Dragon-Han Omens, Three Clans Fight for Territory

Within the main hall of Zichen Cave Abode, Xuan Chen, Nüwa, and Fuxi sat facing one another, all wearing grave expressions. Xuan Chen had just told them of the prophecy of the Dragon-Han Calamity, and it had filled them with unprecedented pressure.

"Senior, will the Dragon-Han Calamity truly erupt within a thousand years?" Fuxi asked, a trace of worry in his eyes. He had used the Eight-Trigrams Dao Resonance to perform a deduction and had indeed sensed the tense atmosphere among the three clans. He simply had not expected the conflict to become so fierce that it would trigger a great calamity sweeping across the entire Primordial World.

Xuan Chen nodded. "That's right. According to my deductions, the conflict among the three clans has reached the critical point where a single touch will set it off. The Dragon Clan controls the Four Seas, yet they are not content with their current state and covet the Spirit Veins of the inland; the Phoenix Clan occupies the southern volcanic ranges, its influence constantly expanding outward; the Qilin Clan roams the inland regions of the Primordial World, controlling vast mineral veins and spirit herbs. The conflicts of interest among the three clans are growing increasingly apparent. Sooner or later, an all-out war will break out."

After a brief pause, he continued, "Moreover, I have received news from outside. The Dragon Clan has begun sending its members deep into the inland to seize Spirit Veins; the Phoenix Clan is also expanding its influence and has clashed with the Dragon Clan in many small-scale conflicts; meanwhile, the Qilin Clan is secretly gathering strength, drawing in other minor forces as it prepares to contend with the Dragon and Phoenix Clans. All of these are omens of the Dragon-Han Calamity, foretelling that the great calamity is about to descend."

A trace of pity flashed through Nüwa's eyes. "If the three clans go to war, countless living beings will surely perish, and the Spirit Veins of the Primordial World may even be destroyed. Can we find a way to stop this great calamity?"

Xuan Chen shook his head. "No. The Dragon-Han Calamity is a reshuffling of forces ordained by the Heavenly Dao, an inevitable process in the development of the Primordial World. The expansion of the three clans has already broken the balance between Heaven and Earth. The Heavenly Dao needs this calamity to weaken the three clans, giving other forces the chance to rise and thereby preserving the balance of the Primordial World. If we forcibly interfere, we will only provoke the backlash of the Heavenly Dao. The loss will outweigh the gain."

He added, "What we can do is prepare our defenses, increase our strength, protect ourselves and the living beings around us during the calamity, and accumulate Merit and karmic ties. So long as we follow the laws of the Heavenly Dao and practice our own Great Dao, we will be able to survive the calamity and may even receive the blessings of the Heavenly Dao."

Fuxi nodded in agreement. "Senior is absolutely right. The great calamity cannot be avoided; we can only make preparations to face it. This junior will improve his art of deduction as quickly as possible, discern the movements of the three clans, avoid risks for us, and seek out opportunities."

Just then, a system notification sounded in Xuan Chen's mind.

[System Notification: Signs of the Dragon-Han Calamity have been detected. Conflict among the three clans has intensified, and the balance between Heaven and Earth has been damaged.]

[Side Quest Triggered: Calamity Protection.]

[Quest Description: The Dragon-Han Calamity is about to erupt. Defensive preparations must be made as soon as possible to protect yourself and the living beings around you, accumulate Merit and karmic ties, and lay the foundation for facing the great calamity ahead.]

[Quest Reward: Golden Merit Light ×1000, Defensive Grand Formation Blueprint ×1 (Primordial Unity Guardian Formation), Heavenly Dao Blessing ×1.]

[Hint: Construct the defensive grand formation as soon as possible, gather weak living beings, and accumulate Merit to increase quest completion.]

A flicker of delight flashed through Xuan Chen's eyes. The task issued by the system coincided perfectly with his plans. Constructing a defensive grand formation could safeguard the cave abode, while gathering weak living beings would both accumulate Merit and karmic ties and align with Nüwa's heartfelt wish to save the world and rescue others. It was killing two birds with one stone.

"The system has triggered the side quest 'Calamity Protection,' requiring us to construct a defensive grand formation, gather weak living beings, and accumulate Merit and karmic ties," Xuan Chen said. "This is precisely the key to facing the Dragon-Han Calamity. I have a blueprint for the Primordial Unity Guardian Formation. Its defensive power is exceptional and can withstand attacks at the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal level, more than enough to protect the cave abode."

After a short pause, he continued, "Next, we will act in three steps. First, I will construct the Primordial Unity Guardian Formation and reinforce the cave abode's defenses. Second, Nüwa and Fuxi will travel throughout the Primordial World, gather those weak living beings affected by the conflicts of the three clans, and bring them back to the cave abode for shelter, accumulating Merit and karmic ties. Third, we will seize the opportunity provided by gathering living beings and accumulating Merit to swiftly increase our strength and make full preparations for the great calamity."

"This disciple understands!" A resolute light flashed in Nüwa's eyes. Gathering weak living beings was precisely an opportunity for her to practice her heartfelt wish to save the world and rescue others. She could accumulate Merit while protecting life, killing two birds with one stone.

"This junior understands!" Fuxi said. "This junior will use the art of deduction to identify the regions soon to be affected by the conflicts of the three clans, assist Fellow Daoist Nüwa in gathering living beings, and avoid danger at the same time."

Xuan Chen nodded in satisfaction. "Good! Time waits for no one; we will act at once. I will remain in the cave abode to construct the grand formation. You two will depart immediately and travel across the Primordial World to gather living beings. Remember, you must prioritize your safety. If you encounter powerful experts from the three clans, avoid direct conflict whenever possible. Gathering living beings is the foremost task."

"This disciple understands!"

"This junior understands!"

The two bowed in salute, then turned and left the main hall, preparing to travel across the Primordial World to gather living beings. Xuan Chen took out the blueprint for the Primordial Unity Guardian Formation and began preparing the materials needed to construct it.

The Primordial Unity Guardian Formation was a top-tier defensive grand formation requiring vast amounts of precious materials, including Primordial Unity Stone, Innate Spirit Jade, mystic iron, and more. Fortunately, Xuan Chen had collected many valuable materials during his travels through the Primordial World over the years. Together with some of the materials rewarded by the system, they were enough to construct the formation.

Xuan Chen arrived outside the cave abode and began laying down the formation's foundation according to the blueprint's instructions. He buried Primordial Unity Stones beneath the earth, used Innate Spirit Jade to trace formation patterns, then forged the formation core with mystic iron. The process was complicated and painstaking, requiring precise control over every detail to ensure that the formation's defensive power reached its optimum state.

Meanwhile, Nüwa and Fuxi had already departed from Zichen Cave Abode and traveled throughout the Primordial World to gather living beings. Fuxi used the Eight-Trigrams Dao Resonance to deduce the range affected by the three clans' conflicts, seeking out weak clans that were about to be invaded by the flames of war. Nüwa, meanwhile, wielded her divine power of creation to protect living beings from harm, storing them in her storage jade pendant and bringing them back to Zichen Cave Abode for shelter.

They first headed to a forest near the cave abode. A group of early beast-type living beings resided there. They were weak, and they were currently being plundered by a Dragon Clan squad. To seize the forest's Spirit Veins, the Dragon Clan squad had begun slaughtering the beast-type living beings, and the entire forest was thick with the stench of blood.

"These Dragon Clan members are too cruel! They are actually slaughtering innocents just for Spirit Veins!" Anger flashed in Nüwa's eyes.

Fuxi's eyes were likewise full of pity. "Let us act quickly, stop them, and gather these beast-type living beings."

Nüwa nodded. Circulating Creation Power, she unleashed the divine ability Nourishing Creation, forming an enormous energy barrier that protected the beast-type living beings. At the same time, she used Water Dragon Break, summoning several Water Dragons that lunged fiercely toward the Dragon Clan squad.

Fuxi employed the art of deduction, precisely discerning the attack trajectories of the Dragon Clan squad and providing Nüwa with powerful support. The Eight-Trigrams Dao Resonance he emitted disrupted the Dragon Clan squad's senses, causing their attacks to miss time and again.

The Dragon Clan squad had not expected to encounter powerful experts blocking their path, and their formation immediately fell into chaos. Most of them were only at the Early-Stage Golden Immortal realm and were no match for Nüwa and Fuxi. Under Nüwa's fierce assault and Fuxi's deductive support, the Dragon Clan squad was swiftly routed and fled the forest in panic.

"Many thanks to you two Fellow Daoists for saving our lives!" The surviving beast-type living beings respectfully bowed to Nüwa and Fuxi, their eyes filled with gratitude.

"You need not be so courteous," Nüwa said. "The war among the three clans is about to erupt, and this place is no longer safe. We will bring you back to the cave abode and shelter you there. Once the great calamity ends, we will send you back."

The beast-type living beings all nodded, gladly willing to follow Nüwa and Fuxi to Zichen Cave Abode. Nüwa stored them in her storage jade pendant, then continued with Fuxi toward the next region affected by the war.

Over the following days, Nüwa and Fuxi traveled across many regions of the Primordial World, taking in large numbers of weak living beings affected by the conflicts of the three clans, including early beast-kind, bird-kind, aquatic creatures, and more. After these living beings were brought back to Zichen Cave Abode, they gradually recovered their vitality under the nourishment of Nüwa's Creation Power and were filled with gratitude toward Nüwa and Fuxi.

Xuan Chen successfully completed the Primordial Unity Guardian Formation. Once the grand formation was activated, the entire Zichen Cave Abode was enveloped by a golden barrier that radiated dense primordial unity aura, its defensive strength reaching an extremely high level. Not only could it withstand attacks at the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal level, it could also automatically absorb the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth, creating an excellent cultivation environment for the living beings within the cave abode.

As they continuously gathered living beings, the Merit and karmic ties within the cave abode grew ever more abundant, and Nüwa and Fuxi's cultivation steadily advanced as well. Nüwa's mastery of the Water Law had risen to 20%, and her cultivation was nearing the Mid-Stage Golden Immortal realm; Fuxi's art of deduction had become even more refined, and his cultivation had stabilized at the Mid-Stage Golden Immortal realm.

Looking upon the thriving scene within the cave abode, Xuan Chen felt deeply satisfied. The signs of the Dragon-Han Calamity had already appeared, but they had made their initial defensive preparations. Next, they only needed to continue increasing their strength and accumulating Merit. Then, amid the approaching great calamity, they would be able to protect themselves and the living beings around them, carving out a legend of their own.