The river is the Changze River, the largest water element of Taiyuan Heaven.
Zhang Jian’s figure descended from the void, his presence silent and unassuming.
Suddenly, amidst the towering waves before him, the river parted for a moment, and a stream of light flew out. From within emerged a middle-aged deity in a purple casual robe with a solemn visage. Upon seeing Zhang Jian, a hint of reverence appeared in his eyes as he spoke with respect.
"Junior of the Celestial Pool pays respect to Qinglian Suffering Relief Celestial Venerable!"
Zhang Jian glanced at this middle-aged deity. From him, he sensed the grand and vast aura of the water attribute Great Dao authority. This authority was not weak, nearly reaching the Daoist Monarch Position. However, this middle-aged deity still had some distance to cover in terms of Dao Practice, Dao Heart, and Primordial Spirit to reach the level of a Daoist Monarch.
At this moment, under Zhang Jian’s gaze, the Celestial Pool Daoist Monarch felt an incomparable Divine Power as if piercing through space-time and the barriers of the River of Destiny, enveloping his entire being. Everything within the gaze laid bare, even the deepest secrets of his Primordial Spirit.
He was utterly astonished.
"As that elder said, the Dao Practice of this Daoist Monarch is simply unimaginable!"
His expression grew even more respectful.
Zhang Jian saw his demeanor and smiled, saying,
"Friend of the Celestial Pool, your fortune and creation are immense. Today, your heart is for all beings, and a good outcome will surely await you in the future!"
Upon hearing this, the Celestial Pool Emperor was slightly pleased.
"This humble god is willing to fully assist the Celestial Venerable and Daoist Monarch in completing the great task of saving the world!"
Zhang Jian nodded.
The Celestial Pool Emperor before him was indeed fortunate. If he could assist Yu Zuo Daoist Monarch in achieving the Position of Water Mother Daoist Monarch, he would naturally stand above all but one.
Then, the Celestial Pool Emperor led the way in front, simultaneously saying,
"Celestial Venerable, the lord is already waiting for your law chariot in the Celestial Pool Palace!"
The Celestial Pool Palace was established upstream of the Changze River, in the Celestial Pool Sacred Realm.
The magnificent Celestial Pool Sacred Realm appeared like a great heavenly lake towering atop the clouds, grand and vast. In the distance, there were millions of Ice and Snow Divine Mountains, countless ice and snow drifting on the violent clouds, beautiful yet dangerously proud, resembling a long river formed by ice and snow.
Along the way, Zhang Jian saw countless water race beings patrolling the Changze River, maintaining order.
There were also numerous Jade Maidens and God Kings accompanying many powerful Immortal Gods appearing in the Celestial Pool Sacred Realm, seemingly bustling with prosperity.
The Celestial Pool Emperor led Zhang Jian directly into the Celestial Lake Immortal Palace.
That was the core of the Celestial Pool Sacred Realm, filled with countless Water Attribute Innate Spiritual Mechanism and even Innate Essence Qi, not at all resembling the dry appearance of a depleted Water Eye lacking in vitality and creation.
On the way, Zhang Jian casually asked upon seeing the situation.
"Friend of the Celestial Pool, I see your prosperous realm still abundant with Innate Water Spirit, seemingly endless and unchanged?"
Upon hearing this, the Celestial Pool Emperor’s face revealed a trace of bitter smile.
"Celestial Venerable, you are unaware. My Celestial Pool Sacred Realm is the core Water Element Sacred Realm of the Immortal Court Celestial Realm. There used to be three Innate Water Eyes below, though one was moved by the Immortal Palace, now two remain. Additionally, there are 108 Postnatal Spring Eyes. At its peak, it was far more than its current size. The Water Attribute Innate Essence Qi almost transformed into a river, but the present state is much lacking!"
Zhang Jian nodded slightly.
"Have you ever noticed changes in the Water Element of heaven and earth?"
The Celestial Pool Emperor nodded, saying,
"To be frank with the Celestial Venerable, over these tens of thousands of years, I have patrolled and noticed changes in some Water Eyes within the Ten Heavens and Ten Earths many times, discovering the depletion of numerous Spring Eyes. I reported this to the Immortal Palace, but His Majesty the Celestial Emperor stated this was an omen of the forthcoming great calamity caused by the birth of world-class Demon Fiends, but it’s nothing to fear!"
"After the calamity, everything will naturally return to its original state!"
Zhang Jian’s eyes slightly flickered.
With Ziyuan Celestial Emperor speaking personally, no one dared to speak lightly.
Moreover, ordinary Immortal Gods probably wouldn’t dare to speak lightly against the Celestial Emperor, while the three Creation Daoist Monarchs and Tai Chi Ancestor God now have their hands full with their own affairs and have no energy to thoroughly investigate this matter.
Deep within the Immortal Palace, after entering the palace, Zhang Jian saw Yu Zuo Daoist Monarch standing at the center of the Immortal Palace. Surrounding her were more than a dozen unfamiliar Immortal Gods, each having an invisible blue thread, with icy blue Divine Light in the depths of their eyes.
Zhang Jian’s eyes swept over, showing no change in expression despite the strange sight.
The Celestial Pool Emperor immediately said,
"Celestial Venerable, these Immortal Gods were sent by His Majesty into the Celestial Pool Sacred Land, now captured by the lord using a Secret Technique!"
Yu Zuo Daoist Monarch also saw Zhang Jian, and upon hearing, said,
"These individuals have a Secret Seal placed by the Celestial Emperor, they cannot be killed, and have special instructions to regularly report to the Immortal Court. Therefore, I can only preemptively use the Soul-Linking Secret Technique to refine them into puppets, to avoid alerting the enemy and facilitate our repair of the Sacred Realm’s Spring Eyes!"
Zhang Jian glanced over and smiled, saying,
"Yu Zuo Daoist Monarch has planned prudently, it seems I won’t need to intervene much!"
At this moment, Yu Zuo Daoist Monarch formed seals with her hands, a series of icy blue Talismans swiftly flew out from her hands, instantly falling upon each Immortal God. After a slight pause, icy blue Divine Lights flowed in their eyes’ depths. Moments later, they slightly cupped their hands and then retreated.
Yu Zuo Daoist Monarch, seeing all had left, immediately said,
"That Celestial Emperor is very cautious, I fear he may have other arrangements within the Celestial Lake Immortal Palace!"
Her expression was solemn.
Both didn’t want to easily engage with Ziyuan Celestial Emperor before their Dao Practice reached Great Success, to avoid exposing their foundations.