Chaos, endless chaos both colourful and colourless. Constant changes from myriad possibilities some of which long thought impossible. The sight of the Chaos Sea greeted Da Hai's eyes.

The sea god stood still floating within the vast chaos. He'd been here once before many years ago. Back then, he was still a confused being who had yet managed to achieve true balance. A being whose sides were constantly warring with him.

In the deepest recesses of his mind, Da Hai sighed. "What am I doing here?" He wondered out loud.

He observed his hands in fascination and examined the rest of his body. He was a little pale, but he could identify his complexion getting better as time went on, albeit slowly.

He thought he was rid of this place ages ago. His being has long been ordered. He was no longer a collection of confused thoughts and instincts acting on perceived best interest. Hence it was perplexing to the sea god.

"Geez, Heavenly Dao did a number to you," a gruff voice said from behind Da Hai.

"Tian Hai," Da Hai greeted the scaled fish man who appeared in slight surprise. He's long felt his presence yet was still shocked at his appearance.

"I had assumed I absorbed you into me," he said.

"You did," the ancient godfiend replied with amusement. "I'm not even here, just your memory of me pretending to be Tian Hai."

"Besides, absorbing is such an inaccurate word to describe that event. More like homogenizing yourself. Is that how humans use that word?" He asked.

Da Hai nodded absentmindedly. The two were not speaking the language used by the godfiends as was common by the primitive world. Rather, they spoke in a simple language originating from earth. A habit he inherited from the human side and something Da Hai only used when in deep thought.

"Tian Hai, do you think I made the right choice with the white jade?" Da Hai said. "I certainly did not think the Heavenly Dao would become so upset with me."

"Who knows, I would've gotten sick of that whiny brat long before you," the ancient godfiend said. "But you did achieve far more than I ever could."

Da Hai raised his brows.

"Think about it, I was a Primal Zenith Chaos Immortal at my peak. You have already pushed far beyond that gateway. For all our existence, non of us godfiends has ever reached the Limitless realm. None of us even knew what Wuji meant! Oh I would've loved to test myself against you," the memory of Tian Hai chuckled at the thought.

"It was an experience," Da Hai admitted to the older entity. "I owe too much to father god Pangu. Without him, I'd probably still be stumped at the Primal Zenith Chaos Immortal realm by now and annihilated by the Heavenly Dao as a result. He, thank you for cheering me up."

"Well that much is obvious, you're talking to yourself here mate," a voice huffed from Da Hai's other side. "Oh and as the memory of the more intelligent of us, I have to say you dun goofed."

"Hello my mortal half," Da Hai said turning to a standing brunette human resembling himself. "I was wondering when you'd show."

"Yeah well, can't stand still after watching that fuck up," he said crossing his arms.

"A blunder in my overestimation in the Heavenly Dao. But also one you would've attempted as well," Da Hai snorted. "Now my road ahead has become quite complicated."

"You could always flee to the Chaos Sea," the memories of Tian Hai and Christopher suggested.

"And abandon my home? My disciples?" Da Hai snorted. "I think we all know the answer to that. I've already thrown my lot in, I will win no matter how many times I lose."

"I won't, I'd run the fuck away from that mess," the human admitted. "Have you seen some of the shit you've fought and studied? If I wasn't a part of you, I'd go insane."

"Mortal minds aren't built for the Dao, it's why cultivation exists," Da Hai said dismissively. "I would've thought you of all people will be excited. What with all the 'meta knowledge' you can deploy."

"And realistically how far can that really take me?" the human memory snorted. "I don't have the heart for what he can do. I don't have the smarts to talk a person down. What's more, this Primitive World is already so different mechanically from the ones you read about online. You know I used to think I can be just like the transmigrators I read about, but thinking about? I'd need a whole lot of self insert fiat to accomplish any of those feats."

"Da Hai, was forming a clone out of Haotian really worth it?" the human memory questioned. "We're all on the Heavenly Dao's shit list now and I don't think he'd add much to our combat ability. It seems like a net loss to me."

"At the time, it sounded great in my head. A powerful figure close to Hongjun that feeds me information. My Dao is perfect for hiding beneath his notice," the sea god said.

"And not Luohu? Is he not equally a threat?"

"Indeed he is, but Luohu's territory is difficult to infiltrate directly. It will take a full scale war to bring him down."

"But that ship's sales," Christopher said. "You'll never let Zulong fight that war, and Zufeng on her own is too weak to instigate one. What's more, now you're too injured and blacklisted to even try."

Da Hai stood silent following Christopher's words. He was visibly grimacing. "I'll figure something out," he said.

"We're both very good at that aren't we," Christopher chuckled almost self-deprecatingly.

"I don't get it," Tian Hai spoke up. "All this scheming mumble jumble, it's not for either you or me."

"Course you don't, you're a dumb brute from a bygone era," Christopher snorted. "All you cared about was proving the Dao by way of your fist."

"I'd be careful what you say brat. You're speaking to a Chaos Godfiend of Tai Chu's temple."

"Oh yeah? What're you gonna do? We're not even alive anymore. Just figments of his imagination."

Da Hai sighed and rubbed his brows. "I'll never be rid of them will I," he mused. How could he? They were fundamentally part of his psyche, fragments of his mind.

The best way to describe them would be that they were extremities of his personality personified. Tian Hai and the human had long combined into his person. He was them as much as they were him.

That sparked a thought in his mind. Was he closer to a godfiend? Or was he closer to a human? Or perhaps he exemplified both at the same time though not in an extremely detrimental way as was the case long ago.

'They…or rather myself brings up a good point though,' Da Hai contemplated his next actions thoughtfully. 'Haotian won't come into existence for many years, what's more, the Heavenly Dao may interfere.'

If only things were simpler. When he was human, or rather when Christopher had been alive, he'd read Honghuang novels before. The Heavenly Dao wasn't nearly as sentient as they were here. It was nearly as forthcoming in its attacks.

If fiction were to be believed, it will mostly scramble divination and induce a tribulation event. Shenni's whole conquest could be interpreted as such even if the Heavenly Dao had not been born at the time.

He'll need to progress even farther in the path of Wuji. Pangu's words were still fresh in his mind. Though he'd never expected he'd grasp Wuji almost immediately after completing his Dao, it was nevertheless a fortunate thing. But now he'd be stumbling in the dark once more.

"The Chaos Sea," Da Hai mused. "I wonder what's out there. The area the Chaos Godfiends occupied was massive yet pitifully small. There are bound to be more clues out there somewhere."

Watching his alter egos argue, Da Hai couldn't help but think he was subconsciously making this up to entertain himself. He does seem to be trapped in his headspace for the foreseeable future. Hence he began meditating, focusing on recovery.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Christopher paused in the midst of his banter against the godfiend he'd merged with. He momentarily glanced at Da Hai and smiled.

…

'How many years has it been?'

This thought raced through all facets of Da Hai's mind as he pressed his palm against the wooden edges of his bed. He lifted himself up, pushing the blankets back and opened his eyes. His short yellow hair swayed at his movements.

For the first time, in a long time, Da Hai felt disconnected from the primitive world. It was perplexing, his senses into the forces of nature, life, death, karma and destiny were still strong, but there was a dampened signal when he peered towards the primitive world.

His internal clock informed him of the amount of time he'd been resting. It wasn't actually that long, he was clearly aided in his recovery. It has only been around thirteen thousand years since his clash against the Heavenly Dao.

He absentmindedly took note of a woman running out of his room in a hurry after dropping a basin of water. The pool of liquid splashed into the air before the Heavenly Lord's eyes.

"Yang Light Springs," Da Hai said. "Affective Yang energy water bathed in the areas of rich sunlight."

He waved his wand and drew the water forth. Opening his mouth, he consumed the substance and felt rich vitality entering his body.

"Wait a second, who was that?"

Da Hai perked up and looked at the empty room with its door swung open. He could clearly hear shuffling footsteps. In fact, he could hear many footsteps, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds even.

Hundreds of thousands of people roamed around Yangzhou, more accurately his palace. Even the farmlands and ranches around had more sounds indicating living individuals than what he was used to. He was a bit weirded out.

By the time he swung his legs around the edge to sit, people were filing into the room.

A clean-shaven handsome man with antlers and a short, two others who similarly followed him. Several beautiful woman who looked as white as snow followed by demure women trailing behind them. There was also a small boy with antlers among them.

Three dragons and the moth fairies. Curiously enough, Yi Fei'e was not among them but the rest were present with exitement.

"Master!" Zulong who headed the group called out. He strode forwards and went down to his knees in a kowtow. "Master, thank the heavens you are alright."

"Your disciple was incompetent, I did not realise master was in danger even when it was too late. Please punish your foolish disciple," he said.

"Cease this nonsense Zulong," Da Hai snapped. "I will not have my chief disciple grovelling like this. What will others say about you?"

"Let them say all they want. You are this one's mentor, without you, there is no me. It is not embarrassing at all," the dragon declared.

"Elder brother speaks true," Qinglong declared also on his knees along with Yinglong. "We have been negligent and had not been taking care of master. As a result, you suffered…"

"Alright, alright, that's enough, have you all no shame?" Da Hai sighed defeatedly. It was a touching feeling that he felt. Filial piety was one thing, but this was next levels of devotion. What he was seeing was just commical.

Da Hai flexed his muscles and grunted. "Who's that?" He asked, pointing towards the young boy behind them.

The child's energy signature heavily resembled Zulong. He was also very powerful, an immortal at birth. He was also completely bewildered at seeing the three dragons postulating themselves like this.

In fact, Da Hai already had an inkling as to the boy's identity. When one was as intoned with nature as he, it was child's play to identify parental relations. Even if that child was someone else's whose soul was placed in another, he'd still be able to tell.

'According to legends, this will be Qiu Niu,' he thought both happiness and sadness. He cursed the Heavenly Dao for putting him out of commission for so long. It seems he'd missed several big events.

The child stepped forwards. He was small, barely coming up to his thigh with pale skin and black hair. He was precious and almost doll like in appearance. If he couldn't identify the innate Yang in the child, he'd be unable to tell his gender simply based on looks.

"Uh…Uh…yes, this one is named Qiu Niu by mine father and mother. Imperial prince of the four seas. It is with great honour that I greet esteemed grandmaster," the young child said stiffly bowing.

Da Hai immediately perked up hearing a melodious sound emanating from the boy's voice. It was soothing and calming and sounded like classical chinese music. He nodded smiling happily, "Good child, good child. Just like your father, a talent indeed."

His eyes that had achieved the path towards the one which is without limit observed Qiu Niu. He easily saw past the young doll like facade of the child and his true form within. A massive dragon with dull yellow colouring and silver hair.

His face was short and shove, unlike his father's angular sharp appearance. His claws and teeth were not sedated like Zulong's but more blunted. His eyes were big and almost googly looking. Qiu Niu actually looked very goofy in comparison to regular dragons.

But his voice was something truly special. Da Hai was not an avid follower of music but even he recognised Qiu Niu's potential in this regard. It was an inborn talent just like Zulong's roar or Qinglong's star power. An ability to sing to the world and to the hearts of living beings.

"When was he born?"

"A short decade ago master. I took him here for some practice," Zulong said. "Yinglong and Qinglong had been staying here guarding you in my absence, but I visit every opportunity I am able."

"And who looks after your southern and northern fronts?"

"I can spare the manpower," the Dragon Sovereign said confidently.

"Master, you've only just regained consciousness. Here, let me help bring you some medicine," Yinglong offered.

"And some food. We've harvested some mulberry fruits of the Fusang Tree. I'll get, Wu Fei'e, can you get the maids to bring them up," Qinglong said.

"Of course senior brother," one of the white women behind him said.

Da Hai halted as they made their plans. 'Wait a second. Maids?' He focused his mind and grasped the situation around him and Yingzhou. Now the thousands of footsteps made a lot more sense.

He turned to Zulong stupefied. His eldest merely gazed back with no indication of guilt nor embarrassment.

"Noticed haven't you?" Wangshu's amused voice caught Da Hai's attention. The Moon Star Lord leaned against the doorframe arms crossed smirking. "How'd you like my stealth technique, didn't even notice when I walked in."

"Wangshu," Da Hai greeted still bewildered. "Maids?" He asked ignoring his fellow deity for now.

"Yes master. I felt your living accommodations has not been up to par. My junior sisters also need time to practice. Hence it is better if there are subordinates to take care of you whilst you rest," Zulong said.

"Zulong…I am not invalid enough to need to be taken care of like some old man nearing his expiration date," Da Hai said exasperatingly much to Wangshu's amused laughter.

"Master, having them here is a good thing. Yingzhou is a big place and you're only one person," Zulong said.

Da Hai gave him a look. "They're not leaving aren't they?"

"They've already been here for the better part of the last thirteen thousand years master. I'll be a massive change of scenery."

Da Hai sighed relenting. "Stop laughing Wangshu."

"Don't worry, they haven't even found your doll rooms yet," she laughed to Da Hai's irritation. She proceeded to yelp in surprise as Da Hai banished her from his palace with a flick of his finger.