Chapter 29

Co-Lord of Humanity Fuxi faced the unending problems of natural and earthly disasters and sought guidance from his master, Xuandu.

Xuandu told him to wait for his opportunity by the Wei River.

At the same time, Nuwa issued an order to Demon Master Kunpeng, entrusting the River Diagram and Luo Script to him and having him take them into the Wei River.

Demon Master Kunpeng acted according to Nuwa's command.

By the Wei River Bank, Fuxi sensed the appearance of strange beasts and realized that this was his opportunity.

A dragon horse and a dragon turtle each carried a diagram and a book as they approached Fuxi.

Although Fuxi was meeting these strange beasts for the first time, he felt an inexplicable familiarity. His intuition told him that this was some sort of opportunity meant for him.

After thanking the strange beasts, Fuxi brought the River Diagram and Luo Script back to the human capital.

After years of effort, he used the diagram and book to study the Dao of the Innate Eight Trigrams, bringing his cultivation and achievements to completion.

Within Shouyang Mountain, Xuandu watched Fuxi create the Eight Trigrams and could not help but feel moved.

The Supreme Ultimate gave birth to the Two Polarities, the Two Polarities gave birth to the Four Images, and the Four Images gave birth to the Eight Trigrams. This Imperial Tutor seemed fated to be connected to them.

Fuxi's completion stirred Li Er's senses.

Within Eight Sceneries Palace, the Kongtong Seal above Li Er's head manifested, cascading with endless Imperial Dao aura.

At this moment, the Human Dao Grand Momentum had already emerged.

After Li Er put away the Kongtong Seal, Yuanshi and Tongtian asked why he did not go to the human race and establish his authority.

In their view, Fuxi had already brought his achievements to completion, so Li Er should go to the human race and consolidate his position.

Borrowing the grand momentum of the Kongtong Seal, Li Er prepared to establish the venerable positions of the Three Sovereigns of humanity.

Yet he suddenly withdrew the Kongtong Seal, leaving Yuanshi and Tongtian puzzled.

Li Er merely smiled and replied, "The time has not come yet."

He then waved his hand, signaling for the two of them to leave.

Xuandu sensed the changes in Eight Sceneries Palace and understood his teacher's intentions.

Thus, he went to Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain to resolve the karma concerning the Ancestor of Earth Immortals with Zhen Yuanzi.

Wuzhuang Temple was a renowned immortal mountain and blessed land in the primordial world, while the Ginseng Fruit Tree within it was a supreme innate Spiritual Root.

Zhen Yuanzi silently gazed at the Ginseng Fruit Tree before him and a red gourd, saying nothing as he pondered everything that had happened after Hong Yun's killing tribulation.

Ever since recovering the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Red Gourd, he had been searching for a suitable way to make use of the imprint of Hong Yun's remnant soul inside it.

The conversation between Zhen Yuanzi and Xuandu began.

Sensing Xuandu's arrival, Zhen Yuanzi called for him to show himself.

After Xuandu appeared, he recognized the red gourd in Zhen Yuanzi's hand and confirmed that it was the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Red Gourd once held by Hong Yun.

Zhen Yuanzi looked forward to Xuandu's visit, for he knew that Xuandu had been sent by the Supreme Saint and might perhaps bring some turning point for his close friend Hong Yun.

However, Xuandu brought news of Hong Yun's true condition. Though a wisp of Hong Yun's remnant soul remained in the gourd, it would likely be difficult for him to return through a tribulation. Only reincarnation and renewed cultivation could grant him new life.

Xuandu further revealed that humanity was flourishing, and that the future Three Sovereigns of humanity had a chance of becoming Three Sovereigns Saints. They could reserve one of the Three Sovereigns positions for Hong Yun.

Zhen Yuanzi was thrilled upon hearing this and expressed his approval and anticipation of the proposal.

As the sole Imperial Tutor of the Three Sovereigns of humanity, Xuandu had come this time with the intention of leading the great immortal's close friend here.

Hearing this, Zhen Yuanzi was overjoyed and expressed his gratitude to Xuandu.

Yet Zhen Yuanzi understood well that while Hong Yun had a great chance of reincarnating and seizing this opportunity, there was no such thing as a free lunch. Xuandu was not a man who sought nothing in return.

Thinking back to Li Er's earlier promise, it had merely been to give Hong Yun an opportunity to reincarnate and cultivate anew. Yet the depth of this opportunity far exceeded Zhen Yuanzi's previous expectations.

Naturally, Zhen Yuanzi understood that Xuandu's true purpose in coming was not simply to grant Hong Yun a great fortune. He was also conveying the sincerity of the Grand Pure lineage on Li Er's behalf and awaiting Zhen Yuanzi's response.

Li Er was no philanthropist. His promises and gifts required Zhen Yuanzi to answer with a corresponding attitude.

Zhen Yuanzi understood that regarding the future achievements of the Three Sovereigns of humanity, whoever became associated with the words "Saint"

would possess a status far beyond the ordinary.

Therefore, for Hong Yun's sake, he had to make a decision.

After a brief silence, Zhen Yuanzi finally spoke, mentioning the great righteousness of this young friend and the Supreme Saint.

He spoke of the Taishang Lineage's assistance to fellow Daoist Hong Yun.

Xuandu smiled upon hearing this.

So the words of Li Er's teacher—"The Ancestor of Earth Immortals may return to my Grand Pure"

had in fact been a carefully calculated plan laid far in advance.

After the Three Sovereigns of humanity completed their achievements, they would inevitably need to find a cave abode and Daoist sanctuary blessed with enduring fortune.

Shouyang Mountain would not do, yet every immortal mountain and blessed land in the primordial world already had an owner. Finding a place that suited both humanity's grand momentum and Imperial Dao fortune was truly not easy.

Li Er cleverly chose Huoyun Palace as the future location of the Three Sovereigns' Saint positions.

This plan not only made Zhen Yuanzi readily agree, but also bound Hong Yun closely to the Grand Pure lineage.

As a transmigrator, Li Er was deeply calculating, with every step linked to the next.

As a Daoist Sect giant, Zhen Yuanzi had always pursued the Great Dao of Primordial Unity wholeheartedly. Li Er's plan gave him no cause to feel he was losing out.

Moreover, Li Er was both Grand Pure and the revered leader of the Daoist Sect. To Zhen Yuanzi, joining Grand Pure was no different from joining the Daoist Sect.

Zhen Yuanzi and Xuandu were both exceptionally intelligent and understood immediately with only the slightest hint.

Therefore, Zhen Yuanzi did not hesitate and directly expressed his understanding before taking action.

Once he understood, he left Wuzhuang Temple with the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Red Gourd and headed for the land of Six Paths Reincarnation.

He held Xuandu in great favor and especially admired people like Zhen Yuanzi, who were loyal and righteous yet adept in every situation.

Such people were often better suited to survival than those who were merely simple-hearted good men.

Zhen Yuanzi, the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, choosing to join the Grand Pure lineage would undoubtedly deepen Li Er's control over the Daoist Sect's fortune. It was a good thing for the Grand Pure lineage.

While Xuandu took the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Red Gourd to arrange reincarnation, Zhen Yuanzi did not remain idle.

Within Wuzhuang Temple, he set up an altar to worship Heaven. Dressed in Daoist robes, he ascended the altar, while all his disciples wore joyful expressions. This concerned the future of the Earth Immortal path, so how could they not rejoice?

Holding the Earth Book, Zhen Yuanzi prayed to Heaven, declaring that he had comprehended the Earth Book and gained enlightenment in the Great Dao of Earth Immortals. Today, he wished to establish the Earth Immortal Mansion and voluntarily join the Grand Pure Daoist Sect.

With the establishment of the Earth Immortal Mansion, he completely attained the status of Ancestor of Earth Immortals.

At the same time, Li Er's Saintly voice came from the Xuandu Purple Mansion: "Granted."

Zhen Yuanzi's Earth Immortal Dao then merged into the Daoist Sect.

Golden light of merit descended from the heavens above Wuzhuang Temple and fell upon Zhen Yuanzi's head, marking his ascent as a giant of the Daoist Sect.

The Earth Immortal Dao established by Zhen Yuanzi shocked countless living beings throughout the primordial world.

Just after the Witch-Demon Calamity had ended, humanity's great rise had already become inevitable. Yet Zhen Yuanzi disrupted the calm of this situation by establishing the Earth Immortal Mansion.

As one of the Three Thousand Guests of the Violet Firmament Palace, Zhen Yuanzi's supreme strength was beyond question. Blessed with immense fortune and accompanied by the Ginseng Fruit Tree and the Book of the Earth, he had long shown his extraordinary nature.

Today, Zhen Yuanzi created the Earth Immortal Dao and established the Earth Immortal Mansion to govern the mountain gods, land deities, and river lords between Heaven and Earth. This news would surely stir a storm throughout the primordial world and affect its entire structure.

The Earth Book's authority lay in governing the primordial land. Unlike the Dao of wandering immortals, it presided over the Dao of Earth Immortals.

The Heaven, Earth, and Human Books each possessed their own unique authority and responsibility. As the earliest spiritual treasure to appear, the Earth Book became Zhen Yuanzi's companion spiritual treasure.

Besides the shocking establishment of the Earth Immortal Mansion, Zhen Yuanzi's decision to join the Grand Pure lineage and the Daoist Sect also surprised many.

As the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, he could have founded a clan or established a sect, living freely and unrestrained without being troubled by calamities.

Yet he chose to join the Daoist Sect and accept its corresponding restraints.

This left many Quasi-Saint great powers, as well as Saints such as Yuanshi, Tongtian, Jieyin, and Zhunti, deeply perplexed.

They could not know of the tacit understanding between Zhen Yuanzi and Li Er.

At Six Paths Reincarnation, in the void above the Sea of Blood, Xuandu's figure quietly appeared.

The last time he had entered this place was when Yuanshi and Tongtian became Saints, when Xuandu had gone to Kunlun under his teacher's orders to offer congratulations.

At that time, he had only just entered the world and knew little of its ways. His cultivation had merely been at the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm.

Now, upon returning here, he had become a giant at the Quasi-Saint level.

Xuandu held the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Red Gourd in his hands, his eyes filled with emotion.

"Fellow Daoist Hong Yun is no stranger to this place either, is he?"

He turned to look at Hong Yun's remnant soul.

Hong Yun's remnant soul spoke from within the gourd, his voice complicated. "How could I dare forget this place?"

Back then, Hong Yun had been ambushed and intercepted here by Ancestor Minghe.

Now, he had returned in order to enter reincarnation.

First, the Earth Immortal Mansion had appeared. Now, Hong Yun was being sent to reincarnate into humanity and attain the venerable position of Earthly Sovereign.

Life was full of coincidence and drama.

Houtu's true body, Empress Pingxin, appeared and emerged from Six Paths Reincarnation. She smiled at Xuandu. "Young friend Xuandu, it has been a long time."

Since she transformed into reincarnation, Xuandu had never returned to this place.

Houtu had been waiting for Xuandu's arrival, because Xuandu was the sole Imperial Tutor of the Three Sovereigns of humanity. In the future, if she wished for the Witch Clan to intervene in the struggle for the Human Emperor, dealing with Xuandu would be unavoidable.

Today, Xuandu had something he wished to discuss with her, and Houtu's gaze fell upon the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Red Gourd in his hand.

Xuandu saluted and said, "Xuandu has come today because there is a matter he wishes to discuss with Empress."

Upon learning that Lieshan Clan had joined Xuandu's school, Fuxi was overjoyed.

The time had come. After observing the performance of Lieshan Clan, the candidate to inherit his position, Fuxi was finally reassured. Humanity would have a successor.

However, he did not publicize the matter.

To become the successor to his position as Co-Lord of Humanity, having the same innate identity as a great sage and the same teacher was not enough.

More importantly, one needed the ability to lead humanity's development, as well as an unwaveringly pure heart.

Lieshan Clan lived up to expectations, earning a reputation for wisdom in the Jiang Clan Tribe through his intelligence and talent.

By chance, he discovered and planted the Five Grains, teaching his clansmen how to cultivate them.

The Jiang Clan Tribe therefore respectfully called him Shennong.

Once the news spread, Shennong's name traveled not only throughout the Jiang Clan Tribe but also to the surrounding tribes.

After solving the problem of food and clothing, Shennong faced a new challenge: the Five Grains were easily attacked by wild beasts.

He received inspiration from Xuandu, so he carved wood into bows and created Bow and Arrow.

This invention sent humanity into raptures and gave them the basic ability to protect themselves.

Men, women, young, and old could all use Bow and Arrow to defend themselves so long as they had the strength.

Humanity thus began moving toward self-reliance. They no longer worried about being unable to find food, nor did they fear being unable to protect themselves.

Shennong's name was celebrated throughout humanity.

As humanity progressed, the Jiang Clan Tribe developed rapidly as well, becoming the strongest tribe in the surrounding region.

However, as the Five Grains became widespread, a new problem arose: people could not distinguish which grains were edible and which herbs could cure illness.

Disease began spreading unchecked among humanity.

To solve this problem, Shennong stepped forward once more.

Shennong sought out his master Xuandu. Xuandu opened the passage to the Duguang Wilderness for him, guiding him to climb the Jianmu Tree into the Heavenly Emperor's Garden and obtain Yao Grass.

Shennong then acted according to the instructions, met the Heavenly Emperor, and received a divine whip as a gift.

With this divine whip, Shennong began tasting every kind of herb. Though he encountered seventy-two poisons in a single day, he persisted without faltering.

All of this happened within the Jiang Clan Tribe, shocking everyone. As Co-Lord of Humanity, Fuxi personally witnessed Shennong's determination and efforts.

After compiling Shennong's Materia Medica, Fuxi decided to yield his position to Shennong.

The major tribes began planting the Five Grains and making Bow and Arrow, deeply grateful for Fuxi's decision.

After Shennong completed his studies, Xuandu accepted him as his disciple. His experiences were extremely similar to Fuxi's.

Influenced by Fuxi, the people firmly believed that his choice was correct.