Having completed the dredging of Aolai River and with Honghong successfully advancing to the Human Immortal Realm, she and Li Qi returned to the River God's grotto-heaven mansion.
"Li Qi, I am planning to select new recruits for the water mansion from among the aquatic river demons."
Having reached the Human Immortal Realm, Honghong decided to rely on the methods passed down through the River God's heritage to recruit her own subordinates.
The aquatic creatures of Aolai River who had successfully cultivated themselves were naturally the best source for these new recruits. Born and raised in Aolai River, they would have a stronger sense of identity and loyalty to their homeland, making them much more cohesive.
"Hmm, that method works too. However, if you know how to set up an illusion formation, we can create one as a test. Only those who pass can become your subordinates. We certainly cannot take in any ungrateful backstabbers who might betray us."
Hearing Li Qi's supplementary suggestion, Honghong readily adopted it.
"Alright! Let's do that. How about I set up the test's illusion formation, and you arrange its contents? My River God heritage is quite rich and includes such formations. At the same time, I can use the River God Seal to broadcast my voice to all living beings in Aolai River, summoning them to gather."
Li Qi nodded; being able to summon them directly was good. At the same time, he thought of a few potential issues that needed attention and reminded her:
"When summoning those demon cultivators, you need to issue a command that during the gathering, all demon cultivators are strictly prohibited from attacking one another. Violators will definitely be punished."
"At the same time, you must also use the River God Seal to radiate your Human Immortal aura across the entire Aolai River so they all know your power. Only when they see your strength will they dare not defy your commands."
...
The two of them then discussed the details of selecting forces for the River God's command and immediately set about implementing them.
"Hear my command, demon cultivators and water spirits belonging to Aolai River! Now that I have inherited the position of the Aolai River God and have attained immortality, I command you to come to the waterfall pool of Huaguo Mountain to take part in a test. Those who pass the test may enter the River God's divine palace to serve as officials, enjoy the protection of the divine palace, receive incense offerings, and be taught wondrous cultivation techniques!"
A voice carrying the formidable aura of the immortal path swept across the entire Aolai River watershed. Every living being that practiced magic could hear it and feel the might of an immortal, without a single one being left out.
"During your journey to take the test, mutual attacks are strictly prohibited, or else severe punishment will befall the violators!"
...
Eighty to ninety percent of all aquatic demon cultivators throughout the Aolai River were filled with excitement, and only a few water factions that had gathered their own forces wore gloomy expressions. Yet, lacking even immortal status, they had no idea what to do for the moment. Some decided to disband their forces and join the River God's command; others chose to move far away from Aolai River into the vast ocean to carve out new territory; only a stubborn few decided to continue holding the river and acting as kings.
However, for the vast majority of aquatic creatures in the river, the River God offered official immortal posts, incense salaries, and cultivation techniques. Every single one of these perks was immensely attractive to them. Official immortal posts carried the blessing of regional power, while incense salaries could prolong their lives. Most of them relied entirely on instinct for cultivation and completely lacked any supreme cultivation techniques or profound formulas. Since joining the River God's command would grant them all these things, why wouldn't they go?
The Aolai River basin was vast. Even though these aquatic demon cultivators hurried at full speed, it still took them a full ten days to arrive at the pool beneath the Huaguo Mountain waterfall.
The test began the moment people arrived. Honghong did not show herself directly; the test was hosted by Li Qi. After all, a River God needed to maintain a certain level of dignity and sufficient mystery to make people feel awe and fear.
For now, Li Qi still maintained the appearance of a few-inch-long Cold Silkworm and had not changed his form. Yet his momentum at the Refining Void to Integrate with Dao level hung over the heads of the gathered aquatic creatures like Mount Tai, gripping their hearts and making them feel an incomparable oppression, as if Li Qi could strip away their lives in the next second.
Furthermore, the myriad-year-old glacial aura contained within Li Qi's mountain-like momentum made them dazedly feel as though they were standing in an endless ice field. The boundless cold Qi of heaven and earth rushed in from all directions, seeming to freeze their flesh and blood, as well as their souls. They felt their blood stop flowing, as if it had turned into countless ice shards piercing their flesh and bones. They felt their souls freeze, and their thought processes become extraordinarily sluggish.
The numerous demon cultivators knew this was Li Qi giving them a preliminary show of force to intimidate those with ulterior motives. Li Qi had woven a wisp of the Lunar cold intent he had comprehended into his aura. This was a wisp of cold Qi true intent received from the Primordial World's Lunar Star; though it was only a single thread, to the ordinary aquatic demon cultivators on the earth, it still possessed the terrifying might of a natural disaster.
Refining Void to Integrate with Dao was like an ant in the entire Primordial World, but within a "small territory" spanning tens of thousands of miles, it was a truly top-tier powerhouse! Immortals were as numerous as ox hairs in the Primordial World precisely because the world was vast enough! In Huaguo Mountain before Sun Wu-kong was born, and before various mighty figures had placed their pieces on the board, Refining Void to Integrate with Dao was a genuine top-tier giant.
The oppressive show of force quickly dissipated, causing the crowd of aquatic demon cultivators to breathe sighs of relief. These aquatic demon cultivators, who initially harbored various selfish thoughts, had looked down upon the tiny Li Qi at first. But now, they didn't even dare to raise their heads in front of him, and the gazes they cast his way were full of timid fright.
"Which of you is coming first?" Li Qi asked.
Down below, there were nearly thirty thousand demon cultivators. The weak ones had only just mastered magic and still maintained their original forms as fish, shrimp, crabs, water snakes, snails, and shellfish. The strong ones had reached the peak of Refining Spirit to Return to Void; some possessed human bodies with beast heads and fierce, menacing expressions, while others had beast bodies with human heads and benign appearances. Those who transformed into beast-headed human bodies mostly favored the law of the jungle and used their ferocious beast heads to maintain their majesty before their subordinates. Those with human heads and beast bodies generally had relatively calm personalities and preferred quiet meditation. The different postures of demon cultivators were actually the result of their true natures influencing them during their physical transformation.
Hearing Li Qi's question, none of the numerous demon cultivators below dared to step forward. They had no idea what the test was or whether it was dangerous, and thus they harbored doubts.
Li Qi did not say much either, quietly waiting. People with overly chaotic personalities were unsuited to become subordinates in the River God's divine palace. Of course, clever people who could clearly assess the situation were well-suited to become assistant personnel for the River God's divine palace.
After waiting for a moment, an old man with a human head and a turtle body stepped out. This was a black-backed spiritual turtle who had successfully cultivated into a demon, currently at the mid-stage of Refining Spirit to Return to Void. He acted as the pioneer.
"This humble demon, Turtle Jiuxiang, is willing to try Lord River God's test. I ask this lord to show mercy."
His stepping forward baffled the surrounding demon cultivators who knew him. This Turtle Jiuxiang had lived for nearly eight hundred years and was a notoriously timid turtle who dodged trouble whenever he could and avoided conflicts at all costs—a man who never stirred up trouble. At the same time, the impression he gave other demons was that he was thoroughly harmless and cowardly. Yet they had not expected Turtle Jiuxiang to show such rare boldness today.
Seeing this fellow, his benevolent and kindly appearance alone made Li Qi feel quite satisfied. If he could pass the test, Li Qi would then test his intelligence; if his intelligence turned out to be quite good as well, Li Qi decided to let him serve as Honghong's Prime Minister Turtle. His amiable image made him very suitable to serve as the public face of the River God's divine palace.
Moreover, Li Qi had another consideration in deciding to let him become the chief steward of the River God's divine palace once conditions were right. Most of the water-god dragon palaces belonging to dragon clans across the Journey to the West world chose old turtles to serve as prime ministers. This showed that their race was uniquely suited for the job. But from another perspective, it also sufficiently demonstrated the strength and extraordinary nature of the turtle clan, and that the dragon clan was essentially giving them a measure of respect.
Cultivating immortality to a certain level likewise required mastering human relationships and social etiquette. If Honghong's River God prime minister belonged to the turtle clan, it would likewise be a gesture of goodwill to the turtle clan, ensuring that Honghong would gain their favorable impression and even support in the future. After all, upon becoming the Aolai River God, Honghong was destined to deal with the East Sea Dragon Clan. And Li Qi was also extremely curious about everything concerning the dragon clan.
This Prime Minister Turtle would serve as a wonderful, healthy bond between the two sides. Of course, the premise for all these plans was that Turtle Jiuxiang could win Li Qi's approval and earn Honghong's recognition.
Under Li Qi's guidance, Turtle Jiuxiang walked into the formation set up by Honghong without the slightest bit of fear. His composure convinced Li Qi of one thing: this Turtle Jiuxiang was also a person of extraordinary wisdom who knew how to bide his time and conceal his capabilities. Just this display alone made Li Qi view him with high regard.