His presence was like a vast abyss, deep as the ocean. Even a single glance could make one's eyes sting as if they might go blind. A saint—truly not to be looked upon directly.
"I am Chiyou, Forefather of the Barbarian Tribes. Today, I use the Dao of War to attain Hunyuan Dao, achieving the Hunyuan Dao Fruit. I hereby proclaim this to all beings in heaven and earth."
At his words, celebratory clouds appeared above his head. Divine weapons flashed continuously, and massive war banners floated within the clouds. On these banners, scenes of countless armies clashing, bloody and relentless, were depicted. The aura of slaughter spread across the sky, sweeping the entire Eternal World, making cultivators and living beings alike feel as if they were in the midst of an endless battlefield.
Chiyou's Dao realization was the culmination of his lifetime of study—not the basic three thousand Law Daos, but the essence of his own existence, fused with the way of divine weapons and war.
Divine weapons are born from slaughter; their purpose is combat. War exists for conquest and subjugation, representing bloodshed and power. By integrating weapons and war, Chiyou forged a unique Dao of War. In the world, he was also called the War God; the War God Illustrations themselves embodied the essence of his Dao of War.
Logically, Chiyou could have attained Hunyuan Dao in the previous era or even in the ancient times of the Primordial Chaos. But in the Eternal World, the eternal laws were far stronger, the constraints of heaven and earth far more rigid. Even if one had the strength, it was impossible to break these shackles to reach Hunyuan Dao. This was not only Chiyou's dilemma but also that of all Hunyuan cultivators of this Eternal World era.
Of course, the Hunyuan Realm in the Eternal World was undeniably stronger than in the previous era.
Now, with sufficient power and the blessing of immense merit, the shackles of heaven and earth could be easily broken. Once the Dao manifested, the heavens would instantly recognize it. Achieve one-tenth of the Dao, and Hunyuan Dao is attained, becoming a Hunyuan Great Dao Golden Immortal.
This type of Dao attainment, unlike the Hongmeng Purple Qi, does not allow the soul to merge with the Heavenly Dao to achieve immortality; the saint does not die, nor does the soul. Hence, Chiyou could not be called a saint, though his position and strength were equivalent.
"Proclaim!"
Yet the Hunyuan Great Dao Golden Immortal also has other methods. A crimson altar appeared above him, with seven tiers. On the altar floated countless inscriptions resembling divine weapons, while ancient sacrificial chants emanated from its depths. One could envision countless barbarians worshiping and offering sacrifices to Chiyou.
The altar rose into the void, revealing the Sea of Law.
Normally, raising an altar to attain Hunyuan Dao would instantly trigger resistance from the Sea of Law—trials and calamities would descend, forcing failure. But now, the immense merit cloaked the altar, and the Sea of Law showed no hostility. It embraced the altar, merging it perfectly into itself. The altar became like a dazzling star, radiating divine light and transmitting the essence of the Dao of War throughout the Eternal World.
"Raising the altar, attaining Hunyuan Dao… Chiyou, the Hunyuan Great Dao Golden Immortal, has truly succeeded. This is merit-based Dao attainment."
"Attaining Hunyuan Dao, not a saint, yet equivalent to a saint. The altar is indestructible; the Hunyuan Dao immortal. From now on, he can ascend to the Ninth Heaven."
"This merit-based Dao attainment… how did Chiyou acquire such vast merit to support raising the altar and attaining Hunyuan Dao?"
Countless powerful cultivators, witnessing the altar merge into the Sea of Law, could not contain their astonishment. Apart from Ming He, Chiyou was the first of this era to attain Hunyuan Dao without relying on the Hongmeng Purple Qi. This was a momentous event, attracting universal attention.
The altar is indestructible; Hunyuan Dao cannot be destroyed. This is the power of the Hunyuan Great Dao Golden Immortal.
Of course, a saint bound to the Heavenly Dao is stronger. If the Heavenly Dao collapses, a saint falls and suffers backlash. The Hunyuan Golden Immortal, however, is not completely tied to the Heavenly Dao. Only if their altar is destroyed do they fall, losing their Hunyuan Dao. The advantages vary depending on perspective.
Now, Chiyou had undoubtedly attained Hunyuan Dao. With the altar embedded in the Sea of Law, his connection to heaven and earth was closer than ever. He could now manipulate power previously unreachable with a mere thought. It was as if the entire cosmos stood on his side.
Countless cultivators bowed toward Chiyou in respect and celebration. The Eternal World erupted with celestial phenomena: flowers sprouted from the earth, the sky showered with divine lotus, all honoring Chiyou's Dao attainment. Heaven and earth celebrated.
Whoosh!
Just as everyone sensed Chiyou's aura vanish into the void, another pressure of equal magnitude suddenly struck, spreading at inhuman speed.
An eight-tiered altar appeared out of nowhere, adorned with symbols of wind, thunder, water, fire, mountains, and marshes, forming a complete Bagua pattern. It embodied all the phenomena of heaven and earth—a primordial Ten-Thousand-Phenomena Altar.
On the altar appeared a figure, dressed in imperial robes—it was Fuxi.
The altar's merit light flashed, rising rapidly into the void. The previously hidden Sea of Law reappeared. Under the protection of merit, the altar was effortlessly raised, merging into the Sea of Law.
The moment it merged, a tidal wave of pressure spread across the entire Eternal World.
The countless Eternal Night soldiers were pressed to the ground, their eyes filled with inexplicable grief. If they could, they would mutter in their hearts: Enough! Is this tormenting us? Too much!
"I am Fuxi of the human race. Today I attain Hunyuan Dao. I am a Hunyuan Great Dao Golden Immortal."
Fuxi's voice echoed across the void, startling all beings.
"Fuxi, the first of the Human Three Emperors… he has attained Hunyuan Dao! Previously, the Human Three Emperors were demi-saints, akin to saints but slightly weaker. Now he has stepped into Hunyuan Dao. Incredible! Chiyou has attained Dao… and now Fuxi too? How is this possible?"
"The merit… how did Fuxi acquire such vast merit?"
Many powerful beings of various races were envious. They had struggled to accumulate merit for their own Hunyuan Dao attainment. The amount required was immense, and even now, they had barely gathered enough. How could Fuxi achieve it so effortlessly?
The Human race had suddenly produced not one but two Hunyuan Dao cultivators. How was this possible?
"I will hold off on attaining Dao for now… return to the Human Ancestral Court first."
As Shennong attained Hunyuan Dao next, the remaining human cultivators restrained their impulses. Attaining Dao now could make the Human race a target, even an Eternal Night thorn. Better to return to the Ancestral Court and attain Dao quietly.