Primordial Era: The Three Senior Brothers of the Taiqing Clan

In the chaotic void, everyone's eyes were focused on the gray-robed figure that slowly emerged.

The old man was withered and emaciated, his face like a riverbed that had dried up over many years, etched with the deep furrows of time. Yet his eyes shone with an astonishing light, as if two ancient stars had slept within them and had just awakened. His aura was vast and boundless, carrying a weightiness more ancient and distant than chaos itself.

Chen Qing's expression remained calm, but his heart was in turmoil. He could sense that the gray-robed old man before him was no less powerful than himself, and in some aspects even more profound.

That aura was completely different from any saint he had ever seen—it was as if he were the very essence of Heaven, yet transcended it.

"The will of Heaven?" Chen Qing repeated the title, his voice tinged with inquiry. "Are you the Heavenly Dao of the Demon God Realm?"

The gray-robed old man smiled slightly, a smile tinged with bitterness and a sense of vicissitude: "The will of Heaven is just a name. You can understand it as... I am the embodiment of the consciousness of that world."

Laozi stepped forward, his expression solemn: "I have dealt with the saints of the Demon God Realm several times, but I have never heard of your existence."

The gray-robed elder glanced at Laozi, his eyes filled with admiration: "Taiqing Laozi, transformed from the primordial spirit of Pangu, truly extraordinary. You haven't heard of me because I have never manifested myself before the world. Among the saints of that world, apart from the Demon Lord, no one knows of my existence."

The "Demon Lord" he mentioned was the black-robed man who had fought Chen Qing earlier.

Chen Qing said in a deep voice, "Since you are the embodiment of the will of Heaven, why do you choose to be an enemy of the Primordial World?"

The gray-robed elder remained silent for a moment, his gaze passing over Chen Qing and fixed on the dazzling, primordial world in the distance. A complex light flashed in his eyes, a light like that of a wanderer gazing towards his distant homeland, filled with deep longing yet also with endless regret.

"You think... I'm here to be your enemy?" The gray-robed elder's voice suddenly turned low, tinged with self-mockery. "If I wanted to attack the Primordial World, why would I wait until now? The saints of that world are nothing more than pawns in my hands. If I wanted to make a move, you might not be able to stop me."

Chen Qing raised an eyebrow slightly: "Then what are you here for?"

The gray-robed elder did not answer directly, but slowly raised his hand, pointing towards the primordial world: "Do you know how that world was born?"

Chen Qing was silent for a moment, then said, "Pangu separated heaven and earth, creating the primordial world."

The old man in the gray robe nodded, then shook his head: "Yes, and not entirely. Pangu did indeed create this world, but before that... do you know where Pangu came from?"

Chen Qing was startled. He had never thought about this question before. Everyone knew the story of Pangu creating the world, but no one had ever asked where Pangu came from.

The gray-robed elder seemed to see through his thoughts and slowly said, "Pangu was also one of the Chaos Gods. Moreover, he was the most powerful of all the Chaos Gods. Like the other three thousand Gods, he was born in chaos, grew up in chaos, and fought in chaos."

His voice became distant, as if recalling an ancient era forgotten in the river of time: "In the chaos, there were three thousand demon gods. Each of them possessed a great Dao and fought each other endlessly. Pangu was the strongest among them. He suppressed the demons with the Dao of Power and killed almost all the demon gods who were his enemies."

"The bodies of the demons he slew were gathered together by a mysterious force."

But Pangu... he made a choice that no chaotic god could understand. He did not monopolize chaos, but instead sacrificed himself to create a completely new world.

The old man in the gray robe looked at Chen Qing, his eyes growing even more profound: "That world is the primordial wilderness."

Chen Qing remained silent, digesting the information. He had glimpsed fragments of Pangu creating the world from Pangu's essence blood, but those images were too fragmented and far less complete than what the gray-robed old man described.

"Those corpses of demon gods..." Chen Qing suddenly realized something, "Could they be the origin of the Demon God Realm?"

The gray-robed elder nodded slightly: "Wise. The corpses of those demon gods slain by Pangu evolved into the Demon God Realm in the chaos. That world was formed from the resentment, unwillingness, and remaining Dao essence of three thousand demon gods."

"From the moment of its birth, it has been opposed to the Primordial World. Because its essence is the remains of those gods slain by Pangu. The Primordial World is Pangu's glory, and the Demon God Realm is Pangu's shadow. They are destined to be unable to coexist."

Chen Qing's gaze fell upon that dark red world, and a complex mix of emotions welled up within him. So that's how it is; the Demon God Realm and the Primordial World share such a deep connection.

"If that's the case," Chen Qing said, "as the Heavenly Dao Will of the Demon God Realm, shouldn't you be standing in opposition to the Primordial World? Why...?"

The gray-robed old man laughed, a laugh filled with endless bitterness: "Although I am the will of the Heavenly Dao of the Demon God Realm, I also know that if things continue like this, that world will be completely destroyed."

The resentment of the three thousand demon gods has been exhausted, and the origin of that world is drying up. Their mad desire to invade the primordial world stems not from hatred, but from fear.

"Afraid of death?" Chen Qing asked.

The gray-robed elder nodded: "They were afraid of death. They were afraid that world would completely vanish, afraid that they wouldn't even leave behind a trace of their existence. They thought that by devouring the primordial world, they could prolong their existence, but they were wrong."

He paused, his gaze fixed on Chen Qing: "True vitality lies not in the primordial wilderness, but in the chaos."

Chen Qing frowned: "What do you mean?"

The old man in gray robes said, "After Pangu separated the primordial world, chaos did not disappear. Chaos still exists, vast and boundless, containing countless possibilities."

But neither the powerful beings of the primordial world nor the saints of the demon realm dared to venture deep into the Chaos. For within it lay something far more terrifying than the Chaos Demon God.

He gazed at Chen Qing, his eyes burning with intensity: "You are an exception. You have broken through the bottleneck of the Primordial Golden Immortal realm, and your inner world has undergone a transformation, reaching the level of a true boundless great world. Your world is on par with the Primordial World and the Chaos Realm."

"You have already gained the qualification to transcend the Heavenly Dao. You can move freely in the chaos and explore that realm that has never been truly set foot in before."

Chen Qing fell silent. He vaguely guessed the gray-robed old man's purpose.

"What do you want me to do?" he asked directly.

The gray-robed elder slowly said, "I want you... to find the footprints of Pangu."

"Pangu's footprints?"

"Indeed." The gray-robed elder's voice turned solemn. "After Pangu separated the primordial world, he did not completely disappear. I once sensed a trace of the same aura as him deep within the chaos. That aura did not belong to any known world."

He gazed at Chen Qing, his eyes like a long sword piercing through time and the void: "If you can find Pangu's footprints, perhaps you can find a way to revitalize the Demon God Realm. Perhaps... you can even find the real reason why Pangu created the primordial world."

Chen Qing remained silent for a long time. He could sense that the gray-robed old man was telling the truth. This was not a trap, but a genuine request.

"Why should I believe you?" Chen Qing finally asked this question.

The gray-robed old man smiled, then suddenly his figure blurred, transforming into a wisp of gray light that disappeared into Chen Qing's brow.

Chen Qing shuddered, and countless images and information instantly flooded his mind. The images flashed by like a revolving lantern, each frame containing an immense amount of Daoist principles and laws.

Those were the memories of all the evolutions of the Demon God Realm since its birth. Every moment, every instant, was clearly imprinted in his divine consciousness.

A moment later, the figure of the gray-robed old man reappeared. His face was even more withered, as if that one instant had consumed countless years of his accumulated wisdom.

"Now, do you believe it?" the gray-robed old man asked.

Chen Qing took a deep breath and slowly nodded: "I believe you."

The gray-robed elder revealed a relieved smile: "Then... I'll await your good news."

His figure gradually faded away, like a wisp of smoke dissipating into the chaos. Only his voice lingered in the chaos, echoing for a long time.

"Remember, you have a hundred years. If you haven't found the answer by then, I will no longer be able to suppress the madness of that world. At that time, they will still attack the Primordial World."

"I am leaving. May you do as you say you will."

Chen Qing stood there, gazing in the direction where the gray-robed old man had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.

Seven powerful beings from the primordial era surrounded them, with Tongtian speaking first: "Little Qingzi, is what he said true? You're going to find Pangu's footprints?"

Chen Qing snapped out of his daze and nodded: "It should be true. He showed me the evolution of the Demon God Realm, that can't be faked."

Yuanshi frowned: "It's too risky. The chaos is fraught with danger, let alone searching for Pangu's footprints. That means you have to go deep into the very depths of chaos."

Chen Qing said, "Uncle-Master, rest assured, I know what I'm doing. Besides... I'm also very curious about what Pangu left behind."

Laozi remained silent for a long time before finally speaking: "Since that's the case, then go. We will guard this place in the primordial world for you."

Chen Qing looked at Laozi gratefully: "Thank you, Master."

He turned and gazed into the depths of chaos. There lay the unknown, a realm even saints had never set foot in. Yet, for some reason, he felt no fear, only a strange anticipation.

It was as if something was waiting for him there.

Chen Qing bid farewell to the seven powerful beings of the primordial era and stepped alone into the depths of chaos.

Behind them, the primordial light gradually blurred under the cover of chaotic air currents, and finally disappeared completely.

All around him was an endless expanse of chaotic grayness, making it impossible to distinguish up from down or which direction to take. The chaotic currents surged in like tangible waves, one after another, attempting to erode his body.

However, Chen Qing was surrounded by a faint layer of world power, and the chaotic energy flow automatically avoided him when it came within three feet, as if it dared not approach.

"Chaos is indeed more profound than I imagined," Chen Qing murmured. He had fought and traversed through chaos many times, but never so deeply.

In this area, even his perception of his inner world became blurred, as if it were obscured by some invisible force.

He didn't stop, but continued forward following the faint, elusive aura.

That was the mark left in his consciousness by the gray-robed old man—a faint, almost imperceptible fluctuation that pointed him toward an unknown place deep within the chaos.

Chen Qing didn't know what it was, but he could sense that it had some connection with Pangu.

After traveling for an unknown period of time, the chaotic energy suddenly became thinner.

A peculiar space appeared before Chen Qing. It was an "empty space" in the chaos, without chaotic air currents, without energy storms, and even the void itself seemed exceptionally calm.

In the center of this open space, a huge stone tablet floats.

The stone tablet was entirely black, its surface covered with fine lines, exuding a sense of vastness and antiquity.

Chen Qing landed in front of the stone tablet and carefully observed the patterns. He discovered that they were not ordinary engravings, but an extremely ancient Daoist script, seemingly originating from the beginning of chaos.

"Pangu's footprints... is this it?" Chen Qing reached out and gently touched the surface of the stone tablet.

The instant his fingertips touched the stone tablet, the tablet suddenly lit up, and beams of golden light burst forth from its patterns, illuminating the entire open space.

Chen Qing felt a blur before his eyes, and countless images flooded into his mind like a tide.

In those images, he saw a blurry figure.

The figure was tall and imposing, with bulging muscles all over his body, like a moving mountain.

He wielded a giant axe and walked through the chaos. With each step he took, the chaotic energy receded to both sides.

The figure traveled an unknown distance before finally stopping in a chaotic void, raising its head and gazing in a certain direction.

In that direction, Chen Qing saw a faint glimmer of light. Though small, the light contained an indescribable vitality and hope.

The figure smiled slightly and continued walking towards the point of light. Then, the scene abruptly ended.

Chen Qing suddenly snapped out of his daze and found himself still standing in front of the stone tablet, his fingertips still touching its surface. But the light on the stone tablet had faded, returning it to its original dimness.

The patterns had lost their luster, as if they had completed their mission.

"That's Pangu..." Chen Qing murmured. "He walked this path and then went in that direction."

He looked up in the direction indicated by the patterns on the stone tablet, a place deeper into chaos, more distant and unknown than where he was now.

Chen Qing didn't hesitate. He turned around and flew in that direction.

The deeper one goes, the calmer the chaotic energy becomes. The violent air currents cease to surge, replaced by a deathly stillness.

This tranquility was all the more unsettling, as if it foreshadowed something unpredictable waiting ahead.

After flying for an unknown amount of time, Chen Qing suddenly sensed a familiar aura—the aura of Pangu, exactly the same as the aura he had felt within Pangu's essence blood. Overjoyed, he quickened his pace and flew towards the direction of the aura.

However, when he got closer, the scene before him stunned him.

That was the prototype of a world, a half-finished world.

It floated in the chaos, neither fully formed nor completely dissipated. The sky was a chaotic gray, and the earth was bare rock, devoid of any sign of life.

The whole world is like an abandoned shell, silently floating in the void.

At the center of the world, there is a massive rift, as if cleaved in two by some sharp weapon. The edges of the rift are as smooth as a mirror, exuding an ancient and fierce aura.

Chen Qing landed before the crack, his gaze solemn. He could sense an extremely powerful force remaining within it—the very aura of the Pangu Axe.

"This is a world abandoned by Pangu," Chen Qing muttered to himself. "Why? Why would he abandon it? Did something happen here?"

He walked along the edge of the crack, trying to find more clues. The deeper he went, the more he finally found something in the deepest part of the world.

It was a skeleton.

Although the skeleton was badly damaged, it still retained a human shape.

Its bones are crystal clear, emitting a faint light like jade.

Even after countless years, a faint aura of power still lingered on that skeleton, an aura no less powerful than that of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal.

Chen Qing crouched down and carefully examined the skeleton. He discovered a penetrating wound on the skeleton's chest, the shape of which perfectly matched the edge of the Pangu Axe.

"This person... was killed by Pangu," Chen Qing said in a low voice. "Who is he? Why is he here?"

Just as he was wondering, the skeleton suddenly trembled slightly.

Chen Qing suddenly stood up and took several steps back warily. He saw the light on the skeleton grow brighter and brighter, eventually coalescing into a phantom figure that hovered above the skeleton.

He was a handsome young man dressed in an ancient Taoist robe, but his eyes were like two stagnant pools of water, devoid of any vitality.

He looked at Chen Qing and suddenly smiled, a smile that carried a hint of relief and liberation.

"Finally... someone has come." The boy's voice was hollow and ethereal, as if veiled by a layer of water. "Are you also here to search for the traces of Pangu?"

Chen Qing nodded: "Who are you?"

The boy lowered his head, glanced at the skeleton at his feet, and said softly, "Who am I? I've almost forgotten myself... It's been far too long. I only remember that I was a disciple of Pangu."

"Pangu's disciple?" Chen Qing raised an eyebrow. "Pangu had disciples?"

The boy smiled wryly: "Of course. Before Pangu separated heaven and earth, he traveled through the chaos for a long time. He went to countless places, saw countless living beings, and even took in several disciples."

I was his youngest disciple, and the only one who stayed to accompany him to the end.

He raised his head and looked at the chaotic gray sky, his voice becoming even more ethereal: "Pangu needed to give up everything to create the world."

He didn't want us to perish with him, so he drove us all away.

But I didn't leave. I secretly followed behind him, watching him walk step by step towards his final resting place.

"And then?" Chen Qing pressed.