Reborn as Haotian

There was no up or down, no past or future.

Only the endless chaos surged and churned.

This was Chaos, a place where the myriad Daos did not exist!

Even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal who came here would risk Death and Dao Annihilation without a superior Innate Spirit Treasure to protect them.

Yet at that moment, in the Boundless Chaos, which should have been utterly empty, two faintly glowing stones floated.

"Where am I?!"

Within the slightly larger stone, Wang Shen's consciousness awoke from a haze. He sensed the scene outside through the layers of stone and couldn't help but freeze.

"Am I dreaming?"

"Or... have I transmigrated?!"

Wang Shen was completely stunned. He'd merely tripped over a stone that had come from who knew where while he was walking—and now he'd transmigrated?!

Buzz!

Just as Wang Shen was pondering, an immense pressure spread from afar, enveloping the boundless void in an instant.

"High above, I recline among the nine clouds; on my cushion, I comprehend the true Dao."

"Beyond Heaven and Earth, I shall hold the honored seat of the Dao's master."

"Pangu gave birth to the Taiji; the Two Forms and Four Symbols followed."

"Leader of the Mystic Gate, from one breath came Hongjun."

"I am Hongjun. I have now proved the Dao and become a Saint. I shall establish the Purple Firmament Palace as my Dao Field within Chaos."

"After one Yuanhui, I shall expound the Primordial Chaos Great Dao within the Purple Firmament Palace. All who are fated may come and listen!"

Rumble!

The Saint's might filled the heavens and earth, enveloping the Four Seas and Eight Wastelands.

Throughout the Primordial World, all bowed their heads and offered congratulations to the Saint—except for the Twelve Ancestral Witches beneath Buzhou Mountain.

Even the two stones at the edge of Chaos felt this supreme might, which surpassed the myriad Daos.

"Hongjun? Becoming a Saint? Expounding the Dao at the Purple Firmament Palace!"

"This place... Could it be the Primordial World?" Wang Shen's mind reeled.

As a die-hard reader of online novels, he was very familiar with the Primordial World.

It was the source of the Immortal Dao, and also the most perilous place in the myriad worlds of the heavens, where opportunities were the most unpredictable.

"Have I transmigrated into the Primordial World?"

"Wait... If this is the Primordial World, then this gray void outside... could it be... Chaos?!"

Wang Shen's thoughts raced, his mind in turmoil.

The Primordial World was perilous beyond measure. Da Luo immortals were everywhere, and Golden Immortals were worth less than dogs.

He had to figure out his situation as soon as possible.

"Even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal can't guarantee their safety in Chaos, yet the place I'm in is completely unharmed."

"And from the way it looks, I seem to be inside a stone."

"If that's the case, could I have transmigrated into..." Wang Shen felt a vague sense of foreboding.

Just then...

Boom!

Another cry of the Dao rang through Chaos, and the boundless chaotic energy began to boil.

Hongjun, surrounded by countless strands of purple qi, stepped out from the Primordial World and into Chaos.

With Hongjun's arrival, Chaos, which had been dormant for countless eons, erupted into turmoil.

Chaotic Weak Water surged from the void. Chaotic Divine Thunder wove into a net. Chaotic Gale howled and swept across the void...

One terrifying calamity after another appeared, seeking to tear apart everything, both tangible and intangible...

Watching this from inside the stone, Wang Shen felt his Nascent Soul sway, on the verge of shattering.

Just as he was about to be annihilated in body and spirit, Hongjun, surrounded by purple qi, moved.

He raised his right arm slightly and pointed with two fingers.

In an instant, the phantoms of the Three Thousand Great Dao Laws appeared in the void, transforming into chains of law that crisscrossed and interwove.

The raging calamities of Chaos were forcibly suppressed by the manifestations of the Great Dao, and all returned to stillness.

At the same time, in the very heart of Chaos, boundless Dao resonance gathered.

A majestic palace slowly took shape amid the interweaving laws of the Three Thousand Great Dao.

Glazed tiles, purple-gold pillars, and three Dao Inscription characters above the entrance... Purple Firmament Palace.

Standing at the edge of Chaos, Hongjun glanced at the completed palace and gave a slight nod.

Then he turned to look in Wang Shen's direction.

Wang Shen felt a supreme will sweep over him, as if every secret he held had been seen through in an instant.

"You two are fated to meet me."

Hongjun seemed not to notice anything unusual about "Wang Shen." He raised his right hand once more and pointed with a finger.

Boundless Mystic Light of Creation burst from his fingertip, enveloping the two stones.

A few breaths later... The mystic light faded, and a boy and a girl emerged from within. Both were as lovely as carved jade, their natural spiritual grace shining through.

Hongjun's gaze fell upon the boy Wang Shen had become. He said calmly, "You were formed when a Primordial Chaotic Stone mingled with a wisp of Innate Yang Qi. You shall be called Haotian."

Wang Shen felt an understanding come to him, and immediately bowed. "Haotian thanks Esteemed Master for enlightening me and granting me a name!"

Hongjun turned to the girl beside him. "You were formed when a Primordial Chaotic Stone mingled with a wisp of Innate Yin Qi. You shall be called Yaochi."

The girl hurriedly imitated Wang Shen and bowed. "Yaochi thanks Esteemed Master for enlightening me and granting me a name!"

Hongjun said no more. He swept his sleeve, lifting the two children up.

With one step, he crossed the boundless Chaos and arrived before the Purple Firmament Palace.

After setting them down, Hongjun conjured two purple jade tokens from the void and sent them toward the pair with Saint Power.

"These are Purple Firmament Tokens. With them, you can control the palace's arrays and travel between the Primordial World and Chaos."

"I will enter seclusion to stabilize my Saint realm. You are to manage the palace well. Do not neglect your duties."

"Your disciples will obey your decree!" Wang Shen and Yaochi replied in unison.

Hongjun gave a slight nod. His form faded as he stepped into the Purple Firmament Palace and disappeared.

Only after the Saint's pressure had completely faded did Yaochi's tense little face relax. She breathed out softly, then bowed gracefully to Wang Shen. "Your little sister greets you, Elder Brother."

"Mm." Wang Shen replied distractedly.

At that moment, his heart was a jumble of emotions.

He couldn't believe his earlier guess had come true.

He really had been reborn as Haotian!

This outcome... was hardly ideal.

As everyone knew, Haotian was the boy attendant by Hongjun's side.

At the same time, he would one day rule the Three Realms and Six Paths as the Heavenly Emperor.

But it was also common knowledge that he was nothing but a puppet.

Above him, Dao Ancestor Hongjun controlled him. In the middle, the Six Saints worked together to keep him in check. Below, the various immortals paid lip service while ignoring his orders.

Of all those in the Three Realms and Six Paths, only Yaochi, who had emerged alongside him, truly treated him as the Heavenly Emperor.

It wasn't until later, when Haotian had cried to Hongjun and set off the Investiture of Gods War, filling the three hundred and sixty-five offices of the righteous gods, that things improved somewhat.

But in truth, they hadn't improved by much.

Most of those three hundred and sixty-five righteous gods were Jie Sect Disciples, and Jie Sect Disciples were the least willing to follow orders.

So when Haotian gave them commands, most of them did the bare minimum and paid him lip service.

As a result, when Sun Wukong later wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, Haotian was helpless against a demon immortal who had practiced for only a few hundred years. He had no choice but to ask Tathagata of the Western Heaven to step in and save him.

Wang Shen recalled it all with a bitter feeling.

As far as he knew...

Yang Jian had rebelled against Heaven.

Sun Wukong had rebelled against Heaven.

Chenxiang had rebelled against Heaven, too.

Other famous demons and monsters also often shouted about rebelling against Heaven.

Even righteous cultivators were always going around talking about defying Heaven.

"The most pathetic figure in the Primordial World..." Wang Shen felt utterly helpless.

"Elder Brother... are you all right?" Yaochi asked quietly from beside him, watching as Wang Shen's expression shifted again and again.