Flame Emperor Token!

Beside the river valley and stream, Wu Wang sat with a frown, looking at the smiling old man in the straw cape before him.

What is this? What's going on? What should I do?

Ah, I'm a little dizzy...

The Human Emperor, the contemporary king of the Human Domain, who led the Human Domain in resisting half the spirits of the Great Wilderness, still allowing the Human Domain to stand tall in the Southern Plains and become more prosperous and flourishing, was sitting so casually before him?

Should I salute him?

Wu Wang had this thought, then chuckled to himself.

Be serious, I can't be flippant now.

This wasn't just because the old man before him was the legendary Flame Emperor Shennong; it wasn't just because the other party claimed he could cure his strange illness.

There was also a profound weight from the myths and legends of his homeland.

Wu Wang took two steps back and performed a common Human Domain salute to the old man who called himself Old Man Lianshan.

"This junior has been very remiss, Your Majesty the Human Emperor, please do not take offense!"

Shennong Shi shook his head and smiled, "Let's just talk about your strange illness, and set aside other matters for now. Do you trust me?"

"I do, what could a senior possibly scheme against this junior for?"

Wu Wang smiled, "This junior has also taken a Daoist Name like the cultivators of the Human Domain, calling myself Wuwang, meaning 'without worry or desire'."

"Wuwang? A disaster without cause?"

Shennong Shi was immediately amused.

"Hahaha, your Daoist Name is truly fitting, this strange illness is indeed a disaster without cause."

Wu Wang wondered, "Does Senior know the root cause of this strange illness of mine?"

"Let me consider how much I can tell you. Some inner details concern the fate of the human race, and it is not convenient to explain them to you at this time."

Shennong Shi pondered for a few moments and said:

"Let's go to a nearby resting place first, and I will explain it to you slowly."

With that, Shennong Shi stood up, placed a hand on Wu Wang's shoulder, and took half a step forward.

The surrounding light and shadow shifted, and the world changed again.

They were now among rolling mountains, standing on a mountainside within a maple forest. Red maple leaves were everywhere, flocks of birds could be seen circling in the distance, and further away were endless pines and cypresses.

Wisps of clear energy drifted with the wind, and mountain springs and waterfalls descended from the clouds. There was no sign of human habitation anywhere; it was truly a good place for immortal cultivation.

There was a small thatched hut not far away. Shennong Shi's voice came from the side:

"Come here."

Wu Wang did not dare to observe the surrounding scenery too much and quickly followed.

From afar, the cry of cranes could be heard. Two white cranes flew in with outstretched wings, circled above the thatched hut for a moment, dropped the lingzhi and spiritual herbs they held in their beaks, and then flew away.

There was a small picket fence in front of the thatched hut.

Shennong Shi walked to the front of the yard and shook his wooden staff. A gust of wind swept through, and the stone table and stone stools, piled with fallen leaves under the trees, became spotless.

"Come, come, sit."

Wu Wang did not refuse and sat opposite Shennong Shi as instructed, sitting quite properly.

"Where should I begin to tell you?"

Shennong Shi stroked his beard and murmured, "Wuwang, your spiritual sense is already quite strong. You have clearly cultivated the Star Invocation Technique of the Northern Plains.

You have also mastered the Thousand Inhalation Art and achieved the Qi Gathering realm. Someone must have secretly opened a convenient door for you, blocking the perception of the Starry Sky Temple.

Is the head of the Northern Plains' Seven-Day Sacrifice in the last few hundred years your mother?"

"Yes, my mother's name is Cang Xue."

"If that's the case, the Star God's control over the Northern Plains has loosened a bit more."

Shennong Shi muttered to himself, then smiled, "It's good that the humans of the Northern Plains can be so prosperous, it adds a layer of security to the human bloodline."

Wu Wang pondered for a moment and asked, "Senior, is the situation in the Human Domain not optimistic?"

"It's passable, but I suddenly remembered someone bothering me before, saying they wanted to gather the humans of the Nine Plains into the Human Domain, and others saying that the current scattered state of humanity across heaven and earth is the best."

Shennong Shi's expression showed a hint of annoyance, clearly having been bothered greatly.

Then he returned to his previous gentle smile, took off his straw cape and placed it aside. A few stains could be seen on his loose robe.

He was unconcerned with trivialities.

"They often argue back and forth over a single issue, with no conclusion for hundreds or thousands of years; let's not talk about these, let's talk about your strange illness."

Wu Wang immediately became extremely attentive.

Shennong Shi asked, "Have you heard of the ancient divine war?"

"I have heard of it. I have read most of the texts that can be found in the Northern Plains."

"It's easy talking to you," Shennong Shi smiled, "The root cause of your strange illness lies in that ancient divine war."

Wu Wang's brow furrowed into a character resembling a mountain range.

What kind of principle is this?

"And then?" Wu Wang asked tentatively.

"This is all I can tell you for now," Shennong Shi said, stroking his beard and chuckling lightly.

Wu Wang almost slammed the table in frustration, but after careful consideration, he felt he should still show respect to this powerful figure.

After all, he couldn't defeat him.

Wu Wang said listlessly, "Thank you, Senior."

Shennong Shi smiled, "Don't be sad so quickly. Your strange illness originates from a congenital deity, but it's not only the congenital deity who cursed you that can cure it.

I have a method that can help you achieve success in your cultivation and also allow you to resolve the calamity of your strange illness.

However, this method is quite precious..."

"How precious?" Wu Wang asked quickly, "Please enlighten me, Senior."

"This method concerns the future of the Human Domain," Shennong Shi said with a hint of profundity in his eyes. "But as long as you cultivate this method to the ninth level, the strange illness will disappear on its own."

"Really?"

"Indeed."

Wu Wang blinked, "Does this cultivation method only have nine levels? It's related to the Human Emperor's inheritance. If one cultivates to the highest level, they can become the next Human Emperor, thus possessing the power to fight against congenital deities?"

"Hahaha, you are indeed quite intelligent."

"Senior, are you really willing to pass this cultivation method to me?"

"This," Shennong Shi said, stroking his beard, "a doctor's heart is benevolent. If there is a way to cure your strange illness, I shouldn't keep it a secret. But this matter is indeed of great importance...

How about you say something nice to hear?

Perhaps if I'm in a good mood, I'll just give you this opportunity."

Something nice!

Wu Wang felt a bit of a wry smile, but he quickly calmed down. He sat there, meeting Shennong Shi's gaze, while a few images flickered in his mind.

[Volunteer Wu Wang! You are the only volunteer to reach the wormhole! The fate of all humanity rests on your shoulders!

If you can return alive, you will be a hero, the greatest hero!

If you don't return, your contributions will not be forgotten, never forgotten!

The volunteers who sacrificed themselves before reaching the edge of the wormhole, you will give meaning to their sacrifice!]

"Senior."

Wu Wang's expression held a hint of weariness as he said softly, "I'm not trying to evade responsibility, nor am I afraid of taking it. Can you give me a clear answer, why me?

You finding me today is likely not just about my strange illness.

If the people of the Great Wilderness need me to step forward, I can, but it must be my own decision to step forward.

I want to make my own choices, not be coerced by any title."

Shennong Shi gazed at Wu Wang, his smile gradually fading, and he said seriously, "I don't know how you honed such a mind in the simple and honest land of the Northern Plains."

Wu Wang was momentarily speechless.

Shennong Shi said, "Wuwang, let me ask you, if the Human Domain faces a crisis of being overthrown, and the enemy is someone you absolutely cannot defeat, are you willing to fight to the death?"

Wu Wang pondered for a moment and replied, "If the crisis facing overthrow is humanity as a whole, not just the people of the Human Domain, then I will naturally fight to the death."

"Here, the opportunity is before you. It depends on whether you can seize it."

A ball of fire shot out from Shennong Shi's sleeve. This fire gathered but did not disperse, forming a wooden tablet in front of Wu Wang.

The wooden tablet was generally trapezoidal, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. In the center was a shallow white flame that flickered constantly, with intricate runes carved on both sides. These runes seemed to have evolved from pictographs, and Wu Wang couldn't understand their meaning at all.

The wooden tablet slowly rotated, revealing a large character 'Flame' on its back.

Wu Wang reached out to touch it, and flames emerged from the wooden tablet, floating into the air.

"This is the Flame Emperor Token.

You have one month. If you can gain its acknowledgment, you will be the owner of the Flame Emperor Token.

It contains the first cultivation scripture of the Human Domain, and this is the only other solution to your strange illness!"

Two scorching flames ignited in Wu Wang's eyes.

He didn't notice the subtle, almost-smile on the lips of the powerful figure before him.

Two hours later.

Clang, clang!

In the mountain forest north of the thatched hut, Wu Wang, dressed in a short shirt, trousers, and boots, with his long hair simply tied back, was sweating profusely as he swung a stone axe, chopping at the towering trees before him.

Behind Wu Wang, the Flame Emperor Token floated quietly, its flames flickering slightly.

The Flame Emperor Token's first trial to recognize its master!

[A strong physique is a basic requirement for an inheritor of the Human Emperor. Without relying on the Star Invocation Technique or cultivation of magic power, chop down one hundred trees here and carry the logs back near the thatched hut.]

It's a battle of strength and stamina; the men of the Northern Plains fear nothing!

Wu Wang shouldered his axe and headed up the mountain, sealing off his Star Invocation Technique and Qi Gathering realm cultivation. He chose the thickest trees and the tallest giant timbers to chop!

This was the pride of the men of Cang Mountain, the honor of their Bear Hug Tribe. How could he, their Young Master, disgrace himself before a king of the Human Domain?

And so, Wu Wang toiled at chopping wood for half an hour.

"Haa, haa... gurgle."

Wu Wang leaned against the partially chopped trunk, raising his head to drink the spring water he'd just fetched. As he gasped for breath, his entire body was soaked in sweat.

Forget it, he's a long-range spellcaster. He can't expect to have the physique of a warrior.

He couldn't use his aura, he hadn't trained himself normally, and he couldn't use the Star Invocation Technique. If he chose these thickest giant timbers, he wouldn't even finish the first task in a month.

Compromise, compromise.

Wu Wang shouldered his axe and dragged two properly sized logs toward the neighboring forest, moving slowly.

Half a day later;

Ah, if it's a little thinner, it's still usable.

Two days later;

Trees that have lived for a thousand years are hard to come by. Let's go for ones under a hundred years old. Goodness, goodness, Namo Gatling Bodhisattva.

Seven days later.

Wu Wang collapsed beside the thatched hut, looking at the empty hut and the vanished Flame Emperor Shennong. He took the pills placed before him, and a surge of fiery energy instantly appeared within his body, making him feel as if he had inexhaustible strength.

This is...

'As I suspected, Senior thinks I lean too heavily on Spirit Cultivation and that my physique is my weakness.'

Thank you, Senior!

Wu Wang bowed to the empty thatched hut. The Flame Emperor Token floating behind him trembled slightly, and words appeared in Wu Wang's mind: the second trial had arrived!

[Build a house so that humankind can resist wind, frost, rain, and snow when they are weak.

Please use these timbers, without using the Star Invocation Technique, to build the building you are most satisfied with as quickly as possible.]

This challenge, which seemed to be just about building a structure, was actually a test of his aesthetic sense and organizational skills.

Senior Shennong's methods are indeed extraordinary.

Wu Wang took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and a wooden great hall slowly materialized in his mind.

He opened his eyes, looked at the logs piled before him, and let out a roar. Tearing off his short shirt, he charged forward with his axe.

Appear!

Greenwood Divine Hall - Shrunken Version!

And so, another half month later.

A ten-zhang tall great hall rose from the forest. The hall was entirely green and divided into three floors. Although it lacked the upturned eaves and carved dragons, the shimmering wooden elemental treasure ore on the top floor was particularly striking.

Wu Wang stood before this exquisitely crafted building, unable to hold back tears.

Did I make this with my own hands?

Thank you for the trial arranged by Senior, for giving me this opportunity to rediscover myself.

So, being a carpenter also brings infinite joy...

Buzz! Buzz!

The Flame Emperor Token trembled again, and the content of the third trial appeared in Wu Wang's mind.

[Water is the source of all life. In ancient times, humankind lived near water and migrated with it.

Please excavate a stream and channel the clear spring water from the mountaintop to flow past the building you constructed.]

Wu Wang shook his arms and let out a low growl, then charged into the forest with his axe.

Three days later, a stream flowed behind the wooden hall.

Two days later, the forest floor not far from the wooden hall was cleared and a large medicinal garden was created. Wu Wang, now almost perfectly integrated with the area, carried a wooden basket and planted seedlings in the garden.

Two days later... and two days later...

An elegant villa appeared on the mountainside.

Finally, Shennong Shi arrived slowly, leaning on his staff. He looked at the ingenious arrangements everywhere and nodded in satisfaction.

Meanwhile, Wu Wang received the final trial from the Flame Emperor Token.

[Migration often occurs to escape unavoidable disasters.

Please move the items from the original wooden house into the great hall and arrange them properly, to experience the hardships of ancient humankind's migrations.]

Wu Wang laughed heartily and, like a whirlwind, rushed back and forth between the original wooden house and the Greenwood Great Hall, quickly carrying wooden chests and cabinets.

After he finished arranging the last wooden crate, the Flame Emperor Token that had been floating behind him slowly landed in Wu Wang's palm.

The flames on it automatically receded, and a warm aura seeped into his palm. A set of incantations slowly appeared in his mind.

This is it!

Wu Wang sighed softly, clutching the token, his heart unable to calm down for a long time.

He did it!

After coming to the Great Wilderness, must I also bear such a difficult responsibility?

Ah, the happy life of a Young Master is over from today onwards…

Crack, crackle!

Wu Wang followed the sound and looked, it was the last wooden crate he had just moved.

Perhaps due to its extreme age, he had used too much force when putting it down just now. The wooden strips on the side of the crate spontaneously broke apart, and wooden plaques slid out, submerging Wu Wang's feet.

Why do these wooden plaques look so… familiar…

Wu Wang looked down at the wooden plaques on the ground, at the incredibly familiar runes, at the characters for "Yan" written in a bold, flowing hand, and at the peculiar material that was hard to define at a glance…

He bent down and picked up a plaque. He could feel a warm aura seeping into his palm, and the incantations he had just received reappeared in his mind.

Shennong, the Flame Emperor, who had just emerged from the palace gate, leaning on his staff, silently retracted his outstretched foot.

"Se-senior."

Wu Wang's voice was like a cold wind from the netherworld. Black lines on his forehead spread everywhere, engulfing the corners of the hall. The lowered head lifted slightly, and a sharp red glint appeared in his eyes.

Wu Wang let out a howl and rushed out, dragging the well-worn great axe.

The old man in the straw cape and barefoot turned and ran. He tapped patches of short grass and wildflowers along the way with his wooden staff. The forest echoed with the old man's laughter and the youth's roar.

"Oh ha ha ha~ Disrespecting the Human Emperor is a great crime!"

"A scholar cannot be insulted! The people of the Northern Plains are not under your jurisdiction!"

"Young man, you need to be reasonable, ha ha ha! Weren't you quite happy with this process! I originally just wanted to set up an alchemy room here, who knew you'd be so powerful, building a great hall without even using magic power."

"Give me back my dream of saving the world! How much resolve did it take for me to accept the Flame Emperor Token!"

"Ha ha ha ha! A promising candidate, a promising candidate indeed! I suddenly feel like nurturing you well!"

"I don't need it! I don't need it! A young person's dreams are the most precious!"

That day, Wu Wang accomplished a feat that even the Heavenly Emperor had not achieved. He chased the current Human Emperor across mountains and plains with his weapon, running from dusk until the starry night.