Cultural Ancestor of the Primordial World; the Male and Female Immortal Leaders Establish the Immortal Court

"Crash!"

The Mystic Yellow Merit Golden Light hung inverted like a celestial river, splitting into four streams in the air before crashing down:

Forty percent of the merit transformed into the thickest golden rainbow, hurtling straight toward Lingxiao.

—He had created this opportunity and offered the first guidance, so naturally he received the largest share.

The golden light entered his body. The Merit Golden Wheel behind his head grew ever more radiant, flowing with a gentle yet majestic mystic-yellow glow. Within the Consciousness Sea of his Niwan Palace, the Eight Treasures Divine Whip blazed with emerald light, the Starry Sky Gourd circulated with starlight, and the three Sun and Lunar Divine Swords trembled at once, merging with the power of merit as their treasure-light became increasingly condensed.

"Whoosh!"

Thirty percent of the merit entered Kunpeng's body, blending seamlessly with the light of Wenqu Star and completely stabilizing his status as Literary Star Lord.

Kunpeng rose and gave Lingxiao a deep bow, his manner incomparably respectful. "That I could obtain such an opportunity and Creation is entirely thanks to Dao Brother's guidance! Great kindness needs no words of thanks. Should Dao Brother have any command in the future, Kunpeng would not refuse even death ten thousand times!"

His left hand held the pure-white Postcelestial Merit Supreme Treasure, the Human Culture Codex, while his right gripped the spiritual-light-filled Upper-Grade Acquired Merit Spirit Treasure, North Nether Palace. He felt as though a lifetime had passed.

Back when he had gone to Sun Star to seek an audience with Lingxiao, he had possessed nothing of value and could only offer a few North Sea spirit fruits as congratulatory gifts. Many Great Supernatural Beings of the Primordial World had secretly mocked him as "the poorest Innate Sacred Being."

Yet now, he held two merit treasures in his hands. One of them was even a Postcelestial Merit Supreme Treasure!

In the present Primordial World, the only publicly known Postcelestial Merit Supreme Treasure was Laozi's Heaven-Earth Mystic Yellow Exquisite Pagoda. Once suspended above one's head, it rendered one undefeated against all innate treasures!

Compared with an Innate Supreme Treasure, it was hard to say whether a Postcelestial Merit Supreme Treasure was stronger or weaker. Yet even if there was some gap between them, it absolutely stood above a Supreme-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!

For Kunpeng, who had long been accustomed to poverty, this was simply beyond imagination. How could he not be overwhelmed with emotion?

Moreover, after receiving the status of Literary Star Lord, and with the Human Culture Codex in hand, his foundation had been established. In the days to come, he might truly become the Cultural Ancestor of the Primordial World!

"Whoosh!"

Ten percent of the merit became a gentle golden light and entered Eastern King Lord's body.

"Wonderful, wonderful!"

Eastern King Lord clapped and laughed. As he felt the power of merit nourish his entire body, his pure-yang Primordial Spirit became ever more flawless and crystalline, the Three Flowers Above the Head grew increasingly complete, and his Great Firmament mana condensed by several degrees.

This was the first time he had received Heavenly Dao Merit since taking form and entering the world.

Though it was only ten percent, the benefits it brought were exceedingly obvious:

His Great Firmament mana became increasingly condensed and abundant,

His pure-yang Primordial Spirit became increasingly flawless and crystalline,

His Three Flowers Above the Head became increasingly complete and perfect.

—This portion of Heavenly Dao Merit was also what Eastern King Lord deserved. He had traveled throughout the Primordial World with Kunpeng and visited the myriad races. Though his primary aim had been to establish the order of the Immortal Ranks, he had indeed helped Kunpeng create the script, and thus gained this opportunity.

Furthermore, compared to the merit he would obtain after formally establishing the order of the Immortal Ranks, this merit could at most be considered an appetizer before the meal.

Of course, Eastern King Lord was in no hurry.

Haste makes waste; governing a great nation was like cooking a small fish. Establishing the Immortal Court was not difficult—the difficult part was truly spreading the order of the Immortal Ranks. Perfecting that order was not something that could be accomplished overnight.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—"

The final twenty percent of the merit transformed into a rain of golden light that scattered over the myriad races and living beings of the Primordial World. Zhen Yuanzi, Hong Yun, and the Dragon-Han Three Clans received the most, together accounting for roughly half of it—ten percent of the total.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun, however, took not a single bit—

He was already the first Sage of the Heavenly Dao and was about to undergo Dao Integration. To him, Heavenly Dao Merit had become useless.

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Kunpeng!"

Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun were relatively calm, but Fire Phoenix and Candle Dragon were wild with joy.

When it came to valuing and craving merit, no one present could likely compare to the Dragon-Han Three Clans.

This was because, during the Three-Clan Hegemony, the clans had wrought monstrous slaughter and devastation upon the Primordial World, creating boundless sinful karmic consequences. Their Karmic Power was so heavy that it became entangled with their bloodline inheritance, making it difficult for new generations to be born.

Had Ancestral Dragon and Yuan Feng not sacrificed themselves to suppress the turbulent East Sea Eye and Undying Volcano respectively, stabilizing the Primordial World and preventing further destruction, they would not have been able to continuously gain small amounts of merit to offset their Karmic Power and ease the plight of the Dragon and Phoenix clans.

Otherwise, they would likely have died out long ago.

Even so, though they had not gone extinct, each generation was worse than the last. Pure-blooded dragons and phoenixes became fewer with every generation, gradually withering away.

Thus, these Dragon and Phoenix ancestors dreamed of scheming for merit and reviving their clans.

Now that they had received such a considerable amount of merit, they would at least not need to worry about a further decline in newborn dragons and phoenixes for the next dozen or so Yuanhuis. How could they not rejoice?

Even these two veteran Great Supernatural Beings, reserved as they were, found it difficult to suppress their delight.

"Hiss—"

The Violet Firmament Guests throughout the hall sucked in sharp breaths, their eyes full of shock and envy as they looked at the Human Culture Codex in Kunpeng's hand.

Even the Ancestral Witches, who had always been arrogant, put away their looks of disdain.

With a single piece of guidance from Lingxiao, a Literary Star Lord and a Postcelestial Merit Supreme Treasure had been created. In all the Primordial World, apart from the Dao Ancestor, no one could match such skill at planning for merit.

—The spectacle and subsequent impact caused by this opportunity once again stunned the Great Supernatural Beings and Innate Sacred Beings.

"Excellent, excellent." Dao Ancestor Hongjun stroked his beard and smiled, the smile on his face growing ever warmer. "This 'Human Script' can expound all manner of mysteries, carry countless methods, enlighten the myriad spirits, and dispel karmic slaughter. It is truly a great merit for the heaven and earth of the Primordial World."

He put away the Investiture List, swept his gaze across the crowd, and said warmly, "If any of you still have questions, speak freely."

Kunpeng's creation of script had completed the order of enlightenment, and it had given him a taste of the benefits. At this moment, he dearly wished for several more great powers to attain enlightenment and complete the order of heaven and earth, easing the slaughter of the Calamity.

"Teacher, this disciple has a matter upon which I seek instruction."

Eastern King Lord and Queen Mother of the West exchanged a glance, then rose in unspoken accord and respectfully bowed to Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

"Oh? What doubts do you have? Speak without restraint." Dao Ancestor Hongjun's eyes brightened slightly.

The other Great Supernatural Beings also grew curious and expectant.

—During Lingxiao's wedding, aside from Kunpeng, Eastern King Lord had also remained closely at his side. Now that Kunpeng had succeeded in creating script, could Eastern King Lord likewise plan himself a share of merit?

At that thought, everyone fixed their gazes tightly upon Eastern King Lord.

Only then did this "leader of the male immortals," personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor, receive the attention of the entire assembly that he deserved.

"This pair of disciples has received Teacher's command to serve as the leaders of the male and female immortals of the Primordial World. Now that the Primordial World has only recently settled, the immortals have no leader and order is in chaos. This pair of disciples wishes to establish the order of the Immortal Ranks for the Primordial World, formally found the Immortal Court, govern the immortals, and preserve peace in heaven and earth. We beg Teacher to grant permission!" Eastern King Lord's voice boomed like a great bell, every word clear.

This was precisely what Kunpeng had taught him in private.

—The Immortal Court could be established without giving notice, but with the Dao Ancestor's verbal approval, it would be legitimate and justified.

In that way, while it could not quite be called the Dao Ancestor's endorsement, after this matter, whoever harbored ill intent toward the Immortal Court in the future would have to weigh the consequences twice.

Queen Mother of the West said nothing. She maintained the same posture as Eastern King Lord, bent at the waist in a bow, surrendering all authority to speak to him.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun fell silent for a moment, then smiled faintly, looking even more gratified. "Such a minor matter may be decided by yourselves."

Yet with those words, he had effectively given his assent.

The moment those words were spoken, they declared that the Immortal Court's orthodox status had been personally acknowledged by the first Sage of the Heavenly Dao and Dao Ancestor of the Primordial World. The deeper implications were naturally entirely different.

For a time, the atmosphere within the hall suddenly became strange.

The leaders of the immortals nominally governed all immortal gods.

But which of the Innate Sacred Beings present had not been born bearing the fortune of heaven and earth, proud and untamed?

Hongjun could subdue all living beings because he was a Heavenly Dao Sage with boundless mana.

But Eastern King Lord and Queen Mother of the West were merely Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals, at most on the same level as everyone else. What right did they have to command all the immortals beneath heaven?