The East Sea Coast, Humanity's Torch Flame Ignites

Following the mark that newly appeared on the jade slip, Xuanwei sped eastward.

The further east he flew, the thinner and more primordial the spiritual energy in the air became, and the mountains and land appeared more ancient and vast. Below, there were no more immortal islands to be seen, only continuous primeval forests and surging coastlines. Occasionally, he could see some colossal ancient exotic beasts roaming the mountains, exuding fierce auras, but their intelligence seemed undeveloped.

After flying for about a day, a huge bay appeared ahead. Along the coast of the bay, the terrain was relatively flat, and he could see some simple settlements built from giant stones and wood. Even more striking was that in the center of the settlement, a tall totem pole stood erect, and at the top of the totem pole, a faint yet exceptionally tenacious mysterious yellow flame was burning quietly in the sea breeze!

The aura of that flame was of the same origin as the "Humanity's Torch Flame" deep within Xuanwei's core! It was just weaker, more primitive, like a newly ignited spark, yet it already carried the meaning of dispelling darkness and bringing warmth and hope!

"It really is a human tribe!" Xuanwei was immensely excited. In this Primordial World, the Witch and Yao races were powerful, while humanity was newly born, weak and scattered, struggling to survive in various places. He never expected to encounter an organized tribe on the shores of the East Sea!

He suppressed his escape light and landed at the edge of a forest several miles away from the tribe, not daring to approach rashly. He was still in his Immortal Qi form, vastly different from the appearance of these nascent humans. A rash appearance might cause panic.

He concealed all his aura and activated [Deep Immortal Seclusion], becoming an invisible observer as he quietly approached the tribe.

As he drew closer, he saw that the simple huts were very crude. The people wore animal skins or rough linen, their faces dark, bearing the marks of weathering from battling nature. Some were grinding tools with simple stone implements, some were drying fish, and some were caring for toddlers. Although life was hard, in everyone's eyes, there was a glint of the desire for survival and resilience.

Beneath the totem pole, an elder with white hair and beard, his face covered in wrinkles but his eyes exceptionally clear and wise, was leading a group of young adults and children in devout worship and prayer to the torch flame. The elder held a seemingly ordinary wooden staff, at the top of which was inlaid a stone emitting a faint warm glow, subtly echoing the totem torch flame.

"Flint? And... faint power of faith?" Xuanwei understood. This elder should be the tribe's priest or leader. He had, through some means (perhaps innate spiritual sense, or by chance), ignited this torch flame representing civilization and hope, and guided his tribesmen to worship, condensing the initial faint faith, thus allowing this torch flame to remain unextinguished.

This torch flame was the spiritual symbol of the tribe, dispelling the fear of fierce beasts and bringing unity and hope.

However, Xuanwei could also feel that this torch flame was extremely weak, as if it could be extinguished by a strong gust of wind at any moment. The entire tribe's fortune was also like a candle in the wind, precarious.

Just then, a sudden change occurred!

"Awooo--!"

A wolf's howl filled with ferocity echoed from the depths of the forest! Immediately after, dozens of pairs of eyes glowing green lit up in the darkness. Accompanied by heavy running sounds, a pack of "Red-eyed Demonic Wolves," as large as calves, with exposed fangs and surrounded by faint Demonic Qi, surged out of the forest like a tide, charging straight for the tribe!

The leader of the demonic wolves, its aura had reached the realm comparable to an Earth Immortal!

"The demonic wolves are here! Protect the flame! Protect the children and the elderly!" The white-haired elder's face changed drastically. He raised his wooden staff and shouted loudly, his voice aged but carrying unquestionable authority.

The young and strong men of the tribe immediately picked up their crude stone spears and bone knives, forming a fragile human wall to shield the old, the weak, the women, and the children. Their eyes were filled with fear, but not a single one retreated! The women quickly protected the children behind them, staring intently at the totem torch flame, murmuring incantations as if praying.

The battle erupted instantly!

The stone spears and bone knives of the human warriors could hardly inflict fatal damage on the thick-skinned demonic wolves. Instead, people were constantly knocked down and torn apart by the wolves, their blood staining the ground, and screams echoed one after another. The leader of the demonic wolves was even more ferocious, easily knocking away several warriors. Its scarlet eyes greedily stared at the torch flame beneath the totem pole, as if it were a delicious meal that greatly attracted it.

The white-haired elder waved his wooden staff, and the inlaid flint emitted a faint glow, drawing a wisp of flame from the totem torch. It shot out like an arrow towards the leader of the demonic wolves. However, the flame was too weak; it only made the leader of the demonic wolves howl in pain, scorching a patch of its fur, but it did not stop its advance.

Seeing that the defense line was about to be broken, the tribe was in imminent danger!

Xuanwei, hidden to the side, watched the human warriors who, under the claws and fangs of the demonic wolves, still stubbornly held their ground and refused to retreat. He watched the women who tightly protected the children, tears in their eyes but still praying. He watched the old priest who desperately urged the weak torch flame, his face pale... The torch flame within his own heart seemed to be fiercely touched by something, burning intensely!

These weak beings, facing enemies far superior to themselves, displayed courage, unity, and sacrifice – wasn't this the truest embodiment of the spirit of "Torch Flame"?!

He could no longer stand by and watch!

Just as the leader of the demonic wolves stood on its hind legs, about to pounce on the white-haired old priest at the critical moment—

"Vermin! How dare you harm people!"

A clear, cold reprimand exploded like thunder on the bloody battlefield!

Xuanwei no longer hid. His Immortal Qi form manifested. Although human in shape, he was surrounded by three-colored immortal light of cyan, yellow, and chaos, with specks of Mysterious Yellow Star Fire circulating around him, like a god descending from heaven!

He formed his fingers into a sword, invoking the Supreme Pure Immortal Method!

"Supreme Pure Divine Thunder, Exorcise Evil!"

Boom!

A dazzling purple-white lightning bolt, like the whip of divine punishment from the nine heavens, tore through the dim sky and accurately struck the head of the leader of the demonic wolves!

The leader of the demonic wolves didn't even have time to let out a scream before it instantly turned into a pile of scorched ashes under the extremely yang and extremely rigid power of the lightning! Its soul scattered!

Immediately after, Xuanwei flicked his sleeve (simulated by Immortal Qi), and a gentle yet majestic immortal power swept across the battlefield like a spring breeze, sending all the rampaging demonic wolves flying backward. With broken bones and fractured limbs, they howled and fled back into the depths of the forest.

In just the blink of an eye, the previously precarious situation was instantly reversed!

The battlefield fell into a deathly silence.

All the humans stared dumbfounded at Xuanwei, who had suddenly appeared and annihilated the terrifying demonic wolves with a wave of his hand. Their eyes were filled with shock, reverence, and... a sliver of unbelievable hope.

The white-haired old priest was the first to react. He struggled to stand up, ignoring his injuries, and bowed deeply to Xuanwei, shouting in an aged and excited voice, "Thank you, immortal, for saving our lives! Thank you, immortal, for saving our Flint Flame Tribe!"

Following his bow, all the surviving humans, whether injured or not, knelt down towards Xuanwei in unison, uttering indistinct but grateful words.

Xuanwei looked at the nascent humans kneeling before him, gazing at him like pilgrims, his heart filled with emotion. He gently raised his hand, and an invisible force lifted everyone up.

"Please rise, everyone. No need for such formality. How could I stand by and watch when I saw injustice?" Xuanwei's voice was gentle, with a calming power. His gaze fell upon the white-haired old priest, "Elder, are you the leader of this tribe?"

"Replying to the immortal, this old one is Flint, currently serving as the priest and chief of our tribe," the old priest replied respectfully, looking at Xuanwei with utmost reverence. "If not for the immortal's timely intervention, my Flint Flame Tribe would have faced annihilation today! This kindness and debt, our tribe will never forget!"

"Flint... a good name," Xuanwei nodded. The name itself carried the meaning of drilling wood to make fire, no wonder he could ignite the torch flame. He walked to the totem pole and looked at the faint yet tenacious mysterious yellow flame, feeling the resonance with his own core.

He extended his finger and gently touched it.

A point of even purer, brighter Mysterious Yellow Star Fire flew out from his fingertip and merged into the totem torch flame.

Buzz!

The totem torch flame seemed to be injected with powerful vitality. The flame suddenly surged a foot higher, its light becoming warmer and brighter, and the meaning it exuded became more profound and resilient! Everyone in the tribe felt a warm current flow through their bodies, their fatigue and fear dispelled considerably, and even their injuries seemed to have improved slightly.

"This... this is..." Chief Flint trembled with excitement as he felt the change in the torch flame, looking at Xuanwei as if he were a deity!

"This fire is the beginning of civilization, the light of hope. It shall be named 'Torch Flame'," Xuanwei said slowly, looking at the burning flame. "Guard it well, and you guard the future of your tribe."

He pondered for a moment, deciding to offer the tribe some practical assistance. He cast the Azure Emperor Longevity Art, drawing upon the Wood Element Vitality and scattering points of verdant light. The light fell upon the injured tribespeople, their wounds healing at a visible rate; it landed on the barren land, causing the wild grass in a small area nearby to become more lush, even bearing edible berries.

He then selected several spirited and brave-looking youths, teaching them a rudimentary set of guiding techniques for strengthening the body and sensing energy (a simplified version of Qi refinement), and left behind some mental imprints of knowledge on identifying herbs and setting up simple warning traps.

After doing all this, Xuanwei said to Chief Flint, "Giving a man a fish feeds him for a day, but teaching a man to fish feeds him for a lifetime. My help to you is limited; your future path must be forged by your own hands and wisdom. Remember the spirit of the Torch Flame: unity, courage, wisdom, and inheritance."

Chief Flint and the tribespeople knelt and bowed once more. This time, their eyes held not only gratitude but also a more resolute belief.

"We respectfully obey the immortal's teachings! Our Flint Tribe will surely not fail the hopes of the Torch Flame!"

Xuanwei nodded and no longer lingered. His form slowly ascended into the air, and under the reverent gazes of all the humans, he transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the horizon.

After leaving the Flint Tribe, Xuanwei's mood could not calm for a long time. Having personally witnessed and helped this nascent human tribe, he felt the Torch Flame deep within his origin had grown stronger by a sliver, and his connection to the unseen destiny of humanity had become even closer.

[Host's actions align with the core meaning of "Humanity's Torch Flame", gaining a minuscule feedback of humanity's destiny!]

[Torch Flame power has been nourished, effect slightly enhanced!]

[Initial connection established with the Primordial World's future main storyline: "The Rise of Humanity"!]

The System's prompts validated his feelings.

"Humanity... Torch Flame..." Xuanwei murmured to himself. He seemed to see that faint spark eventually igniting a prairie fire, illuminating the entire Primordial World.

He collected his thoughts and was about to return to Golden Ao Island to make final preparations for the upcoming Biyou Palace sermon when the communication jade talisman from Duobao in his embrace suddenly began to flash urgently!

This time, the message was not in text but a blurry yet heart-palpitating image:

In the image, in the sea area outside Golden Ao Island, a sharp, peerless, and destructive black sword light, like an evil dragon tearing through the heavens, was fiercely clashing with a brilliant, verdant sword light filled with endless vitality! Sword Qi crisscrossed, stirring up waves for thousands of miles, and the void itself trembled!

At the same time, Duobao's extremely grave voice sounded in his mind:

"Return quickly! The Western Teachings' 'Gandharva' has launched a surprise attack on Golden Ao Island with the Immortal-Slaying Sword Fiend Qi, intending to obstruct Master's sermon! The battle outside the island has already begun!"

Xuanwei's pupils contracted sharply!

The Western Teachings? Immortal-Slaying Sword Fiend Qi? Obstruct Master's sermon?

The battle has already begun?!

He abruptly changed direction, increasing his speed to the absolute limit, like a burning meteor, tearing through the sky and heading towards Golden Ao Island at full speed!