The Wu Clan's Sorrow, the Calamity Nears Its End

As the sun rose and the moon set, the Primordial World passed day after day, year after year.

A hundred years had already gone by, and the Human Race had grown ever more prosperous across the Primordial Wilderness.

Though during this time, innocent humans often perished because of the conflict between the Wu Clan and the Demon Race, such things were unavoidable. In the Primordial World, how could anyone truly remain apart from it all?

What was more, the Human Race was destined to become the future protagonist of the Primordial World. A few trials and tribulations were naturally unavoidable.

Now, thanks to Li Yu's years of preaching, quite a few Human Race cultivators of profound cultivation had emerged. These cultivators could handle ordinary demons, while some had already begun founding sects and passing down their lineages.

Thus, over these years, the Human Race's own strength had steadily increased, and Li Yu no longer needed to personally handle everything. Li Yu was more than happy to see such a situation.

Therefore, over the past few years, Li Yu had returned to Five Villages Temple and rarely went out.

One day, while Li Yu was cultivating in seclusion, he suddenly sensed something. He came outside and looked up, only to see dark clouds crowding the distant sky, lightning flashing and thunder roaring as rain poured down from the heavens like a waterfall.

Calculating with his fingers, he realized it was merely a small episode within the Witch-Demon Calamity—the event later generations would call Nüwa Mends the Heavens.

The Wu Clan's two Ancestral Shamans, Gonggong and Zhurong, likely would not escape calamity this time. This matter had begun with the two of them, and what they had done had already crossed the bottom line. To the Primordial Wilderness, it was destruction. Since Saints existed between Heaven and Earth, protecting the Primordial World was their responsibility.

With Gonggong and Zhurong acting in such a manner, neither Nüwa nor Taiqing could possibly stand by and watch.

This was a matter for the Saints and the Wu Clan to resolve, and it had little to do with Li Yu. Though this disaster would inevitably affect the Human Race, Li Yu felt that the time had come for the Human Race to rely on its own strength to weather this trial.

"Looks like the Wu Clan has stirred up a monstrous disaster this time!"

At this moment, Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun also came to Li Yu's side. The three stood together, gazing toward the center of the Primordial World.

"Even with Houtu's merit from transforming into reincarnation, it cannot save them this time. Those who commit their own sins must repay them themselves."

"If the Saints take action, do you think the Wu Clan's Ancestral Shamans will fight the Saints?"

The three chatted back and forth like this, yet none of them turned back inside. They were all waiting for what came next. Before long, the six Saints descended from beyond the heavens into the Primordial World, discussing how to deal with the matter. Li Yu did not go over to join the excitement. In such a situation, it was better for him to honestly remain at Five Villages Temple.

Ten days later, the shattered heavens and earth of the Primordial World had been repaired. Nüwa gained another great heap of merit, while Gonggong and Zhurong were slain by the Saints. Though the Ancestral Shamans were unwilling to accept it, facing six Saints, they dared to be angry but did not dare to speak. Besides, this matter had been Gonggong and Zhurong's fault to begin with.

"Of the Twelve Ancestral Shamans, only nine remain now. Do they still stand a chance against the Demon Race? Could the Demon Race be the final victor?"

Li Yu merely shook his head. "The Demon Race will not become the overlord of the Primordial World. Otherwise, the Saints would have founded a Demon Sect long ago."

After this matter was settled, Li Yu traveled beyond the heavens, heading for Eight Views Palace. There was something he needed to discuss with Saint Taiqing—or rather, he needed to ask the foremost of the Six Saints to help him once.

Saint Taiqing's dojo beyond the heavens was far more plain than Saint Nüwa's. Counting them up, there were only master and disciple, along with an Azure Ox and an Immortal Deer. When Li Yu arrived, it was Xuandu, the Human Sect's senior disciple, who came out to receive him.

"Martial Uncle Li, please enter on your own. Master already knows."

Li Yu also greeted Xuandu before stepping into Eight Views Palace. Along the way, he saw the Azure Ox and Immortal Deer beneath a tree, seemingly dozing off. Who knew whether they were cultivating or simply sleeping?

"Greetings, Saint Sect Leader!"

Li Yu entered the hall where Taiqing cultivated in seclusion.

He respectfully performed a salute. Just as when he had gone to see Saint Nüwa, he had always cared greatly about such details and had never been lacking in courtesy. "Sit and speak."

There was a cushion beside Taiqing. After Li Yu sat upon it, Taiqing continued, "Fellow Daoist, your visit this time is surely no trivial matter."

Li Yu nodded. "I wish to ask why the Chaos Bell, one of the four supreme innate treasures, is in Taiyi's hands rather than in the Dao Ancestor's hands like the other three?"

The moment those words were spoken, Taiqing understood Li Yu's intentions. He clearly had his eyes on the Chaos Bell. With the Witch-Demon Calamity already entering its final stage, there might indeed be an opportunity now.

"This treasure does possess certain variables. Among the supreme innate treasures, it is the most unusual one, so I do not know the reason behind it either. However, setting your sights on it will not be a simple matter."

Li Yu smiled upon hearing this. "That is why I ask the Sect Leader to lend me a hand when the time comes. Since it is a supreme innate treasure, only another supreme innate treasure can contend against it."

"Very well. If this treasure can enter our Human Sect, it will count as a joyous matter."

Taiqing nodded, agreeing to Li Yu's request, then added, "Fellow Daoist may cultivate here for a time. When the opportunity arrives, you may go."

Li Yu did not refuse. Being able to cultivate peacefully in a Saint's dojo was naturally a good thing. Moreover, Saint Taiqing would surely learn of certain matters earlier and inform him, giving him more time to prepare.

Secretly seeking the Chaos Bell was naturally no small matter. When the time came, it would surely be the most critical moment of the Wu-Demon war. By then, power at Quasi-Saint Perfection, or even close to the Saint level, might erupt. Even he had no choice but to be careful, lest he end up throwing his own life away.

Li Yu had limited spiritual treasures. The Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner would likely be of little use then, while the Pure World White Lotus and Karmic Fire Red Lotus were much the same—perhaps they might even be destroyed. As for the twin swords Yuantu and Abi, they would be useless. He had no intention of killing anyone; he merely wanted to seize the Chaos Bell during the brief instant after Taiyi's death, when it temporarily lost its master.

After looking everything over, only the Godslayer Spear and the Innate Gourd granted by Hongjun—or rather, the Chaos Qi within the gourd—might come in handy.

Xuandu found Li Yu a side hall, then brought over a cushion. That was considered a place for secluded cultivation. This was not neglect; it had always been this way. From the Saints above to Xuandu below, all lived simply. As for the Azure Ox and Immortal Deer, they did not even have cushions. They normally cultivated by sitting directly on the ground beneath trees.

It had been quite some time since he had seen the Immortal Deer. Now that they met again, the Immortal Deer had already reached the Golden Immortal Realm, and the Azure Ox was the same.

As expected of those following beneath a Saint's tutelage—they truly were extraordinary. As for Xuandu, he was already a Quasi-Saint. Such cultivation was rare even among the great teachings of the Saints.

The Primordial World did not lack Golden Immortals at present, but Quasi-Saints were still exceedingly few. Quite a number of them were members of the Wu Clan and Demon Race. Once the Wu-Demon Calamity passed, there would be even fewer Quasi-Saints in the Primordial World.

This was the decree of fate. The Primordial World itself had a limit to what it could bear. Six Saints was already the limit. Though the number of Quasi-Saints was not restricted as harshly as that of Saints, it would not grow too large either.

Thus, many cultivators were stuck in the Golden Immortal Realm. It was not that their aptitude was lacking, but that they were constrained by the rules and unable to break through. That was why, by the time of the Investiture of the Gods, they were harvested like a field of leeks.