"Do you know why the Western Region is called the place of exile? What grave are they guarding?" Chen Zhou suddenly asked.
The Sea Emperor was momentarily stunned upon hearing this. He frowned in thought for a long time before eventually shaking his head.
"Replying to the Dragon Ancestor, I do not know."
Cang Yu’s face showed a hint of shame. "Since my earliest memories, the Western Region has always been that way, shrouded in yellow sand all year round. It seems like a corner forgotten by the entire Gloomlight Province."
"There are rumors among my clan that the Western Region has powerful restrictions left behind by great experts of the ancient era."
Cang Yu speculated, "Perhaps it was a punishment for offending some mighty figure in ancient times, or for committing some heinous crime."
Chen Zhou felt a slight sense of disappointment after listening.
If even the Sea Emperor, who had lived for thousands of years, didn't know the specific details of the Western Region, it was unlikely anyone else in Gloomlight Province would.
The source was in the Western Region. If it wasn't resolved, the black spots would continue to flow downstream.
Chen Zhou looked at the spring eye, which had begun to seep faint black qi once more, and knit his brows.
Although he had cleared the bulk of it, he was only treating the symptoms, not the cause.
He already considered the Eastern Region his territory. Could he tolerate some strange thing causing trouble on his land and using his back garden as a waste dump?
Chen Zhou felt that, for the time being, he could.
After all, he didn't have the time to go out and pioneer the Western Region right now.
The priority was the soon-to-be-born Golden Buddha.
That hellish place in the Western Region could wait until he had a free hand to deal with it slowly.
"The black spots accumulated at the sea eye have been cleared by me. It will be difficult for them to gather into a significant threat again in the short term."
Chen Zhou turned around and instructed the Sea Emperor, "This deity will leave Plague Rat and Poison-Wing in the Eastern Region."
"Both of them have large-scale attack methods and are very efficient at clearing black spots."
"Have the Sea Race cooperate fully with them to clear the black spots once over."
"You may continue your secluded cultivation here. Use the cold spring to aid in your suppression and freezing. Do not let the black qi from the source gain a foothold again."
The Sea Emperor nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. This was excellent and would solve the Eastern Region’s urgent crisis.
But he quickly reacted, looking at Chen Zhou with wide eyes. Like a child who had just found their parent only to be left behind again, he felt a sense of panic.
"Then... what about you, Dragon Ancestor?"
Chen Zhou looked up. "Returning to the provincial capital."
"To seize the Golden Buddha."
Those four simple words carried a domineering aura that seemed to look down upon the world.
The Sea Emperor's heart trembled. Although he was loath to see him go, he knew that what the lord intended to do was an earth-shaking matter.
"Then... will you return?" the Sea Emperor asked tremulously.
He was truly afraid.
He feared that this was all just a fleeting dream, and that once the Dragon Ancestor left, he would vanish into the long river of time just as he had ten thousand years ago.
Chen Zhou's figure began to grow illusory. "The hundred rivers of the sea are all my territory. Since I have shed a scale here, the Eastern Region shall forever remain under my gaze."
His voice gradually became ethereal, echoing throughout the deep sea.
"The tides are faithful, and the date of return is set."
"Guard this sea well before my return."
"Do not let those filthy things wash over the spot where you stand today ever again."
With that, Chen Zhou's figure dissipated, and his consciousness completely detached from Plague Rat's shell.
By the time Chen Zhou's consciousness returned to his original body, dawn had not yet broken.
The round trip had taken less than half a day.
Chen Zhou opened his eyes, walked to the window, and pushed open the casement.
The world outside was still dark. The red rain, which had fallen for days and nights as if it would never stop, finally showed signs of ceasing.
The pitter-patter of the rain grew quieter, and the thick, blood-colored curtain of rain thinned.
Chen Zhou reached out his hand to catch a few drops of rain; they felt cool against his fingertips.
He closed his eyes slightly to sense the surroundings.
The mixed ghost qi, resentment, and death qi of the entire provincial capital were thinning at a startling speed.
It was as if the world were undergoing a grand baptism.
It seemed as though all the filth had been washed away by this red rain.
The feeling was very eerie.
It was like a pure, flawless white lotus suddenly blooming in a mass grave piled high with corpses.
Chen Zhou even faintly felt that once the rain stopped, something cleaner and more sacred was about to descend.
'It seems this is what Wu Gou meant when he said that before the Golden Buddha descends, the strong will naturally sense it.'
Chen Zhou pondered in his heart.
'Clean the environment first, wash the plates, and then serve the main course?'
'Quite a meticulous monster.'
Chen Zhou scoffed.
Just as he spoke, the light of dawn suddenly brightened. Chen Zhou saw the palace paths outside starting to bustle.
Countless palace maids and eunuchs began cleaning the puddles of red rain from the ground with brooms and buckets.
Creak—
The door to the side hall was pushed open.
Wu Gou approached with a smile on his face. His robe was bulging as if he were carrying some treasure.
"Big demon, look!"
Wu Gou excitedly pulled something from his robe and held it out to Chen Zhou like an offering.
"The earth dragon has hatched!"
Chen Zhou looked down.
In Wu Gou’s hands lay a creature that was very difficult to describe.
It was about the length of an infant's arm, entirely translucent, with no eyes. It had only a round mouthparts that were currently twitching in the air as if sniffing for something.
"This is the realm earthworm?" Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow.
"Yes!" Wu Gou happily cradled the little thing. He didn't mind its sliminess and even rubbed his face against it.
"Look how cute it is. This is a child of the earth, a divine beast that can survive just by eating soil."
While teasing the insect in his hands, Wu Gou slapped his forehead as if suddenly remembering something.
"Oh right, you granted us rebirth, so you’re basically its second parent."
"Why don't you give it a name?"
Wu Gou blinked at Chen Zhou.
"The realm earthworm was originally an exotic species of heaven and earth, capable of traveling through the ground. It was only later that its bloodline was tarnished and it fell into that wretched state."
"In the ancient era, it also had a name: the Dizang Dragon."
"You are a true god of heaven and earth. If you name it, it'll be blessed by your supreme fortune. It will surely grow into a top-tier, powerful baby."
Chen Zhou looked at the fleshy worm squirming in Wu Gou’s hands, finding it somewhat hard to look at.
"Are you sure it's being blessed by fortune and not bad luck?"
He was an evil spirit, after all. If a ley line insect were to be touched by his providence, wouldn't it grow up twisted?
Wu Gou didn't care and thrust the worm toward Chen Zhou. "Whatever it gets, it gets. Quick, give it a name."
"This little guy’s consciousness has just opened. Once you name it, it's officially yours!"
Chen Zhou thought for a moment and then mused, "Didn't you call it an earth dragon earlier? That's quite fitting."
"A dragon that rolls on the earth. Though it starts small, it has the potential to move heaven and earth."
"How about Gungun?"
"Or Potato sounds pretty good too."
Wu Gou’s face instantly fell.
"No way!"
He shielded the worm in his arms, his face full of disgust.
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