"Let's call it 'King of Black Fog'." Yang Qinglan made the final decision, she didn't want to waste time on these trivial matters.
Li Changzhou named Instinct 'King of Black Fog'.
At first glance, one might think it was a king named 'Black Fog'.
"Now, I am a king in my own right," he said with a hint of satisfaction, "This way, someone can't say I have a chuunibyou anymore."
Yang Qinglan rolled her eyes at him.
"Have your missions been settled?" With the train's arrival approaching, Li Changzhou asked.
Although the mission from the Turquoise Pool had failed, they had passed the first two levels and received some rewards. The only downside was not having a high enough exchange authority to purchase items.
Yang Qinglan and Li Qianxia had both passed the third level, allowing them to exchange for Flat Peaches, Jade Liquid, Jade Dew, and the Hundred Flavors Eight Treasures.
If it weren't for the encounter with the Queen Mother later, the rewards for the two could be considered timely rain that the group of four desperately needed.
When the train arrived, Li Changzhou sent the three of them into the "Honey Pot World".
He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. After a long time, he had mentally rehearsed various possible scenarios before conjuring the image of the Queen Mother in his mind.
A vortex unfolded in front of him.
He stepped into it.
Li Changzhou almost thought he had seen an illusion; the Queen Mother was by his side, not far away, was an enormous spaceship, shaped somewhat like a cylinder, likely as long as the diameter of the Earth.
The spaceship was covered with cracks, clearly having once faced dangers that threatened its very structure.
"Driving the Turquoise Pool to shatter space for long-distance journeys requires too much mana. This spaceship is one of the civilizations we've encountered in over a thousand years. It can capture a type of energy called 'anti-matter,' requiring no mana expenditure to easily cross distances beyond the reach of even a Heavenly Immortal." The vacuum of space couldn't stop the Queen Mother's voice.
"... I always feel that a spaceship doesn't quite match Your Majesty's style."
"It's just that the Three Realms didn't have spaceships. When I first began my cultivation, I've also joyously soared through the mountains and rivers on a Flying Sword," said the Queen Mother with a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
She looked at Li Changzhou, her tone becoming calm, "Take me back."
"May I ask one more question?" Li Changzhou looked at her as well, the countless stars behind the Queen Mother dotting the deep space like eyes.
Li Changzhou was about to speak.
A purple lightning bolt shattered the space, and a member of an Alien Clan stepped out.
"You half-breed dares to hide in the Value Game, hand over the blade!" the Alien Clan commanded.
The presence of the Third Rank Divine Will Warrior was terrifying, causing the Earth and the Moon to tremble slightly, like quivering rabbits.
Six years had passed, and Li Changzhou had almost forgotten the hatred for the alien clan, never expecting that they were still blocking his door!
For the alien clan, it was merely a day, their rage burning fiercely, as fresh as ever.
"Your enemy?" the Queen Mother asked Li Changzhou.
"One-sided."
"You stole from them again?"
"... It's spoils of war."
The Queen Mother nodded, "His ability is quite special, can you give him to me?"
"There's no need to be so polite, please!" Li Changzhou stepped back.
There was no need for him to make way; the alien clan member was already frozen stiff like ice, no match for the strength akin to a Heavenly Immortal Third Rank Divine Will warrior in front of the Queen Mother.
"Let me remind you, don't venture into history for a short while, your current strength can now touch upon the Heavenly Immortals, and not everyone employs methods as gentle as mine." The Queen Mother's figure flickered as if she had never existed and disappeared.
[When the Queen Mother reappears next time, she might have become a Saint.] Guanyin reflected with emotion.
She fully understood the Queen Mother's thoughts and motives; she had tried hard to ascend to a Heavenly Position, while the Queen Mother aspired for a Saint Position.
Li Changzhou's consciousness probed into his storage bag, seeing the Pan Peach and a gourd in a box made from shining energy Qi Hui.
Just those Qi Hui boxes alone represented an unimaginable fortune.
It wasn't that the Queen Mother was generous; to preserve the Pan Peach for a long time, only Qi Hui would suffice.
[It seems the Queen Mother really has no intention of harming me.] Li Changzhou pondered.
The Dao Ancestor was dead; she did not have to abide by her oath.
Guanyin started to speak but hesitated, finally saying: [One can never be too cautious. Whether she intends to harm you or not, you must be careful.]
[And what about you, Bodhisattva?] Li Changzhou said with a smile.
With the matter of the Queen Mother resolved, he felt unspeakably relieved. Additionally, he had profited amidst misfortune, acquiring the Pan Peach, Nine Revolutions Elixir, Daoist Ancestor's Dojo (though not yet in hand), while also foiling another assault from the alien clan.
[Hmph.] Guanyin merely hummed lightly.
[I wouldn't mind having more of such fortune in disguise.] Li Changzhou said as he walked into the "Honey Jar World."
Yang Qinglan, Li Qianxia, and those in the Turquoise Pool had not been cultivating, anxiously waiting for the outcome.
Seeing him walk in with a smile on his face, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
◇
Inside the Mountain and River Map.
Besides the absence of Western Heaven, the Heavenly Palace, and some sacred lands, everything was just as it used to be in the Three Realms of old.
After dismissing the Seven-Colored Fairies, the Queen Mother walked into Yaochi Shengjing alone.
The vital energy was so abundant it materialized, flooding up to one's ankles.
In the center of Turquoise Pool, the vital energy had further liquified into lakes, nurturing an embryonic egg.
Apart from the vital energy, countless divine glows transformed into small dragons, phoenixes, Qilins, and other auspicious beasts, chanting sutras and mantras around the egg.
"Have you seen father?" an impatient voice of a little girl came from within the egg.
"I have," the Queen Mother's voice was gentle.
"I want to see father too!"
"Not now," the Queen Mother sat down beside the egg, a lotus blossom slowly unfurling, perfectly lifting her up, with not a single person around.
"The Divine Body your father gave you is powerful, but there's still a vast potential to be unlocked. Just wait a little longer."
"Okay..." The little girl sounded somewhat reluctant, but obedient, "I'll listen to you, mother."
The Queen Mother caressed the egg lovingly.
Within the egg, a delicate figure fluttered about, pressing her face against the eggshell, seemingly nuzzling the Queen Mother's hand.
The Queen Mother indulgently stroked the eggshell for a while, then withdrew her hand and directly shattered the alien clan member, assessing him briefly before refining his Heavenly Immortal level Divine Will into a pool of golden liquid.
The egg, steeped in vital energy and crowned with golden liquid from above, was constantly nourished by the steady dripping.