Chu Yan made no attempt to hide it and answered directly:
"I'll tentatively call it the Martial Dao, the True Martial Great Dao. For now, it's only a rough outline."
"The Martial Dao?"
Sect Master Tongtian was greatly shocked. He looked at Chu Yan again, suddenly feeling a sense of kinship with him.
"That's right, the Martial Dao. I created it by observing the Witch Race's Nine Revolutions Profound Technique and Pangu's creation of the Primordial World. It's still incomplete, though, and I'll need Sect Master Tongtian's help to perfect it."
"Uh... you need my help? Also, the Human Race didn't exist when Father God created the world. How could you have observed him doing it?"
Chu Yan swept a hand toward the Primordial World.
"Take a look, Sect Master. Isn't this Primordial World the result of Pangu's creation? Although I didn't witness the process with my own eyes, I can still gain some insight from the world itself."
That was true, but Chu Yan left one thing unsaid.
When he had met Pangu's gaze, he had seen the process of Pangu creating the world.
Perhaps this was a contingency Pangu had left for him.
"The Human Master truly is a peerless talent."
Sect Master Tongtian was astonished. With such terrifying, heaven-defying comprehension, it was no wonder Chu Yan could thwart Nuwa and the other Sages' plans to seize the Human Race Destiny.
"Human Master, in that case, what would you have me do?"
Chu Yan replied:
"I've already studied the Witch Race's Nine Revolutions Profound Technique. I know that Sect Master Tongtian was formed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit. If possible, I hope you'll demonstrate the Nine Revolutions Primordial Technique for me to observe."
"Of course. I'll demonstrate it for you now."
Sect Master Tongtian readily agreed.
In an instant, the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation erupted, then enveloped the entire Jin'ao Island.
The scene stirred the entire Primordial World.
Countless powerful beings looked over, only to feel as if their minds were being cleaved apart by blades.
"Ah! The Immortal Slaying Sword Formation has cut off my divine sense!"
The countless powerful beings hastily withdrew their senses in fright.
Even the Heavenly Dao Saints dared not intrude at will.
Seeing this, Chu Yan immediately understood Sect Master Tongtian's purpose.
"Human Master, watch closely."
Sect Master Tongtian began demonstrating the Nine Revolutions Primordial Technique. Unlike the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, which cultivated the body, this technique cultivated the primordial spirit.
Chu Yan watched intently, comparing what he saw against his own deductions.
Time passed slowly. In the blink of an eye, a hundred years had gone by.
A hundred years later, on this day, a terrifying aura erupted from Jin'ao Island.
Sect Master Tongtian was delighted.
"Have you succeeded?"
Daoist patterns shimmered faintly across Chu Yan's body.
A golden dragon coiled around him. Though only a zhang long, it looked all the more lifelike.
A moment later, Chu Yan opened his eyes and bowed to Sect Master Tongtian.
"Thank you, Sect Master. The Human Race Dao Tradition has advanced once more."
"It was nothing. Being able to help the Human Master is my good fortune."
Sect Master Tongtian was delighted as well. Then he asked:
"Would the Human Master tell me about the Martial Dao? It would help me learn from it."
"Certainly."
Chu Yan also wanted to give Sect Master Tongtian a helping hand.
"By observing the Primordial World, we can discern the Heaven, Earth, and Human Three Daos. My Human Race also has three: essence, qi, and spirit. The Heavenly Dao focuses on becoming a Sage through the Three Corpses, as well as divine abilities and spells. The Human Race, meanwhile, focuses on essence, qi, and spirit. These three are concealed within the body. Essence transforms into an undying Martial God's will; qi awakens one's inner treasures and forms the Martial God's body; spirit condenses an undying Martial Soul. Finally, the three unite, and one enters Sainthood in a single stride."
His explanation was brief, but Sect Master Tongtian's expression changed dramatically.
This was entirely about relying on oneself. If someone could truly force their way into Sainthood, who would dare scheme against the Human Race?
"And what will you do about the Human Race Destiny?"
Chu Yan smiled faintly.
"The Human Race Destiny?"
Chu Yan sighed. Destiny was a wonderful thing, but for the Human Race as it stood, it was a burden.
All Saints of the Heavens and Hongjun schemed against the Human Race through its destiny. The only way out would be for the Human Race to have no destiny at all.
But without its destiny, the Human Race in the Primordial World would surely be wiped out.
It was a no-win scheme. The only way out was to do as Chu Yan had said and Prove Dao by Force.
But that path was far too long.
"The Human Race Destiny? As long as it exists, that's enough. We only need to ensure that the Human Race survives. Too much of it would only make us a target."
Sect Master Tongtian immediately understood.
"So the Human Master saw through it long ago. That's why you used the Human Race Destiny to temper the Killing Spear and forge the Human Race's Slaughter Sacred Artifact?"
"Exactly."
Chu Yan nodded, but then he looked troubled.
"But who knew that the Human Race Destiny would keep growing even after I spent some of it? It's left me at a loss."
Chu Yan sighed, then continued:
"As long as the Human Race Destiny exists, the powers of the heavens will keep scheming against us. Once a scheme succeeds, even if they take only a tiny fraction, a breach will open. Then the situation will spiral out of control."
Sect Master Tongtian gave an awkward laugh. How could he not understand what Chu Yan meant?
"I've become a Sage, but the Heavenly Mechanism remains hidden. I can't see much further. Still, I can clearly see the Witch-Monster Tribulation. The General Trend has already been set, and the Heavenly Dao won't let the Human Race be wiped out."
Indeed, as long as the Human Race survived, its destiny would continue without end. As long as people were born, the Human Race Destiny would grow stronger.
Originally, all that destiny had been prepared for the Sages.
But then Chu Yan, an unexpected Variable, had appeared.
"Human Master, this predicament won't be easy to resolve. Without a Sage of their own, the Human Race won't be able to hold on to its destiny once the One Hundred Thousand Innate Humans die. Then the Sages will devour them without leaving even a bone."
"That's why I was so eager to establish the Human Race Dao Tradition and force my way into Sainthood."
Sect Master Tongtian said:
"That makes sense. But time is short. If the Human Race doesn't produce a Sage within ten thousand years, it'll be in grave danger. The Dao Ancestor said that within ten thousand years, the Heavenly Dao will remain hidden and fate will be in chaos. It was also a warning to us: within those ten thousand years, we must do everything we can to scheme against the Human Race and return every Variable to its Fixed Number. Otherwise..."
At that, Chu Yan understood. The ten thousand years were a period for restoring order.
"It seems Hongjun has set up an enormous game."
"By the way, Human Master, the Dao Ancestor spoke with me privately earlier. He wants you to become the Seventh Disciple Under My Sect. He even offered you a wisp of Hongmeng Purple Qi."
As he spoke, a wisp of Hongmeng Purple Qi appeared in Sect Master Tongtian's hand. Chu Yan was startled at the sight.
"Wasn't it said that there were only seven of them in all of Heaven and Earth? The Six Sages divided six among themselves, and the last one was split off and disappeared without a trace. How could there be an eighth? Could it be..."
Chu Yan was shocked. Could this be the missing seventh wisp?
Chu Yan immediately thought of the Three Human Emperors. In the original course of events, the Three Human Emperors of the Human Race became Sages, but they were no match for the Heavenly Dao Saints.
In the end, they were tricked into entering Fire Cloud Cave.
If Chu Yan's guess was right, the Three Human Emperors had shared a single wisp of Hongmeng Purple Qi.
This had to be that very wisp. He simply hadn't expected that his existence as a Variable would force Hongjun to change his plans.
Before Chu Yan could react, the Hongmeng Purple Qi in Sect Master Tongtian's hand suddenly burst forth and shot straight toward him.
"Human Master, be careful!"
Sect Master Tongtian immediately tried to suppress it, but it was thrown back.
With a whoosh, it plunged into Chu Yan's body.
"Not good!"
Chu Yan's expression changed dramatically. He immediately realized this was one of Hongjun's schemes.
"Damn it! Human Master, the Dao Ancestor used me. I'm truly sorry."
"Quick, don't waste your breath. Help me suppress this Hongmeng Qi. If it recognizes me as its master, the Human Race is finished."
Chu Yan looked panicked and immediately fought to hold it down.
The golden dragon of the Human Race Dao Tradition erupted within Chu Yan's body, and a fierce battle began.
In Purple Skies Palace, Hongjun's eyes snapped open.
"Heh. The Variable will eventually become the Fixed Number. Chu Yan, you are destined to become the Seventh Disciple Under My Sect."
Before you continue