In the timeless era of the Primordial World, long after Pangu split the heavens and earth, his body transformed into the vast wilderness that had already endured for countless millennia. The once desolate land now teemed with life, as vitality began to flourish, and the Primordial World became lively.

By now, sentient beings had emerged, gradually developing intelligence. These were the first inhabitants of the Primordial World. Though their methods of cultivation were simple, they were blessed with immense destiny, each born with formidable strength.

However, even though these primordial beings were all blessed by fate, their origins varied, leading to different levels of strength. Some were formed from the souls of the Chaos Gods and Demons slain by Pangu; others were Chaos Demons who self-destructed to avoid death, their spirits blending into the primordial laws. Some were born from the very first breath of the Primordial World, or the first element of something. Others were created from parts of Pangu himself—his hair, teeth, and more. There were also those born from the flora and fauna of the world.

As the saying goes, different origins bring different destinies; different destinies bring different levels of strength; different strengths bring about conflict; and conflict leads to factions.

At first, the inhabitants of the Primordial World were simple and peaceful, dedicating themselves to cultivation in remote corners of the world, whether in high mountains or hidden caves.

But as their numbers grew, so did the problems. Some fought over cultivation caves, some for rare treasures that increased their strength, and some battled to seize followers. Others fought simply because they enjoyed fighting.

…

In this turbulent environment, conflicts among the primordial beings became frequent, resulting in a power hierarchy. Over time, factions began to form.

Among these factions, three races rose to prominence: the Dragon Clan, the Qilin Clan, and the Phoenix Clan. The Dragon Clan ruled the Eastern Seas, the Qilin Clan dominated the central lands, and the Phoenix Clan reigned in the southern Undying Volcano. These three clans not only wielded immense power but also commanded vast numbers, ruling their territories with unrivaled strength and shaking the entire Primordial World.

Aside from these three, there were other powerful clans scattered across the land. For instance, the Xuanwu Clan in the far north, and the White Tiger Clan in the west. Although few in number, they were incredibly strong and kept to themselves, not provoking other beings. Additionally, several smaller clans with unique abilities also began to gain recognition.

…

Shen Long, who had traversed time and space after the creation of the world, had been in a deep slumber beneath the earth, gravely injured. It was as if he was trapped in a long dream, or perhaps it was a memory.

He dreamed of his carefree childhood, living without a worry in the world, with a heart as pure as a child’s.

He dreamed of his impoverished life, struggling to work, enduring the scorn of colleagues and the harsh scolding of his boss.

He dreamed of his loving parents, who, despite their hardships, never allowed him to suffer. Even in their final days, they refused to use their savings for treatment, instead leaving the money to him in their will.

He dreamed of the excitement he felt when he encountered a stroke of fortune, the frenzy he experienced in pursuit of his dreams, and the helplessness and fear of dying while seeking dragon veins.

He dreamed of the loneliness he felt in the void of time and space, where he had nothing.

He dreamed of his desperate struggle to break free from his cage, charging forward with unyielding determination.

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Then, he sank back into endless darkness.

In the darkness, after an unknown span of time, a flash of light appeared in Shen Long’s consciousness. He then saw a giant figure, standing with one foot on a Chaos Purple Lotus, holding a jade tablet above his head, and wielding Pangu’s axe with both hands, motionless.

“Pangu!” Shen Long called out with overwhelming excitement. In front of the giant, Shen Long felt insignificant and humbled, yet at the same time, he found a purpose for his future.

Under Shen Long’s reverent gaze, Pangu’s axe moved, slicing through the void, splitting the chaos in two—and along with it, the Chaos Gods and Demons.

“Pangu Creates the World!” Shen Long almost shouted in exhilaration. He knew how rare this opportunity was, as one who inherited the legacy of Pangu’s creation of the world, an inheritance that was possessed by only a handful of primordial beings. Aside from the Three Pure Ones, all others who received this inheritance were destined for greatness.

As Pangu cleaved the chaos with his first strike, then his second, then his third…

The chaos turned into the Taiji, the Taiji transformed into Yin and Yang, Yin and Yang into the Four Symbols, the Four Symbols into the Eight Trigrams, the Eight Trigrams into the cosmos…

By the time Shen Long witnessed the 18th strike, he was still immersed in the insights of the Great Dao. However, when he reached the 36th strike, a swelling sensation within his soul awakened him.

Yet he didn’t stop. With determined focus, he continued to refine his soul and observe the strikes. By the 46th strike, cracks began to appear in his soul, but he pressed on, knowing that this opportunity, once missed, would never return.

When the 47th strike fell, the cracks in his soul grew wider and larger, but Shen Long didn’t care. He thought, at worst, I’ll fall back into slumber again.

As the final strike fell, it felt as though the world itself was being split in two. His soul reflected this, almost severed, hanging on by a single thread.

But then a miracle happened. Shen Long, having witnessed the entirety of Pangu’s creation and recalling the moment when Pangu’s body became the Primordial World, suddenly achieved enlightenment.

Shen Long entered a profound state, and his old and new wounds began to heal at an incredible speed. Unconsciously, a dragon’s roar echoed throughout the Primordial World. In the east, the ground trembled, and a colossal dragon that spanned the heavens and earth was born.

In an underwater palace of the Eastern Seas, three great beings, two men and one woman, were deep in conversation. Suddenly, they all looked up in unison. One of the middle-aged men cast a spell, revealing Shen Long’s true form.

“Look, nine horns and nine claws, and his scales are purple-gold. He’s a Xuan Dragon, the black dragon of heaven and earth! Our brother is finally awakened, and our power will grow even stronger,” the younger-looking man exclaimed with excitement.

“Yes, big brother! With his return, our cultivation will advance even faster,” the woman, who appeared to be in her thirties and radiated wealth, added with a smile. “Quick, send someone to invite the Xuan Dragon back.”

The stern-looking man who had cast the spell smiled faintly, joy evident on his face.

“Yes, indeed! The Four Dragons of Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Huang are the ancestors of all dragons. The three of us awoke long ago, but we could never find the Xuan Dragon. We feared he might have perished. Judging by the timing of his awakening, it seems he was gravely wounded.”

But it wasn’t just them who sensed the terrifying aura of the dragon’s emergence. All across the Primordial World, others were equally aware.

To the south, in the Undying Volcano, a furious roar echoed, “How could this be? Another ancestral dragon? These crawling reptiles will only grow more arrogant in the future.”

In the central lands of the Primordial World, the Qilin Clan’s leader sighed, “Sigh… The Dragon Clan’s power is expanding once again. I wonder if they’ll threaten us.”

In the west, a White Tiger stood tall, gazing disdainfully toward the east. Opening its mouth wide, it began to absorb the western Geng Metal essence into its body.

Far to the north, in a freezing pool, a giant turtle-like being stirred, opening its eyes briefly before closing them again, as though returning to sleep. In the world Shen Long had lived in, this would be considered the behavior of a lazy man.

Many other powerful beings also sensed the birth of this ancestral dragon. Some were pleased, others worried, and many remained expressionless, hiding their thoughts.

A sudden clap of thunder jolted Shen Long awake. Having died due to lightning in his previous life, Shen Long was particularly sensitive to it. Instantly alert, he saw the dark clouds gathering above him. He knew this was his tribulation for transforming into his true form. If he succeeded, he would ascend to the ranks of a Great Luo Immortal. If he failed, he would be reduced to dust and vanish forever.

Preparing for the tribulation, Shen Long spat out a magical artifact—a Ruyi Scepter. It had been crafted from a portion of the Xuanhuang Essence, a portion of the Hongmeng Essence, and some merit, capable of both offense and defense, as well as suppressing his destiny.

Shen Long’s emergence shook the world. With the birth of the Divine Dragon, the whole realm was thrown into chaos.