Red Boy Leaves Five Villages Temple, Li Yu Returns to Eastern Sea

Five Villages Temple looked exactly as it had when Li Yu left a hundred years ago, with no major changes.

The place that had been peaceful for many years became lively today because of Li Yu's return.

"Brother Li, where have you been all these years? We never saw you send any messages back."

In the main hall, Zhen Yuanzi laid out an immortal feast to welcome Li Yu. Hongyun and Red Boy sat nearby as well.

"When I first left, I went to Mount Buzhou and happened to encounter that one attaining sainthood. Afterward, I cultivated in seclusion on Mount Buzhou for a hundred years, secretly observing the Human Race's growth and migrations. Some time ago, the Human Race ran into trouble. By the Saint's command, I went to handle it, and only then did I return."

Li Yu made a long story short and briefly explained why he had set out to travel a hundred years ago. The others finally understood.

"Come to think of it, among the Dao Ancestor's disciples, I never expected the first to glimpse the Saint's Great Dao would not be Taiqing. What a surprise!" Zhen Yuanzi remarked with a sigh.

"The Heavenly Dao moves according to its own fixed course. It seems that even becoming a Saint cannot escape the decreed heavenly fate. What remains unknown is where the other few will find their opportunities for sainthood. Could it be that they too must create new races in the Primordial World?" Hongyun said jokingly.

Everyone found the matter somewhat absurd, treating it as nothing more than a joke.

"Before returning, I visited the Saint's dojo and received an assignment: to find a protector of the Dao for the Human Race, so that during this special time, they may avoid being slaughtered by demons."

As Li Yu spoke, he brought out the Wa Sovereign Whip Nüwa had given him. It had been refined from the Primordial Gourd Vine mixed with merit qi.

"This treasure is called the Wa Sovereign Whip. It was the treasure the Saint used when creating humans."

Li Yu looked at Red Boy and said, "Red Boy, I recommended you before the Saint. If you are willing, this treasure shall belong to you."

Red Boy froze upon hearing this. "Your nephew has only just entered the Golden Immortal Realm. This concerns the fate of the Human Race. If it is entrusted to me, I fear my cultivation is too shallow and I may disappoint the Saint's expectations."

"It is nothing. The demons troubling the Human Race now are merely minor demons that have only just taken shape. Those great powers among the Demon Race would not harm the Human Race. Go without worry. It is only somewhat taxing on the feet—you must frequently patrol the entire Human Race," Li Yu explained.

Red Boy lowered his head and considered for a moment. "Since that is so, then your nephew shall accept this task. I will surely not disappoint Uncle's recommendation or the Saint's trust."

After hearing him, Li Yu handed the Wa Sovereign Whip to him and added, "Should you encounter trouble you cannot resolve, inform me at once. Do not rely on the treasure bestowed by a Saint and then look down on everyone under heaven!"

"Your nephew understands!" Red Boy said solemnly as he accepted the Wa Sovereign Whip.

After giving Red Boy a few more instructions, Li Yu had him leave Five Villages Temple to seek out the Human Race of the Primordial World.

Once Red Boy had departed, Hongyun asked worriedly, "Fellow Daoist Li, that child will not delay this great matter, will he?"

In truth, Hongyun was deeply worried about Red Boy's safety. How could Li Yu fail to understand what he meant? He immediately smiled. "Brother Hongyun, rest assured. The Human Race is the protagonist of the Primordial World decreed by the Heavenly Dao. That is precisely why I deliberately had Red Boy undertake this task. This matter benefits the Human Race's growth and will surely receive the reciprocation of their racial fortune and the Heavenly Dao's favor. It will also greatly benefit his own cultivation. As for his safety, there is no need for you to worry. The Wa Sovereign Whip was bestowed by a Saint—it is not so easily dealt with."

"Brother Hongyun, put your mind at ease. Brother Li has been friends with you and me for countless years and has always treated Red Boy as his nephew. How could he allow him to enter danger?" Zhen Yuanzi consoled him from the side.

"Of course I do not mean to blame Fellow Daoist Li. It is only that, as a father, such worries are unavoidable. So be it, let this count as a trial for him,

This child has cultivated quietly ever since his birth. It is time for him to go out and see the world," Hongyun sighed.

After settling this matter, Li Yu and Zhen Yuanzi came to Bitter Bamboo and the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

A hundred years had passed, but for these two innate spiritual roots, there was in truth no change in appearance.

"Brother, how has this Bitter Bamboo grown over the years?" Li Yu asked.

"Other than possessing greater spiritual intelligence than the Ginseng Fruit Tree, it has shown no other special changes. Though perhaps the time has simply been too short. In truth, so long as these innate spiritual roots do not suffer calamity, if they grow naturally, their lifespans are nearly equal to heaven and earth," Zhen Yuanzi explained.

After Li Yu infused several strands of Chaos Qi into Bitter Bamboo, he had intended to leave, but suddenly remembered that when Nüwa attained sainthood, she had also gifted him a great deal of merit qi. He had temporarily stored it in the Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner and had never used it.

He immediately took out the Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner, drew some merit qi from within it, and infused it into Bitter Bamboo as well.

After finishing this, Li Yu said, "Brother, I must leave again. There are other matters I need to handle, so I will not remain at the temple for long."

"You are leaving again?" Zhen Yuanzi frowned deeply upon hearing this.

"The War Between Witches and Demons is about to reach its critical moment. During this period, the Primordial World will not be peaceful. You and Brother Hongyun should cultivate in peace. Once this calamity passes, all will be well."

After hearing Li Yu's words, Zhen Yuanzi sighed with emotion. "After listening to the Dao at Purple Cloud Palace three times, Brother Li's cultivation has already become unfathomable, far surpassing mine and Brother Hongyun's. If not for lacking that opportunity, perhaps one of the Saint's seats should have been yours."

"Haha!"

Li Yu laughed heartily. "From what Brother Zhen Yuanzi says, could it be that you are consumed by envy, jealousy, and hatred?"

"Go, go, go! Am I that sort of person? We have known one another for countless years—how could I harbor such thoughts? Though I do not know what Brother is planning, if you ever need anything, feel free to speak."

"Having those words from you is enough!"

To have a friend like this—what a comfort!

Li Yu left Five Villages Temple and first made his way to the Eastern Sea. His dojo was there, after all; having been away for so many years, he had to return and take a look.

After arriving at the immortal island in the Eastern Sea, his dojo appeared to have gained even more immortal charm.

"Looks like Black Armor has not been idle during this time."

Li Yu calculated the old turtle's location with a pinch of his fingers, then concealed himself and watched from afar before leaving his dojo for Three Immortals Island.

Yet this trip proved fruitless. Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao were all absent from the island. Only after asking the immortal maidens of Three Immortals Island did he learn that the three sisters had gone out together to listen to a master expound the Dao.

A master?

Li Yu pondered it inwardly. At this time, the master they had encountered should have been Tongtian.

With Tongtian's cultivation, even before attaining sainthood, he was more than qualified to expound the Dao to the living beings of the Primordial World. Moreover, Tongtian's future dojo in the Primordial World would be above the Eastern Sea.

"Looks like the Three Pure Ones must have gone their separate ways. Their ideals did not align, so this outcome was inevitable."

Since such a coincidence had arisen, Li Yu no longer hurried to wait by a tree stump for a rabbit. He planned to first visit Tongtian's dojo.