East China Sea Dragon Palace, Main Hall.
Ao Xuan sat atop the dragon throne, his fingertips tapping the armrest lightly. His gaze fell on Qing He, Xie Ao, and Mo Yuan standing in the hall—all three looked weary. Though the black blood at Mo Yuan's lips had been stopped by Qing He's wood essence, his aura remained unsteady.
"As you all witnessed in the battle against the Bone-Rot Poison Squid a few days ago," Ao Xuan's voice was calm yet tinged with gravity, "the Black Tortoise Guard is brave, but lacks generals who can stand alone. The Array Forging Hall excels at defense, yet is short of elites who can break enemy formations. The Water Spirit Department oversees spiritual veins, but has few powerhouses capable of channeling the waters of the Four Seas.
If another fiend comparable to the Bone-Rot Poison Squid arrives, or if we face a demon general under Luo Hu's command, relying solely on me may not be enough to protect the entire East China Sea."
Upon hearing this, Xie Ao's clenched fist armor creaked. A look of shame crossed his face. "This subordinate is incompetent! Though the Black Tortoise Guard's three battalions have been trained, not one can withstand a single blow from the Bone-Rot Poison Squid. Instead, Your Majesty had to personally intervene, and even injured Lord Mo Yuan."
Mo Yuan quickly waved his hand, his ink mist betraying sincerity. "Your Majesty speaks too harshly. This is not Commander Xie Ao's fault. The truth is, the East China Sea's clans have only just surrendered. The powerful warriors among them either hide in the abyssal depths or seclude themselves in spiritual veins, unwilling to emerge easily. If we can recruit these reclusive powerhouses, the Dragon Palace's combat strength will surely soar."
Qing He's eyes lit up. She stepped forward. "Your Majesty, Lord Mo Yuan is absolutely right. When the Ritual Administration compiled the clan registries earlier, we heard tales of many extraordinary beings hidden in the East China Sea's waters: an elder of the Red Carp clan who can control water into dragons, a saintess of the Coral clan skilled at setting illusory arrays, and a warrior of the Giant Whale clan who can summon whale waves to break enemies.
If Your Majesty issues a Recruitment Edict, offering spiritual crystals, cultivation techniques, and cave abodes as rewards, countless talents will surely come to serve."
Ao Xuan's fingertips moved slightly, and a map of the East China Sea appeared in the hall. Dozens of glowing dots marked the settlements of reclusive powerhouses, as investigated by the Ritual Administration.
He pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. The Ritual Administration shall draft the Recruitment Edict on wooden slips made of primordial spirit wood, inscribed with water energy runes. The Black Tortoise Guard and Cuttlefish clan shall deliver it to all settlements across the East China Sea.
The edict must state: Anyone with unique skills—regardless of race, background, or past as a rogue cultivator or demon lord—shall be welcome to serve, provided they abide by the Dragon Decree and swear allegiance to the Dragon Palace.
Those skilled in combat shall join the Black Tortoise Guard; those skilled in arrays shall enter the Array Forging Hall; those skilled in spiritual veins shall join the Water Spirit Department; those skilled in medicine or poison shall serve in the Ritual Administration.
I shall treat all with respect, bestow spiritual crystal cave abodes, and teach the advanced techniques of the Water Abyss Scripture."
Qing He immediately agreed and turned to draft the edict, but Ao Xuan called her back. "Add one more clause: Those who recommend powerful talents shall also receive spiritual crystal rewards. This is not only about recruiting talents, but also letting all clans of the East China Sea know that the Dragon Palace craves talent—regardless of kinship."
Three days later, the shouts of the Black Tortoise Guard echoed across the East China Sea. Dozens of guards rode spirit sharks, holding wooden slips of primordial spirit wood, and spread the Recruitment Edict to coral reef clusters, abyssal rifts, and icy cold pools.
The water energy runes on the slips glowed with pale blue light, illuminating several zhang around even in the pitch-black abyssal depths, attracting countless aquatic beings to gather and read.
"The Dragon Palace is recruiting talents? Regardless of background, anyone with ability can become a general?" Beside a coral reef, a crimson fish spirit held the slip, his eyes filled with doubt and excitement.
His name was Li Hong, a member of the Red Carp clan. Years ago, he had obtained an opportunity in a great river that awakened his spiritual intelligence, dreaming of ascending to greatness. But a powerful demon had seized his clan's spiritual vein, forcing him to flee with the remaining clansmen to the depths of the East China Sea, barely surviving on meager spiritual energy.
The four characters "spiritual crystal cave abode" on the slip stirred his heart. With the Dragon Palace's support, he could not only revitalize the Red Carp clan but also avenge the wrongs committed by the great demon years ago.
On the same day, in an abyssal rift, an old turtle with a thick black carapace looked at the Recruitment Edict, his cloudy eyes brightening.
He was Gui Cheng, an elder of the Black Tortoise clan, skilled at setting the "Profound Water Defense Array." He had hidden in the rift to escape the impending fiend tide. Now, hearing that the Dragon Palace could protect a peaceful realm and teach advanced cultivation techniques, he immediately decided to leave seclusion.
Seven days later, hundreds of aquatic beings had gathered in the square outside the Dragon Palace's Main Hall to answer the recruitment call. Ao Xuan personally presided over the assessments, with Qing He, Xie Ao, Mo Yuan, and Xuan Cang seated on either side, each responsible for a different aspect: Qing He evaluated medical and poison skills, Xie Ao tested combat strength, Mo Yuan assessed array mastery, and Xuan Cang measured control over spiritual veins.
The first to step forward for assessment was Li Hong. He transformed into a zhang-long crimson carp, churning in the water pool at the center of the square. He spat out a jet of water that condensed into a crimson water dragon in the air—its claws sharp, scales distinct—before crashing into a boulder at the square's center.
With a loud boom, the boulder shattered, yet the water dragon remained unscathed, circling back to merge into Li Hong's body.
"What a remarkable 'Water Dragon Formation-Breaker!' " Xuan Cang applauded. "This technique uses the East China Sea's water veins as its foundation, condensing water into a dragon. It can both attack fortifications and defend itself, perfectly complementing the Water Spirit Department's lack of power to channel water veins."
Ao Xuan nodded, addressing Li Hong. "You excel at controlling water. You shall be appointed Vice Director of the Water Spirit Department, assisting Xuan Cang in dredging the tributaries of the Nine-Bend Heavenly River. I bestow upon you the Water Spirit Pendant, which grants you command over half the Water Spirit Department's personnel. Your spiritual crystal cave abode shall be located beside the spiritual vein east of the Dragon Palace."
Li Hong quickly transformed back into human form, knelt, and kowtowed. "This subordinate Li Hong thanks Your Majesty's grace! I shall not fail Your Majesty's trust!"
Next came Gui Cheng. He walked slowly to the center of the square. Xie Ao personally stepped forward to test him—swinging his black iron pincers with immense force, he smashed them down on Gui Cheng's carapace. With a deafening clang, sparks flew, yet Gui Cheng remained motionless, only a shallow white mark left on his carapace.
"My black carapace fuses the laws of earth and water energy," Gui Cheng's voice was old yet powerful. "Even a strike from an ordinary Golden Immortal cannot break it. I can also set the 'Profound Water Defense Array'—within ten zhang, water cannot invade, and poison cannot penetrate."
Xie Ao's eyes lit up with joy. "Your Majesty! Lord Gui Cheng's defensive techniques perfectly compensate for the Black Tortoise Guard's lack of defense! If appointed Vice Commander of the Black Tortoise Guard, he will surely elevate our defense to new heights!"
Ao Xuan nodded. "As Xie Ao suggests, Gui Cheng shall be Vice Commander of the Black Tortoise Guard. I bestow upon you the Black Tortoise Talisman, which grants you command over the Black Tortoise Guard's Defense Battalion. Your spiritual crystal cave abode shall be west of the Dragon Palace, near the Black Tortoise Guard's camp."
The third to appear was a young man wielding a red-tipped spear, named Xia Ji, from the Sword Shrimp clan. He was agile, swinging his spear so fast it blurred, the tip glowing with red spiritual light—so sharp it pierced Xie Ao's black iron armor. Though it only penetrated half an inch, it left Xie Ao astonished. "What a fast spear! What sharp aura!" Xie Ao laughed. "The Elite Battalion is in dire need of a commander. You shall take this post and teach the Elite Battalion the 'Water Blade Spear Technique!' "
Xia Ji knelt on one knee, his voice firm. "This subordinate Xia Ji thanks Your Majesty! I shall train the Elite Battalion to be unstoppable!"
In the days that followed, assessments continued, and eight more powerhouses stood out:
Shan Yue of the Coral clan, who could control the rapid growth of abyssal coral to set illusionary arrays. The misty water vapor in her arrays clouded minds. Mo Yuan was overjoyed and invited her to serve as Vice Hall Master of the Array Forging Hall, specializing in defense.
Bang Zhu of the Spirit Mussel clan, who could produce "healing spiritual pearls"—each containing pure water energy, capable of curing minor injuries in an instant. Qing He invited her to serve as a healer in the Ritual Administration, overseeing the Dragon Palace's medical hall.
Yu You of the Silver Fish clan, whose body was as swift as a silver arrow, able to dart across a hundred li of abyssal waters in an instant. Xie Ao appointed him Scout Commander of the Patrol Battalion, specializing in intelligence gathering.
She Ying of the Sea Serpent clan, who was skilled in poison but never abused it, able to neutralize chaotic miasma with his own serpent venom. Ao Xuan appointed him Poison Defense Commander of the Black Tortoise Guard, tasked with countering poison-based enemies.
Jing Ba of the Giant Whale clan, whose mountain-sized body could summon ten-thousand-zhang whale waves, capable of smashing fiends to pieces with a single strike. Ao Xuan appointed him Garrison General of the East China Sea, defending the sea's entrance.
Mo Ying of the Cuttlefish clan (a different branch from Mo Yuan), who excelled at "Ink Mist Illusion," able to create thousands of illusory figures in mist to assist Mo Yuan in perfecting stealth arrays.
Cao Yin of the Seaweed clan, who could control seaweed to bind enemies and use it as a medium to transmit messages. Qing He asked her to assist in managing the Ritual Administration's internal affairs.
Jiao Xue of the Cold Shark clan, hailing from the edge of the North Sea, skilled in ice-based divine arts. She could freeze seawater into ice shields and exhale cold air to freeze enemies. Ao Xuan ordered her to assist Jing Ba in defending the pass, countering ice-based fiends from the north.
On the day the twelve powerhouses gathered in the Dragon Palace's Main Hall, the East China Sea's spiritual crystal vein was mined for the first time. Ao Xuan stood atop the dragon throne, gazing down at the twelve below: Li Hong in his crimson robe, Gui Cheng in his black carapace, Xia Ji with his red spear, Shan Yue with her coral tiara, Bang Zhu in her mussel shell dress, Yu You in his silver armor, She Ying in his black robe, Jing Ba with his giant axe, Mo Ying in his ink robe, Cao Yin in her green dress, Jiao Xue in her ice-blue robe, and the last to arrive—an old flood dragon named Jiao Xuan.
Jiao Xuan was an elder of the Flood Dragon clan, formed from a stream of water containing dragon blood after Pangu split the heavens and earth. He excelled not only in water energy divine arts but also knew the ancient secrets of the Primordial World. He had originally secluded himself beside a spiritual vein in the depths of the East China Sea, but upon hearing the Dragon Palace's recruitment call and seeing talents like Li Hong and Gui Cheng join, he too decided to emerge.
Recognizing Jiao Xuan's profound cultivation and distant kinship, Ao Xuan appointed him as his advisor, responsible for offering strategies and counsel.
"I, by my royal authority, bestow upon you the title of Twelve Sea Generals!" Ao Xuan raised his hand, and twelve streaks of spiritual light flew from his palm into the twelve's hands—Li Hong received the Water Spirit Pendant, Gui Cheng the Black Tortoise Talisman, Xia Ji the Spear Command Token, Shan Yue the Array Disk, Bang Zhu the Pearl Casket, Yu You the Silver Whistle, She Ying the Poison Pouch, Jing Ba the Axe Seal, Mo Ying the Mist Command Token, Cao Yin the Grass Hairpin, Jiao Xue the Ice Mirror, and Jiao Xuan the Jade Tablet.
"These are tokens of the Dragon Palace's authority. With them, you may exercise your respective powers." Ao Xuan's voice echoed through the Main Hall. "I know well the dangers of the Primordial World. In the days to come, we may face fiend tides or infernal flames. But as long as we unite as one—with water energy as our shield, wood energy as our support, arrays as our defense, and combat as our spear—we shall surely protect the East China Sea's peace and lay a solid foundation for all its clans!"
The twelve knelt in unison, their voices resounding. "We vow to follow Your Majesty, protect the East China Sea, and stand together against calamities!"
Outside the hall, the East China Sea's waters churned, glowing with cyan-gold spiritual light—resonance between the twelve's water energy and the Dragon Palace's spiritual vein.
Ao Xuan looked at them, a flicker of resolve in his eyes. With these twelve generals, plus the coordination of the Black Tortoise Guard, Array Forging Hall, Water Spirit Department, and Ritual Administration, even if the Dragon-Han Catastrophe arrived and Luo Hu's infernal flames spread to the East China Sea, he was confident in facing the challenge.
As Jiao Xuan stood up, he whispered to Ao Xuan. "Your Majesty, from what I know, the remnant soul of the White Tiger has appeared in the Western Wasteland, and the fire spirit of the Vermilion Bird has stirred in the Southern Territories. Though we have recruited the Twelve Generals, we must prepare early. If we can ally with the remnant souls of the White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise to form the Four Symbols Covenant, we shall truly secure our position in the Great Calamity."
A sharp glint flashed in Ao Xuan's eyes. He nodded. "Mr. Jiao Xuan speaks wisely. Once the East China Sea is stable, I shall personally travel to the Western Wasteland and Southern Territories to seek the White Tiger and Vermilion Bird's remnant souls. But for now, our top priority is to let the Twelve Generals familiarize themselves with their duties, train their troops, and prepare for the impending fiend tide."
Upon hearing this, the twelve's expressions turned solemn. They all knew the peace in the Primordial World was only temporary. If they failed to survive the fiend tide, everything would be for naught.