The cultivators dispersed, and East King Duke withdrew his divine powers. Just then, another mass of Merit Golden Cloud flew in from beyond the heavens. It was about the same size as last time, spanning roughly an acre.
The Primordial World was still far from complete. By preaching to the beings of Mount Fang Island, he had helped supplement the Heavenly Dao. Though the effect was slight, he still deserved a reward.
East King Duke accepted it calmly and stored it in his soul, just as before.
"Congratulations, Master!"
Xuan Yang had naturally seen the merit descend, so he stepped forward to offer his congratulations.
"There's no need for formalities. My preaching this time has brought blessings to Mount Fang Island's cultivators. But as the island's population grows, disorder is bound to arise. Xuan Yang, you shall take charge of disciplining them."
Mount Fang Island was East King Duke's personal sanctuary. Although its inhabitants were not disciples of his Supreme Yang Lineage, they were still under his protection. If they all became wicked and immoral, they would damage his fortune all the same.
"Yes, I obey, Master!"
Xuan Yang replied respectfully.
"You're already at the peak of the Mysterious Immortal realm, and on the verge of breaking through to Grand Unity Mysterious Immortal. As the Second Generation's chief disciple of my Supreme Yang Lineage, you should have a Spiritual Treasure to protect yourself. Your accompanying Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Blazing Sun Pagoda, is enough for offense. Go to the Lotus Pond and pick a Seventh-grade Dao Lotus to serve as your defensive treasure."
After tens of thousands of years of growth, the Lotus Pond was now filled with immortal lotuses. Since East King Duke had taken the Twelve-grade Yin-Yang Dao Lotus, the rest had been nourished by the Three Lights Divine Water and were thriving. Though most were not yet Spiritual Treasures, given enough time, they would certainly evolve into them.
The Seventh-grade Dao Lotus was already a Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure with remarkable defensive power. Even a Golden Immortal cultivator giving it their all would be unable to break through its defenses while standing upon it. It was more than enough for Xuan Yang.
"Thank you, Master."
Overjoyed, Xuan Yang walked to the Lotus Pond. He was about to pluck a Dao Lotus when the water churned, and two streaks of light suddenly shot out.
They reached the air above the pond, where they revealed themselves as a golden and a silver koi. The two spirits hovered in midair, their mouths exhaling Spiritual Mist as they repeatedly bowed to East King Duke. They seemed remarkably intelligent.
East King Duke understood at a glance. The two spirits had been born in the Lotus Pond, and had gained sentience by absorbing the innate Dao Rhyme that had spilled forth while he preached.
"You two and I are connected by fate. Would you be willing to join my Supreme Yang Lineage and serve as attendants at my side?"
The two spirits nodded repeatedly. East King Duke said softly, "Good!"
He raised a hand and lightly pointed. After a flash of rosy light, the two spirits became a boy in golden robes and a girl in silver garments. Both were as charming as painted dolls, and looked like attendants holding lotus leaves.
A boy and a girl—the pair suited East King Duke's Dao of Yin-Yang.
The two landed and bowed together in thanks. "Greetings, Master. We thank you for your kindness in granting us human forms."
"Since you two were transformed from golden and silver koi, you shall be called Jin Ling and Yin Ling."
"Thank you for the names, Master!"
East King Duke nodded and pointed into the air, inscribing a cultivation method into their sea of consciousness.
Though the two attendants counted as Innate Beings, their origins were ordinary, and they had inherited no legacy. After being transformed, they had only reached the early stage of the Heavenly Immortal realm. Naturally, they were overjoyed to receive an immortal cultivation method from the Supreme Yang Lineage, and bowed in thanks once more.
After Xuan Yang took a Seventh-grade Yin-Yang Dao Lotus, the two attendants stepped forward.
"Jin Ling and Yin Ling greet Senior Brother Xuan Yang."
"Greetings, you two."
The three exchanged bows, and East King Duke spoke again.
"Xuan Yang, go into secluded cultivation and strive to break through to the Grand Unity Mysterious Immortal realm as soon as possible. Jin Ling, Yin Ling, your cultivation is still weak. You must work hard at it, keep a close watch on the mountain gate, and tend to the spiritual roots in the sanctuary."
"Yes, Master!"
After dismissing his disciples, East King Duke returned to the Supreme Yang Palace. His origin had already advanced to Supreme Yang, and the Pure Yang True Scripture was no longer suitable for his cultivation. He would have to derive a new method.
After ten thousand years of effort, drawing on the power of his origin and the Yin-Yang Two Qi within the Twelfth-grade Innate Yin-Yang Dao Lotus, he created a method for cultivating the soul: the Supreme Yang Dao Scripture. He then developed it up to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal Peak realm before stopping.
Most beings in the Primordial World knew little of the realms beyond Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal. East King Duke, however, knew that Hongjun would soon pass down the Three Corpses Dao Proving Method. Only then would the Innate Divine Demons learn that the realm beyond Great Luo was Primordial Unity. They would then sever their corpses one after another and become Quasi-Saints.
East King Duke had long since planned his Dao Path. He wanted to prove the Dao via laws. But he had only just attained Supreme Yang, and had yet to encounter Supreme Yin. Without Yin-Yang Harmony, he could not continue developing his Primordial Unity cultivation method, so he had no choice but to stop.
Though he had his own method of proving the Dao, Hongjun's Three Corpses Method was profound, and East King Duke had long admired it. It would be the perfect way to test his own path against another. But the Dao-Devil War had yet to begin, so he could only wait until Hongjun proved the Dao and became a Saint, and opened the Purple Palace.
After finishing his work on the cultivation method, East King Duke did not emerge from seclusion. Instead, he planned to continue cultivating.
He had only entered the Mid-stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm a few tens of thousands of years ago, but his Supreme Yang magic power had already been refined to an extraordinary degree, rivaling that of Late-stage cultivators. There was no need to refine it further. As long as he practiced his method and continually absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, he would reach the Late-stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm.
The tribulation was near, especially the Dao-Devil War, a battle between several Quasi-Saints. Even a Late-stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal would be far from enough. To carry out his plans amid the tribulation, it would be best to reach the Quasi-Saint realm. If he couldn't, he would at least need to reach Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal Peak.
Time was short, and East King Duke dared not slack off. He was about to begin cultivating when several Dao Sounds came from beyond the Ninth Heaven.
"Heavenly Dao Above! I am Ancestor Dragon, chief of the Dragon Clan. Seeing the disorder among the beings of the Primordial World, I believe a ruler must emerge. My Dragon Clan is willing to establish order in the Primordial World. All beings with scales shall come under the rule of my Dragon Clan. The Dragon Clan is established!"
"Heavenly Dao Above! I am Yuanfeng, chief of the Phoenix Clan. All flying creatures in the Primordial World shall come under the rule of my Phoenix Clan. The Phoenix Clan is established!"
"Heavenly Dao Above! I am Primeval Kirin, chief of the Kirin Clan. I stand upon the Primordial Great Land, and all walking beasts shall come under the command of my Kirin Clan. The Kirin Clan is established!"
The three oaths, empowered by the Heavenly Dao, spread across the Four Seas and all the lands. The Primordial World was shaken.
The Dragon, Phoenix, and Kirin Clans were already powerful. By making these Heavenly Dao Oaths, the Three Innate Tribes were now officially recognized by the Heavenly Dao, which granted them the status of protagonists of the Primordial World.
Next, purple qi surged and auspicious clouds filled the sky. A vast mass of Merit Golden Cloud descended from the Ninth Heaven. As soon as it reached the Primordial Great Land, it divided into three and flew to the heads of the chiefs of the three clans.
The three chiefs seemed to have planned it beforehand. As soon as the merit entered their bodies, they used it to improve their cultivation. All three had already reached Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal Peak. Before long, a mighty aura burst forth from the depths of the East Sea, soaring into the clouds and shaking the Four Seas.
With the help of the merit, Ancestor Dragon, the strongest of the three, was the first to break through to the Quasi-Saint realm of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal.
Yuanfeng and Primeval Kirin were not far behind. Within a century, two mighty pressures rose from the southeastern parts of the Primordial Continent, shaking the Eight Wastes.
Thus, all three chiefs of the Three Innate Tribes had reached the Quasi-Saint realm. The great drama of the Dragon-Han Tribulation was about to begin in earnest.
Seated on the Cloud Bed in the Supreme Yang Palace, East King Duke remained unmoved by the shifting Primordial World Great Trend. The Three Innate Tribes were destined to leave the stage of the Primordial World. For now, all he had to do was cultivate diligently and build up his strength for the future.
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