After the Heavenly Dao Consciousness collapsed, the Primordial Wilderness did not immediately descend into revelry.
That silence was more profound than any clamor. The gray-white light seeping from the cracks in the sky slowly repaired the last few gaps, like a silent craftsman mending an old garment, the stitches fine and dense, almost obscuring the traces of the tear. On the earth, the crimson streams had long been absorbed by the Earthly Dao Formation Network, leaving only the earthy yellow and dark red patterns of the array faintly visible deep in the soil. When all living beings looked up at the sky, they could feel something unprecedented seeping down from the gray-white light curtain above their heads, seeping into their pores, into their meridians, and into the deepest part of their souls.
That thing had no name. It did not belong to any known spiritual energy, immortal energy, demonic power, or demonic essence. It was more like a kind of "permission"—allowing all things to grow taller, allowing cultivation to go further, and allowing life to touch the limits that were once locked by the Heavenly Dao Will.
In the Former Heavenly Dao ruled the Primordial Wilderness, an invisible iron curtain stood at the top of each realm. It was insurmountable above the Daluo Golden Immortal realm, insurmountable above the Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal realm, and even the Quasi-Saint realm had its insurmountable boundaries demarcated with the tacit approval of the Heavenly Dao Will. Those boundaries had no inscriptions, no notices, no Thunder, yet they were more despairing than any punishment—at a certain point in cultivation, everything suddenly came to a standstill. It wasn't a lack of spiritual energy, nor insufficient comprehension, but rather the entire world telling you: This is the end. There is no path forward.
The myriad beings of the Primordial Wilderness once believed that it was the "Dao" itself rejecting them, and that "Heaven" was defining the order. It wasn't until Pangu True Body shattered the Heavenly Dao Consciousness with nine axe blows, and until the Heavenly Dao Origin transformed into fragments of pure laws that scattered into the array network, that invisible iron curtain was finally torn open. At the moment the iron curtain was torn open, strange phenomena appeared simultaneously in various parts of the Primordial Wilderness world: in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent, an old cultivator suddenly burst into tears while meditating, because he sensed that the bottleneck that had stagnated for eight hundred years had loosened; in the Southern Continent of Jambu, a warrior of the Witch Race roared to the sky during training, and the blood in his body surged like a river bursting its banks; in the Western Ox Continent, a Demon Race grew an extra tail when it transformed under the moon, and patterns that did not belong to any known demonic magic appeared on that tail; in the Northern Julu Continent, a descendant of the Star Gods knelt before the altar for a long time, and the stars above his head shone brightly at the same time, and starlight poured into his head like a waterfall.
The Heavenly Dao no longer oppresses all living beings. These four words are easy to say, but they weigh as heavily as Mount Tai on the heads of every living being.
The Sanqing Disciples were among the first to sense the changes in this great development. Grand Master Xuandu Laozi the Taiqing Sect, had been lingering at the peak of the Daluo Golden Immortal realm for many years, nourishing his Dao foundation daily with the remaining light of the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda Heavenly Dao, Xuandu was meditating on the back mountain of Kunlun Mountain when he suddenly felt a wisp of extremely fine and pure "Taichu Qi" descend from the gray-white halo above his head. This Qi did not enter his dantian or meridians, but went directly to his ancestral aperture between his eyebrows, simultaneously illuminating the true meaning of "Dao" and "De" that Xuandu had accumulated over many Xuandu. When he opened his eyes, a path appeared before him. That path wasn't beneath his feet, but in the void, paved with countless tiny fragments of laws within a grayish-white halo. Each fragment was a "possibility" once locked away by the Heavenly Dao. Xuandu stepped onto it, each step a new realm. After nine steps, his body shone with a brilliant light, and the phenomenon of three flowers gathering at the crown appeared above his head. Above these three flowers, a small grayish-white flower appeared, within which a glimpse of Pangu's gaze when he created the world was faintly visible. He had broken through to the Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal realm, becoming the first person in the Primordial Wilderness Heavenly Dao.
The news spread, causing an uproar among the disciples of the Sanqing Ones.
The Twelve Golden Immortals under the Yuqing Yuanshi Tianzun, each originally occupying their own Daoist Arena, sensed the opening of a certain "gate" within their bodies after the collapse of the Heavenly Dao. Guangchengzi, meditating on Nine Immortals Mountain, suddenly saw the Heaven-Flipping Seal before him fly up on its own, revealing previously unseen inscriptions on its base—inscriptions not belonging to the Yuqing lineage, nor even to any known immortal lineage, but rather "pure principles" scattered into heaven and earth when the Heavenly Dao collapsed. Using the Heaven-Flipping Seal as a guide, Guangchengzi absorbed these principles into his palm. The Heaven-Flipping Seal split in two, then four, then eight, forming an array of Eight Seals suspended in the air, within which appeared a "Seal Dao" that stretched to the Tongtian and the earth. He used the Seal Dao to enter the Hunyuan, becoming Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal. Chi Jingzi, on Mount Taihua, saw the Yin-Yang Mirror shatter simultaneously on both sides, from which Yin-Yang Qi flew out, swirling into a gray-white vortex. Within the vortex emerged the four large characters "Life and Death Cycle." Chi Jingzi realized that life and death are two sides of the same coin, and that the old Heavenly Dao had separated them. The split was for the convenience of controlling Reincarnation; now the split has disappeared, and life and death are perfectly Hunyuan. He entered the Hunyuan realm through the Life and Death Cycle and death. In the Mount Zhongnan, the Pine Needles of Yun Zhongzi's trees had all fallen, revealing bare branches, on which three hundred and sixty-five pine cones had grown, each containing a thunder magic technique. Yun Zhongzi picked all the pine cones, using the thunder magic to enter the Dao, breaking through Hunyuan the Hunyuan realm. (The following Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun: Yuding Zhenren, Huang Long Zhenren Taiyi True Person, Puxian Zhenren, Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun Daoist Cihang, Juliusun, Julusun, Daoxing Tianzun...) Each of the True Lord Qingxu Daode, based on their own Daoist practices and aided by the pure principles of the laws after the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, broke free from the shackles of the past. Beyond the Twelve Golden Immortals, outstanding figures also emerged among the third and fourth generation disciples of the Yuqing Purity Sect. The Daoist Randeng entered the Primordial Chaos realm through Hunyuan cultivation of Dual Cultivation of Buddhism and Daoism; the Antarctic Immortal Elder entered the Primordial Chaos realm through the art of star formations; and the Immortal of Fortune, Yun Zhongzi, forged a new path by using the grass, wood, and thunder magic to enter the Primordial Hunyuan. In a short time, the number of Primordial Chaos Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal the Yuqing Purity lineage exploded, with Daoist Arena springing up and celestial light soaring into the heavens.
The disciples under the Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun were the fewest, yet the most fierce. After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, the disciples including Daoist Duobao, Golden Spirit Mother Wudang Holy Mother, Turtle Spirit Holy Mother, and Guiling Shengmu did not rush to break through to higher Heavenly Dao. Instead, they brought the remnants of the Four Swords of Zhu Xian back to the Biyou Palace. Using these remnants as a guide, they set up a "Heaven-Slaying Remnant Formation" on the back mountain of the Biyou Palace. Within the array, there was neither heaven nor earth, only a "Origin slaughter" left over from the collapse of the Heavenly Dao surging at its core. Daoist Duobao led his disciples into the array to comprehend it. After seven days and seven nights, the array shattered. Daoist Duobao suddenly produced a small, grayish-white sword. Its blade was blunt, yet it sent chills down the Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal Chaos. He used the Heaven-Slaying Sword to enter the Hunyuan. The Golden Spirit Mother used the Dragon Tiger Ruyi Hunyuan, the Turtle Spirit Holy Mother Wudang Holy Mother used the Space-Severing Banner Hunyuan, and the Turtle Spirit Mother Hunyuan the Sun and Sun and Moon Pearls. The Four Swords of Zhu Xian were simultaneously reforged after entering the Primordial Hunyuan. On the day the swords were completed, four sword marks appeared in the sky above Biyou Palace, lingering for a long time. All those in Primordial Wilderness World who cultivated the Way of Slaughter felt a chill in their hearts.
The great development of the Sanqing Disciples went far beyond this. Although Laozi Human Sect, each of them had a profound foundation. After the Grand Master Xuandu entered the Primordial Hunyuan, another disciple of Laozi Tzu, Yin Xi, attained enlightenment at the old site of Hangu Pass. He entered Hunyuan Primordial Chaos with the word "pass"—a pass is a gate. The old Heavenly Dao set up gates to lock all spirits. Today, Yin Xi took the pass as his Way and opened the gates to all spirits. When Yin Xi entered the Hunyuan, purple qi surged for 30,000 miles from the old site of Hangu Pass. Within the purple qi, countless "passes" that had been locked by the Heavenly Dao were transformed into thoroughfares.
Another common characteristic of the great development of the Sanqing Disciples is that no one is anymore bound by "Heaven's Mandate". In the Former Heavenly Dao ruled, immortal Immortal Dao Cultivators needed the permission of "Heaven's Mandate" to break through their realms. Those without Heaven's Mandate could not break through even if their Dao techniques were perfect. After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, the term "Heaven's Mandate" lost its master and scattered into the Primordial Wilderness, transforming into countless fragmented opportunities, which could be picked up by anyone with virtue, affinity, and perseverance. Those Sanqing Disciples who were originally trapped at the peak of the Great Luo realm due to "Heaven's lack of favor" picked up opportunities to break through their realms. Some picked up fragments of "Sword Dao Mandate of Heaven", and their sword intent soared to the sky overnight; some picked up fragments of "Pill Dao Mandate of Heaven", and a batch of pills turned into nine colors; some picked up fragments of "Formation Dao Mandate of Heaven", and their Array Formation were able to harmonize with heaven and earth at will. Although the number of disciples under the Sanqing Ones did not increase dramatically, the top combat power multiplied several times, and the core strength sprang up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.
The Witch Race experienced the most rapid development.
After the Twelve Ancestral Witches' true spirits returned to their positions in the Tongtian Tower, the bloodline of the Witch Race gained the will of Pangu's creation of the world and the power of four ancient demon gods. These four demon gods' powers— the Immortal Dao Purity, the Creation Mystery, the Destruction Fervor, and the Devil Dao Cunning —were originally fragments of laws left behind in the Primordial Wilderness world by Hongjun, Jidu, and Luohu. After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, they scattered into the world and were drawn in by the Dutian God-Demon Great Formation, merging entirely into the bloodline of the Witch Race. The Witch Race's foundation was based on bloodline inheritance; with the bloodline changing, the entire clan changed.
The changes first appeared in the newborns of the Witch Race. In the Witch Race settlement beneath the Tongtian Tower, the first batch of infants born after the collapse of the Heavenly Dao did not cry upon landing, but instead opened their eyes. A fleeting gray-white light flashed in the infants' eyes, then returned to normal. But the Witch Race elders clearly saw that in that flash, the infants had already completed the bloodline awakening that the old Witch Race required three years to complete. Newborns of the Dijiang tribe had the wind beneath their feet and could run as soon as they landed; newborns of the Ju Mang tribe had green tips on their fingertips and could sprout new buds upon touching the ground; newborns of the Ru Shou tribe had gold in their palms and could turn stones to powder when they grasped them; newborns of the Xuan Ming tribe exhaled... Frost forms, and breath turns water to ice; newborns of the Houtu tribe stand firmly on the ground, their bodies enveloped in a Zhu Jiuyin -brown glow; newborns of the Qiang Liang tribe cry like thunder, shaking the tents; newborns of the Tian Wu tribe see Day and Night alternating in their eyes when they open them, and a day passes in the blink of an eye; newborns of the Tianwu tribe have a slight ripple in the space around them, and can reach out and grab objects three steps away; newborns of the Xi Zi tribe have shimmering hair, which generates static electricity when touched; newborns of the She Bi Shi tribe Cloud Change with their breath; newborns of the Yan Zi tribe have silk threads at their fingertips, capable of weaving an invisible net; newborns of the Gonggong have water vapor rising around them when they are angry, and tears flowing like streams when they cry.
The adults of the Witch Race are also undergoing a transformation. Before the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, the Witch Race was renowned for their physical strength, but due to the lack of methods for cultivating the Primordial Spirit, they always had the shortcoming of "cultivating only life and not nature" in front of Immortal Dao Cultivators. After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, the will of Pangu created the world merged into their bloodline, and the laws of the Twelve Ancestral Witches and the power of the four demon gods were completely integrated, giving the Witch Race's bloodline an unprecedented "spirituality". This spirituality does not depend on the Primordial Spirit, but rather completely unifies the soul and the body, making the Witch Race's body the Primordial Spirit and the Primordial Spirit the body. When Witch Race warriors close their eyes, they can internally see their bloodline as if observing a star map, and when they open their eyes, they can externally sense the laws of heaven and earth. They do not need to meditate and cultivate qi; they only need to fight, work, perform sacrifices, and reproduce, and their bloodline will automatically absorb the pure law fragments scattered between heaven and earth, growing slowly and steadily upward.
The Great Witch Xing Tian of the Witch Race led three hundred warriors to guard the edge of Chaos. Within a few months, seventeen of the three hundred warriors broke through to the Daluo Golden Immortal realm on their own. Xing Tian himself broke through three realms in battle with the Chaos Beasts, stepping into the Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal. When he broke through, his gray-white battle axe cleaved through a hundred miles of Chaos, and the phantoms of the Twelve Ancestral Witches simultaneously appeared in the axe light, letting out a silent roar into the depths of Chaos. The Chaos Beasts, those at the Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal realm, sensed the aura of Pangu's creation will and the fusion of the Twelve Ancestral Witches' laws on Xing Tian and retreated, daring not to approach the Primordial Wilderness sky any longer.
Tongtian Tower of the Witch Race, the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirit Elders collectively went into seclusion after the collapse of the Heavenly Dao. They completely connected the Dutian God-Demon Great Formation and Primordial Wilderness Earthly Dao Formation Network, using the Will of Pangu within the bloodline of the Witch Race as a guide to extend the Earthly Dao Formation Network from the depths of the earth towards the edge of Chaos. For every zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) the Earthly Dao Formation Network extended, the Primordial Wilderness Earth became thicker, and a portion of the scattered fragments of laws within the earth's veins were absorbed. Among the thirty-six elders, twelve broke through to the Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal during their seclusion, while the remaining twenty-four all reached the peak of the Daluo Golden Immortal realm. The Witch Race does not cultivate the Primordial Spirit, so there were no heavenly tribulations or unusual phenomena when they broke through; only the Tongtian Tower trembled slightly, and its gray-white light surged before returning to calm.
The myriad people of the Witch Race cultivated wasteland, built cities, forged weapons, and raised exotic beasts around the Twelve Ancestral Witches Temple. The Witch Race were not skilled in farming or weaving, but instead used the "Creation Mystery"—one of the four demonic powers in their bloodline—to nurture vegetation, the "Immortal Dao Purity" to purify water sources, the "Destruction Fervor" to smelt ores, and the "Devil Dao Cunning" to tame ferocious beasts. In just a few years, the Witch Race's settlement expanded from around the Tongtian Tower to the entire Northern Julu Continent, and then from the Northern Julu Continent to the other three continents. The Witch Race did not contend with the Immortals, did not fight with the Demon Race for land, and did not vie for resources with the Human Race; they simply multiplied silently on the earth, infusing every inch of soil with the will of Pangu created the world. Wherever the Witch Race resided, the earth's veins were exceptionally stable, the Earthly Dao Formation Network was exceptionally bright, clear springs gushed forth, abundant crops grew, and ferocious beasts avoided them.
The development of the Immortal Clan was the most elegant and far-reaching.
The Immortal Clan is not a unified race, but a loose alliance centered around the Sanqing Ones and primarily composed of Immortal Dao Cultivators. After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, the greatest change for the Immortal Clan lay in the liberation of the "Dao." In the Former Heavenly Dao ruled, Immortal Dao Cultivators cultivated "Heavenly Dao Immortality," with all techniques, formulas, formations, and talismans taking the Heavenly Dao Laws as their ultimate reference. After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, Immortal Dao Cultivators suddenly discovered: the reference point was gone. The mirror above their heads shattered; they now had to see themselves clearly for themselves.
This initially terrified many Immortal Dao Cultivators. Without the Heavenly Dao as a reference, would their cultivation techniques go awry? Would their elixirs turn into poison? Would their formations cause them to burn? Would their talismans summon evil spirits? The panic lasted for several days until the Grand Master Xuandu Laozi, broke through to the Taiqing Hunyuan and Genesis the "Way of Taichu" based on his own Dao. Only then did the immortals realize: the collapse of Heavenly Dao was not the end of the world, but rather the weaning. The Former Heavenly Dao was a crutch, and now that the crutch is broken, their legs are growing faster.
The various lineages of the Immortal Clan began to use their own lineages as a foundation, absorbing the fragments of pure laws scattered throughout heaven and earth after the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, and reorganizing the Daoist methods. The Taiqing lineage took "Morality" as its root, dissecting the five thousand words of the old "Morality Te Ching" word by word, discovering that each word could correspond to a "possibility" that had been suppressed by the Heavenly Dao. Grand Master Xuandu entered the Hunyuan with the word "Dao," Yin Xi entered the Hunyuan with the word "Guan," and other disciples of the Taiqing Sect entered the Dao with words such as "simplicity," "gentleness," "emptiness," "stillness," "nothingness," and "existence," each word forming a new path. The number of Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal the Taiqing lineage was not large, but each one had a foundation so profound that it was astonishing.
The Yuqing lineage, rooted in the "Chan" school, rewrote the old Elucidation Sect's tenet of "clarifying the Heavenly Dao" to "clarifying the Three Dao of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity." Guangchengzi, after entering the Hunyuan Seal Dao, divided the Heaven-Flipping Seal into eight, passing each Eight Seals to a disciple. These eight disciples then went to the eight Seal Dao of Primordial Wilderness World to suppress the disordered earth veins. Chi Jingzi, after Life and Death Cycle through the Hunyuan of Life and Death, Genesis the Life-and-Death Daoist Arena on Mount Taihua, where all beings of the Primordial Wilderness World could Daoist Arena to comprehend the true meaning of life and death, regardless of whether they were immortals, demons, witches, humans, Buddha-Demon, or monsters. Yun Zhongzi, after Hunyuan Primordial Chaos through the Grass and Wood Thunder Technique, caused pine trees in Mount Zhongnan to regenerate, each containing a thunder technique. Those with affinity could sit quietly under the trees and comprehend a thunder technique. The Yuqing lineage had the largest number of Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal, with Daoist Arena spread throughout the four continents of the Primordial Wilderness, their immortal light shining day and night.
The Shangqing lineage takes "Interception" as its root, carrying forward the old Interception Sect's tenet of "intercepting a sliver of life." After Daoist Duobao entered Hunyuan realm with the Heaven-Slaying Sword, Genesis the "Heaven-Slaying Sword Realm" behind the Biyou Palace. Within this realm, there is no heaven, no earth, and no rules, only an Origin of killing intent for disciples to comprehend. After Golden Spirit Mother entered the Hunyuan realm with the Dragon Tiger Ruyi Hunyuan, she split the Ruyi in two. The Dragon Ruyi was passed on to male disciples, and the Tiger Ruyi to female disciples. The two energies of the Dragon and Tiger intertwined above Biyou Palace, forming a gray-white canopy. They protect all Shangqing disciples. Wudang Holy Mother entered Hunyuan Space-Severing Banner, she Space-Severing Banner above the Eastern Sea. When the banner unfolds, it can sever space, allowing any Shangqing disciple in danger to escape. After the Turtle Spirit Holy Mother entered the Hunyuan with the Sun and Moon Pearls, the Sun and Moon Pearls transformed into two gray-white stars suspended above Biyou Palace. The Sun Pearl illuminated the day, and the Moon Pearl illuminated the night, continuously channeling the power of the stars into the bodies of the Shangqing disciples. The Shangqing lineage has fewer Yuqing Chaos Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal than the Yuqing lineage, but their killing power is unparalleled in the Primordial Wilderness.
Among the Immortal Clan, there is another force that cannot be ignored: the rogue cultivators. Before the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, rogue cultivators were the most miserable group among Immortal Dao Cultivators. They had no master, no Daoist Tradition, no destiny, and no backing. After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, rogue cultivators became one of the biggest beneficiaries. In the Former Heavenly Dao suppressed all beings from breaking through to higher realms, rogue cultivators, lacking the guidance of a master, often couldn't even reach the threshold of suppression. After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, pure fragments of laws scattered throughout the world, which rogue cultivators could pick up wherever they went. An unnamed old cultivator in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent was fishing by a stream when he caught a fragment of a law and comprehended its meaning. "Water benefits all things without striving," and one night he entered the Great Luo. A herbalist in the Southern Continent of Jambu plucked a fragment of law from a cliff, comprehending that "medicine can cure diseases without causing death, and Buddha can save those with affinity," and entered the Great Luo through the art of medicine. A storyteller in the Western Ox Continent compiled the story of the collapse of the Heavenly Dao into a tale, telling it in a teahouse for three months. Seven listeners broke through realms because of the implied meaning of "all spirits united in heart" in the tale. A blacksmith in the Northern Julu Continent struck iron with his hammer, and with each strike, the sound of the hammer implied the way of "steel forged through a hundred refinements." The blacksmith entered the Great Luo through forging, and the weapons he forged possessed a gray-white sharpness.
During the great development of the Immortal Clan, there was another special group: the reincarnations of Chaos Demon God. These reincarnated beings were all renowned demon gods in the Chaos in their previous lives. Although they lost their memories after reincarnation, their Origin laws remained. After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, the Origin laws within them resonated with the laws of the Primordial Wilderness, and they actively released them, merging them into the universe. After this release, they did not wither; instead, due to the resolution of past Causality, their Origin laws re-condensed within them, forming a purer power, closer to the "Dao" itself. The reincarnations of the Time Demon Gods of the Eastern Victory Divine Continent wielded the Time Law merging with the Time Long River, a gray-white time mark appears between their brows, and the flow of time around them changes at will as the time mark rotates. The reincarnation of the Space Demon God in Southern Continent of Jambu, after embedding the Space Law into the earth's veins, has a gray-white space seal in their palm, where space folds where the seal lands. The reincarnation of the Causality Demon God in the Western Ox Continent, after sorting out the Causality Law, has a layer of gray-white veil in their eyes, and can sever Causality threads by closing their eyes. The reincarnation of the Reincarnation Demon God in the Northern Julu Continent, after opening up the Law of Reincarnation, has a ring of gray-white halo around their body, and the energy of life and death alternates as the halo rotates.
After releasing their Origin laws, these reincarnated beings all chose to go into seclusion. Although they had let go of past grievances, fragments of their past life memories flooded back during the release of the laws, requiring time to process. Their seclusion differed from that of Immortal Dao Cultivators; they did not set up Daoist Arena, Array Formation, or absorb spiritual energy, but simply found a secluded place to fall into a deep sleep. In their dreams, their past life memories and present life thoughts slowly merged in a gray-white halo. Once the fusion was complete, they would no longer be "reincarnated beings" or "demons," but ordinary members of the myriad beings of the Primordial Wilderness world—only with a long and heavy past than most members.
The Spirit Race's development was the most secretive and also the most peculiar.
The Spirit Race is not Primordial Wilderness race. They are born in places where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth converges, and are either jade spirits within stones, essences within trees, moon spirits within water, or flames within fire. In the Former Heavenly Dao ruled, the Spirit Race was classified as a "branch of the Demon Race," neglected and without a legitimate lineage. After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, a large number of pure law fragments appeared in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. As beings formed from the condensation of spiritual energy, the Spirit Race was the first to sense the changes. They do not need to cultivate or comprehend; they become whatever is in the spiritual energy. Before the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, the Spirit Race were at most mountain spirits and water monsters, with the highest realm being the Celestial Immortal. After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, beings at the Daluo Golden Immortal realm began to appear among the Spirit Race.
In the Eastern Victory Divine Continent, there is a Jade Mountain. Within the mountain, a jade spirit has absorbed the essence of the sun and moon for billions of years. After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, a wisp of grayish-white light appeared within the jade spirit. The jade spirit took human form and called itself "Jade Spirit Child." Upon birth, it was already at the Daluo Golden Immortal realm, and the jade light around it faintly revealed the scene of Pangu creating the world. In the Southern Continent of Jambu, there is an ancient vine that has lasted for ten thousand years. After the collapse of the Western Ox Continent, the wood spirit in the vine's heart suddenly blossomed, and after the Heavenly Dao fell, it bore fruit. The fruit split open and gave birth to a child named "Wood Spirit Child." Upon birth, it understood the language of all trees, entered the Heavenly Immortal realm at the age of one, and entered the Great Luo at the age of three. In the Western Continent of Divine Victory, there is an ancient spring. After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, the moon spirit in the spring shone brightly. The moon spirit took human form and called itself "Water Spirit Child." The water light around it reflected the myriad rivers of the Primordial Wilderness. In the Northern Julu Continent, there is a cave of earth fire. After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, the flames in the cave changed color, from red to grayish-white. The fire spirit took human form and called itself "Fire Spirit Child." The grayish-white flames around it did not burn but rather warmed.
The Spirit Race's development differs from that of the Witch Race, Immortal Clan, and Human Race. They do not contend for territory, do not Daoist Tradition, and do not accept disciples. Instead, they silently absorb the pure fragments of laws scattered throughout the world, integrating them into their own spiritual bodies, bringing their spiritual bodies ever closer to the "Dao" itself. The highest-ranking cultivators among the Spirit Race have already reached the Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal, but no one knows their names, nor has anyone seen their forms. They are like clear springs in the world, flowing silently, purifying everything around them. Wherever the Spirit Race resides, the spiritual energy is exceptionally pure, the laws are exceptionally clear, the vegetation is exceptionally lush, and the ferocious beasts are exceptionally docile.
A delicate symbiotic relationship developed between the Spirit Race and the Witch Race. The Witch Race's bloodline intertwined with the Will of Pangu and the laws of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, resulting in a powerful and violent force; the Spirit Race's spirit body was condensed from pure spiritual energy, possessing a pure and gentle nature. When Witch Race warriors cultivated, if Spirit Race was nearby, the violent power would be naturally neutralized by the Spirit Race's spirit body, making breakthroughs smoother. When Spirit Race absorbed fragments of laws, if the Will of Pangu emanating from the Witch Race's bloodline was nearby, the fragments would be imbued with Pangu 'Witch Race Will of Pangu, becoming more stable after merging into their Spirit Race bodies. Thus, countless "Witch-Spirit Coexistence" places spontaneously formed on the Primordial Wilderness land, with the Witch Race responsible for protection and development, and the Spirit Race responsible for purification and harmony.
The Star God Lineage is both the oldest and the most innovative.
The Star God Lineage is not a race, but a lineage of inheritance. Countless stars shone in the Primordial Wilderness heavens, each once the embodiment or essence of an ancient Star Gods. In the Former Heavenly Dao ruled, the Star God Lineage was most severely suppressed by its Heavenly Dao Will —because stars were inherently part of "Heaven," and the Heavenly Dao Will did not allow them to possess their own independent existence. After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, the countless stars in the sky simultaneously shone brightly, their starlight raining down upon the Primordial Wilderness. Each ray of starlight carried the "true name" of a star. Those who retain the bloodline of Star Gods, regardless of how many generations have passed, can sense the true name of that star within the starlight. The true name enters their soul, and the Star Gods bloodline awakens.
On the shores of the East Sea in the Eastern Sea Eastern Victory Divine Continent, a young fisherman suddenly looked up amidst the starlight, gazing at a dark red star in the sky. He involuntarily uttered a name. As soon as the name was spoken, the dark red star shone brightly, its starlight pouring into the young man's crown chakra like a pillar. A crimson light surged around him, and a phantom of a crimson dragon appeared behind him. That was the true name of the ancient Star Gods, "Red Dragon Star Lord." The young man, having entered the Dao with the bloodline of the Star Gods, broke through seven realms within three days, stepping into the Daluo Golden Immortal.
On the ruins of Buzhou Mountain in the Southern Continent of Jambu, an old man guarding the mountain sensed the true name of "Heavenly Pillar Star Lord" amidst the starlight. The old man was a descendant of the Witch Race who remained to guard the ruins after the collapse of Buzhou Mountain. The Ancestral Witch Law and the Star Gods bloodline were originally incompatible, but they suddenly merged when the starlight entered his body. The old man's body flashed with alternating gray-white and silver-blue light, which eventually merged into one, transforming into a silver-gray pillar of light that shot straight into the sky. When he entered Hunyuan Buzhou Mountain, reconnecting the ruins. Although it could not restore the Celestial Pillar, it formed a silver-gray pillar of light on the old site of Buzhou Mountain, becoming a new landmark in the Primordial Wilderness world.
A female cultivator in the Western Ox Continent sensed the true name of "Moonlight Star Lord" amidst the starlight. Her body was enveloped in a fusion of silvery-white moonlight and greyish-white starlight. Upon Hunyuan Primordial Chaos realm, two moons appeared in the sky—one silvery-white and the other greyish-white, shining brightly together, illuminating Western Ox Continent as if it were daytime. A hunter in the Northern Julu Continent sensed the true name of "Hunter Star Lord" amidst the starlight. He entered the Dao through archery, and with a single arrow, the arrow transformed into the Long River of starlight, piercing through hundreds of miles, pinning a Chaos Beasts at the Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal realm to the edge of Chaos.
A significant characteristic of the Star God Lineage's great development is that all Star Gods Awakeners possess a natal star in the heavens. This natal star is inextricably linked to the Awakener's life; as the Awakener advances, the star shines brighter; if the star is damaged, the Awakener suffers a backlash. After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, as the gray-white halo of the heavens repaired the cracks, countless starlight seeped into the halo, adding specks of silver-blue starlight within it. These starlights resonated with the Awakeners' natal stars, forming a Star Network covering the heavens. This Star Network, intertwined with the Human Dao Array Network and the Earthly Dao Formation Network, further strengthened the protection of the Primordial Wilderness.
The number of awakened beings in the Star God Lineage is small, but each one is a top-tier warrior at the Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal realm. They do not form alliances, establish sects, or accept disciples; each guards a region of the heavens. The Eastern Victory Divine Continent is guarded by the Red Dragon Star Lord Southern Continent of Jambu by the Heavenly Pillar Star Lord, the Western Ox Continent by the Moonlight Star Lord and the Hunter Star Lord, and the Northern Julu Continent by the Big Dipper Seven Stars Lords of the Big Dipper. The Star God Lineage does not participate in the internal conflicts of the Primordial Wilderness; they merely patrol the heavens. Whenever Chaos Beasts approaches, starlight arrives, and the beast is instantly annihilated.
After the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, the Sanqing and the Twelve Ancestral Witches disappeared from the Primordial Wilderness as if they were in seclusion.
The Sanqing' secluded retreat is located at the highest point of the heavens, where the Human Dao Array Network intersects with the gray- Xuanhuang aura. There lies an invisible Daoist Arena, devoid of heaven, earth, and Daoist Arena, containing only three withered lotuses slowly rotating. Laozi sits on the central Lotus Platform, the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda suspended above his head. The cracks in the pagoda's body slowly heal within the gray-white aura, the Profound Yellow Primordial Qi merging with the gray-white aura, transforming into a "Taichu Mysterious Light"—a state between Xuanhuang and gray-white. With each rotation of this Mysterious Light, the clear light surrounding Laozi becomes one degree clearer, dispelling the lingering darkness previously suppressed by the Heavenly Dao Will. The Way of Taiqing awakened a little more within him. He no longer taught disciples, no longer wrote books, no longer discussed the Way with others; he simply sat. While he sat, the cultivation bottlenecks of all the disciples of the Taiqing lineage loosened on their own; while he sat, an inextinguishable lamp lit up simultaneously in every Daoist temple in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent; while he sat, a proverb simultaneously arose in the hearts of all those who cultivated the Way of Morality in the Primordial Wilderness. The proverb varied from person to person; some obtained "The highest good is like water," some obtained "Contentment brings no disgrace," some obtained "Great talents mature late," and some obtained "Act without striving."
Yuanshi Tianzun sat on Lotus Platform to the left, a three-jeweled Three Treasures Jade Ruyi resting across his lap. The three-colored Treasure Light on the ruyi slowly returned to its original state within a grayish-white halo. The blue returned to clarity, the red to intensity, and the white to brightness. He no longer preached, no longer Elucidation Sect or accepted disciples; he simply sat. While seated, the true meaning of the character "Chan" within the Yuqing lineage of all disciples spontaneously grew; while seated, a clear spring simultaneously gushed forth from all Yuqing Daoist Arena in the Southern Continent of Jambu, its water capable of healing hidden injuries from cultivation; while seated, a method simultaneously arose in the hearts of all those who cultivated the Dao of Chan in the Primordial Wilderness. These methods varied from person to person: some attained "Seal of the Eight Directions," some "Life and Death Cycle," some "All Grass and Trees See Soldiers," and some "Thunderclap the Nine Heavens."
Lingbao Tianzun sat on the Lotus Platform to the right, the Four Swords of Zhu Xian hovering around him, their tips pointing to the sky and hilts to the ground, their gray and white sword energies intertwining in a net. He no longer Array Formation the Slaying Immortals, no longer intercepted life force; he simply sat. While seated, the true meaning of the word "Intercept" within all the disciples of the Shangqing lineage sharpened spontaneously; while seated, a sword spring simultaneously gushed forth from all the Shangqing Daoist Arena in the Western Ox Continent, its waters enhancing killing intent when drunk; while seated, a sword incantation simultaneously arose in the minds of all those who cultivated the Dao of Intercept in the Primordial Wilderness. The sword incantation varied from person to person; some obtained "Heaven-Slaying Sword), some "Longhu Jiaozheng" (Dragon and Tiger Confrontation), some "Duan Kong Zhan Xu" (Severing the Void), and some "Riyue Tonghui" (Sun and Moon Shining Together).
The Sanqing Disciples were scattered throughout the Primordial Wilderness world, Sanqing teachings permeated heaven and earth, and their will extended to all living beings. They were like the roots of three giant trees, no longer growing taller, but spreading underground, gripping the Primordial Wilderness land even tighter.
After the Twelve Ancestral Witches' true spirits returned to their places in the Tongtian Tower, they never reappeared in the world. They transformed into twelve gray-white rays of light, sinking into the deepest part of the Tongtian Tower, merging with the Dutian God-Demon Great Formation and Qiang Liang Formation. The wind of Dijiang swirled within the tower, the wood of Ju Mang took root at the base, the gold of Ru Shou cast patterns on the tower's body, the water of Xuan Ming formed a pool at the bottom, the earth of Houtu formed veins beneath the tower, the thunder of Zhu Jiuyin roared at the top, the day and night of Tian Wu folded in the tower's corridors, the lightning of Xi Zi flashed at the top, the She Bi Shi spread clouds outside the tower, the net of Yan Zi wove a net on the tower's walls, and the flood of Gonggong formed a river beside the tower. The twelve laws no longer spread outwards, but only converged inwards, transforming the Tongtian Tower into a living, breathing, and ever-growing behemoth. For every zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) the tower grew taller, the Will of Pangu in the bloodline of the Witch Race became stronger; for every zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) the base of the tower deepened, the Earthly Dao Formation Network became thicker.
The Twelve Ancestral Witches no longer appear in the world, but their laws permeate the bloodline of the Witch Race, Twelve Ancestral Witches temples are scattered across the Primordial Wilderness land, Twelve Ancestral Witches will resides in the hearts of all beings. Witch Race warriors can borrow an Ancestral Witch power by calling upon the names of the Ancestral Witch in battle; Witch Race priests can awaken an Ancestral Witch by chanting Ancestral Witch names during rituals; and if a newborn Witch Race's cry at birth contains a homonym for the name of an Ancestral Witch, it is considered a blessing from the Ancestral Witch. Though the Twelve Ancestral Witches are no longer present in the world, they are omnipresent.
After reaping immense benefits, the reincarnations of the Chaos Demon God also entered seclusion.
These reincarnated beings released their Origin laws after the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, merging with the world. Their past Causality was settled, and the Origin laws within them were re-condensed into a purer power. The benefits they gained went far beyond this: among the pure law fragments scattered throughout the world when the Heavenly Dao collapsed, many were of the same origin as their Origin laws. The reincarnated Time Demon God absorbed fragments of the Time Law, which condensed into gray-white time Time Law; the reincarnated Space Demon God absorbed fragments of the Space Law condensed into gray-white space imprints; the reincarnated Causality Demon God absorbed... Fragments of the Causality Law condensed into a gray-white Book of Causality Cause and Effect; the reincarnation of the Reincarnation Demon God Destruction Demon God absorbed fragments of the Law of Reincarnation, which condensed into a gray- World-Destroying Spear of Reincarnation Wheel Destruction Law Destruction Law, which condensed into a gray-white World-Destroying Spear; the reincarnation of the Creation Demon God absorbed fragments of the Law of Creation of Law of Creation, which condensed into a gray-white Pen of Creation Brush; the reincarnation of the Yin Yang Demon God absorbed fragments of the Yin -Yin-Yang Law, Five Elements Law condensed into a gray-white Taiji Diagram; the reincarnation of the Five Elements Demon God absorbed fragments of the Five Elements Law, which condensed into a gray-white Five Elements Ring.
The immense benefit these reincarnated beings received was not only increased power but also the return of their memories. While in seclusion, they slept, and memories of their past lives flooded back like a tide: the Heaven-Opening and Earth-Creating of the world in Chaos, the war between demons and gods, Hongjun's merging with the Dao, the fall of Jidu and Luohu, the Genesis of the Primordial Wilderness world, the Witch-Demon Calamity, the Investiture of the Investiture of the Gods, and the collapse of the Heavenly Dao —all replayed in their dreams. Using their present-day beliefs as anchors and their past-life memories as sails, they slowly navigated the Long River of memory. At the end of their journey, they would no longer be "reincarnated beings" but ordinary members of the myriad beings of the Primordial Wilderness world—only with a longer and heavier past than most, and a greater appreciation for the hard-won peace of the Primordial Wilderness.
On the Primordial Wilderness land, all living beings have ushered in an unprecedented opportunity for development.
The Heavenly Dao no longer suppresses, realms are no longer capped, and laws no longer lock. Cultivators can cultivate all the way to the Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal. Beyond that, though there are no road signs, there is no iron curtain. The bloodline of the Witch Race grows on its own; newborns awaken upon birth, and adults break through realms in battle. The various lineages of the Immortal Clan flourish with Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal emerge like bamboo shoots after rain. The Spirit Race grows from mountain spirits and water monsters into Daluo Golden Immortal, Star God Lineage awakens from the stars, with the awakened ones guarding the heavens. The Three Ancestors of the Human Race lead the people in cultivating the land and passing down their knowledge, multiplying and thriving under the protection of the Human Dao Array Network. Although they lack the fierceness of the Witch Race's bloodline, the profundity of the Immortal Clan's Daoist techniques, the purity of the Spirit Race's spiritual energy, and the brilliance of the Star Gods' stars, they become an indispensable part of the myriad beings of the Primordial Wilderness world through the unity of all spirits and the bond of the Human Dao Array Network.
Above the Primordial Wilderness sky, a greyish-white halo slowly swirled. The nine-colored light of the Human Dao Array Network intertwined with the greyish-white border network and the Earthly Dao Formation Network, the three networks merging into one, making the primordial Primordial Wilderness impregnable. At the edge of Chaos, Xing Tian led three hundred Witch Race warriors to guard the Gray-White Formation Network, causing the Immortal Clan Chaos Beasts to retreat in fear. Inside the Primordial Wilderness, disciples of the Sanqing Disciples, the myriad people of the Witch Race, cultivators of the Immortal Spirit Race, awakened Star Gods, reincarnated Chaos Demon God, the myriad people of the Human Race, cultivators of the Demon Race Clan, and disciples of the Buddhist Sect, each held their place, cultivated their path, and fulfilled their responsibilities.
The old rulers have departed, and a new order is being nurtured within the array and bloodline. The Heavenly Dao Origin is slowly condensing a new consciousness, which will no longer be above all beings, but will conform to their will and become the guardian of order. Once the Primordial Origin has completely refined the laws of the three, the old Causality will be resolved, and a new era will begin.
The first rays of dawn of the new era pierced through the gray-white halo from the crack in the sky, shining upon the Primordial Wilderness land, upon all living beings, and upon every inch of land left behind when Pangu created the world. All living beings looked up at the sky and saw the gray-white halo slowly flowing, the crack in the sky was being healed, and they all knew that the new era had arrived, and all living beings should strive to be strong.
The Primordial Wilderness no longer had the "sky" pressing down on its heads, but it had more eyes gazing up at the stars.
In that starry sky, old stars and new stars shone together, gray-white halos intertwined with the Nine-Colored Human Dao Formation Network, and countless awakened Star Gods patrolled the dome. Beneath the starry sky, Witch Race warriors trained at the Tongtian Tower, immortal Immortal Dao Cultivators meditated in their caves, Spirit Race roamed the mountains and rivers, Human Race farmers wiped sweat on the ridges of the fields, Demon Race foxes combed their tails under the moon, and Buddhist Sect novices released animals into the stream. Everyone could feel that the iron curtain that had pressed down on them for billions of years was gone, and the road beneath their feet was longer, wider, and farther.
When Pangu separated heaven and earth with his axe, he did more than just Chaos. Today, all living beings truly understand: what that axe cleaved was the right of all things to walk on their own.