The Primitive World had become a sea of realms.
The great landmass remaining at the top along with an uncountable amount of worlds below. Not a lot of time had passed since this shape took form. In fact, it was still in the process of transforming.
Hongjun's seminar did little to halt the chaos going on in this time of change. Very few places were even safe from skirmishes broken out by rogue factions vying for territory.
Among the few places completely tranquil was an enormous realm within the sea of countless world. This world was unlike any other as it had no visible landmass. It was not a flat disc, but a spherical orb of water.
In front of this realm, Yuanshi stepped out of a tear in reality wearing a determined face. He could feel the air around him still and knew that this world's occupants knew he had arrived.
He was unwelcome however, if the chilling environment was anything to go by. Distant roars filled with strong emotion, not quite malice but definitely a warning.
This was the new home of the dragons as a race. A world that was purely sea.
In the immediate aftermath of Hongjun's ascension, Yinglong took advantage of the three thousand years of quiet to draw up a tremendous amount of seawater that had spewed out of the Great Wilderness. Harnessing his power as a Chaos Immortal, he along with all remaining dragon elders constructed a great realm that would act as the new ancestral lands of his race.
In the old Great Wilderness' East Sea, Kailong Chen still existed as a shadow of its former self now ruled by Qiu Niu. But the vast majority of dragons have evacuated here.
"I Yuanshi of Kunlun's Three Pure Ones request and audience," Yuanshi announced. He was freshly back from Hongjun's seminar and a short race at Treasure Sealing Cliff. Neither of his siblings were anywhere in sight.
A second roar echoed throughout the void, this time far stronger. Several presences denoting Primal Origin Chaos Immortals could be felt now. Yuanshi also felt several gazes belonging to surviving Primal Zenith Chaos Immortal dragons.
"I merely wish to ask some questions to great Yinglong, I have always respected the Primordial Celestial Dragons. I wish for guidance from your patriarch and king."
Grumbling sounds could be heard as dragons began discussing with one another. Strictly speaking, based on the principle that he was Hongjun's disciple now he would be kicked out without asking.
However, Hongjun was now the peak authority that no one could challenge less they be overtaken by madness. But the pride of ancient dragons warred heavily against this fact.
"Let the young man in," an old withered voice said.
More grumbles were heard by the innate god, but he could feel massive bodies moving through the water, hidden beneath dark waves. Then a gargantuan ten kilometre long dragon burst out of the sea world and transformed into the form of a young man.
"I am Ao Yuanzi. I will escort you"
"Okay."
Yuanshi descended along with the dragon into the sea world with the latter disinterested in speaking anymore to him. It was sad to Yuanshi, how much their relationship frosted over just as it seemed like it'll recover. He'd grown to admire their skills as artificers, architects, warriors, and administrators during his stays across the dragon palaces.
The world around Yuanshi grew darker and darker as they penetrated deep into the sea. Unlike the East Sea, there was no sea floor here. Just endless dark ocean held together by dragonic power. There was no star to illuminate this world either, areas were only lit by the will of their dragonic occupants.
Across various spaces, Yuanshi could see private abodes in unfinished states. Some were legitimate buildings while others were rock formations mimicking caves. But there was no longer any expansive cities with ornate decorations. He'd also noticed very few seafolk present either.
He knew many clans had taken this opportunity to break away from the dragons who had so much of their vitality erased. But he did notice hundreds of small worlds in the vicinity of this dragon world that likely acted as homes for their vassals. He made no comment on it less unnecessary conflicts were ignited.
"His majesty is up ahead," his guide said pointing a finger at a dark abyss where nothing was visible.
Yuanshi had to reach out extensively with his senses to pierce through the veil obscuring his destination. A little island was all he saw. Not an ornate palace of extravagance or even a wealthy mansion. But an seemingly uninhabited island where a tree grew atop a meadow.
The only occupant was a winged dragon resting along a series of mountains. His yellow scales appeared dull from Yuanshi's vision, his wings folded neatly alongside his body. Both his eyes remained close while his whiskers fluttered in currents.
"I have arrived," Yuanshi said as he touched down before Yinglong's head. He gave a respectful salute to the elder dragon who was obviously still suffering from wounds. The great power of a Primal Zenith Chaos Immortal was extremely restrained compared to his own.
"I greet senior Yinglong."
"Why have you come Yuanshi."
The eyes of Da Hai's second disciple opened to stare through Yuanshi's whole being. The innate god did not back down nor was he ever nervous in the first place. He showed Yinglong respect of a junior greeting and elder. But if the two were the really battle right now, Yinglong would probably lose.
"I'm sure you are aware of Hongjun's lecture on the Dao."
"How could I not? It caused quite a commotion. Heh, I should congratulate you as well for finding yourself the disciple of a Dao realm supreme being."
"You know? I did not know news traveled so fast."
"Six lights lit up on top of Zixiao Palace and your names were on it. It's not hard to calculate what happened. Especially not when the first thing to blabber out of the seafolk leaders who attended were of you lot."
"Then you are already aware of what he taught?"
"Hardly, they went into seclusion to 'digest their gains' as soon as they returned. Those same people are already traitors in the making. They want to defect now that my clan is banished from the wider world," Yinglong said in lamentation.
"Hongjun is now the true king of this Primitive World. Even exalted Chaos Immortals desire to curry favour with him while we the old powers are left forgotten. So colour me surprised when you decide to show up here. Do you seek your own master's ire?"
No dragon had attended Hongjun's lecture, and very few among the seafolk were among the three thousand guests.
Yuanshi sat down cross legged. "I am not afraid. I simply want to know because things Hong…my master said don't quite add up with the knowledge I've garnered until now."
Yuanshi began explaining what happened in the seminar. He spoke of all the wonderful things Hongjun had said word for word. Even without Hongjun personally speaking, and through Yuanshi's mouth instead of a Dao realm being's instead, Yinglong could feel profound guidance within them.
Yet when Yuanshi began speaking on the nature of existence including both the Primitive World and the Chaos Sea, their ties to Grand and Heavenly Dao and cultivation that Yinglong openly frowned.
This culminated when Yinglong interrupted Yuanshi mid speech with a bizarre tone.
"What are you talking about?"
"That's what I want to know. I have never experienced the Chaos Sea, nor am I knowledgable about this Grand Dao. I do not understand the cultivation path beyond Primal Zenith because that information was never public outside of known existence of Limitless Supreme Chaos Immortals.
"But in my time working with your master senior Oceanic Suppression Heavenly Lord Da Hai in the Netherworld, I overheard ramblings from him as well. So please tell me, who is right and who is wrong?"
Yinglong sighed but looked around unsure. He craned his neck upwards but opted to shake his head. At the end of the day, his duty was to his people that his older brother entrusted him with. He cannot afford to draw the Heavenly Dao's ire if it came to light what was being discussed here.
But the things Yuanshi had repeated back to him was so nonsensical that he couldn't believe why anyone would acknowledge it. Yet at the same time, he understood his education was far superior then the vast majority of the Primitive World's inhabitants.
"Your silence is telling," Yuanshi said. "Though to be honest, if either my master or the Heavenly Dao was scrutinising our actions here? I wager we'd both be dead."
"This new system is a strange one," Yinglong finally said. "Theoretically, unlike the system we've all been using now, this Saint to Be realm will be a lot more consistent in what its inhabitants can accomplish. Under this preset path, there's little room for variance in power ranking."
Then Yinglong starred right into Yuanshi. "However, cultivating fully the Dao laws of this world to reach Saint to Be. Cutting out three corpses and transforming into a creature of heaven. Is that not surrendering oneself to the Heavenly Dao completely?"
The ancient dragon became troubled. The future of the dragons and their vassals within the Primitive World became extremely troubling. Strictly speaking, what dragons, both pure blood and ascended cultivated was a variation of the path that Ancestor Tai Chu established.
The Dragonic Dao's version of foundation establishment was not to become an immortal, but a serpentine dragon. That was why every cultivator belonging to Zulong who chose to use his Dragonic Dao gradually became dragons. It served as a means of control for the former sovereign as well as it converted someone of a different race to a dragon.
"You have given me much to think about," Yinglong finally said. "I appreciate you coming to inform me, especially at the risk you've placed upon yourself. You are…a friend to us dragons."
"I would always hold your race in respect. But I came here to confirm my own suspicions. Not to your benefit senior," Yuanshi retorted.
"Nevertheless, you have done me a service. If you are willing, I will establish a means of communication with you."
Yet before both could continue speaking, the ocean around them shook.
It was not an attack, nor a natural disaster. It was in actuality, a major announcement to all the denizens of he Primitive World.
It had not even taken place in this world of ocean. Rather, Hongjun manifested a gargantuan incarnation above the skies of what remained of the Great Wilderness.
…
In the heartlands of the ruins of My Buzhou, a temple formed from Pangu's heart was downed in an air of depression.
Thousands of years ago, the great Earthly Divinities rose out from their birthplace to join the enormous war plaguing the Primitive World. Now, it is a haunting retreat for what remained of this race of gods.
Their leaders, those ancestors still alive all sat in their thrones in a depressive state. Di Jiang, his flabby body looking ill instead of strong. Nothing about him exuded the great aura of the eldest, most powerful, and leader of this race of gods.
Of them, only four of his siblings remained. Zhurong of fire, Gonggong of water, Rushou of metal, Jumang of wood. The rest had all perished.
"Brother, we can't stay silent forever." Of all of them, Zhurong was the one badgering Di Jiang. His fiery appearance smouldered after the final battle of the war, but a anger remained hidden in his gaze towards Di Jiang.
"How long are you going to lament the fall of our family. Our people is still waiting on what to do. Are we going to reclaim father god's land? Are we going to do anything?"
"Enough Zhurong, that's the eighth hundred time you've said this," Jumang chastized. "Let Big Brother grieve."
"Three thousand years Jumang. I see those ungrateful innate creatures fighting over themselves once again just nine million kilometres to our east. Over a fucking pond of all things!"
The raging fire god glared around at his siblings. "Gonggong you agree with me right? We're the true blooded sons of father god Pangu, we should be protecting this land like we did when those devils attacked. Instead we sit here doing nothing for thousands of years."
The water god couldn't help but nod. "That saint Hongjun should be doing his lecture on Dao right now. Those people that're attending, they're bound to grow even stronger."
"That's right, eventually a new Luohu might emerge from them. Not to say anything bad about our friends the dragons or phoenixes, but before our time they also warred against each other destroying father god's creation."
Jumang sighed. "And when we joined the fight outside, more then half our family died."
"Big brother, no matter what a decision has to be made. You're the head of our family? Speak, what are we to do?" Rushou called towards their brother and king.
But Di Jiang only sat, still in a depressive state. In his mind, he had been the greatest failure of all. It was after all, under his watch that such a tragedy befell his family. Unseen by his remaining brothers, he'd been completely broken.
None of these great divinities went to listen to Hongjun. This was because even if they made the arduous journey, it'll be pointless. They lacked Nascent Souls, hence they lacked awareness to greater undefined concepts.
They could not comprehend the Dao like cultivators could. Their powers stemmed purely from their bloodline, immense strength from their physiques and natural ability to command forces of nature.
But all of them were keenly aware that those who went to listen, no matter their background would reap enormous benefits. What this could mean for both them and the world they loved so much yet had to watch as it shattered, was a topic for concern.
"Di Jiang?"
The great god of chaos bent his body, as if bowing a missing head. His wings lay scattered aside his throne, just like his skin appearing melted on said throne. It was a pathetic sight.
"Brothers," he finally said after a long period of silence. "What's the point of you all asking me?"
"What?"
"I am a failure of a leader. I failed to notice Houtu's distress. I allowed our family to lose their lives against that monster. I couldn't do anything to save any of them. That monkey may've had a point, I was stupid."
"That's not…"
"Enough. I…I am unworthy of being leader of us Earthly Divinities."
Di Jiang rose to face his brothers. All that was written on him were emotions of deep despair.
But then the world shook as a gargantuan figure appeared above them. Hongjun in his saintly majesty appeared far above the Great Wilderness.
His grand presence drowned out everything, leaving only silence among the Ancestral Divinities. His arm spread open in a welcoming manner, but it was not directed at them. Hongjun's presence was never aimed at them in the first place, rather all of existence.
"My seminar after three thousand years intermediate have ended. Today marks the final end of this saga. This era of primordial heaven has ended, let us all usher in the new era. No more dragons, no more phoenixes, no more devils, no more godfiends."
"Today, I declare the rise of the Three Realms!"