Fierce Beast Tribulation

In the Prehistoric Era, years went uncounted. After the sky had been opened, the origins of countless Chaos Demon Gods and living beings, thirty percent of the Sky-Opening Merit, and all of Pangu's Origin became nourishment for the Prehistoric Era.

After six Chaos Tribulations—since the Prehistoric Era now had sun, moon, and stars, one could calculate a Prehistoric year as 365 modern days—the Prehistoric Era finally finished evolving.

Countless Innate Spiritual Roots and Spiritual Treasures were born, and the Primordial Land flourished with vitality.

Countless strands of Chaos Qi were absorbed and transformed into Innate Spiritual Qi. At this time, heaven and earth contained only Innate Spiritual Qi.

At the beginning of the seventh Measure Tribulation, an aura shot into the sky from Jade Capital Mountain, shaking the entire Prehistoric Era.

"High upon the Ninth Heaven I recline, upon a prayer mat I realize the true Dao. Beyond heaven and earth, Mysterious and Yellow, one breath transforms into Hongjun.

"I am Hongjun, the first Heaven and Earth Demon God of the Prehistoric Era. Today, I take form and enter the world, announcing it to the Prehistoric Era!"

Hongjun had taken form after the first wisp of Clear Qi between heaven and earth merged with Mysterious Yellow Qi and gestated for six Measure Tribulations.

His Companion Spiritual Treasures were the Innate Supreme Treasure Pangu Banner, a Fragment of the Jade Disc of Creation, the Twelve-grade Golden Lotus of Merit, and the Eastern Green Lotus Treasure Banner.

They were all Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures and supreme treasures. He truly was the richest in the Prehistoric Era.

The Three Pure Ones, meanwhile, had been born from the Nine Sky-Opening Energies combined with Pangu's Primordial Spirit. Their fate was indeed extraordinary; this Karma ran far too deep.

With Hongjun's emergence, he became the first Demon God of the Primordial Heaven and Earth, claiming the Auspicious Qi of heaven and earth's first living being.

The loftiness of his Path of Dao was plain to see. No wonder later records described Hongjun as possessing countless Spiritual Treasures.

He was the fastest, had the greatest Auspicious Qi, and was also cunning. Who could possibly outdo him? Every scheme he made hit its mark.

Deep within Mount Sumeru, a consciousness slowly awakened as well.

"Hongjun, you were one step ahead. But I shall surpass you and become the foremost Demon God of the Prehistoric Era."

Luohu murmured inwardly.

Luohu had taken form from the first wisp of Turbid Qi between heaven and earth combined with a portion of the Slaughter Demon God's Origin. He also possessed the Companion Spiritual Treasure Twelve-grade Black Lotus of World Destruction and the Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure God-Slaying Spear.

(A portion of the Chaos Green Lotus's roots and stem merged with the Slaughter Demon God's Origin to become the God-Slaying Spear. It had originally been an Innate Supreme Treasure, but its Origin was too abundant and split into two.

The God-Slaying Spear took part of that Origin to Luohu, while the other portion became the Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure Soul Devouring Spear.)

Along with the Heavenly Demon Pagoda, he was only slightly inferior to Hongjun.

"I am Luohu, the second Heaven and Earth Demon God of the Prehistoric Era. Today, I take form and enter the world, announcing it to the Prehistoric Era."

Luohu was an exceptionally proud Demon God. Since Hongjun had stolen the spotlight, he naturally could not compose another grand entrance poem and could only keep it simple.

Soon after, Heaven and Earth Demon Gods such as Yin Yang, Qiankun, Five Elements, Kunwu, and Hunkun announced their emergence. The great tide of the Prehistoric Era began to turn.

At this time, within an abyss in the northern lands, two Demon Gods awoke one after the other.

One was Shenni, formed from the Slaughter Demon God's Obsession and resentment, with the Companion Spiritual Treasure Soul Devouring Spear and the Innate Supreme Treasure Heaven-Suppressing Coffin;

The other was formed from the Reincarnation Demon God's Obsession and resentment, with the Companion Spiritual Treasure Six Paths Reincarnation Disc. Both were leaders of the Fierce Beasts.

(In many later instances, people will be used for smoother reading. Here, "people" refers to all living beings of the Prehistoric Era.)

Within this abyss, the resentment of countless Demon Gods soared into the heavens. Obsession and resentment entwined, transforming into innumerable Fierce Beasts. As their leaders awoke, they all roared furiously toward the sky.

"I am Shenni. Today, I take form and enter the world."

Shenni declared his Great Dao oath, but unfortunately, no Auspicious Qi descended upon him. They were never meant to belong to the Prehistoric Era, and the Primordial Heaven and Earth rejected them.

Reincarnation did not announce his emergence. First, no heavenly Auspicious Qi would bless him; second, all living beings of the Prehistoric Era were their enemies. He would conceal himself as a hidden trump card and deliver a devastating blow to these Heaven and Earth Demon Gods of the Prehistoric Era!

Half a Chaos Tribulation passed, and countless Fierce Beasts emerged, beginning their rampage through the Northern Lands. Countless places rich in spiritual qi became lands of death.

Resentment soared into the heavens across the Northern Lands of the Prehistoric Era. Many of these Fierce Beasts possessed the cultivation of Mysterious Immortals.

Some were Golden Immortals, while the Four Fierce Beast Envoys had reached perfected Golden Immortal cultivation. Shenni and Reincarnation had even broken through to Grand Unity Golden Immortals.

Due to the suppression of Great Dao Law and Pangu's Dao resonance, the Heaven and Earth Demon Gods had only been Golden Immortals upon emerging, while many living beings of heaven and earth were merely Mysterious Immortals or True Immortals.

Such suppression also had its benefits: their foundations became deeper, their realms more complete, and they could directly comprehend the Great Dao.

Unlike after the Heavenly Dao's emergence, when it directly severed the Prehistoric Era's living beings' chance at Transcendence and took control of all beings.

Cultivation realms: Earth Immortal—Heavenly Immortal—True Immortal—Mysterious Immortal—Golden Immortal—Grand Unity Golden Immortal—Grand Luo Golden Immortal—Primordial Golden Immortal—Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortal (also called the Transcendence Realm by the Heaven and Earth Demon Gods)

At this time, the lifespan of the Primordial Heaven and Earth was as enduring as heaven and earth itself. The Heavenly Dao had not yet emerged, the Earth Dao had not yet been born, and Reincarnation had not yet appeared.

Without the Heavenly Dao restricting the living beings of the Prehistoric Era, when they died, they simply returned to heaven and earth and vanished completely.

At this time, the first batch of Heaven and Earth Demon Gods to emerge all sensed something unusual in the Prehistoric Era. An intent that marked them as the enemy of all beings spread through the world. The war between the Prehistoric Era's living beings and the Fierce Beasts was about to begin.

Hongjun began traveling across the Prehistoric Era, gathering countless Innate Spiritual Treasures into his possession, such as the Map of Mountains and Rivers, the Red Embroidered Ball, and the Coiled Dragon Crutch.

He also encountered Yang Mei, who had reincarnated within the Prehistoric Era. The two spoke pleasantly, discussed the Dao, traveled together, and spent nearly a thousand Kalpas together.

Countless Heaven and Earth Demon Gods also began gathering subordinates to deal with the Fierce Beasts. During this process, they discovered that gathering followers allowed them to collect Auspicious Qi. Countless Heaven and Earth Demon Gods used this Auspicious Qi to break through to perfected Grand Unity Golden Immortal cultivation.

When Ancestor Kunwu established a dynasty to gather Auspicious Qi, he seized the opportunity to break through to the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm. After that, things spiraled out of control.

Countless Heaven and Earth Demon Gods rushed to imitate him, and dynasties rose one after another.

Several Heaven and Earth Demon Gods broke through to Grand Luo Golden Immortals, shocking the Three Heavens in the Primordial Starry Sky: Azure Heaven, Yellow Heaven, and Cyan Heaven.

They too began gathering the Star Gods of the Primordial Stars, recruiting followers to establish a power of their own and breaking through to Grand Luo Golden Immortals.

This caused their ambitions to swell rapidly. There were too few living beings in the Primordial Starry Sky, so they prepared to extend their reach toward the Primordial Land.

Shenni also established the Fierce Beast Dynasty. Though it had no Auspicious Qi, it allowed him to command the Fierce Beasts more effectively, greatly increasing their unity. He directly occupied the entire Northern Lands of the Prehistoric Era.

After one Chaos Tribulation, the dynasties slaughtered one another in their struggle for Auspicious Qi. This caused the Fierce Beast faction's strength to grow dramatically. Things could not continue like this.

Hongjun began moving among the various factions, persuading Daoist friends from every side. Relying on his status as the first Heaven and Earth Demon God, he formed an alliance with all sides, unifying the Prehistoric Era's living beings and gathering forces to attack the Fierce Beast Dynasty.

The Three Heavens, in particular, wished to establish themselves on the Primordial Land, only to be rejected by every dynasty. Disheartened, they decided to ally with the Fierce Beasts.

Yet they never expected Shenni to kill the Three Heavens during the alliance. The Three Heavens never imagined Shenni would break the agreement.

They should have realized that the Fierce Beasts and the Prehistoric Era's living beings were locked in a struggle to the death. How could the Fierce Beasts possibly be used by them? In the end, they met the fate of body and Dao both perishing.

After their deaths, their Origins merged with the Mysterious Yellow Treasure Seal and flew into the Nine Heavens, leaving the Fierce Beast faction with nothing.

On the Prehistoric Era's side, the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Three Races led numerous clans against the Fierce Beast army; Hongjun and the other Heaven and Earth Demon Gods faced Shenni and the Fierce Beast Envoys.

They had thought victory was assured, but Reincarnation suddenly appeared and slew Ancestor Xuanhuang and Ancestor Hanbing.

The Six Paths Reincarnation Disc displayed terrifying power, but Reincarnation was also killed by Hongjun, Kunwu, and the others. The Six Paths Reincarnation Disc absorbed Ancestor Reincarnation's Origin and flew into the depths of the Blood Sea.

Shenni could not hold out either and was annihilated by Luohu and the others. The Soul Devouring Spear fell into Luohu's hands, while the Heaven-Suppressing Coffin was taken by Ancestor Yang Mei with a spatial divine ability, only to be traded away to Hongjun in the end.

Thus, the Fierce Beast Tribulation came to an end. Countless portions of Great Dao Merit descended upon the living beings who had contributed to exterminating the Fierce Beasts.

As the leader, Hongjun received thirty percent of the merit.

Luohu received ten percent as well, while the rest divided what remained. A portion merged into the Prehistoric Era, restoring the vitality of the land.

With the Fierce Beasts exterminated, only a few scattered remnants remained, incapable of causing any real trouble. The dynasties began waging even more frenzied wars against one another, fighting to the death for Auspicious Qi.

All of them sought to gather Auspicious Qi, condense a Great Luo Dao Seed, break through to the Primordial Golden Immortal realm, and contend for that chance at Transcendence.

After tens of thousands of Kalpas of warfare, countless casualties had fallen, and innumerable Heaven and Earth Demon Gods perished. Their Origins either transformed into new lives awaiting emergence—though they were, in truth, entirely different living beings—or were extinguished completely.

Their Origins merged into the Prehistoric Era, becoming Blessed Lands, Spirit Mountains, and spiritual roots.

Ancestor Hunkun was killed, and his Obsession flew toward the North Sea, becoming the later Kunpeng. His Carefree Dao scattered across the Prehistoric Era, its whereabouts unknown. Ancestor Tianqiong's Origin merged into a heavenly coffin, becoming the later Ran Deng as it awaited gestation and emergence.

The Heaven and Earth Demon Gods either died or withdrew into seclusion. The dynastic powers collapsed in an instant, and all those above the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm vanished. (This chapter was transitional and moved at a relatively fast pace, leading directly to the protagonist.)