Chapter 129: After the Innate Dao, Doumu Yuanjun

In the Tianchen Realm, Luo Feng sat in discussion with the Yellow Bird Demon God, debating the distinctions between humanity and demonkind.

His true self, however, had already traversed countless galaxies to reach a brilliant, star-studded realm—the Tian-Shu Realm, the foundational dojo of the Northern Dipper’s Greedy Wolf Star Lord.

Divine light shimmered, and celestial melodies played with enchanting grace. Great and minor divine officials gathered to welcome him, creating an atmosphere akin to a miniature Celestial Court. At the end of the celestial path stood the Lord of the Tian-Shu Realm, the Greedy Wolf Star Lord.

At a glance, the Greedy Wolf Star Lord seemed perfectly aligned with the Dao. His aura was ancient and unadorned; had it not been for the crowd of immortal officials and divine generals surrounding him, one might have mistaken him for a mere scion of a wealthy family.

Behind him, his six younger brothers were even more striking. Their appearances were solemn and dignified, and their profound Daoist resonance marked them instantly as Golden Immortals—high gods of the Celestial Court.

Luo Feng hurriedly stepped forward, not daring to let the Northern Dipper Star Lords wait. To have seven Golden Immortals greet him in person was a courtesy reserved for the Da Luo; it was a weight he could scarcely bear.

"Why have you seven Star Lords come out in person? This minor god is truly overwhelmed with unease," Luo Feng said, bowing low.

The Greedy Wolf Star Lord laughed heartily and helped Luo Feng up. "Star Lord of Water Virtue, there is no need for such formalities. We serve in the same court; it is only proper, entirely proper."

Beside him, the Wenqu Star Lord nodded. "My third brother is right. You are a man of great talent, and since we all belong to the lineage of Star Gods, it is only natural that we draw closer."

Luo Feng smiled modestly. "I am honored by the Wenqu Star Lord's praise."

The Wenqu Star Lord burst into laughter. "So, you know who I am! Many immortals mistake me for Wuqu."

Luo Feng glanced at the Wuqu Star Lord—who possessed a gentle, jade-like, and refined temperament—and then back at the bold, heroic, and spirited Wenqu Star Lord. It was hard to see how anyone could confuse the two, yet Luo Feng had thoroughly prepared before his ascent. While he could not claim to know every deity in the Celestial Court, he had ensured he would not mistake any god worthy of entering the Lingxiao Palace.

Luo Feng clapped his hands and remarked, "The Wenqu Star Lord masters the boundless beauty of literature, while the Wuqu Star Lord commands the Yin to forge his soldiers. With Yin and Yang complementing one another, the Great Dao is within reach. With such great divine power, how could I not know you?"

As the saying goes, everyone enjoys being held in high regard, and no one strikes a smiling face. Since Luo Feng was being gracious, the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper naturally would not act as villains. They entered the palace and took their seats on the cloud platforms, where the music of silk and bamboo echoed, and celestial maidens danced in the shadows. The gathering was filled with laughter and contentment.

***

After several sets of celestial music, while Luo Feng was chatting idly with the Greedy Wolf Star Lord, the Pojun Star Lord of the Northern Dipper's Heavenly Pass interjected, "Luo, you are also of our Star God lineage. Why not pay a visit to our mother? It would also serve to complete the fortune of the Star Gods, would it not?"

Mother? Doumu?

Luo Feng’s spirit stirred. The main event had arrived.

If the Star God lineage had a sovereign, it was not the Sun—for the era of the Ancient Celestial Court had passed—nor the Moon, which, despite having powerful beings, remained isolated. It was the Doumu Tianzun, who had resided in the starry void for ages, bearing many children and bestowing enlightenment upon countless Star Gods.

Doumu Tianzun, also known as Lady Ziguang, the Sagely Empress of the Nine Truths of the Northern Dipper, and the True Empress of the Mysterious Heaven, was a supreme deity of vast influence. Her eldest sons were the Emperor of Heaven and the Emperor of Ziwei, while her seven younger sons were the Greedy Wolf, Jumen, Lucun, Wenqu, Lianzhen, Wuqu, and Pojun.

It was rumored that Doumu Tianzun and her sons were all Da Luo masters—beings of immense power who had transcended the universe. This family held a firm, unbreakable grip on the fortune of the Star Gods.

Luo Feng himself, having been invested by the Jade Emperor, held the position of the Star Lord of Water Virtue, governing the Water-type Chen Star. Though the Chen Star was not the most prominent in the firmament, it was far from insignificant; as one of the five elements serving as the foundation of the universe, its status was transcendent.

His stewardship of the Chen Star carried the risk of splintering the fortune of the Star Gods should he harbor ulterior motives. Yet, because he was backed by the Jade Emperor, they could not move against him openly. Perhaps this was why the Greedy Wolf Star Lord had extended such a heartfelt invitation and brought all seven brothers to receive him. The reasoning and the causality were sound.

However, a faint doubt lingered in Luo Feng’s mind. If the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper had invited him to resolve the issue of division and prevent the loss of star fortune, then what of the events unfolding in the Tianchen Realm? The two did not seem to connect. Could he have guessed wrong?

A flicker of light passed through his eyes as he sent a telepathic command to his Earth Immortal avatar in the Tianchen Realm, instructing him to stall for time and engage the Yellow Bird Demon God in trivial, rambling conversation—to "pad the word count," much like writing a paper on Earth.

As his thoughts shifted, the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper expressed their agreement, clearly having planned this in advance. Luo Feng observed their every move. The eldest, Greedy Wolf, was mature and steady, his acting impeccable and his smiles perfectly timed. The others were far less skilled, their smiles exaggerated and their performances stiff—only slightly better than the novice monsters he had encountered in the past.

Luo Feng then donned an even more exaggerated expression of excitement. "Are we truly going to pay respects to the Empress of the Innate Dao, Doumu Yuanjun?"

"I have heard that Doumu creates the stars and enlightens the gods. Her merits are immeasurable; she is a deity of great sagacity, virtue, mercy, and compassion. To think that I, a minor god, could see her in person—this is truly the fortune of three lifetimes!"

The eldest, Greedy Wolf, blinked in surprise before asking with a smile, "Friend, why such emotion? My mother has long lived in seclusion among the stars and keeps a low profile. But as we are all of the Star God lineage, if you wish to pay your respects, she will not turn you away."

Luo Feng sighed lightly. "You do not know, but I was born of humble origins, rising from the wild mountains. In my life, I have held the deepest reverence for three female divinities."

The Greedy Wolf Star Lord nodded. "I would like to hear more."

Luo Feng spoke slowly. "The first is, naturally, the Empress Wa. Without the Holy Mother Wa, there would be no human race. She is the root."

The Seven Stars all nodded in agreement. "True, true. That is the truth."

"The second is the Empress Houtu, who transformed into the cycle of reincarnation. That is a merit supreme—she is the foundation."

The Seven Stars nodded again in admiration. Houtu’s creation of the cycle of reincarnation was a great service to all living beings and the heavens themselves; even the Sages treated her with courtesy.

Luo Feng held up three fingers. "As for the third, it is Doumu Yuanjun, the Empress of the Innate Dao."

"I was born lowly and lacked the noble origins of the innate divinities. During my early cultivation, I dared not absorb the energy of the Sun or Moon for fear of destroying my mortal frame. It was only the gentle light of the stars that I could borrow. A great portion of my cultivation and eventual ascension relied upon the stars."

"Doumu Yuanjun bestows enlightenment upon spirits and shapes the Star Gods. She scattered the stars across the firmament, not only bringing light to the darkness of the Primordial Universe but also offering a glimmer of hope to the scattered cultivators and humble beings of the world."

"Thus, Wa is the root, the Cycle of Reincarnation is the foundation, and Doumu is the source."

"Doumu Yuanjun has bestowed great grace and virtue upon me, and upon all the cultivators of the world!"

After this impassioned speech, Luo Feng lifted his sleeve to wipe the corner of his eye.

The Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper exchanged strange looks. Though they knew that much of what Luo Feng said was flattery, they could not help but feel a surge of goodwill and resonance. After all, he was praising their mother.