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

As Prime Origin Monarch made his first offensive move, he was still filled with confidence. After all, he had roamed the Chaos Sea for a long time.

One must know, those who not only adventure across the multiverse, but also find great enough success to lay claim over entire regions. Not only that, but to defend this region and be respected by all. This was the sign of a gargantuan expert.

Even someone as kind and accepting as Prime Origin Monarch would develop a level of arrogance. Was it even a bad thing if it was backed up with fact?

His Dao shifted myriad concepts. His divine techniques were both exquisite, and powerful. Each of his movements made an argument for his Dao.

It was completely unlike Heaven Sundering War God, Propagation Emperor, or any of the rest.

Ra-Huti, Thoth was also impressed. Very rarely would one encounter an expert of such magnitude.

Prime Origin respected what he saw. Though he took pride in his power, he would not underestimate an unknown. Especially one was mysterious as Thoth.

The Dao he saw in the ibis headed deity was certainly powerful. He'd even worn it as a crown. Very different from how idols were internalized. Yet even still, it was blinding to look at.

Cool to the eye, mysterious and profound. Prime Origin thought his own Dao was complex and ascendant, but it was clear that Thoth's was even more so. But that wasn't all there was to combat.

Dao and strength had a positive correlation. Yet it wasn't difficult to find a Great Principle Chaos Immortal with a fresh Dao fighting on par Primal Origin, or even Primal Zenith Chaos Immortals. This was just a result of some people being naturally inclined for combat.

"The Three Treasures Burn. Calamities Fall Across All. Extinguish All Spirits!"

The apex move of Prime Origin's Dao, born from his personally deduced cultivation method. Cultivated by him to be known as the "Three Treasures Primal Source."

With it being used in its most destructive form, Prime Origin Monarch aimed to disintegrate Thoth on a fundamental level.

He did not wish to deal with those hydrographic bands again. Thoth understood this, and raised his hand to produce a quill.

Sand materialized in his hand to form the base. And the Aten disk upon his head allowed its luminous rays to unravel.

Like an inviting embrace, these rays became hands that wove in the Dao into that quill. He then drew a symbol in air, using only his will to materialize his desire.

"Though complex on the outside, fundamentally simple. Easy to deduce, even easier to unravel," Thoth boasted.

Prime Origin Monarch frowned at such a claim. "Comrade is confused. His mind has fallen into disarray via the profundities of my Dao. Come, let us further our discussion. If you cannot keep up, you would find your disk imploding."

The Chaos Sea churned and groaned, struggling to maintain a cohesive shape beneath the clashing powers. Its own randomness was systematically ordered into two sides, then forced to smash against each other.

Even without the explicit command of both great powers, it was like existence went to war against each other.

Propagation Emperor had already retreated far away. In his hand, he held his wives. His own profound cultivation bad was the only thing keeping him alive.

"Misunderstandings are bound to occur. Especially when dealing with one filled with ignorance."

Thoth's symbols orbited him, forming a shining light that turned off Prime Origin's offensive attempt. It startled the monarch, who quickly mobilized his spells to try again.

This was stopped by the quail pointing directly at him. Prime Origin couldn't help but feel himself drowning in a deep ocean formed from a wealth of knowledge.

Many he knew, many he didn't. Some were ideas he could come up with on his own. Others were ideas that never even occurred to him.

"Profound," he muttered.

Above Thoth's head, his Aten disk continued to radiate its sunlight. Blue, dim, warm all the same. His beak curled into a grin. "And you too. Since you are here, take this chance to enlighten yourself."

"In the sun's rays, in my Lunar Wisdom Sun's rays. You can find the ultimate truth. I have sought it out just to impart it to the ignorant."

He spoke not of Prime Origin, but to the speck of Ten Thousand Ways Ancestor. If he thought Prime Origin to be lacking, he thought even lower of Ten Thousand Ways.

People should have a way of conducting themselves. Morals were fundamental to society. This tree clearly had not developed to that point when it transcended to the Chaos Sea.

Thoth proclaimed himself a sage of knowledge, even using it in his Ra title. If there was one thing he'd enjoyed most, it was expounding his knowledge.

"Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! You are nothing but a fool," Ten Thousand Ways Ancestor spat from within his prison. "An evil spirit playing at a benevolent teacher."

"Oh?"

"You mock me bird man. This seat is no saint, but this seat isn't blind. I see the same maddened pursuit in you as the rest of us. You used this seat, and sucked the nutrients all around us to mend that broken crown. Using what you deem lesser just to prove your Dao."

Thoth tilted his head, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. But if one were extremely observant, they could see the slight souring of his mood.

That was also the brief moment Prime Origin needed to shatter the world Thoth put him in. He emerged with his body torn with cracks. His breathing remained heavy with the essence of the Dao.

He looked up resolutely, carefully stitching his body back together. Inwardly, he felt tremendous fear. Being pushed like this didn't happen often. The last time was when he faced the palm strike of Ten Billion Buddha Ancestor when they crossed paths.

He summoned his treasure, his majestic cauldron to crash towards Thoth. "Impressive display comrade Ra-Huti. Now be pound to dust by my cauldron."

"Wait a second. I don't want to be near him!" Ten Thousand Ways Ancestor screamed from within it.

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The Aten disk shined with immeasurable light, slowing the cauldron's descent. At the same time, its profound rays also attacked the approaching Prime Origin Monarch to prevent his approach.

"I know many among the Ennead who'd have fallen by now," Thoth said. "Ever since obtaining the throne of Ra, even fewer have been able to look upon my rays."

He held up the book he'd been keeping to himself until now. A single motion flicked it open, its contents facing him. He didn't even look up at his opponents.

Yet it wasn't as if he weren't paying attention. On the contrary, he was wary of being dealt a clean strike by Prime Origin Monarch.

"This treasure book in my hand. Are you aware of it?" Thoth asked teasingly.

"Comrade Ra-Huti is an outsider of my domain. How could I have heard of it."

"Very well then, let me enlighten you. Among my people, the Ennead, there exists a myriad of artefacts. The progenitor's boat, the ankh, the eye, and this book right here." Thoth, using his free hand, pulled a blob of energy from his book.

Atop that bubble, one could perceive numerous hieroglyphs moving around. The occasional image would also flash across.

'Not good.' Prime Origin felt a wave of fear consume him and immediately moved to defend.

"I've only been fighting with my Aten disk up till now, and have neglected to show you my own auxiliary. I apologize." Thoth threw out the blob, chanting a subsequent spell.

"You fool! Run away now!" Ten Thousand Ways Ancestor screamed.

"Silent fiend," Prime Origin retorted. Yet as he made a defensive maneuverer, he felt his spells give way. His techniques crumbled as if they reached an end.

Even his idol, that which symbolized his Dao, paused in its luminous appearance. Whereas the Aten disk was simple and elegant, his idol was large and complex. This same idol that held a bizarre beauty, was now crumbling apart.

"Gah!" Prime Origin clutched his chest, almost falling to his knees. He sensed the literal infinite volumes of vitality within him distort.

Around him, the chimes of the Dao ceased. The order he provided the Chaos Sea dissipated. The celestial phenomena he could manifest were also consumed by the dim blue light of the Aten disk.

"When Ma'at fell, I sacrificed a lot to obtain it. My Book of the Dead." Thoth walked up to the fallen Prime Origin.

"I recall slayer of angels being amongst your many accomplishments? Unless I misheard, that was what your disciples at your manor were spouting." Thoth shook his head in disappointment. He had assumed Prime Origin's reputation could be used as a safe location to nurse his sun.

"This meagre strength. When they come upon your doorstep as they did mine, you would've perished. How lucky of you."

Thoth turned towards the cauldron and peered at the trapped cultivator inside. "A heinous fiend so sure in his own evils. I judge your heart fit for Ammit's stomach. Though even she may find you too repulsive."

"How…how is your Dao so strong…strong." The famed Prime Origin Monarch was pale. With none of his grandeur, he deigned to ask the question.

Although he was aware that his own Dao had yet to reach the most extreme perfection, it was still seasoned. He was only aware of the supreme perfection because he could sense it within reach.

Thoth gestured at his Sun crown, identifying it as his equivalent to an idol. It was the same type of structure as a Three Realms Dao fruit.

"An Aten only forms upon the completion of one's studies. My deeds, my merits, my acts of creation and service to the design of Ma'at." Then he grew solemn.

An odd sense of rage began bubbling.

"The winged beasts who believe they are some kind of saviours. They do not respect Ma'at, do not respect the Aten. Their blind devotion leaves no room for thought. Brutes. Murderers."

"You lost didn't you? Hahahahahaha." Ten Thousand Ways Ancestor mocked from within the cauldron. That was just the type of person it was, never missing a chance.

"And you act so high and mighty before this seat. Just another loser like that brat Heaven Sundering."

"I alone am transcendent of my peers. Even amongst the Ras of the Ennead, I was illuminated to the truth of existence when I accompanied the progenitor to the ends of all things." Thoth glared at the tree.

"Despite my meagre cultivation back then, I alone was wise enough to realize the ultimate truth behind reality."

"And what good is that without strength? By your own words, your civilization is gone. Just empty boasts."

"Ah pitiful ignorance. A stable enough base is all that is needed," Thoth said slowly, as if educating a child. "I achieved Aten and obtained the name Ra. Next I shall evolve Aten. Then, the so called heavens is next."

He side eyes Prime Origin Monarch next. "Fending off a host of those abominations. You don't know the true height of heaven."

"Ju…junior…junior was lacking." Prime Origin admitted. He wasn't arrogant to the point of delusion. But as long he as he didn't perish, he knew he could eventually catch up. That was when he'd take his revenge.

"This…exchange has…has been enlightening."

"Indeed."

"Hm?" Thoth tilted his ibis head at the cauldron. "The observer finally makes himself known? Did you enjoy my lesson young one?"

He didn't speak to any of the two close to him, nor even Propagation Emperor who was still within his sight. Neither, Heaven Sundering War God, Devil Edge Celestial Master, or Devil Hands Celestial Master.

Instead, a certain mark manifested on the surface of Ten Thousand Ways Ancestor's core. Its appearance suddenly reminded the tree, as well as exited him.

Thoth examined the mark and identified it as a Dao mark. The remnants of another existence who left a trace of their Dao, this time in another living being. Weather for communication, or sign of discipleship, enslavement, or rebirth was unknown. But just from a glance, he could tell that this Dao was powerful.

So powerful in fact, that he couldn't offer an immediate counter argument. This was signs that it had reached the extreme perfection, and would manifest as an Aten disk.

"My lord, oh my gracious lord. Your subordinate is being bullied. Bullied I tell you," Ten Thousand Ways Ancestor immediately started groveling. No warning, it seemingly switched its behaviour at a dime.

"Under…my detection?" Even Prime Origin Monarch was caught off guard. Then he recalled the tree trying to threaten him using another's identity earlier. Something about a nine toed claw.

"Silence worm. When did we grant you the dignified status of subordinate." The voice was kingly, royal, naturally charismatic and demanded one's attention. It resonated throughout the Chaos Sea from just a single mark.

"The royal we. A king then. Yet a foolish one at that. Revealing yourself like this. Were I another unscrupulous individual…" Thoth eyed Ten Thousand Ways with distant ear.

"I would've peeled off your mark for study."

"So confident? Are you not being too arrogant fellow daoist? Did you not stop to think we spoke because we were confidant?" The Dao mark said to him.

Thoth shrugged. "You are a voice from an imprint. Perhaps if you were here personally, I'd have some fear."

"Quite." The Dao mark on Ten Thousand Ways' body then began pulsating. "We are quite interested in what you said. By all accounts, you know the way of breaking out of the shell known as the third order of celestial beings."

Thoth narrowed his gaze, the fact that this being directly mentioned the next step only confirmed to him what he'd guessed. Someone on Prime Origin's level was already rare. Beings like this individual, were RARE.

"That ultimate truth, behind all of existence. You already know of it? Despite your low cultivation?"

"Low?" Thoth felt insulted. He was a Ra now, no longer the Thoth who watched the Du'at burn. No longer the scribe cataloguing his Pharaoh's travels across the cosmos. No longer the young bird who learned at the progenitor's side.

The sun crown atop his head emanated an angry hue. The book in his hand snapped shut, sending a shockwave throughout the Chaos Sea.

"I am Ra-Huti, you know what my crown represent correct?"

"A Primal Zenith Chaos Immortal," the royal voice behind the Dao mark said with confidence. "I had many under my command. Killed many by my claws."

"Is that so. That term though," Thoth scratched his chin in thought. He felt familiarity with it. But it was so long ago that he couldn't recall right away.

"So tell us bird man. How did you come back that knowledge? Present it to us and we can reward you handsomely."

Ten Thousand Ways Ancestor wisely kept his mouth shut. Just the memory of meeting his current acquaintance was traumatic enough for the arrogant tree.

"Denied. That knowledge is not so easily given," Thoth immediately said. And why should he? He only learned so after spending so much time with his Pharaoh.

"After all, one must be inclined to knowledge first. What's more, one must also be smart enough to figure it out." Thoth angled his head in a way where he looked down on them all. Ultimately, it was pointless even if he uttered it. No one could understand what he said in the first place.

The light from the Dao mark obviously did not appreciate the response. Instead, it immediately began exerting power again. That was when the pressure magnified significantly.

Very quickly, a pressure equal to Prime Origin Monarch's manifested. The Chaos Sea subtly began shaking, with a mix of golden and black light blurring into existence.

Thoth glanced around him, feeling a power Dao reach all thought the battleground. Then, he visibly gasped as pieces of wood appeared.

They did not grow out of nowhere, but were actually the cosmic splinters that Prime Origin Monarch had torn off of Ten Thousand Ways Ancestor.

Even the tiniest scattered bits were grabbed. Then they converged together. Thoth had attempted to stop it out of wariness, yet these splinters of wood ignored him.

"Interesting," Thoth said as he watched. "So his body wasn't even his own."

"Uh…" Ten Thousand Ways Ancestor suddenly felt awkward at the casual reveal.

Angling itself in long segments. Twisting throughout the chaos like a serpent. Two enormous eyes opened right behind an enormous snout.

Thoth was momentarily reminded of a hated enemy from his society's past. Apophis.

However, instead of destructive, the energy he felt was orderly. In the sense that it demanded obedience.

"Horns like branches, a snout like a crocodile, body shaped like a serpent, and claws?" Thoth had never seen the creature the wood had formed into.

The green eyes of this new rival peered down at Thoth with the same arrogance. "We will have your knowledge. Describe how you obtained it."

"A mere Avatar. Why not come in your true body?" Thoth spat. He waved his hand, causing the Aten above him to attack.

From the depths of his own existence, devoid of all common sense. The wooden construct's forehead showcased a translucent image.

Swirling into being, a nigh infinite existence. What the legacy of the Chaos Godfiends refer to as a Dao fruit. But one that was also on the verge of Dao birth.

It counteracted the rays of the dim sun. Then began generating clouds for the creature to lounge on. There, he held his head high.

This body of his was merely an avatar refined from the pieces of Ten Thousand Ways Ancestor's body. It had merely been transformed into a different form for storage. Remaining with a groveling lackey who'd continue to explore the Chaos Sea.

Naturally, it was connected to the Dao.

"Fruit? You're one of Tai Chu's ilk," Thoth said in realization. He had not even thought of that name in a long time.

One of the few individuals to not only walk the Chaos Sea, but also to have surpassed those who wore an Aten.

Within his culture, an Aten was a crown only suited for those who'd finalized their path. It was their version of the Dao, the origin of their cultivation.

Those who wore one were extremely few, and even Thoth did not bear one for the longest time. Those who managed to obtain one are not only the cream of the crop, but would also assume the name of the great progenitor.

Ra.

Atum, Khepri, Horus, just to name a few. Even revered Osiris, mighty Seth, bloody Sekhmet were only close.

However, even out of all of them. Only one could claim to be similar to Taichu. Which was to say, someone who was as growing to encompass all things.

Atum-Ra.

Someone on their way to jump beyond the primordial gulf that existed between Grand Dao and living beings.

"Since you are unwilling fellow daoist. Then we can only discuss the Dao with our bodies. This sovereign's name is Zulong."

"But still. Merely an avatar is not enough for Huti-Ra," Thoth claimed. "No matter how strong your true body is, your Sun is not present. Only a node."

"We shall see."