Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal

"Boss!"

Fuzhu, Da Bai, shouted in surprise, then flew toward the immortal palace, followed by a million spiritual beasts, their momentum vast and imposing.

Massive amounts of spiritual energy surged wildly from all directions across heaven and earth, forming a vortex of spiritual energy. Five-colored auspicious clouds gathered in the sky, rays of light shone in all directions, stars twinkled, and the sun and moon shone together.

The laws of heaven and earth manifested in resonance, the surrounding space twisted slightly, as if the very fabric of heaven and earth was breathing. Mysterious immortal music rang out between heaven and earth, its tone ethereal and beautiful. Those who listened felt their hearts calm and peaceful, many achieving sudden enlightenment—truly a case of one person attaining the Dao, and even their chickens and dogs ascending to heaven.

Qing Xuan sat cross-legged in the Penglai Immortal Palace, his state of mind as calm as still water. Feeling the Chaos Qi within him surging wildly, he knew this was the critical moment. He steadied his mind.

The magnificent scene of Pangu splitting Heaven and Earth surfaced once more in his mind. Qing Xuan perceived the endless cycle of all things in heaven and earth, comprehended the profound mysteries of the Great Dao's laws, and his state of mind was elevated.

Gold, silver, and jade—three flowers appeared above Qing Xuan's head. The Essence Flower, representing the physical body, bloomed first: one grade, four grades, eight grades, twelve grades. Twelve grades had already reached the pinnacle of the Innate Beings of the Primordial Wilderness.

Yet Qing Xuan's Essence Flower continued to blossom here, reaching a state of twenty-four grades—this was the top-grade Three Flowers that only top-tier Chaos Demon Gods like Pangu and Hongjun could condense.

Then the silver Qi Flower and the jade Spirit Flower bloomed one by one, each reaching twenty-four grades, the pinnacle of the Three Flowers. Radiant gold, silver, and jade—the three flowers floated above Qing Xuan's head, symbolizing his unparalleled foundation.

Qing Xuan felt that his Essence, Qi, and Spirit were all complete. With a thought, the three lotuses above his head merged into one, forming a Tri-Colored Lotus, which then merged into his body. Qing Xuan smoothly broke through to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm.

Purple mist shrouded Penglai in deep haze, Three Flowers bloomed atop, their rhythm long and deep. In one dawn he grasped the Zenith Heaven realm, Heaven and earth shone together, his Dao achieved complete.

"Hahahaha, This Seat has succeeded!"

Qing Xuan shot into the sky, laughing uproariously, his heart filled with soaring pride. He knew he had taken the first step toward becoming a hegemon of the Primordial Wilderness.

"Congratulations, Boss, on achieving the Dao and becoming an immortal!"

Da Bai galloped over and stood beside Qing Xuan, his four hooves unable to stop stamping, expressing the joy in his heart.

"Haha, good Da Bai, let me see if you've been cultivating properly." Qing Xuan's Primordial Spirit power enveloped Da Bai. To his surprise, Da Bai had already cultivated to Grand Unity Golden Immortal Peak. He thought to himself, As expected of an Innate Divine Beast—when he cultivates seriously, his progress is this rapid.

"Hehehe, Boss, I've been diligent in cultivation. I'm already at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm now."

Da Bai raised his head, his proud and smug expression making Qing Xuan find him amusing.

Qing Xuan teased him. "A mere Grand Unity Golden Immortal is nothing but slightly higher-grade cannon fodder in the Primordial Wilderness. What's there to be proud of?"

"Still, it's enough to go out and show off with me."

"Great! I can leave the island and play."

Da Bai leaped back and forth, his heart filled with joy. He had been cultivating until now without ever leaving home. Hearing that he could go out now, he couldn't wait to leave.

Qing Xuan rode Da Bai back to the immortal palace. Looking at the million spiritual beasts prostrating on the ground, he spoke.

"Since you all live on Penglai Immortal Island, you belong to our Three Immortal Islands. This Seat has achieved the Dao today, so I will open an altar and preach for ten years. All of you may come and listen."

Hearing of such a good opportunity, the spiritual beasts bowed in worship, expressing their gratitude.

Then Qing Xuan began preaching by a pond on Penglai Immortal Island. Fuzhu, Da Bai, lay down beside him, surrounded by spiritual beasts. At the forefront were the twelve Protectors of the Myriad Spirit Alliance.

Qing Xuan's voice was melodious. Spiritual energy gathered around him, and the rhythm of the Dao filled the air. In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed.

"Alright, the ten years of preaching are over. Cultivate diligently and achieve the Dao soon."

The spiritual beasts bowed in worship, then scattered in all directions. Only twelve spiritual beasts remained.

"Boss, these are my twelve little brothers. They're the best batch of spiritual beasts in terms of talent."

Over the years, aside from cultivation, Da Bai's greatest pride was taking in these twelve as his underlings. After all, managing a million spiritual beasts was impossible for just one Fuzhu alone.

So Da Bai followed the principle: if you can't build a team, you'll work yourself to death. He found these twelve little brothers to help with management.

Qing Xuan looked at these twelve spiritual beasts and sighed inwardly. They actually resemble the later Twelve Zodiacs so closely. Only the Spirit Fish seemed rather out of place. With a thought, a drop of his essence blood flew toward the Spirit Fish.

The Spirit Fish's eyes were lively and intelligent. It dared not dodge. The essence blood merged into its body. Feeling excruciating pain throughout, it couldn't help but thrash about.

Qing Xuan waved his hand, and the surrounding spiritual energy wrapped around the Spirit Fish, forming a Ball of Light. Moments later, the ball began to transform and stretch. Before long, the light dissipated, and a small dragon appeared before everyone's eyes.

"Roar!"

The small dragon cried out, looking at its own body with a confused gaze, as if wondering whether its kin could still accept it.

The other spiritual beasts around looked at it with envy, even Da Bai's gaze toward it was a little off.

"There, that looks much more pleasing." Qing Xuan was satisfied with what he had casually done.

"Since you all follow Da Bai, I'll give you names."

Then, with considerable mischievous intent, Qing Xuan gave the twelve spiritual beasts the names of the later Twelve Zodiacs.

"Zi Rat, Chou Ox, Yin Tiger, Mao Rabbit, Chen Dragon, Si Snake, Wu Horse, Wei Goat, Shen Monkey, You Rooster, Xu Dog, Hai Pig. You may go now."

The twelve spiritual beasts thanked him for the names and then left. Seeing this, Da Bai said.

"Boss, their names are all so nice. Give me a new name too." Da Bai looked at Qing Xuan with expectant eyes.

"Go on, go on. Da Bai is a great name—pleasant to hear and easy to say."

Qing Xuan gave Da Bai a flick on the head, then left the place.

"Fine, if you won't change it, you won't! But why hit an animal?!" Da Bai followed closely behind.

Thus, a few more days passed. Qing Xuan then rode Da Bai and left the Three Immortal Islands. Above the Eastern Sea, Qing Xuan sensed the Tribulation Energy filling the sky, and his expression shifted slightly.

"I didn't expect it had already reached this point."

Qing Xuan thought it over and decided to first distance himself from the center of the great war, slipping to the edges to fish in troubled waters. And so, one man and one beast arrived at the Eastern Continent to begin collecting the dead.

In the blink of an eye, a hundred years passed. The Tribulation Energy in the Primordial Wilderness grew thicker, as the strong of the Three Clans waged war around Buzhou Mountain, the dead and wounded beyond count. Looking closely, one could see a murky haze in the eyes of the Three Clans' members—a force that seemed to cloud their minds, driving them to slaughter with all their might.

At this moment, above the skies of the Eastern Continent, two strong figures were locked in a chase.

"Ao Yue, you cannot escape. You dared kill an elder of my clan—you will die without a doubt!"

A crisp, cold voice came from the pursuer. A massive Five-Colored Phoenix, radiant with shimmering light, its body wreathed in flames, struck out a fire-based divine art at the fleeing Dragon Clan member, Ao Yue.

"Roar! Yuan Feng, instead of going after the old ancestor, you bully a junior like me—you are unworthy to be a clan leader!"

Struck by that blow, Ao Yue no longer had the strength to keep flying, and he fell to the ground, barely clinging to life.

"Hmph, these tricks I learned from the Kirin Tribe. If you have the guts, go find them." Yuan Feng blanketed the mountain range in a single breath of flame, burning Ao Yue to nothing.

Suddenly, Yuan Feng seemed to sense something and shouted loudly.

"What sneaky wretch dares hide? Come out and face This Seat!"