Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Prehistoric Era |
| Original Name | 洪荒 |
| Type | Origin Dao Realm / evolving supreme great world |
| Status | The six supreme Daos have converged, the Heavenly Dao has been completed, and Return to Void has merged into its expanding foundation; it is advancing toward Half-Step Eternity. 1261 1264 1265 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 4 |
Power Progression
| Stage | Advancement | Result |
|---|---|---|
| World creation | Pangu opened Heaven and Earth and transformed after his death, with his Origin, Sky-Opening Merit, and the remains of Chaos Demon Gods nourishing the newborn world. | The Primordial World was established with an exceptional foundation. 4 |
| Initial evolution | After six Chaos Tribulations, Chaos Qi was converted into Innate Spiritual Qi and Innate Spiritual Roots and Treasures proliferated. | The world completed its first evolution and became a flourishing land of Innate life. 5 |
| Four Pillars establishment | The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Xuan Wu, and Vermillion Bird Clans became the Four Spirits and established the Four Pillars of Heaven and Earth. | The world's Origin increased, its Earth Veins were protected, and its structural stability improved. 71 73 |
| Three Dao foundation | The Heavenly Dao emerged, the Earth Dao arose through the Earth Veins, and the Human Dao was born with the Human Race. | The Prehistoric Era gained the unique foundation required of an Origin Dao Realm. 83 98 298 |
| Natural-order completion | The Twelve Ancestral Witches exercised their Natural Authorities over time, seasons, fire, earth, weather, and other aspects of the world. | The return of the Twelve Gods of Nature completed major elements of the Prehistoric Era's natural order. 446 |
| Three Realms transformation | The Human Dao River divided the world into the Immortal Realm, Mortal Realm, and Netherworld, and the Eye of Humanity established the Three Realms Order. | The Prehistoric Era formally advanced into an Origin Dao Realm, the sole known world containing the Heavenly, Earthly, and Human Dao. 773 782 793 |
| Myriad Heavens expansion | Chaos Dao Realms, Greater Thousand Worlds, and affiliated worlds were drawn into the Primordial Main Realm. | Countless worlds began orbiting the main realm and nourishing it through the naturally formed Myriad Heavens Great Formation. 794 1125 1222 |
| Six Dao convergence | Chaos Demon Gods merged their nascent worlds into the Prehistoric Era, while Xuan Qing returned with the Annihilation and Chaos Daos. | The six supreme Daos gathered, the Heavenly Dao became complete, and the world underwent an unprecedented perfection. 1264 |
| Return to Void fusion | The boundary between the Prehistoric Era and Return to Void shattered before both Origins began reconnecting and merging. | Return to Void reorganized into a new expanse connected to the Prehistoric Era, vastly enlarging its Realm Boundaries and Dao Foundation. 1264 1265 |
| Eternal advancement | Xuan Qing, Xuan Ming, and You Hui chose to nurture their home world rather than prematurely challenge the Divine Abyss. | Raising the Prehistoric Era to Half-Step Eternity is intended to perfect their Great Dao Fruits and provide the foundation for a future challenge to the Divine Abyss. 1261 |
History
The Prehistoric Era was created when Pangu cleaved Chaos with the Sky-Opening Axe, separating Clear Qi into the sky and Turbid Qi into the earth. After enduring forty-nine Measure Tribulations and exhausting himself to keep heaven and earth apart, Pangu fell beneath Great Dao Divine Lightning and transformed into the Primordial World. His Origin, Sky-Opening Merit, and the remains of Chaos Demon Gods became nourishment for the newborn world, while Chaos and Innate Spiritual Treasures scattered throughout it. 4
After six Chaos Tribulations, the world completed its initial evolution. Countless Innate Spiritual Roots and Spiritual Treasures were born, Chaos Qi was converted into Innate Spiritual Qi, and the Primordial Land flourished with life. 5
The early world was ravaged by the Fierce Beast Tribulation. Fierce Beasts led by Shenni emerged in the Northern Lands and slaughtered countless living beings, while Heaven and Earth Demon Gods formed dynasties and gathered Auspicious Qi to pursue higher cultivation. The prolonged warfare devastated earth veins and killed most of the era's living beings. 5 6 12
During the Great Dao's administration of Heaven and Earth, Xuan Qing helped establish the Four Pillars of Heaven and Earth. The leaders of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Xuan Wu, and Vermillion Bird Clans swore an oath to the Great Dao, becoming the Four Spirits and assuming responsibility for protecting and stabilizing the Prehistoric Era. The Four Pillars substantially strengthened the world's Origin and protected its Earth Veins. 71 73
After the Great Dao withdrew, the Heavenly Dao formally emerged and began governing the Prehistoric Era. Karma and Destiny became increasingly entwined with all living beings, while the Heavenly Dao's restrictions reshaped the world's cultivation systems and development. 83
In an early age, the Dragon, Phoenix, and Kirin clans rose from a period in which all spirits were prey to Fierce Beasts and playthings of the Heaven and Earth Demon Gods. The three clans eventually became the dominant powers of their era. 346
Following the emergence of the Heavenly Dao, the Dragon, Phoenix, and Kirin clans each claimed authority over a major class of beings: dragons over scaled creatures, phoenixes over winged fowl, and kirin over beasts. Their oaths brought Heavenly Dao Merit and elevated their ancestors to Golden Immortals of the Origin, but the distribution of merit favored the earlier claimants. 92
The three clans later expanded beyond their original territories into the Northern and Western Continents. Their struggle for Auspicious Qi led to the destruction of races and wandering cultivators who would not submit, spreading Killing Intent throughout Heaven and Earth. 92
The Three Clans' pursuit of Auspicious Qi ultimately brought about their downfall. Their ancestors transformed to atone for their karma, leaving their descendants burdened by Karmic Sin. In the aftermath of the clan war and the Dao-Demon War, the Three Clans withdrew from public affairs and yielded the opportunity for development to the Myriad Spirits. 120 127 231
The Earth Dao later emerged through the connection of the world's earth veins, despite the Heavenly Dao's attempt to suppress it. The Human Dao was subsequently born when Nuwa created the Human Race and attained the Dao, establishing the threefold foundation of Heavenly, Earthly, and Human Dao within the Prehistoric Era. 98 298
By the era of the Human Race, repeated reforms by Xuan Qing and the emergence of several Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortals had raised the world's cultivation environment. Endless Innate Spiritual Qi made the existence of intelligent mortal beings unusually difficult, leaving the increasingly weak Human Race as a notable exception. 315
The Twelve Ancestral Witches later returned their Natural Authorities to the world through vows made in the Blood Sea. Their authorities established and stabilized essential phenomena—including the dwelling of living beings, fire, time, seasons, and weather—while the reappearance of Imperial Flowing Paste marked a further completion of the Prehistoric Era's natural order. 446
The Prehistoric Era later faced threats from Return to Void, Chaos Demon Gods, and the Sin Domain. Karma's Fragment once ruptured the Membrane of the Earth, allowing a continent of Fierce Beasts led by Shenni to enter from Chaos; Xuan Qing repaired the damaged membrane and rallied the world's living beings against the invaders. 454
Xuan Qing prevented an old-age Prehistoric Era from merging with the current world during its critical transformation, leaving guardians behind to protect that prior world within Return to Void. 772
As its transformation approached completion, the world was reshaped into separate immortal and mortal domains. The Human Dao River then completed the division of the Three Realms, raising the Prehistoric Era into an Origin Dao Realm—the sole known world in which the Heavenly Dao, Earthly Dao, and Human Dao all exist. 773 782 793
Following the incorporation of worlds from Chaos, including the Vast Universe Great World, the Primordial Main Realm expanded enormously. Countless affiliated worlds came to orbit the main realm, forming a Myriad Heavens structure that continues to nourish and elevate the Prehistoric Era. 794 1125 1222
After the Sin Domain was pacified, Xuan Qing, Xuan Ming, and You Hui resolved to strengthen the Prehistoric Era rather than recklessly enter the Divine Abyss. Their long-term objective became raising their home world to Half-Step Eternity, allowing its Auspicious Qi and Dao Foundation to perfect their Great Dao Fruits. 1261
Chaos Demon Gods such as Shichen and Destiny subsequently merged their nascent worlds into the Prehistoric Era. Xuan Qing's return with the Annihilation and Chaos Daos completed the Primordial Heavenly Dao, causing the six supreme Daos to converge and the structure of Heaven and Earth to enter a state of unprecedented perfection. 1264
The barrier dividing the Prehistoric Era from the Return to Void Forbidden Land then shattered. Rather than suffering annihilation, Return to Void reorganized and began merging with the Prehistoric Era, joining their Origins and expanding the world into a far grander and more complete realm. 1264 1265
Following this fusion, the shattered Prehistoric Era of the old age was reconstituted as a newly born Prehistoric Continent. Its surviving Guixu beings were reunited with the current era's great powers, revealing that the old and new Prehistoric worlds shared a common Origin despite having followed different destinies. 1266
Geography & Cosmology
- Northern Continent — A region contested for Blessed Lands after Heaven and Earth became stable enough for powerful beings to fight without immediately incurring Heaven and Earth karma. Mysterious Tortoise prohibited the extermination of races there. It was previously devastated by the Fierce Beast Tribulation. 5 354
- Eastern Continent — The location from which the Kirin Clan proclaimed its authority over the Beast Tribe. 92
- Western Continent — Reached by the expanding Three Clans during their campaign for Auspicious Qi. It later became a Spirit-Deprived Land after the Dao-Demon War. 92 127
- Mount Zhou — A major location associated with Han Xi and with Humans taken there by the Witch Clan. Pangu's remaining Blood Essence also flew toward the mountain after the world's creation. 4 313 346
- Four Extremes Land — The four border regions in which the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Xuan Wu, and Vermillion Bird became the Four Pillars of Heaven and Earth. 71
- Azure Nether Sea Domain / Mysterious Water Divine Continent — Home to deformed creatures whose condition prompted Xuan Qing to create transformation stone tablets. It remains a peaceful refuge for ancient beings despite the turmoil of the later chaotic age. 132 773 1220
- Azure Nether Island — Xuan Qing's Dao Field, formed from a Chaos Fragment that fell at the boundary of the East and South Seas. It is protected by powerful formations and remains detached from contests for authority. 10 1220
- Immortal Volcano — The site of the Phoenix Clan's oath to the Heavenly Dao and its later seclusion. 92 120
- Creation Divine Continent — The former Yingzhou Island, merged into the Prehistoric Era and renamed by Nuwa. Its emergence improved the East Sea and provided the Kirin Clan with a new territory. 365 366
- Myriad Worlds Continent — A transitional continent created to receive beings and worlds drawn from Chaos before they enter the established order of the Three Realms. 795
- Nine Netherworlds — Fell rapidly during the formation of the Three Realms. 782
- Turbid Land Sinking Abyss — Also descended during the restructuring of the world. 782
- Return to Void Gate — An enormous gate in the East Sea that formerly connected the Prehistoric Era to Return to Void. Its instability previously threatened the East Sea and the Dragon Clan, but the later shattering of the realm barrier initiated the fusion of Return to Void and the Prehistoric Era. 772 1264 1265
- Prehistoric Continent — A newly reborn continent reconstituted from the shattered Prehistoric Era of the old age. The ancient Four Continents, familiar mountains, rivers, and spiritual veins reappeared upon it. 1266
- Vast Universe Old Land — The territory retained from the Vast Universe Great World's merger. Its hidden foundation made it a forbidden zone that no major power dared coerce or disturb. 1221 1223
- Primordial Main Realm — The central body of the expanded Prehistoric Era, around which countless affiliated worlds orbit as part of the Myriad Heavens structure. 1222
Three Realms Formation
The Primordial World was reorganized when the Human Dao River spanned all realms. The Mortal Realm expanded into the center of the world, while the Primordial Immortal Realm was established above it. 782
| Realm / Structure | Role in the new order | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Primordial Immortal Realm | Immortal realm | Formed from the rising Blessed Lands, immortal mountains, spirit springs, and accumulated Innate Spiritual Qi. It is connected to the Mortal Realm by the Ancient Jian Mu. 773 782 |
| Mortal Realm | Central realm | Expanded and solidified at the center of the Primordial World. The Human Race's territory is protected by a Formation barrier. 782 785 |
| Netherworld | Realm of reincarnation | Receives the souls of the dead from the Immortal and Mortal Realms, who proceed through the Six Paths of Reincarnation. 793 |
| Nine Netherworlds | Underworld region | Fell alongside the Turbid Land Sinking Abyss during the restructuring. 782 |
| Ancient Jian Mu | Link between realms | Awakened to connect the Immortal and Mortal realms through an eternal passage; it also draws new continents and Greater Thousand Worlds from Chaos. 782 793 |
| Myriad Worlds Continent | Transitional realm | Receives the worlds and foreign beings drawn into the Prehistoric Era and connects them to the Primordial Immortal Realm. 795 |
| Return to Void expanse | Integrated external foundation | Once a forbidden realm separated from the Prehistoric Era, it reorganized and merged with the world after the convergence of the six supreme Daos. 1264 1265 |
| Two Qi Flow Rivers and Chaos Voids | Boundaries | Separated the Three Realms. 782 |
| Four Extremes Heavenly Pillars | Stabilizing structures | Originally established by the Four Spirits and later stabilized the newly divided Three Realms. 71 782 |
The Human Dao River merged with the Heavenly Dao and Earthly Dao, resulting in the birth of the Lords of Heavenly Mandate and Reincarnation. 782
The Eye of Humanity later established the Three Realms Order. Immortals and mortals can no longer travel freely between realms, all dead beings enter the Netherworld for reincarnation, and cultivators at or above the Daluo Golden Immortal of the Origin realm are forbidden from fighting within the Primordial World. Cultivators also face Heavenly Edicts and Lightning Tribulations during breakthroughs, while a Great Reckoning of Heaven and Earth occurs every Ten Thousand Yuan Hui. 793
Inhabitants and Major Powers
- Dragon Clan — One of the former Three Clans; carries unresolved karma from the ancient clan war. In the later chaotic age, it focuses on locating and nurturing scattered descendants to restore its bloodline rather than competing for authority. 231 1220
- Phoenix Clan — One of the former Three Clans; its ancestral leader gained Heavenly Dao Merit after claiming authority over winged fowl. The clan later withdrew to the Extreme Southern Ancient Continent and focuses on preserving its territory and reviving its bloodline. 92 1117 1220
- Kirin Clan — One of the former Three Clans; its present form is described as a consequence of karma. It was freed from Yuanshi's confinement after Yingzhou Island became Creation Divine Continent, and later joined the other ancient clans in restoring its bloodline. 231 365 1220
- Four Spirits — Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Xuan Wu, and Vermillion Bird became the Four Pillars of Heaven and Earth, transcending to the Transcendence Realm in exchange for their duty to protect the Prehistoric Era. 71
- Human Race — Considered insignificant by many Great Powers during its early development, but later designated to become the eternal protagonist of Heaven and Earth through trials led by the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Its growing population and scattered branches remain central concerns of the Human Dao. 313 473 1217
- Witch Clan — Active in the Primordial World and involved in taking Humans to Mount Zhou. The Twelve Ancestral Witches later exercised their Natural Authorities to complete aspects of the world's natural order. 346 446
- Demon Clan — Pursued and massacred Humans during the conflict in which refugees fled toward the Northern Continent. 437
- Heavenly Court — The celestial authority responsible for maintaining order in the Three Realms after Hongjun was tasked with conferring Heavenly Court gods. Its authority expanded with the incorporation of the Myriad Worlds. 795 1217
- Underworld — The Earth Dao's governing authority over death and reincarnation. Houtu was tasked with conferring its gods to preserve the stability of the Three Realms. 795
- Saints and Great Powers — Their intervention in the Human Race's development is restricted; they may assist the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors but cannot choose them. Following the world's advancement, Saints and ancient great powers became increasingly numerous, though the Myriad Worlds' broader struggle for authority remains beyond the control of most cultivators. 473 1223
- Myriad Worlds' Beings — Foreign races and cultivators drawn from Greater Thousand Worlds in Chaos, many of whom are incorporated through the Myriad Worlds Continent and the evolving Primordial order. 793 795
- Assimilated Chaos Demon Gods — Demon Gods including Shichen and Destiny merged their nascent worlds into the Prehistoric Era and became connected to its Origin, no longer remaining unsupported foreign beings adrift in Chaos. 1264
- Guixu Survivors — Beings from the old-age Prehistoric Era and Guixu Divine Palace, including Zhuo Guang, Dao Xuan, Ling Xi, Fen Xu, Wu Wei, and Chen Qing. They reunited with the current Prehistoric Era's supreme beings after the old world's continent was restored. 1266
Notable Events
- Pangu opened Heaven and Earth, sacrificed himself, and transformed into the Prehistoric Era. 4
- The Fierce Beast Tribulation devastated the Northern Lands and initiated the early conflict between the world's living beings and Fierce Beasts. 5
- The Four Spirits became the Four Pillars of Heaven and Earth. 71
- The Great Dao retreated and the Heavenly Dao formally emerged to govern the Prehistoric Era. 83
- The Three Clans proclaimed their rule to the Heavenly Dao and received Heavenly Dao Merit. 92
- The Three Clans' expansion and extermination campaigns spread Killing Intent through Heaven and Earth. 92
- The Earth Dao emerged through the world's earth veins despite Heavenly Dao opposition. 98
- The Three Clans declined after their great war, and their descendants inherited Karmic Sin. 127 231
- Nuwa created the Human Race, attained the Dao, and gave birth to the Human Dao. 298
- The Human Race discovered fire after lightning ignited a tree, allowing them to cook violent beast meat into safer food. 311
- Mysterious Tortoise established rules for competition over Blessed Lands and forbade racial extermination in the Northern Continent. 354
- Yingzhou Island merged into the Prehistoric Era and became Creation Divine Continent. 365 366
- The Twelve Ancestral Witches returned their Natural Authorities to Heaven and Earth, stabilizing its environmental order and causing Imperial Flowing Paste to reappear. 446
- Karma's Fragment ruptured the Membrane of the Earth, allowing Shenni and a Fierce Beast continent to invade from Chaos. 454
- The Three Realms were formed, separating the Immortal, Mortal, and underworld regions. 782
- Humanity established the Three Realms Order, regulating travel, reincarnation, cultivation, and combat within the Primordial World. 793
- The Myriad Worlds Continent was formed to incorporate worlds and living beings drawn into the Prehistoric Era from Chaos. 795
- The Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods later engulfed the Three Realms, affecting their Auspicious Qi, karma, and the destiny of immortals and mortals. 896 904
- The Vast Universe Great World merged into the Primordial realm, accelerating the expansion of the Prehistoric Era. 1123 1125
- The Prehistoric Era's forces fought and ultimately pacified the Sin Domain, opening the way for the broader merger of the Myriad Worlds. 1191 1217
- The Primordial Main Realm expanded into a Myriad Heavens structure, with countless affiliated worlds orbiting and nourishing it through a naturally formed Myriad Heavens Great Formation. 1222
- Xuan Qing, Xuan Ming, and You Hui adopted the long-term plan of raising the Prehistoric Era to Half-Step Eternity before confronting the Divine Abyss. 1261
- Chaos Demon Gods merged their nascent worlds into the Prehistoric Era, the six supreme Daos converged, and the Heavenly Dao was completed. 1264
- The boundary with Return to Void shattered, after which the two realms began reorganizing and merging into a greater whole. 1264 1265
- The Prehistoric Continent of the old age was reborn, reuniting Guixu survivors with the great powers of the current era. 1266