Chapter Forty-Four: Aftermath

"Thunder Ancestor?" Xu Zhong recalled the original Heavenly Way.

He wielded the thirty-three layers of thunderclouds, overturning them with a flick of his hand, exhausting the myriad transformations of a single thunder character.

"The Thunder Ancestor was one of the earliest innate deities, but during the later wars of the gods, he was slain upon the Endless Sea."

"His body sank into the Endless Sea, his dao concealed, his inner vision manifesting a world." The fisherman’s gaze remained fixed on Bai Zhaoju.

"I have fished here for thirty thousand years, all to draw the Thunder Ancestor's inner vision from the Endless Sea. Yet I never expected someone could refine that inner vision, merging it with the world and the Heavenly Way."

The Endless Sea had already been claimed by Yu Kingdom.

Across these million miles of waters, a new continent had emerged.

"I see projections of many divine mountains and realms in your inner vision," the fisherman said, pinching his chin. "Now, the masters of those divine mountains and realms have sensed these projections. They’ll likely come here to reclaim them."

No sooner had he spoken than several divine lights swirled above the trio.

Someone exclaimed, "That’s a projection of my Eastern Sea!"

A colossal Dragon God poked his head from the clouds, peering down, then looked in surprise at Bai Zhaoju and the fisherman. "Canglang Holy Lord, you’re quick to arrive."

The Dragon God transformed, his massive body shrinking to human size. The other Dragon Gods behind him did likewise, following his lead.

"This is the Eastern Sea Dragon Sage, the master of the Eastern Sea," the fisherman—Canglang Holy Lord—introduced the Dragon God to Bai Zhaoju.

"Bai Zhaoju. The world calls me the White Emperor," Bai Zhaoju responded coolly.

She sensed the immense power emanating from the Eastern Sea Dragon Sage, akin to her own.

"We are all innate deities," the Eastern Sea Dragon Sage laughed, his voice deep and resonant. "I’ll be blunt. Your world contains a projection of my Eastern Sea—it is part of the Eastern Sea. I wish to reclaim this water, to return it to the Eastern Sea. White Emperor, what do you say?"

He reached out, and Xu Zhong saw him trace a circle around the eastern waters, with Liang River at their center.

"Her word is not final," came a voice from behind Bai Zhaoju. Jiang Xuanyi and Old Mother of Huhe River arrived belatedly.

Jiang Xuanyi now gripped a blade, his ceremonial crown and robes tattered, looking haggard yet unable to hide the joy on his face.

"Human?" The Eastern Sea Dragon Sage glanced at Jiang Xuanyi. "Such a powerful human in this world, but you’ve yet to become an innate deity. You lack the right to negotiate with me."

Jiang Xuanyi brandished his treasured blade. "What of deities?"

"Does being a deity grant you the right to take Yu Kingdom’s waters at will?"

He sensed that humans in this world were not faring particularly well.

"He’s right!" A drifting divine light appeared behind the Eastern Sea Dragon Sage. "The lands of humanity are ours to govern. Eastern Sea Dragon Sage, do not overreach your hand."

Jiang Xuanyi abandoned his previous misgivings.

"This is the Grand Scholar Emperor of the Primordial Era, the pillar of our race," Canglang Holy Lord introduced Jiang Xuanyi, then Bai Zhaoju to the Grand Scholar Emperor.

The Eastern Sea Dragon Sage paused. "I can leave the waters, but I must reclaim the dragons within."

"What do you think?" Grand Scholar Emperor looked to Jiang Xuanyi.

"Agreed!" Jiang Xuanyi nodded. "But those who wish to stay must not be taken by force."

The Dragon Sage nodded. "Naturally."

The other Dragon Gods behind him flew toward the waters.

Soon, true dragons soared into the sky, numbering about ten thousand.

The Eastern Sea Dragon Sage led these dragons away, vanishing from sight.

"Who would have thought that from the Thunder Ancestor’s remains, an innate deity would be born? How strange," Grand Scholar Emperor looked at Bai Zhaoju.

"But in truth, it makes sense. The Thunder Ancestor was so powerful; his remains could well birth an innate deity."

He then turned to Jiang Xuanyi. "This land—is it called Yu Kingdom?"

Jiang Xuanyi nodded.

"Then let it be Yu Kingdom henceforth!" Grand Scholar Emperor smiled.

Jiang Xuanyi breathed a sigh of relief, fearing the emperor might annex Yu Kingdom by force.

Just then, more divine lights appeared.

"So this is the Jewel Moon Glass Bodhisattva from Bodhi Temple. Have you come for Yu Kingdom’s Bodhi Temple?" Grand Scholar Emperor turned to the monks descending from the clouds.

"Not so," Jewel Moon Glass Bodhisattva shook her head. "Bodhi is everywhere. We are here to impart the Dharma to Yu Kingdom’s Bodhi Temple."

"Granted!"

Jewel Moon Glass Bodhisattva transformed into a stream of light and entered Yu Kingdom.

"Then, esteemed guests from Qingqiu, what brings you here?"

The nine-tailed fox deities from Qingqiu pondered for a moment. "Yu Kingdom’s Qingqiu holds our fox clansfolk. We wish to lead them to Qingqiu Divine Realm."

"Granted!"

With the emperor’s permission, they dared to perform their rites.

The foxes of Qingqiu, like the dragons of Yu Kingdom, split into two groups—one remained, the other departed for Qingqiu Divine Realm.

Soon, more masters of divine mountains and realms arrived to negotiate with Grand Scholar Emperor.

Throughout, Bai Zhaoju, Jiang Xuanyi, and Old Mother of Huhe River merely observed.

The land—unyielding.

Non-human demons and monsters—left to their own devices.

This scene continued until nightfall.

The emergence of so many innate deities left Xu Zhong dazzled.

Though he did not fully understand what innate deities meant,

He knew they were beings as powerful as Bai Zhaoju.

By night, Xu Zhong had seen the Four Sea Dragon Sages, the eight demon domain lords, the nine mountain gods, the nine water gods, and many other innate deities.

All seemed wary of Grand Scholar Emperor.

As night deepened, the Endless Sea was suddenly swept up by a mysterious force, then drawn into Fengdu.

The two Fengdus overlapped. The Lord of Fengdu, Marquis of Tai Mountain, opened his divine eyes, gazing at Grand Scholar Emperor.

"A contract?" Marquis of Tai Mountain spoke, and a scroll appeared before all.

"Yu Kingdom is a newborn world; Fengdu requires a contract, so that the night-and-day wanderers may patrol, soul guides may collect souls..."

Grand Scholar Emperor handed the contract to Jiang Xuanyi. "You are the master of Yu Kingdom; this concerns the people, so the decision is yours."

Jiang Xuanyi considered and signed his name.

"The contract is sealed!" Marquis of Tai Mountain reclaimed the scroll and closed his eyes.

Next, the Wheel of Six Paths shone upon Yu Kingdom.

Night-and-day wanderers appeared within Yu Kingdom.

Yu Kingdom returned to the Endless Sea.

Another night passed.

When dawn broke the next day, all matters were settled.

Grand Scholar Emperor began to introduce Xu Zhong and the others to this world.

He spoke not of heaven and earth, but of the beings between them.

"There are only two kinds of life in this world: innate and acquired."

"Innate beings are born as deities, nurtured by heaven and earth. Acquired beings must cultivate to become deities."

"At first, there were few deities, and resources sufficed for their cultivation."

"But later, as deities multiplied, resources dwindled."

"Thus, a war of gods erupted."

"Many deities perished; Thunder Ancestor was among them."

"After that war, our human race began its rise."

Grand Scholar Emperor summarized an era in a few words—an era spanning three million years.

"The rise of humanity was hard-fought, hindered by both innate and acquired gods. Yet our ancestors paved the way, enduring storms and winds to lay the foundation."

"Now, the legacy has been passed down, reaching me after one hundred eighty-six thousand years."

"Are we powerful?" Jiang Xuanyi asked.

"No, it is Grand Scholar Emperor who is powerful," said Canglang Holy Lord.

"And compared to the innate and acquired gods, we are weak."

Xu Zhong understood.

Humanity now stood alone, supported by a single pillar.

Grand Scholar Emperor was strong enough to awe all races by himself.

"But I am dying soon."

The words struck like thunder.

Grand Scholar Emperor smiled at Jiang Xuanyi. "When Canglang told me someone had refined the Thunder Ancestor’s inner vision into reality, merging it with this world, I thought I’d found a successor."

"Alas, he died!" He shook his head. "Had I come three thousand years earlier, perhaps I could have saved him."

The Dragon Capital Emperor was truly extraordinary.

Even his remains wrought miracles.

"But you’re not bad either," he said to Jiang Xuanyi.

"I have five hundred years to wait for you." Grand Scholar Emperor spoke calmly. "In those five hundred years, I will teach you everything I know. How much you learn depends on your fate."

Jiang Xuanyi remained silent.

"If I do not find a suitable successor before I die, you shall be the leader of humanity."

Jiang Xuanyi finally nodded.

Grand Scholar Emperor smiled, then looked to Bai Zhaoju. "And you, friend—where will you go?"

Bai Zhaoju shook her head. "I don’t know, but I will not remain here."

She reached out and grasped.

"Little Fox, it’s time we leave."

She fished You Sujue out of Yu Kingdom.

"Xiao Zhong, you’re alive after all!" You Sujue was overjoyed, hopping around Xu Zhong.

"You Sujue, it’s time to go," Bai Zhaoju took her by the scruff.

"Aunt Bai, may I stay?" You Sujue asked.

"No," Bai Zhaoju said firmly. "I can feel her presence. Indeed, after I severed three lives, they ascended here one after another."

She referred, perhaps, to the four emperors of Yu Kingdom.

"Seven thousand years ago, four great masters appeared atop the Endless Sea," Canglang Holy Lord mused. "That was when I decided to fish here."

"Do you know what became of them?"

"No," Canglang Holy Lord shook his head.

"And you?" She turned to Grand Scholar Emperor.

"I do not know," he replied. "The Nine Heavens and Ten Lands are vast. Finding them would be like searching the sea for a needle. But you can go to the Sea of Chaos and seek the Chaos Lord; he has eyes that see everywhere, ears that hear all. Perhaps he can help you find old friends."

"Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, Sea of Chaos?" Bai Zhaoju pondered these names. "Could you give me a map?"

Canglang Holy Lord hurriedly produced a map.

Bai Zhaoju scanned it, then handed Xu Zhong a snake scale. "There’s a spell within. Use it if necessary—it will save your life."

You Sujue gave Xu Zhong a rattle and a lotus. "Xiao Zhong, we’ll meet again if fate allows."

Bai Zhaoju turned into white light and vanished.

Grand Scholar Emperor was about to speak when a distant phoenix cry sounded. He turned and saw, among the clouds, a towering structure half-lit, half-shadowed, flanked by sun, moon, and stars, with dragons and phoenixes circling its beams.

"The Jade Terrace of Heaven is cut off, yet another world lies beyond!" Grand Scholar Emperor turned back. "The Jade Terrace projection within Thunder Ancestor’s inner vision has drawn forth the real Jade Terrace."

He ordered, "Canglang, guard this place and communicate with the Crown Prince."

Then he looked at the two men and the fox. "You are fortunate."

He plucked a floating cloud from the sky, carrying the trio toward the Jade Terrace.

Heavenly Capital Jade Terrace, Seven Treasure Mountain, spanning ninety thousand miles, above the Great Luo.

It is the One born of the Dao.