Before the Seige

Several thousand years ago, closer to ten thousand, twelve beings of power crawled their way out of twelve blood pools in a secret location on Mt Buzhou. Just outside the Pangu Temple, there sat twelve pools of blood, the remaining blood essence of Pangu that had not transformed into natural geological features. They were extremely potent that even the slightest droplet could be cultivated into a top tier divine body resistant to all manner of physical and magical attacks.

It was within this deep part of Mt Buzhou that the twelve innate gods were born. All posses the supernatural power to command the natural order at their finger tips, that was to say the ability the command the myriad Dao Laws of the primitive world. In addition, they were born with extremely tough bodies surpassing anything this world has ever seen.

These deities ordered themselves from oldest to youngest where the eldest brother led the group.

First was Di Jiang. He resembled a fat sack of blubbery flesh. He had six legs all resembling human hands, four feathery wings and no face. Were it not for his chunkier stature, he could pass as a relative to Hundun. Di Jiang commanded the powers of space.

The second was named Zhu Jiuying. He had the face of an ancient old man with while black hair. But everything below the neck was that of a dragons. His left eye was a fiery ball similar to the sun while his left eye was a place silver like the moon. He controlled the powers of time.

These two were extinguished because they emerged long before the rest of the siblings. They hence possessed the highest authority. After them came a set of five.

Xuangming who controlled the powers of rain resembled an armoured behemoth of a beast with a woman's face. Spikes grew over it's shell similar to that of a tortoise while her thick legs were furred.

Jizi resembled a bird with a human face. Snakes grew from both his ears and his talons the former being green and the latter being red. He was born with command over the powers of lightning.

Qianliang commanded the powers of thunder. He had the body of a lanky human with the head of a tiger. A snake was perpetually in his grew from his mouth and his limbs ended in hoofs.

Tianwu was next and he was a massive tiger with eight human heads and ten tails. Midway through its torso, it also had two extra sets of limbs resembling human hands only with long claws. Tianwu cut an imposing figure as he commanded the powers of wind.

Finally, Shebishi was a strange one. He constantly emitted an aura of death with pale skin and a stinky musk not dissimilar to that of a corpse. His face was human like but with massive dog like ears complete with green snakes growing out of them and a single horn on his snout. His body was like a bestial feline and he brought with him the power of the storm.

The next set of five was born last but in theory possessed even greater power. They were decisively less bestial and appeared more refined with a humanoid appearance.

First came Jumang and he was a handsome man with skin as green as the leaves of a tree. He admitted an aura of renewal and plant life grew around him. Upon his back were the wings of a bird and blow his feat were clouds that resembled the shape of dragons. He controlled the primeval element of wood and represented spring.

Rushou was next and he was gruffer looking. His body was very muscular and coated in golden metallic scales. He too had wings like Jumang and controlled the primeval element of metal and represented Autumn.

Gonggong surpassed all but the most powerful in strength and had the upper body of a pitch black scaly human with blue pythons wrapped around his arms. His lower half was a sea serpent with no legs. This man controlled the primeval element of water and represented the winter.

Finally was Zhurong, the most hotheaded brother. A man with charcoal like skin and burning eyes. All the hair on his body resembled dancing flames and the air around him was perpetually boiling. As expected, he represented summer and controlled the primeval element of fire.

But the final and youngest sibling was a woman named Houtu. Houtu was humanoid yet also strange. She was like Gonggong in that her top was a woman and the bottom a serpent. Yet she possessed seven arms all of which extended from her back. But her face was undeniably beautiful which cultivated in an alluring yet mystical image. Houtu comanded the primeval element of earth and surpassed the other elemental gods in strength.

These twelve individuals were born with authority. At birth, their strength individually was enough to overwhelm Da Luo Golden Immortals. Yet they weren't cultivators, at least not in the traditional sense. They all lacked the spiritual constructs within one's body as well as the Nascent Soul. As such the crucial aspect of essence was missing from themselves, something which was concerning to Di Jiang.

Without the power of essence, they could not sense the Dao nor could they infer deeper meanings in the world. They could not cultivate the Dao like normal lifeforms. They could not divination the future, they could not infer information from heaven and earth, they couldn't even manifest magical abilities if they didn't pertain to their specific domains.

Even then, these abilities weren't so much magic as they were commands to nature to do something. If they were to theoretically leave the primitive world, they would be as helpless as anyone.

"I wasn't dreaming right? We all heard that?" Di Jiang asked nervously. He was med with eleven decisive nods.

"Oh what do we have to afraid of?" Zhurong growled in anger. "Let whoever this Luohu is come. We'll beat him over the head."

"Moron," Zhu Jiuying sneered. "Your recklessness will be the death of you one day. Don't you know that a being who can make the entire world tremble is no small figure?"

"So what? I can make earthquakes by stomping. Our wether siblings can make a storm equally as big," Zhurong argued back.

This scene was not an uncommon one. The twelve were not deep thinkers and relatively simple minded. That wasn't to say they were stupid, they just preferred simplicity and living with nature as just another part of the ecosystem. They were neither ambitious nor warmongering.

"Di Jiang, why did you say we were fucked?" Jumang asked. "Us twelve can't possibly stand that little of a chance."

Di Jiang chuckled. "You know Jiuyin and I were born years before you lot. He and I explored father god's temple for fun back then. Some records left within showed us some information from father god's memories. There we found monstrously powerful beings that predate this world that father god built for us. Luohu is supposedly an extremely dangerous figure."

"We cannot take this threat lightly. The descriptions Jiuyin and I read say he is a world ending catastrophe. We must fight to defend Mt Buzhou and our home."

"Aye!"

The others responded. They followed Di Jiang's lead. If Di Jiang says this is the way, then this is probably the way. Unless Zhu Jiuyin refutes of course. The twelve brothers were many things, but above all else they were loyal to each other.

…

While second set of Pangu's descendants were freaking out, the rest of the world hadn't been idle. When Luohu's blatant threat was announced, everyone was scared. But may also felt slighted. It was as if the devil didn't take them seriously at all.

As far as these experts who had little if any interaction with the western world was concerned, Luohu was an up-jumped nobody throwing his weight around. So when Hongjun, a figure they respected returned to the east continent and released an invitation, they gladly accepted.

What they didn't expect was the amazing force of dragons, seafolk, phoenixes, and avian tribes of all kind. It was an alliance that seemingly came out of nowhere but one that was a reality as the Chongming bird and Yinglong made landfall in the central continent at near the same time.

The two camps remained seperate but cordial with each other. As of right now, majority of the people who showed by to fight the devils sat in three camps. Dragons, phoenixes, and east continent clans.

As for the East Sea; there was an argument ensuing.

"WHAT?"

Suanni roared at his father. His fiery mane floated in the water making him resemble a spiralling sun. His brothers beside him, Yazi, Chi Wen, Chaofeng etc were all enraged.

"We have made a final decision, you will stay here in the East Sea and manage the capital," Zulong said in his imperial voice.

"But father!"

"The decision is final, this is a command from your sovereign ruler, do not disobey."

Seeing Zulong's expression, even Qiu Niu felt a little peeved.

"Father, you led us into the West Continent, why are you denying us the chance to fight with you now?" Qiu Niu asked standing his ground. "Even mother and grandfather is travelling with you and they are much better at managing us."

"With most of our high end experts gone, we need strong trustworthy men to defend Kailong Chen."

"Enough excuses Zulong. Children, please obey your father," Gui Daiyu said bluntly in Zulong's defence. "We just want you all to stay safe."

"Your mother is right Qiu Niu. My judgement was compromised by rage and I made a mistake and you all nearly payed the price," Zulong admitted. "I will not allow that chance again. Kailong Chen has already been prepped. As a last resort, it will launch itself into he chaos sea."

The princes were speechless. "You want us to…to abandon you?"

"I want the rest of you to stay safe and this is final. Master is in the chaos sea, with luck you'll run into him soon."

"Qiu Niu, this is only a last resort if your father and I don't return," Gui Daiyu added with reassurance. "But we do need you all to defend Kailong Chen."

"We can't leave even if we wanted to right?" Qiu Niu said bitterly. "You've done something tot he city's formation." He sighed turning towards his siblings. There were a few dark looks between them.

"Fine, we will protect Kailong Chen. You'll have nothing to worry about mother, father."

Zulong and Gui Daiyu both left after that. It wasn't a rowdy affair, just two beams of light shooting into the sky to meat up with everyone else who had the strength to fight Luohu and not be reduced to canon fodder.

Luohu's initial battle with him had damaged the formation flags of the Overbearing Nine Songs Formation. As a result the formerly stable battle formation could not be repaired in time. It was part of the few which could harness enough energy to battle Primal Zenith Chaos Immortals on short notice.

"I told you bluntly telling them wouldconvince them," Gui Daiyu said.

"I thought playing into their senses of duties as filial sons would be easier. But you're right, non of them are stupid," Zulong chuckled. "Let's go wife, we shan't keep the others waiting.

Being the faster of the two, Zulong grabbed Gu Daiyu and flew with transcended speed. He transformed into a golden black shooting star which made landfall in the arid Central Continent after several days.

"You didn't break reality to teleport this time?"

To Zulong's surprise, the first person he saw was Zufeng. The Phoenix had made it ahead of him and was already recovered from their previous scuffle.

"Zufeng," Zulong greeted awkwardly. "You are willing to coordinate with us?"

"Common enemies of this kind calls for desperate measures," the Phoenix Sovereign said looking over. "Greetings Dragon Empress."

Her greeting to the woman was not much warmer then Zulong's but it was a bit better. "I am here on request on fellow daoist Hongjun's request as well as the safety of my own. Your brother made camp that way," she gestured towards an area on the eastern foot of Mt Buzhou. "But for now, I am your ally."

Zulong nodded and led his wife away. He was thankful the encounter didn't last long.

As he left, he noticed Hongjun sitting on an elevated rock. He was silently cultivating. Close to him were four others. Three of them looked humanoid while the last one didn't even bother. The hulking figure just looked like an amalgamation of beasts, eyes, tails, and mouths.

Zulong barely acknowledged them before continuing on his way.

…

Whereas Zulong was meeting up with Yinglong, Qinglong had already arrived in the Central Continent. The difference is that he was sitting upon one of Mt Buzhou's cliffs facing the seafolk/dragon camp. With him were the rest of the four symbols.

"Sad to say," he began. "It took a literal doomsday event to see those two joining up."

Zhuque looked over and nodded. "Mhm, though it could've worked if the devils hadn't implicated us. This war was started by them and we were all dragged into it."

Qinglong frowned at the mention of devils. "Don't speak of those scumbags sister. Makes me sick."

"I told you they'll strike sooner or later," Baihu scoffed. "Back when I lived in the west, scheming and backstabbing was the name of the game. Cultivation was like government positions, someone needs to get out of the way before someone else can move up."

"One wonders why anyone would agree to that type of cultivation system," Zhuque said. "I mean I knew why, but why didn't they get out when they realised?"

"Would you leave everything you know and all the power you've built to start over?" Baihu asked.

"You did," Xuanwu chimed in.

"His starting was as a Golden Immortal. You can hardly compare them," Qinglong said shaking his head. He observed as more and more immortals gathered up on Mt Buzhou's foothills. "Heavens its like the entire world is preparing to fight. Was it like this last time as well?"

No one answered him for they too were wondering what the last tribulation was like. Few ever spoke of it and those who survived were few and far between. They wondered how many of this era would perish from this one.

"Hm?" Qinglong's gaze took him to a scuffle going on where some immortals appeared to be having an argument. Seeing no one going to intervene he grew irritated. "Come on really? At this time?"

He got up and disappeared in a stream of starlight.

…

Di Jun and Taiyi arrived together along with a contingent from the West Sea. They were among the rare starfolk who arrived which made them stand out. What was more fantastic were their power as Great Principle Chaos Immortals. They ranked very high even among them.

However, some incidences did occur due to Taiyi. He and Dijun were only reporting their names to a dragon officer when nearby immortals heard him speak.

The Golden Crow in the shape of a glasses wearing man was quiet and reserved. So he more or less ignored a lion immortal's sneering.

"Who does he think he is? The Dragon Sovereign?"

But while Taiyi didn't pay it any mind, his elder brother however did. Di Jun's boots dug into the dirt as his head snapped towards the burly lion. "What did you just say?"

"Only speaking the truth," the lion replied. "You think you have the right to call yourself Taiyi of all things? You must think very highly of yourself."

Taiyi himself shrugged; but Di Jun disagreed. "Why shouldn't he? My brother will stand as the strongest in the world. His talent is second to none even myself. He can claim whatever name he wants." he boasted.

The reason an argument started was because of a name. What did Taiyi mean? This name meant Grand One. A title that would imply one's stature as the most supreme existence. A title that the lion and some silent others felt was inappropriate on this stranger from nowhere.

"What's going on?"

Off to the side, Tongtian looked over lowering her stick of meat. Having arrived with her brothers with the East Continent volunteers, she was near the area where Di Jun and Taiyi arrived.

"Nothing much sister," Yuanshi said holding an arm out. "Just a few beasts of fur and scales with some ability squabbling over a name. That bird in human shape was arrogant enough to claim himself Grand One as a name."

"Meh, your name is primordial beginnings and elder brother's is Grand Supreme," she said shrugging. The two decided it wasn't their problem and just stuck around to watch. At some point Taishang had also walked over.

Di Jun and the lion argued to the point where their auras erupted. A Da Luo Golden Immortal's fiery aura resembling that of the sun surrounded Di Jun while the lion's Primal Origin Chaos Immortal aura did not lose out one bit and appeared even larger. But it also can't be accurate to say Di Jun was pushed back. It was certainly a surprise to the old lion when Di Jun kept up with him.

"Okay this is getting a little heated, lets stop shall we?"

At some point Taiyi also grew a bit annoyed. He walked through the pressure of both his brother and the lion like it was nothing. "Talking is useless. If you question my ability that much and are unwilling to reason then why don't you try me?" He said calmly taking his place in front of Di Jun.

"What?" The lion sneered. "I am a Primal Origin Chaos Immortal who's listened to Great Emperor Baihu sermons in the past. Your Dao fruit hasn't even changed out of a generic one."

"Guys please stop, we really don't need disharmony at a time like this."

"Is that so?" Taiyi said stroking his chin. Then his inner universe changed. Like a blazing sun, his Dao fruit exploded in radiant light. The sound of a turning clock was heard by all and the ringing of a bell ended the gesture. For Taiyi had directly become a Primal Origin Chaos Immortal in an instant.

In the next instant, his casual pressure eclipsed the lion. Yet he didn't do anything beyond that. It was as if he was bored and simply humoured the lion immortal.

"Told you," Di Jun scoffed. "Now apologize to my little brother."

The lion immortal felt embarrassed but he didn't feel that he was wrong. "Even so, you're walking on too many eggshells with a name as arrogant as that."

"I said stop it!"

Qinglong's clap was shift and light. But it shut down all three auras in an instant. All of a sudden, nothing supernatural happened anymore. The group was like three quarrelling mortals without a hint of cultivation to their name.

'What the?' Taiyi was shocked to see the black robed young man appear so suddenly. He hadn't even noticed Qinglong's approach until now and he knew his senses were insanely sharp. He was always confident in his power, he knew he was stronger then the already powerful Di Jun. so he never felt the need to flaunt it.

But Qinglong outclassed him so much that it felt as if he were a tiny chick in front of an almighty dragon. What's more, he felt like he was familiar with this aura.

"Elder Azure Dragon," the lion bowed and apologized immediately. He didn't even hesitate even when Qinglong lectured him on harassing others, especially at this inappropriate time. Then he turned his attention to the two brothers.

"I would like to say I'm happy that strangers are willing to fight with us. But I should warn you that causing such a commotion is a problem."

Di Jun shuffled uneasily but with a nudge from Taiyi the two said their apologies.

"It's a small matter senior, defending our homeland is our responsibility as is any other's," Di Jun said. They felt a certain kinship with the dragon even though this was the first time they met. They left the meeting on amicable terms.

It was also here in the camp that Qinglong took notice as more and more people arrived. He saw three uniquely powerful siblings who were only observing a distance away. There was a boisterous man drinking with a red robed daoist who smelled like water vapour and a white robed daoist who smelled of the earth.

There was a man who stunk like polluted water. sharpening his swords and a bit further from him was a small macaque with six ears eyeing him. That monkey looked ferocious despite his small size. Qinglong couldn't help but feel a bit put off by the way that monkey was staring at the man's swords.

"What's wrong with him?" He murmured before turning away. Zhuque, Baihu, and Xuanwu had also joined him at Mt Buzhou's base not long after.

"Ok you three, what are you looking at?" Baihu called out to the three siblings. The Three Pure One's were surprised to be called out.

"Just admiring seniors strength," Taishang said. "This one is called Taiqing, these are my brother Yujing and sister Shangqing." Yuanshi and Tongtian looked at him a bit oddly but played along.

Qinglong squinted his eyes. These three were remarkably familiar to him and he couldn't quite tell why. What's more, his attention stopped at the woman.

"You," he said pointing at her.

"Me?" Tongtian said startled pointing at herself. Yuanshi raised an eyebrow and shifted a little closer to her.

"Yes you…you…are you related to Star Lord Wangshu?" Qinglong asked.

"Wangshu? I've never encountered that name before but it does sound strangely familiar," she said humming in thought.

"We are genuine descendants of Pangu," Yuanshi said proudly interrupting. Taishang closed his eyes and sucked in a long breath. Suddenly Yuanshi felt like he was in trouble yet he didn't know why.

"I see," Qinglong said. "You're innate gods of this generation then. I was one before you. I inherited from Pangu's Yang Qi."

"And I from his Ying Qi," Zhuque added. "Not sure on these two though," she said pointing at Xuanwu and Baihu.

"Parts of the father god, doesn't that make us related?" Tongtian said smiling.

"Related?" Yuanshi frowned a little at her words. "Though we came from a similar source, we are fundamentally different beings. Us siblings came from father god's mighty Nascent Soul."

At this Qinglong acknowledged that this Yuqing's starting point was superior to his own. The Nascent Soul was far better then a sliver of Pangu's Qi.

"Senior brother!"

Qinglong was interrupted when another arrival announced herself or rather themselves. He looked up to find the figures of Changxi and Xihe arriving.

"What in the actual f…what are you two dong here?" He screeched.

"What do you mean? We're here to defend our home," Changxi answered before Xihe could speak. "We were afraid that we wouldn't make it before Luohu attacks. Don't worry senior brother, we can look after ourselves."

"You're only a Great Unity Golden Immortal," Yuanshi said after taking one look at Xihe. His words made her grit her teeth and look away in shame.

"That's right, Xihe you being here is hazardous for yourself," Qinglong said.

"There are other Great Unity Golden Immortals here as well. I'll stay away from the core fighting," she defended her position. She shrank away when Qinglong gave her a death glare.

Powerless to resist, Xihe was sucked into Qinglong's sleeve startling Changxi. Before she can react, he did the same to her trapping both sisters in a pocket universe he created on the underside of his sleeve.

The commotion drew some attention as well but Qinglong did not care. He walked away from the area followed closely by his friends. He felt that this day was just getting worst and worst for him.

In the west side of Mt Buzhou, a monsoon of thunderclouds descended.