When Humans Enter the Demons, They Become Demons; When Demons Enter Humanity, They Become Human

Ancestral Witch Houtu's definition and classification of the Human Race shook the countless Witches beneath the stage.

She did not use appearance or physical form as the basis for classification, nor did she treat race or homeland as the fundamental distinction. Instead, she determined whether one belonged to the Human Race through recognition of its thoughts and ideals.

Thus arose the distinction between humans and demons.

"What is the Demon Clan?"

"What is the Human Race?"

"To submit to Heaven's will, where the weak are prey to the strong—this is demon!"

"To strive endlessly for self-improvement and uphold virtue with all things—this is human!"

Those who submit to the order and laws of Heaven and Earth, take the survival instinct of the strong devouring the weak as their Dao Heart, greed without end, and demand without limit are the Demon Clan.

Those who actively transform Heaven and Earth, unite rights and responsibilities in effort and reward, and attain fulfillment and clarity in mind and wisdom are the Human Race.

"Human or demon is not determined by form, but discerned by the heart!"

Ancestral Witch Houtu spoke passionately, igniting a fire in the hearts of the assembled Witches.

"So, you need not care about the differences in form or the vast gap between your pasts."

"The Human Race is absolutely not a narrow, exclusionary race."

"It possesses the most inclusive heart and the most unyielding will to forge an era and determine the future!"

"Only a core ideal that embraces all kinds and gathers every river into the sea can support a supreme race!"

"Whether you become Witches, cultivate immortality, turn demonic, or become Buddhas... your life form may change, your Primordial Spirit and soul may change, but so what?"

"As long as you do not forget your roots, you will forever be members of the Human Race!"

Regardless of form, only the heart mattered.

That was the core of the Human Race.

After all, the Primordial World was a world of cultivation.

Everyone had to cultivate!

And once one embarked on the path of cultivation, one would always change something in pursuit of greater power.

For instance, refining the essence blood of great demons or ancient gods to be reborn and remade, causing one's Human Race bloodline to no longer be pure... should they be stripped of their human status?

Or perhaps one's cultivation technique caused it. The more profound it became, the more it would cause one to evolve into some special state.

The Buddhist Sect cultivated Golden Bodies, the Daoist Sect refined Primordial Spirits, and the Demonic Sect achieved Blood Sea Asuras... should they also be stripped of their human status?

There were also transformation arts—divine abilities capable of changing one from the very origin of life!

Transform into a True Dragon, and one became a genuine member of the Dragon Clan.

Transform into a Divine Phoenix, and one became a genuine Phoenix.

From soul to flesh, one no longer had the slightest connection to the Human Race... so did that still count as being human?

Of course it did!

Anyone with insight understood that a race which nitpicked and imposed standards to the extreme had no future at all!

Restricting the paths of development available to its people and closing off the directions they could choose would only cause that race to become alienated over the long years, until it finally collapsed and fell apart completely.

Therefore, trying to define an absolute Human Race through body or race... was impossible.

No one could provide an absolutely definitive answer.

Nor did anyone dare to give such an answer.

Because once there was a correct answer, everything else would be wrong!

Who would dare risk the condemnation of the world?

Openly creating conflicts in understanding within the Human Race... the Human Race's sages would be watching you!

Fuxi, Nuwa, Shennong, and the others would all raise their fists and say, "If you're not afraid of dying, try saying a few more words!"

Every ancient tribe had its own totem worship and ancestral spirits to protect it. Their guardians and leaders followed in the footsteps of the human kings and together issued the loudest challenge: "Who is denying our path?"

Anyone who tried to stir up trouble within the Human Race under the pretext of physical form or appearance should simply be dragged out and beaten to death.

After all, if they could do this today, would they start discriminating by skin color tomorrow? And the day after, whispering about differences in region?

After a while, would they start judging whether someone was intelligent enough, using IQ to determine whether they qualified to be a member of the Human Race?

By that day, the Human Race might still exist, but its soul would already be dead!

Feng Xi listened to Houtu's speech with great interest.

It had to be said that this Ancestral Witch was eloquent, with clear and logical arguments that made her easy to agree with.

Moreover, her fists were huge and hard, so no one would jump out to argue with her.

Houtu methodically presided over the propaganda lecture, instilling her Spiritual Will into every Witch below the stage.

"Once we clarify the core concept of the Human Race, we can also understand who our true enemy really is."

"In truth, the existence of the Witch Clan does not mean we are targeting anyone or seeking to slaughter anyone!"

"Though we are Witches, the most powerful weapons of slaughter... we love peace more than anyone!"

"It is merely that, on the road to transforming the world and creating a happy homeland, we will always encounter resistance... and what we must eradicate and destroy is that resistance!"

"A large portion of you come from the future."

"Some of you have heard rumors of the so-called Witch-Demon Cataclysm... but you must take note."

"Our hostility with the demons is not a simple conflict born of hatred."

"It is a divergence in ideals and paths. It is a struggle of the Great Dao!"

"Hatred can be resolved, but a struggle of the Great Dao... truly allows no room for concession!"

"Likewise, during future wars, you must pay attention to one thing—do not slaughter indiscriminately. Instead, actively assimilate the enemy, turn their thoughts around, and have them join our battle line to resist and overthrow the Demon Clan!"

If beings with extraordinary experiences had changed themselves until, from soul to body, they were no longer human, yet still belonged to the Human Race—

Then those complete outsiders who yearned for the ideals of the Human Race, willingly remade themselves, and practiced the Human Dao... the Human Race would not mind issuing them human status and striving alongside them toward the ultimate goal of the Human Dao!

This was precisely—

When humans enter the demons, they become demons; when demons enter humanity, they become human!

And then...

"Given the superiority of the Human Race's core ideals, the unmatched spirit for leading the Human Dao..." Houtu's expression was solemn and grave. "We have both the duty and the necessity to spread these core ideals... to guide more sentient beings onto this path together!"

"Civilize the four quarters and share great harmony. If any refuse, punish them on Heaven's behalf!"

—I have every reason to beat you up!

Her words gave Feng Xi a strange, peculiar resonance that rose from the deepest part of his soul.

"Therefore, everyone!"

"Let us strive for the ultimate dream of the Human Race, shattering all obstacles with the weapons in our hands!"

"Hold up a patch of sky for those who come after us, and also hold up a patch of sky for ourselves!"

"Through the endless ages, we shall ultimately witness—the great flourishing of the Human Race!"

"The epic remembered by time will be the immortal medal upon our bodies!"

Amid the most fervent applause, Ancestral Witch Houtu brought this propaganda lecture to a close.

Houtu's speech made Feng Xi's blood boil.

For three straight days, he remained wildly excited, wishing he could immediately raise the long blade in his hand, charge onto the Sun Star, cut off Di Jun and Tai Yi's bird heads, and add glory to the great cause of the Human Race's rise!

But after three days...

His hot blood cooled down.