The Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud carried Haotian and Jade Pool back to the East Sea from Purple Cloud Palace.
Unlike their rushed journey there, they deliberately slowed down on the way back.
The auspicious cloud drifted slowly above the East Sea like a patch of seven-colored clouds, passing over small islands sparse in spiritual qi and circling around spirit veins hidden beneath the sea.
Over the thousand years, Jade Pool often leaned against the edge of the auspicious cloud, condensing a thread of Ren Water Spiritual Qi at her fingertips to tease the spirit whales leaping from the sea.
Haotian sat beside her, occasionally taking out the Fragment of the Jade Plate of Creation to comprehend the laws of space using the East Sea's Chaos Spiritual Energy.
At other times, he pointed out innate spiritual materials beneath the sea for Jade Pool, such as Sea Soul Pearls hidden among coral and Water Condensing Ganoderma growing on reefs.
"Senior Brother, are we almost there? I can vaguely see the Formation around Penglai Immortal Island."
Jade Pool held a freshly gathered Sea Soul Pearl and looked at the faint spiritual mist in the distance, her eyes full of anticipation.
She was still thinking about the Yellow Middle Plum in the spirit garden and wanted to return early to see its newly sprouted branches.
"Soon." Haotian smiled, took the Sea Soul Pearl from her, and casually merged it into the auspicious cloud's Defense Array.
"We can already see Penglai's spiritual mist. Once we return, we'll properly tend to the spirit garden first."
Jade Pool nodded gently. Then, borne by the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud, the two spent another hundred years returning to Penglai Immortal Island.
The moment he returned, Haotian raised his hand and laid down a spatial Formation.
Light cyan Space Runes flowed around the island, shielding its core region.
Jade Pool, meanwhile, carried the jade hoe she had prepared long ago and rushed straight toward the spirit garden at the center of the island.
The Yellow Middle Plum did not disappoint her. Two more tender leaves had sprouted from its new branches.
The Three Lights Divine Water in the pool had accumulated considerably as well. Several Nine-Petal White Lotuses slowly revolved within it, their fragrance filling the spirit garden.
"Lingxiao, Youming, Fengyin, come out." Haotian called into the void.
As soon as he spoke, three figures floated out from his primordial spirit.
Lingxiao's green robes carried traces of spatial spiritual qi. He wore a gentle smile, and when he saw Jade Pool, he nodded to her in greeting.
The hem of Youming's black robe hung low, his gaze calm and unruffled. The Youming Chain around his fingertips lightly circled once, giving him an air of steadiness.
Fengyin's white robes fluttered in the wind, his Fengyin Flute tucked at the right side of his waist. His fingers unconsciously spun the flute, his lively eyes carrying a hint of mischief.
"Original Body," the three called in unison. "What do you need us for?"
"I have something to trouble you with." Haotian sat on a stone beside the spirit spring and pointed toward the East Sea.
"Of the three immortal islands in the East Sea, we occupy Penglai Immortal Island, Yingzhou Immortal Island has been claimed by East King Duke, and only Fāngzhàng Island remains ownerless."
"So, if the three of you have nothing to do, you can search for it. You might gain something from it."
Lingxiao and Youming nodded at his words, while Fengyin smiled and said, "Rest assured, Original Body. Leave it to us—we won't delay matters."
With that, the group turned into streams of light and departed.
Watching the three leave, Jade Pool straightened after watering the spirit herbs and said, "Senior Brother, do you think they can find it? What if someone gets to Fāngzhàng Island first?"
Haotian looked completely relaxed. "If I obtain it, it is my fortune. If I lose it, it is my fate. Besides, even if Fengyin and the others cannot find it, neither can anyone else."
"When we have more time later, we can devote more effort to searching for it."
"There's no need to worry about it being discovered in the meantime. Fāngzhàng Island and Penglai Immortal Island share the same origin, and both are protected by Chaos Formations. Ordinary great cultivators cannot even get close, much less find them."
"Besides, letting them travel around will give them more experience. If they stay within my primordial spirit all the time, their Law Comprehension will be difficult to improve."
Jade Pool nodded at this. Just as she was about to tend to the Innate Spiritual Root, a deep rumble of thunder suddenly came from the Chaos Void above the East Sea.
It was not the frigid severity of heavenly punishment, but instead carried the warm weight of Heavenly Dao's approval.
Immediately afterward, a golden Merit Light Pillar descended from Chaos like a golden river, shooting toward the Sun Star.
The pillar was wrapped in dense Demon Race Fortune, spreading across the skies of the Primordial Wilderness and stirring even the spiritual qi above the sea.
"Is that... someone swearing to Heavenly Dao?" Jade Pool looked up, her eyes filled with shock.
Haotian also stopped what he was doing. The Fragment of the Jade Plate of Creation between his brows grew faintly warm, and he instantly sensed the commotion at the Sun Star.
Dijun held the River Diagram and Luo Book, Taiyi grasped the Chaos Bell Prototype, and behind them stood Bai Ze, Ji Meng, and other great powers of the Demon Race. They called out loudly to the Chaos Void.
"Heavenly Dao above! I, Dijun, have perceived that the myriad living beings of the Primordial Wilderness have no one to rely on and are often oppressed."
"Today, I gather beasts, birds, scaled creatures, and crawling insects to establish the Demon Race! We shall protect our kind and govern order. From this day onward, all living beings of the Primordial Wilderness may join the Demon Race! May Heavenly Dao bear witness!"
As the oath fell, the thunder of Chaos grew louder, and golden merit rained down. More than half surged into Dijun's body.
His Early Quasi-Saint aura abruptly rose and stabilized at the Mid Quasi-Saint stage.
A smaller portion entered Taiyi's body, and Taiyi's aura advanced in tandem.
However, the two had only recently broken through to the Quasi-Saint realm, and the foundation of their corpse severing had yet to stabilize. For the time being, they could not sever their evil corpses and could only suppress their cultivation to consolidate their realms.
The remaining merit drifted toward the Demon Race members. Even the cultivation of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal demon generals faintly rose by a degree.
Feeling their cultivation improve, many Demon Race members were ecstatic.
But while they rejoiced, others were unhappy. Within the Ancestor Witch Hall of the Witch Clan, the hot-tempered Zhurong smashed a stone table with one slap, flames surging around him.
"That brat Dijun dares claim that all living beings are demons? Our Witch Clan was formed from Pangu's Essence Blood—how can we be grouped with mere beasts? Attack the Sun Star and destroy the Demon Race!"
Gonggong beside him also spoke in agreement, but Dijiang pressed him down and said in a deep voice.
"The Demon Race has just gained merit. Dijun and Taiyi have broken through to the Mid Quasi-Saint stage, and they have Great Luo Demon Sages supporting them. If we go to war now, both sides will suffer."
After recalling the Dao Ancestor's words, Houtu also spoke in agreement.
"Big Brother is right. We should first stabilize the Witch Clan's foundation and learn the Demon Race's true strength before deciding anything."
Though the Ancestral Witches were unwilling, they could only suppress their anger and discuss other matters.
On Yingzhou Immortal Island, East King Duke stood upon the observation deck and watched the pillar of light above the Sun Star, his brow tightly furrowed.
Seeing this, one of his subordinates hurriedly stepped forward and said.
"My lord, although the Demon Race has been established, the Immortal Alliance consists mostly of Innate Deities and has a solid foundation. There is no need to worry."
"We should strengthen the Immortal Alliance's defenses first, then make plans when the Wu Yao clash."
East King Duke gripped the Dragon Head Crutch. After a long silence, he finally voiced his concerns.
"What worries me is that the Demon Race will use this merit to expand its ranks, squeezing the Immortal Alliance's place to establish itself in the future... Forget it. We'll proceed as you suggest."
The subordinate respectfully acknowledged the order before withdrawing.
On Penglai Immortal Island, Jade Pool looked at the Merit Light Pillar with some concern. "Senior Brother, the Demon Race is so powerful. Will this cause a great war?"
Haotian wiped the dirt from his jade hoe and chuckled.
"The position of overlord of the Primordial Wilderness was always going to be contested. The Demon Race stepped forward first, so the Witch Clan will certainly respond. This cannot be avoided."
"We don't need to concern ourselves with this for now. Properly manage Penglai, gather more spiritual materials, and improve our strength. That is what truly matters."
Jade Pool nodded and crouched down again to tend to the spirit herbs. Haotian walked over to the Yellow Middle Plum, condensed Chaos Spiritual Energy at his fingertips, and slowly infused it into the trunk.
Nourished by the Chaos Spiritual Energy, the branches of the Yellow Middle Plum swayed continuously, seeming immensely pleased. The entirety of Penglai Immortal Island gradually sank back into tranquility.
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