The Nascent System

The rain cleared, the clouds dispersed.

Within the Dragon Elephant Tribe, the young elephants had already begun their training.

Long Shanying emerged from his stone dwelling, leaning on his cane as he gazed at the scene before him, his eyes filled with relief.

"The Divine Demon Body Tempering method excavates the potential of one's own bloodline and physical body, requiring the most resources."

"These children are still young."

"But they don't need to be like us in the past, acting as mine slaves to dig for divine iron ore veins. Their potential hasn't been completely drained yet."

"Lie, from now on, you will lead the hunting team to Cloud Mist Mountain to hunt fierce beasts and savage beasts."

"This will not only hone your combat skills and benefit your cultivation, but also accumulate some Cultivation Sustenance for these cubs."

Longshan Lie nodded heavily.

The cultivation methods of the Dragon Elephant tribe were quite different from other races.

They were a warrior race; only in extreme combat could their bloodline be stimulated, awakening the Dragon Elephant tribe's Divine Abilities.

Cloud Mist Mountain was a branch of the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range, adjacent to the Wei River, and was home to many Archaic Vestiges.

After a cleansing by the Wei River Water Mansion, some of the high-level fierce beasts and savage beasts there had become food.

Although there were still some who escaped, they often lived in the inner depths of the mountains.

With Longshan Lie's strength, as long as he didn't venture too deep into the mountains, there wouldn't be much risk.

Long Shanying was in high spirits and had more to say.

Just then, his eyes suddenly narrowed.

He looked towards the sky.

He said in a low voice:

"It seems the Divine Officials from the Wei River Water Mansion have arrived."

"You and I must quickly go and greet them."

Longshan Lie's expression turned serious upon hearing this. He had learned of the prestige of the Wei River Water Mansion just yesterday.

Before long, everyone in the Dragon Elephant tribe, old and young, stood gathered in front of the tribe's stone dwellings.

A moment later, mist swirled in the sky, and pale blue spiritual light flickered.

Several figures appeared before Long Shanying and the others.

The one at the forefront wore a pale blue divine robe, upon which seemed to flow the surging Wei River. In his hands, he held a jade tray, upon which lay the Golden Book and Jade Scroll.

Behind him were shrimp soldiers and crab generals armed with sabers, spears, swords, and halberds.

"This old man and my tribesmen pay our respects to the esteemed envoy."

Long Shanying observed the aura surging from the young man in the divine robe; he had clearly broken through to the Grotto-heaven realm, transitioning from mortal to immortal.

Although he had only just broken through, it was enough to draw attention.

After all, while cultivators' appearances remained youthful, the traces of time on their bodies were difficult to erase.

This Divine Official clearly had little experience with the passage of time.

"No need for formalities."

"We are here on the orders of the Water Mansion to register your tribe."

"Strictly speaking, only when one is inscribed in the Golden Book and Jade Scroll does your tribe officially belong to our Wei River."

The Divine Official said with a gentle smile, clearly having a good temper.

"May I ask the esteemed envoy's name?"

"If you know Lord Jiuzhen, please convey our greetings to him on our behalf."

Seeing his attitude, Long Shanying probed.

The Divine Official's smile widened.

This Dragon Elephant tribe indeed had a connection with Lord Jiuzhen.

"I am unworthy of the title 'esteemed envoy' from Chief Long Shanying."

"My name is Gui Changshou. If Chief Long Shanying doesn't mind, you may simply call me 'fellow Daoist'."

"As for Hall Master Jiuzhen, he is busy with official duties. I am but a mere Divine Official and rarely have the chance to see the Hall Master."

"But if I do see him, I will certainly convey your regards."

Gui?

The grand steward of the Water Mansion was also called Guizhenzi.

Long Shanying exchanged a glance with Longshan Lie, their eyelids twitching.

"Hahaha, then this old man thanks you, fellow Daoist."

"The tribe has prepared spiritual fruits and fine cuisine. Please do not find them wanting."

Long Shanying let out a hearty laugh and immediately put his arm around Gui Changshou as they walked towards the stone house.

Gui Changshou was helpless; he was just a newbie, how could he be a match for an old fox like Long Shanying?

After only a few exchanges, he and Long Shanying were calling each other brothers.

"Brother Dao, this Golden Book and Jade Scroll instance requires offerings."

"Pray to it daily without the slightest slack."

After Gui Changshou recorded the Dragon Elephant Tribe into the Golden Book and Jade Scroll, he also explained some of the Water Mansion's taboos to them.

Then he cautioned:

"Besides the Golden Book and Jade Scroll."

"Your tribe, seeking refuge in the Water Mansion, also needs to fulfill relevant obligations."

Long Shanying asked cautiously:

"May I ask what obligations my Dragon Elephant Tribe needs to fulfill?"

Gui Changshou said seriously:

"The first is loyalty to the Water Mansion's Divine Lord. If the Divine Lord issues a decree, regardless of life or death, the Wei River tribes must not disobey."

"Can you do this?"

After speaking, Gui Changshou stared intently at Long Shanying's face, his eyes utterly indifferent, lacking the gentleness and kindness from just moments ago.

Long Shanying's face twitched, and his heart tightened.

But he was, after all, someone who had seen great things. He composed himself, stood up, and bowed towards the Wei River:

"Once we enter the Wei River, we are the Divine Lord's subjects."

"Our Lord has commanded, and we can only obey, daring not to have the slightest defiance."

Upon hearing this, Gui Changshou's expression softened, and he smiled again:

"Brother Dao, don't have any second thoughts."

"The Divine Lord is benevolent and would never let you die for nothing."

Long Shanying repeatedly said he wouldn't dare.

"The second is that the Water Mansion's affiliated tribes must recommend one brave warrior from their tribe every ten years to participate in the Water Mansion's Dao Soldier selection."

"As for the third, each tribe must pay a certain amount of cultivation resources to the Water Mansion every ten years, whether it be minerals, Spiritual Medicine, wild beasts, Daoist Scriptures, or other materials that aid in cultivation."

Long Shanying nodded silently and inquired:

"Is there a set standard for the cultivation resources we need to pay?"

"Of course."

Gui Changshou nodded.

"Although your Dragon Elephant Tribe has few members, your combat power is not bad, and you have been rated as a Seventh-grade Tribe by Lord Jiuzhen."

"These are the resources that a Seventh-grade Tribe needs to pay."

Gui Changshou took out a Jade Slip and handed it to Long Shanying.

Long Shanying took the Jade Slip and scanned it with his divine sense. His expression immediately froze.

Gui Changshou raised an eyebrow and said with an unreadable tone:

"What, Clan Leader Long Shanying, do you find it unreasonable?"

Unexpectedly, Long Shanying burst into tears, laughing and crying as he spoke to Gui Changshou:

"This old man couldn't control his emotions for a moment, please don't take offense, fellow Daoist."

"When my Dragon Elephant Tribe was under the Golden Brilliance Imperial Dynasty, the resources we had to offer were more than a hundred times what we need to pay now."

"The Divine Lord is truly benevolent!"

Long Shanying was emotionally overwhelmed.

What a hard life they had before.

With the Divine Lord's arrival, the heavens finally became clear.

The total amount of cultivation resources required for a Seventh-grade Tribe recorded in this Jade Slip was less than one-hundredth of what they had to pay when they were treated like cattle and horses under the Golden Brilliance Imperial Dynasty.

Being treated like cattle and horses was the same everywhere.

But it was clearly easier to be a servant to the Wei River Water Lord.

Knowing the inside story, Gui Changshou couldn't help but shed a tear of sympathy for the Dragon Elephant Tribe.

He comforted him:

"Our Wei River is prosperous."

"The Divine Lord is merciful."

He doesn't care about the meager possessions of you poor devils.

After all, the Divine Lord still plans to reopen the marketplace, and cultivation resources will flow in then.

"You all do your jobs well, and there are benefits to be had!"

Hearing about benefits, Long Shanying's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked:

"Fellow Daoist, what you say..."

Gui Changshou said proudly:

"My Wei River Water Mansion is an entity that inherits the orthodox lineage of heaven and earth, unlike those demonic Imperial Dynasties that arbitrarily exploit living beings."

"The Divine Lord has long since issued a decree."

"According to the different grades of tribes, the benefits obtained from the Wei River Water Mansion each year will also vary."

"Your Dragon Elephant Tribe, for example, is a seventh-grade tribe."

"Each year, you will have the opportunity to receive three bottles of high-grade Pure Spirit Pills, one Postnatal Artifact, and one Dao Listening Quota. Every ten years, there is also a chance to exchange for the Water Mansion's Daoist Scripture and Cultivation Method."

Gui Changshou chuckled:

"Some Divine Demon inheritances can directly lead to the Heavenly Human Realm."

"Not to mention the various Mystical Arts and Divine Abilities within."

Hearing this, Long Shanying's breathing hitched.

Spiritual Pills and artifacts were merely external items; it was good to have them, but they wouldn't have much regret if they didn't.

However, the Daoist Scripture and Cultivation Method, and Divine Demon inheritances were different.

In the Archaic Era, all the gods and demons were born divine and sacred. How could they have formulated cultivation methods for Postnatal Beings?

It was only during the Human Emperor's reign that various Dao Lineages spread their teachings throughout the heavens, and thus the Daoist Scriptures were passed down.

After the Dragon-Han Tribulation, at the beginning of the new era, the Primordial World still had many Archaic Vestiges. Numerous Dao Lineages exchanged Divine Abilities and mystical arts, and even Divine Demon Daoists traveled around, lecturing on the Dao on some unknown mountain peak if they felt like it.

But as the Dao Lineages developed and resources became scarce, many Great Divine Ability Users gradually became possessive of their knowledge.

Now, although some Great Divine Ability Users still generously taught all beings, they did not teach systematic cultivation paths.

"Although my Dragon Elephant Tribe's ancestors were once powerful."

"By now, the ancestral inheritances have all weathered away with time."

"Heavenly Human and Divine Demon inheritances... I truly long for them."

Although, with the current spiritual energy of the Primordial World, with slow progress, he might achieve Grotto-heaven after cultivating for tens of thousands of years.

But a Divine Demon inheritance directly pointed out the cultivation path, allowing him to bypass many detours.

"More importantly, with a Heavenly Human or Divine Demon inheritance in hand, the descendants of my Dragon Elephant Tribe can stand on the shoulders of their predecessors to explore further cultivation paths."

"And this is merely the treatment for a seventh-grade tribe."

"What about the treatment for the higher grades, sixth, fifth, or even first-grade tribes?"

Long Shanying took a deep breath and respectfully asked:

"Fellow Daoist, may I ask what conditions are needed to be promoted in tribal grade?"

Gui Changshou smiled and said:

"It's quite simple."

"The first is that the cultivators within the tribe must reach a certain grade, or possess corresponding combat power."

"The second is Military Merit."

"The first two involve cultivation and combat. The third is the easiest: pay a certain amount of resources."

"Once these three conditions are met, you can apply to the Internal Affairs Hall for a promotion in tribal grade."

Seeing Long Shanying's interest, Gui Changshou secretly sighed:

"Subdue them with imposing power."

"Tempt them with the benefits of cultivation."

"How could the Wei River tribes not die for the Divine Lord?"

Tribal grade promotion, acquisition of Divine Demon inheritances – which of these did not require immense resources?

But by acquiring the resources of subordinate tribes in this manner, how could they possibly harbor any thoughts of resistance?

This was an open and aboveboard stratagem.