Nüwa and Fuxi

Fuxi also shared with Xuanqing his insights on deducing the Eight Trigrams.

Xuanqing listened, utterly absorbed.

Though still in its nascent stage, Fuxi's deduction already displayed extraordinary wisdom.

Xuanqing, in turn, raised timely questions or added his own reflections.

Each time he spoke, Fuxi's fondness for him deepened.

Fuxi realized that while this young man's cultivation was inferior to his own, his understanding of the Great Dao was profoundly uncommon.

More importantly, the pure aura of merit about him was like a spring breeze, soothing to the soul.

And Xuanqing's face stirred a sense of familiarity in Fuxi.

Xuanqing took the initiative to introduce himself.

Only then did Fuxi realize with a start that Xuanqing was the disciple who had stood behind Yuanshi Tianzun while listening to the Dao Ancestor's lectures.

Their discourse lasted for several hours.

Xuanqing felt his comprehension of the Heavenly Dao had ascended another level.

Fuxi, too, gained some inspiration from Xuanqing's words.

"To discuss the Dao with you today is truly a fortunate event," Fuxi said sincerely.

Xuanqing rose and bowed: "This Humble One feels the same."

"Your wisdom, Daoist Fuxi, has opened my mind."

Fuxi smiled and pointed deeper into the valley: "My younger sister, Nüwa, lives atop Phoenix Mountain."

"She is naturally fond of solitude and dislikes interacting with others."

"However, if you have the chance to speak with her, you might gain something."

Xuanqing's heart leaped with joy, knowing Fuxi was making an introduction for him.

"Thank you for your guidance, Daoist Fuxi," Xuanqing said, expressing his gratitude again.

Inside the palace, Nüwa had finished her meeting with Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi, but her heart remained heavy with unresolved frustration. She sat back down on the Cloud Bed, yet could not calm her mind. The attendant's report about the Witch Clan's attack swirled in her thoughts.

Dijun's watertight lies only deepened the chill in her heart. Those weak demons, in their eyes, were so utterly insignificant.

"Empress!"

Just then, the attendant who had reported earlier rushed in again, flustered.

"Your Majesty, those little demons are now gathering herbs on Phoenix Mountain."

Nüwa rose abruptly, and with a flicker of her form, she was already outside the hall. Following the direction the attendant had indicated, she arrived in an instant before Rabbit and the others.

Rabbit and the little demons were carefully carrying the spiritual herbs they had gathered, treading cautiously back. Startled by Nüwa's sudden appearance, they nearly dropped their precious haul.

"Empress!"

"We pay our respects to the Empress!"

When they realized it was Nüwa, ecstatic joy and excitement surged across every little demon's face. They hurriedly knelt, bodies trembling.

Nüwa looked at these weak demons before her, her gaze sweeping over the few behind Rabbit.

"Were any of you injured?"

Her voice was cool, yet carried a note of concern.

Rabbit quickly lifted her head, tears in her eyes: "Reporting to the Empress, none of us were hurt, thanks to that senior who lent us a hand!"

Nüwa nodded lightly. She extended a slender hand and grasped the air. Several spiritual herbs, glowing with a soft radiance, flew from deep within Mount Buzhou and landed steadily before Rabbit.

"These herbs will help with your injuries and shock. Take them and use them."

Rabbit and the little demons stared at the rare herbs before them, their hearts moved beyond words. The Empress cared so deeply for them, these weak little beings.

"Thank you for your grace, Empress! Your great kindness, we will never forget!"

Rabbit kowtowed fervently, and the other little demons followed suit, bowing in gratitude.

Nüwa's gaze settled on Rabbit, her voice softening: "The one who saved you—where is he now?"

Rabbit raised her head and pointed in a direction: "Reporting to the Empress, that senior said he had matters to attend to and went deeper into Phoenix Mountain."

Nüwa followed her gesture—that was where Fuxi was discussing the Dao.

"What did he look like? Any distinguishing features?" Nüwa pressed on.

Rabbit tried hard to recall Xuanqing's appearance: "That senior wore a beast-hide robe and looked like an ordinary demon immortal. But his bearing was otherworldly, his features clear and bright, and on his shoulder lay a little black... dog."

A dog? Nüwa was puzzled. She didn't dwell on it, merely nodding.

"Return to your Cave Abode and rest."

With that, Nüwa's form flickered again, vanishing on the spot. Following the direction Rabbit had indicated, she headed deep into Phoenix Mountain.

On the other side, Xuanqing and Fuxi's discourse had reached a fever pitch.

Fuxi's mood at this moment could only be described as having found a kindred spirit. He had thought that in all the Honghuang, there were few who could discuss the deduction of the Eight Trigrams with him. He never expected that this disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun could grasp his reasoning so profoundly.

"Daoist, your words—'The Heavenly Dao has constancy, neither existing for anything nor perishing for anything'—strike deep into my heart."

Fuxi stroked his beard and smiled, divine light shimmering in his eyes.

Xuanqing seized the moment to offer some later-era insights on the Book of Changes, adapting them to the Honghuang context, which made Fuxi nod repeatedly.

"Daoist Fuxi, your innate Bagua has already glimpsed a sliver of Heavenly secrets. If you could go a step further—observing the birth and death of all things under heaven, examining the karma of all beings—you might achieve an even greater breakthrough."

Xuanqing's words plunged Fuxi into deep thought. He had originally only deduced the workings of heaven and earth, never considering incorporating the karma of all beings into his calculations.

"The karma of all beings..." Fuxi murmured, a gleam of enlightenment flickering in his eyes.

"Daoist Xuanqing, your insight is truly an awakening!"

He looked at Xuanqing with eyes full of admiration and respect.

Xuanqing chuckled inwardly. Fuxi is indeed sharp—a single point and he understands. To guide Empress Nüwa into creating humanity, Fuxi—the future Xi Emperor—was the perfect entry point.

Just as the two were chatting and laughing, a cold yet powerful aura silently descended upon the valley.

Xuanqing's heart tightened. This aura—he knew it all too well.

Empress Nüwa!

He followed the sensation and saw a graceful figure walking slowly into the valley with light, lotus-like steps. She wore a simple palace robe, her face cold and breathtakingly beautiful—it was indeed Empress Nüwa.

Nüwa's gaze first landed on Xuanqing, who stood beside Fuxi.

A trace of barely perceptible surprise flickered in her clear eyes. So it is him.

She had seen Xuanqing in the Purple Cloud Palace. At that time, he sat behind Yuanshi Tianzun. Though merely a transformed Spiritual Root, the aura of merit surrounding him and the importance Yuanshi Tianzun placed on him made him impossible to ignore.

Xuanqing also put on a surprised expression. He quickly rose and clasped his hands in salute.

"Xuanqing pays respects to Empress Nüwa!"

Seeing Nüwa's arrival, Fuxi snapped out of his Dao-discussion trance.

"Sister, why have you come?"

Nüwa walked to Fuxi's side and looked at Xuanqing again.

"I heard that at the foot of the mountain, some Witch Clan were causing trouble. Fortunately, this Daoist lent a hand. I came specially to thank you."

Her words were plain, but the gratitude within them was sincere.

"Your Majesty flatters me. It was merely a small effort. The Witch Clan commits evil; Xuanqing naturally had to act."

Xuanqing replied modestly.

Nüwa looked at Xuanqing, her favorable impression of him rising another notch. In the Honghuang, most great powers minded only their own affairs. This disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun, however, seemed to have a chivalrous heart.

"So you are Daoist Xuanqing," Fuxi said, suddenly enlightened. "Just now, I discussed the Dao with Daoist Xuanqing and deeply felt his extraordinary wisdom. He could resonate with my zither music and had unique insights into the innate Bagua."

Hearing this, Nüwa grew curious as well. She knew her brother Fuxi had a profound understanding of the Great Dao. For him to give such praise meant Xuanqing was indeed remarkable.

"Daoist Xuanqing, saving those weak Little Demons is a great kindness."

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