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Beneath a golden statue as tall as a small mountain, countless people knelt in devout prayer.

Ying Zheng rode a true dragon through the skies, with endless mountain ranges and lakes stretching out before him.

The sight was vast and magnificent, making it feel as if one had entered a world of immortal heroes.

Ye Fan and the others were also dumbfounded when they saw it in the Chat Group's video channel.

[Ying Zheng: Hahaha! How do you all like the sacrificial ceremony I held? The Heavenly Emperor even manifested!]

Ying Zheng typed out a message in the Chat Group and sent it. Then the video camera shifted to face the statue.

The statue, which had seemed lifeless before, now looked more vibrant and ethereal. Emperor Dao Laws spread around it, making them feel uncomfortable even through the screen.

[Yue Buqun: 666! The First Emperor really is incredible. This is the first time I've seen Emperor Donghua manifest! And that true dragon is so cool. No wonder he's the Eternal Emperor!]

[Ye Fan: Long live the First Emperor! If I didn't know your world was just an ordinary ancient world, I'd think it was an Immortal Qin. Riding a true dragon, worshiped by all the people—probably only the First Emperor could pull that off so easily!]

[Little Dragon Girl: Ah, that's amazing! I've only just established my Divine Religion, and the First Emperor has already completed his sacrifice!]

[Ying Zheng: We're all believers of the Heavenly Emperor. I just got started a little earlier. I believe you'll be able to do the same before long. @Little Dragon Girl @Yue Buqun]

[Ye Fan: Exactly. Once you've completed the sacrifice, you can even receive a gift from the Heavenly Emperor. Keep at it!]

[Little Dragon Girl: Mm-hmm! I'll hurry and get the Divine Religion in order so I can hold a grand sacrificial ceremony for the Heavenly Emperor.]

[Yue Buqun: Same here. I'm off! If I don't get going, I'll die of envy!]

[...]

The Divine Eagle World.

Zhongnan Mountain.

Snow fell in thick flakes, blanketing the world in silver. The green mountains were capped with white.

At the center of a lake behind the mountain,

a woman dressed in white sat with her legs crossed above the water. Her long hair flowed like silk, and her flawless beauty made her seem like a fairy who had descended to earth.

Snowflakes drifted down, but seemed to deliberately avoid the spot where she sat.

"Miss."

Granny Sun came to the lakeside, leaning on her cane. When she saw Little Dragon Girl practicing, her deeply wrinkled face broke into a smile.

Some time ago, the young lady had somehow come upon a great opportunity, and her martial arts had advanced by leaps and bounds.

Now she could even stand above the water without support. Granny Sun found it utterly miraculous.

"Granny Sun?"

Little Dragon Girl slowly opened her eyes. The snowflakes falling around her stopped in midair, then flew back upward as she rose. Her wondrous abilities seemed to wield the power of heaven and earth, leaving anyone who saw them amazed.

Granny Sun had been a maid to her mistress, Lin Chaoying. After Lin Chaoying died, she had cared for Little Dragon Girl as she grew up. Little Dragon Girl truly regarded her as family.

With a thought, Little Dragon Girl's body floated like a willow leaf and glided toward the lakeshore.

"Granny Sun, is something the matter?"

Little Dragon Girl asked curiously.

She was cool by nature. Ever since she had revealed her immortal arts at the Quanzhen Sect and established the Divine Religion, she had stayed behind the mountain to cultivate. Granny Sun wouldn't disturb her without a reason.

Granny Sun looked troubled. She hesitated, then glanced at Little Dragon Girl.

Only when Little Dragon Girl looked at her questioningly did she speak.

"Miss, didn't you establish the Divine Religion so that the people of the world would worship the Heavenly Emperor?"

Little Dragon Girl nodded. She had decided on this after discussing it in the Chat Group with Ying Zheng and the others. Otherwise, it would never have occurred to her, given her nature.

Ying Zheng had just completed his sacrifice. Feeling a sense of urgency, she had planned to leave seclusion and speed up the Divine Religion's preparations.

"I heard from someone at the front mountain that some people have come to attack us. They say they'll make the Divine Religion disappear."

Granny Sun hesitated, but told her in the end.

She only wanted Little Dragon Girl to live in peace and safety, but the Divine Religion was the sect Little Dragon Girl had founded. She didn't want to keep this from her.

"Who would dare?!"

For the first time, anger appeared on Little Dragon Girl's face.

She didn't care what others thought of her, but the Divine Religion worshiped the Heavenly Emperor. No one was allowed to offend him.

The main hall of the Quanzhen Sect, at the front mountain.

The Seven Masters of Quanzhen sat on cushions, looking troubled.

As the sect closest to the Ancient Tomb Sect, they had been the first to learn of Little Dragon Girl's miraculous powers.

The Divine Religion had spread through the land so quickly in part because their sect, the greatest Daoist sect, had lent it considerable support.

In fact, they were the ones who had handled almost everything on the Divine Religion's behalf.

"Senior brother, should we ask the Immortal to come out of seclusion?"

Sun Buer considered it, then asked Qiu Chuji, who sat at the head of the hall.

The Divine Religion had made a name for itself throughout the land, and many sects had joined.

But where there were people, there was bound to be conflict—especially since the Divine Religion expected every disciple to worship Emperor Donghua.

Small sects had no objections. Their traditions were relatively new, and they had no particular beliefs to begin with.

But the great sects had traditions stretching back hundreds or even thousands of years, along with their own faiths.

Take Buddhism in the west, for example. Would they abandon the Buddha and worship Emperor Donghua instead?

That was naturally impossible.

But the Divine Religion was now so powerful, with the Quanzhen Sect leading the way, that even high officials in the capital had joined—let alone ordinary people.

This had become a struggle between religions.

Compared with Buddhism, Daoism had faced far less opposition.

After all, Emperor Donghua was already a Daoist Immortal. Although the Divine Religion worshiped only him, Daoists could still accept it, more or less.

"Absolutely not! You all know who she is. She's a true Immortal. If she thinks we've failed to do our job, we may lose our chance at immortality!"

Qiu Chuji refused without a moment's hesitation.

The others fell silent as well.

Although Little Dragon Girl had been in seclusion, the seven of them had witnessed her divine powers with their own eyes.

Reviving dead trees and turning stones into gold were only minor abilities.

They had even seen her summon wind and rain, bringing three days and three nights of rain to a prefecture suffering from a prolonged drought and saving countless people.

As they sat in silence, Yin Zhiping hurried in from outside the hall.

"Master, enemies are attacking from beyond the mountain. The Heavenly Dipper Big Dipper Formation has been broken, and many disciples have been seriously injured."

"How dare they! Do they think the Quanzhen Sect has no one who can fight?!"

Qiu Chuji leaped to his feet and strode angrily toward the mountain's foot.

The others exchanged glances, picked up the Daoist swords nearby, and followed him.

At the foot of the mountain,

the Quanzhen Sect's disciples had fallen back to the steps leading to the mountain gate. Most clutched their chests, their breaths weak.

Only three people stood before them.

"Amitabha Buddha. Benefactors, you are no match for us. You should bring out that Immortal."

An old monk in yellow robes chanted a Buddhist prayer and spoke to them with a compassionate expression.

Another monk stood beside him. He was burly, with a thick beard, and looked more like a martial artist than a monk.

"Monks from the Central Plains are so long-winded. If you ask me, we should just storm the place. What a waste of time!"

"Golden Wheel Dharma King, you may be the Mongol State Preceptor, but this is the Central Plains, not your barbarian lands. Please watch your words."