Converged Paths over 30,000 years I

In the vast war torn lands of the East Continent, a six winged serpent flew in the air. It resembled a regular serpent if one were to ignore its six wings and six legs. More ignorant creatures often mistook this beast as a dragon. Of course in that scenario they'll get slapped instantly by both dragon and the Feiyi.

This winged serpent was part of the exalted Feiyi clan, their seventh generation patriarch in fact. Though his comprehension of the Dao only stood at the level of an intricate theory, a rather inadequate stage for peak powerhouses as this level of understanding only corresponded to the Great Principle stage of Chaos Immortals. His actual combat ability, a result of his bloodline and personal treasures eclipsed many Primal Origin Chaos Immortals.

Cases like the Feiyi patriarch were rare, but they were always exceptional. So why was this person in the East Continent rather then leading his clan in the west? Defending his holdings of course.

A thousand years had passed since the war began, the western front had become its own ecosystem with the dragons, phoenixes, and rogue cultivators managing it. But leaders like the Feiyi patriarch were of the opinion that their own homes were of more importance. In fact, not long ago he'd even massacred an army of ghost devils that assaulted his clan's territory.

"Northern Feiyi, I did not expect you to be here too?"

The winged Feiyi glanced to his left. A second serpentine creature flew in conjunction to him. Unlike his own six wings, six legs, long snake body. This serpent had a single head connected to two bodies.

The Northern Feiyi patriarch frowned, this other snake was an old acquaintance. He was the fourth generation patriarch of his own clan and vastly older than him. He was an elder of the Primal Origin Chaos Immortal level who had once suppressed his clan for eons until his own rise.

Whats humiliated by the Northern Feiyi, was that this two bodied snake was also called Feiyi.

To be specific, eons ago there was only one Feiyi clan. But something happened in the past which resulted in the extinction of the original Feiyi clan. But in the wake of its destruction, two species emerged who both claimed descent from the original Feiyi clan.

This resulted in what the modern era called northern feiyi, and southern feiyi.

"By your presence, I assume that crow got you too?" Northern Feiyi Patriarch asked. "Seems the exalted Southern Feiyi have fallen off."

"Yes you over grasping worm," the Southern Feiyi Patriarch confirmed with much distaste. While he felt humiliated as well, it didn't hurt as much after learning his clan's ancient rival suffered a similar fate.

Both Feiyi clans were recognized as top tier innate creature descendent clans in the East Continent. Yet they both similarly fell to a foreigner who was not even the current tribulation's hated enemy.

Soon, both serpents reached their destination, a fiery ring in the sky. To be specific, it was a metallic chakram that created a ring of fire which protected a central palace. Both of which basked in the light of the morning sun.

"The devils of the west are threatening the world and this junior pulls this stunt? The avians must be backing him!" The Northern Feiyi scolded.

"Keep your mouth shut if you know what's good for you," Southern Feiyi scolded back. "Given your acceptance, you should be aware of his power."

They both assumed humanoid Dao bodies, Northern Feiyi in a humanoid form folded his wings like a cloak while Southern Feiyi had two tails wrapped around his waist. Reaching into the palace, they found familiar faces as well.

"Ji Meng patriarch, Qinyuan matriarch, Ci Tie ancestor," Southern Feiyi recognized the figures ahead of him instantly. All top tier Chaos Immortal powerhouses that were no longer protecting their own territories.

"The clowns of the Mt Hunxi arrived together? I would've thought you two'll be too busy arguing," the only true connate lifeform, the Ci Tie ancestor said with mockery.

Both species of feiyi inhabited a region known as Mt Hunxi. Their territories were divided by north and south. Though over the years, the Northern Feiyi had reclaimed the taller mountain peaks, driving the two bodied Southern Feiyi down to the mountain's lower slope.

"Shut your mouth you old coot, you submitted as did we so don't pretend you're any superior," the Qinyuan matriarch retorted in their defence.

They were hardly the first, nor last clan heads to arrive. But all the same, they were those who'd surrendered or had been beaten into submission by an innate god junior not even a hundred thousand years old.

Di Jun was a name they had become familiar with over their time in the west. A famed general who worked for the South Continent's as well as all feathered creature's ruler. A sun crow who'd emerged from the Supreme Solar Star.

Years ago, he was still fighting in the west. A thousand years later, he's conquered a quarter of the east. It was utterly infuriating for these clan heads who'd all had a storied history spanning a million years.

Within the palace engulfed in solar flames, Di Jun sat wearing a beaded crown resting on his knuckle. To his right stood Taiyi who still sported his spectacles. But at his left, a woman with a happy smile stood. She wore bright yellow robes and rich hair ornaments, she was Xihe.

"Ah good you've all come to swear allegiance," Di Jun said still sitting. His body emanated power vastly greater then he'd once wielded in the early stages of the war. These clan heads all simultaneously felt as if they stood before a living sun.

'No need to rub it in you brat!' Many old monster inappropriately thought.

Standing up, Di Jun appeared very regal. Xihe and Taiyi stood on his side supporting him with their own presence.

"Long have I heard of the famous Ten Thousand Spirit alliance. An alliance by the countless races of the East Continent to combat the then emerging dragon and phoenix threats. I had hoped to see this unified alliance in action."

He took a deep breath as he said so. He scanned the crowd of powerhouses in front of him with a saddened gaze. "Imagine my shock at how easily this pact was broken."

Despite many individuals he was addressing opening frowning, Di Jun did not stop criticizing them. This Ten Thousand Spirit alliance was made many yuanhuis ago to be exactly as Di Jun described.

But even back then, it was a loose coalition. The geopolitics of the East Continent was in many ways, even more ferocious than the East Sea, South Continent, even the West Continent. It was like a battleground of numerous warring kingdoms vying for power, resources, prestige, and whatnot.

They may unite against common foes, but make no mistake they will betray each other. Even as they were joined together in the ant devil alliance at the beginning of the westward invasion. As soon as their own holdings became threatened by the enemy, they abandoned the invasion for their own interest.

Di Jun cannot fault them for that even if he felt negatively towards them abandoning the offensive. But what he could not forgive was what he saw the moment he arrived in the east. These post natal creatures in the east were taking advantage of the ghosts devil threat.

Wether it was luring ghost devils to their rivals, sneakily attacking their weakened rivals, or forcing desperate clans to pay exorbitant prices for protection, there were schemes going on everywhere. Di Jun couldn't help but feel fury over this attitude towards the impending threat.

He did not see himself as a hypocrite for essentially doing the same in his own bid for power. Instead, he saw himself as someone who'll unite these pack of arguing children to have a coherent army that could survive the war.

"But rest assured, I will unite all the descendent clans of innate creatures under heaven and form a grand empire for you all…you have a question?" Di Jun addressed a cultivator who'd raised his head.

It was a figure named Baize, a solitary cultivator who was the last of his kind. Baize's true form was like a cross between a muscular lion with hoofs instead of paws. His head was akin to an ox with a lion's mane and goat horns. Nine eyes divided into three groups, a trio on his head, a trio on either side of his body.

"Daoist Di Jun, you have daring ambition," Baize said. "But you must know that there exist numerous stronger clans in the east than the ones gathered here. Those like the Zhujiang clan, the Nine Tailed Foxes, the Feilian, or the feared Nine Infant clan all posses far deeper foundations then the combined clans you've assimilated."

"Yes." Di Jun did not show anger at Baize. "I am aware of the difficulty of my task."

"Then you must know your actions will weaken the clans of the East Continent even more! We are all already struggling holding back the ghost devil tide. I do not doubt you are strong, but are you strong enough? These clans cannot be convinced by mere speech. They are too old, too arrogant, they will only respect strength."

"I hear and understand your doubt. You think me young foolish, someone too ambitious and overreaching. That I would fail and leave the East Continent both scattered and weak."

Taiyi stepped forward but Di Jun raised his hand and continued to speak.

"But if I were to not act what would you all do? This world has too many races, too many factions, too many schemes, too much chaos when you should've been united. You have no guiding centre to lead you all."

"Can you really do it?" Another voiced asked.

"What guarantee do you have that you can defeat the greatest of the East Continent? We have survived the phoenix's and the dragon's best for years!"

"Can we really trust you?"

From Baize's perspective, Di Jun had the right idea. But it could never work for the East Continent's many powerful clans who were used to their freedom. They prided themselves as being separate from the innate creature clans who'd bowed their heads to the Dragon and Phoenix Sovereign.

Di Jun was right that their continent is starting to fight themselves rather than focusing on the true enemies. Di Jun was right that they lacked a true leader to command them. But this ran counter to the east's cultural identity for the past million years. The only way to unite them would be through brutal violence.

What's more, Di Jun does not want to kill, only subdue. Killing powerful opponents was far easier than subduing them. The arrogant clan heads like Zhujiang, or Nine Infants would rather die than submit. Di Jun would need overwhelming firepower.

That woman certainly couldn't, she was a recent addition to Di Jun. her cultivation was still in the Great Unity Golden Immortal stage.

Hence, Taiyi stepped forward unleashing his cultivation base. "You can all rest assured. I will ensure everyone kneels to my brother. If any of you disagree, then prepare to face my wrath."

Taiyi's pressure was exponentially thicker then Di Jun's had been. If Di Jun was a sun, Taiyi was the entire solar system. Perhaps he was even further beyond that. A single ring of his bells began sending waves of fear through them but also settling the worries in their hearts.

"Enough Taiyi, they were only expressing their concerns," Di Jun calmly informed his younger brother to step down. His posture was brimming with confidence as he continued. He paused for a moment to direct his gaze at the crowd.

"But Taiyi is right. I will unite the countless clans of the Great Wilderness. Together we will beat back the devil threat and restore this land. Even if today, or tomorrow your homes are devastating, with me you will not be alone to fight nor to rebuild afterwards. I only ask you to have faith."

…

If one were to ask the Xihe studying under Wangshu where she'll be in a few thousand years, she'll not believe her current self's situation. In mere centuries after sneaking out of the East Sea dragon's watch, her and her sister found themselves in the middle of a burgeoning new nation.

But whereas Changxi held reservations, Xihe was all for it. Even now, after talking with Di Jun again after their second meeting several hundred years ago, the flames inhabiting her body burned with passion.

In a way, this was a betrayal to her master. Xihe had forsaken every spell and mantra that Wangshu had ever tried to impart to her for a then stranger's. Even though Xihe held some regret over that, she did not believe she made a mistake.

The magical arts of the the Supreme Lunar Star was simply not suited for her. No matter how much she tried over the years since her birth, she was never able to see anywhere near the same results as what she'd hoped. But now, with Di Jun and his magical techniques from the Solar Star? She felt like she'd finally achieved something.

"Sister," Changxi called out behind her causing Xihe to look back. Unlike Xihe, Changxi was dressed more modestly. She was also more uneasy compared to Xihe who brimmed with self assuredness.

"Um, now that daoist Di Jun has cemented himself. Should we move to more chaotic places and help?" Her younger, and also once upon a time more talented sister suggested. This caused Xihe to frown.

"No, I'm going to help brother Di Jun complete his quest. The countless scattered races of the Great Wilderness needs a leader. Plus, what can us two do by ourselves?" She argued back. "Besides, he needs our help."

From the beginning, ever since Da Hai departed after resetting order back to the East Sea. The two sisters had wanted to help in the war effort. Ultimately, the remaining forces of the East Sea was too busy to keep an eye on them, thus they easily snuck away. From there, they traveled throughout the nearest landmass(East Continent) to battle invading ghost devils.

Xihe never said it aloud, but it frustrated her how Changxi was the only one strong enough to make a difference in those fights. As a Great Unity Golden Immortal who hadn't even have an inclining of the delusion that would signify begginnings of the Dao, Xihe could only do so much.

"What do you mean?" Changxi cut herself off but still maintained a face of concern. As she thought about it, she could see the signs clearly. The tone in which Xihe said Di Jun's name was very telling. "Big sister, is it wise to tie yourself down so readily?"

Xihe gasped sporting a brief blush. She coughed into her hands and turned around.

"But big sister? What would master think when she returns? Plus, you've only known Di Jun for four hundred years," Changxi said.

"Who cares what master thinks? Uncle master came back without her. We don't even know if shes alive right now. Besides, it's my path and I can choose however I walk it," Xihe replied with force. Changxi took a step back when she saw Xihe's pupils seemingly ignite in dancing flames.

To say her older sister's progress Sped up was an understatement. Though she had yet to obtain the great principle, thus cementing her as an Intricate Theory and giving rise to a tangible fruit. She had previously bested a Chaos Immortal opponent who stood against Di Jun all on her own.

It wasn't like Changxi disliked Di Jun. But she didn't think this tumultuous time period was right for romantic relationships. Nor was she sure on Wangshu's reaction.

Xihe had already walked away from her. Di Jun had sent her a message asking to watch the sunset together. It was an activity they've done several times already whenever Di Jun wasn't in another battle.

For the first instance in her life, Xihe felt she was on the right path.

…

In the Central Continent, twelve enormous figures walked into the grand structure that was the Pangu Temple. Over centuries, the temple did not appear any different then it had before.

Within it, Di Jiang led the charge. He sat at the largest throne signifying his position as the leader of the twelve.

"Brothers and sisters, we're home."

"We're home!"

Yet Di Jiang did not relax. Like a certain sun crow, he grew unsatisfied with the anti-devil alliance. But his solution was vastly different.

Unlike Di Jun, Di Jiang was in many ways far more arrogant. The inherent superiority for a connate lifeform that was born directly from Pangu's blood essence was obvious to him and his family. Simply by being born, Di Jiang could already manipulate fundamental rules of nature despite having never cultivated the Dao.

The authority of him and his family was only lower then what the Heavenly Dao could command. While the latter was the guiding consciousness of the world, it's authority was gimped by their existence. The Primitive World had after all, absorbed Pangu's body. The creator god's flesh was apart of everything now.

In this manner, Di Jiang believed himself and his bloodline to be superior. In this manner, he did not believe the denizens of the Great Wilderness to be capable enough.

"Brothers and sisters, I assume you all know of my plan?"

"Yes, yes big brother. It's not like we've heard it a million times," Zhurong impatiently said while tapping his feat.

"If your IQ, who knows if you've forgotten," Gonggong mocked from his side of the room.

Xizi, Shebishi, Tianwu, Xuangming all laughed at the two rival brother's banter. But Zhu Jiuying roared for their silence. The twelve of them had returned to the ruins of Mt Buzhou for one purpose and one purpose alone, to create the perfect race.

Rushou, Jumang, Zhurong, Gonggong, Xuangming, Qiang Liang, Xizi, Tianwu, Shebishi all sat with barely concealed excitement. Zhu Jiuying was more calm, but even he held admiration for Di Jiang's intentions.

Houtu was the only one who sat a little more solemnly. But it was not anything to do with the act at hand. Rather, her mind still lingered at the torment of the land.

"Rest assured little sister," Di Jiang said after glancing at Houtu. Him leaning forward caused his flaps of meat to jiggle. "Soon we will exterminate the devils. We the true blood of the father god will stand victorious."

"Yeah," Houtu muttered. "Let's do this, the sooner we create them the better."

Di Jiang nodded and raised his arm. His brothers and sisters too raised their arms, or appendages that were equivalent to one. They each prepared to cut into their flesh and extract their own blood essence.

Despite how powerful they all were, at just twelve members their overall impact was small. But if they could spread their blood further, create a race of beings who all descent from Pangu and inherit the creator god's power.

Their blood essence alone wasn't all. The area around them played into effect. At the heart of the universe, the Pangu Temple sat deep within the ruins of Mt Buzhou. The celestial mountain's remains trembled.

Once, it was the pillar that held the world. It was where Da Hai found the 12 Petals White Lotus of Purification, where the Three Pure Ones found and split the 12 Petals Green Lotus of Destiny into three treasures, where the Heavenly Dao's embryo sat. So many events happened on it.

Luohu shattering the celestial mountain was a tragedy the twelve spawns of Pangu will never forget. So alongside their blood, they wanted the mountain to get it's revenge as well.

Even as the tribulation continued, tons of negative energy expelled from the earth and the heavens. Bloodlust was heavy and all living beings felt compelled to participate in conflict. Mt Buzhou's remains melted into maroon liquid.

Atop this sea of metallic smelling sludge, the Pangu Temple appeared like a raft. Di Jiang and his siblings all sat within extremely pale. They appeared the weakest they've ever been. If any of their foes encountered them now, they'll be able to kill them on the spot.

But their extracted blood essence, the very celestial qi condensed from Pangu's ancient and mighty body seeped into the sludge. Following that, the voices of billions of living beings filled the Central Continent.

"We'll need a name," Zhu Jiuying reminded them. "We can't just be the twelve connate lifeforms born from Pangu's blood anymore."

"And we don't want to be the same as those innate gods born of heaven and earth," someone else had said.

Di Jiang grunted in approval. "Well said, we are born only from Pangu. We do not respect the heavens nor the deities born from it. We are the true gods of the earth."

"Gods born and rule the earth?" another said.

"It's perfect," Di Jiang replied back. "From this moment on, we are Earthly Divinities. Out clan shall be known as the Earthly Divinities!"

His voice traveled across the continent. The sludge responded in kind, rapidly producing the twelve ancestor's dependents. Their bloodlines branched out into twelve families.

"Divinity! Divinity! Divinity!"

Numerous voices cried out. These were not any post natal descendants of innate creatures. These were the voices of the new Earthly Divinities.

"Divinity! Divinity! Divinity!"

Billions of limbs raised into the air like fist bumps. The Earthly Divinity clan members who'd emerged were all strange looking. But like their ancestors, they possessed magical powers that commanded nature despite not possessing Nascent Soul nor the ability to connect with the Dao.

Their bodies were supernaturally tough, and their appearances were monstrous. Gigantic, all of them. The mightiest among the new generation kneeled in front of Di Jiang and the others.

They proclaimed them to be their lords, the Ancestral Divinities. Eleven of them reveled in happiness. They were quick to prepare their new clan members for war.

A pale Houtu was the only one who remained silent. Despite all the commotion, her gaze was on something else.