Reborn as a lotus, she initially refuses to hand it over to the state.

The strange rock remained silent for a long time, and the scarlet stone patterns within the ancient city quickly darkened.

It gazed at the Black Dragon Stone Gate, its voice much lower than before.

"What lies behind the stone gate was at least at the Saint Realm level at its peak."

The lotus leaves on the Chu boat swayed slightly.

Strange Stone continued, "And not the kind of person who has just entered the Saint Realm."

"Its original form was once fused with the Abyss Corrosion Qi, which could corrode the earth's veins and devour formations. If the Ancient City of Zhenyuan had not paid a great price to shatter its original form along with the royal domain back then, these nine city-suppressing lock patterns today would not be able to contain it at all."

Chu Zhou looked at the dark stone door.

Now, the opponent can only extend a bone claw through the stone gate to shatter the monster's body, forcing him to mobilize the power of three nodes.

If it truly escapes its predicament, Heilong Lake, Zhenhai Relic Island, Nanjiang Three Passes, and even Tokyo Bay will become its first targets to devour.

Strange Stone snorted coldly: "But you don't need to be afraid. That thing was fundamentally damaged by the Zhenyuan Emperor Seal back then. Its King Seal is incomplete and its physical body is destroyed. At most, it can only use the Abyss Erosion Qi to explore a few parts of its power now."

"Based on your current strength, the power it can unleash is roughly at the half-step Venerable Realm level."

Chu Zhou asked, "Half-step Venerable Realm?"

The strange stone shimmered with patterns, seemingly regaining some of its former arrogance: "Above the King Realm is the Venerable Realm. A King refines a land and its rivers into a King's Domain, while a Venerable begins to touch upon the rules of heaven and earth."

"How fire should burn, how water should flow, and how mountains should be stabilized can all be changed according to the Venerable One's will."

"Above that is the Holy Realm. In the Holy Realm, a single word can become law, and a single thought can suppress a domain. They themselves are a rule that walks through the world."

Chu Zhou asked thoughtfully, "What about the Emperor Realm?"

The strange rock fell silent for a moment.

It looked at the Zhenyuan Emperor Seal hanging above the ancient city, and for the first time, its voice carried a hint of complexity.

"The Emperor Realm is the realm of beings who truly stand at the pinnacle of a realm."

"The King Realm refines mountains and rivers, the Venerable Realm governs the rules, the Saint Realm transforms heaven and earth, and the Emperor Realm can open up the Emperor Domain, suppress all heavens, and wield the Emperor Weapon."

hum!

The Zhenyuan Emperor's Seal trembled.

Black and gold patterns flowed across the sky above the ancient city.

The strange stone said, "In ancient times, when the Zhenyuan Emperor Seal was intact, it was an imperial weapon. Unfortunately, now the imperial gold is scattered and the seal is incomplete. You can only use its most superficial suppression and purification power."

Chu Zhou's lotus leaf swayed gently: "And above the Emperor Realm?"

The strange, scarlet stone with its distinctive patterns suddenly contracted, and said in a deep voice, "Don't ask."

Chu Zhou smiled and said, "Is there something you, Madam, don't know?"

The strange stone said angrily, "Of course I know, but at that level, even the name cannot be mentioned easily, otherwise it will attract unwanted attention."

It paused for a moment before adding coldly, "You haven't even reached the ninth rank yet, so stop thinking about anything beyond the Emperor Realm."

"Let's survive and get the third piece of Imperial Gold first, then we'll talk about the future."

Chu Zhou did not refute; he looked at the Black Dragon Stone Gate.

The remnants of the royal realm behind the stone gate, the third piece of imperial gold in the ruins of the Moon Palace that fell into the sea.

Lu Shengbai of the Covenant Church, the US Deep Blue Project.

There was also Cassian, who escaped with severe injuries but never truly perished.

Today, he seems to have shaken the world with a single battle.

But the real enemy has only just begun to show itself.

At the bottom of Black Dragon Lake, after a moment of silence, Chu Zhou did not look at the stone door again.

What lies beyond the stone gate is too far away, and the Moon Palace Emperor Jin has not yet been born. Right now, the most important thing is not to pursue a higher realm.

Instead, they should first and foremost build up their own foundation.

The roots of Chu Zhou landed on the Emperor's Seal of Zhenyuan.

"Zhen Yuanling, unfold the panoramic view of Black Dragon Lake."

[Command received from master.]

hum!

The black gold imperial seal rotates.

A huge projection of the Lingnan landscape appears in the sky above the ancient city.

Black Dragon Lake is located deep within the mountains, its surface shrouded in mist, with nine floating islands encircling its center. The lakebed is covered with a network of roots, resembling a vast, silvery net spanning hundreds of miles, connecting Black Dragon Lake, Black Dragon Mountain, the surrounding spiritual veins, and the ancient city's array patterns into a unified whole.

Location in the center of the lake.

A nine-petaled blue lotus sways gently.

With each breath, a cyan silver mist spreads along the lake.

In Black Dragon Mountain, spiritual herbs grow and strange beasts dwell. Many low-level creatures that could only survive in the spiritual tide have gradually awakened their intelligence under the nourishment of the azure lotus aura.

However, Chu Zhou soon discovered a problem: Black Dragon Lake was very strong.

However, the number of his family members who could truly protect the region for him was not large.

Xuanjia guards the South River.

Qingfeng has taken root on Zhenhai Relic Island.

The Dragon Whale King of the Vast Ocean suppressed Tokyo Bay.

The tiger king of Changbai Mountain is far away in Changbai Mountain.

If the Black Dragon Stone Gate were to cause further disturbances, the forces remaining in Lingnan would be far from sufficient.

The strange rock seemed to have read his mind.

"Lotus Demon, what are you plotting now?"

Chu Zhou, with lotus leaves unfurled, said, "I have been suppressing the Black Tide and subduing the nodes all along, but it has been a long time since I preached for the strange beasts of Black Dragon Lake."

The strange rock's texture shimmered: "Preaching?"

Chu Zhou said calmly, "Humans have the Xuanwei Transmission of Laws and the Dragon and Tiger Suppressing Demons. If the alien beasts only know how to devour spirit cores and fight and plunder, they will eventually become nourishment for the Black Tide."

"Since Black Dragon Lake is my territory, I will pave a path for them one by one."

The strange stone was silent for a moment: "You want to emulate the Demon Court of the old days and gather all beasts under your control?"

Chu Zhou laughed: "I will not build a demon court, nor will I take in a bunch of useless people who only know how to eat meat. Any strange beast that is willing to protect the mountains and rivers and not be tainted by the black tide can come to Black Dragon Lake to listen to the Dao."

The words fell.

The strange, scarlet stone patterns trembled.

It finally understood that what Chu Zhou wanted to do was not to expand his power.

Instead, in this era of chaotic intertwining of humans, beasts, and the Black Tide, it establishes another possibility for the beasts.

……

Half a day later.

Clouds churned above Heilong Lake.

The nine floating islands in the center of the lake moved slowly and eventually converged in front of the blue lotus, forming a huge circular platform.

Countless green silver roots broke through the water.

Roots intertwine to form a platform, the lake water supports the floating island, and the black and gold imperial seal hangs in the sky.

The outer perimeter of Heilong Lake.

Thousands upon thousands of strange beasts lay prostrate in the mountains and forests.

There are giant wolves with ferocious fangs, water pythons with gleaming scales, spirit deer with a single horn, and spirit eagles with wingspans of over ten meters.

They gathered here, reverently awaiting the blue lotus in the center of the lake to spread its teachings.

Suddenly, a clear bird song pierced the sea of ​​clouds: "Master! This bird is back!"

Golden light descended from the sky.

A golden-feathered sparrow with a wingspan of nearly twenty meters pierced through the clouds and landed steadily on the edge of the lake platform.

Its entire body was covered in dark gold feathers, with its tail feathers trailing a crimson-gold light. Its eyes were sharp, and its aura had clearly reached the early stage of the sixth rank.

Little Jinbao raised its head, took two steps on the platform, and said with a smile, "Master, this sparrow has patrolled three hundred miles east of Black Dragon Mountain."

"They caught seventeen wicked birds trying to sneak into the restricted area, and even pecked two black-feathered vultures that had escaped from the Kuroshio Swamp to death!"

Chu Zhou's lotus leaves trembled slightly, and he smiled, "Well done."

Little Jinbao became even more smug.

It flapped its wings and flew to a lotus leaf on Chu Zhou, carefully retracting its claws.

"Master, may I sit a little closer during your sermon?"

Chu Zhou smiled and said, "Granted."

Little Jinbao curled up contentedly, but his golden eyes kept scanning his surroundings.

It is no longer the little bird that used to chirp and chatter.

It commands most of the birds and beasts that inhabit the area surrounding Heilong Mountain.

Suddenly, a deafening tiger roar echoed through the mountains and forests.

Roar!

Large groves of ancient trees bent their branches and leaves.

A white tiger, over forty meters long, slowly approached from the north side of Black Dragon Mountain.

Its forehead markings are platinum, and when its limbs tread the ground, they leave sharp claw marks.

Baishanjun has arrived.

It was followed by dozens of tigers, wolves, and giant bears, all of whom possessed an aura of at least the fourth rank.

When the White Tiger King arrived at the lakeside, he did not immediately step onto the platform.

It first lowered its huge head in the direction of the Chu boat.

"The thirty-six herds of beasts of White Tiger Ridge pay their respects to their master."

Chu Zhou looked at it.

The White Tiger King possessed abundant spiritual energy, just one step away from the late stage of the sixth rank; moreover, its aura of slaughter was extremely strong, yet it was not polluted by the Black Tide in the slightest.

This is a true king of the mountains and forests, forged through countless battles.

As Chu Zhou stepped into the eighth rank, his domain covered the entire Azure Lotus Forbidden Zone.

The abandoned ancient well no longer needs the White Tiger King to guard it, as long as the underground seal there loosens.

Chu Zhou could suppress them instantly with a single thought.

During this time, Chu Zhou allowed the White Tiger King to find its own fiefdom for cultivation, and it did not disappoint Chu Zhou.

He established White Tiger Ridge in a mountain range within the Qinglian Forbidden Zone, leading his beast horde in cultivation and continuously gathering external forces. Now, the beasts under White Tiger's command are quite powerful.

"Take your seats."

"Thank you, Master."

The White Tiger King stepped onto the floating island, but the herd of beasts behind it only stopped at the lake shore and did not cross the line.

Seeing this scene, the last trace of agitation in the hearts of many low-level beasts gradually subsided.

Just now.

A low roar suddenly came from the mountains to the south.

Black mist churned.

A black tiger, even larger than the White Tiger King, emerged from behind the cliff.

Its fur was jet black like iron, and there was a dark red scar on its back, from which a faint black aura remained.

Black Tiger King has also arrived.

It occupies the area where the ruined city meets the mountains in southern Lingnan, and recently, its herd of beasts has become infamous.

Many strange beasts retreated upon seeing it appear.

It stood on the lakeshore and knelt respectfully, saying, "Greetings, Master."