Chapter 27

The Pangu Imprint had manifested, enough to suppress Houtu.

He was not being overbearing; he chose courtesy before force.

Houtu had tried to offset the Saint Karma she owed through her present actions, but Li Er believed that was far too naive.

He proposed allowing Fuxi to reincarnate in exchange for giving the Witch Clan a chance to contend for the position of Human Emperor.

Houtu was stunned by Li Er's proposal and reconsidered the Witch Clan's future.

Li Er's proposal let Houtu see the possibility of the Witch Clan's rise. Whether they won or lost, the Witch Clan would gain an opportunity to develop.

Houtu calmed down and questioned Li Er's proposal, but Li Er said it was merely a fair exchange, not assistance.

The Three Sovereigns of humanity were leading humankind toward three stages: self-reliance, autonomy, and self-strengthening.

The first two stages were tempered through time, while the third would enable humanity to strengthen itself through war.

In this, the Witch Clan was like a whetstone. When Li Er mentioned this, Houtu naturally understood what he meant.

However, Houtu did not entirely agree with Li Er's view.

Humanity's self-strengthening did not necessarily have to rely on war with the Witch Clan. Humanity itself had countless tribes that could wage war and temper themselves.

Li Er knew this well. Though he had not said it aloud, Houtu understood his thoughts.

From this point alone, Li Er differed from the other two of the Three Pure Ones. He would never yield in matters of great momentum, yet in lesser matters, he still remembered old ties.

This made Houtu feel grateful toward him.

They were both intelligent people. There was no need for many words; a single hint was enough.

Thus, Houtu cupped her hands, expressing her understanding and yielding.

With Li Er and Houtu together, Li Er finally saw the core of Six Paths Reincarnation—the Six Paths Wheel.

Driven by Houtu's true intent of reincarnation, endless Dao inscriptions emerged upon the Six Paths Wheel, releasing a terrifying aura.

These were the Six Paths Divine Marks, the vessel of reincarnation, condensing within the void.

Clearly, within this Six Paths Reincarnation, Houtu held a status as exalted as a Saint.

She personally protected Fuxi's primordial spirit as it entered, successfully helping him reincarnate.

This act brought the Witch Clan a sliver of hope for survival.

Though Houtu had a gentle temperament, when the survival of the entire Witch Clan was at stake, she would resolutely fight for every possible chance of life, just as Li Er had given them in the contest for the Human Emperor.

Even if they failed in the future contest for the Human Emperor, the Witch Clan would at least have gained breathing room.

The Witch Clan was already at its lowest point. The situation could not get any worse.

Li Er knew well that if not for a trace of old connection, he might not have extended a helping hand.

The Witch Clan would forever be grateful for Supreme Saint Taishang's great kindness. Even in the contest for the Human Emperor, they would always remember this favor.

Supreme Saint Taishang Li Er's words revealed his expectations for the Witch Clan. He believed that the Witch Clan had inherited Pangu's proud spirit and should not be forgotten by the Primordial World.

The green ox beneath him also understood his meaning and vanished into the void alongside its master.

Watching Li Er's departing figure, Houtu fell into thought within the land of Six Paths Reincarnation.

She knew that Li Er in the Xuandu Purple Mansion had returned, and his gaze seemed capable of seeing through everything, as though he held the entire Primordial World under his grasp.

When Li Er summoned him, Xuandu immediately responded, excitement gleaming in his eyes.

Xuandu knew that the Witch-Demon Calamity had ended and humanity was about to flourish.

For Xuandu, who had come from humanity, this carried a special meaning.

He understood humanity's weakness. Therefore, as the strongest existence at present, he could not simply leave humanity unattended.

He was willing to protect these roots and witness humanity's growth and prosperity.

Such was why Xuandu displayed this rare demeanor, and Li Er felt slightly moved.

"The Three Sovereigns of humanity will rise and lead humanity toward great prosperity. I intend to send Xuandu to serve as their teacher."

Xuandu was stunned upon hearing this. Li Er continued, "What do you think?"

After deep consideration, Xuandu bowed. "I will certainly not tarnish the might of the Grand Pure One."

Li Er smiled and raised Xuandu up. With a thought, Xuandu asked, "What do the two uncles of the Jade Pure One and Upper Pure One intend?"

Li Er answered decisively, "You need only prepare. Your master will handle everything else."

Xuandu accepted the order and departed.

Li Er's will was firm. No one but Xuandu could occupy the position of teacher to the Three Sovereigns.

He had long foreseen that after humanity's great rise, the Three Pure Ones would face the Investiture of the Gods killing calamity and the struggle over Daoist Lineage.

It would shift from a struggle of worlds to a struggle of Daoist Lineage, and finally to a struggle among Saints.

He knew this was an inevitable path. If Xuandu wished to sever his third corpse in the future, he had to place humanity first and value the corpse of self.

The attachment of his obsession lay in humanity's roots.

As one born of humanity, Xuandu's obsession was humanity's prosperity and flourishing.

Since Li Er intended to make Xuandu an imperial teacher, why not let him continue as humanity's imperial teacher, even becoming the teacher of the Human Emperor? The greatest difference between the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors was that they led humanity toward self-reliance, autonomy, and self-strengthening.

This was humanity's realization, and it was also the Three Sovereigns' imperial teacher's understanding of those three stages. It would surely help Xuandu gain a deeper understanding of his own obsession.

Since it would benefit his own **, why would Li Er favor those arrogant martial nephews? There was no need to say who was closer to him.

After Fuxi reincarnated, Li Er found time to refine the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Chaos Bell.

Unlike the Kongtong Seal, which had arisen in response to fate, the Chaos Bell was not a treasure of great momentum. Thus, Li Er had to refine the innate restrictions within it.

During this period, Li Er's name completely resounded throughout the Primordial World.

Whether it was establishing his Dao through the Classic of Morality or repairing the heavens, both pushed Li Er's prestige to its peak.

Furthermore, Li Er's combat strength defied the heavens. His battle against the Five Saints of the Heavenly Dao became a magnificent feat of the Primordial era.

His glorious achievements of standing against five Saints alone and repairing the heavens with one hand left all living beings of the Primordial World trembling.

Before Buzhou Mountain, the battle between the Heavenly Dao and Li Er stirred endless speculation and shook countless hearts.

Defying the heavens was something all living beings yearned for, yet did not dare attempt lightly.

Yet Li Er never paid much heed to the countless discussions outside in the Primordial World. He focused only on his own cultivation and teachings.

As the leader revered by all, he had long grown accustomed to everyone's gazes and did not feel much pride within his heart.

However, to his surprise, Jieyin and Zhunti, the Two Sages of the West, found him before Yuanshi and Tongtian did.

Outside the mountain gates of Eight Sceneries Palace, the figures of Jieyin and Zhunti appeared in the void.

As their voices announcing their visit rang out, Xuandu also appeared and saluted them.

Zhunti looked at Xuandu before him and felt envy arise within his heart.

They were both Saints, yet compared to Xuandu, the ** beneath them were vastly weaker.

Xuandu's Quasi-Saint realm made him sigh that one should accept disciples like Xuandu.

Xuandu did not notice Jieyin and Zhunti's thoughts. Following Li Er's arrangements, he led the two into Eight Sceneries Palace.

Watching them go to meet Li Er, Xuandu felt somewhat moved.

They worried that the relationship between his two uncles, the Jade Pure One and Upper Pure One, would affect the contest for the position of teacher to the Three Sovereigns, yet they did not know that Li Er had already granted the role solely to him.

Xuandu smiled faintly and treated it as usual.

Just as he expected, Zhunti directly spoke after entering Eight Sceneries Palace. "I hope to seek the position of imperial teacher to humanity's Three Sovereigns."

Zhunti shifted the topic and proposed Saint Karma as an exchange.

He acted extremely proactively, as though afraid Li Er would change his mind.

In truth, Zhunti had no other choice at this point.

Within the Primordial World, among the four great Saint Daoist Lineages—the Human Sect, Chan Sect, Interception Sect, and Western Sect—Zhunti knew that his Western Sect could not compare to the Chan and Interception Sects.

Li Er had mentioned humanity's great rise. In the future, new Saints would preside over humanity: the Three Sovereigns Saints.

Zhunti knew he could not compete with Yuanshi and Tongtian for the position of imperial teacher, but he still wished to fight for it.

He understood that if Li Er did not establish a sect and accept the Three Sovereigns Saints, it would be extremely disadvantageous to the Western Sect.

Therefore, Zhunti did not hesitate to reveal his trump card, using the debt of Saint Karma to vie for the position of imperial teacher to the Three Sovereigns Saints.

However, Li Er had never intended to yield the position of teacher to the Three Sovereigns. Neither Yuanshi nor Tongtian could change his decision.

Facing Zhunti's words, Li Er smiled calmly and pointed out that Zhunti still owed him one Saint Karma that had not been repaid. Adding new karma now did not seem wise.

With an earnest expression, Zhunti pleaded with Li Er, "Dao Brother, it seems you have forgotten how deeply our karmic ties are intertwined. How would Zhunti dare not repay the karma owed by my senior brother?"

"However, the position of teacher to the Three Sovereigns is of great importance and involves far too much. Thus, Zhunti has no choice but to sincerely ask Dao Brother for this position."

"I hope Dao Brother can grant it."

Li Er smiled faintly after hearing this and responded directly, "Dao Brother Zhunti, please return. The affairs of our East need not concern the Two Sages of the West."

His words had already made it clear that there was no room for negotiation.

The positions of teacher to the Three Sovereigns, and even those of teacher to humanity's Five Emperors, could not possibly fall into the hands of the Western Sect.

These were Eastern affairs. There was no need for Westerners to interfere.

Zhunti felt dissatisfied upon hearing this and asked in confusion, "Why give it to the Western Sect? Could it be that there is no one in the Daoist schools, no one in the Chan and Interception Sects, capable of taking this position?"

Such a precious position of imperial teacher was not even enough to divide among Li Er's own Daoist schools. How could he possibly hand it to the Western Sect? Li Er understood this perfectly. The Western Sect was destined to ** develop in the future, but he would not hand the position of imperial teacher to them because of that.

Aiding an enemy was not a wise move.

Though Buddhism originated from Dao, it was ultimately Buddhism.

Those who followed different paths could not make plans together. Li Er had no need to maintain any relationship with Jieyin and Zhunti.

Zhunti grew furious upon hearing these responses, but he tried his best to suppress his anger.

He turned toward Li Er and asked again, "What do you mean by this, Dao Brother?"

Li Er merely replied indifferently, "Exactly what you understand it to mean."

This made Zhunti even angrier.

He had not expected that his efforts would receive no recognition. Instead, he had even been cut off from the chance to become teacher to the Five Emperors.

What kind of nonsense was this? He could not help but demand loudly, "Taishang, you go too far in bullying others!"

Yet Li Er merely spat out one cold word: "Get lost!"

That single word made Zhunti completely lose his patience and reason. Seeing this, Jieyin immediately took him away.

Though they were dissatisfied and disappointed, they understood that while the Western Sect's future was important, their own safety was even more important.

Thus, Jieyin chose to completely sever ties with Li Er, had Zhunti remain calm, and return to the West to seek other means of handling matters, protecting their safety and avoiding any further escalation of conflict. In the end, they had also cast off this hot potato.

(Li Er had been exceptionally resolute and decisive in the face of the Two Sages of the West's entanglement, leaving no room whatsoever.

Li Er's power was at its peak. He could even defy the Heavenly Dao, so blocking the Western Sect's path to becoming imperial teachers was nothing much.

At this moment, he angrily left Eight Sceneries Palace.

As two Saints like Zhunti, when had they ever been so disgraced? Faced with Li Er's merciless rejection, they had tried to secure the positions of teacher to humanity's Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, yet had not received even a shred of courtesy.

Li Er ate the meat without leaving them even the soup, completely disregarding their needs.

They were therefore deeply dissatisfied.

But his senior brother Jieyin understood the situation. He knew that the Western Sect was not as powerful as the Chan and Interception Sects at present and should not directly contend with Li Er.

He reminded Zhunti to recognize reality and not suffer losses for the sake of a momentary battle of pride.

In the end, Zhunti accepted this fact and decided to withdraw for now, planning anew for the affairs of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors in the future.

Today, it seemed Li Er and Jieyin and Zhunti truly might have clashed, with the latter bringing humiliation upon themselves.

The rules among Saints existed only for Saints who observed the rules.

If Li Er did not even care about basic courtesy, then the rules were useless to him.

Previously, they had believed that Li Er would consider their shared status as Saints and grant them a position of imperial teacher, after which they could contend over whether they could become the Three Sovereigns' teachers.

But now, they understood that the status of Saint was insignificant to Li Er.

Within Eight Sceneries Palace, Li Er found Jieyin and Zhunti's departure somewhat regrettable, but what he had looked forward to even more was Zhunti making a move in his Daoist sanctuary, so that he could use it as an excuse to teach them a lesson.

Unfortunately, Jieyin was clever enough to see through his intentions.