Morning mist cloaked the lakeside.
The black-haired youth carried his basket and bamboo rod, strolling to the water with a contented face.
"Too many people yesterday—I couldn't fish in peace. Better come early today and grab a good spot."
He cast his line with a flick, the hook landing in the water with a soft plop, ripples spreading outward.
Just then, the heavens shuddered!
Boom, boom, boom—!
The nine skies cracked open, billions of thunderbolts roared, radiant light cascaded, and stars fell like rain. The entire continent trembled.
The laws of heaven condensed into countless golden runes, descending from the skies, surrounding the lakeside as if to guard the youth from any disturbance.
Far away, holy land elders looked up at the heavens, trembling all over.
"This is… Heaven itself descending!"
"The Ancient God, the Heavenly Emperor, has been acknowledged by the Great Dao—itself embodied in him!"
"The very laws of the world are making way!"
Countless cultivators wept, bowing in unison, their voices shaking the earth: "Hail the spokesman of Heaven!"
…
Meanwhile, the black-haired youth sat at the lakeside, tilting his head to glance upward.
Clouds dispersed, mist faded, sunlight glistened across the rippling surface, and a cool breeze swept by.
"Ah, such nice weather! Knew it—early mornings are best for fishing."
He tugged at his rod a few times, soon pulling up a dazzling fish wreathed in lightning— the "Thunder Golden-Scaled Carp."
"Huh, this one looks pretty flashy, but the scales are too hard. Probably tough to chew."
He smacked it once and tossed it into his basket.
Boom!
The sky exploded with thunder, golden light seared the heavens.
Cultivators were dumbstruck, as though witnessing the god devour lightning itself.
"The ancient god, with one casual pull, subdued the essence of thunder!"
"This is Heaven's own power!"
"Inconceivable, unfathomable!"
…
The youth dusted his hands, sighing leisurely: "Really is fine weather today—the fish are so dumb they bite at anything."
That one sentence was instantly carved into countless steles:
"Sacred Words of the Ancient God: Align with the Dao, go with the flow!"
At once, a frenzy swept the continent.
…
Meanwhile, the heavenly phenomenon grew even greater.
The starry river turned upside down, sun and moon appeared together, and in the void a golden path split open, pointing directly at the lakeside hut.
The laws of heaven carved an imprint themselves:
[This is the Heavenly Emperor's Palace]
Billions trembled, weeping rivers of tears.
"Heavens! Heaven itself sealed his palace!"
"The dwelling of the ancient god has been branded by the Dao!"
"An unprecedented miracle!"
…
The youth looked up at the golden road in the sky and grinned.
"Haha, what luck today! Heaven even cleared the sky and lit a golden road for me—perfect, no mud on the way back."
Shouldering his basket, he hummed a tune and strolled home along the "golden road of Heaven."
…
Countless cultivators sobbed, prostrating:
"The ancient god returns to his palace!"
"The ancient god reveals himself!"
"Heaven is supreme!"
The heavens thundered, the worlds sang his name.
…
Night fell.
The lakeside grew quiet, bonfire flickering.
The youth sat cross-legged, gutting the "Thunder Golden-Scaled Carp," sprinkling salt and laying it across the flames.
Oil sizzled, lightning sparks popped, scorching the grass black.
He sighed: "Yep, as I thought—skin thick, meat tough. Next time I'll stick to regular fish."
Yet this offhand complaint was overheard by temple disciples, who instantly wept and spread it across the nine heavens.
"Sacred Words of the Ancient God: Do not crave extravagance—return to simplicity!"
Another wave of cultivation frenzy swept the land, with countless abandoning ornate spells in favor of basic fists and heart-methods.
…
Meanwhile, in his hut, the black-haired youth hugged his basket, yawning with satisfaction.
"Phew… good weather, fat fish. Tomorrow, more fishing."
To him, it was the simplest of days.
But to billions across the realms, it was the day Heaven itself appeared.
—The Ancient God, the Heavenly Emperor, the sole embodiment of the Dao.