Chapter 1: Pangu Opens Heaven, Xuan Qing Li Wen

  The vast expanse was boundless, with no roads and no sense of time. Li Wen had no idea why he would suddenly appear in this endless void, and in fact, his current form was not physical, but rather a state of soul.

  He sometimes lamented his bad luck, but accidentally got struck by lightning and became a so-called "transcender" in a very bloody way. He was transported to another world, but unfortunately, even his body didn't make it, leaving behind only a faint glow of his soul. If not for the protection of a pearl that accompanied him during the transportation, he might have been swept away by some chaotic turbulence from who-knows-where and disappeared without a trace.

  Just as he was indulging in self-pity, the entire chaos suddenly began to churn, with countless chaotic air currents converging in one direction. Li Wen, hiding in the pearl, also involuntarily followed the chaotic tide and rushed towards that direction together.

  It's unknown how much time had passed, maybe it was just a moment, or perhaps it was millions of years. In Li Wen's dizzy and confused state, the chaos finally gradually subsided. Li Wen opened his eyes (although he didn't have any now) and "saw" a giant man with a height of ten thousand meters, his body full of muscles, standing proudly in mid-air holding a gigantic axe. Like a flash of lightning, a name suddenly appeared in Li Wen's mind: Pangu.

  Li Wen looked at Pangu with excitement, this is the great god Pangu! The great god Pangu who opened up the sky and earth! I finally saw him! Wait a minute, is he going to open up the sky now? But isn't Pangu about to die then? No way, must stop him immediately.

  Li Wencao manipulated the bead to fly towards Pangu. As if sensing his arrival, Pangu turned around and saw a bead flying towards him, immediately exclaiming: "Hundun Pearl!" He furrowed his brow, staring intently at the Hundun Pearl, then relaxed after a moment, muttering to himself: "So it was like that all along! I didn't think there was still a soul inside the Hundun Pearl. I thought I was the only living being in the chaos, but before the heavens opened, I encountered another living being. It's fate, it's destiny, the Heavenly Way is indeed unpredictable!"

  He waved his hand and released a clear air that stabilized the chaotic bead flying towards him, and said to Li Wen inside the chaotic bead: "I know you're here to stop me from opening the sky, but I was born for this purpose, it's the mission given by the Great Way, so you don't have to persuade me."

  He stopped talking and ignored Li Wen in the Chaos Pearl, turned around, grasped the Heaven-Opening Axe with both hands, gathered all his strength and slashed at the chaotic void. Suddenly, Taiji was born from Wuji, two poles were born from Taiji, three talents were born from two poles, four images were born from three talents, and eight trigrams were performed... As earth, water, wind, and fire slowly evolved, a clear and turbid air flow suddenly appeared in the void. The clear air rose and gradually formed heaven, while the turbid air sank and gradually formed earth.

  In the void, a thousand-meter-long Xuan Huang Qi and a thousand-meter-long Kai Tian Zi Qi suddenly appeared. The two air flows followed some mysterious and unpredictable trajectory, entwining each other, rolling and tumbling, and gradually separated again. The Xuan Huang Qi split into two halves, one half slowly condensed and transformed into a seven-layered Xuan Huang-colored pagoda, which was the post-heavenly first merit defensive treasure Tian Di Xuan Huang Ling Long Pagoda. This pagoda is impervious to evil spirits, unaffected by all laws, and standing on top of it will never be defeated. It has a great effect in suppressing the flow of air, although it is acquired later, it surpasses the innate one. The Kai Tian Zi Qi also slowly contracted and transformed into a three-foot-long purple ruler that emitted a faint aura, which was the post-heavenly first merit attacking treasure Liang Tian Chi. Both the Tian Di Xuan Huang Ling Long Pagoda and the Liang Tian Chi were born from the opening of heaven's merit, one for attack and one for defense, forming a perfect pair.

  Pangu's hands shook, and the Pangu axe in his hand split into three. It was the pre-heavenly treasure Taiji diagram, Pangu flag, and Hunyuan bell. As soon as Pangu shook the Taiji diagram, it transformed into a golden bridge connecting heaven and earth, and the violent water, fire, and wind between heaven and earth suddenly subsided. Pangu held the Pangu flag and shook it towards the chaos, and the void that was about to merge suddenly stopped merging. Pangu wore the Hunyuan bell on his head, and the sound of the bell rang out, fixing the entire Hongmeng in place. After he cleared up the stars and constellations, he immersed himself in the epiphany of opening up the sky. Li Wen, who was watching Pangu open up the sky from the side, seemed to have gained some insight, and for a while, he also immersed himself in the epiphany of watching Pangu open up the sky.

  Suddenly, the clear sky that had been rising and the murky earth that had been sinking gradually came together, startling Pangu and Liwen who were immersed in the Great Way. Pangu didn't think twice, he just saw himself with his hands holding up the sky and his feet treading on the ground, and the sky and earth no longer converged. From then on, the sky rose one zhang every day, the earth thickened one zhang every day, and Pangu's body also stretched one zhang every day. After 18,000 years, the sky and earth no longer converged, and Pangu collapsed from exhaustion. In the instant he fell to the ground, four clear auras and twelve drops of essence escaped from his body. One of the clear auras coiled around the Heavenly Measuring Ruler and merged with Liwen in an instant. The other three clear auras coiled around the Heavenly Jade Tower, and two of them flew towards the newly formed Kunlun Mountains, as if responding to some kind of summons. Liwen also involuntarily followed the three clear auras flying away. And the twelve drops of essence fell to the ground and combined with the first murky aura that opened up the sky, giving birth to twelve great gods.

  Candle nine yin, ancestor of time witch, mang head human body, holding two green snakes in hand.

  Di Jiang, the ancestor of space witches, has six wings on his back and flaps them 280,000 miles.

  Jin Zu Wu, ancestor of metal, whole body golden, feet stepping on two black snakes, palm holding the five elements of gold.

  Meng, the ancestor of wood, is entirely dark green, holding a green snake in his hand, and grasping the five elements of wood.

  Gonggong, the ancestor of water and witchcraft, holds two black snakes in his hands and steps on two black snakes with his feet; he grasps the five elements of water.

  Zhurong, the Ancestor of Fire, whole body fiery red, holding two fire snakes in hand, grasping the five elements of fire.

  Houtu, the ancestor of the earth, was born with twelve arms on his back, holding the five elements of the earth.

  Tian Wu, the ancestor of wind and sorcery, in charge of the laws of wind.

  Hui Zhe, the ancestor of electricity, is in charge of all things electric.

  Xuán Míng, the ancestral witch of rain, is in charge of the rain for all things.

  Qiang Liang, ancestor of thunder and sorcery, in charge of all things related to thunder.

  Shanbi corpse, ancestor of weather witchcraft, good at using poison, can ward off all poisons under heaven.

  As Pangu's body fell, his left eye turned into the sun and his right eye became the moon, from then on heaven and earth had light; his hair turned into stars all over the sky; his breath turned into wind, his voice turned into thunder, his sweat turned into rain; his four limbs transformed into the Five Great Mountains, his muscles transformed into fertile soil, his body hair transformed into plants and trees, his blood transformed into rivers, lakes, seas and oceans, and his scattered teeth transformed into jade and metal.

  Pangu transformed his body into the universe, and from then on all things were born!

  But the four clear airs flew to Mount Kunlun and fell, suddenly giving rise to a mysterious yellow air that wrapped around the four clear airs. It turned out that it was the other half of the mysterious yellow air left over from the creation of heaven coming to assist the four clear airs in taking shape.

  After a wave of cloud and mist rolled away, four figures gradually appeared. The white-haired old man on the left spoke first: "I am Laozi Li Er from Taiqing, my Taoist name is Old Master, how are you all doing?"

  Second in line was a majestic-looking middle-aged man with an air of natural authority. He said: "I am Yu Qing Yuan Shi, and I hope all my brothers are well."

  Third in line was a young man with an air of arrogance, who also said: "I am Shang Qing Tong Tian, brothers are all well."

  The one at the end was a young man of about sixteen years old, with clear eyebrows and eyes, a calm face, only to see him lightly bowing and saying: "Younger brother Li Wen, has seen three older brothers!"

  When Pangu transformed into the Four Clarity, Li Wen became the last of the Four Clarity, Xuan Qing Daoist. This was because when Li Wen saw Pangu, he was still just a soul and had not cultivated his yuan Shen. At the time of Pangu's death, he caught a glimpse of the heavenly machine, and with Li Wen's desire to save Pangu in mind, he divided his yuan Shen into four parts, giving one part to Li Wen. From then on, Li Wen used the yuan Shen as his vessel and finally took shape with the help of the Xuan Huang Qi. Thus, Li Wen became the orthodox heir of Pangu.

  Li Wen's yuan Shen was originally Pangu's yuan Shen; only his soul belonged to him. He also knew that Pangu had given him a great advantage because he was a transmigrator and an anomaly in the grand scheme of heaven. How could the heavens tolerate such an anomaly? It was uncertain when heavenly punishment would come down and turn him into dust.

  But now, with his yuan Shen being Pangu's yuan Shen, he was already on par with Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian. He was no longer an anomalous existence, and he confidently believed that even Hongjun couldn't keep up with him.

  It was in those days on Mount Kunlun that I spent each day discussing the Tao with three brothers, harmonizing dragon and tiger, and living a carefree life.

  Born with the ancient primordial spirit of Siqing, they possess the great merit of opening up heaven and earth. Each one has a deep accumulation of blessings, and as soon as they transform their form, they have the cultivation of a Mahāyāna Golden Immortal.

  Li Wen would return to his own cave after discussing the Tao with his three brothers, open the seal and enter the world of the Hunyuan Pearl to comprehend the great Tao within. His cultivation and magical powers progressed rapidly.

  When it comes to the Chaos Pearl, one can't help but mention the three great treasures of Chaos. They are the Heaven-Opening Axe, the Chaos Pearl, and the Creation Jade Certificate. Among them, the Heaven-Opening Axe was obtained by Pangu, later transformed into the Three Great Pre-Heavenly Treasures: the Taiji Diagram, the Pangu Flag, and the Chaos Bell during the Heaven-Opening period. The Creation Jade Certificate contains the Great Way, but it was damaged during the Heaven-Opening period, leaving only half a piece that fell on Mount Kunlun in the west, which is estimated to have been obtained by Hongjun at this time. As for the Chaos Bell, it contains the Chaos world and the great principle of the Tao, and whoever obtains it can understand the great principles of the Tao through it. Moreover, as one of the three great treasures of Chaos, the Chaos Pearl also has the function of suppressing the chaos of the universe. In addition, there are many other wonderful uses for it, which will not be listed here.

  Li Wen emerged from the Chaos Pearl, waved his hand to lift the seal, and walked out of the cave. He saw that his three brothers were already on the side tasting tea and discussing Taoism, wasn't it delightful? Li Wen strolled towards them, and the three sensed his arrival and turned to look at him together. They only saw a flash of sharp light in his original eyes, and then he said lightly: "Fourth brother has good qualifications, I think this time the closed-door cultivation has improved his Taoist powers quite a bit."

  Li Wen smiled slightly and responded, "Second brother is overpraising me. No matter what, I am also one of the authentic Pangu. If my talent is too poor, wouldn't it be a shame to the name of Pangu?" Although these words were arrogant, they were actually unrefutable. He was also transformed from the Pangu Yuan Shen, so if he refuted Li Wen's words, wouldn't that mean his own talent was poor? Yuanshi felt embarrassed but had no choice, and could only hum a faint sound before falling silent.

  The old man beside him was calm and didn't care about their words; Tongtian burst out laughing: "Fourth brother is absolutely right! How could we, as the orthodox Pan Gu, be inferior to others?" It turned out that although Yuan and Tongtian were also transformed from Pan Gu's primordial spirit, they had different personalities and didn't get along with each other. However, Tongtian was straightforward and not good at speaking, so he was often refuted by Yuan and left speechless. Now seeing Yuan being humiliated by Li Wen, he was overjoyed.

  He let out a low hum, just about to retort back at him, when suddenly he heard a loud "Boom" sound coming from the depths of the Desolate Expanse, and immediately it spread throughout the entire Desolate Expanse. The four of them didn't even have time to react before they saw an overwhelming pressure coming from the source of the sound, and were pressed down to the ground, unable to move.

  In an instant, he saw a vast purple mist rising up into the sky at the horizon, its length reaching 30,000 miles. Suddenly, the wind picked up, clouds surged forth, the heavens shone brightly, and a strange fragrance wafted through the air. The five-colored light of the rainbow illuminated the entire sky and earth, as the spiritual energy from all eight directions rushed towards the source of the pressure in an extremely dramatic fashion.

  All living things cried out in unison, knocking their heads to the ground in worship, as if they were congratulating the birth of a new Holy One.

  This continued for a moment, and the oppressive atmosphere gradually dissipated. The creatures of the vast wilderness only heard a voice in their hearts, without knowing where it came from or where it went. "I am Hong Jun, today I have attained the Tao, and will lecture on the Great Dao of Creation at the Purple Mist Palace. Those who are destined can come to listen." As soon as the words were spoken, a picture of the Purple Mist Palace and the route to get there appeared in everyone's mind.

  It turned out to be that: "Highly reclining on the ninefold clouds, the Taoist truth is revealed. Outside the mysterious and yellow sky, I will hold the revered teaching position. Pangu gave birth to Taiji, the two instruments and four images follow. One Tao transmits three friends, two teachings expound and distinguish. The leader of the Xuanmen sect, one breath transforms into a great harmony" - Hongjun Daoren has attained enlightenment and become a saint.

  This Hongjun Daoist was a pre-heavenly deity born on Yu Jing Mountain after Pangu opened up the sky and earth. He was born with great abilities, obtained half of the creation jade slip on Mount Xikunlun, and was also a person with great willpower and wisdom. Relying solely on this incomplete creation jade slip, he achieved enlightenment and became a saint.

  When the oppressive force from the depths of their souls gradually dissipated, the four of them stood up again. The four were shocked, and Li Wen, although knowing that the Saint was an existence above all others, had not expected that just the pressure alone would make him unable to muster any thoughts of resistance. Indeed, beneath a Saint, all are but ants!

  They exchanged a glance with each other, and the four of them tacitly followed the route map in their minds and flew towards the Purple Cloud Palace together.

  "It's just that now there is me, Li Wen, so it should be 'one way to transmit four friends' instead of 'three friends', right?" Li Wen thought to himself.

  It was Pangu who opened up heaven and earth, with one breath turning into four clear ones.

  Kunlun began to cultivate the Tao, and heaven and earth produced a sage.