"It's finally happening," Da Hai mused looking up into the sky. Above Yingzhou, the heavens lit up in a shower of golden light. Singing and dancing, images of gods manifested welcoming the descent of an ancestral deity.
Yinglong, Qinglong, Baihu, and Xuanwu looked up from their perch on Yingzhou in equal amazement at the magnificent sight above them. Raw primordial Qi gathered in radiant bursts, shining as they rose up into the sky.
The serpentine form stretching over ten thousand kilometres long danced admits the clouds. Zulong soared in the heavens, his golden scales glistened and gleamed as they shed divine light.
Around the seas, various experts gathered to watch the spectacle of Zulong's breakthrough. The high level experts who'd reached the Taiyi Golden Immortal stage gazed in amazement and wonder and a strong sense of longing. For those lower, below the Heavenly Immortal realm, they struggled to comprehend the dragon dancing above them.
For many with low cultivation, they could not even perceive Zulong's existence. Even immortals struggled to comprehend what they were seeing. The sheer concept of the Dao emanating off of Zulong was both awe inspiring yet so out of this world that they could not comprehend it.
"You know, hearing about this is one thing. But to actually see this with my own eyes," a strong raspy voice said. This was the plesiosaur ancestor.
"Quite right old long neck. Guess I shouldn't be surprised he'd be the first one of our generation to reach that realm," Plesiosaur's longtime rival, mosasaur ancestor said. "I guess it's inevitable now."
"Indeed," Colossal shark and plesiosaur replied together. "I'll move my troops away and you do yours. Our new sovereign won't like his subjects fighting that's for sure."
"Haha, who knew that kid from all those years ago will follow through with his words," Plesiosaur laughed and sighed in resignation.
"What kid? That kid kicked your, mine, and every else ass before he was taken in," Colossal Shark huffed. "It was only a matter of time anyway, the only thing he needed was the honoured exalted saint's approval."
As Zulong pushed open the boundaries between Great Unity Golden Immortal and Great Principle Chaos Immortal realms, he felt as if he entered a whole new world. The sheer clarity of which he could view the cosmos astounded him. He felt as if he'd been blind all this time and only now learned to see.
"So this is how master sees the world?" He mused. His eyes appears to be glazed over as golden strings of destiny flew by him. The winds of fate originating from the heavenly Dao, the winds that set the trend of heaven became visible to him. Zulong slightly narrowed his eyes.
"I see," he mused. His body twirled in the air floating millions of kilometres above sea level. He took a deep breath and released the culmination of his cultivation. He bathed the east sea in rich Dao essence so much so that some people had an instant breakthrough.
"The dragon was born admits the waves, he rises from the sea, flying into the sky, soaring above the clouds," Da Hai mused watching Zulong dance in the air. Even he felt admiration towards the dragon. His current cultivation was absurd, his accumulation was incredibly high even compared to the godfiends of the ancient past.
"Without Pangu, even I would be inferior," Da Hai mused with a look of pride. "I truly don't deserve this."
Zulong descended in a flurry of wind. He was wreathed in auspicious clouds that cloaked him, shrinking down until he restored his human Dao body. He was immediately glomped by Gui Daiyu.
"You did it, you did it!" She laughed joyfully. "You finally reached that realm. Now you're the first expert beneath the honoured saint."
"Of course I can do it, who do you think I am?" Zulong responded joyfully swinging the girl around.
The primordial turtle ancestor looked a little uneasy at such a public display. He nervously looked towards Da Hai and sighed in relief when he saw the sea god smile. He'd been lucky to have been allowed to stand on Yingzhou, everyone else including the top three east sea superpowers either sat in the ocean or in the air.
"Yes, with this big brother will be one step closer," Qinglong smiled with excitement. "The time of coronation should be soon."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Yinglong retorted. "Big brother has already stated he doesn't want to rush things like that peacock from the south. He's already told us breaking through was only one of three situations that must occur before he's crowned."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Qinglong said. "But this is no less joyous."
"That we can agree on," Yinglong nodded.
…
Several thousand years after Zulong's breakthrough, news reached the east sea. The south continent had lit up in a hail of five coloured light and the cry of the king of birds reached all corners of the world.
Almost overnight, all avian species across the five continent four seas began a pilgrimage. In unison, birds from all over the world marched for the south continent. Many were slain during the trek but many made it as well.
Then the news arrived, the Phoenix Sovereign had risen. The first of the three to be crowned, the illustrious king of all birds finally appeared and announced herself to the world. This Great Principle Chaos Immortal expert overthrew all other powers of the South Continent in the span of ten years and quickly assumed total control.
The geopolitical situation between the South Content and Sea had shifted completely. It was only through a lack of interest in the waters that spared Si Hai's forces not that he's ever admitted it himself.
The worldwide announcement of the Phoenix Sovereign had also shaken the hearts of two individuals. The qilin and the dragon suddenly felt the urge to challenge back in defiance and fury. However, the dragons quashed that notion down quickly.
"You're really not doing it?" Gui Daiyu asked her lover in bed.
"No, the territory I want is much much much larger than what that peacock has got. Personal power doesn't matter at that distance," Zulong shook his head. "But don't worry, the draconic Dao has reached a major breakthrough."
"You're leaving for Yingzhou again right?" Gui Daiyu asked sounding almost disappointed. Her hand touched her abdomen causing Zulong to falter.
"I'm afraid so, but don't worry, it'll only be a quick visit," the dragon promised.
"You should stay there longer, you'd get more time to work with honoured saint. I'll just enter secluded cultivation," Gui Daiyu stated much to the dragon's surprise.
"Hm? Well, alright then. You are close to a breakthrough yes?" Zulong asked for clarification.
The turtle princess sighed, "How can it be so easy to enter the Golden Immortal realm? I can see the gateway but I suspect I am still a few thousand years off."
"Why not come to Yingzhou with me?" Zulong suggested. "The Dao rich environment there is extremely suitable for cultivation."
"Would I even be allowed? That's the holy land and…" she began only for Zulong to place a finger on her lip.
"You're not a foreigner anymore Yu'er," Zulong said smiling softly. "You're family and master considers you one of us. You don't have to be so nervous around him all the time. I'll put one of your brothers in charge of Nan Dao Chen and Long Chen and we'd be set."
"Alright then, if you're sure," Gui Daiyu relented. The duo left for Yingzhou. With Zulong's newfound strength they reached the mystical island in hours. The difference between Great Unity Golden Immortal and Great Principle Chaos Immortal was like heaven and earth. The current Zulong could casually squish the old Zulong like a worm.
The loving pair was greeted by Baihu and Yi Fei'e. For the past few thousand years, the white tiger had stayed on Yingzhou as a guest whereas the black tortoise had returned north for cultivation under Ao. As such Zulong was not surprised to see these two here.
"Let master and my brothers know I've returned," he told them. While doing so he examined the two's cultivation. The moth fairy has already reached the summit of Heavenly Immortal while the white tiger was close to Great Principle Chaos Immortal like he was so long ago. 'Looks like the foundation will get even stronger,' the dragon thought.
"This way young lord," Yi Fei'e gestured. Da Hai had already been expecting Zulong for several centuries now. The sea god awaited them in the main hall of his palace cultivating in a lotus position.
"Zulong, Daiyu, it is good to see you both again," Da Hai greeted. Zulong and Gui Daiyu saluted him in turn. "I suppose you're here to discuss the draconic Dao again aren't you?" Zulong nodded in response.
When the two immortals began speaking on the subject, Gui Daiyu could no longer understand them. The concepts they spoke of was so all encompassing yet transcendent that she could not follow along at all. Her cultivation was simply too low to follow their discussion.
A discussion on the Dao between high level experts would always seem like nonsense to lower tier experts. Between two apex existences like Zulong and Da Hai, this fact was magnified. Nevertheless, Gui Daiyu maintained a stiff polite position if only to not be rude.
'It's not even like they're speaking another language, it's like they're just making weird sounds,' she thought in admiration. 'I wonder how they see the world compared to me. It was so confusing even when Zulong explained it to me.'
"And for the final portion, connecting all the roots into one singular gateway which acts as the tribulation instead of the heavenly tribulation. This dragon's gate will serve as the culmination of the transformation into a true dragon," Zulong explained to Da Hai showing him a holographic diagram projected from his palms.
"Thus recreating your own physique but on a lesser scale. Then there is the potential for growth into your true physique that is to say the body of the immemorial celestial dragon," Da Hai confirmed nodding.
"Those branching paths, they all lead back to this one source," Da Hai said adding his own projections. "Ao many starting points with similarities only in that they're dragons, all leading back to the immemorial celestial dragon, you. Brilliantly done Zulong," he praised.
"Yes, there are still some kinks and the process needs to be streamlined for ease of access but the foundations are almost done," the dragon said.
"And you also leave room for others to build upon this, the branching starting points are things each individual can create and make their own lineage of the draconic Dao," the sea god smiled in satisfaction. "I suppose you've also figured out why a cultivation sutra should not exceed the Golden Immortal realm correct?"
"Yes master, it was perplexing at first but as I worked on the pathways I had an inkling to it. Will master confirm for this disciple?" Zulong asked to which Da Hai nodded.
"Then, I suspect it is due to the Dao itself. Golden Immortal represents the breaking away from the universe, breaking away from the river of destinies and obtaining true freedom from the world. Progressing from there requires the creation of one's own Dao, one's own understanding to obtain enlightenment."
"But that is the key fact, everyone must have their own Dao. To copy someone else's Dao is to walk their path. But one's own Dao only reaches to the creator's level, and the creator themself holds the apex position. As such no one can ever supersede them. Only when they perish or abandon their path can another take their place but this cycle repeats."
"Master, the devilish Dao is a trap, isn't it? No one can ever surpass the devil ancestor, not unless he perishes. No one can ever progress past a certain point," the dragon outlined. He locked eyes with Da Hai asking for confirmation and approval.
"Well done Zulong," Da Hai clapped his hands smiling. "Well done indeed, yes, that is indeed why no sutra can ever supersede the Golden Immortal realm. To do so is cruelty of the utmost degree. Remember, you must never do so, understand?"
"I understand master," Zulong said. "It would be unfair to all those who'd follow me, unfair to all creatures who'd cultivate under me."
"It's good that you do, I suppose you'd want to enter the testing phase soon yes?" Da Hai asked.
"Yes, and I have the perfect test subject in mind," the dragon said smiling. Da hai looked curiously as the dragon got to work.
…
On the back gardens of Yingzhou, a pond lay in a beautiful garden. Several dozens of carps lived there peacefully. They were spiritual beasts captured years ago by Da Hai and brought here as decorations, as such they had yet to gain true sentience.
Zulong walked into the back garden holding a finished book. He gazed into the pond and looked around stroking his chin. "You'll do," he said pointing at the runt swimming about.
With a gesture, he captured the carp in a bubble of water and brought it to him. "Okay fish, this is the draconic manual, read it, memorise it, cultivate it," he instructed. The carp looked at him for a moment then swam around the bubble.
"I'm going to inject it into your mind now fish," Zulong warned. "Good luck," he said pushing the entire manual into the carp's mind before dumping it back in the water