The Great Migration

Dao Xuan sat atop the Five Spirit Qilin, his blue gauze headband fluttering in the wind. His face was like suet jade, his eyes held stars, and his aura was as deep as the sea. He was already a Quasi-Saint.

In his hand, he held the Human-Creating Whip, flowing with Xuan Yellow merit. His divine sense enveloped the 129,600 newborn humans behind him.

The procession moved forward slowly.

The newly born humans, with wobbly steps and dazed eyes, were filled with curiosity and a hint of instinctive fear towards the vast, crisis-ridden Great Desolation.

Dao Xuan's mind had already set their destination: the shores of the East Sea!

He knew the future trajectory of the Great Desolation.

Buzhou Mountain was a place the Witch and Monster races would inevitably fight over, and the center of the future world-ending war!

Even the heavenly pillar formed from Pangu's spine would collapse, let alone these fragile human seedlings.

Only by staying away from the eye of the storm, finding a relatively peaceful and resource-rich land, could the Human Race have a chance to breathe and develop.

The shores of the East Sea, with its abundant moisture and rich produce, far from the core battlefield of the Witches and Monsters, was an excellent choice.

"Children, follow me," Dao Xuan's voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable power, clearly entering the hearts of every human. "Though the road ahead is long, where the heart leads, there will be a place to settle and establish ourselves."

As he led the procession, he began to fulfill his duty as a "guide."

"The Great Desolation is perilous, where the strong prey on the weak. To survive, you must possess the power to fight!"

Dao Xuan's voice was solemn, stirring a sliver of sharpness in the air.

He pointed two fingers like a sword and made a gesture towards a hard rock formation in the distance!

Chii!

An invisible stream of energy swept past!

The rock formation was cut cleanly as if it were tofu!

"This is the method of gathering power. Your bones and muscles are the bow, your will is the string, concentrating the strength of your entire body into a single point!"

Dao Xuan demonstrated the most basic technique for generating force.

The human warriors watched, their blood boiling. They began to imitate him, punching the air or trees, their movements clumsy but filled with a sense of power.

"A sharp weapon in hand can increase your might!"

Dao Xuan's gaze swept across the forest.

He did not directly bestow weapons but guided them.

"This stone, with its sharp edges and hardness, when bound to a wooden stick, can become a stone spear!"

He summoned a sharp flint and a sturdy piece of wood, binding them together with vines to create a crude but practical stone spear.

"This wood, tough and straight, with a little sharpening, can be a javelin!"

"This bone, taken from a fierce beast, is naturally sharp and can be made into a bone dagger!"

Dao Xuan imparted the knowledge of identifying, selecting, and simply processing natural materials to create weapons.

The humans immediately took action, using their rest time during the migration to find suitable materials and craft their first weapons.

Stone spears, bone daggers, wooden javelins... crude weapons gradually took shape in the hands of the human warriors.

"The creatures of the Great Desolation each have their own nature. Fierce beasts are brutal, but they also have weaknesses that can be exploited!"

Dao Xuan's voice was like that of the calmest hunter.

"Wolf packs are cunning and prefer to attack in numbers. You must form ranks to fight and strike at their leader!"

"Demon bears are powerful and have thick hides, but their movements are slightly slower. You can engage them in hit-and-run tactics, attacking their eyes and nose!"

"Vipers are insidious and hide in dark places. You must have keen ears and sharp eyes to detect their tracks, and attacking from a distance is best!"

He analyzed and explained the habits, weaknesses, and countermeasures of various common fierce beasts and demonic beasts he had encountered along the way.

The humans listened intently, firmly imprinting these life-or-death experiences in their minds.

The procession advanced across the Great Desolation.

Mountains were treacherous, and ancient trees towered into the sky.

Poisonous insects and fierce beasts lurked in the shadows.

There were also reckless, ferocious demonic beasts that, unable to resist the pure Innate Spiritual Energy and the scent of flesh and blood from the humans, pounced with their ferocity, roaring!

Or perhaps, Witch Clan warriors, with their violent temperaments and viewing all creatures of the Great Desolation as prey, might stumble upon this grand procession and be tempted by the desire to kill and plunder!

"Roar--!"

A fierce beast, shaped like a small mountain, with bone spurs on its back and exposed fangs, a "Zheng," stirred up a foul wind and suddenly charged out of the dense forest, lunging towards the human procession!

Its ferocity was immense, and its Fiend Qi surged to the heavens. It possessed the cultivation of an early Golden Immortal!

The human warriors, though startled, were not in disarray. Under the shouts of several leaders, they quickly formed ranks, stone spears and bone daggers facing outward, standing ready. Although fear flickered in their eyes, there was no intention of retreating!

"Vile creature! How dare you be so arrogant!"

A clear, childish voice rang out!

A flash of seven-colored auspicious light appeared!

The Gourd Baby, riding the Seven-Colored Gourd, blocked the Human Race's formation like a shooting star!

He was now an early-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal, and faced with this early-stage Golden Immortal fierce beast, he showed no fear!

"Take this!"

The Gourd Baby slapped the bottom of the gourd with his small hand.

Buzz!

A condensed, tangible seven-colored divine light shot out like a silken banner, instantly entangling the fierce beast "Zheng"!

"Awooo!" The fierce beast let out a pained roar. Its massive body was bound by the divine light, unable to move!

The Gourd Baby waved his hand again, and the divine light tightened sharply!

Splat!

The early-stage Golden Immortal fierce beast was actually strangled to death by the seven-colored divine light! Blood and flesh flew everywhere!

"Sage Master is mighty!" The Human Race erupted in earth-shattering cheers!

"Hmph, it was nothing!" The Gourd Baby clapped his small hands, tilting his chin up proudly.

"Screech--!"

A sharp bird cry echoed from the sky!

Several "Netherfire Vultures," with wingspans spanning dozens of feet and bodies engulfed in ethereal blue flames, dived down from high above!

Their target was none other than the women and children in the Human Race's caravan!

Their auras were ferocious, and they were all peak Golden Immortal demon birds!

"Feathered beasts! You're courting death!"

The Golden-Winged Great Peng, in its true form, let out a roar that could shatter metal and split stone!

A flash of golden light!

Its speed was so fast, it seemed to traverse space!

It arrived before its attackers!

Its massive golden peng claws, carrying the might to tear through the void, fiercely grabbed towards the largest Netherfire Vulture at the front!

"Pfft!"

The peak Golden Immortal Netherfire Vulture leader didn't even have time to scream before it was crushed into a rain of blood and ethereal blue sparks by the peng claws!

The Golden-Winged Great Peng flapped its wings, and a fierce wind howled, whipping up a sky full of golden feathers that shot out like arrows towards the other demon birds!

Chit chit chit!

The remaining Netherfire Vultures were instantly pierced, falling to the ground with mournful cries!

The Golden-Winged Great Peng circled in the air, its golden eyes looking down with immense power, intimidating the scattered demons lurking in the distance into retreating.

The Human Race's migration was filled with numerous trivial matters.

Finding water sources, identifying edible wild fruits, driving away annoying venomous insects, mediating minor disputes within the group caused by resource allocation, arranging camping sites...

Dao Xuan ignored all these complicated affairs.

The "Sages" Gourd Baby, Golden-Winged Great Peng, and Six-Eared Macaque handled them on his behalf.

"Sage Gourd Baby, we've found a wild fruit forest ahead, but it's guarded by venomous bees..." someone from the Human Race reported.

"Venomous bees? A small matter! Watch my Seven-Colored Treasure Light Shield!" The Gourd Baby waved his small hand, and a seven-colored light screen enveloped the small team picking wild fruits. The venomous bees stung it, only to be repelled.

"Sage Golden-Winged Great Peng, there seems to be unusual activity in the mountain stream to the west; I fear there might be lurking demons..."

"Leave it to me!" The Golden-Winged Great Peng scanned with its divine sense, instantly locking onto a low-level water demon lurking in the water, startling it away with a golden light.

"Sage Six-Eared, there's a dispute among the clan members over a dry cave..."

The Six-Eared Macaque's ears twitched, and he had already heard the full story.

He flickered and appeared between the disputing parties, his voice calm but possessing undeniable power: "This area is spacious enough for two. The east side belongs to you, the west side to him, and the middle will be a passage. No more disputes!"

Although his cultivation was only at the Golden Immortal level, his thousand years of experience made him adept at handling such trivial matters. Moreover, his six ears allowed him to listen to people's hearts, often getting straight to the core of the problem, earning him their trust.

The Human Race's reliance and respect for the three Sages grew with each passing day.

The migration path was long and arduous.

The Great Desolation was boundless. Even with Dao Xuan's great magical power protecting them and accelerating their journey, even though this first batch of humans was created from the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil mixed with the Three Lights Divine Water, their innate talents far surpassed ordinary mortals. In later generations, they would all be considered "Earthly Immortals," capable of lifting cauldrons, moving like the wind, and possessing long lifespans.

However, the dangers of the Great Desolation were far beyond imagination.

Poisonous swamps and miasmas, formless and intangible, were impossible to guard against.

Bizarre celestial phenomena, gale-force winds that tore through the sky, and hailstones the size of bowls.

There were also deeply hidden, cunning, and treacherous fierce beasts, or certain natural deadly terrains.

Dao Xuan followed the Heavenly Dao; the Human Race must strive for self-improvement.

He protected the overall destiny of the Human Race and blocked threats that could overturn the entire clan – that is, threats at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal level and above.

For those "normal" casualties, those that fell under the category of growth and tempering, he chose to observe.

Like an eagle watching its fledgling take its first stumbling flight.

Thus, during the migration.

Some Human Race warriors died battling ferocious beasts to protect women and children, exhausting their last strength.

Some explorers ventured into poisonous miasma and perished, beyond any hope of rescue.

Some were swept away by strong currents while crossing a swift, turbulent river...

A thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

When the vast procession finally crossed endless mountains and rivers, and stepped out of the last primeval forest.

Their vision suddenly opened up!

Behold:

Vast mist and waves touched the sky, surging billows rolled with snowy winds.

Golden sands paved the ground, shining like the sun and moon, spiritual islands dotted the landscape, concealing immortal traces.

The sound of tides echoed like war drums, sea mist intertwined, transforming into colorful rainbows.

This was precisely the place where the Great Desolation's water element converged, a land teeming with life—the shores of the East Sea!

The fresh sea breeze, carrying moist sea air, rushed towards them, blowing away the dust and fatigue of a thousand-year migration.

The golden beach sparkled under the sun, the boundless azure sea surged with waves, emitting an eternal, unchanging tide song.

In the distance, elegant islands dotted the sea, shrouded in clouds and mist, exuding an ethereal aura.

The spiritual energy here was abundant. While not as dense as that of Buzhou Mountain, it possessed a greater sense of dynamism and vitality. The land and water were fertile, and resources could easily multiply.

"We've arrived! We've arrived!" The surviving Human Race erupted in earth-shattering cheers of relief after surviving disaster!

They gazed upon this vast and peaceful coastline, their eyes filled with longing for the future and tears.

Dao Xuan's gaze swept across those behind him.

They had started with 129,600 people.

Now, only 89,000-plus remained.

Nearly 40,000 of their kin had been left behind forever on the migration path, turning to dust in the Great Desolation.

Their sacrifice had bought the continuation and growth of their race.

The remaining Human Race had long since shed the initial ignorance and confusion from their eyes.

In their place were wisdom, resilience, a composure forged through hardship, and a deep-seated faith and reliance on the "Sage Master" and "Sages."

Their auras were refined, their movements agile. Though they possessed no divine abilities, they already exhibited a degree of the resilience characteristic of Great Desolation beings.

Their weapons, though simple, emanated a Fiend Qi that had been tempered by blood and fire.

"Merciful Sage Master! You have guided our race to find this safe haven!"

Several respected warrior elders of the Human Race (who had naturally emerged during the migration), led the remaining 89,000-plus people, kneeling in unison towards Dao Xuan. Their voices were loud and filled with sincere gratitude.

"Merciful Sage Master!"

"Merciful Sages!"

The sound waves surged like a tide, echoing along the shores of the East Sea.

Dao Xuan sat atop a Qilin, holding the Human-Creating Whip. The light of Xuanhuang merit illuminated the dense mass of people below, filled with hope and faith.

He, too, was filled with emotion.

A thousand years of protection, a thousand years of guidance.

Watching this new race toddle through blood and fire, grow tenaciously through sacrifice and hope.

The Human Race must strive for self-improvement!

This was not just a slogan; it was a brand seared into the very blood and bones of this nascent race!

"Rise." Dao Xuan's voice was gentle, yet it carried a comforting power.

"This place shall be your new home. The past is gone, the future is promising. Remember the grace of the Sage Mother's Creation, strive ceaselessly, revere heaven and earth, multiply and thrive, so that you may not be unworthy of this life, nor this destiny!"

"We respectfully obey the Sage Master's teachings!" The Human Race responded in unison, their voices shaking the sea borders.

Dao Xuan looked at his three disciples beside him.

Gourd Baby, Golden Peng, and Six-Eared, after a thousand years of tempering, had become increasingly steady in demeanor. Their cultivation had advanced individually, and they handled Human Race affairs with great proficiency.

"Gourd Baby, this place is rich in vitality, with abundant spiritual plants and wild fruits. You will be responsible for guiding the Human Race in identifying and gathering them, and continue to teach them methods of combat, hunting, and weapon crafting."

"Golden Peng, your eyesight is exceptionally keen, and your speed is unparalleled. You will be responsible for patrolling the sea borders and surrounding areas, guarding against great demons and ferocious beasts."

"Six-Eared, your hearing is pervasive, and your mind is meticulous. You will coordinate all internal affairs of the Human Race and warn against subtle dangers."

"Your disciples obey!" The three responded in unison, their eyes filled with drive.

A new home was before them.

The Human Race's flame finally took root on the shores of the East Sea.

And Dao Xuan knew that the path of protecting the Dao had only just begun.

The shadows of the Witch and Demon races, the undercurrents of the Great Desolation, still churned in the distance.

But at this moment, watching the Human warriors practice combat skills on the beach, watching the women and children, guided by the Gourd Babies, try to identify seashells and plants by the sea, watching the Six-Eared Macaque methodically direct his tribesmen to find suitable camping spots, watching the Golden-Winged Great Peng soar as a golden speck in the high sky, keeping watch.

A smile of relief appeared on Dao Xuan's lips.

The torch had been passed; the future was promising.

He gently patted the Qilin and walked towards the highest reef.

There, he would quietly observe the Human Race develop on its own, only blocking the waves that could overturn everything when necessary.