"Chu Yan, I created the Human Race. I should be its Holy Mother. Why won't you bow to me?"
"Chu Yan, you're far too bold! How dare you refuse to honor Junior Sister Nuwa as the Holy Mother? You're defying Heaven!"
Primordial World, Shore of the East Sea.
Nuwa, the Three Pure Ones, and the Western Jieyin Zhunti all hovered in the air, glaring at Chu Yan.
The Endless Great Powers of the Primordial World were all looking this way as well.
Nuwa created humans and became the Holy Mother of the Human Race. She received the Human Race's worship, then attained the Saint Position.
But now, something had gone wrong.
Above the Shore of the East Sea, an immense mass of Golden Light of Merit from creating humans hung in the sky, but it had yet to descend.
The culprit behind all this was the Primordial Human Race member standing before them.
The first of the Innate Human Race: Chu Yan.
Chu Yan had originally been a powerful figure of the twenty-first century. He had just finished reading a novel about the Primordial World and felt that the tragic fate of the Human Ancestor was deeply unfair. Then he suddenly died and transmigrated here.
When he opened his eyes again, he discovered that he had transmigrated to the Primordial World.
He had become the very first of the One Hundred Thousand Innate Humans created by Nuwa.
After absorbing his memories, Chu Yan couldn't sit still. He knew how the Primordial Human Race would ultimately fare.
The Wu-Yao tribes would slaughter the Human Race on a massive scale, wiping out all One Hundred Thousand Innate Humans.
The All Saints would even divide up the Human Race Destiny, and in the end, Hongjun would scheme against them.
Humanity Dao hadn't even had a chance to emerge before it was schemed out of existence.
From then on, the Human Emperor became the Son of Heaven.
The Human Race ultimately became the All Saints' puppets, trapped in endless darkness.
Perhaps, in that instant, Chu Yan understood why he had transmigrated.
To save the Human Race.
So, when Nuwa was naming the Human Race, Chu Yan named them first.
He seized a portion of the Primordial Human Race's Destiny, thereby depriving Nuwa of a large part of her Opportunity to Become Saint.
Nuwa tried to make up for it by naming Chu Yan herself.
But Chu Yan spoke first again, telling her that he already had a name: Chu Yan.
Nuwa was so furious she nearly spat up three mouthfuls of blood.
So she immediately ordered the Human Race to bow to her as their Holy Mother, hoping to make up for her loss.
But Chu Yan had instantly seized upon Nuwa's vulnerability and stopped the Human Race from bowing.
That completely infuriated Nuwa.
To deprive someone of their chance to become a Saint was to make an enemy for life.
Taiqing also sensed that his own Opportunity to Become Saint was closely tied to the Human Race. With Chu Yan stirring things up like this, how could he sit still?
So he immediately manifested his Dharma Body and descended upon the Shore of the East Sea, drawing the attention of countless powerful beings across the Primordial World.
"Chu Yan, I'll give you one more chance. Bow to me as the Holy Mother of the Human Race."
But Chu Yan remained unbowed and unbending, looking up at Nuwa.
"Why should the Human Race worship you as its Holy Mother?"
Chu Yan remained calm and unafraid.
"I created the Human Race. I gave you life. If you don't worship me, who will you worship?"
Chu Yan only sneered.
"You're right. You created the Human Race, but the Human Race is also what will make you a Saint. This is simply an exchange of benefits between us. The Human Race owes you nothing."
The moment he said this, the entire Primordial World was shaken. The Endless Great Powers were stunned as well.
Chu Yan was trying to sever the bond between the Human Race and Nuwa.
If his argument held, then after Nuwa became a Saint, she would have no further connection to the Human Race.
Taiqing, in particular, instantly turned pale.
"Chu Yan, don't talk nonsense. This is ordained by Heaven."
But inwardly, he was deeply shocked. Looking at Chu Yan, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye.
At the same time, his heart was choked with frustration. Junior Sister Nuwa, what in the world have you created?
Chu Yan stepped forward, straightening his chest. He wasn't the least bit afraid of these powerful figures.
"My fate is mine to decide, not Heaven's! The Human Race decides its own path. Why should any of you deceive us with your nonsense?"
"You insolent fool! You're asking for death!"
Nuwa was pushed over the edge by Chu Yan's words. How could she allow the humans she had created to disobey her?
She glanced at the remaining lump of Nine Heavens Soil beside her and didn't hesitate.
She struck down with a palm, intending to kill Chu Yan and create another human in his place.
If the bond between her and the Human Race were severed, who knew what might happen in the future?
Rumble...
The entire Shore of the East Sea shook. The Heaven-Covering Great Hand Seal came straight for Chu Yan.
Countless powerful beings turned pale with fright.
"Nuwa, stop! How is killing Chu Yan any different from a mother killing her child?"
Suddenly, Sect Master Tongtian roared, trying to stop her. He didn't like Chu Yan either, but Nuwa had gone too far.
"Tongtian, be quiet."
Taiqing snapped at him. How could he let Tongtian ruin his own opportunity? He continued, "Chu Yan has wrecked Junior Sister Nuwa's Opportunity to Become Saint. If you were in her place, you'd do the same—or worse."
"Elder Brother, you..."
"Stop talking nonsense. Be quiet, before you ruin everything."
Tongtian wanted to say more, but in the end, he held his tongue.
Chu Yan glanced at Tongtian, his eyes full of approval. As expected of the future Sect Master Tongtian, the one who would take on four opponents at once.
He seemed to have a decent nature. If he could, Chu Yan might help him out in the future.
As for the other future Saints? Heh. Chu Yan knew that the future Saints of the Primordial World were all different.
Nuwa's heart still belonged to the Yao tribe.
The future Two Saints of the West would swindle and deceive without the slightest scruple.
Among the Three Pure Ones, Laozi seemed detached from worldly affairs, dignified and lofty, but in truth, he was a complete hypocrite.
And Yuanshi Tianzun? He was arrogant and self-righteous. The future disciples of the Chan Sect were the best proof of that.
He was also narrow-minded and consumed by jealousy, always wanting to outdo Tongtian in everything. If the other Saints hadn't helped during the Investiture of the Gods, Yuanshi would have lost all the same.
Only Sect Master Tongtian was frank and straightforward, without much malice. That was exactly why his Interception Sect would eventually be sabotaged until it was Interception Sect in name only.
Rumble...
Nuwa's attack came down, instantly engulfing everything before her.
Pfft—
But the result left everyone dumbfounded. A golden light burst forth above the Human Race.
Nuwa instantly spat out a mouthful of blood, then her expression changed.
"No! How could this happen? I've been struck by a backlash!"
The mighty beings of the heavens were also horrified. What was going on?
Taiqing's eyes widened as he stared at Chu Yan in disbelief.
"This... Damn it, this is the protection of the Heavenly Dao! The Heavenly Dao is protecting the Human Race!"
"What?"
Nuwa couldn't spare a thought for her backlash. Taiqing's words had left her utterly stunned.
"How can this be? The Heavenly Dao is protecting the Human Race, so how am I supposed to become a Saint? Is my path to Sainthood cut off? No, that can't be. Pfft—"
She spat out another mouthful of blood. Her Dao Heart had been wounded.
The other Endless Great Powers were dumbfounded by the sight as well.
"Nuwa's Dao Heart has been wounded. Her strength has fallen. It'll be difficult for her to become a Saint."
"The Heavenly Dao is protecting the Human Race? How is that possible?"
Countless powerful beings were stunned. Taiqing's face also turned red and pale by turns.
His own path to Sainthood was also closely tied to the Human Race. Now that events weren't following the script, what was he supposed to do?
"Very well, very well. Since things have come to this, I can only yield for now."
Taiqing took a deep breath and sent a voice transmission.
"Junior Sister Nuwa, the Human Race is protected by the Heavenly Dao, and the General Trend is set. It cannot be changed. You should find a way to make the Human Race acknowledge your position as Holy Mother. Otherwise, you won't be able to become a Saint."
Though he didn't know why the Heavenly Dao was protecting the Human Race, that no longer mattered. Nuwa had to become a Saint.
Rolling thunder echoed in Nuwa's heart. She was instantly shaken.
That damn Chu Yan had indeed seized upon her weakness. Did she really have to take a step back?
"Chu Yan, what will it take for the Human Race to worship me as its Holy Mother?"
Facing Nuwa's furious, frustrated voice,
Chu Yan smiled slightly and said,
"I have three questions. If you can meet my demands, the Human Race will surely honor you as its Holy Mother and always stand by your side. If you can't, then don't blame me for cutting off your chance to become the Holy Mother."
The Endless Great Powers were taken aback by his words.
You're a lowly ant, and you dare make demands of a Dao Ancestor's disciple?
Nuwa was burning with fury too. You damn fool, you still dare make demands of me?
I'll show you— No. I'll endure it. The Saint Position comes first.
Nuwa drew a deep breath, forcing her anger down.
"Speak."
Before you continue