Crack...
A thunderclap split the clear sky and echoed through the heavens. Dark clouds gathered as a storm prepared to descend. The sky grew gloomy, making everyone feel an inexplicable sense of fear.
The group standing in the mountains showed no fear at all. They paid it no mind and simply watched the faint mountain god, hoping to obtain some information.
He was already stunned...
"What? Impossible. Absolutely impossible... Great Goddess Nuwa, Humanistic Progenitor Fuxi, and Empress Ping Xin of the underworld have long since disappeared..." The mountain god shook his head repeatedly, unable to accept what he was seeing as he looked at the four of them.
"You don't believe me? What if I show you?" Nuwa revealed her true form: a human head atop a serpent's body, clad in flowing white robes, with holy light surrounding her. Her bearing was indescribably noble—the true form of an Innate God.
"Your humble mountain god of the later generations pays respects to Empress Nuwa, Empress Ping Xin, and Human Emperor Fuxi..." The mountain god immediately prostrated himself, incomparably excited. These were genuine Innate Great Gods, beings with the power to create heaven and earth.
As for Chen Xuan, whose strength was insignificant, the mountain god merely gave him a friendly cupped-fist salute. Anyone capable of standing alongside three Innate Great Gods was certainly no ordinary person.
"Tell me. Why do you have only a tiny fragment of your true spirit left in this world? What happened to the other gods?" Great God Nuwa possessed absolute authority and controlled all the gods of heaven and earth.
"Alas..." The mountain god sighed before saying, "This tiny fragment of my true spirit surviving was itself an accident. Back then, the spiritual energy of Earth withered, the Age of Dharma's End descended, and many gods dispersed and vanished in strange ways..."
"As for the Heavenly Court, I have no way of knowing. On that day, the imperial system that had ruled China for two thousand years collapsed. The world descended into chaos, fireworks of war erupted across the Divine Land, and I received a message..."
"Escape..."
"That day, the heavens were shrouded in endless darkness. The earth was ravaged by war, all order collapsed, and every living being fell into despair..."
"I was originally a mountain god, protecting a region of land. As long as the people were there, the mountains and rivers remained, and so did I..."
"Originally, my true spirit was falling apart, gradually fading from the mortal world. Later, some villagers worshiped me, allowing a tiny fragment to survive. I never expected that, before disappearing, I would be able to see you return..."
"Farewell... Seeing you return has made my guardianship worthwhile."
The mountain god revealed a faint smile, as if a heavy burden had finally been lifted. He gradually vanished between heaven and earth, transforming into a field of starlight and leaving everyone silent.
"Great God Nuwa... Couldn't you save the mountain god?" Chen Xuan was deeply saddened.
Nuwa shook her head. "I can't... Unless a Saint takes action, there's nothing I can do."
"Haha..." Houtu suddenly laughed, though there was a hint of sorrow in it. "When humans fall into despair, they can pray to the gods. But when gods fall into despair, what can they pray to?"
"The Three Realms and Six Paths all have laws. Once even the slightest boundary is crossed, endless destruction follows, with countless deaths and injuries. Heaven and earth are not benevolent; all things are like straw dogs. Saints are not benevolent; they treat the common people as straw dogs. This is the 'rule'..." Fuxi sighed.
Chen Xuan remained silent and offered no judgment, because the matter was complicated. Nowadays, some people engaged in animal releases without understanding ecosystems. They might kindly release a snapping turtle, only to cause all the fish fry in an entire pond to be devoured...
That was how good intentions could lead to bad results...
Before the torrential rain began, the four of them quickly returned to the village. Rain poured down in torrents, spreading as far as the eye could see. If the water conservancy systems were not handled properly, another flood would follow...
Inside the house...
Everyone was in a terrible mood...
"Little Xuanzi... What do you think about this sudden change?" Great God Nuwa finally could not hold back and asked Chen Xuan, who came from the later generations.
"Indeed... As someone from the later generations, you should have some theories. Heaven and earth wouldn't suddenly undergo such a drastic change." Ancestral Witch Houtu looked over as well, hoping to gain some clues.
Chen Xuan shook his head. "Actually, when the spiritual energy dried up during the Age of Dharma's End, we came up with several theories. The first was that the gods had left Earth and gone deep into the universe, establishing an Eternal Kingdom..."
"It's obvious that Earth isn't the true Primordial World. Your theory doesn't make sense. How vast is the Primordial World? It encompasses all creation." Great God Nuwa was the first to reject his theory.
"There was also a second theory: Earth became a God-forsaken land, and the gods severed the mortal world from themselves—Severing the connection between heaven and earth. Heaven and earth were divided into the Three Realms and Six Paths. Because the calamity shattered many spaces, this region of the universe was abandoned by the gods." Chen Xuan presented his second theory.
"That theory doesn't make sense either. The Primordial World is vast and boundless. Every inch of space bears traces of the Heavenly Dao, yet this place seems to have lost all control." Fuxi cut in and rejected the theory.
"The final theory is that a powerful force threatened the gods. Otherwise, why would the message be only one word—'escape'?" Chen Xuan took a deep breath, not daring to think further in that direction.
"If they had an enemy, then what kind of existence could make even Saints wary?" Ancestral Witch Houtu shook her head.
The thought shocked everyone. The horror they had suppressed for so long sent chills through them. Clearly, it was impossible—after all, Earth was only so large.
Within the Primordial World, a cave dwelling opened by a Grand Unity Golden Immortal was large enough to contain an entire Solar System. What was Earth supposed to be?
"Forget it... Come eat some chips and drink some Happy Fat House Water. Cheers! Why think so much? We'll talk about it after we return to the Primordial World..." Great God Nuwa waved her hand and decisively gave up.
"Haha... Sister Nuwa... You mentioned Shamate and university life. When should we go together? Should we be teachers or students? You can make an atomic bomb by hand, while I can't do it without a primordial spirit..." Houtu also smiled, her temperament becoming increasingly carefree.
"You can't... You can only be a university student. After all, I'll be the teacher and you'll be my student. Wouldn't that mean I could do whatever I wanted?" Great God Nuwa giggled.
"No way... I refuse! I want to be a physical education teacher." Ancestral Witch Houtu had always been fiercely competitive. How could she possibly become a student?
"All right, stop fooling around. The old man from the neighboring village came to ask me to inspect a grave site. He plans to be buried there a hundred years from now. Truly, one is born amid worry and dies amid comfort. I'll have to charge him a five-hundred-yuan red packet..." Fuxi took out a compass. He did not actually need it and could tell everything with a single glance, but he needed to look professional. A master could not be without his tools.
Each of them had their own pleasures...
Chen Xuan was somewhat idle...
The next morning...
Chen Xuan went to the fields. A stretch of verdant crops had grown, and the prospects for the future were excellent. Once this batch of agricultural products hit the market, it would definitely cause a sensation.
"Chen Xuan..." A voice filled with gritted teeth rang out. It was the new village chief, Chen Wang, walking over.
"Oh? Isn't this Village Chief Chen Wang? You've planted quite a few sugar oranges. Soon, it'll be my turn..." Chen Xuan sneered. He was not dealing with Chen Wang yet because of their bet.
"Hehe... Chen Xuan, don't think that just because Town Chief Ye Shuiyan favors you, you can use her reputation to throw your weight around. You can't beat me. Sooner or later, I'll drive you out of Chen Family Village." Chen Wang ground his teeth. He had recently sensed a hint of danger. He had heard that the vegetables from this area had already been sold, which left him deeply uneasy.
"What other tricks do you have? When have I, Chen Xuan, ever been afraid of you? Hmph... Everyone in your branch is a bunch of idiots." Chen Xuan cursed without the slightest restraint.
The ancestor of Chen Family Village had three sons. After several hundred years of development, the eldest son's descendants became the First Branch, the second son's descendants became the Second Branch, and the third son's descendants became the Third Branch. As the old saying went, the Third Branch would prosper...
Sure enough, the Third Branch had flourished and always suppressed the First and Second Branches, controlling the village's power. Later, after the founding of New China, such privileges disappeared...
The villagers opposing Chen Xuan were all members of the Third Branch. They were now planting sugar oranges with Chen Wang, each of them brimming with confidence. Sooner or later, they would make a fortune...
"Chen Xuan... Enjoy your arrogance for now. I guarantee you'll regret it." Chen Wang's gaze was razor-sharp.
"Is that so? Big Yellow, bite him..." Chen Xuan said without hesitation.
Woof, woof, woof...
Big Yellow came sprinting over from the distance. Chen Wang's face changed drastically with fright, and he immediately fled without daring to look back. Big Yellow now possessed an imposing presence; wherever he stood, he radiated dominance.
One thing had to be made clear: this was a Golden Core stage dog. After returning to the modern world, his spiritual power was suppressed, but he still had at least the strength of the early Qi Refining stage. One bite would shatter bones...
"Big Yellow... We'll be returning to the Primordial World in a few days. You must help guard the fields, as well as my parents. Keep an eye on the dogs entering the village too, and see whether they're here to cause trouble..."
Chen Xuan gave him solemn instructions.
Woof, woof, woof...
Big Yellow rolled around. After visiting the Primordial World, his intelligence was no lower than that of a child. Naturally, he would perform his duties diligently. From now on, even a fly entering the village would be slapped away by him.
"Good... I knew you were a good dog..." Chen Xuan was very pleased. His mother had brought Big Yellow back, and Great God Nuwa had saved his life. From now on, he would guard Chen Family Village. Doing good deeds truly brought good fortune.
Three more days passed...
Great God Nuwa selected and improved some seeds. They would only become more delicious in the future, while also producing higher yields and possessing excellent effects. This included cultivating Dragon Tooth Rice as well...
Ancestral Witch Houtu improved the soil quality, gradually developing it toward becoming spirit fields. They only needed the spiritual energy to become abundant.
"All right... Let's return to the Primordial World. The Dragon-Han Calamity should be over by now, right? When we come back next time, we'll be able to put the vegetables on the market..."
Chen Xuan called out before climbing into the Primordial World Great Bed.
Before you continue