Surrender

During this period of secluded cultivation, Zhou Yuan's Dao cultivation had naturally reached the Grand Unity Realm, his greatest gain.

But he had made no small progress in other areas as well.

"The divine abilities and secret arts left behind by the Wei River Water Mansion since ancient times, along with the divine treasury of the Tianshui Imperial Dynasty lineage, have been immensely helpful in perfecting the Primordial Abyss True Scripture."

Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly.

Sure enough, a man could not grow rich without windfalls, nor a horse fat without night grazing.

The inheritances and Dao collections he had accumulated through various means after years of managing Chessboard Mountain in the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range could not compare to the gains from this single haul.

But Zhou Yuan also knew that this was because of the Wei River Water Mansion's unique nature.

After all, the first Wei River Water Lord had been a figure who had lived since the dawn of World Creation. He had experienced an immensely long span of years; even the slightest legacy he left behind in the Wei River was enough to benefit Zhou Yuan greatly.

Had it been the power of an ordinary Grand Unity Great Sage, he definitely would not have gained so much.

So, one had to eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time.

"Now that I have become a Grand Unity Great Sage, I can be considered someone of note even within the Zhou Tian Universe. I am no longer some ordinary passerby."

"The Wei River is vast and sustains countless living beings along its banks."

"If I properly manage the Wei River's water veins, then with a steady, flowing income, it should be enough to sustain the Myriad Dao Book's Dao derivation."

Though management did not yield results as quickly as exploring hidden places, seeking secrets, killing, and plundering, it was more reliable.

The Primordial World was vast and boundless. Sacred beings hid in deep mountains, while true dragons lay concealed in shallow waters.

Zhou Yuan did not dare guarantee that he would never stumble.

Retracting his wandering thoughts, he immersed his mind in the Myriad Dao Book once more.

By now, the [Primordial Abyss True Scripture] was not merely a cultivation method. After so many years of comprehension and deduction, it was sufficient to serve as the inheritance of a Dao lineage and the general outline of countless arts.

Not only did it record the cultivation method of the Turbid Fiend God-Demon Path, a method that pointed directly to the Grand Unity Great Sage Realm.

Its various sections also documented more than a hundred auxiliary arts, including alchemy, formations, artifact refining, beast taming, planting, spellcraft, and more.

If Zhou Yuan intended to establish a Dao lineage, this true scripture could serve as the foundation of its orthodoxy.

"After advancing to the Grand Unity Great Sage Realm, comprehending the Dao of laws, and receiving the Myriad Dao Book's Dao essence as aid, my former Lesser Divine Abilities have all advanced into divine abilities."

Divine Ability [Five Elements Mystic Gate]

Divine Ability [Myriad Transformations Divine Mechanism]

Divine Ability [Innate Yin-Yang Primordial Chaos Divine Light]

Divine Ability [Black Water Divine Thunder]

Zhou Yuan moved his palm slightly, and a mass of profound black lightning gathered within it.

Mighty heavenly power brewed within, radiating two utterly opposing auras: extreme yin and extreme darkness, extreme yang and extreme hardness. Yet these two auras formed the profundity of yin and yang on their own, nurturing both Great Annihilation and immense vitality.

"The Tianshui Imperial Dynasty was passed down from the Dao Lord Tianshui. That Dao Lord cultivated the Great Dao of Water Element, and the Black Water Divine Thunder was one of the divine abilities he handed down."

Having inherited the divine position of the Wei River Water Lord and comprehended the laws of the water element, Zhou Yuan's cultivation of Black Water Divine Thunder would yield twice the result with half the effort.

"The Five Elements generate one another. I can use Black Water Divine Thunder to derive Wood God Thunder, then proceed to Bing Fire, Wu Earth, and Geng Metal. Once all Five Elements are complete, I can derive the Greater Divine Ability, Innate Five Elements Divine Thunder."

Zhou Yuan's eyes shone brightly.

Lightning Law was the pivot of heaven and earth, and its offensive power was exceptionally formidable.

If he could cultivate Innate Five Elements Divine Thunder, his combat strength would rise dramatically.

After sorting through all the gains from this secluded cultivation, Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes after a long while.

He glanced at the Primordial Dao Embryo that still floated within the Innate Water Eye.

Hesitation flashed through his heart.

"Forget it. The path of cultivation lies in balancing tension and relaxation."

"Besides, according to the news obtained in the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range, it should soon be time for the demon race to take the stage in the Primordial World."

"When that happens, the Primordial World certainly will not remain peaceful."

"And the countless living beings and tribes along the Wei River will surely be swept into this calamity."

When the Wei River became turbulent, any unforeseen event would disrupt his cultivation.

This was not the right time to fuse with this Primordial Dao Embryo.

"We pay respects to the Divine Lord."

Within the Water God Palace, Zhou Yuan sat upon the seat of honor.

Old Man Qingrong and three other cultivators who had reached the Heaven-Human God-Demon Realm bowed in salute.

The Water God Palace was the foundation of the Wei River Water Mansion. Now that its master had attained the Grand Unity Great Sage Realm, all sorts of wonders naturally arose within the palace. Streams of rosy light condensed into canopies, seven-colored crystal and eight-treasure pendants adorned the halls, and divine radiance shimmered brilliantly, displaying the majesty of the divine path.

Zhou Yuan swept his gaze over them. Over nearly one yuanhui, these people had made considerable progress in cultivation, but perhaps because their foundations were insufficient, they had yet to enter the True One Realm.

He flicked his sleeve and retrieved several jade slips presented by Old Man Qingrong.

With a slight sweep of his divine sense, his expression softened.

It seemed that while he had been in seclusion, the Wei River Water Mansion had been managed rather well.

Originally, he had merely wanted an excuse to confine these living beings for a time, lest they speak carelessly after leaving the secret realm and expose the ownership of the Wei River Water Lord's position, thereby drawing the Dao Lord Tianshui's attention.

But he had not expected this group to be so diligent and conscientious.

"You have diligently managed the Water Mansion's affairs and rendered both toil and merit. You must be rewarded."

Zhou Yuan smiled faintly at the four people in the hall and pondered for a moment.

Four streams of spiritual light immediately flew from his hand and descended upon Old Man Qingrong and the other three.

"These four inheritances are all cultivation methods that point directly to the True One Realm, and they are suited to the Great Dao each of you cultivates."

"I hope you will cultivate diligently and enter the True One Realm as soon as possible."

This...

Old Man Qingrong and the other three were both shocked and delighted.

They were shocked because Zhou Yuan had spent little time with them, yet after merely examining them a few times, he had understood the details of their cultivation and accurately found suitable methods for them.

They were delighted because, as independent cultivators, they had drifted for countless years, struggling and striving for cultivation methods and a Dao path. Only now had they finally seen a smooth road toward the Great Dao.

"We have drifted through half our lives, regretting only that we never encountered a worthy master."

"If the Divine Lord does not disdain us, we are willing to join his command and serve him with the loyalty of dogs and horses."

Seeing Zhou Yuan's generosity, Old Man Qingrong and the other three Heaven-Human God-Demon Realm cultivators no longer hesitated.

After an impassioned declaration, they directly expressed their desire to join the Wei River Water Mansion.

In their view, the Wei River Water Mansion now had a Grand Unity Great Sage overseeing it. The mansion was rich in natural treasures and extraordinarily prosperous, while the Wei River Water Lord, who controlled the Wei River's water-element nexus, was also a generous man.

They had finally seen the dawn of coming ashore.

Seeing that the four sincerely wished to submit, Zhou Yuan nodded slightly.

Though their cultivation was not especially high, it was already no easy feat for independent cultivators to cultivate all the way to the Heaven-Human God-Demon Realm in the Primordial World, even faintly touching upon the threshold of the True One Realm.

Moreover, the Wei River Water Mansion had only recently opened, and he needed to establish a group of subordinates to properly manage the Wei River.

After all, according to his plans, for a long time to come, he would need to strive to increase the share of the Primordial World's water element under his control. That meant he could only expand gradually.

Expansion required living beings to wave his banners and manage territories for him. Otherwise, even if he alone occupied the Four Great Rivers of the Primordial World, failing to manage them carefully would instead leave hidden dangers behind.

"Since you have entered my command, you must perform your duties diligently and cultivate with effort. If you handle your affairs well, I will not be stingy with rewards."

"Rest assured, my lord. We will certainly give our all, carry out our duties with care, and repay your grace in recognizing our worth."

Zhou Yuan smiled.

"Just so, I made some minor gains during this seclusion after breaking through to the Grand Unity Great Sage Realm."

"The living beings of the Water Mansion have contributed greatly over these tens of thousands of years."

"I intend to ascend the platform and expound the Dao, in order to reward their merits."

Old Man Qingrong and the others exchanged glances, overjoyed.

"My lord is benevolent."