Pre-Qin Mythology: Starting with the River God

The general trend of the world —

When the Zhou emperor moved east to Luoyi, the Duke of Zheng became the Left Minister, using the emperor's authority to command those who disobeyed him. He ignored the Chu state's request for a promotion, and from then on, Chu declared itself a kingdom, proclaiming, "We do not submit to Zhou!"

To avenge the grievances of the people of Chu, King Xiong Tong of Chu led his troops to attack the Zhou emperor's pass in the Nanyang Basin.

败！

They then turned and attacked the area west of Jingmen, including Zhou Chen, Viscount Quan Guo!

胜！

……

……

Quan Ming's soul drifted away in the chaos, drifting with the current, sinking step by step into the underground capital of Chu. He held fast to his will and refused to fall into depravity, because he could never forget the moment when he, as the prince of Quan, was treated as a sacrifice by his father and king and personally pushed into the Quan River to worship his ancestors.

Even if our ancestors responded and transformed into the spirit of the army, what difference would it make?

Quan Guo has lost!

Haha... This battle, for the sake of so-called old grudges and the ridiculous face of the monarch, has completely destroyed the path to survival that he had cultivated with the State of Chu for many years and secured for the State of Quan.

Historical records state that Chu swallowed up small states and thus became powerful.

But he was unwilling to accept it.

Arriving in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, a time interwoven with mythology and history, he, a mortal, defied fate and, despite his utmost efforts, could not change the destiny of the powerful state.

Even though he knew that dynastic changes were part of the human order, he still hoped that innocent people would stay away from unnecessary wars... Reborn into a powerful nation, he had long regarded this place as his homeland.

Now that things have come to this, he can only go with the flow and wait for his underhanded methods to reverse fate.

He had anticipated before the war that he would be crushed by the overwhelming force of the Chu state, but he did not run away because he knew that human power has its limits. In this world, gods have greater freedom than humans and are trusted by the people... even superstitious. So he secretly wrote a letter to his longtime friend, the King of Chu, Xiong Tong.

letter--

My dear brother, this is a letter from your father:

The world's affairs are ever-changing; after a long period of division, there will be unity, and after a long period of unity, there will be division!

I know that the State of Chu's policy of "not submitting to Zhou" is a national policy. This time, Chu's failure to attack the Zhou Dynasty's fortress in the Nanyang Basin will damage its national prestige, and the title of King of Chu will no longer be real. In order to avoid becoming a laughing stock among the other states, it is natural to need a victory to deter them.

Our Quan Kingdom has been an enemy of Chu for generations!

Although I mediated and my brother showed signs of reconciliation, my father's enemy, Chu, and the Zhou king's constant interference have prevented Quan and Chu from benefiting. Now, Chu's attack on Quan is inevitable.

I have no way to persuade you, I only hope that you, brother, can be tolerant of the powerful people and move to the Chu region to make a living after the war.

And the younger brother...

If I survive the battle, I wish to become a subject of Chu.

If I die in battle, I hope my brother will remember my heart and summon my soul back so that it may protect this land.

……

Don't let me down... Xiong Tong.

My life should never end like this!

……

hum!

The Chu Kingdom's Youdu has arrived. The surrounding area is filled with the rumbling sound of water. Countless souls float listlessly in the river, converging towards the central crater. Once they fall into the crater, they will never be able to return to the world. They can only become a piece of the human race's will and return to the world. In the very center of the crater, there is a giant rock, and on the giant rock is the god Tu Bo!

Tu Bo is the ruler of Youdu!

Majestic and solemn, with a terrifyingly large body, shaped like a coiled snake, a three-eyed tiger head, and horns growing from its head that pierced through the chaos above, gleaming coldly. The scales on its snake-like body resembled bulging muscles, and its giant claws were covered with ghostly souls trying to escape.

Quan Ming watched this scene with a solemn expression.

Tu Bo discovered his still-retaining soul and reached out a giant hand covered in black blood towards him...

But then, from above, came the sound of "Summoning the Soul"—

"O soul, return...to your former home..."

Quan Ming and Tu Bo, and even the dazed souls, all looked up and saw King Xiong Tong of Chu, dressed in shamanic robes and draped in white hemp, standing on a chariot, holding a huge banner for summoning souls, his expression solemn. Behind him followed Chu soldiers carrying Chu burial clothes, jade artifacts, pottery figurines, various flowers and herbs, yarrow stalks for divination, tortoise shells, and tomb guardian beasts, along with many officials holding bronze shamanic bells, numerous Chu scholars, and thousands of Quan people who had been brought there to join the festivities. At this moment, together they called out the name of the dead on the Quan River: "Soul, return! Alas, Jiangnan... Quan Ming, return..."

Finally!

Quan Ming felt a pull that lifted him up.

Tu Bo's face was ruthless as he tried to extend his giant claws again, startling Quan Ming...?

He then fixed his gaze on Tu Bo, laughing angrily, "Before we even reach the ruins, it's not Tu Bo's place to make decisions for my insignificant soul. Does Tu Bo's power surpass that of the State of Chu?!"

Tu Bo is furious!

However, under Quan Ming's words, the giant hand had no choice but to withdraw!

Rumble!

Along the banks of the Quan River, the water flows gently and the waves surge.

Xiong Tong possessed immense strength and forcefully drove the giant soul banner into the ground!

He ordered:

"Burn incense!"

"Divination!"

The soldiers hurriedly put down their items, and the officials also took on their respective duties, using tortoise shells to divine the location of Quan Ming's soul, and using witchcraft to guide Quan Ming back!

hum...

Above Youdu, waterways crisscross, leading directly to the Quan River.

Quan Ming's soul slowly emerged from the water. Upon seeing this, Xiong Tong was overjoyed. Holding the twelve-inch jade tablet of the King of Chu, he proclaimed: "He did not die in the abyss, but was reborn in the water palace. His loyalty and valor have transformed into an immortal, forever guarding the waves. Now, I hereby decree that Prince Quan Ming reside in the Dao Heaven of Chu, and be ranked among the immortals of the Quan Water!"

"Thump!"

A drumbeat resounded from the sky!

The officials hurriedly threw Chu Lu's corpse clothes into the Quan River. Quan Ming's soul returned and immediately attached itself to the corpse clothes, finding a place to reside!

Then came jade artifacts, pottery figurines, various flowers, and fish-shaped tomb guardian beasts!

"Boom!"

Above the Quan River, clouds and mist gathered, and a huge laurel boat broke through the mist and sailed in the vastness. On the boat were a man and a woman. The man was handsome and heroic, with dragon-shaped water flowing around him, while the woman was gentle and elegant, her beautiful eyes full of tenderness towards the man.

"Welcome, Xiangjun!"

"Lady Xiang!"

The King of Chu stood majestically, gazing at the approaching Xiangjun and Xiangfuren.

The soldiers, officials, scholars, Chu people, and even those with their own beliefs below were all awestruck by the divine power and, in accordance with the established rites, either cupped their hands, bowed, or knelt in welcome...

As the highest deity of the Chu water system, they would come to bestow blessings whenever a new water system deity appeared in the Chu state.

This blessing will also be the authority of the newborn deity.

Xiangjun looked at Quan Ming, who was submerged in the water, and nodded in satisfaction upon seeing his appearance. She then said loudly, "Quan's land has been returned to Chu. Since he has lost his state, the mountains and rivers of his land should naturally be under the control of the gods of Chu. The former Prince Quan Ming was as beautiful as the spring sun and as elegant as an orchid. His virtue was also renowned in Chu. Now he has died in battle, which is truly heroic..."

That's all.

Xiangjun and his wife exchanged glances and nodded.

The two spoke in unison, simultaneously extending their hands. A surge of light appeared, bestowing divine authority: "By the decree of the King of Chu: Gather as Water Immortals, take charge of the Water lineage, and temporarily reside in the First Heaven of the Dao!"

After saying this, Xiangjun reminded, "The Dao Heaven of Chu has eight levels, with the first level being the lowest. Immortals and gods must act for the sake of the fate of the Chu nation to ascend to higher levels."

hum!

Quan Ming's soul returned to the Quan River. At this moment, relying on the imperial decree of King Xiong Tong of Chu and the power bestowed by Xiang Jun and Xiang Furen, he condensed into an immortal at the bottom of the deep water!

The shroud that carried his soul transformed into a light and ethereal gray-blue gauze robe.

Various jade ornaments were attached to the gauze dress... Among them, a jade boat kept growing larger and larger, turning into a bamboo boat, which took in the rest of the jade artifacts. Fragrant herbs and flowers flew in to adorn it, exuding an ethereal divinity.

Quan Ming rode in the covered boat, and the fish-shaped tomb guardian beast came to life, pulling the bamboo-covered wooden boat and carrying him out of the water!

Finally... he came back to life!

Quan Ming cupped his hands in greeting, his gaze resolute, his mind focused. Amidst the misty waters, his words resonated powerfully, echoing far and wide: "Thank you, King Chu, thank you, Xiangjun and Xiangfu... As a water immortal, Quan Ming shall, in my divine form, continue my life's aspirations, to let the world understand that whether it is Quan or Chu, they are all part of our Chinese nation!"

Ok?

Are all the people of Chu and Quan the same as Chinese?

Everyone on the shore was astonished!

Xiangjun and Xiangfuren were even more shocked upon hearing this. Seeing that Quanming had an extraordinary demeanor and excellent complexion, completely different from ordinary daffodils, they couldn't help but feel affection for him.

Lady Xiang pondered for a moment, then gently patted Lady Xiang beside her.

Xiangjun smiled knowingly, then transmitted her thoughts: "You young man are quite extraordinary, and very likable."

"However, you have stolen the fortune of the downstream branch immortal. In order to intercept and kill you, he even sent gifts to the Earth Lord. Even if you cleverly resolve the situation, you have just summoned a spirit to become an immortal, which is far less powerful than the branch immortal. Moreover, he was a nobleman of the Chu Kingdom in his previous life, and now he has descendants who are Chu officials. Hmm, difficult, difficult, difficult... That's all I have to say. Be careful."

……

……

Just as Quan Ming ascended to godhood, dark blue waves suddenly surged downstream of Quan Shui, from which floated corpses, rotten from being submerged in water. Judging from their clothing, they were soldiers of the Quan Kingdom. A cold laugh drifted along the current: "Quan Ming... Haha, what a Quan Ming! Let me see how you can bring yourself to kill these fellow mortal corpses!"