Before Humanity's Ancestral Hall, Kunpeng was leading the demon race in a slaughter.
Humanity now numbered fewer than a million. Just as Kunpeng was about to wipe out the remaining humans, a colossal staff descended upon him with brutal force.
It was Six-Eared Macaque and the others, who had rushed over.
Facing such a ferocious attack, Kunpeng did not dare be careless. He hurriedly retreated several thousand meters, evading the Mysterious Iron Ruyi Staff's range.
The other demons, who had no time to react, were not so fortunate. They were all reduced to ash by that single strike.
"Kunpeng, Humanity was created by Lady Nuwa and Master Xuan Yi. How dare you slaughter them?"
Shielding the remaining humans behind them, Six-Eared Macaque and the other two glared furiously at Kunpeng.
"This poor Daoist is merely following orders! But Humanity must perish today. For Fellow Daoist Xuan Yi's sake, I will spare your lives. Leave at once."
Seeing that even Six-Eared Macaque, the strongest among them, was merely at the late Grand Unity Golden Immortal stage, Kunpeng was not afraid. He ordered the slaughter of Humanity to continue.
"Never!"
Kong Xuan unleashed the Five-Colored Divine Light, instantly reducing the approaching demons to ash.
"Your opponent is this poor Daoist!"
Seeing Kong Xuan's ferocity, Kunpeng launched an attack at the three of them. In an instant, they were locked in battle.
Facing the veteran Quasi-Saint Kunpeng, Six-Eared Macaque and the other two used every means at their disposal.
Six-Eared Macaque transformed into a giant ape ten thousand zhang tall. Wielding the Mysterious Iron Ruyi Staff, he continuously smashed it toward Kunpeng, every blow carrying tremendous force.
Great Peng transformed into an enormous roc, its wings spreading wide enough to blot out the sky. With a flap of its wings, Yin-Yang Two Qi became countless sharp swords that shot toward Kunpeng.
Kong Xuan unleashed the Five-Colored Divine Light as well, but rather than attacking Kunpeng himself, he repeatedly swept it at Kunpeng's treasures, leaving Kunpeng temporarily afraid to use any magic treasures.
Though Kunpeng was not about to lose against the close coordination of Six-Eared Macaque and the other two, he was still hard-pressed to handle them all at once.
Humanity, however, was not so fortunate. Without Six-Eared Macaque and the others holding them back, an uncountable demon army charged toward the humans.
Facing the numerous and powerful demons, Humanity's cultivators had little ability to resist.
The Three Ancestors of Humanity were also besieged by several Grand Unity Golden Immortals of the demon race, leaving them with no attention to spare for the other humans.
Left with no choice, the three fought as they retreated, leading the remaining humans back toward their ancestral land.
Sadly, even people had their limits. Under the siege of several Grand Unity Golden Immortals, the Three Ancestors of Humanity finally could not hold on and were blasted away. They landed on the ground, coughing up blood in great mouthfuls.
"Must our Humanity perish here today?"
Seeing that fewer than one-tenth of their clansmen remained, Suiren Shi was overwhelmed with grief.
"Roar!"
Seeing Humanity on the verge of being completely slaughtered, Six-Eared Macaque roared. The Mysterious Iron Ruyi Staff in his hand expanded several times over and smashed viciously at Kunpeng, after which he tried to rush over and protect Humanity.
"Attack them quickly!"
Kunpeng would not let Six-Eared Macaque have his way. Relying on his speed, he once again blocked Six-Eared Macaque's path.
Having received Kunpeng's order, the demon army charged straight at Humanity.
"Hmph! How can this weak Humanity be allowed to exist upon this primordial land? Becoming materials for our demon race's treasure refinement is their destiny."
"Men, kill!"
"Slaughter them all!"
Facing the surging demon army, the Three Ancestors of Humanity closed their eyes helplessly.
"Rumble!"
An earth-yellow grand formation appeared, blocking the demon army that had rushed forward in a mass.
It was Zhen Yuanzi who had acted.
Ever since Hong Yun's death, Zhen Yuanzi had sworn to make Kunpeng pay with his life. He had been searching for an opportunity to avenge him, and when he discovered Kunpeng leading the demon race in slaughtering Humanity, he acted without hesitation.
The grand formation Zhen Yuanzi had formed using the Book of Humanity was not so easily breached.
The demon race's attacks landed upon it without even causing a ripple.
"Dong!"
The sound of a bell rang out, and the grand formation Zhen Yuanzi had set up shook violently, as though it would shatter the next moment. Fortunately, Zhen Yuanzi managed to stabilize it with all his strength.
Though the formation had held, Zhen Yuanzi was panting heavily. That last strike had clearly drained him greatly.
"Zhen Yuanzi, I spared your life last time, yet today you dare obstruct our demon race's great undertaking!"
Di Jun and Tai Yi looked down at Zhen Yuanzi from above the demon army.
Seeing Di Jun and the others arrive while he was fighting Six-Eared Macaque, Kunpeng knocked the three of them back with one strike before flying over to Di Jun and Tai Yi.
Six-Eared Macaque and the others also moved before Humanity, facing Di Jun's group from afar.
The Three Ancestors of Humanity looked at Six-Eared Macaque, the other two, and Zhen Yuanzi standing before Humanity. Then they turned to look at the ruins and the grieving clansmen amid them.
"Humanity's blood will not be shed in vain. So long as we survive today, we will make you repay this blood debt in full!"
The blazing fire in the hearts of the remaining humans was ignited. Under the leadership of the Three Ancestors of Humanity, they swore an oath to the heavens together.
"Heavenly Dao above, the demon race has massacred Humanity, leaving fewer than one-tenth of Humanity's survivors behind. This is an ocean-deep blood feud!"
"In the name of the Three Ancestors of Humanity, we swear to Heaven: from this day onward, humans and demons shall be irreconcilable! So long as Humanity exists, we shall exterminate the demon race and avenge the humans who died today. May Heavenly Dao bear witness!"
"Revenge! Revenge!"
"Revenge!"
"..."
Countless humans answered in unison, swearing to be irreconcilable with the demon race.
"Rumble!"
A bolt of thunder sounded from the void as Heavenly Dao acknowledged Humanity's oath.
Xuan Yi and Nuwa, who had been cultivating in seclusion, were also startled awake by this oath.
"What a declaration that humans and demons are irreconcilable, that humans and demons cannot coexist. Then today, I shall wipe out Humanity and see how you intend to remain irreconcilable, how you intend not to coexist."
Humanity's oath stirred Di Jun's killing intent. He decided that Humanity had to be exterminated today.
"Kill them!"
At Di Jun's command, the demon army charged at Humanity once more.
"Boom!"
"Crack!"
A sword qi that covered the sky came from the void. In an instant, the demon army charging toward Humanity was reduced to ash.
"Di Jun, who gave you the nerve to slaughter my Humanity?"
Two streaks of golden light shot over, and Xuan Yi and Nuwa appeared before everyone.
"Greetings, Holy Father! Greetings, Holy Mother!"
"Holy Father, Holy Mother, please uphold justice for our Humanity!"
Nuwa's face darkened, her eyes filled with killing intent as she looked at Di Jun.
Xuan Yi felt as though his heart were bleeding. In his previous life, he had been human. Seeing Humanity's miserable state now, he could no longer restrain the fury in his heart.
"Today, you will be buried alongside the humans who died!"
Without waiting for Di Jun to explain, Xuan Yi raised the Primordial Chaos Measuring Heaven Ruler and condensed a stream of sword qi, sending it at Di Jun.
"Dong!"
"Pwah!"
Tai Yi reacted swiftly and used the Chaos Bell to block Xuan Yi's attack. But the gap in strength was too great. Even with the Chaos Bell's protection, the two were sent coughing up blood, grievously wounded and on the verge of death.
A ripple appeared, and the dying Di Jun and Tai Yi vanished. Seeing that matters had turned against him, Kunpeng immediately returned to his true form and fled at top speed back to the Heavenly Court.
Xuan Yi understood at once that Heavenly Dao had intervened. The main characters of the great war between the shamans and demons could not die here yet.
Ignoring the fleeing Kunpeng, Xuan Yi turned his gaze toward Humanity.
"Humanity was destined to suffer this calamity. You must remember today's blood feud and cultivate diligently."
"We obey Holy Father's command. We thank Holy Father and Holy Mother for saving our Humanity!"
Led by Suiren Shi, Humanity bowed in worship to Xuan Yi and Nuwa together.
"Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi, you protected Humanity in its hour of peril. Humanity shall honor you as the Ancestor of Earth Immortals."
Zhen Yuanzi was stunned. He had not expected Xuan Yi to grant him such a great title.
"We thank Great Immortal for saving our lives. We are willing to honor Great Immortal Zhen Yuan as the Ancestor of Earth Immortals!"
Since Xuan Yi had spoken, Suiren Shi immediately bowed to Zhen Yuanzi. He then looked at Six-Eared Macaque and the others with gratitude in his eyes.
He said, "Since Humanity's birth, the three seniors have constantly protected us. You have also saved Humanity from danger several times. We are willing to honor the three seniors as Humanity's Sacred Teachers!"
Thus, Humanity was reborn through nirvana, and Six-Eared Macaque and the others became Humanity's Sacred Teachers.
"Rumble!"
A great mass of Heavenly Dao merit descended from the sky. Six-Eared Macaque and the other two had protected Humanity and ensured its survival in its darkest hour, so Heavenly Dao had bestowed merit upon them.
The merit split into four portions. Three larger portions flew toward Six-Eared Macaque and the other two, while a smaller portion flew toward Zhen Yuanzi.
With the aid of this merit, Six-Eared Macaque and the other two broke through several realms in succession. Six-Eared Macaque even severed one corpse and became a Quasi-Saint. Kong Xuan and Great Peng also reached the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, only a step away from severing a corpse.
Zhen Yuanzi gained no small benefit as well. With this merit, he successfully severed all three corpses and became a mighty expert at the late Quasi-Saint stage.
"Alright. Now that this matter is settled, Six-Eared Macaque, come back to Jade Capital Mountain with me!"
That was right! It was Jade Capital Mountain. After Dao Ancestor Hongjun merged with the Dao, Jade Capital Mountain had become Xuan Yi's dojo.
"Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi, we shall take our leave first!"
After bidding everyone farewell, Xuan Yi and the others returned to Jade Capital Mountain.
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