Now that they had mentioned building a city for Empress Nuwa, Huaxu agreed without a second thought.
Suiren's eyes lit up, a sharp glint flashing through their depths as he immediately said, "It is only right!"
"Empress Nuwa's holy power protected our human race for ten Yuan. Building a city to commemorate her great grace is only right!" Da Chao and Zhisheng nodded as well.
With the three of them agreeing, the other Innate Humans had no objections. Empress Nuwa was humanity's great benefactor; it was only proper to remember her grace.
"Good!"
"Huaxu, after the clan meeting ends, go to the Empress's temple and ask whether she agrees to let us name the city after her honored name!"
"Ah?" Huaxu was immediately startled.
"Ask Empress Nuwa? Will she answer us?"
"Just try it. Since we are establishing a city in her honored name, we naturally need to ask for her opinion."
"All right, I'll give it a try." Huaxu hesitated for a moment before nodding.
Jiang Haofeng laughed inwardly. An answer?
Given Huaxu's ten Yuan of unwavering worship, Empress Nuwa would definitely respond.
And naming the city after Nuwa did carry a hint of borrowing a tiger's might to raise a banner. Well, it was exactly that.
But it did Empress Nuwa no harm. On the contrary, it brought considerable benefits. Once the human ancestral land became Nuwa City, more people would worship and give thanks to Empress Nuwa.
Humanity's Destiny and faith—those would become the core prize fought over by countless Great Sects in later generations. The Journey to the West tribulation was a battle over faith, and it was greatly beneficial to Sages as well!
Further strengthening her connection to humanity, Empress Nuwa basically had no reason to refuse.
This was a win-win arrangement. Humanity could borrow Empress Nuwa's prestige to intimidate the beings of the Primordial World, while Empress Nuwa could use it to strengthen her connection with humanity. Killing two birds with one stone!
With the matter of Nuwa City settled, Jiang Haofeng spoke again. "Besides building a city in Empress Nuwa's honor, the Grand Pure Sage preached to humanity five Yuan ago, greatly increasing our strength and allowing us to flourish. He has shown our human race immense grace."
"I propose that we honor the Grand Pure Sage as Humanity's Sage Master and build a temple in Central Phoenix Mountain, our human ancestral court, to worship him."
The Innate Humans naturally had no objections. Everyone present had listened to the Grand Pure Sage's sermon. All three sermons had benefited them greatly. The Grand Pure Sage was already Humanity's Sage Master.
"Haofeng, you're the reliable one. I was only thinking about listening to the sermon. How did I fail to think of building a temple to worship the Sage?" Da Chao slapped his forehead, voicing the thoughts of all the Innate Humans present.
Everyone knew of the Sage's grace in preaching, yet no one had remembered to build a temple for worship. This was especially true of the Human Manifest Lineage. They were proper registered disciples of the Sage, yet even they had not thought of it.
Haofeng really was reliable!
At that moment, everyone was thinking exactly the same thing as Da Chao.
Jiang Haofeng nodded without surprise. "Good. Then it is decided."
"Humanity's Holy Mother's temple is two li east of the Ancestral Pavilion. Humanity's Sage Master's temple shall be built two li west of it."
After a pause, Jiang Haofeng continued, "Huaxu cleans and worships at Humanity's Holy Mother's temple. Humanity's Sage Master's temple will also need someone to clean and offer worship. Which of you is willing to take charge of this matter and worship Humanity's Sage Master daily on behalf of humanity?"
The Human Manifest Lineage immediately turned their gazes toward the Human Hidden Lineage, since they needed to oversee humanity's various major tribes.
Meanwhile, the Human Hidden Lineage focused their gazes on three people. Although everyone present practiced the Grand Pure Dao, after Haofeng had instructed them five Yuan ago to specialize in a single path, most of the Human Hidden Lineage had chosen the martial path. After all, the martial path originated from the Witch Clan and possessed formidable combat power. If one could not comprehend the Grand Pure Immortal Method to an extremely profound realm, one truly would not be a match for martial cultivators of the same rank.
Yet the Grand Pure Immortal Method was so profound that comprehending even a little was already impressive. Fully comprehending it was unimaginably difficult.
Moreover, the Human Manifest Lineage all cultivated the Grand Pure Immortal Method, so the Human Hidden Lineage naturally chose the martial path first. Only three people were especially suited to the Grand Pure Immortal Method, which was why they cultivated it.
From a corner, a youth-like human stepped forward under everyone's gaze and spoke first. "I'll do it. The Sage preached three times and passed the Grand Pure Dao to humanity. His merit is boundless. I am willing to clean Humanity's Sage Master's temple and worship Humanity's Sage Master on behalf of humanity, remembering the Sage's great grace!"
As soon as his words fell, everyone in the hall focused their gazes on the youth.
Yunyang!
An Innate Human who was rather introverted and did not have much of a presence within the clan.
Jiang Haofeng nodded slightly. His karmic affinity was not bad. Becoming the temple keeper of Humanity's Sage Master's temple in the human ancestral court, with the Grand Pure Sage supporting him from behind, his future would certainly not be poor.
"Good. Then Yunyang shall serve as the temple keeper of Humanity's Sage Master's temple, while Huaxu shall serve as the temple keeper of Humanity's Holy Mother's temple."
Huaxu and Yunyang immediately nodded in acknowledgment.
With the second matter concluded, Jiang Haofeng raised the final matter.
"The third matter concerns the ancestral land. The Witch Clan has the Ancestral Witch Hall, while the demon race has the Zhou Tian Star Dou Great Array to isolate the inside from the outside. Even Sages find it difficult to investigate the territories of those two races, let alone anyone else."
"Our human race was initially protected by Empress Nuwa's holy power, preventing the beings of the Primordial World from investigating us. Now that the ten-Yuan period has ended and the barrier has dissipated, if not for the creation Dao essence of the Creation Sacred Spring, humanity would likely have already been thoroughly seen through by the Great Divine Powers of the Primordial World."
"Though humanity cannot rival the witches and demons, our human ancestral court cannot be casually investigated by others either!"
Hearing Jiang Haofeng's words, everyone nodded. That was right. The human ancestral land was the core of all humanity. How could they allow others to investigate it at will?
Moreover, the ancestral land concealed the Human Hidden Lineage as a reserve measure. How could they let others see it? If outsiders learned of the Human Hidden Lineage, would its existence still hold any meaning?
"But, Haofeng, humanity's current strength truly cannot compare to others. At present, only the three of us in the clan are Grand Luo Golden Immortals, and we have no inheritance of formations or Magic Treasures. Only the Ancestral Pavilion can block them somewhat. As for the entire ancestral land, I fear we can only rely on the Creation Sacred Spring." Da Chao gave a bitter smile.
Suiren nodded as well. At present, that was the only option, however inadequate it might be.
Jiang Haofeng shook his head. "The creation Dao essence is the Origin Power of the Creation Sacred Spring. Using it briefly is harmless, but over time, it will damage the spring's origin. In less than one tribulation, the Creation Sacred Spring's origin will wither and its power will decline."
For a moment, the entire Ancestral Pavilion fell silent. The Innate Humans all pondered a solution.
After a long while, Suiren looked at Haofeng. "Haofeng, do you have a way?"
As soon as he spoke, the gazes of all forty-eight Innate Humans instantly gathered on Jiang Haofeng, filled with expectation.
That was right, there was still Haofeng. Haofeng was so clever—he would surely have a solution!
Under everyone's expectant gazes, Jiang Haofeng nodded. "I have an idea, but I don't know whether it can be accomplished."
The Innate Humans' eyes immediately lit up. As expected of Haofeng—he really was clever. Da Chao immediately said, "Haofeng, just tell us. We'll all work together, and we'll definitely be able to accomplish it!"
"Exactly!"
"Big Brother Haofeng, the method you came up with will definitely work!"
The surrounding Innate Humans immediately chimed in.
At everyone's eager urging, Jiang Haofeng said, "Actually, I do not have any real solution. The only thing I can think of now is to go to Shouyang Mountain and ask Humanity's Sage Master. Perhaps there is hope."
The moment Jiang Haofeng finished speaking, everyone present froze. Da Chao said somewhat uneasily, "Haofeng, without being summoned by our teacher, I fear he may blame us for going rashly."
Jiang Haofeng secretly found it amusing. How could that happen? What kind of bearing did a Sage possess? At most, he simply would not receive them.
And while other Sages might refuse to see them, the Grand Pure Sage would never turn a blind eye. The Grand Pure Sage had established Humanity Teaching and attained the Dao through educating humanity. In other words, the Grand Pure Sage was humanity's teacher.
Education was education. Passing on knowledge was education, and answering humanity's questions was naturally part of education as well. As long as humanity came to seek him out, the Grand Pure Sage would definitely not ignore them.
Come to think of it, since the Grand Pure Sage attained the Dao by educating humanity, it was destined that he and humanity would have a teacher-student relationship. No, now it should be a teacher-student relationship with the Human Manifest Lineage.
It was merely that the Grand Pure Sage advocated nonaction and would never act unless necessary. Humanity, meanwhile, feared the Sage's majesty. Without a summons, they did not dare seek an audience. Thus, in humanity's original history, the Grand Pure Sage had only appeared twice.
What a waste. Such excellent teaching resources had been wasted for nothing.
If the teacher was too nonchalant to teach, the students could ask.
Although Jiang Haofeng had already determined the outcome inwardly, his face still showed hesitation as he looked at Da Chao. "Da Chao, this is a last resort. Humanity's foundation is simply too shallow. At present, our only option is to seek Humanity's Sage Master. No matter what, we can only try. The Human Manifest Lineage are, after all, Humanity's Sage Master's disciples."
A Sage was still a Sage. With a single thought, he could know all matters under heaven. He absolutely could not let the Sage know his plans, or a flatiron crutch might fall from the sky at any moment.
Da Chao nodded as well. "It seems this is our only option for now."
"Fine. I will go to Shouyang Mountain and request an audience with our teacher. I hope he can bestow upon us a method of concealment."
"Good. Thank you for your hard work, Da Chao."
Humanity's second clan meeting thus came to an end. As soon as it ended, Huaxu headed toward Humanity's Holy Mother's temple, while Da Chao set off for Shouyang Mountain.
Wa Huang Heaven!
Nuwa opened her eyes and looked at Huaxu, who was kneeling before her statue. A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Silly girl, you were schemed against and do not even know it."
Nuwa then turned her head, her gaze crossing the chaos and falling upon Jiang Haofeng, who was cultivating. She muttered to herself:
"Haofeng has quite the scheming mind, and quite a few secrets as well. Yet his character is without flaw. Humanity has only just been established; having someone so skilled in calculation among them is not a bad thing."
"My Human Creation Merit has been fulfilled. The heavenly secrets reveal that I should no longer interfere in humanity's affairs. With this person among them, humanity's path can be smoother as well."
Nuwa raised a finger, and an illusory phantom of the Red Embroidered Ball crossed the chaos before landing upon Huaxu. You have worshipped me for ten Yuan, and your sincerity is commendable. I acknowledge you as this temple keeper.
After doing all this, Nuwa slowly closed her eyes. She could not interfere with humanity's course, but protecting one person was still possible.
At the same time, within the human ancestral court, Huaxu fell into a daze. A broad and magnificent figure appeared before her. It was none other than Humanity's Holy Mother, whom she had worshipped for ten Yuan. A faint smile appeared at Humanity's Holy Mother's lips as she softly said, "Granted!"
In an instant, everything shattered apart, and Huaxu returned to Humanity's Holy Mother's temple.
Humanity's Holy Mother answered me!
Huaxu was overjoyed. Humanity's Holy Mother had agreed to the construction of Nuwa City.
Huaxu respectfully kowtowed to Nuwa's sacred statue, then happily went to inform the Innate Humans. She had no idea that an illusory Red Embroidered Ball had appeared above her Destiny. The heavenly secrets around Huaxu, which had become clear after she lost Nuwa's protection, blurred once more.
By the time Huaxu gathered with the Innate Humans, Humanity's Sage Master's temple beside them had already been built. All that remained was to choose an auspicious day and invite the Grand Pure Sage's golden statue into the temple.
Before you continue