The True Enemies

The flaw with Pangu was that he never saw the whole picture. He was never aware of the flaw in the Heavenly Dao. Da Hai, who was now fully aware of the myths, began explaining to Pangu every detail he knew of.

"So you're saying, that my work will become the catalyst to that ant Hongjun's ascension to Dao?"

Da Hai nodded at the confirmation. Pangu sighed in defeat, "So what are his intentions then? It seems from your description Hongjun becomes the Heavenly Dao itself."

"At the end of his third sermon, Hongjun bequeaths the Dao of the Three Corpses to many ancestors. He bestowed thousands of spiritual treasures as well. Chief amongst them being the remnants of your divine axe. Hongjun used his own Dao to complete the Heavenly Dao, fusing with it and becoming a part of the world itself," Da Hai explained.

"This is why he is referred to as the Dao ancestor, he is the progenitor of Daoism. The benevolent ancestor who sacrificed himself for the benefit of the world and gave away all he had. Murderer of my brother Huoyun. What a joke."

Pangu's statue scoffed, "Bullshit, Heavenly Dao was born from me. My Dao was already more than complete, I simply decided not to break through further. No actions like completing the Heavenly Dao was ever needed."

"How can you be so sure?" Da Hai asked curiously. He trusted Pangu's words far more than Hongjun but Pangu had not been a part of the world since its inception.

"My flesh did not take the last step, but my understanding of Dao was already at the Dao realm, the supreme stage after the stage of Chaos Immortal. The world created from me will be an order of magnitude greater than naturally forming universes. The Heavenly Dao born from me will be perfect, with the entirety of my understanding of the Great Dao behind it. There was never a need to complete it." he stated surely.

Da Hai pondered, the Heavenly Dao had purposefully sent him here, so it did not seem wholly pleased with Hongjun and Luohu attaching themselves to it. Seeing Da Hai's confused look Pangu elaborated on what he knew.

"Listen, the Heavenly Dao is fundamentally the will of the world to survive and improve. It is harsh but fair, impartial to any one side, be they good or evil. Heavenly Dao will only act against forces that threaten the world or when the evolution of the world is necessary."

"The Heavenly Dao most probably sent you down here for a reason, Da Hai. What you described is a violation of Heavenly Dao. Hongjun and Luohu essentially injected personality and autonomous thoughts into it. If this is true, the Heavenly Dao should be in turmoil with itself," Pangu said.

"And you want me to what? Restore the the Heavenly Dao to the way it was?" Da Hai asked.

"Unless you want to annihilate the world and start again," Pangu sighed in defeat. "It is likely that the Heavenly Dao has already incorporated this change, it is still young and all its defenses have not yet fully-formed. It would've swallowed anything that it deemed beneficial to it."

"Prime example being power from another powerful being, " Da Hai finished. The statue hummed in agreement.

"I can guess what happened afterwards. You were struck fiercely before even getting close to the Heavenly Dao right? The likely scenario is that it upped its guard against any and all things after it realized the changes happening within it." Pangu explained.

"Can anything be done, at all?" Da Hai asked.

"I guess you could find some way to establish an impartial system that can be incorporated by the Heavenly Dao, and have it become strong enough to overtake the influences of those ants Hongjun and Luohu. Otherwise, you have to live with it," Pangu said.

"Man, that would feel like living under Big Brother," Da Hai rubbed his temples. He felt really fatigued with the conversation.

Pangu chuckled, "Yes exactly like Big Brother, though less mechanical and more mystical, and far more absolute." Evidently Pangu was also aware of some pop culture of Earth.

Da Hai nodded along with Pangu. He felt what Pangu was saying was perfectly reasonable nad something he should strive for. As an innate god born of the Primitive World, it is in his nature to aid this universe's growth.

"Okay, so what must I…" Da Hai stopped. Signs of irritation flashed through his eyes again and his lips turned into a frown. He twitched several times before slamming his palms into his face.

"What is going on? Why am I just…"

"I didn't do anything if that's what you're concerned about. I mean have you seen my disposition?"

Da Hai glared at Pangu's statue.

"You're a god born from me. It's in your extinct. Given your youth and lack of experience, you don't have much experience ignoring it don't you? Chaos World Native creature problems," Pangu chuckled at the end.

"Make it stop!"

"Learn to yourself. I cannot help with that."

Da Hai straightened his back after calming down. 'Instinct huh? Come to think of it, I was adamant about a lot of things regarding the Primitive World,' he mentally kicked himself until Pangu spoke up again.

"Whatever the case, it seems out interest align. Helping me and the Heavenly Dao helps in your little revenge quest don't you think? Although you're not quite strong enough to combat them directly."

Various thoughts came and went through Da Hai's mind for a time. He sighed in frustration, 'If only I was born earlier." Hongjun and Luohu had a very early start, far longer than Da Hai. If Da Hai was born at the head of the generation, he could've done something.

'And Huoyun wouldn't have died,' Da Hai closed his eyes and clenched his fists until they drew blood. Looking at the dripping blood on his palms, they faded them out of existence by his will, so as to not dirty the sacred Pangu Temple.

He leaned back on the chair displaying the characters of calm water, looking defeated. This life has been one bad thing after the other, and now his friend is dead, even the Heavenly Dao is compromised. Then a theory popped into Da Hai's mind.

"Done brooding?" Pangu asked as he saw Da Hai get up from his thinking pose. Da Hai looked very serious when he began speaking again.

"Father god, why would Hongjun do all this? What motivates him to complete a supposed destiny from some mortal's mind?"

"The same answer as what I said earlier," Pangu replied. "To advance."

"Then another question, how are you sure there is no realm above the Dao?"

"I am unsure, however the Grand Dao is supreme, the beginning and the end. What could possibly exist above it?"

"Well I'm sure you are aware of my world's entertainment media, correct?"

"Yes?" Pangu replied, "What does this have to do with anything?"

"Well in a genre based on Chinese philosophy, called Xianxia, there is often a phrase thrown around, Transcendence. I've read quite a few books where the main character transcends the Dao and leaves for an even higher plane of existence," he explained. "Don't you think you squandered that chance?

Suddenly Pangu began laughing, "What? You would believe the prattling of fiction writers? This is real life, not something from a book you found off the internet." He said unbelievingly.

"But what if, father god? If either Hongjun and Luohu are so adamant about continuously advancing in cultivation, surely that's their end goal."

"Suppose I believe you. How will Hongjun or Luohu even accomplish this? At most, merging with my primitive world will only let them control the world, and possibly push their cultivation to the Dao realm. It'll make them virtually invincible but not push them into some make-believe realm," Pangu scoffed.

"In the future, the primitive world will transform into the three realms. Many supreme powerhouses exist, bound to the Heavenly Dao's orders within the Heavenly Court, not to mention the six saints who suppresses the world," Da Hai said.

"The saints were described as the ultimate existence where all beneath them are ants. They're likened to the Dao realm of the Chaos Sea with only the restriction of being under the control of the Heavenly Dao," Da Hai explained.

"All that'll do is provide the Heavenly Dao with extra muscle. I can see why it'll work with them in the scenario, but not the crack-pot theory of yours," Pangu disagreed.

"What if they believe that with enough power on their side they can forcefully break through into the Dao realm. Saints are pseudo-Dao realms themselves going by theoretical power scaling, plus the Heavenly Dao of yours which is already in the complete Dao-Birth realm, added on by the Heavenly Lords. Stellar Sovereigns, Rulers of the Mountains and Seas, Ancestral Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The combination of all these factors cannot be simple," Da Hai waved his arms around excitedly.

"All these powers put together should easily be above a Dao realm being. Even multiple Dao-realm characters might fall if they challenge it. It'll be an unprecedented power," Pangu concluded before he too began realizing something.

"The only Dao ancestor I knew of is Yuanling, he is a lofty figure who does nothing. All other candidates have already perished at my hands. No one has ever attempted to open a world before as a Dao ancestor. Theoretically speaking a Dao realm expert's Dao is the same as the Grand Dao," Pangu said in wonder.

"Dao realm beings should all have unique Daos no matter how similar they appear on the surface. What you have described, direct passage of one's Dao for the study of others who intern base their Dao realm cultivation upon it. Hongjun from your myths essentially made so everyone was following in his footsteps, his Dao. Hence no matter what they did they could never achieve Dao, only Saint of the Grand Dao.

"Meaning there is a possibility Hongjun and Luohu, whichever one wins, can make the three realms into a chaos world that'll replace the Chaos Sea. The Heavenly Dao will be the new Grand Dao, and as the being that personifies the Heavenly Dao Hongjun or Luohu will have the highest chance of transcendence with no obstacles to bother them," Da Hai continued.

"Thus he prevents the appearance of a second Dao realm being while retaining a combat force that could rival one. Enslavement of living beings followed by forceful takeover of the established order, followed by more enslavement. How wonderful," Pangu concluded in understanding.

"Fascinating speculation," he praised.

"It is the most cynical take on the myths I can think of. One that fits the mould of my enemies," Da Hai said. "I guess in this way you and I are aligned." He turned around to walk away.

"Wait Da Hai."

Pangu's presence expanded outwards in the shape of a very faint giant. The figure sat crossed legged, suspended in the air and pointed at the godfiend.

"Before you go. I have to be sure you'll follow through with this mission. That you'll carry through battling Hongjun and Luohu to the very end."

"You doubt my resolve?"

"Ultimately you and I are strangers. How can I put so much trust in you? But I have a solution to that."

Da Hai tilted his head. "Get on with it then."

"Become my disciple, accept the vow of master and disciple. The bond of teacher and student is akin to that of parent and child in your culture is it not?"

"In the godfiend's culture," Da Hai corrected. But he mentally found himself agreeing with that statement. There was a sacredness in that bond stemming from his inheritance from Tian Hai's side. "Alright fine."

Da Hai knelt down and performed a ceremony with Pangu. In this way, he accepted discipleship under Pangu and brought relief to the former.

After a while of silence the two had come to terms with what they've learned from each other.

"If nothing else I'm leaving."

"Wait disciple, can I ask you a favour?" Pangu asked.

"You are already my master, you don't need to ask."

"Please, find a way to thwart them. My creation should never be desecrated like this," he said slowly. Da Hai was also in thought, what Hongjun and Luohu was attempting to do was morally wrong.

However Da Hai had the mind of a godfiend with only some influence from a human. Desire for progression to the next realm was inherent in all of them. Hongjun's and Luohu's desire to progress wasn't really wrong from a fellow godfiend's point of view. But at the same time, to halt the progress of others was a moral sin to a godfiend.

It was unthinkable to willingly destroy another's path in cultivating the Dao. No amount of human memories can ever make this ingrained truth go away. Even now, a part of him viewed Pangu as a gave sinner.

Pangu wanted them stopped because he couldn't bear to see his creation and his own sacrifice being taken advantage of so blatantly like this. Da Hai's true goal was vengeance.

"I already have enough motivation to do so master," Da Hai said, albeit hesitantly on the last word. He had already decided to do this long before meeting Pangu. "All that's left is the how," he stated.

"I'm sure you can find a lot of help, nobody likes being controlled. But most crucial thing is your strength. You need to improve your Dao realm, the Chaos Immortal realm is not like lower realms. The gulf between it and Dao is so massive that we came up with subdivisions to describe major milestones. Da Hai, you must perfect your Dao to the Limitless Supreme level. If possible, figure out the Dao and reach the Dao realm proper, that is my request as your master."

Da Hai cupped his hands and bowed, "As you wish master."

"As a master I guess I should bequeath something to you but unfortunately I have no treasures on me," Pangu stated sadly.

Just then merits golden light descended from above the temple. This light reached into the building and manifested several things. A flag depicting waves, a cauldron with the image of Wuji, a wheel laced in gold, a sword with water dripping from it, and finally a tree sap.

Da Hai recognised all of them as high grade Xiantian spiritual treasures with the exception of the flag, which was a top grade treasure. This flag's name was also something he recognised, the Xuanyuan Water Control Flag, one of the leaves of the 36 Petals Chaos Lotus, and of the same origin as the 12 Petals White Lotus.

"Huh? Well I guess the Heavenly Dao can observe down here after all," Pangu said amused.

"Heavenly Dao want's what is best for the world. If Hongjun or Luohu proved they're more beneficial to it, it may even take action against me. If I prove beneficial, it will go against them," Da Hai said as he stored the treasures away.

"The Heavenly Dao owes me too much for its existence. It owes me an un-repayable debt. You have my blessings, disciple, the Heavenly Dao will always be partial to you," Pangu wished him luck.

Da Hai nodded. Surely the Heavenly Dao will be his greatest ally in this war.

"And one last favor if I may," Pangu suddenly brought up.

"What is it?" Da Hai asked feeling a bit annoyed.

"Those blood pools outside, they're my blood. The beings born from them will be the closest thing to my children. Can you look after them for me?" He requested.

"I will uh... master," Da Hai bowed to Pangu one last time.

"Haha, good, good, too good, I can finally rest in peace," Pangu's words became more and more slurred until eventually it faded. Da Hai sighed and bowed once more. He then materialised some incense and placed them into a small jar at the front of Pangu's statue. Small amounts of merit descended at this action.

Walking outside Da Hai sighed looking very tired, the excitement was over. His shoulders slumped as the adrenaline from prior events suddenly wore off.

"What a day," he muttered.