The Netherworld, Crouching Bear Hall.
Helping Ox-Head and Horse-Face return to the living world had been nothing more than a minor interlude. In Gungun's long life as a bear, it was an utterly ordinary affair, so before long, he returned to his own palace and fell fast asleep again.
"Snore, snore, snore~" The plump black-and-white bear lounged against the main seat, which had been draped with a tiger pelt, drooling as he snored. Along either side of the hall, the Iron-Eating Beast guards on duty quietly raised their heads at the sound to glance at their emperor above, then hurriedly lowered them again, pretending to attend diligently to their duties. Except...
Before long, they followed Gungun's example, going from standing to sitting, leaning back to back with their heads drooping as they entered the world of dreams. A warm, sleepy atmosphere instantly filled the entire hall.
Meanwhile, on Qingcheng Mountain.
Whoosh! A streak of blue light cut across the sky and shot toward the ground, turning into a man wearing blue immortal robes. His hair was graying, but his face was exceptionally youthful and handsome. After landing, he held his waist and pounded his back, complaining endlessly.
"Alas, Lord Soaring Serpent-that's me-was once the most handsome, most promising Divine Lord in the Primordial World. How did my life become so miserable? Not only do I have to run around finding things for Lady Nuwa, but I also have to take beatings from Empress Houtu. Alas, miserable! Utterly miserable!" Soaring Serpent lamented.
Then he shook his head and walked toward his cave abode in the Primordial World.
Like Gungun, Soaring Serpent was an Innate Deity. Although all living beings called him "Soaring Serpent of the Wa Emperor Palace" because he had joined Nuwa, he actually had a Daoist Abode of