Enlightening the Acolyte, Establishing the Three Tribes

As the cultivators retreated, East King Duke also dispersed his divine abilities. At this moment, another Merit Golden Cloud flew in from beyond the heavens, identical in size to the previous one, measuring exactly one acre.

At this time, the Primordial World was not yet complete. His preaching to the living beings of Mount Fang Island was an act that helped complete the Heavenly Dao; although the effect was minimal, it still warranted a reward.

East King Duke accepted it calmly, storing it within his Primordial Spirit just as before.

"Congratulations, Master!"

The descent of merit did not escape Xuan Yang's notice, so he stepped forward to offer his congratulations.

"No need for such formalities. My preaching this time was a blessing for the cultivators of Mount Fang Island. However, as the number of living beings on the island grows, chaos is inevitable. Xuan Yang, you shall take on the responsibility of overseeing them."

Mount Fang Island was East King Duke's personal dojo. Although the living beings on the island were not considered disciples of his Supreme Yang Lineage, they were still under his protection. If they were all wicked and devoid of virtue, it would likewise damage his fortune.

"Yes, Master, I shall obey!"

Xuan Yang replied respectfully.

"You are already at the peak of the Mysterious Immortal realm, and your breakthrough to the Grand Unity Mysterious Immortal realm is imminent. As the second-generation chief disciple of my Supreme Yang Lineage, you should have a spiritual treasure for protection. Your innate spiritual treasure, the Blazing Sun Pagoda, is sufficient for offense. Go to the Lotus Pond and pluck a Seventh-grade Dao Lotus to serve as your defensive treasure."

After tens of thousands of years of nurturing, the Lotus Pond was now filled with immortal lotuses. After East King Duke had taken the Twelve-grade Yin-Yang Dao Lotus, the remaining immortal lotuses were nourished by the Three Lights Divine Water and grew vigorously. Although most were not yet ranked as spiritual treasures, they would surely evolve into them given time.

That Seventh-grade Dao Lotus was already a mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure with extraordinary defensive capabilities. Standing upon it, even a Golden Immortal cultivator would be unable to break through with all their might, which was more than enough for Xuan Yang.

"Thank you, Master."

Xuan Yang was overjoyed. He walked to the Lotus Pond and was just about to pluck the Dao Lotus when he saw the pond water churn, and suddenly, two rays of spiritual light flew out from within.

Above the Lotus Pond, it was revealed that they were two koi fish, one gold and one silver. These two spirits hovered in mid-air, exhaling spiritual mist, and bowed their heads repeatedly toward East King Duke, appearing full of spiritual intelligence.

At a glance, East King Duke understood. These two spirits were born in the Lotus Pond and had absorbed the innate Dao Rhyme that overflowed while he was preaching, thus gaining spiritual intelligence.

"You two have an affinity with me. Are you willing to join my Supreme Yang Lineage and serve as my attendants?"

Seeing the two spirits nodding repeatedly, East King Duke said softly, "Good!"

He then reached out and tapped them lightly. After a burst of rosy light, the two spirits transformed into a golden-robed boy and a silver-clad girl. They were both carved from jade, appearing as children holding lotus leaves.

One male and one female, the two children perfectly embodied East King Duke's Dao of Yin and Yang.

The two landed and bowed in unison: "Greetings, Master. We thank you for the grace of our enlightenment."

"Since you two have transformed from the golden and silver spiritual koi, you shall be called Jin Ling and Yin Ling."

"Thank you, Master, for the names!"

East King Duke nodded and pointed into the void, imprinting a cultivation technique into the minds of the two.

Although the two children were considered Innate Beings, their origins were ordinary and they lacked a heritage. Having just been enlightened, they were only at the early stage of the Heavenly Immortal realm. Being able to receive the Supreme Yang Immortal Technique, they were naturally overjoyed and bowed in thanks once more.

After Xuan Yang collected a seventh-grade Yin-Yang Dao Lotus, the two young attendants stepped forward.

"Jin Ling and Yin Ling pay respects to Senior Brother Xuan Yang."

"Greetings, Junior Brothers."

The three exchanged courtesies before East King Duke spoke again.

"Xuan Yang, you may go into seclusion and cultivate. Strive to break through to the realm of Grand Unity Mysterious Immortal as soon as possible. Jin Ling, Yin Ling, your realms are still low; you must also cultivate diligently, guard the mountain gate with care, and tend to the spiritual roots of the dojo."

"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 sufficient for his cultivation. Thus, he needed to derive a new cultivation method.

Spending ten thousand years, he combined the power of his origin with the Yin-Yang Two Qi from the Twelfth-grade Innate Yin-Yang Dao Lotus to create a primordial spirit cultivation method: the Supreme Yang Dao Scripture. He then proceeded to derive the technique up to the peak of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm before stopping.

Most Honghuang beings were unaware of the realms beyond the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, but East King Duke knew. In the near future, Hongjun would pass down the method of proving the Dao through the Three Corpses, and only then would the Innate Divine Demons realize that beyond the Zenith Heaven lay the Hunyuan, leading them to sever their corpses and achieve the status of Quasi-Saint.

East King Duke had long since planned his own path. He wished to follow the path of proving the Dao through Laws, but alas, his Supreme Yang had been perfected while his Supreme Yin remained unseen. Without the mutual aid of Yin and Yang, he could not continue to derive the Hunyuan technique, so he had to stop.

Although he had his own Dharma Gate for proving the Dao, Hongjun's method of the Three Corpses was exquisite and had long fascinated him; it could serve as a perfect reference to verify his own path. However, the conflict between Dao and Demon had not yet begun, so he could only wait until Hongjun proved the Dao, became a Saint, and opened the Zixiao Palace.

After finishing the derivation of his technique, East King Duke did not emerge from seclusion, intending instead to continue his cultivation.

At this moment, although he had only been in the mid-stage of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm for a mere few tens of thousands of years, his Supreme Yang mana was already incredibly refined, no less than that of a late-stage cultivator. It no longer required polishing; he only needed to execute his technique and continuously absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to reach the late stage of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.

A Quantifiable Tribulation was imminent, particularly the conflict between Dao and Demon, which would be a battle between several Quasi-Saints. Even the cultivation of a late-stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal would be insufficient. To complete his schemes within the Great Tribulation, it would be best to have the realm of a Quasi-Saint; if not, he must at least reach the peak of the Zenith Heaven.

Time was tight, and East King Duke dared not be the slightest bit slack. He was about to begin his cultivation, but before he could enter deep meditation, he heard several sounds of the Dao echoing from beyond the nine heavens.

"Heavenly Dao above, I am the Ancestor Dragon, leader of the Dragon Clan. Feeling the chaotic order of the Honghuang beings, there should be a ruler to emerge. My Dragon Clan is willing to establish order in Honghuang. All beings with scales shall be under the command of my Dragon Clan. The Dragon Clan is established!"

"Heavenly Dao above, I am the Primeval Phoenix, leader of the Phoenix Clan. All winged beings of Honghuang shall be under the command of my Phoenix Clan. The Phoenix Clan is established!"

"Heavenly Dao above, I am the Primeval Kirin, leader of the Kirin Clan. Standing upon the Honghuang earth, all beasts shall fall under the banner of my Kirin Clan. The Kirin Clan is established!"

The three oaths, under the blessing of the Heavenly Dao, spread across the four seas and the heavens, causing the Honghuang world to tremble.

The Dragon, Phoenix, and Kirin clans were already powerful. With these oaths to the Heavenly Dao, the three Innate clans were officially recognized by the Heavenly Dao, granting them the status of protagonists of Honghuang.

Immediately following this, purple energy surged and auspicious clouds filled the sky. A vast expanse of Merit Golden Clouds descended from above the nine heavens. Upon reaching the Honghuang earth, it split into three, flying to the three locations and landing upon the heads of the three clan leaders.

As if they had agreed upon it beforehand, the three leaders used the merit that entered their bodies to directly elevate their realms. All three were already at the peak of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm. Not long after, a powerful aura erupted from the depths of the East Sea, shooting straight into the clouds and shaking the four seas.

Under the influence of the merit, the most powerful Ancestor Dragon was the first to break through to the Quasi-Saint realm of the Golden Immortal of the Origin.

Soon after, the Primeval Phoenix and the Primeval Kirin did not lag far behind. Within a hundred years, two waves of pressure erupted from the southeast of the Honghuang continent, startling the eight wildernesses.

Thus, the leaders of the three Innate clans had all broken through to the Quasi-Saint realm. The grand drama of the Dragon-Han Tribulation was about to officially begin.

On the cloud bed in the Supreme Yang Palace, facing the shifting tides of the Honghuang world, East King Duke remained unmoved. The three Innate clans would eventually exit the stage of Honghuang. For now, all he needed to do was cultivate diligently and accumulate strength.