Dragon-Han Omens, the Three Clans Fight for Territory

Inside the main hall of the 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, leaving 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 make deductions and had indeed sensed the tense atmosphere between the three clans. Yet he had never expected the conflict to become so fierce that it would even trigger a calamity sweeping across the entire Primordial World.

Xuan Chen nodded. "That is correct. According to my deductions, the conflict between the three clans has reached the critical point where a single touch could set it off. The Dragon Clan controls the Four Seas, yet it is not content with its current state and seeks to seize the spirit-vein resources of the inland; the Phoenix Clan occupies the southern volcanic ranges, its influence constantly expanding outward; the Qilin Clan roams the inland of the Primordial World, controlling vast quantities of mineral veins and spirit herbs. The clash of interests among the three clans is growing increasingly apparent. Sooner or later, a full-scale war will erupt."

After a brief pause, he continued, "Moreover, I have already received news from outside. The Dragon Clan has begun dispatching its members deep into the inland to seize spirit veins; the Phoenix Clan is likewise expanding its power and has clashed with the Dragon Clan in several small-scale conflicts; meanwhile, the Qilin Clan is secretly gathering strength, drawing in other minor factions as it prepares to contend with the Dragon and Phoenix Clans. These are all omens of the Dragon-Han Calamity, foretelling that the calamity is close at hand."

A trace of compassion flashed through Nüwa's eyes. "A war among the three clans will surely cause countless living beings to perish, and may even destroy the spirit veins of the Primordial World. Can we find a way to stop this calamity?"

Xuan Chen shook his head. "No. The Dragon-Han Calamity is a reshuffling of powers decreed 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 must use this calamity to weaken them, allowing other forces the chance to rise and thereby preserve the balance of the Primordial World. If we forcibly intervene, we will only invite backlash from the Heavenly Dao. The loss will outweigh the gain."

He added, "What we can do is prepare our own defenses, increase our strength, protect ourselves and the living beings around us during the calamity, and accumulate merit and karmic affinity. So long as we follow the laws of the Heavenly Dao and walk our own Great Dao, we can survive the calamity and may even receive blessings from the Heavenly Dao."

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

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

[System Notification: Omens 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 Defense.]

[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 affinity, and lay the foundation for facing the calamity ahead.]

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

[Hint: Build a defensive grand formation as soon as possible, gather weak living beings, and accumulate merit to increase quest completion.]

A flicker of delight passed through Xuan Chen's eyes. The task issued by the system coincided perfectly with his plan. Constructing a defensive grand formation could ensure the safety of the cave abode, while gathering weak living beings would not only accumulate merit and karmic affinity but also accord with Nüwa's original aspiration to save the world and its people—killing two birds with one stone.

"The system has triggered the side quest 'Calamity Defense,' requiring us to build a defensive grand formation, gather weak living beings, and accumulate merit and karmic affinity," 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 extraordinary, and it can withstand attacks at the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal level—more than enough to protect the cave abode."

After a brief 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 to gather weak living beings affected by the conflicts of the three clans, bring them back to the cave abode for shelter, and accumulate merit and karmic affinity. Third, we will use the opportunity created by gathering living beings and accumulating merit to rapidly raise our strength and make thorough preparations for the calamity."

"This disciple understands!" Nüwa said, determination shining in her eyes. Gathering weak living beings was precisely an opportunity for her to fulfill her original aspiration of saving the world and its people. It would allow her to accumulate merit while protecting lives—killing two birds with one stone.

"This junior understands!" Fuxi said. "This junior will use the art of deduction to locate 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. The two of you will depart immediately and travel throughout the Primordial World to gather living beings. Remember, you must take care. If you encounter experts from the three clans, avoid direct conflict whenever possible. Gathering living beings is your foremost task."

"This disciple understands!"

"This junior understands!"

The two bowed, then turned and left the main hall, preparing to travel throughout the Primordial World to gather living beings. Xuan Chen, meanwhile, 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 that required a vast quantity of precious materials, including Primordial Unity Stones, innate spirit jade, black iron, and more. Fortunately, Xuan Chen had collected many valuable materials during his years of traveling through the Primordial World. Together with the materials rewarded by the system, they were enough to construct the formation.

Xuan Chen arrived at the outskirts of the cave abode and began laying down the formation's foundation according to the blueprint's instructions. He buried Primordial Unity Stones beneath the ground, traced formation patterns with innate spirit jade, and forged the formation eyes with black iron. The entire process was complicated and painstaking, requiring precise control over every detail to ensure the formation's defensive power reached its peak.

At the same time, Nüwa and Fuxi had already left the Zichen Cave Abode and set out across the Primordial World to gather living beings. Fuxi used the Eight-Trigrams Dao Resonance to deduce the range affected by the conflicts of the three clans and locate weak tribes soon to be engulfed by war. Nüwa, meanwhile, used her creation divine abilities to protect living beings from harm, storing them in her storage jade pendant and bringing them back to the Zichen Cave Abode for shelter.

They first headed to a forest not far from the cave abode. A group of early beast-type living beings lived there. They were weak and were currently being plundered by a Dragon Clan squad. In order to seize the spirit vein within the forest, the Dragon Clan squad had already begun slaughtering the beast-type living beings, and the entire forest was filled with the stench of blood.

"These Dragon Clan members are far too cruel! They are slaughtering innocents simply for a spirit vein!" Anger flashed through Nüwa's eyes.

Fuxi's eyes were also filled with compassion. "Let us act quickly, stop them, and gather these beast-type living beings."

Nüwa nodded. She circulated Creation Power and unleashed the divine ability Nourishing Creation, forming a massive energy barrier that protected the beast-type living beings. At the same time, she unleashed Water Dragon Break, summoning several water dragons to charge fiercely at the Dragon Clan squad.

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

The Dragon Clan squad had never expected powerful cultivators to bar their path, and their formation fell into instant 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 attacks and Fuxi's deductive assistance, the Dragon Clan squad was swiftly defeated and fled the forest in panic.

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

"You need not be so polite," Nüwa said. "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 calamity has passed, we will send you back."

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

Over the following days, Nüwa and Fuxi traveled across many regions of the Primordial World, taking in vast numbers of weak living beings affected by the conflicts among the three clans, including early beast tribes, bird tribes, aquatic tribes, and more. After these living beings were brought back to the Zichen Cave Abode, they gradually recovered their vitality under the nourishment of Nüwa's Creation Power and became deeply grateful to Nüwa and Fuxi.

Xuan Chen successfully completed the Primordial Unity Guardian Formation. Once activated, a golden barrier enveloped the entire Zichen Cave Abode, radiating dense primordial unity aura. Its defensive power reached an exceptionally 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 continued gathering living beings, the merit and karmic affinity within the cave abode grew ever denser, while Nüwa and Fuxi's cultivation steadily advanced. Nüwa's control over the Water Law rose to 20%, and her cultivation approached the Mid-Stage Golden Immortal realm. Fuxi's art of deduction became even more refined, and his cultivation also stabilized at the Mid-Stage Golden Immortal realm.

Xuan Chen gazed upon the flourishing scene within the cave abode, feeling 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 continuously strengthen themselves and accumulate merit. Then, in the coming calamity, they would be able to protect themselves and the living beings around them, and forge a legend of their own.