Having settled all matters on Chessboard Mountain, Zhou Yuan had no further concerns.
After bidding farewell to Fairy Cai Feng of Phoenix Perch Mountain and the Grand Unity Great Sages who had come to support them in the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range, he rode the clouds and mist, leading the vast host of Chessboard Mountain demons toward the Wei River.
Atop the mountain peak, Fairy Cai Feng watched Zhou Yuan depart, then turned to the assembled Grand Unity Great Sages and said:
"Fellow Daoist Taiyuanzi's journey to the Wei River is tantamount to penetrating deep into enemy territory."
"We cannot afford to slacken on our side either."
All the gods present voiced their agreement.
They raised their heads to the heavens.
As their Dharma Eyes circulated, they could still see the laws of the high heavens trembling. The Five Elements Great Dao stood opposed to the heavenly workings of creation. Amid the thunderous clashes, invisible aftershocks surged forth, and one bubble world after another shattered and returned to ruin.
This was the conflict between the Dao Sovereigns of Phoenix Perch Mountain's lineage and those of the Five Directions Imperial Dynasty, as well as the Three Sovereigns Palace.
Fairy Cai Feng's heart surged with emotion.
She knew that no matter what victories the Grand Unity cultivators below achieved, they could not truly determine the course of this great war.
Only those lofty Dao Sovereigns were the chess players who controlled the greater tides of heaven and earth.
"The Dao Sovereigns of the Five Directions Imperial Dynasty cultivate by relying on the dynasty's fortune."
"But fortune can make them, and fortune can break them."
"If the imperial dynasty declines, they will likely suffer backlash as well."
Even in the eyes of Dao Sovereigns, such backlash amounted to nothing.
Yet often, the slightest difference could lead to utterly different outcomes.
"And that is precisely why we came to the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range."
Leaving aside Fairy Cai Feng and the others' thoughts.
Zhou Yuan exerted his Great Magic Power, carrying everyone through the clouds and mist toward the Wei River.
Vast clouds of water vapor billowed forth, and the immense spectacle drew the attention of countless living beings along the way.
"Which Divine Venerable is traveling now?"
"Judging by the direction, it seems to be heading for the Wei River."
"There seem to be tens of thousands hidden within those clouds and mist. We should be careful and avoid provoking them."
Hearing the discussions below, Zhou Yuan frowned slightly and muttered inwardly:
The cloud-gathering and mist-condensing technique is still too conspicuous.
This technique is suited for the Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals of later ages. It can raise an overwhelming display in an instant.
But at times like this, it is inappropriate.
Fierce fighting was underway, and they were caught within the Tribulation of Slaughter sweeping through heaven and earth.
Even Zhou Yuan did not wish to invite trouble.
That patriarch of Longevity Mountain seemed to be skilled in the Pot Heaven Technique.
His Universe in a Sleeve was exceedingly formidable.
If I have the chance, I might learn a thing or two from him.
With that thought, Zhou Yuan's Spiritual Power rippled. The clouds and mist converged, flashing past in an instant as his speed increased even further.
An unknown amount of time passed.
The scene before them suddenly became clear.
The vast Wei River shimmered with sparkling waves.
Tribes and living beings continuously settled down along both banks.
Rat Ancestor Zishu and the other former residents of Chessboard Mountain gazed curiously at the Wei River.
Their hearts were both anxious and excited.
Spiritual energy surged in this place, and spiritual materials were abundant.
The Water Palace was also Great Lord's cultivation ground. From that alone, they could tell how immense Great Lord's holdings were.
The Wei River was vast, with tremendous potential.
Only Guizhenzi, looking at the tribes, wandering cultivators, and little demons continuously flocking toward the banks of the Wei River, secretly sighed in admiration.
My lord truly possesses great breadth of mind and grand ambition.
The more living beings the Wei River gathers, the greater the power it can amass.
With the Tribulation of Slaughter rising everywhere, this is precisely the moment to achieve great deeds and establish a legacy.
If my lord is willing, he will have the opportunity to swallow up the surrounding waterways.
Guizhenzi's gaze flickered.
With Phoenix Perch Mountain's lineage backing him, ordinary beings would not be able to seize the territory Zhou Yuan conquered.
Moreover, the more waterways Zhou Yuan occupied, the more resources subordinates like them would be able to share.
Joining the Wei River lineage might be a great opportunity!
Zhou Yuan glanced over the Wei River and already understood the situation.
Old Man Qingrong and the others must have put considerable effort into it.
After returning to the Water Palace.
Zhou Yuan summoned all those under his command.
Once they had become familiar with one another.
He assigned their respective duties one by one.
Guizhenzi was an old True One Realm cultivator and was acquainted with Zhou Yuan. He had once come from a great clan. Though he had joined Zhou Yuan in order to avoid meeting blades in the future, the most important reason was that he believed in Zhou Yuan's prospects.
Thus, he was willing to bring his entire clan under Zhou Yuan's banner.
He was like a minor shareholder joining with his own assets.
After treating him courteously, Zhou Yuan appointed him as the chief steward of the Water Palace.
He was to oversee all central affairs of the Water Palace.
This old man was exceedingly shrewd and broadly knowledgeable, so managing the overall situation of the Water Palace would not be difficult for him.
"This old minister will certainly not disappoint my lord's high expectations."
Guizhenzi's heart surged.
Having just joined the Wei River and already been entrusted with such an important duty, even Guizhenzi could not help but feel moved.
Perhaps I can try to bring more of my clan's younger generation into the Wei River.
Seeing Guizhenzi appointed as the chief steward of the Water Palace.
Old Man Qingrong and the others felt somewhat envious.
But he was, after all, a True One Realm cultivator.
He stood a full major realm above them.
Even if they harbored certain private thoughts, they did not dare reveal the slightest trace of them.
Zhou Yuan swept a calm glance over those below. He did not care much about the thoughts of those under his command.
After all, in the Primordial Great World, great power belonged to the individual.
As long as he himself was strong, everything else was merely a minor detail.
"With the Water Palace newly established, we shall create an Inner Palace Division and an Outer Palace Division."
"The Inner Palace Division shall have the Pill Hall, Artifact Hall, Treasury Hall, and Internal Affairs Hall. These four halls shall oversee the Water Palace's operations."
"The Outer Palace Division shall establish Twelve Guards, which shall oversee all military campaigns."
Old Man Qingrong had attained the Dao as a banyan tree and was a Plant Spirit. He possessed some skill in alchemy.
He was therefore appointed master of the Pill Hall, overseeing cultivation, breeding, and alchemy within the Water Palace.
Mangcang was crude and violent by nature. Having attained the Dao as a rhinoceros, he possessed immense strength and was skilled in the path of true fire, with remarkable attainments in artifact forging.
He was therefore appointed master of the Artifact Hall, overseeing mineral veins and artifact forging.
Jin Yuanzi had attained the Dao as a three-legged Golden Toad and loved dealing with wealth. Having him manage the treasury as master of the Treasury Hall was the most reliable choice.
As for the Internal Affairs Hall, its affairs were complex and disorderly, so it was handed over to the only female cultivator among them, Madam Jiuzhen.
She was a white fox spirit, though not of the Qingqiu lineage, but a genuine wild fox.
Although she was somewhat weaker than cultivators of the same realm, she possessed an exceptionally keen and clever mind.
The four hall masters were overjoyed upon hearing Zhou Yuan's appointments.
They hurriedly pledged their loyalty.
"As for the commanders of the Twelve Guards of the Outer Palace Division, Rat Ancestor Zishu, Ox Ancestor Chouniu... Pig Ancestor Haizhu, you shall take those positions."
"You may select outstanding disciples from your clans to join the guards, or choose from the tribes and living beings along both banks of the Wei River who offer worship to our Wei River Water Palace."
"The guards would rather lack members than accept the unworthy."
Zhou Yuan spoke the final sentence with particular gravity.
Rat Ancestor Zishu and the others hurriedly bowed and said:
"We will never dare undermine Great Lord's arrangements."
Zhou Yuan nodded and summoned them forward again.
He explained the methods of battle formations, the Path of Condensing Sha, and the methods of Dao soldiers to them one by one.
These methods had been deduced by Zhou Yuan with the Dao soldier training methods of ancient Heavenly Soldiers from this world's Water Ancestor inheritance, as well as the Dao soldier refinement techniques of the Tianshui Imperial Dynasty revealed by the Eighteenth Prince, serving as a foundation, while drawing upon the methods his former life's Dao lineage used to train Dao soldiers.
Rat Ancestor Zishu and the other commanders listened until divine light shone from their eyes, nodding repeatedly.
With such Dao soldiers at their side, they could contend even against True One Realm gods and demons.
Once all matters had been arranged, Zhou Yuan gave everyone further instructions before assigning their tasks and dismissing them.
Before you continue