Hearing of East King Duke's Death, Li Cha Hastily Made Arrangements

Li Cha and his party had only just entered the Southern Realm and found a Demon Race tribe when, before they could settle in, they heard two goblins below in the mountain forest chatting excitedly. They had only recently taken human form and still bore some traits of their original bodies.

"Have you heard? That Immortal Court in the East Sea has been completely wiped out!" A Rat-faced Goblin waved his claws, his tone brimming with excitement.

The Deer-horned Goblin hurriedly nodded. "Exactly! That East King Duke called himself the Head of Male Immortals, but the two Sovereigns of the Sun Star led the demon army right to his doorstep! They even overturned his old nest, Myriad Immortals Island! East King Duke himself perished, body and Dao extinguished—not even his true spirit escaped!"

"Hehe, what Demon Race member in the entire Primordial Wilderness doesn't want to join the two Sovereigns now? I heard quite a few great demons have already begun calling the power they established the 'Demon Court'! We need to hurry too. If we arrive too late, we might not even find the door!"

"Yes, yes! Once we join the Demon Court, let's see who still dares bully us..."

Upon hearing of East King Duke's death, Li Cha sat atop Mo Ran's back, a trace of understanding and gravity flashing through his eyes. East King Duke's defeat and demise, the Immortal Court vanishing like smoke, had been within his expectations. But the name "Demon Court" had already begun to spread. This meant that Di Jun and Taiyi were greatly accelerating their consolidation of the Demon Race. Establishing the Heavenly Court and ruling over the stars of the heavens was already an arrow on the string.

At the same time, the Witch Race, whose providence waxed as that of the Demon Race waned, would certainly not stand idly by. The Twelve Ancestral Witches gathering Pangu's Legacy, commanding the earth, and founding their race to consolidate providence in order to contend against the soon-to-emerge Demon Race Heavenly Court was likewise inevitable.

"Demons govern the heavens, Witches govern the earth... the great war is coming." Li Cha sighed inwardly. And amid this giant wave destined to sweep across the Primordial Wilderness, the Human Race—born carrying the providence of Heaven and Earth, destined to become the protagonists of the world, yet at their earliest stage also the frailest and most hardship-ridden race—would soon arise in response to fate. He had long calculated that Fellow Daoist Nuwa's opportunity to create humans and attain sainthood was near. The birth and early development of the Human Race would be the key to prying open the seal of the Heavenly Dao and awakening the Human Dao!

Thinking of this, Li Cha had no time to continue south. He lightly patted Mo Ran's neck, his tone decisive. "Mo Ran, turn around. Pick up speed—we're going home!"

"Yes, Master." Mo Ran replied in a deep voice, without the slightest hesitation. Auspicious clouds sprang forth beneath its four hooves, while spatial ripples spread around its body. Its speed instantly soared as it transformed into a streak of light too swift for the naked eye to discern, turning toward Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven. It was even three parts faster than Baxia's full-speed flight before. Its enormous body traversed space without stirring the slightest fluctuation, revealing its exquisite command of the Space Laws.

With his heart flying home like an arrow, they traveled without a word. A journey that originally required decades, perhaps even a century, took less than three years under Mo Ran's full exertion. The familiar mountains and rivers, along with Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven hidden among them, soon appeared in the distance.

After returning to the grotto-heaven, Li Cha waived the disciples' grand welcoming ceremony and all the cumbersome formalities. He merely asked about the situation during Baxia's watch and learned that all was well. Although the rise of the "Demon Court" had caused some unrest beyond the grotto-heaven's borders, no one dared come to provoke them. After resting briefly, he set out again just one year later, quietly leaving Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven.

He knew time was pressing. Before Nuwa created humans and the Witches and demons formally founded their races, he had to complete the crucial arrangements.

Near Buzhou Mountain, neighboring Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven—Long Wind Valley, the Daoist abode of Nuwa and Fuxi.

Li Cha arrived outside Long Wind Valley. A clear breeze curled around the valley entrance, while its formation seemed natural, blending into the surrounding Heaven and Earth and fully displaying the profundity of an innate sacred Daoist abode. Li Cha did not force his way in. Instead, observing proper etiquette, he lightly struck the protective formation and called out in a clear voice, "Fellow Daoist Nuwa, Fellow Daoist Fuxi, Yun Hua has come to visit. Please come out and meet me."

Before long, the formation's radiance flowed and revealed a passage. Fuxi appeared at the valley entrance. At the sight of Li Cha, delight appeared on his face as he cupped his hands. "Senior Yun Hua! What brings you to my humble valley? Please, come in!" He turned aside to welcome him, though his gaze instinctively flicked toward the valley, as if somewhat helpless.

Li Cha followed Fuxi into Long Wind Valley. The instant he entered, he sensed a fresh, pleasant breeze endlessly circulating through the valley. It brushed over his face, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees, as well as a thread of incomparably pure Innate Xun Wind Essence. It invigorated his mind, and even the mana throughout his body seemed to grow more active. Presumably, this was where Long Wind Valley had gotten its name.

The scenery within the valley was elegant and tranquil, with exotic flowers and strange plants carpeting the ground. Many sprites enlightened by Nuwa with the Power of Creation frolicked among them, creating a scene brimming with life. With one sweep of his gaze, Li Cha spotted Nuwa beside a Spiritual Spring, completely absorbed in her work. She had not noticed his arrival. Her delicate brows were faintly furrowed as her slender jade fingers deftly kneaded a clump of ordinary mortal soil, shaping it into one tiny human figure after another.

The mud figures came in all sorts of forms. Under the life force of creation Nuwa infused into them, they could actually move briefly, walking and jumping, with even a glimmer of liveliness in their eyes and brows. Yet they were ultimately made from ordinary earth, their foundations shallow. After lasting for only about a quarter of an hour, that faint vitality swiftly dissipated, and the mud figures reverted into puddles of lifeless sludge scattered across the ground.

Using mortal soil to bear creation is ultimately but flowers in a mirror, the moon in water... It seems she is not far from comprehending the most crucial step and finding a suitable vessel. Li Cha mused inwardly. Nuwa creating humans was already inevitable; only the final opportunity and material remained.

Seeing Nuwa immersed in her own world of creation, forgetting both self and surroundings, Li Cha lightly waved a hand at Fuxi, who was about to step forward and remind her. He transmitted his voice, "Fellow Daoist Fuxi, do not disturb her. This is precisely the critical moment for her to comprehend the True Meaning of Creation. A flash of inspiration must not be interrupted."

Upon hearing this, Fuxi immediately halted. His gaze toward his younger sister filled with anticipation and concern.

Li Cha motioned for Fuxi to walk to a distant pavilion. After setting up a soundproof barrier, he spoke in a low voice, his expression solemn. "Fellow Daoist Fuxi, remember this well. Once Fellow Daoist Nuwa grasps the key and accomplishes that earth-shaking deed of immense merit, it will be the day she attains the Dao and becomes a saint! At that time, you must immediately bring her to Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven to find me. I have an extremely important matter that I need to entrust to you as soon as she achieves sainthood!"

He paused, his tone growing even heavier. "This concerns the future structure of Heaven and Earth, and even more so whether the Human Dao can awaken smoothly and break free of its shackles! Remember this, remember it well. Success or failure hangs on this single stroke—there must not be the slightest delay!"

Though Fuxi did not know the specifics, Li Cha's grave expression and his mention of the "awakening of the Human Dao" told him that this was of enormous importance. It might even affect his sister's Path to Sainthood and the future tide of the Primordial Wilderness. He immediately answered solemnly, "Rest assured, Senior. Fuxi will engrave this in his heart! Once my sister succeeds, I will certainly head to Yun Hua Grotto-Heaven at once to see you!"

Having arranged matters on Nuwa's side, Li Cha did not linger and quietly departed Long Wind Valley. In the next moment, his figure had appeared in the core territory of the Witch Race.

After so many years of development, especially with Li Cha's secret guidance and support, the Witch Race's power and population were no longer what they had once been. They had expanded more than a hundredfold compared to when he left! Rough and majestic stone cities stood one after another, their tribes built along the contours of Buzhou Mountain. Pillars of blood and qi rose like wolf-smoke into the sky. Countless Witch Race warriors practiced combat techniques within them, their shouts shaking Heaven and Earth, while Sha Qi gathered like clouds.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches had now delegated their authority and rarely involved themselves in specific mundane affairs. Most were in secluded cultivation deep within Pangu Hall, attempting to break through to higher realms or practicing the earth-shattering Great Formation of the Heavenly Gods and Fiends. The ones now managing the vast affairs of the Witch Race were powerful and highly prestigious Great Witches such as Kuafu and Jiu Feng.

Li Cha concealed himself as he walked among the Witch Race tribes, silently observing. He could clearly sense that the Witch Race's overall strength was considerably greater than that of the same period in his memories of his "previous life." Not only were there more Great Witches, but the average strength of ordinary Witch Race warriors had also risen by a level. More importantly, they seemed to place greater emphasis on coordinating battle formations and employing laws, rather than blindly relying on brute physical force. This was clearly the subtle result of accepting concepts from the Tea Dao such as "harmonizing" and "borrowing momentum."

Greater strength is a good thing, but the brutality of the Witch-Demon war will likely escalate because of it as well... I must secure more living space and time for the Human Race to develop. Li Cha pondered, his gaze turning toward the still-empty land beneath Buzhou Mountain, soon to welcome new life. A more detailed plan of protection gradually took shape in his mind. He needed to meet Houtu, the Ancestral Witch who would one day transform herself into reincarnation and establish the foundation of the Earthly Dao. Perhaps he could give her some advance "inspiration" regarding the earth and souls.