Chapter 0: Return (1)
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In the Divine Clan territory,
to be precise, it’s a supercontinent floating in the sky.
Its vastness is nearly on par with the Asking Dao Continent, but the environment here is leagues better.
Mountains, plains, rivers, lakes, trees, flowers, flying birds, roaming beasts —
everything in sight is like a magnificent painting, leaving people entranced and unable to forget.
Yet the most spectacular sight on the Divine Clan continent isn’t the usual flowers, birds, fish, or bugs; it’s the tallest peak at the center of the continent.
This peak towers ten thousand meters high, resembling a giant pagoda from afar, but up close it’s layered with caves, each more distinct than the last.
This mountain is called Mount Sumeru.
Within one of the caves near the summit, two individuals were seated cross-legged across from each other on a meticulously carved stone bed, with a chessboard between them,
battling it out in a game.
One person was clad in a vibrant red and white striped robe, their long, flowing hair draped behind, showcasing a breathtakingly beautiful face that could stop traffic.
The other wore simple woolen clothing, with an open chest, bare feet, and a bald head. One hand scratched incessantly at their chest, occasionally catching a flea and squishing it, while the other hand moved chess pieces back and forth above the board.
“Ha! I win!”
With a piece placed down, this person erupted into hearty laughter.
“I’ve never won against you in chess; how come you suddenly went easy on me today? Those last few moves weren’t your usual level of play.”
Di Shitian smiled, “It’s simple — the one you’ve been playing against is my clone.”
Sitting across from the seemingly disheveled character, as if they were a beggar, Di Shitian didn’t show an ounce of disdain. Instead, he leaned in slightly,
for this person was his friend, Zizaitian, who ranked eighth among the “Twenty Heavens.”
The Guardian Gods of the Divine Clan, known as the “Twenty Heavens,” each had their own backstory.
Di Shitian hailed from a small world in an underground city filled with evil spirits, where everyone was a demon, fighting each other from birth.
With a naturally kind heart, he didn’t wish to tear apart his kind but was instead killed by them.
After being reborn, Di Shitian retained that kind heart and became food for demons once more.
This cycle lasted for fifty lifetimes, and on his fiftieth awakening, as he gazed upon the underground city once more, his kindness finally granted him boundless power.
Any demon that consumed his flesh could no longer eat humans, and those demons that had consumed the flesh of the first demon also lost their desire to eat people.
By feeding many demons with just himself, he finally severed the source of demon-on-demon killings in the underground city, cleansing them of the innate sins attached to them.
At that time, the Divine Clan didn’t have the “Twenty Heavens,” only the Guardian God, Da Fantian.
Impressed by Di Shitian’s achievements, Da Fantian brought him to the Divine Clan territory and made him the second Guardian God, naming him Di Shitian.
Zizaitian’s origin, however, was even more convoluted.
Originally, he was a carefree giant living in a frozen small world plagued by eternal cold weather.
Before arriving at the Divine Clan continent, he spent most of his time in hibernation, occasionally venturing out during the warm summer months to hunt for food.
Due to his massive size, when he lay down, he resembled a mountain.
His hibernation periods typically spanned a century, and sometimes even lasted four or five hundred years without movement.
Desperate beings struggling in the cold weather sought warmer refuge to escape the chill.
One day, they discovered this strange mountain.
After breaking through the thin mountain wall, they found a paradise hidden from the world,
with the cavern warm as spring, the ground moist, streams teeming with fish, and even plants that thrived without sunlight, glowing brilliantly in the dark.
Humans quickly set up camp here, surviving and multiplying.
Centuries passed, populations grew, and people expanded deeper into the mountain territory, digging out more space with shovels and pickaxes.
One day, the giant, still asleep, suddenly felt a sharp pain in his belly.
Waking up, he found himself covered in sores, and his belly sounded like a rattle, as if it had accumulated quite a few items.
Desperate to expel the foreign objects, the giant reasoned drinking water might help.
He stuffed huge chunks of ice and snow into his mouth, which quickly turned into a flood, destroying every human dwelling inside his belly and causing countless casualties.
The giant fell back into a deep sleep after the chaos.
This time, the humans dared not disturb the mountain any further and became remarkably docile and peaceful.
From that day on, the flood never returned.
Da Fantian took notice and remarked,
“If one slaughters all beings without remorse, they will never descend into evil, just like the void, untouched by dust. Those with shame will descend into hell, just like great waters soaking the ground. All beings are the creations of Zizaitian. When Zizaitian is happy, all beings find joy. When Zizaitian is angry, all beings suffer. Each being’s merit or sin stems from Zizaitian’s doing.”
Following Da Fantian’s command, Di Shitian guided the giant to the Divine Clan continent, where Da Fantian named him Zizaitian, making him the eighth Guardian God.
Since the giant was still simple-minded, Di Shitian became both his mentor and friend, guiding him along the path of cultivation.
Their bond grew deep, as Zizaitian often opted to play and frolic with Di Shitian instead of residing in his own mansion, spending long stretches of time in the Divine Realm.
Upon hearing that the Di Shitian he just played chess with was merely a clone, Zizaitian sighed,
“Di Shitian, a loss is a loss! I’m not buying that excuse.”
“I’m not lying; someone really summoned my clone, and that’s what made me think of checking it out in person.”
Zizaitian’s eyes widened, “There’s someone in this world who dares to summon you? And you actually agreed?”
Di Shitian rested his chin on one hand, his brow slightly furrowed, resembling a beautiful woman contemplating a tricky problem.
“If I said she did it without my permission and dragged my clone along, would you believe me?”
Zizaitian blinked, shook his head, and replied, “Nope. If what you say is true, then aren’t we just the free labor for others?”
Di Shitian smiled, “Honestly, I didn’t believe it either, but facts are facts.
So I switched positions with my clone because I wanted to meet this person who summoned me and see what she’s all about.”
“Who is she?” Zizaitian asked curiously.
“She’s a woman,” Di Shitian replied, “I don’t know her personally, but I sensed something extraordinary about her, so I decided to lend a helping hand.”
“Looks like the great Di Shitian has a kind heart again,” Zizaitian chuckled.
“Not at all. Don’t you get it? If she can summon my clone against my will, she’s not just anyone.”
Zizaitian suddenly understood, “So, you want to play nice with her first and then investigate her identity.”
“Exactly,” Di Shitian affirmed, “But I already have my suspicions.”
