Su Mu sent the North Sea Black Tortoise's true spirit into the Underworld, then returned to his cave abode on Shouyang Mountain and continued cultivating.
Su Mu knew that after the Witch and Demon Races, the Human Race would become the protagonist of Heaven and Earth.
Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, several hundred years had passed.
Throughout this time, Su Mu had continuously cultivated the Nine Revolutions Divine Art, striving to break through to a higher realm.
After years of hard work and perseverance, he finally cultivated the sixth revolution of the Nine Revolutions Divine Art to its limit, reaching the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
By now, Su Mu's strength had reached an astonishing level. He could be called invincible among those of the same realm.
His body had grown even stronger, and his aura had become deeper and more restrained.
Every breath he took seemed to stir a resonance between Heaven and Earth, making the Spiritual Energy around him surge.
Yet Su Mu was not satisfied. He still needed to keep increasing his strength.
After breaking through the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, he would become a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. Grand Unity Golden Immortals transcended the river of time and remained undying throughout eternity.
At the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, cultivators needed to gain a profound understanding of various laws and master their power in order to increase their strength and advance to a higher realm.
For example, the Law of Space: mastering the mysteries of space could grant divine abilities such as teleportation and traversing the void, or even allow one to create a small world of one's own.
The Law of Time: control over time could let a cultivator travel through the ages, reverse cause and effect, and change events in the past or future.
The Five Elements Laws: these encompassed the laws of the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Using the power of the five elements could enhance one's attack and defense.
The Law of Destiny: understanding the course of fate allowed one to foresee and alter the destinies of others, thereby influencing the direction of the entire world.
The Law of Sword Dao: devoting oneself to the way of the sword and cultivating it to its utmost could make one an invincible sword immortal. Shangqing Tongtian, one of the Three Pure Ones, cultivated the sword dao.
Different cultivators might choose one or several laws as their primary path of cultivation. But to truly become a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, they often needed a deep understanding and mastery of multiple laws.
They also had to continually temper their minds and overcome inner demons if they hoped to go further on the path of cultivation.
When discussing the power of laws, one could not fail to mention the Law of Strength cultivated by Great God Pangu.
It was an incredibly powerful and mysterious force.
Among the many laws, the Law of Strength stood out for its unique allure and boundless potential. It granted its wielder unparalleled strength, allowing them to tear through space and destroy any obstacle with ease.
This power was not only astonishing but also made the other laws seem dim by comparison.
As a cultivator of the Law of Strength, Great God Pangu had undoubtedly brought it to its utmost potential.
With this mighty power, he had opened up Heaven and Earth and created all things.
It could be said that Great God Pangu's status as a legendary figure in myth was inseparable from his cultivation of the Law of Strength.
In his hands, the Law of Strength seemed invincible, inspiring awe in all who witnessed it.
And the Law of Strength was like a combination of all laws: the power of time, the power of space, and the power of chaos.
To cultivate the Law of Strength, one needed peerless talent and insight. Su Mu knew how difficult it would be, but he was undaunted and resolved to challenge this supreme law.
He secluded himself to cultivate, devoting his entire being to comprehending the Law of Strength as he circulated the Nine Revolutions Divine Art to its utmost.
Time passed like a shuttle, and several hundred more years went by. Su Mu's body gradually adapted to the immense energy of the Law of Strength.
One day, as he cultivated, Su Mu suddenly experienced a moment of enlightenment. He sensed the true meaning of the Law of Strength.
His fist held power capable of destroying Heaven and Earth. With a casual swing, he caused ripples to spread through space.
Su Mu opened his eyes, a flash of delight in them. He had finally taken a crucial step and gained an initial grasp of the Law of Strength.
His cultivation naturally broke through to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. Su Mu was overjoyed, because only Grand Unity Golden Immortals could protect themselves in the Primordial Era.
Just then, a strange change began above Su Mu's head.
Three flower buds slowly appeared above his head. Each was a different color, as if containing endless mysteries.
The first flower of a cultivator was called the Heavenly Flower. It was as white as snow and gave off a gentle glow. The Heavenly Flower represented a cultivator's perception and understanding of Heaven, Earth, and nature. It could appear only when the cultivator's state of mind reached a certain level.
The second flower was called the Earthly Flower. It was a deep blue, like a vast starry sky. The Earthly Flower symbolized a cultivator's mastery and use of the power of the earth. It represented their strength and foundation.
The third flower was the Human Flower. It was as vivid as blood, brimming with life and vitality. The Human Flower represented the cultivator's own life force and spirit. It blossomed only when their body and mind had both been thoroughly elevated.
The quality of the Three Flowers determined a cultivator's future achievements. The Three Pure Ones and Nuwa had nine-grade Three Flowers, Jieyin and Zhunti had eight-grade Three Flowers, and Dao Ancestor Hongjun had ten-grade Three Flowers.
{Ding! The host is condensing the Grand Unity Three Flowers. A mission is being issued: raise the quality of the Three Flowers as high as possible. The host is currently the most powerful cultivator of the Human Race. The host's potential and aptitude will determine the future limits of the Human Race. Mission rewards: the Chaos Supreme Treasure Chaos Bead, three drops of Pangu's Blood Essence, and four Ginseng Fruits.}
He had never expected this to be so important. Even a Chaos Supreme Treasure had appeared, along with a precious treasure like Pangu's Blood Essence, which was immensely beneficial to cultivation!
Chaos Supreme Treasures were peerless treasures born within chaos, possessing mysterious power and might beyond measure.
They contained the universe's primordial power of chaos and could help their owners break through to higher realms and increase their strength.
Pangu's Blood Essence was even more precious. It contained the essence of Great God Pangu's bloodline and could grant cultivators immense power and divine abilities.
For those who sought a higher realm, Pangu's Blood Essence was undoubtedly a dream treasure.
Even without the mission rewards, he should still strive to raise the quality of his Three Flowers. It would bring him tremendous benefits, and besides, there were also mission rewards.
Su Mu took this even more seriously. As he continuously circulated his cultivation, the Three Flowers above his head gradually blossomed. The Heavenly Flower came first: one petal, two, three, all the way to seven, where its progress began to slow.
Throughout the process, Su Mu closed his eyes. His mind was tranquil, free of distracting thoughts.
He focused his spirit on the circulation of his cultivation art, doing his utmost to keep it flowing.
With each breath, his cultivation art circulated. His breathing grew steady and deep, as if he had become one with his surroundings.
As time passed, Su Mu felt a warm force flowing through his body. The force gradually gathered in his Heavenly Flower, adding another petal and bringing it to eight grades.
He could feel that the Heavenly Flower was nearing its limit, but he was neither frightened nor anxious.
Instead, he remained calm and resolute, continuing to circulate his cultivation art with all his might, hoping to improve the Heavenly Flower's quality further.
During this process, Su Mu's body also underwent some changes. His skin turned faintly red, and sweat gathered on his forehead, but he remained completely absorbed in cultivating his art.
He knew that he could only rely on himself. Only through unceasing effort and perseverance could he make the Heavenly Flower bloom to its fullest.
At last, another petal appeared, bringing it to nine grades. The nine petals spun in a dazzling, exquisite display.
Each petal shimmered with brilliant light, as if carved from the purest gemstones.
The petals intertwined, forming a perfect circle that radiated boundless vitality.
Yet Su Mu was not satisfied. He knew this was only the starting point of his pursuit of a higher realm. He longed to surpass himself, challenge his limits, and explore a wider world.
He believed that only by continually surpassing himself could he gain greater strength. And to reach greater heights, the quality of his Three Flowers had to be the highest possible.
He hadn't reached his limit yet. He could continue.
In Shouyang Palace, Nuwa's beautiful eyes lit up. "A nine-grade Heavenly Flower. His future is promising."
Nuwa was very pleased. She had never expected Su Mu to attain a nine-grade Heavenly Flower. After all, even she and the Three Pure Ones had only managed nine-grade Three Flowers.
But as she watched Su Mu continue condensing his Heavenly Flower in his cave abode, her brows furrowed. "Why is Su Mu still going? He already has nine grades. Isn't that enough?"
"He's condensed another grade." Nuwa was horrified. She hurriedly raised her hand and concealed the secrets of Heaven.
Judging by Dao Ancestor Hongjun's attitude and actions toward her, he might grow wary of a ten-grade Heavenly Flower and try to suppress its owner.
Su Mu had no idea that Nuwa had concealed the secrets of Heaven for him. He only kept frantically circulating his cultivation art, sending a continuous stream of power into his Heavenly Flower. Eleven grades.
As the flower reached eleven grades, the Primordial Heaven and Earth trembled. The Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, and Zhunti all opened their eyes.
Taiqing Laozi wondered aloud, "What could make the Primordial Heaven and Earth tremble?" He began to divine the cause, but could calculate nothing.
With no choice, he closed his eyes and let his spirit roam beyond the world. The other Four Saints thought nothing of it either. The Primordial Era was full of strange things, and a single tremor was hardly a major event.
At that moment, Nuwa was truly shocked. She hurriedly brought out the Innate Supreme Treasure Qiankun Cauldron and the Seven Heavenly Light Divine Blades. After all, Innate Supreme Treasures could conceal the secrets of Heaven.
Still feeling it wasn't enough, she directly mobilized all the Human Race Destiny and wrapped it around the entirety of Shouyang Mountain. Only then did she feel at ease.
Su Mu felt he had reached his limit and decided to make one final push. He gathered the last of his strength, making every meridian and blood vessel in his body bulge as his power surged toward the Heavenly Flower.
The final petal appeared, and all twelve petals shone brilliantly.
Once the Heavenly Flower had condensed, the Earthly Flower and Human Flower followed naturally. All three flowers had twelve grades.
It was said that even Great God Pangu had only managed eleven-grade flowers. This was unprecedented—Su Mu's potential was even greater than Great God Pangu's.
At that moment, the Primordial Heaven and Earth shook violently. The will of the Heavenly Dao even manifested, its power surging through the skies above the Primordial Era. Dao Ancestor Hongjun cried out in alarm, "Has some remarkable figure appeared? Why is the Heavenly Dao so furious and unsettled?"
The Five Sages opened their eyes again. "What on earth happened? Even the Heavenly Dao has been alarmed."
The cultivators of the Primordial Era were terrified. Could this be the same as when Buzhou Mountain had collapsed?
Su Mu awoke from his cultivation. "I've finally become a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. And my flowers have bloomed to twelve grades—my aptitude is even greater than Great God Pangu's." This time, Su Mu was truly overjoyed.
{Ding! Mission complete. Rewards have been placed in the system space.}
Su Mu took out the pitch-black Chaos Bead, trembling with excitement. This was the Chaos Bead, the only complete Chaos Supreme Treasure!
As Su Mu celebrated, a powerful force of the Heavenly Dao struck directly at the Human Race Destiny around Shouyang Mountain and scattered it.
Su Mu hurried out of his cave abode and arrived at the square in front of Shouyang Palace. Nuwa was already there.
"Teacher, is it Dao Ancestor Hongjun?" Su Mu cupped his hands.
"Su Mu, Dao Ancestor Hongjun must have come because your flowers bloomed to twelve grades.
"Take the Red Embroidered Ball. If Dao Ancestor Hongjun really tries to attack you, I'll protect you even if it costs me my life." Nuwa spoke to Su Mu with a grave expression.
A warm feeling welled up in Su Mu's heart. Nuwa was actually so kind to him that she was willing to risk her life against Dao Ancestor Hongjun for his sake.
"Thank you, Teacher. Don't worry. Dao Ancestor Hongjun definitely won't know that my flowers bloomed to twelve grades," Su Mu said, deeply moved.
"Really? Are you sure Dao Ancestor Hongjun doesn't know?" Nuwa asked, puzzled, as she looked at Su Mu.
"Yes, Teacher. I'm certain he can't find out," Su Mu replied earnestly.
"Good." Nuwa trusted Su Mu and waited for Dao Ancestor Hongjun to arrive, wondering what he would do at Shouyang Mountain.
After scattering the Human Race Destiny, Dao Ancestor Hongjun appeared in the sky above Shouyang Mountain and gazed at Nuwa.
"Greetings, Teacher. May I ask what brings you here?" Nuwa greeted him.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun studied Nuwa for a long time but could discern nothing. He asked directly, "Nuwa, why did you use the Human Race Destiny to seal off Shouyang Mountain? What are you doing?"
Nuwa replied, "Teacher, I was refining the Qiankun Cauldron, so I sealed off Shouyang Mountain with the Human Race Destiny."
"Refining the Qiankun Cauldron? I lent it to Nuwa for mending Heaven; I never bestowed it on her. Could she be trying to refine it in secret and make it her own treasure?
"But how could refining the Qiankun Cauldron have caused the Primordial Heaven and Earth to shake?" Dao Ancestor Hongjun wondered.
"Is that really the case?" Dao Ancestor Hongjun asked Nuwa.
"Yes, Teacher." Nuwa bowed.
"Very well. Bring out the Qiankun Cauldron," Dao Ancestor Hongjun said. Nuwa had no choice but to take out the cauldron and hand it over to him.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun took the Qiankun Cauldron and left.
After this matter was settled, Su Mu went into seclusion. The era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors was about to begin, and only those at or above the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm were qualified to take part.
Before going into seclusion, Su Mu gave the three Ginseng Fruits to the three members of the Sui Ren clan.
Then Su Mu began his seclusion. He had three drops of Pangu's Blood Essence, and he needed to make good use of them, striving to break through to the Primordial Golden Immortal realm before the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors began.
During Su Mu's seclusion, the entire Primordial Era seemed shrouded by an invisible force. The sky grew dark and overcast, and lightning occasionally streaked across it.
The living creatures on the earth felt oppressed and uneasy. The source of it all was the ever-thickening calamity qi of the Primordial Era.
As time passed, the calamity qi of the Primordial Era grew denser and denser, like a thick black fog spreading between Heaven and Earth.
Many Great Powers of the Primordial Era went into seclusion to avoid the Great Tribulation.
In the Chaos Purple Cloud Palace, Dao Ancestor Hongjun watched as the calamity qi in the Primordial Era grew thicker and thicker. He sent a telepathic message throughout the Primordial Era: "The Six Sages are to come to the Purple Cloud Palace to discuss a matter."
Hearing Dao Ancestor Hongjun's message, Nuwa couldn't help but exclaim happily, "Brother, you can finally reincarnate."
She took a single step and entered the chaos.
When Nuwa arrived at the Purple Cloud Palace, the Three Pure Ones were already waiting outside. The Purple Cloud Palace remained closed, so the Four Sages waited until Jieyin and Zhunti arrived.
Zhunti smiled and said, "Sorry to keep you all waiting. The West is far away, so we arrived late."
Once all Six Sages had arrived, the Purple Cloud Palace opened. Two child attendants with exquisitely carved features stepped out. They were Haotian and Yaochi.
Haotian and Yaochi bowed to the Six Sages. "Greetings, senior brothers and sisters."
The Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, and Zhunti didn't even glance at them. They went straight into the Purple Cloud Palace, leaving the two attendants awkwardly standing there.
Nuwa, however, took the initiative to approach them. She took out two Innate Ren Water Flat Peaches and gave one to each of them. They were the peaches Queen Mother of the West had given her back then.
"Junior Brother Haotian, Junior Sister Yaochi, you can have these two peaches as a treat," Nuwa said with a smile.
The two were overjoyed and quickly replied, "Thank you, Senior Sister Nuwa."
Nuwa entered the Purple Cloud Palace, recalling what Su Mu had told her: "Teacher, when you enter the Purple Cloud Palace, you can be a little kinder to Haotian and Yaochi." That was why she had shown them goodwill.
The Six Sages walked up to Dao Ancestor Hongjun and greeted him. "Greetings, Teacher."
Taiqing Laozi asked, "Teacher, why have you summoned us?"
Dao Ancestor Hongjun addressed the Sages. "The Demon Race has withdrawn from the Primordial Era, but the Heavenly Court cannot be left without a ruler, not even for a single day. We must establish a new Heavenly Court and discuss who should be its Heavenly Emperor."
The Sages' expressions changed when they heard this. They knew what it meant. This was not merely a transfer of power, but the establishment of an entirely new order.
Taiqing Laozi spoke first. "Teacher, Xuandu, my disciple, can be the new Heavenly Emperor."
Primordial Lord also spoke up. "Teacher, Guangchengzi, my disciple, can become the new ruler of the Heavenly Court."
Tongtian said, "Teacher, my disciple Duobao can also take the position of Heavenly Emperor."
Primordial Lord, however, replied, "Third Brother, your disciples are all furred and horned, wet-born and egg-hatched creatures. What makes them worthy of the position of Heavenly Emperor?"
"Second Brother, what do you mean by that? What do you mean, furred and horned, wet-born and egg-hatched?"
Jieyin and Zhunti also chimed in. "That's right, Senior Brother Tongtian. Senior Brother Primordial Lord is correct.
"My disciple Maitreya can succeed to the position of Heavenly Emperor."
The Five Sages argued fiercely, while Nuwa alone took no part in the debate.
Su Mu had told her earlier that the position of Heavenly Emperor had been reserved by Dao Ancestor Hongjun for his own child attendant.
Jieyin and Zhunti felt they couldn't outcompete the Three Pure Ones, so they turned to Nuwa. "Senior Sister Nuwa, who do you think should take the position of Heavenly Emperor?"
Hearing Jieyin and Zhunti, the Three Pure Ones also looked toward Nuwa.
Nuwa replied, "Such an important matter should naturally be decided by Teacher. The position of Heavenly Emperor should be assigned by him."
Hearing Nuwa's words, the Five Sages suddenly understood. They all turned to Hongjun. "We ask the Dao Ancestor to enlighten us."
Hongjun said, "Haotian will take the position of Heavenly Emperor, and Yaochi will take the position of Queen Mother."
The Five Sages were all dissatisfied. How could two child attendants become the Heavenly Emperor and Queen Mother? But the Dao Ancestor had spoken, and the Sages dared not disobey.
Hongjun called the two attendants forward and told them what he had decided.
He also gave Haotian the Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure Haotian Mirror and gave Yaochi the Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure Immortal Gathering Banner.
Haotian and Yaochi were overjoyed. They quickly bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, Master."
"Go," Hongjun said, waving his hand.
He then addressed the Six Sages. "With the Witch and Demon Races withdrawn from the Primordial Era, the Human Race will become the new protagonist of Heaven and Earth."
The Human Race would see the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors appear. Only those favored by Heaven, endowed with extraordinary wisdom and virtue, could become one of them.
They would guide humanity toward prosperity and harmony and usher in a new era.
The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were invested through the Kongtong Seal, which had been formed from the power of the Human Dao.
Only those invested through the Kongtong Seal were true Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.
Before you continue