"Slay the other Dao bodies of Dao Lord Tianshui."
"The sooner, the better."
Zhou Yuan made his decision.
He immediately went to the Water Mansion's main hall and summoned Guizhenzi, the masters of the various halls, and the commanders of the Black Water Guard Dao soldiers.
"The workings of heaven have changed. The demon race is destined to rise, and the Dao Lords who ruled the Five Directions Imperial Dynasty have already fallen."
"I have an agreement with Fairy Cai Feng of Phoenix Perch Mountain. We can take over the waterways of the Tianshui Imperial Dynasty."
"Gather the troops at once. With the Wei River as the center, bring the waterways in every direction under our control."
After saying this, Zhou Yuan added:
"Pick on the weak."
"As for any water-element Dao lineages involving Grand Unity Great Sages, wait for me to handle them personally."
The people of the Wei River Water Mansion had been uneasy over the disorder in the water element and the blood rain falling from the sky. Upon hearing Zhou Yuan's instructions, they immediately found their backbone. After acknowledging his orders one by one,
they each set about their duties.
Over the past century, the Wei River Water Mansion had launched a campaign every few years. By now, they were thoroughly familiar with warfare.
"Wooooo—"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Horns blared, and war drums thundered.
The horn calls and drumbeats from the Water Mansion instantly spread throughout the upper and lower reaches of the Wei River.
Dragon Elephant Tribe.
Longshan Lie, who was skinning and draining the blood from a Fierce Beast, grinned. His fan-sized hands were smeared with blood.
He casually tossed the Fierce Beast aside, took up the armor and weapons issued by the Water Mansion, and chuckled.
"Last time, I beheaded a hundred enemies at Baicang River and earned one minor merit."
"Adding it all up, I've already got nine minor merits."
"If I earn one more minor merit this time, I can exchange them for one major merit."
And one major merit could be exchanged for a secret art: Dragon Elephant Suppression Prison.
Longshan Lie glanced at the tribe's youngsters.
"Train your bodies every morning and evening. Do not slack off."
"If I come back and hear that any of you haven't been cultivating properly, don't blame my whip for having no eyes."
Seeing the youngsters obediently agree,
he nodded in satisfaction.
"Then, Chief, I'm heading out first."
"If I don't arrive before the third drumbeat, I'll be punished!"
A multitude of emotions flickered across Long Shanying's aged face before finally settling into calmness.
"Come back alive."
Longshan Lie's nose stung, but he laughed freely.
"Of course. I'm going to earn plenty of merit."
"I'm going to restore our Dragon Elephant Tribe to glory!"
With that, he bowed to Long Shanying and headed for the Wei River Water Mansion.
Long Shanying watched his retreating back and let out a faint sigh.
"The celestial signs have changed, and the Wei River is making such a move."
"It seems the Divine Lord's faction has won."
"Our Dragon Elephant Tribe made the right choice."
It was foreseeable that the wars ahead would only grow more frequent.
"This is both a fortunate opportunity and a dangerous trial."
"But the affairs of the Dragon Elephant Tribe should be borne by all Dragon Elephant clansmen, not with all the pressure placed on Lie alone."
The old chief's gaze was profound. He looked at the young and strong tribesmen training nearby and said to the one-armed elder beside him,
"Let this group of young men enter the mountains tomorrow."
"When the Black Water Guard next recruits Dao soldiers, send them in."
"Now that Lie has become a squad leader, they can watch out for one another under his command."
The one-armed elder's rough, aged face showed no expression, but he firmly committed the matter to memory. He resolved to train this new generation of the Dragon Elephant Tribe without mercy.
Although joining the Black Water Guard and fighting for the Wei River Water Mansion meant surviving against all odds,
"the Wei River Water Mansion pays well!"
Long Shanying silently offered praise to the Wei River Water Lord.
Becoming a Dao soldier came with military pay. Victories brought rewards. Even dying on the battlefield could earn the tribe and one's descendants the means to rise, as well as cultivation sustenance.
The Primordial Great World had always been a paradise for the strong.
As the weak, one had only the right to obey orders.
If those above told you to die, then it was your honor.
An existence like the Wei River Water Lord was truly an exception.
But for a race like the Dragon Elephant Tribe, such a leader was a good leader.
They were not afraid of death. They only feared dying without value.
With a single order from Zhou Yuan, the entire Wei River Water Mansion became like a great ship raising its sails.
It sprang into action at once.
The many tribes along the upper and lower reaches of the Wei River rejoiced at the news of war.
They regarded external campaigns as opportunities for tribal growth, personal advancement, and progress along the Dao.
A thousand sails raced across the Wei River, presenting a scene full of vitality.
Zhou Yuan concealed himself in midair and observed silently for several days before nodding slightly.
"The Wei River Water Mansion's system and structure have already been established."
"Only, the path seems to have strayed somewhat."
He had originally thought the Wei River's development would focus on construction.
But now, it seemed to have taken the path of rewarding military merit with noble rank.
"But that isn't wrong either."
"No matter how one looked at it, the Primordial World revered strength above all."
The generals were devoted, and the soldiers were willing to give their lives. Zhou Yuan no longer interfered.
A moment later, he transformed into a streak of divine light and vanished from where he stood.
"Mists rise from Yunmeng Marsh, waves shake Yueyang Tower."
Above Yunmeng Marsh, Zhou Yuan rode the wind through empty air.
Clouds and mist curled around him, like dragons, like phoenixes, like running beasts, like flying birds.
The waters rippled, vapor rose, and the entire marsh seemed shrouded in white mist. It was dreamlike and illusory, hence the name Yunmeng.
"Of Dao Lord Tianshui's eight Dao bodies, I have slain seven. The last one is within Yunmeng Marsh."
At this thought, ripples stirred in Zhou Yuan's eyes.
According to the true spirit memories of those Dao bodies, that creature's greatest hidden legacy was concealed within Yunmeng.
"This place also seems to be connected to an innate grand formation."
With a thought, Zhou Yuan was about to dive into Yunmeng and investigate.
Just then,
a streak of white suddenly appeared in the sky. In the blink of an eye, it drew near from afar.
What appeared before Zhou Yuan was a colossal creature with antler-like horns, a camel-like head, rabbit-like eyes, a snake-like neck, a clam-like belly, fish-like scales, eagle-like claws, tiger-like paws, and ox-like ears.
"A white dragon?!"
Confusion flashed through Zhou Yuan's eyes.
Since Ancestor Dragon had returned to the void, the Four Seas Dragon Clan had steadily declined. Yet with their deep foundations, the dragon race still firmly controlled the Four Seas.
Among dragons, the Five-Colored Dragon Clan reigned supreme: the Eastern Azure Dragon, Western White Dragon, Southern Crimson Dragon, Northern Black Dragon, and Central Yellow Dragon.
Each of these Five-Colored Dragon Clans still had an Innate Dao Lord alive and was regarded as the orthodox dragon lineage.
Though the other dragon clans were also pure-blooded, they did not count among true dragons.
For an orthodox true dragon—a white dragon—to appear in Yunmeng, so far from the Four Seas,
how could Zhou Yuan not be astonished?
The white dragon was covered in blood. Its originally gleaming scales had been torn apart, its spiritual radiance dimmed, and its divine power weakened. It had clearly suffered severe injuries.
"Fellow Daoist, this hall is being pursued by traitors."
"If you can escort this hall to the Four Seas to seek reinforcements,"
"I will reward you generously."
Ao Lin, who had been fleeing for his life, saw the green-robed Daoist standing calmly in the air nearby. His eyes lit up.
He hurriedly shouted.
That shout immediately drew the attention of the pursuers behind him.
Great waves surged as the waters parted to either side.
Within Yunmeng Marsh, a group of Aquatic Race warriors strode upon the waves, wielding blades, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, and forks.
Among them were shrimp soldiers and crab generals, as well as water snakes and blackfish.
At their head was a green fish with scaled wings beneath its ribs.
The green fish swam through the water, raising towering waves. In moments, it transformed into a figure with a human body and fish tail, holding a steel fork. It looked ferocious and hideous.
"Hey, Daoist! Are you with this remnant?"
The green fish demon saw that Zhou Yuan had concealed his divine light and looked entirely ordinary, like a cultivator of the mortal realms.
It immediately became arrogant, rolling its white eyes skyward.
"We are under Lord River Earl's orders to capture this vile dragon."
"If you're merely here to watch, get out of the way. Don't delay my official business."
Zhou Yuan calmly glanced at the white dragon trapped in the air by the Heavenly Net and Earthly Net cast by the shrimp soldiers and crab generals. He knew the white dragon was trying to drag him into this.
He cupped his hands slightly toward the green fish.
"This poor Daoist merely happened to pass by. I have no connection with this dragon clan."
"Commander, please proceed as you wish."
With that, he stepped aside and stood with his hands behind his back.
Seeing this, the white dragon immediately roared.
"Fellow Daoist, save me! Fellow Daoist, save me!"
"My Dragon Palace possesses countless treasures."
"I am a descendant of a Dao Lord and hold honored status within the Dragon Palace."
"If you save me, cultivation resources, peerless dragon maidens, even spiritual treasures and spiritual roots will not be a problem."
A chill entered Zhou Yuan's eyes.
This white dragon still refused to give up.
The Green Fish Commander had originally believed it was better to avoid trouble. He had no wish to provoke unnecessary complications.
He only wanted to capture this injured dragon prince and return to Yunmeng Dragon Palace for his reward.
But perhaps Zhou Yuan had been too compliant, or perhaps the white dragon's words had set calculations turning in his mind.
"If this Daoist truly knows the dragon prince,"
"then he must be an accomplice of this vile dragon."
"If I capture him, I can also earn some favor before Lord River Earl."
Thinking this, his expression turned fierce as he looked at Zhou Yuan.
Mucus dripped from his mouth, reeking horribly.
"I could tell at a glance that you, Daoist, are an accomplice of this vile dragon."
"Boys, seize him too!"
The surrounding Aquatic Race monsters were simple-minded. At the Green Fish Commander's command, they immediately attacked.
Blades, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, and forks all came crashing toward Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan shook his head slightly.
"One thought astray, and you have already chosen death."
Without any visible movement from him,
a golden lamp above his head flashed with Immeasurable Light. Blossoms of lamp flame drifted from the void toward the Aquatic Race of Yunmeng Marsh.
Over Yunmeng Marsh, blazing fire filled the sky, possessing the power to burn heaven and boil seas.
Before the Aquatic Race could react, they were instantly reduced to ash.
Even the Green Fish Commander, who possessed Grotto-heaven Realm cultivation, perished in an instant.
The white dragon trapped at the center shuddered in terror at the sight.
He suddenly raised his head and saw Zhou Yuan looking at him.
Those eyes were deep and icy.
Like ten-thousand-year ice, they made him feel as though he had fallen into an ice pit.
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