The first trial was naturally the trial of humanity. Fuxi needed the approval of more than ninety percent of the Human Race before he could qualify to become the Heavenly Emperor. Given all he had done for them and the faith of countless humans gathered behind him, he had passed.
The second was the trial of heaven and earth: the nine heavenly notes he had heard earlier. They tested the heart. Anyone who endured them would emerge with a stronger state of mind and a clear conscience. Fuxi had passed that trial too.
The third was the trial of the Saints. After all, the Saints acted on heaven's behalf. To become the Heavenly Emperor, Fuxi needed the approval of Hong Huang's Saints. They upheld the Heavenly Dao and carried out its will; their consent was the Heavenly Dao's consent.
"Shall Fuxi become the Heavenly Emperor?"
High above the nine heavens, Laozi spoke first, as the foremost of the Saints.
At his words, Yuqing Yuanshi, Swordmaster Tongtian, Jieyin, Saint Zhunti, and Empress Nuwa all nodded their approval. They had agreed to Fuxi becoming the Heavenly Emperor.
Laozi gave a slight nod. He was not surprised.
He then said evenly, "Fuxi of the Human Race shall be the Heavenly Emperor! After attaining his Dao, he shall go to Fire Cloud Cave and guard the Human Race's fortune from this day forward. Until the arrival of the boundless kalpa, he may not leave!"
"No need to trouble yourself over him, Saint. Fuxi would be better off staying in the Ancestral Land."
The calm voice carried such overwhelming pressure that every Saint except Nuwa looked grim. He had slapped them in the face for all to see.
"Xuantian, you dare defy the will of the Heavenly Dao?" Yuanshi shouted.
"Heh. The will of the