Establishing Human Teachings

Bai Jin raised his head and quietly studied the statues. Tsk, tsk~ These statues were made far better than Empress Nuwa's handiwork! Especially my own statue—why did it seem so much more handsome than Fuxi's beside it?

Several figures suddenly rushed out from a doorway nearby, blocking the statues as they shouted sternly, "Who dares trespass into the Sacred Hall?!"

Bai Jin was surprised to discover that the four people before him were all women.

The four women's expressions changed drastically when they saw Bai Jin's face. They hurriedly knelt on one knee, crying excitedly, "Greetings, Sacred Envoy!"

Bai Jin raised a hand and said, "No need for such formalities. Rise!"

The four women stood up, barely able to contain themselves as they gazed at Bai Jin with immense excitement. They were all members of the first generation of the Human Race, created by the Holy Mother herself, and they had all seen the Sacred Envoy before.

"You are the ones guarding this divine hall?"

All four nodded excitedly.

Bai Jin asked doubtfully, "These past days, I have often heard the Human Race praying. What is it for? Has something happened to your people?"

The four women exchanged glances. The woman in the middle respectfully said, "Reporting to you, my lord, when the Human Race was first born, every person was extraordinary from birth. But as our bloodlines continued to pass down through the generations, the aptitude of the Human Race gradually became ordinary. The babies being born now possess only the faintest trace of spiritual energy."

"That is merely your bloodline lying dormant. As long as you cultivate diligently, transcending the mundane is no difficult matter."

Another woman could not help complaining, "Sacred Envoy, but the days and nights are far too long now! We can endure the daytime, but many of our weaker clansmen cannot survive the endless nights."

The woman abruptly dropped to one knee, lowered her head, and pleaded, "Please, Sacred Envoy, save us!"

The other three women also knelt on one knee, pleading sorrowfully, "Please, Sacred Envoy, save our Human Race!"

Bai Jin froze, his expression immediately turning grave. A single day in the primordial world lasted a full four thousand three hundred and eighty hours—the equivalent of a year in his previous life. There had been nothing wrong with the newly born Human Race being extraordinary, but such prolonged days and nights were highly unsuitable now. To ordinary humans, they were absolute torment. It was not only the Human Race; other races suffered from it as well.

The four kneeling women all looked expectantly at the Sacred Envoy. Although the prolonged nights and days had not yet severely affected the Human Race, they could foresee that one day, newborn human infants would no longer possess any spiritual energy. By then, the endless nights might kill most human infants. Some babies born during the night might even die without ever seeing the light. For adults, hunting through those long nights was also exceedingly difficult, making survival hard.

Bai Jin said, "I am already aware of this matter, but I have no power to change it."

The four women cried out in alarm, "My lord!"

"Do not panic. I will relay this matter to Empress Nuwa for you."

The Holy Mother? The four women were overjoyed. In their hearts, the Holy Mother who had created the Human Race was an incomparably great being. They bowed excitedly and said, "Thank you, Sacred Envoy!"

Bai Jin nodded and turned to leave, a trace of doubt in his heart. A Saint could survey the entire primordial world with a single thought. The affairs of the Human Race surely could not have escaped Empress Nuwa's notice, so why had she made no move at all?

Three days later, Taishang, Yuanshi, and Tongtian gathered at Buzhou Mountain. With mountains at its back and water at its side, it was a rare land of excellent feng shui, suitable for attaining sainthood.

Halfway up the mountain, Yuanshi and Tongtian both wore pleased expressions, while Taishang alone seemed somewhat troubled.

Yuanshi said with a smile, "Elder Brother, our paths to sainthood are already clear. What are you worrying about?"

Taishang looked toward the distant human tribes and said leisurely, "My path to sainthood lies with the Human Race! But as for Junior Sister Nuwa..."

"Alas~" Taishang let out a deep sigh.

Yuanshi and Tongtian also lost their smiles. The Human Race? How could Eldest Brother's path lie with the Human Race?!

A phantom figure appeared before the three of them, beautiful and dignified.

Taishang, Yuanshi, and Tongtian all cupped their hands in salute and said, "Greetings, Empress Nuwa!"

None of them were surprised by Nuwa's arrival.

Nuwa's phantom returned half a salute and said, "Greetings, three Senior Brothers." The Three Pure Ones had yet to become Saints, so Nuwa did not need to offer them a full bow.

The three straightened and looked at Empress Nuwa.

Nuwa smiled faintly and said, "I am deeply pleased that Senior Brother can attain the Dao through the Human Race. How could I refuse?!"

Taishang shook his head and said, "No. If it must be like this, then I would rather forgo the Great Dao!"

Yuanshi and Tongtian understood as well. After attaining sainthood, contention over the sacred paths was in truth contention over fortune. Empress Nuwa now possessed ninety-nine percent of the Human Race's fortune. If Eldest Brother attained the Dao through the Human Race, he would surely be restrained by Empress Nuwa in the future.

Nuwa said with a light laugh, "First Martial Uncle, rest assured. I will sever myself from the Human Race and do my utmost to cut off my connection to their fortune."

Taishang frowned and said, "Sever yourself from the Human Race? Are you truly willing?"

Nuwa nodded, quietly looking at Taishang.

After hesitating for a moment, Taishang said, "No more than thirty percent!"

"Agreed! And I will not participate in the struggle for fortune."

Taishang smiled and said, "Good!"

Nuwa asked in return, "What can you offer?"

Taishang said solemnly, "The Human Race shall flourish!"

Empress Nuwa shook her head and said, "Not enough!"

Taishang asked, "What do you propose?"

"I want you to restrain the Two Sages of the West. None of you may participate in the Witch-Demon Conflict, nor may you involve yourselves in the affairs of the Human Race for the time being."

Yuanshi hurriedly said, "The Two Sages of the West? Are they about to attain the Dao as well?"

Nuwa nodded and said, "Very soon."

The Three Pure Ones exchanged glances. Taishang nodded and said, "Very well! We agree."

Nuwa revealed a brilliant smile and said, "Congratulations to my three Senior Brothers on attaining the Dao."

The Three Pure Ones could not help laughing heartily as well.

Nuwa's phantom vanished in an instant. With one thought, she appeared; with one thought, she was gone.

Yuanshi said with a smile, "Elder Brother, please go first."

Tongtian also looked toward Taishang.

Taishang smiled and said, "When we left Mount Kunlun, we agreed to compete. Why are you yielding now instead?"

Yuanshi said seriously, "There is order between seniority and rank. How can we overstep it?! Third Brother, do you not agree?"

"Whatever Elder Brother says goes!"

Yuanshi and Tongtian flew down from Buzhou Mountain and stood atop nearby peaks.

Taishang stood midway up the mountain, raising his head toward the heavens. His own Great Dao rose and connected with the Heavenly Dao. All immortals and gods throughout the primordial world sensed it, turning toward Buzhou Mountain as though a great existence were slowly awakening.

Among the mountains, Bai Jin, leading two cows, gazed from afar at the pillar supporting heaven and earth. A thought rose within him: his master and two martial uncles were about to attain the Dao.

At Mount Kunlun, Duobao, Wudang, and the other disciples all rose on clouds and stood above Mount Kunlun, looking toward Buzhou Mountain from afar. This aura of the Great Dao belonged to First Martial Uncle.

In the Demon Court of the Thirty-three Heavens, Eastern Emperor Taiyi, Di Jun, Kun Peng, Fuxi, Bai Ze, and the other demon sages were holding a meeting. Sensing the aura of the Great Dao rising from the earth below, they all abruptly stood, their expressions grave.

Within Pangu Hall, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, who had been discussing how to deal with the Demon Race, also suddenly rose to their feet and strode out of Pangu Hall.

A vast voice echoed between heaven and earth: "I, Taishang, hereby establish a teaching, to be known as the Human Teachings, to enlighten all humans under heaven. I shall use the Taiji Diagram to suppress its fortune, and the Green Lotus Carrying Pole as my treasure of attaining the Dao. Let the Heavenly Dao bear witness—Human Teachings, arise!"