Ten thousand years passed in the Primordial World, a mere drop in the ocean.
As the leaders of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Three Tribes successively broke through, the Three Innate Tribes became the undisputed strongest force in the Primordial World.
At that time, the Pangu Three Pure Ones secluded themselves in meditation on Kunlun Mountain; on Buzhou Mountain, the siblings Fuxi and Nuwa shut their gates tight; deep in the Sea of Blood, Ancestor Minghe rarely showed himself; on the Sun Star, Di Jun Tai Yi waited for their moment; atop Longevity Mountain, Great Immortal Zhenyuan quietly recited Huangting...
The two in the west, the one in the Northern Darkness, and even that good-natured Ancestor Hong Yun—all of them were diligently cultivating, waiting for their chance to enter the world.
Apart from the Three Innate Tribes, all the other Great Powers of the Primordial World remained in hiding. For a time, the three tribes seemed poised to sweep across the Primordial World. The other beings mentioned in the Heavenly Dao Oath—the scale-bearing, flying, and beastly creatures of the Primordial World, whether members of clans or solitary cultivators—either joined the three tribes, or were conquered, even slaughtered.
The three tribes continued to expand, and the killing never stopped. With every passing year, Calamity Qi grew stronger throughout the Primordial World. The Primordial Tribulation had begun.
Although the three tribes had grand ambitions and each sought to claim the title of the Primordial World's sole protagonist, for now they displayed a tacit understanding. They avoided too much conflict with one another, seemingly steering clear of each other and staking out their own territories. Even when clashes arose, they showed restraint.
Of the Three Innate Tribes, the Dragon Tribe was the strongest. This was not only because its members were numerous and its experts plentiful; most importantly, its leader, Ancestor Dragon, was the strongest of the three Quasi-Saint chieftains.
The four seas of the Primordial World had always been the Dragon Tribe's birthplace. The dragons had long dominated those waters, and with the Heavenly Dao's approval, they now brought the entire region under their control.
Aside from a few Heavenly Mandate lands, the Dragon Tribe had effectively unified the four seas.
A few places were exceptions, such as Penglai Immortal Island and Mount Fangzhang Immortal Island. The former was a Heaven-ordained cultivation ground for solitary cultivators, while the latter belonged to East King Duke.
Ever since his battle with Candle Dragon, East King Duke's name had spread throughout the four seas. Although he had not ventured among them again, his renown endured. Everyone knew he was a Great Supernatural Being with unfathomable combat strength. The Dragon Tribe aspired to dominate the Primordial World, but there was no need to fight him to the death just yet.
The same attitude the Dragon Tribe showed East King Duke in the four seas prevailed on the continent: the Three Innate Tribes deliberately avoided the other Great Powers of the Primordial World.
Mount Fang Island.
The vision of the Supreme Yang Palace greedily absorbing Innate Spiritual Qi like a whale had continued for a thousand years.
Within the Daoist palace, Supreme Yang Qi filled the air, nearly condensing into Spiritual Mist that fell like rain. Amid the mist, two streams of light hovered above East King Duke's head, surrounding a faint glow that radiated profound mysteries.
Three flowers had emerged above his primordial spirit. The earth and human flowers swayed gracefully around the seemingly enlarged bud of the heavenly flower, circling it without pause and releasing Innate Qi, as though nourishing the heavenly flower on the verge of blooming.
"Hum!"
After a mysterious immortal melody rang out, the heavenly flower above his primordial spirit trembled slightly, its light growing ever brighter. Before long, it had absorbed all the Supreme Yang Immortal Qi that filled the Daoist palace.
Its radiance intensified, and the heavenly flower's bud slowly opened. The process continued for ten years, until at last it burst into bloom, filling the Daoist palace with a sweet fragrance.
At last, East King Duke had reached the late stage of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm!
"We respectfully welcome our master (lord) out of seclusion! May our master (lord) prove the Primordial Dao soon!"
Within the Supreme Yang Palace, his disciples and the two Daoist Boys bowed reverently.
"You have all been diligent in your cultivation. I am gratified."
Xuan Yang had reached the Grand Unity Mysterious Immortal realm some time ago, and his cultivation was now stable. He already had the bearing of a True Immortal who had attained the Dao. As the foremost disciple of the Second Generation of the Supreme Yang Lineage, his bearing and virtue were both quite impressive.
The two boys were much the same. Both had reached the late stage of the Heavenly Immortal realm, clearly having put great effort into their cultivation.
"Master, the number of living beings on Mount Fangzhang Immortal Island has surpassed ten thousand. Many have come to pay their respects over the past ten thousand years, hoping to join the Supreme Yang lineage. We ask you to decide what should be done."
After hearing Xuan Yang's report, East King Duke shook his head slightly.
"It is not yet time for the Xuan Yang lineage to open its gates and accept disciples. Nor have I seen anyone among these beings with whom I share a teacher-disciple bond. Still, I cannot bear to see the living beings of Mount Fang Island left without a path to cultivation, their Dao Path cut off. The Great Dao is fifty, yet Heaven's Evolution Forty-nine. Very well, I shall establish three cultivation manuals to answer the Dao and fulfill the destinies of those who are fated."
As soon as he finished speaking, a lotus platform flew from above his head: the Twelve-grade Yin-Yang Dao Lotus. It flew out of the Daoist palace and rose above Mount Fangzhang Island, instantly growing to ten thousand zhang in size. Then it spun rapidly, scattering streams of Yin-Yang Two Qi.
"Rumble!"
The immortal island shook, startling all its inhabitants.
A massive formation appeared in the center of the island.
East King Duke then used the power of a late-stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal to commune with heaven and earth and release his Dao Sound.
"I am Supreme Yang Dao Lord East King Duke. I wish to spread the Dao on Mount Fangzhang Island. I have set up the Yin-Yang Heart-Refining Array and left behind three cultivation manuals to answer the Dao. Any living being of Mount Fangzhang Island who diligently cultivates virtue and possesses an unwavering Heart of Seeking Dao may come and attempt the array."
At East King Duke's words, the island's inhabitants erupted in joy and hurried toward the array.
In the west of the Primordial Continent.
Inside the Demon Luo Palace on Mount Sumeru, a figure clad in black robes sat atop a pitch-black lotus platform ten thousand zhang high. Black Qi coiled around him, transforming into a vast sea of blood-red shadows.
Had East King Duke been there, he would have recognized this figure as the infamous Demon Ancestor Luohu.
Luohu had already reached the late Quasi-Saint stage, making him far more powerful than the likes of Ancestor Dragon, Yuanfeng, and Primeval Kirin.
"Greetings, Demon Ancestor!"
More than ten cultivators stood respectfully below Luohu. Their auras were deep, and Fierce and Malicious Qi clung to them. Every one of them had reached the Great Luo realm.
"Seven Emotions and Six Desires, how have you fared in the task I assigned you?"
These thirteen were the Seven Emotions Heavenly Demons and the Six Desires Demon Venerables under the Demon Ancestor. They were the strongest of the demonic forces below him.
Among the Six Desires, Lust Desire Demon Venerable stepped forward and brought out an enormous black banner. He gave it a gentle shake.
Wisps of black mist flew from the banner, accompanied by a series of shrill cries.
"Reporting to the Demon Ancestor, this is the Fierce and Malicious Qi of heaven and earth we have gathered over the past ten thousand years."
Luohu beckoned with one hand. The Qi flew toward him as if summoned, and he swallowed it in a single gulp.
"This Malevolent Qi is nowhere near enough."
After a long while, Luohu spoke again.
"Forgive us, Demon Ancestor!"
The Seven Emotions and Six Desires, all Great Luo cultivators under the Demon Ancestor, fell to their knees.
"Rise. This is not your fault. The Three Innate Tribes have not fought fiercely enough. Send more of our demonic disciples to infiltrate the various clans of the Primordial World and provoke further conflict."
"Yes!"
"The Tribulation is unfolding too slowly. The Three Innate Tribes must commit more slaughter. Send word to our demonic agents within the Dragon Tribe. Have them find a way to sow discord among the three tribes and make the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Three Tribes wage war against each other. Only by throwing the Primordial World into chaos can you gather more Fierce and Malicious Qi. Once I refine enough of it, break through, and slaughter the three tribes, I will seize the Primordial World Destiny and prove the Dao to become a Saint."
"Then our demonic forces will rule the world, and we will become the sole protagonists of the Primordial World."
"We respectfully obey the Demon Ancestor's decree!"
Hearing Luohu's words, the Seven Emotions Heavenly Demons and Six Desires Demon Venerables all answered in fervent voices and bowed low.
Although the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation had arisen because of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Three Tribes, a "hand that blotted out the sky" was secretly driving it forward from behind. The owner of that hand was the demonic force in the west.
The three tribes knew nothing of this. Unaware that their seemingly glorious position had made them tools for Luohu and the demonic forces to grow stronger, they continued on their way.
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