The Primitive Age, Lament of an Immortal(A mythological xianxia story)

A fire fizzled towards the last of its embers. The only thing lighting up a small camp where several travellers had set up just off the dirt trail running through several major cities as well as unclaimed territories.

This area was unpatrolled due to that fact. For the average mortal, it was quite risky despite being well understood.

Around the fire, tents had been set up. A group of mortals dining on smoked vegetables, a silver haired youth tending to the fire, and a foreign man sitting cross legged eyes closed.

Zeus threw in a handful of kindling to keep it going, knowing it'll keep the mortal travellers that opted to stay with them for the night at ease.

Travellers along the roads, despite the danger, was still common. Zeus neither care nor minded them staying close. Company was always preferred no matter what state he found himself in.

Despite that, he didn't speak with them much.

"Uh…will your um…companion be okay without food? We have plenty to share and it's the least we can do for offering us shelter." The leader of the group, a middle aged man with some soldiering background offered.

Zeus shook his head. "He's fine. Just sleeping is all."

"Right. Once again young man, we must thank you. Otherwise we'd be in trouble in the night." The leader glanced sideways at the corpse of a manticore. Lying face first, one wouldn't know of the fearsomeness it had shown hours earlier.

Zeus shrugged, but said nothing else. He and Da Hai encountered the group on the road. Naturally, Zeus zapped the encroaching monster the moment things got out of hand.

Then, things naturally progressed to them all settling in for the night. Despite being strangers, Zeus offered them hospitality for the night.

It wasn't much, and it was mostly the travelling group's utensils and food. But Zeus' protection was powerful enough.

What's better, he hadn't made any demands yet like one would expect from a powerful hero. Even if he requested something outrageous, the travelling group would've agreed.

Da Hai had dozed off after a while, at least in Zeus' eye. He found the posture odd. Who slept with legs crossed, back straight, and hands resting on his thighs?

Then again, the man had appeared constipated for the past week in Zeus' eyes. Constantly thinking of something, but coming up with nothing.

He was such a strange monster.

As he was, he wasn't worth paying attention to. Even the travellers found him odd, his foreign appearance not withstanding.

"Mighty hero?" A girl, a pretty one even by Zeus' standards suddenly asked. "Are you heading off to join the army gathering in Athens?"

Zeus perked up, that was the city he had been in not too long ago. A memorable night with a memorable princess shortly before his crushing defeat.

"I'm sure he is Irene. Who wouldn't want the glory of beating the beast of prophecy. Stop asking such idiotic questions." Another well trained man joined the conversation.

"I just want to make sure is all," Irene defended herself.

The prophecy had spread all through the universe. Zeus eyed the girl, making her feel silly.

She was genuinely pretty to Zeus' gaze. Had he been in other circumstances, he wouldn't mind a quick round of fun. Take his mind off other things.

Seleme, Leto, Io, Europa, Danae, Callisto, Thalia… he had long stopped giving count, only remembering particularly memorable ones. Those who helped especially to forget, if only for a brief moment.

He did consider it, since he had nothing better to do. It would certainly help more than gods be damned Da Hai riling him up by constantly bringing up his lineage.

Personal torture that he wanted no part in.

'I could reward her with a blessing in case…'

"Him and I have other places to be," Zeus said after an awkward silence. He ultimately chose to not pursue this Irene.

It didn't feel right at this moment. Too angry right now.

"From their direction, probably got tired from all the fighting around Athens, Sparta and Mycenae."

"Ooh. Is south where this gentlemen is from? Could he be one of the dessert dwellers across the sea?"

"Idiot woman. We've met one of those before. They're a darker shade than us. He's probably from inner Anatolia."

Zeus left them speculating having grown bored of the conversation. This whole journey was both monotonous and infuriating.

He glanced at Da Hai. How could he sleep so peacefully at a time like this? The chatter wasn't exactly quiet. He only withheld from complaining for hospitality's sake.

Little did he know, Da Hai wasn't sleeping. Zeus was unable to sense the deeper movement of Dao, hence was incapable of identifying Da Hai's actions.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

He'd just assumed Morpheus to be taking a crack at fighting him. Unaware that the Dao of distant seas had connected the eight headed serpent's consciousness to someplace extremely far away.

…

"A proper cultivation technique suited for…why are you asking me? Could this deity not deduce it himself!"

Haotian gestured from his side of their minds pace towards Da Hai's slightly blushing figure.

He asked the question not even mockingly, but in pure startlement. It then turned into no small amounts of amusement.

For Chaos Immortals, deducing cultivation techniques that brought mortals to immortals in a step by step process should be rather simple. Especially as Da Hai had a foundation in educating prehistoric sea creatures.

"I realized over the past several days that such an act needs more time than expected. I don't exactly have the luxury to seclude myself for another century."

Da Hai's admission still confused Haotian. At this moment, Haotian genuinely wanted to peer inside his origin's mind to know what he's thinking.

"You can still do it in a moment. It's just up to a Golden Immortal right? They're nothing special."

As the Jade Emperor leading numerous righteous heavenly gods, Golden Immortals really were a joke to him. Great experts in small ponds, laughable in the wider ocean.

In the Heavenly Court, they'd only be fit to be minor generals to assist bigger generals, who could only assist the chief marshal.

"I need one of quality, not some half assed method."

'Anything half assed method a Chaos Immortal draws up is quality.' Haotian wanted to say, but held back.

"I heard that." Despite that, because of their shared existence, Da Hai knew what he would've said.

The Jade Emperor sighed. "I don't have much leisure time to deduce something in the Three Realm's faster time speed…"

He paused to confirm this through Da Hai's memories, an act he allowed.

"But I can file a request to the martial repository."

"Your bureaucracy is too slow moving. Just go grab something from one of your contemporaries." Da Hai's challenging demands would cause irritation from the man with the most political power in the universe. That was, were it not coming from Da Hai himself.

"Just why would you want to train some foreign boy who's clearly got enough power on his own. There are far more important things to be concerned about."

Haotian felt like rubbing his nose bridge at the coming headache. He was under enough pressure as is.

By bringing Da Hai back, he weakened himself. He was powerful, but no more than another Primal Zenith Chaos Immortal.

He could not repeat the mighty displays of power he did when he bent humanity, the Earthly Divinities, and the Heavenly Demons to his will.

The risk he took was turning out to be riskier than expected. He was willing to play his part, and didn't wish to see his origin dallying in side quests.

"Do I need to justify myself to you?" Da Hai scoffed.

"Consider this please, he's a foreign entity that's not even related to us. At best you're wasting time, at worst you're creating a future problem for the Three Realms." Haotian hated to sound like he's begging.

"And is his situation really such a big mystery for you to solve either?" Haotian continued. He wasn't ignorant to Greece, having watched a portion through Da Hai when he had time.

He got the same gist as Da Hai, but had a vastly different response. The two maybe come from the same source, but many factors had caused them to deviate long ago. To say they're the same person is an utmost mistake.

They're merely tied to the same existence.

"This Zeus, we've both concluded he did not cultivate to his current realm. We've also concluded that his abilities are tied to the ingrained Dao laws of that Chaos World. There is not further need to gift him a technique anymore."

"I disagree. For his own sake, the ability to look inwards and cultivate a stable foundation would be more beneficial for him. Should he gave whatever it is that troubles him, overcome it like any heart demon, he'd become something truly special."

Haotian frowned at Da Hai's reasoning. He could tell Da Hai had already made up his mind. This was always the problems with old and mighty entities. They always thought they knew best.

'Hypocrite.' Da Hai sneered at the thought he detected from the Jade Emperor. Below one, above ten thousand, yet he thinks he's unreasonable.

"You want him as a disciple," Haotian blurted. "I'm surprised. After the disaster that were the previous few."

Not rising up to the provocation, Da Hai nodded. "I feel for to the struggle I see. There isn't any special reason beyond that."

In Haotian's opinion, Da Hai should've disregarded the Hellenistic Chaos World. He should've torn it apart, rip out whatever information relating to the Zagreus mentioned by Yurlunggur, then make the final breakthrough.

As Jade Emperor, Haotian cared for none but the Three Realms. If the Hellenistic Chaos World was absorbed and incorporated into the Three Realms, then that was another matter entirely Ls

What Haotian saw right now? Was instead a alien entity that had no relation nor benefit to the home he so loved.

Though perhaps…if Da Hai ingrains gratefulness, and imparts a sense of loyalty into the lighting god. He could become an extra shield between the Three Realms and the Heavenly Host.

"You've become quite the politician," Da Hai joked.

"I can only do what I think is best. Fine, you want a top tier lighting based manual? I can get you one."

Haotian promptly disappeared from their shared mind space. Da Hai sat back and waited. He was unwilling to push his way through to the other side.

After all, what kept their relation hidden from someone like Hongjun, was that Hongjun didn't think it was possible for his beloved disciple and heir to be a plant. As long as he doesn't dream up the possibility, and thus not look too deep into Haotian with his omnipotent cultivation base. Their own Dao of distant seas can trick him.

Keeping Haotian in view while keeping Da Hai unreachable.

An unknown amount of time passed. Greece, being a much slower time flow, wouldn't have seen the night past. The Three Realms on the other hand may experience several years.

Da Hai wouldn't know what excuse Haotian used, or if he disregarded those and just pushed for it with his authority. His clone had become something else entirely since they parted.

Even before his original self's demise, Haotian had deviated into a kinder individual reminiscent of the version of Da Hai that was both clueless and ignorant in the earliest periods of his life.

This current Haotian experienced many things and became someone Da Hai would not recognize if they weren't origin and clone. While Da Hai had learned what led to this current point in time, there was still a difference between learning and experiencing it first hand.

There are things Da Hai could not comprehend about the Jade Emperor. Most prominently, his extreme love for not just the Three Realms, but the inhabitants and culture.

In his solitude, Da Hai felt puzzled. 'This clone of mine. His beliefs are genuine, but…there is a side of him that enjoys the power.'

Da Hai couldn't imagine himself in that position. Perhaps the ambition of the white jade perverted the piece of himself he left behind to become Haotian.

After a while, Haotian manifested again. He was still dressed in imperial regalia, but held a light spark.

The highest level cultivation techniques were considered absolute secrets. Many were personal techniques created by certain experts who'd only pass it down through their own lineage.

"Lei Zhu was kind enough to not ask questions. I'll erase it from my mind after I give to you." Da Hai nodded in acceptance of Haotian's demand.

"Who's Lei Zhu?"

"The head of my thunder department, the Heavenly Lord of Universal Thunder who's…"

"I don't need his full title damn you," Da Hai shushed him with a wave.

"Then I'll be taking my leave," Haotian said while folding his hands behind his back. Then dissipated.

Da Hai was about to do the same too, yet suddenly felt something. Something that felt like a gaze that had been on him for some time.

He looked around, seeing only the complexity of his Dao. Confused, he ultimately dismissed that feeling as his paranoia flaring. Haotian's presence did grate him him.

…

Haotian opened his eyes carefully. He didn't move for some time, maintaining a steady seated position. A look of uncertainty still adorned him.

"If you would like, we/I can cut the connection off for you. Detach your karma from that one's and allow you your own destiny."

Haotian shook his head at those words. "No old friend. I've said it once and I'll say it ten thousand times. I cannot risk it. I need this power where it's at."

"You underestimate yourself and our own means, as well as the means of those who will aid you. You have many enemies, but many friends too. As a mortal, we will all help you until you return as a Primal Zenith Chaos Immortal. And especially us will support you towards the Wuji principle."

"The answer is still no," Haotian said. "I don't have an assurance even then. I cannot let it go."

He got up from the prayer mat he'd been sitting on and took in the large chamber he'd been in. The only place he was absolutely sure could be unnoticed by anyone.

The one hosting him drank from their cup of tea patiently, speaking in multiple voices. Sometimes old, sometimes young, sometimes male, sometimes female. Their form was constantly shifting from one mass to another, difficult to identify.

Yet they offered Haotian tea all the same, and gestured for him to stay longer. It was a silent request to discuss the Dao again.

"I'll be going now. The court needs me in this time of turmoil. You should focus on your own cultivation."

"We know. Our disciples thought the same. As of now, we are confident in the breakthrough. We just need something to distract the heavens. If you would go with the original plan as discussed, things would've still gone well.

"We would never understand the reason you saw the need to resurrect the Oceanic Suppression Heavenly Lord from your Dao's memory bank."

Haotian frowned at those words. "Isn't it better to have plausible deniability? The only reason Heavenly Dao turns a blind eye to this place is cause it thinks I'm restraining you. It doesn't truly know how far you've progressed in this method."

The Jade Emperor had already reached the exit by this point. Another step, and he left both the chamber, as well as the dimension that separated it from the heavenly realm outside.

Haotian walked past two attendants, one with golden horns and another with silver horns without batting an eye. Walked past a large cauldron with observing the mystical fire powering it.

Only when he got to the final gate that separated Tushita palace from the rest of the Heavenly Court, did he briefly turn back.

"This Jade Eminence Great Emperor thanks the Grand Supreme Elder Lord for his invitation. The wisdom of Dao will never cease to amaze even I."

Then, reuniting with his escorting force, he left for Lingxiao Palace.