Chapter 102: The States of All Beings

Qi drank with everyone in the pavilion, all became drunk, the music harmonized, and mist swirled.

The people's singing passed through the thin mist over Cloud Dream Marsh, accompanied by the sound of waves, carrying far away.

Di Jun, rarely so spirited, sat opposite Fuxi drinking; Qi joked that Taiyi couldn't hold his liquor, and Taiyi leaned against the stone pillar in the pavilion, half-asleep.

Nüwa rested her hand on her forehead, smiling at the crowd, also unable to withstand the wine, merely humming softly.

Matching the mist that lingers on the surface of Cloud Dream Marsh, this truly is the scene of a divine dao cavern heaven.

Everyone chatted and laughed, unaware of their drunkenness; they saw the high moon, countless starlight pulled down by the formation's base, and the Milky Way poured like a waterfall.

Nüwa gazed at the scenery before her, her dazed eyes revealing a faint satisfaction.

Qi noticed Nüwa's unusual demeanor, stopped teasing the sleepy Taiyi, sat beside her, and said:

"What are you thinking about, so absorbed in this?"

Nüwa laughed and answered Qi's question.

"Such a view, gathering three or five friends, sitting to discuss the Dao over drinks, speaking freely, unfolding our hearts' ambitions—is this not worth getting drunk over?"

Qi laughed loudly, reached a hand into the sky, and countless moonlight showered onto Cloud Dream Marsh, reflecting the starlight, a harmony of reflections.

"It is worth it; next time we gather like this, I don't know when, but then I will add some color as well."

The movement attracted the gazes of Fuxi and Di Jun, who also heard Qi's drunken words; only Fuxi smiled and said:

"Such a joyful scene—how could it lack music to liven it up?"

Likewise, he waved a hand between heaven and earth; the wave sounds faded, and the stars in the water sparkled and collided, like pendants softly chiming, echoing the wind and waves.

Di Jun said nothing, yet likewise exerted his divine power, drawing down a few strands of sunlight that turned into myriad colors across the sky, without affecting the Milky Way and moon, adding a touch of strange beauty.

Taiyi saw everyone like this; though very drowsy, he also commanded the mist, adding a hint of ethereality.

Seeing the dreamlike scene before them, they exchanged smiles, dispersed the feast, and went to rest.

Having already endured over ten great cycles of toil, they finally relaxed their minds, drank more spirit wine, and all unconsciously fell into deep sleep.

The Primordial Wilderness fell silent in an instant, leaving only the three tribes and countless mundane beings beginning to stir within the Primordial Wilderness.

And the Qilin Tribe's actions were gradually noticed by the Dragon and Phoenix; by the time they reacted, it was too late—the Qilin Tribe had already established an advantage over the Primordial Wilderness comparable to that of the two tribes.

East Sea, the Dragon Tribe's water palace.

"Elder brother, I never expected the Primordial Qilin to have such means; now that we've discovered them, they will surely speed up as well."

"Do you think we should also follow suit?"

Qinglong's words did not mean they should likewise educate those tribes slowly to bring them under the Dragon Tribe's rule.

Rather, it meant ruling directly through force, seizing as much territory as possible to ensure they would not fall far behind the Qilin Tribe, leaving room to contend.

The Ancestor Dragon pondered for a moment, then slowly said:

"The initiative is now lost; any struggle on the Primordial Wilderness will inevitably fall behind, and even ruling by force will surely fail to keep pace with the Qilin Tribe."

"Now the Dragon Tribe has the Dragon Gate, lacking neither fresh blood nor those who aspire to the Dragon Tribe; we need not imitate the Qilin Tribe, but simply open wide the gates of convenience."

Qinglong heard this, felt doubtful and did not fully grasp the Ancestor Dragon's meaning, and said:

"Please, elder brother, clarify—how should our Dragon Tribe conduct itself?"

"Our Dragon Tribe now only needs to rely on the water system, control its surroundings; any being that leaps over the Dragon Gate shall be taken into the Dragon Tribe and allowed to return to govern its own tribe."

"Bestow Dragon Blood, assimilate them at the root, turning them into dragon seed; thus no large military mobilization is needed, and the crisis will resolve itself."

The Ancestor Dragon's voice was full of confidence; given the Dragon Tribe's present influence, he believed this method would surely suffice to contend with the Qilin Tribe on the Primordial Wilderness.

Qinglong said with some concern:

"Then, elder brother, how will you resolve the issue of mixed bloodlines in the Dragon Tribe?"

After all, this concerns the great matter of bloodline inheritance, which makes Qinglong unable not to worry.

"It's fine; simply regard those with insufficient bloodline as false dragons, as long as the Dragon Tribe's own bloodline remains pure—just a little inheritance—and give it to them."

The Ancestor Dragon does not worry about bloodline mixing; even if many beings with Dragon Tribe blood appear, it will not affect the pure-blooded Dragon Tribe members.

As for the Dragon Tribe's heritage within the bloodline being learned by outsiders, the Ancestor Dragon cares not at all; wanting outsiders to accept Dragon Blood, giving them some benefits is only appropriate.

Moreover, if someone truly capable of fully accepting the Dragon Tribe's heritage were born, then leaping the Dragon Gate and becoming a true dragon would likewise be easy.

Within the Dragon Gate lie the secrets of the Dragon Tribe's bloodline and its fortune; anyone who passes through finds marrow‑washing merely ordinary—all are outstanding in bone, vigor, and talent in the Primordial Wilderness.

For such talent joining the Dragon Tribe, they are naturally welcomed; especially after being transformed by the Dragon Gate, they are already true dragons.

Henceforth, the Dragon Tribe also distinguished true from false; even a false dragon's bloodline in the Primordial Wilderness is still considered noble, and with a bit more Dragon Tribe inheritance, they can live quite well.

Regarding this true/false distinction, those false dragons lacking bloodline naturally do not care; instead, they will strive to purify their blood and pursue becoming dragons.

Nan Fang Continent, beneath the parasol tree.

"Feng, the Qilin Tribe's movements are now so great, having established many advantages on the Primordial Wilderness; do you say the Phoenix Tribe should also take part?"

Yuan Huang worried somewhat about the Qilin Tribe's changes, pondering how the Phoenix's future should be.

Yuan Feng knew what Yuan Huang was worried about, and merely offered comfort:

"No need to worry; affairs on the Primordial Wilderness currently concern not the Phoenix Tribe; during this period of silence at the Deathless Mountain, our foremost goal is to first control the entire Primordial Wilderness sky."

"Next comes contending with the Dragon and Qilin Tribes for the Primordial Wilderness; we need only proceed step by step, and then we will be enough to rival the other two tribes."

Yuan Feng understood that in the present Primordial Wilderness, the Phoenix Tribe had become too conspicuous; after the crisis at the Deathless Mountain was lifted, the resulting impact had already dissatisfied many innate divinities.

For now, they cannot attract too much attention; being able to smoothly bring the sky under control is already the limit of the Phoenix Tribe.

Any further overreach would only invite a joint strike from the Dragon and Qilin Tribes.

Compared to fighting for the existing Primordial Wilderness, this would only bring loss without gain.

Seeing Yuan Feng thus, Yuan Huang could only set aside her thoughts and not dwell on them.

Seeing Yuan Huang thus, Yuan Feng's eyes flashed with helplessness; he did not know what would become of the Phoenix Tribe—or of Yuan Huang—if something happened to him one day.

(End of Chapter)