Primordial Era: I am a treasure trove, full of magical treasures.

The deafening roar of Mount Buzhou breaking apart still echoed between heaven and earth. The apocalyptic scene of the sky tilting to the northwest and the earth sinking to the southeast had only just begun. However, compared with this ultimate disaster that was about to sweep across the entire prehistoric world and reduce all things to nothingness, the extremely tragic wave of self-destruction and the rampant calamity energy on the battlefield seemed... insignificant.

The upper half of Mount Buzhou collapsed and slid down, like an ancient divine mountain that had lost its foundation; its weight was immeasurable. Each collision with the remaining mountain or earth below triggered a world-destroying tremor comparable to a full-force attack from the Primordial Chaos Realm. The shockwaves swept across the eight wastelands, further tearing and subsiding the already fragmented primordial land. Even more terrifying was the enormous "Heavenly Cave" at the fracture point—not a simple spatial rift, but a "wound" where the barrier of the primordial world had been forcibly torn apart, connecting it to chaos! Endless chaotic energy, like ravenous wolves smelling blood, poured wildly into the cave! Wherever the chaotic energy passed, all things were reduced to nothingness, laws ceased to exist, and earth, water, fire, and wind were reborn, completely eroding and annihilating the inherent order and existence of the primordial world, turning it into the most basic chaotic particles!

The sky seemed to have been ripped open by a dark red, bloody gash, stretching endlessly from east to west. Its edges continued to collapse and widen, revealing a chaotic, turbulent current of indefinable color through the gaping hole. The earth, centered on the original site of Mount Buzhou, collapsed and cracked southeastward, forming terrifying abysses that stretched for billions of miles, bottomless. Scorching magma, foul-smelling malevolent energy, broken spiritual veins, and the remains of countless living beings gushed forth, turning vast areas into desolate wastelands. The "heaven" supporting the primordial world was collapsing, the "earth" was sinking, and the very foundation of the world was shaking, emitting a mournful cry of unbearable strain, as if it would disintegrate completely at any moment.

Above the heavens, the stars, dimmed by the collapse of the Zhou Tian Star Array, now moved in complete chaos. Some collided, bursting forth with their last light before extinguishing; others were swept up by the chaotic currents, dragging trails of light as they plummeted to the earth, triggering new calamities; and many more, guided by the disordered laws of heaven and earth, moved erratically, their starlight dim and uncertain. The pure energy of the nine heavens sank down, mixing with the surging turbid energy of the nine netherworlds, the calamity energy of the earth, and the chaotic turbulent currents, forming eerie and deadly "annihilation clouds" that reduced everything in their path, whether immortal or mortal, to withered bones.

The malevolent energy of the calamity, catalyzed by the ultimate terror of impending doom, thickened to a tangible form, transforming into a viscous, pungent, sweet-smelling, and endlessly wailing blackish-red mist. This mist permeated every inch of the primordial world, eroding the minds of all survivors and accelerating their madness and destruction. The entire primordial world seemed like a wrecked ship being torn apart by the raging waves of chaos, about to sink. All living beings on board—whether witches, demons, humans, gods, or monsters—faced the same fate—to return to eternal chaos and nothingness along with this world!

"The sky... has really fallen..."

"It's over... the primordial world is doomed..."

"No! I don't want to die! Save me!"

Despair, an unprecedented, bone-deep despair, washed over the hearts of all survivors like an icy tide. Even the most resilient ancestral witches and powerful beings, gazing at the ever-expanding celestial abyss, the pouring chaos, and the collapsing earth, showed for the first time bewilderment and helplessness in their eyes. Individual bravery, racial grudges, and sectarian conflicts appeared so pale and laughable before the apocalyptic scene of the world collapsing. They could fight against heaven and earth, they could fight to the death against powerful enemies, but how could they repair this shattered sky? How could they stop the chaos that was dissolving all things?

However, in this deepest despair, at the very moment when heaven and earth were about to completely collapse—

"Buzz—!"

A clear, peaceful, yet seemingly imbued with the supreme power to stabilize the universe and harmonize yin and yang, rang out from the eastern horizon, instantly drowning out the roar of the collapsing heaven and earth and the cries of all living beings, clearly penetrating the depths of the minds of every sentient being who still possessed intelligence.

In the eastern sky, a vast expanse of purple aura stretched for thirty thousand miles, filling the heavens. Within this purple aura, a black and white Tai Chi golden bridge, defying the chaos of time and space and the rampant turmoil, extended from the void. One end plunged into the direction of Kunlun Mountain, while the other, like a stabilizing pillar, stood firmly at the edge of the enormous celestial abyss formed by the fracture of Mount Buzhou! On the golden bridge, the yin and yang energies circulated, evolving into the phenomena of earth, water, fire, and wind; the four elements and five phases; and even the birth and death of all the myriad realms, emanating an unparalleled Daoist aura that suppressed the primordial chaos, stabilized earth, water, fire, and wind, and reversed the primordial chaos! This was none other than the innate treasure—the Tai Chi Diagram!

As soon as the Tai Chi diagram appeared, the raging chaotic energy flow seemed to have hit an invisible dam and was momentarily halted! Although it was still surging and constantly impacting and eroding the Yin-Yang Daoist energy hanging down from the Tai Chi diagram, its spread and erosion speed was significantly reduced by several percent! The chaotic spacetime also calmed down slightly within the area covered by the golden bridge.

"It is the Sage Taiqing!"

"The Three Pure Ones have made their move!"

A faint cheer, as if from the aftermath of a catastrophe, erupted from the surviving races. The power of the saints, in the face of apocalypse, was ultimately the last hope.

"Second brother, third brother, help me!" Lao Tzu's voice rang out calmly, yet it carried an undeniable determination that resounded throughout the primordial world.

"Jade Purity Immortal Light, settle!" Almost as soon as Laozi finished speaking, Yuanshi appeared on one side of the Taiji Golden Bridge, with auspicious clouds above his head. Within these clouds, countless golden lamps, necklaces, and hanging beads appeared like raindrops from the eaves. The Pangu Banner in his hand fluttered wildly, its surface radiating chaotic sword energy. This energy was not an attack, but rather transformed into streams of hazy, chaotic energy carrying the meaning of opening and closing. It intertwined with the Yin-Yang Daoist rhythm of the Taiji diagram, weaving together a finer and more resilient "Great Net of Laws" that covered the gap in the Heavenly Cave, further slowing the chaotic backflow and attempting to mend some of the subtle spatial-temporal rifts.

"Slaying Immortal Sword Qi, go!" Tongtian's fierce shout was like a thunderclap. He stood on the illusory image of the Slaying Immortal Formation, and four fierce sword shadows, neither bronze nor iron, exuding the aura of ending and slaughter, hovered in the four directions. However, at this moment, the four swords of Slaying Immortal did not set up the world-destroying killing formation. Instead, the sword tips pointed downwards, spewing out four thick pillars of sword qi light, each different in color but equally carrying unparalleled sharpness and suppressive power. Like four giant nails supporting the sky, they were firmly "nailed" into the most unstable and fastest collapsing void nodes at the four sides of the edge of the Heavenly Cave! The sword qi raged, not for destruction, but with absolute "force" and the way of "slaughter," forcibly suppressing the spacetime structure of that area, making it temporarily stable and preventing it from continuing to collapse.

The Three Pure Ones joined forces, unleashing the full power of their three supreme treasures: the Taiji Diagram, the Pangu Banner, and the Four Swords of Zhuxian. Yin and Yang, chaos and slaughter—the three supreme Daos intertwined, finally constructing a relatively stable defensive line before the world-destroying Heavenly Cave, temporarily halting the worst trend of the primordial world completely collapsing and returning to chaos.

However, this was merely a "restraint" and a "delay." The Taiji Golden Bridge trembled slightly under the impact of the chaotic airflow, and the Yin-Yang Dao rhythm was constantly being eroded; the chaotic airflow and the great net of laws of the Pangu Banner could not repair the damage as fast as it could be; the void nodes pinned by the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Qi were also constantly creaking under the strain. The Three Pure Ones looked solemn, their Dao rhythms running at full power, clearly struggling to hold on. This Heavenly Cave was too vast, and the chaotic backflow was too fierce. With only the strength of the three of them, even with supreme treasures in hand, it could only be a temporary measure, not a long-term solution, and certainly not a way to truly "mend the heavens."

"Amitabha..." In the western sky, a brilliant golden light shone forth, and two enormous golden lotus platforms pierced the void—it was Jieyin and Zhunti. Jieyin sat regally on a twelve-petaled golden lotus of merit, his face more sorrowful than ever before. His body radiated a boundless, serene Buddhist light, transforming into countless golden swastika symbols, like golden raindrops sprinkling towards the edge of the celestial cave. These symbols, touching the chaotic and fragmented laws, emitted subtle hissing sounds, slowly purifying and soothing the raging energy and resentment with the Buddhist power of annihilation and deliverance, indirectly easing the pressure on the Three Pure Ones. Zhunti held the Seven Treasures Tree, his face a mixture of sorrow and resolve. He continuously unleashed seven-colored precious light, attempting to brush away and stabilize some of the larger chaotic currents and collapsing fragments of spacetime. Though their power was insufficient, they had done their utmost, knowing that if the primordial world were destroyed, the West would also become a mirage.

In the direction of the Netherworld, the purple aura of reincarnation soared into the sky. Houtu's figure appeared above the Pingxin Palace. She did not go directly to the Heavenly Cave—her body was one with the Netherworld, and it was difficult to leave. However, she used the vast laws of reincarnation and the power of the Heavenly Dao of the newly born Netherworld through the reincarnation channel to remotely bless the earth at the fracture point of Buzhou Mountain. She tried her best to stabilize the connection between the constantly collapsing and cracking Nine Netherworld and the Primordial Earth, preventing the Netherworld from being completely eroded by chaos. At the same time, she used the power of reincarnation to guide and soothe the boundless death energy and remnant souls on the battlefield, slowing down the further growth of the calamity energy.

Nuwa appeared from her palace, unfurling the Map of Mountains and Rivers, attempting to gather and stabilize the shattered landforms. The aura of creation permeated the air, trying to protect as many remaining vestiges of life as possible. However, faced with such a massive collapse of heaven and earth, the Map of Mountains and Rivers proved insufficient.

All the sages emerged, each displaying their supernatural powers, barely managing to erect dikes against the catastrophic torrent. However, all the sages knew that these dikes wouldn't last long. The chaotic flood continued unabated, the collapse of the laws of heaven and earth continued, and more importantly—the primordial world needed something to "support" it! Mount Buzhou had broken; without its support, the heavens, without their anchor, would only continue to sink and collapse, ultimately crushing the earth and merging with the chaos. Mending the heavens is easy, supporting them is difficult! A supreme treasure or divine object, sufficient to replace Mount Buzhou, truly support the heavens, and bear the immeasurable weight of the primordial world, must be found!

But what in the primordial world could possess such power? Pangu existed because he held up the heavens; now, looking across the primordial world, can you say anything is stronger than Pangu?!

Just as the saints, their faces grave, were struggling to hold on, and despair spread among all living beings—

"My three masters, my two sisters, and fellow Daoists, thank you for your hard work."

A calm, clear voice, with a strange rhythm that seemed to soothe all restlessness, rang out clearly in this apocalyptic scene of lamentation and chaotic roaring. The voice was not loud, yet it strangely drowned out all the roars and entered the hearts of every saint and surviving creature.

On the eastern horizon, where purple aura and the radiance of the Three Pure Ones' treasures intertwined, the void rippled like water. A handsome young Taoist priest, dressed in a simple blue robe, stepped out from the void—it was Xuanbao.

The appearance of Xuanbao lacked the overwhelming purple aura and soaring treasures of the Three Pure Ones, nor the radiant Buddhist light and golden lotuses of the Two Western Saints. He simply stood there calmly, his aura restrained to the extreme, as if strangely merging with the shattered heaven and earth, the raging chaotic currents, and even the pervasive boundless calamity energy, becoming one with them. However, everyone who saw him—whether it was the Three Pure Ones struggling to hold on, the Two Western Saints, Nuwa, Houtu, or the myriad races of the primordial world struggling in despair below—truly, no matter how things changed, history always repeated itself in a striking way. It was only that instead of Gonggong breaking Buzhou Mountain, Taiyi had now self-destructed and broken Buzhou Mountain.

Xuanbao's gaze calmly swept over the enormous celestial cave that stretched across the heavens and earth, over the Taiji Golden Bridge and the defensive line of the saints that were trembling slightly under the impact of chaos, over the shattered and desolate primordial land below, and finally landed on the Three Pure Ones. He nodded slightly, his eyes filled with the same respect as always and a hint of warmth that was hard to detect. He then looked in the direction of Nuwa and Houtu and nodded gently in acknowledgment.

"The time has come." Xuanbao said no more, slowly raising his right hand, palm up, fingers slightly spread.

"Buzz—!"

Four distinct streams of light, each imbued with unimaginable weight, solidity, and sky-supporting power, shot out from the strange point in his palm that seemed to connect to the endless void, growing larger as they faced the wind!

In an instant, the primordial world trembled! No, it was a tremor of joy! It was the very essence of heaven and earth resonating with "hope"!

The four streaks of light materialized in the air, revealing themselves to be four colossal pillars, towering to the heavens and earth, inscribed with endless profound Dao patterns! Each pillar was entirely dark yellow, reaching straight to the heavens and earth. Judging by their power, these four pillars, in terms of the sheer strength of their material alone, were no less than ordinary innate treasures! Moreover, they were meticulously crafted by Xuanbao, their power comparable to some supreme treasures.

"Go, support the heavens!"

Xuanbao let out a clear shout, pointed his fingers like a sword, and pointed towards the four directions of east, west, south, and north.

What Xuanbao threw out was none other than the pillar supporting the sky, which he had prepared long ago using the four legs of the Demon God of Control.

"BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!"

The four colossal pillars, as if possessing life and will, transformed into four dazzling rainbows piercing through heaven and earth. Ignoring the chaotic spacetime and rampant chaos, they landed with unparalleled precision in the four cardinal directions of the original site of Buzhou Mountain, penetrating deep into the ancestral roots of the earth veins in the deepest part of the primordial land. Then, the pillars extended infinitely upwards, forcefully resisting the broken sky that was constantly pressing down and collapsing due to the loss of support!

"Snap... thud!!!"

A series of deafening yet reassuring roars echoed through the heavens and earth. The descending sky collided with four indestructible pillars, its downward momentum abruptly halted! The pillars trembled slightly, their Dao patterns flowing and erupting with a vast array of four colors: primordial yellow, glazed blue, crimson flame, and emerald green. These colors intertwined, rapidly forming a "heaven-supporting net" beneath the celestial cave, encompassing the four cardinal directions and covering the entire sky! This net not only withstood the immeasurable weight of the sky but also emanated a powerful Daoist aura that stabilized space and stabilized earth, water, fire, and wind. It resonated with the defensive line laid by the Three Pure Ones' treasures, instantly halting the expansion of the celestial cave by more than half! The rate at which chaotic energy flowed back decreased sharply once again!

"hiss--!"

"What is that?"

"Four... pillars supporting the sky?!"

"Xuanbao... he actually prepared such a divine object long ago?!"

A look of surprise flashed in the eyes of the Three Pure Ones. Laozi's calm face relaxed, Yuanshi's hand stroking his beard paused slightly, and Tongtian couldn't help but cheer, "Good lad! Well done!" They could clearly feel that the pressure they were under had been greatly reduced due to the appearance of the Four Pillars!

The two Western Saints also showed surprise. Jieyin chanted the Buddha's name in a low voice, while Zhunti's eyes shone with wonder, and his evaluation of Xuanbao rose again.

Nuwa's beautiful eyes swept across the four giant pillars that seemed to have been created to support the sky, and then looked at the calm figure in the green robe in the air. A complex mix of emotions and relief flashed in her eyes.

Houtu felt the long-lost sense of stability emanating from the earth thanks to the four pillars taking root, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up, as if her eternal sorrow had faded a little.

However, Xuanbao shook his head slightly, his voice still calm, but with an undeniable certainty: "The Four Pillars can temporarily support the sky and prevent its collapse, but if the Heavenly Cave is not repaired, the influx of chaos will eventually cause disaster, and the damaged laws of heaven and earth will also need to be repaired. This is not a long-term solution."

His gaze shifted to the direction of the Purple Cloud Palace, which had always stood aloof from all, seemingly in harmony with the Dao of Heaven, indifferently observing everything. He bowed slightly.

"Grandmaster, the Heavenly Cave needs mending, and the laws need to be perfected. The Qiankun Cauldron can refine five-colored stones to mend the heavens. We beg the Dao Ancestor to have mercy and grant us the cauldron for use."

……

Hongjun: That seems to be the way I should have said it!

Xuanbao's words echoed clearly throughout the heavens and earth. Upon hearing them, all the saints were shaken, and their gazes turned toward the depths of chaos.

As if in response to Xuanbao's words and the expectations of the saints, a crack silently appeared in the void in the direction of Zixiao Palace. There was no dazzling light, no lingering Daoist chants, only an ancient, simple bronze cauldron with three legs and two handles, its body engraved with the stars of the heavens, the primordial mountains and rivers, and even the scene of the creation of chaos, slowly floated out of the crack and flew straight towards... Goddess Nuwa.

At the same time, Hongjun's indifferent and lofty voice, devoid of any emotion, seemed to come from beyond the nine heavens, or perhaps it resounded directly into the depths of the true spirits of all the saints:

"The pillar of heaven has collapsed, calamity befell all living beings—this is destiny. Yet, all things have a glimmer of hope. Nuwa, you hold the reins of creation; this cauldron is given to you to refine five-colored divine stones to mend the heavens. The essence of the five elements required still remains in the world; you may take it yourself. Xuanbao, the pillar that supports the heavens, can stabilize the four poles. The restoration of order to the world requires your combined efforts."

……

As soon as she finished speaking, the Qiankun Cauldron quietly floated in front of Nuwa. Although the cauldron was small, it exuded a supreme Daoist aura that encompassed the universe and refined the heavens and earth.

Nuwa's expression turned solemn. She extended her delicate hand and respectfully accepted the Qiankun Cauldron: "Nuwa receives the decree from her teacher!"