In a burst of brilliant light, three titanic figures suddenly appeared in the outskirts of the Three Realms. Three enormous transcendent presences that dwarfed anything a Chaos Immortal could imagine. Just the sight of them could potentially drive someone mad.
It was only due to the egg like shell of the Heavenly Dao, that no one inside the Three Realms detected the arrival of three supreme beings. If they had, extreme panic would occur.
The first presence emerged as a spinning spherical ring with ten smaller rings attached to it. Ten figures could be observed within each ring, though only one appeared more intangible then the rest. The second presence first presented itself as a trident before an eye with three lines extending from each side opened below it.
The last presence felt far more archaic but less flashy. Instead, a primordial joyful planet where everyone lived in simple harmony sung praises to those most high appeared. Yet as all three abstract like images manifested, soon humanoid shapes emerged from all three.
Vishnu, Shiva, and Yuanling simultaneously made their presences known. Not a single mark of battle was on them.
Of the three, Shiva stepped forward first. In one of his hands was a long trident facing away from the shell. He extended a finger and leaned forward to press the barrier. His intentions were clear, he wished to remove it.
"I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to stop fellow daoists," an elderly voice suddenly called out towards them. One of equal, if not even superior magnitude.
It felt explosive, sharp, like it was easily capable of tearing all things in two. Yet it was also captivating in its ability to create from out of that fierce rending. That single line detached singular to double. From there, an orderly sight manifested not far from the trio.
Purple clouds surged forth and harmonious hymns of the Dao preached to all their ears. Three clouds containing humanoid figures seemed to have emerged from a harmonious core, one that appeared pure, one that appeared wicked, and one that appeared ill. Yet something appeared wrong about them as there was a distinctly foreignness to their make up. Almost like it was a result of replication rather then origination.
However, they just as quickly disappeared when Hongjun fully manifested his true body. His titanic weight bore down the Chaos Sea all around with a cataclysmic might. Chaos Worlds would've been extinguished all around him if the Heavenly Dao had not cleared up the neighbouring space years prior leaving only empty patches of nothingness. It had to sell a story after all.
But Hongjun's aura was no less impressive then the three supreme beings who had arrived. An equally as omnipotent celestial being who couldn't even be defined as merely alive anymore. As transcendent beings, such a meeting between them was a once in all existence.
"Impressive," Yuanling made an idling comment only for Vishnu to shake his head.
"You are…Old Ancestor Hongjun from Da Hai's memories," Shiva said. "You have reached Brahman?"
Without Da Hai being present, Shiva felt no need to use his local term for the utmost highest realm of cultivation achievable. What Da Hai, the other godfiends, and their descendants in the Three Realms referred to as the Dao realm. Shiva, Vishnu, and their creations int he Fourteen Realms called the Brahman realm.
"Many things have changed. Though I am a junior in age, I am a fellow daoist to you all," Hongjun said with much dignity. His presence did not lose even a single inch compared to the others. Yet his unfamiliarity to this level was also clearly noticeable for those experienced.
Vishnu stepped forwards with an analytical gaze. He folded his arms behind his back and chuckled.
"What a surprise, when I felt you I mistook you for Pangu. But who would've guessed a little godfiend took his seat. What an insult." The great god made a mocking, 'tsk tsk' sound. If it offended Hongjun, he did not show it.
Among all the methods to cultivate power, to reach the final realm was to understand where everything originated. No matter what name was applied to it, this was an absolute truth. Yet Hongjun broke through using someone else's knowledge. For someone who worked from scratch to reach that level, this'll be an insult of the highest order.
"You being here means something must've happened to Da Hai, Wangshu, and the rest." Shiva took a sideways glare at Yuanling. "Do you understand what your actions have costed?"
"In heaven and earth, all living beings try their best to survive, desperately looking for the best opportunities. I simply worked with what I was given," Hongjun said in defence. Despite no walkable ground being present, he took a cross legged seating position.
"Now then fellow daoists. Though I would love to establish a Dao debate with you all, I should reiterate that you are all unwelcomed here."
Temperature dropped as a monstrously destructive aura exploded. Shiva's grip on his trident tightened as all three eyes turned dangerously cold. What this deity was feeling was indescribable rage born from loss. All his efforts for so long had turned out nothing.
The things he dearly wanted to salvage would be gone after all. Looking at Hongjun, in this small moments of time, he divined with all his power what had happened. Hongjun merely smiled realising what Shiva was attempting.
He could not see everything in the end. Something was undeniably blocking him with unexpected might. But he had broken through and sat upon this omnipotent seat for far too long. Even if he were to meet resistance, he can muscle through.
Under Vishnu and Yuanling's expected gaze, he still failed to get a full picture. But he could make guesses based on some ideas. The toxic air permeating the few images he glimpsed were clear signs of a tribulation event. But this was far more then anything he'd seen before.
An event where numerous Primal Zenith Chaos Immortals lost their lives. Or in their own terms, Atimaharathi warriors. At his peak, Da Hai was at the same level as their avatars, in other words a Mahamaharathi warrior yet even he had perished. It was infuriating.
"I will reclaim that which you took from Pangu," Shiva announced. His arms swung in the air into the beginnings of a dancing position. Seeing this, Vishnu stepped forwards as well.
"The birth of another Ultimate One is a joyous occasion," Yuanling said in his own terms. "It's a pity for you all to go to war so soon."
"I am fine with fighting you too."
"No no I've had my fun for the day. I am merely an observer of you youngsters."
Hongjun remained unbothered by the ongoing however. Yuanling didn't seem to want to make him trouble but he was fine with that. He had a feeling that old spirit would be the hardest to deal with.
"If none of you truly wish to leave me alone as requested? Very well then."
"Don't make me laugh Hongjun, I can see your inability to fully control what isn't yours from here." The trident of shiva swung through the air emanating with universe ending power.
Even before they moved, with their just their words alone, these people generated more power then the totality of all the fighting of the anti-devil war. Combined. Such was the insurmountable gap that exists between the Dao realm and the rest of reality.
From the very beginning, Hongjun was at a disadvantage. He was not only new to the realm, he was also using a Dao that fundamentally did not belong to him. He could display his might with no one knowing the wiser, but to fellows of the same dimension of power? If it was Pangu here it'll be a vastly different story.
So why did Hongjun hold so much confidence? He was not a stupid man. He can identify the level of opponents he was about to face. Rather, it was not in himself that he held absolute confidence.
As the two beings approached, an enormous pressure encroached on their being. Both Vishnu and Shiva grew alarmed. This wasn't just any other powerful opponent manifesting themselves, but something else entirely.
As a being at the apex, they belonged to the same dimension as the thing which the godfiends referred to as Grand Dao, and they the Brahman. Whatever name it used, it was the source of all things and the supreme principle that governed all existence.
When one reaches the most omnipotent realm of cultivation of Dao, they reach the same dimension as that thing. They too become a source where all things can originate or return to. This was why these cultivators were transcendent, they didn't even belong in the same dimension as third order celestial lifeforms. Hence, from a Chaos Immortal's perspective, these Dao realm beings cannot be perceived as anything but omnipotent.
Yet this did not make them equal in any way, shape, or form. Yes, they were fellows in the same dimension of existence, but it was like the comparison between an ant and an elephant. Both were third dimensional but no one would be delusional enough to think an ant can take an elephant in a head on fight.
In the power hierarchy of all existence, a mere world will, which was what Heavenly Dao's were, were never in the discussion. But here? In Pangu's legacy something changed.
Hongjun closed his eyes drifting back. Swirling divine clouds erupted from the barrier containing the Three Realms and it's immediate Chaos Sea, and into the shape of a featureless giant. Everything about it was immense, celestial, and beautiful.
Yet there was always a distinct ugliness to it stemming from its core.
Shiva understood this to be the Heavenly Dao. He'd glimpsed it from Da Hai before but that was nothing to the thing that appeared now.
"A world will of such magnitude, this'll be tricky," Vishnu said from beside him. Shiva could only nod. The pressure had turned against them now unexpectedly. This Heavenly Dao had enough power to suppress even them, and combined with Hongjun who was in the same weight class?
"Didn't I warn you too?" Yuanling chastized.
"You knew? Were you involved?"
"Hardly, predicting fellow daoists are beyond me. Though…" Yuanling looked through the great Chaos Sea towards you. "Never mind."
The Heavenly Dao did the equivalent of a growl. That single gesture generated tribulation lighting and celestial winds. In the distance, small Chaos Worlds could not handle the pressure and instantly erupted. Such was the difference between the Three Realms and a normal Chaos World. Who knew how many countless quintillions lost their lives just now.
"We do not desire trouble," Hongjun said. "We are ultimately an unrelated party to you. But if you two insist on staying, be prepared to make that stay permanent."
It was audacious, but reasonable words. Shiva turned grim, at this point in time a major battle like this can easily injure him. Then he would inadvertently trap Vishnu as well. Their plans were made together and would only succeed if they were both ready.
Neither Hongjun nor this Heavenly Dao were related to the great calamity that they divined which would befell all existence some time in the future. The last time such a thing was predicted, the One World blew up.
What's more, them brothers have existed in this realm for eons already.
"How unfortunate, it would seem fortune was not on anyone's side." Yuanling unbothered by the tension mused to himself. The only two to successfully ascend to the Dao realm since the One World were these two. Hongjun cannot truly be counted as one either.
Between him and the Heavenly Dao, who was truly the Dao realm ancestor here? Yuanling had an inkling as to Hongjun's plans were as he surely cannot be pleased. For a Dao realm being, the next step forward was to break the Supreme Boundary and exist existence. That was where D̷͚̉r̸͎̙̦͛͆̕e̵̝͂̒a̴̯̹̽͠m̸̱̣̞͌͊̀ẃ̴̧͜ả̴̳̞͐l̷̼͎̗̈́k̸̫̜̱͗e̶̯̼͗̂r̸̭̝͉̽̂̓ had gone before everything.
In the vast Chaos Sea, only a single existence had enough energy to break that barrier in any given time. Afterwards was a long waiting game until the qualifications became available again. But these two, Shiva and Vishnu found a way to get around that. They were born from the same source, meaning they shared the same origin.
Hence they qualified as a single existence if they combined. That perfect merger could transcend easily on its own. It was ingenious and meant they did not need to compete with each other. But it also meant they were tied to each other.
Hongjun could theoretically transcend as well, but his foundation ultimately did not belong to him. His process will be tremendously more tricky then a true Dao realm being.
What's more, accord to D̷͚̉r̸͎̙̦͛͆̕e̵̝͂̒a̴̯̹̽͠m̸̱̣̞͌͊̀ẃ̴̧͜ả̴̳̞͐l̷̼͎̗̈́k̸̫̜̱͗e̶̯̼͗̂r̸̭̝͉̽̂̓ a slew of these beings would arise in the future. Just in time to face that light. Whatever that meant. Yuanling was old enough to know not to get involved.
'But perhaps it isn't quite what I'm thinking of.' Yuanling pondered again as he watched the stand off. 'Perhaps that distant light is what's going to face this thing. Every living being exists for the purpose of prolonging it's existence in order to grow after all. ' He watched the Heavenly Dao hungrily eyeing it's surroundings. He had basic theories to what it wanted, but nothing he would say aloud. Besides, what else would world wills possibly want?
"We lost." These were the only words Vishnu uttered.
"I know," Shiva relented. Then he lowered his arms. The risks of this was just too much for him and he backed down. But he still pointed his trident at Hongjun. "Do not ever leave this place, else I will hunt you down and annihilate you. Your Heavenly Dao cannot save you in the Chaos Sea."
"I don't plan to," Hongjun replied. "This has been an educational exchange. I doubt we will meet again."
"Hmph." The two great gods transformed back into masses of concepts and flashed away. Only Hongjun, the Heavenly Dao, and Yuanling was left.
But Yuanling only sent them a small smile. "Good luck with your ambition. Don't know about them, but I'm curious to who between all of you will succeed." It was unclear to Hongjun nor the Heavenly Dao who he referred even after he vanished into particles.
"Troublesome," Hongjun grumbled. "I need to guide Yaochi in her cultivation. Do you need me for anything else? Alright then, if nothing else I'll see my own exit."
A distance away from the Three Realms however, Vishnu suddenly stopped. One of his arms reached out and took hold of a wisp.
Shiva stopped after seeing Vishnu carrying something in his bosom. "What is that?"
"A miraculous survival," Vishnu presented it to his brother. "You don't get to see this everyday."
"A living being from Pangu's Chaos World?" '
What shiva saw within was a broken spirit. Flesh and bones were long gone now and only a consciousness remained. But he saw a calm smiling monk sitting with his eyes closed. His palm held open in front of his chest while the other rested on his lap. From his back, multiple limbs sprouted displaying a golden figure.
"Let's bring him back with us then," Shiva sighed.
"Yes, otherwise this trip would just be too depressing."
At the time, they didn't know. But who they had rescued would turn out to be their greatest fortune. Of course, by the time that occurred, Shiva and Vishnu would've long departed after breaking the Supreme Boundary. Only an echo accompanied Brahma to seeing this monk save the Fourteen Realms in its very last kalpa.
…
In the other direction, a giant dragon wrapped in lightning traversed through unknown territory. He constantly looked around, unsure of Both ambushes as well as where he was headed. Leize, the head elder of the dragons who fled was extremely anxious as a result.
For years, he had flown through the confusing mess called Chaos Sea. Even his internal clock had lost track of how long after awhile. It could easily be as sort as a decade or as long as a billions of years. All he knew was that a complete yuanhui had not passed yet.
Luckily for him, a signal appeared in the distance. Joy filled him as this signal was a water construct in the shape of a dragon. Leize immediately changed direction and flew for it.
On a rock floating admits chaos was a beautiful mature lady dressed in imperial regalia. A large warhammer was placed beside her while she meditated.
"Your majesty," Leize greeted his empress. Gui Daiyu opened her eyes and a soft smile emerged.
"You made it back, good." She stood up and grabbed the hammer before gesturing for the dragon to follow. "My husband would want you to share what you learned to everyone at the same time."
"How is his majesty?"
"Same old same old. Injured but alive. Healing but depressed. You'll have to see him for yourself."
The two departed towards a larger swirling of sediment. One where the exiled dragons made their refuge.