The Northern Abyss was a scene of utter desolation, with howling winds and piles of icebergs and jagged rocks.
Beneath the Northern Sea lay a chaotic little island, where auspicious light and spiritual energy flowed, and life flourished.
Hongjun and Great Immortal Yang Mei discussed the Dao. Time flew, and ten thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.
Great Immortal Yang Mei said, "That Wutu Innate Spiritual Root will soon take human form. There's also an Innate Gengjin Spiritual Root that needs to be enlightened, so I'll go pay it a visit. But I can't divine the whereabouts of the other three roots."
Hongjun said, "The Innate Jiaomu Spiritual Root is with me. As for the others, I don't know either."
Great Immortal Yang Mei said, "Each has their own destiny. It cannot be forced."
Hongjun said, "I observe that the two spiritual creatures in the lake formed from your Innate Divine Water are no ordinary beings. They, too, have great destinies."
Great Immortal Yang Mei said, "Hahaha! Fellow Daoist, you wish to save them? That truly is a great destiny. I'll ask Old Ancestor Xuanbing for them with you."
Hongjun said, "Thank you, fellow Daoist. It's just that Old Ancestor Xuanbing isn't devoted solely to the Dao. I fear there will be many complications in the future."
Great Immortal Yang Mei thought for a moment and said, "Let things take their course."
In the Northern Sea, a fish thousands of li long swam and rolled about in the black waters, expressing its joy.
With a single leap, the fish shot into the sky, churning the water into towering waves. It twisted and turned in midair, then suddenly sprouted a pair of wings and transformed into a Great Peng Bird, blotting out the sky as it soared above