The Beginning of the Primordial World

The three Heaven-Opening Innate Supreme Treasures derived from the Pangu Axe, due to their special significance and contributions to the world, held the highest rank in the Primordial World.

Li Er had this thought because he possessed the supreme treasure Qiankun Cauldron, which could return things to their origin.

Whether the Taiji Diagram, Pangu Banner, and Chaos Bell could be returned to their origin and merged into their original Chaos Supreme Treasure rank was unknown.

As a transmigrator, Li Er understood the power represented by Chaos Supreme Treasures – it was the ultimate power within the entire Chaos.

If there was a chance for the three to merge into one and restore the form of the Chaos Supreme Treasure Pangu Axe, it would mean possessing the most powerful force in existence.

Li Er seized the opportunity; he did not stop at the achievements of his previous incarnation, Laozi.

In the Eight Sceneries Palace, the Taiji Diagram and Chaos Bell spun before him, releasing the aura of Chaos.

After a long refining process, the Chaos Bell was finally completely mastered by him.

At this moment, the Chaos Bell vibrated, releasing the boundless might of an Innate Supreme Treasure, containing the power to twist time and space.

As the master of the Chaos Bell, Li Er clearly felt the supreme aura emanating from this treasure.

He had successfully refined the second Innate Supreme Treasure.

The five Saints sensed the changes within the Eight Sceneries Palace; the reviving, mysterious, and profound energy made them uneasy.

Li Er chuckled lightly, concealing the heavenly secrets.

The five Saints could only withdraw their divine senses, their hearts unsettled.

They knew the Chaos Bell had been refined by Li Er. Although this was expected, they were still shocked and solemn.

After all, Li Er's abilities had long surpassed their expectations.

They were still deeply shaken after sensing the aura of the Chaos Bell.

This was because an Innate Supreme Treasure in the hands of a Saint was a completely different concept than in the hands of East Emperor Taiyi.

They realized that the future days might become difficult.

After refining the Chaos Bell, Li Er chose to emerge from seclusion.

If nothing unexpected happened, he would once again become the second Co-Lord of the Human Race and establish his imperial path.

The development of the Human Race had already passed the stages of the first Co-Lord's self-establishment and the second Co-Lord's independence, and was now on the cusp of the Human Emperor's contention.

Although Li Er possessed the Pangu Imprint and had deep ties with the Witch Clan, he did not intend to help them much.

He believed that whether the Witch Clan became strong on its own was one thing, but personal effort was another.

This was ultimately a battleground for the Human Emperor's position; the victor would be king, and there was no need for further words.

Whether it was Xuanyuan or Chiyou, their conflict was merely a necessary process for the Human Emperor's position.

Regardless of who won or lost, the Human Race would continue to develop.

At this time, the Human Race, under the leadership of Shennong Clan, was flourishing.

Shennong Clan himself had achieved complete Merit, merely awaiting the successor of the next Co-Lord of the Human Race.

Shennong Clan decided to follow the example of the previous Co-Lord, Fuxi, and search for suitable great sages among the new generation of the Human Race.

Among them, Xuanyuan of the Youxiong Tribe and Chiyou of the Jiuli Tribe were the two most renowned.

Both had signs of great sages and were taken as disciples by powerful beings at birth.

According to convention, the next Co-Lord of the Human Race would likely be Xuanyuan.

But now, Chiyou's appearance had become a formidable competitor.

His master was Gonggong, a world-dominating overlord as powerful as the great sage Xuandu's master.

Shennong Clan heard the name Gonggong for the first time, yet deep within his heart, he felt a sense of déjà vu.

As the Co-Lord who led the Human Race to independent rise, Shennong Clan faced a crucial decision when considering his next move.

Although he cultivated grains and tasted herbs, his heart was filled with benevolence and compassion. However, when facing the choice between the two successors, Xuanyuan and Chiyou, he needed to consider carefully.

If Chiyou was not given a fair chance, how would the Human Race view him? Moreover, Fuxi, Xuanyuan, and he all came from the Dao Venerable Xuandu's tutelage, inheriting the same lineage.

If Xuanyuan were chosen unfairly, the meaning of abdication would become blurred, easily misinterpreted as an internal family succession.

Therefore, he hesitated.

Finally, he decided not to summon Xuanyuan to Chen Du for the time being, but instead to seek guidance from his teacher Xuandu and observe the situation.

Xuandu had already foreseen Chiyou's reincarnation. The Human Emperor's contention was the final stage for the Human Race to become self-reliant and embark on the path of conquest.

Xuandu's guidance was for him not to interfere, to let the two sides contend naturally, and for the final battle to decide everything.

At this moment, the Human Emperor's contention within the Human Race was intensifying. The Jiuli Tribe was not as monolithic as the Youxiong Tribe led by Xuanyuan; it contained more complex power struggles.

The Nine Yi Tribes, formed by the union of the Quan Yi, Yu Yi, and eight other tribes, were also known as the Nine Li because they all shared the surname Li.

These tribes were the best destination arranged by Houtu for Chiyou.

On the Primordial Great Land, the Human Race and the Witch Clan lived adjacent to each other, and tribal unions gradually formed. The Jiuli Tribe was the most perfect embodiment of the fusion of Human and Witch bloodlines.

They possessed the wisdom of the Human Race and the robust physique of the Witch Clan, with innate divine strength, capable of tearing apart ferocious beasts with their bare hands.

Houtu not only settled Chiyou in Jiuli but also arranged for Gonggong, the last Ancestor Witch of the Witch Clan, to go there and take Chiyou as his disciple.

Although Gonggong did not hold the title of Imperial Teacher, his tutelage of Chiyou was equivalent to that of Xuandu.

He guided Chiyou in developing agriculture, smelting, weapon manufacturing, and various crafts, leading to the prosperity of the Jiuli tribe.

As a result, Chiyou enjoyed immense prestige among the human tribes.

Shennong's predicament stemmed from the fact that Chiyou had inherited Houtu's essence and blood, and even after reincarnating as a human, he still possessed the Earth Virtue destiny.

Meanwhile, Xuanyuan, as the Yellow Emperor, was also born with the Earth Virtue destiny.

The struggle for the Human Emperor could be seen as a contest between these two individuals who embodied the Earth Virtue.

It is worth noting that from the first Human Emperor reincarnated from Fuxi, to Shennong, and then to the competition between Xuanyuan and Chiyou, this era encompassed the Yao, Human, and Witch clans.

This flourishing of the Human Race was both a continuation of the previous Great Tribulation and a new beginning.

The decline of the Witch and Yao clans, and the rise of the Human Race, all became the focal point at this moment.

Undoubtedly, Chiyou, as the only Ancestor Witch possessing a Primordial Spirit, was exceptionally powerful.

He did not exert his full strength during the Witch-Demon Calamity because he emerged later, which did not mean his power was weak.

This time, Chiyou truly displayed his might.

Chiyou demonstrated formidable strength in his conflicts with Xuanyuan's Youxiong Tribe, to the point where Xuanyuan could not achieve victory in nine major battles.

The human tribes, revering strength, bestowed upon Chiyou the title of Lord of Soldiers, his name resounding throughout the land.

However, the Witch Clan's bloodthirsty nature also gradually surfaced. The weapons and halberds forged by Chiyou's eighty-one brothers, while renowned, were accompanied by brutal and merciless slaughter.

Despite suffering battlefield losses, Xuanyuan managed to rally support due to his virtuous reputation.

Chiyou firmly believed in the law of the jungle for the Human Emperor contest – the victor becomes king, the vanquished, a bandit. He was determined to crush the Youxiong Tribe and secure his position as the Human Emperor with the Earth Virtue.

The Battle of Zhuolu erupted. As the conflict escalated, Xuanyuan summoned his teacher, Xuandu, while Chiyou called upon Ancestor Witch Gonggong.

On the battlefield, the waters of the Nine Heavens descended from the sky. Ancestor Witch Gonggong stood proudly amidst them, his water control techniques exuding terrifying pressure.

Xuandu, a former Quasi-Saint overlord, engaged in a duel with Gonggong, a newly ascended Dao Venerable under the Taiqing lineage.

This Battle of Zhuolu was not only a clash between an old and a new Quasi-Saint but also a collision of two eras.

The duel between these two overlords shook the entire battlefield, and endless anticipation converged upon this single combat.

Above the void, Gonggong and Xuandu faced each other.

Having experienced the Witch-Demon Calamity, Gonggong's temperament had somewhat mellowed, but his former dominance still lay hidden.

In Xuandu's eyes, Gonggong appeared more composed after enduring tribulations.

The current state of the Witch Clan was unfavorable, and Gonggong knew he had to act with discretion.

Their gazes met. Gonggong gave Xuandu a deep look, sensing his formidable aura, and said in a deep voice, "Having joined the sect of Saint Taishang, you are indeed an extraordinary individual."

Xuandu replied, "Ancestor Witch Gonggong, to have been one of the overlords in the previous Great Tribulation is also remarkable."

He had no intention of seeking conflict, but he had to intervene in the Human Emperor contest, for he was Xuanyuan's Imperial Teacher.

This battle was not about grudges, interests, or eras, but merely about differing allegiances.

Xuandu showed Gonggong the utmost respect, inviting him to make the first move.

Gonggong responded with gravity, "Fight!"

The waters of the Nine Heavens surged above the void, resembling a scene of world destruction.

The clash of Quasi-Saints stirred the heavens and earth.

Gonggong unleashed the waters of the Nine Heavens towards Xuandu, who countered with the Eight Sceneries Palace Lamp, its brilliant light illuminating the heavens and earth.

Purple fire blazed across the sky with boundless power, possessing the might to incinerate the heavens and boil the seas.

Gonggong felt the scorching aura; the waters of the Nine Heavens seemed to be burning.

He recalled the past animosity between himself and Zhurong, the incompatibility of water and fire. Now, only he remained to lead the Twelve Ancestral Witches.

However, this only fueled his fighting spirit further.

The waters of the Nine Heavens transformed into a long river that swept towards Xuandu, but it was instantly shattered by a boundless blaze of fire.

Gonggong laughed and challenged Xuandu, "Will fire extinguish water, or will water engulf fire?"

Xuandu did not falter, manifesting the Taiji Yin-Yang fish around him, radiating light.

Gonggong's battle intent surged to its peak.

Amidst the seemingly evenly matched battle, Houtu silently observed everything.

She knew that despite Gonggong's deep seniority, facing Xuandu, a Quasi-Saint titan who had fully inherited the Grand Pure lineage, he would likely not win.

Xuandu wielded not only the Witch-Slaying Sword but also top-tier Innate Spiritual Treasures such as the Eight Sceneries Palace Lamp, the Precious Lotus Lamp, and the Yin-Yang Furnace.

As expected, after the initial exchange, Gonggong was defeated.

"Xuanyuan, the sword!"

With a wave of Xuandu's hand, the Xuanyuan Sword appeared like a dragon, its hum echoing through the heavens, stirring up a monstrous killing intent as it slashed towards the river of the Nine Heavens.

Instantly, a dazzling sword light pierced through the void, as stunning as the Demon Emperor Di Jun's former Witch-Slaying Sword, and shot directly towards Gonggong.

Gonggong faced the reappearance of the Witch-Slaying Sword, his heart filled with immense shock, realizing the defeat was inevitable.

Even though his strength had greatly increased after the Witch-Demon Calamity, the fearsome reputation of the Witch-Slaying Sword made him understand he could not resist it.

The power of this sword wielded by Xuandu was astonishing, enough to shake the world.

Gonggong's expression was complex, knowing that his defeat was sealed when facing Xuandu.

His heart held both regret and a sense of relief.

He knew this was the power of the Grand Pure lineage; he had indeed lost.

Severely wounded, Gonggong returned to the Six Paths Reincarnation.

This also meant that Chiyou suffered his first defeat.

Although Gonggong, a Quasi-Saint with formidable combat power among the Ancestor Witches, was defeated, Chiyou did not give up.

He regrouped the Feng Bo, Yu Shi, and other Innate Great Witches, engaging Xuanyuan in a fierce battle once more at Zhuolu.

However, the outcome remained unchanged; Chiyou was still defeated by Xuanyuan.

Sometimes, even with a significant initial advantage, it cannot overcome the power of destiny.

Xuanyuan was the chosen destiny of the Human Race.

Sensing Chiyou's fighting spirit and the connection between Xuandu and Houtu of the Six Paths Reincarnation, Xuanyuan did not demonize him.

Therefore, only the name of Chiyou, the Lord of Soldiers, was passed down among the Human Race.

After Chiyou's death, when the world fell into chaos again, Xuanyuan ordered his image to be painted, making the world believe Chiyou was not dead, and his name as the Lord of Soldiers deterred the four seas.

From then on, the struggle for the Human Emperor was declared over.

Xuanyuan, the Yellow Emperor, finally established himself in the Central Plains, which also prompted Shennong to decide to abdicate the position of co-ruler of the Human Race.

All three Sovereigns came from the Grand Pure lineage, which widely spread the name of Taishang, Li Er's, among the Human Race, with everyone knowing Taishang as an invincible Saint.

However, what was little known was the unparalleled reverence for the three Human Sovereigns cultivated by the Grand Pure lineage.

Decades passed in a flash. After Shennong received Xuanyuan, the Yellow Emperor, in Chendu, just as Fuxi had guided him, he gradually allowed Xuanyuan to take over the Human Race.

During this period, Xuanyuan lived up to expectations, establishing the system of weights and measures and creating formations to protect the Human Race.