The seasons turned, and a splendid new chapter unfolded with each passing day.
Around New Year's Day, the energies of the old and the new filled the air.
Inside the Fire Chamber, Xuanming raised his hand, light blossoming in his palm. The laws of yin and yang, spacetime, water and fire, life and death, Supreme Polarity, and others entered the Heaven and Earth Furnace, fusing with the various two-principles materials.
The Daoist Taishang likewise raised his hand, the two principles circulating.
"Merge!"
Xuanming's deep shout rang out.
Inside the Heaven and Earth Furnace, the two-principles laws and spiritual materials converged, undergoing their initial transformation into a Taiji Diagram.
The Daoist Taishang stepped into the Heaven and Earth Furnace and appeared within the Taiji Diagram, using his divine abilities to harmonize Supreme Polarity's yin and yang.
The Great Emperor of Antarctic Longevity and the northern polar Great Emperor Ziwei each transformed into a streak of starlight and flowed into it, helping the Daoist Taishang regulate the two principles and illuminate the stars at the northern and southern poles.
The Emperor Gouchen strode into the Taiji Diagram with his head held high, the power of the three powers radiating from him.
The three powers returned to origin, helping yin and yang return to origin; the Five Directional Elders likewise brought the five phases back to origin, driving yin and yang's return.
The gods joined forces to refine the treasure.
After New Year's Day, the Five Directional Elders left.
The assault on the Netherworld was imminent. Xuanming needed to prepare, and so did they, strengthening their cultivation, sharpening their weapons, and feeding their horses for war.
During their journey through the Starry Sky, the later-born members of the Five Directional Elders had obtained stellar authority and attained the fruition of Great Gods. Though