This was actually quite normal. The Primordial World's spiritual energy was so rich now that few races had failed to develop intelligence. The Jade Silkworms weren't Fierce Beasts, so it would have been strange if they hadn't developed intelligence.
"The Primordial World is vast. There must be Silkworm Insects without intelligence somewhere, but we can be sure there aren't any near the Human Race."
Ziyi was in a position to know. She had already searched every corner of the Human Race's territory and could confirm there were none.
"Silkworm Insects are so important. Since there aren't any nearby, we should search farther afield."
"But the clan can't do without Big Brother, and Third Sister has work to do as well. I'm the only one with some free time, so I'll go search for Silkworm Insects."
The silent Youchao suddenly spoke up. Silkworm Insects were crucial to the survival of future generations, so someone had to be sent to find them.
But there weren't many powerful members of the Human Race who could venture out and take risks. When they counted everyone, only the three of them were Primordial Unity Golden Immortals. If the other clansmen went out without anyone to protect them, they would likely die out there.
So the search for Silkworm Insects could only be entrusted to him, the least busy of the Third Ancestors.
"There's no need to go that far. Ancestor Chao, you may be powerful, but the Primordial World is vast. If you search aimlessly, who knows how many years it'll take to find Silkworm Insects suited to the Human Race's needs?"
"In my view, it would be better to pool everyone's efforts and mobilize the Ten Thousand Races to help us find suitable Silkworm Insects. That way, it shouldn't take many years to achieve our goal."
Seeing that Youchao intended to venture out, Jiang Yuan hurriedly stopped him. He wasn't worried about Youchao's safety; after all, he was one of Lady Nuwa's creations.
Those in the Primordial World who could recognize his identity wouldn't dare kill him. And those who couldn't recognize him wouldn't have the strength to kill him anyway.
So Youchao would be safe if he went out. What Jiang Yuan worried about was that he might spend thousands or even tens of thousands of years searching, only to find nothing—an utter waste of time.
So, in his opinion, the Human Race didn't need to search for Silkworm Insects themselves. They could just have the Ten Thousand Races help figure something out.
The Ten Thousand Races had forces spread across every corner of the Primordial World, and their legacies stretched back a long way. They were familiar with many parts of the world. Having them search would be far more convenient than having the Human Race wander aimlessly.
"If we can really mobilize the power of the Ten Thousand Races, there probably won't be much in the Primordial World that we can't find. But why would they help us for no reason?"
"Or do you have a plan?"
Youchao asked curiously. He figured that since Jiang Yuan had said this, he must already have a plan in mind.
"Third Ancestor, take a look. What do you think this is?"
Jiang Yuan smiled without explaining and instead showed them the paper in his hand.
"This is that paper you mentioned earlier? You've made it? Such a small sheet can hold hundreds of characters. It really is much more convenient than stone or jade tablets."
The three of them examined it for a while, marveling at it.
"Paper is far more convenient to use than stone or jade tablets, and it makes spreading and sharing messages easier. That's its greatest advantage."
"Besides, writing is a vessel for the Great Dao. Paper can hold writing, which means it can also hold the power of the Dao."
"In other words, every sheet of paper is actually a weapon. We can turn divine abilities into runes, seal them inside, then unleash them against our enemies."
At this point, Jiang Yuan paused and let the Third Ancestors think it over.
There was no need to say more. They were all clever people. If the Third Ancestors still couldn't grasp paper's importance after hearing that, they might as well step aside and let someone more capable take over.
"In the past, only innate spirit jade could hold the power of the Great Dao. But with the advent of paper, it can do so too."
"And compared with innate spirit jade, paper is easier to use and costs less."
"That means paper meets the needs of the Ten Thousand Races. If our Human Race is willing to trade it, the other races won't be stingy with their resources."
"I understand what you mean. We use paper as bait to draw the Ten Thousand Races to the East Sea Coast to trade with our Human Race, then announce that the Human Race needs Silkworm Insects."
"That way, any race that wants Spirit Paper will naturally bring us suitable Silkworm Insects to trade."
The Third Ancestors understood what Jiang Yuan meant.
They were all people of great wisdom. Jiang Yuan had already explained things so clearly—how could they not understand?
"Not only that. The worst thing about this kind of trade is when powerful figures ignore the rules and simply seize things by force."
"However, holding the trades on the East Sea Coast, where our Human Race lives, would effectively prevent that from happening."
"This is the Human Ancestral Land, protected by Lady Nuwa. No matter how great your divine abilities, no matter that you can destroy the heavens and shatter the earth, you still can't make trouble here."
"Once the safety issue is settled and the forces coming here have no more worries, they won't be limited to trading for our Human Race's Spirit Paper. They'll be able to trade with each other too."
"And since our Human Race provides them with a trading venue and guarantees their safety, it's entirely reasonable for us to charge a little protection and management fee, right?"
"I call it a tax. Every race that comes to trade on the East Sea Coast has to hand over a certain proportion of its goods to cover the tax."
Jiang Yuan laid out all his ideas in one breath. He wanted to turn the East Sea Coast into the greatest trade center in the Primordial World.
That way, even if he did nothing at all, the taxes collected each year would be enough to support the Human Race's development.
Jiang Yuan had only just thought of this idea. After the Spirit Paper was made, he'd suddenly conceived of trading it with other races in exchange for the resources the Human Race needed.
Building on that idea, he'd thought of the Human Race's greatest natural advantage: their home was protected by Lady Nuwa, so no one dared cause trouble there.
In the perilous Primordial World, that was an enormous advantage.
There were countless races in the Primordial World, and they all needed resources to cultivate. So the Ten Thousand Races were sure to need places to trade, but they couldn't find anywhere safe to do so.
There were simply too many powerful figures in the Primordial World. They followed no rules and believed wholly in the law of the jungle. Killing for treasure and snatching another's opportunities were commonplace, and every race suffered from it.
The emergence of the Human Race filled that gap, providing them with a sufficiently safe place to trade.
With that alone, the Human Race had the potential to become the trade center of the Primordial World.
What Jiang Yuan had to do was make the most of this advantage and draw every race with a need for trade to the Human Race.
"Brilliant! How did I never think of this?"
After hearing Jiang Yuan out, all three Ancestors cried out in praise, wishing they'd thought of it sooner.
They wouldn't have dared try something like this anywhere else. But on the East Sea Coast, even if the Wu Clan came, they would have to behave themselves and wouldn't dare act recklessly.
With conditions like these, they naturally had to give it a try. It was a way to grow stronger, and even if it was risky, it was worth taking a chance.
How could anyone become strong without taking risks?