Heaven-Ordained Rank, Lord of the Great Dao

"Where am I?"

Li Zhengyuan woke abruptly from his daze. Opening his eyes, he found himself seemingly immersed in a mass of viscous liquid—neither glue nor oil. He could see no color, only Chaos; hear no sound, only muddled silence. It was as if he had no body, no sense of touch.

A set of memories had appeared in his mind. He was actually Zhen Yuanzi! An Innate Divinity born from the Essence of Primordial Yang Earth, united with the qi of the Earthly Dao and inheriting its authority.

Only after Li Zhengyuan sorted through the memories in his mind did he learn that this was countless kalpas after the creation of heaven and earth, before the Dao of Heaven had emerged.

He remained shocked for a long while, staring blankly into space. After pondering for some time, he finally came back to himself.

This was the Primordial World! The Great Thousand World of Pangu splitting open heaven and earth, the Dao-Demon Tribulation, and the Dragon-Han Struggle!

For a moment, he did not know whether to rejoice or worry.

Looking around, he beheld a blessed land and Cave-Heaven indeed: towering mountains rose in majestic grandeur, their vast presence rugged and imposing. Their roots joined the veins of the Kunlun Mountains, while their peaks brushed the heavens.

White cranes often came to roost among the junipers and cypresses, while dark apes occasionally swung from the vines.

Sunlight shone upon the clear mountain forest. Layer upon layer of trees was wreathed in red mist, as though the entire forest had been draped in a mysterious and beautiful veil.

A gentle breeze swept through the deep valleys, stirring countless colorful clouds that danced lightly through the air, dreamlike and illusory.

Quiet birds sang merrily within the verdant bamboo groves. Their crisp, melodious calls rose and fell in succession, like a concert composed by nature.

Brilliant pheasants frolicked and tussled amid clusters of wildflowers, their multicolored feathers gleaming with enchanting radiance beneath the sunlight.

Looking into the distance, Millennium Peak soared into the clouds, exuding an imposing air amid the swirling mists; Five Blessings Peak stood with overwhelming grandeur, like five immortals standing shoulder to shoulder; Hibiscus Peak was graceful and elegant, resembling a blooming lotus of incomparable beauty.

Ten-Thousand-Year Stone had weathered the passage of ages yet still stood unwavering, its surface covered in peculiar patterns and markings; Tiger Fang Stone was sharp and pointed, like the exposed fangs of a fierce tiger, inspiring awe at a glance; Three-Pronged Stone stood tall and steep, jagged and abrupt, emanating an auspicious aura.

Before the cliffs, lush grass spread like a carpet, fresh and verdant as though the earth had laid down a green velvet blanket; atop the ridges, plum blossoms bloomed, their fragrance filling the air and refreshing the heart.

Dense thornbushes intertwined in tangled profusion, forming a natural barrier; elegant orchids and fragrant herbs grew among them, releasing waves of faint, serene perfume.

Within the deep forest, eagles and phoenixes gathered, dwelling and multiplying alongside countless birds; in the ancient caves, mighty qilin presided over thousands of beasts.

A stream babbled through the mountain ravines, so clear one could see to its bottom. Like a jade-green ribbon, it wound around the peaks, lingering fondly amid these mountains and waters.

Then there were the shade-giving locust trees, the patterned bamboo, and the lush green pines. Supporting one another through a thousand years of wind and rain, they remained flourishing and prosperous, each competing to display its graceful charm.

Snow-white plum blossoms, peach blossoms as fiery as flame, and jade-green willows vied in beauty beneath the bright spring sun, adorning the season in exceptionally splendid colors.

From time to time, the mountains echoed with dragon roars and tiger howls, the graceful dancing figures of immortal cranes, and the joyous cries of apes.

Gentle deer strolled leisurely out from the flowers, while elegant Azure Luan sang loudly toward the sun. This truly was an immortal mountain and blessed land!

Even Penglai and the Paradise Garden were no more than this. He could even see the flowers upon the mountain bloom and wither by turns, as unpredictable as the rises and falls of life;

Clouds drifted back and forth, freely weaving among the mountain peaks in endlessly changing forms.

What a Five Villages Temple—heaven and earth's very essence gathered in one place!

Turning around, he saw a tree behind him, its branches bearing fruits that resembled infants. He immediately understood that this must be the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

Then he suddenly recalled that some later novels had claimed Zhen Yuanzi was transformed from the Ginseng Fruit Tree, one of the Ten Innate Spiritual Roots. It now appeared that such claims were merely laughable.

Zhen Yuanzi had attained the Dao innately, a divine being born of the Earthly Dao. How could he possibly be compared to a Ginseng Fruit transformed from a Primordial Spiritual Root? The difference in their nobility was immeasurable.

In the Primordial World, one's origin was extremely important. It was also called one's aptitude.

Those born innately differed from those born acquired. Innate beings were surely blessed with a measure of fortune, protected by the Dao of Heaven, able to turn danger into safety and calamity into auspiciousness.

Before the proper time came, they could not be killed. If one insisted on killing them, one's own fortune would be damaged and one's Merit worn away.

As for those born acquired, though they lacked innate fortune, they still conformed to the workings of the Dao of Heaven. Even without its protection, excessive slaughter would bring calamity and malevolent karma upon them, hindering their cultivation.

Thus, many immortals were unwilling to slaughter freely or casually kill living beings.

Although Zhen Yuanzi's origin was not as noble as that of the Three Pure Ones, who had taken form from the pure qi of Pangu's Primordial Spirit, he was in no way inferior to Eastern Sovereign Taiyi, Dijun, Zhunti, Jieyin, and the others. In fact, he might even surpass them by a fraction.

Before Zhen Yuanzi had even taken form, he already possessed the Earth Embryonic Membrane, the Earth Book, and the top-grade innate spiritual root, the Ginseng Fruit. It was clear that his fortune ran deep.

After thinking for a long time, Li Zhengyuan decided that he should cultivate properly. So long as he attained the true fruit himself, he might be able to uncover the mystery of his origins. Once he achieved the fruition of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal, he could visit the River of Fate. By then, he should be able to learn the truth.

Thus, he began cultivating on his own, breathing in and exhaling spiritual qi. He also recalled the Yellow Court Scripture from later generations, so he silently recited it and circulated his vital energy.

Sure enough, the spiritual qi of heaven and earth gathered into a storm, surging like a funnel toward Li Zhengyuan's entire body.

Golden lotuses covered the ground, heavenly flowers rained down, and multicolored light radiated ten thousand zhang around him. Jade-colored divine radiance spread throughout the surroundings.

In an instant, heaven and earth trembled, and the Great Dao appeared!

All living beings turned their eyes toward it, unable to help looking toward the western region of the Primordial World.