The entire Earth entered an age of cultural transmission. One doctrine after another emerged, enlightening the living beings of its region. Yet these Great Daos all drew close to the Dao of mortals. Those who attained the Dao cultivated their nature and nurtured their character; those who did not still achieved something in life, whether living in wealth and honor, becoming generals or nobles, or writing books and leaving a good name for generations to come.
Daoist Hunyuan sank into contemplation. Suddenly, a peal of thunder boomed in his mind, and killing intent instantly filled the starry sky within him. Countless visions unfolded one after another. Boundless killing intent coiled around him, drawing his mind into a battlefield where shouts of slaughter and pounding war drums rang out together. Beacon fires blazed across the sky, smoke billowed, and weapons gleamed with cold light. The armies could no longer tell friend from foe. Blood covered their bodies; cries of anguish filled their eyes, along with hoarse roars. Blood flowed, burying the dust, the bloodstained clothes, and the corpses. Only waves of killing intent remained, lingering overhead before merging into Heaven and Earth.
Countless Savage Beasts battered the fragile barriers without pause. Starving, freezing humans wielded wooden clubs and stones to hold back the vast Beast Tide. But the tide was immense. One human after another was disemboweled and died beneath the Savage Beasts' claws and iron beaks. Yet no one retreated; they fought on desperately. The humans roared, "For our homes, we will never retreat! Kill!" Waves of killing intent gathered within the humans and Savage Beasts alike. With every clash, they spread into the sky and merged with Heaven and Earth.
The scene shifted. A solitary figure stood proudly between Heaven and Earth, a long sword dripping with blood in