Above the Wei River.
Zhou Yuan activated his Dharma Eyes and saw a dusky blue figure flash past in the east.
"That old loach is truly cunning."
"If I had not been a little more cautious, I might have fallen for his scheme."
By then, even if he had been beaten to death alive, there would have been nowhere to seek justice.
Even in the Primordial Great World, where strength reigned supreme.
Without the ability to dominate an era and rule over the ages, one still had to follow the rules.
Those rules could be the natural principles governing the Heavenly Dao, or the ways of the world within the Primordial World.
If Zhou Yuan had attacked the lower reaches of the Huai River first this time, he would have broken the rules. Even if the dragon clan's Innate Dao Lords killed him.
Afterward, the Phoenix Perch Mountain Dao Lineage would have had little grounds to say anything.
And the reverse was true as well.
"Now that I occupy the upper reaches of the Wei River, I should consolidate my foundation and manage it properly for the time being."
"The dragon clan is powerful. I may have to seek the protection of Phoenix Perch Mountain."
"With Empress Nuwa and Dao Lord Fuxi backing me then, I can safely swallow up the Huai River."
Ripples stirred in Zhou Yuan's heart as countless thoughts churned through his mind.
Just as he suppressed the turbulence in his heart and prepared to return to the Water Mansion.
Auspicious clouds suddenly rolled across the horizon, accompanied by thousands of brilliant rays.
"Eh?"
He looked up.
He saw a five-colored phoenix, suffused with the aura of the Five Virtues and shrouded in vast divine radiance, carrying Azure Sky upon its back as it flew toward the Wei River.
Who else could it be but Fairy Cai Feng of Phoenix Perch Mountain?
The Five Virtues phoenix divine radiance in the void drew inward, and she transformed on the spot into a noble and graceful palace-dressed fairy clad in rosy garments.
"Cai Feng greets Divine Lord."
"Divine Lord has made quite a name for himself lately."
Fairy Cai Feng smiled warmly and gave Zhou Yuan a slight bow.
"Fellow Daoist, please do not tease me."
Zhou Yuan smiled wryly.
"I must also thank Fellow Daoist for speaking on my behalf before Her Majesty and Dao Lord."
"Otherwise, who knew how much effort it would have taken to bring the water veins within the Tianshui Imperial Dynasty under control."
Fairy Cai Feng's voice was as crisp and pleasant as clashing pearls and jade.
"Divine Lord is too modest."
"Even without Her Majesty's decree, with Divine Lord's methods, taking the water veins of the upper Huai River would have been as easy as reaching into a bag."
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, they finally got to the point.
Fairy Cai Feng's expression turned solemn.
"Divine Lord, I have come to the Wei River this time bearing Her Majesty's oral decree."
"She wishes to invite Divine Lord to Phoenix Perch Mountain for a talk."
At those words, a glint flashed through Zhou Yuan's eyes.
He probed without changing his expression.
"Does Fellow Daoist know why Her Majesty seeks me?"
Fairy Cai Feng knew that the Daoist before her had earned the favor of Phoenix Perch Mountain's two great figures, and she intended to befriend him.
"I do not know the specifics."
"But when I left Phoenix Perch Mountain, I saw Dao Lord Ji Meng hurrying up the mountain."
"Divine Lord, rest assured. It is good news."
With her saying so.
Zhou Yuan immediately set his mind at ease.
He roughly understood what was happening.
It seemed that the Demon King of Ji Meng's clan had caused trouble, and his own actions had also been noticed by his superiors.
Was this a reward for his merits?!
Fairy Cai Feng saw the realization in Zhou Yuan's eyes and knew that he had grasped the key.
She did not delay any longer and asked directly.
"Are there still important matters in Divine Lord's residence that remain unresolved?"
Zhou Yuan shook his head.
"The affairs of the Water Mansion are handled by my subordinates."
"Still, Fellow Daoist has come all the way to my Water Mansion, yet I have not even had the chance to offer proper hospitality. I am truly ashamed."
Fairy Cai Feng smiled.
"You and I both belong to the Phoenix Perch Mountain Dao Lineage."
"We will have many dealings with one another in the future."
Having said that, the Female Immortal was unwilling to delay any further.
She immediately took out an object from her wide sleeve.
"This is the Yin Yang Golden Bridge."
"It can make distant places seem close at hand."
"The master bestowed it upon me so that I might guide Divine Lord here."
As Fairy Cai Feng spoke, she placed the golden bridge in the void.
The golden bridge immediately gave rise to Yin and Yang Qi, and a great path of golden light stretched straight toward Azure Sky.
"Divine Lord, please."
Fairy Cai Feng lightly brushed her skirt aside and smiled sweetly.
"This Yin Yang Golden Bridge has clearly touched upon the laws of space and time."
Zhou Yuan stepped onto the golden bridge.
He only felt the space and time around him twist.
In a daze, he did not know how much time had passed.
Then a cool breeze suddenly blew over him.
"We have arrived."
Fairy Cai Feng's voice sounded beside his ear.
Zhou Yuan focused his gaze.
The world before him had already changed.
Before him rose towering mountains, while the earth veins surged and rolled.
Among countless Blessed Lands and Grotto-heavens, divine light filled the air, and immortal qi abounded.
Auspicious Qi billowed in pale waves, giving rise to purple mist, while streams of golden light rolled into rainbow clouds.
Cranes cried above the nine heavens, and apes called within the spirit mountains.
Streams of laws rose from cave residences and Daoist grounds, evolving into countless wondrous scenes.
And at the very center of these divine mountains and immortal residences stood a sacred mountain that pierced the clouds and propped up heaven and earth, surrounded on all sides.
At its summit, Yin and Yang Qi evolved into two indescribably great beings.
"As expected of the Daoist grounds of figures such as Empress Nuwa and Dao Lord Fuxi."
Looking at the sights before him, Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh from the bottom of his heart.
His former Daoist ground at Myriad Bamboo Mountain and his current residence, the Wei River Water Mansion, could only be called decent.
But compared to such top-tier Grotto-heaven blessed lands, they were still far inferior.
"The top Grotto-heaven blessed lands of the Primordial World were all formed after the opening of heaven and earth, combining with the creation of Chaos Fragments."
"Not only is the Innate Spiritual Energy incomparably dense, but the Great Dao Laws contained within are even more precious."
"Innate Divine Beings are born within Grotto-heaven blessed lands and are accompanied by Innate Spiritual Treasures. They are truly the favored children of heaven and earth."
They were practically celestial aristocrats.
Zhou Yuan was so envious that he nearly drooled.
"Still, there are not no Grotto-heaven blessed lands that have yet to emerge."
"For example, among the Ten Continents and Three Islands, Fangzhang and Yingzhou have yet to appear."
"Or Wuyi Mountain's Ascend True Essence to Form Grotto-heaven..."
"If the opportunity arises, perhaps I can make some plans."
A flash of inspiration passed through Zhou Yuan's mind, and he committed the matter to heart.
When his cultivation succeeded in the future, when he attained the Dao Fruit and passed down a Dao lineage, he could not possibly keep living cramped inside a Water Mansion.
He had to experience the luxury estates of the Primordial World someday.
Setting aside those thoughts for now.
He stepped off the golden bridge.
In an instant, he arrived within a Daoist palace.
It was clearly the handiwork of those two from Phoenix Perch Mountain.
"This minor deity, Taiyuanzi, pays respects to Dao Lord Fuxi and Empress Nuwa."
Upon the cloud bed bloomed golden flowers, while divine radiance shone in countless streams.
Yin and Yang Qi transformed into dragons and serpents biting their tails, evolving scenes of endless creation.
The two beings shrouded in boundless rosy light revealed themselves and gave a slight nod to the blue-robed Daoist who had bowed in greeting.
The spiritual essence within this child was restrained.
Yet the sharp edge of the Water Element Law faintly showed itself.
He had clearly grasped some of the mysteries of the Great Dao of Water Element.
He possessed the potential to advance to an Innate Dao Lord.
At that thought, the gazes of the two beings softened somewhat.
"Taiyuanzi. You slew the remnants of the divine race in the Wei River and cleared away the remaining Taiyi within the Tianshui Imperial Dynasty. Your merit is great indeed."
"What reward do you desire?"
Empress Nuwa parted her vermilion lips and spoke directly.
Zhou Yuan was momentarily speechless.
This Empress was certainly direct.
As for this great merit of slaying the remnants of the divine race, it was likely just an excuse.
The real reason these two were so pleased was probably that he had decisively killed the insolent Demon King and vented their anger.
Zhou Yuan understood this perfectly, but he would not foolishly reveal it.
He said gratefully.
"In the past, Her Majesty and Dao Lord preached the Dao in the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range, benefiting countless living beings."
"This minor deity was fortunate enough to hear the Great Dao and has remembered Her Majesty's and Dao Lord's teachings: do more good deeds, and do not ask about the future."
"Now that I can contribute to the Phoenix Perch Mountain Dao Lineage and serve the two Dao Masters, I feel only gratitude and have no other request."
"If I have any other pursuit at all, it is that illusory and ethereal Great Dao."
"This minor deity has heard that Phoenix Perch Mountain holds countless scriptures. I ask Her Majesty and Dao Lord for mercy and permission to peruse them."
Dao Lord Fuxi nodded.
He did not value external possessions. He truly was a good seed for cultivation.
"Since that is so."
"Go to the Creation Pavilion. You may read all the Daoist books within."
The Creation Pavilion contained Daoist books, secret records, local customs, and cultivation notes collected by the Phoenix Perch Mountain Dao Lineage over endless years.
Though they did not involve Phoenix Perch Mountain's core inheritance, they were still not a place ordinary cultivators could enter.
"Return to this hall in ten thousand years."
"Travel with us to the Thirty-three Heavens."
Having said that.
Dao Lord Fuxi and Empress Nuwa closed their eyes.
They spoke no more.
They had clearly gone roaming beyond the heavens.
Seeing this, Zhou Yuan obediently gave another bow and sensibly withdrew.
Before you continue