In the primordial era of the universe, before the lands were carved into the distinct realms of humans and spirits, the heavens and the earth were held apart by a magnificent and immutable pillar. This pillar was not made of stone or wood as we know it, but was a manifestation of the cosmic order, a spire of celestial essence that ensured the stability of the existence. This pillar was rooted deeply in the earth and extended infinitely upward to support the vault of the sky. Among the many peaks of the ancient world, one stood above all others: Mount Buzhou, the 'Unrevolving Mountain.' Located in the far northwest, near the region we now know as the Pamir Mountains, Buzhou was the earthly anchor for the heavenly canopy, the singular point of contact between the mortal soil and the divine firmament.
For eons, the world existed in a state of perfect, static equilibrium. The stars revolved in their predestined paths, and the seasons transitioned with a rhythmic predictability. Mount Buzhou remained steadfast, its peaks piercing the clouds and its foundations gripping the bedrock of the world. It was seen as a sacred site, a place where the divine essence of the heavens seeped into the earth, granting the surrounding lands a peculiar vitality. However, this peace was not a result of harmony, but of a precarious balance. The weight of the entire sky was concentrated upon this single point of failure, and the stability of the universe depended entirely on the integrity of Mount Buzhou.
Then came the era of the great conflict between the water god, Gonggong, and the fire god, Zhurong. Gonggong, a creature of immense power and uncontrollable temper, commanded the vast oceans and the torrential rains. He was a deity of chaos, driven by an insatiable desire for dominance and a volatile spirit. Zhurong, conversely, was the embodiment of the sun's heat and the searing flames of the earth. The two gods clashed in a battle that spanned centuries, their conflict manifesting as devastating floods and incinerating wildfires that ravaged the primitive landscapes. The war between water and fire was a struggle for the very soul of the world, with neither side willing to concede an inch of territory or a shred of pride.
As the battle reached its zenith, Gonggong found himself outmatched by the strategic brilliance and searing intensity of Zhurong. In a fit of blind rage and desperation, feeling the sting of defeat and the humiliation of failure, Gonggong did the unthinkable. He did not attack his opponent further; instead, he turned his immense strength against the very structure of the universe. In a moment of catastrophic impulsiveness, Gonggong threw his massive head against Mount Buzhou, the pillar of heaven. The impact was not merely a physical blow but a cosmic collision, a release of energy that shattered the silence of the ages.
The moment Mount Buzhou collapsed, the universe screamed. The mountain, which had been the sole support for the heavens, crumbled into a million fragments of jagged stone and celestial dust. Without its support, the sky began to sag and tilt. Because the pillar had been located in the northwest, the heavens listed violently in that direction, pulling the stars and the clouds toward the horizon. Simultaneously, the earth, no longer balanced by the celestial weight, began to sink and warp toward the southeast. The resulting imbalance created a global cataclysm. Mountains rose where there had been plains, and deep chasms opened in the earth, swallowing entire cities and forests in a single breath.
This tilting of the world transformed the very nature of existence. The rivers, which had once flowed in balanced circuits, now surged violently toward the southeast, following the new slope of the earth. This led to the Great Flood, as waters from the heavens and the oceans rushed downward, drowning the lowlands and creating vast, impassable marshes. The winds, confused by the shifting geography, became erratic and violent, whipping across the tilted landscape in unpredictable storms. The animals and humans of that era lived in constant terror, for the ground beneath their feet was no longer level, and the the sky above them seemed to be sliding away into the distance.