Converged Paths over 30,000 years III (Builders of Netherland)

“Hm.”

Da Hai’s grunt of frustration did not cause any ripple in the air. But his partners in his endeavour could feel it all the same.

“At least its not sharp this time?” The self proclaimed lord of Fengdu, Yanluo said after glancing over.

Da Hai’s current body was by no means small anymore. Currently, his hair had transformed into long serpents stretching for numerous kilometres. He himself already sat cross legged as a hundred and eight thousand kilometre tall giant. Within the palm of his massive hand was a mirage imprint of a hammer.

“Still a killing tool,” the Chaos Immortal said.

Houtu didn’t even bother replying, she was floating on a platform of red seawater paler than she’d ever been. Her blood essence was constantly donated for Da Hai and the rest’s attempts. However, it was mostly experiments and stumbling in the dark.

Minghe and Yanluo were fundamentally warriors while Da Hai was more at heart as a peaceful hermit. Though the latter has refined treasures in the past, he was more knowledgeable on weaponry.

“Theoretically speaking, the hammer in my hand can smash and disperse the bodies of ghost devils. But that isn’t what we need,” the godfiend said. “This is getting absurd.”

From the corner of his eye, he considered killing Houtu right then and there. It was not out of any malicious intent, but rather an acknowledgement to her fate according to myth. But with so many factors in play, the lack of Heavenly Dao, the unknowns were too dangerous to leave up to myth.

Da Hai stood up startling after pondering for a few minutes. “It’s become clear there’s still so much missing. I alone do not fully comprehend all this and while all of you understand pieces of death and the process of souls, it’s not enough.”

“Yeah? And what do you suggest?” Minghe called out. Over the years, he’d gotten more comfortable yet also annoyed by Da Hai. “We already know negative energy is a cause for deceased spirits to wonder here. We know the universe already has a preset motion for reincarnation. Why isn’t it enough? What other causes do we need?”

“Causes? Vehicle of movement hm?” Da Hai’s had to think.

“Cause and effect, reminds me of what that monk would say,” Houtu said groggily.

“Jieyin or Zhunti?” Da Hai asked before anyone could respond. This shocked the rest as they were not aware that Da Hai knew of them.

“Uh…I think it was the multi armed one. Zhunti?”

“I know how karma works,” Da Hai said. “But if nothing else. You all wait here, continue to experiment.”

“Sure sure,” Minghe grunted. In his bloody hands, he was playing with moulding a primordial beast encased in red seawater. Yanluo was fiddling with his Jiangshi using yin qi while Houtu still rested.

Flashing countless distances away, Da Hai teleported back to the Great Wilderness in a torrent of saltwater. Above the entire dimension, his gaze traveled across all corners of the world.

He’d only distantly matched looks with Mara but Hundun ignored him due to being in a tussle against Zulong, Qi An, and Zufeng. To Da Hai’s relief, things had stabalized a lot more. Haotian’s disobedience was aggravating but he can ignore it for now.

“What does Buddhist light even feel like?” Da Hai had little idea what kind of aura the two monks from the west would emit. It wasn’t like these things came with a manual.

Eventually, he identified some type of cleansing spell being used against an army of ghost devils. The blob of yin qi was being reduced by an exponential amount. He vaguely knew Buddhism in xianxia stories was the antithesis of devil qi. Hence he did not waste time teleporting in that direction.

As luck would have it, he was right. A handsome long haired man sat in the middle of a battalion of cultivators. He appeared very peaceful as he chanted mantra after mantra. The feeling was so potent that it even gave Da Hai the feeling to remain at peace in his heart.

Weather it was Jieyin or Zhunti that was performing the spell, it was not in the language of the Chaos Godfiends. The affects it gave off actually contained parts that Da Hai recognized when he witnessed devils in action. Not ripped out of Luohu’s lineage, but things clearly made in observation of them.

“But instead of excessive indulgence, it’s offering to…more of a restrained balance? Not what I was expecting?”

Nevertheless, Da Hai manifested a flag pole in his hand. Using the Xuanyuan Water Control Flag, he created a vortex of reality rending seawater. Neither side of combatants expected this to happen.

The monk chanting, Zhunti would’ve been frightened to death had he not realized seconds later that this attack was not aimed for him. Afterwards, he watched as his foes were being swept away, some being crushed by the weight of Da Hai’s attack.

“Ah benefactor, it’s easier to disperse them like this.”

Zhunti did not want to sound smug, but he deduced he was much better at dealing with ghost devils despite Da Hai’s vastly superior raw power. He clasped his hands and injected his Dao of Cycling Karmic Wheel into Da Hai’s attack.

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Every action of a Chaos Immortal contained their Dao. It was a perpetual truth that anytime two Chaos Immortals interacted, wether it be combat or recreational activity, it was fundamentally a discussion between two Daos. It just depended on the strength of one’s Dao heart, a mix of determination and belief in one’s own path, whether one would suffer or not.

Over three course of the war, Zhunti had used ghost devils as a whetstone of sorts. His Dao had evolved continuously as he fought. What was once a theory of a Great Unity Golden Immortal was now a law on the workings of cause and effect. Da Hai did not resist as their attacks combined.

“Good,” Da Hai uttered with a smile.

“Heavenly Lord!”

The cultivators supporting Zhunti greeted Da Hai. The latter didn’t pay them too much attention. He didn’t waste time grabbing the monk and teleporting away. At the same time he informed the cultivators present to join up with a nearby contingent he’d seen.

Afterwards, Da Hai explained everything to Zhunti. Such magnitude of the task that Da Hai wanted his help with boggled the innate god’s mind. So much so that the seemingly tranquil daoist Zhunti suggested his senior brother.

However, Zhunti was the one who cultivated a Dao that dealt majorly in cause and effect. His understanding of it as a main subject would’ve exceeded Da Hai’s who’s own study of it came from tertiary source through comprehending aspects of the limitless principle. Even Jieyin’s Dao dealt with the refraining of all worldly desires and the promise of salvation by his presence.

Both monk’s Daos were tempered by their drive to bring salvation to the people of the west who they viewed as being enslaved by the Devilish Dao. Yet Zhunti’s Dao of Cycling Karmic Wheel held the movement of an individual’s existence through perpetual reincarnation via karma. With this in mind, even if Jieyin was equally as effective in dealing with devils, Zhunti’s Dao became preferable.

“I understand, I’ll see what I can do,” Zhunti tangentially agreed.

…

A thousand and sixteen years after Da Hai forcibly brought Zhunti to the Netherworld, an old man stepped through the belly button of Pangu. The brilliant light of yin and yang constantly changed from one to another throughout each of his eyeballs.

As the others made experimental enchantments, the best dragon at refining artefacts was present working alongside them. His cultivation was not high, being largely supplemented by Da Hai’s own power. But Taishang’s appearance was enough to attract Da Hai’s attention. “Make yourself known.”

“Oceanic Heavenly Lord,” Taishang the Grand Pure One of the Three Pure Ones bowed respectfully.

“I was curious and followed the sudden shift in movements of yin qi and found myself here. So this is where senior had gone all this time?” Taishang was not lying when he said he was curious. Wether it be a true flight of fancy or some convoluted scheme did not matter to Da Hai.

What was important was Taishang’s ability to easily identify yin energy flow at a single glance. Da Hai thought he shouldn’t be surprised, he stood before a man who was supposed to represent the change between the two extremities.

“Your kind has a lot of audacity to even be here,” Da Hai said. Though Taishang was not the true target of his anger. Though he long since sworn off judging any familiar names he meets simply based on fictional interpretations, he was unable to hold his own distaste back due to what happened with Yinglong.

“My brother is incredibly sorry for what happened to the senior Dragon King,” Taishang said. “Yuanshi has since been shoring up defences for the South Seas Dragon Palace and participated in numerous battles in many settlements across the Great Wilderness.

“Tis true, he refined a few handy tools that assisted my nineteenth body.” Minghe had long lost whatever care he had towards the situation. His fear of possible existence erasure and his current main focus certainly dulled his etiquette.

“Refinement?”

Without the Heavenly Dao’s discrimination, Da Hai attempted divination. The secrets of heaven and earth vaguely opened up to him, but he was able to see some of the situation regarding Yuanshi’s actions.

“He’s always been good at that. My sister in formations, myself in alchemy, him in refinement.” Taishang looked at the gathered assortment of people. The likes of Zhunti, Minghe, Yan Luo, Houtu all seemed random to the old man. But with all the treasure lights, a combination of sinful cries and melodious hymns indicated a failed formation of a spiritual treasure of sorts.

“I can find my brother for you.”

“You think an innate god barely a Yuanhui old is superior to the sum total of a million years old civilization?” There was half a sneer and half a prayer that Yuanshi was a phoney. Yet at this point he would accept anything.

Now looking a little insulted, Taishang said he could try which Da Hai relented to.

The Grand Pure One’s abrupt visit ended just like that. Yet Da Hai knew he would be back soon. He was proven right when eight hundred years later, Da Hai saw him return with Yuanshi.

“Hai.”

Da Hai faced Yuanshi. “Show me what you can do.”

Yuanshi appeared greatly changed from what Da Hai had seen many years prior. More subdued, more thoughtful as he observed the ongoing around him. Taishang was right in that Yuanshi had contributed greatly towards the war over the years.

It may not always be actively on the front lines, but he improved the situation when manpower could not be spared. After meeting and learning with Zhunti, Da Hai could also identify the gathering amount of good fortune karma around him.

This was the accumulation of destiny, the result of someone who’s been doing great deeds and symbolizes a potential for flourishing future. An effect from a cause one could say.

Da Hai glanced sideways towards the endless void. Then he frowned.

…

In the void between realms, A sudden violent clash of power rang throughout the cosmos. Were it not for a few factors, the other Limitless Supreme Chaos Immortals would’ve easily detected it.

First and foremost, the shockwave was blocked from nearing the Great Wilderness by black cloak treasure. Second, the clash lacked true ferocity. It was one side attacking and the other blocking and being pushed back voluntarily. Third, it was incredibly brief.

As such, only the grunt of pain from a mighty being could be heard. At the same time, tendrils of confusing tides swarmed into the void between realms. They acted not out of malice nor even to stabalize the situation. Rather it was a form of chaos that directed what remained of that clash into another direction.

“I do not wish for conflict fellow daoist.”

Out of the mass of chaos, a naked six armed faceless figure emerged. His forearms on two of his limbs were scratched leaking blood essence.

Opposed to him, close to the outer barrier of the Netherworld, an ocean recondensed into a humanoid form. Da Hai held a perpetual frown, one that also contained confusion and wariness.

“Look, I’m not here to fight,” Hundun said. He raised all six of his arms in a surrendering pose. “But I do value my life, if you attack I will defend myself. Such a battle will rouse some people you do not want to rouse for now.”

“Luohu thinks he can just negotiate with me?” This was accompanied by the hissing of several different serpents. Hundun could even hear violent wave crashing against each other as though a storm was occurring in the middle of the ocean.

“You have true reason to be at war against Luohu. But you and I need not be enemies.”

“Betraying the devil cause?”

“Not exactly.”

Hundun straightened his back but maintained a certain distance. Da Hai did the same, but in his arms the Xuanyuan Water Control Flag appeared fluttering dangerously.

“Speak. What can you even offer?”

“I’ve already helped. Do you think the sudden rise in the flow of yin qi is unnoticeable? Between the last six thousand years, nine thousand before that, at several intervals there had been violent jerks that were distinctly not the recreation of bodies for deceased devils. I had been keeping things under raps.”

“Strange of you to appear now then if you had known,” Da Hai snorted.

“I couldn’t confirm the exact location,” Hundun said without a hint of embarrassment. “It was only by luck I followed those two purities.”

Da Hai’s fists tightened before relaxing. He materialized a table in the middle of space and sat down on one end of it. Hundun did the same on the other side. No further accomodations were served however.

“You want to create an organized reincarnation, one that will absorb the constantly returning ghost devils and even the negative karma devils tend to accumulate. You may not be aware, but Mara isn’t from our race of Chaos Godfiends? He is from another area of the Chaos Sea called the Fourteen Realms.”

“Mhm.”

Hundun noticed the lack of true surprise but didn’t call him out on it.

“I do not know more then that, but I do know the current formation that of ghost devils was created from inspiration from that place by Mara. I’ve studied it extensively during my tenure. I can help you.”

“I already have people experienced in sinful energies, cause and effect, yin qi and just death in general. Even a skilled artefact refiner,” Da Hai chuckled.

“You’re still working from outside in. I can help you work from inside out. The method which Mara used was originally part of six total parts. Though you have a goddess connected to life, It’s too all encompassing. I sense a lack of one that possess the skills of a more specificity towards mortality.

‘Nuwa,’ Da Hai concluded in his mind. He cursed the complexity of building up the reincarnation process as it was one more fighter he’d have to remove from the Great Wilderness.

“What’s your game Hundun? What do you want?”

Hundun tilted his head. Though he had no facial expressions, Da Hai sensed his mood to be the same as Luohu’s when they met on that beach over a million years ago. The very same confusion. The godfiend’s answer had a similar yearning as well.

“What any good godfiend wants fellow daoist. To advance.”