With a soft shout from Hong Yuan, the massive array directly merged into the array foundations previously laid by the various great powers of the Primordial Wilderness.
For a moment, the entire Primordial Wilderness shook violently.
Countless streams of Chaos spiritual energy absorbed from the Outer Heavens transformed into incomparably pure heaven-and-earth spiritual energy.
Under this spiritual energy, the land of the Primordial Wilderness actually grew slightly thicker.
Some mountains suddenly expanded by several degrees.
At the four cardinal directions of the Primordial Wilderness, enormous pillars of light abruptly rose as well.
Together with Zhou Mountain at the center of the Primordial Wilderness, they vaguely formed a five-directional configuration.
All living beings within the Primordial Wilderness felt the changes even more clearly.
They actually felt that the heaven and earth of the Primordial Wilderness had become much sturdier and harder.
And it was not merely a ten or twenty percent increase.
It had increased by dozens of times.
In the past, a mere Mystic Immortal could move mountains and fill seas with ease, but now they could not even move a small dirt mound.
It gave them the illusion that they had grown weaker.
And not just a little weaker, but incredibly weak.
Yet the spiritual energy that constantly grew stronger between heaven and earth also made them feel exceptionally comfortable.
Hong Yuan was extremely satisfied as he watched the changes in the Primordial Wilderness.
This Four Directions God Protection Array was the array he had obtained from his previous choice.
It could be said that this array was the most suitable one for the Primordial Wilderness.
Under the protection of the Four Directions God Protection Array, it could not only continuously absorb Chaos Qi from beyond the Primordial Wilderness to replenish it, but could also turn the Primordial Wilderness into a single whole.
It could spread most damage throughout the Primordial Wilderness.
It could be said that unless someone was powerful enough to directly attack the entire Primordial Wilderness, any damage they inflicted upon it would be weakened to the absolute limit beneath this great array.
Besides, the array had not even fully taken shape yet.
It was called the Four Directions God Protection Array because a Primordial Wilderness deity could be stationed in each of the east, west, south, and north.
As for the center, he would be there.
After all, his dojo was located within Zhou Mountain.
Once the four deities were established, they could form an all-encompassing suppression over the Primordial Wilderness together with Zhou Mountain, where he resided.
Even if Heavenly Dao Saints appeared in the future, they would never shatter the entire land of the Primordial Wilderness as they had in the original course of events.
Moreover, the four deities of the four directions were no different from Heavenly Dao Saints. The power they could wield might even exceed that of Heavenly Dao Saints. Aside from certain restrictions, there was nothing bad about the position.
Not only would they receive merit at every moment,
they would also stand beneath only one person and one Dao.
However, Hong Yuan had yet to find suitable candidates for these four positions.
If he had to name one, Shen Ni might work?
With Shen Ni's overwhelming Grievance and Fiendish Energy and killing intent, no one was more suitable than him for the west, which governed slaughter.
He just did not know whether Shen Ni's temperament would allow him to accept it.
Although he would be restricted, it would still be a step straight to the heavens.
Besides, if Hong Yuan was happy with him later, letting Shen Ni retire would not be difficult.
After all, he was not the kind of boss who liked exploiting his subordinates.
As for the other three directions, Hong Yuan had no suitable candidates for the time being.
As the Four Directions God Protection Array took shape, the Heavenly Dao once again bestowed merit. This time, it was dozens of times greater than the merit granted when the Heavenly Dao had first appeared.
The sight made the eyes of all the great powers who had done the work shine.
They wished they could throw themselves directly into the merit.
Thus, before everyone's eyes, Heavenly Dao Merit descended one after another.
It was distributed according to each person's previous contributions.
When some saw that the merit descending upon their friends beside them far exceeded their own,
they were filled with regret.
Damn it, I didn't work hard enough!
Then, amid everyone's shocked expressions, nearly half of the merit flew toward Hong Yuan.
The sheer quantity was simply beyond everyone's expectations.
But on second thought, it was only natural.
After all, the Dao Venerable was the one who had truly made the final decision.
This matter had also been brought about by the Dao Venerable.
Although they envied him for receiving so much merit, none of them said anything.
After all, everyone respected the Dao Venerable.
But the very next second, everyone was dumbfounded.
They saw Hong Yuan accept the merit with obvious reluctance. Then, without the slightest hesitation, he casually sent all of it into the Four Directions God Protection Array.
The sight twisted everyone's expressions.
Dao Venerable, if you don't want it, you can give it to me. I'm not picky.
That much merit was enough to forge several Postnatal Merit Supreme Treasures.
If it were used to raise one's cultivation, achieving the Primordial Golden Immortal realm would probably not be difficult.
Yet Hong Yuan had simply discarded such an enormous amount of merit without a second thought.
He had even looked helpless and disdainful when accepting it.
It made all the Primordial Wilderness Great Powers feel as though none of this was real.
When Yang Mei saw what Hong Yuan had done, he smiled and shook his head.
As expected of Fellow Daoist Hong Yuan. He truly did whatever he pleased.
But Luohu snorted coldly. What a show-off!
The next second, however, Hong Yuan slowly turned his gaze toward him. Luohu shuddered and hastily lowered his head.
He truly did not dare imagine what would happen if Hong Yuan gave him a beating in front of so many people.
Would Luohu Patriarch have any face left after that?
Seeing Luohu's reaction, Hong Yuan nodded in satisfaction.
To make the unruly Luohu act so timidly—he truly was worthy of himself.
"Alright, now that this matter is settled, return to the Primordial Wilderness. Just remember not to cause excessive damage to it!"
"We will remember the Dao Venerable's instructions!"
With that, everyone departed from the Outer Heavens and returned to their own dojos.
It was the perfect opportunity to refine the Heavenly Dao Merit they had just received.
What they did not know was that the Primordial Wilderness had already fallen into chaos.
Many of their dojos had already been occupied by Fierce Beasts!
After seeing the Primordial Wilderness Great Powers leave, Hong Yuan spoke to Yang Mei, Luohu, Causality, and the other reincarnated Chaos Demon Gods. "Chaotic Times are about to begin. Fellow Daoists, you should make preparations early!"
Upon hearing Hong Yuan's words, everyone immediately frowned.
They began making deductions one after another.
The moment they did, their expressions turned somewhat grim.
A Kalpa of the Primordial Wilderness was about to begin. No wonder Hong Yuan had specifically warned them.
Given their cultivation and what they had done, they naturally would not have needed to enter the Kalpa. But the Fierce Beasts were different. They had been born from the fiendish energy, residual flesh, and blood left behind after their deaths.
They naturally shared a strand of Causality with them.
With this strand of Causality, they had no choice but to enter the Kalpa and undergo this Primordial Wilderness Kalpa.
Otherwise, when the Fierce Beasts reduced the Primordial Wilderness to devastation and death, part of the Causality would still fall upon them.
Once everyone understood the full course of events, even Yang Mei wore a bitter expression.
Who had he provoked? He had clearly done nothing, yet now he still had to enter the Kalpa.
"Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist. We will return at once!" Everyone bowed to Hong Yuan and hurried away.
This was the First Kalpa of the Primordial Wilderness. Its danger was extraordinary; even beings like them might possibly fall.
Before leaving, however, Luohu secretly glanced at Hong Yuan.
When he saw that Hong Yuan had no reaction at all, Luohu's face darkened, and he gave an irritated snort.
Seeing Luohu act that way, Hong Yuan was momentarily confused.
What was Luohu doing?
Was he acting cute toward him?
When Luohu saw the strange look in Hong Yuan's eyes, he did not know what Hong Yuan was thinking, but he knew it could not be anything good.
Thus, he could only grit his teeth and say, "Hong Yuan, where are my fruits?!"
Only then did Hong Yuan realize that Luohu wanted the Spiritual Fruit Hong Yuan had promised him earlier.
Why not just say so?
Hong Yuan had thought Luohu was acting cute and asking for praise.
Once he understood, Hong Yuan did not hesitate. He casually took out a Falling Flower Immortal Fruit and tossed it to Luohu.
Luohu caught the Falling Flower Immortal Fruit and finally left in satisfaction.
Before you continue