Time flew like an arrow, and the sun and moon passed like a shuttle.
Before they knew it, several Kalpas had quietly passed.
As the world's baleful aura further dissipated, the spiritual energy of the Primordial World grew increasingly dense. Various Innate Spiritual Roots and spiritual treasures gradually began to reveal themselves to the world.
More importantly, the Innate Great Gods born bearing the world's Destiny, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, finally ended their long gestation and secluded cultivation one after another and began to take the stage of the Primordial Wilderness.
On Kunlun Mountain, three streams of Clear Qi soared into the sky, with faint Dao sound spreading through the air. The Three Pure Ones transformed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit—Taiqing Laozi, Yuqing Yuanshi, and Shangqing Tongtian—had formally emerged.
On Sun Star, Golden Crows cried out. Di Jun and Taiyi emerged carrying the River Diagram and Luo Script and the Chaos Bell, demonic aura spreading around them with an air that seemed ready to sweep across Heaven and Earth.
Phoenix Nest Mountain was likewise suffused with auspicious energy. The siblings Nuwa and Fuxi emerged side by side: one possessed unparalleled Creation abilities, while the other could deduce the Heavenly Secrets. Both were extraordinary.
At Mount Sumeru, Jieyin and Zhunti also emerged. Though they often wore bitter expressions, their extraordinary origins were still apparent.
Within Wuzhuang Temple, Zhen Yuanzi held the Earth Book in his hand and formed a world of his own.
Within the Sea of Blood, Ancestor Minghe possessed the Twelve-grade Karmic Fire Red Lotus and the twin swords Yuantu and Abi. Murderous aura surged around him, making him an overlord of his domain.
One after another, the Innate Great Gods born bearing the world's Destiny began to make their mark throughout the Primordial Wilderness.
Some occupied famous mountains and great rivers, opening immortal abodes and Daoist sanctuaries; some traveled throughout the world, seeking opportunities and spiritual treasures; while others discussed the Dao with one another, verifying what they had learned.
For a time, the Primordial Wilderness became exceptionally lively, while undercurrents surged beneath the surface.
The age of great contention had officially begun.
During these years, the Ancestral Witches had not simply sat idle either.
Apart from Zhou Ming guarding the depths of Pangu Hall, the other twelve either cultivated in seclusion within the hall or, unable to restrain themselves, once again stepped onto the vast land of the Primordial Wilderness.
Their auras had improved greatly compared with before.
Their physical bodies had grown even stronger, their use of the power of laws had become more practiced, and their newly formed Primordial Spirits had also grown considerably more condensed. The naivety in their eyes had completely faded, replaced by steadily increasing composure and wisdom.
After awakening, they remembered their elder brother Zhou Ming's instructions. They sometimes left Pangu Hall in groups of two or three to travel across the Primordial Wilderness.
They remembered Zhou Ming's warning: focus on gathering resources, avoid conflicts, and run if they could not win.
More importantly, after condensing their Primordial Spirits, their way of thinking had indeed changed imperceptibly.
They were no longer like before, relying solely on instinct and brute force in everything they did.
They had gained a little more thoughtfulness and a little more concern for the consequences.
Although they were still hot-tempered and reckless, at least they no longer flipped the table at the slightest disagreement.
When the Ancestral Witches encountered Great Gods whose auras were clearly powerful, they went around them whenever possible. If they truly could not avoid them, they merely snorted and did not roll up their sleeves and charge as they had in the past.
"Hmph, if Big Brother hadn't told me otherwise, I'd make you taste my fire!" Zhurong muttered when he spotted a certain Great God wreathed in Immortal Light in the distance, but Dijiang still pulled him away.
"Exactly! That fellow looks so frail that he probably couldn't withstand one punch from me!" Gonggong said with his neck craned, but he still obediently followed them away.
Over these several Kalpas, the Ancestral Witches traveled outside. Although they inevitably encountered some foolish provocateurs, large-scale conflicts with the top Innate Great Gods were indeed exceedingly rare.
This was already vastly different from what Zhou Ming remembered: the Witch Clan emerging and immediately waging wars everywhere, provoking the wrath of Heaven and the resentment of all.
"Big Brother was indeed right." After returning from one journey, Xuanming said to Houtu, "The waters of the Primordial Wilderness run deep. Few of those Innate Great Gods are easy to deal with. We truly should not clash with them head-on for now."
Houtu nodded in agreement. "Yes. Building up our strength and opening the inheritance left behind by Father God is more important."
Deep within Pangu Hall.
Zhou Ming still sat cross-legged, Dao Rhythm flowing around him. The Dao Origin Divine Pearl hovered above his head, radiating a profound aura.
The Fragment of the Jade Tablet of Creation floated quietly in the air. Within it, phantoms of the Great Dao's laws appeared and vanished indistinctly, continuously analyzed and comprehended by Zhou Ming.
After several Kalpas of arduous cultivation, aided by these two supreme treasures, Zhou Ming's comprehension of the Law of Strength had long surpassed the realm of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
His accumulation was already sufficient.
He was only one step away from the realm of a Primordial Golden Immortal.
Yet that step seemed separated by a heavenly chasm, difficult to cross.
In this era, before Hongjun lectured on the Dao and before the Method of Slaying Three Corpses appeared, there were only two paths to enter the realm of a Primordial Golden Immortal: Prove Dao by Law or Prove Dao by Merit.
As for Proving Dao by Merit, although he had accumulated considerable merit by organizing the earth veins of the West, he did not want to use it up now. Merit was a good thing, but cultivation raised through merit could never have foundations as solid as those gained through painstakingly cultivating and comprehending the laws oneself.
He had chosen to Prove Dao by Law! With his own comprehension of the laws, he would force his way past the limits of the Grand Unity realm and enter the realm of a Primordial Golden Immortal!
This path was likewise incomparably difficult and demanded extremely high comprehension, accumulation, and foundations.
But Zhou Ming had the Dao Origin Divine Pearl's affinity and the Fragment of the Jade Tablet of Creation to aid his comprehension of the laws. He had also been formed from Pangu's essence blood.
He had the confidence to do it!
"Now!"
Zhou Ming's eyes suddenly opened, divine light blazing within them!
The Magic Power in his body surged like a roaring river, circulating madly!
The True Spirit in his sea of consciousness shone brilliantly as it fully connected with the [Dao Origin Divine Pearl] and the [Fragment of the Jade Tablet of Creation]!
Countless insights into the laws surged into his mind like a tide, verifying, merging, and sublimating with the Dao he had cultivated himself!
Boom!!!
A terrifying pressure beyond description suddenly erupted with Zhou Ming at its center!
This pressure surpassed Da Luo and carried a trace of immortality and indestructibility, along with the flavor of looking down upon the River of Time!
Within Pangu Hall, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, who had been cultivating separately, were abruptly jolted awake. All of them looked toward the depths of the hall in shock.
"It's Big Brother!"
"What powerful pressure!"
"Big Brother... broke through?!"
They could clearly sense that Zhou Ming's aura had already surpassed the limits of their understanding, reaching an entirely new and higher level!
It was a realm that seemed capable of initially mobilizing the mighty power of Heaven and Earth, where words became law!
Primordial Golden Immortal!
After a long while, that terrifying pressure slowly subsided and returned to calm.
Zhou Ming slowly exhaled a breath of stale air. Feeling the surging power within his body and his clearer control over the laws of Heaven and Earth, he revealed a satisfied smile.
Early Primordial Golden Immortal!
At last, before Hongjun Proved Dao, he had taken this crucial step!
He had Proved Dao by Law and broken through to the realm of a Primordial Golden Immortal!
Although he was only in the early stage, its significance was extraordinary!
It meant that he was no longer an ant who could only drift with the tide during a great tribulation. He now possessed, at least initially, the qualifications to withstand risks and even alter the game!
"Primordial Golden Immortal... Is this what being a Primordial Golden Immortal feels like?" Zhou Ming clenched his fist, feeling the power that seemed capable of drawing the laws of Heaven and Earth into resonance with every movement. His heart surged with boundless pride.
However, he quickly calmed down.
In the future age of the Sages, the early stage of the Primordial Golden Immortal realm was still not enough.
But at least he now had a higher starting point and more time to catch up.
Moreover, he had Proved Dao by Law, giving him incomparably solid foundations. His future potential was far beyond that of Quasi-Saints who relied on merit or Slaying the Corpses.
"Old Ancestor Hongjun is about to Prove Dao, isn't he..."