A New Lifeform

Nüwa's voice softened considerably, and her fondness for Xuanqing deepened as well.

Xuanqing thought to himself, Now isn't the time. Nüwa and Dijun's conflict hadn't yet reached the point of no return. If he guided her toward creating humanity and attaining Sainthood now, Dijun would probably still shamelessly come begging for an audience. That would be awkward to deal with.

For now, it was enough to earn Nüwa's trust.

"Empress, you flatter me. I only did what I ought to."

Xuanqing was about to continue being modest when he suddenly felt a slight nudge against his leg.

Xiao Hei, who had been lying quietly at his feet, was rubbing its furry head against his leg. Its glossy black eyes gazed curiously at Nüwa.

Nüwa's gaze fell on Xiao Hei, too.

She paused, then a flicker of surprise crossed her beautiful eyes.

"This... is this an Ink Qilin?"

Nüwa walked over to Xiao Hei, crouched down, and examined it closely.

"And it has a direct bloodline, too. This aura... it's the son of the Ink Qilin Clan's chieftain!"

Nüwa sounded incredulous. Though the Qilin Clan had fallen into decline, the Ink Qilins had always been mysterious. And now, the son of the Ink Qilin Clan's chieftain had appeared here in Honghuang?

Xuanqing's heart gave a lurch. He nearly lost his balance.

He looked down at Xiao Hei, then at Nüwa.

"The chieftain's son?!"

His eyes widened, as if to say, Are you sure you haven't mistaken him? I just happened to pick him up! This is getting out of hand!

Xiao Hei seemed to sense Xuanqing's shock. It blinked innocently, then rubbed against his leg again.

Fuxi came over as well and carefully examined Xiao Hei's aura.

"My sister is right. This little beast does have a direct Ink Qilin bloodline, and it's exceptionally strong—nearly pure. Judging by its appearance, it must have been born not long ago."

Xuanqing's feelings were a jumbled mess.

When he'd found the little fellow on the Ancient Battlefield, he'd only noticed that it was badly injured and barely breathing, so he'd casually saved it. He'd never imagined it was the Crown Prince of the Ink Qilin Clan!

"This... I happened to find the little fellow. It was gravely injured and on the verge of death. I took pity on it, so I saved it."

Xuanqing offered an awkward explanation. Otherwise, the two might get the impression that he had some connection to the Qilin Clan.

Nüwa and Fuxi exchanged glances, surprise in both their eyes.

"It seems this little fellow was fated to meet Fellow Daoist Xuanqing."

Nüwa looked back at Xuanqing, her gaze growing even more complicated.

To save a direct descendant of the Ink Qilin Clan... Such fortune was truly extraordinary.

"By the way, I gave him a name. I call him Xiao Hei."

Xuanqing tried to change the subject and ease the awkwardness.

Nüwa and Fuxi both twitched at the corners of their mouths when they heard the name.

The son of the Ink Qilin Clan's chieftain was called Xiao Hei? If the Ink Qilin Clan found out, wouldn't they be furious?

"Ahem, Fellow Daoist Xuanqing, that name... is certainly distinctive." Fuxi cleared his throat, trying hard to suppress a laugh.

Nüwa couldn't help smiling, too. A rare hint of amusement appeared on her usually cool face.

Seeing Nüwa smile put Xuanqing somewhat at ease. At least she seemed to be in a good mood now.

"All right, Xiao Hei, settle down."

Xuanqing gently patted Xiao Hei's head, signaling for it to be quiet. Xiao Hei obediently lay down at his feet and stopped moving around.

"Empress Nüwa, Fellow Daoist Fuxi, there's something else I don't understand. I'd like to ask for your guidance."

Xuanqing decided to take advantage of the moment and steer the conversation toward what concerned him.

Nüwa looked at Xuanqing with a hint of curiosity. "Please, go ahead."

Xuanqing pondered for a moment, sweeping his gaze over the lush valley before looking at Nüwa's cool, lovely face.

"I've heard that Empress cares for all living beings in Honghuang. The Myriad Races now abound, yet none has truly become the 'protagonist.' The Witch Clan is physically powerful, and the Yao Clan is vast in number, but both are too prone to slaughter to become the true orthodoxy of the Heavenly Dao."

He paused, then continued, "May I venture a guess? Is there still a kind of life missing from this world—one that could bear the fortune of Heaven and Earth and usher in a whole new era?"

Nüwa and Fuxi were both shaken by his words.

Fuxi furrowed his brow and fell into thought. Nüwa's gaze sharpened as she stared directly at Xuanqing.

"What do you mean by that, Fellow Daoist?"

Nüwa's voice turned cool again. She sensed that Xuanqing's words concealed some important heavenly secret.

Xuanqing's heart tightened. He knew he'd touched on something crucial.

"I only feel that the Witch Clan and the Yao Clan rely too heavily on bloodlines and innate talents. Their cultivation may make them powerful, but it also limits them from birth."

"If there were a kind of life without mighty bodies or inborn supernatural abilities, but which could grow and surpass itself through effort—one that could comprehend Heaven and Earth, create civilization, and multiply without end..."

Xuanqing's voice carried a strange power to move the heart.

"Perhaps such a life could truly bear the fortune of the Heavenly Dao and become the protagonist of Honghuang."

Xuanqing's words sent a tempest through Nüwa and Fuxi's hearts.

What he described was an entirely new kind of life.

A kind of life wholly unlike the existing Myriad Races of Honghuang.

Nüwa felt something stir faintly within her.

Could this be the key to breaking through?

Fuxi sank into even deeper thought. Drawing on Xuanqing's description, he began to reason through the possibilities of this "new life" in his mind.

"Your idea is unheard of, Fellow Daoist." Nüwa slowly spoke, her tone tinged with complexity. "But how could such a life be created?"

Seeing her reaction, Xuanqing gave a mysterious smile.

"Empress, you are the Mother of the Earth and the goddess of creation. I believe that only you possess the power to create all things in this world."

Nüwa's heart leaped at his words. Create all things? She had never considered that possibility.

It seemed that something in her mind was on the verge of emerging.

"Fellow Daoist Xuanqing, do... do you have any other thoughts?"

A note of urgency entered Nüwa's voice. She felt closer than ever to the opportunity to attain Sainthood.

Xuanqing knew the moment was right. He couldn't say any more, or he'd risk making his intentions too obvious.

"I'm slow-witted. That's all I can think of."

He wisely drew the conversation to a close, leaving Nüwa plenty of room to reflect on her own.

Nüwa was completely absorbed in his words and fell into deep thought.

Fuxi studied Nüwa's expression, then glanced at Xuanqing's "innocent" face. He sensed that he was beginning to understand.

He looked at Xuanqing with a trace of deeper meaning.

This disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun seemed to speak without intent, yet every step was full of hidden designs.

"Fellow Daoist Xuanqing, I've gained a great deal from discussing the Dao with you today."

Fuxi spoke again, breaking the silence in the valley.

Only then did Nüwa emerge from her thoughts. She turned to Xuanqing, her gaze now deeper than before.

"Fellow Daoist Xuanqing, thank you for your guidance today."

Nüwa spoke solemnly.

Xuanqing cupped his hands. "You're too kind, Empress. I was only speaking off the cuff. If my words inspired you in any way, it's my honor."

He had taken the first step.

After all, there was a difference between deliberately plotting to obtain merit and simply going with the flow. The merit bestowed by the Heavenly Dao wouldn't be the same.