Dao Ancestor, The Times Have Changed!

After the cards were laid on the table, Chen Ran and Nuwa's cooperation entered a honeymoon period.

With Nuwa, the most powerful Saint in the Primordial Era, actively cooperating, Chen Ran's "Human Race Development Plan" proceeded exceptionally smoothly.

He no longer needed to resort to inefficient methods like sending dreams.

Instead, he directly packaged and transmitted a large batch of "Civilization Technologies," optimized and deduced by the System, to Nuwa.

Nuwa would then directly bestow these upon the Human Race in the form of "Divine Revelation from the Holy Mother."

In an instant, the development of the Human Race entered an era of explosive growth.

[Ding! The Human Race created 'Oracle Bone Script', Civilization entered the Historical Era, Civilization Power +! Host Nuwa comprehended the Great Dao divine ability 'Word of Law'!]

[Ding! The Human Race established its first city-state, 'Chen Capital', and confirmed the 'Five Emperors Succession' system, Civilization Power +! Host Nuwa unlocked the building 'Human Way Canopy', impervious to all magic, blessed with luck!]

[Ding! The Human Race developed 'Psionic Rune Technology', created the first generation 'Farming Puppet', greatly liberating productivity, Civilization Power +! Host Nuwa comprehended the new Great Dao 'Mechanical Ascension' (Primordial Era version)!]

In just a few thousand years.

The Human Race valley had already changed dramatically.

The tall city walls were no longer made of mud and wood, but of alloy that shimmered with runic light.

Within the city, on neatly planned streets, rune-powered vehicles traveled without the need for oxen or horses.

In the fields, simple-looking "Farming Puppets" toiled tirelessly.

The Human Race had already taken its first steps onto the path of "Technological Cultivation."

Although their individual strength could not yet compare to the great demons and witches who cultivated for tens of thousands of years, they now possessed the ability to protect themselves, and even retaliate, relying on the power of civilization and technology.

As for Nuwa, the direct beneficiary of all this.

Her strength had swelled to a point that even she found frightening.

Other Saints were still fighting amongst themselves for meager merits and luck.

She, on the other hand, spent her days lounging in Wa Empress Palace, sipping tea and watching the live broadcast of the Human Race's development, her strength skyrocketing as if she were on a rocket.

She now felt that she could crush her past self with a single finger.

This feeling of getting stronger while lying down was simply too exhilarating.

She increasingly felt that her decision to "swallow" Chen Ran in one gulp was, in fact, the most brilliant decision made since the creation of the Primordial Era.

On this day.

In Purple Heaven Palace, the bell chimed.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun once again summoned the Six Saints.

When Nuwa arrived at Purple Heaven Palace, the other five Saints looked at her with eyes filled with awe and confusion.

They could not fathom how this Junior Sister had cultivated.

Hongjun's figure appeared on the high platform.

His gaze swept across the Six Saints, finally resting on Nuwa, lingering for a noticeably longer time than before.

"I have summoned you here today for two matters."

Hongjun's voice was still indifferent, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

"Firstly, the Investiture of the Gods Calamity is about to begin. The Heavenly Court is without a ruler, and three hundred and sixty-five Righteous Gods must be selected from the Heavenly Origin Sect, Intercepting Sect, and Ren Sect to fill all positions."

"Secondly, the Human Race is prospering, but its path of development has deviated from the righteous track of the Heavenly Dao, giving rise to many variables. This is heresy and must be rectified."

Hongjun's words sent a jolt through the Three Pure Ones and the others.

The Investiture of the Gods Calamity!

This was another immense karmic entanglement!

But what shocked them even more was Hongjun's assessment of the Human Race.

Heresy?

Rectification?

Was he... going to make a move against the Human Race?

They instinctively looked towards Nuwa.

Nuwa sat motionless, her expression cool and detached, as if Hongjun's words were unrelated to her.

However, Chen Ran, within her, was already seething.

"Well, well! I haven't even come looking for trouble with you, and you've come knocking on my door!"

"Rectification? To put it bluntly, you see that the Human Race's 'Technological Cultivation' route has escaped your control, and you want to forcibly pull the Human Race back to the 'Mystic Gate Immortal Way' where they work for you!"

"Dream on!"

Chen Ran's will instantly connected with Nuwa's.

"Empress, it's time for our performance!"

Nuwa understood, she slowly stood up and faced the Dao Ancestor on the high platform.

"This statement from the Dao Ancestor, Nuwa cannot agree with."

Her voice echoed throughout the Purple Firmament Palace.

"The path the Human Race chooses is their own decision. The Heavenly Dao has no right to interfere."

"As for the Investiture of the Gods..."

A faint smile curved Nuwa's lips.

"My Human Race has its own system of deities; we do not need the Heavenly Court's conferment. If the Heavenly Court is short of personnel, the Dao Ancestor can select from the remnants of the Witch and Demon Races, or perhaps, let the disciples of the Heavenly Origin Sect and Intercepting Sect fill the ranks."

This remark directly passed the buck to Yuanshi and Tongtian.

Yuanshi and Tongtian's faces darkened, yet they dared not retort.

Because at present, they truly could not afford to offend Nuwa.

"Presumptuous!"

For the first time, anger appeared on Hongjun's face.

A vast and boundless Heavenly Way Pressure descended upon Nuwa, attempting to suppress her!

This was power beyond that of a Saint, the will of the entire Primordial Era's Heavenly Dao!

Under this pressure, the other five Saints trembled, their Primordial Spirits quivering, almost forcing them to their knees.

However, Nuwa stood her ground, unmoving.

Above her head, a canopy formed from the Human Way Merit of countless humans rose into existence.

Upon the canopy, the Fire of Civilization burned fiercely.

No matter how the Heavenly Way Pressure surged, it could not shake her in the slightest.

"Dao Ancestor, the times have changed."

Nuwa looked calmly at Hongjun, speaking each word deliberately.

Just then, a sudden change occurred!

Outside the Azure Palace, within the Chaos.

Space was torn open by a massive rift.

Vast fleets, shimmering with metallic luster and inscribed with energy runes, slowly emerged from the spatial rift!

The leading flagship was comparable in size to a star.

On the flagship's deck stood dense ranks of figures.

They were the Human Race's newest elite troops—the Human Expeditionary Force!

Leading them were the Three Sovereigns, who had already attained the peak of Quasi-Saint cultivation!

Behind them stood rows of Human Race warriors clad in silver-white "Psionic Mecha."

Though these mecha were only initial models, each one possessed destructive power comparable to a Golden Immortal!

The appearance of this fleet plunged the entire Purple Heaven Palace into deathly silence.

The Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, and Zhunti stared dumbfounded at the fleet outside the window, a mixture of "sci-fi" and "fantasy" styles, feeling their worldview utterly shattered.

This... this was the Human Race?

That frail race, still stuck in the tribal era in their memories?

How did they get into the Chaos?

And what were these things they possessed?

Hongjun's gaze also turned towards the window.

For the first time, his eyes held the emotion known as "shock."

He could sense that although the individual strength of the fleet and the tens of thousands of mecha warriors was not overwhelming, their combined power was enough to threaten a Saint!

And this was clearly just the tip of the iceberg of the Human Race's strength.

Just then.

A figure slowly emerged from within Nuwa.

It was a young man dressed in white, with a handsome and refined appearance.

His aura was ethereal and profound, as if he did not belong to this spacetime.

It was Chen Ran, who could now temporarily manifest his form through the immense Civilization Power.

Chen Ran walked to Nuwa's side, standing shoulder to shoulder with her.

He looked up at the Dao Ancestor Hongjun on the high platform, who represented the order of the old era.

A smile also curved his lips.

He pointed behind him at the Human Race's Civilization Fleet, which had traversed the Chaos, and repeated Nuwa's words in a calm and resolute voice.

"Dao Ancestor, the times have changed."

"In this Primordial Era, it is we, the Human Race, who call the shots!"