Primordial World
Primordial Era: As Duobao's Brother, I Just Want to Comprehend the Dao Steadily
Contents
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Primordial World |
| Original Name | 洪荒 |
| Type | World |
| Status | Extant |
| First Appearance | Chapter 1 |
Background
In the period immediately following the Dragon-Han Cataclysm, the Primordial World remained unstable. The Dragon Clan had retreated to the Four Seas, the Phoenix Clan guarded Southbright Volcano, and the Qilin Clan had gone into hiding, but the collapse of the three ancient races had not brought lasting peace. 1
Hongjun’s ascension to Sagehood marked the beginning of a new era. His Dao lectures in Zixiao Palace exposed the world’s leading cultivators to paths beyond the Great Luo realm, including Three Corpses Severance, merit-based Dao proving, and law-based cultivation. 4 10 11
The balance of the world changed repeatedly as the Human Race was created, Human Dao awakened, the Witch and Demon Clans fought for supremacy, and Houtu established the Six Paths of Reincarnation. These developments weakened the Heavenly Dao’s exclusive authority and pushed the world away from its previously anticipated course. 22 25 38 44
Following the Witch Clan’s strategic withdrawal to the Netherworld and the Demon Race’s concentration in the starry sky, the Human Race became the new protagonist of Heaven and Earth. Hongjun subsequently initiated the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, during which Human Race Fortune and Human Dao became central forces in the Primordial World. 46 49 61
The completion of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors led to the Xia dynasty and established hereditary monarchy among Humanity. The later rise of the Shang dynasty, the reactivation of the Investiture List, and the conflict between the Shang-aligned Jie Sect and Xiqi-aligned Three Religions have drawn the world into a new great calamity. 89 106 115 137
Historical Timeline
| Era / Event | Developments | Chapter |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Dragon-Han era | The Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans decline after their catastrophic war; the world remains dangerous and fragmented. | 1 |
| Hongjun’s ascension | Hongjun becomes a Sage and establishes Zixiao Palace in Chaos, inviting fated beings to hear the Dao. | 4 |
| Zixiao Palace lectures | Major cultivators gain access to higher cultivation knowledge; the first sermon raises Lu Chen to the Taiyi Realm and broadens the world’s understanding of the Dao. | 7 10 11 |
| Rise of the Heavenly Court | Dijun and Taiyi establish the Heavenly Court in the Thirty-Six Heavens, giving the Demon Race a base from which to challenge the Witch Clan. | 20 21 |
| Creation of Humanity | Nuwa creates the Human Race with Lu Chen’s assistance, using Innate Self-Growing Soil, Three Lights Divine Water, and the Gourd Vine. | 22 |
| Age of Sages | Nuwa becomes the second Sage after Hongjun; Laozi, Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti later attain Sainthood, while Tongtian proves the Primordial Zenith Dao through the Sword Dao. | 23 29 |
| Awakening of Human Dao | Gu Chen establishes Martial Dao and swears before Human Dao, awakening it as an independent authority alongside Heaven and Earth. | 25 |
| Witch-Demon War | The Witch Clan draws out the Demon Race’s All-Heaven Star Formation, answers it with the Twelve Heavenly Capitals Formation, and defeats the Demon Race. | 37 38 40 |
| Establishment of Reincarnation | Houtu sacrifices her former body to create the Netherworld and Six Paths of Reincarnation, becoming Pingxin, Lord of the Six Paths. | 44 |
| Post-Witch-Demon political order | The Witch Clan largely withdraws to the Netherworld and Blood Sea, the Demon Race remains in the starry sky, and the Human Race becomes the dominant people of the mainland. | 46 49 |
| Restoration of the Heavenly Court | Hongjun appoints Haotian and Yaochi as Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Empress. The Jie Sect later accepts numerous Heavenly Court posts, gaining associated Fortune while retaining its independence. | 51 53 |
| Separation of the Three Pure Ones’ sects | Tongtian establishes Biyou Palace on Golden Turtle Island as the Jie Sect’s new center, while Laozi departs Kunlun Mountain with Xuandu. | 60 |
| Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | Hongjun declares the Human Race the new protagonist of Heaven and Earth. Its sovereigns and emperors lead Humanity’s rise, while their teachers receive immense Merit. | 61 68 84 |
| End of the sovereign era | Yu the Great establishes the Nine Provinces, and Qi later founds the Xia dynasty after ending the abdication system. The Human Race transitions from shared rulership to hereditary monarchy. | 89 |
| Investiture of the Gods begins | The Investiture List activates after the Sages’ second deliberation, spreading Calamity Qi throughout Heaven and Earth and placing disciples of the major sects under tribulation. | 115 |
| Pact of the Four Religions | The Four Religions agree that their younger generations will struggle without direct intervention by sect leaders, as Sage-level conflict could shatter the Primordial World and incur overwhelming karmic sin. | 135 |
| Shang-Jie Sect alliance | Dixin appoints the Jie Sect as Shang’s Protector Sect. Human Dao recognizes the alliance, merging and strengthening the Fortune of Shang and the Jie Sect. | 137 |
| Current Investiture conflict | Shang and the Jie Sect prepare against Xiqi, the Chan Sect, and the Western Sect. Lu Chen’s concealed Grand Primordial Luo cultivation and the Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase are publicly exposed during his confrontation with Zhunti. | 140 147 |
Cosmology
Chaos and the World Boundary
The Primordial World is separated from the surrounding Chaos, whose violent gales and chaotic qi are hazardous even to powerful cultivators. Travel through Chaos generally requires exceptional cultivation or powerful defensive treasures. 5 10 16
The Heavenly Dao treats the Primordial World as its domain. Lu Chen leaves its borders to refine the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi and upgrade the Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase without attracting another Heavenly Dao tribulation. 16
Chaos also remains the source of legacies and threats that precede the Primordial World. Lu Chen later enters Chaos, gathers the remaining fragments of the Devouring Dao Bottle, and inherits the legacy of the fallen Devouring Demon God. 105
The possible destruction of the Primordial World remains a major concern during the Investiture of the Gods. Lu Chen believes that the altered course may drive the Four opposing Sages, rather than Tongtian, to cause a world-shattering conflict. 124
The Three Daos
| Dao | Role in the Primordial World |
|---|---|
| Heavenly Dao | The dominant authority during the early eras; it governs heavenly tribulations, recognizes merit, and restricts Sages from casually intervening in worldly affairs. It also enables the Investiture List’s Calamity Qi to spread across Heaven and Earth. 13 23 115 |
| Human Dao | Awakened when Gu Chen established Martial Dao for Humanity. It grants merit, recognizes the Martial Progenitor, initiates the Witch-Demon War of Fortune, and later recognizes the Shang Dynasty’s alliance with the Jie Sect. 25 38 137 |
| Earthly Dao | Reveals its authority during Houtu’s establishment of reincarnation, directly opposing the Heavenly Dao’s attempt to restrict Pingxin. It remains tied to the Netherworld’s security and may intervene if the Heavenly Dao moves to suppress Human Dao. 44 105 |
The awakening of Human Dao and the emergence of Earthly Dao challenge the Heavenly Dao’s earlier monopoly over the world’s great currents. Lu Chen regards balance among the Three Daos as necessary to prevent the Primordial World from falling into repeated catastrophe. 25
The Human Race’s rise further strengthens Human Dao. The Three Sovereigns possess authority comparable to Sages, and the Kongtong Seal remains a symbol of Human Sovereign authority so long as Human Fortune endures. 61 68 84
Netherworld
The Netherworld is a small world formed from the Netherworld Blood Sea when Houtu invokes the Earthly Dao and establishes the Six Paths of Reincarnation. 44
Its foundational structures include:
- The Six Paths: Heaven, Humanity, Asura, Beasts, Hungry Ghosts, and Hell. 44
- The Bridge of Helplessness and Three-Life Stone. 44
- The Yellow Springs Road and Ghost Gate. 44
- The Eighteen Levels of Hell and Ten Halls of Yama. 44
Pingxin presides over the Six Paths, while Styx becomes Lord of the Asura Path. 44
The Witch Clan’s main forces later relocate to the Blood Sea and Netherworld, where the region’s immense Killing Intent serves as a cultivation resource rather than a danger. 46
Major Regions
| Region | Description |
|---|---|
| Kunlun Mountain | Sacred mountain of the Three Pure Ones and the original base of the Jie, Chan, and Human lineages. Its abundant spiritual energy and blessed cave abodes become a source of sectarian conflict. 3 30 35 |
| Buzhou Mountain | A major center of destiny and spiritual treasure. The Innate Gourd Vine matured here, and the Witch Clan later retained a guard force around the mountain after withdrawing from the wider world. 8 46 |
| East Sea Shores | Birthplace and early homeland of the Human Race. Humanity develops Martial Dao, expands rapidly, and establishes a growing civilization along the coast. 22 24 32 |
| Western Lands | A barren region damaged by Luohou’s lingering demonic qi. Lu Chen purifies its earth veins and restores portions of its spiritual environment. 17 20 |
| Netherworld Blood Sea | Styx’s original domain, filled with Yin Baleful Energy, resentful souls, and Killing Intent. It becomes the foundation of the Netherworld and Six Paths of Reincarnation. 43 44 |
| Starry Sky | The Demon Race’s refuge after its defeat by the Witch Clan. The race occupies the major stars and continues developing its power away from the mainland. 42 46 |
| Four Seas | Territory associated with the declining Dragon Clan, which bears immense karmic burden from the Dragon-Han Cataclysm. 1 33 50 |
| Golden Turtle Island | Tongtian’s new Daoist ground after the Jie Sect leaves Kunlun Mountain. Biyou Palace is established here as the Jie Sect’s central sanctuary. 59 60 |
| Three Immortal Islands | Three hidden islands protected by a powerful formation in the East Sea. Lu Chen claims and refines them through the Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase, later using their origin to produce Origin Essence Liquid. 50 51 52 61 |
| Carefree Island | Lu Chen’s independent cultivation ground and a gathering place for his disciples and leading Jie Sect members. It serves as an important base for preparations against the Investiture of the Gods. 60 102 115 |
| Heavenly Court | Initially founded by the Demon Race and later abandoned by the Witch Clan. Hongjun restores it under Haotian and Yaochi, though its offices remain heavily occupied by Jie Sect and Demon Race figures. 21 46 51 53 |
| Chaoge and the Shang realm | The Shang Dynasty’s capital and core territory. The Jie Sect becomes Shang’s Protector Sect, making the realm a principal front in the Investiture conflict. 106 137 |
| Xiqi | The western human state led by Ji Chang and later Boyikao. It receives support from the Chan Sect and Western Sect while preparing to challenge Shang’s authority. 137 138 139 |
Inhabitants and Powers
| Faction / Race | Position in the World |
|---|---|
| Human Race | Created by Nuwa and supported by Lu Chen. It develops Martial Dao, awakens Human Dao, expands across the mainland, and becomes the foremost race on land. 22 25 49 |
| Witch Clan | Formerly the dominant force of the mainland after defeating the Demon Race. It later relocates most of its forces to the Netherworld and Blood Sea. 40 46 |
| Demon Race | Founded around the Heavenly Court under Dijun and Taiyi. Its defeat in the Witch-Demon War forces its principal forces into the starry sky. 21 40 42 |
| Dragon Clan | An ancient race diminished by the Dragon-Han Cataclysm. It guards the Four Seas while burdened by karmic consequences and diminished strength. 1 33 50 |
| Jie Sect | Tongtian’s sect, founded on teaching without distinction. It becomes the largest of the Three Pure Ones’ lineages and accepts disciples through trials of character and loyalty. 29 30 |
| Chan Sect | Yuanshi’s selective sect, which favors origin, fortune, and comprehension. Its rivalry with the Jie Sect becomes increasingly visible on Kunlun Mountain. 29 31 35 |
| Dao Sect | Laozi’s lineage, established through the Taiji Diagram and merit. 29 |
| Western Sect | The sect founded by Jieyin and Zhunti, whose Sainthood is achieved through forty-eight great vows. 29 |
| Asura Clan | Styx’s race, born from the Blood Sea. It gains a permanent place in reincarnation when Styx becomes Lord of the Asura Path. 23 44 |
| Heavenly Court | The celestial administration led by Haotian and Yaochi. Though officially restored as the governing court of Heaven, it relies heavily on Jie Sect officials and remains politically contested. 51 53 92 |
| Shang Dynasty | The dominant Human Race dynasty during the Investiture of the Gods. It appoints the Jie Sect as its Protector Sect and receives direct sectarian support against Xiqi. 130 137 |
| Xiqi | A western human state supported by the Chan Sect and Western Sect. It presents itself as righteous while preparing a rebellion against Shang and seeking the Fortune of a future Zhou dynasty. 137 139 |
| Human-Witch Hybrids | Descendants of unions between Humans and Witches. Their improved reproductive ability makes them a potential bridge and vassal population between the Human Race and Witch Clan. 42 |
Cultivation and Merit
Cultivation in the Primordial World depends on comprehension, innate foundation, resources, Dharma treasures, and merit. Major methods include qi refinement, body tempering, law comprehension, Three Corpses Severance, and merit-based Dao proving. 9 10 11 29 34
Known Paths to Higher Realms
- Force-Proving Dao — A path based on overwhelming personal strength and law comprehension; Hongjun identifies it as the strongest path, though it is exceptionally difficult. 10
- Three Corpses Severance — A path using Dharma treasures to sever the good, evil, and obsessive corpses; its apparent route to Sainthood is questioned by Tongtian. 11 16
- Merit-Proving Dao — A path in which immense merit supports Sainthood, used by Nuwa, Laozi, Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti. 23 29
- Primordial Dao — A law-based path pursued by Tongtian and Lu Chen. Its strength depends on the cultivator’s comprehension and the number of Dao principles they can integrate. 29
Law-based cultivators can advance through the Primordial Unity hierarchy, also called Grand Primordial Luo. This realm is divided into Nine Heavens, with the Dao Realm or Limitless Primordial Unity lying beyond it. 70
The path of Three Corpses Severance is easier to enter than law-based cultivation, but it depends on correctly uniting the severed corpses. The use of incompatible Dharma treasures can prevent their reunion and permanently obstruct further advancement. 16 134
Merit
Merit is granted for world-shaping deeds, including creating Humanity, establishing Martial Dao, restoring damaged land, and creating reincarnation. It can accelerate cultivation, strengthen treasures, and alter the fortune of individuals, races, and sects. 20 23 25 29 44
Merit and Fortune also provide defenses against the Investiture List’s Calamity Qi. When the calamity begins, Jie Sect disciples use their accumulated Merit and Fortune to cleanse their Spirit Platforms and avoid its corrupting influence. 115
Calamity Qi
Calamity Qi emerges when the Investiture List activates and spreads invisibly through Heaven and Earth. It can cloud Spirit Platforms, destabilize cultivators, worsen existing karmic burdens, and even cause a major regression in cultivation, as demonstrated by Guangchengzi’s fall from Great Luo to Taiyi. 115 116
The current Investiture struggle is formally constrained by the Pact of the Four Religions, under which sect leaders may not interfere directly. Violating the pact requires a Sage to sever their Sagehood or Tongtian to sever his Primordial Unity Dao Fruit. 135
Humanity and Human Dao
Humanity begins as three thousand clay people created by Nuwa. Though physically weak and initially threatened by demon beasts, the race develops rapidly under the protection of Nuwa and Lu Chen. 22 24
Lu Chen provides the conceptual foundation for a Human Race-specific Martial Dao, while Gu Chen becomes the first successful practitioner and is recognized as the Martial Progenitor and Martial Ancestor. 25 26
The established Martial Dao includes:
- Fleshly Secret Realm
- Body Tempering
- Bone Tempering
- Blood Refining
- Marrow Cleansing
- Aperture Opening
- Heaven-Seizing Secret Realm
- Divine Ability Secret Realm
- Mystic Illumination Realm
The initial system reaches the Great Luo realm and is intended to be expanded by Humanity itself rather than remain dependent on external teachers. 26
The Martial Ancestor, later rendered as Chu Chen, opens the Mystic Illumination Realm beyond Divine Ability. This grants Human Race martial artists a path corresponding to the Quasi-Saint realm and greatly increases Human Race Fortune. 53 60
The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors transform Humanity from a rapidly growing race into the central political power of the Primordial World. Fuxi becomes the Heavenly Sovereign, Xuanyuan becomes the third Human Sovereign after unifying the tribes, and the later sovereign and emperor era concludes with Yu the Great’s reign and the establishment of Xia. 68 84 89
The Kongtong Seal is the chief symbol of Human Sovereign authority. After Xuanyuan’s investiture, Lu Chen returns it to the Human Race and declares that it will remain with the Human Sovereigns so long as Human Fortune survives. 84
During the Investiture of the Gods, the Shang Dynasty becomes Humanity’s principal political power. Its alliance with the Jie Sect is recognized by Human Dao, while Xiqi seeks to use claims of Heaven’s Mandate to replace Shang with Zhou. 137 138 139
Divergence from the Greater Course
The Primordial World’s expected future has repeatedly changed through the actions of Lu Chen, Tongtian, Nuwa, Houtu, and other major figures.
- Hong Yun gives the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi to Lu Chen, avoiding the calamity that would have followed his continued possession of it. 16
- Hong Yun and Kunpeng do not become enemies, and the expected assault on Wuzhuang Temple does not occur. 22
- Tongtian confronts Zhunti and Jieyin early, forces them to swear a Heavenly Dao oath, and follows the Sword Dao rather than the conventional path expected of him. 17 22 29
- The Witch and Demon Clans do not perish together. The Witch Clan wins their major conflict, while the Demon Race survives in the starry sky. 40 41
- Buzhou Mountain remains intact, and the Witch Clan withdraws strategically rather than being destroyed in the Witch-Demon Calamity. 46
- Nuwa’s visions of the future become unreliable as the world’s established destiny diverges from the anticipated greater course. 41
- Haotian and Yaochi, rather than a disciple of one of the Sages, become the restored Heavenly Court’s Emperor and Empress. The Jie Sect then occupies many of the court’s offices without surrendering authority to Haotian. 51 53
- Lu Chen claims the Three Immortal Islands before other great powers can acquire them and accepts the Six-Eared Macaque despite Hongjun’s decree that Dharma must not be passed to “Six Ears.” 48 52
- Human Martial Dao develops beyond its original Great Luo limit when the Martial Ancestor opens Mystic Illumination, allowing Humanity to produce fighters with Quasi-Saint-level battle power. 53 60
- The Human Race’s sovereign era ends in hereditary monarchy under Xia rather than preserving the abdication system indefinitely. 89
- Jiang Ziya remains an official of Shang rather than departing for Xiqi, as Dixin does not become a tyrant and Daji does not destabilize the dynasty. 137 138
- Shang gains the Jie Sect as its Protector Sect, while Xiqi’s apparent mandate to replace Shang is strengthened through manipulation of Fortune by Nuwa and Hongjun. 137 138
- Lu Chen’s hidden strength is exposed during the Investiture conflict. His advancement to Grand Primordial Luo and the emergence of the Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase as a fifth Primordial Supreme Treasure substantially alter the balance between the Jie Sect, the Sages, and the Demon Race. 147