"Should I go call Dating and the others?"
As soon as he spoke, Da Chao turned into a streak of golden light and vanished into the void.
Da Chao was also a Grand Luo Golden Immortal, one of the Human Race's two Grand Luo Golden Immortals at present.
Jiang Haofeng glanced at Zhisheng beside him in surprise. Zhisheng should have Merit upon her as well, yet she had managed to resist using it to raise her cultivation and become a Grand Luo Golden Immortal like Suiren and Da Chao.
It seemed she had taken his words to heart. Not bad, not bad.
As for the surrounding Humans, most had already become Grand Unity Golden Immortals. Only a few remained at the Golden Immortal Realm. Clearly, over the long years, many had failed to resist the temptation of immense power.
Among the thirty-eight Humans present, Suiren was a Great Luo Immortal, while ninety percent of the rest were Taiyi Immortals. Including himself, there were only three true Golden Immortals: himself, Zhisheng, and Xuandu!
Seeing Jiang Haofeng's gaze, the surrounding Innate Humans looked somewhat uncomfortable. After all, Jiang Haofeng had previously told them that Merit was precious and should preferably not be used to raise their cultivation.
Suiren coughed and explained, "Haofeng, it wasn't that we insisted on using Merit. We simply didn't know how to increase our strength. We tried many methods, but only by eating some rare fruits could we raise our strength even a little. We had no other way."
"Over time, we used up the Merit. It may be precious, but strength is what truly matters."
"And there are quite a few powerful demon clans around us. Without sufficient strength, we wouldn't be able to keep those demon clans in check!"
Looking at everyone's expressions, Jiang Haofeng smiled bitterly and waved his hand helplessly. "The Merit belongs to each of us. Since you used it, then you used it. At least it wasn't wasted on anyone else."
There were only three ways to use Merit: to raise cultivation, to refine Merit treasures, or to protect one's body.
Using it to raise cultivation was originally one of Merit's uses, so there was nothing wrong with it.
The problem was that it could have been saved for future bottlenecks. With the cultivation of the Innate Humans, he could not say whether they would reach the Quasi-Saint Great Luo level, but becoming Grand Unity Golden Immortals would certainly have been effortless. After reaching the Grand Unity Realm, they could cultivate properly and use Merit to improve themselves once they encountered bottlenecks. At the very least, they could achieve the Great Luo Realm.
Using it from the very beginning was truly a little wasteful. Jiang Haofeng had already warned them before and had thought it would discourage them. Unexpectedly, it had been useless; those who were going to use it had all used it.
Still, it made sense. Putting himself in their shoes, the Human Race had only just been born and possessed no cultivation techniques. They wished to cultivate but had no path to follow. Over the long years, their strength could not grow. Meanwhile, as more descendants were born, Human territory gradually expanded beyond the protected land. They needed strength to resist the demon clans and protect their descendants.
At such a time, most people would likely choose to use Merit to raise their cultivation. Thinking from their perspective, Jiang Haofeng would probably have done the same.
Perhaps this was for the best. Though they had used up their Merit and the Innate Humans might suffer some losses in the long run, the Human Race's strength had rapidly increased in the short term. That was not necessarily a bad thing.
Furthermore, strength raised through Merit had an extremely solid foundation. They could continue cultivating afterward, so it was not a loss!
"Then that's fine!"
As soon as he spoke, Suiren rubbed the back of his head and smiled.
"You had reminded us before. I was afraid you'd be unhappy when you saw it. We thought about it for a long time before using the Merit."
Looking at Suiren's delighted expression, a trace of warmth rose in Jiang Haofeng's heart once again. The estrangement he felt from having transmigrated here faded a little more.
As they spoke, several streaks of light tore through the air. Da Chao descended with eleven figures.
"Haofeng, I heard you were back. It's wonderful that you're all right!"
Dating strode up to Haofeng, patted him on the shoulder, and spoke with delight written all over his face.
"I'm fine. I'm really happy to see all of you!"
Jiang Haofeng looked at Dating and Zunlu behind him in surprise. Neither of them had used Merit to raise their cultivation!
Excellent. His earlier words had finally had some effect. As long as the Human Race made proper arrangements in the future, Dating and Zunlu would certainly become Grand Luo Golden Immortals. If their talent was good enough, becoming Quasi-Saints might not be impossible!
As everyone arrived, Da Chao waved his hand. "Haofeng, let's talk inside the Ancestral Nest!"
Following Da Chao's gesture, Jiang Haofeng saw a wooden house built in a tree, resembling a bird's nest.
Though the wooden nest-house looked somewhat crude, streams of Merit light shone across it. It was clearly another Merit Supreme Treasure!
This must have been the first house built by Da Chao for the Human Race. Together with the grass skirt Zhisheng wore, the Human Race's first two Postnatal Merit Supreme Treasures were now complete.
Of course, there was also Suiren's Undying Fire, the sacred fire of the Human Race!
"Alright!"
Seeing Da Chao's slightly smug expression, Jiang Haofeng immediately nodded. He also wanted to examine this Postnatal Merit Supreme Treasure and see what mysteries it held, so that he could build his own dao field according to it in the future.
Under Da Chao's guidance, Jiang Haofeng stepped into the Ancestral Nest. The instant he entered, a sense of safety rose in his heart, as though no danger could descend upon him as long as he remained inside. His mind immediately relaxed considerably.
"Well? The nest-house I built is pretty good, isn't it? Once you step inside, even Grand Luo Golden Immortals can't shake it in the slightest!"
"My house is the safest place in the entire Human Race!"
"Impressive!"
Feeling that deep sense of security, Jiang Haofeng praised it sincerely.
A defensive Spirit Treasure at the level of a Postnatal Merit Supreme Treasure was among the finest existences even in the Primordial World.
In the Primordial World, treasures were divided into ten ranks. The highest rank was Innate Supreme Treasures, the strongest treasures in the Primordial World. Before Heaven Opening Earth Splitting, every one of them would have been a Chaos Spirit Treasure. Jiang Haofeng's Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Book, the Grand Pure Sage's Taiji Diagram, the Primeval Lord of Heaven's Pangu Banner, and Eastern Emperor Taiyi's Chaos Bell were all treasures of this rank.
The Grand Purity Sage's Four Swords of Zhu Xian, combined with the Zhu Xian Array Diagram, could likewise unleash the power of an Innate Supreme Treasure. Moreover, the Zhu Xian Sword Formation was a pure Killing Dao Supreme Treasure. In terms of power alone, it stood among the best of all Innate Supreme Treasures. Once the sword formation was activated, it could not be broken without four Sages!
Innate Supreme Treasures possessed boundless power and were of great use even to Sages. Without Sage-level mana, one simply could not bring out an Innate Supreme Treasure's true power.
Next came Innate Spirit Treasures, divided into four grades: low, mid, high, and ultimate. Most famous Magic Treasures in the Primordial World belonged to this rank. All Innate Spirit Treasures were nurtured by Heaven and Earth, contained Great Dao Laws within them, and possessed the power to destroy Heaven and Earth.
Among them, High-grade Innate Spirit Treasures and Ultimate Innate Spirit Treasures possessed boundless power, and only Quasi-Saint mana could reveal their full might. Mid-grade Innate Spirit Treasures and Low-grade Innate Spirit Treasures required Great Luo mana to unleash their complete power.
After that came Postnatal Spirit Treasures and Postnatal Supreme Treasures, all refined after creation. Postnatal Spirit Treasures were likewise divided into four grades: low, mid, high, and ultimate. Supreme Grade Acquired Spirit Treasures required Taiyi Immortals to reveal their full power. High-grade Postnatal Spirit Treasures suited Golden Immortals, Mid-grade Postnatal Spirit Treasures suited Mysterious Immortals, and Low-grade Postnatal Spirit Treasures suited True Immortals.
As for Postnatal Supreme Treasures, although they were refined after creation, their power was no weaker than Innate Spirit Treasures formed by nature and could even surpass them. Such treasures were known as Postnatal Supreme Treasures.
Postnatal Supreme Treasures also varied in rank according to their materials and the cultivator's mastery of treasure refinement. Weak ones could rival Low-grade Innate Spirit Treasures, while powerful ones could even rival Ultimate Innate Spirit Treasures.
These ten ranks were the classifications for Magic Treasures in the Primordial World and encompassed ninety-nine percent of all treasures. Only two types of Magic Treasures were exceptions: Heavenly Dao Exotic Treasures and Merit Spirit Treasures.
The Immortal Slaying Sword Formation was a Heavenly Dao Exotic Treasure. Though it was not an Innate Supreme Treasure, it surpassed one in all but name. Beyond it, there were treasures such as the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud, God-Slaying Spear, Heaven-Suppressing Coffin, and Six Souls Banner. Though they fell short of Innate Supreme Treasures, their power exceeded that of ordinary Ultimate Innate Spirit Treasures.
However, Heavenly Dao Exotic Treasures were rare. Merit Spirit Treasures were the most common treasures in the Primordial World. A treasure's power depended entirely on how much Merit it contained. Powerful ones, such as the Grand Pure Sage's Heaven and Earth Exquisite Pagoda, were Ultimate Innate Merit Spirit Treasures. Once activated, they rendered one innately invincible!
Weak ones merely carried a trace of Merit power, and their might was even inferior to ordinary Low-grade Postnatal Spirit Treasures.
The entire nest-house before them was a Merit Spirit Treasure, and it contained no small amount of Merit. It ranked as a Postnatal Merit Supreme Treasure, with power comparable to an Innate Spirit Treasure. It was absolutely one of the Human Race's finest treasures!
"Of course."
Hearing Jiang Haofeng's heartfelt praise, Da Chao's face immediately showed satisfaction.
All fifty Innate Humans entered Da Chao's house. As their numbers increased, the interior space expanded as well. Even with fifty people crowding inside, it still did not feel cramped in the slightest.
The Innate Humans sat cross-legged on the ground. Suiren spoke, "Haofeng, tell us where you've been all this time and what the outside world is like."
"Alright!"
Jiang Haofeng nodded. Looking at the curious gazes around him, he secretly took a deep breath. Changing the Human Race would begin today.
He had prepared for five Yuan, and the Human Race had already achieved initial development. It was time to begin making changes.
This was the first step of that change. The Human Race was ultimately a race, and one created by a Sage at that. To change it, he had to gather the strength of the entire Human Race and gain the support of the other clansmen.
Otherwise, with Jiang Haofeng's strength alone, he would be unable to change anything.
Only when all Humans worked together could they truly reshape Heaven and Earth and have a chance to completely rewrite the Human Race's fate!
At present, the fifty Innate Humans in the hall included two Great Luo Immortals, forty-four Taiyi Immortals, and five Golden Immortals. To be honest, this force was no longer especially weak in the Primordial World and could barely be considered respectable. Yet compared to the position of Heaven and Earth's protagonists, the gap was still as vast as heaven and earth.
Still, there was no rush. The Human Race had only just been born, and everything was only beginning. No one could say what the future would bring.
"My brothers and sisters, I traveled through the Primordial World for five Yuan and witnessed the true great races of the Primordial World. Only then did I understand the Human Race's weakness."
Jiang Haofeng's words immediately unsettled the Innate Humans.
"Brother Haofeng, surely it isn't that bad? The Human Race isn't weak. Within a radius of a million li, all is Human territory. Since our race was born, we have never encountered a race stronger than ours."
Da Chao could not help speaking up.
Having used Merit twice to raise his cultivation, Da Chao possessed the strength of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal. His strength could be considered noteworthy in the Primordial World. During the Human Race's development, Da Chao had also left Human territory and wandered around nearby, yet he had not encountered anyone stronger than himself.
The other Innate Humans could not help nodding as well, clearly agreeing with Da Chao. Over the past five Yuan, the Human Race's strength had flourished, and no one had dared trouble them.
This made the Innate Humans somewhat proud. Though the Humans still remained wary of the outside world, their vigilance had unknowingly decreased considerably. The fact that they had allowed later generations to leave their ancestral land and establish tribes nearby was the best proof.
One had to know that five Yuan ago, the Humans had not even dared leave the barrier Nuwa had set up.
"No, no, no. Compared to those great races that dominate the Primordial World, our Human Race is far, far too weak. We are not even on the same level."
Jiang Haofeng immediately shook his head.
The surrounding Humans froze, and an uneasy feeling rose in their hearts.
"You all know the realms of the Immortal Dao, right?"
Light flashed in Jiang Haofeng's eyes as he posed a question.
The Human Race had only just been born. First, it had no Immortal Dao inheritance. Second, no one had introduced them to the circumstances of the Primordial World. They remained in a muddled state. Put another way, the entire Human Race was still like a newborn infant, still exploring. Under Sage Nuwa's protection, they were like minors who did not need to worry about the road ahead. Everyone was free and carefree, doing whatever they wished.
But Nuwa would not protect the Human Race for eternity. The Human Race was destined to step outside. Jiang Haofeng wanted to awaken them in advance and let them understand the dangers of the world early!
Only with pressure could the Human Race grow better!
"Of course. The weakest are mortals, followed by True Immortals, Mysterious Immortals, Golden Immortals, Taiyi Immortals, and Great Luo Immortals!"
Suiren immediately replied. After a pause, he added, "Above Great Luo Immortals, only one person in our race has ever reached that level, so we do not know. But according to our speculation, it was Holy Mother's realm back then."
Before you continue