The Central Continent, an absolute wasteland.

This was not a description one would associate with what is spiritually the most powerful of the five continents. If one was to compare the cultivation environment of the central continent to the there four continents in the world. Well, there actually wasn't a comparison, it was leagues superior.

All four continents bordering the central continent generated massive amounts of primordial Qi. They were perfect environments for those who walk the path of the Celestial Immortal to live and thrive. The strongest locations were centred on sites with powerful natural spiritual veins.

Other locations would be significantly weaker. It was places like these that allowed for a mortal population to live and thrive. Environments dense with primordial Qi were places of extreme pressure.

Not in terms of natural features, places like Mt Yujjing, Kunlun, or Mt Tai were teeming with greenery. Mortals and weaker cultivators simply cannot handle the pressure put on by so much Qi. This was why unintelligent animals were never found there, they would simply be crushed, suffocated, go insane etc.

When Zulong was building Kailong Chen, he extended the East Sea Dragon Palace's formations to cover the city. These formations also dubbed as a source of protection against the dense spiritual vein. In this way, mortal beings and weaker creatures could exist in his capital without becoming a smear on the pavement.

The central continent itself was one giant spiritual vein. It was the overall densest place in the world. While other continents have selectively dense locations, the central continent as a whole was dense with primordial Qi.

In this era, only Golden Immortals could exist here without dying. Perhaps the most elite of triple crown Heavenly Immortals could do so. Then again, triple crowned Heavenly Immortals were on the verge of becoming Golden Immortals.

A long time ago, this was not the case. Innate creatures did use to dwell here. However, after the devastating Shenni war, things changed.

The Heavenly Dao's epicentre was located here. A side effect was the further strengthening of the central continent. Where once True Immortals could walk here unrestricted was now a desolate location where only those who'd transcended the universe could traverse.

But back to the main point. The central continent was simply a brown wasteland. Cracked earth and sand. Very little in the way of greenery grew here. The environment was too strong even for spiritual herbs. This amount of raw uncultivated primordial Qi was detrimental much against the contemporary beliefs for spiritual farming.

Although exceptions do exist, those plants were one of a kind super beings. The Jianmu tree, the Fusang tree, the Human Ginseng fruit, or Huangzhongli could easily grow here.

This was the same environment Da Hai ran through.

In a stream of water shutting forth like a comet. Da Hai blitzed across the continents at top speed. Unlike lesser beings, he was wholly unaffected by the highly pressurised environment.

Moving undetected had practically become an art for Da Hai. He was so used to it that he was probably the foremost expert in the ways of undetected travels though he may argue against it.

Even without divine protection from the Heavenly Dao. Da Hai's own Dao of ever distant seas was able to distort the truth and makes it seem as if its creator was too far out of reach even if he is beside you.

It was also as luck would have it, Hongjun was in deep retreat and did not feel him rocketing past. In Da Hai's case, even a superior immortal had to really pay close attention to find him.

In a little over a year of leaving, Da Hai crossed into the central continent. Although he hadn't been here in so many years, he still remembered this place like the back of his mind.

In many ways, the central continent was the most important location of his life. It was where so many major events happened to him. Where he first acquired his most powerful xiantian spiritual treasure, where he fought a war, where the chaos godfiends made their last stand.

Da Hai didn't have to even look to see his destination. How could he miss it?

Mt Buzhou was massive. That was the only word to describe it. In fact, it was even bigger than before.

This celestial mountain was the lynchpin of the cosmos. It separated the heavens from the earth. Prevented the apocalypse by way of total annihilation. Stabilised the primitive world, and acted as the seat for the Heavenly Dao.

Massive, grand, majestic, these were the only way to describe it. Many quintillions of kilometres in size, far beyond comprehension. Most of the central continent was in fact, Mt Buzhou.

Tap!

Da Hai came to a halt at a cliff face overlooking the base of the celestial mountain. He admired the view before him. Even after all these years, even after having seen it so many times. Mt Buzhou still fails to not impress.

"It should be…this way," Da Hai jumped down and ran forth. Mt Buzhou was enormous, so enormous that finding a specific location on that mountain was like a needle in an ocean. Especially if said place was not only well hidden but cloaked.

"Now that I'm trying to get in, it is a lot more confusing then I thought," Da Hai stopped and scratched his head.

Even tracing his steps from so long ago made him question himself. He was highly tempted to give up and leave. Better than to waste time searching for what doesn't exist.

"No, that's not me," Da Hai shook his head. At the same time he shook off the effects of a mystical curse that was grasping onto him.

Da Hai felt a slight chill upon his person. He gazed upwards in response. "Hai, your displeasure is known. But I'm not changing my stance," Da Hai said.

He promptly ignored the gaze from the heavens and walked deeper into Mt Buzhou. The greenery tossed and turned as he walked. It was as if they were unsure what to make of him.

Mt Buzhou was the only location in the central continent where plant life grew. It was special in its own way as these were just normal grass and trees. Very unlike what one would expect of the celestial mountain.

"Master, disciple is here to see you," Da Hai announced. He did not shout nor broadcast his voice. Rather, he simply spoke as how one would in a normal conversation.

But he knew Pangu would've heard him. No matter how diminished, no matter how far past his expiration date, a Dao realm existence was a Dao realm existence. His body and soul may not have reached it, but his comprehension did and in the end, that was all that mattered.

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"He couldn't have actually bit it right?" Da Hai mused feeling a little unsure. After all, half a yuanhui had passed since he last saw Pangu and back then he was already really weak.

"Fuck, if he's actually dead then…"

"Your mother, who's dead?" An angry voice responded startling Da hai out of his train of thought.

"Oh, master," Da Hai performed a salute with his fist on his palm. "You didn't answer and I assumed the worst."

"Hmph, you caught me by surprise is all," Pangu snarked back. "Didn't expect you back after all these years. Especially since you've never visited once nor even contacted me."

"Apologies master, I was caught up," Da Hai sighed. One of the many relationships he'd neglected. One more fuck up to add to the boatload known as Da Hai.

"Stop that, I don't like the whole moping attitude you've got going. didn't work for Ouranos and won't work for you. Come inside, you must be here for something," Pangu said.

Suddenly, Da hai felt a clear rough feeling brush past him. He began walking in a certain direction that was both familiar yet strange. He didn't resist and cooperated, following along the designated pathway.

He climbed for forty million kilometres before reaching a cave. He crossed that cave after a week of non stop walking. Then he descended the hill down the other end.

When he emerged from the foliage, he saw the family structure of the Pangu Temple once again.

The temple had not changed at all. It was still the simplest yet most impressive sight he'd seen since his existence came into being.

The only changes to this location was that the twelve blood pools were noticeably larger. Specifically, three of them had grown astronomically in size while the other nine remained at a stable place.

"If I am correct, these should be ancestral Wu Di Jiang, Zhu Jiuying, and lady Houtu," Da Hai mused. It was honestly quite surreal to see the embryonic forms of the gods his human half once worshipped.

"Though only Houtu's the one with meaningful worship," he sighed. The endings these ancient beings received weren't the most ideal. It was much in the same vein as the qilins, dragons or phoenixes.

Though, according to their depictions, Wu were known to be simple minded and lived fighting. Da Hai wasn't sure they even minded the ending they got. They all went out fighting after all, the ideal warrior's death.

Similarly, their names were all recorded down in history and recorded in the Classics of Mountains and Seas. Their youngest and most treasured family member Houtu ascended as the Earth Queen of Daoism's Four Heavenly Ministers. Not a bad legacy if you asked Da Hai.

"Are you going to keep me waiting in anticipation?" Pangu asked from within the Pangu Temple.

"Apologies," Da Hai said marching past the blood pools and into the temple proper.

As soon as he entered, he breathed a sigh of wonder at the rich energies surrounding him. It was chaotic yet orderly, mystical yet ordinary, energetic yet still, it felt like an instant yet an eternity at the same time.

Da Hai made his way across the great hall towards the statue of Pangu at the very back. The ancient superbeing looked as profound as he was many years ago. Though Da Hai could tell the signs of diminished vitality.

In truth, Pangu was already on borrowed time. His spirit was merely grasping hold of the last bit of vitality he could. Here in the Pangu Temple, he could exist and live for a little while longer.

"Master," Da Hai kowtowed. "This one is unworthy of being your disciple," he apologised. "Last I was here I was consumed by a thirst for vengeance and was rude to you. Though I have made some progress since I began this mission, I have encountered great difficulties. I humbly request your assistance."

"Hmph, that was obvious from the start. But it isn't like there's much of a choice," Pangu humphed. he would've showed an exasperated expression toward Da Hai'swords. if his current form allowed it. "So, you're after a new sword eh?"

If Da Hai was surprised he didn't show it. Pangu was a super existence far beyond the chaos godfiends in every conceivable way. Even being nearly dead, Da Hai doubted there was anything he didn't know within the primitive world.

"Saw your little attempt at chopping the Fusang tree," Pangu said sounding a little impressed. "You should've known that wasn't going to do much."

"It gave me an estimation," Da Hai said standing up. "I'm not looking to chop the tree down. Merely harvest a portion of it."

"Still, your offensive power with an incomplete Dao was quite impressive. I wasn't wrong about your talent," Pangu mused. "I take it you've already figured what you need yes?"

"Indeed," Da Hai nodded. "A supernaturally powerful blade or chaotic sword Qi. The latter will be more ideal and more manageable."

"Exactly, swords as powerful as what you'd need don't come by often. The requirements of forging one is far beyond your reach, only those most fortuitous could craft those," Pangu said in agreement. "Chaotic sword Qi on the other hand is much more doable."

"Then, may I inquire to the method of producing such," Da Hai asked.

"Oh? Not going to ask me of a treasure?" Pangu asked.

"I didn't wish to take advantage of you," Da Hai said feeling ashamed.

"Hm," Pangu seemed to be contemplating. "Well, no matter. I suppose I will tell you about chaotic sword Qi. So…"

"Wait not conditions?" Da Hai gasped in surprise.

"What's the point? You're my main disciple so it's natural for me to pass on my techniques to you. Now don't disrupt me," Pangu said.

"Apologies master," Da Hai said.

"Hm, now chaotic sword Qi is in actuality a creation of mine. It didn't actually exist until I forged my axe. Back then, the axe head was one of the sharpest tools in existence. But I was searching for ways to further increase its lethality. This is where chaotic sword Qi was first birthed," Pangu explained.

The statue of Pangu glowed, casting the world into an illusion only Da Hai could see. Da Hai nodded, sitting down cross legged. A meditation cushion manifested before his bottom.

He could almost feel Pangu smiling as he said, "Now then, let's begin the lesson."