The land of the Central Plains was fertile. The first seeds sown here by the Human Race took root and sprouted at a visible pace beneath the nourishment of gentle sunlight and abundant river water, bringing hopes of a bountiful harvest.
Wisps of cooking smoke rose from the newly built cities. The laughter of children intertwined with the work chants of the clanspeople, forming a vibrant and flourishing scene.
Yet beneath this tranquility, undercurrents had long since begun to surge.
Just as Yuan Ming had expected, not long after the Human Race settled upon the fertile soil of the Central Plains, trouble came knocking of its own accord.
This vast land of the Central Plains was not truly unclaimed territory.
For a long time, four great Demon Clan powers had occupied this place.
They were:
The Azure Ox Clan, possessed of boundless strength and relatively mild temperaments.
The Ghost Lion Clan, swift as the wind and masters of inscrutable methods.
The Calamity Hound Clan, born with the ability to bring forth disasters, making them impossible to guard against.
And the Black Ox Clan, hot-tempered and prone to charging headlong into everything.
The four clans were comparable in strength and kept one another in check, forming a delicate balance over the long years.
Now, the Human Race, a million-strong group of "outsiders," had suddenly barged in and shattered the existing order. Naturally, the four clans had come to test them and weigh the worth of their new neighbors.
The first to act was the seemingly gentlest Azure Ox Clan.
That day, a colossal azure ox the size of a small mountain strode heavily to the outskirts of the Human Race's city, making the earth tremble with every step.
He transformed into a burly man in azure robes, twelve feet tall and covered in knotted muscles. His ox eyes, as large as bronze bells, gleamed with scrutiny, while scorching breath puffed from his nostrils.
"I am Qing Shan of the Azure Ox Clan! By the order of my ancestor, I have come to invite the ruler of the Human Race to Azure Ox Ridge in three days, to attend the Great Demon Banquet and celebrate our new neighborhood!"
His voice rang out like a great bell, spreading through the entire city. The demonic power contained within it made countless Postnatal clanspeople's hearts pound in fear.
Yuan Ming sat within the newly built Ancestral Temple, his expression calm as he accepted the azure jade invitation Qing Shan passed through the air.
The invitation was icy cold in his hand. Ancient runes written in demon script covered its surface, emanating a faint pressure.
After seeing Qing Shan off, Yuan Ming rubbed the invitation in his hand, and his gaze deepened.
He had long since learned that the four clans of the Central Plains possessed formidable foundations.
Both the Azure Ox Clan and the Ghost Lion Clan had Golden Immortal Realm experts presiding over them, beings a full major realm above him.
As for the Calamity Hound and Black Ox Clans, though neither possessed a Golden Immortal, each controlled an Innate Spirit Treasure of unfathomable power, enough to make up for the gap in cultivation.
In contrast, aside from himself, a True Immortal, the strongest members of the Human Race were merely Innate Realm clanspeople at the Heavenly Immortal Realm.
In terms of foundation, they could be said to be the weakest among the five clans.
"Those who come bear ill intent..." Yuan Ming murmured, then laughed at himself. "No, that's not right. It seems we're the ones who came here."
But no matter how he looked at it, this so-called Great Demon Banquet reeked of a trap from beginning to end.
It was both a test and a display of dominance.
If he did not go, it would be a sign of weakness, and the four clans would surely press their advantage. If he went, he would be walking into a dragon's pool and tiger's den, surrounded by danger.
Yuan Ming calmed himself and looked inward, carefully assessing his current strength.
His True Immortal Realm cultivation was his foundation, while the Heaven-Devouring Dao Scripture and the Heaven-Earth-Human Forty-Nine Return-to-Truth Method granted him immense mana and varied techniques.
The greatest variables lay in the Formless Scripture and the [Eastern Lord's Heavenly Patrol] Entry.
"If I do not use Dongjun's Divine Power, then with my current physical strength and Dao techniques, I can barely contend with an early Golden Immortal. I may have more than enough ability to protect myself, but defeating one would be incredibly difficult."
After all, he had yet to bring the first level of his Formless Scripture to completion.
Though his Physical Bitter Sea had been opened into a boundless expanse and his Life Spring surged without cease, the "Divine Bridge" connecting his body and soul, linking the inner heaven and earth, remained unstable and illusory. It had not yet been fully erected.
"But once I use [Eastern Lord's Heavenly Patrol]..."
A scorching gleam flashed through Yuan Ming's eyes. "If I draw upon the supreme power of the Sun Star to empower myself, dealing with an ordinary Golden Immortal should be more than manageable."
But this was also his greatest trump card. Once exposed, it would not only provoke deeper wariness from the four clans, but might even draw the attention of the two imperial lords in the heavens!
"It seems I must go on this trip. And I must display enough strength to earn their respect without revealing my true trump card."
Yuan Ming had made up his mind.
This Great Demon Banquet might be a dragon's pool and tiger's den, but Yuan Ming had no choice but to brave it!
He would make the four clans of the Central Plains understand that the Human Race was not a bone they could easily chew!
Three days later, Azure Ox Ridge.
This was the gathering place of the Azure Ox Clan. Verdant mountains rose one after another, spiritual energy was abundant, and all appeared peaceful and harmonious.
Yet today, Azure Ox Ridge was permeated by an unusual aura of killing intent.
Within a broad valley, an enormous stone table had been set out, laden with all manner of rare demon beast meat, spiritual fruits, and immortal wine.
The leaders of the four great Demon Clans had already gathered, though the atmosphere was somewhat delicate.
The leader of the Ghost Lion Clan was a powerful lion clad in black-gold battle armor, agile as a phantom. His name was Black Xiong.
He spoke first, his voice hoarse and sharp. "Everyone, we have gathered today because of this Human Race that suddenly appeared. What do you think?"
The leader of the Calamity Hound Clan was a lean black hound with sinister eyes, named Dou Cang.
He bared his sharp fangs and said darkly, "Hmph. They are nothing more than a weak and lowly race, yet they dare dream of standing on equal footing with our four clans?"
"In my opinion, there is no need for further talk. We should simply pen them up and use them as food! That would save them from getting in our way on this land."
The leader of the Black Ox Clan was the most massive of them all, his muscles bulging across his body like a moving mountain. His name was Hei Tian.
He laughed boisterously. "Dou Cang, I support you! But the Human Race was created by the Nüwa of our clan. If anything goes wrong with them afterward, it has nothing to do with us. This was done by your Calamity Hound Clan!"
As he spoke, he tore into a roasted demon beast leg dripping with grease, looking utterly unconcerned.
Dou Cang bared his teeth at those words. A cunning glint flashed through his eyes, but he said no more.
The leader of the Azure Ox Clan was named Qing Shi. He was powerfully built and had an honest-looking face, yet his eyes held a steady calm.
He said slowly, "Hei Tian has a point. The Human Race does have ties to Her Majesty Nüwa. It may be inappropriate for us to rashly exterminate or pen them up. In my view, we should first try to make contact and learn more about them before making a decision."
Just as the leaders of the four great Demon Clans discussed the matter, each harboring their own thoughts, a melodious flute melody drifted in from outside the valley.
Then, a figure slowly approached.
He wore an elegant azure robe, with a straight posture, handsome features, and a relaxed expression. It was as though he had not come to a potentially perilous trap, but to an ordinary gathering of friends.
His aura was restrained, yet he seemed to have merged with heaven and earth. He revealed neither mountain nor water, yet carried an innate air of transcendence.
This person was Yuan Ming.
As one of the Primordial Humans personally molded by Nuwa, Yuan Ming's Dao body and appearance were naturally beyond reproach, carrying an innate charm that was both extraordinary and otherworldly.
"Yuan Ming, the Fourth Ancestor of the Human Race, greets the clan leaders." Yuan Ming cupped his hands in greeting, his voice calm yet carrying an unquestionable authority.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Yuan Ming presented the gifts he had brought for the four clans.
The Human Race of the Central Plains had only recently been established, and their foundation was still shallow. Innate items were scarce, so Yuan Ming was naturally unwilling to casually give away those precious resources.
After careful consideration, he had brought a statue of Holy Mother Nuwa that he had personally carved.
The statue had been made from a piece of warm, lustrous Innate jade. Yuan Ming had poured into it his reverence for the Holy Mother and his hopes for the Human Race.
Nuwa in the statue was both benevolent and majestic, her gaze seemingly capable of seeing through eternity. She held a lump of clay in her hands, preparing to mold life.
This statue was not only a tangible manifestation of human faith, but also a symbol of the connection between the Human Race and Nuwa.
Yuan Ming solemnly presented the statue and said, "This is an image of Holy Mother Nuwa, the vessel of our people's faith. Since this is our first meeting, I offer it as a gift. I hope the clan leaders will remember the Holy Mother's grace in creating humanity, treat my people kindly, and coexist with us upon this land of the Central Plains."
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