Happy New Year, everyone! May all go well for you, may you prosper, and may every day bring you joy!
While Saint Taiqing waited for the clouds to part and the moon to shine, Fang Yang was working for the future of the Sect of Interception.
Emperor Shennong was very glad to see Fang Yang.
Fang Yang's becoming a Core Disciple of the Sect of Interception was undoubtedly good news for Emperor Shennong. There were many Human Clan disciples in the Saint Great Sects, but most of them were Outer Disciples.
Xiao Zhen and Deng Hua of the Sect of Enlightenment, and some Outer Disciples of the Sect of Interception...
Only one had successfully become a Core Disciple: Grand Master Xuandu.
But Grand Master Xuandu's situation was rather complicated. Aside from spreading the Dao and slaying demons, he hardly ever involved himself in Human Clan affairs.
Still, the Human Clan needed a bridge—a bridge to communicate with the Saint Great Sects.
Emperor Shennong would not ask Fang Yang to risk his life for the Human Clan. He simply needed Fang Yang, a Saint's personal disciple, to establish ties with the Saint Great Sects.
There was no Great Dao Struggle between the Human Clan and the Saint Great Sects. The Human Clan sought survival and growth, while the Saints' great war was about allowing all beings to comprehend the Dao.
The Human Clan accepted the Saints' teachings and helped them demonstrate the Dao. The stronger the Human Clan's fortune, the greater the Saints' benefits.
"Disciple of the Sect of Interception, Fang Yang, of the overseas Human Clan, pays his respects to the Human Emperor!"
Fang Yang bowed deeply. The Sky Mending Creation Pill from Emperor Shennong had opened up more possibilities for him.
Though he had also saved Nuwa, settling their Karma, there were opportunities beyond Karma.
"Please, fellow Daoist!"
Emperor Shennong knew something of Fang Yang's suppression of Lü Yue.
Those Sect of Interception disciples who cultivated Heterodox Paths had long been a thorn in Emperor Shennong's side. Unfortunately, they were disciples of a Saint, and he could not remove that thorn.
But the arrival of Fang Yang, a Saint's personal disciple, gave Emperor Shennong hope.
Perhaps this Saint's personal disciple, who came from the Human Clan, would resolve this trouble for them.
Fang Yang thanked Emperor Shennong, then took his seat as a guest.
"You are also of the Human Clan, fellow Daoist. What do you think of our future?"
Emperor Shennong was busy from dawn to dusk. Aside from cultivation, he devoted all his efforts to governing the Human Clan.
So he never spoke without purpose.
"The Human Clan's future lies in its own hands. Only by keeping its feet on the ground and standing united can it become the true Protagonist of Heaven and Earth."
Civilization did not develop overnight. Every powerful civilization had been built bit by bit.
Even if the Human Clan's power suddenly increased countless times over, its social systems and structures would not keep up. The order within the Human Clan would soon collapse.
Of course, Emperor Shennong understood this. He had governed such a vast Human Clan with remarkable order; he could not have failed to recognize it.
"Indeed. You truly are a Saint's personal disciple, fellow Daoist. The Human Clan must walk its own path. Unfortunately, too many among us are eager for quick success."
He flicked a finger, and scene after scene appeared before them.
The scenes showed cases of the Human Clan trying to rely on the Saint Great Sects or the Great Powers of the Heavens to reach greatness in a single bound.
Like Lü Yue and the others, they would abandon the inhabitants of an entire city for merit, using those people to raise demons. Some even founded evil cults, manipulated the people, and sought to oppose the Saint Great Sects and escape their "control."
Many of the demon and ghost calamities across the Primordial Land had been deliberately allowed to grow by these people, who had raised up foreign races.
Emperor Shennong was not physically tired; his heart was weary.
Fang Yang's gaze sharpened. He understood what Emperor Shennong was implying.
The Human Emperor was not asking him to punish these scum of the Human Clan. He hoped Fang Yang would step forward and show that he cared about the Human Clan.
Fang Yang's cultivation was nothing remarkable, but he was a Saint's personal disciple. That status alone could serve as a powerful deterrent to all sides.
And, most importantly, it would deter those Outer Disciples of the Sect of Interception.
Grand Master Xuandu had been hesitating all this time, afraid of damaging the bond between the Human Sect and the Sect of Interception.
Since Fang Yang was a Core Disciple of the Sect of Interception, there would be no problem.
Hearing this, Fang Yang nodded. "Your Majesty, you needn't worry. I had the same idea. I intend to borrow the Human Clan's influence to issue a Myriad Worlds Pursuit Order across the Myriad Worlds."
"If any disciples of the Sect of Interception commit crimes or cause trouble, fellow Daoists throughout the Myriad Worlds may capture them and send them to Qingcheng Grotto-Heaven to be dealt with by me. I will, at my discretion, teach the fellow Daoist who brings them a divine art of the Sect of Interception."
At these words, Emperor Shennong looked at Fang Yang differently. Admiration in his eyes was joined by a hint of respect.
Fang Yang had shown tremendous resolve!
Once Fang Yang did this, every power in the world would think he had returned to the Human Clan, whether or not he truly stood with them.
Otherwise, why would he use the Human Clan's influence to issue the order?
In truth, that was more or less the case.
Fang Yang did care about the Human Clan. He would much rather his own people become the Protagonist of Heaven and Earth than a group of Furred and Horned, Born from wetness and eggs beings.
If the Human Clan were wiped out, then even if he became a Great Power of the Heavens—or even reached the level of Old Ancestor Kunpeng—he would be no more than a remnant of the old dynasty. He would never share in the fortune of the new Protagonist of Heaven and Earth, and he would never amount to much.
He did not want to be reincarnated. He thought his current body was excellent.
Emperor Shennong rose and bowed deeply to Fang Yang. "On behalf of the Human Clan, I thank you, fellow Daoist!"
Emperor Shennong knew that Fang Yang was from the overseas Human Clan and had never received proper cultivation from the Human Clan. In fact, the tribe he came from had been destroyed before he was born.
Under those circumstances, Fang Yang was still willing to stand up for the Human Clan. That was truly commendable.
However, Emperor Shennong did not know that Fang Yang simply drew a clear line between gratitude and resentment.
The tribe that had destroyed his had long since vanished into the dust of history.
Besides, he stood up for the Human Clan because of his own identity, not because he felt any deep affection for them.
He had no relatives or friends among the Human Clan. How could he feel any attachment?
Fang Yang acted according to position and interest, not emotion.
If one day someone within the Human Clan excluded or betrayed him, he would wipe them all out. He would not spare them for their merits or their "great contributions."
Besides, he was a disciple of the Sect of Interception.
The Human Clan was the Protagonist of Heaven and Earth. Only when the Human Clan was stable could the myriad races remain relatively stable, allowing the Sect of Interception to continue spreading the Dao.
Both of his identities told him that he needed to do something for the Human Clan.
Fang Yang remained seated and did not move aside.
His fortune was connected to Sect Master Tongtian's. Unless Old Ancestor Hongjun bowed to him, he would not suffer a backlash from fortune.
"Your Majesty, there is no need to thank me. I am not doing this entirely for the Human Clan. Those Demonic Evils in the sect must be eliminated. Borrowing the Human Clan's influence is simply a convenient way to do it."
Emperor Shennong rose, the warmth in his eyes deepening. Fang Yang's frankness reassured him far more than empty promises ever could.
In the Primordial Wilderness, alliances built on shared interests lasted far longer than bonds built on emotion. The more direct Fang Yang was, the more trustworthy he seemed!
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