Shouyang Mountain.
Shouyang Palace.
Nuwa watched the entire process of Cangjie creating writing and establishing the Human Race's path of culture.
"Su Mu has actually taken the initiative to help Cangjie, and Cangjie has established another path. It seems Cangjie is also blessed with great fortune. I should take him into the Human Sect."
Nuwa sent a voice transmission to Su Mu: "Su Mu, bring Cangjie to see me."
Receiving Nuwa's message, Su Mu wondered to himself, What does Master want with Cangjie?
"Yes, Master." Su Mu turned to Cangjie and said, "Master wants me to take you to Shouyang Palace."
"Empress Nuwa wants to see me?" Cangjie asked excitedly.
"That's right. Come with me." Su Mu took Cangjie to Shouyang Mountain.
At Shouyang Palace, Su Mu and Cangjie bowed. "Greetings, Master (Saint Mother)."
Nuwa gestured for them to rise, then turned her gaze to Cangjie.
A hint of approval flashed in her eyes. She smiled and said, "Cangjie, you've done very well."
Though simple, her words clearly conveyed her approval and praise.
"Thank you for your praise, Saint Mother. It was only right for me to do this. I'm very glad to be able to do something for the Human Race."
Nuwa spoke again. "Cangjie, would you be willing to take me as your master?"
The words boomed in Cangjie's ears like a thunderclap. His eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.
Empress Nuwa wanted to take him as her disciple! What an honor and opportunity!
Cangjie trembled with excitement. He fell to his knees, respectfully kowtowed three times, and said loudly, "This disciple pays respects to Master!"
His voice brimmed with joy and gratitude. Becoming a disciple of Empress Nuwa was a dream come true for any cultivator.
And now, that dream had actually come true.
Nuwa smiled and nodded. She was pleased with Cangjie's response.
She believed that Cangjie would become an outstanding disciple and provide tremendous support for the Human Sect's growth.
"Su Mu, find Cangjie a suitable cave abode," Nuwa said.
"Yes, Master." The two bowed and left Shouyang Palace.
Nuwa also told Bei Xuan that she had taken Cangjie as her disciple, so Bei Xuan waited at the entrance to the Underworld.
When Bei Xuan saw Su Mu and Cangjie arrive, he said, "Senior Disciple Brother, you're here."
Su Mu said to Cangjie, "Cangjie, this is your Second Senior Brother, Bei Xuan. Bei Xuan, this is Cangjie. We should help each other from now on."
Cangjie bowed and said, "Cangjie greets Second Senior Brother."
Bei Xuan nodded and said, "Cangjie, there's no need for formalities between fellow disciples."
"That's right, Cangjie. From now on, just call us Senior Disciple Brother and Second Senior Brother."
"Also, this is my cave abode. The one beside it belongs to your Second Senior Brother, Bei Xuan. You can live next door to him.
I'll open up a new cave abode for you here." With that, Su Mu pointed a finger, and a brand-new cave abode appeared beside Bei Xuan's.
Su Mu took out a Ginseng Fruit and gave it to Cangjie. "You're cultivating the True Martial Scripture I created, right? Your cultivation has reached the Martial Emperor Realm—Golden Immortal. Very impressive. Here's a Ginseng Fruit. Take it and eat it."
Cangjie accepted the Ginseng Fruit and said, "Thank you, Senior Disciple Brother. I'll go cultivate now."
After Cangjie entered his cave abode, Bei Xuan walked over to Su Mu with a grin, rubbing his hands together as he said, "Senior Disciple Brother, give me a Ginseng Fruit to try, will you?"
"You..." Su Mu shook his head helplessly. "As if I'd leave you out."
"Thanks, Senior Disciple Brother." Bei Xuan took the Ginseng Fruit and happily returned to his cave abode to cultivate.
Su Mu also entered his own cave abode and took out another reward that had just been credited to his account: Pangu's Blood Essence.
Su Mu began to absorb and refine Pangu's Blood Essence.
As he continued to refine it, dazzling light began to shine from Su Mu's body.
He felt his strength rising rapidly, as though it were about to break through the heavens.
Suddenly, he heard a crisp cracking sound, followed by a powerful aura surging out of his body.
Su Mu opened his eyes, which gleamed with delight—he had reached the Mid Golden Immortal of the Origin realm!
Su Mu's strength had greatly increased, and he felt a confidence and power unlike anything he had experienced before.
He knew that it was all thanks to the miraculous effects of Pangu's Blood Essence.
Meanwhile, with Daoist Duobao's assistance, Zhuanxu governed the Human Race for nine hundred years. His merits were complete, and he held the Feng Shan Ceremony on Mount Tai.
Holding the Kongtong Seal, Su Mu declared, "Zhuanxu promoted Benevolent Governance, prioritized the people's well-being, eased their burdens, and maintained social order. He deserves to be the Great Emperor of the Human Race."
A vast Golden Cloud of Merit descended from the sky. Though it was immense, it was still far smaller than the merit earned by the Three Sovereigns.
The Golden Cloud of Merit quickly entered Zhuanxu's body. A powerful aura immediately radiated from him, and his cultivation broke through from Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal to Early Primordial Golden Immortal.
After receiving his share of the merit, Daoist Duobao successfully severed his First Corpse.
A flash of light came from Daoist Duobao, and a figure identical to him stepped out of his body. It was his Good Corpse.
With the help of this merit, Daoist Duobao successfully severed his First Corpse and greatly increased his strength, leaping from Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal to early-stage Quasi-Saint.
Di Ku, as the next successor, took up this important responsibility and mission.
He would continue to guide the development of human society and lead the people toward a better future.
Di Ku knew the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders. He was determined to live up to the expectations of those who came before him and do his best to advance civilization.
Biyou Palace.
Sect Master Tongtian looked at the merit Zhuanxu had earned. It was far less than the Three Sovereigns' merit.
He muttered to himself, "It seems that only those who have remained at Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal for a long time can use merit to sever a corpse. Otherwise, there won't be enough merit."
Sect Master Tongtian looked at the disciples below and said, "Golden Spirit Mother, hear my command!"
As soon as he spoke, an elegant and graceful woman stepped forward.
She wore a gorgeous Daoist robe and a golden crown, with a sword hanging at her waist. She looked both valiant and spirited.
Sect Master Tongtian said solemnly, "Golden Spirit Mother, I command you to go to the human world and assist Di Ku in accomplishing his great undertaking."
Golden Spirit Mother respectfully replied, "As you command, Sect Master! This disciple will not fail you and will do everything in her power to assist Di Ku."
Sect Master Tongtian nodded in satisfaction and gestured for Golden Spirit Mother to set out.
Golden Spirit Mother bowed to Sect Master Tongtian, then turned and left.
After Golden Spirit Mother departed, Sect Master Tongtian watched her retreating figure and sighed inwardly.
Golden Spirit Mother was the Interception Sect's eldest senior sister, and her cultivation had reached Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.
She was also just half a step away from severing a corpse. Sect Master Tongtian had sent her to assist Di Ku in hopes that she could use the merit to sever one.
At the same time, if the Interception Sect gained another Quasi-Saint, its fortune would grow as well.
Carrying Sect Master Tongtian's hopes, Golden Spirit Mother set out for the human world.
She knew this was an important mission that affected not only her own future but also the Interception Sect's fortune.
So she resolved to give it her all and not let Sect Master Tongtian down.
At Shouyang Palace, Nuwa looked at the merit that descended after Zhuanxu attained enlightenment and furrowed her brow slightly.
Seeing Nuwa frown, Golden Phoenix asked, "Empress, what's wrong?"
Nuwa sighed and replied, "The merit Zhuanxu earned after attaining enlightenment is so little. I'm worried this may affect the Human Race's future development."
Golden Phoenix was also taken aback by Nuwa's words. She didn't know the reason either.
After thinking for a moment, she said to Nuwa, "Empress, I'm not sure either. But since this is troubling you, why not ask Su Mu? He might know the answer."
Nuwa nodded in agreement. Then they went together to find Su Mu.
Outside Su Mu's cave abode, Golden Phoenix called out, "Su Mu, the Empress is here."
Inside, Su Mu stopped cultivating. Why has Master come? He got up to greet her.
After welcoming Nuwa and Golden Phoenix inside and seating them, Su Mu took out two Ginseng Fruits that he had received as system rewards.
"Master, Sister Jin Feng, please try these Ginseng Fruits first." Su Mu then asked, "Master, what brings you to see me?"
Nuwa told Su Mu what she was worried about.
After hearing her out, Su Mu said, "Master, there's no need to worry. It's normal for the Five Emperors to earn less merit upon attaining enlightenment than the Three Sovereigns."
"Why?" Nuwa asked, puzzled.
Golden Phoenix was just as confused. She asked, "Shouldn't the merit for attaining enlightenment keep increasing? How could it decrease?"
Hearing Golden Phoenix's question, Su Mu couldn't help laughing.
He patiently explained, "The Three Sovereigns earned so much merit because they ushered in an entirely new era and created an unprecedented golden age."
"The Five Emperors, however, only governed that golden age on the foundation laid by the Three Sovereigns. Though they also made contributions, their merit was naturally much less in comparison."
After hearing Su Mu's explanation, Golden Phoenix nodded in sudden understanding. Her understanding of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors had deepened.
"So that's why. It seems the amount of merit one earns for attaining enlightenment is closely tied to how groundbreaking one's deeds are!"
Su Mu smiled at Golden Phoenix and continued, "Exactly. It was the groundbreaking work of the Three Sovereigns that allowed human society to flourish.
The Five Emperors then improved and governed society on that foundation. Though their merit was relatively less, their contributions were just as indispensable."
Golden Phoenix said thoughtfully, "I understand. Only by continuing to innovate and break new ground can we accumulate more merit."
Su Mu nodded in agreement. "That's right. We must keep striving and dare to explore the unknown, making greater contributions to humanity's progress."
Nuwa listened to Su Mu as she ate a Ginseng Fruit.
After finishing it, she said, "All right. As long as this doesn't affect the Human Race, that's fine. You can get back to cultivating. I'll be going." Nuwa slowly stood and turned to leave. Golden Phoenix chatted with Su Mu, but didn't touch the Ginseng Fruit on the plate.
She first looked at Nuwa, then at the Ginseng Fruit on the plate, and finally fixed her gaze on Su Mu.
Su Mu smiled and said, "Sister Jin Feng, I prepared this for you."
Only then did Golden Phoenix reach out and take the Ginseng Fruit. She quickly caught up with Nuwa afterward.
With Golden Spirit Mother assisting him, Di Ku governed the Human Race for nine hundred years, completing his meritorious deeds and holding the Feng Shan Ceremony on Mount Tai.
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