Gu Xi: So Touched—The Fellow Daoists Here Are So Warm and Welcoming!

Human Tribe.

"Establishing the Four Seasons and Twenty-Four Solar Terms truly brought immense merit."

Gu Xi gazed at the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Dao Diagram above the Auspicious Cloud over his head, joy appearing on his face.

Before today, Hong Huang had not yet possessed a complete division of the Four Seasons Sequence.

By creating the Four Seasons and Twenty-Four Solar Terms, he had aligned with an unseen greater trend. It was a significant refinement of the Primordial Heavenly Dao, which was why such vast merit had descended.

Moreover, this great merit was, in truth, only just beginning.

His current strength was still insufficient to truly advance this great merit, to completely establish the Four Seasons Sequence and make it part of the Heavenly Dao's cycle.

Once he spread the Four Seasons and Twenty-Four Solar Terms throughout all of Hong Huang, causing the Primordial Populace to follow the changes of the Four Seasons Sequence and fully establish it, this great merit would truly be complete.

Gu Xi vaguely sensed that if he could one day accomplish this great merit, the merit he would gain would be beyond calculation.

Furthermore, his Dao Practice would grow to a terrifying level.

"Step by step. First, I'll implement the Four Seasons and Twenty-Four Solar Terms among the Human Race, then gradually spread them across Hong Huang. One day, the Four Seasons and Twenty-Four Solar Terms will become the sequence followed by all the Primordial Populace."

Gu Xi muttered to himself before looking again at the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Dao Diagram.

The current Twenty-Four Solar Terms were still only a hazy prototype. To fully perfect the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Dao Diagram, much work remained to be done.

Besides spreading the Four Seasons and Twenty-Four Solar Terms across Hong Huang, he also needed to continuously gather the power of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms to temper the diagram.

The Twenty-Four Solar Terms Dao Diagram was divided into four seasons. It required Four Seasons Spirit Roots to fill this massive gap, or four spiritual treasures compatible with the Twenty-Four Solar Terms to complete it.

"Fortunately, even if I can't find spirit roots or spiritual treasures suited to the four seasons, I can exchange for them in the shop. Otherwise, this would truly be a huge problem."

Gu Xi murmured, then withdrew the Auspicious Cloud and the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Dao Diagram above his head back into his body.

Afterward, he smiled faintly again and looked at the interface before him.

[Merit: 150 billion]

This time, his merit had increased by a full 50 billion.

It could be called an enormous gain.

Furthermore, this was another experience of putting the Great Dao into practice, allowing him to gain a great deal of insight into the Great Dao once more.

His Dao Seed became even more lively and profound. It occasionally pulsed like a fetal heartbeat, releasing wisps of mysterious, inscrutable fluctuations that resonated with his Gods and Demons Dao Body and Primordial Spirit True Soul.

"The Dao Seed, Gods and Demons Dao Body, and Primordial Spirit True Soul are one trinity. When the three resonate and merge with one another, they can condense a Grand Unity Dao Embryo. It seems I won't be long from advancing to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm."

Gu Xi's face was filled with delight, his heart brimming with ambition.

"Reporting to Holy Father, we have urgent business to discuss."

Suddenly, Suiren Shi's voice came from outside the Elegant Abode.

"What is it?"

Gu Xi rose and walked out of the Elegant Abode, looking toward Suiren Shi and the others.

"You have some nerve! Do you know that I am a member of the Guishan Monster Race? You actually dared lay hands on me and capture me here!"

"If you do not wish for your race to be exterminated, release me immediately, kowtow and admit your mistakes, then compensate me with several Magic Treasures."

Before Suiren Shi and the others could speak, a rough, booming voice rang out. A mountain-sized monster beast was spewing curses, its attitude utterly arrogant.

It was clearly a Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros. It had two heads, its entire body covered in crimson flame divine patterns, while traces of scorching Demon Qi spread from within it.

This Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros faintly emitted the pressure of a Heavenly Immortal. It was clearly a Heavenly Immortal-level Demon Race member.

Yet such a Heavenly Immortal-level demon had been captured by three Earth Immortals—Suiren Shi, Youchao Shi, and Ziyi Shi truly deserved their status as the first-generation leaders of the Human Race. Their strength was formidable enough to fight above their realm.

"Holy Father, while driving away the surrounding Fierce Beasts and Demons and Monsters, we encountered this Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros's ambush. The three of us joined forces and captured it."

"However, after we captured it, not only was it unafraid, it repeatedly claimed to be a member of the Guishan Monster Race, threatening us to release it. It even demanded that we compensate it with several Magic Treasures."

"We deduced that the Guishan Monster Race is likely a major force on the East Sea Coast, perhaps even near our Human Tribe... Therefore, we sealed its Magic Power and brought it back."

Suiren Shi explained.

"Hahaha, you came to the East Sea Coast, yet you do not even know of our Guishan Monster Race?"

"How truly fearless the ignorant are!"

"Listen well. Our Guishan Monster Race is one of the strongest forces on the East Sea Coast, with Great Sage Qiongqi overseeing us."

"If you obediently release me and admit your mistakes, you may still have a sliver of hope. Otherwise, once Great Sage Qiongqi becomes enraged, your race will be wiped out immediately."

The Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros spoke in a deep, muffled voice, boasting shamelessly.

Faced with its threats, Suiren Shi, Youchao Shi, Ziyi Shi, and the others remained calm. Not even the slightest ripple appeared on their faces.

Even when the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros mentioned Great Sage Qiongqi, they were not moved in the slightest.

During their hundred-year journey, they had endured too much suffering and hardship. They had encountered countless powerful creatures and had even seen Great Luo-level God and Demon Dao Lords from afar.

Thus, their states of mind had long since been tempered to incomparable toughness. The Great Sage Qiongqi mentioned by the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros could not frighten them at all.

They also believed that Gu Xi, the Human Race Holy Father, could deal with Great Sage Qiongqi.

"Hmm? You're actually not afraid?"

"Could it be that you truly do not know how terrifying Primordial Great Sages are?"

Seeing that Suiren Shi and the others showed no change in expression, the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros could not help but freeze slightly.

Gu Xi smiled as he walked toward the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros. For some reason, upon seeing that smile, the rhinoceros felt its scalp tingle, as though something terrible was about to befall it.

"Y-you... what are you trying to do?"

The Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros stammered.

"I... want to turn enemies into friends?"

Great Pervasion Art!

Gu Xi smiled faintly and formed a hand seal, stirring the compassion, courage, kindness, and all manner of benevolent thoughts deep within his heart.

In an instant, his expression became one of sorrowful compassion for all living beings.

As those benevolent thoughts continuously gathered, his entire person radiated an aura of immense mercy and compassion, inspiring awe in anyone who saw him.

A Golden Wheel of Merit appeared behind his head, making him seem like a holy being of immense virtue.

At that moment, a brilliant golden divine light burst from his hands and shone upon the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros. It even penetrated deep into its Primordial Spirit, enveloping it completely.

This was the Great Pervasion Zen Light.

As one of the Three Thousand Great Daos, the Great Pervasion Art possessed astonishing power.

Even if someone bore an irreconcilable grudge against you—if you had slaughtered their entire family and taken their wife and daughters—once illuminated by the Great Pervasion Zen Light, even the deepest hatred would dissolve. They would obediently be converted and worship you with devotion.

Of course, this divine ability was not without limitations. The prerequisite for conversion was that one's realm had to be far higher than the other party's.

Otherwise, it would be completely ineffective.

Even so, the power of this divine ability was still exceedingly terrifying.

It could be called an unrivaled divine technique for turning enemies into friends.

At present, no such divine technique had yet appeared in Hong Huang.

At this moment, beneath the illumination of the Great Pervasion Zen Light, the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros first revealed a pained expression. Then it gradually became relieved, before finally turning peaceful.

A moment later, the Great Pervasion Zen Light vanished. With a casual wave of his hand, Gu Xi also released the seal Suiren Shi had placed on the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros's Magic Power.

The Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros immediately transformed into a burly, two-headed middle-aged man.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Gu Xi, for freeing me from my karmic entanglement. At this moment, my heart is more tranquil than ever before. Everything from before was sinful karma. Only by cultivating diligently under Fellow Daoist Gu Xi can I atone for my past mistakes."

The two-headed middle-aged man spoke devoutly.

"Not bad, not bad. The Great Pervasion Art did not disappoint me."

"It truly is an excellent divine ability for turning enemies into friends."

Seeing the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros subdued so easily, Gu Xi was slightly shaken by the strange power of the Great Pervasion Art.

Since cultivating this divine ability, this was his first time using it on another living being, and it had brought him an enormous surprise.

"Th-this... it submitted just like that?"

"What kind of divine ability did Holy Father use? Strange—far too strange."

Suiren Shi and the others watched the Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceros, which had just been arrogantly threatening them, become subdued by a single divine ability from Gu Xi, as though it had been completely brainwashed.

Amid their astonishment, their scalps went numb.

Such a divine ability was simply too strange and terrifying.

"Fellow Daoist Fire Rhinoceros, tell me about the major forces on the East Sea Coast."

Gu Xi asked.

For the Human Race to develop on the East Sea Coast, they first needed to understand the region's balance of power.

"Since Fellow Daoist Gu Xi asks, I naturally will speak of everything I know."

The two-headed middle-aged man smiled faintly and said,

"On the East Sea Coast, four major forces reign supreme!"

"First is the Guishan Monster Race, where I previously belonged. The Guishan Monster Race was founded by Great Sage Qiongqi. Under him are three Golden Immortals—Teng Snake, the Three-Legged Golden Toad, and the Kui Ox—as well as several hundred thousand demon race members."

"Second is the Five Elements Dharma Lineage, founded by the five Primordial Great Sages: Great Sage Jin Ling, Great Sage Mu Ling, Great Sage Shui Ling, Great Sage Huo Ling, and Great Sage Tu Ling. The Five Elements Dharma Lineage is likewise among the strongest forces on the East Sea Coast. Though their numbers are small, even Great Sage Qiongqi does not dare provoke them."

"Third is the Yellow Earth Tribe. The Yellow Earth Tribe is a branch of the Witch Race's Houtu Tribe. The Witch Race expert stationed there is called Wu Li, and he is likewise a Primordial Great Sage-level expert. The Yellow Earth Tribe and the Guishan Monster Race have been in constant conflict."

"Fourth is River God Ao Fang of the Canglan Great River. Although Ao Fang is merely a Golden Immortal, he was born of the Dragon Clan. This is the East Sea Coast, while the East Sea is the Dragon Clan's home territory. Though the Dragon Clan has declined, its lingering might remains. Ordinary gods and demons still dare not provoke them... Out of respect for the Dragon Clan, people generally do not offend Ao Fang."

Fire Rhinoceros Daoist gave Gu Xi and the others a detailed introduction to the forces of the East Sea Coast, allowing them to gain a thorough understanding of the region.

"Are there no God and Demon Dao Lords on the East Sea Coast?"

Gu Xi asked seriously.

"You are unaware, Fellow Daoist. Although the cultivation environment of the East Sea Coast is fairly good, it is not some Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land. The true Grotto-Heaven Blessed Lands are located on the Three Islands and Ten Continents within the East Sea... Even if those God and Demon Dao Lords wished to establish a residence, they would generally choose the superior Three Islands and Ten Continents rather than the nearby East Sea Coast."

Fire Rhinoceros Daoist explained.

"So that's how it is..."

Gu Xi understood and was put at ease.

Since there were no God and Demon Dao Lords on the East Sea Coast, no one could stop him from leading the Human Race to rise here.

"People of the Human Race, heed my command! I am Teng Snake Demon God, subordinate to Great Sage Qiongqi. Great Sage Qiongqi has declared that your Human Race was created by our Demon Race Sage and should rightfully be a branch of our Demon Race... Seeing that you struggle to survive, Great Sage Qiongqi has decided to take you in and protect you."

"From now on, the Human Race shall obey the orders of our Guishan Monster Race and offer tribute regularly."

Just as Gu Xi and the others finished listening to Fire Rhinoceros Daoist's explanation of the East Sea Coast's forces, a somewhat cold voice suddenly rang through the skies above the Human Tribe.

Everyone looked up to see a massive serpent appear over the Human Tribe. It bore two enormous wings upon its back and stretched a full thousand zhang in length.

The giant serpent cast a massive shadow, striking fear into all who saw it.

Surging Demon Qi also poured from its body like a tide, sweeping downward and plunging the entire Human Tribe into darkness.

"This is bad. It is Teng Snake Demon God under Great Sage Qiongqi. It has actually come."

When Fire Rhinoceros Daoist saw the giant serpent in the sky, his expression changed drastically.

Gu Xi, however, smiled happily.

The gods and demons around Buzhou Mountain all called him the God of Misfortune. Whenever they saw him, they would detour around him, fleeing as far away as possible.

The fellow Daoists on the East Sea Coast really were so warm and welcoming!

Look, how long had he even been on the East Sea Coast?

They had already come personally to "greet" him.

"The fellow Daoists on the East Sea Coast... are truly so warm and welcoming. They learned that I had arrived on the East Sea Coast and actually took the initiative to come greet me."

"One place nurtures one kind of people."

"How unlike those people around Buzhou Mountain. Every last one of them is cold as ice."

Feeling this long-lost warmth, Gu Xi was almost moved to "tears."

The fellow Daoists on the East Sea Coast had let him feel warmth and enthusiasm.