Chapter Two: Pangu Creates the Heavens

Silence, truly profound silence. Even with no sound around, the stillness emanated from deep within the soul. A tranquil aura filled the entire space, and not a trace of anger stirred in Tiantong’s heart.

Pangu smiled at him. “The moment I was born, you were the first I saw. Destiny must have tied us together.” The thought moved in his heart, and words spilled from his lips.

“Great God, since we were born together, why can I not take form as you have?” This was the knot in Tiantong’s heart. Why is it that when others traverse to the primordial world, they emerge in formidable forms and seek treasures, yet I cannot leave, confined to this giant egg? Inevitably, a hint of resentment brewed within him.

“There is a set order in the unseen world. In time, you shall understand,” Pangu replied after a moment’s thought. But Tiantong remained perplexed. Why was this so?

“Rest within the egg. Do not come out. My mission has arrived.” With these words, Pangu transformed into a gust of wind, drifting outside the egg.

Tiantong’s heart skipped a beat—this was not good. He had once hoped to help Pangu avoid the great calamity of creation, to spare him from sacrifice. Yet now, unable to transform and lacking divine power, he had missed the chance, and the consequences would be grave. The more he dwelled on it, the more he felt compelled to help Pangu. Though he had only reached the stage of Spirit Refinement and Return to Void, he had to fight for the slimmest chance of survival.

Here is the division of realms:

Drawing Qi into the Body
Qi Refinement into Spirit
Spirit Refinement and Return to Void
Human Immortal
Earthly Immortal
Heavenly Immortal
Mystic Immortal
Grand Unity True Immortal
Grand Unity Golden Immortal
Great Luo Golden Immortal
Primordial Great Luo Golden Immortal

In the Primordial Chaos, there were three thousand Demon Gods, each possessing boundless power, and all had lingered at the level of Primordial Great Luo Golden Immortal for ages. They awaited the birth of the last Demon God, for when he appeared and destroyed Pangu, the rest would seize enlightenment.

The moment Pangu stepped out of the eggshell, a torrent of primal energy surged toward him. Pangu opened his mouth wide and swallowed the entire current in a single breath, then laughed heartily. With his left hand, he grasped the egg and absorbed it into his belly, eliminating any worries behind. With a wave of his right, an axe-shaped weapon formed in his hand—not born with him, but bestowed by the Great Dao itself.

Wielding this fitting weapon, Pangu tested his skills. As he swung left and right, the heavens and earth around him began to stir with life, only to fade from his sight soon after. Pangu understood his task was to split the heavens, but he also knew this might cost him his life—to perish for the sake of a new world.

From the moment Pangu descended, the three thousand Demon Gods sensed their opportunity. Abandoning their feuds, they flew toward Pangu’s location, causing countless black holes to appear in the primordial chaos.

Pangu glanced beneath the giant egg, realizing that his growth within it was thanks to the Primordial Green Lotus. The treasures wrought from this lotus were formidable, renowned through later ages: the Central Earth Yellow Banner, the Eastern Azure Lotus Banner, the Southern Fiery Light Banner, the Western White Cloud Banner, the Northern Black Water Banner, the Universe Cauldron, the Twelve-colored Lotus, the Rivers and Mountains Map, the River Chart and Luo Book, the Seven Jeweled Mystical Tree, the Book of Heaven’s Deification, the Book of Earth, the Book of the Underworld, the Red Embroidered Ball; and from the lotus stem emerged the God-slaying Spear, capable of wounding even a Primordial Saint, and the innate treasure accompanying Demon Ancestor Luo Hou.

It was thanks to the Primordial Green Lotus that Pangu could contend with the Demon Gods, he thought.

From afar, a stream of primordial energy approached. Pangu smiled inwardly, raised the Divine Axe of Creation, and struck downward. With a shriek, a violet-red stream of energy surged into Pangu, fueling him with power.

This was the Aura of Primordial Dao—those who possessed the violet energy could achieve enlightenment. Gaining this boon, Pangu resumed the carnage. One, two, ten—one by one, the Demon Gods fell, dissolving into primordial violet energy that entered Pangu’s body.

Though Pangu ultimately triumphed, he suffered grave injuries to his very foundation. There was no remedy; from the outset, he had not consolidated his realm, but instead slew gods and spirits wherever he found them, hacking at all living things, until his core was wounded beyond repair.

Raising his axe, Pangu drew a stroke toward the sky and a chop toward the earth. The clear and turbid energies of the Primordial Chaos began to separate. The pure and light floated upward, forming the heavens; the impure and heavy descended, forming the earth.

Gazing at the nascent world, Pangu smiled with satisfaction. But soon he noticed the heavens and earth slowly merging again, shrinking together. Alarmed, he tossed the Divine Axe aside and used his own body to support the new heaven and earth.

At the site where the sky and earth tried to merge, tumultuous primordial energy swirled. With a gesture, Pangu summoned the Divine Axe back to his side and split it into three parts: the blade became a banner, the back became a diagram, and the handle became a bell.

Thus were born the legendary Pangu Banner, the Taiji Diagram, and the Chaos Bell.

With the Pangu Banner, he annihilated the chaotic energy with sword qi; the Taiji Diagram transformed into a jade-white bridge, calming the remaining energies; the Chaos Bell rang out, stabilizing the earth, wind, water, and fire. Gradually, peace settled over the entire space.

Just as joy filled his heart, the heavens and earth again showed signs of merging. Pangu braced the sky with his hands, pressed the earth with his feet, and made his body grow by a zhang each day. As his body grew, the sky rose a zhang each day, and the earth grew thicker by the same measure. Thus passed ten great aeons.

Due to the fatal wounds sustained in his battle with the Demon Gods, Pangu’s power was long exhausted. Devoid of magical force, he relied on his true form to endure those ten aeons.

Knowing he could not hold on, Pangu summoned the giant egg from within himself.

Tiantong knew Pangu had gone to create the world, but lacking strength, he could only hasten his own cultivation. Through those ten aeons, Tiantong raised his power to the Heavenly Immortal realm, though he still could not take human form. No matter—if he could not transform, strengthening himself was still progress.

He absorbed all the primordial energy within the egg, but before he could fully assimilate it, Pangu summoned him out.

Seeing Pangu’s condition, Tiantong was filled with unspeakable sorrow.

Though they had exchanged few words over the eons, their countless years together had forged a deep bond.

Tiantong’s eyes welled with tears. This being he revered was about to depart, and his heart ached with grief.

“Do not blame yourself. I was born to slay the Demon Gods and create the world. This is my duty. All I ask is that you guard this world well. Will you promise me this?” Pangu spoke between heavy breaths.

“I promise you, I promise—please, say no more, Great God—” By now, Tiantong was weeping uncontrollably, his words choked with sobs.

Pangu, the Great God, fell. He was freed, yet he had found someone worthy of his trust, and so he departed with a smile.

Pangu split heaven and earth,
Carved mountains and rivers,
Divided lands for people to dwell,
Created seas to hold the waters.

Pangu split heaven and earth,
Shaped mountains and plains,
Opened threefold paths,
Made ways that led everywhere.

Pangu split heaven and earth,
Fashioned sun, moon, and stars.
Because of Pangu,
Humanity received the gift of light.

— “Song of Pangu Creating Heaven and Earth”