On the western front, Zulong oversaw a fragile equilibrium gradually forming. His true form hidden, hidden within auspicious clouds granted his forces perpetual overcast weather. The Devilish Dao’s plan to draw him away had failed, but he too was unable to push too deeply into his enemy’s territory with the presence of Hundun.

Across from the dragon, a phoenix perched atop a mountain as if it were the branch of a tree. Zulin was not present as was expected, but these two alone can hold down the fort. Both watched as a wall was being constructed in the distance. It was to act as both a barricade as well as a base.

Suddenly, a blinding flash of light appeared from Zulong’s back. Within his clouds, Zulong sensed the presence of a fast approaching object. Zufeng peered back as well.

Reaching his claw out, Zulong felt the object plummet into his clouds. It’s rough handle expanded until it would fit in his gargantuan claw. Even Zulong felt the impact of the blade as his forearm flinched back after catching the Heavenly Cloud Gathering Sword.

“Your master is not returning?” Zufeng asked.

Atop the blade’s surface, Zulong saw a written message. His eyes narrowed, but he still nodded all the same.

“He’s in the Netherworld gathering his plans. I will hold the fort here in the meantime.”

“I see. This war is already winding down,” Zufeng lifted her head sideways to watch the southern stars. “I guess I’ll be here longer then expected. But as thispace sets, we can afford to send more troops back to stabalize our territories. Unfortunetly, ghost devils are still spawning there.”

Zulong continued to observe the sword his master thrown at him. It didn’t take long for the faint image of a butterfly to manifest with its legs clutching the blade’s hilt.

The dragon’s grip relaxed for the blade to fly out of his auspicious clouds on its own. controlled by its own spirit, the spiritual treasure managed a stable position above the pieces of the forming wall.

Zulong was sure Yi Fei’e had seen the blade as well. He’ll tell her what it meant in the future, but for now he had some other things to manage. Because aside from himself and Zufeng, Qin An’s glittering form emerged from devil territory. He appeared aloof despite everything.

“How are things out there?” Zufeng took the initiative to ask. Qi An only took a passing glance at Da Hai’s sword before meeting with his contemporaries.

“No one tried to fight me, most are in hiding recovering. But I felt Hundun actively keeping an eye on me.”

“And Mt Sumeru?” Zulong asked.

“Yeah that Mara is in control now. I didn’t dare approach on my own. There’s nothing much we can do but hold out in the meantime as even attacking that mountain at this point isn’t feasible,” he replied. Qi An bent his legs to lie down atop a flattened mountain peak, one of the casualties of an earlier battle.

“Could you do that karma trick again with the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven?”

“He’ll be expecting it, it may’ve not been that long but he’s already essentially recovered. I know what you want to ask Dragon Sovereign. Even if all three of us unite again to encircle him, it’ll be a very difficult battle. What’s more, theres Hundun to consider who no one here can stop. What’s more, Luohu may be in recovery but he still has that formation.”

A moment of silence settled in as all three watched their subsidiaries continue to build their defenses. Qi An was in thought the whole time.

“You know, there is a formation that can go against the four swords of the Devil Ancestor.”

“The Four Symbols are gone,” Zulong and Zufeng reminded the qilin rather angrily. These days, any mention of that name only brought them pain.

“It became the sky. Remember, I’ve served heaven for eons, I’m aware of many of its inner workings. As a celestial phenomena, the Heavenly Dao can direct it.”

“The Heavenly Dao was shattered before the war began,” Zulong reminded. “It won’t be able to pull itself together enough to act.”

“No. But if it were to receive a major boost of the the power of destiny, it may bounce back quickly,” Qi An said. The power of destiny he referred to was the same as karmic luck of a nation. Ever since Zulong’s coronation, such powerful luck of rulers had condensed into the shape of dragons. It’s purpose was to bring prosperity and protection to a ruler and their nation.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Both the Dragon and Phoenix Sovereigns instantly understood what Qi An was saying. Sacrifice their authorities to pray that heaven will mobilize the corpses of their siblings to help them. Unlike Qi An, who’s title of Qilin Sovereign was only a name, Zulong and Zufeng’s titles had much greater properties attached to it.

“It’s hard to give something like that up,” Zulong admitted much to Zufeng’s and Qi An’s confusion. But to the latter’s shock, the next words he uttered couldn’t have been conceived by him. “But for the sake of my family, if I’m forced to then I’ll do it.”

Zufeng understood his feelings. After all, when she laid her eggs those years ago, she felt a similar feeling. Qi An marveled at the changes of these two in the time he’d been ignoring the world.

“Let’s see how my master’s plan turn out first. Whatever it is, the Netherworld will play a big part. So let’s keep things quiet for now and don’t disturb him.”

…

As the western front was settled, two figures walked side by side away from the primary site of the war. Di Jun and his brother Taiyi no longer sported armour, but resembled nobly dressed travellers.

Unlike many innate gods who still stayed to fight, these two opted to leave. Surprisingly enough, there was little issue in Zufeng letting them go so readily. As a balance of power had slowly settled in, Di Jun and Taiyi’s movements became alot more free.

“You sure this is wise?” Taiyi asked as they moved away from the West Continent. Despite his normally calm and reserved demenour, one could notice his agitation.

Di Jun raised an eyebrow. “Wise what?”

“Don’t play dumb with me brother. What you’ve discussed with me, what you intend to do? Neither our current patron nor the Dragon Sovereign will be pleased with another rival.”

Di Jun considered what Taiyi just said carefully. He understood where Taiyi was coming from, after all both of them understood what angering those two meant. Neither of these two Golden Crows could claim to be invincible in the world. If either the dragon or phoenix hunted them? There’s little they could do.

Perhaps Taiyi could successfully flee. But even then, it’ll be a life forever on the run. Who’d want to live a life like that?

“It’s risky for sure, but it is one I’ll take. This stalemate that’s been set in is unsustainable. This anti-devil alliance might as well not exist with how divided these countless races in the Primitive World are.”

“And I’m sure having a crown and the status of emperor helps.”

“It certainly is a bonus,” Di Jun smirked. The feeling of establish himself as a superpower just like what he’d seen the Dragon and Phoenix Sovereign do. It was a majestic feeling, one he wanted to experience as well.

“There’s another reason isn’t there?”

Di Jun was startled. His footsteps halted causing Taiyi to overtake him momentarily. The elder Golden Crow stared in bewilderment as to how his brother guessed without him even having to say anything.

“Not only are you strong, but your sensitivity to the change of phenomena is so sharp as well,” Di Jun sighed. “Yes, I’m sure you’ve noticed my Dao improving rapidly this past few years. Remember it’s name?”

Taiyi nodded and said, “You named it the Reigning Sun.”

“Mhm, starting from a mere delusion as all Dao are, until now it’s become a valid lawful path. But I’m a bit confused as to how to make it an unquestionable truth,” Di Jun revealed. “But ever since that discussion, the path’s been revealed to me.”

“As I thought, with those words I already had a feeling,” Taiyi said nodding. “It’ll be a dangerous path.”

“I’ve little choice. As cultivators of the Dao, we strive to seek what’s next. Improving my Dao will never be as simple as meditating in seclusion. I can tell the path I’m on is the correct one,” Di Jun explained rather excitedly. “Helping with the war by uniting it’s divided small factions into a single cohesive force, establishing my position, and improving my cultivation. It’s like killing three birds with the same stone.”

“Whatever the path you chose brother. I Taiyi will support you.”

“Thank you Taiyi, it means alot that I have family as loyal as you.”

…

Across the vast expanse of the Great Wilderness, in the far off South Sea. The South Sea Dragon Palace was in a well maintained state. Around the seas, remnants of yin laced qi still flowed even without condensed ghost devils. The corpses of living devils were present as well.

In the courtyard, a young boy walked past a bunch of dragons, turtles, and miscellaneous sea creatures. He was carrying a notebook containing cultivation advice he obtained from his benefactor and hopefully, future master.

His name was Nanji meaning extreme south. This was because he was not part of any race, but a connate lifeform born at the far south pole. He was not an innate god, nor was he even an immortal. Just a boy who found himself in a village that got attacked by devils.

He’d be long dead were it not for a passing innate god. Yuanshi was his benefactor and could even be considered half his master now. He was also the one who’d recently protected the South Sea Dragon Palace.

The local dragon hegemon and his turtle ministers worked uneasily despite their safety. It was not that they were ungrateful. But Yuanshi had pretty much bullied them into complying with his demands. Their precious healing spring they’d painstakingly restored from the South Sea’s former emperor’s poor management, was now being used to heal who they considered to be an outsider.

Yuanshi sat in the courtyard watching Nanji leave with a vaguely satisfied look.

“That kid’s talent ain’t half bad.”

‘What in heaven’s name!’

Yuanshi jerked his head and saw a fully functioning Taishang looking as healthy as the day he was born. “You’re…you’re completely healed now?”

“I know you recovered quicker, but how’re on your feet looking so…so fine so quickly?” Yuanshi said in bewilderment. He hid his momentary fright but was otherwise joyful.

“I’ve been fine for a long while,” Taishang said blankly. His face betrayed no emotion as if nothing bothered him at all. Yuanshi knew Taishang often betrayed nothing of his feelings, but it was a bit unsettling.

“If you’d been fine for a while, why didn’t you help me fight any devils?” Yuanshi questioned with narrowed eyes. The Grand Pure One met his gaze and made a humming noise.

“I wanted to see how you’d react.”

“Huh?”

Yuanshi felt flabbergasted and enraged. “You know how difficult it was find my way here in the first place? With our sister’s condition, I’d thought you’d be more urgent as well.”

“But I did help,” Taishang said. “I kept her status from deteriorating further.”

The Grand Pure One proceeded to sit next to the Jade Pure One, isolating them both from passerbys with some spacetime manipulation. “Our little sister Supreme Pure Tongtian’s level of injuries were beyond your skill level. I stepped in to mitigate that.”

“Then why didn’t you say anything?”

“Like I said earlier, I wanted to know how you’d react.”

The two brothers sat in palpable tension. Yuanshi’s bubbling temper had only somewhat relaxed, but Taishang still remained tranquil. Eventually, Yuanshi released a long heavy breath into his knuckle.

“Do you even consider me your brother?”

“I like you, so of course I do.”

Yuanshi couldn’t help but feel more and more confused at his fellow innate god. Why was he so hard to understand?

“I wanted to confirm a few things for myself and I did. I like you Yuanshi, I’ll stick by you always.” Taishang stood up and straightened his back while undoing the spacetime seal around them. “Now I must get going, Tongtian should take a few hundred more years to reach peak condition. This is also an opportunity for her, the springs here can allow her to comprehend something.”

“Where are you going?” Yuanshi got up and asked.

“A few places, but primarily Netherworld.”

“Why would you go there? It’s a desolate place!”

“I’m going because I felt like it,” Taishang said with finality. “It’s not that deep. Stay here, fight out there, it’s your choice. Do whatever you feel is best.”

Yuanshi continued to stare at Taishang’s back as he left. At this moment, he realized one thing. He’d never really known his third brother the Grand Pure Taishang.