The disciples in Zixiao Palace were seething with anger.
"Teacher, Chu Yan nearly ruined my chance to become a Saint. He also cost me most of my destiny. I beg you to uphold justice."
Nuwa was the first to speak up. Though she had already become a Saint, the anger in her heart still refused to subside.
Why didn't the Human Race she had created revere her as their Holy Mother?
The sight of the Human Race's terrifying destiny only made Nuwa hate them more. That destiny should have belonged to her.
Taiqing also spoke:
"Teacher, after Junior Sister Nuwa created humanity, I sensed that my opportunity to become a Saint lay with the Human Race. But Chu Yan's actions will cut me off from that opportunity. I beg you to judge this fairly."
"Teacher, Chu Yan has gone too far. He defies Heaven's will and shows us no respect. Someone so rebellious and immoral is unworthy of being your disciple."
Yuanshi was furious too. Why should a mere ant be allowed to stand as his equal?
Why? He was Pangu Orthodox, while Chu Yan was nothing but an ordinary mortal.
It was infuriating.
Jieyin and Zhunti also complained. How could the Human Race's terrifying destiny be theirs alone to enjoy?
Hearing his disciples' complaints, Hongjun opened his eyes and glanced over them.
"Enough. Be quiet."
Then he said:
"The Human Race has opened a Thread of Life. This is their opportunity. You need say no more."
Hongjun had been forced to grit his teeth and swallow his pride to say those words.
But what was done was done, and it could not be changed.
"The River of Destiny in the Primordial World is now in chaos. It will take at least ten thousand years to set it in order. During this time, the Primordial World will be in turmoil, but this is also your opportunity to become Saints. After ten thousand years, every Variable will become a Fixed Number. Make good use of this opportunity."
Those words carried many implications. Hongjun had made his hint clear enough.
He continued:
"But the greatest Variable remains the Human Race. Chu Yan is an anomaly among anomalies. If the Primordial World is to prosper, and your Dao Traditions are to flourish, you cannot avoid dealing with the Human Race."
"Teacher, you mean..."
Yuanshi lacked Taiqing's cunning and Tongtian's talent.
Hongjun could only spell it out:
"The Human Race is destined to rise. This is Heaven's decree. But Chu Yan's appearance has thrown the River of Destiny into chaos. He even seeks to escape the Fixed Number, to transcend the Three Realms and Five Elements. Such actions will inevitably bring the Immeasurable Tribulation upon the Primordial World ahead of time."
Hiss...
The moment he said this, every disciple before him paled.
"Teacher, is there any way to avert this?"
Hongjun said:
"Make every Variable and anomaly return to the Fixed Number."
Yet his disciples sensed something was amiss. Chu Yan's whole purpose was to escape the Fixed Number.
Then Hongjun added:
"However, Chu Yan has gathered the Human Race's destiny and united it with the Human Race Will. He swore an oath with his own blood, stirring Humanity Dao into awakening ahead of time and summoning the Human Way Golden Dragon. Unless something unexpected happens, Chu Yan will surely become the future Ancestor of Humanity."
Rumble...
His words carried such enormous implications that everyone understood what they meant.
"Teacher, no! Chu Yan absolutely cannot become the Ancestor of Humanity."
Taiqing objected at once.
Saint Nuwa, Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti objected as well.
If Chu Yan became the Ancestor of Humanity, then everything concerning the Human Race would be his to decide. Even the Heavenly Dao would need his consent to interfere in the affairs of the Human Race.
Nuwa was especially alarmed. She had become a Saint because of the Human Race. If Chu Yan became the Ancestor of Humanity, she would be in danger too.
By then, Chu Yan would have her under his thumb.
"Teacher, is there a way to prevent this?"
Golden light shone in Hongjun's eyes.
"Compete for the Human Race's destiny. Do not let Chu Yan become the Ancestor of Humanity. Make every Variable among the Human Race return to the Fixed Number. Then all these troubles will resolve themselves."
Of course, Hongjun left one thing unsaid: either the One Hundred Thousand Innate Humans would all be wiped out, or they would join your Dao Traditions.
Everyone drew a sharp breath.
This was going to be troublesome.
"But Teacher, the Human Race's destiny is already connected to the Witch Race. If we act against the Human Race, we'll become entangled in Karma with the Witch Race. I can't bear the consequences."
The disciples couldn't help recalling the moment Pangu's Will descended and summoned the Pangu True Body.
With power that terrifying, how could the resulting karmic burden be anything but immense?
Even Hongjun had nearly been beaten to death by Pangu.
"Now that destiny is in chaos and the Heavenly Mechanism is obscured, as long as you do not go too far, it will be fine."
Hearing this, they all breathed a sigh of relief. How could they fail to understand what Hongjun was implying?
Wasn't he plainly telling them to stir up trouble?
"Remember, after ten thousand years, everything will become a Fixed Number. Make good use of this opportunity. You may leave. Tongtian, stay."
Hongjun emphasized it once more. Anyone who wasn't a fool understood.
As long as they didn't go too far within the next ten thousand years, the Heavenly Dao would turn a blind eye.
After all, the chaos in destiny needed time to settle. It was a convenient excuse.
Besides, Pangu had caused the chaos in destiny. It had nothing to do with them, yet the Witch Race had borne the consequences.
It could be said that Hongjun's schemes had never stopped.
"Yes, Teacher."
The other disciples had left. Only Tongtian remained seated.
"Tongtian, I know what you're thinking. I won't blame you for helping the Human Race before. But Chaos has been shattered, and the Primordial World has taken shape. It was formed from your Father God's body, and everything is now set in stone."
Hongjun resorted to playing on Tongtian's filial devotion. He had no choice—he was truly worried that if Chu Yan managed to sway Tongtian, all his schemes would be in trouble.
"Understood. Thank you for your guidance, Teacher."
"Mm."
Hongjun gave a quiet assent, then continued:
"You helped the Human Race open a Thread of Life, so you are already entangled with them. If possible, try to persuade them. The General Trend is already set. Forcing it to change goes against Heaven's harmony, and would make countless living beings in the Primordial World evolve into Chaos along with it."
Hongjun took out a strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi and sent it drifting toward Tongtian. Then he said:
"The Heavenly Dao is compassionate and cannot bear to see the Primordial World's living beings suffer. You may give this Hongmeng Purple Qi to him. I'll reserve the position of my seventh disciple for him. As long as the Human Race does not change the General Trend, the Heavenly Dao will act with perfect impartiality and will not obstruct its development."
Tongtian's expression changed drastically. Why was there another Hongmeng Purple Qi? Hadn't they already all been distributed? How could there be another?
But Hongjun paid no attention to Tongtian's shock. With a single sweep of his hand, countless Heavenly Dao Laws manifested and finally condensed into a meditation cushion.
In an instant, there were seven cushions in Zixiao Palace.
At the same time, the River of Destiny changed as well.
Hongjun intended to use this ten-thousand-year window of chaos in destiny to turn the Human Race into a Fixed Number as much as possible.
To achieve his goal, he didn't hesitate to release a strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi, certain that some jealous and reckless beings in the Primordial World would take action.
In doing so, he was setting a trap for the Human Race.
At the same time, in the next instant, Tongtian found himself in Chaos.
A strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi coiled in his hand, but his mind was occupied by other thoughts.
Should I really abandon Father God's legacy? If I do, I'll have failed Father God. But if I don't, countless living beings in the Primordial World will turn into Chaos, since this world was formed from Father God's body.
He pondered all the way back to the Primordial World, not knowing how he had returned.
In Zixiao Palace, Hongjun watched it all and let a faint smile cross his lips.
"Chu Yan, in the end, you still can't escape my grasp."
Time passed quietly. In the blink of an eye, a hundred years had gone by.
As the Human Race migrated, its population grew.
Chu Yan kept instilling the spirit of self-reliance in the Human Race.
In other words, he kept brainwashing them.
At that moment, the entire Human Race was united as one.
That day, brilliant rays of light suddenly blazed at the foot of Buzhou Mountain.
Countless mighty beings were stirred, and even Hongjun was alarmed.
He looked over, and his expression changed instantly.
"How can this be? Why has the Human Race changed so much?"
Before you continue