Chapter Nine: Wandering the Outer Lands, The First Cataclysm of the Primordial Era

What Chenxing did not know was that, although his millennia-long sermons had not spread beyond Fangzhang Island, their Dao resonance still reached the hidden seas surrounding the island.

At the very moment Chenxing concluded his teaching, a white-haired, white-bearded Daoist sitting cross-legged above the hidden waters of Fangzhang Island slowly opened his eyes. Within those eyes, it seemed as if the world was being created anew—time flowed, and the Dao’s resonance was endless.

Hongjun felt fortunate. A thousand years ago, he had passed through the East Sea in search of an old friend. As he traveled these waters, he sensed the flow of Dao resonance here, as if the heavenly music of the Great Dao itself. This gave him a deeper understanding of the Three Thousand Paths inscribed upon the Divine Jade Disc. After a thousand years spent contemplating this heavenly music and deepening his insight, his cultivation had advanced from the peak of the early quasi-saint stage to the middle stage. The gains were considerable.

A thousand years later, the Dao resonance faded. Hongjun believed it was a gift from the Great Dao, and he offered a respectful salute to heaven before abandoning his search for his friend to return to Jade Capital Mountain and consolidate his cultivation.

After Hongjun departed, Chenxing glanced meaningfully in his direction, shook his head, and paid no further heed, preparing instead for his journey through the primordial wilderness. Yes, he had grown somewhat bored and was ready to meet the legendary Great Deities of the land.

Several days later, Chenxing stepped out of his villa and saw the little demon playing with four newly transformed beings. Perhaps envious of the affection Chenxing showed the little demon, all four had taken the form of eleven- or twelve-year-old children—two boys and two girls, all carved from jade and utterly adorable.

Truth be told, Chenxing could have awakened all the creatures at once, but doing so would have harmed their foundations, denying them any chance of transcending to sainthood. Thus, he allowed them to transform on their own, granting them limitless possibilities for the future. With himself watching over them, who could possibly harm them?

Chenxing beckoned, and the little demon, who had been playing, scampered into his arms.

“Big brother, big brother, are we going out to play?” The little demon looked up with wide, innocent eyes, full of hope.

Chenxing smiled helplessly. He had intended to wander alone, but ever since the little demon learned he was leaving, she had pouted and protested until he relented and agreed to bring her along.

The four children came forward and bowed to Chenxing. “Master!” That title made Chenxing’s head ache, but he knew it was common in the primordial world, so he nodded and said, “I’ll be gone for a while with the little demon. Guard the house well. If anything major happens, go to the sermon platform and perform the rites—I will know.”

Among the island’s creatures, these four possessed the highest cultivation. Owing to their strong origins, upon transformation they had reached the late stage of celestial immortality—sufficient for guarding the home, especially since the island's grand array offered protection and few could enter.

“Yes, Master.” The four responded in unison, casting envious glances at the little demon.

...

Upon the surface of the East Sea, a swirling mist arose, and within it appeared an island like a celestial realm. A man flew out, a delicate little girl perched on his shoulder—it was Chenxing with the little demon, departing Fangzhang Island.

With a gesture, Chenxing concealed the island once more. After orienting himself, he set off toward Buzhou Mountain. He did not use instant movement, wishing to let the little demon enjoy the journey with him, since there was nothing urgent to do.

One day, as they walked across the primordial earth, Chenxing watched the little demon happily run ahead, picking wildflowers and adorning her hair. She ran back to him, asking, “Big brother, do I look pretty with this flower?” Chenxing gazed at her fondly, stroking her head. “Beautiful. Everything looks good on you, little demon.”

In this world where cultivation reigns supreme, the companionship of Chenxing and the little demon was unique. Chenxing had no need to cultivate, and the little demon, content beside her brother, had lost all interest in cultivation herself.

---

As they wandered and played along their way, a day came when an infinite and terrifying aura of slaughter surged from the northern wilderness, rapidly spreading across the land. Roars echoed through the heavens. The creatures of the primordial world felt a soul-deep dread, as if the world itself would be overturned.

In the western region, a figure shrouded in black demonic energy awoke from cultivation. Above his head floated a spear radiating endless killing intent, while beneath him, a black lotus pedestal supported him in midair, its twelve petals unfurled.

This spear was the God-Slaying Spear, forged from the blood-stained tip of the axe Pangu used to cleave three thousand gods and demons at the dawn of creation. It could harm even saints. The lotus was the Twelve-Petal World-Extinguishing Black Lotus, an innate treasure formed from the fragments of the thirty-six-petal Chaos Green Lotus that accompanied Pangu. This figure was the Lord of the Demonic Path, Luohu.

“At last, it has come,” Luohu’s cold voice echoed through his domain.

On Jade Capital Mountain, a Daoist awoke from cultivation, sighing deeply and murmuring, “Great calamity! But also a great opportunity.” With that, he closed his eyes and entered meditation once more.

In Western Kunlun, three Daoists conversed. “Elder brother, should we enter the calamity this time?” a young Daoist asked.

“We need only cultivate here. The calamity cannot touch us. Why risk incurring unnecessary karma?” the middle-aged Daoist replied irritably.

Both turned to the elderly, white-haired Daoist seated between them.

The elder opened his eyes and sighed. “Though this calamity is dangerous, it holds great opportunity. We have inherited Pangu’s legacy and must not let the primordial world suffer excessive harm. Prepare to enter the calamity, my younger brothers.”

These three were the Three Purities, incarnations of Pangu’s soul. The elder, who had acquired the Tower of Heaven and Earth, was Laozi; the middle-aged Daoist would later found the Teachings of Elucidation, Yuanshi; and the youth was destined to become the Sect Leader of the Teachings of the Cutting Way, Tongtian. At this time, Yuanshi and Tongtian had reached the middle stage of Golden Immortality, with Laozi slightly higher at the late stage—among the most advanced cultivators of the primordial world.

“Yes, elder brother!” Yuanshi and Tongtian bowed respectfully.

...

In the west, atop a modest peak, two Daoists sat facing each other. One, bearing a look of suffering, said to his companion, “Elder brother, this calamity is fearsome. Our western lands have been occupied by Luohu. How should we conduct ourselves?”

The speaker was Zhunti, transformed from the innate spiritual root of the Seven-Treasure Tree. His companion, the Bodhi Tree, also transformed into a Daoist, was known as Jieyin.

Since their transformation, the west had been dominated by Luohu, forcing them to hide and endure arduous cultivation. Jieyin had reached the early stage of Golden Immortality, while Zhunti was at the peak of Taiyi Golden Immortality.

“We brothers cannot participate in this calamity. Though opportunity exists, our roots are shallow. Surviving without falling in the calamity would be a blessing. Continue your cultivation, junior brother.” With that, Zhunti closed his eyes to practice.

As the tide of ferocious beasts swept across the land with killing intent, and the sentient beings prepared their own designs, none realized they had angered a presence far more terrifying than they could imagine.

---

As savage beasts roared across the world, the little demon—who had always basked in Chenxing’s indulgence—was frightened by the sudden surge of killing aura. Her face turned pale in an instant.

Born on Fangzhang Island and never having faced mortal terror, the little demon had always been cherished by Chenxing, her nature remaining pure and innocent. She had never encountered such horror, and now she dove into Chenxing’s arms, trembling with fear.

Seeing his treasured little demon terrified by the killing aura and the roars of countless beasts, Chenxing’s expression darkened. He held her tightly, patting her back and soothing her with resolute words, “Don’t be afraid, little demon. With me here, no one can harm you!” His voice was unwavering.

Chenxing understood that this was the first great calamity of the primordial world, orchestrated by Heaven to purge its anomalies. Yet, the fact that these beasts had frightened the little demon crossed the line in his heart.

Furious, Chenxing resolved that, after the calamity ended, he would erase the beast tribe from the primordial world entirely.

If Shenni had known, he would surely regret unleashing the killing aura and ordering the beasts to roar in order to make a dramatic entrance into the world. It was this very act that frightened someone who should never have been frightened, leading to the complete eradication of the beast tribe from the world. Originally, Shenni and the Four Great Ferocious Beasts were only meant to be sealed away, never to be killed, with even saints only able to exile them eternally into spatial rifts.

But this time, they provoked someone who should never have been provoked—Chenxing.

Thus, the beast tribe vanished from the river of time, all because they frightened a little girl with only Golden Immortality cultivation.

Who could have imagined that a little fox at the Golden Immortal stage would have such terrifying backing?

...

“Chief, the beast army is nearing Buzhou Mountain. All living creatures encountered have been slain,” Qiongqi reported to Shenni.

Shenni had lately felt uneasy, sensing that this campaign would bring disaster upon his tribe. Yet, recalling the immortality of himself and Qiongqi, he was somewhat reassured. As long as they lived, any consequences could be borne. As for the beasts, mere mindless creatures, Shenni cared little.

“Scatter the beasts throughout the land. Kill!” Shenni commanded, gritting his teeth.

Qiongqi acknowledged and went to issue the orders.

With the beasts wreaking havoc, Chenxing no longer lingered in leisurely travel. He took the little demon and instantly transported himself to the base of Buzhou Mountain. Looking up, he saw the mountain towering beyond sight, like a pillar supporting the heavens, its pressure intimidating the world—a fitting transformation from Pangu’s spine, manifesting his indomitable spirit.

Chenxing nodded. If Pangu had not possessed such resolve, he would not have saved him in the past. Under the operation of fate, Pangu should have perished, but fortune favored him with Chenxing’s intervention; otherwise, none could have saved Pangu’s life.

Ignoring the mountain’s oppressive aura, Chenxing held the little demon and strode up its slopes.