After the previous universe was destroyed, tens of thousands of years passed before a miraculous substance came into being: Xirang. It contained all the myriad things of the world and every kind of information, making it truly extraordinary. Within Xirang, two remarkable runes emerged. One was the Immortal Grass, symbolizing the cycle of death; the other was the Seed of Fire, a sign of life’s awakening.
Later, Xirang gave rise to the first life in the universe: Zhulong. Coiled atop Xirang, Zhulong devoured the Immortal Grass and the Seed of Fire, growing ever stronger until it became the Dragon God of Creation. Zhulong exhaled, and pure and turbid forces surged together. Heaven and earth joined, and all things came into being. Yet heaven and earth followed their own course, giving birth to three gods: Dijun, Xiwangmu, and Xingtian. They emerged in response to fate, each seeking to claim the Great Wilderness. In the end, Zhulong was no match for the three gods and was imprisoned in the underworld. Xirang fell into Dijun’s hands, making him the new ruler of the Great Wilderness.
Unwilling to accept defeat, Zhulong used fire essence to create Gun ten thousand years later, ordering him to steal back Xirang and help him escape. Gun fulfilled his mission and seized Xirang, but Dijun’s subordinates spotted him and gave chase. The three fought with magic. In a fit of rage, Gonggong broke the Pillar of Heaven, unleashing a catastrophic flood. All living beings wailed and struggled in the rising waters, and heaven and earth mourned together. Unable to bear the suffering, Gun defied Zhulong’s wishes and used Xirang to hold back the flood. He exhausted himself and died, and Xirang scattered. Fortunately, the goddess Zhonggu came to his aid, gathering his remnant soul and drawing Xirang back together to restore his body. After a long passage of time, peace finally returned to the Great Wilderness. Ages passed, bringing countless trials and tribulations, and peace remained at last. Yet legendary tales continue to be passed down across this mysterious land.
Note: The author is also a longtime, hardcore player of the mobile game The Classic of Mountains and Seas and does not want this open-world mobile game, a pinnacle of its genre, to fade into obscurity. This novel draws on the game’s setting and backstory.
