The Human Race of the Primordial World had been created by Nüwa. Though they were acquired lifeforms, this first generation of humans had been born knowing where they came from. They all knelt before Nüwa and called her "Holy Mother."
Thus, the saying that Nüwa was the Holy Mother of the Human Race was passed down from generation to generation. As for Li Yu, who stood beside Nüwa, few knew of him. Even those who retained some memory of him only called him an unnamed man.
Nüwa had created the Human Race of the Primordial World, a lifeform favored by the Heavenly Dao and destined to become the future protagonists of heaven and earth.
Nüwa's act had fulfilled the workings of the Heavenly Dao, naturally earning her immense merit. Countless streams of Merit Qi descended from the Nine Heavens, all of which Nüwa absorbed.
At that moment, Nüwa also gained the Heavenly Dao's recognition, refined the Primordial Purple Qi, and became another saint of the Primordial World.
The heavenly omen of merit descending upon Mount Buzhou, along with the saintly majesty of Nüwa, spread throughout every corner of the Primordial World.
Everyone had their own thoughts, which needed no further mention. After becoming a saint, Nüwa urgently needed to stabilize her cultivation. However, the Primordial World was no longer suitable as a cultivation ground, so she had to seek another place for secluded practice.
"Fellow Daoist Li, take this Merit Qi. My becoming a saint today was also due in part to your guidance."
With that, Nüwa's sleeve billowed, and a great amount of Merit Qi flew toward Li Yu.
Li Yu did not stand on ceremony. He immediately brought out the Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner, swept it through the Merit Qi, and collected it all.
Nüwa then arrived atop Phoenix Perch Mountain. With a wave of her sleeve, she used a spatial art to store away the mountain and her cultivation ground, Wa Palace, before turning and flying beyond the heavens.
Like Hongjun, Nüwa chose to place her cultivation ground within the Chaos beyond the Primordial World, though not too far from it. Without the proper method, ordinary people would never be able to find it.
After Nüwa left, Li Yu departed as well. He had only come to witness the birth of the Human Race firsthand. As for their future growth and prosperity, he had no intention of interfering.
The Human Race of the Primordial World was destined to rise from insignificance and endure hardship along the way. This was the law of nature. Only by experiencing the cruelty of the Primordial World would humanity one day become the protagonists of heaven and earth.
Though Li Yu had no intention of changing the law of survival of the fittest, it was another matter entirely if other beings bore malicious intent and treated humans as prey.
Therefore, although Li Yu left, he did not go far. He merely found a place to cultivate in seclusion. Should the Human Race encounter threats from other races, he would naturally intervene to help them.
Mount Buzhou had always been the ancestral land of the Wu Clan. With Nüwa suddenly creating the Human Race there, the Wu Clan did not know how to respond for a time.
Within the Ancestral Witch Hall, the twelve Ancestral Shamans gathered together to discuss a solution.
"Sister Houtu, you have always shared a close friendship with Nüwa. How do you think we should handle the Human Race?"
Seeing the other Ancestral Shamans all turn their eyes toward her and wait for her decision, Houtu said, "Nüwa has now become a saint, and the Human Race was personally created by her. Even for the sake of a saint's dignity, our clan should take a step back. The Human Race may live and multiply on the outskirts of Mount Buzhou. What do you all think?"
"Sister Houtu is indeed wise. Even a saint could find no fault with handling it this way," said Gonggong, the Water God and a fellow Ancestral Shaman.
The Human Race was still weak, while the Wu Clan was one of the greatest races between heaven and earth. Were it not for Nüwa's status as a saint, there would have been no need to be so cautious in dealing with humanity.
"Brothers Gonggong and Zhurong, I have heard that you have fought each other several times lately and nearly come to blows in earnest. Is that true?"
Faced with Houtu's question, Gonggong had initially wanted to conceal it. However, Zhurong, whose temper had always been fiery and straightforward, immediately admitted it. "Sister Houtu, it is all because Gonggong needs a beating. Let me tell you—"
"That is enough!"
Houtu interrupted Zhurong, her expression displeased. "Our clan has been able to contend with the Demon Court without falling behind,
precisely because we exist. If even we cannot stand united, then in time we will surely be defeated by the Demon Court. Do you wish to become sinners of the Wu Clan?" "What? We would lose to those three-legged birds?"
The moment Zhurong heard Houtu's words, his temper flared. Looking thoroughly unconvinced, he said, "Sister Houtu, just wait here. I will go to the Demon Court right now, capture them, pluck them clean, roast them, and eat them!"
After saying that, Zhurong transformed into a streak of fire and shot out of the Ancestral Witch Hall.
"Hmph! Idiot!" Gonggong said disdainfully before leaving the Ancestral Witch Hall as well.
"Sister Houtu, there is no need for you to worry about those two. Although Gonggong and Zhurong do not get along, they both know their limits. They will not disregard the Wu Clan's future and fate," Dijiang said, stepping in to smooth things over as the elder brother among the Ancestral Shamans.
Seeing this, Houtu sighed inwardly and felt even more stifled. "Then I ask that you keep a close watch on them, Brother. Do not let them cause trouble."
With that, Houtu also left the Ancestral Witch Hall, her destination unknown.
The sun rose and moon set, spring passed and autumn came. Another hundred years went by across the Primordial Wilderness.
Throughout these years, Li Yu had cultivated in seclusion on Mount Buzhou, secretly protecting the Human Race. He feared that wicked cultivators might take advantage of humanity's weakness to commit vile acts.
Fortunately, all had remained peaceful. The Human Race's numbers had also increased greatly, and they gradually began migrating outward with Mount Buzhou as their center.
One day, Li Yu, who had been cultivating, opened his eyes. A sudden feeling arose within him. After making a calculation with his fingers, he became greatly enraged.
After several centuries of development, the Human Race had finally drawn the covetous attention of those with evil intentions.
At some unknown point, a vicious rumor had spread throughout the Primordial World: human essence and blood could aid cultivation. Many demonic and wicked beings had gradually forgotten that the Human Race had been created by Nüwa. Moreover, with saints absent from the world these past years, they no longer had any reservations and had begun secretly slaughtering human beings.
Cultivation, artifact refinement, pill refinement...
Li Yu's sudden intuition had come from humans praying to Nüwa, who then passed their plea on to him.
"Those who dare slaughter the Human Race like this are unforgivable!"
Li Yu took a step and emerged from his secluded cultivation site. A few breaths later, he arrived at a human tribe on the outskirts of Mount Buzhou. The tribe had set up an incense table, with the heads of livestock placed upon it as offerings.
Led by an elderly man who appeared to be the tribe's chief, the tribespeople knelt devoutly before the heavens, praying for Nüwa, the Holy Mother of the Human Race, to save them.
Li Yu descended from the sky atop an auspicious cloud and landed before them. "Rise. The saint has received your plea and sent me to aid you."
"Thank you, Holy Mother! Thank you, Holy Envoy!" the tribespeople cried loudly, their voices filled with irrepressible joy.
"The rest of you may leave. This elder will remain. I have matters to discuss with him."
The elder Li Yu had singled out was the chief of this tribe, named Lei.
Lei hurried forward and said, "Lei, chief of the Huaxu Tribe, greets the Holy Envoy!"
Li Yu did not bother explaining that he had been mistaken for a Holy Envoy. The urgent matter was to quickly resolve this tribe's troubles.
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