Dao Xuan sat upright atop the Five Spirit Qilin, his Blue Gauze Headband fluttering gently in the wind. His face was like Mutton Fat Jade, his eyes held stars, and his aura was as deep and unfathomable as the sea. He was already a Quasi-Saint.
He held the Human-Creating Whip, flowing with Mysterious Yellow Merit, while his divine sense enveloped the 129,600 newborn humans behind him.
The procession slowly moved forward.
The human race had only just been born. Their steps were unsteady, their eyes innocent and bewildered, filled with curiosity and instinctive fear toward the vast, perilous Great Desolation World.
Dao Xuan had long set his destination—the shores of the East Sea!
He understood the Great Desolation's future course of events.
Buzhou Mountain was a place the Witch and Demon Races were bound to fight over, and it would also be the center of that future world-destroying war!
Even the Heavenly Pillar formed from Pangu's spine would collapse. How could these fragile seedlings of humanity survive?
Only by staying far from the center of the storm and finding a relatively peaceful land rich in resources could humanity have room to breathe and develop.
The shores of the East Sea were rich in moisture and resources, far from the central battlefield of the Witch and Demon Races. It was the ideal choice.
"Children, follow me onward." Dao Xuan's voice was gentle, yet carried unquestionable strength, clearly reaching the hearts of every human. "The road ahead may be long, but where the heart yearns, there will surely be a place to settle and survive."
As he led the procession forward, he began fulfilling his duty as their guide.
"The Great Desolation is dangerous, where the weak are prey to the strong. If you wish to survive, you must possess the strength to fight!"
Dao Xuan's voice turned solemn, stirring a trace of sharp energy between heaven and earth.
He held two fingers together like a sword and casually slashed toward a hard boulder in the distance!
Ssh!
An invisible burst of force swept past!
The boulder was sliced apart as cleanly as tofu!
"This is the method of gathering strength. Your muscles and bones are the bow, your will the string. Concentrate the power of your entire body at a single point!"
Dao Xuan demonstrated the most basic techniques of exerting force.
The human warriors watched with blood boiling in their veins. One after another, they imitated him, practicing punches and kicks against the air or trees. Though clumsy, their movements brimmed with strength.
"With a weapon in hand, your power can be increased!"
Dao Xuan's gaze swept across the forest.
He did not directly grant them weapons, but guided them instead.
"This stone has distinct edges and is hard and sharp. Bind it to a wooden shaft, and it can become a stone spear!"
He drew over a sharp piece of flint and a hardwood branch, then secured them with vines to make a crude yet practical stone spear.
"This wood is tough and straight. With a little carving and polishing, it becomes a throwing spear!"
"This bone comes from a fierce beast. It is naturally sharp and can be made into a bone dagger!"
Dao Xuan passed down the knowledge of identifying, selecting, and simply processing natural materials to make weapons.
The humans immediately set to work. During rest periods along the migration route, they searched for suitable materials and crafted their first weapons.
Stone spears, bone daggers, wooden spears... 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 may be vicious, but they also have weaknesses that can be exploited!"
Dao Xuan spoke like the calmest of hunters.
"Wolf packs are cunning and favor surrounding their prey. You must fight in formation and strike at their leader!"
"Demonic bears are immensely strong, with thick hides and tough flesh. But they are somewhat slow-moving. Circle them and harass their eyes and nose!"
"Venomous snakes are treacherous and lurk in the dark. Keep your ears sharp and your eyes alert, track their movements, and attack from a distance whenever possible!"
He carefully analyzed and explained the habits, weaknesses, and methods of dealing with the various common fierce beasts and demonic beasts they encountered along the way.
The humans listened with complete focus, committing these life-or-death lessons firmly to memory.
The procession traveled across the lands of the Great Desolation.
The mountains and rivers were treacherous, while ancient trees towered into the sky.
Venomous insects and fierce beasts lurked in the shadows.
There were also vicious demonic beasts that, upon catching the scent of the humans' pure Innate Spiritual Energy and flesh, could no longer suppress their savage instincts and came roaring in for the kill!
Or there were hot-tempered Witch race warriors, who regarded all things in the Great Desolation as prey. Upon accidentally encountering this vast procession, they too would be seized by the urge to slaughter and plunder!
Roar—!
A fierce beast called a Zheng, shaped like a small mountain with bone spines on its back and tusks jutting from its jaws, charged from the dense forest amid a foul wind, rushing straight at the human procession!
It was ferocious beyond measure, its murderous aura soaring to the heavens. It was clearly at the early Golden Immortal stage!
Though startled, the human warriors did not panic. Under the shouted commands of several leaders, they swiftly formed ranks, stone spears and bone daggers pointed outward. Fear lingered in their eyes, but there was no thought of retreat!
"You beast! Do not run wild!"
A crisp child's voice rang out!
Seven-colored radiance flashed!
Gourd Baby rode the Seven-Colored Gourd, blocking the path before the human formation like a shooting star!
He was now at the early Grand Unity Golden Immortal stage. Facing this early Golden Immortal fierce beast, he felt no fear at all!
"Take this!"
Gourd Baby slapped the bottom of the gourd with his small hand.
Buzz!
A concentrated seven-colored divine light, nearly solid in form, shot out like a silken ribbon and instantly wrapped around the Zheng!
Awoo! The fierce beast let out a pained howl. Its enormous body was bound by the divine light and could not move!
Gourd Baby waved his hand again, and the divine light abruptly tightened!
Splurt!
The early Golden Immortal fierce beast was brutally squeezed apart by the seven-colored divine light! Flesh and blood flew everywhere!
"The Sage is mighty!" The humans erupted in thunderous cheers!
"Hmph, that was nothing!" Gourd Baby patted his little hands and proudly raised his chin.
Shriek—!
Sharp bird cries came from the sky!
Several Netherfire Vultures, each with wingspans of dozens of zhang and bodies wreathed in ghostly blue flames, dove down from high above!
Their targets were unmistakably the women and children among the human procession!
Their auras were savage. Every one of them was a peak Golden Immortal demonic bird!
"You feathered beasts! Courting death!"
Golden Peng, in his true Golden-Winged Great Peng form, released a furious cry that pierced metal and split stone!
Golden light flashed!
He moved so quickly that it seemed as though he had crossed space itself!
He struck after them, yet arrived first!
Massive golden peng claws, carrying the force to tear apart the void, viciously seized the largest Netherfire Vulture at the head of the flock!
Pfft!
Before the peak Golden Immortal Netherfire Vulture leader could even scream, it was crushed by the peng claws into a rain of blood and ghostly blue sparks!
Golden Peng beat his wings. Gale winds howled, sweeping countless golden feathers into the air, which shot toward the remaining demonic birds like Sharp Arrows!
Ssh! Ssh! Ssh!
The remaining Netherfire Vultures were instantly pierced through, crying miserably as they fell to the ground!
Golden Peng circled through the sky, his golden eyes looking down with contempt. His mighty peng aura terrified the scattered demonic creatures watching from afar, sending them fleeing.
The migration of humanity involved countless trivial matters.
Finding water sources, identifying edible wild fruits, driving away troublesome venomous insects, mediating minor internal disputes caused by resource distribution, arranging campsites...
Dao Xuan did not concern himself with any of these complicated matters.
Gourd Baby, Golden Peng, and Six-Eared Macaque, the three "Sages," handled them all.
"Sage Gourd Baby, we discovered a grove of wild fruit ahead, but poisonous bees are guarding it..." a human came to report.
"Poisonous bees? Easy! Behold my seven-colored treasure-light shield!" Gourd Baby waved his small hand, and a curtain of seven-colored light enveloped the human team gathering fruit. When the poisonous bees stung it, they were all bounced away.
"Sage Golden Peng, there seems to be some disturbance in the mountain ravine to the west. There may be a demonic creature lying in ambush..."
"Leave it to me!" Golden Peng swept the area with his divine sense and instantly locked onto a low-level water demon hiding beneath the water. A flash of golden light scared it away.
"Sage Six-Eared Macaque, some people in the tribe are arguing over a dry rock cave..."
The Six-Eared Macaque's six ears twitched. He had already heard the full story.
His body flashed, and he appeared between the two disputing sides. His voice was calm, yet carried unquestionable authority. "This place is spacious enough for two. The east side belongs to you, the west side to him, and the middle shall remain a passage. There will be no more arguing!"
Though his cultivation was only at the Golden Immortal stage, his thousand years of tempering had made handling such trivial matters second nature. Moreover, his six ears could listen to human hearts, allowing him to strike directly at the core of a problem and convince everyone.
The humans' reliance on and respect for the three Sages increased with every passing day.
The road of migration was long and arduous.
The Great Desolation was boundless. Though Dao Xuan protected them with immense power and accelerated their journey, though this first generation of humans had been created from Nine Heavens Breathing Soil mixed with Three Lights Divine Water, their natural talents far surpassed those of ordinary mortals. In later ages, every one of them would be considered an "earthbound immortal," capable of lifting cauldrons and running like the wind, with long lifespans.
But the dangers of the Great Desolation exceeded all imagination.
Poisonous marshes and miasmas were invisible and formless, impossible to guard against.
Strange celestial phenomena appeared, with astral winds ripping apart the sky and hailstones as large as buckets.
There were also deeply concealed, cunning, and treacherous monstrosities, as well as naturally formed forbidden lands and perilous regions.
Dao Xuan followed the will of Heaven. Humanity had to pursue Constant Self-Improvement.
What he protected was humanity's overall destiny, and what he blocked were disasters capable of annihilating the entire race—threats at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal level and above.
As for the "ordinary" casualties that fell within the scope of growth and tempering, he chose to watch from the sidelines.
Like an eagle watching its fledglings stumble through their first attempts at flight.
Thus, during the migration.
Some human warriors died from exhaustion after fighting fierce beasts to protect women and children.
Some explorers accidentally entered poisonous miasmas and perished before they could be treated.
Some were swept away by undercurrents while crossing raging rivers...
A thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.
When the vast procession finally crossed endless mountains and rivers and emerged from the last stretch of primordial wilderness.
The view before them suddenly opened up!
They saw:
Misty waves met the sky, while jade-blue billows rolled up snowy winds.
Golden sands carpeted the earth, shining beneath sun and moon, while spirit islands dotted the sea and concealed immortal traces.
The thunderous tides beat like war drums, and the sea mist transformed into rainbows.
This was the place where the water essence of the Great Desolation gathered, a land teeming with life—the shores of the East Sea!
The fresh sea breeze, carrying damp moisture, washed over them and scattered the dust and exhaustion of a thousand years of migration.
The golden beach glittered beneath the sunlight, while the boundless azure sea rose and fell in waves, producing the eternal sound of the tides.
In the distance, elegant spirit islands decorated the sea. Clouds and mist curled around them, faint immortal energy lingering within.
This place was rich in spiritual energy. Though it lacked the heavy grandeur of Buzhou Mountain, it possessed greater vitality and liveliness. Its waters and soil were fertile, and resources could flourish with ease.
"We're here! We're here!" The surviving humans erupted in thunderous cheers of relief after surviving disaster!
They gazed upon this vast and peaceful coast, their eyes filled with tears and longing for the future.
Dao Xuan looked over his shoulder.
When they had departed, there had been 129,600 of them.
Now, only a little more than 89,000 remained.
Nearly 40,000 tribespeople had been left forever along the road of migration, becoming dust of the Great Desolation.
Their sacrifices had bought the continuation and growth of their race.
The remaining humans had long shed their initial innocence and confusion.
In its place were wisdom, tenacity, the composure forged through hardship, and faith and reliance upon the Sage Master and the Sages that had sunk deep into their bones.
Their auras had become refined, and their movements were vigorous. Though they possessed no divine abilities, they had gained some of the tough spirit of Great Desolation creatures.
The weapons in their hands were crude, yet they radiated the murderous aura of having been tempered in blood and fire.
"Sage Master, merciful one! You guided our people to this place where we may settle!"
Several respected warrior elders among the humans, naturally formed during the migration, led the remaining eighty-nine thousand people in kneeling before Dao Xuan. Their voices were loud, filled with sincere gratitude.
"Sage Master, merciful one!"
"Sages, merciful ones!"
Their voices surged like tides, echoing across the shores of the East Sea.
Dao Xuan sat atop the qilin, holding the Human-Creating Whip. The light of Mysterious Yellow Merit illuminated the dark mass of humans below, filled with hope and faith.
His heart was also filled with deep emotion.
A thousand years of protection, a thousand years of guidance.
He had watched this newborn race stumble through its first steps amid blood and fire, growing stubbornly amid sacrifice and hope.
Humanity must pursue Constant Self-Improvement!
This was not merely a slogan. It was an imprint carved into the bones and blood of this newborn race!
"Rise." Dao Xuan's voice was gentle, yet carried the power to soothe hearts.
"This place shall be your new home. The past has passed, and the future is full of promise. Remember the grace of the Holy Mother who created you. Pursue Constant Self-Improvement, revere Heaven and Earth, multiply and thrive. Only then will you not betray this life or this destiny!"
"We shall obey the Sage Master's teachings!" The humans answered in unison, their voices shaking the sea frontier.
Dao Xuan looked toward his three disciples.
Gourd Baby, Golden Peng, and Six-Eared Macaque had also become increasingly steady after a thousand years of tempering. Their cultivation had each advanced, and managing human affairs had become second nature to them.
"Gourd Baby, this place is brimming with life and rich in spirit plants and wild fruits. You will guide humanity in identifying and gathering them, while continuing to teach them methods of fighting, hunting, and crafting weapons."
"Golden Peng, your sight reaches far and your speed is unmatched. You will patrol the sea frontier and surrounding lands, remaining vigilant against great demons and fierce creatures."
"Six-Eared Macaque, your ears hear in every direction and your mind is meticulous. You will oversee all internal affairs of humanity and warn them of subtle dangers."
"This disciple obeys!" The three answered together, their eyes filled with determination.
Their new home lay before them.
The spark of humanity had finally taken root on the shores of the Eastern Sea.
And Dao Xuan knew that the road of safeguarding the Dao had only just begun.
The shadows of the Witch and Demon clans, the undercurrents of the Primordial Wilderness, still churned in the distance.
But at this moment, he watched the human warriors drill their fighting techniques on the beach; watched the women and children, under Gourd Baby's guidance, try to identify seashells and coastal plants; watched Six Ears methodically direct the clanspeople in search of a suitable campsite; watched Golden Peng soar high above as a speck of gold, keeping watch.
A faint, gratified smile appeared on Dao Xuan's lips.
The flame had been passed on. The future held promise.
He gently patted the Qilin and walked toward the tallest reef.
There, he would quietly observe humanity's development, stepping in only when necessary to shield them from the raging waves that could overturn everything.
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