"From now on, let the assembly be held here. My dwelling is protected by merit; not only is it safe, but no one can eavesdrop. It is the most reliable place," Da Chao said from beside him.
"Good. Then thank you, Brother Da Chao." Jiang Haofeng did not stand on ceremony. After all, among the Human Clan, only Da Chao's nest-dwelling could conceal the secrets of heaven.
"It's a small matter. We're all Human Clan—why thank me? The dwelling I built becoming the place where the Human Clan Assembly is held would bring me honor as well."
"Right, since this is where the Human Clan Assembly will be held, this dwelling should have a name. Haofeng, you are well-traveled and knowledgeable. Help me name it."
Jiang Haofeng pondered for a moment. "This is where the Human Clan Assembly is held, the core of the Human Clan's authority. Why not call it the Ancestral Pavilion? The Human Ancestral Pavilion—it represents the beginning and origin of humanity!"
Da Chao's eyes lit up. "That is a good name. Ancestral Pavilion, Human Ancestral Pavilion!"
The Human Clan's first assembly came to a perfect close. It established the Human Clan Assembly system, determined the Visible and Hidden Veins of humanity, and formally set the course for the Human Clan's development.
After the assembly ended, Jiang Haofeng and the three others, including Suiren, gathered the remaining 2,950 Innate Humans. These Innate Humans had been produced by Empress Nuwa's Human Creation Whip, and their innate foundations were far weaker than those of the first fifty Innate Humans.
They had been born with cultivation only at the True Immortal Realm. Even after using merit, they had merely reached the Mysterious Immortal Realm. Just as Jiang Haofeng had expected, all 2,950 Innate Humans chose to use merit to raise their cultivation.
After explaining the stakes, Jiang Haofeng brought out the lot container from before and took out a wooden lot. He made the two kinds of wooden lots equal in number, dividing the Innate Humans into two groups.
A day later, all the Human Clans within the hundred-thousand-mile area centered on Central Phoenix Mountain, where Nuwa had established her barrier, had moved outside it. Under the protection of Suiren, Da Chao, and Zhisheng, they found new places to settle.
For a time, only three thousand Innate Humans remained around Central Phoenix Mountain, as though they had returned to the days when Empress Nuwa had just created humanity.
Outside the Human Ancestral Pavilion on Central Phoenix Mountain, countless humans sat on the ground. Jiang Haofeng sat cross-legged in their midst. Around them stood the twenty-four Hidden Vein members, including Xuandu, Dating, and Zunlu, along with 1,475 Hidden Vein Mysterious Immortals.
Beyond them, the 1,500 members of the Visible Lineage also gathered around curiously. Though they could not learn it, that did not stop them from watching and broadening their horizons. If they encountered the Witch Clan in the future, they would at least be prepared.
Further out were three hundred thousand geniuses selected from the various Human Clans. They would also become members of the Hidden Vein in the future.
Jiang Haofeng swept his gaze over the densely packed humans around him. Without further nonsense, he began.
"The path I shall impart today is a cultivation method modeled after the Witch Clan. I call it—martial cultivation!"
"Human martial cultivation!"
"All cultivation in the world is divided into the Dao and techniques. The Dao is one's cultivation, the foundation of cultivation. Techniques are divine abilities, methods used to protect the Dao!"
"If one possesses cultivation but no methods to protect the Dao or means of slaughter, then when tribulations descend, one will surely perish. If one practices only divine abilities without cultivating one's Dao, then one's cultivation will remain shallow. One will forever have no fate with the Great Dao and ultimately sink into endless years."
"For all cultivators, neither cultivation nor divine abilities can be lacking. Only by advancing both together can one seek the Great Dao and attain the Dao of Primordial Unity!"
"Today, I shall impart a volume of the Martial Scripture, a method for cultivating one's Dao. There is also the True Meaning of Martial Cultivation and nine martial divine abilities, which are methods for protecting the Dao!"
"Today, I shall first explain the Martial Scripture. I created this method after observing the Witch Clan's Nine Revolutions Profound Art. One need not cultivate the Witch Clan bloodline to practice it. Once mastered, it possesses eighty percent of the Nine Revolutions Profound Art's power, making it even somewhat stronger than the simplified Nine Revolutions Profound Art!"
"I call it—the Nine Tribulations Martial Scripture!"
"For every realm advanced in this cultivation method, one must undergo a tribulation. With every tribulation passed, one's origin may be elevated, one's flesh strengthened, and the Nine Tribulations True Body condensed!"
"Once the true body is formed, one will possess sinews of steel and bones of iron, be immune to water and fire, and have all techniques fail to touch one's body!"
Jiang Haofeng's steady voice carried forth. The Innate Humans around him listened with complete concentration, not daring to slacken in the slightest.
The Nine Tribulations Martial Scripture was the human version of the Nine Revolutions Profound Art, while the Nine Tribulations True Body was the human version of the indestructible Witch Clan body!
Jiang Haofeng spoke continuously for ten years, explaining the Nine Tribulations Martial Scripture from the first level to the sixth. Every level was taught in extraordinary detail.
"That concludes the Nine Tribulations Martial Scripture. Go back and digest it properly. In a thousand years, I will explain the True Meaning of Martial Cultivation!"
As Jiang Haofeng's voice fell, the first martial sermon came to an end.
As his words ended, the Innate Humans around him came to their senses and respectfully bowed to Jiang Haofeng in unison.
"Thank you, Ancestor Haofeng, for imparting the Dao!"
At the same time, an indistinct realization rose in his heart. Imparting the Dao to humanity was a great merit before the Heavenly Dao. Once he had finished teaching the scripture, true meaning, and divine abilities, merit would descend.
Jiang Haofeng's expression remained calm. The descent of Heavenly Dao Merit for imparting martial cultivation had always been part of his plan. Back then, the Grand Pure Sage had established the Humanity Teaching and imparted the Dao to humanity, thereby receiving merit from the heavens and becoming a saint.
Since Jiang Haofeng had imparted martial cultivation, merit would naturally descend as well.
As for whether this would offend the Grand Pure Sage or delay his sainthood, how could that be possible? Humanity was not limited to martial cultivation. They could practice the immortal Dao too, and the Visible Lineage humans still had no cultivation methods.
Besides, it would be a Sage's sermon. It was Jiang Haofeng's only legitimate opportunity to hear a saint impart the Dao, an opportunity that could only be encountered, never sought. He had already anticipated it for five kalpas.
When the time came, Jiang Haofeng would bring the Hidden Vein humans to hear the sermon. With three thousand humans gathered, it would not affect the Grand Pure Sage's establishment of his teaching and attainment of the Dao. At most, it would prevent the Grand Pure Sage from claiming all the merit for educating humanity.
Once the sermon ended, the humans all began secluded cultivation, practicing the Nine Tribulations Martial Scripture they had just learned. The Innate Humans were doing well enough; they already possessed cultivation, making practice relatively easy. Their progress was rapid. The three hundred thousand Acquired Humans, however, had no cultivation at all, so their progress was extremely slow. Slow though it was, their cultivation was at least increasing, granting them new possibilities for the future.
At the same time, in the Purple Cloud Palace, Ancestor Hongjun's gaze fell upon Jiang Haofeng once more. "A variable. Interesting."
"The Visible and Hidden Veins..."
Ancestor Hongjun raised a finger. In the Primordial World, Daoist Taiqing, who was traveling abroad, suddenly felt an unfathomable sensation arise within his heart. The Hongmeng Purple Qi deep within his soul slowly stirred.
Daoist Taiqing's eyes lit up. An opportunity to become a saint!
A profound Taiji Diagram appeared above Daoist Taiqing's head. As it turned, the surrounding space instantly blurred, and Daoist Taiqing vanished.
At the same time, near humanity, Daoist Taiqing appeared atop a green ox within the Human Ancestral Land.
"Hmm? These are the humans created by Junior Sister Nuwa. Is my opportunity for sainthood here?"
The green ox slowly walked forward as Daoist Taiqing rode upon its back, observing the humans around him.
A short while later, after communicating with Nuwa, the Grand Pure Sage rode his green ox into the Human Ancestral Land.
At that time, 1,500 Innate Humans and three hundred thousand Acquired Humans were practicing the Nine Tribulations Martial Scripture. Their surging blood and qi shook the four directions, making the place resemble a massive Witch Clan tribe.
"Hmm? The Nine Revolutions Profound Art?"
"No, it is somewhat different. It has been altered."
"What exquisite means. The altered profound art is highly suited to the humans before me."
"Witch Clan, martial cultivation... so that is how it is!"
"Imparting the Dao to humanity, the Visible and Hidden Veins... I understand. My Dao is complete!"
As his words fell, a vast aura swept outward. Dense clear light enveloped heaven and earth. Daoist Taiqing's body slowly rose, and his immense aura surged across the Primordial World.
"I am Grand Pure. Seeing that humanity has no cultivation method, I establish the Humanity Teaching today. I shall use the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Taiji Diagram, to suppress the Humanity Teaching's fortune. I shall guide the creation of humanity. May the Heavenly Dao bear witness!"
As his words fell, a vast pillar of merit descended from the heavens, roughly thirty percent of what had descended when Nuwa became a saint. Yet all this merit flowed directly into Daoist Taiqing's body, without being divided elsewhere.
As the merit from establishing the teaching entered his body, the Hongmeng Purple Qi within Daoist Taiqing's mind instantly transformed into a streak of purple light and fused into him. At the same time, vast Mysterious Yellow Qi surged forth and fused into Daoist Taiqing along with the Hongmeng Purple Qi.
It was precisely the Pangu's creation merit hidden within the Three Pure Ones—genuine Great Dao Merit, far more profound than Heavenly Dao Merit.
Daoist Taiqing's aura rose layer upon layer. Moments later, a terrifying pressure that transcended all things swept across the entire Primordial World.
Purple qi billowed through the void, while endless phenomena spread throughout the Primordial World.
The second Heavenly Dao Saint of the Primordial World had taken his place!
"Greetings, Grand Pure Sage!"
Congratulations rang out throughout the Primordial World as countless living beings respectfully bowed to the Grand Pure Sage.
Upon Central Phoenix Mountain, Jiang Haofeng stared in shock at the old man in the void, whose aura was terrifying beyond measure. He immediately bowed respectfully, not daring to show the slightest negligence.
After all, only two saints stood on humanity's side. Empress Nuwa was one, and the Grand Pure Sage was the other. He absolutely could not offend either of them.
Although in the original history, neither had acted to help humanity, neither had harmed humanity either.
Moreover, it was precisely because these two existed that humanity had continued to endure within the Primordial World, becoming the eternal protagonists of heaven and earth and spreading throughout the entire Primordial World, even if they did not truly possess the status of heaven and earth's protagonists.
At the very least, humanity could live in peace.
Of course, the most important reason was that both were saints. Their strength was simply too great. A casual slap could kill Jiang Haofeng. Before he possessed the strength to resist a saint, maintaining basic respect toward saints was common sense in the Primordial World.
"In five hundred years, I shall preach at Shouyang Mountain and impart the immortal Dao. All humans may come and listen!"
As his words fell, the Grand Pure Sage's figure instantly vanished, and the Saintly Might lingering in the void dispersed with it.
Only after quite some time did the Innate Humans recover from the overwhelming terror and pressure. They gathered within the Human Ancestral Pavilion.
"Haofeng, was that the Daoist Taiqing you mentioned?" Da Chao asked with a face full of longing.
"What Daoist Taiqing? That was Senior Uncle-Master Grand Pure. Do not be disrespectful!" Jiang Haofeng was immediately startled. Daoist Taiqing was not a name they could use.
"Right, right, Senior Uncle-Master Grand Pure!" Da Chao also came to his senses. He slapped his forehead and hurriedly corrected himself.
"Haofeng, this is..." Suiren asked from the side, his eyes filled with inquiry.
Though he did not finish his words, Jiang Haofeng immediately understood what he meant.
He promptly said with absolute certainty, "This is an immense opportunity for our Human Clan!"
"Senior Uncle-Master Grand Pure has established the Humanity Teaching to educate our Human Clan. From this day onward, our Human Clan will no longer lack cultivation methods."
"In other words, we can learn these cultivation methods too!" Da Chao's eyes brightened as he spoke in delight.
"Of course. Senior Uncle-Master Grand Pure said that all humans may go and hear the Dao."
"Good!"
"Right. Five hundred years from now, remember to call the Grand Pure Sage Teacher." A glint flashed through Jiang Haofeng's eyes as he spoke to the Innate Humans around him.
"Ah, Teacher?"
Before you continue