In the eastern sky, where the sea met the heavens, two Divine Mulberries on the Sun Star leaned against each other, forming a towering Fusang Divine Tree that stood across hundreds of thousands of miles.
Perched on the Fusang Divine Tree, two Golden Crows radiated dazzling light that illuminated the heavens.
Beichen watched the tree intently, momentarily lost in thought.
I was the master of the Three Immortal Islands, yet now they're beyond my control and have come to the East Sea on their own. It seems they've come here for the sake of these Two Crows! Should I leave the islands and pay a visit to the Sun Star?
Beichen felt conflicted. Leaving the islands meant danger; staying cautious was safest. But the Three Immortal Islands had come here, as though signaling that he needn't keep hiding this time!
Just as Beichen was hesitating, the system issued a quest.
"Help Dijun and Taiyi comprehend their companion treasures. Reward: Fragment of the Jade Disc of Creation and the mysteries of the Three Thousand Great Daos!"
Beichen's heart stirred. "It's the Jade Plate of Creation!"
There was more than one fragment of the Jade Plate of Creation. Old Ancestor Hongjun had obtained one through a fortuitous opportunity, while the rest were scattered throughout Chaos. If Beichen could get one, he would possess the same treasure as Old Ancestor Hongjun!
The fragments of the Jade Plate of Creation were extraordinary. Even though they contained only imperfect Great Daos, they were still immensely beneficial to cultivation. If one happened to contain a complete Great Dao, one could use it to attain sainthood directly—perhaps even rival or surpass Hongjun!
"I can't afford to keep playing it safe. I have to accept this quest!"
The tempting reward strengthened Beichen's resolve to leave the islands.
Beichen controlled the Three Immortal Islands with his mind. In the blink of an eye, they arrived beneath the Sun Star.
The Sun Star blazed with countless rays of light. Its protective formation rang out with a strange, enchanting melody, while scorching heat made it seem as if the world itself were boiling.
The Sun Star was like an enormous ball of fire, turning the surrounding space red for tens of millions of miles.
The Three Immortal Islands stopped beneath Starfall, and Beichen anchored them in place so he could return at any time.
Leaving the islands meant danger, so he had to plan an escape route in advance.
"That's it? It seems Dijun really hasn't comprehended the River Map and Luo Book. Otherwise, would he need a Star Dou Grand Formation to protect the star?"
After investigating, Beichen discovered that the protective formation was some unknown, shoddy array. Its level was only that of an Early Taiyi Golden Immortal.
"Then don't blame me for being rude!"
Rumble!
Beichen raised his hand and swept it through the air. A spike of Dao power shot forth, sending a wave of heat rolling outward. The protective formation shattered in an instant.
"Someone's attacking the Sun Star! Brother, prepare to fight!"
Eastern Emperor Taiyi was extremely vigilant. He held a massive bell in his palm and stared fixedly at the spot where the formation had broken.
Whoosh!
Beichen appeared on the Sun Star, his gaze falling on the tense Dijun and Taiyi.
"Who are you? How dare you invade the Sun Star!"
Dijun held the River Map and Luo Book. His eyes were full of bewilderment. He had clearly been studying the book for a long time, yet still couldn't quite grasp its secrets.
Beside him, Eastern Emperor Taiyi held the great bell. It was dim and seemed completely out of harmony with his Dao aura. "Fellow Golden Crows, don't be alarmed. I'm Beichen, the North Sea Black Tortoise. I've come to visit friends, and mean no harm!"
Dijun furrowed his brow as he assessed Beichen's cultivation, but didn't seem inclined to attack.
His companion treasures were the River Map and Luo Book, which dealt with strategy and formations. Before he comprehended them, they had little power, and his combat strength was extremely weak. He didn't have the confidence to fight.
Eastern Emperor Taiyi, however, had sharp brows and bright eyes, and his expression was cold and guarded. Without hesitation, he hurled the Eastern Emperor Bell at Beichen.
"North Sea Black Tortoise, you trespassed on the Sun Star and still dare to claim you came to visit friends? You're asking for death!"
The Eastern Emperor Bell descended like a mountain, its golden light blazing as waves of killing intent surged from it. It unleashed power at the peak of the Taiyi Golden Immortal level!
Though Eastern Emperor Taiyi had only comprehended a sliver of the treasure's mysteries, he could already draw out some of the bell's power when he activated it. Yet compared to his own cultivation, that power was only a little stronger!
He had simply comprehended too little of the treasure.
"Universe Great Dao Mystic Turtle Shell!"
Beichen was only at the middle stage of the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, so he naturally didn't dare to take the bell head-on. Without hesitation, he brought out the Universe Great Dao Mystic Turtle Shell.
Bang!
A thunderous blast rang out. Amid a surge of golden light, the Eastern Emperor Bell flew backward, while the Mystic Turtle Shell floated in the air, slowly turning and revealing the terrifying Dao aura of Heaven and Earth!
"Laws of the Heaven and Earth Great Dao?" Dijun frowned. "How can this turtle shell possess the power of the Great Dao?"
Taiyi caught the Eastern Emperor Bell and sent it flying toward Beichen again. At the same time, he stepped through the air and lunged forward, striking down toward Beichen's head.
The blow shattered the void and sent his aura surging. Beichen was shaken back several hundred yards.
Eastern Emperor Taiyi pressed the attack, his bell pounding relentlessly. The commotion on the Sun Star was immense, and all living beings within several million miles were alarmed and fled.
"As expected of the Demon Emperor, Taiyi! He hasn't comprehended his Dao Treasure, yet his combat strength is already astonishing!"
Beichen gritted his teeth and sent the Universe Great Dao Mystic Turtle Shell spinning toward him.
Rumble!
This time, Beichen held nothing back. The Eastern Emperor Bell was knocked a hundred miles away, and Taiyi went flying with it. Fiery spiritual energy spilled from his body, and his aura dimmed.
"Fellow Daoist Taiyi, Beichen truly came to visit friends. I mean no harm!"
"Fellow Daoist Taiyi, Beichen can tell you haven't comprehended your companion treasure. That's why it feels awkward to use. Why not let Beichen help you?"
"Fellow Daoist Dijun, you've studied the River Map and Luo Book for a long time, but still haven't grasped their secrets, have you? Beichen can help you too!"
As he spoke, Taiyi lunged at him again, grabbing the great bell and preparing to strike.
Eastern Emperor Taiyi was cold-tempered and loved battle. He absolutely refused to yield to Beichen.
But Dijun suddenly appeared and grabbed Taiyi by the arm. "Second Brother, this cultivator has earned the favor of the Heaven and Earth Great Dao, and his companion turtle shell is extremely powerful. We're no match for him right now. Besides, there's a deeper meaning to his words. There's no need to keep fighting!"
Taiyi studied Dijun intently. After a moment, he put away the Eastern Emperor Bell.
Dijun really is wise and level-headed! Beichen thought.
Once they had stopped fighting, Beichen studied the two more carefully and realized that they were both at the peak of the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm.
"Six thousand years ago, the Four Fated Sages were already in the late stage of the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm. More than six thousand years have passed since then—they should have entered the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm by now!"
Beichen suddenly thought of the Four Fated Sages. Hongjun's ascension to sainthood was probably near, and so was his lecture!
After the three called a truce, Beichen explained many things to them and gradually earned their trust.
The three then sat together to discuss the Dao, chatting about the heavens and the earth.
Drawing on what he knew, Beichen taught Eastern Emperor Taiyi how the Eastern Emperor Bell could suppress the "Primordial World," reverse "the space-time of the heavens," reveal the "mysteries of the Heavenly Dao," and refine "earth, water, fire, and wind."
He also explained the River Map and Luo Book's Star Dou Grand Formation, the 365 primary stars of the heavenly cycle, and the 108,000 great stars.
Beichen spoke with such eloquence that he went on for a thousand years. The two listened with rapt attention, silently pondering the mysteries.
After a thousand years, Beichen let out a long breath and slowly stopped. "Fellow Daoists, I've finished explaining the secrets of your companion treasures. Have you gained anything from it?"
Dijun's eyes shone with delight. "One conversation with you was worth ten thousand years of cultivation! So that's how the River Map and Luo Book should be understood. I get it now. Thank you, thank you."
Eastern Emperor Taiyi had also completely let go of his hostility, and was impressed instead. "Thank you for your guidance, Mystic Turtle Daoist. Before long, Taiyi will be able to control and use the Eastern Emperor Bell as easily as eating or drinking."
They weren't exaggerating. Over the following century, Beichen remained on the Sun Star. He watched as Dijun truly grasped the rudiments of the Star Dou Grand Formation, and its first basic version was soon to be complete.
Meanwhile, Eastern Emperor Taiyi continued to uncover the Eastern Emperor Bell's power, until he dared to face even Grand Unity Golden Immortals.
Time passed, and the Two Crows used their companion treasures to enter the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
Beichen also received his reward: the Fragment of the Jade Disc of Creation was in his hands, and he had grasped the mysteries of the Three Thousand Great Daos.
Afterward, at the Two Crows' invitation, Beichen remained on the Sun Star to cultivate.
One day, he felt restless, with the nagging sense that something was about to happen. Without thinking, his mind drifted toward the nearby Moon Star.
He saw two beautiful women playing and laughing together. With a smile, he asked, "Dijun, Taiyi, do you two want wives?"
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