The submission of the Black Armored Giant Whale brought a temporary halt to the beast tide in the Eastern Sea. Under the guidance of the water fortune laws, the dark red seawater slowly faded from its bloody hue. Remaining ferocious beasts either fled in all directions or were hunted down one by one by the Black Armored Guards.
Ao Xuan retracted his true Azure Dragon form. The water patterns on his cyan-gold Taoist robe still rippled gently. Though his dragon claws, which had clashed with the giant whale, bore no scars, they still tingled with the lingering numbness of scale collisions. Truly, every chaotic beast in this Primordial World possessed unique abilities. If he hadn't relied on the suppression of demonic energy by the merits of opening the sky, subduing this giant whale today would have cost him several times more effort.
"Your Majesty, the formation core of the Eastern Sea has been entrusted to the Black Armored Giant Whale for defense. The Elite Soldier Camp is cleaning up the battlefield, and the Water Spirit Department has sent Li Hong to dredge the contaminated water veins." Shrimp Halberd knelt on one knee, his red-tipped spear propped against the reef on the seabed, drops of black beast blood still dripping from the tip. "However, the number of demonized creatures mixed in this beast tide is 30% more than anticipated. I'm afraid Luo Hu's demonic flames have already begun to infiltrate the Four Seas."
Ao Xuan nodded, and a wisp of pale blue spiritual light brushed past Shrimp Halberd's forehead. The wound on Shrimp Halberd eroded by demonic energy gradually healed. "The spread of demonic flames was only a matter of time. Lead the Elite Soldier Camp to rest for three days, then assist Crab Axe in reinforcing the defense formations at seventy-two sea areas. Do not allow demonic energy to contaminate the foundation of the spiritual veins."
His gaze swept over the devastated seabed, where fragments of beast limbs were still embedded in the broken reefs. "Additionally, gather the bodies of the aquatic soldiers who fell in battle. Purify them with wood-element spiritual energy and bury them in the Spirit Return Abyss beside the Southern Spiritual Vein. They are the guardians of the Eastern Sea and deserve this honor."
Gratitude flashed in Shrimp Halberd's eyes as he nodded heavily. "This subordinate obeys!"
After Shrimp Halberd left, Ao Xuan turned his gaze toward the Dragon Abyss. There, the Four Symbols Profound Water Array glowed with four colors of spiritual light—cyan, red, white, and black—like stars in the deep sea.
Qinghe, Moyuan, and Xuancang were already busy at the formation core. Ink mist intertwined with wood-element spiritual energy, repairing the formation patterns damaged by the beast tide. But Ao Xuan knew in his heart that this temporary prototype of the Four Symbols Array could never withstand a true kalpa. The Dragon-Han Catastrophe was imminent. Luo Hu's demonic army would sooner or later sweep across the Primordial World. If he couldn't find the other three innate divine beasts—the White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—and form a true Four Symbols Covenant soon, the Eastern Sea Clan alone would never survive the catastrophe.
"Jiao Xuan."
Ao Xuan summoned the old flood dragon hiding in the shadows. "I entrust the defense of the Eastern Sea to you. Qinghe and the others lack experience. If you encounter any tricky matters, you may use this jade tablet to dispatch the Twelve Sea Generals." He handed over a jade tablet carved with an Azure Dragon pattern, its surface flowing with merit golden light. "I must personally travel to the Primordial land. First, to find the other innate divine beasts. Second, to inquire about the movements of Taoist Hongjun. The opportunity to hear the Dao preached at Zixiao Palace must not be missed."
Jiao Xuan took the jade tablet, his elderly face filled with solemnity. "Your Majesty, rest assured. This old dragon will defend the Eastern Sea well! But the Primordial land is not like the Four Seas. Chaotic remnants and innate gods fight endlessly. When Your Majesty assumes human form, you must restrain your dragon power. If you encounter chaotic fiends or the like, never expose your Azure Dragon origin easily." He paused, then added, "Recently, the roar of a White Tiger has been heard in the Western Wasteland, and there have been abnormal movements of innate fire spirits in the Southern Region. These may be traces of the White Tiger and Vermilion Bird."
Ao Xuan nodded, retracting the Azure Dragon Reverse Scale Sword into his body. The sword merged into his spine, emitting a faint protective spiritual light.
He walked to the edge of the Dragon Abyss and raised his hand to form a seal. A cyan-gold water gate rose from the sea, leading to the waterway connecting to the Eastern Primordial land. Before leaving, he took one last look at the East China Sea Dragon Palace. The four characters "East China Sea Dragon Palace" on the palace walls glowed golden in the seawater. The Twelve Sea Generals were leading the aquatic clan to reinforce the defenses, a scene of unity and resolve.
This was his first foundation in the Primordial World. No matter how dangerous the road ahead, he would protect it at all costs.
The moment he stepped into the water gate, an aura completely different from the deep sea rushed towards him. The air was filled with the fragrance of innate spiritual plants, mixed with the richness of soil and vegetation. In the distance, the roar of innate beasts echoed, but it lacked the sinister aura of the demonized creatures in the deep sea.
Emerging from the waterway, he found himself in an boundless primeval forest. Towering innate ancient trees reached a thousand zhang high, their trunks so thick that dozens of people could barely encircle them. Luminous spiritual vines coiled around the branches, bearing fist-sized spiritual fruits that exuded an alluring spiritual energy. The ground was covered with thick moss, soft as cotton to the touch. Occasionally, crystal-white spiritual herbs emerged from beneath the moss, their leaves still glistening with morning spiritual dew.
"The land of the newly opened Primordial World is indeed rich in spiritual energy." Ao Xuan took a deep breath. The water fortune and wood-element laws in his body resonated spontaneously, and the surrounding spiritual herbs tilted in his direction one after another. He walked along the path of the spiritual veins in the forest. With his dragon pupils, he could clearly see the crisscrossing spiritual energy veins underground. Among them, a white spiritual vein emitting a cold, murderous aura stretched towards the Western Wasteland—that was the direction where the White Tiger might be, as Jiao Xuan had mentioned.
By midday, a shrill deer cry suddenly rang out in the forest.
Ao Xuan restrained his aura and approached quietly. In the open space ahead, a snow-white spiritual deer was besieged by three Earth-Splitting Lizards. The deer had nine antlers glowing with wood-element spiritual light, clearly transformed from an innate wood spirit. At this moment, its hind leg had been scratched by the lizards' sharp claws, and blood stained its snow-white fur. Yet it still used its antlers to resist the beasts' bites.
The Earth-Splitting Lizards were earth-yellow in color, three zhang in length. Their claws could easily tear through rocks, and they spat out earth-yellow gravel from their mouths. Each spit sent ripples through the deer's spiritual energy barrier.
"Hmph! Hand over the treasure, and we three brothers will spare your life!"
The leader of the lizards roared, slashing its claw towards the deer's neck again.
The deer's eyes were filled with stubbornness. Its nine antlers glowed brighter, as if it intended to perish together with the lizards. At that moment, a wisp of pale cyan water vapor suddenly drifted out of the forest, coiling around the lizard's claw like a ribbon. The lizard felt a numbness in its claw and couldn't move. It turned its head angrily. "Which blind rogue cultivator dares to meddle in our three brothers' business?"
Ao Xuan stepped out slowly, flicking his fingers. Three water bombs appeared out of thin air, accurately hitting the lizards' foreheads and piercing their skulls instantly. Black beast blood spilled onto the ground, absorbed by the spiritual herbs.
"In the Primordial World, spiritual treasures belong to those with virtue. You bullies—do you deserve to claim innate spiritual objects?" His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable majesty. The wood-element spiritual energy around him resonated with the deer's aura, instantly calming the deer down.
Ao Xuan walked to the deer's side, and a wisp of wood-element spiritual light from his fingertip fell on its wound.
The moment the spiritual energy entered its body, the deer's wound healed at a visible speed, and its snow-white fur regained its luster.
"Thank you, Immortal, for saving me! This humble maiden is Jiuling, the innate wood spirit of this Indigo Phoenix Forest." The deer transformed into a young girl wearing a white skirt, her nine antlers turning into jade hairpins in her hair. "Those three Earth-Splitting Lizards have been plundering here for days, wounding many of my clansmen. If it weren't for the Immortal's help, I would have died here today."
Ao Xuan nodded, his gaze falling on an ancient tree not far away. Hanging on the tree was a crimson spiritual fruit, exuding the aura of an innate fire spirit—clearly the treasure the Earth-Splitting Lizards had been trying to seize.
"This is a Vermilion Flame Fruit, containing the power of an innate fire spirit. Wood generates fire; it will greatly benefit your cultivation as a wood spirit." Ao Xuan said. "As the master of the Indigo Phoenix Forest, you should guard this fruit well. If you encounter beasts in the future, you can channel the power of the forest's spiritual veins to set up defenses. Wood-element spiritual energy inherently has the effect of exorcising evil, which is sufficient to resist ordinary ferocious beasts."
Jiuling's eyes lit up when she heard this. "Thank you for the Immortal's guidance! This humble maiden wishes to present you with Spirit Leaf Tea from the Indigo Phoenix Forest. Made from thousand-year-old spiritual leaves, this tea nourishes the soul and may be useful to the Immortal."
She raised her hand, and a green spiritual leaf floated into her palm. The leaf curled up automatically, turning into a tea cake emitting a refreshing fragrance.
Ao Xuan took the tea cake, feeling the warm wood-element spiritual energy from his fingertips. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Jiuling. I am on my way to the Western Wasteland. Do you know anything about the recent developments there? I heard that the roar of a White Tiger has been heard—Is this true?"
Jiuling nodded, a trace of solemnity appearing on her face. "It is true! Three days ago, a deafening roar came from the direction of the Western Wasteland. The roar contained the golden metal killing power, shaking even the spiritual veins of the Indigo Phoenix Forest. However, the Western Wasteland is infested with chaotic remnants, and the Bloodfang Demon Wolf clan also occupies it. If the Immortal is going there, you must be careful."
Jiuling was extremely intelligent. Seeing that the immortal was asking about the White Tiger, she paused and added, "Additionally, there has been a sky-high fire in the Southern Region recently. It is said that an innate fire spirit was born there—perhaps it is the Vermilion Bird lineage you are looking for."
Ao Xuan felt a surge of joy in his heart. After thanking Jiuling, he headed towards the Western Wasteland. It seemed he had not taken the wrong path on this journey.
He put the Indigo Phoenix Forest's Spirit Leaf Tea into his storage bag. Though this innate spiritual object was not a supreme treasure, it could nourish the soul during cultivation—better than nothing.
As he approached the edge of the Western Wasteland, the murderous aura in the air grew stronger. The ground was covered with the bones of ferocious beasts, some still stained with black demonic energy, clearly killed by demonized creatures. The distant mountains showed an eerie dark red color, traces of being dyed with blood. Occasionally, golden metal spiritual energy overflowed from the mountains, carrying a piercing chill.
Ao Xuan nodded slightly. The White Tiger was born innately, embodying the golden metal law, guarding the west and governing killing—this was exactly the aura of the White Tiger lineage.
Ao Xuan restrained his aura and walked in the direction of the golden metal spiritual energy. The deeper he ventured into the Western Wasteland, the thinner the spiritual energy became, replaced by chaotic turbid energy and murderous intent.
When he reached the entrance of a valley, he suddenly stopped. A familiar aura emanated from the valley—the faint Dao rhythm of Hongmeng Purple Qi. Though weak, it was vast and boundless, as if it originated from heaven and earth itself.
"This aura... Is it Taoist Hongjun?" Ao Xuan's heart stirred. He quickly formed a seal to conceal his figure. In the center of the valley, an old man wearing a gray Taoist robe sat cross-legged. No aura emanated from his body, yet the surrounding chaotic turbid energy automatically retreated, as if he were an integral part of heaven and earth. In his hand, he held a wisp of pale purple qi—Hongmeng Purple Qi—slowly rotating and exuding an abstruse Dao rhythm.
The old man seemed to sense Ao Xuan's presence and slowly opened his eyes. His eyes were like abysses, containing the mysteries of the universe's birth and destruction. With just one glance, Ao Xuan felt as if his soul had been seen through.
"Azure Dragon origin, Pangu's blood essence—quite an interesting young man." The old man's voice was calm. "Since you are here, you are destined for the Dao."
Ao Xuan was shocked, knowing he could not hide from this Dao Ancestor. He quickly stepped out from behind the boulder and bowed respectfully. "This junior, Ao Xuan, pays homage to Taoist Hongjun. I did not intend to disturb you—I merely followed the White Tiger's aura here. Please forgive me, Taoist."
Taoist Hongjun nodded slightly, flicking his finger to send a wisp of Hongmeng Purple Qi towards Ao Xuan. The purple qi floated in front of Ao Xuan, automatically transforming into a purple jade tablet. "This is Hongmeng Purple Qi, containing the rhythm of the Great Dao of opening the sky. As an innate Azure Dragon, you control the eastern wood element and water fortune. If you can use this to comprehend the ways of the Heavenly Dao, you may find a glimmer of hope in the upcoming kalpa." He paused, then added, "In three thousand years, Zixiao Palace will open to preach the Great Dao. If you have the opportunity, you may come to listen."
As his voice faded, Taoist Hongjun's figure slowly dissipated, as if he had never been there. Only the jade tablet transformed from Hongmeng Purple Qi hovered in front of Ao Xuan, emitting a faint purple spiritual light.
Ao Xuan looked at the jade tablet, hesitating for a moment.
From the beginning, he had decided to attain Dao through strength. Absorbing Hongmeng Purple Qi could indeed enhance his strength and gain the blessing of the Heavenly Dao, but he would be under the Heavenly Dao's control for the rest of his life. For Ao Xuan, who yearned for great freedom, this was unacceptable.
However, when the Dao Ancestor bestows a gift, how can one refuse?
Moreover, in the current Primordial World, Hongmeng Purple Qi was truly the number one treasure under heaven. As a transmigrator, he knew that after preaching, Hongjun would bestow Hongmeng Purple Qi upon several quasi-sages. Even Taoist Hongyun, who had quasi-sage cultivation, had lost his life on his way back because of it...
He let out a bitter laugh. This was Hongmeng Purple Qi, after all. He was being unreasonable. He might as well take it first.
Taking the jade tablet, he felt a vast Dao rhythm surge into his consciousness, instantly resolving his doubts about the Heavenly Dao. Although he had condensed his dragon body earlier, he had never been able to fully resonate his dragon soul with the heavenly and earthly laws. Yet this fragment of Hongmeng Purple Qi could guide his dragon soul to deeply integrate with the wood and water fortune laws, even faintly touching the veins of the Great Dao of opening the sky.
"Sigh, thank you, Taoist Hongjun!" Ao Xuan sighed, bowing deeply in the direction where Hongjun had disappeared. His heart was filled with both helplessness and gratitude.
Even just carrying this Hongmeng Purple Qi with him brought countless benefits.
Daring not to make further contact with the Hongmeng Purple Qi, he took out a conch shell—a storage artifact he had refined in the Dragon Palace. He carefully placed the jade tablet inside.
In just a short time, he could clearly feel his dragon soul becoming more condensed, the golden spiritual light in his dragon pearl growing brighter. The wood and water fortune laws, like two spiritual snakes, wandered slowly through his meridians. With each circulation, his understanding of the Heavenly Dao deepened.
But the Heavenly Dao is not the Great Dao.
He continued his journey to the Western Wasteland, walking at a leisurely pace, not in a hurry.
After an unknown amount of time, the roar of a White Tiger came from afar. The roar was filled with killing intent, yet undeniable anxiety—clearly, the White Tiger was in danger.
Ao Xuan closed his eyes. The Azure Dragon mark between his brows glowed with cyan-gold spiritual light. He knew the time to meet the White Tiger had come.