I am a fairy in Journey to the West

The attendant carrying the staff came out and led Lu Hanzhi, Ping Shui Zhenwang, and Huo Fusheng Daojun into the Chenhuan Palace.

The three walked to the center of the main hall, and Lu Hanzhi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Five Elements Manifestation Ping Shui True King and the Fire Talisman Life Dao Lord have come to pay homage by imperial decree."

As soon as Lu Hanzhi finished speaking, True King Pingshui and Daoist Huofusheng bowed in unison, saying, "Pingshui (Huofusheng) pays respects to His Majesty the Great Emperor Shenxiao."

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "Fellow Daoists, there's no need for such formalities. Someone, please bring us seats."

"Yes." The boy next to her was ordered to bring over three sandalwood chairs. Lu Hanzhi, Ping Shui Zhenwang, and Huo Fusheng Daojun bowed and thanked him, then walked to the side and sat down.

After the three were seated, Zhuang Yan looked at Ping Shui Zhen Wang and said, "The Heavenly Court has appointed you as a Zhen Wang. Are you satisfied?"

King Ping Shui laughed and said, "The Heavenly Court has already shown us great kindness by accepting us and treating us fairly. Now that you have granted us official ranks, I have no complaints whatsoever."

Zhuang Yan nodded and smiled, "That's good. As the True King of Ping Shui, you hold the power over the Water Spirit Realm. From now on, you have the responsibility to educate all living beings. You cannot be negligent or slack."

Ping Shui Zhen Wang cupped his hands and said, "Your subject respectfully obeys the decree of the Divine Firmament Emperor."

At this moment, the attendants served him celestial fruit and spiritual tea. King Ping Shui picked up the teacup and took a sip. Suddenly, he saw a very strange celestial fruit that resembled a small person.

Upon seeing this, Lu Hanzhi said, "This is the innate spiritual root 'Ginseng Fruit,' which belongs to Zhenyuan Daxian of Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain. This tree blossoms once every three thousand years, bears fruit once every three thousand years, and matures once every three thousand years, producing 99 fruits at a time. Smelling it will grant you 360 years of life, and eating one will grant you 47,000 years of life, warding off disasters and prolonging your life."

Ping Shui Zhen Wang and Huo Fu Sheng Dao Jun were both astonished. There are only two innate spiritual roots in the Five Elements world: one is the 'Taiyi Divine Wood' of the Wood Element Dao Ancestor, and the other is the 'Nine Luminaries Mulberry Branch' of the Fire Element Dao Ancestor.

However, neither the Taiyi Divine Tree nor the Nine Luminaries Mulberry Branch could be used so casually to entertain others.

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "You two may try my Pangu's spiritual tea and immortal fruit."

Ping Shui Zhen Wang and Huo Fu Sheng Dao Jun thanked Zhuang Yan for his gift, and then each picked up a ginseng fruit and ate it.

After swallowing a ginseng fruit, the two immediately felt their magical power surge and become abundant, and even their aura became much stronger.

The two bowed in thanks again, but Zhuang Yan pressed his hand down and said, "You don't need to be so polite with me. I, Pangu, am not concerned with worldly formalities."

"Yes," the two replied in unison.

Zhuang Yan continued, “I have summoned you here for one purpose only. Although the Five Elements have settled down in the world, the Heavenly Dao of the Five Elements still exists, so I cannot directly bring you two under the Heavenly Dao of Pangu.”

Upon hearing this, King Ping Shui immediately understood and asked, "Does Your Majesty mean that we should be brought into the Pangu Heavenly Dao this time?"

“Not bad,” Zhuang Yan nodded.

Upon hearing this, Ping Shui Zhen Wang and Huo Fu Sheng Dao Jun were somewhat worried. Huo Fu Sheng Dao Jun, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, "But... we have already entrusted our primordial spirits to the Five Elements Heavenly Dao, so how can we be returned to the Pangu Heavenly Dao?"

“Yes,” said Daoist Ping Shui, “How can a single primordial spirit reside in two Heavenly Daos? That’s impossible.”

Zhuang Yan laughed loudly, then looked at the two and said, "I, Pangu Heavenly Dao, had long anticipated this. The primordial spirits of the two of you, which were entrusted to the Five Elements Heavenly Dao, have already been stripped away."

"What?!" The two were taken aback, their faces filled with disbelief.

Ping Shui Zhen Wang said, "Your Majesty Shenxiao, this is absolutely impossible. The primordial spirit is entrusted to the Heavenly Dao, so how can it be so easily separated?"

Even if they truly possessed that ability, wouldn't the Five Elements Heavenly Dao have noticed when separating the primordial spirit? If they could have noticed, they would have certainly obliterated the primordial spirit immediately.

Huo Fusheng Daojun also looked incredulous, but Zhuang Yan didn't explain further, only offering a faint smile.

The next moment, Ping Shui Zhen Wang and Huo Fu Sheng Dao Jun suddenly felt a void, and upon closer inspection, they were horrified to find that their primordial spirits had no place to reside.

This feeling was extremely uncomfortable for them. In the past, their primordial spirit was entrusted to the Heavenly Dao, which was a kind of protection and reliance.

Now that the primordial spirit has been separated from the Five Elements Heavenly Dao, there is naturally a sense of unease about losing security.

"This!!!" The two were shocked. They naturally understood what this meant. Pangu Heavenly Dao had actually separated their primordial spirits that were entrusted to the Five Elements Heavenly Dao.

The two could no longer remain calm. Huo Fusheng Daojun quickly cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask Your Majesty Shenxiao, how did you manage to do this?"

Zhuang Yan laughed and said, "I did not do this. It was the Jade Emperor who did it. I was just assisting the Jade Emperor."

"The Jade Emperor, the Great Heavenly Venerable?" said True King Pingshui. "Could he be the Jade Emperor, the ruler of the Heavenly Court?"

Zhuang Yan nodded and said, "That's right."

At this point, Zhuang Yan looked at the two of them and said, "As long as you are willing to truly submit to my Pangu Heavenly Dao, please speak frankly, and my Pangu Heavenly Dao will naturally allow your primordial spirits to reside there."

At this point, what else could the two say? The fact that Pangu's Heavenly Dao could do this meant that it had already made arrangements for them.

If they are willing to truly submit, then Pangu Heavenly Dao is naturally happy to have two more Great Awakened Golden Immortal beings.

But if they are unwilling to truly submit, Pangu Heavenly Dao probably won't mind, since having two more or fewer of them won't make a difference.

The two immediately stood up, bowed to Zhuang Yan, and said, "Your Majesty, we are willing to submit to the Pangu Heavenly Dao, entrust our primordial spirits to the Pangu Heavenly Dao, and from now on become beings of the Pangu Heavenly Dao."

Upon seeing this, Zhuang Yan immediately nodded and smiled, "Good."

The next moment, the Pangu Heavenly Dao naturally began to operate, and the two people's primordial spirits did not resist at all, directly entrusting themselves to the Pangu Heavenly Dao.

In an instant, the secrets of Pangu's Heavenly Dao descended and filled the minds of the two. These secrets concerned the secrets of Pangu's Heavenly Dao, including all the major events that had occurred from the creation of the world to this very day.

The two were stunned on the spot, and it took them a full half hour to fully absorb all the heavenly secrets. Afterwards, they both breathed a sigh of relief and sat down with exhausted expressions.

"I never imagined that the appearance of Pangu would have such a magnificent and grand history," said the True King of Pingshui with a look of emotion.

Huo Fusheng Daojun nodded and said, "Although my Five Elements were strong before, in terms of foundation, they were far inferior to Pangu's. It is not unjust for us to lose."

Regardless of whether it is the Heavenly Dao of Illusion and Reality, the Heavenly Dao of Profound Law, the Heavenly Dao of Wind and Thunder, or the Heavenly Dao of the Five Elements, the development of these Heavenly Daos in the world is the same.

First, the world was created, and then the Great Luo Golden Immortals appeared directly. Then, each of the Great Luo Golden Immortals established their own lineage, and their lineages grew and expanded.

In the end, those lineages with Great Luo Golden Immortals within the Heavenly Dao that existed in the world survived, while those without Great Luo Golden Immortals were attacked and destroyed.

Therefore, apart from the manifestation of the Heavenly Dao of Pangu, all the manifestations of the Heavenly Dao are ruled by the lineages of those Great Luo Golden Immortals. From the very beginning, they have divided up the territory and used their own lineages and methods to dominate the area.

Therefore, since there are no major sects vying for power in these celestial realms, there are naturally no great calamities, and thus no development.

The appearance of Pangu is different. Pangu has come through one great calamity after another. Those great beings who have lived from ancient times to the present are all people with extraordinary magical powers.

Zhuang Yan listened to the two men's sighs and smiled faintly. Then he said to Huo Fusheng Daojun, "I hereby bestow upon you the title of 'True King of Crimson Fire,' a third-rank immortal official of the Upper Realm, in charge of the Crimson Fire Immortal Domain." Upon hearing this, Huo Fusheng Daojun immediately stood up, glanced at Ping Shui True King, and then stepped forward to bow, saying, "Your subject thanks the Great Emperor Shenxiao for this bestowal."

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "However, the Crimson Fire Immortal Realm is not yet fully settled. The True King will have to wait some time before he can return to the Crimson Fire Immortal Realm to take up his post."

Huo Fusheng Daojun bowed and said, "Your subject obeys the decree. Your subject is willing to wait in the world where Pangu appears."

Ping Shui Zhen Wang also said, "Your Majesty, I also wish to stay in the world where Pangu has appeared for a while longer, and to seek out fellow Daoists in the world of Pangu to learn from and exchange ideas with. I wonder if Your Majesty would grant my request?"

Zhuang Yan laughed and said, "This is a small matter. I have granted your permission. We will not arrange accommodations for you at Buzhou Mountain. You can freely travel around the world of Yanfu. When you are ready to return, an imperial decree will be issued."

The two immediately bowed in unison and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Above the Five Elements, in the realm of existence, lies a vast and boundless void.

The Jade Emperor, dressed in a Taoist robe, stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on a figure that was neither real nor illusory not far away.

"So that's why you dared to come looking for me. You're a master of disguise." A clear, ethereal voice rang out, and then the figure, neither real nor illusory, gradually materialized.

It was an old man dressed in a cloud-patterned immortal robe. He had white beard and hair, and an air of otherworldly grace. His clear eyes smiled as he looked at the Jade Emperor.

The Jade Emperor cupped his hands and smiled, "Fellow Daoist of the Five Elements, this humble Daoist greets you."

The Five Elements Heavenly Dao returned the greeting with clasped hands, then looked at the Jade Emperor and asked, "How exactly did you manage to separate the primordial spirits of those two people without my knowledge?"

The Jade Emperor smiled without saying a word. Seeing this, the Five Elements Heavenly Dao said, "At our level, there's nothing we can't say, right? You, who wield the Pangu Heavenly Dao, do indeed possess the great power to separate the primordial spirits that reside within you. But what I can't understand is how you managed to do it without me noticing?"

The Jade Emperor laughed and said, "Someone will help me."

"What?!" The Five Elements Heavenly Dao looked surprised. "Which Heavenly Dao has joined forces with you?"

The Jade Emperor shook his head and said, "No Heavenly Dao has joined forces with me. The Heavenly Dao of Wind and Thunder has long since returned to the Great Dao."

“I know that,” the Five Elements Heavenly Dao waved his hand and said, “but I absolutely do not believe that you have no other Heavenly Dao to help you.”

The Jade Emperor naturally wouldn't say, because he didn't know what method Zhuang Yan had used to deceive everyone and allow him to separate the primordial spirits of the Ping Shui True King and the other two without the Five Elements Heavenly Dao being able to detect it.

"Fellow Daoist, please don't ask. I won't tell you," the Jade Emperor said, shaking his head.

Seeing this, the Five Elements Heavenly Dao did not press the matter further, but simply said, "It's fine if you don't want to tell me; I'll find out sooner or later anyway."

The Jade Emperor nodded, then looked at the Five Elements Heavenly Dao: "The Five Elements have already been conquered by my Pangu Heavenly Dao. Shouldn't you return to the Great Dao, fellow Daoist?"

"Hahahaha." The Five Elements Heavenly Dao threw its head back and laughed, then looked at the Jade Emperor and said, "You're dreaming. It's just wishful thinking."

The Jade Emperor said, "Fellow Daoist, you don't know what's good for you. When I, Pangu, appeared in the world to attack the Five Elements, I was showing them mercy."

“That is the truth.” The Five Elements Heavenly Dao looked at the Jade Emperor and said, “Your appearance of Pangu in the world is indeed quite benevolent, but that is your own choice and has nothing to do with me. If you want me to owe you a favor, then there is no need.”

Having said that, the Five Elements Heavenly Dao smiled at the Jade Emperor and said, "You can still give the order now to let the people of Pangu who have appeared in the world exterminate all the living beings of my Five Elements in the world, so as to weaken my power."

The Jade Emperor shook his head and said, "My Heavenly Court never changes its orders overnight. Now that we have subdued the five elements and the living beings in the mortal world, we will never go back on our word again."

The Five Elements Heavenly Dao asked, "Woman's compassion leads to losing sight of the bigger picture. If you had exterminated all living beings of the Five Elements in this world and weakened my power, I might already be suppressed by the Pangu Heavenly Dao."

The Jade Emperor laughed and said, "Fellow Daoist, you overestimate yourself. Although you are the Heavenly Dao of the Five Elements, in my eyes you are no more noble than the beings of the Five Elements in the mortal world. I will not break my promise and slaughter the beings of the Five Elements in the mortal world just because I want to eliminate you."

Upon hearing this, the Five Elements Heavenly Dao sighed, and the disdain in his eyes vanished completely.

The Five Elements Heavenly Dao solemnly said, "Fellow Daoist and Pangu's appearance in the world is indeed benevolent and righteous. Since you are benevolent and righteous, then I cannot be unbenevolent and righteous either."

After saying this, the Five Elements Heavenly Dao was illuminated with five-colored mysterious light. Then, in the Five Elements Manifestation below, every living being in the five immortal realms had a beam of immortal light rise straight into the sky.

These celestial lights flew up into the sky and converged in one place, transforming into an enormous five-colored celestial stream that flowed into the body of the Five Elements Heavenly Dao.

Upon seeing this, the Jade Emperor's expression hardened slightly, and he said, "Are you stripping the beings of the mortal world of their cultivation and magical power?"

The Five Elements Heavenly Dao smiled calmly: "Their cultivation and magical power were originally bestowed upon them by me, and now I am merely taking them back. I originally intended to take back the lives of all living beings. But seeing how benevolent you, Pangu, are in this world, I will also be benevolent and spare their lives."

At this point, the Five Elements Heavenly Dao looked at the Jade Emperor and asked, "I wonder if you, Pangu, still want these mortal spirits whose cultivation and power I have taken back?"

The Jade Emperor smiled faintly, then said in a firm and decisive tone, "Yes."

"Very well." The Five Elements Heavenly Dao shouted, having withdrawn all the cultivation and magical power of all the beings in the Five Elements Manifestation World. "Since that's the case, then let's have a battle. If you win, I will retreat and hand over the Five Elements Manifestation World to you. If I win, then the Pangu Manifestation World will be mine."

The Jade Emperor nodded and smiled, saying in a clear voice, "Very well, it shall be as you say, fellow Daoist."

As soon as they finished speaking, their Heavenly Dao powers clashed. Then, countless Heavenly Dao laws emerged from their Heavenly Dao powers and began to attack and wear each other down.

Within the Five Elements Heavenly Dao, the laws of heaven and earth began to become chaotic, a fact most clearly felt by the heavenly soldiers who appeared in the world as Pangu.

The beings that once existed in the Five Elements world have now all become mortal beings. No matter how high their cultivation or how deep their magical power were before, they have all become mortal beings at this moment.

No, it should be called 'spirits', because all living beings in the world are formed from the Qi of the Five Elements, and they take human form through the cultivation of Taoist methods.

Now that the Five Elements Heavenly Dao has reclaimed the cultivation of the Five Elements beings in the mortal world, these beings have been banished to the mortal realm and transformed into spirits of the Five Elements: Water, Fire, Earth, Wood, and Metal.

Although this sudden change caused all living beings in the Five Elements world to wail and cry out in injustice, it also made it easier for the heavenly soldiers to govern.

After all the beings of the Five Elements descend to the mortal realm, only one celestial soldier is needed to govern a small world.

However, the clash between the Jade Emperor and the Five Elements Heavenly Dao had a tremendous impact on the Five Elements in the mortal world, with the most direct effect being the chaos of the laws of heaven and earth.

Although the Qitian Holy Palace was unaware of what had happened, it immediately took countermeasures.

Under the orders of the Qitian Holy Palace, the four major camps of Bi'ou, Zhen'e, Renhuang, and Zhechong began to set up the 'Five Elements Eight Trigrams Grand Array' in all the minor worlds of the Five Elements Manifestation World, in order to balance the power of the Five Elements and the power of heaven and earth in each minor world, and to offset the harm to living beings caused by the chaos of the laws of heaven and earth.

At the same time, the Qitian Holy Palace also wrote a memorial about the strange changes in the Five Elements and sent it back to the Buzhou Mountain Dust World Jade Palace with great urgency.

Zhuang Yan quickly issued an order, commanding the Qitian Holy Palace to do everything in its power to protect the living beings of the Five Elements in the mortal world. Regarding the anomalies within the Five Elements in the mortal world, Zhuang Yan only told Sun Wukong that this was a battle of magic between the Great Luo Immortals, which affected the mortal world, and there was no need to panic.

Upon receiving Zhuang Yan's imperial decree, Sun Wukong was immediately relieved and began calmly coordinating all parties to do his utmost to protect the living beings within the Five Elements Realm. (End of Chapter)