Pangu Discusses the Dao and Speaks of the Heavens' Opening

Years passed in the blink of an eye...

The few of them listened to each other's Daos, and their power of laws had subtly increased by no small margin.

After the three had fully digested what they heard, they all turned their gazes toward Pangu.

Pangu then spoke unhurriedly: "My Dao is the Great Dao of Strength. Listen well, all of you."

As Pangu expounded the Dao, his voice rang out like a great bell or a massive chime, resounding through heaven and earth.

He spoke of his understanding of strength, how to wield it, and the boundless mysteries it held.

The three were immersed in it, comprehending Pangu's Dao.

With Pangu's explanations, their mindsets continuously elevated, and their insight into the Dao deepened.

It was as if they had glimpsed an entirely new world, brimming with endless possibilities.

When Pangu spoke his final words, the entire space fell into stillness.

After hearing him, the three sat as if in meditation, lost in the profound mysteries of the Great Dao of Strength.

This sitting lasted yet another countless number of years.

When they slowly opened their eyes, each shone with a bright light, their entire beings flowing with Dao resonance, mysterious and wondrous.

By now, Qi Wu's cultivation had reached the peak of the Mixed Origin Taiji Golden Immortal realm. Daoist Yang Mei, already at that peak, had his cultivation further solidified.

The most surprising was the Five Elements Demon God.

He stared at himself in astonishment, then bowed deeply: "Many thanks for your guidance, fellow Daoist. My Dao Injury has fully healed."

Pangu nodded slightly: "There's no need for such formality, Fellow Daoist Five Elements. Discussing the Dao with all of you has brought me great gains as well."

Daoist Yang Mei looked at Pangu: "May I ask, Fellow Daoist Pangu, do you know where your Dao lies? Can you grope your way toward that supreme realm?"

"The Great Dao Realm?"

After a long pause, he spoke again, unhurried: "My Dao lies in opening the heavens."

"What?!"

All three exclaimed in shock.

As fellow Chaos Demon Gods, they naturally understood what Pangu meant by opening the heavens.

To open the heavens meant that Pangu would have to slay all three thousand Demon Gods of this chaos.

Yet their reactions were far from the same.

The Five Elements Demon God and Daoist Yang Mei furrowed their brows, while Qi Wu's face was full of worry.

"Big Brother, is your Dao truly about opening the heavens? But how dangerous that is!"

Pangu did not answer.

His gaze was firm as he looked into the distance, as if piercing through the chaos itself.

"My Dao is perilous, but it must be done. If I do not open the heavens, this chaos will never know life."

Daoist Yang Mei sighed: "Enough, enough. Each has their own Dao.

Fellow Daoist Pangu, since your mind is made up, we cannot stop you.

But the path of opening the heavens will surely be immensely difficult. Though they say there are three thousand Chaos Demon Gods, in truth, there are far more than that."

The Five Elements Demon God was silent for a long time, then burst into laughter: "Fellow Daoist Pangu, I am willing to lend you a hand, as repayment for today's kindness."

Pangu said nothing.

He gave Qi Wu a deep look: "If I open the heavens, those three thousand Demon Gods will surely come to block me, and a bloody battle will be unavoidable.

If I do not open the heavens, this boundless chaos will cease to exist.

I have already sensed, in the depths of my being, that a great calamity is approaching. So be it—I will seize that thread of life."

Yang Mei looked at Pangu: "May I ask, Fellow Daoist Pangu, when do you plan to open the heavens?"

Pangu pondered briefly before replying: "The time is not yet ripe. When I am fully prepared, that will be the moment."

With that, Pangu turned to Qi Wu, a trace of guilt flashing in his eyes: "Second Brother, this matter concerns countless living beings. This Big Brother has no other choice."

Qi Wu nodded: "Big Brother, I understand. No matter what, I will support you."

Pangu looked at Five Elements and Yang Mei and said: "Thank you both for your kind intentions to help. But fate is as it is. You two should make your own preparations as well."

Then he took leave of the two with Qi Wu, stepped forward, and vanished into the chaos once more...

As the two walked along, all they saw were scenes of murder and treasure-grabbing.

Factions fought each other, all for the sake of seizing a single spiritual treasure. Even the most unbreakable alliances turned into bitter enmity over one such prize.

The two continued onward, hoping to find a place of peace.

Yet the sounds of conflict grew only more frequent. The entire chaotic world seemed shrouded in desire.

"It seems the strife of this chaotic world will never cease..." Pangu murmured to himself.

Then, one day, Pangu suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Second Brother, the time has come. I intend to perform the act of Creation!"

Qi Wu nodded heavily. "Big Brother, go ahead without hesitation. Second Brother will guard your path!"

Pangu stood at the center of Chaos, Pangu Axe in hand. With one swing, the vast Chaos seemed to flash with a glimmer of clarity!

Yet from all directions, countless streaks of light raced toward Pangu, and in an instant, the surroundings were packed with the great Demon Gods!

"Stop him! If he succeeds in Creation, we will all perish and fade away!"

No one knew who roared this, but all the Chaos Demon Gods charged at Pangu and Qi Wu!

Pangu wielded his great axe; with one swing, countless Demon Gods fell!

Qi Wu held his sword with one hand, standing back-to-back with Pangu. Countless Sword Qis turned into massive dragons, slashing toward the Chaos Demon Gods. With one sword rise, heaven and earth changed color; with one sword fall, countless Demon Gods perished!

As the sounds of battle spread, more and more Chaos Demon Gods rushed over!

The Time Demon God, the Karma Demon God, the Reincarnation Demon God, the Fate Demon God...

Seeing this, Pangu donned the Jade Butterfly of Creation atop his head, stepped on the Chaos Green Lotus, and swung his axe relentlessly. In the end, he slew the three thousand Demon Gods one by one!

He stood in the center of Chaos, swinging his axe again and again, a full eighty-one times!

Then he bellowed: "Split open!"

A thunderous crash rang out!

Chaos slowly parted. The light and clear rose upward, becoming the sky!

The heavy and turbid sank downward, becoming the earth!

But just as Pangu thought Creation was about to succeed, a voice reached his ears!

"If you wish to succeed in Creation, you must slay every Demon God in Chaos—including Qi Wu!"

Hearing the voice in his mind, Pangu froze on the spot!

He threw his head back and roared: "Absolutely impossible!"

So he hurled the Pangu Axe into the sky, grabbed Qi Wu with his great hand, sealed him within the Chaos Pearl with his immense power, wrapped him in the Thirty-Six-Petal Chaos Green Lotus, and with a single palm strike, sent him flying billions of miles away!

Then, a purple divine thunderbolt, billions of miles thick, struck toward the Chaos Green Lotus!

At the same time, a cry rang out: "No, Big Brother!"

No one answered!

Only Pangu's voice reached Qi Wu's mind!

"Live well. Guard this world for me."

After heaven and earth separated, Pangu feared they might merge again, so he held up the sky with his head and pressed down on the earth with his feet.

The sky rose ten feet each day, the earth thickened ten feet each day, and Pangu grew taller along with them!

Thus, who knows how many years passed. Heaven and earth gradually took shape, and Pangu finally could no longer hold on. He collapsed!