Primordial Salted Fish: Starting from Refusing to Join the Demon Clan

The primordial world was vast and boundless, incomparable to the later concept of spherical planets.

Here, the universe follows the oldest and grandest law—"the sky is round and the earth is square."

The sky is like a huge blue dome, inverted over the earth, with stars, the sun and the moon attached to it, flowing with the way of heaven.

The earth, on the other hand, is a boundless plane, thick and vast, bearing witness to the rise and fall of all living beings.

In the layout of this world, the four seas are not as vast and boundless as in later times. They are more like four huge jade belts inlaid on the edge of the primordial continent, located in the east, south, west and north, respectively, forming a ring that tightly wraps around the central continent.

In terms of area, the four seas combined only occupy one-seventh of the primordial world, while the vast territory that occupies six-sevenths is the enchanting primordial continent.

Kunpeng had long resided in the Northern Ocean, a vast ocean shrouded in extreme cold and solitude. Though it was expansive and profound, it was ultimately just a secluded corner of the ocean.

Now, as he finally set foot on the primordial continent, ancient memories from the depths of his bloodline seemed to be instantly awakened.

This is a completely different experience.

Unlike the singular and oppressive Water Dao in Beiming, on the continent, the five elements of spiritual energy intertwine, with earth, water, fire, and wind swirling wildly and full of vitality. The laws of the Great Dao bloom like a hundred flowers, dazzlingly beautiful.

Kunpeng flew eastward, its goal set on the legendary pillar of heaven and earth—Mount Buzhou.

This journey of hundreds of years was not a tedious and arduous one. The Kunpeng transformed into human form, traversing the mortal world and the wild forests, creating characters in its hands before Cangjie (the legendary inventor of Chinese characters) even appeared, and spreading its teachings along the way.

Wherever he went, he left behind a stele and set up a threshold, both to spread the seeds of civilization and to avoid unnecessary entanglements of cause and effect.

The results were remarkable.

He could clearly perceive a power called "words," just like dandelion seeds, taking root and sprouting on this ancient land.

More and more creatures began to imitate his strokes, and more and more races and tribes began to respectfully call him "Taoist Master".

This golden light of merit, originating from the inheritance of civilization, though not dazzling, gently nourishes his primordial spirit.

However, the path of the Great Way is always imperfect.

Along the way, Kunpeng had seen many exotic flowers and rare herbs, but he had never encountered a true innate spiritual treasure, nor even the roots of an innate spiritual root.

Even though he traveled through the Eastern Continent, where spiritual energy was most abundant, he still came up empty-handed.

"It seems that my chance encounter with the Three Immortal Islands in the East China Sea has indeed exhausted the luck that I have accumulated over many years," Kunpeng thought to himself. Although he felt regret, he was not too bothered by it.

He was not a greedy person. Although he had no great treasures, he would take any innate spiritual materials he saw along the way if it was convenient.

Although it's a common commodity, it became an extremely rare and precious material in later generations.

Of course, he acted with moderation, unlike the locusts that pluck feathers from a passing goose and leave nothing but devastation. Instead, he took what he could in a proper way and left room for maneuver.

After enduring hundreds of years of trials and tribulations, the Kunpeng finally landed on the shores of the East China Sea, heading west until its majestic figure filled the entire field of vision.

The Kunpeng paused and slowly raised its head.

At that moment, even breathing seemed to stop.

Before us stands the majestic and ancient Mount Buzhou, a towering mountain that supports the heavens and the earth!

It is no ordinary mountain range, but a giant pillar connecting heaven and earth, an unparalleled and majestic structure formed from the spine of the great god Pangu.

The mountain is dark blue-green, with jagged rocks resembling dragon scales, and each boulder seems to contain the thunderous power of creation.

It pierces straight into the sky, as if trying to nail the circular "canopy" down firmly, preventing it from tilting even slightly.

From the primordial chaos above to the unborn underworld below, Mount Buzhou traverses the two extremes of the primordial world.

Kunpeng strained its eyes to look upwards, only to see clouds surging at the mountainside, like millions of galloping horses, transforming into a vast sea of ​​clouds.

Further up, the legendary mountain peak had long since disappeared into the depths of the chaotic and unfathomable sky, beyond the reach of the eye, leaving only a desolate and unsettling sight.

An immense pressure, originating from the very beginning of time, spread from the mountain and heavily enveloped the surrounding area.

This is not a murderous intent directed at anyone, but a pure majesty belonging to "existence" itself.

Like an invisible tide, it washed over Kunpeng's primordial spirit and physical body wave after wave.

Under this immense, ocean-like pressure, the surging spiritual energy within the Kunpeng seemed to stagnate, and the air it breathed became viscous, as if bearing a weight of billions of tons.

Even someone as powerful as Kunpeng, the Lord of the Northern Sea, felt as insignificant as dust at this moment, and couldn't help but feel boundless awe.

This is the legacy of Pangu, the backbone of the primordial world, and the ultimate symbol that all spirits look up to!

"Indeed, only by being here in person can one truly understand the vastness of the heavens and the immensity of the earth." Kunpeng took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart.

Mount Buzhou is not only a symbol of majesty, but also a true treasure trove.

Legend has it that of the ten innate spiritual roots of the primordial world, this place alone possesses three of them.

Furthermore, the countless blessed lands and grotto-heavens that have sprung from Buzhou Mountain have attracted countless powerful beings to live in seclusion here.

Among them, the most famous is Phoenix Mountain, the sacred site of Nuwa and Fuxi before Nuwa became saints.

Kunpeng had only been at the foot of the mountain for a short time when it sensed the extraordinary human presence of the place.

"The great god Fuxi and the goddess Nuwa are preaching to us living beings today! Quickly! Go there at once!"

"Let's grab a front-row seat! If we could get guidance from the great gods and goddesses, we might have a chance to transform into human form!"

A burst of lively, bustling noise broke the silence of the mountain forest.

In the distance, a towering ancient tree suddenly rose from the ground, swinging its thick roots like a wild beast running wildly in one direction, its appearance comical yet revealing a fanatical devotion to the Great Dao.

Behind it, there were strange rabbits with three ears, creatures with two legs that looked like toads, and even various innate creatures that had not yet fully developed their intelligence, all surging forward in a swarm.

"The Way of Transformation..." Kunpeng's eyes flickered slightly, and a thought struck him. "Since I'm here, I might as well make the best of it and join in the fun."

When Kunpeng arrived, a vast expanse of bluestone at the foot of Phoenix Perch Mountain was already bustling with activity.

Fuxi sat upright on the left, his hand resting on the strings of his zither. The music was clear and melodious, like flowing water and the clash of swords and the thunder of horses, soothing the restless spirits of all living beings. Nuwa stood on the right, her figure graceful and her mouth uttering lotus flowers, expounding the profound and unfathomable meaning of transformation.

Kunpeng did not disturb them rashly, but instead found a quiet corner, sat down cross-legged, and listened attentively.

The music was coming to an end, and Nuwa's sermon was nearing its conclusion.

"...Form arises from the mind, and appearance changes with intention. Although you are of different kinds, as long as the spark of clarity in your mind remains, you can borrow the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to reshape your human body..."

Nuwa's voice was clear and ethereal, as if it resonated directly in the depths of the souls of all living beings.

As the last syllable fell, Fuxi flicked his fingertips, and a lingering sound dissipated.

"This concludes today's sermon." Nuwa waved her hand gently, and a soft breeze swept across the entire area. "You have all obtained your opportunity. Quickly disperse and begin your cultivation. Do not waste your time."

All living beings felt as if they had found a treasure, and they all knelt down and kowtowed. Then, filled with joy and enlightenment, they retreated like the tide.

Once all the miscellaneous creatures have dispersed, the world will return to tranquility.

Kunpeng straightened his clothes, walked out slowly, and bowed slightly to the two figures, his posture neither humble nor arrogant: "I am Kunpeng, Daoist name Ming. I came from the shores of the East Sea and happened to meet you two fellow Daoists who were expounding the Dao. I have come to pay my respects."

Fuxi put down his zither and exchanged a glance with Nuwa, both recognizing the extraordinary nature of the young man before them.

Fuxi rose and returned the greeting, his demeanor gentle and refined: "Fuxi and Nuwa of Phoenix Perch Mountain greet Fellow Daoist Ming. Fellow Daoist has come from afar, and we two have not been able to welcome you properly. Please forgive us."

Kunpeng laughed and said, "Fellow Daoist, you are too kind. I came from the Northern Sea and traveled through the primordial world, only to seek opportunities and visit you to discuss the Great Dao."

"I passed by this blessed land today and heard that a great master is preaching here. I was filled with longing for him, so I took the liberty of coming here to make his acquaintance."

"Fellow Daoist, since you have come from afar, it is fate that we meet." Fuxi showed a sincere smile on his face, and gestured to the side, "This is not the place to talk. Fellow Daoist, why don't you come inside and have a chat, enjoy some tea and discuss the Dao?"

Kunpeng nodded in agreement.

He then followed Fuxi into the depths of Phoenix Perch Mountain.

This is an elegant courtyard built against the mountain, with bluestone steps and moss growing on them.

In front of the courtyard, an ancient tree with lush foliage casts dappled light and shadow, and the faint silhouette of a phoenix seems to flit among the branches, exuding auspicious energy.

As Kunpeng stepped into the courtyard, he thought to himself: This primordial land is indeed full of hidden talents. Perhaps this trip will lead to a good relationship.