Converged Paths over 30,000 years II

Wangshu sped as fast as her body could take her. No longer sporting a humanoid form, she'd long assumed the form of a crawling tree. Her roots pulled her mass throughout the perpetually confused landscape of the Chaos Sea.

But even after traveling for thousands of years, she could still feel the presence of the three Dao Ancestors. They were more distant now, but she could still feel them. Their attention was never on her, but the power they projected made it seem as if they were.

The knowledge that something so powerful could be out there was both incredible yet horrifying. Wangshu was not sure how long exactly she'd been fleeing away from them, even her internal clock was muddled by the environment of the Chaos Sea.

When she'd first departed with Da Hai, he'd explained that because of the nature of this place, calculating time by the time flow of their home Chaos World was functionally pointless. As a matter of fact, gauging time by observing the time of a standard Chaos World from it's birth till its end was the best way to calculate time.

However, Wangshu was not used to this system and had been reliant on Da Hai in their initial trip to meet Shiva. In some instances, it felt like she'd been flying for millions of years while covering the same distance as several thousand.

Wangshu knew she had made great distance, but it changed nothing about that feeling. She knew that despite traveling away for so long, she felt no closer to the Primitive World.

"Da Hai! Where did you go?"

Her branches and her trunks felt supernatural changes around them. Bits of her wooden surface creaked as her danger senses rang uncontrollably. The currents of energy around her environment was getting fiercer and fiercer.

In the forever stretching distance, the Dao Ancestors were still having their 'discussion'. But shockwaves was bending the Chaos Sea to an extraordinary extent.

It would've been nowhere near as fierce as when Pangu cut into the fabric of reality and attempted to force the Chaos Sea into a state of decay and rebirth. But it still caused tunnels of ferocious currents to start warping into existence.

From the corner of her senses, Wangshu could see what must've been thousands of Chaos Worlds being dragged into those tunnels. Even ones that were incredibly developed with strong Heavenly Daos were helpless as their outer barrier were torn apart and their interior annihilated from exposure to the dense environment of the Chaos Sea.

"This is like void currents but on a tremendously larger scale," she gasped. Her lower roots were being dragged as well despite her efforts to pull them back.

Her divine body was too strong to be damaged, but her trajectory can be changed if she was dragged in. Her sense of direction was already not good in this place, if she were to lose her way? Who knew how long it'll take to get back.

Her branches began glittering as countless fruits emerged from her like shining stars. Rays of starry rivers emerged around her creating platforms for her to pull herself. But those platforms were also suffering the same suction force she was.

Beyond her notice, a rip in spacetime caused transformations of elemental qi sparkled into place. A sort of black hole opened up with a totally unobservable interior. That was until a tendril reached out from beyond the event horizon.

It was a wooden tendril, one that gave of incredibly vitality while also being shaped like a gentle hand. It's surfaced was adorned with profound runes that appeared to be the product of unknown spells.

Wangshu felt the unknown force wrap around her trunk, her face snarled at the sudden interaction. Her tree like true form began taking its multi armed wooden humanoid combat mode.

"This feeling though, familiar? It can't be!" Wangshu's glowing eyes looked for the first time at the hand pulling her. Lowering her guard, her resistance dropped. Immediately, her upper and lower body lurched towards the currents.

But subsequently, the arm at her waist pulled her back with even greater force. The black hole it emerged from shrunk exponentially, disappearing as if it never existed in the first place. Wangshu heard countless chimes accompanying the sound of spring breeze.

Dozens upon dozens of 'Pah,' sounds rang her eardrums. Willow fruits emerged into existence, flying towards the tide of chaotic energy flow along the direction of the arm. They transformed into bursts of complex spells that became sort of pillars.

Just like that, the force pulling her diminished significantly. Even more shocking was a glass like shell growing around the pillars. They were directing the currents to take a smooth turn away from her.

"I did not expect us to meet again like this." An elderly mysterious voice said to Wangshu. It was one she recognized from her girlhood. A senior she'd long stopped thinking about. "It is good to see you little girl."

"This is unexpected Yang Mei," Wangshu replied. She placed a claw around the arm around her waist and pulled it loose.

Yang Mei's familiar figure appeared distant in her gaze. Physically, he hadn't changed at all. But the air he put on was completely different then before. Behind the old man, the shadow of a majestic willow tree swayed.

"Completing the Dao as well as finding the path of Wuji. I did not underestimate your comprehensive abilities," Yang Mei praised. His mood was one of elation at having seen an old friend.

"I came found myself here by chance, who would've thought I'd see exalted beings fighting?" Yang Mei mused as Wangshu came to stand next to him. Of course, he was referring to the light show put on by the three Dao Ancestors in the distance. Neither he nor Wangshu could accurately see what was going on nor did they dare.

"It may be dangerous, but it's a once in a lifetime oppor…"

"I'm not staying to watch some spat," Wangshu denied. "It's good to see you again but I need to leave."

"That kid?" Yang Mei felt unpleasant memories arise. "He's still alive? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Towards the end, his talent finally showed itself. You are still acquainted with him?"

"For the past eleven Yuanhui since you left," Wangshu said examining her surroundings. Her confusion was obvious to her lack of experience in navigating the Chaos Sea to Yang Mei. "Da Hai fled suddenly, probably back to the Primitive World and I need to catch up to him."

"Pangu's creation is that way," Yang Mei sighed and pointed. At Wangshu's surprise he chuckled. "I've lived in the Chaos Sea for two thirds of my existence, knowing where things are isn't too hard. Here, I'll impart you my method."

"Thank you, daoi…old guy," she said

"Little girl," Yang Mei said after transferring his technique telepathically. "Such an opportunity to witness apex existences in action is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I sincerely doubt whatever the incident is as impactful as this."

"Just stay and observe with me, learn a few things," he said while scratching his beard. Even as he spoke, his eyes which denote deep concepts of spacetime was fully focused on the distant brawl. The current Yang Mei's mastery of such a Dao has far exceeded the Chaos Godfiend's premiere spacetime expert Qiankun.

"Besides, that brat likely has brother Huoyun with him. I may not agree, but those two did form a strong bond akin to our past. It's been so many yuanhui, he's definitely reached his peak again. I doubt the trouble is all that big with him around."

The godfiend concluded his argument with a closing statement hoping to convince Wangshu. After, long ago he grew to see her as half a disciple. Even if he was ultimately focused on his own path, he did want the best for her as well.

But Wangshu was silent. "Ah…Huoyun is dead."

The constricting of his pupils was only the beginning. She watched silently as Yang Mei's engrossed observing face changed.

"What?"

…

Fifteen thousand years, fifteen thousand years of on again off again fighting across the Great Wilderness. It made Jiang Koiling weary.

The old dragon had been around to see it all at this point. After aiding a phoenix to restore order to the South Continent for the seventh time, he'd departed to help other areas.

Thankfully, the new addition of the Divinity race has been a severe boon to the war efforts. Though their numbers were not too great, each member of that clan posses enormous power. They protected the North Continent, parts of the South Continent, the entirety of the Central Continent as well.

The Twelve Ancestral Divinities now led the charge to gain more grounds against their terrible enemies again. Jiang Koiling was only aware of the true scope of their new 'allies' when some of their members came to aid him voluntarily.

"What a fight hehe." The ruffian among the Ancestral Divinities, Zhurong was the present powerhouse assisting him. He knew Shebishi, Xizi, and Jumang all prowled around the eastern side of the world as well.

The two found themselves in each other's company as they awaited a newly established force heading their way as well. Three hundred years ago, a collection of living and ghost devils breeched the western front and conquered a domain within the East Continent.

That domain was a garden for powerful spiritual herbs. Therefore it was imperative to get it back. Zhurong and Jiang Koilong were here to help the local innate creature clan who'd begged for it. But when they finally crossed into the East Continent, they received word that a new faction absorbed that weak clan and were now going to work with them to reclaim that territory.

Personally, Jiang Koilong thought this was a concerning turn of events. He didn't know his ruler's opinions, but he doubt he was happy with the existence of the Earthly Divinities as a new faction. Now it seems the innate creatures who'd retreated east had truly banded together as well.

Zhurong's charcoaled coloured skin emitted blazes of fire from time to time. At his side were two young Red Dragons, a branch of the Primordial Celestial Dragon clan. They've taken to assisting Zhurong by carrying the Ancestral Divinity on their backs.

Some considered it humiliating, but those two admired Zhurong so much that they considered it an honour.

"Zhurong, your men were impressive," Jiang Koilong praised approaching the burning man. "The only other person I've seen with that much physical power was daoist Liu Er."

Zhurong had a smug smirk as he heard the ascendent dragon's praise. But he visibly cringed when Liu Er was brought up. "That monkey's got nothing on me old timer. He's just an annoying upstart. Piece of shit who doesn't know his place."

Koilong felt repulsed at the description. "That's what you think of him? I'll admit to not having interacted with him for a while, but he was a spectacular warrior."

Zhurong didn't understand the dragon's point of view. But likewise, Jiang Koilong also vehemently disagreed with Zhurong's assessment. As an ascendent dragon, Jiang Koiling was the first among a legion of foreign races that transformed into dragons through cultivation.

He knew of the stigma from pure blooded dragons and themselves. Though it wasn't something openly acknowledged, nor commonly known by outsiders. As such he related to Liu Er somewhat aside from his admiration of the monkey's performance in the battles they shared together.

From the dragon's perspective, Liu Er was a rebel warrior who clawed his way to power. His birth as an innate god was irrelevant as even if he did not suffer mortal cultivation, he'd still had to fight tooth and nail to become a Chaos Immortal. For ascendent dragons, this was relatable.

Even Jiang Koilong fought against his siblings in Da Hai's pond in order to grasp enough opportunities to become a true dragon.

"Hmph," Zhurong grunted. The fire divinity felt Jiang Koilong was being dumb, any interaction with Liu Er can tell you otherwise. "If I see that fucker I'll burn him to death. He's lucky Big brother didn't kill him."

"You dare? To strike against an ally a this time is akin to treason. You'll disrupt the harmony of the anti-devil alliance."

"Second eldest brother says there's barely any to begin with," Zhurong sneered. The two dragons beside him looked awkwardly at each other. "Bah, I've no time arguing with you, I've got devils to kill."

As the situation turned sour, the long awaited third faction finally arrived. Their army was a match for both the dragons and the divinities. In fact it may even be bigger.

It contained numerous different races, each with differing appearances. Some could be identified as cousin species, others were truly unique clans.

"Feiyi? Zhujian? Cloud Trodding Elephants? Bingfeng pigs? Nine tailed…how many are there?" Jiang Koilong had never seen so many innate creature clan descendent move in unison. They were all scattered about, nowhere were these individuals clumping together with their own races.

"What're they chanting?" Zhurong muttered. His own hearing was nowhere near as good as the cultivators beside him.

"Demon! Demon! Demon!"

"Long live the Heavenly Demonic Emperor!"

"Long shall the Heavenly Demons reign!"

"Heavenly Demon huh?" Jiang Koilong nodded. Beside him, Zhurong raised his eyebrow.

At the head of this force was a man wearing spectacles. He wore armour and a long cloak hung across his back displaying the godfiend words for 'Eastern Prince'.

DING!

DONG!

"On behalf of my imperial brother, I Taiyi greet you fellow daoist." Taiyi made his presence known by ringing his Chaos Bell once. But just that made his raw power evident. Jiang Koilong felt his throat go dry even at this distance.

Just what had grown in the absence of the Dragon Sovereign and Phoenix Sovereign?

…

Far below the Great Wilderness, on a crimson shore. A woman with seven hands and a snake's lower half slithered aimlessly.

Houtu, youngest of the Ancestral Divinities and progenitor of the Earth Branch looked like a mortal who hadn't slept in years. Her eyes were sunken and her features were gaunt. Her hair was unkept as if she was haunted by something.

Di Jiang, Zhu Jiuying, Xuanming and the others were all fighting on the surface. She had instead handed off her leading duties to one of her own descendents, a bull headed multi armed divinity named Chi You.

Instead of fighting, she wandered the earth. Instead of staying in the Great Wilderness, she descended here. Instead, she peered into the Blood Sea without an ounce of disgust. Rather, she was sorrowful.

"What is it about you," Houtu muttered. "All of you? Why do you experience so much…so much…so so much." Tears began welling in the congenital goddess' eyes. Within seconds, she was bawling her eyes out.

"I can't take this anymore!" She roared.

"Who's there?"

Houtu looked up and saw a middle aged man looked down at her. His expression was initially alarming, followed by shock, but settled on acceptance strangely enough.

"Why am I even surprised? Hello Houtu."

"Greetings Oceanic Suppression Heavenly Lord," she answered respectfully while dusting herself. "This is where you disappeared off to?"

Da Hai raised his fingers, dragging Houtu with invisible force. He led her much further along to an area of the Blood Sea that intersected with the Netherworld. An area where several other individuals sat.

"Minghe?"

"Healer woman," the blood god replied.

"I'm here too, I am named Yan Luo, but you can call me Lord Fengdu," the red skinned man said.

"What is all this?" Houtu demanded of Da Hai.

"The ghost devils above, I'm trying to fix that issue," Da Hai said. He stepped atop a floating white lotus with twelve petals and groaned. "We're making progress, I'm starting to understand this cycling they're doing. But I…hm."

Da Hai eyed Houtu from head to tail. It made her suddenly feel self conscious. But she did notice a brief look cross Da Hai's eye. A look that made her feel cold.

"You should join us Houtu. As a creature born with command over the fertility of the earth, you can definitely gleam something. The cycling of these ghost devils is akin to death and rebirth no?"

"Rebirth?" Houtu muttered. That word held deeper meaning to her then expected. But she wasn't even a cultivator, she did not walk the path of comprehending the Dao. But it still resonated with her.

Coiling up, she said, "Very well. I will see what I can do."

…

Twenty thousand years had gone by since the war began. In the sky above the West Continent, Taishang observed more territory gained by the anti-devil alliance. Hundun had not appeared in battle for a while making Zulong, Qi An, and Zufeng confident.

"Thank you daoist Grand Purity," Yi Fei'e told him. The reason was the woman he was handing over to her. One of the moth's younger sisters had been gravely injured were it not for his intervention at the last second.

"No need no need, she just found me is all," he said.

"Even so, you've done alot more over the years," Yi Fei'e said. "I've heard news of you Three Purities. Your siblings South Continent, you here? You're making way to clearing your names."

The elderly man however had done his part, though not as an officer of their armies. He acted on his lonesome after leaving Yuanshi to take care of Tongtian. Killing devils brought him no pleasure, neither did helping the anti devil alliance in their battles.

He hadn't really planned on participating in so many battles either. But he was also a person of the moment.

"Whatever the case, I am in your debt for saving Qi Fei'e. Are you coming back to the fortress?"

"Hm…no, I want to explore a bit more."

Yi Fei'e nodded and flew away to rejoin a horde of avians and seafolk. Taishang did not move from his position, but he did feel someone trying to reach him. Hence, he folded space around him.

Placing a hand on his head, he activated a small spell.

"Master, what do you want?"

"Taishang, is that how you speak to me? Your junior brother is far more polite," Hongjun's annoyed voice rang true on the other end.

"I wouldn't know, never met little Haotian," Taishang said casually. "Were you not busy resting? Why are you contacting me?"

"How's the tribulation going?"

"Hm, could be better, could be worst. The Sea Suppression Heavenly Lord disappeared from active battle though."

"Da Hai is gone? I thought he'd be gun hoe for killing Luohu."

Taishang did not withhold much information for Hongjun. But he spoke mostly in broad strokes and neglected to mention smaller details such as the reason behind Yuanshi being in the South Continent.

Throughout the quick summary, Hongjun did not speak a word. But eventually he sighed.

"I am still busy, I cannot spare much time outside of this call. But I want you to go east and protect your junior brother. Haotian is capable but even he can be overwhelmed," Hongjun said. Afterwards, he abruptly cut the connection.

Taishang found it a bit strange. Hongjun sounded like he was being hurried. Truthfully, Taishang cannot claim to know Hongjun well. In fact, they've only met face to face one. But even that meeting could barely be considered one.

Yuanshi and Tongtian had not developed consciousness back then. Taishang hadn't materialized his body either. Unfortunately, he became awake just a little ahead of his siblings and caught Hongjun's arrival.

The Grand Pure One didn't move from his location for a while. He did glance east for a bit, but then shook his head. Instead, his attention locked onto a little particle of yin qi.

Quickly descending, he slammed into the earth. His wrinkly hand gripped onto a quivering ghost like entity.

"What are you?" He observed the blob of yin qi. It was simultaneously a ghost devil yet also not at the same time. Almost like it was trying to form but failing to do so.

Instead, strands of it was being pulled towards the soil.

"Huh, fascinating."