Establishing a Dao Sanctuary

Mu Chen opened his eyes, a thoughtful look crossing his face.

Prime Minister Turtle had never come up to the sea of clouds before. He must have come today on a matter of considerable importance.

With a thought, Mu Chen transported him inside.

"What is it?"

Prime Minister Turtle saw Mu Chen sitting cross-legged upon the Twelfth-Grade Red Lotus.

He felt as though a Sage had descended upon the world.

He hurriedly prostrated himself.

"Greetings, Master. I came mainly about matters within these ten thousand li of sea."

Mu Chen frowned slightly.

"Are creatures stirring up wind and waves in the sea again?"

Prime Minister Turtle shook his head repeatedly.

"N-no... no... Master is a Daluo Golden Immortal. No one would dare cause trouble here. It's just that over these years..."

What followed-

Mu Chen learned why Prime Minister Turtle had come.

It turned out that there were... too many creatures in the hundred thousand li of sea beneath his feet.

Especially in recent years, their numbers had reached a point that gave even Prime Minister Turtle a headache.

The reason was simple, too.

There was too much slaughter in the Primordial World.

Yet this place was a rare haven of peace in the Primordial World, with a Daluo Golden Immortal presiding over it.

As time passed, more and more creatures chose to live here in seclusion.

This place had even become a "scenic attraction" in the Primordial World.

Simply put-

This lousy place... had actually become a hit in the Primordial World.

After hearing Prime Minister Turtle's account-

Mu Chen wore a strange expression as well.

He had never expected his place to be so popular.

But on second thought, he understood.

Apart from the few Sages of Heaven and Earth who knew this was his Dao sanctuary-

Everyone else's understanding of this place was simply...

The Dao sanctuary of a Daluo Golden Immortal who loved peace and was not inclined toward slaughter, nothing more.

With no entry requirements or conditions, it naturally attracted many creatures of the Primordial World.

Prime Minister Turtle asked.

"Master, there are too many creatures in the sea. I fear they might disturb you. Should we drive away some of those with low cultivation?"

Mu Chen gave it some thought.

Obviously!

Of course we should drive them away.

What are they doing? Do they think this is Mount Wudang, where they can come up whenever they please?

Yet the next moment-

"Ding, excessive numbers of creatures detected in the sea. Host, please choose."

"One: permit the creatures to reside here and show compassion for all living beings. Receive a trace of Sage merit."

"Two: display your Daluo Golden Immortal strength to drive everyone away and establish your prestige in the Primordial World. Receive one offensive Innate Spirit Treasure."

Mu Chen drew a deep breath.

This...

All right.

Mu Chen told himself.

Actually, Sage merit isn't all that important.

I mainly feel compassion for all living beings...

"Mm, Heaven cherishes life. Those who come here should all be creatures who prefer to cultivate in peace and are not inclined toward slaughter. I can hardly drive them all out and exterminate them."

"As for what to do... let me think it over first."

Mu Chen put on an act as he spoke.

Prime Minister Turtle thought for a moment, then suggested quietly.

"Actually, Master could establish a Dao sanctuary in these waters and give it a name."

"Any creature who has lived here for a thousand years must hand over a certain amount of treasure, or be expelled. That would count as doing everything that benevolence and duty demand."

Mu Chen's eyes lit up.

Collect taxes?

That makes sense.

He then looked at Prime Minister Turtle with a face full of approval.

"Little Turtle, not bad, not bad. In that case, I'll leave this matter to you. As for the name..."

Mu Chen pondered briefly.

"Let's call it the Endless Sea."

"Everything within a radius of a hundred thousand li will belong to the Endless Sea. Remember to erect stone steles around its borders."

A troubled look appeared on Prime Minister Turtle's face.

"Master, if I'm the only one handling this, progress will be very slow."

Mu Chen fell into thought again.

Then he remembered something.

He swept his great sleeve.

Three little demons from Southeast Mountain flew straight out of his sleeve.

A hundred years ago, after Xiao Shi left, he had shut these three little demons inside his sleeve, leaving them questioning their lives.

He had been considering how to deal with them.

Now they were finally of some use.

Mu Chen said indifferently.

"You three, follow Prime Minister Turtle's instructions. In a thousand years, I'll return your freedom."

The three demons' eyes instantly lit up.

They hurriedly knelt and kowtowed in gratitude.

When they had been brought here, they had thought they were about to die and have their Dao extinguished.

Now that a turn for the better had actually come, they were naturally beside themselves with excitement.

"I, Earth-Show Evil Demon Tiger Venerable, obey Master's commands!"

"I, Heaven-Show Earth-Blood Demon Shadow, obey Master's commands!"

"I, Water-Show Turtle God, obey Master's commands!"

Mu Chen: "..."

Listening to those headache-inducing titles-

Why did they somehow make me feel so embarrassed...?

For a moment, he somewhat regretted his choice.