The Old Dragon Is Cunning

"Excellent!"

On the cloud bed, an aura of creation permeated the air.

Golden lotuses bloomed one after another, covering the ground.

Empress Nuwa parted her red lips slightly, a smile gracing her face.

"This Taiyuanzi is indeed a resolute and decisive fellow."

Dao Lord Fuxi's eyes also held a hint of a smile.

"Speaking of which, Taiyuanzi and we two have a connection."

"That day, we were preaching in the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range."

"This child is intelligent and possesses extraordinary Dao nature."

"He left quite an impression on me."

The memories of an Innate Dao Lord were formidable.

Empress Nuwa thought for a moment and nodded.

"So, it was him."

"Even better."

With that thought, the Empress summoned Fairy Cai Feng.

"After Taiyuanzi finishes handling that mess at the Water Mansion."

"Summon him to Phoenix Perch Mountain."

"Di Jun has ascended to the position of Heavenly Emperor and is enfeoffing his subordinate demons."

"Our Faction of Phoenix Perch Mountain has contributed greatly."

"When it comes time to reward merit, this Majesty should produce something."

Fairy Cai Feng was surprised.

Judging by her words.

The Empress seemed to be planning to bring Taiyuanzi into the inner circle of Phoenix Perch Mountain.

Seeing Empress Nuwa's gaze sweep over her, she dared not think further.

"Yes!"

"Your Majesty, I will go find Taiyuanzi now."

With that, Fairy Cai Feng took her leave.

Watching Fairy Cai Feng's receding figure.

Empress Nuwa let out a cold laugh.

"For the sake of the greater good of the Demon Clan, my brother and I have retreated time and again."

"They've come to believe that our Faction of Phoenix Perch Mountain is easy to bully."

Dao Lord Fuxi said calmly.

"You were favored by the Ancestor of Dao and bestowed with a wisp of Primordial Violet Qi."

"This is the foundation for becoming a Saint."

"Countless Great Divine Ability Users throughout the Universe are coveting it."

"Joining the Demon Clan can also shield us from their scrutiny."

"With the Great Dao before us, everything else is just a minor detail."

As long as one comprehends the Primordial Violet Qi and achieves Sainthood.

All past grievances will be but a bit of wind and frost.

What is there to dwell on?

"However, that Taiyuanzi has also helped us vent some of our anger."

"We can use this opportunity to eliminate a group of vermin."

"Preventing malcontents from stirring up trouble."

"Since he is perceptive and his talent is not ordinary, what harm is there in giving him a share of the benefits?"

Dao Lord Fuxi chuckled.

They were unwilling to fight, not unable to fight.

Empress Nuwa nodded.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan had cleanly pulverized the obstructing demon king.

"The two from Phoenix Perch Mountain should have seen my performance just now."

"I'm a loyal and honest young man."

Zhou Yuan muttered.

"But even if they didn't see it, it's not a big problem."

"This brainless demon king dared to arbitrarily slander the Sun Palace and Phoenix Perch Mountain Dao lineages, so he deserves to die."

"Even Ji Meng can't openly find trouble with me."

After all, this involves the power struggles of the higher-ups.

Even Ji Meng would be in a bind.

Once these matters are settled, I'll go into seclusion.

By the time I emerge again, I might not fear Dao Lord Ji Meng anymore.

In the blink of an eye, after weighing the pros and cons, Zhou Yuan put the matter out of his mind.

No big deal.

Continue the operation.

The forces at the Wei River Water Mansion were growing larger and larger.

Grotto-heaven cultivators subdued along the way were as numerous as clouds, Heavenly Humans and Divine Demons were like rain, and even two Great Divine Ability Users at the True One Realm had come to pledge allegiance.

It was still the "Three Axes" execution.

Cultivators not belonging to the Demon Clan, such as remnants of the Divine Clan and rogue cultivators at the Grand Unity level, were all killed and refined into the Myriad Spirits Banner.

Those who belonged to the Demon Clan, like the amiable Grand Unity Great Sage, were persuaded with kind words, seeking mutual benefit.

As for existences like the foul-mouthed demon king, they naturally also ended up in the Myriad Spirits Banner.

One day.

Zhou Yuan unfurled the Myriad Spirits Banner, collecting the residual souls of Grand Unity cultivators who had died by his hand.

The golden-red great banner fluttered in the wind, and with a roar, it stirred the celestial phenomena.

In a daze, it was as if a dark and eerie grand hall materialized in the void.

Above the grand hall, on a blood-red throne, sat a young girl wearing a red bellyband and with her hair tied up in a sky-high ponytail.

Beneath her feet knelt ten colossal shadowy figures whose faces could not be discerned.

Behind the shadowy figures were dense, clawing, and baring-toothed vengeful spirits.

For a moment, a chilling wind actually swept through the void, and sounds of wailing ghosts echoed.

"This..."

Where did this old devil come from?!

Many beings looked at the green-robed Daoist standing above the waves, their eyes filled with terror.

Even the cultivators within the Wei River Water Mansion were startled.

This posture, this aura, was clearly that of an old devil from the demonic path.

Zhou Yuan ignored what the people below thought.

He felt the Myriad Spirits Banner in his palm.

A hint of melancholy appeared in his eyes:

"As expected, it's still not enough?"

According to his calculations.

Ten Grand Unity cultivators and ten thousand vengeful spirits should have been enough to empower the Banner Spirit, Su Nu, to the Dao Lord realm.

But now, it seemed that was clearly not feasible.

After all, an Innate Dao Lord is different from a Grand Unity Great Sage.

They are beings who have plucked the fruit of a Dao, able to leap out of the river of time and space and open up a small, tiny stream of their own.

Such existences are qualitatively different from those below the Dao Lord realm, not quantitatively.

Simply piling up quantities cannot create an Innate Dao Lord.

"But it's not without gains."

"With Su Nu's current state, she should be able to exchange a few blows with an Innate Dao Lord?"

Zhou Yuan pondered, but since he had never truly fought an Innate Dao Lord, he could only guess.

He put away the Myriad Spirits Banner.

Zhou Yuan stood with his hands behind his back.

After conquering this water vein, he now fully controlled the upper reaches of the Huai River.

He could feel streams of Destiny and Fortune surging towards him.

The seal, transformed from the Authority of Water Element within his Primordial Spirit's sea of consciousness, was also emitting a faint glow. Clearly, he had benefited greatly, ascending towards a higher level.

"It feels great to get stronger every moment."

"If I could fully control the Wei River, I could directly ascend to the level of an Innate Dao Lord."

This was the terrifying power of authority, and also the treatment enjoyed by the players of the initial version before the Heavenly Dao of the server was officially activated.

"My Lord."

"Do we need to continue forward?"

To continue exploring.

To unify the Huai River.

Guizhenzi stepped forward and bowed.

Zhou Yuan shook his head.

"Too much is as bad as too little."

"Let's head back now."

"The upper reaches of the Huai River are vast, and governing them will require some thought."

Some eager generals still wanted to persuade him.

They hadn't earned enough military merits yet.

But upon meeting Zhou Yuan's indifferent gaze, they wisely swallowed the words that were about to escape their lips.

Soon.

Waves surged, divine light shone brightly.

The people of the Wei River Water Mansion returned victoriously.

After Zhou Yuan left.

In the sky above, clouds churned.

Two streaks of green light flashed.

Two giant dragons, colored a deep azure, transformed into their Dao bodies.

An old dragon with white hair and a grizzled beard, holding a dark, mysterious treasure bead in his hand, watched the receding back of Zhou Yuan and sighed:

"What a pity, this child is too overly cautious."

Those two from Phoenix Perch Mountain had taken over the Five Directions Imperial Dynasty.

And handed over the upper reaches of the Huai River to Taiyuanzi.

At this opportune moment, who would dare to bully the weak and snatch the Authority of Water Element from the upper reaches of the Huai River?

He was certain that the Red Embroidered Ball in the void was already spinning, waiting for a foolish move.

Because that would be provoking the authority of the Phoenix Perch Mountain Dao Lineage.

But if Taiyuanzi were to actively instigate a conflict, and enter the lower reaches of the Wei River, that would be a different story.

"I didn't capture him this time."

"I won't have another chance to act in the short term."

The white-haired old dragon's gaze was deep, as if containing ten thousand years of ice.

"The Four Seas are also not peaceful right now."

"I still need to guard the Dragon Abyss and cannot stay for long."

"The Huai River is vast, one of the Four Rivers. Ao Yuan, you must grasp this opportunity well."

Ao Yuan, who looked like a middle-aged man, nodded:

"Old Ancestor, rest assured, I know the importance of this."

"Now is a sensitive time. I will not casually start a war and draw the attention of the Demon Clan."

But the gaze of those two from Phoenix Perch Mountain would not always be focused here.

When the time comes, he would properly deal with this Taiyuanzi.

Seeing this, the old dragon said no more.

He had already offended the Dragon Palaces of the Four Seas by venturing out to sea to help his own child on this trip.

He would have to explain himself properly upon his return.

"Since that is the case, this Lord shall return to the East Sea first!"

With that said.

The old man immediately transformed into a green dragon, soaring through the clouds and mists towards the East Sea.

After he left, Ao Yuan.

Gave a faint glance towards the upper reaches of the Huai River and transformed into a stream of light, entering the water.