The Heavenly Dao's Rejection

"Choose two: Your past life was Human Race, and now the Human Race is about to emerge, facing many tribulations. Please split off a wisp of your divine soul to become the Clan Leader of the Human Race, repaying your past karma on behalf of the host. Reward: Clone's aptitude increased by one level, top-grade Acquired Spiritual Treasure Martial Dao Heavenly Stele!"

"Choose three: Ignore the Human Race. Reward: Favorability of all beings in the Primordial Era towards the host drops to negative 100."

"Host, please make your choice as soon as possible."

Upon hearing the System's prompt, Li Peng couldn't help but freeze.

After all, he had already received choice-based tasks related to the Human Race. The previous one was not yet complete, and now the System had issued a new one, which left him somewhat bewildered.

The System doesn't want to miss out on this major event either, Li Peng thought to himself.

After a moment of thought, he began to carefully examine the three options provided by the System.

Firstly, the reward for the first task was extremely generous. With Li Peng's strength, it wouldn't be difficult for him to protect the Human Race and ensure their safety in the long run.

However, doing so would turn the Human Race into flowers in a greenhouse, never experiencing the tempering of wind and rain.

The Human Race, constantly relying on Li Peng's protection, would likely gradually lose its ability to stand on its own!

More importantly, how could a Human Race that had never undergone tempering become the protagonists of the Primordial Era in the future?

It was likely that by the time Li Peng left, the Human Race would face the crisis of extinction!

Furthermore, how would the Heavenly Dao and Hongjun allow Li Peng to continuously protect the Human Race?

As could be seen from the fact that Nuwa and Laozi did not step in to save the Human Race in their time of crisis in the original history, the Heavenly Dao and Hongjun would never allow the Human Race to grow peacefully.

Therefore, whether it was for the future of the Human Race or out of consideration for the attitudes of the Heavenly Dao and Hongjun, Li Peng had to abandon the first choice.

Li Peng cast a lingering glance at the reward for the first choice, then shifted his gaze to the second choice task.

Splitting off a wisp of my divine soul to become the Clan Leader of the Human Race and care for them?

That would be good. It would temper the Human Race, making them self-reliant, and also protect them!

Killing two birds with one stone! Li Peng mused.

With that thought, he focused on the System's reward for Choice Two.

Martial Dao Heavenly Stele? What is this?

Curiously, Li Peng clicked on the introduction to the Martial Dao Heavenly Stele to view it.

The Martial Dao Heavenly Stele contained the profound meaning of martial arts. Those with destiny and comprehension could comprehend the true essence of martial arts from it, causing their martial arts to advance by leaps and bounds.

After reading the introduction, Li Peng felt a bit helpless. The Primordial Era currently had no trace of martial arts. What use was comprehending the Martial Dao Heavenly Stele? Did he have to create martial arts from scratch?

However, the martial arts legend was the most suitable for the Human Race to cultivate. Even if it took more time, it wouldn't matter.

Forget it, I'll leave this for my clone to comprehend, Li Peng thought.

Thus, he stopped paying attention to the reward for Choice Two and turned his gaze to Choice Three.

But when Li Peng saw the reward for Choice Three, he couldn't help but curse, "Favorability of all beings in the Primordial Era at negative 100? This is asking me to become the public enemy of the Primordial Era!"

After a bout of complaining, Li Peng directly said to the System, "I choose two!"

After making his choice, Li Peng saw that Nuwa was about to use the Law of Creation on the mud figures on the ground. He hurriedly called out, "Wait!"

Nuwa heard him and looked at him in confusion, wondering why Li Peng had stopped her at this moment.

Li Peng explained, "The race you are creating is about to be born, and we cannot always protect them."

Li Peng continued, "To care for them, I plan to leave behind a clone to lead them in surviving in the Primordial Era."

As he spoke, he injected a drop of his essence blood and a wisp of his divine soul into the mud figure before him.

Nuwa was deeply moved upon hearing this. She hadn't expected Li Peng to consider this for her.

Amidst her emotions, she also shaped a mud figure in her own likeness, injecting a drop of her essence blood and a wisp of her divine soul into it as well.

Li Peng smiled slightly upon seeing this.

In the original course of the Primordial Era, after Nuwa created humans and became a Saint, she was ordered by Dao Ancestor Hongjun to go to the Chaos to establish a dojo. Later, due to various reasons, she could no longer look after the Human Race.

But now it was different. Nuwa left behind a clone to protect the Human Race. Even if she were later restricted by her Saint status and constrained by Hongjun, she would not be entirely unable to help the Human Race.

While Li Peng was contemplating, Nuwa had already sprinkled the Divine Light of Creation onto the two mud figures.

Instantly, green light flowed around the mud figures, and their bodies gradually grew larger.

Before long, the two mud figures transformed into clones with appearances identical to Li Peng and Nuwa.

After they took shape, they bowed to Li Peng and Nuwa respectively, saying, "Greetings, original body."

Li Peng and Nuwa looked at their clones upon hearing them and couldn't help but blush slightly – the two clones were completely naked at the moment, making the situation awkward.

Li Peng immediately waved his hand, and the clones were each adorned with a Daoist robe.

Seeing that the clones were covered by clothing, the two finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Afterward, Nuwa continued to mold mud figures. Li Peng frowned slightly upon seeing this and took out the Seven-Colored Gourd Vine, saying, "Use this."

Nuwa took the gourd vine, her face filled with confusion.

Li Peng smiled and explained, "This Seven-Colored Gourd Vine contains the Law of Creation. If used to create humans, it will be much faster than you molding them one by one."

Nuwa gratefully said, "Thank you, Brother Li."

She took the seven-colored gourd vine but didn't immediately start. Instead, she first took out the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil and the Three Lights Divine Water and began to stir them in the air.

Soon, the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil and the Three Lights Divine Water completely merged into one.

Nuwa nodded with satisfaction. She forced out two drops of essence blood from within herself and merged them into the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil and the Three Lights Divine Water. She turned to Li Peng, her cheeks slightly flushed, and said, "Brother Li, you should also drip in two drops of essence blood. From now on, this race will be our child together."

Li Peng was slightly taken aback, then smiled and forced out two drops of essence blood, merging them into the mixture of Nine Heavens Breathing Soil and Three Lights Divine Water. Seeing this, Nuwa no longer hesitated and took out the seven-colored gourd vine, immersing it in the mixture. The vine was instantly covered in the muddy mixture. Nuwa swung her arm—thousands of mud figures landed and transformed into eight-foot-tall Innate Dao Bodies in the light.

The newly born beings looked around in confusion, then respectfully bowed to Li Peng and Nuwa, saying, "Greetings, Saint Mother! Greetings, Saint Father!" The two nodded and accepted their salutations. Nuwa swung the gourd vine hundreds of times, only stopping when the materials were used up. Looking at the race she had created, her heart was filled with accomplishment.

Li Peng reminded her, "This race hasn't been named yet." Nuwa suddenly realized and immediately swore to the heavens, "Heavenly Dao above, today I, Nuwa, have created a new race, named the Human Race. I hope Heavenly Dao bears witness! Human Race, be established!"

The sound spread across the four seas and eight directions. Whether it was hidden cultivators or the Heavenly Court's Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi, all heard the sound. At the same time, a system notification sounded in Li Peng's mind: "Congratulations to the host for co-creating the Human Race with Nuwa and becoming the Saint Father of the Human Race, completing Option Three. Reward: Two million years of Magic Power, Yin-Yang Law each increased by ten percent!" Immense Magic Power surged into his body, instantly absorbed by the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique.

The moment Li Peng completely absorbed this Magic Power, countless insights about the Yin-Yang Law flooded his sea of consciousness.

Instantly, Li Peng entered a state of enlightenment.

The barrier he had struggled to break through for many years shattered with a roar at this moment.

His comprehension of the Yin-Yang Law began to rapidly ascend.

91%, 92%, 93%... all the way to 99%.

Just as he was about to fully comprehend the ten-tenths Yin-Yang Law, the Primordial Violet Qi within him suddenly rushed towards his Primordial Spirit, attempting to merge with it and help him achieve the status of a Heavenly Dao Saint.

However, the moment the Primordial Violet Qi touched his Primordial Spirit, system prompts sounded one after another:

"Detected world origin with autonomous consciousness attempting to invade host's soul!"

"Classified this world origin as malicious program!"

"Initiating antivirus program—1%...2%...32%... Please wait."

"Antivirus program initiated, clearing—1%...2%...32%... Please wait."

"Notification: Antivirus complete, program automatically closed."

Li Peng watched in shock as the system operated with such fluidity. It was only then that he suddenly understood why Dao Ancestor Hongjun had so generously bestowed the Primordial Violet Qi—there was a backup plan all along!

"Well played, Hongjun, hiding a trick within the Primordial Violet Qi. Whether I fall at the hands of the Primordial Era's mighty beings or achieve sainthood, neither poses a threat to him!"

"Thanks to the system's protection, otherwise I would have become Hongjun's puppet, at his mercy."

At this moment, he noticed that in the system's item inventory, besides a drop of Pangu's Essence Blood, there was a new item labeled "Pure World Origin (Primordial Violet Qi)."

A brand new plan began to form in his mind: let Nuwa fuse with this pure Primordial Violet Qi to prove her Dao and become a Saint.

If successful, perhaps Nuwa could escape the control of the Heavenly Dao and Hongjun?

This thought made Li Peng's eyes shine with excitement.

As his thoughts churned, the Yin-Yang Law, amplified by the system, finally broke through to ten-tenths perfection.

The moment the last trace of enlightenment was generated, Li Peng felt his Magic Power, physical body, and soul simultaneously begin to sublimate and transform.

The instant the transformation was complete, a pressure unique to a Hunyuan Tai Luo Golden Immortal swept out.

The vast aura spread like a tide. Billions of beings in the Primordial Era prostrated and trembled under this pressure. Even Grand Unity Golden Immortals, without Supreme Treasures to protect them, were ** unable to rise.

Inside Purple Heaven Palace

"A Hunyuan-level aura has appeared again. Could it be that the person from last time has reappeared?"

"No! This aura is much weaker than last time!"

"Could it be that another Hunyuan-level existence has intruded into the Primordial Era?"

"Hmph! I'd like to see who dares to stir up trouble in the Primordial Era?" Dao Ancestor Hongjun's eyes flashed with cold light, and he muttered to himself.

After speaking, he raised his hand to divine again.

A moment later, Dao Ancestor Hongjun sighed helplessly, "It's still chaotic, I can't deduce anything... Could this person be an accomplice of the last one?"

As he said this, a solemn expression appeared on his face.

Finally, Dao Ancestor Hongjun let out a long sigh, "Alas... I hope they don't harbor any ill intentions towards the Primordial Era."

"Otherwise, it will be a big problem... It seems I need to continue my seclusion and improve my cultivation."

With that, he closed his eyes and re-entered his meditative cultivation.

Kunlun Mountain.

"This aura... it's actually Hunyuan-level. Could someone have already proven their Dao before us?" Tongtian said in disbelief.

Upon hearing this, Laozi and Yuanshi's expressions turned extremely grim. They never expected someone to step into the Hunyuan realm before them!

After a moment, their expressions gradually calmed down.

"I wonder who exactly has proven their Dao? Is it Zhunti, Jieyin, or Nuwa?" Yuanshi sighed.

Laozi shook his head, "I don't think it's any of those three. Don't forget, Li Peng and Kunpeng also possess Primordial Violet Qi."

"Then who do you think has proven their Dao, Brother?" Tongtian pressed.

"I believe fellow Daoist Li Peng has the highest probability. After all, he has always been the strongest among us," Laozi said solemnly.

Suddenly, Yuanshi's eyes lit up, and he said, "It's also possible that it's none of the people who heard the Dao in Purple Heaven Palace."

"What do you mean by that?" Laozi and Tongtian asked in unison.

"Don't forget, we sensed a Hunyuan-level aura before as well!" Yuanshi reminded them.

Laozi and Tongtian immediately understood his meaning.

"Alas… it seems the Primordial Era is a deeper pool than we thought. We can only cultivate diligently and attain the Dao as soon as possible," Laozi sighed.

After speaking, he closed his eyes again and entered his cultivation.

Tongtian and Yuanshi nodded in agreement upon hearing this, and also closed their eyes to continue their practice.

Meanwhile, Zhunti and Jieyin of the Western Spirit Mountain, Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi of the Heavenly Court, the Twelve Ancestor Witches in the Ancestor Witch Hall, and other innate great powers were also discussing this matter.

At the foot of Buzhou Mountain.

Li Peng retracted his aura. Before he could fully appreciate the changes brought about by this breakthrough, he saw vast Xuanhuang merit golden clouds gathering above Nuwa's head.

The Xuanhuang merit golden clouds grew more and more numerous, covering the sky for tens of thousands of feet.

Li Peng dared not delay and immediately said to Nuwa, "Take out your Primordial Violet Qi and give it to me."

Although Nuwa didn't understand his intention, she still trusted him and took the Primordial Violet Qi from her Primordial Spirit, handing it to Li Peng.

After receiving it, Li Peng unhesitatingly took out the pure Primordial Violet Qi from his own Primordial Spirit and handed it to Nuwa.

Seeing that Li Peng had only exchanged two strands of Primordial Violet Qi and had no other intentions, Nuwa couldn't help but ask, "Brother Li, what are you…?"

Before she could finish speaking, Li Peng interrupted, "First, merge this Primordial Violet Qi into your Primordial Spirit. I'll explain the rest when we get back to Three Immortal Island."

Nuwa no longer hesitated upon hearing this. She took the Primordial Violet Qi and merged it into her Primordial Spirit.

At that very instant, the merit golden clouds gathered in the sky descended with a roar.