The brutal final battle of the Dragon-Han Initial Tribulation ended with the progenitors of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Kirin Tribes nearly perishing together, their elites reduced to less than one-tenth, and overwhelming Karmic Debt clinging to them. The three great overlords who had once dominated the Primordial World and commanded the winds and clouds thus withdrew from the stage of history, leaving behind only endless desolation and warning.
The tribulation aura gradually dispersed, but the Primordial World was already devastated beyond recognition. The western lands had nearly been completely ruined, their spirit veins shattered and vitality dimmed, reduced to barren wastelands. The central lands and the east had also been affected; mountains and rivers had shifted, and living beings had suffered untold misery. Corpses lay everywhere, while resentment gathered without dispersing, causing sinister winds to howl year-round in many places where daylight never appeared.
Xuan Wazi had long since left that troubled place. At this moment, he was deep within the East Sea, inside a hidden underwater abode he had casually opened up for himself. Concealed by the aura of the Chaos Bead, the abode formed a small world of its own, isolating the inside from the outside and ensuring complete safety.
Sitting cross-legged atop a cloud couch, he did not rush to cultivate. Instead, his eyes gleamed as he eagerly took stock of his gains from the "Dragon-Han Initial Tribulation."
First was his cultivation. He had firmly reached the Great Perfection of Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. His mana was vast and profound, and his divine sense reached through heaven and earth. He only lacked that final moment of enlightenment before he could attempt to condense the Five Qi within his chest, worship the Three Flowers above his head, and attain the Dao of Grand Unity Golden Immortal—truly stepping out of the river of fate and gaining unfettered freedom.
Second were the enormous spoils he had picked up. He had more than a dozen low- and mid-grade Innate and Acquired Spiritual Treasures. Though most were somewhat damaged, their materials and Dao rhymes remained. Whether reforged or dismantled for materials, they were all top-grade goods. Various Innate Spirit Materials, divine beast blood essences, and source fragments were piled up like mountains, enough for him to squander for a long time.
Finally, and most importantly, there were the three supreme treasures rewarded by the system and fifteen drops of progenitor blood essence!
His divine sense sank into the system space, first "looking" toward the [Chaos Bead]. The bead was only the size of a pigeon egg, its color chaotic, as if it contained every color in the world, yet also none at all. The moment his divine sense probed inside, he felt a boundless, ancient Chaos Aura. It was as though it truly contained an unopened chaotic world! With this bead on him, not only would his ability to deduce heavenly secrets and conceal his karmic ties far surpass what it had been before, but it was also equivalent to carrying an infinitely large storage space and an absolutely safe refuge with him!
"Good treasure! What an incredible treasure!" Xuan Wazi could not bear to put it down. With this bead, he would have much more confidence when causing trouble in the future... Ahem, when traveling the Primordial World!
Next was the [Thirty-Six-Grade Creation Green Lotus]. It was not a physical object, but more like a phantom Dao rhyme condensed from the source of creation: an azure lotus platform with a budding flower, floating within the system space as it slowly rotated and scattered droplets of light that carried vitality and the aura of creation. Though it could not be directly used against enemies, cultivating beside it could calm the mind, enhance comprehension, and slowly improve one's foundation and physique. Its value was immeasurable! It was also an unparalleled cornerstone for possibly walking the path of the Dao of Worlds in the future.
What a pity it is only a phantom Dao rhyme. If it were the complete Thirty-Six-Grade Creation Green Lotus... Xuan Wazi smacked his lips, thinking greedily. Still, he knew that the complete Creation Green Lotus had long been split into numerous Innate Supreme Treasures. Obtaining even its original Dao rhyme was already a heaven-defying opportunity.
Last came the fifteen drops of [progenitor blood essence], each radiating terrifying pressure. Five belonged to the Ancestral Dragon, dark gold in color, with faint dragon shadows coiling within them, containing ultimate strength and the will to rule; five belonged to Yuanfeng, crimson like fire, with phoenix phantoms crying within them, containing undying flames and the True Meaning of Nirvana; and five belonged to the First Kirin, heavy and earthen-yellow, as if bearing the land itself, containing endless vitality and the essence of earth.
"System, this blood essence... did you really draw it straight from the three of them?" Xuan Wazi could not help complaining again. "They were already in that state at the end. You could still draw blood from them?"
[Hmph, Host, you underestimate this system too much!] The system's shameless voice rang out. [I already told you, it came from the inventory! Do you understand what inventory means? Before Pangu split open heaven and earth, this system... Ahem, anyway, the source is absolutely legitimate. Just use it without worry!]
"I believe you my ass!" Xuan Wazi rolled his eyes, but could not be bothered to investigate further. So long as the benefits were in hand, that was enough. This blood essence was an unparalleled treasure whether used to temper the body, refine pills, or comprehend the laws contained within it.
Having taken stock of his gains, Xuan Wazi was thoroughly pleased with himself. Yet he had not been carried away by victory. The end of the Dragon-Han Initial Tribulation did not mean the Primordial World would now know peace. On the contrary, the old order had collapsed, and new undercurrents were beginning to surge.
He carefully extended his divine sense beyond the underwater abode and, concealed by the Chaos Bead, observed the Primordial World after the tribulation.
The remnants of the Three Clans had completely withdrawn into hiding. The Dragon Tribe had retreated to the Four Seas and shut themselves away, but undercurrents churned within those waters, and some powerful aquatic clans seemed to have seen an opportunity to rise. The Immortal Volcano where the Phoenix Clan dwelled had also grown much quieter, having lost its former bustle. The Kirin Tribe had scattered into countless small tribes, hiding among famous mountains and great rivers, unable to restore their past glory.
Meanwhile, some great powers who had once been suppressed by the Three Clans began to emerge. They included the Three Pure Ones of Kunlun Mountain, Zhen Yuanzi and Ancestor Hong Yun of Longevity Mountain, Di Jun and Taiyi of the Solar Star, Xi He and Chang Xi of the Lunar Star, Ancestor Minghe of the Netherworld Blood Sea, and others. Their auras became increasingly clear and active throughout the Primordial World.
"Next should be the Dao-Devil War, right?" Xuan Wazi stroked his chin, recalling the course of the Primordial World. That fellow Luo Hou had likely seen his strength soar by taking advantage of the slaughter and resentment from this great calamity.
Sure enough, within the depths of the western lands' earth veins, already shattered by the great battle, a concealed yet powerful demonic aura was quietly gathering and growing under his divine sense. That demonic aura was filled with the will of slaughter, destruction, temptation, and chaos, utterly opposed to the tranquility, inaction, and harmony with heaven and people of the Immortal Path.
"Luo Hou... it seems you gained quite a bit as well." Xuan Wazi could sense that the core of that demonic intent had already reached the Quasi-Saint realm, the Hunyuan Golden Immortal realm, and was still continuously growing stronger.
At the same time, he sensed that in the direction of Jade Capital Mountain in the east, a profound immortal aura of the Mystic Sect, upright and peaceful and subtly aligned with the Heavenly Dao, was likewise steadily rising, faintly forming a confrontation with the demonic aura in the west. It could only be Hongjun.
"Hehe, when the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits." Xuan Wazi grinned. He had reaped plenty of benefits from the Dragon-Han Initial Tribulation, so how could this Dao-Devil War leave out Xuan Wazi?
However, he did not immediately run to the west or Jade Capital Mountain to stir up trouble. Both sides were still accumulating strength, and the time for the true decisive battle had not yet come. Moreover, the Malevolent Energy of the Primordial World had not fully settled after the Dragon-Han Calamity. Rashly entering a higher-level struggle now was far too risky.
"First, I'll play it safe and consolidate my cultivation. While I'm at it... maybe I can pick up a few more benefits." Xuan Wazi made up his mind. He planned to use this time to refine part of the progenitor blood essence, further strengthen his foundation, and familiarize himself with the Chaos Bead and the Dao rhyme of the Creation Green Lotus.
More importantly, he needed to consider his own path to Grand Unity Golden Immortal. At Great Perfection of Grand Unity Golden Immortal, the next step was to condense the Five Qi within his chest. Those Five Qi corresponded to the five elements and were crucial to building the foundation of his Great Dao. He possessed the Primordial Dao Body and had all five elements, but how to balance them and highlight his own "stubborn" trait required careful consideration.
"Perhaps I can learn from the Dao of those three progenitors?" Looking at the fifteen drops of blood essence, Xuan Wazi had an idea. The Ancestral Dragon's strength and control, Yuanfeng's destruction and rebirth, and the First Kirin's bearing and nurturing all contained profound Dao of the five elements and the true meaning of laws.
Just as Xuan Wazi prepared to enter seclusion for cultivation, the system's notification sounded again. This time, however, it was not a mission, but a warning.
[Warning: Demon Ancestor Luohu has been detected to have preliminarily refined the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, greatly increasing the Power of Slaughter. If the Host travels to the west in the near future, extreme caution is advised. Prioritize improving survival capabilities.] [Gentle reminder: The Host may attempt to crudely refine the Chaos Bead or comprehend the Dao rhyme of the Creation Green Lotus. Both provide major bonuses to concealment and defense.]
"The Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation..." Xuan Wazi's gaze sharpened. The vicious formation that could not be broken without the Four Saints—Luo Hou's foundation.
"Got it, System Bro. Don't worry, this poor Daoist values his life greatly." Xuan Wazi took a deep breath and cast aside his distracting thoughts. "The most urgent matter is to improve my strength. This muddy water of the Dao-Devil War is one I'm definitely wading into, but even a fisherman needs sufficient ability to claim the profit!"
With a wave of his hand, he laid down layer upon layer of restrictions, completely sealing the underwater abode. His mind sank into his body as he began guiding the power of one drop of Ancestral Dragon Blood Essence and one drop of First Kirin Blood Essence, slowly merging them into his blood, qi, and five viscera. At the same time, the Chaos Bead floated above his head, raining down streams of Chaos Qi that enveloped his entire body, while the phantom Dao rhyme of the Creation Green Lotus appeared behind him, scattering tranquil, harmonious droplets of creation light.
A new round of accumulation and advancement had begun. Yet the undercurrents of the Primordial World continued to surge soundlessly.
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