The lakeside divine palace, incense surging.
Ever since the "Octopus Evil God" had been tossed into a pot and boiled into seafood soup, the nine heavens and ten lands had gone completely mad. Cultivators day and night chanted "Stir it a few more times, so it won't stick," treating the phrase as the ultimate Dao.
But the frenzy of the mortal world finally alarmed the true Heavenly Dao itself.
…
That day, all of creation suddenly froze.
The wind halted, the rain ceased, mountains and rivers seemed as if pressed still by an invisible hand.
Above the nine heavens, countless lights gathered, forming an infinite "Gate of Heavenly Radiance."
The gate slowly opened, and from the depths of the void, a boundless presence stepped forth.
It was—the true will of the Heavenly Dao!
Countless cultivators trembled, tears streaming.
"The Heavenly Dao… the Heavenly Dao itself has come!"
"It must be to worship the Ancient God Emperor!"
"At last, the One True has been acknowledged!"
…
At the lakeside.
The black-haired youth squatted by his fire, flipping dried fish.
He looked up to see golden brilliance spilling from the heavens, a colossal figure stepping forth, its pressure immeasurable.
He blinked, then suddenly brightened: "Oh—I get it! Another one come to line up for food, huh?"
He grinned and shouted: "Perfect timing! Line up, don't cut! First come, first served—understand the rules!"
…
The will of the Heavenly Dao trembled, then dropped to one knee. A billion laws hummed in unison.
In an instant, the nine heavens and ten lands erupted in sobbing cries.
"The Heavenly Dao… kneels!"
"Even the Dao must queue?! This is the One True!"
"The Ancient God Emperor, supreme!"
…
The black-haired youth beamed in satisfaction. "Now that's better. Meals need order—no snatching!"
He casually tossed out a strip of grilled fish: "Here, try this, it's tasty!"
…
The Heavenly Dao cradled it reverently, eyes blurred with tears.
"Ancient God Emperor… grants me food… this is supreme grace!"
It took a bite. Boom—heaven and earth roared, the ten thousand realms trembled. Golden law-light surged, the entire cosmos uplifted by that single taste.
…
Countless cultivators broke down crying.
"The Dao… ate it!"
"The Ancient God bestows food, and even Heaven must accept!"
"This is the final declaration—only the Ancient God Emperor is true!"
…
The youth laughed happily. "Hahaha, tasty, right? Told you—flip the fish a few more times and it gets more fragrant!"
The words were instantly carved into the stele:
[Holy Words of the Ancient God: Flip it a few more times, and it's more fragrant.]
The continent fell into another frenzy.
"This is cultivation truth! The Dao must be flipped and tempered again and again to ascend!"
"Too profound! Too great!"
…
Night fell, the lakeside divine palace ablaze with light.
The true Heavenly Dao lay prostrate before the temple, like the humblest servant.
Billions of cultivators collapsed in tears, crying out:
"Ancient God Emperor!"
"The One Supreme!"
"The Eternal Lord!"
…
And in his hut, the black-haired youth clutched a sack of dried fish, munching contentedly.
"Whew—so many lined up today, even the big guy showed up. Lucky I had enough fish, or they'd have squabbled."
Yawning, he fell onto his bed, satisfied.
His snores echoed through the palace, but in the hearts of countless beings, they were heard as—
[The Ancient God Emperor dreams, sleeping to pacify the world.]