Following the newly appeared mark on the jade slip, Xuanwei sped eastward.
The farther east he flew, the thinner and more primordial the spiritual energy in the air became. The mountains and terrain below also seemed older and more desolate. No immortal islands could be seen beneath him now—only endless primeval forests and a turbulent coastline. Occasionally, he spotted enormous ancient beasts wandering through the woods. Their auras were fierce, but they seemed to lack intelligence.
After flying for about a day, a vast bay appeared ahead. The land along its shores was relatively flat, and he could see clusters of crude shelters built from huge stones and timber. More strikingly, at the center of the settlement stood a tall wooden totem pole. At its peak, a faint yet remarkably tenacious Mysterious Yellow flame burned quietly in the sea breeze!
The aura of that flame shared the same origin as the Humanity's Torch Flame deep within Xuanwei's source! It was simply weaker and more primitive, like a spark that had only just been kindled, yet it already carried the meaning of dispelling darkness and bringing warmth and hope!
"It really is a human tribe!" Xuanwei was overwhelmed with excitement. At this time in the Primordial World, the Witch and Demon races were dominant. Humanity had only just been born, frail and scattered across the land, struggling to survive. He had never expected to encounter a properly formed tribe here on the shores of the Eastern Sea!
He lowered his escape light and landed at the edge of a forest several miles from the tribe, not daring to approach rashly. He was still in his immortal qi true form, vastly different in appearance from these newly born humans. Revealing himself recklessly might cause panic.
He concealed all his aura and activated [Deep Immortal Seclusion], silently approaching the tribe like an invisible observer.
As he drew nearer, he saw that the shelters were exceedingly crude. The people wore animal hides or rough hemp cloth, their dark faces bearing the marks of hardship from their struggle against nature. Some used primitive stone tools to fashion implements, some dried fish, and some cared for toddlers still learning to walk. Though life was difficult, every one of their eyes shone with a desire to survive and an unyielding resilience.
Beneath the totem pole, an elderly man with white hair and beard, a face covered in wrinkles, yet unusually clear and wise eyes, led a group of young adults and children in devout worship and prayer before the torch flame. He held what appeared to be an ordinary wooden staff, its tip embedded with a stone that emitted a faint warm glow and faintly resonated with the totem flame.
"Flint? And... faint power of faith?" Xuanwei understood at once. This elder was likely the tribe's priest or leader. By some means—perhaps innate spiritual perception, perhaps a chance encounter—he had ignited this torch flame that represented civilization and hope. By guiding his people in worship, he had gathered the earliest traces of faith, allowing the flame to remain unextinguished.
This torch flame was the spiritual symbol of the tribe, driving away their fear of beasts and bringing unity and hope.
Yet Xuanwei could also sense that the flame was incredibly weak, as though a strong gust could snuff it out at any moment. The fortune of the entire tribe was likewise like a candle flickering in the wind, unstable and precarious.
Just then, a sudden change erupted!
"Awoo—!"
A wolf howl filled with savage violence rang out from deep within the forest! Immediately afterward, dozens of green-glowing eyes lit up in the darkness. Accompanied by heavy pounding footsteps, a pack of "Red-Eyed Demon Wolves," each built as powerfully as calves, with exposed fangs and faint Demonic Qi swirling around them, surged from the forest like a tide and charged straight toward the tribe!
The leader of the demon wolves possessed an aura comparable to that of an Earth Immortal!
"The demon wolves are here! Protect the fire seed! Protect the children and elders!" The white-haired elder's face changed drastically. Raising his wooden staff, he shouted loudly, his aged voice carrying unquestionable authority.
The tribe's young and strong men immediately grabbed crude stone spears and bone blades, forming a fragile human wall before the elderly, the weak, the women, and the children. Their eyes were full of terror, yet not one of them retreated! The women swiftly shielded the children behind them, staring fixedly at the totem flame while murmuring prayers under their breath.
The battle erupted in an instant!
The human warriors' stone spears and bone blades could barely inflict fatal wounds upon the thick-skinned demon wolves. Instead, more and more people were thrown down and bitten by the wolves. Blood stained the earth red, and screams rose one after another. The demon wolf leader was even more ferocious, easily smashing several warriors aside. Its scarlet eyes greedily fixed upon the torch flame beneath the totem pole, as though it were some delicacy of irresistible allure.
The white-haired elder swung his wooden staff. The embedded flint gave off a faint glow, drawing a wisp of flame from the totem fire and shooting it at the demon wolf leader like an arrow. However, the spark was too weak. It merely made the leader howl in pain and scorched a patch of its fur black, failing to halt its advance.
The defensive line was about to collapse, and the tribe stood on the brink of destruction!
Hidden nearby, Xuanwei watched the human warriors stubbornly hold their ground beneath the wolves' claws and fangs, refusing to retreat. He watched the women tightly protect the children, tears in their eyes as they continued to pray. He watched the old priest desperately drive the weak torch flame, his face pale... The flame belonging to Xuanwei himself seemed to be fiercely stirred by something and began to burn violently!
These frail beings, facing enemies far stronger than themselves, displayed courage, unity, and sacrifice. Were these not the truest embodiment of the spirit of the torch flame?!
He could not continue watching from the sidelines!
Just as the demon wolf leader rose onto its hind legs and was about to pounce upon the white-haired priest—
"Wretched beast! How dare you harm people!"
A cold shout burst across the bloody battlefield like thunder!
Xuanwei no longer hid himself. His immortal qi true form manifested. Though humanoid in shape, his body was surrounded by azure, yellow, and chaotic immortal radiance, while specks of Mysterious Yellow Star Fire flowed around him. He looked like a divine being descending into the world!
He brought two fingers together like a sword and invoked the Supreme Pure Immortal Method!
"Supreme Pure Divine Thunder, eradicate evil!"
Boom!
A brilliant violet-white bolt of lightning, like a heavenly whip punishing sin, tore through the dim sky and struck the demon wolf leader's head with flawless precision!
The demon wolf leader did not even have time to scream before the supremely yang and unyielding power of the lightning instantly reduced it to a heap of charred ash! Its soul was utterly destroyed!
Then Xuanwei swept his sleeve—simulated from immortal qi—and a gentle yet immense force of immortality swept across the battlefield like a spring breeze. Every demon wolf still wreaking havoc was sent flying, their bones and tendons shattered as they howled and fled back into the depths of the forest.
In no more than the blink of an eye, the previously desperate situation had been completely reversed!
The battlefield fell into dead silence.
Every human stared dumbfoundedly at Xuanwei, who had suddenly appeared and wiped out the terrifying demon wolves with a wave of his hand. Their eyes were filled with shock, reverence, and... a trace of incredulous hope.
The white-haired old priest was the first to recover. He struggled to his feet and, disregarding his injuries, bowed deeply before Xuanwei. In an aged yet emotional voice, he cried, "Thank you, Immortal Lord, for saving our lives! Thank you, Immortal Lord, for saving our Suihuo Tribe!"
Following his kneeling bow, every surviving human, injured or otherwise, knelt in unison toward Xuanwei, crying out clumsy but heartfelt words of gratitude.
Xuanwei looked at these newly born humans kneeling on the ground before him, gazing at him as though on a pilgrimage, and felt deeply moved. He gently raised a hand, and an invisible force lifted them all.
"Please rise. There is no need for such ceremony. How could I stand by when I saw injustice?" Xuanwei's voice was gentle, carrying a power that soothed the heart. His gaze fell upon the white-haired old priest. "Elder, are you the leader of this tribe?"
"Reporting to the Immortal Lord, this old one is Suishi, nominally the priest and chieftain of our tribe." The old priest answered respectfully, his gaze toward Xuanwei filled with reverence. "Had the Immortal Lord not acted in time, my Suihuo Tribe would likely have faced annihilation today! Our people will never forget this grace!"
"Suishi... a fine name." Xuanwei nodded. The name itself carried the meaning of making fire by drilling wood. No wonder he had been able to ignite the torch flame. He walked beneath the totem pole and looked at the faint but stubbornly undying Mysterious Yellow flame, sensing the resonance it shared with his own source.
He extended a finger and lightly tapped.
A mote of purer and brighter Mysterious Yellow Star Fire flew from his fingertip and merged into the totem flame.
Buzz!
As if infused with immense vitality, the totem flame suddenly leapt a foot higher. Its radiance became warmer and brighter, while the meaning it emanated became heavier and more resilient! Everyone in the tribe felt a warm current spread through their bodies. Much of their fatigue and fear was driven away, and even their wounds seemed to improve somewhat.
"This... this is..." Chieftain Suishi felt the change in the torch flame and trembled with excitement. The way he looked at Xuanwei was like beholding a god!
"This fire is the beginning of civilization and the light of hope. It shall be called the 'Torch Flame.'" Xuanwei looked at the burning fire and spoke slowly. "Protect it well, and you will protect the future of your people."
After pondering for a moment, he decided to give the tribe some practical assistance. He cast the Azure Emperor Longevity Art, invoked Wood Element Vitality, and scattered droplets of verdant light like rain. Wherever the light rain fell upon injured tribespeople, their wounds healed at a visible rate. Where it fell upon the barren ground, the wild grass in a small nearby area grew more lush, even producing edible berries.
He then selected several youths who appeared clever and brave, teaching them a most basic guidance technique for strengthening the body and sensing auras—a simplified qi-refining method. He also left them knowledge impressions concerning the identification of medicinal herbs and the setting of simple warning traps.
Having done all this, Xuanwei said to Chieftain Suishi, "Giving a man fish is not as good as teaching him how to fish. What I can do for you is limited. You must forge your future path with your own hands and wisdom. Remember the spirit of the torch flame: unity, courage, wisdom, and inheritance."
Chieftain Suishi and the tribespeople knelt once more. This time, beyond gratitude, their eyes held a firmer faith.
"We shall obey the Immortal Lord's teachings! Our Suihuo Tribe will never betray the hopes of the Torch Flame!"
Xuanwei nodded and did not linger. His figure slowly rose into the air, then, beneath the reverent gazes of all the humans, transformed into a streak of light and vanished beyond the horizon.
After leaving the Suihuo Tribe, Xuanwei could not calm his heart for a long while. Having personally witnessed and aided this newly born human tribe, he felt that the torch flame deep within his source had grown a little stronger. His connection with the unseen Humanity's Fortune had also become closer.
[The host's actions align with the core meaning of "Humanity's Torch Flame." Received a minute feedback of Humanity's Fortune!] [The power of the torch flame has been nourished. Its effect has increased slightly!] [An initial connection has been established with the Primordial World's future main thread: "Humanity's Rise!"]
The system notifications confirmed his feelings.
"Humanity... Torch Flame..." Xuanwei murmured. He seemed to see that faint spark eventually becoming a blazing prairie fire, illuminating the entire Primordial World.
He composed himself and was preparing to return to Golden Ao Island to make his final preparations for the upcoming lecture at Biyou Palace when the communication jade talisman from Duobao in his robes began flashing urgently once again!
This time, it did not transmit written information, but a blurry, heart-palpitating image:
In the image, in the outer waters of Golden Ao Island, an incomparably sharp streak of black sword light brimming with destructive aura clashed fiercely with a magnificent and radiant streak of azure sword light containing boundless vitality! Sword qi raged in every direction, churning waves across ten thousand miles, and even space itself trembled!
At the same time, Duobao's incomparably grave voice rang out in his mind:
"Return at once! Gandharva of the Western Teachings has launched a surprise attack on Golden Ao Island with Immortal-Slaying Sword Fiend Qi, intending to stop Master's lecture! Battle has already broken out beyond the island!"
Xuanwei's pupils suddenly contracted!
The Western Teachings? Immortal-Slaying Sword Fiend Qi? Stopping his master's lecture?
The battle had already begun?!
He abruptly changed direction and pushed his speed to its limit. Like a burning meteor, he tore through the sky and raced madly toward Golden Ao Island!
Before you continue