Chapter Thirteen: The First Encounter with the Three Spirits

“Excellent!” Gazing at the twelve figures before him, Nanluo beamed with delight. “Twelve Supreme Kings of the Primordial Demon-Gods—each one comparable to a lesser Divine Lord. With their aid, the divine race will surely unite the Wilds under one banner.”

“If they receive the blessing of the divine race’s fate, perhaps these twelve will immediately break through and become Divine Lords,” Nanluo mused inwardly, thinking of the six-zhang golden canopy that shimmered above him.

“With myself and Fatty included, the divine race would instantly boast fourteen Divine Lords. Across the entire Wilds, what other race or faction can claim such power?” He did a quick mental tally, quite satisfied with the result.

“However, these twelve King-level gods wish to ascend by harnessing the destiny of the divine race—it won’t be so easy.” Unwilling to let the twelve become too powerful and threaten his own position, Nanluo had no intention of handing over the divine race’s fate so readily.

Fatty laughed heartily. “Big Brother, you speak true. When do you wish to meet with them?”

“Hmm? Gather them for now. Once I return, I’ll discuss matters with them in detail,” Nanluo replied after a moment’s thought, his voice low and resolute.

“You’re leaving? May I ask where you’re headed, Brother?” Fatty asked, curiosity in his tone.

Nanluo answered gravely, “Mount Buzhou.”

“Mount Buzhou? Do you intend to break through there, Big Brother?” Fatty’s eyes brightened with interest as he glanced at the six-zhang golden aura surrounding Nanluo.

Nanluo nodded crisply, without the slightest hesitation. “That is exactly my intention.”

In truth, Nanluo’s original reason for going to Mount Buzhou was not to attempt a breakthrough, but to seek a certain opportunity. However, simply by proposing to establish the divine race, he had already gained tremendous fortune, and fate itself now favored him.

Now, Nanluo could break through to Divine Lord at any moment. Thus, he planned to use Mount Buzhou as the site of his ascension.

“Brother, it’s not like it was a hundred thousand years ago. These days, Mount Buzhou is not only sealed by the three great powers, but it’s also crawling with powerful immortals and deities. If you choose to break through there, it could be dangerous!” Fatty said earnestly.

Nanluo’s expression shifted, but after a moment of thought, he responded, “I must break through at Mount Buzhou. That place will make me stronger. For us Primordial Demon-Gods, danger is our greatest motivation.”

“Well said! Brother, your words are the highest truth: danger is but the fuel that drives our strength!” Fatty clapped his hands in admiration. For the exalted, unparalleled Primordial Demon-Gods, it was an apt description indeed.

Nanluo nodded slightly, accepting the praise.

“Brother, I wish you a swift ascension to Divine Lord!” Fatty raised his wine cup in a hearty toast.

Nanluo lifted his cup with a smile. “And I wish you, wise brother, success in gathering the gods and building the divine race together!”

…

Kirin City, East Gate.

A mid-sized divine ark, thousands of miles long, drifted slowly toward the eastern gate.

To prevent any being from bringing forbidden items—be it a wanted criminal, lost treasure, or other contraband—every creature was required to pass through the gate alone.

Should anyone dare smuggle forbidden items, the Demon-Revealing Mirror above the gate would expose them on the spot. The Kirin army would then swoop down to apprehend the offender.

Nanluo alighted from the divine ark, which he promptly stored away, and gazed at the grand, imposing eastern gate.

The gate shimmered with a massive curtain of light, above which hung an enormous Demon-Revealing Mirror. Countless beams of divine radiance flickered continually across the gateway.

Confronted by the power of the Demon-Revealing Mirror, Nanluo had no choice but to reveal his true Primordial Demon-God form, transforming into a beam of divine light as he shot toward the gate.

Unbeknownst to Nanluo, the moment he resumed his true form, a pair of hidden eyes recognized him from the shadows.

…

A divine ark, thousands of miles long, streaked through the ethereal sky like a shooting star.

“Help! Save us!” The cries for help pierced the silence as Nanluo sat cultivating within the ark. His golden eyes opened in confusion.

He extended his divine sense toward the source of the cries and soon located them: three weak, demigod-level beings were fleeing anxiously at low altitude, a vicious beast in relentless pursuit.

From the look of things, the three would soon be overtaken.

At the dawn of the Wilds, uncountable savage beasts had been born. These fiends were incarnations of the resentment left behind by the Chaos Gods slain by Pangu during the calamity that split the heavens. Innately ferocious and bloodthirsty, they had been rejected by the world itself.

Yet, though rejected, the fiend beasts had become the greatest power in the Wilds due to their sheer numbers and might.

All innate gods and demons loathed the fiend beasts.

“Why would these three mortals catch my attention?” Nanluo closed his eyes, contemplating.

After a brief moment, he opened his golden eyes and gazed down at the three. He chuckled softly. “So, we share a bond of master and disciples.”

With a roar, the fiend beast redoubled its speed, lunging at the three mortals who had slowed in exhaustion.

“We’re doomed!” the three cried out in despair as the monster closed in.

Just then, the trio stared in shock as a bolt of black divine lightning struck the beast’s head. The fearsome monster was instantly blasted to ash.

Their legs went weak, and they collapsed midair, unable to move.

In the next instant, the three found themselves in a resplendent golden hall. Atop a lofty throne sat a godly lord, calmly regarding them.

A formless pressure weighed down from all sides, nearly suffocating the trio.

“We greet the great god!” At once, the three fell to their knees, bowing reverently.

“Rise,” Nanluo said coolly.

His calm voice nonetheless echoed in their ears like thunder, commanding absolute respect.

“Thank you, Divine Lord!” Beads of sweat rolled down their faces as they rose, heads bowed, not daring to speak further.

Nanluo regarded the two boys and one girl before him, his tone serene. “What are your names? Where do you hail from? What is your true form?”

Though frightened, the trio did not dare withhold an answer.

The blue-haired boy was first, trembling as he replied, “Divine Lord, this humble one is Shui, a solitary cultivator and an innate spirit of water.”

The red-haired boy followed, voice quaking. “Divine Lord, this humble one is Huo, a solitary cultivator and an innate spirit of fire.”

At last, the black-haired girl stepped forward, answering timidly, “Divine Lord, this humble one is Feng, a solitary cultivator and an innate spirit of wind.”

Hearing this, Nanluo was astonished. Three innate spirits—of water, fire, and wind, no less, each embodying a fundamental law. What incredible fortune! Truly, with fate on his side, nothing would hinder him.

In the previous chapter, Fatty had pointed out eleven Primordial Demon-Gods, naming twelve in all. Did no one notice this discrepancy?

…

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