Chapter Nine: The Strong Lead the Strong, the Way to Eternal Prosperity for Ten Thousand Generations!

"When you return, remember to teach the people how to drill wood to make fire, make clothes to cover themselves, and build nests to live in."

"Also, take these three drops of Chaos Demon God Essence Blood and refine them."

"You are already Martial Emperors. You should know that among the Martial Dao Combat Techniques, there is a method called the Visualization Method."

"By visualizing the true forms of powerful beings from their essence blood, you can manifest them as Martial Dao Dharma Images."

"If you completely refine the essence blood, you can briefly unleash the power of a peak Martial Saint."

"At a critical moment, even if the Witch and Demon Clans invade, our Human Race will still be able to defend itself."

Staring intently at Sui Ren Shi and the others, Huang Tian issued his orders without hesitation.

"Understood, Chief!"

At his words, Sui Ren Shi, Zi Yi Shi, and You Chao Shi all accepted the order solemnly.

As the Three Ancestors of the Human Race taught the people various forms of civilization, the Human Race's overall living conditions improved dramatically.

They no longer ate raw meat and drank blood, and few froze to death in the snow and ice.

The women worked hard at home, making clothes and caring for the children.

The men were responsible for hauling huge stones to build stone houses. One stone tool after another was fashioned, and powerful Human Race tribes took shape.

They had moved from eating raw meat and drinking blood to a civilization of cooked food. They had clothes to ward off the cold and stone houses to defend against nocturnal beasts.

Although their living conditions were still harsh compared with those of other races, they were far better than in the Human Race's earliest days. Life in this Bronze Age was much more comfortable.

With more energy to cultivate, the Human Race grew stronger and its destiny flourished. Its leader, Huang Tian, also reaped tremendous benefits in return.

"Pop!"

With a thought, he opened a ball of multicolored light from the Kongtong Seal, and a miniature palace fell into Huang Tian's palm.

"A lower-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure that can grow?"

Huang Tian immediately learned the information about the treasure before him.

Though it was only a lower-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, it could absorb other Innate Spiritual Treasures to form a brand-new structure, and its grade could continue to rise.

"Merge!"

At once, Huang Tian fused the exotic treasure, the Spirit Transformation Pool, and the Great Dao Exotic Treasure Martial Dao Stele into the palace.

As exotic treasures, they differed from ordinary Innate Spiritual Treasures. Their effects were astonishing, but their grades could only be considered lower-grade.

At Huang Tian's command, the exotic treasure, the Spirit Transformation Pool, rose slowly, wreathed in seven-colored spiritual mist.

The twelve Martial Dao Steles each shone with a different hue of Martial Dao light. Some blazed like flames scorching the heavens, some rolled like boundless green waves, and others gleamed like golden spears and armored horses. One after another, they fused together.

Their Dao resonance fit together naturally. The Spirit Transformation Pool and the twelve Martial Dao Steles seemed to have been part of the palace from the start.

Innate Dao resonance flowed, and the radiance grew brighter and brighter.

When the light faded, a magnificent palace appeared.

It was paved entirely with Nine Heavens Mystic Jade, and seven-colored glazed tiles covered its roof.

Under the sunlight, golden rays rolled like crimson clouds, while auspicious purple mist billowed in countless streams.

At the very center of the roof, a flawless white jade plaque slowly appeared.

A naturally formed Dao script emerged upon it: "Ancestor."

"From this day forth, this shall be the Human Ancestral Hall!"

Huang Tian smiled, his gaze bright.

The next moment, his surging blood and qi empowered the Human Ancestral Hall, which replaced the central stone house and sprawled across an area of more than a hundred thousand zhang.

Without hesitation, Huang Tian stepped into the Human Ancestral Hall.

At its very center stood a solemn, imposing Human Emperor Palace, with carved beams, painted rafters, vermilion steps, and jade stairs.

To the left of the Human Emperor Palace was the Spirit Transformation Palace, which had evolved from the Spirit Transformation Pool.

By feeding it the flesh and blood of powerful beings, one could purify their essence blood, allowing the Postnatal Human Race to reverse their origins and become Innate Dao Bodies. They could even attain the lineage of a top-grade Innate Being, second only to a lower-grade Innate God and Devil.

In theory, if the purified essence blood reached the level of Chaos Beings, it might even be possible to produce a lineage of high-grade Innate Gods and Devils.

To the right of the Human Emperor Palace stood twelve palaces in a row: the Twelve Star Palaces.

Each palace corresponded to the origin of one Martial Dao Stele.

Those who entered the Twelve Star Palaces could comprehend different Martial Dao combat methods and Martial Dao Divine Abilities, depending on their talents.

Once the concept of the Twelve Zodiacs was established, Human Race members born under a particular sign could enter its corresponding palace, greatly improving their chances of comprehending combat techniques and divine abilities.

Seeing this, Huang Tian could not help smiling. This was a vital foundation for the Human Race to become the protagonist of heaven and earth.

"Chief!"

Just then, Sui Ren Shi hurried over, with Zi Yi Shi and You Chao Shi behind him.

"What's the rush?"

Huang Tian looked at the three of them and furrowed his brows.

"A large number of Da Luo Demon Gods have entered our Human Race settlements. Without any cause, they're slaughtering our people at will."

"Some of the demon gods are even at the late Da Luo stage. We're no match for them."

Sui Ren Shi reported bitterly, his expression grim.

"Are you completely unable to fight back?"

Huang Tian looked at Sui Ren Shi and asked.

"Well... not exactly. But we'd have to pay an enormous price to kill even one Da Luo Demon God."

After a moment's hesitation, Sui Ren Shi answered, still puzzled.

"Survival of the fittest."

"Our Human Race is reproducing too quickly. Sooner or later, even the vast Shore of the East Sea won't be able to hold us."

"The Prehistoric World is so vast that even a Quasi saint couldn't explore every corner in a lifetime."

"When our people encounter danger then, without us to protect them, what will they do?"

"I passed down the Martial Dao so they would cultivate diligently and carve out a path through bloodshed for themselves."

"Heaven moves with vigor; the Human Race must constantly strive for strength!"

"If they face an irresistible threat, I will naturally step in."

"But as long as a crisis can be overcome through unity, I will not intervene."

"An eaglet that is always protected will never learn to fly."

"This is the trial every member of our people must endure."

Huang Tian stared at Sui Ren Shi, his expression hard.

"Chief, we understand."

Deeply shaken, Sui Ren Shi, Zi Yi Shi, and You Chao Shi lowered their heads in shame.

"Go and see for yourselves. The Human Race's greatest strength isn't its lineage, but its indomitable spirit."

Huang Tian nodded slightly.

"This...!"

When the Three Ancestors of the Human Race left the Human Ancestral Hall, they were stunned by what they saw.

Baleful energy soared into the sky, and blood stained the heavens.

Led by the Innate Human Race, the Human Race tribes had actually repelled the demon army, which had Da Luo Demon Gods backing it.

Martial Dao Dharma Images, tens of thousands of zhang tall, swept through the air as they fought the demons at close range. Teeth and nails could both serve as weapons, and the terrified demons fled in droves.

Having learned the Martial Dao, the Human Race had united their essence, energy, and spirit. Faced with the unknown and with fear, they charged forward without hesitation and showed no sign of retreat.

"In the past, the Human Race was weak and lacked courage because it wasn't strong enough."

"When people gain strength and confidence, courage naturally grows."

"The Human Race's potential is in no way inferior to that of any race under heaven, including the Witch and Demon Clans."

"Only by being tempered in blood can we forge an unwavering will, as steadfast as bedrock."

"The stronger the will, the more abundant the blood and qi—and the more likely we are to defeat our foes, however powerful they may be."

"Pass down this order: every member of the Human Race who reaches the Earth Viscera Realm must take the initiative to hunt demons of the same rank."

"Hunting demons earns merit. Merit can be exchanged for entry to the Human Ancestral Hall, the Spirit Transformation Pool, and even the Twelve Star Palaces."

"No one should simply reap the benefits of others' labor. If they have gained something, they should work hard to create a better world for the next generation."

"The strong must lead the strong!"

"As long as life endures, the fighting never stops!"

Huang Tian's gaze blazed as he issued his uncompromising command.

"Yes, Chief!"

Sui Ren Shi and the others accepted the order and left to relay Huang Tian's command.

The Human Race was in an uproar.

They had fought back against the invading demons to protect themselves. Now, with the added incentive of earning merit, they hunted the demons with even greater enthusiasm.

One demon after another became Blood Food for the Human Race, accelerating the spread of the Martial Dao.

More and more members of the Human Race broke through while fighting for their lives, causing the Human Race's destiny to flourish.

Before long, the Human Race was on the right track. No longer needing protection, they could defend their own tribes and live on the flesh of demonic beasts.

"Chief, what is this place?"

The Three Ancestors of the Human Race found Huang Tian, now at ease, and looked at the Human Ancestral Hall before them in puzzlement.

"This treasure was acquired by chance. It shall serve as our Human Ancestral Hall and the place where our inheritance is preserved."

"Without permission, only the four of us may enter."

"Come over."

Leading Sui Ren Shi and the others, Huang Tian introduced the Spirit Transformation Palace and the Twelve Star Palaces one by one.

"The Spirit Transformation Palace can hold three thousand members of the Postnatal Human Race at a time when the pool is filled with essence blood. It can reverse their postnatal lineage and give them Innate Dao Bodies."

"The higher their lineage, the more essence blood they consume, so fewer people can enter at once."

"Therefore, members who reach the Primordial Fetus Realm or above must regularly hunt powerful demons and put their flesh and blood into the Spirit Transformation Pool."

"In theory, after a million years, when the Sage's Barrier dissipates, our Human Race could have at least a million more Innate Dao Bodies."

Huang Tian spoke gravely, his gaze bright.

"Gasp!"

At his words, Sui Ren Shi and the others were stunned, drawing in sharp breaths.

A different lineage meant a different upper limit for one's Martial Dao cultivation.

No matter how hard the Postnatal Human Race worked, the best they could manage was the Star Aperture Realm.

But members of the Human Race with Innate Dao Bodies could raise that ceiling to the Martial Emperor Realm.

Of course, although the upper limit was clear, it remained to be seen whether they could reach the Immortal Realm or the Martial Emperor Realm.

"In that case, our Human Race need never worry about a shortage of successors. If we keep growing stronger, what have we to fear from the Witch and Demon Clans?"

Sui Ren Shi clenched his fist, his confidence soaring.

Huang Tian nodded, then calmly led them to learn about the Twelve Star Palaces.

"Jiang Lou, Da Liang, Shi Shen, Chun Shou, Chun Huo, Chun Wei, Shou Xing, Da Huo, Xi Mu, Xing Ji, Xuan Xiao, and Zui Zi."

"The combat techniques and divine abilities comprehended in each Star Palace are different."

"Some specialize in offense, some in defense, some in movement, and others in formations and restraints."

"Pass down this order."

"Every member of the Human Race may choose one of the Twelve Star Palaces and study there for a year after each breakthrough."

"To prevent them from biting off more than they can chew, they may study the combat techniques and divine abilities of no more than three Star Palaces."

Huang Tian nodded slightly and continued issuing orders.

"Yes, Chief!"

Sui Ren Shi and the others promptly accepted the command.

"How many people are in the Human Race now, and how many of the Innate Human Race who survived back then are still alive?"

Huang Tian immediately asked.

"Reporting to you, Chief."

"The Human Race now has a total population of 6,124,216."

"This includes 100,800 members of the Innate Human Race."

"The Innate Human Race has borne the brunt of the fight against the demons, so our casualties have been rather heavy."

Sui Ren Shi hurriedly reported.

"How strong are the members of the Innate Human Race?"

Without dwelling on the casualties, Huang Tian continued asking.

"Five thousand at the peak of the Myriad Transformations Realm, twelve thousand in the late stage, thirty thousand in the middle stage, sixty thousand in the early stage, and the rest at the peak of the Primordial Fetus Realm."

Sui Ren Shi continued his report.

"Pass down this order: consolidate the Human Race tribes and provisionally divide them into three hundred and sixty divisions."

"Each division must have one chief, who must be at the peak of the Myriad Transformations Realm; three deputy chiefs, who must be at the middle stage of the Myriad Transformations Realm; and one hundred elders, who must be at the early stage of the Myriad Transformations Realm."

"Divide the rest of the Human Race evenly among the three hundred and sixty divisions."

Huang Tian continued making arrangements without hesitation.

"Yes, Chief!"

Sui Ren Shi and the others immediately understood his plan.

By spreading out the Human Race and stationing a peak Myriad Transformations expert in each division, they could handle things calmly as long as no Da Luo Demon God appeared.

The Shore of the East Sea was vast. With the three hundred and sixty divisions spread out, they would no longer need to crowd together and compete for resources.

The Human Race could continue producing cultivators at the middle and lower levels.

This would greatly benefit the Human Race's future growth, its rise to become the overlord of heaven and earth, and its rule over all corners of the world.

Every mid-level cultivator might one day rise to the upper ranks, or even become a top expert.

The strong must lead the strong—that was the way for the Human Race to flourish for ten thousand generations!