Pre-Qin Mythology: Starting with the River God

Two days passed quickly, and the banquet arrived as scheduled.

Quan Ming didn't invite many immortals, gods, or auspicious beasts; he only invited a few from Quan Shui's surroundings. His initial purpose in inviting these people was to isolate the branch immortals, and he also wanted to test their stance. However, after making arrangements in advance, he no longer cared about their stances. All he wanted were witnesses to prove that he had not overstepped his bounds in the use of divine authority.

"Ah, this is the Water Palace of the Immortal Quan?"

"Feng shui is the way of things. This location is blessed with pure yang energy, dappled sunlight, and pristine sunrises and sunsets. It's a wonderful place, a truly wonderful place!"

Before midday, a bamboo raft slowly approached, and the figure on the raft radiated a divine light—it was the narcissus of the Zhangshui River!

The lower reaches of Quanshui connect with Zhishui, and at this confluence, there is another upstream stream flowing into Zhishui, which is Zhangshui. The water immortal of Zhangshui is a celestial being at the peak of the second level of the Dao Heaven Realm. Although he does not have any clan backing him, he has more seniority than Zhixian, and Zhixian does not dare to offend him.

Moreover, this Zhang Xian also disliked Zhi Xian and had never had any contact with him.

Perhaps, this is an ally?

"please!"

Quan Ming did not appear; for the time being, it was Feng Hua, the smooth-talking clam spirit, who was greeting guests.

As Quan Ming's close attendant, Feng Hua had been by Quan Ming's side for the past two days, playing chess with him and chatting about the supernatural events and world affairs. Quan Ming's knowledge impressed Feng Hua, and Feng Hua also understood that Quan Ming intended to befriend some friendly immortals and auspicious beasts.

Upon seeing Zhang Xian arrive, they immediately greeted him with a smile.

"Master Zhang, I was present at the beginning of the year when you were interpreting the fortunes of the creatures in the Zhang River. I was fortunate enough to hear a few of your interpretations, and I have the utmost admiration for your skill in astrology!"

"Oh, really?"

Zhang Xian was clearly also appointed as an immortal by a human soul. He had a middle-aged appearance, dressed in simple and elegant clothes, and was dressed like a gentleman.

The other party disembarked from the bamboo raft and stepped through the giant blue stone gate.

"Hiss... Seven Cauldrons?" Although they are already immortals and gods and do not need to abide by the etiquette of the living, those whose human souls are immortals and gods still have some concerns.

"Hiss hiss hiss..."

As they were talking, a monster with the head of a python and the body of a yellow dog hissed at Zhang Xian.

"..."

Zhang Xian still knew the previous Quan Xian. Although they were from opposing camps, seeing him again in this way still made Zhang Xian sigh.

After much deliberation, Zhang Xian hesitated and said, "...That's incredible."

"Quan Xian certainly knows how to enjoy life, using such a 'strange beast' to guard the gate... Impressive."

He shook his head and followed Feng Hua across the main hall toward the back courtyard.

"You've come at the right time; the Lord is in the music room."

As they were talking, the melodious sound of the guqin came from the music room, continuous and unending, like waves pushing and splashing, lapping against the blue stones on the shore. It was pure and peaceful, without a trace of turbidity, the sound of a gentleman.

Upon hearing the sound, Zhang Xian listened intently.

He immediately cast aside any lingering resentment he felt towards Quan Ming: "To be able to play such a tune shows his true character!"

Zhang Xian looked around the backyard and saw that the layout was elegant and comfortable.

He murmured, "It seems I made the right choice coming here... Fortunately, there's finally someone around who I can talk to!"

Just then, a loud, angry shout came from outside the door: "Why is no one here to greet me!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xian's face showed disgust, but remembering that this was Quan Ming's water mansion, she quickly suppressed her disgust and reminded Feng Hua, "It's that mountain spirit of the mountain. Be careful. This guy is a tiger spirit that loves to eat raw flesh and blood. Don't let the spirits in your water mansion get close to him."

Upon hearing this, Feng Hua was startled.

He had heard of this mountain immortal, and now, thinking about going to greet him, he felt a little apprehensive.

hum!

The music in the music room stopped for a moment, and Quan Ming walked out.

"Feng Hua, go."

As he spoke, Quan Ming enveloped Feng Hua with a mist of water. Feng Hua felt the power of the Water Palace descend upon him, which he could command at will. With this power, the fear in his heart instantly dissipated. He responded and hurriedly went to entertain him.

Quan Ming then greeted Zhang Xian.

"I had intended to invite Zhang Xian to play music with me, but it is not appropriate for the host to entertain guests today. I can only invite Zhang Xian to the main hall with me, and I will invite him separately another day."

"Haha..." Zhang Xian looked at Quan Ming's attire today and admired him in his heart. Then, when he looked at Quan Ming's face, his eyes lit up.

"It's alright, it's alright!"

"Let's go to that hall first. That tiger isn't so easy to talk to. But that guy is a bit tyrannical. After becoming a mountain immortal, he stopped eating people and is now focused on seizing the will of Chu. He longs to meet the Dao Heaven assessment as soon as possible and has no intention of opposing us."

"Um?"

Quan Ming's eyes flickered: "Waiting for the assessment?"

"Oh, is that so? I am now at the peak of Dao One, and the assessment has arrived, but I have not yet entered the Dao Two realm, so I am not sure whether this assessment is something that can be taken as long as one has enough Dao essence?"

They walked towards the main hall together.

Zhang Xian stroked his green beard and laughed, "That's true and that's not true. Our Dao Heaven realm isn't high, so generally speaking, the assessment will come when the Dao Rhyme is reached. But if you fail the first assessment, then when the next assessment will come depends on opportunity. That tiger... oh, hehe, even I am stuck at the second level of Dao Heaven. I have taken the assessment several times but have not been recognized by Dao Heaven."

As she spoke, Zhang Xian looked somewhat forlorn, but the look vanished in an instant.

He then exclaimed in admiration, "It has only been ten days since Quan Xian returned to his position, yet he has already fulfilled the Dao requirements. His destiny is far stronger than ours. Perhaps one day he will surpass us, enter the third level of the Dao Heaven, become a Venerable Lord, and enjoy the sacrifices of the Chu Kingdom."

Honor the Lord, and offer sacrifices to the state and the people.

Quan Ming knew that only immortals and gods of the third level of the Dao Heaven could enter the Temple of the God of the Land and Grain, and during major sacrifices, they would receive sacrifices from the King of Chu and share in the will of the Chu land.

Below these are all "wild gods and minor deities" who can only receive local sacrifices.

"It's too early to say anything about this."

"Please, Immortal Zhang."

The two entered the hall, but Zhang Xian smiled and shook his head as he sat down: "It is naturally early for Quan Xian, but I look like a middle-aged man, but I have been sitting in Zhang Xian's position for four hundred years. My life is coming to an end, and I am afraid I will not be able to see Quan Xian ascend to a higher position."

The loneliness in his words was unmistakable.

But the other party seemed relieved, as if they had taken it all in stride, and sighed, "It was worth it to have spent four hundred more years in this world."

"You see... even the Lesser Fate Master hasn't existed as long as I have, and now she's caught in a calamity, probably won't be able to survive. I... it's worth it, it's worth it, I shouldn't ask for more."

Everything has an end...

Even immortals and gods have their days coming to an end!

"What good are you, you old fool, doing here? If you truly understood, you wouldn't be showing off everywhere. Do you think the heavens would give you a chance because of your petty actions?"

A majestic tiger-shaped deity stepped into the hall, and a bloodthirsty gust of wind emanated from its mouth.

Behind him stood Feng Hua, as graceful as a quail.

Quan Ming glanced at him before Feng Hua dared to look up. There was no way around it; the intimidation of the Mountain Tiger Immortal was too strong, especially for spirits and monsters, who were naturally terrifying.

"You are Quan Xian?"

The tiger immortal sat down on his own; he was enormous, taking up two seats.

Quan Ming saw that the other person was staring at him with a pair of fierce eyes.

He wasn't annoyed. He simply raised his hand, and the next moment, Quan Shui's power descended, sealing the tiger immortal's aura to prevent it from harming the spirits in his water palace.

"you!"

Tiger Immortal was furious, but the next moment he felt a chill run down his spine!

His eyes narrowed!

Because he saw the shrunken green halberd inserted in Quan Ming's hair bun, which exuded an even stronger murderous aura than Quan Ming himself!

At the same time, he also remembered that this was not his own stronghold, but Quan Xian Shui Mansion!

"My lord."

Just as Hu Xianfeng was speechless and dejected, Quan Nan rushed in from outside the hall: "...The Wei clan has come again, and they've come with Lord Jingshan!"

Lord of Jing Mountain?

Quan Ming smiled slightly upon hearing this: Today is truly a game of many parties, full of variables... However, at least the Wei family has already entered the game!