Chapter 10

Suddenly, the void trembled, and Hongjun arrived treading upon Profound Light.

"Greetings, teacher."

"Do you still remember my warning?" the Dao Ancestor's eyes were like a deep pool.

Nuwa lowered her head. "Please make it clear, teacher."

"A Hunyuan Sage should cultivate in purity and practice non-action. To rashly move the Primordial World is to invite backlash." Hongjun's sleeve lifted lightly. "Today's heavenly tribulation was a warning."

"I merely established Human Teachings. How can that be called interference?"

"This was Laozi's opportunity to attain sainthood." The Dao Ancestor's voice was like cold ice. "You defied and seized the Heavenly Mandate, thus provoking Heavenly Dao's wrath."

Nuwa understood perfectly in her heart.

That tribulation cloud had clearly come because of the birth of Humanity's Way—what did it have to do with Laozi?

Yet she only lowered her brows and looked obedient. "I truly did not know."

"I only knew that I should be the Mother of the Human Race."

"The Human Race is weak of body, and cultivation is difficult for them. Among all the races of the Primordial World, barely surviving is no easy thing. I established Human Teachings only to protect them from bullying."

"If I had known earlier that this was Senior Brother Laozi's chance to attain the Dao, I absolutely would not have competed for it."

After saying this, she sighed softly.

"Ah, if Master had made it clear earlier, I certainly would not have done this."

Hongjun gazed at Nuwa, his gaze deep and profound.

It was hard to tell whether she was deliberately feigning ignorance or truly knew nothing.

If she was intentionally playing dumb, then that would be bad—it meant she had already glimpsed a few clues.

This woman was becoming harder and harder to read.

"You truly did not know?"

Nuwa shook her head.

"In that case, I will not pursue the matter."

Hongjun sighed and said, "Only, from now on, you must conform to Heavenly Dao and no longer meddle in the disputes of the Primordial World. Otherwise, when heavenly tribulation descends again, the situation will be difficult to clean up."

Nuwa replied calmly, "Master worries too much. As the mother of humans, I concern myself only with the affairs of the Human Race, and have always stayed out of the struggles of the Primordial World. How could I defy Heavenly Dao?"

Hongjun nodded, then transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the void.

After he left, Nuwa descended upon the Human Tribe.

Seated upright upon a lotus platform, she expounded the Great Dao.

With creation as the foundation, she evolved myriad profound mysteries.

In an instant, auspicious omens appeared in the sky, and golden lotuses sprang from the earth.

Vast immortal spiritual energy rose from the Human Race's territory.

The Innate Humans she had created in former years suddenly found their Spiritual Platforms illuminated and comprehended the mysteries in a flash of insight.

As for the Acquired Humans, their aptitudes were limited, and they remained bewildered and unable to understand.

Nuwa did not force them, only said, "Devote yourselves to cultivation, and do not slacken. Only by strengthening yourselves can you avoid being insulted by outsiders."

"We respectfully obey the Holy Mother's teachings!"

The Human Race prostrated themselves and kowtowed.

Afterward, Nuwa brought Lin Fan back to Wa Huang Heaven.

Lin Fan reclined sideways on a rattan chair, chewing a spiritual fruit, looking entirely leisurely.

A wisp of faint fragrance quietly slipped into his nose.

Nuwa had already arrived gracefully, her slender jade fingers lightly resting on Lin Fan's arm and calf as she kneaded with just the right amount of strength. That practiced technique made Lin Fan involuntarily close his eyes and let out a comfortable little hum.

"Comfortable?" Nuwa's brows and eyes curved in a smile.

"Sister's skills are growing ever more refined. I'll reward you with a head pat." Lin Fan stood on tiptoe and rubbed the top of her head.

Nuwa could not help laughing. She held Lin Fan's little face and gave him a heavy smooch, nearly rubbing off a layer of skin. Lin Fan inwardly grumbled in helplessness: This enchantress never misses a chance to take advantage of me.

"Establishing Human Teachings was all thanks to your advice and planning. What reward do you want?" Nuwa asked with a smile.

"I only ask that Sister protect me when Laozi comes seeking revenge," Lin Fan answered obediently.

Only then did Nuwa remember the matter of Laozi being played for a fool, and her willow brows shot upright. "If he dares touch you, I'll tear his arms off!"

Seeing her take out the Kongtong Seal and gift it to him, Lin Fan was surprised. "This sacred treasure of the Human Race can suppress fortune. Sister, you're not keeping it?"

"I have no use for it. It's perfect for you to use for protection." Nuwa did not care in the slightest.

After she left, Lin Fan set about refining the Kongtong Seal. The moment his fingertips touched the seal, he felt a surging power of merit flowing within the seal.

When Nuwa founded the Human Teachings, the Kongtong Seal had absorbed twenty percent of the merit of heaven and earth.

The weight of that twenty percent of fortune was enough to shock the world and horrify the common people.

Lin Fan sat cross-legged and focused. His outstanding comprehension allowed him to resonate with the supreme treasure in an instant.

The layers of restrictions on the seal crumbled one after another, and vast merit gushed out.

The golden torrent nourished his Primordial Spirit, and his cultivation rose like a boat lifted by swelling waters.

Clarity suddenly appeared on his Spiritual Platform, and the Great Dao True Meaning contained within the Kongtong Seal was fully within his grasp.

[Ding! Comprehended the profound meaning of the Kongtong Seal's restrictions. Hunyuan-level body-tempering secret art Sacred Emperor Golden Body Technique awakened.]

[Obtained acquired top-grade spiritual root: Phoenix Feather Immortal Flower.]

Mysterious Dao patterns unfolded in his sea of consciousness, and the twelve layers of cultivation essentials for sanctifying the fleshly body clearly emerged.

This art used fortune as the hammer and merit as the fire, able to forge a body that would not decay through ten thousand tribulations.

Tempering the body with fortune—this happens to suit me perfectly.

Lin Fan smiled and formed hand seals. The merit within the seal washed over his meridians like the Milky Way pouring backward from the heavens.

Gilded divine radiance surged through his flesh and blood, and time lost all meaning amid the tempering.

All at once, Myriad Zhang Golden Radiance burst through the crown of his head, and the constellations of the heavens appeared upon his fist.

A casual swing stirred the void into trembling, and the clouds and mist of the Wa Huang Realm were torn open into a vortex by the wind of his fist.

His Primordial Unity Golden Immortal-level fleshly body had, from this moment on, reached perfection.

[Ding! Merit Golden Body perfected. Obtained acquired mid-grade spiritual root: Star Flower.]

Weighing the utterly transformed body, Lin Fan looked at the Kongtong Seal in satisfaction.

The fully refined supreme treasure circulated a faint glow in his palm, and suddenly reminded him of a certain weapon from the mortal realm.

With this square shape, if it were used to smack someone...

It would be much more practical than those flashy but useless magic treasures.

Though the Heaven Measuring Ruler was sharp, how could it compare to the hearty satisfaction of smashing someone with a brick?

Lin Fan pondered inwardly for a moment, then in the blink of an eye made up his mind with a beaming smile.

Just then, three drifting figures quietly appeared outside the Wa Huang Realm.

The Sanqing arrived together with unhurried steps, entering straight into the palace.

They saw Nuwa seated cross-legged upon a cloud platform. Lin Fan seemed to sense something as well, and stepped out with a brisk stride.

When Laozi saw Lin Fan appear, the anger between his brows flashed and vanished. With Nuwa present, he could only suppress it. Yuanshi and Tongtian both cast their gazes over, and surprise appeared in both their eyes—

This little child had Dao charm faintly floating around him, with golden light appearing and disappearing. He clearly only had cultivation at the Taiyi Realm, yet he carried an indescribably mysterious aura. Such aptitude was truly astonishing.

Lin Fan sidled up to Nuwa, tugged at her wide sleeve, leaned close to her ear, and muttered softly, "Sister, that white-bearded old Daoist keeps glaring at me. His eyes are really creepy."

Though his voice was light, it could not escape a saint's ears. Laozi's face darkened, while the corners of Yuanshi's and Tongtian's mouths twitched slightly. This little fellow was clearly not an obedient one.

Nuwa forcibly held back her laughter and lightly tapped Lin Fan's forehead. "Do not be naughty." Then she turned to Laozi and said, "Senior Brother, please do not take offense. This child speaks frankly and without restraint; he means nothing by it."

Laozi's face stiffened slightly. "Children's words carry no blame. Junior Sister is overthinking it."

Nuwa lightly raised her fair wrist. "May I ask why the three Senior Brothers have graced us with your presence?"

The moment these words left her mouth, the pent-up fire in Laozi's chest flared up. Why? As if you would not know! In the end, he still did not dare say it directly, and only said, "Junior Sister, do you still remember when I passed through the Human Tribe?"

Nuwa's dark brows furrowed slightly. "The human race? I have been in seclusion for a long time, and much of the past has already faded." As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Lin Fan. "Little Brother, do you know what happened back then?"

Lin Fan pondered for a moment, then spoke with a somewhat guilty expression:

"Now that Sister mentions it, I vaguely remember that I did indeed offend the Taiqing Immortal that day."

"You and that naughty temper of yours! I always warn you not to stir up trouble, yet you insist on not listening." Nuwa lightly tapped his forehead with her fingertip. "Now you even dared offend Senior Brother Laozi. What exactly did you do?"

Lin Fan straightened his back and said solemnly:

"Sister, do you still remember? That day, when the Taiqing Immortal passed by and asked for directions, he asked whether we had seen some sort of bronze seal."

"That kind of brass seal that gives off golden light is indeed no ordinary object. They are seen everywhere throughout the Primordial World and are often fought over for artifact refining."

"I had seen quite a few during my travels, and in a moment of mishearing, I pointed him toward an ordinary bronze seal."

"I caused the Taiqing Immortal to make a wasted trip back and forth. I am truly ashamed." After speaking, he lowered his head in fear.

"Bastard!"

Laozi's fingers inside his sleeves clenched until they turned white.

That was clearly the human race's supreme treasure, the Kongtong Seal!

Nuwa gently stroked the top of Lin Fan's head and comforted him in a warm voice:

"Children's words carry no blame, so why be so frightened? Senior Brother Laozi is the head of the Sanqing. How could he seriously argue with a child?"

Laozi's white beard trembled slightly.

What a fine pair of siblings!

They had played both the black face and the white face to perfection.

He forced down his anger and gazed at Lin Fan.

"What explanation do you have for Jieyin and Zhunti?"

"What Jieyin and Zhunti?" The youth looked utterly bewildered.

"You once said the Kongtong Seal was taken by the two of them."

"Taiqing Immortal must have misheard." Lin Fan blinked his innocent eyes. "I only said I saw two merciful men with sorrowful brows and bitter faces muttering at a bronze seal in the mountains, saying this object was fated with them."

"I have never even heard the names of the two immortals Jieyin and Zhunti. How could I have mentioned them?"

Lin Fan looked confused.

"Could it be that Senior Taiqing once heard me speak of those two?"

"Senior Brother Laozi, my younger brother truly has never seen Jieyin or Zhunti, nor has he ever heard their names. When we met that day, he did not mention them either. I can testify to this."

Nuwa also spoke up to support him.

Laozi's expression turned slightly awkward.

Though he was unwilling to admit it, Lin Fan indeed had never mentioned those two by name.

Seeing Laozi at a loss for words, Venerable Yuanshi and Sect Master Tongtian exchanged a glance, doubt showing on their faces. Could it be that Eldest Senior Brother really had misheard back then?

This misunderstanding had blown up badly.

That day, Jieyin and Zhunti had been beaten black and blue by the three of them.

Only Laozi's face had gone livid with fury.

Only he knew perfectly well that these two siblings were clearly twisting words and making trouble.

At the time, the words had been perfectly clear; there was no reason Lin Fan could have misheard.

This brat's ability to invert black and white was truly rare in all the world.

Knowing there was no benefit in getting tangled up, Laozi simply asked directly, "Lin Fan is young and ignorant, so he can still be forgiven. But Junior Sister Nuwa should at least know the whole story, shouldn't she?"

"What does Senior Brother mean by that?"

Nuwa's brows drew together slightly.

"In the past, I once asked Junior Sister whether she had seen the Kongtong Seal emerge into the world, and Junior Sister answered that she had not. Yet later, Junior Sister used the Kongtong Seal to establish the Human Teachings. Such deception is rather lacking in sincerity."

Laozi's words were sharp.

"At that time, I truly had not seen the Kongtong Seal. This seal was something I obtained later."

Nuwa's tone was calm.

Laozi's cheek twitched, his anger hard to suppress.

He had only just left Wa Huang Palace with Yuanshi and Tongtian to attack Mount Sumeru—

And in the turn of a hand, she had established a teaching and become a saint.

With such an explanation, perhaps even she herself would not believe it, would she?

Yet Laozi did not know that this was precisely the only true thing Nuwa had said since their arrival.

"Where did Junior Sister obtain it? Could it be that Jieyin and Zhunti gave it to you afterward?"

Laozi's tone carried ridicule.

Nuwa's gaze was cool as she answered indifferently, "That matter need not trouble Senior Brother. The spiritual treasures of heaven and earth belong to those fated with them. This Kongtong Seal was precisely fated with me."

Once those words left her mouth, the meaning of her counter-mockery was laid bare.

Venerable Yuanshi and Sect Master Tongtian froze at the same time, looking at Nuwa in astonishment, as if meeting her for the first time.

Who could have thought that this Junior Sister Nuwa, who had always been indifferent and detached, would be so sharp in a clash of words that even Senior Brother Laozi could not parry her?

Truly, when she did not cry out, that was one thing; once she did, she startled the world!

Laozi's face abruptly darkened.

Nuwa's open and veiled mockery left him feeling deeply humiliated.

He forced down his anger and said slowly, "The Kongtong Seal concerns my chance to prove my Dao. Even if Junior Sister obtained it, you should not have cut off my opportunity."

"So it was Senior Brother's opportunity?"

Nuwa put on a look of sudden realization, her brows and eyes filled with surprise.

I truly had no knowledge of it!

Had Senior Brother Mentioned this matter earlier, even if I obtained it afterward, I would certainly have kept it for Senior Brother.

At the time, when I established the Human Teachings, it was only because I saw the human race was weak and often bullied by the myriad races, and compassion stirred in my heart.

Laozi felt a tightness in his chest.

He had prepared all sorts of arguments, intending to convince her with reason.

After all, when it came to force, he was absolutely no match for Nuwa.

Who could have expected that this saint would actually start acting shamelessly like a child?

First, she had played a double act with someone else and pretended to be muddleheaded; now she put on an innocent air.

How could a dignified Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin fail to see through the heavenly secrets?

Such evasion was clearly deliberate mockery!

When had the once gentle and graceful Nuwa become so difficult to deal with?

Laozi spoke with restrained anger: "This concerns attaining the Dao. Why did Junior Sister not first deduce the heavenly secrets?"

"Teacher often says that one should think thrice before acting, and must not go against Heaven."

"Could it be that Junior Sister has cast both Teacher's teachings and the Heavenly Mandate to the back of her mind?"

Hidden in the shadows, Lin Fan heard this and silently sneered.