Four Spirits of Heaven and Earth

Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire were the Four Spirits of Heaven and Earth in Chaos. Each possessed immense divine abilities, making them among the earliest beings born of Heaven and Earth. They embodied their respective elements and each wielded immense destructive power.

Together, they formed the most primitive elements of Heaven and Earth in Chaos—the initial elements from which Chaos evolved.

The winds of Chaos could be gentle or violent. Even the gentlest breeze could split skin and loosen bone, destroying both body and spirit. The violent winds were like blades, leaving everything in their path in ruins.

The Wind Spirit's true form was that of a tiger. Tigers followed the wind, and he was a natural wielder of great divine abilities.

Seeing the Wind Spirit, everyone cheered. Some even stepped forward to examine him closely and strike up a conversation. Anyone with such magnanimity was surely no ordinary cultivator.

Someone said, "So it's Dao Brother E Xiao. We're all here seeking that glimmer of hope. With your support, our chances have grown."

E Xiao said, "The Great Dao has decreed it. We can only strive for a chance."

Dao Lord Lu Ya swept his gaze over the crowd, then asked thoughtfully, "I wonder if those three fellow Daoists have arrived."

E Xiao called out loudly, "Daoist Xuanwu, since you're here, there's no need to be so reserved."

The burly man was even more imposing, with a steadiness and solidity unlike the others. With every step he took, the ground in that space seemed to grow firmer.

He bowed to the crowd. "I am Xuanwu, the Earth Spirit who attained the Dao."

Looking at the two sturdy figures, everyone wondered what the other two would be like.

The Golden Crow glanced around and noticed a gaze fixed on him, as if seeking his response. After hesitating for a long while, he finally stepped out from the crowd.

He released the aura he had kept contained, and those around him parted to make way.

Great Immortal Yang Mei felt the pull of that aura and lowered his gaze to glance at him. He remained silent.

This man was no simple figure. He possessed a natural air of imperial dominance, touched with a hint of ruthlessness, yet kept himself hidden and restrained. Such people were never content to fall behind others, and were skilled schemers who knew when to act. One had to be exceedingly cautious around him, or risk lifelong regret.

As the Golden Crow stepped forward, a scorching heat filled the air, mingled with dryness.

Then a coolness flowed through everyone's hearts, calming the spirits that had nearly flared up once more.

"Golden Crow, Long Ming."

Dao Lord Lu Ya nodded. "Thank you, fellow Daoists, for coming."

The Golden Crow asked, "What would you have us do, Great Immortal?"

Great Immortal Yang Mei lowered his head in thought, then slowly replied, "Become the Four Spirits and sustain this world."

The Golden Crow asked, "What do you mean by sustain it?"

Great Immortal Yang Mei replied evenly, "The stars fill the heavens, but have neither roots nor source. I need your essence to connect them to this world and its stars."

The Golden Crow asked, "How will they be connected?"

Great Immortal Yang Mei said, "I have a Four Symbols Formation that can gather the essence of all our fellow Daoists and form the power of the four dimensions. Then we will manifest the images of your four primordial spirits, encompass the stars, and evolve Star Power."

The Golden Crow cackled. "Are you trying to construct the Star Dou Great Array, Great Immortal, or to complete this world?"

The other three spirits stirred at his words, then suppressed the strange thoughts that had risen in their hearts.

The Golden Crow continued, "If our essence is absorbed and transformed by the stars throughout the heavens, how much will remain? Or will we soon meet our end?"

Dao Lord Lu Ya barked, "You worry too much, fellow Daoist. We've gathered the strength of so many fellow Daoists to defeat Pangu. How could our lives be in danger? Don't discourage everyone."

The Golden Crow laughed loudly. "I think we're all making wedding clothes for someone else. Who knows if we'll survive?"

E Xiao stepped forward, about to say something, but Xuanwu held him back. Long Ming, meanwhile, closed his eyes and pondered.

The Golden Crow declared, "I want a promise."

Dao Lord Lu Ya asked, "What promise?"

The Golden Crow said, "I've heard that Dao Lord has a method for creating avatars, and has refined three Corpse Gods: the upper, middle, and lower. Each possesses power comparable to the true body. We want this cultivation method, so we can keep a way out for ourselves."

Great Immortal Yang Mei said, "I'll answer on Dao Lord's behalf. But an avatar can never match the true body, and its essence is far weaker."

The Golden Crow said, "Please rest assured, Great Immortal. We'll support the Star Dou Great Array with our true bodies, and use our avatars as auxiliaries." He sneered inwardly. As long as even a trace of our primordial spirits remains, we Four Spirits of Sky Opening can gather our origins anew. How could you know the mysteries of it?

E Xiao felt a flicker of delight. This method of creating avatars would give him another way to preserve his life. So long as Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire remained in Chaos and his Spiritual Sense endured, he would be immortal. The Golden Crow really did have a way with things. He'd have to thank him later.

The crowd began discussing it as well. Avatars with the same strength as one's true body—what incredible power! It would be like fighting them four to one.

Dao Lord Lu Ya thought, Can just anyone learn the Method of Slaying Corpses? It takes immense resolve, great fortune, and extraordinary wisdom. Without the corresponding Primordial Violet Qi, one can only achieve minor success. Even one-tenth the power of the true body would be impressive.

The Golden Crow sent a voice transmission to Long Ming. "Yang Mei agreed far too readily. I'm afraid he won't truly pass it on. We should press him a little more."

Long Ming nodded, thought for a moment, then said, "This method is Dao Lord's secret art, after all. We're not greedy. A little knowledge will suffice; we won't ask for more."

Dao Lord Lu Ya laughed heartily. "You're worrying too much, fellow Daoist. I'll teach you sincerely and hold nothing back. But how much you comprehend will depend on your own fortunes."

The Golden Crow nodded. "There's no need for Dao Lord to worry about that. We'll apply ourselves fully."

Someone then asked, "Do we have a chance to see what fate awaits us as well?"

This world, built by Yang Mei with the Chaos Bead, was like a pearl amid Chaos, gleaming with a trace of darkness.

Great Immortal Yang Mei sighed. "I don't know how much time we have left to work with."

Everyone's hearts tightened. They understood what he meant and answered in unison, "We'll follow your command, Great Immortal!"

Yang Mei said urgently, "Fellow Daoists, are you willing to join me in refining 365 Star Banners? The Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures in your possession may be reduced to a tenth of what they were. Some of them may even be refined from your own bodies. Do you have any objections?"

Everyone roared, "There's no escaping this calamity. We may not even survive it, so why cling to a few spiritual treasures?"

Great Immortal Yang Mei said, "Once we overcome this calamity, I'll share this world of Chaos with all the Gods, and we'll pursue the Great Dao together."

The crowd erupted in cheers. "Pursue the Great Dao! Pursue the Great Dao!"

In this world Yang Mei had constructed with the Chaos Bead, Taiyin's creation could only reach sainthood. But for Pangu and Xuanhuang, who wanted nothing, that was enough.

After sending out that earth-shaking Spiritual Sense, Pangu sat quietly on a cushion woven from chaotic energy. His expression was solemn, and he radiated an inviolable majesty.

Xuanhuang lowered his eyes and asked softly, "Dao Brother, you're giving them a chance to approach the Great Dao."

Pangu said, "If Yang Mei can use this opportunity to complete his world, perhaps Heaven won't need to be opened again. I'll lose my chance to attain the Primordial Chaos, but for us Chaos Living Beings, perhaps this is a good outcome."

Xuanhuang sighed. "The Great Dao does not tolerate us Chaos Living Beings. How can we let so many great cultivators endure?"

Pangu said calmly, "Indeed. For us to evolve Heaven and Earth, we must first perish within it. Perhaps Yang Mei is an exception."

Xuanhuang said, "You're waiting for Yang Mei to evolve Heaven and Earth. But for you, the more complete that world becomes, the slimmer your chances of survival."

Pangu replied, "I've become the enemy of all living beings. Whether I live or die, if Yang Mei can truly fulfill the Great Dao's design this way, perhaps more beings will survive. I have no regrets."

A blue-gray lotus dais supported Pangu's body as it turned slowly. A faint insight passed into him.

It was the aura of the Dao—and a joy.

Pangu felt he had grasped a pulse of the Dao. He circulated his primordial spirit, closed his eyes, and began to meditate.

Xuanhuang released his Xuanhuang Qi and rapidly formed hand seals, laying down restriction after restriction and array after array around himself.

He set up an array nearby to clear the mind and sharpen the spirit, helping Pangu comprehend the Dao.

Xuanhuang sat quietly, his mind utterly clear. He possessed the Dao, but could not comprehend it, so he let things take their course. He had been lonely ever since his birth. He had wandered Chaos for countless ages, encountering other Chaos Living Beings along the way, and had always been on the verge of touching the Dao. Only when he sensed the might of Pangu's Becoming a Saint did he awaken from his contemplation of the Dao. He had finally sensed a trace of its aura.

But what was his own fate? The Great Dao would never allow Chaos Living Beings like them to endure.

He extended his Spiritual Sense into the Chaos Green Lotus. He knew it was a strange existence, one that carried his aura. Perhaps his fate had been arranged long ago, and the lotus was where he was destined to return.

Xuanhuang Qi wrapped around his Spiritual Sense. It entered a vast void, where countless points of light drifted. More than a thousand of them stood apart from the rest—not only were they considerably larger, but each was surrounded by a layer of violet light.

A shooting star rushed toward him. Though it was only the size of a grain of rice, a familiar aura struck him.

"This is..." Xuanhuang Qi.

The Xuanhuang Qi surrounding his Spiritual Sense quickly merged with it, and that speck of Spiritual Sense was swallowed up as well. Like snow seeing sunlight, it vanished in an instant.

Xuanhuang felt no pain as he meditated. It simply seemed as though things were meant to be this way. Three clouds of auspicious energy appeared above his head, each containing a green lotus—red flowers, green leaves, and white roots. The red flowers swayed, as if about to leave his body and enter the Chaos Green Lotus.

Xuanhuang hurriedly abandoned his exploration of the Chaos Green Lotus and focused on comprehending the clouds of auspicious energy above his head.