What Joke Are You Playing
Nuwa stared at Zhou Ming and said, word by word, "Fellow Daoist, please speak plainly what you desire."
She was too tired to beat around the bush with Zhou Ming anymore.
Zhou Ming's smile remained unchanged as he nodded slightly, "Alright, since Fellow Daoist Nuwa is so straightforward, then I'll get straight to the point."
"The Nine Heavens Breathing Soil can be lent to you, fellow Daoist."
"However, after you have used it, any remaining items must be returned to my Wu Clan."
Nuwa nodded without hesitation.
"Can."
"This item should have been returned to the Wu Clan."
The Nine Heavens Breathing Soil is incredibly precious; to be able to borrow it is already a tremendous favor, and it is only right to return any leftovers.
The conditions were reasonable, and she had no objections.
Zhou Ming nodded and continued, "The Creation Cauldron, once used by you, will help you achieve sainthood."
"In this way, my Wu Clan has lost a priceless treasure."
"Therefore, you should give my Wu Clan the Red Embroidered Ball as compensation."
Red Embroidered Ball!
Nuwa was startled. This Red Embroidered Ball was a gift from the Dao Ancestor Hongjun. Although it was not a supreme treasure, it was still a top-tier Innate Spiritual Treasure with endless uses.
To exchange a Innate Spiritual Treasure for the chance to become a saint...
Nuwa pondered for a moment.
What does a Innate Spiritual Treasure matter if one can achieve sainthood?
However, she always felt that Zhou Ming had ill intentions and was afraid that he had set some trap for her.
But now, with the opportunity to become a saint right before her eyes, she had no room for bargaining.
"Can."
Nuwa gritted her teeth and finally nodded.
Seeing that Nuwa agreed so readily, Zhou Ming's smile deepened.
"Fellow Daoist Nuwa is indeed a reasonable person."
He paused slightly, then asked casually, "Fellow Daoist, is your intention this time to Zaohua living beings and then use that to Prove the Dao and become a Saint?"
Hearing Zhou Ming ask this, Nuwa cursed inwardly: He really knows everything, yet he's still pretending!
But since things had come to this point, she didn't bother to hide it anymore and simply said, "That's right."
"I sensed the secrets of Heavenly Secrets in the Netherworld; my path to sainthood lies in creating a completely new kind of being."
"I wish to create a completely new race, modeled after the innate Innate Dao Body in the Primordial Wilderness world. I will call it... Humanity!"
"Human Clan?" Zhou Ming murmured to himself, then clapped his hands in praise, "Fellow Daoist Nuwa Nuwa's actions are truly Merit, benefiting all living beings!"
He changed the subject, seemingly casually asking, "The Human Clan you created, fellow Daoist, seems to number... 129,601, right?"
Nuwa was stunned upon hearing this.
She looked at Zhou Ming, thinking: You're not exactly an expert! You even got the quantity wrong!
Nuwa then said, with a hint of correction, "Fellow Daoist, you are mistaken."
"Under the Heavenly Dao, there is a predetermined number. I sense the secrets of Heavenly Secrets; the initial number of the Human Clan was 129,600."
Zhou Ming raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise.
"Oh?"
"Shouldn't it be the number one hundred and twenty-nine thousand six hundred and one?"
Nuwa frowned slightly, her tone certain. "It is indeed the number 129,600."
"This is what I've gleaned from my understanding of the secrets of Heavenly Secrets; it cannot be wrong."
Zhou Ming stroked his chin, still wearing that puzzled expression. "Really?"
"But why do I feel it's 129,601?"
"What good do you think this will do!" she said irritably. "Heavenly Secrets guidance indicates that Human Clan should have 129,600..."
At this point, Nuwa's voice abruptly stopped!
She stopped abruptly, her phoenix eyes widening instantly as she looked at Zhou Ming in disbelief, her voice trembling slightly.
"You... you don't mean to... make me create 129,601 people, do you?!"
"Are you kidding me?!"
"Zhou Ming! Have you gone mad?! The 129,600 Human Clan are the Heavenly Decree!"
"Adding one more person is defying the heavens! What exactly do you want to do?"
Zhou Ming waved his hand, signaling her to calm down. "Hey, fellow Daoist, don't get agitated."
"What is predetermined is not necessarily true."
"I think 129,601 is just right; it has a profound meaning, isn't it wonderful?"
He spoke casually, as if he were talking about something trivial.
"My foot!" Nuwa almost blurted out, but forcibly held back.
She felt a surge of anger rising from the depths of her heart to her head.
This Zhou Ming is absolutely audacious!
Let her defy the heavens?
How could he even think of that!
The Twelve Ancestral Witches standing nearby exchanged bewildered glances.
Di Jiang couldn't help but send a telepathic message to the other Ancestral Wu: "What is Big Brother doing? Is he asking Nuwa to create another person?"
Zhu Rong replied in a gruff voice, "Brother, you must have your reasons for doing things! I'll listen to you, Brother!"
Houtu frowned slightly. She could sense the solemnity in Nuwa's words; this matter was probably no small thing.
Nuwa's chest heaved with anger as she pointed at Zhou Ming: "Fellow Daoist, please stop joking!"
"One hundred and twenty-nine thousand six hundred and one people— the Heavenly Dao would never allow that!"
"They might even be punished!"
"This is absolutely impossible, fellow Daoist! Please do not make things difficult for me!"
Zhou Ming, however, didn't seem to care and said leisurely, "Fellow Daoist, don't be so quick to refuse."
"These 129,601 people are nothing more than a matter of lifting a finger for you."
"Making one more clay figure won't take much effort."
"As for Heavenly Dao punishment..." He paused, then smiled meaningfully.
"He might not even have time to deal with such a trivial matter at that time."
"Once you finish creating humans and your Merit are bestowed, everything will be set in stone. What can He do then?"
Nuwa was terrified upon hearing this.
This Zhou Ming, Ming not only wants her to defy the heavens, but also wants to deceive everyone!
Judging from his words, it seems there's a way to distract Heavenly Dao?
"Fellow Daoist, you are asking too much of us!"
Nuwa shook her head repeatedly, "This won't work! Absolutely not! Fellow Daoist, please find another condition!"
Zhou Ming's smile gradually faded. He looked at Nuwa and asked calmly, "Is it really not possible?"
"No!" Nuwa declared resolutely.
This isn't just about the magnitude of the cost; it's about defying the Heavenly Dao! She doesn't want to get herself involved.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Ming sighed softly and shook his head.
"If that's the case, then there's nothing more to discuss."
"Fellow Daoist's ascension to sainthood is such a momentous event, yet our Wu Clan has not made things difficult for you."
"They lent out the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil Creation Cauldron; they've done everything in their power and kindness."
"Now, I've only made this small request, and you're already making excuses like this, fellow Daoist."
"I think... Fellow Daoist has no sincerity whatsoever in trading with my Wu Clan."
"I think we should let this matter rest."
"Puff--"
Nuwa nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood!
A small request?
Is this really a small request?!
Whose small request involves dragging others down with them to go against the Heavenly Dao?
They even tried to blackmail me with the idea of becoming a saint!
I really want to unleash the Red Embroidered Ball right now and smash you to death, you bastard!
Then smash your brain open and see what kind of junk is inside!
Nuwa only dared to roar these words in her heart; she didn't have the courage to actually say them aloud.
After all, she was now in a position to ask for his help, and the situation was beyond her control, so she had no choice but to back down.
Her chest heaved violently as she struggled to calm her churning blood and managed to force a smile that looked more like a grimace.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou Ming... Fellow Daoist, please don't be angry..."
"This is really... a difficult matter!"