Di Jun was about to become the Heavenly Emperor.
None of the Innate Great Sages present wished to offend the Sun Palace.
Their original thoughts of recruiting Taiyuanzi also dissipated.
Just as Great Sage Chi Zhou believed the matter was about to be settled.
Fairy Cai Feng, surrounded by misty multicolored radiance and suffused with the aura of the Five Virtues, smiled sweetly.
"Fellow Daoist Taiyuan, do not be in such a hurry to agree."
"First, hear the sincerity of our Phoenix Perch Mountain lineage."
The moment Fairy Cai Feng spoke, Great Sage Chi Zhou's eyelids twitched.
This was bad.
The Phoenix Perch Mountain lineage differed from the Demon Clan's other powers.
It was a Dao lineage founded by Empress Nuwa and Dao Lord Fuxi.
Both Dao Lords were Great Divine Ability Users no weaker than Di Jun and Tai Yi.
Moreover, according to news leaked by certain beings unwilling to reveal their true names.
Empress Nuwa of Phoenix Perch Mountain was one of the disciples accepted by the Dao Ancestor of Purple Cloud Palace.
She was accompanied by Primordial Violet Qi and was one of the Saints ordained by Heaven.
Thus, Phoenix Perch Mountain had no reason to fear the Sun Palace.
"Though our Phoenix Perch Mountain may not possess the vast estate and resources of the Sun Palace, we still have some foundations. If Fellow Daoist is willing to join Phoenix Perch Mountain, we are willing to provide you with the resources and offerings granted to the ruler of an ordinary imperial dynasty."
"Furthermore, Phoenix Perch Mountain promises to grant Fellow Daoist freedom. Unless it is a pressing matter, we will never disturb your cultivation."
This was Obey Orders, Not Edicts.
The Great Sages present all looked sideways.
Even the Great Sages of the Phoenix Perch Mountain lineage found it quite difficult to understand. Though Taiyuanzi possessed outstanding talent, was this really necessary?
Every Dao lineage recruited powerful cultivators to have them work. Otherwise, would they spend vast cultivation resources raising a pack of idlers?
Fairy Cai Feng ignored everyone's doubts and merely fixed her gaze on Zhou Yuan, awaiting his reply.
At the same time, she used a secret technique to transmit a message into Zhou Yuan's sea of consciousness.
Upon hearing Fairy Cai Feng's secret voice transmission, Zhou Yuan's gaze deepened.
Fairy Cai Feng truly deserved to be a member of the ancient Phoenix Clan and to have cultivated beside Empress Nuwa for so many years.
At this moment, his heart had already begun to lean in one direction.
Without factions within the party, there could be no imperial wisdom.
Without factions within a faction, all manner of strange things would arise.
Since Zhou Yuan intended to lie low in the Demon Clan Heavenly Court for a time and act with the aid of its mighty momentum, he had naturally investigated the Demon Clan's various Dao lineages.
The Demon Clan had gathered from ten thousand races and possessed numerous Dao lineages and factions.
Yet the most significant were still several great powers: the Sun Palace, Phoenix Perch Mountain, the Boundless Star Sea, the Northern Abyss Demon Clan, and others.
Having connections in court made cultivation easier. That saying held true even in the Primordial World.
Di Jun and Tai Yi of the Sun Palace were currently at the height of their power, but once the Witch-Demon Tribulation began in the future, the Sun Star lineage would be the first to bear the brunt.
Di Jun would perish, Tai Yi would fall, and countless demons would die violent deaths.
Zhou Yuan had no intention of binding himself completely to the Demon Clan's war chariot. Thus, the Sun Palace, which appeared to others to be the best choice, was actually the deepest pit.
Though the Northern Abyss Demon Clan had Old Ancestor Kunpeng overseeing it, that Great Divine Ability User was arrogant by nature and entangled in a great karmic matter.
Furthermore, Old Ancestor Kunpeng cultivated the Feng Shui Great Dao. If Zhou Yuan wished to attain the Water Element Black Emperor, he would inevitably have to contend with him.
The Boundless Star Sea was open only to cultivators of the Star God Lineage. Even if Zhou Yuan wished to join, he had no way in.
By comparison, Phoenix Perch Mountain was the best choice.
Fuxi and Nuwa held high status, possessed many Dharma treasures, and had deep foundations.
Nuwa was one of the future Six Saints of the Heavenly Dao.
Even if Fuxi perished during the Witch-Demon Tribulation, he would enter Fire Cloud Cave in the distant future and become the Human Race's Heavenly Sovereign.
Those two were the true promising investments.
What was more, the terms Fairy Cai Feng had secretly promised him just now genuinely moved him.
After a long while, Zhou Yuan first gave Great Sage Chi Zhou an apologetic smile.
"Brother Dao has shown me great favor. I appreciate it deeply."
"But when I listened to the Dao in the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range, I received the favor and care of Empress Nuwa and Dao Lord Fuxi. I cannot help but repay such karmic kindness."
"Though the Sun Palace is excellent, karma has entangled me. I can only choose Phoenix Perch Mountain."
"Please forgive me, Brother Dao!"
Seeing Zhou Yuan politely decline the Sun Palace's recruitment on the grounds of karma and personal obligation, Great Sage Chi Zhou sighed inwardly, yet could not feel any ill will toward him.
After all, it was difficult to dislike a cultivator who valued loyalty and righteousness.
He adjusted his mood and laughed heartily.
"Fellow Daoist need not dwell on it."
"Phoenix Perch Mountain and our Sun Palace both belong to the Demon Clan. In the future, you and I will serve in the same hall as colleagues, so we should naturally grow closer."
"When the time comes, if this old brother needs to ask Fellow Daoist to refine pills or spirit artifacts, Fellow Daoist must not refuse."
Zhou Yuan cupped his hands and smiled.
"Rest assured, Brother Dao. When that time comes, I will sweep my couch clean to welcome you."
After saying this, he looked toward the other Grand Unity cultivators.
"If any of you Fellow Daoists wish to refine pills or spiritual treasures, you may also come find me."
These Grand Unity Great Sages were all pillars of the various Demon Clan lineages.
As the Demon Clan's fortune flourished, perhaps Innate Dao Lords would emerge among them.
Zhou Yuan was also willing to spend some effort recruiting them.
"Certainly, certainly."
"When the time comes, we definitely will not let Fellow Daoist Taiyuan work for nothing."
"Then I shall take you at your word."
"I only hope Fellow Daoist will not forget me when the time comes."
The Grand Unity Great Sages present beamed with joy.
A Grand Unity cultivator proficient in alchemy and artifact refinement was far more worthy of befriending than a Grand Unity Great Sage peerless in slaughter.
Seeing Zhou Yuan navigate so effortlessly among the many Grand Unity Great Sages, Fairy Cai Feng nodded to herself.
"It seems Fellow Daoist Taiyuan is not merely blessed with exceptional cultivation talent."
"He also possesses considerable bearing in the art of alliances and maneuvering."
After circling Chessboard Mountain for several days, these Grand Unity Great Sages departed one after another.
They each had territories of their own to guard.
They could not be away for too long, lest unforeseen changes occur.
After seeing off the Grand Unity Great Sages, Zhou Yuan returned to his cave abode. Only after laying down formation restrictions did he calmly say to the remaining Fairy Cai Feng.
"Fellow Daoist has sharp eyes indeed, to recognize that I have received the legacy of the Ancient Divine Path."
Fairy Cai Feng glanced at Zhou Yuan.
"Fellow Daoist need not mind it. I come from the ancient Phoenix Clan and have long cultivated beside Her Majesty."
"Though cultivators of the Ancient Divine Path are now rarely seen."
"There are still several within Phoenix Perch Mountain."
However, their divine ranks were far inferior to Zhou Yuan's.
"Though my cultivation is shallow, Fellow Daoist has only just broken through, and your aura is difficult to conceal completely. That is why I was able to glimpse a little."
"It was not because I used some secret technique to spy upon Fellow Daoist's roots."
"I offer Fellow Daoist my apology."
Zhou Yuan's expression eased somewhat, and he thought to himself.
I had thought I would not encounter any Innate Dao Lords on this journey, so I did not use any means to conceal my karma.
One learns from a setback. I must be more cautious next time.
Seeing Zhou Yuan remain silent, Fairy Cai Feng smiled brightly.
"I see Fellow Daoist cultivates the Great Dao of Water Element. The Origin Divine Position you obtained must surely be one related to Rivers, Lakes, and Seas."
"When I invited Fellow Daoist to join Phoenix Perch Mountain, I promised to grant you the Authority of Water Element within the Tianshui Imperial Dynasty."
"When I next pay respects to the Dao Lord and Her Majesty, I will certainly see this matter through."
Only then did Zhou Yuan smile.
"Then I shall trouble Fairy Cai Feng."
Fairy Cai Feng secretly spat in irritation.
What a Taiyuanzi.
When there were benefits, she was Fairy; without benefits, she was Fellow Daoist, was that it?
Still, seeing Zhou Yuan accept the offer, Fairy Cai Feng also breathed a sigh of relief.
Taiyuanzi's fortune defied the heavens.
The Origin Divine Position he had acquired was at least a divine rank on the level of an Innate Great Sage.
"If this Origin Divine Position serves as his foundation."
"And is supplemented by the Authority of Water Element within the Tianshui Imperial Dynasty."
"Given enough time, he may very well attain the Innate Dao Lord realm through cultivating and comprehending the Great Dao of Water Element."
Fairy Cai Feng believed Zhou Yuan had a great chance of attaining the Innate Dao Lord realm. That was why she had acted decisively and recruited him into Phoenix Perch Mountain.
Moreover, the Five Directions Imperial Dynasties had mostly been conquered by the Phoenix Perch Mountain lineage.
When the time came to divide the merits and fruits, what harm was there in giving Taiyuanzi a share?
It was better than letting the other Demon Clan lineages benefit from it.
"In that case, after some years have passed, our Phoenix Perch Mountain lineage will also have a great god of water element to rely upon in the Heavenly Court."
Zhou Yuan could more or less guess Fairy Cai Feng's calculations.
But unlike what Fairy Cai Feng believed.
The rank of the Origin Divine Position he had acquired was not a Grand Unity divine rank, but the Water Ancestor divine rank that surpassed an Innate Dao Lord, granting him the possibility of attaining the Black Emperor.
The Tianshui Imperial Dynasty contained countless waterways. Even most of the Huai River basin lay within its lands.
"If I can seize all the water element authority of the Tianshui Imperial Dynasty and fully annex the Wei River, I fear I will immediately attain the Innate Dao Lord realm."
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