The Age of Great Order, Fuxi Enters Reincarnation

After returning to his dojo, Li Yu followed his fancy and wandered leisurely through it on foot like an ordinary mortal, with Black Armor carefully trailing behind him.

"There is the Truncated Teaching in the Primordial World. Its leader upholds the principle of teaching without distinction and bears no ill will toward Demon Cultivators. Why not join the Truncated Teaching? It would benefit your cultivation as well."

Passing by a rare and precious plant, Li Yu plucked two ripe fruits. He ate one himself and casually tossed the other to Black Armor.

Black Armor caught the spirit fruit and said, "Since this little turtle has become the guardian of your dojo, Master, I should remain faithful from beginning to end. Though the Truncated Teaching is good, I cannot go."

Although Li Yu had never particularly cared whether Black Armor stayed or left, hearing the little turtle speak so made him quite pleased.

"You need not be so bound by this. Over the years, I have never taught you much, and as for guarding the dojo, you need not take it to heart. Come and go as you please; follow your own heart." Li Yu smiled.

"Th-this... is Master asking this little turtle to leave?" Black Armor asked nervously.

"Haha!"

Seeing Black Armor being so cautious, Li Yu chuckled. "In the end, you cannot remain the guardian of this dojo forever. In a few days, I will try to refine this island into a portable grotto-heaven. This place of quiet cultivation will no longer be in the Eastern Sea. When all is said and done, you are a little demon of the sea. You cannot possibly leave the ocean behind, can you?"

Now that matters had come to this, Black Armor was no longer the little demon who had desperately begged to be allowed onto the island. He had now achieved some success in cultivation, and there would be no harm in leaving the mountain.

"This little turtle begs Master to point out a clear road!"

"Go to the Dragon Clan!"

After giving it some thought, Li Yu continued, "You are a sea demon. Across the seas of this Primordial World, the Dragon Clan is still the strongest. If you can gain a firm foothold among the Dragon Clan, it would be a broad and open path."

"This little turtle thanks Master for your guidance! Then this little turtle will wait until Master has refined the dojo before leaving!"

"As you please!"

With that, Li Yu plucked another spirit fruit and tossed it to Black Armor.

There was no need to rush the matter of refining a portable grotto-heaven. The calamity of the War Between Witches and Demons had only just passed, and many years remained before the next great calamity began.

It was rare for the Primordial World to enjoy such peaceful days. Li Yu also wished to slack off and live freely for a while.

One day, while Li Yu was cultivating quietly in his dojo, he suddenly sensed something. He calculated with his fingers and found that an important matter needed attending to.

Li Yu immediately left his dojo and headed for the Netherworld. Having visited the Netherworld several times, he was no longer a stranger there. When Ox-Head and Horse-Face saw Li Yu, they respectfully bowed and greeted him.

"It has been some days since I last saw you two."

Li Yu chatted courteously with Ox-Head and Horse-Face for a while, then took out two gourds of immortal brew and handed one to each of them. "I had nothing to do, so I brewed this wine myself. I think it tastes rather good, so I brought some for you to try."

Ox-Head and Horse-Face did not stand on ceremony. Smiling, they accepted the gourds. "Many thanks, Sect Leader Li. We brothers enjoy a drink as well, but the Netherworld is unlike other places. Things like this are rather rare here."

As they spoke, Li Yu followed Ox-Head and Horse-Face to the place of the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

"Sect Leader Li, then we brothers will take our leave first!"

This was an important place in the Netherworld, so they could not linger long.

After Ox-Head and Horse-Face departed, Li Yu waited for a while before Houtu emerged from reincarnation.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Houtu asked, "Fellow Daoist, have you come this time because the time has arrived?"

Li Yu nodded. "Precisely. The Human Race is about to enter an age of great order. At such a time, a sovereign should descend into the world, and Fuxi may be born in accordance with fate."

"This concerns the Human Sect and the Human Race. I cannot concern myself with so much. Since Fellow Daoist has already decided, I shall send Fuxi into reincarnation."

As Houtu spoke, she waved her delicate hand, and a divine ray flew forth into reincarnation.

"Fellow Daoist Fuxi's divine soul has entered reincarnation. Fellow Daoist may wait in peace," Houtu said.

"When will Fuxi be born among the Human Race?" Li Yu asked.

Houtu shook her head. "I do not know either. The laws governing rebirth in the Six Paths of Reincarnation are, in truth, like the movements of heavenly destiny—they cannot be determined. Fellow Daoist must wait patiently. It may happen soon, or it may take another thousand years or more."

Hearing Houtu's words, Li Yu laughed at himself. "I was too impatient."

"The Human Sect has done much for the growth of the Human Race. It is only natural for Fellow Daoist to be concerned," Houtu said.

"That was all in the past. What becomes of the Human Race in the future will depend on the Human Race itself. The Human Sect's work is more or less finished."

Hearing this, Houtu was somewhat surprised. "From what Fellow Daoist says, is it a case of those before planting trees so those after may enjoy the shade?"

"The Human Sect has too few disciples and cannot manage so many matters. Let others take them on instead," Li Yu said.

"Ah, Fellow Daoist truly becomes harder and harder for Houtu to see through. No wonder Saint Taiqing had you serve as the Human Sect's vice sect leader and handle its affairs," Houtu said.

Li Yu smiled and did not continue the topic. Instead, he said, "On the eve of the final battle between the Wu Clan and the Demon Race, it seemed that some Wu people left their clans and migrated elsewhere. Does Fellow Daoist know where those clansmen went?"

Houtu sighed. "How could I know? Ever since I decided to transform my body into reincarnation, those elder brothers ceased associating with me, their younger sister. They even resented me for disregarding the life and death of the Wu Clan."

"I hope those Wu people can hide themselves well and survive. The War Between Witches and Demons inflicted grievous losses upon both races, but comparatively speaking, many members of the Demon Race remain. If one day they discover the Wu Clan's bloodline, raise their arms in a single call, and besiege the Wu Clan, then I fear even turning the tide would be beyond reach."

After kindly reminding Houtu, Li Yu bade her farewell and left the Netherworld.

Hongyun's grotto abode was not far from here, so Li Yu made a detour to visit him. He stayed with Hongyun for some days before returning to the Eastern Sea.

After returning this time, Li Yu began making preparations to refine his portable grotto-heaven. After a full year of work, he finally refined the island into a grotto-heaven he could carry with him.

At this time, Black Armor also left Li Yu and went to seek refuge with the Dragon Clan.

Li Yu then planned to visit Three Immortals Island. He needed to tell them about this matter, lest they come here someday only to find the entire dojo gone. After all, they were neighbors; if he was moving away, he ought to give them notice.

Having just arrived at Three Immortals Island, he saw from afar that two female cultivators were fighting with spells over the sea not far beyond the island.

Looking carefully, he saw that one was Yunxiao, while the other was Golden Spirit Holy Mother, one of Tongtian's four great disciples.

Li Yu had seen Golden Spirit Holy Mother once before, when Tongtian had given his first lecture. Li Yu had taken a stroll around Golden Ao Island then and caught sight of her, but he had deliberately concealed his traces at the time. Golden Spirit Holy Mother likely had no impression of him.

From a distance, the two did not appear to have any grudge against each other. Their spell battle was merely a spar, intended to verify the results of their respective cultivation.

Li Yu did not hurry over to disturb them. Instead, he waited quietly to one side until their sparring ended, then revealed himself.