"Hm?"
"Combined with a trace of Purple Emperor Star Power, a trace of Human Race Destiny, and a trace of Martial Dao Destiny?"
"Interesting."
"Since fate has brought us together, I'll give you a hand."
After arranging the twelve Martial Dao Stone Tablets, Huang Tian was about to leave when he couldn't help but pause.
A resilient little blade of grass caught Huang Tian's attention.
"With my blood, I command you!"
Without hesitation, Huang Tian offered a drop of his blood essence, which fell onto the resilient grass.
Blood Qi Smoke churned, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi turned into a storm, and even Star Power was drawn down from above.
"I pay my respects to my master!"
A moment later, a young man with a face as fair as white jade, slanting sword-shaped brows that swept into his temples, and eyes like cold stars took human form. He respectfully bowed to Huang Tian.
"I name you Taibai."
"This is the top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the God-Slaying Spear. I'll help you refine its first few restrictions."
"You already know of the disaster the Human Race is about to face."
"In another two hundred thousand years, the Sage's Barrier will vanish. The Human Race won't quite be enemies of the whole world, but it'll be close."
"Especially the Demon Clan. If it were only Demon Emperor Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi, I wouldn't fear them. But they have the Zhou Tian Star Dou Formation, which can unleash the power of a Sage."
"So I want you to find the Twelve Zodiacs."
Huang Tian spoke one instruction after another without hesitation, his gaze fixed intently on Taibai.
"Yes, Master!"
Daring not to delay, Taibai respectfully accepted Huang Tian's command.
From the information he had gained when Huang Tian taught him the Martial Dao Method just now, Taibai understood not only the Human Race's circumstances, but also the significance of the Twelve Zodiacs.
The Twelve Zodiacs corresponded to the Twelve Earthly Branches and were tied to both the Human Dao and the Human Race.
Establishing the Twelve Earthly Branches through the Twelve Zodiacs would give the Human Race a clear concept of time.
The sun rose in the east and set in the west; a day and a night made up twelve double hours.
This would not only advance the Human Race's development, but also complete the Great Desolation Origin.
An immense amount of merit was sure to descend, enough for the leaders of the Twelve Zodiac tribes to break through to Martial Saint (Quasi saint).
The power of the Twelve Earthly Branches alone was indeed a little lacking against the Twelve Capital Divine Gods and Demons Formation and the Zhou Tian Star Formation.
But Huang Tian wielded the Ziwei Emperor Star Authority.
If he appointed the Twelve Zodiacs to correspond to the Twenty-Eight Mansions, their combined star-god power, with twelve Martial Saints (Quasi saints), would surely be able to withstand the Witch and Demon Clans' ultimate trump cards and ensure the Human Race remained undefeated.
"Yes, Master!"
Without hesitation, Taibai transformed into a streak of light and set off.
Formed from a drop of Huang Tian's blood essence, a trace of Purple Emperor Star Power, a trace of Human Race Destiny, and a trace of Martial Dao Destiny, Taibai was already at the peak of the Immortal Realm (Taiyi).
With the top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the God-Slaying Spear, he could handle anything with ease, so long as he didn't run into a Quasi saint.
Taibai also had an excellent innate foundation, reaching the level of a lower-grade Innate God and Devil. Breaking through to Martial Emperor (Grand Luo) was only a matter of time.
At the Martial Emperor (Grand Luo) Realm, wielding the God-Slaying Spear, even an ordinary Quasi saint wouldn't be able to defeat Taibai.
So Huang Tian was perfectly comfortable sending Taibai to search for the Twelve Zodiacs.
Huang Tian didn't waste time either. With a clear destination in mind, he headed straight for Wuzhuang Temple.
The Human Race had little time left. Two hundred thousand years was not long, and they still had too few top experts.
Huang Tian had to hurry and win allies for the Human Race.
"We're here!"
Arriving before a range of mountains shrouded in ethereal immortal aura, Huang Tian's gaze sharpened.
As far as the eye could see, Wanshou Mountain rose to an unknown height. Deep within its slopes, gray-tiled buildings and stone walls were veiled in green moss, and an ancient plaque bearing the words "Wuzhuang Temple" hung above the mountain gate.
As his eyes opened and closed, Huang Tian augmented his vision with Blood Qi and could see more of Wuzhuang Temple through the great formation.
The place brimmed with rich Wutu Qi. A Ginseng Fruit Tree stretched from the earth to the heavens, its emerald leaves shimmering with black and yellow light and its fruits shaped like infants. Innate Yi Wood essence overflowed from it, shrouding half the temple.
Cloud-cranes perched among the pines, a spirit spring tinkled like jade, spirit herbs carpeted the ground, and the earth's veins steamed into rosy clouds.
"I hope I'm not imposing, fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi. Won't you invite me in for a chat?"
Without hesitation, Huang Tian called out.
Amplified by his Blood Qi, his voice boomed like thunder throughout Wuzhuang Temple.
"A fellow Daoist has come from afar. I'm delighted beyond words. Please, come in."
A deep, ethereal voice rang out, and a gap opened in the innate great formation guarding Wuzhuang Temple.
Huang Tian stepped inside, and the gap in the innate great formation closed at once.
"Our master asked us to welcome you, Great Divine One. This way, please!"
Qingfeng and Mingyue, the boy and girl attendants serving Zhenyuanzi, took their short-legged steps and respectfully bowed to Huang Tian.
Huang Tian nodded and followed Qingfeng and Mingyue. He couldn't help marveling that Zhenyuanzi truly was one of the Prehistoric World's rare wealthy men.
Even this one blessed paradise was enough to astonish anyone.
The rushing rivers and cascading waterfalls weren't water at all, but Spiritual Qi liquefied.
A Grand Luo Golden Immortal would cultivate twice as fast at Wuzhuang Temple.
"A dwelling of immortal beings, where life is everlasting; a home of Daoists, with lifespans equal to Heaven."
They arrived at the entrance to Wuzhuang Temple, which covered an immense area. On either side hung a couplet formed from natural Daoist script, its profound weight washing over them.
"I am Zhenyuanzi. Greetings, fellow Daoist."
Qingfeng and Mingyue pushed open the gate, and a smiling Daoist came out to welcome Huang Tian.
The Daoist wore a Purple Gold Crown and a Wuyou Crane Cloak, while Wutu Divine Light shimmered beneath his Xuanhuang Daoist Robe.
His face was like fine jade, his skin like that of a child. Three long strands of beard fell from his chin to his chest, and his hair curled in layers around his temples.
He held a Jade Whisk in one hand and wore Cloud-Ascending Boots on his feet. The Daoist carried himself with indescribable elegance.
"My name is Huang Tian. Fellow Daoist, you truly are blessed with profound fortune."
Smiling at Zhenyuanzi, Huang Tian clasped his hands in return.
Smiling at Zhenyuanzi, Huang Tian clasped his hands in return.
There were many top Great Divine Powers in the Prehistoric World during the Witch-Demon Era, but after ruling out the others, Huang Tian had few choices for Human Race allies.
Zhenyuanzi was the best choice among them.
Like Di Jun and the Twelve Ancestral Witches, Zhenyuanzi was one of the final batch of top innate gods and demons to take form at the End of the Ancient Era.
Zhenyuanzi bore an abundance of Destiny, surpassed only by Sanqing and the Twelve Ancestral Witches.
Zhenyuanzi's true form was a spirit of Innate Wutu, and he was the Ancestor of Earth Immortals. He had been accompanied from birth by the Earth Book, formed from the Earth Membrane.
The Earth Book was a top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, capable of commanding the power of the Prehistoric World's land and boasting astonishing defensive power.
Of course, the Earth Book's main purpose was to wield the Earth Dao Authority and appoint gods over mountains, rivers, and marshes.
At present, however, Zhenyuanzi still didn't know the Earth Book's true purpose.
That, too, was one of the reasons Huang Tian was confident he could persuade Zhenyuanzi to become an ally of the Human Race.
"Tsk."
As Huang Tian thought this, brilliant treasures kept flashing before his eyes.
The hair crown, clothes, belt, shoes, and even the horsetail whisk were all Innate Spiritual Treasures, every one of them top-grade.
Even Wuzhuang Temple itself was actually a top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.
And because the whole set shared the same attributes, Zhenyuanzi's collection of treasures could function like a top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.
"May I ask who you are, fellow Daoist, and why I've never seen you before?"
While Huang Tian observed Zhenyuanzi, Zhenyuanzi was observing him too, inwardly marveling.
As the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, Zhenyuanzi's strength and divination abilities were terrifying.
Aside from Sages such as Hongjun and Nuwa, Zhenyuanzi truly feared neither Sanqing nor the Ancestral Witches.
Yet Huang Tian was impossible for him to fathom, and even gave him a faint sense of threat.
How could someone like this have never appeared before? Zhenyuanzi was utterly astonished.
Before you continue