Earth Book, Zhenyuanzi's Deal!

At this time, Chen Yang arrived at Longevity Mountain carrying the Nine-Nine Soul-Shattering Gourd.

After arriving at Longevity Mountain, Qingfeng and Mingyue, whom he had not seen for a long time, were already waiting.

"Little Master Chen Yang... Our master ordered us to wait for you. Please, come in..." Qingfeng said.

Chen Yang smiled faintly. Looking at the two young Daoist boys, he handed them several spiritual fruits. "Come, take me to see Senior Zhenyuanzi."

Qingfeng and Mingyue accepted the spiritual fruits, smiles appearing on their faces as they led Chen Yang into Five Villages Temple.

Before long, within the familiar Daoist temple, he saw Zhenyuanzi, whom he had not seen for ages.

When Zhenyuanzi saw Chen Yang, his expression shifted slightly. "Chen Yang... It has been a long time. What brings you to this poor Daoist's place today?"

A sharp light flickered in Chen Yang's eyes as he said, "Is it safe to speak here...?"

Hearing this, Zhenyuanzi's expression changed slightly. He flicked his whisk. "Whatever it is, say it. This place is very safe."

Chen Yang nodded and took out the Nine-Nine Soul-Shattering Gourd. "Senior Zhenyuan... I found this outside the Blood Sea. Its artifact spirit protected a trace of Senior Hongyun's origin. You..."

"What..." Immortal Zhenyuan grew intensely agitated. Light flickered in his eyes as he stared at the Nine-Nine Soul-Shattering Gourd and sensed that familiar aura. "Fellow Daoist Hongyun—it truly is his aura. Good, good..."

Immortal Zhenyuan was overjoyed. Taking the Nine-Nine Soul-Shattering Gourd, he understood everything in an instant.

At that moment, Immortal Zhenyuan's expression was full of emotion, divine light shining from his eyes. He looked at the Nine-Nine Soul-Shattering Gourd as though it were an incomparably precious treasure.

Chen Yang was no longer surprised by this.

Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun shared true friendship—the bond of true brothers.

Now that he held the gourd and sensed Hongyun's origin, Zhenyuanzi said nothing. With a single step, he vanished from the place, leaving Chen Yang alone in rather awkward silence.

Only after a long while did Zhenyuanzi return.

Zhenyuanzi looked somewhat embarrassed. "Young friend Chen Yang... In my excitement, I hurried to settle Brother Hongyun and forgot to receive you..."

"It is no matter... Senior Hongyun's origin is important. I wonder, can Senior Hongyun rely on this trace of origin to be resurrected?" Chen Yang asked.

Zhenyuanzi sighed. "Alas... Brother Hongyun was transformed from the first red cloud in the Primordial World. He may be considered a fiery sunset cloud, and so his origin is scorching as well. I sent it into the Ginseng Fruit Tree, using the creation aura within it to replenish Brother Hongyun's origin. Unfortunately, this can only nourish him. To resurrect him will likely be very difficult..."

Chen Yang's expression changed slightly, and he found it somewhat unbelievable. "Senior Zhenyuan... Reaching this point is already the limit of what you can do. But so long as Senior Hongyun has a trace of origin left, there is hope."

"That is true." Zhenyuanzi sighed with feeling.

The two chatted idly for a while longer.

Then Zhenyuanzi suddenly said solemnly, "By the way, I wish to make a deal with the Human Clan."

Chen Yang's expression shifted slightly. "A deal? A deal with the Human Clan? Senior Zhenyuan, I..."

"Young friend Chen Yang... You are the Human Clan's teacher and a representative of the Three Teachings. You possess a certain degree of authority over the Human Clan. That is why I am telling you first. See whether this can be done?" Zhenyuanzi said.

"Senior Zhenyuan, please tell me what it is first. However, matters of the Human Clan are ultimately not something I alone can control, so there are matters I cannot decide myself," Chen Yang said seriously.

"I understand. In truth, this matter concerns Brother Hongyun as well. Speaking of which, the great trend of the Primordial World is already clear. The Wu Tribe and Demon Race are bound to fight a great battle. After that battle, regardless of the outcome, both will withdraw from the stage of the Primordial World. Even if they do not withdraw, some profound and mysterious great trend will force them to do so.

"For this reason, the Human Clan will become the core of the Primordial World. As the Human Clan develops, figures who form the foundation of humanity will surely emerge. I hope to secure a place among them for Brother Hongyun," Zhenyuanzi said slowly.

"Senior Zhenyuan, you mean that you hope Senior Hongyun can reincarnate as a human and become one of the Human Clan's sages?" Chen Yang pondered.

"Correct. I hope Brother Hongyun can become part of the Human Clan," Zhenyuanzi said.

Chen Yang fell silent for a moment before finally saying, "Senior Zhenyuan... If the Human Clan were under my control alone, I would absolutely agree to this. But within the Human Clan, there are Patriarch Suiren and the others, as well as the Three Teachings. It is difficult for me to decide."

"I know. That is why I said I wished to make a deal with the Human Clan. If this can be accomplished, I am willing to offer the Earth Book, one of the Three Books of Heaven, Earth, and Man," Zhenyuanzi said solemnly.

Chen Yang's gaze grew grave, then astonishment appeared in his eyes. "The Earth Book, one of the Three Books of Heaven, Earth, and Man! That is Senior Zhenyuan's innate companion spiritual treasure, and besides..."

"Correct. The Earth Book is my innate companion spiritual treasure and contains a special divine ability. Yet to me, the Earth Book is merely a defensive treasure and has little use. If given to the Human Clan instead, it would be of great use," Zhenyuanzi said solemnly.

Curiosity appeared in Chen Yang's expression.

A hundred years later, Chen Yang returned to the Human Clan and arrived at Kongtong Mountain.

Kongtong Mountain was the source of the Yellow River, the place where the Kongtong Seal was nurtured.

Now that Chen Yang had arrived, many Human Clan sages came to pay their respects.

Chen Yang did not stand on ceremony. He entered the core area and looked at Suiren Clan and the others, who were cultivating.

"Chen Yang, you have come looking for us again. You must have something to discuss."

Youchao Clan asked.

Chen Yang did not hide anything. He took out the Earth Book and explained Zhenyuanzi's proposed deal. "That is the matter. Senior Zhenyuan hopes that Senior Hongyun can become one of our Human Clan and obtain a certain special position within the Human Clan. Therefore..."

"This can be done. However, we do not yet know how our Human Clan will develop, nor to what extent. Still, Senior Zhenyuan is being so generous that our Human Clan will not treat him unfairly," Suiren Clan said.

Youchao Clan nodded as well. "Indeed... The Earth Book is extremely crucial to our Human Clan. The Human Clan can use heroic spirits to appoint mountain gods and land deities. They can govern mountains, rivers, and waterways, which will greatly benefit the development of our Human Clan. Furthermore, mountain gods and land deities can communicate with one another, which will also aid the flow of information among our people..."

After discussing the matter, everyone understood the Earth Book's unique nature.

Chen Yang nodded as well. "The Earth Book can appoint mountain gods and land deities. It is truly important to the Human Clan."

"Very well, we shall agree to this matter. Also, it would not be safe to keep the Earth Book here, so it shall remain in your hands. At present, our Human Clan occupies only the Eastern Sea Coast. Thus, even if we can appoint mountain gods and land deities, we can only do so within the Eastern Sea Coast. We must first draw up a list and appoint the mountain gods and land deities of the Eastern Sea Coast," Suiren Clan said.

Once those words were spoken, naturally no one objected.

Chen Yang put away the Earth Book, yet he did not leave.

Chen Yang looked toward Suiren Clan and the others, his voice heavy. "Esteemed Human Clan patriarchs, I came today not only to settle the matter of the Earth Book. I also beg you patriarchs to agree to one matter."

Hearing this, Suiren Clan's expression shifted slightly. "Chen Yang... I have some idea of what you intend to do. But do you know the consequences of doing so?"

"The consequences? I know very well what consequences this will bring. But if we do nothing, what consequences will that bring? And besides, are we simply to forget the hatred of the past?" Chen Yang asked gravely.

"Forget? How could we possibly forget? The Demon Race slaughtered countless humans. They nearly exterminated the Human Clan. How could such hatred ever be forgotten?" Youchao Clan clenched his fists, his face full of fury.

"Very well... If you are confident, then do it. Now that the Kongtong Seal is in your hands, you are the lord of the Human Clan. Do whatever you wish. So long as you leave the Human Clan a trace of foundation, that will be enough," Suiren Clan said seriously.

"I will. I will make the Human Clan powerful, and I will not allow the Human Clan to decline," Chen Yang said solemnly.

Suiren Clan nodded. What else could he say? He could only choose silence.

With the Human Clan patriarchs settled, it meant that the Human Clan was now completely under Chen Yang's control. Chen Yang could command the Human Clan army and its sages.

When the time came, with a single command, all humans would join forces with the Wu Tribe and wage war against the Demon Race!

Yet Chen Yang also knew very well that this would not be easy. He could control the Human Clan's participation in the war, but the Three Pure Ones behind them would not be so easy to handle.

After returning to the Human Clan settlement, Chen Yang found Sui Qing. "The Human Clan must accelerate its growth from now on. Also, select martial arts experts from among the Human Clan who have entered the Primordial Realm."

"Uncle... There are not many martial arts experts in the Human Clan who have reached the Primordial Realm. At most, there are only several million. Those several million were all built up using the Human Clan's remaining resources," Sui Qing said.

Chen Yang smiled. "Several million? That number has already exceeded my expectations. Have these Primordial Realm martial arts experts follow Chang'e into Firecloud Cave to cultivate."

"Firecloud Cave? Isn't that Great Immortal Hongyun's Daoist field?" Having followed Chen Yang for so many years, Sui Qing knew many things.

"From today onward, Firecloud Cave will be our Human Clan's blessed land. Within Firecloud Cave lies a great thousand world, rich in spiritual energy and abundant in resources. Let the Human Clan's Primordial Realm martial arts experts cultivate there and advance as quickly as possible. Moreover, any Human Clan martial arts expert who enters the Primordial Realm may cultivate there. Before long, Patriarch Suiren and the others may also relocate into Firecloud Cave," Chen Yang said seriously.

"Uncle... If that is so, then Firecloud Cave will become the core land and foundation of our Human Clan in the future," Sui Qing said.

Chen Yang nodded. "Correct. Firecloud Cave will become the Human Clan's core and foundation."

Once this matter had been discussed, Sui Qing nodded and went to handle the many arrangements.

Chang'e received the method for opening Firecloud Cave and said, "Master... What about me? Must I remain in Firecloud Cave to cultivate as well?"

Chen Yang looked at Chang'e and nodded. "Yes, you will remain in Firecloud Cave to cultivate. Raise your cultivation as quickly as possible. Do not worry about resources; I will prepare everything you need."

Chang'e nodded. In her heart, the delicate and perceptive Chang'e had already guessed what Chen Yang intended to do.

For this reason, Chang'e nodded seriously. "I understand."

With those words, Chang'e turned and left.

After making the many arrangements, Chen Yang headed once more to the Wu Tribe.