Primordial Era: The Three Senior Brothers of the Taiqing Clan

The Zhou Tian Star Array slowly began to operate, and the 365 star banners fluttered in the sky above the Northern Sea, their starlight like a waterfall, covering thousands of miles.

Chen Qing stood in the center of the formation, feeling the star power crushing down from all directions, and raised his eyebrows slightly.

He was somewhat surprised, but after a moment's thought, he understood. Although Kunpeng was forced to join the Demon Clan's Heavenly Court back then, his status within the Heavenly Court was not low.

As a demon master and the master of all demons, having participated in countless trials of the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Array, it is not surprising that he was able to steal and master this array.

In fact, Chen Qing's guess was correct. This Zhou Tian Star Array was something Kunpeng had secretly learned during his practice of arrays in the Demon Clan's Heavenly Court.

After returning to Beiming, he repeatedly deduced the Hetu Luoshu and gradually mastered the complete method of array formation. He even spent a lot of money to refine 365 Star Banners.

This formation is arguably his strongest technique at the moment.

"I never imagined you could set up the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Array." Chen Qing said calmly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

Kunpeng stood at the center of the formation, surrounded by starlight, and said coldly, "If you retreat now, I will forgive and forget what happened."

He spoke with conviction, but deep down he wasn't sure. Of course he knew who this person was—someone who had fought a saint head-on, even if that saint was the weakest of the six saints, he was still a saint.

But he had no other choice; this was his last trump card. If even the Zhou Tian Star Array couldn't stop him, then his only option was to run away.

Chen Qing glanced at the dazzling sea of ​​stars above, a slight smirk playing on his lips: "The Zhou Tian Star Array is indeed powerful. But even the strongest array depends on who sets it up. If Di Jun and Tai Yi personally led 365 demon generals to set it up, I might be somewhat wary. But you, Kunpeng... how much of its power can you unleash?"

"That's enough to deal with you!" Kunpeng gritted his teeth, refusing to admit defeat, and the Hetu Luoshu fell into the array's core, instantly bringing the entire array to life.

In the sky, ancient stars slowly rotate along mysterious trajectories, their starlight weaving into a dense, impenetrable net.

An immense pressure descended from all directions, and the essence of the stars condensed into enormous ancient stars, trailing long tails of light and crashing down on Chen Qing with an aura of world destruction.

"snort!"

Chen Qing let out a cold snort, and his body suddenly swelled up, instantly transforming into a towering giant. The purple lightning hammer in his hand also grew larger, with lightning crackling and electric snakes coiling around its surface, as if he were holding a purple bolt of lightning.

The giant hammer swung, unleashing a torrent of lightning. Wherever the lightning passed, the space itself could not withstand it, and was torn open with dark cracks.

Before those ancient stars that roared in could even land, they were struck by the Purple Lightning Hammer or the lightning on the hammer, exploding with a bang and turning into dust that filled the sky.

"Boom!"

Deafening roars echoed through the primordial world, as if ancient gods were enraged.

Countless powerful beings probed the Northern Underworld with their divine senses, and upon seeing the figure maneuvering within the formation, they were all secretly alarmed.

Kunpeng stood at the center of the formation, his face so gloomy it was almost dripping with water.

He rapidly formed hand seals, pouring his entire body's magical power into the Hetu Luoshu as if it were free. The Hetu Luoshu flew out from the array's core, instantly transforming into a profound Heluo Grand Array, merging seamlessly with the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Array.

This is a method that Di Jun researched back then—integrating the Heluo Grand Array into the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Array to enhance the power of the array.

Although Kunpeng hated Dijun, he learned this technique and now it was quite powerful.

With the two formations combined, the power of the entire formation surged once more. The space within the formation seemed to have gained countless times more pressure out of thin air, and heaven and earth were repelling and squeezing Chen Qing, as if they wanted to crush him.

In the sky, three hundred and sixty-five ancient stars shone brightly. Streaks of starlight fell, coalescing into enormous meteorites that formed a line, like a galaxy, hurtling towards Chen Qing.

"You do have some skill." Chen Qing snorted coldly, unleashing all the power of the world. The purple lightning hammer in his hand hummed, and the laws of thunder permeated his body. At this moment, he seemed to have transformed into the embodiment of the Great Dao of Thunder.

Facing the string of meteorites, he swung his hammer.

This hammer blow seemed to shatter the boundaries of time and space, carrying a destructive intent, and collided with the meteorite in an instant.

"boom--"

A blinding light exploded at the center of the collision, brighter than the sun. Everyone instinctively closed their eyes. Spatial rifts spread in all directions, like a dense spider web.

"rumble!"

Two muffled roars came from the center of the collision, as if the heavens and earth were groaning.

Chen Qing felt an overwhelming force coming from the hammer, and he was forced to retreat several steps in mid-air. With each step, visible ripples appeared in the void.

When everything had cleared up, the meteorite had vanished without a trace. High in the sky, the three hundred and sixty-five ancient stars were dim and lifeless, as if most of their power had been drained away.

"puff--"

At the heart of the formation, Kunpeng spat out a mouthful of blood, his face ashen, and his breath rapidly weakening.

A cold smile played on Chen Qing's lips as he took a step forward, his purple lightning hammer hurtling towards Kunpeng like an ancient demonic dragon.

Kunpeng's expression changed drastically. He forced himself to stay awake and rapidly formed hand seals. The stellar power within the formation was frantically mobilized, surrounding Chen Qing.

However, the Zhou Tian Star Array was already at its last gasp. Chen Qing's purple lightning hammer left afterimages in the air, and wherever it passed, ancient stars turned to ashes.

Kunpeng's last bit of confidence was completely shattered at this moment.

He glared fiercely at Chen Qing, then transformed into a black shadow and fled into the distance.

He was preparing to flee—he didn't know what would happen if he stayed, but he was certain it wouldn't end well. Rather than risk his life here, he'd escape first and figure out a way to take revenge later.

Watching the black shadow disappear into the distance in an instant, Chen Qing's lips curled into a mocking smile. He took a step forward, the Great Dao of Time empowering him, making him appear and disappear like a phantom, rapidly closing the distance between him and the Kunpeng.

Kunpeng sensed the rapidly approaching aura behind him, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he was filled with horror.

His true form is the Kunpeng, whose flight speed is unparalleled in the primordial world. When he fled from the battlefield of the Lich King, even the Sages couldn't stop him. But now, he's being caught up to by someone who seems to be taking a leisurely stroll?

A giant purple hammer descended from the sky, accompanied by a barrage of lightning, forcibly stopping the Kunpeng.

Chen Qing's figure slowly descended, surrounded by profound Daoist aura.

Kunpeng stared wide-eyed at the faint fluctuation, exclaiming, "The Great Dao of Time?"

Immediately afterward, a bitter feeling welled up in his heart. He never expected that Chen Qing would comprehend such a heaven-defying existence as the Great Dao of Time.

In the primordial world, apart from Zhujiuyin, the Time Ancestral Witch among the Twelve Ancestral Witches, no one else has ever mastered this Dao. He understood that he could not escape—before the Great Dao of Time, no amount of speed would be of any use.

Although Chen Qing did not fully grasp the true meaning of the Great Dao of Time and Space contained within the Chaos Bell, he still gained some understanding of the Dao of Time and Space.

"Hand over the Hetu and Luoshu, or die."

Chen Qing's patience had been worn down during the pursuit. His face was expressionless, and his eyes coldly stared at Kunpeng, as if he were looking at a dead man.

Kunpeng met those emotionless eyes and felt a chill run down his spine. He sighed reluctantly, his voice hoarse: "The River Chart and the Luo River Book... I can lend them to you. But when will you return them—"

"I think you haven't grasped the situation yet." Chen Qing's lips curled into a mocking smile. "I've already given you a chance. You didn't cherish it. Now you only have two choices: first, hand over the spiritual treasure; second, I'll send you on your way."

Kunpeng's rage nearly overflowed his chest, his eyes bloodshot: "Don't push your luck!"

Chen Qing didn't say anything. He simply showed everything through his actions.

A phantom of a world loomed above his head, and the Qiankun Cauldron flew out from his body, slowly rotating around him. A dense killing intent enveloped the entire space, like a mountain pressing down on Kunpeng's heart.

He had no doubt that Chen Qing would make a move in the next moment.

"Alright...Here you go, the Hetu and Luoshu!"

Kunpeng gritted his teeth, reached out and took out the Hetu Luoshu, a hint of reluctance flashing across his face before turning into determination. He raised his hand and wiped away the mark in the spiritual treasure, then tossed it towards Chen Qing.

Chen Qing chuckled softly, casually took the Hetu Luoshu, turned around and transformed into a rainbow of light, disappearing into the horizon.

Above the Northern Sea, Kunpeng let out a furious roar of resentment. He stood there for a long time before slowly withdrawing his gaze, turning around and disappearing into the heavy snow.

He felt aggrieved, just as he had felt when Di Jun and Tai Yi came knocking on his door and he was forced to hand over his true spirit.

But he dared not make a move—at the very last moment, he chickened out. He didn't want his countless eons of cultivation to vanish into nothingness. A magical treasure is precious, but what use is it if you're dead?

The battle has come to an end. Kunpeng's fate left many powerful onlookers with mixed feelings. In the primordial world, the strong prey on the weak, and only the fittest survive. If one's strength is insufficient, what belongs to one should be taken—this is the ironclad rule of the primordial world.

When Chen Qing returned to the green mountain next to the Huaxu tribe, his avatar immediately merged into his body.

He casually took out the Hetu and Luoshu, and was about to call Fuxi over when he saw a white light rushing from afar—it was a dragon-horse. The dragon-horse snatched the Hetu and Luoshu in its mouth and turned to run away into the distance.

Chen Qing didn't care. Of course, if he didn't want to give it up, even if Kunpeng came in person, he wouldn't be able to take it from him, let alone a dragon horse.

Chen Qing followed the dragon horse to the bank of a great river.

Fuxi sat quietly by the river, his gaze vacant, seemingly lost in thought.

The dragon-horse rode the waves and gently knelt before Fuxi.

Fuxi raised his head and saw that the dragon horse was carrying a stone slab-like object on its back. The patterns on the stone slab were clearly visible—it was the Hetu Luoshu transformed from the Hetu.

On the stone carving, the heavens give birth to water, and the earth completes it; the earth gives birth to fire, and the heavens complete it; the heavens give birth to wood, and the earth completes it; the earth gives birth to metal, and the heavens complete it; the heavens give birth to earth, and the earth completes it. The crisscrossing lines subtly align with the ultimate principles of heaven and earth.

As Fuxi gazed at the mysterious patterns, something seemed to explode in his mind. He felt that all the changes in heaven and earth were reflected in these patterns.

The stone carving on the dragon-horse's back slowly floated up and landed in front of Fuxi. The dragon-horse nodded to Fuxi, let out a long neigh, and turned to ride the waves away.

After that, Fuxi studied the patterns on the stone carvings day and night, writing and drawing on the ground with a wooden stick in his hand, forgetting to eat and sleep. Chen Qing did not disturb him, but just watched from a distance.

One day, a burst of hearty laughter suddenly came from the riverbank.

Six Ears curiously peered over and saw a disheveled man gesturing wildly, emanating an inexplicable and mysterious aura. Although the aura wasn't powerful, it seemed to resonate with heaven and earth, echoing the Great Dao.

This is Fuxi. He finally gained a basic understanding of the Eight Trigrams.

In the primordial world, the original Bagua was called the "Pre-Heaven Bagua," which was a manifestation of the Great Dao. Only those who achieved immortality could comprehend even a fraction of it.

The Eight Trigrams that Fuxi comprehended were the most suitable for the human race, known as the "Human Emperor's Eight Trigrams." It was not based on magical power, but on the natural laws of heaven and earth, making it accessible and applicable to everyone.

After that, Fuxi succeeded the aging leader of the Huaxu tribe and became the new leader.

At that time, humans knew nothing about nature. The daily changes in weather, the rotation of the sun and moon, birth, aging, sickness, and death all puzzled them and filled their hearts with fear.

Fuxi used his understanding of the Eight Trigrams to deduce and explain various phenomena of heaven and earth and all things, and to make divination and predictions about natural disasters, man-made calamities, and other natural disasters.

Under his leadership, the Huaxu tribe grew stronger and stronger, and more and more smaller tribes came to submit to him.

The people no longer relied solely on hunting and gathering for survival—inspired by observing spiders weaving webs to catch insects, Fuxi created fishing nets and taught people how to fish. Human living standards improved dramatically.

But this was still not a long-term solution. Living off the land and water is ultimately a matter of fate. Left with no other choice, Fuxi approached Chen Qing again, hoping to find a solution.

Chen Qing certainly had a way. He led Fuxi to a hunting ground at the foot of the mountain—a place he had specially prepared.

Within the enclosure, various animals live side by side, breeding and multiplying. The surrounding fences are tightly secured, both keeping the animals within and preventing them from getting lost.

Pointing to the group of animals, Chen Qing said, "Look closely. The animals here, male and female, have all paired up and are reproducing. If humans could follow this example and capture their prey alive to keep them in captivity, they wouldn't need to go out hunting every day, nor would they need to worry about natural disasters or wild beasts."

Seeing this scene, Fuxi naturally understood his master's meaning. He bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Master. Fuxi understands now."

After Fuxi descended the mountain, he immediately encouraged his people to bring back live prey, instead of killing and dragging them back as they had done before.

At the same time, he ordered people to build fences to keep the captured wild animals in captivity. This was the earliest form of animal husbandry among humankind.

After this ordeal, Fuxi had fully matured. Seeing that he was now capable of handling things independently, Chen Qing returned to the Three Immortal Islands.

Ultimately, Fuxi must walk his own path in the future. As the Human Emperor, he needs not only his master's protection but also his own relentless self-improvement.

Recently, Chen Qing suddenly felt a strange sense of urgency, as if some great change was about to happen in the primordial world.

But as far as he knew, the next few great calamities were still a long way off. He couldn't explain where this unease came from.