Meeting Ancestor Sui

"Sacred Dao Aura..."

"Is that why the Black Flood Dragon wanted to eat me? Because of the Sacred Dao Aura radiating from my body?"

Jiang Yuan realized it all at once, finally understanding why the Black Flood Dragon had wanted to devour him the moment they met.

Human Ancestors were created by Empress Wa, and their bloodlines inherently carried a wisp of Sacred Dao Aura. This was the power of a Sage, a potent tonic for any living being. Merely refining it could trigger one's own transformation.

The Black Flood Dragon was a flood dragon; to become a True Dragon, aside from leaping over the Dragon Gate, the best method was to refine a treasure like the Sacred Dao Aura.

"Exactly. That fellow Mu Jiao was targeting the Sacred Dao Aura on you. Fortunately, your cultivation is too low—you've only just stepped into the Pre-Heaven Realm, so the aura is not yet dense enough to be of much use."

"But if you had already become a Heavenly Immortal, even I wouldn't be able to protect you. Mu Jiao would have devoured you without hesitation."

Xuanshan Clan said solemnly. Mu Jiao was the name of that Black Flood Dragon.

"That seems extreme. With Mu Jiao's status, there must be many ways to become a dragon. Why risk offending the Ancestor just to eat me?"

Jiang Yuan was puzzled. While the Sacred Dao Aura was precious, Xuanshan Clan was not someone to be trifled with.

To put it simply, if Xuanshan Clan were willing to abandon his status as a human and join the Dragon Race, the Dragon Race would immediately help him cultivate into a Primordial Unity Golden Immortal.

At that point, Xuanshan Clan would be a direct descendant of the Dragon Emperor, holding a status in the Dragon Race even higher than Mu Jiao's father, Mu Longbo.

If that weren't the case, why would Mu Longbo, a dignified Primordial Unity Golden Immortal, invite a mere Heavenly Immortal like Xuanshan Clan to a banquet?

Under such circumstances, no matter how good the Sacred Dao Aura was, Mu Jiao shouldn't dare offend Xuanshan Clan for it. Was he not afraid of having the life to snatch it, but not the life to use it?

"That is where you are mistaken. Mu Jiao is no ordinary flood dragon; he is a natural exotic species. Though he possesses the body of a flood dragon, he is, like a True Dragon, an Innate True Spirit."

"In other words, he either remains a flood dragon, or once he transforms, he becomes an Azure Dragon comparable to an Innate God-Devil. It is precisely because of this that his transformation is incredibly difficult—even leaping over the Dragon Gate is useless."

"And the Sacred Dao Aura is one of the few treasures that can enable his transformation. Faced with the temptation of becoming an Azure Dragon, what does making an enemy of me matter? He would even risk becoming an enemy of the entire Human Race."

Xuanshan Clan spoke with a hint of envy. He was also an Innate True Spirit, but the difference was that he had transformed from an Acquired state, whereas Mu Jiao was born that way—his starting point was far higher.

Under the same conditions, it was much easier for Mu Jiao to evolve into an Innate God-Devil than it was for him.

"Among the flood dragon kin, most are Innate Living Beings, yet he is an Innate True Spirit. He truly is an exotic species."

Jiang Yuan understood, never having imagined Mu Jiao's identity was so unique. At the same time, a sense of urgency grew within him; he feared this matter was far from over.

"Do not go near the sea again. Mu Jiao has likely set his sights on you. You know, whenever an Exotic Fruit appears in the world, there is always a fierce beast guarding it."

"Clearly, Mu Jiao has already marked you as an Exotic Fruit, and he is the beast guarding it. He is simply waiting for you to ripen so he can pluck and consume you to leap into dragonhood."

Xuanshan Clan's subsequent words confirmed Jiang Yuan's suspicions.

Mu Jiao had not let him go out of mercy; he had allowed him to leave because he felt Jiang Yuan's cultivation was too low. He was preparing to let him "ripen" further, planning to harvest him once he reached the Heavenly Immortal realm.

"He thinks quite highly of himself. Once I reach the Heavenly Immortal realm, it won't be certain who eats whom."

Jiang Yuan scoffed. That Mu Jiao was only at the early stage of the Heavenly Immortal realm. He wasn't boasting, but once he reached that realm himself, killing Mu Jiao would be as easy as turning over his hand.

"That's the spirit!"

Hearing this, Xuanshan Clan didn't think Jiang Yuan could actually do it, but he didn't say anything to discourage him; instead, he offered encouragement.

He had been young once, too, and understood Jiang Yuan's current mindset. Having just obtained a fortuitous encounter and awakened a God-Devil Bloodline, he was in a state of high spirits.

At this moment, he believed himself capable of anything and would not listen to any advice.

There was no need to dampen his spirits. Once he encountered more setbacks in the future, he would naturally realize how naive his current thoughts were.

Awakening a God-Devil Bloodline and evolving into an Innate God-Devil were two completely different concepts.

The former was merely the first step of a ten-thousand-mile journey, while the latter was the destination. Yet, on that long road, how many could persist until the end?

Of those who awakened a God-Devil Bloodline, let alone evolving into an Innate God-Devil, it would be a miracle if one in a hundred could even evolve into an Innate True Spirit. The rest would all die along the way.

Cultivation was just that cruel.

For Jiang Yuan, born an Acquired Living Being, wanting to surpass Mu Jiao, who was born an Innate True Spirit, was truly like a mayfly trying to shake a tree.

As the two spoke, they arrived at the East Sea Coast. From afar, they heard enthusiastic cheers coming from the human settlement.

"It seems there is a joyous occasion within the clan?"

Xuanshan Clan wondered aloud. The Human Race had not been this lively for a long time, suggesting that whatever had happened was not just a happy event, but a grand one.

"Has Ancestor Sui broken through to attain the Daluo Dao Fruit? Or perhaps the Holy Mother has emerged from seclusion and manifested her divinity to the Human Race?"

Xuanshan Clan speculated.

"Why guess? Let's go over and ask."

Jiang Yuan urged. He was also curious about what joyous event had occurred in the clan during his absence.

"Ancestor Sui has created the Fire of Civilization and planted it within the bodies of the Acquired Human Race, allowing them to breathe and refine spiritual energy just like Innate Living Beings, embarking on the path of cultivation."

There was no need to ask; a single sweep of Xuanshan Clan's divine sense revealed the cause and effect. It was indeed a joyous occasion. After years of research, Ancestor Sui had finally solved the problem of the Acquired Human Race being unable to cultivate.

"So this is drilling wood to make fire!"

Jiang Yuan was lost in thought. Legend had it that Suiren drilled wood to make fire, lighting the flame of civilization for the Human Race; this must be the event the legends referred to.

For mortals, obtaining fire is crucial, an essential skill for the development of their race. But this is the Primordial World, where immortals and gods are everywhere; obtaining fire is effortless and nothing worth praising.

On the contrary, guiding Acquired Living Beings and opening the path of cultivation for them can be called an earth-shattering feat, one that cannot be praised enough.

Jiang Yuan understood deeply that Acquired Living Beings were unable to cultivate.

It was precisely because he could not cultivate that he was swallowed into the belly of the Kun Fish. If he had possessed even a shred of cultivation at the time, escaping would have been no problem at all.

"I will take you to see Ancestor Sui!"

Glancing at Jiang Yuan, the Xuanshan Clan said.

He had not forgotten that Jiang Yuan was also an Acquired Living Being. As an Acquired Living Being, he had managed to embark on the path of cultivation without the spark of fire granted by Emperor Sui.

Furthermore, after being swallowed into the belly of the Kun Fish, he had not only survived but had turned the tables to devour the Kun Fish instead, taking the opportunity to awaken the Human Ancestor Bloodline.

Every event that had occurred to Jiang Yuan was worth noting. Although the Xuanshan Clan had no intention of prying into Jiang Yuan's secrets, whether or not there was an issue with him would have to be decided after Ancestor Sui had seen him.

Ancestor Sui's attire was similar to that of the Xuanshan Clan; he also wore his hair loose, his upper body was bare, and his lower body was wrapped in a beast-skin skirt. In this era, the Human Race was dressed like this for the most part.

The difference was that Ancestor Sui's aura was very benevolent, and his appearance leaned toward that of a middle-aged man, unlike the Xuanshan Clan, who remained in the appearance of a youth despite being several thousand years old.