The plan worked!

"Thank you for clearing up my confusion, fellow Daoist."

Nuwa bowed solemnly to Xiang Dong.

The bow was an expression of heartfelt gratitude.

Although the skill Xiang Dong had shown her had not made her fully understand how to walk her Dao Path, it had given Nuwa a direction.

That was important. Just like an ordinary person choosing a major and then a career after graduation, failing to find the right path meant wasting an entire lifetime.

Innate Divine Beings had long lifespans, but even they could not afford to waste time standing still forever.

Take Randeng, for example. He, the Three Pure Ones, and Nuwa were all among the three thousand guests of the Purple Heaven Palace.

Then the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa founded their own teachings, while he was still standing in place; the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa became sages, while he was still standing in place; in the end, he had no choice but to take Yuanshi Tianzun as his master and land himself the position of vice leader of the Chan Teaching, yet he was still standing in place.

He had never chosen the right path, and only realized it during the Investiture of the Gods Calamity. For the sake of his Dao Path, he resolutely chose to betray the Chan Teaching and head west.

Among the Innate Divine Beings of the Primordial World, those who had been reincarnated from Chaos Demon Gods knew which path suited them best. Most of the others actually went through this same period of confusion, truly unable to tell which path was best for them.

Now, Nuwa could be said to have skipped that period of confusion, saving who knew how much time and avoiding who knew how many detours.

It was no small favor.

And that was exactly what Xiang Dong wanted. He did not want Nuwa to repeat the same mistake and be tied by Hongjun to the pirate ship of the Heavenly Dao Sages.

"A small matter, a small matter."

Xiang Dong waved his leaves, not particularly concerned about it. But his eyes darted around as though he had thought of something, and the corners of his split mouth curled upward in a wicked grin.

"Fellow Daoist Nuwa, I wonder if you could do me a favor?"

"Please, go ahead!"

Having received such a great favor from Xiang Dong, Nuwa could hardly refuse. After all, she was not one of the two sages of the West, with skin that thick and no moral scruples.

"I want to go treasure hunting in the East Sea, but it would be somewhat inconvenient to go alone, so I'd like to ask for your help. If we can find that treasure, it would also be a great help to your Dao Path."

Xiang Dong was not speaking without reason, nor was he afraid of death. He was mainly afraid of trouble.

The journey from Buzhou Mountain to the East Sea was far too long, and the East Sea—no, more precisely, the Four Seas—was now Dragon Clan territory.

The Beast Calamity had already ended, and the fortunes of the dragons, phoenixes, and qilin were now on the rise. They would be the principal players in the struggle for supremacy over heaven and earth.

Before the three clans knocked one another's dog heads off, the Dragon Clan was exceptionally arrogant, overbearing, and unreasonable. If he went onto their turf, what if they demanded a toll or protection money?

Should he refuse to give it, refuse to pay it, or slap them across the face?

It was not that Xiang Dong did not want to pay; he simply could not afford it. He had no innate spirit treasure and truly did not have a thing to his name.

Most importantly, if the Dragon Clan caught even a whisper of what he was looking for, they certainly would not let it go.

The strong preyed on the weak, and people killed for treasure. That was the law of the Primordial World, part of everyday life.

It was hard to say whether Xiang Dong could even reach the East Sea alone. Bringing Nuwa along would at least give him some protection. After all, she was a future sage and the Holy Mother of the Human Race; her luck could hardly be too bad.

"Let's form a team and set off on a grand adventure on a whim. We can see the vast world of the Primordial World and experience the birth and death of all things. That would be even more helpful in determining your Dao Path. What do you say?"

"Since you have a request, fellow Daoist, I should not refuse. But my brother does not want me to have too much contact with you."

The moment Xiang Dong heard Nuwa mention Fuxi, his temper flared.

That guy blew me apart over a disagreement. Just watch me lure his little sister away.

"Fellow Daoist Nuwa, I hate to say it, but you're already so grown up. Haven't you learned to be independent? Don't tell me you want to live under your brother's protection forever?"

"You can't grow if you're always being protected. Didn't you say you'd already found your Dao Path? Don't you want to take it a step further?"

At that moment, Xiang Dong was like a dangerous blond punk, egging on and beguiling a girl who knew little of the world.

Nuwa froze for a moment, then lowered her head and sank into thought.

As the younger sister, she had always been well protected by Fuxi over the years, but she did not want to live under her brother's protection forever.

And when it came to talent and comprehension, Fuxi really was not as strong as Nuwa. He had simply been born earlier and, being skilled at divination, had gained a head start.

"A flower in a greenhouse can't withstand the wind and rain. This is the Primordial World; it won't take pity on you just because you're a delicate flower. On the contrary, it will trample you again and again precisely because you're a delicate flower."

"Look at me. I'm a flower myself, so I'm the most qualified to speak on this. The difference is that I have a heart that yearns for the light, and I dare to face the raging wind and rain. As long as the light in my heart never goes out, no hardship can defeat me."

That last part was pure bullshit, but whether anyone else believed it or not, he believed it himself.

Nuwa naturally did not believe it, but she had to admit that Xiang Dong's words made some sense.

When he saw Nuwa's snake tail sway, Xiang Dong had a rough idea that her resolve was wavering. Now he needed to press his advantage and administer a potent dose of medicine.

"The last time I met your brother, we'd barely exchanged a couple of words before he attacked me. Such an impulsive temperament won't do. He's bound to suffer a terrible loss for it someday."

"My brother isn't usually like that."

Nuwa offered a weak defense, but facts spoke louder than words.

"But to protect you, he'll always step in front of you and shield you behind him."

"Don't you want to be able to pull him behind you and protect him when danger comes one day? Just imagine it: you step forward and say, all imposing, 'You want to lay a hand on my brother? Did you ask me first?'"

Nuwa could not help following Xiang Dong's words. Well, what do you know? The scene really did appear in her mind.

It... really is pretty cool.

She had always been the one protected and had never imagined that one day she could protect her brother instead.

The wavering in Nuwa's eyes became more obvious, and Xiang Dong knew the moment was about right.

"Fortuitous opportunities are fleeting. Let one pass you by today, and tomorrow it'll belong to someone else."

"Are you coming or not? Give me a straight answer."

Xiang Dong put his hands on his hips, looking as though he were saying, "Miss this village, and you won't find another shop."

Nuwa clenched her fists tightly.

Brother, I can't be your little sister forever.

"I..." Nuwa took a deep breath, her gaze becoming firmer than ever before. "...I'm coming!"

"All right!"

Xiang Dong flashed a V sign with his leaves, the smiling face on his flower head positively radiant.

The plan worked!!!

Meanwhile, Fuxi was on his way back. Buzhou Mountain was so enormous that, even traveling at full speed, he had not yet reached its foot.

But a sudden premonition kept giving him a bad feeling. He picked up his pace by thirty percent, running so fast he was almost leaving afterimages.