sighed. Their history was long, their entire clan had existed for many tens of thousands of years.

Elder Bao could still remember those whimsical days. Those peaceful periods when thousands of races posed up. Peace didn't last for very long as they were all enslaved. Fed to primordial beasts and innate gods alike.

Now they were the only ones left. The few left to take care of the north sea. To prevent the rise of another innate god like Shenni.

Elder Bao swam into the edge of an underwater lake. Mighty chains were constructed atop it forming a massive platform where a half dozen Heavenly Immortal masters sat crossed legged. They looked extremely ragged, fatigued from years of activity.

"Elder Bao, you're early this year," an old female tired voice called out. "Quickly, join the seal formation, we cannot allow it to weaken anymore. The cracks are already beginning to form."

"Not so elder Yan, I bring grave news," he replied. He explained what the caretaker had explained to him. Immediately the mood shifted. These experts all carried deep frowns.

"It seems our last stand is here," a depressed elder laughed self deprecatingly. "If only we weren't born innate creatures, at least then we'd have a chance to thrive."

"Don't say that old thing. Have you no pride?" Another retaliated angrily. "Be proud of our heritage. Be proud that we as innate creatures born of the world are capable of kindness, capable of empathy."

"Hah, what's the use? Born into a nightmare under a villain. Then when the nightmare was just over another villain took his place," another elder sighed. "Then our numbers were massacred and we thought everything was fine. Such a pitiful dream."

"Too right, I have long forgotten what children looked like. Even the place we live hates us. Too cold for anything beyond immortals to survive. And now another villain wants to be born?" An angry elder gritted her teeth. "I say we kill it, the least outcome is us dying in the fight."

The depressed elders were all extraordinarily angry. They could sense the rest of the elders approaching. Several Heavenly Immortals followed by a few dozen Profound Immortals. They each drew their ice bladed weapons.

Their bloodlust eyes gazed down at the underwater lake. Years of hatred surfaced, years of torment gave way to rage.

The ocean began shaking before they knew it. The frozen seafloor rumbled and the chilling waters of the north splashed about. Like a living typhoon, a creature of incredible size burrowed out from beneath the seafloor.

A long serpentine monstrosity adorned with pure white scales. A large wide jaw of jagged teeth. Its face was lit by a lantern, like an angular fish except far larger. It had tendrils each adorned with jewel like glowing orbs embedded.

"Primordial beats?" elder Bao barely made out as the monster attacked. It tore into their ranks instantly killing an unprepared immortal elder.

"Why is it here? They normally don't leave the mysterious island," the northern sea creatures were thrown into disarray. They hurriedly fled from the platform which cracked as the beast rested on it.

"Oh no, the seal is breaking!" A penguin stammered in anguish.

…

Zulong flew with leisured haste. His brothers trailed behind him with keen expectation. The information the elder dragon had torn from the fish man's mind was very useful in allowing them to navigate the north sea. It had also allowed them to learn much of the north's history.

"Up ahead should be their village," Zulong reminded them. The details he'd gotten was that the village was built near the centre of the north sea. It was one of the first settlements built long before their birth.

It was subsequently abandoned then resettled during and after the events of the Shenni war. It was also the site of a new discovery.

In the aftermath of the war, when the new yuanhui came. An underground lake formed near the village. It was a lake of chilling water, born from the excessive Yin energy that permeated the north sea.

The existence of this lake drastically lowered the temperature of the north rendering it nigh uninhabitable for anything that was not already an immortal. Generations of newborns died just like that.

This event and in conjunction with Si Hai's 'pacififying' of the north led to a tiny population overall. It wasn't even the clan system employed by the rest of the primitive world. This was quite literally just a camp of various survivors.

"I wonder who this suppressed evil is," Qinglong wondered out loud.

"Likely an innate god like us," Yinglong said. "What else is there? If it was an innate creature then it wouldn't need so many immortals to suppress it. Though why would they even consider it evil if it had yet to be born?"

"It isn't," Zulong said. "Whoever fellow daoist is was never their concern. Only his birth status as an innate god." Zulogn sighed solemnly. "Their rage is understandable, seeing Shenni's actions is different from hearing about them."

A single individual had forever changed the climate of an entire region of the primitive world. The north was a wasteland, it was by far the harshest place to live in the modern world. It was also one of the few places where primordial beasts still existed.

Though extremely rare and largely extinct, a few primordial beasts had managed to survive up until now. They are few in number but are the strongest of the elites. Remnants of Shenni's reign.

"Whatever the case, the north is an intriguing place for resources. This special water has its own unique properties. I wonder what applications we can use it for," Yinglong said.

"Rich in Yin, extremely cold, hmm perhaps…Hm?" Zulong's wondering was abruptly halted as his antlered head snapped towards the village's direction. "A battle?" He said having felt the employment of Qi.

"Intriguing, let's see what's going on," Zulogn guided his brothers towards the commotion. Their high cultivations allowed for them to easily reach their destination. The cold water parted ways for them as the three dragons swam. They resembled torpedos in the empty waves.

"You are excited?" Yinglong asked Qinglong when he saw the younger dragon's facial expression.

"Of course, this will be our first time seeing a primordial beast. A creature before our time. Does it not fascinate you?" He replied.

"Only in how long it'll last against me."

"Heh, you won't even get a chance, just stay safe behind me."

"Why you little…"

"Enough brothers, we're here," Zulong announced haunting midway. The primordial beast slithered across the water sustaining blasts upon blasts with no damage. Its gaping maw was bloody with the blood and essence of immortal innate creatures.

The beasts took note of the trio and roared its horrifying screech. The immortals near it gripped their heads in pain. Weaker Profound Immortals had their eardrums burst, they gripped their bleeding heads unable to dodge as the beast's great white tail crushed them.

The beast blasted through the water biting at the dragons. Zulong smirked and was about to make a move but stopped. Seeing his brothers about to take action he decided to stop.

Qinglong was the first to react. Before the beast had done any damage, it was already knocked upwards. The humanoid azure dragon had sent an uppercut at the beast, it couldn't resist the terrifying strength of the dragon.

"Primordial beast, let me play with you," Qinglong chased after the creature and began brawling with it. The dragon casually danced around the lumbering creature. Each of his blows heavily bruised the monster broke its bones, forced it to spill out blood.

"Yinglong, go see if those innate creatures are alright," Zulong said.

"At once brother," Yinglong descended towards the underwater lake.

"Innate gods? Damn it," a frail looking Heavenly Immortal resembling a sunfish with a human's body gripped his sword made of ice. "You kind isn't welcome here, die," he charged at the winged dragon.

Yinglong caught the blade and shattered the ice by exerting his strength. "Such good quality material but so poorly made," he idly commented.

"Do not mock our culture, what would a fiend like you know," an old woman followed by three men jumped at Yinglong. Dozens of cultivators also attacked with renewed vigour.

"Please fellow daoists, I am not here to fight," Yinglong attempted to say. However, he was met by a stream of accusations. The winged dragon felt his blood boil at the stream of words calling him a liar, a villain, a fiend among other profanities.

'This is getting absurd,' he thought as he was struck again and again. Of course, he took no damage at all and merely held his hand up. He wasn't even flaring his power, just standing there.

"Do not be afraid comrades," the old woman said. "We will die fighting, but we will take him down with us." She was met with cries of agreement.

"Yinglong!" Zulong's voice sounded in his head. The winged dragon realised that this was a voice transmission.

"What is it brother?" He replied.

"Prepare for engagement, that snake is not the only primordial beast in the vicinity," Zulong said.

"Got it," Yinglong waved his hand and froze all the innate creatures. "Fellow daoists, I am not here to fight, I will ask you to take cover while I deal more primordial beasts."

The frozen old woman spat at him. "To hell with your lies, you will not break our spirit." Yinglong ignored her, he bound them in auspicious clouds chains and walked to the edge of the lake with interest.

Behind him, a massive leviathan with two heads and a thousand tails sprung up from the soil. Another massive bird with no feathers dived into the water narrowly missing Zulong. These creatures appeared to be salivating at the lake.

"So the leakage of power attracted them," Yinglong concluded. Two massive feathery wings sprouted from his back.

"Comrades, it seems this is it," the old woman sighed sadly. The leviathan was looking to be eating their entire group in one gulp. However this group did not yield, they bravely starred down the primordial beast.

However, death never came. A massive creature they did not recognise crushed the leviathan's left head and severed the right. Its head was like a crocodile with antlers of a deer. It was long like a serpent, clothed in yellow scales. Its whiskers were that of a catfish, long and elegant.

Yinglong had unleashed his true form. In but an instant, he killed both primordial beasts. He was quick and efficient, unlike Qinglong who had opted to play around.

The azure dragon meanwhile had returned with the head of the snake angler fish hybrid. "What did I miss?" He asked. Zulong silently transmitted the recent events to him.

The immortals who were tied up were still glaring at Yinglong who removed their chains. "There, I'm not here to fight. If I wanted to I could've killed you all with ease," he stated.

"You think we'd believe that. Your kind are a blight on this world, lowliest of scum. You'll torture us for your amusement, eat our children and force us to make more to fill the bellies of your pets!" The old woman screamed in a frenzied rage.

"The audacity to accuse us," Yinglong's eyes narrowed in anger. He had been patient but patience had its limits. He will not tolerate such behaviour.

"We are not Shenni," Zulong said calmly landing with Qinglong beside Yinglong.

"All innate gods are the same, merciless scum," another immortal said.

"The only difference between innate gods and innate creatures is that we're born Golden Immortals," Zulong said. "Do not confuse us for the chaos godfiends who made your lives a misery."

"So what? You want the exact same thing. I can see it in your eyes," the old woman spat.

"Yes, I wish to rule as your emperor, not as your slaver," Zulong said. "I can offer the north sea much. I can bring you peace, I can bring you prosperity. I can grant you resources to help you cultivate. I can guide you all to Golden Immortals."

Zulong waved his hand easily healing all their injuries. "I am not your enemy, I never was and I don't have to be. I can swear an oath under the Heavenly Dao that my intentions are not to use you as a food source. I am Zulong, the primordial celestial dragon, not the beast emperor."

The people listening had quieted down as if debating their options. "We already have an emperor, Si Hai rules these waters," one immortal said.

"And where is he? What has Si Hai done for you?" Zulong asked. He was met with silence and looks of sorrow and rage. Zulong took out many bottles of medicinal herbs from his inter spacial ring.

"Gifts to help you all," he said leaving the bottles down. He also took out various treasures and left them on the sea floor as well before stepping back.

"Brother, the seal is disappearing," Yinglong said. Zulong nodded, "Then it is time we meet fellow daoist beneath this lake."

Deep within the underwater lake. Admits the ice cold water, a gargantuan tortoise with a snake coiling around its body slept. A sleep bubble expanded and contracted on its nose. Suddenly, it popped.

 

The centre of the north sea began rumbling. The underwater lake splashed its contents releasing a transparent milky white liquid, Yinglong held out his hand at the substance before immediately retracting it.

"What is it brother?" Zulong asked.

"It's the same material that made the saber, just more pure. Very cold," Yinglong said while showing his brother his palm. His gleaming scales were coated in a thin veil of ice and had lost some of their lustre. "It hurt me," he said.

Zulong narrowed his eyes. "How did you lot manage to mould this into weapons?" He asked.

"Why should we tell you?" One of the trapped north sea cultivators spat. Many of his comrades nodded in agreement while some appeared reluctant.

'Seems I've gotten through,' Zulong thought with satisfaction. However, he could not stroke his own ego at the moment. The dragon was unconcerned by the shaking but he was curious about the ice weapons.

"Should we tell him?" One of the bound cultivators asked.

"Are you insane? He's an innate god, their kind cannot and should not be trusted," The same old woman spat.

"But have you heard his offer? No innate gods had ever made something like that before."

"All innate gods are the same, they don't change," the old woman looked angrily at her comrades. "Have you forgotten what they've done to us, that they killed our young and enslaved us again and again for their own pleasure? That they turned our beautiful ocean into a frozen uninhabitable hellscape?"

"Uh," the north sea cultivators looked extremely unsure of what to do. They looked nervously at the dragon trio. Then they looked at the pile of gifts offered and couldn't help but feel conflicted.

"We diluted it happy?" A cultivator who grew frustrated at the silence said. He was promptly glared at by several others. "What's the worst that could happen anyway?" He challenged those glaring.

"I know you diluted it but the question is how? You cannot possibly touch the water without freezing to death," Zulong said hovering a droplet in his hand. The small droplet of water contained enough power to freeze an entire spiritual mountain range of the primitive world natural defences be damned.

Normally, mountains in the primitive world were large gathering spots of Qi. This results in incredibly high durability and resistance towards outside forces. Famed mountains like Yujing, Sumeru, Kunlun, and Yingzhou were all capable of withstanding alot of supernatural forces. This was why they made for amazing bases.

"Don't you dare sell our secrets," the old woman demanded. However, the cultivator who answered sighed.

"I think it's worth hearing this man out," he said.

"No innate gods can be trusted," the woman screeched.

Zulong frowned and said, "I said it once and I will say it again. The only difference between innate gods and you lot is that we're born Golden Immortals. I can help you all reach that realm." He patted his interspatial ring indicating that there were more than what he'd offered.

"Brother, the shaking has gotten violent," Yinglong called out.

"Deal with it yourselves," Zulong said.

"Alright then… wait Qinglong where are you jumping?" Zulong promptly ignored the two dragons in favour of hearing the cultivator's explanation.

"There is a crucible, made from the bones of a dead god. We crafted made it in hopes of creating a weapon strong enough to kill innate gods," he began

"Shut up fool," the old woman screeched. Zulong waved his hand and isolated her in a barrier preventing any sound from leaking through. "Continue," he said.

"Turns out, the corpse we made it from was very in tune with the cold. The lake was previously a forbidden zone but with the crucible, we can extract small portions of Pure Yin Pale water."

"Pure Yin Pale water?" Zulong interrupted.

"That's what we named it, after its colour and properties yes. Anyway, the crucible could only extract a small amount else it too risks destruction. The amount we could extract is about one tenth of what you're holding. We had to add it to a large basin of superheated sea water that's been cultivated by spiritual fire for over ten thousand years," he explained.

"So that's why you have so few of these," Zulong muttered rubbing his chin. He'd have to ask his master on how to deal with this water. However he knew he'd struck a goldmine, something needs to be done to hide it.

Elsewhere, Yinglong was freaking out as his younger brother just jumped into the underwater lake. Qinglong was immediately forced into his true form. The azure dragon grimaced as he felt an intense chilling force surround his body.

The underwater lake was much larger than the surface implied. It was like its own separate universe connected by a small hole. It was not only extremely cold but also filled with the screaming wails of ghosts.

However the dragon's physique cannot be underestimated. Qinglong could resist the water but there were difficulties.

"Who on earth would cultivate down here?" He wondered. His senses were bombarded by the screaming wails of the deceased forcing a grimace out of the dragon. Qinglong opened his mouth and roared forcing the wails back.

His cry rumbled through the lake to middling effect. He could also sense his own limit approaching. He could not dive any deeper than this and he doubts his brothers could do better. Perhaps Zulong can go further in but Qinglong couldn't for long.

The dragon gritted his teeth and looked around. He utilised the full might of his cultivation and forced himself forwards. He briefly caught sight of a coffin in the distance.

His sight was hazy and obscured by milky colour. But he could make out the rectangular shape of a coffin. It gave him a feeling of grave danger. The image of a Chinese crown was engraved on the coffin and some characters that were too obscured to see.

"What is that?" He wondered before forcefully shutting his eyes. He was assaulted by a chilling force, unlike anything he'd ever seen. The dragon immediately began retreating. However, he felt incredibly sluggish.

"Shit, perhaps I was a little too arrogant," he said in regret. His body felt sore and his scales were dim. The dragon felt his consciousness slipping.

"Oh dear," a worried voice called out. Qinglong could barely register this voice, nor did he feel the strong force pulling him up. "What are you doing down here?" The worried voice asked.

The dragon felt a wave of power wash over him. His clouded mind could not register it properly but this power formed a black barrier that blocked out the Pure Yin Pale water.

"Who are you?" Yinglong's enraged voice said admits gurgling water.

"Ah fellow daoist, I am Xuanwu. I found this fellow daoist while I was waking up," the same worried voice said. They seemed entered into a conversation that Qinglong could barely understand. His mind was still very sluggish.

"Here, let me look at him," Zulong's voice said. Qinglong felt a strong force enter his body.

"What the!" Qinglong exclaimed and gripped his head in pain. "Heavens, what was that?" He said in pain.

Zulong knelt beside him with silk talisman in hand. He put the silk talisman away and helped his brother up. "What were you thinking?" He lectured.

"I thought I could handle it," Qinglong said.

"And now we had to waste one of master's talismans, well done. Be careful next time. Investigate and plan before charging in head on," Zulong lectured before turning to Yinglong. "I would criticise you but I too am at fault for not paying enough attention."

"Thank you fellow daoist for rescuing my brother, what may I offer in return," Zulong said cupping his hands and saluting to Xuanwu. It was then that Qinglong finally noticed a fourth individual standing nearby.

It was an androgynous looking man dressed in all black with light green hair like algae. He was either an extremely feminine male or a boyish female. Either way, Qinglong felt an instinctive connection with him. Almost as if they were brothers.

"Greetings fellow daoist, I am Xuanwu," he said amicably. "There is no need to thank me. I saw you in need of aid and helped you. There was not anterior motives."

"Is that so?" Zulong said narrowing his eyes.

"Indeed, I was sleeping when I felt a very, let's say familiar feeling that I couldn't quite put my finger on," Xuanwu said tapping his chin. "Either way, I would've helped, I desire nothing in return."

"I trust his word brother," Qinglong said. "Believe me when I say this, fellow daoist Xuanwu's words hold no falsehood."

"If you say so brother," Zulong said with a nod. "You say you were sleeping? Inside that lake?" The elder dragon asked Xuanwu.

"Indeed, soon after my birth, I found this cool refreshing lake and thought I'd take a nap. It was a good sleep," Xuanwu added.

"Impossible, we would've noticed if an innate god snuck in," a chained cultivator said. "We were sure you were a newborn about to take form."

"No one was here when I came," Xuanwu said. "Though I must thank you, your seal was a very soothing addition to my nap."

"Soothing? You weren't trapped?" An old Heavenly Immortal gasped.

"Trapped? Should I be?" Xuanwu asked confused. He looked around his body for any oddities but found none. He shrugged with an unbothered attitude.

"Fellow daoist is very carefree," Qinglong said.

"And lazy," Yinglong added. "Who sleeps for tens of thousands of years? Why not cultivate to a higher realm?"

"But I did cultivate!" Xuanwu exclaimed. "Look, I'm a Taiyi Golden Immortal as well," he said much to the surprise of Yinglong.

"It makes sense, he could resist the underwater lake," Qinglong said before being interrupted by Zulong's "Pure Yin, Pale water."

"What he said, anyway thank you fellow daoist for your help," Qinglong cupped his hands and saluted in respect. He and Xuanwu began talking as if both individuals knew each other their whole lives.

"What's going to happen now?" A trapped cultivator said. As soon as he said that the cloud chains dissipated.

"Now you go free, I told you we meant no harm," Zulong said. The formerly trapped cultivators nodded except for a few who were itching for their weapons led by the old woman.

"I Zulong shall return and when I do it will be the establishment of my empire. I trust you'd join?" He asked with a smile.

"There is still emperor Si Hai to consider," the cultivators said.

"I'll take care of him eventually," Zulong said. "My master repelled him once. It is only natural for the disciple to get rid of him for good."

Far away, at the farthest edge of the north sea, where water met endless void. In a land filled with thick cloudy mist, Da Hai sat on a floating cushion of water observing the events. The head moth fairy hovered beside him wearing a thick woolly coat.

They were beside a titanic structure many billions of kilometres tall and many billions of kilometres wide. An unimaginably big island that even Da Hai could hardly comprehend. It was covered in thick fog that obscured all but its ruff shape.

"Hm, they sure handled things alright," Da Hai said with a small smile while stroking his beard.

"Yes, the young lord was quite impressive," the moth fairy stuttered through shivers. "How long would we have to stay here old lord?" She asked.

"Until they choose to depart, you can use this time to train your cold resistance," Da Hai said and continued observing the dragon's movements.

"Aren't you paranoid?" A deep rumbling sound asked him through the mist.

"It is natural for a master to monitor his disciple's progress," Da Hai answered.

"To stalk them across the world? You are a very benevolent master to your disciples," the deep voice rumbled. Da Hai frowned.

"Keep your comments to yourself Ao," he reminded.

"Heh heh heh, you can't trick me," the deep voice laughed amused.

"You barely know me," Da Hai said.

"It is obvious on your face," the deep voice replied. "Little fairy, why don't you come and live on my back? Your master seems to be getting a little grouchy."

"No thank you lord Ao, I will accompany my lord till the end," the head moth fairy said. "Besides, such an environment is good to train my fleshy body," she said.

"Heh heh, suit yourself. Don't waste away your life away, live freely and explore the wide world out there. Not like me," the deep voice said amused yet sad. The thick fog was brushed away to reveal a massive turtle head. Ao, the most primordial turtle and one of the ancient chaos godfiends of old. A survivor cursed with a fate worse than death. Unable to move from his stationary location. Unable to do anything but stay in the north most corner of the north sea.

 

For someone whose cultivation was as high as Zulong, restoring those cultivators of the frigid desolate north sea was but a simple matter. Despite what his detractors said, he never harmed them once.

In order to build further goodwill, Zulong used his powers to drive out the frigid cold from a subsection of the north sea. It wasn't a large area but enough to accommodate those present until a more permanent solution can be created.

"The cold will be an issue, a very large one," Zulong mused unhappily. He had set up five point pentagram as a barrier but it was already weakening. "We'll cover the underground lake, hopefully that'll insulate the cold," he instructed.

"Right/Elder brother is wise," Qinglong and Yinglong said in unison. The two dragons retreated back to the underground lake and got to work. Pulling together their powers they began enclosing the lake with their power.

"This is not good," Yinglong said. "We can use the soil present but it is too weak to hold."

Zulong joined the duo in their attempts while contemplating. "Fellow daoist Xuanwu, you are a native, do you have any ideas?" He asked.

"To be fair, I've spent most of my life asleep," Xuanwu said looking somewhat embarrassed. "Perhaps you could put a treasure over it? A sufficiently powerful xiantian spiritual treasure should do the trick."

Zulong frowned, he did not wish to part with either of his top grade xiantian treasures. "What do you guys think of solidifying our Qi," he asked.

"What like spiritual ore veins?" The others asked. Zulong nodded, the principle of what he proposed is similar just lacking in terms of preexisting raw material.

"A solidified chunk of Qi will not be permanent, as time goes on it will erode much faster than a cover forged from ores," Yinglong said.

"Do not discount me fellow daoist," Xuanwu said. "The north sea is my home, I can stay and reinforce the barrier."

"With all due respect daoist Xuanwu, your cultivation is not strong enough to reinforce the barrier," Yinglong said without any malice. "Even with us four, it is still a struggle to seal this lake shut."

"It's fine, with our cultivation it'll last long enough. When we return we'd come up with a more permanent solution," Zulong said. "On my signal," he ordered.

The three dragons in unison revealed their true forms. Three massive serpentine figures appeared within the north sea depths. The dragons roared in unison, unleashing their profound cultivation and Qi.

Xuanwu did a similar action. His handsome/beautiful features faded away to a gargantuan ovoid creature. He was a tortoise with a solid shell with engravings of clouds and waves. He was black with outlines of luminescent blue.

Xuanwu's head was angular and big. His limbs were wide and steady. His shell was thick and strong, resembling a mountain made of pentagonal pyramids. He truly looked like an auspicious beast fit to stand beside a dragon. His most distinguishing feature however was his tail.

Instead of a short tortoise's tail, Xuanwu's was much long longer and not a true tail at all. It was another beast entirely, a serpent resembling a viper whose breath unleashed cold mist. It was red in colour contrasting Xuanwu's black and blue body, scaly and sleek.

Behind Xuanwu, the bright image of the water star mercury with all it's watery mysterious might shone. It showcased Xuanwu's deep understanding of the Dao and its profound mysteries. The black tortoise did not lose out to the dragons.

'This person is not simple,' Zulong thought to himself as they got to work. He noticed that Xuanwu's power could be a very useful asset to him for his talent was equal to his brothers.

What was more astonishing was how well he coordinated with Qinglong. It was as if they were born to fight side by side, brothers from a foreign family. Their Qi complemented each other in ways that even he nor Yinglong could.

'But there also appears to be something missing,' Zulong thought after more observation. 'Like two parts of an even greater whole.'

By now, a solid jade platform with four colours of bright gold, dull yellow, azure blue, and pitch black. It held firm against the cold air permeating from the underwater lake. However, this steadiness will not last for long.

"Water's getting warmer," Qinglong idly commented waving his arm around the water. The change could be felt immediately. Although it was still very cold, it was not as extreme as before.

"It'll take some time before the sea temperature drops back to an acceptable level. The barrier protecting the north sea denizens should let them live comfortable lives," Zulong said.

They returned to where they left the north sea cultivators. Many of them still bore unhappy looks but equally as many bore grateful looks. "Thank you," they said.

"The environment should be enough for your young to survive," Zulong said. "I've left you with enough resources nobles from the east sea can obtain. Use it wisely," he said.

"Thank you," the cultivator who originally took that leap of faith said. "Sadly, Shenni's reign has permanently damaged the north's vitality, innate creatures will never appear again. Even so, we will recover as best as we can," he said.

"What is your name fellow daoist?" Zulong asked.

"This one is named Xie Chun. One of the few remaining Great Crabs in the north," he said.

"It was a pleasure to meet you Xie Chun, I will see you when I return," Zulong said turning to leave.

"Actually, fellow daoist, if it is not too much to ask," Xie Chun called out. "I'm afraid the north sea will not truly prosper again until something else is felt with."

Zulong narrowed his eyes. This crab was is overreaching. Or perhaps he has a strong enough grasp of Zulong's personality to dare ask something of him.

"Speak away," Zulong said.

"Aside from the cold, the north sea is also frequented by primordial beasts. You have already encountered some of them," Xie Chun said. "The fact is that primordial beasts still do frequent the northern part of the great wilderness. They gather at the mysterious island at the northmost corner of the world. If fellow daoist wishes for a true stable kingdom, they'll have to be eliminated."

Zulong nodded, primordial beasts according to ancient records were a pest. They were the first blight on the world that deserved to be eliminated.

"What say you brothers?" He asked Qinglong and Yinglong. The two dragons nodded in agreement and agreed to the request. It was not too much of a big deal.

"Xuanwu, wanna come with us?" Qinglong asked the black tortoise.

"I would love to, I have not seen primordial beasts with my own eyes," he said in agreement.

The group of four took off towards the north most point of the north sea.

"Do you think I made the right choice?" Xie Chun suddenly said after the group of deities were gone.

"Good or bad, it won't change much," a cultivator behind him said. "It sounded almost like a dream."

"Hmph," the old woman snorted with contempt. "A mistake if I ever saw one. Would've been better to go out fighting. My Lin'er would've wanted that at least."

"You are too consumed by the past," Xie Chun said with a sigh. "Whatever the case, we have walked out of this tribulation with some gains. That Zulong, something about him just screamed out to me."

"Falling for an innate god of all things? Guess I never knew you," the old woman scoffed.

"I don't think he lied," another cultivator said. "He sounded serious, nothing about him spelt deceit. Just promise."

"Empty promise I'm sure," the naysayers said. Xie Chun however maintained his hopeful disposition. He had a feeling that something big will change about the seas. Something relating to the dragon who just left. A feeling that sprung up from the moment the dragons appeared.

…

At the northernmost point of the north sea. At the misty oceans in which the continent on Ao's back was located. The great tortoise Ao and Da Hai awaited Zulong's group.

"Did you foresee they would clear out my infestation problem? Was that why you took no action?" Ao said in his rumbling voice.

"It was a likely scenario," Da Hai admitted. "Though if they had left beforehand I would've cleared them out for you."

"Heh heh, how shrewd fellow daoist, how shrewd indeed," Ao laughed. "It was entertaining watching them fight themselves on my back, I senjoyed it while it lasted."

"You do not mind their presence? Even though they gnaw at your flesh?" Da Hai asked.

"I regenerate faster than they could eat. It never mattered anyway. No worse than a small itch," Ao said. The colossal creature had not moved one inch since the dawn of time. He could only perceive the world by way of divination.

Da Hai nodded, Ao's choices were of no concern to him. Seeing Zulong and the other's approach he began concealing both himself and the head moth fairy.

"The beast here are not like those driven out into the larger north sea and continent. The amount of vitality they gained by eating a chaos godfiend is extraordinary. let's see how well the dragons can deal with them," Da Hai murmured in expectation.

He was not disappointed. Zulong, Qinglong, Yinglong, and Xuanwu immediately got to work upon arriving at the 'mysterious island' shrowed in mist. Because Ao had opted not to speak they could not tell that this was a living creature at all.

Yinglong dived in from the air. He controlled the clouds and rain and thunder to magnificent efficiency. He blasted, whipped and clawed at a vast assortment of primordial beasts clearing their number with little effort.

His wings carried him smoothly across the clouds as he gracefully fight against his foes. The dragon of the clouds manipulated the clouds themselves as weapons. They were his shield and sword.

Qinglong and Xuanwu displayed their starry might. The dragon and tortoise smashed the primordial beasts to bits. Their stellar constructs burned them alive. Xuanwu's snake head also unleashed its own frosty breath.

Zulong meanwhile observed their performance with happiness. Neither his brothers nor the newcomer were weak by any stretch of the imagination. Strength and talent was something Zulong heavily valued.

The ancestral dragon soon joined the fray. His golden magnificence dominated the battlefield with a mixture of physical power and water manipulation.

"Admits the raging waves, the dragon rises from the sea, soaring above the clouds," Zulong chanted as he thought. As he chanted golden light glimmered along the surface of his scales. However they did not have any real effects other then visual.

Da Hai narrowed his eyes. 'His in the process of inventing a new spell,' he thought. Live combat was a very good learning experience. It allows the spontaneous development of ideas for spells and cultivation.

'I shall see where this new art goes,' Da Hai thought with expectation. The group had made good progress clearing out the initial waves. However primordial beast lacked a sense of danger and kept pouring out.

'Some of the inner beasts have been devouring Ao for a long time. I wonder how they'll stack up against Zulong?' He thought. From the looks of it, Ao's anticipation was roused as well. The turtle was watching the battle with interest.

Among the hordes on Ao's back. Those special monsters who'd evolved past their weaker kin roused. Their attentions were turned to the invading dragons and tortoise.

North Continent Shore

A large crowd of primordial beasts were gathered on one beach gorging on the remains of an ancient chaos godfiend long deceased. A dignified antlered man watched from afar with a small smile.

He held up a diagram. It glimmered with power before flashing with mysterious lights. The effect was immediate. The eyes of the primordial beasts glazed over and their bodies stilled.

"The old man wasn't lying, this does work," the dignified man, Zulin, said. The ancestral Qilin rubbed the diagram gently. Its scroll was made from the skin of the beast emperor himself. A piece his benefactor claimed to have sliced off eons ago during the war.

"With this, I am one step closer to controlling the north continent," Zulin said with a smile. "It's a shame the sea turned out the way it did. Si Hai can have that wasteland," he said with a dismissing snort.

"All that's left is to achieve the Da Luo," Zulin said while guiding the army of primordial beasts. Only in the north can you find this army of monsters. Only in the north have they survived.

"Hm? What's this?" Zulin's nosed twitched. His head flickered northwards and sniffed the air.

"Such a good smell, very good smell," his curiosity roused, the innate god shed his human form and assumed his horselike quadrupedal body with a long tail and draconic features. The Qilin sniffed the air and his hairs glowed. His whiskers blew in the wind and faint golden flecks drew towards him.

"Such a strong smell, how could someone have so much karmic luck?" Zulin lifted one hoof and step on a magic golden cloud. All four of his hoofs were lifted into the air.

"You lot shall join up with the others in Shenni's cave," he ordered his newly captured primordial beasts. The innate god proceeded to dash northwards hoping to catch whatever was giving off so much karmic luck before it disappears.

 

A fierce battle raged on the back of Ao. The gargantuan tortoise's back shell was once a continent of black mountains and flora but had been reduced to a wasteland. Splinters of trees and uprooted mountains lay in a collateral heap resembling a landfill.

A monstrous figure standing easily over a hundred thousand kilometres tall resembling a praying mantis stood opposing the group of three dragons and one black tortoise.

"This is new," Qinglong said idly from a fair distance away from the mantis. Surrounding him were mountains of corpses ripped to shreds. The azure dragon had been busy as had his comrades.

The mantis screeched into the wind. Its cry was powerful enough to create distortions in reality. The fierce gust of wind generated atop Ao was a testament to its power.

"It's eyeing us as if we're prey," Xuanwu said. His snake and main head alike looked tense at the primordial beast. It was easily the largest living creature he'd ever encountered.

The mantis screeched once more and charged at the group. It smashed into the corpses with enough force to kick up its primordial beast brethren into the air. It was raining corpses.

It turned and swiped at Yinglong who curled up. The pincers were lined with rows of spiked protrusions resembling the teeth of a shark. It scraped against Yinglong's scaled body ripping rows of yellow scales out of his side.

Zulong not taking any chances charged in and smashed into the mantis throwing it off its feet. The golden dragon ducked out of the way of a retaliated swing before grabbing ahold of its head with his hind legs and tossed the creature onto the ground.

Qinglong and Xuanwu flew in and began a bombardment of miniature stars. It was like a shower of comets if each comet were bombs. The light of the Jupiter and Mercury stars spun in the air.

Qinglong and Xuanwu smirked at each other. Their energies mixed together and shot out like an arrow. It pierced at the mantis' abdomen.

However, the creature slammed its pincers on the ground with enough force to flip into the air and landed back onto its feet. It swung down at the two gods.

"Allow me," Xuanwu said retracting his snake head. His shell projected the image of a massive turtle shell carved from ice. It resisted the strike albeit with difficulties. The mantis began repeatedly bashing on the shield.

"It's unlike the others, its strength is easily within the realm of Taiyi Golden Immortals!" Yinglong exclaimed, "I thought master said no primordial beasts ever surpassed the Golden Immortal realm."

"Different eras brother," Zulong replied. He had gotten behind the mantis and grabbed hold of its left shoulder. "Help me," he ordered.

With a flap of his mighty wings. Yinglong was at the mantis' right side in an instant. The two dragons pulled the primordial beast away from Xuanwu.

With the pressure relieved, the scale head of Xuanwu reappeared and opened its mouth. Qinglong opened his mouth as well. The two unleashed their combined attack landing a direct hit on the monstrous mantis.

This time it impacted the creature easily punching a hole through its body. The side of its injuries showcased signs of frostbite and burn marks. The two dragons holding it in place punched with their claws denting its skull.

"This thing's tough," Yinglong commented in the aftermath of his strike.

The mantis inspite of its injuries began rampaging. It was as if it didn't even feel it. It battered the distracted Yinglong aside with a single strike and stomped at Xuanwu and Qinglong.

The two innate gods easily got out of the way and met its oncoming right hook with their bodies. The strike rocked them to their very core as they were pushed back and thrown into the air.

Zulong narrowed his eyes and charged. "You nothing but brute strength," he said as a matter of fact. He raised his claws and both the pincers of the mantis in a head on clash. The dragon and primordial beast met in a statement on Ao's back kicking up a hurricane's worth of fierce wind rippling into the distance.

"There is no mysticism about you, no Dao of any kind, no Qi of any kind. You're like an aberration in the primitive world," Zulong stated. His muscles bulged, his grip tightened.

"Indeed, you are very strong physically," he said idly. "However you are only physical strength. And even in that, you are subpar before me."

Zulong raised his strength. With a sharp movement of his nine digit claws, he broke the mantis' carapace on both pincers. With an extension of his claws, he tore the right limb of the mantis from its body.

The mantis fell onto its side. It rolled over and began to get up completely ignoring its injuries.

"Master's records speak true, they really do lack survival instincts," Yinglong said observing the primordial beast.

"Be that as it may, I bore of this exchange," Zulong said. The dragon raised one claw and prepared to deal a final blow. Golden light gathered on his claws, the tips turned black and pulsated with power.

"Nine clawed killing!" Zulong chanted. He threw down his slow. The massive dragon claw projected the image of a gargantuan dragon claw that blanketed the continent on Ao's back. The dragon was gold and black, his eyes shone with mysterious royal lights that dominated the heavens.

The claw descended and entrapped the mantis in nine directions. Zulong smirked satisfactorily, his new magical technique was working just as intended. Its effects were also very good.

The claw closed in on the mantis preparing to kill. Blood would draw any minute now.

Suddenly, Yinglong, Qinglong, and Xuanwu turned their heads. Zulong was the last to turn around and just barely missed a fast movement of clouds heading in his direction.

He prepared to stop the cloud but it missed him entirely. No, it was more accurate to say that it never aimed for him in the first place. It went onto the mantis and expanded rapidly into a massive auspicious cloudy shield.

'Similar to our clouds,' Zulong thought. 'No, this cloud is very different. Its auspicious in nature but whereas ours carries the good fortune of rain and Yang Qi, this cloud is…' Zulong rubbed his chin in contemplation examining the cloud.

A figure appeared above Ao's continent after the dragon claw disappeared. It was horse like and scaled creature and bore a heavy resemblance to dragons. In fact, Zulong mistook him for a dragon for a moment.

However that was clearly a silly thought. This creature who stood upon golden clouds pulsating with blue flames had gleaming blue scales of darker shade near his back and lighter blue towards his hoofs.

His legs were long and muscular and blue. His hoofs were red in colour and had a tuff of red fur that resembled flames. This tuff of red hair also appeared on his neck like a mane and along his spine. This horse looked like it was on fire. His antlers were huge, even bigger than Zulong's and his head was identical to that of a dragons complete with catfish whiskers.

"Cease for your emperor has arrived," the horse announced.

"My emperor?" Zulong laughed in amusement and annoyance. "How amusing horse, you make quite a jester," the dragon laughed much to the newcomer's irritation.

"How bold of you," the horse said. "You dare copy my appearance and laugh in my presence? You are but another ignorant fool." A hail of light rays descended like the lightning of god smiting the mortals below.

"Brother look out," Yinglong said sending the danger of the attack.

"Stay out my way," Zulong commanded in his royal voice. He keeled his head back and drew a long breath. When the light rays neared him, the dragon roared.

For a moment, the universe held still. All sound disappeared, all matter disappeared. In this void, there was only him. The supreme king who stood above all others. A long serpentine god emperor hung above the primitive world appearing like his own personal table.

The horse dragon stood above a cloud in this world, infinitely smaller then the dragon. He was but another subject to the emperor's will.

Zulin blinked, and the world was back to normal. His attack had disappeared, dispelled. His knees were slightly bent, unlike the high straight position he had them. His golden cloud was dimmer than before.

'What just?' The ancestral qilin thought in confusion before his eyes sharpened in anger. "The audacity!" He roared facing the dragon who had risen to look him in the eye on equal level. No, Zulong had raised himself to be above him.

The continent of Ao shook as two gargantuan auras descended. Two majestic royal auras clashed splitting the cloudy heavens. Two enormous Daos were clashing against each other. Two titanic cosmic trees with the outlines of a Dao fruit were facing each other.

"So much karmic luck," Zulin said sniffing the air. "Hand it over to your emperor and I may just spare your life."

"To dare covet my goodwill? To dare steal my, Zulong's face and prance around like a king of the primitive world? How pretentious," Zulong said in visible rage. "Just who do you think you are to demand anything of your emperor?"

Zulin raised one hoof and stomped at Zulong. His hoof catches karmic fire. His flames showed the images of dancing deities singing in praise of good fortune.

Zulin was born as the beast of good fortune. His mere presence draws in karmic luck allowing him to run unhindered in the world. He could sense the luck of others and obtain the luck of others forcefully if need be.

Zulong met hoof with claw. The two emperors clashed with such force that the two titans resembled nascent Da Luo Golden Immortals. The two flashed and reappeared a second later a fifty thousand kilometres apart

In but an instant, over a thousand exchanges were met. Zulong, in his full length curled around himself with a bloodthirsty look. His scales and fur were ruffled but otherwise, he was uninjured.

Zulin who appeared on the other side of him easily stood several thousand kilometres tall. His long scaly tail whipped through the air with a small tuff of red fur at the end. He too was uninjured.

"That was a good warmup," Zulong taunted. Zulin grunted in response, he whipped his tail smacking the much larger mantis in the face knocking out the creature who had recovered.

"What do you want with the primordial beast?" Zulong inquired as golden clouds covered the beast and shrunk. Zulin opted not to answer the dragon.

"I asked a question," Zulong stretched his upper body out. "And you WILL answer," the dragon commanded as he leapt at the qilin.

"And why would the actions of an emperor be a concern to a lowly subject?" Zuling mocked and dodged the dragon. He kicked with his hind legs hitting Zulong's body.

The dragon showed no indication of receiving any injury and twirled around to scratch at Zulin. The qilin leapt into the air standing atop golden clouds. He opened his mouth and swallowed the mantis.

Zulong's claws grabbed onto the edge of the golden cloud Zuling stood on. He pulled and raised another claw to grab the qilin's himself.

Sensing danger, the qilin leapt off the cloud and smashed down with his own tail. Zulong however anticipated this and grabbed hold of that tail with his hind legs and pulled the qilin along with him.

The dragon swung his opponent around like a ragdoll. He slammed Zulin into a multitude of mountains before lifting the qilin high into the air.

"You dare!" Zulin yelled out.

"I dare!" Zulong replied and chopped with his tail. His body was covered in gold and black lights. He resembled a chakram pulsating with immortal might. The art he used was supposed to be applied to treasures, turning them into deadly wheels of destruction like Da Hai had done to the white lotus years ago.

Zulogn applied the technique to his own body. He transformed into a massive hoop shape and slammed into Zulin's back. His scales became steel, his hairs became blades. He was like a beyblade of destruction that grinded into Zulin's scaly back.

"AHG!" Zulin called out in pain. His hoofs landed onto the ground. His scales could not resist and were ripped off. His flesh was cut and bled and he felt humiliated at every moment.

No longer able to resist, he lowered his body creating just enough space to rolled out of the way. A scroll wrapped in skin appeared before him and unrolled unleashing a wave of spectral fire.

Zulong's body reappeared and in his right claw was a shining azure pearl. It unleashed a million dragon projections and clashed against the wave of spectral fire.

The two treasures were evenly matched bringing slight surprise to Zulong. However, he was not undeterred. His right claw gripped a chain of beads with a calming effect. In an instant, the tides were turned. A wave of heavenly water barred down at the ancestral qilin washing away the scroll.

Qinglong, Yinglong, and Xuznwu leapt into the sky to avoid the battle. They couldn't believe how strong both opponents were. If Zulong had been giving his all then that mantis would've died in moments.

Zulin gritted his teeth in frustration. He charged at the dragon with his antlers. His body glowed in a torrent of karmic fire. With a mighty stamp of his hoofs, he charged at the wave. His flames burned away at the water and tore a path through it.

Karmic flames when used offensively was a dangerous foe. The golden flames of luck generated by the excessive usage of karmic luck struck everywhere. It rose and fell with Zulin turning the tides back into his favour.

Zulong saw the danger and retreated. Twirling in the air, he threw down a wave of power using both xiantian treasures. The dragon pearl and the twenty four sea calming beads forced Zulin to return his scroll onto his person. However they could not do anything but somewhat slow down the karmic fire.

Not willing to retreat. Zulong roared for all the world to hear and charged towards Zulin. His radiant light glowed in gold and black, colours of the royal heavens. Antlers met antlers as both gods clashed in the centre of Ao's back.

RUMBLE!

The skies split. Fire met light. Dragon met qilin. An unstoppable force met another unstoppable force. Both combatants gritted their teeth.

Zulong winced under the heat. 'Damnit I need to disengage,' he thought feeling the danger of karmic fire. The sheer power of such flames was beyond his expectations. His scales were slowly getting charred.

Then he had another idea. Zulong grinned and opened his draconic mouth.

What was heard next could only be described as the fierce roar of the king of all beasts. Or was it a royal decree from the emperor to his subjects? Or perhaps the motivating battle cries of a conquering general? Either way, the objective was achieved.

Zulin felt his heart skip a beat when Zulong roared. He felt his muscles loosen against his will. He felt his own determination wavering. He felt his concentration break and the sudden loss of strength along with it.

He was pushed back but tried to hold firm. The innate god born in the north tried to unleash his full might against the dragon of the east but the advantage was lost. His karmic flames briefly receded following Zulong's roar. His hoofs trembled facing the strength of the dragon.

The roar of the celestial dragon was a terrifying thing. It was a special ability that only the dragons possessed and were among their most unique of abilities. A single cry to command to heavens, a single cry to tame the seas, a single cry to dominate the land.

"I Zulin will never yield to you," Zulin roared in fury. The fire reignited around him to burn away at Zulong's own golden black lights. But too little too late, the qilin had long been forced to the point where he was a moment away from losing balance. He could barely apply any pressure to the dragon.

"Say that when you're not getting your ass kicked," Zulong replied with a haughty chuckle. His body began being covered by auspicious clouds. He raised his head breaking the clash and throwing Zulin onto his hind legs.

Zulong raised his right claw at the qilin's face. Zulin widened his eyes in shock and fear. The clouds around Zulong's claw were like ominous flames. They resembled a nine digit claw of a demon in the eyes of Zulin. They merged into a single long blade with deadly intent, merging the power of nine into one.

The impact came next. Zulong landed a hard blow on Zulin's face. The qilin retreated quickly disengaging from the dragon. His face was bleeding with a deep scar running from his eye to the bridge of his nostrils.

Zulin felt extremely humiliated. He glared at the dragon with contempt and some acknowledged respect. He knew at that moment that he was not looking at a senior of the previous generation like that purple clothed old man, nor a timid rabbit like so many innate creatures were. This was a god of the same generation as him. A fellow emperor. A competitor. Someone he had to remove.

Zulin as a last resort summoned forth massive amounts of karmic flames, rapidly burning through his own karma in the process. However, with his own talent, it wasn't a permanent loss. He directed those flames into several laser beams at the dragon.

Zulong stopped as the lasers were fired. He too could recognise Zulin as a factor that had to be removed. One emperor can recognise another and Zulong had long recognised who Zulin was, who he could be.

The dragon called forth a massive tsunami that focused into torrents of water that answered Zulin's barrage. Zulong hastily leapt and dodged and weaved around the rest. Karmic fire can bypass all his defences, if they didn't cost a hefty amount of his luck then he'd use it himself.

His water didn't last long, but they didn't have to. Zulong just had to make sure he wasn't hit.

Zulin opened his mouth to fire a concentrated blast which Zulong twirled around with his slender body. No flames were permitted to touch him.

The dragon unleashed spells after spells to slow the fire down taking care to never be struck directly. He weaved around the figure of Zulin who dodged to the side. And turned around in a hurry.

Zulong by now had raised his claw and struck down in a second display of 'nine clawed killing'. The golden black dragon claw descended towards Zulin who fired the rest of the flames at the claw in the shape of a giant qilin.

Zulong could sense his reserves of Qi depleting rapidly but chose to fire off a second claw with his unused left claw.

Zulin's expression was fierce as he jumped high, avoiding the claw that was going horizontally slashing at him.

"Ha! You missed," he gloated.

"Fool," Zulong retorted. "Unlike my master's version, nine clawed killing isn't a one step move. It's a two step one," he said smirking.

The open nine digit claw turned on the surface of Ao's back like a hand stretching out to grab something. The nine claws were like sharp pillars bathed in black light. They closed in like a flytrap on the figure of Zulin. It was as lit Zulong was closing his fists on an annoying insect, crushing its contents.

Zulin's expression was grim and he closed his eyes. Zulong looked gleeful in response. His claw closed with a loud 'BOOM' that radiated throughout the continent.

"So that's the highest level of combat in the world," Xuanwu said in wonder as he watched the dragon and qilin duel.

"No friend," Qinlong shook his head. "This is nothing compared to our master."

Xuanwu suddenly felt very inadequate. "To think such beings still exists in the world," he murmured.

Zulong looked in satisfactory when he opened his claw. The dragon looked very tired but was otherwise fine. His reserves of Qi will restore itself automatically without any prompt. Immortals in general possessed infinite energy but only in the sense that their limited reserves will continuously fill up from the world.

Suddenly, Zulong's head snapped to the sky at where his claw had closed in on. There standing ragged was the ruffled looking Zulin.

"You missed," Zulin said between huffs. Zulong however looked very startled. Zulin took this chance to dash away.

Yinglong and Qinglong broke out of their shock first and tried to catch the fleeing innate god. However, they recoiled when karmic fire ignited around Zulin and retreated.

Zulong quickly turned around to give chase. However, it was as if the world was working against Zulong. Zulin was unnaturally fast, unnaturally good at dodging all attacks Zulong threw at him.

No, it was more accurate to say that Zulong's attacks all missed. Every single one missed their target. Bolts of energy, water torrents, even another nine claw killing that drained Zulong even further. All missed without exception.

Zulong could only watch helplessly tired as Zulin got further and further away. He only heard the words "you missed" ring out in his head over and over.

"I missed," Zulong said back in his human form. "Or you just got lucky," he said between realisation and clenched teeth.

Away from prying eyes. Da Hai, who had held up a trembling hand out at Zulin before lowering it.

"It's a sin to kill a son of heaven," he said with angry contempt mixed with regret and sat back down on a pile of a dozen corpses. Primordial beasts he removed beforehand discreetly. Beasts that had been munching on Ao's flesh for so long that they grew to be at the strength of Da Luo Golden Immortals. Beings that would've killed his disciples should they have ganged up on them.

---

End note: Here's the first meeting between future rivals which will later become a threeway rivalry. With this chapter I tried to showcase the physicality of Zulong and how he would fight in his true form. His limbs are actually fairly long like the dragon from 'Black Myth Wukong'.

Each of the three emperors also come with their own inborn special power outside of super high levels of strength and talent for cultivation. Zulong's is his roar which functions sorta like conquerer's Haki from one piece. I got this idea from HN1F whose dragons had a similar ability as their bloodline. Essentially he can bend reality to his will to a limited degree, shakes or ignites the moral of men, makes others see him as their emperor. It's not especially strong against those at his or even somewhat below his level but a surprise like what he just pulled is effective as a hidden trump card.

Qinglong and Yinglong are capable of the same skill though to a far lesser degree than Zulong.

Zulin's on the other hand is the manipulation of karmic luck. He can easily smell luck and absorb it. This is how he tracked Zulong who has a very high natural luck value. Of course, those with high cultivation can resist this but a location or item can have its luck drained by Zulin. This is why Zulin didn't hesitate to use some extremely costly abilities such as karmic fire and causality manipulation. He knows he can gain them back easily.

Fun fact, Zulin's end bit at the last chapter took place during Zulong's journey through the north sea during chapter 51. It took Zulin quite a while to reach the dragon.

Zufeng's should be pretty easy to guess. It's not exactly chinese in origin but it's a pretty cool ability. That and the five colour lights her son uses is currently tied to Huoyun's and not Zufeng. that being said expect her to get it at some point cause Kong Xuan is not Kong Xuan without those lights.

Xianxia is kinda that once someone gets strong enough all hax abilities can be resisted/nullified. Any of the emepror's special abilities can be blocked with sufficient cultivation.

 

Crunch!

Zulong bit into a mulberry fruit and grunted in pleasure as his body succumbed to a sudden rush of power primordial Qi. It invigorated him and restored him to good health.

It hadn't been long since Zulin fled. Only a few minutes had past and the dragon had opted to recuperate. Hence he sat down and began consuming his supply of the Fusang tree's mulberry fruits.

Xuanwu stood at the side and looked at the berry in wonder and amazement. Such a treasure was incredibly rare in the primitive world and would be a definite asset to any immortal in possession of one. Yet here Zulong is devouring three in a row and still had a bag full.

"Take these and heal up," Zulong said after he was finished. He tossed the sack to Yinglong to share with Qinglong and Xuanwu.

"Is it really alright for me to…" Xuanwu began to say before Zulong held his hand up.

"You've proven yourself our friend. Consider us brothers and just accept it," he said with a friendly smile.

"He's right Xuanwu, we're already brothers in arms so just accept one," Qinglong said with an arm around the beautiful human form of the black tortoise. He held up a mulberry fruit which Xuanwu humbly accepted.

The azure dragon and black tortoise chat along wonderfully after that. Under the watchful eye of Yinglong and Zulong, Ao had been cleared of primordial beasts.

"Still, why did you not give chase brother? If you used master's talismans then that horse would've been obliterated," Yinglong asked. Zulong looked back with an uncomfortable look.

"Those are for emergency uses against foes far greater than us, that fake emperor was well within my power to defeat," the dragon said.

"But what about as he was fleeing? Master's attack would've hit and killed him," Yinglong asked.

"Would've been embarrassing," Zulong whispered so low that Yinglong did not hear him.

"Sorry I didn't quite catch that," Yinglong said.

"I said that whatever ability that horse used made it impossible to hit him no matter how accurate I aimed. What's to say master's talismans won't suffer the same results?" The ancestral dragon responded.

"Yes quite right," Yinglong said with a nod. "What do you think that was?" He asked.

"Judging by his fire and clouds, something to do with luck," Zulong said with contempt. "Fucking moron, burning through your luck like that will have disastrous effects especially for one claiming to be emperor," he snorted just at the memory of Zulin's retreating figure.

"Forget him," Zulong said. "Without great amounts of karmic luck, that fake emperor's future is doomed anyway."

"Rest up for now, we will return to report our success after daybreak," Zulong said. He reached into his inter spacial ring and brought out a large map and unfurled it on his lap.

'Let's see,' he thought tracing his finger along the northern regions of the map. It was a map that Da Hai had given him beforehand to navigate the primitive world. It contained locations that Da Hai had been to in the past but also locations from rumours and legends.

"Quite a long trek to the west sea," Yinglong said looking over his elder brother's shoulder. "West sea, another region we hear nothing about," the winged dragon said grimly.

"Master warned us to be wary of that place above all others," Zulond said with a nod. "It's close to the west continent, the holy ground for the devilish Dao."

"Devilish Dao, I've never met any from their sect before," Zulong mused. "Master told us to be wary and to retreat immediately if they make any significant movements during our stay. From my observation, it looked as if even master is afraid of them."

"Master was afraid?" Yinglong exclaimed in shock. "I guess it makes sense. We know of at least five seniors of master's generation working within the devilish Dao. I think it is wise to retreat if anything major happens."

Zulong nodded in agreement taking his eyes off the map. He saw Qinglong and Xuanwu discussing their Daos. He occasionally caught a few words describing the concept of stars and seasons.

"You are right to be wary of the west," Ao's rumbling voice said in acknowledgement. It was so shocking that the innate gods on Ao's continent all stood up and braced themselves.

"Oh no need to be dramatic," Ao said in amusement. "I mean you lot no harm."

"Who is speaking," Zulong demanded eyeing his surroundings.

"You want to know who's speaking? Know that I am a god from your master's generation. I am in front of you, below you, behind you. I am all of this land, every piece of ground you stand upon is me," Ao's rumbling voice announced quaking the earth itself.

"The land itself?" Xuanwu said in nervous shock. "But that would mean."

"We're not on an island," Qinglong concluded. He looked at the ground in amazement. "If what I think is true then we've been standing on a creature."

Zulong clapped his hands and dispersed the clouds. For millions of kilometres, the sky was bright blue. The continent of Ao that was once shrouded in mist was revealed to the greater north sea.

Zulong from his position on a stone slab could see clearly around him for the first time since reaching Ao. He looked downwards and saw the shape of a mindbogglingly massive head in the distance. So large was it that Zulong struggled to comprehend Ao's size.

"What are you?" Zulong said. He could feel vast power emanating from the great tortoise. It easily eclipsed anything he'd felt before. Even his master was likely inferior loathed as he was to even think that.

However, the head made no movements. Ao made no indication that he'd heard them. There was no movement at all, not even the slightest twitch of muscle. It was almost as if he wasn't even alive at all.

"Have I not explained already young ones?" Ao said. "I am Ao, a godfiend of the chaos period reincarnated into… well not quite an innate god."

"You're a piece of land," Xuanwu said in realisation. "You're both a living creature as well as the environment."

"Stuck somewhere in between," Qinglong said in realisation as well placing his held on the ground in a kneeling position. "Unable to move, you're trapped," he stated.

"Quite right young ones," Ao answered in his deep rumbling voice. "But it's not all bad, I get to… to… to…" and then there was a long stretch of silence. "Anyway, it was quite an impressive battle you were having."

"It was nothing much senior," Zulong said humbly.

"Oh but it is, you are already a step into the Da Luo realm, a very powerful one at that. I suspect that when you breakthrough you will be among the top of experts at the Da Luo Golden Immortal realm," Ao praised.

"Quite right senior, my big brother is the foremost talent in the world," Qinglong said with reverence with Yinglong nodding. Even Xuanwu couldn't help but agree after witnessing everything that's happened.

"Fellow daoist Da Hai truly knows how to pick good disciples," Ao said in agreement.

"You know master?" Zulong's attention snapped to Ao along with his brothers.

"Not well but you can consider us acquaintances," Ao said.

"Then it is an honour to meet uncle master," the three dragons cupped their hands and bowed politely.

"Haha, since you showed me so much respect then I naturally have to reward you," Ao said cheerfully. "It's not much but since you cleared my itch you may have some of my special soil. It's blessed with the primal chaos of creation itself and anything grown on it will yield much better results."

From deep within the earth, a ball of rich soil that resembled ash flew up. It came out of a small crack on Ao's continent and appeared before Zulong.

"Many thanks," Zulong said storing away the soil.

"As for you Xuanwu," Ao said catching the black tortoise's attention. "How about becoming my disciple?"

"What?" Xuanwu said in surprise. "You really mean it?"

"Heh of course. Seeing fellow daoist Da Hai and his ilk got me interested. So how about it kid? From one tortoise to another?" Ao said.

"Accept it Xuanwu, mentorship from a senior of the chaos period is a once in a lifetime opportunity," Qinglong said. "Your cultivation will soar leaps and bounds, I know mine did."

"Well if you think so," Xuanwu said and after some reservations, flew to the top of Ao's head. "Disciple greets you master," he said and proceeded to perform the discipleship ceremony.

"Good, very good, then from this day forth our destinies are intertwined," Ao said. A stream of ancient mantras flowed into Xuanwu's head. "These are the introductory lessons to my cultivation arts, memorise them well," the living continent instructed.

Zulong and his brothers stayed and recuperated on Ao after that. Around a week after, they left along with Xuanwu to report the good news.

Xie Chun and those in his camp were nearly brought to tears when the dragons honestly completed their task. Zulong had not deceived them and had kept his word.

"Xuanwu, how about joining our empire?" Zulong proposed when they were about to leave. "You are already familiar with us and we've helped each other out. I promise you that we'd treat you very well."

Xuanwu scratched his chin in thought. "Well, you're certainly better than that Zulin fellow. Alright, I can join as an elder. But not now, I still have much to learn under master Ao."

"No problem, the establishment of my empire is still far off in the future. May I ask you to guard the north sea until then?" He said.

"The north sea is my home. You don't have to worry about it," Xuanwu reassured. "Though if Zulin comes looking for trouble I will not hesitate to flee," he said. "That fellow daoist is a little too high above my weight class."

"I wouldn't expect you to," Zulong said. "You're an asset now, preserve your own life above all else for now," he ordered.

"As you wish, your majesty," Xuanwu replied with a bow of courtesy. "Safe travels," he offered before leaving when Zulong gave him the signal.

"This trip's been very enlightening," Qinglong said after bidding Xuanwu farewell. "There are so many things in the primitive world that master never even told us about. Who knew there was a living continent in the shape of a tortoise or a giant pool of super cold water underneath the north sea."

"It is, the north will need a lot of work. Thankfully, the east is resource rich enough to send relief aid," Zulong said with a nod. "Well then brothers, let us move westwards."

"Agreed," the two dragons answered following after the senior dragon. The western border was a distance away but the trio could afford to fly leisurely. The north sea was very depopulated and empty of dangers.

…

The former personal abode of Shenni was long since been in a state of disrepair. With no one remaining to care for it, this cave palace had long since been abandoned.

Zulin, the ancestral qilin lay on the floor of the cave licking his wounds. His encounter with Zulong had both enraged yet also humbled him. He thought himself weary enough having had accounted for the appearance of the ancient godfiends. But who knew someone from his generation could beat him so badly.

The qilin hissed in pained annoyance as the scar on his face stung. Zulong's attack damaged his vitality and it was unlikely it'd fade. The qilin got up from his resting spot and moved deeper into the cave.

He strolled down a set of stairs to deep beneath the mountain. His hoofs clipped and clopped against the dusty slabs of stone. His destination was just before him.

An entire underground storehouse containing millions of primordial beasts. Shenni once controlled these creatures using his own mysterious methods. Legends say he'd amassed an army in the billions, perhaps even trillions.

In this day and age, primordial beasts were hard to come by in any place other than the north continent. Much of Shenni's store houses still remained.

Zulin pulled out his scroll. It was a gift given to him by his benefactor in exchange for a place in his government. It was a simple exchange, that old man had good precognitive abilities and knew of his destiny.

Zulin opened his draconic mouth and released the piece of luck cloud. He winced at seeing his own pool of karmic luck. It had decreased until it was a small dry well.

The cloud disappeared releasing the mutilated mantis. Zulin smiled when he saw the creature. Its physical strength was extraordinary. It may be crippled but the physiology of primordial beasts allowed it to recover eventually.

Illusionary red and green chains flew down from the roof of the storage chamber. They dangled from an elephant chess board hanging from the roof. They wrapped around the struggling mantis and held it up.

It was a valuable treasure he came across a very long time ago. Since he acquired it, he'd also cultivated it to the level of a top grade xiantian spiritual treasure by feeding it large amounts of luck, treasures, and souls.

"Primordial beasts grow stronger by devouring those with powerful Qi," Zulin murmured. "How did you grow so strong, this warrants more investigating," Zulin said shaking his head.

The innate god held up the scroll and set about the binding mechanisms. Hit was a longer process than usual but successful in the end. The mantis fell under his control.

"Now I need to regain my luck," Zulin grumbled. The ancestral qilin left the chamber and continued to lay low. For now, he'd need to fully heal, then find some good spots to siphon more luck.

 

Nan Dao Chen was a coastal city located just off western shore of the west continent. It was a cultural hub that was widely considered the gateway between the wider west sea and the west continent proper. As such it was a well known rest stop for travellers.

The massive city was a sprawling metropolis and was nominally considered under the rule of Si Hai's empire consisting of the wider ocean. In practice however, the devilish Dao effectively ran the place.

It was a day to day occurrence to see disciples of the devilish Dao walking through the city, buying and selling wares, as well as competing in competitions. The pale skinned youths were considered local celebrities and often recruited from the area as well.

"Ash Raven sect is in town again this year," a local townsman said watching the marching troupe of immortals pass by. There were low ranking disciples as well as high status elders present as well. Cultivators ranging from pre immortal tribulation to even Immortals.

"Oh yeah, it is time for recruitment," the townsman's drinking buddy said raising a glass. "Is your son gonna participate?"

"Probably, I've been trying to convince him otherwise but you know how kids are," he replied.

"Why bother? Don't you know the benefits of getting into a sect of the devilish Dao? Way better than the ocean sects," the drinking buddy said.

"Yeah, but don't you know how high the mortality rates are?" The townsman emphasised with his arms raised. "Old Qin and old San's families had a total of twenty five youths who went last time. Only little Xi came back alive and she didn't even get in."

"That bad huh," the man said taking a sip of his drink.

"Make way! Make way!"

The folks on the street's attention were drawn to the pale skinned devils forming a line. A massive elephant acting as a sedan carried a skinny bird like man wearing a large feather coat. He had a hook nose resembling a beak and a near skeletal body with visible ribs adorning his shirtless chest.

"Make way for young lord Blood Raven," an elder announced.

"What, lord Blood Raven is here to attend the recruitment?"

"Heavens, we have lord Blood Raven in town."

The city was sent into a frenzy. A person with as big of a name as Blood Raven had arrived in town to personally oversee the recruitment of new disciples for the Ash Raven sect. This man was the only son of patriarch Ash Raven and a talented figure. Everyone knew to respect this man.

Atop his elephant, Blood Raven looked in satisfaction as crowds cheered his arrival.

In a nearby restaurant, three antlered brothers sat around a table. The dragons had arrived in Nan Dao Chen days ago and were deeply troubled.

The black robbed Zulong frowned in irritation as he read a thick book of various symbols. "This is utter bullshit," he growled.

"What did you expect," Yinglong said reading an unfamiliar menu trying to make heads or tails of the text. "The west is so far removed from the east and under the control of another faction. Of course, they'd develop differently."

"Those old geezers are still godfiends, they speak chaos godfiend, they write in chaos script," Zulong said pointing at his book which was evidently a dictionary. "Why do you need a new language when everybody already spoke the same thing."

"I mean different clans in the east used different writing systems," Qinglong offered trying to read his own menu.

"But they still all speak godfiend," Zulong said gripping his forehead. "Even the west's spoken language is vaguely familiar at best. It's like someone took a bunch of languages and mashed them together. I only recognise seven sounds tops."

"Um, may I take your order?" A nervous serving girl called out. She looked visibly intimidated at the trio of men.

"What's she saying?" Zulong asked Yinglong. The winged dragon put down his menu and turned towards the girl.

"We'd use a chicken stick meat and a vegetable bowl," Yinglong said in broken devilnese. He wasn't sure what to call the local language as they were never given a name.

"So a plate of chicken sticks and salad?" She asked. The three dragons looked at each other and nodded in unison. It was better to get the headache inducing conversation out of the way first.

"Remind me again why we can't just rip the knowledge out of someone's head?" Qinglong asked.

"Because someone will notice if someone mysteriously blacks out with missing memories," Zulong said. "And that we arrived without realising the language barrier. That and of course the sentries will notice if we tried something." Zulong pointed in the direction of the mayor's office and city guards.

Amazingly, there were at least three Taiyi Golden Immortals in Nan Dao Chen. The mayor, the captain of the guard and another person who just arrived. Zulong was certain he can easily beat all three at once but he wasn't exactly the greatest in stealth nor his brothers. The cultivation gap was small enough for their actions to be noticed.

For now, the dragons actively suppressed their cultivation and have not done anything of note. All the talismans they had on hand were effectively bombs and not for stealth.

'I really need to learn pellucid divine water,' Zulong idly thought. To date Da hai had not imparted the divine water to the brothers. However, it was an incredibly useful tool to add to his arsenal.

"So it's learning a language the old fashion way," Zulong grunted and kept reading his dictionary as the food arrived. The waitress soon brought them the food along with a bowl of curry.

"What spice is this?" Qinglong said tasting the substance.

"Heard someone call it curry," Yinglong said. "Unique local dish I'd think."

"Probably from the continent proper," Zulong pointed out. "You don't get many spices like these from the ocean herbs and what little we do get is imported from the east continent proper," he added.

"Experience from your trading town?" Qinglong asked and Zulong nodded. They dug into the food enjoying the good taste.

As the dragons were eating they took notice of the large parade outside. Of the nearly a hundred cultivators from the Ash crow sect, many stood at the Earth Immortal realm with several exceptional ones at the True Immortal realm.

Zulong can sense from their bones that their true ages were fairly young. These pale skinned men and women hovered around seven to nine hundred.

"Exceptional," he heard Yinglong comment. Every single of them were talented in their own right. The entire turtle clan as a whole would have very few individuals on par with them.

"They're a sect right," Zulong said in confirmation. "Then their talent pool is probably larger than that of a single clan," he clarified.

"Why don't we take a look?" Qinglong asked. "We'd get a better idea of the western regions and see what their selection process is like." Zulong and Yinglong nodded.

"Not a bad idea little brother, from the looks of things they just arrived. They may take a few days to actually begin the process," Zulong said.

The three got up and got to leave.

"Um, the payment," the same waitress from before began. Before she could finish Zulong tossed her a sack of immortal spirit stones and went on his way.

The west was very developed in comparison to the north. In fact, Zulong dared to say that they were more developed than the east. The west had long stopped trading with energy rich spiritual stones and had instead begun trading proper money.

Spiritual stones were still accepted of course but there was a proper coin system in place. Zulong found the system quite peculiar. The coins were evidently not spiritually active at all nor did they possess any magical properties but were yet seen with value even by immortal cultivators.

"Hey brother, check out those mounts," Qinglong pointed at the use of bestial mounts by the Ash Raven sect. Large elephants and tigers were used as steads by the disciples.

"Their fellow innate creatures," Zulong said in observation. It was not a practice he was unfamiliar with. Plenty of cultivators in the east tamed their defeated opponents as mounts upon their defeat. It was seen as an impressive display of strength. A cultural remnant from the chaos godfiends.

The brothers resumed chatting as the parade went on. Not just Ash Raven elders and disciples came through, but servants as well. All in all the entire troupe easily contained several hundreds of men and women.

"Let's retire for the night brothers," Zulong said as a gruff looking young man with white hair and silvery armour walked out of a nearby building with a barrel of alcohol. He had a medium length sword on his belt.

Aside from his armour, this white haired young also wore a coat of fur around his waist and a cape made of fur with the character '王'. This young man's attention instantly snapped to the three dragons when he heard them chatting.

"Was that the language of chaos godfiends? Someone here knows how to speak it?" He wondered in western language. His curiosity piqued, he decided to follow the three dragons.

'People of the west all speak the tongue taught by the devilish Dao, even the wider ocean clans,' the white haired stranger thought. 'The only ones who still remember the chaos godsend's language are the oldest of ancestors and those clans from the central west sea region.'

Zulong narrowed his eyes as he and his brothers were walking. His eyeballs rolled to look at who was behind him.

"Feel him?" He asked by sending a voice transmission to Qinglong and Yinglong. His brothers nodded.

"That's the same guy who walked out of that alcohol store earlier right?" Qinglong asked. Zulong nodded in response.

"Probably shouldn't have spoken so inconspicuously," Yinglong said.

"What other options are there? Just stand there silently? Better to pretend to be travellers from the north," Qinglong retaliated.

"Heads up brothers, he's closing in," Zulong said. "That alley to our left, we'll confront him there."

As the white haired stranger rounded the street into the alley, he was greeted with the three dragons folding their arms. "What do you want?" Zulong asked. He observed the white hair man before him.

This gruff looking person had a short moustache and a stubble. He looked to be a fierce warrior and it showed in his stance. He looked confident and relaxed but was yet ready to pounce at any time.

"Heard you all speaking chaos godfiend," he said in the same language.

"And? People outside the west all speak chaos godfiend, what's your point," Zulong retorted. He narrowed his eyes when he saw the white haired man's pale blue iris flash into a deep yellow colour.

"You're too rich to be from the north, not after all that's been done there," the white haired man concluded. "You're all looked to be ocean folk, I can see the origin of water on you. You from the south or west sea?"

"Could be born in a lake on the continent," Zulong countered with interest. He could tell that this young man had a special ability that had to do with sight.

"I can tell fresh from salt water, they're fairly distinct," the white haired man said. "And you didn't answer my question," He said with an arm resting on the sword handle. However he didn't look like he was going to draw it.

"For what purpose do you stop us?" Zulong asked once more.

"We can play this for a long while but fine," the white haired man said. "Everyone on the continent follows Luohu's teachings, everyone is a devil including those who're within the ocean empire. You are distinctly not devils."

"You can tell?" Yinglong exclaimed in surprise.

"You hide your cultivations and appear like inconspicuous mortals, but you move like a superior being. You have none of the telltale signs of those who follow the devilish Dao. You also speak the chaos godfiend language which leads me to think you're from the south," he said nonchalantly. "I'm just curious what you're all here for?"

"Not from the south," Zulong said much to Yinglong and Qinglong's shock. "You're not a devil either," Zulong said pointing at the man.

"Indeed I am not," the man confirmed. "I am of the west though, how can you tell?"

"I haven't been around devils for long but they do carry a fairly distinct aura," Zulong explained. "You're cloaking yourself well but I can smell the faint energy of yours. They're more along the lines of an innate creature, one who didn't follow any specific teachings but their own path." Zulong looked closely at the young man before continuing.

"I can also sense a familiar primal origin within you," Zulong said looking at Qinglong and the memory of Xuanwu. "You're an innate god aren't you. An independent one."

"Correct," the white haired man admitted. "You still haven't answered my question."

"Explorers from the east," Zulong stated.

"Explorers?" The white haired man said. "East you say, I've never met anyone from the east before."

"Who are you?" Zulong asked.

"Can't give you my name right now, trying to lay low," the white haired said. "But for the time being you can call me Bai Jian," he said turning around to leave.

"Leaving already?" Zulong asked.

"You situated my curiosity, I have no more reason to be here," Bai Jian said. Bai Jian disappeared back into the crowd on the main road.

"He felt just like Xuanwu didn't he," Zulong suddenly said to Qinglong. The azure dragon nodded.

"Thought so, his senses are sharp, very sharp," Zulong said.

"You looking to recruit him?" Yinglong asked.

"Of course, an independent is prime recruitment material," Zulong said with a laugh.

"Then why'd you let him leave?" Yinglong asked.

"We'll see it again," Zulong said. "A guy like that doesn't stay out of trouble for long," he said. The most senior of the dragons turned around and lead his brothers away.

 

Within a week, many cultivators were gathered just outside the walls of Nan Dao Chen. Most of them were young hopefuls who wished to enter the Ash Raven sect. Following the crowd, the dragons discreetly stood amongst the crowd as well.

"The devilish Dao is very popular," Yinglong mused watching the procedure beginning to take place. A podium was set up with the young Blood Raven daoist at the helm.

The devil gave a few words of introduction, a small motivational speech about how anyone could join and be devils. Zulong tuned out the speech, he couldn't grasp everything being said, only every couple of words and certain phrases confused him. From appearance however, it was evident that this was a disingenuous attempt as Blood Raven seemed bored throughout. The devil looked very impatient to complete the task.

Despite his boring approach, the hopefuls were not deterred. Blood Raven did not have to try too hard to get them excited. The reputation of the devilish Dao established through tens of thousands of years had long since paid off.

As an established path of myriads of branches, techniques, and methods, the devilish Dao had grown from a single cultivation lineage into an entire cultivation lifestyle. It was in many ways a culture as well as a path to immortality.

Zulong scanned the city again and again taking note of the devilish Dao's presence. 'There is unity in this,' he thought with an appreciative look.

Thinking back, the dragon could recall that once upon a time, Da Hai had guided the denizens of the east sea in cultivation. He however never fully capitalised on it having not established a sect. In fact, Da Hai had not even passed his own Dao down, merely taught immortal techniques.

In contrast, the devilish Dao freely distributed the Dao of seven emotions six desires. All of Luohu's insights were given away in readily available tomes. All sects and even shops in Nan Dao Chen had these in storage. Of course the former had modified theirs to fit their style, they were at heart, merely a deviation of Luohu's Dao.

"I wonder why that is," Zulong mused. Why had Da Hai not done what Luohu did? In fact, why was Luohu seemingly the only godfiend to have done this?

"Why was what?" Qinglong responded to his musing.

Zulong shook his head and replied, "it was nothing brother." He broke away from his thoughts to pay attention to Blood Raven's actions upon the podium.

The devil had opened up a portal to a pocket dimension and pulled all those who wished to have a chance in. Zulong looked curiously at the technique and stored it in his mind.

Ash Raven's dimension was not big. It was a square world measured at a 500km by 500km dimension. But it got the job done. The devil released a horde of shadow constructs into the dimension.

"There are one hundred slots available in our Ash Raven sect," he said. "Only those with the most impressive performance are permitted to enter. Prove to us that you seek true freedom above all else, that seek seven emotions six desires above all else." He waved his hand and closed the gate trapping thousands within.

"That is very vague," Yinglong said with a frown. "So what, does he expect a free for all massacre? Dao debates? Contests? What could impressive performance even entail?"

"Seeking true freedom? Seven emotion six desires?" Qinglong contemplated the meaning of those worlds. He could sense that Blood Raven's commands carried the weight of the Dao. His words carried the meaning of the devilish Dao's core principles. Of Luohu's Dao's core principles.

Even though the two parties spoke completely separate languages, Zulong understood everything being said. As the Dao was universal across all forms of communication, the dragons understood all of Blood Raven's words.

"A fucking hoax is all it is," a familiar voice replied. Qinglong turned around and saw the approaching figure of Bai Jian. The white haired swordsmen looked impressive and ferocious as ever. His footsteps spoke of a predator in wait.

The swordsman was also surprisingly stealthy. He was able to approach the trio without them noticing and he moved through the crowd without touching anyone.

"Bai Jian, nice to see you again," Qinglong said saluting the swordsman. "What do you mean by your words?"

"Exactly as I said, this whole spiel about freedom is all a hoax," Bai Jian said gesturing at the pocket dimension. "A fucking lie that tricked the entire western world. There's no freedom to be had here."

"Is that so," Qinglong replied. "So it's all propaganda then? To be honest I expected them to be mere words of promotion for their sect."

"Oh it runs far deeper than that friend, even I nearly missed it if it wasn't for my…the point is that what they're selling, this established path that ensures success at cultivation is a blatant lie," he said with disgust evident on his face.

"That's interesting," Zulong suddenly said turning towards the two. "Mind elaborating?"

"Well it's…" before Bai Jian could start Yinglong unintentionally interrupted.

"Heavens," the winged dragon grimaced loudly. A few screams in the crowd was also heard. Some families broke down crying while Blood Raven watched desensitised.

Within the pocket dimension, cultivators were being torn apart left and right. Shadow beasts ripped them to shreds, some sacrificed others to get away while others massacred everyone to prove their might.

"He said those with the most impressive performance can enter right?" The cultivator massacring both shadow beasts and cultivators alike said with a twisted look. "Well here's what I can do," he yelled leaping into battle.

Blood Raven stroked his chin with a small satisfied look. Even from the distance, Zulong, Qinglong, and Yinglong could recognise the look of approval at those words.

"Not used to the violence?" Bai Jian chimed in.

"It's not that," Qinglong replied. "Why was all the killing necessary? Seems kinda extreme."

"Master will call it wasteful, I do too," Yinglong said nodding.

"In the east sea, youths are tested in combat but there are ways to simulate stress tests without actual death risks," Zulong said with a disapproving look. "What is the point of this?"

"In the words of the devil ancestor, only the best of the best of the best of the best may enter my devilish Dao," Bai Jian quoted. "The rest are discarded however they choose, Blood Raven's just an asshole."

With a gush of blood, another person died. Then another was torn apart. More and more families wept around them while others clenched their hands in worry.

"I can't watch this," Qinglong was the first to begin moving. But before he could get far, Bai Jian grabbed his shoulders.

"You don't want to do this, touch Blood Raven and you'd draw the attention of Ash Raven," he warned.

"You think we're scared of some bird in this backwards dump?" Zulong said angrily while Qinglong glared.

"No, Ash Raven isn't the problem, it's his master that is," Bai Jian continued. "Ash Raven is a favoured disciple of ancestor Taotie, touch Ash Raven and you draw Taotie's wrath."

"Taotie? That gluttonous pig?" The dragons exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, that same gluten has taken many disciples and is one of the foremost experts of living by excess in the world," Bai Jian said with a grimace. "Disgusting reputation aside, he's no joke."

Zulong reevaluated their chances in the west. It was a place they weren't totally safe in. In fact, Da Hai had stressed that even he wasn't totally safe there either. But then again, the distance between the central west continent and the shore was very big.

"How big's the distance between here and Taotie?" He asked.

"Taotie doesn't leave his abode often, so a few years away," Bai Jian stated.

Zulong nodded, he touched his inter spacial ring and pulled out a set of masks. He put them on and his antlers disappeared. "Put these on," he ordered his brothers.

"You're not afraid of being tracked?" Bai Jian asked.

"We have protection," Zulong assured. He tilted his head expectedly. In an instant, Qinglong disappeared in a mad dash. The ancestral dragon however stood still before the white swordsman.

"Who are you really? A former disciple of the devilish Dao?" Zulong asked. Bai Jian nodded, he did not bother hiding that info.

"So you're a traitor to their sect hiding here?" He asked for confirmation. Bai Jian again nodded.

"I would've appreciated it if you didn't make a commotion here, especially not at this time," Bai Jian said with a sigh.

"You're talking about the xiantian treasure gestating that way?" Zulong asked pointing towards the ocean. "Don't give me that look, if you noticed it they why wouldn't I? Besides, they're probably here for the same reason." Zulong gestured to the Ash Raven cultivators who had engaged Qinglong and Yinglong.

"You're pretty arrogant aren't you," Bai Jian said.

"And you're not?" Zulong countered.

"I'm no different, planned to kill those fuckers later, guess my schedule will have to be changed," Bai Jian said holding the handle of his sheathed sword. Unnoticeable energy was swirling around Bai Jian.

Zulong could feel bloodlust oozing from the swordsman. However, none of it was directed at him. Zulong smiled.

"What do you think of joining me?" He announced.

"What teaming up? I'm afraid not, I was willing to help introduce you to the west but teaming up to go after a treasure is a bit much. Sorry, but I can't risk it," Bai Jian replied.

"Not that, xiantian treasures matter little to me," Zulong said nonchalantly to Bai Jian's surprise. "I'm establishing a faction of my own. An empire if you will and I'd like for you to be part of it."

"Do I look like a fucking bureaucrat to you?" Bai Jian said gesturing at himself.

"I was thinking general," Zulong said. "You look like the type I wouldn't want anywhere near my office." Bai Jian threw his head back and laughed loudly.

"An empire, you're funny my friend. In this world, what would small fries like you be able to make?" Bai Jian turned around to leave. "You seem smart so I'll let you know now, don't try it friend. I speak from experience when I say that some forces in this world are insurmountable."

…

Blood Raven growled when an azure fist struck into his abdomen. The masked man before him was simply too strong.

"Who the hell are you?" He growled narrowly dodging another hit. He drew forth his sickle for another strike but the masked man jumped back.

"A pissed of adventurer," Qinlong's distorted voice replied. Of course Blood Raven had no way of knowing that this was Qinglong or who Qinglong even was.

Qinglong forced Blood Raven back with another punch. The devil's blood constructs could do nothing to the dragon. Qinglong broke the spears shot by Blood Raven and chopped another blade into pieces.

"Young master!" One of Blood Raven's retainers disengaged from Yinglong to help Blood Raven. Blood Raven quickly retreated and drank a vial of blood.

Qinglong lit both hands in blue light. They resembled burning stars. Qinglong's body glowed transparently. He looked like a living galaxy filled to the brim with stars.

"What is this?" Blood Raven cried out in shock at the pressure he felt. He didn't even know Taiyi Golden Immortals were capable of such might.

Qinglong blasted a massive wave of stellar energy. Blood Raven quickly drew forth a fountain of blood to form a shield. Feathers began appearing all over his body as he struggled.

His retainer, a fellow cultivator at the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm jumped in to hit Qinglong. The dragon tilted his head and kicked the man in the stomach. Qinglong's foot was like a comet, he kicked right through the stomach of the immortal.

"Grah!" The retainer was fell from the air landing on the ground. His body transformed into that of a massive rat.

"You're gonna regret that," Blood Raven growled. His foot began talons, his hands became wings. His head grew a beak and he transformed into a massive black raven a kilometre wide. Fresh blood was drawn forth from the rat corpse flowing into Blood Raven.

"How fitting," Qinglong commented continuing to engage the devil. A sword of stars appeared in Qinglong's hand as he swung sideways into Blood Raven's wing.

Blood Raven met the blade with an enhanced claw. The two were better matched now that Blood Raven had absorbed his retainer's vitality.

Qinglong frowned and formed a vibrant green and punched the enhanced devil in the face. Blood Raven cried out in pain and retreated.

Qinglong moved forwards and slashed drawing more and more blood. Blood Raven psychically gripped his own blood and formed needles out of them to hit the dragon. However, they could not penetrate Qinglong's skin.

"Fuck, just who are you?" Blood Raven nervously looked to the side and saw a horrifying scene. His other retainer and the city lord were both defeated by the similarly masked Yinglong. Both are bound by auspicious clouds.

"Hey pay attention," Qinglong's voice called out. Blood Raven barely had enough time to dodge. Yet still, his left leg was cleaved clean off by Qinglong.

Blood Raven felt miserable. His pocket dimension was broken and its occupants freed. Yinglong did not struggle to destroy all the shadow beasts and restrain the cultivators within.

Blood Raven did not expect this small expedition to cause him so much trouble. It was so simple, collect the new xiantian treasure discovered by their scouts, stop by to pick a few new recruits and maybe get some clues of the steel swordsman. Why did it all come to this?

'I need to flee,' Blood Raven desperately flapped his wings. The blood around him became a cloud of red mist. The aim was to obscure the dragon's senses.

Qinglong raised his eyebrows looking at Blood Raven who was quickly disappearing behind the cloud. 'Wait, he's not looking at me,' Blood Raven suddenly realised tracing Qinglong's line of sight.

"Finally noticed didn't ya?" The voice Blood Raven heard chilled him to the bone. He barely turned his head before suddenly feeling much lighter.

Bai Jian grabbed Blood Raven's severed head with a furry black and white tail while his left hand blasted the body to ashes

Zulong walked up to Bai Jian and said, "You said Ash Raven can tract his son, how long before he gets here?"

"Give him a few hours, Ash Raven sect isn't that far from here. He already knows his son's dead," Bai Jian replied. "You know, I didn't want to fight in the city. Would've been easier to meet them in the open ocean."

"For my purposes, it will be better to kill him here," Zulong said. He looked down to see the blood cloud split in two as Qinglong and Yinglong flew up. The observers of the battle looked in utter shock and confusion. The mayor of Nan Dao Chen looked in horror.

"You really are serious aren't you?" Bai Jian said in shock. "You're fucking insane."

"I have to be," Zulong answered with a smile. "You are right, the ancestors of the previous generation are monstrous. But so am I," Zulong said with conviction and held a hand out. "They are not insurmountable, not invincible, not infallible, so how about it Bai Jian? Join me and see my dream to fruition."

 

The dragons and the white haired swordsman landed with a soft thud. The head of Blood Raven was still warm in Bai Jian's tail's grasp, shrunken to a manageable size. The onlookers were stunned struggling to comprehend what just happened.

Zulong grimaced at the course of events. The aftermath will be most troublesome to deal with. If the devil's popularity were any indication then they will likely be chased out by a mob.

"What have you done!" The injured mayor roared. "Do you have any idea, any idea at all what you have unleashed? Do you have any idea who that was you killed?"

"Another devil trash," Bai Jian responded tossing Blood Raven's head onto the ground. The mayor desperately leapt at the head and clutched it gently. He desperately searched for any signs of life desperately hoping that the devil wasn't dead.

"No, no, no, no, NO! This cannot be happening," the mayor cried. Tears poured down his face as he glared at the dragons. "You've doomed us all," he said.

Zulong frowned, he lifted his right hand faster than the mayor could react.

Tap!

Zulong's index finger touched the immortal's head with a soft glow. The knowledge to properly speak the western language flowed into the dragon's head. Two extra sparks shot out of Zulong's hand and into Yinglong and Qinglong's heads.

"You condone a roughness massacre of your own citizens?" The dragon asked. The mayor stood up and glared at the dragon in fury.

"It is the universal way, it is the way his most holy devil ancestor decreed for all who tied the path of cultivation," the mayor said. Zulong saw the truth in the man's eyes, or at least what he believed to be the truth.

"Really? And your cultivation requires you to mindless throw youths to their deaths?" Zulong asked. Behind him, Bai Jian whispered a faint, "what a joke".

"What would you know of cultivation? Cultivation accepts only the best of the best of the best. Only the most excellent deserves to tread the path of cultivation," the mayor said with fervour. "We are devils, this is our way."

"I see," Zulong said. "You only tread the path made for you by your ancestor?" The dragon asked raising his eyebrow.

"It is the true way to immortality," a voice of a cultivator in the crowd yelled.

"Yes, yes, yes, it is the right way," another agreed. Then another as well. The dragons saw the faces of the enraged cultivator community of Nan Dao Chen.

"Such a narrow mindset," Qinglong whispered. Bai Jian nodded in agreement.

"What did you expect?" The swordsman said. "It's all they know, the devilish Dao isn't just a cultivation sect. To them, it is their identity. They are devils, mortals or not, cultivators or not," he explained with a mocking look of disgust. "Just a bunch of ignorant trapped pigs."

"Why do you say that?" Qinglong asked. "Why hold the entire path to such contempt?"

"Right, such things aren't obvious unless you're already on the inside," Bai Jian said with sadness. "The mechanisms of the devil ancestor is terrifying indeed. With a show of kindness, he prevented all prospective challengers. The devil is a being of freedom, but there can only ever be one devil."

"One devil?" Qinglong's eyes widened slightly. Zulong who was listening in frowned, he could already formulate what Bai Jian had meant.

"Oh, what would you know," the mayor suddenly turned his attention to Bai Jian. "Don't think I don't recognise you. A bloody heretic is what you are."

"What did you just say?" Ire drawn, Bai Jian stepped forth drawing his sword. "Say that again," he growled.

"You think me scared heretic? You who only knows betrayal and murder?" Before the mayor could continue, a golden hand struck his sternum knocking him back onto the platform. That same hand pushed Bai Jian's sword back into its sheath.

"That is enough," Zulong said. "I will not have such uncouth behaviour displayed before me," he said placing both hands behind his back.

"Apologies," Bai Jian and the mayor apologised but suddenly scratched their heads. 'Why did I do that?' They both thought.

Down below, some surviving cultivators had returned to the embrace of their families who cried tears of joy. They seemed to be ignoring the events happening on the platform. Onlookers still had yet to move, unsure of what to do.

However, one youth stood up and cupped his hands and bowed. "Many thanks to seniors for saving my life," he said gratefully. After his example, many others followed.

"What are you all doing?" The mayor screamed. "Don't you realise what's happened? Ash Raven will be here soon."

"Yes, we did realise that," Zulong interrupted. "Don't worry, I'll take of him when the time comes."

"Deal? How? You're not even," the mayor stuttered. He felt his legs go weak. He was not very impressive for a Taiyi Golden Immortal. He hadn't even formed a proper Dao yet unlike the legendary Ash Raven. That beast was said to have competed with the Green Ape devil of the ancient past.

"Does that man seriously intend to fight patriarch Ash Raven?" The citizens below suddenly buckled at Zulong's words. "Fuck it, let's get out of here. Nan Dao Chen is already lost."

"My love, flee the city, I'll run home and get our essentials." "Shit gotta get my money then I'm outta here."

The common consensus was to simply flee. Zulong silently agreed. For mortals, getting caught up in the fight of immortals, much less Golden Immortals would be fatal.

"Seniors, why aren't you scared?" The same young man from earlier asked suddenly. "Don't you know how strong of a devil Ash Raven is?"

"It was us that got involved in this mess. It shall be us that resolves this," Zulong said. "You should leave with your parents child. Staying here is unwise."

"But why? Why risk yourself for us in the first place? Why bother saving us?" He said. "We knew the risks going in, why would a fellow devil like you go against the… well…um." He stumbled a bit on his wording, it wasn't a written down rule or tradition. It was just common sense.

"Well I'm not a devil aren't I?" Zulong said.

Suddenly, those few words shocked everyone. Not a devil? That was strange for the devilish Dao path was the only sure way of cultivation. Even the strange sea creatures further west agreed.

"Then what are you?" The young man asked.

"A dragon child, I am a dragon," Zulong said.

"How do I become a dragon?" He asked again. This caught Zulong off guard. He was born as he was, a dragon of the sea. How would one go about becoming a dragon?

"Brother," Yinglong called out. Zulong's eyes flicked eastward and he frowned. The sky had darkened somewhat and an ominous feeling could be felt. "That guy is fast," he said.

"I killed his son," Bai Jian said. "He's sect isn't far from here in the first place, he can get here in record time." The swordsman turned to the dragon, "Can you really handle him?"

'Who do you think you're talking to?" Zulong said in amusement. "Only another emperor can challenge an emperor," he said slowly floating up into the sky.

"Child, I'll be going now, don't get caught in the crossfire," Zulong said from high above the ground. "Do not worry citizens of Nan Dao Chen. I Zulong extend my protection to you all."

"What a fool," the mayor snorted turning around to leave.

"Where're you going?" Yinglong asked the man.

"Not here," the mayor said. His human features began morphing. Scales appeared on his person and his robes morphed as well fading into his body. His form elongated into a large eel.

"You're from the sea?" Yinglong asked.

"West ocean tribesman born and raised," the mayor said. "You just cost our clan everything we've worked towards," he said with anger.

"We'll compensate you in the future," the winged dragon said.

"Future? What future?" The mayor snorted before jumping and diving into the distant ocean.

The sky began darkening more and more. The silhouette of a large avian creature appeared. He descended from the skies in a burst of hot ash cloud. That cloud washed all over Nan Dao Chen burying it in a thick layer of ash. At least that was what was supposed to happen.

The reality was however a whole lot different. Nan Dao Chen remained covered by a barrier of auspicious white clouds. None of the ash even came near them.

"What?" The bird muttered. His ash burned so hot that the land began melting. Small pools of magma began appearing as well. Yet still the clouds did not disperse.

"Hmph, murderer of my son, don't think you're all that," Ash Raven growled with cool rage. His ash flowed up into a spiralling drill and slammed into the cloud. The territory around Nan Dao Chen shook.

"Oi, don't target the innocents," a royal voice called for Ash Raven's attention. "They have nothing to do with your son's death."

"All are sinners in my eyes," Ash Raven responded with an attack on Zulong. The devil did not care for anything other than total destruction. In a sense, he was simply venting.

The devil's aura of power was suffocating even to fellow Taiyi Golden Immortals. His Dao appeared as a reddish grey Dao fruit outline on his inner cosmic tree. The tree was all wood and had no leaves, a very distinct look from Zulong's own tree.

"Impressive," Zulong clapped his hands before opening them in a square shape. A column of wind tore Ash Raven's attack apart and scattered the clouds of ash.

The devil frowned narrowing his eyes. Wings raised, Ash Raven flew forward. Each flap generated more and more ash, thick clouds of red hot ash.

Zulong waved his arms creating golden black dragons. These constructs struck and dispersed the clouds of ash further frustrating Ash Raven.

The avian devils' claws shone with red hot energy. He flew overhead and clawed at the comparatively tiny form of Zulong.

The dragon slightly tilted his head and dodged the attack. "You're far weaker then Zulin. Your cultivation had reached a similar summit as ours but in terms of abilities, you're far inferior," he said as if commenting on the weather.

"Don't take me lightly stranger," Ash Raven growled. The swirling energy around him grew more and more. The Skys darkened as well as if an angry ward had descended. It was as if Ash Raven's wrath had taken physical form.

Grey lightning descended from the heavens. Zulong raised his arm and blocked the attack despite being pushed down somewhat. Excess electricity scattered from the first bolt landed on the ground blowing up like bombs. They rented the landscape apart.

Zulong raised his hands. The earth sprouted rocky dragon claws that grabbed at Ash Raven. The devil simply flew to the side and kicked the claws to pieces.

Zulong smiled and swung his left arm. A gargantuan arc of water rose up like a scythe travelling incredibly fast. Ash Raven barely had time to widen his eyes before his left wing was punctured.

"He got through my Ancient Devil physique?" Ash Raven was mystified. He wasn't the best at physical body techniques but his durability was no joke. He picked up speed, utilising his strong suit as more and more slashes of water was delivered.

Zulong jumped in the air propelling himself at Ash Raven. A large sphere of water was already gathered before the dragon. It morphed into a wrecking ball which was thrown at the distant Raven.

"Hmph!" Ash Raven closed up his wings before opening them. He released an intense wave of heat at Zulong. The dragon held up his hand blocking the wave with his scales. He grimaced at the heat.

The water on the other hand was reduced to steam clouds. They were extremely thick and obscured vision. However, this did not bother Zulong. He could easily see Ash Raven within the clouds.

Reaching out, Zulogn took hold of the steam mist and transformed it. Around Ash Raven, the clouds took shape and constricted.

"What is this?" Ash Raven gasped in surprise before his body was tightly wrapped in the body of steam cloud dragon construct. The beast gripped his body and roared at his face. Ash Raven opened his beak and shot a ray of hot energy.

The cloud dragon's head merely shifted away from the blast while the real Zulong approached. His fist shone in black and golden light. His skin was textured like rough scales. The dragon threw out a fierce punch at the devil's face.

BOOM!

Ash Raven's head snapped sharply to one side. His neck nearly snapped with a single punch. He couldn't help but spit out swaths of blood. His face was broken in so many places that he couldn't even begin to count.

Ash Raven attempted to struggle but Zulong tightened the construct's grip. The steam cloud dragon had turned fully black and exerted much greater strength than it was supposed to. Ash Raven could feel his own bones breaking.

Opening his mouth again, Ash Raven blasted Zulong point black in a beam of fire. The dragon frowned and kicked the devil's lower beak clean off. However, a gaseous being had already flown out.

"Abandoning your body so easily?" Zulong sent out his claw. His nine digit dragon claw spread out wide. So big it was that it looked like it could've held the entire world in its palms.

Ash Raven's nascent soul screeched in horror as the dragon claw enclosed itself. A small poof could be heard and the devilish presence faded.

Down in Nan Dao Chen, those spectating looked in disbelief. One of the devil overlords of the west was killed just like that?

…

Da Hai stood in an empty hallway and sighed in relief. Thank gods that Luohu was still in secluded cultivation. In his hand, a dark talisman shattered without anyone's notice.

The sleeping Taotie next room over didn't even notice. Not even the maid of this temple noticed anything when Da Hai placed a fake talisman on the shelf.

"Great lord's technique is simply ingenious," the head moth fairy praised at Da Hai's side. She waved her thin snow white arm at the working maid's face and got no response.

"A magnificent yet terrifying ability of my Dao," Da Hai whispered. "Come, I don't want to find out if anyone can detect me."

 

"I can't believe this," a young man looked in awe at the distant death of Ash Raven. "Not a devil but still a cultivator? Able to easily kill devils? Are devils even supreme anymore?"

"Delan, let's go," Lei Delan's mother called out. "Patriarch Ash Raven will be here soon and we have to leave!"

"Mom," Lei Delan pointed at the distant sky. His mother looked up and gasped in shock. "How?" He uttered.

"I wonder, how do I become a dragon?" The young man muttered softly.

…

"Well that was easy," Qinglong said after the fact only to be punched in the face by Bai Jian then kicked by Zulong.

"WHY?" The downed dragon howled.

"Don't tempt fate brother/my friend," they said. Zulong could already feel the headaches he suffered during his tenure as city lord while Bai Jian felt his scars itch.

Splash!

The dragons and swordsman turned their heads as a massive eel slithered back into the city. The eel curled up and transformed into the mayor of Nan Dao Chen and looked around in shock.

"What are you?" He barely made out the words in shock.

"A dragon and your emperor," Zulong said confidently.

"Damned fool, I'd like to see you say that to Luohu," the eel man scoffed. "You don't seem to be from around these parts so let me give you some advice. Stay out of the devilish Dao's way, go back to where you came from and live peacefully. Don't try anything, it's not worth the danger."

The eel man surveyed the city again. "Looks like I'm gonna have to rebuild again someplace else. You can have this city."

"Wait, eel daoist," Yinglong suddenly called out. "Why do this? Why bother to warn us?"

"Well, you did kinda save my life there. No way I was fast enough to get away," the former mayor awkwardly said. "But you also ruined any chances of me joining the devilish Dao."

"Do you denizens of the west sea really want to join up with the mainland?" Bai Jian suddenly asked. "I know there's a bleed in effect there but aren't you under the jurisdiction of that sea emperor?"

"Right, the west sea is still ruled by emperor Si Hai," Qinglong nodded along with Yinglong.

"Piss on that, what has that fat turd ever done for us? Sit on his tentacle ass all day, not even so much as a visit, nothing," the eel man turned around and walked away.

"He truly doesn't even visit?" Zulong couldn't help but ask. "I'll admit, I don't have the most up to date information about him. What has he been up to if not ruling?"

"No idea, the bastard's never left his palace in the south seas since whatever it was he tried in the east," the eel man admitted.

"The east? This should be several tens of thousands of years ago yes?" Zulong asked for confirmation.

"Near the beginning of this yuanhui yes, don't know much about it but seems he tried to invade the east but got repelled. Don't really get much news from the east," the eel man said.

"You should be careful, with Ash Raven dead Taotie probably knows as well. For all our sakes, we should run as far as we can," with that said the former mayor flashed away without waiting for a reply.

"Taotie," Zulong frowned. He was kicking himself in that moment. He hadn't thought of Taotie, his recklessness had caught up to him.

"Don't worry about Taotie," Da Hai's voice suddenly disrupted the dragon's thoughts.

"Master?" Zulong, Qinglong, and Yinglong looked around as soon as they heard the voice. Bai Jian stood around confused wondering what the dragons were doing. Da Hai had only communicated with the three after all.

"Let me handle the devil's upper echelons, but take heed of the eel's warning. Do not enter the west continent," Da Hai said in a grave tone. The dragon brothers nodded.

"Understood master," the three of them mentally replied and Da Hai's presence faded from their minds.

"Taotie's taken care of," Qinglong informed Bai Jian.

"How did you…"

"Our master has taken care of him," Zulong cut him off confidently.

"Your faith is astounding," Bai Jian said. "A person's more likely to leave you to die in this situation."

"Our master is not just anyone," Qinglong said. "He's the greatest powerhouse of the east sea."

"Greatest? I would like to meet a man like that," Bai Jian said smiling. "Just what kind of balls must he have to challenge the devilish Dao."

"More than you kitty," Qinglong joked laughing. Bai Jian then realised his tail was still out and curled it back into his armour. His fluffy black and white tail did resemble a feline very much.

"Why are you trying to hide it Bai Jian?" Qinglong asked.

"It's called keeping a low profile," Bai Jian said.

"I don't think you know what that means," Qinglong said. "Everyone we've come across recognised you on first contact. You didn't even change your face."

"Commoners don't," Bai Jian countered. "And I refuse to change this handsome face," he snarked.

"Suit yourself," Qinglong said with a smile. Bai Jian's face also broke into a small smile.

By the next day, the news had already broken out in Nan Dao Chen. Ash Raven was dead, slain by Zulong in a quick battle. Slain before anyone had even noticed his arrival.

"Well fuck," Zulong muttered as he observed the agitated city from the manse of the former city lord. The key problem was the succession crisis.

The eel man had no children nor wives and had jumped ship due to the devilish Dao. It turns out, Nan Dao Chen was an elaborate scheme by the west sea's Gleaming Eel clan to curry favour to the local devil overlords. They had aimed to showcase their administrative abilities and economic skills and gain positions as governors under the devil's watch.

The west continent was fully within the grasp of the devilish Dao. Everything from somewhat traced back to them in some way shape or form. Cultivation especially held the devilish Dao as an integral core.

From the texts analysed from Nan Dao Chen's mayor's private library. Even the creation of one's own Dao centred around the devilish Dao. The core understandings of seven emotions six desires were present within Dao itself.

"All devils had been successful immortals," Zulong muttered. "They kill off all the ones unable to ascend, they teach one path for cultivation in the guise of many," he frowned as he remembered some of the sutras he read the previous evening.

"Big brother, the civilian representative is here to see you now," Yinglong said from outside the eel man's office. Zulong put down a scroll and walked out. He would think more on the subject later.

"Yinlong," Zulong called out as the two were walking down the hallway. "How are the prisoner's doing?"

"Same as yesterday, intimidated and in denial," the winged dragon replied. "An expected reaction, their exalted devil overlord was casually killed and their famed supreme devil is still not here even after a full day despite the absurd speed of Daluo Golden Immortals."

"West continent's supreme devils, the former four evils of old and the demon king of the sixth heaven," Zulong recounted. "It's distressing knowing that there are so many superpowers so close to us."

"Makes you wonder doesn't it?" Yinglong said. "Where did all the rest of the old seniors go after the war?"

"Worry about them later, for now, let us deal with the present situation," Zulong said ending the conversation. He pressed both hands on the heavy wooden door and pushed it open revealing the meeting room stacked with a few seats and tables and cups of drinks.

Several people were already present. Bai Jian and Qinglong who looked bored and uninterested, and the civilian rep who sat nervously across them. Zulong took his place at the main seat. He took note of the rep's cultivation. She was already a Heavenly Immortal which probably factored into why she was chosen.

Nan Dao Chen was a city that intersected between the west continent proper and the west sea. As such, despite the devil heavy influence, a large portion of inhabitants were from the west sea.

Previously, Ash Raven sect's fighters were captured and imprisoned. Their cultivations were sealed and their bodies chained by bindings of auspicious clouds. This retinue included Immortals and even some Golden Immortals.

The majority of the civilians had various levels of lower cultivation with the majority below the immortal realms making them mortals. However, as a cultivation heavy settlement, there were a large portion of immortals.

This woman was one of the more famed members of the latter. A carp cultivator named Teng Ya. She was known to be a capable combatant and a talent who migrated from the west sea.

"So Ms Teng, what do you wish to ask?" Zulong began.

"Ah, well lord Zulong," the woman gulped. "We of Nan Dao Chen would like to know what is to be done with us? With the death of Ash Raven and the disappearance of the mayor, many of us are worried about repercussions from the devilish Dao. We're not exactly a small unknown village."

"Yes, I understand your plight," Zulong said displaying genuine empathy. "From my understanding, you are all devils. Would the devilish Dao truly senselessly destroy you all?"

"For a no name devil? No. But you killed Ash Raven, one of the few Da Luo Golden Immortal hopefuls. He's too big for this to be ignored for long," Teng Ya said.

She understood that from her position, she cannot truly demand anything of Zulong else risking his ire. Experts on his level were known to be fickle. The strong ruled over the weak, why else was she nominated to lead?

Karmic ties of cause and effect only went so far. It was only in extreme cases would the Heavenly Dao directly intervene. The use of karmic ties with Zulong was there but it was nowhere near enough to force him to stay. The dragon's positive karma already far outweighs what he had to pay.

"I have heard your words, Ms Teng, I Zulong am not an ungracious sort. I will figure something out. You have my word," Zulong said.

Teng Ya smile softly. "Thank you lord Zulong. We of Nan Dao Chen are thankful of you no matter what some say. The losses of our children were always harsh especially for us from the west sea."

Zulong inwardly smiled knowing he'd made a positive impact. "Does the west sea truly wish to follow the devilish Dao?" He asked.

Teng Ya was slightly taken aback by the sudden question. "Yes, my lord," she answered. "Despite all their misgivings, the devilish Dao is the best option in the world. Their cultivation method is a guaranteed success, it's just that their admission comes at high risks."

The woman took a brief breath of irritation, "It's not like his majesty would do anything about it."

"You refer to emperor Si Hai," Zulong confirmed and Teng Ya nodded.

"His majesty declared us his property and never looked back. I remember my parents once saying that they'd only seen him once and they were nobles of my home clan," Teng Ya said.

"The people of Nan Dao Chen know what Si Hai is like. The devilish Dao for all their risks are competent leaders. But now that they're likely against us as well…" she trailed off.

"I see," Zulong said rubbing his bare chin in contemplation. "I have heard your pleas. You may return and assure your fellow civilians. I am not going anywhere."

Teng Ya bowed to the dragon and headed off leaving the dragons and swordsman by themselves.

"Why did you promise her?" Yinglong sighed. "Now we're stuck here for who knows how long. That was most unwise brother."

"We are responsible for their current plight. Would you want others to talk about us dragons as troublemakers bringing disaster to all we interact with?" Zulong growled in annoyance.

"Of course not brother," Yinglong doubled back. "But we are now in a land far from home, unfamiliar and dangerous. We can afford the karma cost to leave and still retain a large positive overall pool."

"Brothers please," Qinglong's guilty voice interrupted. "It was my fault in the first place. I volunteer to remain to guard them."

"Absolutely not!" Both older dragons retorted. "Family don't leave each other behind," Zulong reminded.

"But if it means big brother would not be tied down, I Qinglong am willing," the azure dragon insisted.

Bai Jian who was only watching felt moved. The closeness of the dragons triggered a sense of longing in his chest. Distant memories of a lone tiger of black and white aimlessly wandering the jungles surfaced to mind.

"You all," Bai Jian interrupted the dragons. "I'm already an enemy of the devils in the first place. I have no issues in staying to help out."

"No fellow daoist, this is our problem. I cannot just ask an outsider to get involved," Zulong said. "Unless you're suggesting joining my empire," the dragon suggested with a devious smirk.

"What?" Before Bai Jian could respond however Zulong chuckled.

"I jest, I refuse to use to manipulate you," the dragon pridefully said. "I have another solution in mind."

"Oh?" The dragons and Bai Jian's attention turned to Zulong who rubbed his inter spacial ring. A crude crystal appeared in the palm of his hand.

"What is that?" The younger dragons and Bai Jian asked.

"Experimental tools," Zulong said and crushed the crystal. A small light flew out and disappeared.

"Was that supposed to do something?" Qinglong asked.

"Give it a few days. If I'm right master shouldn't be too far so this should reach him," Zulong said.

"So a sort of communication device?" Yinglong asked.

"Yes, mental message compressed into a small signal released by the destruction of the crystal which acts as both storage and launcher. They're designed to search for a specific receiver," Zulong said. "Yu'er wanted to fund it and I obliged. Master's got one as a gift."

"Oh, amazing," the dragons praised.

---

To expand on that last bit. Zulong can't actually track Da Hai hence why he can't reach out himself. He was able to extrapolate Da Hai's location based on last chapter's events and deem that the distance was close enough for the communication crystal to work. Waiting for Da Hai to reach him would take too long so he opted to catch his attention this way.

 

The week following was a quiet one. The feeling of dread had not left Nan Dao Chen. During this intervening period, the dragons assumed the former mayor's role. Zulong took this as an opportunity to train his siblings in administrative duties.

Nearly two weeks of waiting went by before a watery splash occurred in the mayor's mansion. Formed from the mass of water was the middle aged spongey blond haired form of Da Hai and besides him the snow white moth fairy who assumed her duties as the head maid of Yingzhou.

The dragons were the only ones who detected him and immediately abandoned everything to pay their respects.

"Master," the dragons greeted Da Hai with a bow. The ancient godfiend smiled softly with satisfaction. He couldn't stop the warmth in his chest.

"Stand disciples," Da Hai instructed. "I have received your message Zulong. What do you need help with?"

The eldest dragon embarrassingly scratched his cheek. Truth be told he had to swallow his pride to call for aid. The previous week had caught him in a pickle.

Zulong explained the situation to Da Hai in great detail. Although he surmised that the greater immortal likely already knew simply based on deduction through passive divination. Either that or he was following them the entire time.

Da Luo Golden Immortals were fast but they weren't quite that fast. Crossing the entire wilderness from east to west will still take years. In Zulong's mind, the most likely event was that his master was following him from the beginning.

"Tying yourself to karma greatly limits one's aspirations," Da Hai said with a sigh. "You were reckless in your proclamation. As a follower of the Dao, your path cannot be halted partway through."

"I will never back down from responsibility master, I made that choice knowingly," Zulong retorted. "I am a ruler by choice. It was bound to happen sooner than later."

"Choice huh?" Da Hai mused quietly.

"It still does not mitigate the danger. You are right where no less then five Da Luo Golden Immortals can reach you. Some of them are probably already at the Hunyuan stage, perhaps even Hunyuan Da Luo," Da Hai said angrily.

"Master, it was my fault," Qinglong called out. "Do not think harshly on big brother. It was my reckless actions that put us in danger in the first place."

"Qinglong," Da Hai began. "While I admire your sense of justice, understand that actions have consequences. I'm sure you understand pragmatism?"

"I do master. But to see so much senseless slaughter did not sit well with me," Qinglong said with Zulong nodding slightly as well.

"Just be careful next time," Da Hai said finally. "The west is full of enemies. Zulong, remember this well."

The group walked into a conference hall where they sat down again. This time Da Hai took the main seat whereas Zulong sat at the side. Not long after, the moth fairy came back with drinks acquired from somewhere.

Da Hai glanced out at the city through a nearby window taking in the sights. Nan Dao Chen was a dead man walking. News hadn't gotten out yet but it will in time.

The most Da Hai did was delay the inevitable for a few more years. Taotie was simple to deal with, even Qiong Qi wasn't too hard. Go higher however and things get complicated.

The prospects of recruiting others to help had crossed his mind many times. However, many of the modern godfiends are missing or dead. Shen Feng was out of the question, Qiankun preferred to be isolated, Si Hai was hostile, the others were missing.

"Zulong, Qinglong, Yinglong, this is what I can do," Da Hai began. "With my power, I can transport Nan Dao Chen to the east. I shall settle them in your territory. The sudden relocation may be tough on them though so that will be your problem to deal with."

"Understood master," Zulong acknowledged. "But I am still in the midst of my journey. I cannot break away from it now."

"Not to worry disciple. Nan Dao Chen's inhabitants have low cultivations," Da Hai assured. "I shall freeze them in spacetime until you return. Is that acceptable with you all?"

"Yes," the group of immortals agreed. The casual suggestion of such a feat had surprised them. Was the gap between Taiyi and Da Luo truly so large? Or was Da Hai perhaps even above Da Luo Golden Immortals?

"Definitely not a small fry," Bai Jian muttered. Freezing spacetime with the current stability of the primitive world required a lot of power. Power most immortals simply did not have.

Da Hai nodded. He raised a palm and squeezed it into a fist. Before anyone noticed what was happening. The dragons and swordsmen were floating midair. The room they were in was simply gone.

Looking around, they realised that what surrounded them was merely a crater. The entire city was missing, Nan Dao Chen had vanished in an instant.

Da Hai coughed grabbing their attention. They noticed that within the sea god's palm was a miniature dome shaped island with a city occupying most of the land. It was the former hub of Nan Dao Chen, frozen still and miniaturised.

"If nothing else, I will take my leave," Da Hai said. He stored the city in another dimension and turned around. "Make haste on your decisions and don't stay for too long. I will distract the major forces for as long as I can."

With a second motion, Da Hai tore the fabric of reality and entered the spatial crack created. He disappeared from the wilderness as if he never existed in the first place with the moth fairy trailing behind him. The woman gave them a soft smile and waved goodbye as she went.

"Strong," Bai Jian was the first to break the silence. The dragons agreed. Rarely does Da Hai ever showcase his power. Rarely does he come off as anything other than a normal person. Of course, those with high cultivation can see latent power within, but it was different between noticing and seeing firsthand.

"I would love to see a battle on his calibre," Bai Jian said slowly.

"In all my years, I have only seen one such battle," Zulong said. "And even then I was barely conscious, barely able to perceive my surroundings." The group took a few moments to grasp their surroundings.

"Well, since further inwards is a no go. Let's head into the open ocean," Qinglong said energetically. "There's still that treasure we need to see."

"Agreed brother," Yinglong nodded. "There is little for us here now. Master also warned us just now, departing quickly is a sound plan."

Zulong nodded and turned to Bai Jian. "Are you coming?" He offered.

"Might as well," Bai Jian said. "I was going that way to begin with. The signals I'm picking up tells me this is at least high grade xiantian. Expect some tough competition."

"As is all cases of xiantian treasures, especially high grade," Zulong agreed. The group flew further westwards in anticipation. The fact of who gets the treasure was left unsaid. It was good to break down friendships so quickly with such a topic.

…

Da Hai stood in a colourless void between worlds completely invisible. He stared uneasily at the west continent and the pale eye projection looking around in confusion.

The self proclaimed demon king Mara was actively scanning the west continent for signs of Da Hai. Well, to be specific it wasn't Da Hai he was looking for.

Mara was trying to see which Da Luo Golden Immortal had acted in the west. A distraction to take their eyes off of the dragons until they crossed deep enough into the west sea.

The trail left by and activated by Da Hai just now crosses around the west continent, zigzagging towards the south and central continents. Mara was still following the windy paths as Zulong's group travelled.

"The young lord will be fine," the moth fairy assured. "He and the others are already transcendent among Taiyi Golden Immortals. Nothing short of a true Da Luo Golden Immortal can stop them."

"Da Luo Golden Immortals are strong," Da Hai replied. "But even they are still insects to higher powers. Hunyuan, Hunyuan Da Luo, Hunyuan Wuji Luo. They may substages of Da Luo Golden Immortal, but they might as well be realms in and of themselves."

"This servant was ignorant, I thank the great lord for sharing his wisdom," the moth fairy bowed.

"Take heed of it and don't be arrogant," Da Hai said. "Continue practising. Only when one reaches the higher realms can they truly make a difference."

Moth fairy raised an eyebrow. She felt that Da Hai wasn't really speaking to her. In fact, he seemed to be paying less and less attention to her.

…

"MHMM!" A blacked haired woman with messy hair and tattered red and yellow dress screeched through her bindings. She glared bloody murder at her kidnappers. Her gaze was so venomous that if she were free, these men would be paste.

"Dishonourable cur, I'll tear you to pieces," she said, though her voice came out in muffled sounds.

"You sure we can't just kill her?" An angry man who'd been viciously damaged said. He still bore bloody burning scars. Bits of his skin was blackened with burns.

"No, her life binding talisman will activate and that bitch will know," the leader, a man in better condition replied. He looked very uneasy at the moment. His entire army had been slaughtered until the merger dozens before him. However, the trap was successfully deployed.

Formations were powerful things in this world. A mighty enough formation allowed even an army of Heavenly Immortals, Profound Immortals, and True Immortals to take down a Taiyi Golden Immortal.

Their leader was merely a Golden Immortal. Yet he wielded a legendary artefact salvaged during the Shenni war. The Kunwu sword.

A clever formation allowed for the deployment of the visage of the Kunwu god in his heyday. An insurmountable figure able to match their target in combat. This followed by the usage of the cosmic rope allowed for the capture of the sister of the supreme king of birds.

"Prime minister Sha said to bring her alive," the leader replied.

"But general Chi, she killed…"

"I know who she killed soldier. But orders are orders," general Chi said. "For the betterment of the four seas empire, we need her alive."

To the side, Zhuque seethed in both embarrassment and rage. A stroll, followed by a rumour of a new treasure in the west, followed by an ambush by a bunch of lesser beings. 'What ridiculous day,' she thought.

 

Massive amounts of seawater swirled, twisting the surface of the ocean into rippling whirlpools. Primordial Qi was extremely rich in this environment, almost suffocating. Any weaker lifeforms have long since fled from the region.

"Even though we are still a distance away, we can already feel such powerful phenomenons," Yinglong said in wonder as the group of dragons and rogue cultivator passed through the ocean. "Are we sure this is only a high grade treasure?"

"At this rate? Probably not," Zulong stated with agreement from Bai Jian. This amount of supernatural phenomenons and in such power was on its way of eclipsing what a high grade xiantian treasure could produce.

Yinglong dodged to the side avoiding a large wave kicked up by the commotion. "How much further?" He asked.

"I don't think we're far," Zulong said before frowning. "It's hard to tell with so much disturbance, I can barely get any read on the signals."

The sky of the west sea had long since darkened into a storm. The dragons turned their gaze upwards at the luminous clouds. It was extremely similar to the event which birthed them and the two treasures Zulong carries.

"Bai Jian, what about you?" Qinglong asked.

"I can subtlety feel it. But Zulong is right, there are so much primordial Qi in the area that it's hard to tell what is what anymore. It's like a million voices screaming at once," the white haired swordsman said in annoyance.

The waters raged and raged. The sky rumbled and howled. Lightning was beginning to descend with booming thunder. A subtle cry was somewhat heard admist the storm.

Zulong frowned, were they mistaken. Instead of a new treasure, was this a new lifeform instead? An innate god like himself and his brothers? The possibility was very likely.

"Let's check this out, brothers be careful," Zulong instructed and strolled forwards. His footsteps echoed through the air suppressing the winds and waves coming towards him. He was not touching solid ground, but rather using a form of spell that created a similar effect.

With each step, he paved the way and others followed. A stable path devoid of danger. Assured and steady.

The storm was beginning to get more violent. The west sea itself was also tossing and turning. Out of the corner of his eye, Zulong could see some cultivators fleeing from the eye of the storm. He nodded silently, it was wise to leave if one did not possess the power to be here.

"The build up is reaching a crescendo," Bai Jian said. His eyes glowed a pale blue scanning far into the distance. He narrowed his eyes concentrating his supernatural vision. "That way," he said pointing southwest of their current location.

Zulong nodded and led the charge. As they moved further and further, the storm became stronger and stronger. A unanimous thought surfaced among the group. This was no longer just a simple treasure.

A month passed as the group travelled to the epicentre. For the dragons and rogue cultivator, it was not a journey that was too difficult. However, they couldn't shake a certain feeling of dread.

Qinglong observed the waters below him and narrowed his eyes. His sixth sense has been going off for the past month and he couldn't quite grasp what it was. Besides him, Bai Jian was also experiencing the same thing. It was almost irritating.

…

"Hold steady," the Golden Immortal general Chi commanded his remaining troops. The treasure ship that was the prison facility currently transporting his prisoner had been caught roughly by the violent waves.

Water was almost second nature for seafood like general Chi but even a storm such as this can be overbearing to deal with. 'We were lucky reinforcements arrived,' the general thought.

If the emperor of the four seas had not had the foresight to send more troupes after his departure, they would've been unable to hold Zhuque. This mere act was beginning to restore the general's faith in the emperor.

The general had sighed in relief when the twenty-sixth army arrived. They were one of the new legions formed after the disastrous war that was the eastern war and were filled with immortal soldiers of great strength. A sizeable portion had even crossed into the True Immortal realm.

Si Hai's prime minister Sha was much more liberal in the use of cultivation resources than the emperor himself. Perhaps that's why the poor man had died.

General Chi had only gotten the news from a fellow soldier when the reinforcements arrived with the ship. The emperor had come out of seclusion sometime ago and the first act of his agenda was to behead the prime minister. Although he'd miss the man, he didn't think too much about it, Si Hai's temper wasn't something he'd want to risk.

High grade xiantian treasure, the universe traversing boat. General Chi wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. He'd use this ship to get home first and report. He looked nervously across the deck, the muscular figure of Si Hai sat lazily on a makeshift throne eating and drinking away. He was oozing with arrogance and contempt.

Words needn't be exchanged for the message to be sent. General Chi was a swordfish, he should have no trouble with the sea.

Si Hai yawned in boredom. He looked northwest with anticipation and interest. He'd take his new treasure first, then take care of the east sea's Da Hai. Finally, that rebellious chicken on the mainland will be dealt with.

'So much to do so little time,' Si Hai idly thought. 'Pitiful illusions won't be a problem anymore. Pathetic of you Da Hai, honestly, relying on illusions to fight, how the mighty have fallen.'

The emperor of the sea tapped his armrest watching as his incompetent generals steered the ship. He was half a mind to disintegrate them for it. However, that one swordfish named Chi had reached the Golden Immortal realm. Something very few innate creatures can claim.

His mood was slowly improving, having to be woken up to find more then half his vault missing was maddening. Waking up to find a scurrying rat using his things was maddening. Waking up to find a couple of tiny chickens claiming to be emperor was rage inducing.

He had half a mind to eat the bird Chi had captured right now. But he decided it was more fitting of a punishment to eat her infant of her sister. That would be much more satisfying.

Said prisoner was silently meditating. Zhuque looked like a statue completely still. She made no movements nor sound and was quite unnerving for those guarding her. However, she was no longer bound. Her ropes were removed and the only thing holding her back were weak steel bars. A subtle message from her captor.

The vermillion bird opened a sliver of her eye. The arrogance of Si Hai was well known to her. He had not bothered to seal her cultivation. As such, she was able to detect her surroundings with accuracy.

'A chaos godfiend forefather,' she thought grimly. The prospects of getting away were not good. She'd long since calmed down from her initial defeat but she was still very much uneasy. Waiting for a good opportunity just got a lot harder.

A bolt of immortal lightning struck the sea in an explosion that tossed the ship along the waves. The tussling water disturbed Si Hai who slammed his fist into his armrest forcefully calming the waves.

Another bolt of lightning struck out. In fact, the storm had gotten very wild. General Chi drew the Kunwu sword and slashed a bolt apart. He cast a look at his men and immediately went to rescue the weaker ones.

Between Immortals and mortals, the former can somewhat take care of themselves in this storm. The current bolts of lighting had reached a stage where they were genuine threats to Heavenly Immortals. Only Golden immortals like general Chi was safe.

Several thousand kilometres away, Zulong and his group defended themselves from the assaulting lightning. The golden lightning bounced harmlessly off of the dragon's scales while Bai Jian seemed to not be affected at all.

"Something is happening," Bai Jian said. His blue eyes shone brightly in the dark sky. The dragons each nodded and braced themselves.

As if on signal, the water around them all exploded in a fountain of power. Erupting from deep within the earth was a geyser of raw primordial Qi. It shot high into the sky connecting with the heavens above.

The sight of the three hundred sixty five stars was even visible beyond the pillar. It was as if a ladder was being constructed that reached the stars themselves.

'Such a terrifying natural phenomenon,' Zulong thought as the dark clouds were blasted apart. He shielded his eyes at the ensuing light. Even Si Hai was forced to look away and wait for the light to settle.

When it did, an island had appeared in its place. A landmass stretching on for at least fifty thousand kilometres and reassembled a continent in and of itself. It was an extremely beautiful location, one filled with soft forests and shining rivers.

It's most notable feature was a tall thick tree with a purple trunk and dark green leaves. Its bark had the texture of an elm tree and on its branches gre yellow wrinkly fruits resembling jujubes.

The tree sat comfortably on a hill beside a river leading up to it. Its trunk was so tall that it touched the sky. A small opening at the peak of the trunk revealed a small opening into the starry sky itself. Its branches radiated with stellar Qi absorbed from the stars which in turn empowered the tree.

"No doubt about it, this is on par with the Fusang tree at least," Zulong said feeling overwhelmed. The sudden rapid buildup was beyond his expectations. It was like a giant had suddenly awoken, taking the place of a much less significant event.

The prospects of it scarred Zulong. This tree was connected to the starry sky. From the looks of it, it was rooted in place. Cutting it down will not be simple, nor easy. The dragon looked at the roots, they seemed irrelevant when put in comparison to the trunk but they too were hiding something.

Zulong looked at the land below and spotted a glimmering light. It condensed into a small lantern shaped like a lotus. It was green in colour and shimmered with immortal power. Evidently, it was a high grade xiantian treasure.

"Looks like this is it," Bai Jian said. He folded his arm and looks somewhat disappointed. He was hoping for a new weapon to wield in combat, preferable a sword. As such his disappointment was understandable.

The group descended near the tree and took in the sights around them. The river leading up to the tree was crystal clear. The water was sparkling and very beautiful. Zulong took a small drink and smiled in amazement. The life giving power of the water was astounding, it was better than any longevity pill he'd tried, second only to the Fusang tree's mulberry fruits.

Upon further inspection, the water was directly flowing from the tree. It was the plant that was probably the source of the life-force.

'Wait no, that's not it either,' Zulogn thought.

"Come out," Bai Jian suddenly announced. His booming voice rippled the water. Zulong raised his eyebrow, had Bai Jian seen something he didn't?

In response to the rogue cultivator's command, the water rippled. Something cloaked in white fur swam to the surface. It was a creature brimming with power, an innate god of the Golden Immortal realm.

He resembled a fox with snow white fur. He had small horns protrusions lining his back. This deity also possessed a long flowing tail.

The fox creature swam up to the surface and walked up to the group. Its feat touched the grass softly and gracefully.

"Who are you supposed to be?" Bai Jian asked.

"Chenghuang," the fox said softly.

"You after the lantern?" The swordsman asked again.

"No," Chenghuang answered.

"Oh? Not interested in a weapon to supplement your strength?"

"No," Chenghuang answered softly.

"Ah, you know you can't win here," Bai Jian said in realisation.

"Yes."

"Not much of a talker is he?" Qinglong commented. Indeed, Chenghuang spoke softly and only in short words. He looked to be very mildly tempered.

Suddenly, the wind kicked up. Zulong narrowed his eyes. This feeling was very familiar, the exact same as an old enemy.

A sharp claw made of air swept the area. It flattened trees and carved the land. Zulong, Qinglong, Yinglong, and Bai Jian leapt out of the way immediately. Chenghuang had also followed their example and jumped out of the way, his flowing tail was very beautiful as he did so.

"Shen Feng," Zulong stated with no small amounts of contempt. The blade of wind clashed harmlessly along the tree but the effect was achieved. The ancestor of divine winds had appeared right next to the lantern and gripped the handle.

"This treasure is mine. On the account of your master, I'll show some mercy," Shen Feng claimed. He signalled for the dragons to leave. Zulong felt extremely conflicted, on one hand, Shen Feng was a Da Luo Golden Immortal. On another, the chaos godfiend wasn't particularly strong.

There was a real possibility Zulogn could win. But he quickly squashed that thought. The risk associated wasn't worth the trouble.

"Mere high grade isn't worth such efforts," Zulong said to his teammates.

"Just where did that guy come from?" Bai Jian asked grimly.

"He always shows up at the most inopportune of times," Qinglong growled. "Liken him to scavenger," he said.

"JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?" An arrogant voice boomed on the horizon. The shirtless Si Hai carrying his harpoon stood mid air looking at Shen Feng with unhidden contempt.


"I saw that first," the emperor of the four seas said. Shen Feng took a small step back. He was sweating since Si Hai first appeared. The previous storm made sensing anything difficult and Shen Feng couldn't feel the emperor at all.

Wordlessly, Shen Feng unleashed a hurricane. He kicked up a storm that engulfed the island uncaring of who he hit. He struck everywhere with his power and threw his wind blast at the emperor of the sea.

Si Hai scoffed and punched out at the wind.

Even Zulong took a minute to steady his footing and held his allies back. Chenghuang had bolted and ran behind the tree's massive roots to hide. His tiny size made such a task easy.

"Let's get out of here," Zulong instructed. Si Hai had already engaged Shen Feng, this was a very good opportunity.

As the wind kicked up, the sea rose to meet it. Wind and water clashed tearing the land apart. Chenghuang who was hidden looked enraged at seeing his birth place damaged so but remained out of sight and safe.

Beyond anyone's notice. A red bird flew out into the sky, she took one look at the battle and turned to leave.

 

'Gotta run, gotta run, gotta run,' Zhuque chanted within her mind as she flew low on the ocean surface. She took care not to make herself too noticeable and as such did not ignite her flames. Even so, her gorgeous feathers and long tail feathers were very noticeable. She was like a peacock trying to hide its colours.

"Don't let her get away," general Chi commanded his army of hundred thousand. They drive the high grade xiantian treasure after Zhuque who looked back in annoyance.

"If not for that defensive treasure, I'll incinerate you!" She threatened. She flapped her wings and kicked a flying debris towards the boat. General Chi swung the kunwu sword in response.

"Getting chased by small fries, sister will be so angry," Zhuque said self deprecatingly. Her tail feathers shot out arrows of orange light in a shower of spears.

"Activate the defences," general Chi commanded. A grey dome manifested on the ship defending them against the attack. However, in order to do so, much power was diverted away from speed.

"General, the eleventh, sixteenth, eighth, and second regiments are out of power," a commanding soldier said.

"Get the next batch ready, we can't let her escape," general Chi ordered. He stabbed out with the kunwu sword with all his might. His artefact once belonged to a mighty chaos goldfield. The remnant will of the sword possessed terrifying might.

Chi stabbed the sword down at the sea. The waters answered the call, waves upon waves darkened into murky pillars of ice. They shot up at the unsuspecting Zhuque.

"What the?" Zhuque barely uttered out before her abdomen was smashed by the black ice. The vermillion bird gasped in pain and had to quickly steady herself. She looked back in annoyance.

"So persistent, are you looking to die?" Zhuque opened her beak and spewed forth waves of red hot fire. General Chi keeled back and tried to defend his men with the kunwu sword.

"Quickly, pool your strengths together, manifest the kunwu god," he commanded.

…

"Brother," Qinglong called out to Zulong. "Over there," he said pointing at the bird armoured figure of the kunwu god facing off against Zhuque.

"What is it Qinglong?" Zulong enquired looking over. He frowned and asked, "Were you not listening to master's warnings?"

"I have brother, but this…I have a feeling that I have to help that fellow daoist," Qinglong said. "Please, only good things will come," he begged.

"The same feeling you had with Xuanwu and Bai Jian," Zulong stated for confirmation. When the azure dragon nodded Zulong sighed. "Do what you must," he said.

Bai Jian also looked at Zhuque from a distance. The vermillion bird was not struggling with the kunwu god but she was tied down. He'd seen where she'd flown from and both he and the dragons could extrapolate theories.

A silent understanding came between both innate gods. They descended in a heartbeat. Between the two, Bai Jian had superior firepower whereas Qinglong had more mystical power.

The enormous image of the Venus star appeared behind Bai Jian, resembling a golden metal ball. Behind Qinglong appeared the Jupiter star, appearing like a wooden construct. Both celestial bodies empowered one another and sent a wave of power that washed over Zhuque and the kunwu god.

"What was that?" Both Bai Jian and Qinglong uttered. Instinctual knowledge appeared in their minds when they began their move. Zhuque seemed to have also benefited.

The avian's forehead glowed with a circular image of the Mars star in all its fiery glory.

"Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Mercury," Yinglong muttered in contemplation and looked at Zulong. Both dragons had concluded that something strange was going on between the four individuals who feared such planer powers.

"Qinglong born in the east holds Jupiter the wood star, Xuanwu of the north holding Mercury the water star, Bai Jian whom we still don't know his real name of the west holds Venus the gold star. Then there is this newcomer who holds Mars the fire star," Zulong said in deep thought.

"I've read master's library before, aunt master Wangshu had gifted stellar charts that corresponded with master's diagrams of the five elements. Each of those stars represents one of the elements," Yinglong concluded. "Could our little brother have inherited something from the late daoist of the five elements?"

Zhuque looked bewildered at the two men who appeared before her. They looked puny compared to her gargantuan bird form, mere specs of dust before her six thousand kilometre wingspan.

Distantly, the kunwu god stood aboard the universe traversing boat. It stood proud and tall at just shy of four thousand kilometres. It brimmed with the power of over a hundred thousand elite immortals in addition to a high grade and top grade xiantian spiritual treasure. Multiple lesser treasures on board were also used. Needless to say, the resulting titan was on par with a Taiyi Golden Immortal peak.

"Thank you fellow daoists for your assistance," Zhuque said genuinely. "You will be rewarded," she said with a sincere voice.

"There is no need," Qinglong said. "I…" the azure dragon was cut off when the kunwu god held out a rope. Zhuque scowled at the treasure, she flapped her wings to unleash a heatwave.

Bai Jian drew his sword and drew the heat wave into its tip. He then redirected all that power in a burst of red lightning straight through the kunwu god.

"No!" General Chi cried out as thousands of his men died on the spot.

Qinglong joined in as well, he swooped down transforming into a massive dragon and sending tendrils of water to batter the kunwu god around. He soared high into the air and sent a ball of wind right into the Kunwu god staggering him.

Bai Jian jumped in next. His sword glowed with a metallic sheen and he roared like a tiger. The symbol for king on his person flashed as he sliced off the other arm of the formation.

Qinglong's draconic form circled the formation clawing chunks out of it while Zhuque joined him and tearing the kunwu god apart. Their coordination generated waves of hot air.

Zhuque's talons lit aflame. In the presence of Qinglong, her talons elongated into swordlike claws even deadlier than what she was used to. Elated, Zhuque tore into the formation and grabbed with her left talon.

In an instant, she grabbed hold of general Chi and tore him out of the kunwu god. Tightening her grip, she pulverised all the bones in his body, beating him back into a swordfish.

Transforming into her Dao body, Zhuque's delicate hands held the swordfish general's throat with a crushing grip. "Should've given up when you had the chance," she spat igniting the fish. Her prize, the kunwu sword remained idle before flashing to her side.

Zhuque looked up at the azure dragon who simply said, "It's your prize." Nodding, Zhuque pricked her finger and allowed her blood to drop into the sword refining it.

"Thank you," she said smiling brightly. She couldn't explain it but something within her chest told her that she was among allies, among family. Qinglong and Bai Jian smiled as well. 'Now we're just missing one,' they both thought.

"Come, let's get out of here before both seniors realise what's going on," Qinglong said. Zhuque nodded and flew up with them.

"Yes, but first," Zhuque raised her hand. The universe traversing boat shrunk and flew into her palm. She held it out and flew right before Qinglong who'd assumed human form. She placed it in his hands much to his shock.

"I apologise," Zhuque said to Bai Jian. "I regret that I have nothing to gift you."

"No need, no need, it's only a small matter," Bai Jian said dismissively.

"No, no, no, I will find something," Zhuque insisted before Qinglong handed the boat back.

"I can't accept this, their grievances were with you. I am an irrelevant party," he said. "This should be your prize."

"The hell you are, just accept it," Zhuque insisted. This routine went back and forth for a bit before Qinglong relented when Bai Jian knocked both their heads and pointed at the battle of Da Luo Golden Immortals.

"Fine, but we should get going," the dragon said.

"I know a place where we'd be safe, it's in the south continent but it's on the main land," Zhuque replied.

"Very well," Qinglong said. "Brothers, let's go," he called out to Zulogn and Yinglong. The two dragons flew along with them and nodded.

"Looks like our time west is over, let's head south," Zulong said.

"These two are?" Zhuque began before Qinglong interrupted her.

"Introductions can wait, we should get away first," he said. The rest nodded in agreement and picked up speed. They flew by broken fragments of the island that were drifting away by the shockwaves. Looking back, everyone but Zulong could barely perceive what was going on.

Si Hai battle with Shen Feng had spiralled out of control. But the emperor of the four seas clearly held the advantage. His true form in all its grotesque glory laughed at Shen Feng. His razor like mouth grinned maniacally.

"Ah Sheng Feng, you've gotten worse," he tainted. Lashing out with his tentacles, he kicked the wind god square in the chest. He held the harpoon and stabbed at Sheng Feng.

However, the patriarch of divine wind's red eyes shot out beams of light that grazed Si Hai's scales. His smokey body lashed out like a spiral of blades made of wind. He was like a spinning top and grinder Si Hai until he could fly away.

"I could say the same for you Si Hai," Shen Feng taunted back. He chained his ball appendages into a large mace and smashed Si Hai across his face and thin neck.

Si Hai's shark face scowled. He punched a second blow away staggering Shen Feng and grabbed both his wings with his arms before ripping them off. His harpoon stabbed into Shen Feng's body. Bringing another fist down, he smashed Shen Feng's smokey body of air again and again.

"Ragh!" Shen Feng cried in pain and scattered into billions of streams of wind. He flew out of Si Hai's grasp and tried to reform.

The emperor of the sea swung his harpoon in a wide arc drawing up a long arch of water into the newly reformed Sheng Feng. "Bastard," Sheng Feng cried out.

"Hand over my lantern and I may spare your life," Si Hai offered.

"You want the lantern?" Shen Feng said amused. "Here it is!" Sheng Feng held up the lantern.

Si Hai reached out to grab the treasure before suddenly jumping back to dodge. "Shenni?" He cried as the emperor of beast's crimson hairy form snarled at him.

"Heh, so that's its special ability," Shen Feng smirked revealing a mouthful of jagged razor teeth. His pale blank eyes flashed in a dull coloured light. "What a coincidence I've prepared just for this scenario," he said.

Shenni charged at Si Hai but the emperor ignored him. He simply reached out to his left and grabbed a bundle of the spheres of air of Shen Feng that was coming up for a hit.

"How did you?" Shen Feng uttered while Shenni harmlessly passed through Si Hai. "A spell just for illusions?" The wind god suddenly realised. "And here I thought you were a dumb brute," he chuckled.

Si Hai growled, he swung Shen Feng into the air and back down into the ocean surface which hardened into solid ice.

CRASH!

Shen Feng impacted the ground hard. His body was bleeding Dao essence that flew off like fireflies. Si Hai repeated this action several times before raising his harpoon.

"Wait, wait, wait, Si Hai, wait a minute," Shen Feng called out. Si Hai was about to stab down unbothered by Shen Feng's words before stopping when the lantern appeared before him.

"You can't run Shen Feng," Si Hai sneered. "It's mine either way."

"What about your ship?" Shen Feng returned. Confused Si Hai twisted his neck and looked back. His eyes widened.

"No! Those useless grunts," he got off and immediately flew off. Shen Feng smirked, getting up he wasted no time to break the fabric of reality and fly off.

Within the void, Shen Feng made some good distance before halting. His crimson eyes widened in fright at the figure just arriving.

…

"Master, what's wrong?" Xuanwu said getting from his meditation position in a stone pillar. The stone like face of Ao appeared uneasy.

"A commotion is taking place in the west sea," Ao said.

"West sea? But isn't that where Qinglong and the others went?" Xuanwu said in a quick panic. "Are they involved?"

"Indeed," Ao's booming voice replied.

"Shit, I knew I should've gone with them," Xuanwu cursed. He turn and braced himself to fly off at max speed.

"Where are you going? You are nowhere near fast enough to get there without flying for another few centuries," Ao said stopping Xuanwu.

"I have to help them, master, can you help me get there?" Xuanwu asked. He got onto his knees and kowtowed before Ao.

"You lot were born to work as one, fate has decreed it so," Ao said. A tear in reality opened before Xuanwu revealing a portal. On the other side, Xuanwu could see a violent storm. "I've already imparted my cultivation style, go at your own peril."

Without hesitation, Xuanwu jumped through.

"Four innate gods, four stars, four elements, four symbols," Ao mused. "I wonder, your future, it is not bright," he sighed. "Da Hai, the ripples you've made, are they big enough for them to escape their fate?"

 

'Somehow, the storm's gotten worse,' Qinglong thought grimly. The group of five were flying as fast as they could but could not yet escape the storm. The shockwaves from the clash of two Da Luo Golden Immortals had disrupted natural order.

BOOM!

'Another one,' the azure dragon thought to himself. Whatever was happening was incredibly fierce. His divine sense was being scrambled beyond his control. It was as if millions of birds were shrieking into his ear while fire was being shoved into his eyes.

'Looks like they're experiencing the same thing,' Qinlong thought upon noticing the grimacing expressions on his comrades' faces. He'd felt stronger than ever with their presence but even so, it was difficult to observe that fight. Only Zulong remained calm.

'Wait not, why is big brother looking like that?'

Zulong's expression was one of anxiousness. He appeared incredibly twitching. Suddenly his eyes widened.

"Run!" "Those useless grunts!"

His brother's and the booming voice of a greater deity rumbled the heavens. Qinglong turned his neck to look back. His heart froze in a rare moment of fright.

Gargantuan, inconceivable, invincible. These were the only words he could describe the emperor of the four seas. A Da Luo Golden Immortal peak who'd long condensed the Dao fruit. A superior being beyond ordinary understanding.

His arm was raced and he was quickly gaining pace. He'd easily outside all five of them. Besides him, Zhuque looked back in shock and even Bai Jian had a rare frightened expression.

Si Hai's harpoon was raised high in the air. The giant moved unbelievably fast skirting across the surface of the water. His swing was so powerful, it looked as if it could've split the heavens.

Just looking at his movements alone were mesmerising. Qinglong couldn't tear his eyes away. It was both beautiful and frightening at the same time. There were so much packed into it, so much understanding into the Dao. How vicious the ocean was, how violent the storms were. How dangerous water was.

The sky distorted, his vision distorted. Si Hai's appearance was beginning to change. It was as if Qinglong was looking at an ocean storm barreling towards him. A storm formed from the four oceans of the world.

The voices he heard were murderous and zealous. Screaming for blood, screaming for food, screaming for prey. He felt hopeless as if the supreme deity was standing before him. An unstoppable wave that wished for his head.

BOOM!

'GAHGH!' Qinglong, Yinglong, Zhuque, and Bai Jian all cried out in pain.

A massive golden tail slammed into all four of them hard. They were all thrown dozens of kilometres before impacting the water pushing up geysers.

Stretching over ten thousand kilometres. The snarling face of the first dragon Zulong faced the much more powerful emperor Si Hai. His body was bent in a wide arc having moved his tail earlier. He'd managed to force his brothers and friends away in time while narrowly dodging the physical blow.

His size and glow were magnificent. Gleaming golden scales, a radiant imperial aura. His full might as a Taiyi Golden Immortal was on full display. However, the golden scales along his mid section were noticeably glowing less than the rest of his body.

'To think he didn't even make contact,' Zulogn thought. He was incredibly tired. It had taken a lot out of him to resist just the aftershock of the blow. The dragon looked downwards from his floating position. The ocean was split in two for as far as a hundred thousand kilometres at the minimum. It was probably longer by an order of magnitude.

As if fearing for their very existence. None of the water rushed to fill the gap. They were like peasants making way for the king. Cowering in fright, not even daring to meet his eye.

Si Hai's face resembling a cookie cutter shark looked perplexed. He narrowed his eyes and scanned the five Taiyi Golden Immortals and sneered.

"This generation is pathetic," he muttered but clearly intended for his voice to be heard. The insult ignited rage from all those present, sparked by wounded pride. Bai Jian was tempted to pounce with caution thrown to the wind but held himself back, stupidity had no place in this lifetime.

"Just a small slash and you're reduced to this," Si Hai sneered. Zulong had half a mind to yell out that he was an entire realm above him. He shouldn't be able to fight Si Hai.

"Should you really be bullying juniors," Zulong said. Now was not the time to throw his weight around. He needed to be very careful. "We want no part in this, we are merely bystanders with no stake in your dispute. Let us…"

"And yet you are already involved," Si Hai scoffed. He swung his harpoon around and pointed at the woman in red and yellow, Zhuque. She gave out a small gasp before tensing.

'Fuck! Plan B it is,' Zulong thought depressingly. "Out master is a great immortal of the east sea and a veteran of the Shenni war, ancestor Da Hai, I don't think you're willing to incur his wrath," Zulong stated.

The history between both sea gods was no secret in the east. Si Hai publicly got his as kicked by Da Hai and ran away with his tail between his legs. Da Hai's current location was unknown but he should still be in the west. A month wasn't long enough for him to cross the entire continent. Too bad the communication crystal prototype was used up.

"Da Hai? That coward?" Si Hai started chuckling before blowing up into full blown laughter. "You'd threaten me with that small fry? Ha! If not for that pile of rocks, he wouldn't dare fight me. He doesn't even dare come after me," he laughed.

Zulong was suddenly overtaken by an overwhelming feeling of rage. How dare this creature bad mouth his master, his teacher, foster father. He gritted his teeth and tightened his hold over the small bad in his gargantuan palm.

There were several Da Luo Golden Immortal attack talismans within. Zulong surmised that that should at least by sometime.

"I'll hold off!" He screamed through mental communications. The order was met with a collection of "What", and "are you insane?" But Zulong took no head. He released the talismans within without hesitation.

Qinglong and Yinglong looked bitterly as the first explosion rang off. The startled Si Hai was pushed off of his tentacles and landed on his back. His wings flapped backwards pushing him back up again but Zulong had already unleashed another.

The two dragons felt incredibly conflicted. Their big brother was putting his life on the line and expected them to just run? Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!

"You guys go," Qinglong said to Zhuque and Bai Jian and received a look Yinglong flashed him. They were thinking the same thing.

"I…" Zhuque muttered hesitantly. The kindest of others weren't things she took lightly. She too hesitated to leave, her sister would understand, right? Definite not, she'd say something like us, "Us phoenixes are the most precious things in the world". But she really wanted to help Qinglong.

Bai Jian too contemplated. He'd been running for a while now much to his own wounded pride. Yet he was also deeply jealous of the bonds the dragons shared. That sense of family that he'd briefly been a part of just now in their company. That sense that he'd found missing pieces of himself returned.

Qinglong and Yinglong were already flying back. The vermillion bird and rogue swordsman both sighed. "Chances of us realistically getting away from a Da Luo Golden Immortal no matter how delayed is nonexistent at best," they justified.

"The fuck are you lot doing?" Zulong yelled desperately avoiding an enraged slap from Si Hai. "GAGH!" He cried having received a graze. His cheek had its scales peeled off revealing exposed skin.

The dragon had been in combat for a very short period of time when he noticed his fellow siblings and two extras coming back. While it was deeply worrying and rage inducing, he'd also felt very thankful.

Yinglong and Qinglong both roared, transforming and unleashing incredibly powerful breath attacks resembling lightning at Si Hai. They landed harmlessly against the deity's chest.

"What fools," Si Hai scoffed.

"We came into this world together, we leave it together," Yinglong and Qinglong said.

"You two are just plain stupid," Zulong growled at Bai Jian and Zhuque. The vermillion bird had the decency to look away while Bai Jian muttered something like, "I don't like to be in someone's debt".

"We are all lacking in brain cells today," Zulong sighed. He gazed up at Si Hai. The emperor of the four seas sneered at the display.

"Then you can all die together," Si Hai's harpoon lit up. Navy blue light lit the tip of the blade. "All tremble before me, all be washed before me, all be consumed before me," he chanted.

Extending his arm, Si Hai swung his harpoon up into the sky. "Be swallowed by the fiercest of all waves, Mouth that Swallows the Land," he roared.

The bunch of Taiyi Golden Immortals became weary as the spell was deployed. An oncoming wave rose to a million kilometres tall. The tsunami was navy blue in colour. It resembled the maws of a terrifying beast. A fitting appearance for the spell.

Yinglong sighed and extended his wings, he rose up and spun in the air and outstretched his impressive feathered wings. "I am the clouds, I bring the rain, I am the god of this world that oversees the skies," auspicious clouds gathered along the dragon's wings spraying a myriad of water arrows.

Qinglong, Bai Jian, and Zhuque all smiled at each other. Beneath such pressure, their true forms were forced out. Qinglong, long and serpentine, majestic and wise, an azure dragon. Zhuque, red with a massive wingspan, radiant and beautiful, a vermillion bird. Bai Jian, coated in metallic white fur and black stripes, paws sharp with claws, a predator of the jungle, a white tiger.

At once their stars glowed together. Jupiter, Venus, and Mars appeared in sync, the winds blew, the temperature was hot, time was shortened and an aura of decay was felt. The wind picked up speed, the fire burned, and metallic substances appeared. Supernatural phenomenons formed the vague outline of the universe formed spinning like a wheel unleashing mysterious stellar power.

Immediately, the three knew something was wrong. Something was missing and that held back their full potential.

Zulong flew onto the surface of the sea. His muscles tensed and contracted and his body glowed. Yellow and black, imperial heavenly colours. "The dragon was born in the ocean," he chanted softly. "Rising to the surface," mighty power gathered around him engulfing his serpentine figure. "Lifting his head," the image of a dragon resembling Zulong, but many times bigger appeared. "Soaring above the clouds," the biggest dragon in all history so far flew into the air.

A hail of rain, a diagram of the universe, and a dragon flying into the sky. The three clashed against the wave of Si Hai.

"Hm?" Si Hai suddenly adopted a confused expression. "What?" He uttered when the most unexpected thing happened. With a burst of golden light, his wave to end all waves was broken.

As he felt the droplets of water splashing him, Si Hai looked bewildered. His cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "YOU DARE!" He roared beginning to throw his harpoon full force.

He was so fast that the spontaneous attack barely registered in the dragons' minds. He aimed directly at them, directly at Zulong's head. His defiance will not be tolerated.

As his Harpoon was about to leave his hand. Si Hai suddenly received a frightening feeling. In his heart, the murderous malevolent intent invaded his very being. Shaking his very core. Hurriedly, he diverted the attack just barely missing Zulong.

'What was that?' Si Hai looked around. Not long had passed since the battle began, less then half a minute in fact and no one else had entered the battlefield. Then he spread his divine sense and inferred the secrets of heaven. The truth was then revealed.

Looking at the sky in rage Si Hai seethed and snarled. "See if I care," he roared and prepared another swing. Suddenly, his thin neck was hit by something cold and hard.

"WHO DARES!" He roared twisting around catching a black spinning shell to the face. Stumbling back, he saw the shell fly up to Qinglong and sprout legs and two heads. One was a tortoise while the other was a snake.

"Another pest?" Si Hai growled in annoyance. Time and time again he was disturbed. It was as if the universe was working against him.

"Sorry for being late," Xuanwu hurriedly apologised.

"How did you?" Qinglong began asking.

"My master," Xuanwu stated. The azure dragon nodded in understanding.

"Wait, who is this?" Bai Jian asked gesturing at the massive turtle.

"Oh this is Xuanwu," Qinglong hurriedly said. "And Xuanwu, this is Bai Jia…"

"Bai Hu," Bai Jian interrupted. "My real name is Bai Hu, please address me by it," he said.

"This is Bai Hu and Zhuque," Qinglong completed. Xuanwu nodded. He gazed up at Si Hai who had begun racing up to them. He was nearly onto them when Zulong flew up attempting to meet him.

"Brother, you don't need to shield us," Qinglong said. His Qi connected with Xuanwu, Bai Hu, and Zhuque. Their powers unified and despite their comparatively low cultivation, a mystical formation was achieved.

The four divine beasts blinked in front of Zulong. Si Hai, harpoon raised struck a barrier unlike any other.

A circular diagram of the stars. Seven constellations on top resembling a turtle with a snake for a tail, seven on the left resembling a coiling dragon, seven on the right resembling a tiger lying in wait, seven on the bottom resembling a dancing bird.

An outflow of power pushed Si Hai back burning his scales off and hurting his skin. His tentacles thrashed wildly as the embarrassed emperor defended himself. His harpoon was dropped in the chaos.

Zulong looked in wonder at the display of power shown. It was beyond anything he'd ever seen.

The diagram of the stars spun larger and large entrapping Si Hai in its halls. Long stellar chains made of starlight chained all four of his arms. The constellations began bombarding the godfiend with monstrous power. Each shot was like a star exploding, and there were untold thousands of them.

Si Hai screamed. He'd never felt so humiliated in his life. This entire fight was nothing but a test of his patience. To think he'd be restricted like this? Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous and inconceivable. No one must know, no one was allowed to live.

Si Hai extended his strength. However he could feel himself weakening, these chains were even draining him to suppress him. Si Hai pulled hard and roared.

Stellar sickles game down and sliced into his flesh. Dao essence bled out of him like blood. A hammer smashed his face, he spat out more. Searing heat further eroded away his flesh.

"RAAAAAAGH!"

Up one chain ran razor sharp winds cutting into his skin. Another had a chilling cold gust wearing his hold. Another was like a bunch of swords pricking into his arm draining him of life. The last chain was a torrent of flames searing his flesh away.

The struggle between both forces were fierce. The emperor of the four seas refused to relent despite being trapped within the formation. His pale eyes looked around, scanning and studying the formation around him. "Enough of this," he growled admits the battle.

Si Hai stretched his neck out and turned to one side. He opened his maw and chomped down hard on one of his arms. His razor sharp teeth sank into his flesh tearing the arm off completely.

His stump wasn't useless however. Water quickly generated around the stump, stretching out into a whole new limb of ice. With this arm, Si Hai tore at another chain. His tentacles reached up and gripped on the chains. His harpoon as well flew up, it pierced at the base of the diagram.

"You can't hold me," Si Hai growled and pulled. The tight chains creaked under the pressure. The sheer strength on display was astounding. The light of the Dao fruit within Si Hai's core magnified. The very concept of Si Hai's Dao was pulling along with him.

From within the stars, painful grunting was heard. The chains were beginning to be pulled towards Si Hai. The emperor's pale eyes gleamed in murderous delight.

The chains tied to Qinglong, Xuanwu, Zhuque, and Bai Hu were pulled along. The four divine beasts pulled back as hard as they could but were quickly losing energy.

"Damn it, we were so close," Bai Hu cried in frustration.

"The gap in cultivation was simply too big," Zhuque sighed. "The Dao fruit makes so much difference."

"It's been an honour friends," Xuanwu sighed softly. "Sorry I couldn't do more."

"What are you so sad about Xuanwu?" Qinglong chuckled. "We did so well against a renowned peak Da Luo Golden Immortal as a couple of Taiyi Golden Immortal small fries. No small feat."

The star diagram cracked. Pieces of starlight began falling off and the formation crumbled apart.

"No!" Cried Zulong rushing up as the four divine beasts fell out of the formation. They looked completely exhausted and drained. They were bleeding from their mouths and looked incredibly weak.

"Heh," Si Hai chuckled in triumph. His tentacle held onto his harpoon and he stretched his neck back.

"You pay for humiliating me like this," Si Hai growled. He looked at his severe injuries in utter disgust. "You must all be so proud to injure me. But guest what, injuries are superfluous at best, I will heal as good as knew while you all will be dust."

The dreadful feeling invaded him again but Si Hai ignored it. He opened his mouth wide much to Zulong and the rest's dismay. "At least I'd get a good meal out of it." Behind the sea god, a spatial tear opened and a visibly pissed off Da Hai stepped out.

"Touch them again," Da Hai said from behind Si Hai. "I dare you."