The lakeside divine palace, shining with golden light.
Ever since the Heavenly Emperor "entered the palace to fish," the nine heavens and ten lands had gone completely mad.
Yet the true upheaval was only just beginning.
…
On this day, the flow of heavenly fortune suddenly went into chaos.
Boundless streams of fortune surged across the realms, transforming into endless golden dragons. They rose from mountains, rivers, and seas, all charging toward the lakeside.
Boom—!
The skies were filled with golden luck, countless auspicious clouds descended, rainbow light radiated, dragons roared and phoenixes sang.
Billions of beings fell to their knees in terror:
"The fortune… it's all gathering at the lake!"
"This is the Lord of Destiny!"
"The Ancient God Emperor is seizing the fortune of all realms!"
…
Before the divine palace.
The black-haired youth sat cross-legged at the lake's edge, lazily yawning as he flicked his fishing rod.
Suddenly, he noticed the lake's center churning with ripples, fish shadows swarming in masses, school after school, nearly covering the entire water's surface.
His eyes lit up, and he nearly jumped in excitement:
"Whoa! All the fish are gathering in the middle! Hahaha, jackpot today!"
He flung out his rod, and as soon as the line hit the water, over a dozen fat fish struck at once, nearly dragging him under.
"Hey! Don't shove! One at a time!"
…
In the sky above, the golden fortune dragons circled together, the scene magnificent beyond words.
Countless cultivators trembled violently, tears streaming down their faces.
"Heavens! Did you see?! Where the Ancient God Emperor casts his line, the dragons of fortune converge!"
"This is fortune choosing its master! The destiny of the worlds belongs to the Heavenly Emperor!"
"Too great! Too inconceivable!"
…
The black-haired youth was sweating from all the effort, tossing fish after fish into his basket.
"Man, this is a steal today. The fish are throwing themselves on the hook—doesn't even take effort!"
He laughed and casually remarked: "Good weather really makes a difference—fish are happy to school together!"
…
That single line was instantly engraved into countless stone tablets:
[Holy Words of the Ancient God: Only with good weather will fish gather.]
Within a single night, the phrase spread through all realms. Sects dissected it feverishly:
"So that's it! Cultivation requires timing, to follow the flow!"
"This is supreme truth—heaven and earth must align, one cannot defy the heavens!"
"The Holy Words reveal—cultivators must never go against the times!"
Countless breakthroughs erupted, cries of epiphany filling the lands.
…
Above the lake, fortune finally condensed into a colossal golden dragon that coiled around the divine palace and bowed beside the black-haired youth.
Everyone was struck dumb with awe.
"That is… the very embodiment of fortune!"
"The golden dragon bowing proves he is the only Heavenly Emperor!"
"He truly is the master of destiny!"
…
The black-haired youth, still busy counting his fish, hadn't noticed the massive golden dragon at his side.
Until its tail lazily swished, splashing water onto his trousers.
He snapped impatiently: "Hey! Stop wagging your tail around, you're splashing me!"
Then he tossed over a small fish. "Here, eat this and be quiet!"
…
Countless cultivators turned to stone, then collapsed into tears.
"The Ancient God… fed the fortune dragon like a pet!"
"No—it's a blessing! A supreme state of being!"
"Quick, inscribe it! Holy Words of the Ancient God: Calm the dragon with fish!"
…
Night fell.
The divine palace glowed brilliantly, billions of beings knelt, crying as their voices shook the world:
"The Ancient God Emperor, master of destiny!"
"The Fishing-Rod Dao, supreme and only!"
"All realms united in reverence!"
…
Inside his little hut, the black-haired youth hugged a basket stuffed with fish, grinning from ear to ear.
"Hehe, what a haul! Tomorrow it's roasted fish, fish soup, fish cakes—everything!"
He lay down happily, rolled over, and mumbled:
"Still, good weather means more fish."
Soon, his snoring rumbled like thunder.
But across the nine heavens and ten lands, all were convinced:
—The Heavenly Emperor now bore the entirety of fortune, the only supreme one.