Chapter 42: Emerging world
Pangu's resolute stare pierced through the formidable ranks of encircling demon gods, their unyielding might pressing relentlessly.
Undeterred, Pangu paid them no mind, his hands firmly gripping the axe, channeling every ounce of his strength into a resounding strike that cleaved through the chaotic realm.
A magnificent and burgeoning realm materialized before his very eyes. However, consumed by bitter resentment over Pangu's apathy, the Chaos Demon Gods emitted bone-chilling screams as they unleashed their sacred relics and ancient techniques, determined to make their mark on this nascent world.
With a grand and sweeping gesture, Pangu brandished the celestial axe, its resplendent brilliance cutting through the infinite tumult of chaos. In a breathtaking instant, the indomitable Chaos Demon Gods were obliterated, their formidable figures reduced to ethereal energy cascading into the realm. Yet, a few remnants of their essence, though corporeal, succumbed to the untamed wilderness, leaving behind faint traces of their existence.
In an instant, Pangu's gaze fixated upon a peculiar hollow willow tree that stood in his path. A curious glimmer ignited in his eyes, accompanied by a blend of familiarity and compassion. With a voice that carried both recognition and mercy, he proclaimed, "On this day, I shall grant you clemency, for you bear resemblance to my beloved mother and share a common origin."
As the energy from Pangu's axe began to wane, the hollow willow tree exhaled a sigh of relief, swiftly traversing through the vast expanse of space. While its chaotic form had been diminished, its core remained resilient and intact, perhaps bearing fewer scars than the other vanquished demon gods.
"Kill!" exclaimed the self-proclaimed supreme demon god, rallying his magical might in a futile attempt to assail Pangu. Yet, with a cold, disdainful glance, Pangu unleashed a colossal palm that enveloped the sky, obliterating the Time Demon God with a resounding snap. The laws that governed his being transmuted into nourishment for the nascent world.
Jiang Ping, astonished by Pangu's swift actions, contemplated the genesis of the unfolding events. "So," he mused, "the chaotic green lotus and the hollow willow tree once thrived in a modest pond, fostering a subtle affinity between them. It is no wonder Pangu allowed the willow to escape"
Jiang Ping's realization struck him: the willow was the sole remaining Chaos Demon God, grievously wounded and fleeing deep into the recesses of Chaos to mend his injuries.
Having vanquished the Chaos Demon Gods with a single stroke of his axe, Pangu beheld the newborn world veiled in indistinguishable turbidity, where earth, water, wind, and fire remained trapped in an incomprehensible state of chaos.
Releasing his grip, the sky-opening axe transformed into three magnificent artifacts. The blade of the axe morphed into the Pangu banner, the axe head transmuted into the chaotic clock, and the axe handle shape-shifted into the Tai Chi diagram.
With a commanding sweep of the Pangu banner, the Lord initiated the wondrous genesis of the world. From the depths of his divine essence emerged earth, water, fire, and wind, cascading forth to shape a realm vast and unbounded. As the majestic tapestry unfurled, a resplendent bridge materialized—a golden conduit in the form of the Tai Chi diagram. Its sacred purpose unveiled, it embarked upon a celestial mission to purify the muddied waters, instill tranquil grace within the elements, and suffuse the burgeoning world with the sublime embrace of harmonious energies.
As the chaotic bell tolled, time and space succumbed to primordial suppression, fortifying the prehistoric world. Observing the heavens and earth drawing closer together, the Great God Pangu strode toward the heart of the burgeoning realm.
Beneath the expansive azure sky, his feet firmly planted on the ground, Pangu stood tall, his colossal form bridging the chasm between sky and earth. His hands bore the weight of the entire cosmos. Each passing day, the sky reached new heights, the ground thickened by ten feet, and fresh air ascended while murky air descended.
With every sunrise, Pangu himself grew in stature. Countless years passed until the sky could stretch no higher, nor could the ground sink any deeper.
Pangu, in his towering form, became an awe-inspiring pillar, upholding the heavens and the earth.
Yet weariness crept upon Pangu as he surveyed the boundless new world, sensing an essential element missing. With a faint smile gracing his face, he suddenly exploded into a burst of energy, his essence merging with all creation, departing the mortal plane forever.
His left eye transformed into the sun, his right eye became the moon, and his spine birthed the celestial vault. Pangu's immeasurable merit bestowed upon him the greatest honor, with Nuwa, in future generations, mending the fragmented sky and forging humanity.
Perceived by the Dao, the boundless energy of black and yellow impermanents descended, leaving Pangu's primordial spirit lingering, embodying a trace of his former self. The remnants of his merit gradually condensed into a nine-tiered Xuanhuang Linglong pagoda, spanning the heavens and the earth.
Initially towering tens of thousands of feet, the pagoda swiftly condensed into a modest one-foot structure before ascending alongside the greatest soul.
A resounding boom reverberated through the boundless prehistoric world, marking its complete formation. The heavens and the earth stood firm, resisting the encroaching chaos from outside. Simultaneously, the world barriers absorbed the chaotic currents, fortifying the realm itself.
In the wake of the cataclysmic event, life stirred in the aftermath. Although Pangu remained unaware of the minute creatures, traces of life emerged in the form of earthworms or tiny insects.
In this moment, Pangu transformed into all things, and the jade plate above his head began to shatter. As the dying earthworms desperately crawled towards the jade plate, it morphed into a streak of light, soaring into the distance along with them. The jade plate, inscribed with three thousand laws, possessed no offensive or defensive power; it was merely a potent cultivation aid that had existed since Pangu's birth. Jiang Ping observed the fractured jade plate, his expression unchanged, his thoughts elusive.
The colossal chaotic green lotus fulfilled its purpose, following in Pangu's footsteps, dissolving into countless fragments that dispersed into the prehistoric world. Among them, four seeds stood out: blood-red, white, golden, and pitch-black.
In the wake of such a momentous event, where the world undergoes a profound transformation, numerous myths and legends would emerge, along with a multitude of living beings.
"Huh~" Jiang Ping exhaled deeply, witnessing the resurgence of life. As a proud descendant of China, he had grown up immersed in tales of Pangu. Now, with the myth unfolding before his eyes, he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming surge of excitement. Suppressing his turbulent emotions, Jiang Ping swiftly turned to Genesis, eager to see the world transform before his eyes.
On the third page, in the chaos era of the prehistoric calendar:
Pangu, the sovereign of chaos, was born, wielding the sky-opening axe to forge the world, ushering in the birth of the prehistoric realm.
In the cataclysmic clash where three thousand Chaos Demon Gods fell, Pangu, the primordial deity, yearned for his cherished home. Amidst the chaos, he witnessed the Space Demon God, a formidable adversary, raise his brow in defiance before retreating, wounded but alive. Pangu, driven by an inexplicable sense of familiarity, chose to spare this enigmatic entity, thus becoming the sole surviving Chaos Demon God.
The earthworm, its body battered and wounded, desperately sought refuge amidst the chaos that enveloped the world. Fearing further harm, it sought solace on the shattered jade plate, concealed in a secret location known only to a select few within the realm.
Pangu, the mighty guardian of heavens and earth, valiantly upheld the cosmic realms. Yet, as his mortal form succumbed to the ravages of time, his essence dispersed into the very fabric of existence, transforming into the diverse creatures that roam the untamed wilderness. Through Pangu's act of separating Hongmeng, the primordial chaos, the fundamental division between clarity and turbidity came into being, shaping the world in its wake.
The end of the Chaos Era!
"The prehistoric world has emerged," Jiang Ping smiled as he gazed upon the vast supercontinent.
This world was significantly larger than its predecessor, boasting a true sky and vast earth.
Beyond the prehistoric realm, where time loses its grip and the boundaries of existence blur, the boundless chaos stretches infinitely. Its all-encompassing influence permeates every corner of the cosmos, unrestricted and unrestrained. However, with the birth of the prehistoric world, a beacon of order and structure emerges, marking a boundary where the chaotic forces are tamed, and the limitless expanse finds its limits.
Having barely recovered 100 points following the devastating catastrophe, Jiang Ping found himself with a meager reserve. The origin points, a truly precious resource, had been the cornerstone of his efforts to establish the world. Yet, with such a small remaining balance, Jiang Ping's mind raced with possibilities, and a daring idea began to take shape.
"Nothing is more tedious than knowing the ending of a story," Jiang Ping mused.
If simply following the myth would be monotonous, he would tire of it in no time. Not to mention, various adaptations of Jin Yong's works often altered the plot to prevent the audience from growing weary.
"Genesis, what do you think will happen if earthlings were to enter this small world?" Jiang Ping inquired.
"Such beings lack your authority and cannot interact with or perceive the small world," Genesis replied.
"Is that so?"
Though prepared for this response, Jiang Ping couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment.
"But if it's merely their soul consciousness, consuming origin points can still make it possible," Genesis added, offering a glimmer of hope.
Jiang Ping's eyes gleamed with excitement; indeed, the origin points held immense power!
However, the consumption required was significant. He hurriedly asked, "What can I gain if earthly beings cultivate in the small world?"
"Since they exist within the same dimension as you," Genesis continued, its voice filled with wisdom, "the energy feedback ratio far exceeds that of other inhabitants of the small world."
Jiang Ping's eyes brightened; his plan was coming together!
With determination burning in his eyes, Jiang Ping knew that the time had come to consume the remaining origin points. It was a pivotal moment that would unleash his true potential and solidify the connection between the two worlds. His goal was clear: to establish a passage that would bridge the realms and enlist the aid of Earthlings to build a truly magnificent realm.