Time flew like an arrow, and the sun and moon shuttled like a loom. In the blink of an eye, half a month passed!
The innate deities present had all existed for more than ten thousand years, and such a span of time was no more than a nap to them!
The world shrouded by that dark curtain on the distant horizon was like an ancient ferocious beast crouching there, devouring everyone who wished to enter. A suffocating, oppressive aura filled the air!
At noon, with the sun hanging high, a deafening boom suddenly rang out, followed by a series of explosions across the horizon. Then, the area enveloped by the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation parted like clouds to reveal clear skies, and a solitary figure stood motionless there!
What kind of figure was that? White hair, white robes, and a calm expression, as if nothing in the world could catch his attention.
At that moment, the gathered innate deities could not help widening their eyes. When they saw that white figure, shock instantly appeared on their faces, followed by wild joy. Who else could that figure be but Hongjun?
Hongjun stood above the void, glanced toward the innate deities, then took a step and departed without a word!
After Hongjun left, the Heavenly Dao stirred. A ripple swept across the firmament, spreading outward. Golden lotuses bloomed in clusters, rosy light drifted through the air, and boundless merit descended from the distant horizon, carrying a refreshing fragrance.
Across hundreds of millions of miles, auspicious clouds rolled. At that moment, countless living beings awakened their spiritual intelligence, while countless others took form on the spot!
Merit descended from the heavens, and a portion was distributed among the innate deities present as a reward for their service in subduing the demons!
In an instant, streams of momentum soared into the sky. Bathed in the light of merit, many innate deities broke through their bottlenecks on the spot, advancing their Dao cultivation another step!
Squawk~~~~~
With a shrill cry, Kunpeng spread his wings and soared. A surge of momentum naturally rose from his body as he broke through the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm and entered the Da Luo Golden Immortal realm!
At that moment, under the light of merit, Mu Jizi also experienced a flash of enlightenment. His body swayed, and his cultivation reached the peak of the Da Luo Golden Immortal realm, only one step away from attaining the Dao Fruit of a Quasi-Sage and Quasi-Sect Master!
After the light of merit faded, the various deities snapped out of their trances. After exchanging a round of mutual praise, they each returned to their respective Daoist sanctuaries!
After the deities departed, only a few members of the three tribes remained behind!
At that moment, the three tribal leaders could truly be called commanders without an army. The clash between Luohu and Hongjun had wiped out every tribesman below the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm who had been present. The tragedy was beyond imagining!
However, although the three tribes had suffered devastating losses, they still had scattered clansmen elsewhere, especially the dragons. Since the great sea had not been touched by the catastrophe, a considerable number of dragon clansmen remained—enough to preserve their lineage.
One had to know that for the three tribal leaders to reach the Da Luo Golden Immortal realm within ten thousand years of the world's opening, while the fortune of their tribes had certainly played a role, they themselves also possessed immense wisdom and perseverance!
Preserving a trace of their bloodline was all that occupied their minds now.
Having witnessed the power unleashed in the battle between Hongjun and Luohu, as well as the tragic deaths of their clansmen, the three leaders no longer had any desire to contend.
There was no greater despair than a dead heart!
That was their state of mind at the time. Yet for the future of their tribes and the continuation of their ancestral bloodline, even if they wished to die, they had to die with purpose and dignity.
How could a death be considered purposeful and dignified?
The three leaders exchanged glances, and each found the answer in their hearts!
Then the Qilin Ancestor stepped forward, pointed toward the heavens, and swore an oath to the Heavenly Dao:
"Taking my life as the offering, before the witness of the Heavenly Dao, the Qilin Tribe shall henceforth be a symbol of auspiciousness and peace, never again offending others. Should this oath be broken, we shall suffer extermination. Yet should anyone violate or attack my Qilin Tribe, they shall bear the karma of boundless calamity!"
His words shook heaven and earth, stirring the cosmos. Countless strands of spiritual energy converged in a magnificent display. An auspicious sign descended from the heavens as a beam of white light extended from the void—recognition from the Heavenly Dao. The light shone upon the Qilin Ancestor's forehead before flickering and vanishing. Blown by the wind, his body crumbled like a mound of loose gravel, turning into drifting ash. Not only did his body disintegrate, but even his soul was obliterated. He truly perished, vanishing completely from heaven and earth without the slightest chance of reincarnation.
"Taking my life as the offering, before the witness of the Heavenly Dao, my Divine Dragon Clan asks only to govern the Four Seas, bringing clouds and rain to heaven and earth. Henceforth, we shall never contend for the role of protagonist of the kalpa."
How vast were the Four Seas? Though inferior to the Primordial Continent, they were far from small. Even at this point, the Ancestral Dragon still harbored the hope that the dragon race could dominate the Four Seas, and he possessed the strength to support that ambition. Bringing clouds and rain to the entire Primordial Continent could also be considered a great merit. With that merit, coupled with the Ancestral Dragon's Da Luo Golden Immortal cultivation, the East Sea was indeed destined to fall under the dragon race's control.
The Heavenly Dao acknowledged his oath! The Ancestral Dragon also dissolved into heaven and earth.
"Taking my life as the offering, before the witness of the Heavenly Dao, my Phoenix Clan shall dwell forever in Phoenix Valley from this day forth, seeking nothing but a remote place of peace."
That simple, straightforward request showed that the Phoenix Ancestor had truly let go of everything and seen through life and death!
The Heavenly Dao perceived this and granted its recognition. The white light descended, yet it did not immediately claim the Phoenix Ancestor's life. Instead, it preserved his soul to await a destined opportunity!
Chirp~~~~~~~
This was the cry of the Phoenix Ancestor's soul. Blazing flames scorched his soul, and the rising sun illuminated his spirit as he spread his wings and vanished into the endless desolate mountains!
At that moment, an indescribable feeling spread throughout the Primordial Wilderness. Every living being that had awakened spiritual intelligence seemed to instinctively understand what had happened!
It turned out to be an omen from the Heavenly Dao, proclaiming the matter to the entire world!
Sigh~~~~
Mu Jizi and Kunpeng, riding upon a cloud, could not help letting out soft sighs, their expressions blank. The three innate tribes had once been so mighty, yet they had failed to recognize the mandate of heaven and, like the Demon Ancestor Luohu, were erased from between heaven and earth. Once again, the two witnessed the ruthlessness of the Heavenly Dao!
If one does not become a sage, one is ultimately nothing more than an ant!
Mu Jizi and Kunpeng exchanged glances. There was not a trace of gloating in their hearts; instead, they felt the sorrow of one creature mourning another's death.
"Brother, now that this great kalpa has ended, we can enjoy the peace of an entire kalpa!" Seeing Mu Jizi's heavy expression, Kunpeng forced a smile. "This is indeed something worth celebrating!"
"Indeed." Mu Jizi nodded, though his expression remained unchanged. He cultivated the Dao of Creation, yet he had not expected the changes of the world to be so fickle!
Creation toys with people!
Shaking his head, Mu Jizi glanced at Kunpeng and said no more. The two stepped onto auspicious clouds and headed toward the Northern Sea Daoist Sanctuary!
The Heavenly Dao was ruthless, creation toyed with people, and the world shifted unpredictably. Those who failed to become sages were ultimately mere ants. When the kalpa arrived and one failed to recognize the mandate of heaven, tens of millions of years of cultivation became nothing more than a bubble!
Thus, eighteen thousand years after the opening of the Primordial, the first kalpa came to an end. The land gradually recovered its former vitality and welcomed the second kalpa in a scene of flourishing prosperity...
...Part One had arrived at its conclusion, and the next arc would be the Witch-Demon Kalpa! Once again, I humbly beg for recommendations and collections!
Before you continue