Above the Primordial World, Chu Yan was frantic with worry.
"I blew up the Human Race Dao Tradition, and this last wisp of its aura is nowhere near enough to establish it. Even if I change course now, it's too late. What do I do? What can I do?"
Chu Yan was utterly panicked, sensing the remaining aura of the Human Race Dao Tradition growing fainter by the moment.
He was so anxious he could barely keep from tearing his hair out.
At last, he understood how Nuwa had felt when he had pushed her into such a predicament.
Suddenly, Sect Master Tongtian's voice rang across the Primordial World:
"Human Master, the Human Race Dao Tradition blew itself up, leaving only a trace of its aura. There isn't enough to establish the Human Race Dao Tradition. The only way to establish it successfully is for one hundred thousand Innate Humans to willingly sacrifice themselves. Otherwise, there is no other way."
Sect Master Tongtian had damaged Pangu's Primordial Spirit and forcefully divined a way to open a path to survival for Chu Yan.
But the price had been immense. At that very moment, Sect Master Tongtian's three thousand strands of black hair had turned white.
He had already split off twelve portions of his primordial spirit before. Now he had damaged it again.
Sect Master Tongtian had suffered a grave injury to his foundation.
The Endless Great Powers of the Primordial World were shocked.
"What? One hundred thousand Innate Humans have to be sacrificed before the Human Race Dao Tradition can be successfully formed?"
"Those are Innate Humans! They were born to safeguard the Human Race Destiny. If they're sacrificed, then the Human Race Destiny..."
Everyone understood. If one hundred thousand Innate Humans died, the Human Race Destiny could no longer be fully suppressed.
Wouldn't the Heavenly Dao Saints be able to divide it up as they pleased then?
For a time, the Endless Great Powers of the Primordial World held their tongues, all eager to see what Chu Yan would choose.
All the Saints of the Heavenly Dao were startled to hear this as well.
Could there really be such a good thing?
"None of you are to interfere with Chu Yan establishing the Human Race Dao Tradition. Wait for the one hundred thousand Innate Humans to sacrifice themselves of their own accord, then welcome the Seventh Disciple Under My Sect."
Hongjun's voice rang out. Every Saint heard him clearly, and they were all overjoyed.
With such a good thing on offer, who would get in the way?
"How could this happen—"
Chu Yan roared, tears of blood streaming down his face.
"I've worked so hard to protect the Human Race and created a Dao Tradition of our own so we wouldn't be manipulated. I never imagined things would end like this. I refuse to accept it—"
He roared at the heavens as a terrifying aura of resentment spread across the Primordial World.
This was a calculated dilemma. Either one hundred thousand Innate Humans were sacrificed to establish the Human Race Dao Tradition, giving All the Saints of the Heavens the perfect opportunity to scheme against the Human Race.
Or the one hundred thousand Innate Humans were not sacrificed, and the Human Race Dao Tradition lost its chance forever.
Then the Human Race would be completely at the mercy of All the Saints of the Heavenly Dao.
"Ah—"
With a furious, anguished cry, Chu Yan truly had no idea what to do.
"Chu Yan, let them be sacrificed. The Ten Golden Crows already grievously wounded the one hundred thousand Innate Humans. Even if they aren't sacrificed now, they will all die within a hundred years. Sacrifice them, and the Human Race Dao Tradition will be established. You can rely on your own means from then on. If they aren't sacrificed, the Human Race will lose its chance forever."
Sect Master Tongtian's voice echoed in Chu Yan's mind.
One tear of blood after another fell from Chu Yan, scattering across the Primordial World.
At once, blood rained down from the sky.
"Is there really no other way?"
As he sensed the aura of the Human Race Dao Tradition growing weaker and weaker, Chu Yan felt utterly helpless.
A wave of sorrow enveloped the entire Primordial World. Countless living beings were overcome by it and wept without end.
The Primordial World had already been shrouded in the miasma of karmic sin. Beneath the blood rain, it looked even more crimson.
Thud—
Suddenly, all one hundred thousand Innate Humans fell to their knees. They struggled to hold themselves upright and bowed toward Chu Yan.
"Human Master, we are willing to give up our lives of our own accord for the sake of the Human Race. We beg you to let us."
Pfft—
As soon as the words fell, one hundred thousand Innate Humans severed their own life force and collapsed to the ground.
At once, the Human Race Destiny began to scatter.
The Saints were thrilled at the sight.
"Hahaha! The Human Race Destiny will be ours after all."
"This Saint's Human Religion will finally have a name to match its substance."
"No—"
Chu Yan's expression changed dramatically, but the one hundred thousand Innate Humans seemed utterly resolved.
"Human Master, we are willing to give up our lives. I have no regrets if it's for the Human Race. Pfft—"
Another Innate Human severed their life force.
"Stop! Stop this! Stop—"
Chu Yan's desperate, heart-wrenching shouts rang out, but he could do nothing to stop them.
"Human Master, we are offering ourselves willingly. You needn't feel guilty for the Human Race. Pfft—"
"Human Master, we leave the Human Race in your hands. I can go in peace. Pfft—"
"Human Master, the Human Race must grow strong and bow to neither Heaven nor Earth. I speak now to all the Human Race as one of the one hundred thousand Innate Humans: grow strong, and avenge us! Pfft—"
"Human Master, we're going now. Pfft—"
One after another, they severed their life force. The Human Race Destiny grew more and more chaotic. If it had once been a single rope,
now that rope was beginning to unravel, drifting in all directions.
"No, no—"
Chu Yan was overcome with grief. He was human too, with flesh and blood. How could he stand by and watch his people die?
"Human Master, don't blame yourself. Don't grieve. We offer ourselves willingly. We only ask that you don't betray our trust. Pfft—"
"Human Master, the Human Race Dao Tradition must be established. The Human Race is the strongest. Otherwise, we won't be able to rest in peace even in death—"
One after another, they went to their deaths with resolve, keeping their heads high and their backs straight until the very end.
They were telling every member of the Human Race that their heads could be severed and their blood could be shed, but the dignity of the Human Race must never fall.
They were also telling every member of the Human Race that humans stood tall between Heaven and Earth and feared no death.
And they were telling every living being in the Primordial World: this was the Human Race, a people with iron in their bones.
"We, the Human Race, will remember the Human Master's Dao Oath. Today, we willingly give our lives and become the souls of the Human Race, to protect the Primordial Human Race. Human Master, the Human Race Dao Tradition must be established. Pfft—"
"While alive, we shall bring peace to the Human Race for ten thousand generations. In death, we shall become the souls of the Human Race and protect our people for all eternity."
"We are willing to become the souls of the Human Race and protect our people—"
At that moment, Chu Yan's Dao Oath rang across the Primordial World once more.
One hundred thousand Innate Humans went to their deaths one after another, severing their own life force.
A vast amount of Human Race Destiny began to gather around Chu Yan.
It carried with it the will and protection of the one hundred thousand Innate Humans.
Rumble...
The Human Race Dao Tradition around Chu Yan suddenly began to glow with golden light.
With their own unyielding will, the one hundred thousand Innate Humans forcibly kept the aura of the Human Race Dao Tradition alive.
"Chu Yan, if you don't establish the Human Race Dao Tradition now, when will you?"
Sect Master Tongtian roared, and his words instantly ignited Chu Yan's fury.
"Every living being in the Primordial World, listen to me! All the Saints of the Heavens, listen to me! Hongjun, you listen too! The Human Race has suffered a calamity today, and all one hundred thousand Innate Humans have perished. From this day on, my Human Race will make you pay for it! Otherwise, may the entire Human Race perish—"
His grief-stricken roar echoed across every corner of the Primordial World.
A bone-chilling killing intent spread throughout the world.
Every living being felt a chill run down their spine.
"Human Race Dao Tradition, be established—"
Rumble...
In an instant, Chu Yan's aura erupted.
Faintly, it seemed as if the majestic, mysterious music of the Great Dao had begun to sound.
The entire Primordial World was filled with boundless Dao resonance.
The Saints' expressions changed dramatically at the sight.
"The Human Race Dao Tradition is incredibly powerful. It has actually made the Dao resonance manifest."
"Hmph. So what if it's powerful? With the one hundred thousand Innate Humans gone and only Chu Yan left, even the strongest Human Race Dao Tradition won't let him suppress the Human Race Destiny. It'll still fall into our hands."
The Saints smiled smugly.
Sect Master Tongtian, however, looked troubled. The one hundred thousand Innate Humans had sacrificed themselves, but one person was missing.
That person was Chu Yan.
Under these circumstances, even if the Human Race Dao Tradition were established, it would be incomplete.
"Alas..."
Sect Master Tongtian sighed. If Chu Yan didn't sacrifice himself, the Human Race Dao Tradition would be incomplete. But if he did, not a single Innate Human would remain. What was to be done?
Yet Chu Yan spoke again.
"I, Chu Yan, Human Master and foremost among the Innate Humans of the Primordial World, willingly offer myself as a sacrifice to complete the Human Race Dao Tradition."
Clang—
Countless great powers were utterly stunned.
"What? Chu Yan is going to sacrifice himself? Does he even want to live?"
The Saints were startled too. If Chu Yan willingly sacrificed himself, wouldn't that mean... Heh heh.
"Human Race Dao Tradition, be established—"
Before you continue