"That is... Father God's Will!" Primordial Heavenly Lord gazed at the golden light, the divine glow of Order in his eyes fluctuating violently. His voice carried irrepressible reverence. Pangu Banner trembled of its own accord, the chaos patterns on its surface answering the golden light as it burst into an unprecedented brilliance.
The instant the golden light surged into the chaos, the entire Primordial World fell abruptly silent. There was no thunder, no stirring of the air—only a majestic Will spanning past and present that spread through the world. It was the boundless power that had created the world, the Origin laws that had laid the foundations of the Primordial World. The chaos clouds receded like a tide, and fear appeared for the first time in the Heavenly Dao's enormous eye, which stretched across thousands of miles. It was an instinctive reverence, the helplessness of the created facing its creator.
"Pangu... you still had a Will left behind!" The Heavenly Dao's voice was no longer icy. Instead, it trembled. Its chaotic eye contracted frantically as it tried to gather power and fight back, only to discover that its own laws were as brittle as rotten wood before Pangu's Will.
Just then, boundless rosy clouds descended from the Ninth Heaven. Seven-colored laws intertwined into a vast canopy that covered the entire Primordial World. There was no earth-shaking sound, no world-destroying might—only the four words "The Great Dao is impartial," ringing throughout the cosmos like the tolling of a morning bell and an evening drum, reaching deep into the primordial spirits of every living being. This was the Great Dao's personal arrival, free of all emotion and embodying nothing but absolute justice and order.
The selfish consciousness born within the Heavenly Dao melted away beneath the rosy clouds of the Great Dao, like snow doused with boiling water. It had no chance to struggle before it was completely erased. The enormous eye in the sky slowly vanished, and the Heavenly Dao's web of laws broke apart into specks that flowed back into the Primordial World, restoring its original peace and impartiality. As the Dao's resonance flowed through the world, only the pure laws of the Heavenly Dao remained, free of selfish desire.
"The Great Dao... has manifested." Nuwa gazed at the rosy clouds filling the sky and gently wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes were full of relief and reverence after surviving the calamity. Mountain and River Diagram shrank on its own and flew back into her hand.
Hou Tu put away Netherworld Seal. The Netherworld baleful energy around her drew completely inward, and she bowed toward Buzhou Mountain. "Thank you for Father God's Will and protection. Thank you for the Great Dao's impartiality."
The Sages put away their treasures and stood in the void, bowing together toward Buzhou Mountain and the Great Dao in the Ninth Heaven. Jiang He bowed with them, his heart overcome with shock. This was the lingering might of Great God Pangu, the majesty of the Great Dao—far beyond anything a Sage could reach.
The rosy clouds faded, and the Primordial World cleared. Only the golden pillar atop Buzhou Mountain remained, slowly nourishing the damaged Primordial Origin.
"After this great calamity, the Primordial World has suffered devastation. Its living beings have been slaughtered, and its mountains and rivers lie in ruin. We must begin repairing it at once." Grand Pure Laozi spoke first, his tone as steady as ever. Taiji Diagram unfurled once more, black and white energy spreading out and transforming into gentle power that began to smooth the cracks in the earth.
Nuwa nodded and cast Mountain and River Diagram into the sky. The life force within it poured down, nourishing the barren land like spring rain. Withered plants sprouted anew, broken mountains began to mend, and the regions scorched by heavenly lightning and earthly flames gradually regained their vitality. "I will use the Power of Creation to repair all things and comfort the living."
Mystic light shimmered around Hou Tu. The Netherworld Seal transformed into a streak of light and sank underground, releasing the power of the Six Paths of Reincarnation. It guided the souls of those who had perished in the calamity and stabilized the order of yin and yang. "I will put reincarnation in order, prevent restless souls from causing chaos, and strengthen the foundations of the Primordial World."
Primordial Heavenly Lord swept his horsetail whisk, scattering countless laws of Order. The disordered fragments of space and time fell back into place one by one. Collapsed cities and severed spiritual veins were set right under the pull of the power of Order. "I will reshape the Primordial World with the Way of Order and set the laws of heaven and earth in order."
Sect Master Tongtian's Immortal Slaying Four Swords returned to their places, their sword energy subsiding and transforming into a fierce power of purification that cleared the baleful energy lingering across the Primordial World. "Leave the beings infected by baleful energy to me. That'll save us trouble later!" As soon as he finished speaking, the four swords became four streaks of light and swept across the Primordial World, exterminating every Fierce Beast corrupted by the Heavenly Dao's baleful energy.
Jiang He did not hold back either. The True Sun Fire around him transformed into a gentle golden curtain of light that covered the regions tainted by baleful energy. The Sun's Origin power was supremely yang and pure, capable of cleansing all evil. The damaged spiritual veins gradually regained their vitality as the fire nourished them. "This junior is willing to use True Sun Fire to cleanse the baleful energy and lend the Sages a hand."
Each Sage attended to their own task, and with their combined efforts, the Primordial World gradually returned to its former state. The sun, moon, and stars resumed their proper places; rivers and seas flowed again; and the living emerged from their fear, prostrating themselves before the Sages in the void.
Meanwhile, in the west of the Primordial World, the surviving members of the Demon Race had gathered on the outskirts of the former Demon Court. Their morale was at rock bottom. Di Jun wore battered armor, River Map and Luo Book had lost their luster, and Chaos Bell in Taiyi's hands was covered in cracks. The brothers gazed at the Sages repairing the Primordial World in the distance, their eyes filled with despair.
"The tide has turned against us." Di Jun let out a long sigh, his voice hoarse. "The Heavenly Dao's schemes have failed. Our Demon Race's elite have been wiped out, and all ten of our princes are dead. We no longer have the strength to stand against the Wu Race or the Sages." The ambition that had once made them rulers of the Primordial World had been crushed in this calamity. All that remained was the helplessness of struggling to survive.
Taiyi tightened his grip on Chaos Bell. A trace of unwillingness flashed in his eyes, but it ultimately gave way to dejection. "Eldest Brother...!"
Di Jun knew what Taiyi was going to say. He waved a hand and said, "The Sages joined forces and could even suppress the Heavenly Dao. We're merely Quasi-Sages—how could we ever hope to rule? From now on, the Demon Race must withdraw its forces and settle in one corner of the world. We should focus on cultivation!"
Just as the members of the Demon Race were losing all hope, two streaks of light came from the west and landed before Di Jun and Taiyi. They were the Sages Zhunti and Jieyin. Both looked grave, and their auras were unsteady. Clearly, they had been badly injured in the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation.
"Fellow Daoists Di Jun and Taiyi, how have you been?" Daoist Zhunti smiled with a salute, his tone carrying a hint of probing. "The Primordial World's new order has been established. The Sages are deeply prejudiced against both Western Religion and the Demon Race. Unless we band together, we'll sooner or later be dealt with one by one."
Daoist Jieyin added, "Western Religion is willing to ally with the Demon Race, share resources, and face this crisis together. We can withdraw to the west, rely on its rugged terrain, and recuperate. There may yet be a chance for us to rise again."
Di Jun and Taiyi exchanged a glance, both moved by the proposal. They knew that the Demon Race was now like a frightened bird. If they faced the Sages' reckoning alone, they would surely meet a grim end. Though the Two Sages of the West were Sages, the Heavenly Dao had brought their names into disrepute, and they too faced pressure from the other Sages. An alliance was only a temporary measure, but it was also their sole path to survival.
"Fine!" Di Jun gritted his teeth and nodded. "From this day forward, the Demon Race and Western Religion are allies. We'll support one another and stand together against our enemies!"
Taiyi nodded as well. "If you two are sincere with us, the Demon Race will not let you down."
A trace of delight flashed in Zhunti and Jieyin's eyes, and they quickly replied, "Rest assured, fellow Daoists. We're entering this alliance in all sincerity. We speak not a single false word."
The two sides immediately made a pact, and the remnants of the Demon Race went with the disciples of Western Religion to regroup in the west. From then on, the Primordial World settled into a new order: the Sages guarded the central lands, the Wu Race watched over the Netherworld, and the Demon Race allied with Western Religion to make their home in a corner of the world.
Atop Buzhou Mountain, the golden light formed from Pangu's Will gradually faded and merged back into the mountain. Buzhou Mountain regained its former stability. The Sages gazed toward the western continent and sensed that the Demon Race and the west had joined together, but did not interfere.
"The Demon Race's alliance with the west is also part of the Heavenly Dao's cycle. There's no need to force anything," Grand Pure Laozi said calmly. "After this calamity, the Primordial World must recuperate and recover its strength."
Primordial Heavenly Lord flicked his horsetail whisk and said solemnly, "If they dare to stir up trouble again, we can deal with them then. For now, the priority is to stabilize order in the Primordial World and prevent further calamities."
Nuwa gazed at the newly restored land, her eyes filled with relief. "The living of the Primordial World have endured great hardships. We should give them a chance to recover. I'll remain here and continue protecting the Human Race and all living beings."
Hou Tu nodded. "I must return to the Netherworld and perfect the Six Paths of Reincarnation, so the souls of the dead can find their proper place and no longer disturb the world of the living."
Sect Master Tongtian put away the Immortal Slaying Four Swords and laughed. "I'll head back to Biyou Palace and train my disciples. If anything happens in the Primordial World, my disciples will be ready to help!"
Standing behind the Sages, Jiang He felt the vitality and peace of the Primordial World and was filled with emotion. In this battle, he had not only advanced to the late Quasi-Sage stage, but had also nearly been killed by the Heavenly Dao. At a time like this, it was best to earn some Merit!
"Honored Sages, this junior is willing to remain in the Primordial World, help cleanse the remaining baleful energy, and protect the peace of these lands," Jiang He said, bowing.
Nuwa smiled faintly. "Very well. Since you're willing, go ahead. Your Sun Body will be a great help in restoring the Primordial World."
The Sages exchanged smiles and departed in their own directions. Sunlight fell over the Primordial World once more, warming every inch of land. The calamity that had swept across the world finally ended with the Great Dao's arrival and Pangu's manifestation.
Before you continue