The Great Wilderness

It was completely new experience, traveling with Huoyun that is. Tian Hai wanted to say he knew him well. He did know him well in fact. He knew his tells, his habits, he could even predict what Huoyun would likely say next.

Yet there was just something.

Something so strange about their interaction.

Almost as if they were strangers meeting for the first time. The closest analogy Tian Hai could come up with was if two online friends met up in real life for the first time. Familiar yet stranger.

Five thousand years had passed since the incident at the valley. Five thousand short years going by what Huoyun told Tian Hai from time to time. Not that the eight headed immortal would know given that he hadn't notice much of the passage of time.

That was another aspect of being an innate god that came as a confounding experience to him. The sheer passage of time he experienced that he knew was logically true, yet could not experience it the same way as the mortal mind he once was did.

Five thousand years was enough for dozens of civilizations to rise and fall yet Tian Hai felt as if only five days had passed. It just wasn't something he'd notice unless pointed out. Even Huoyun was much the same even if he could instantly tell the time anyways.

Speaking off, Huoyun became anther constant aspect of Tian Hai's life over the years. He'd much appreciated it after what happened. He didn't know where Hou Pi went and while he was curious he did not wish to disturb the ape immortal. Huoyun on the other hand was much more pleasant to be around.

Tian Hai found him to be cool the hang out with. He was patient, friendly, and very knowledgeable. Just speaking to him filled in the gaps of history within the Chaos Sea. He was like that perfect older sibling character who you can never live up to from how perfect he was.

The two's joining up was much to Tian Hai's benefit in his personal opinion. For a time they wondered the East Continent with no company but each others. Huoyun did most of the leading and even tried to teach him how to fight again. Rekindle he called it even if Tian Hai was a bit clumsy.

And it was shocking how much more powerful Huoyun was compared to him. Back in the Chaos Sea, they were somewhat equal. At least that was what he'd liked to say. Sure the Five Elements deity definitely held the advantage but he was no slouch either.

Huoyun was a master of fire, water, wood, metal, and earth. Yet he was also an expert of many esoteric powers such as spacetime, weapons, formations, alchemy, mind etc. He was like an arc mage who had dabbled in all forms of magic.

The Immortal cultivation that they Chaos Godfiends practiced was magic in the first place. Daoist magic that focused on exploring the myriad possibilities of the Dao and manifesting them as supernatural abilities. Wether this was done by hand to hand martial arts like Tian Hai in the past or through meditation and more spiritual practices like Huoyun didn't matter.

It was a sad reality for Tian Hai. Goes to show how much he'd regressed since he'd transformed. He remembered not being much during his life on planet earth. Little more than a new high school graduate before the pandemic hit.

But he also remembered how much he thrived during his time in the Chaos Sea. He was a terrifying martial menace. Each of his punches sent his opponents fleeing and the force of his kicks had shattered the physiques of many proud martial warriors.

"Hey what're you thinking about? Concentrate on our match!"

THWACK!

"Gah!"

Tian Hai's crossed arms could not withstand the blow of the gigantic ethereal punch Huoyun had sent his way. He skirted across the surface the lake and barely managed to stop his body from moving back any further.

Another constant to their days were regular sparing matches. Ways Huoyun hoped to rekindle Tian Hai's fighting spirit or something of the sort. Truthfully, the snake immortal found it all a bit ridiculous.

Huoyun was relentless in his attacks. Though he did not move much from his own position, he manifested twin serpents from his hands. One had the face of an old man with fire for hair while the other had the face of an old woman with steel for hair. They roared like dragons and blasted out two coloured beams at him.

Tian Hai horridly retrieved his water jug from his waist and swung it at Huoyun's attacks. The force of his blow managed to offset Huoyun's own which brought a smile to Huoyun's face. The godfiend chuckled and chose to goad Tian Hai on a little longer.

"Come on, is that the best you can do?"

Huoyun came down on Tian Hai's position with strike consisting of clouds shaped like a hammer. Tian Hai threw up a barrier of water to separate himself from Huoyun. Yet the impact of the blow was so great that Tian Hai's temporary barrier was smashed apart near effortlessly.

Huoyun threw his arm out and a part of his clouds split way. They transformed into a palm made of solid wood that struck Tian Hai right in the face.

THOOM!

Tian Hai flew across the late again, skirting across the water multiple times before smashing into a rock formation on the other side. The consequence was that the ground beneath him cracked like spiderwebs along with rubble that tumbled down.

Tian Hai groggily got out of the rubble holding his head in his hands. His visible grimace was a sign of another headache he had had.

'He could've avoided that easily. Could've easily countered with his Flood Gates Palm,' Huoyun thought with concern. He straightened his back and made a goading gesture at the smaller immortal. The smirk on his face would no doubt send Tian Hai into an irritated frenzy.

'How dare he? Smash him to pieces!' 'Beat him up!'

Tian Hai grimaced and released a snarl like noise. "Fine!" He spat and pushed his hand into the lake's edge. Using his immortal power, he lifted all the water of their arena into the air.

The two were testing their powers upon one of the East Continent's many lakes. One that was easily several tens thousand kilometres in diameter. On a small planet like earth this would be an unimaginably sized ocean. But here in the Primtivie World, it was only so so.

Tian Hai's movements created creatures from his memory of earth. A mythical feline with a fiery mane formed with a wide gaping mouth. An azure lion with nine heads made completely out of water.

"Cute," Huoyun commented with a nonchalant shrug. "Come on Tian Hai. This is just a crude animation from your powers. It's barely a technique. Show me some of that aggression like you use to."

Tian Hai felt sweat glistening on his forehead. Huoyun's comments hurt hence he angrily ordered the lion to smash into the godfiend. The controlled the construct with all his might and amplified it with his immortal energies. It should be easily capable of shattering mountains in the Great Wilderness.

One must know that the stability of the Primitive World's environment was astronomically high compared to small planets like earth. Even though the world was still young and can still be described to be in an unstable state, it was still thousands of times above that of ordinary planets. Breaking a mountain in the Primitive World would be the equivalent of annihilating galaxies in the observable universe.

"Let's see how you like that…huh?"

THOOM!

Huoyun's frown was very evident. Tian Hai could even see it even as the stronger immortal held back the lion's heads with a single hand. His other hand traced up in a slicing motion. What followed was a bright flash of fiery light and the complete destruction of the water construct.

Tian Hai stood back stunned. The lake was gone curtesy of them both. But while he felt exhausted and a little scared, Huoyun was completely unfazed.

"Tian Hai," Huoyun said. "What's with all the cheeps tricks. Where you not an unparalleled martial artist? What happened to your invincible scaled fists?"

Tian Hai released a groan. His hand reached down to grab ahold of his jug with a desire to prove Huoyun wrong. He had already refined Hu Lingji's old treasure and made it his own. He should be able to unleash a much more powerful attack then she ever could.

"Relying on the power of a xiantian spiritual treasure?" Huoyun asked with displeasure. "We're you not the one bragging about how you refined your fists and scales to the same level toughness as high grade xiantian spiritual treasures?"

'Oh right,' Tian Hai recalled with a slight flush across his cheeks. 'No I'm stronger using a treasure then not. No matter what happened in the past my current body is not my past one.'

'I never needed such treasures.' 'Ooh, treasure…'

Tian Hai sucked in a deep breath. 'No he's right. I'm Tian Hai of the Chaos Godfiends formerly a human from earth. My martial arts should naturally be much more impressive then Huoyun's.' He examined his opponent and noticed he wasn't moving.

He threw his jug out and slapped its side. This released a scalding torrent of water in a high pressured blast. Huoyun Humphrey casually waved his hand. Five colours of red, black, white, green, and yellow gathered within his body. All of a sudden, it was as if the perfect harmony that was the origin of all life had manifested within the godfiend's body.

From his palm, a prism created from five coloured lights penetrated Tian Hai's water blast splitting it in multiple directions. But Tian Hai had already known Huoyun would likely do this, wanted him to even.

Tian Hai felt incredibly nervous for what was about to come next. His heart quickened as he commanded the water he'd released to transform into their gases state. Through daoist magical arts, Tian Hai created a massive blob of steam clouds that acted to burned Huoyun.

"Hot, but did you forget I'm a master of fire as well? It's in my name for heaven's sake," Huoyun groaned shaking his head. He wasn't injured in the slightest and only absorbed the heat from the water. With another thought, he began willing the water vapor away into the form of its liquid state.

This was when Tian Hai attacked again

PAH!

Huoyun's hand reacted near instantaneously. His palm caught Tian Hai's punch and he looked back with a raised eyebrow. Tian Hai punched and kicked aggressively, so much so that Huoyun leaned back startled.

Tian Hai followed this up with another punch complete with a growl. He roared and snarled and attacked with ferocious punches and kicks. His skin had even taken on the texture of his true form, scaly and rough.

"Rah!"

Tian Hai punched with his arm and transformed it into five twisting serpent heads. They wrapped around each other into a fist aiming for the fleeting Huoyun. The godfiend in response held his arm out to block, allowing the giant arm to scrape past his own.

He however wore a frown.

One would think this was what he wanted. After all, Tian Hai was showing a display of strength which he once exhibited in the Chaos Sea. But he was not pleased whatsoever.

'This is pathetic.' 'I could've done better.'

This thought did not come from Huoyun. It came from Tian Hai. Because the display Tian Hai was putting on was far from up to standard.

In the Chaos Sea, Tian Hai was a combat maniac. A never ending barrage of assaults. He was like a raging ocean filled with endless fury. A tsunami that would never stop even after its consumed its prey with its sheer scope and power.

That was Tian Hai's martial arts as intended. But in the current Tian Hai's hands. His fists which were supposed to resemble humongous tsunami waves were more like rapid water flows of a stream. Fast moving, but with none of the force nor the ferocity.

A pale imitation and they both knew it.

Tian Hai stopped after the forty eight punch. He stood stare staring at his own hands, the water jug tied securely to his waist once more. "I'm sorry," he said like a child who'd been told off.

"What are you sorry for?" Huoyun asked with a raised eyebrow. "Your attacks were pretty good. I mean they could be a little more aggressive but…"

"Aren't you underselling it? That was a pathetic display," Tian Hai sighed.

"Brother, one day you'll gain back your fighting spirit again. I know losing your Dao fruit was rough. Trust me I know that feeling too. But we'll get them back one day. Then we can sour in the sky again as the mighty figures we once were."

"You really think so?" Tian Hai asked. But what he really meant in his head was, 'Do you really think that's it?'

'My Dao, how dare he take it! Filthy Pangu!' 'We'll form the Dao of the supreme emperor and rule uncontested in the Primitive World!'

Tian Hai groaned and clutched his head once again. His breathing became rapid even as he sorted out the pain.

Seeing his sworn brother like this, Huoyun approached with worry. "You okay?"

"No, head hurts."

Huoyun scratched the bottom of his chin in thought. "Hm, now that you mention it you do seem to do that a lot. Has this been a chronic issue?"

"For years. I'm surprised you didn't comment on it faster."

"Mmh I haven't given it much thought until now. But it might have…" Huoyun trailed off as studied Tian Hai's face. Rather he was actually looking through the sea god to see his soul and inner cosmos.

As an innate god, Tian Hai should be born complete from inception. As such Huoyun studied him closely for any signs of anomalies. But he couldn't find anything substantial about him, he appeared entirely normal for the most part.

"I know you've been recalling more and more events as time goes on."

"Right."

"I'm thinking the recall might've something to do with your headaches. Might just be the influx of information that's disturbing you. Either way, its not exactly a bad thing."

"So you say," Tian Hai muttered unconvinced. "It's hampering. Whenever I do anything I get these…well it's unpleasant alright?"

"I can guess. I'll say this, at higher cultivation realms you'll be able to handle larger doses of information faster. You'll just need to recover back to the Great Unity realm and your mind would be more at ease."

On the road of cultivation, the higher realm one attains the more information they would be able to store in their heads. Tian Hai nodded at Huoyun's suggestion but he didn't find much hope in it. For one, he had little clue on how to become a Great Unity Golden Immortal realm being.

The two discussed things a little more and Tian Hai communicated his doubts about reaching that realm. However Huoyun merely told him that given enough time he'd be able to recover enough. Because in Huoyun's mind, they were not cultivating so much as they were healing themselves.

"So, where to now?" Tian Hai asked after they'd settled down. Their plans were essentially over and Tian Hai did fear Huoyun would leave him be. He was his only source of companionship as well as true protection in the Primitive World.

Huoyun made a humming noise. "Well where do you want to go? Because I don't have much interest aside from closed door cultivation and the occasional spell technique testing."

"I was thinking we should make our way to Mt Buzhou," Tian Hai blurted out. It hadn't been his original intention, it was just something that immediately popped into his mind the moment the discussion of destination came up."

Mt Buzhou was extremely far away. But despite that, it was the most powerful mountain in the universe. Deep down, Tian Hai did want to visit the legendary mountain of Chinese mythology. The fact that it was also said to be the birthplace of numerous powerful spiritual treasures were a natural bonus.

For anyone who reincarnated into the archaic world of Chinese mythology, Mt Buzhou was definitely a destination they cannot miss.

"Buzhou?" Huoyun closed his eyes and opened his mind to the Dao. Within a few moments, he divined what Tian Hai had meant. "Ah, Pangu's spine correct? The celestial mountain that lies as the lynchpin of this Chaos World?"

"Yes, I want to see if I can gain any fortune there."

"Hm, understandable. I too am lacking suitable treasures. My old Five Pointed Star and Crimson Robe were destroyed by Pangu. Okay then, let's go to Mt Buzhou."

The two got up and looked westward. Buzhou may be far, but it was also clearly visible. In fact, Buzhou was so big that it was visible from every corner of the world. It was a mountain that stood trillions upon trillions of kilometres high. And even that may just be a lowball estimate of a single peak of the mountain. It's true peak was invisible high up in the clouds.

'It's majestic," Tian Hai thought as he observed the distant mountain. It was so mesmerizing now that Tian Hai was fully appreciating it. But while he was being hypnotized by the mountain's sight, Huoyun turned his head in another direction.

"We got company," Huoyun said.

Tian Hai took one step forward. Then Huoyun pulled him back. The action was abrupt and forced a gasp out of the younger sea god.

"I said watch out!" Huoyun commanded in a serious tone. He had narrowly saved Tian Hai from a monstrously hideous creature with a wrinkly face resembling a corpse.

"Ah!" Tian Hai screamed at the sight of the thing. The primordial beast seemed to take this chance to lunge for Tian Hai with a roar.

"ROAR!" It cried with earth shattering power.

'Fuck! What do I do? Punch or was it water blast?' Tian Hai thought in a panic. In the heat of the moment he backed away instinctually.

'Attack!' 'Pull back first!'

It was almost comical the way Tian Hai just tripped with his head in his palms again.

"That's enough!"

Just as soon as the primordial beast came, Huoyun had also taken action. His attack was not seen by Tian Hai because he had his eyes closed. But by the time he opened them, the primordial beast was already ashes scattered to the wind. Huoyun only had an exasperated look on his face.

"I'm surprised you didn't sense it before me," he said. "Why didn't you counter attack?"

"Sorry, I don't know what came over me."

"You head again?"

Tian Hai nodded in anger. It wasn't directed at Huoyun but at himself. He was scared when the creature popped up out of nowhere. But he was also frozen in indecision.

Huoyun sighed and approached Tian Hai. "Things just aren't ever simple are they? I'll see what I can do. Hold still."

Huoyun placed his fingers on the sides of Tian Hai's head and began chanting. His magical daoist arts was felt immediately by Tian Hai who felt a stream of elemental energy meld into his consciousness. Rather then resist, he chose to trust Huoyun and allowed him to do what needed to be done.

'Attacks! Mind! Kill!' 'No one is trustworthy in the Primitive World. Kill or Run!'

"Nrrggghh!" Tian Hai felt a sharp pain through his scalp but managed to just barely hold down his flinch. Huoyun frowned by continued anyway. As he worked, Tian Hai felt his mind clear more and more.

Then it was just silence.

"Huh?"

"Clearer now?" Huoyun asked.

"Uh yes. What did you do?"

"I made a barrier in your head with the five elements. It's uh…meant to block out parts of your mind. A seal if of one's mind if you will. You won't have any recall moments but you should be more comfortable now," he said almost in a regretful way.

Huoyun had a far away look that was hard to deduce by Tian Hai. "Anyway, you said Mt Buzhou right? Well let's go to Mt Buzhou."

"Right. Let's go," Tian Hai replied happily. He felt great now that his head was a lot clearer.

…

North Sea

Thunderous waves crashed upon the the rapid waters of the coldest sea of the Great Wilderness. Countless bodies pools of blood had long mixed into the icy waters, bathing them in a layer of red.

Just as how the East Sea of the past knew no calm in its infinite storm. The North Sea was currently covered by a storm of its own. An aftershock from a titanic clash of experts that had lasted for thousands of years.

Dozens upon dozens of innate gods travelled to the North Sea after sensing something thousands of years ago. Since then it has been a non stop scramble to attain a prize that would move even the hearts of the most reserved godfiend. Yet the end result was dozens dead and many fleeing southwards back to mainland. Even Yang Mei had briefly been a part of the scramble.

Xiantian spiritual treasures were connate existences. They were spawned complete from the energies of heaven and earth and the chaotic source energies of the Chaos Sea. Normally they could only ever exist outside the world in the Chaos Sea as ordinary universes do not posses the power needed to birth them.

They were separated into three main grades and an extra even stronger grade. Low rank, middle rank, and high rank were the norm. Even rich godfiends only possessed a few high ranks at any given time. It was common to not even posses a single one even for accomplished experts.

Top rank xiantian spiritual treasures were both incredibly rare and also incredibly powerful. Treasures that would make the deciding difference of any battle they appeared in. In the Chaos Sea, only a few such treasures existed. The Kunwu sword and Qiankun ruler being among them.

So strong where they that they even allowed a middling godfiend like Ancestor Kunwu to brawl against top tier powerhouses like Yang Mei or Huoyun.

Yet even top grade xiantian spiritual treasures could not cause such a scramble. That was because there existed realms above even these kinds of supreme treasures. Two in fact. The fabled Dao artifacts and their lesser versions, chaos spiritual treasures.

When Pangu first appeared, he wielded three Dao artifacts. His infamous axe which split apart the Chaos Sea, the 36 Petal Chaos Green Lotus, and his Jade Fortune Disc. But when the Primitive World was created, these three mighty treasures were lost admits the chaos.

The raw essence of the Chaos Sea in addition to the powerful backlash Pangu suffered managed to break all three nigh omnipotent weapons. The Chaos Godfiends had witnessed this at the moments of their reincarnation and as such, knew that even their degraded forms would be powerful items to own.

Now, not one but two had appeared.

Well, only one appeared in the North Sea. The second one was unexpectedly already owned by someone else.

"Curses," a deep rumbling voice of a titanic creature said bitterly. This was a gigantic terrestrial mammal, a tortoise with size of such magnitudes that he would qualify as an island in and off itself. Considering the size scale of the Primitive World, his shell alone had more landmass than galaxies.

This was Ao, the best defensive expert of the Chaos Godfiends. He did not qualify to stand among the top experts, but he was still a very capable immortal who was able to survive for many yuanhui on his own. Solitary and benevolent, he was non violent by nature and rarely if ever fought someone to the death.

Ao looked up regrettably at another figure, a burly old man dressed in purple robes. He had wrinkly skin and long white beard and hair. He looked to be the stereotypical wise old immortal master of Chinese fantasy. An immortal who stood upon a cloud of purple light.

In his hands there were two treasures. In his left hand was a swirling mass of black and white. They complimented each other and existed alongside each other yet were also separated. Constantly spinning and changing. A diagram that was said to depict the nature of the Dao itself.

If Tian Hai was here, he'd instantly recognize this treasure. The Chaos ranked Taiji Painting. It was originally the handle of the Pangu Axe but now stood as a treasure of its own.

In the old daoist's other hand was the treasure these godfiends were scrambling for. A flagpole held steadily in the daoist's hand with the flag itself fluttering in the wind. A treasure transformed by the axe head of the Pangu Axe, a banner with a depiction of Pangu attacking the Chaos Sea on one aside, and an image of Pangu lifting heaven on the other.

This was the Pangu Banner.

The old daoist who owned them was naturally Hongjun, the Mysterious Saint of Profound Mysteries. He was an ancient godfiend who was lucky enough to reincarnate into the Great Wilderness just like many others. Unlike others, he had restored his powers extremely quickly.

"Hongjun, I respect your strength. But I too have desires," Ao the tortoise said trying to rise up to the sky. His shells as cracked and he was bleeding everywhere. But he clearly still had fighting intentions. "You already posses a chaos ranked spiritual treasure. Do you not think it unfair?"

"Ao old friend," Hongjun began. "Nothing is ever fair in the world. The only fairness is the law of the jungle. I desire this treasure too just as you and everyone else." He swung the Pangu Banner down at Ao but his eyes held no true malice.

Neither Ao nor Hongjun really disliked the other. But in a competition to gain benefits, they'd naturally become enemies. Of Ao was too pushy, Hongjun would be forced to kill him as well.

A third party watched the two do battle yet had no intention of interfering. He was faceless and wore a robe what covered his entire body. Neither side payed him attention at all for this godfiend had already given up and was only enjoying the fireworks.

Ao was ultimately powerless before the Pangu banner's might. Despite regaining his strength as Great Unity Golden Immortal shortly before, the Pangu Banner easily split apart his shell and forced him down into the northern ocean. Here at the furthest extremities of the world, Ao crashed near the small bit of land that was the North Pole.

Hongjun watched Ao in deep thought. He went over his own thoughts and plans for his future. "Ao, it has been a pleasure doing battle with you. You were an exemplary opponent."

Ao did not respond as he was already too injured. Instead the third party asked Hongjun a question.

"Do you intend on killing him?" The hooded man asked. Hongjun raised an eyebrow at the question.

"No of course not Hundun. Ao and I have no grievances to settle."

"Oh." Hundun sounded almost disappointed.

"But for the…hm…" Hongjun lifted the Taiji Painting and unleashed it down at Ao. "Ao old friend. Apologies for this action"

"What? Hongjun I already lost. Leave me be!" Ao cried out in desperation. He stomped with his legs and shrunk back into his shell intending to roll away.

"Attack? No. I simply need a few contingencies in case I am not successful. You will not see harm done to you and I'm sure in time you'll realize the necessity of this when the will of heaven comes into being. Restore your power well. Taiji Painting, unleash the Cosmic Weight Seal!"

Before Ao could even respond, a titanic mass crashed onto his body. He sank into the ocean, his legs standing square on the ocean surface as he was enveloped by the ocean. Though Ao had become a Great Unity Golden Immortal, he was powerless to resist.

Hundun watched impassively. "That seemed pointless. Ao is hardly a threat to you."

"He's a contingency. In case things do wrong," Hongjun said mysteriously before turning his full attention to Hundun. Suddenly, Hundun felt an invisible yet crushing pressure upon his person. He felt as if he could neither run nor fight back before Hongjun.

"I'm a sensible man so I'll tell you this. Tell Shenni to give up his mission else I will destroy him. That is all."

"You really think you can measure up to Shenni? You who rank among the lowest members of the three thousand Chaos Godfiends?"

"The only reason I'm not counted in the big four is because I never bothered," Hongjun chuckled. "That goes for that idiot Luohu as well."

Hongjun spared one last look at both Hundun and Ao who was beneath the waves and left. He had been away from the East Continent for too long and he longed to see home again.

Hundun looked away. Ao was making noises similar to weeping sounds and to Hundun it was a bit pathetic. But he supposed the tortoise had no choice in the matter. Perhaps if he were to return to full power he would be able to escape from Hongjun's seal.

Ao's cultivation specialized in size and stability. He simply did not have much offensive options other then size. Perhaps if he were to grow big enough?

Nevertheless, Hundun left for mainland. He had news to report to Shenni. That and he could give his brothers in arms aid with their campaign as well.