Just as the Red Embroidered Ball was about to strike Taiqing, a Seven-Colored Auspicious Cloud appeared above his head.
Bang!
The Red Embroidered Ball slammed into the All Heavens Celebration Cloud, causing the golden lamps and golden lotuses within it to sway incessantly, as though they might fall at any moment.
This showed just how ferocious Nüwa's strike had been.
"Eldest Brother, focus all your strength on suppressing the Human Race's fortune. I'll block Nüwa's attack."
Upon hearing this, Taiqing immediately used all his strength to suppress the Human Race's fortune within his body. Seeing that he intended to force the fortune back down, Ling Wudao, standing in the distance, could not help but frown slightly.
Of the Human Race's total fortune, Nüwa held half, Taiqing held thirty percent, and the Human Race itself currently controlled twenty percent. At this rate, it would not be easy to reclaim the Human Race's fortune.
It seemed he would still need to rely on the half of the Human Race's fortune held by Nüwa.
With that in mind, Ling Wudao said to Nüwa, "Nüwa Empress, Taiqing currently holds thirty percent of the Human Race's fortune. I alone cannot reclaim it. Please lend me a hand."
Hearing this, Nüwa immediately poured her own Human Race fortune into the Kongtong Seal. She also wanted Taiqing to relinquish the Human Race's fortune, since it had belonged to her in the first place.
Had Hongjun not stopped her from preventing Taiqing from establishing the Human Religion, he would never have had the chance to become a Saint.
As a vast amount of Human Race fortune gathered within the Kongtong Seal, the Human Race fortune on Taiqing's body was stripped away faster and faster. No matter how Taiqing tried to suppress it with the Taiji Diagram, he could not stop the loss of fortune.
No one knew how much time passed before the Human Race fortune on Taiqing's body was finally completely stripped away.
Once the Human Race fortune fully left Taiqing's body, his cultivation began to fall along with its disappearance.
In just a few moments, Taiqing fell from the Saint Third Heaven to the Saint First Heaven.
At the sight of this, Taiqing completely lost his mind.
"Ling Wudao, I want you dead!"
As soon as he spoke, he prepared to rise and charge at Ling Wudao.
At that moment, Yuanshi, standing beside him, said, "Eldest Brother, do not act rashly. Your cultivation is still falling. Quickly stabilize your realm, and do not fall from the Saint Position, or there will be trouble."
Only after hearing Yuanshi did Taiqing notice a slight crack in his Dao Fruit.
Thus, Taiqing did not immediately seek trouble with Ling Wudao. Instead, he took out a large number of Nine Revolutions Golden Pills and used them alongside the Taiji Diagram to stabilize his realm.
As for Ling Wudao, with the Human Race fortune returning, the fortune around his body continued to grow stronger. Unfortunately, he still failed to use it to break through to the Qi Refining Stage Late Phase.
Although the return of the fortune did not allow him to break through, it brought enormous benefits to the Human Race. For instance, the wounds of the injured healed on their own in an instant, while those who had become frail with age returned to youthful appearances.
Not only that, even their aptitudes improved considerably. Some human race cultivators even broke through on the spot.
Seeing this, an irrepressible smile appeared on Ling Wudao's face.
Only now was the Human Race truly the Human Race. Before this, they had merely been tools raised by the Saints!
At this moment, seeing Taiqing nearly fall from the Saint Position, Nüwa could not help bursting into laughter.
"Taiqing, I never expected you to have such a day. You bullied the Human Race so cruelly before; today, I will give you a proper taste of being bullied."
After saying that, Nüwa prepared to attack Taiqing and Yuanshi with all her strength.
However, at that very moment, purple qi stretching ten thousand miles appeared in the void. Then, a figure rode a Seven-Colored Auspicious Cloud over from afar.
Upon seeing this sight, the Saints all understood that their teacher had arrived.
When that figure flew before the Saints, they immediately knelt in worship.
"We greet Teacher!"
Hongjun looked expressionlessly at the Saints. "Rise!"
"Do you know your sins?"
"Teacher, what sin have we committed? Nüwa obstructed the Human Race's great tribulation, and we acted in accordance with Heaven's will to stop her. Wherein lies our sin?"
"Taiqing, you were not wrong to stop Nüwa, but you should not have started a battle between Saints. The current Great Desolation cannot withstand several Saints fighting with all their might."
"I came here to stop you from continuing this battle."
After speaking, Hongjun waved his hand. A force entered Taiqing's body, instantly preserving both Taiqing's injuries and his Saint fruit.
Then Hongjun looked at Nüwa. "You should not have obstructed the Human Race's great tribulation. You must understand that it was ordained by Heaven; only through tribulations can the Human Race grow."
Hearing Hongjun's words, Nüwa frowned slightly.
"Teacher, the Human Race has done no harm to the Great Desolation since its birth. Why must they endure such a tribulation? Could it be that the Heavenly Dao cannot tolerate the Human Race and insists on utterly exterminating them?"
"Disciple Nüwa, it is not that the Heavenly Dao cannot tolerate the Human Race. It is the fixed decree of fate; the Human Race must undergo this tribulation."
"Now return to your respective places. The Human Race's tribulation will continue, and Saints are forbidden from interfering. If you interfere in the Human Race's affairs again, then I can only suppress you personally."
As soon as those words were spoken, Taiqing could not help secretly rejoicing.
Without Nüwa, Ling Wudao alone could never defeat Di Jun and Tai Yi.
Though he could not personally kill Ling Wudao, seeing the Human Race perish would still ease the hatred in his heart. As for Nüwa, he would have plenty of time to deal with her later.
Meanwhile, Nüwa secretly clenched her fists. The race she had created was about to be destroyed; the feeling was unbearably painful. The Human Race revered her as their Holy Mother, yet she could not help them at all.
Just as Nüwa was silently blaming herself, Ling Wudao came to her side holding the Kongtong Seal.
"Nüwa Empress, you do not need to blame yourself. This is all part of a scheme!"
"Dao Ancestor Hongjun, you wish to suppress the Human Dao and control the Great Desolation, so you arranged for the demon race to slaughter my Human Race, because the Human Race is the key to the awakening of the Human Dao."
"The Human Race cannot be destroyed. Otherwise, the Great Dao will send down punishment."
Ling Wudao turned to look at Hongjun. "Am I right?"
As soon as he said this, Hongjun was greatly shocked.
How did the other party know about his scheme? By all reason, a mere ant of the Human Race should not have known his purpose.
Moreover, Ling Wudao even knew about the Human Dao. Could it be that the Human Dao had told him?
Thinking that this was possible, Hongjun looked at Ling Wudao with hostility.
"Do not spout nonsense. I am the spokesperson of the Heavenly Dao. The Human Race faces this calamity because it is Heaven's will, not because I deliberately arranged it. You question me and Heaven's will; your crime warrants execution!"
Hearing Hongjun's words, Ling Wudao laughed. "What lofty Heaven's will. My Human Race has done nothing to harm the Great Desolation, so what reason does Heaven have to make my Human Race suffer such a calamity?"
"Do you truly think no one knows of your scheme?"
"You want to control the Great Desolation and murder me? Then today, I will see whether you truly have the ability."
Before you continue