The Human Emperor's "Name": Yan, Taicang

Niu Kui's eyes were wide open as he climbed out of the pit, his heavy breaths kicking up dust from the ground. He was momentarily stunned, unable to process what was happening.

Following the orders of those Dao Lord, they came here for two reasons: first, to confirm whether the Human Emperor was dead, and whether his remains were hidden deep within the Immortal Heaven;

Secondly, they tried their best to steal the Human Emperor's legacy, attempted to destroy the Immortal Heaven, and vie for the possible remains of the Human Emperor.

Initially, various demons Immortals and Gods, including Niu Kui, had their doubts.

If the Human Emperor leaves behind a legacy, how could the Demon Race possibly have a chance to contend for it?

Still within the Human Emperor's Immortal Heaven!

Even more absurd is that they are allowed to destroy the Human Emperor's Immortal Heaven and fight for the Human Emperor's remains!

If it weren't for the fact that the descendants of those Dao Lord were also in the procession heading to the Immortal Heaven, Niu Kui and the other demons would have directly petitioned the Demon Emperor Niangniang, accusing the Dao Lord of making them risk their lives for some random excuse.

The final explanation given by those Dao Lord was that the traces left by the Human Emperor had been reduced to their most dangerous state.

They were equally shocked by this, yet they had no choice but to accept it: the Peerless Imperial Lord of the Central Plains had unknowingly eroded the traces left by the Human Emperor in the world, and even replaced part of the Human Emperor's trajectory in the Long River of Time.

The fact that the Human Emperor showed no reaction to this only further convinced them that Human Emperor was dead.

Even if he didn't die, he would certainly be in an extremely bad situation, unable to even protect his own spiritual practice.

Under such circumstances, they can enter without worry.

After entering the Immortal Heaven, their biggest competitor, besides the various sects, is the Great Yuan Emperor under the command of the Human Race Emperor. This person has gathered the Human Dao Fortune, and his combat power in the Human Emperor's Immortal Heaven is unpredictable.

Therefore, when necessary, we should join forces with other sects outside the heavens to restrain the Great Yuan Emperor.

The Dao Lord spoke with absolute certainty, which reassured Niu Kui and the others somewhat, preventing them from openly petitioning the Demon Emperor Niangniang.

But now it seems----

Niu Kui slapped his forehead, hunched his shoulders, and cautiously looked around, but couldn't find the source of the sound.

Is this the voice of the Human Emperor?

Sure enough, those damned bastards, a bunch of Dao Lord dare to presume to fathom the Tongtian power and methods of the Sect Master Sage!

Niu Kui spat, "A bunch of old geezers! They're too scared to come and die themselves, so they trick the others into coming to their deaths!"

Immediately afterwards, Niu Kui looked helplessly in the direction the voice was pointing.

No matter how it asked, the voice from the the Unseen did not respond.

It didn't say what would happen if they did it, nor did it say what would happen if they didn't.

Niu Kui simply didn't dare to gamble.

In his early years, the Human Emperor hated the Demon Race the most!

After reaching the pinnacle of the Great Dao, this person even reversed the flow of time, fought against the High Antiquity Demon Race's Great Sage saints, and even had a battle with the Demon Emperor Niangniang across the void.

It wasn't until the middle and late stages of High Antiquity times that the Human Emperor's attitude gradually changed.

The fact that the sound didn't crush it immediately suggests that perhaps, maybe, possibly...

Did those Dao Lord really guess part of it correctly?

But more likely, it is true that the Human Emperor, as rumored, possessed the magnanimity to embrace all races other than Human Race during the later stages of High Antiquity times.

So let's just leave the farmland as farmland.

Niu Kui traversed a hundred miles in a few strides, arriving at the coordinates indicated by the voice. Upon seeing what lay ahead, it was stunned.

The wind blew across the fields of green seedlings, and the boundless plains were transformed into farmland.

What truly froze Niu Kui in place was that in this field, not only Human Race were busy toiling away, but also many Demon Race.

His figure.

At a glance, one could see fox-woman gathering her long tail, bending down to pull weeds; a dozen or so strong men from different tribes were dragging plows that were dozens of feet long.

At this moment, a Demon Race with Bear Race features noticed Niu Kui standing there dumbfounded. He straightened up, wiped his sweat, looked at him with a puzzled expression, and said in a deep voice, "Brother, which tribe are you from? I don't think I've seen you before."

Niu Kui ignored him, his gaze sweeping across the fields, growing more and more awestruck with each passing moment.

Human Race and Demon Race stood side by side, bowing low, working together in the fields in harmony.

There were no weapons, no fighting, no hostility or quarrels.

What did you give it for?

Niu Kui wasn't the only demon bewildered; most of the powerful foreign beings who entered the Immortal Heaven this time faced a similar, incomprehensible situation.

Those powerful foreign warriors who refused the test from the start were collectively banished to a void.

Just as they were surveying their surroundings, a golden light descended from the Void, and Emperor Tianshun arrived, stepping on the golden light.

He had just chosen the trial of slaying the alien race when he was teleported here.

His test is to kill the alien creatures that have invaded this land with ill intentions.

Traveling three hundred li eastward, the terrain gradually flattens out.

After Yu Tunzhou and his companions landed, they found that the local inhabitants were either naked or simply covered with animal skins, and were extremely rugged.

"The Human Race here are still at the stage of slash-and-burn agriculture?" Han Wuj iu asked in astonishment. "Is this the early High Antiquity times, or the primordial era?"

As far as he knew, in the ancient times, Human Race civilization developed for a period of time, but under the subsequent oppression of foreign tribes, it returned to the era of slash-and-burn agriculture, that is, the early High Antiquity period.

The Yu Tunzhou, taking in the entire tribe in its entirety.

This test from the Human Emperor was not unexpected to him, as this man had once abandoned the Great Dao to study the arts of various schools of thought, and even agriculture.

"I wonder what trials the others are facing," Yu Tunzhou said slowly. "Han Wuj iu's time limit is ten years, while mine and..."

"An Ruyu didn't give a time limit. Does that mean that only after completing this can one proceed to the next realm?"

He couldn't help but shake his head. "Without a unified time, it seems that speed isn't the key to this test."

Farming was not a troublesome thing for him.

Leaving aside his early experience working in the fields, he created the Agricultural God Stance in Northern Plains, which has the remarkable effect of regulating the earth's energy and nourishing the soil's fertility.

Furthermore, the Agricultural God Stance is not considered a profound martial art. Even if these people are dull-witted, he is confident that with gradual training, they can master it in about a year.

But--

Yu Tunzhou stared at what lay before him, a sense of doubt creeping into his heart.

There was no cost, no reward; it was like a casual test, yet some tests stretched out to ten years.

This looks weird no matter how you look at it.

Am I destined to stay here for at least several years?

The principles of the Dharma here are severely flawed, and cultivation is subject to numerous suppressions, resulting in slow progress. Staying here is arguably a waste of time.

"Young Hero Guo, are you wondering when you will be able to complete the trial?" An Ruyu's voice drifted from the side.

Yu Tunzhou looked up and said frankly, "That's right. The main problem is that we don't know the situation of the others. If we linger here too long, we might miss some crucial changes, especially in the Central Plains."

The various Dharma Aspect and their Grandmaster from the Central Plains have mobilized their entire forces this time. If they remain here for several years or even a decade, who knows what changes might occur in the Central Plains?

Yu Tunzhou paused, then slowly said, "Well, since we're here, let's make the best of it. We might as well focus on the task at hand."

An Ruyu smiled and said, "Young Hero Guo, could it be that your ability to adapt to any situation was honed back in Luofu Grotto-Heaven?"

Yu Tunzhou glanced at him sideways. "You don't seem worried at all."

"Because I have never questioned the Human Emperor."

An Ruyu smiled and then walked towards the tribe ahead.

Upon noticing the arrival of the group, the local inhabitants became wary and showed signs of fear.

Fortunately, with the cultivation of Yu Tunzhou and the others, especially their cultivation of Nature Cultivation, they only needed to mobilize the power of their Primordial Spirit to slightly arouse the feelings of these tribesmen and eliminate their barriers.

In order to better lead these people, Han Wuj iu suggested that they adopt the title of a deity, which would surely make them respectful and deferential.

Before any discussion could take place, An Ruyu spoke first, claiming to be an envoy from the Human Emperor.

The Yu Tunzhou, and one couldn't help but look over.

However, the people of this tribe looked blank, clearly having never heard of the Human Emperor.

Han Wuj iu shook his head, about to speak, when An Ruyu said again, "The Human Emperor is 'Yan'."

Before Yu Tunzhou and Han Wuj iu react, the local tribespeople all showed expressions of surprise and delight.

The old man exclaimed excitedly, "You arrived so quickly?"

An Ruyu nodded and smiled, "We came here at Yan's invitation to help you."

The old man hurriedly turned around and told his clansmen to bring out the dried meat they had stored to entertain the distinguished guests invited by Yan.

Taking advantage of this lull, An Ruyu explained to Yu Tunzhou, "In the early High Antiquity times, the Human Race lost the protection of the Immortals and Gods, became displaced, and their accumulated civilization was completely shattered; they even lost their names."

"After the Human Emperor awakened, he named himself Yan," this is a secret passed down through generations of the Incense-Smelling Cult.

Yu Tunzhou gave An Ruyu a deep look. What exactly did this vixen not know?

He looked at the old man and asked, "How long has 'Yan' been gone?"

The old man replied, "It has been more than a dozen days and nights."

"They just met the Human Emperor not long ago?" Han Wuj iu's pupils contracted sharply. "Could it be that we've reversed time? Or is all of this just an illusion created by the Human Emperor?"

Yu Tunzhou looked at An Ruyu and transmitted his voice, "How did you know they had an agreement with the Human Emperor?"

"I was just guessing; I only meant to check the current time," An Ruyu said earnestly.

According to the old man, the Human Emperor had visited this place a dozen days ago, helped them drive away the monstrous Demon Race, and promised to return after some time to help them solve their food problem.

Hearing this, Yu Tunzhou couldn't help but feel dazed. Had time truly flowed backward?

He quickly regained his composure and said seriously, "We are sent by 'Yan'. As long as you cooperate with our arrangements, food, lodging, and transportation will not be a problem!"

The old man stood up excitedly, about to kneel down before them, but Yu Tunzhou stopped him with a gesture.

"No need to kneel; this is mutual assistance among Human Race."

Yu Tunzhou helped the old man up, pondering what secrets this trial held.

He turned around, wanting An Ruyu to "guess" again, but saw An Ruyu distributing jerky to the naked, timid yet eager teenagers.

Then.

At the old man's invitation, all the people of the tribe came before Yu Tunzhou and his two companions.

Some people curiously examined their clothes, then touched their own ill-fitting animal hides.

Yu Tunzhou examined their physiques and found that most of them were extremely weak, a result of years of malnutrition, and many had hidden injuries in their muscles and bones.

The three discussed the matter for a while, and then each took on their respective duties.

Han Wuj iu first transformed the surrounding land, moving mountains and filling swamps to create large tracts of arable land, and then headed far away.

Yu Tunzhou then traveled to various places, hunted some prey, and first provided it to the tribe members as a source of nourishment.

Several days later, the tribesmen regained their color, and he then led them to practice the Agricultural God Stance, teaching them to identify and select grain seeds in his spare time.

The people of this tribe have no names; even the name of their tribe was given to them by the Human Emperor. It is called "Taicang," taken from a mountain peak not far away.

The Agricultural God Stance is not complicated; the Mnemonic are simple, and the movements are straightforward, making it easy for most people to learn.

The one who got started the fastest was a young man.

Yu Tunzhou also heard that when the Human Emperor arrived, no one believed that he could deal with the Demon Race Human Emperor was causing havoc in the region.

It was this young man who volunteered to lead the way for the Human Emperor, and together they hunted down the Demon Race that had harmed many of the tribe's people.

When the Human Emperor left, the young man wanted to follow him, but the Human Emperor refused, saying that he would return and that if the young man still wanted to follow him then, they could travel together.

Because of this, Yu Tunzhou paid extra attention to this young man.

He had no name and was broad-shouldered and burly. As for his talent, he was already considered quite good in the tribe, having cultivated to the point of Qi Sensation in seven days. However, among the many Martial Dao geniuses that Yu Tunzhou had seen, he was still far behind.

Of course, there might also be the reason that this world's laws and principles are severely flawed, thus suppressing all paths.

Yu Tunzhou teaches Martial Dao here.

On the open ground of the tribe not far away, An Ruyu also set up a simple loom, polished bone needles with holes, and stitched together animal hides to make the clothes fit.

Afterwards, she led her tribe to search in the forest, stripping wild hemp fibers, twisting them into thread, and finally forming a piece of coarse hemp cloth.

The women of the tribe surrounded her, and a bolder girl gently touched her white dress, her eyes sparkling. "Sister An, can we wear clothes like this in the future?"

An Ruyu gently patted the child's head, her bright eyes smiling, and said, "Of course, everyone will have new clothes to wear from now on."

Yu Tunzhou glanced at it from afar, and when he looked away, a slight stirring ran through his heart.

This enchantress is truly adept at everything she does; if one didn't know her background, one might easily mistake her for a compassionate fairy descended from heaven.

Three months passed as the three of them went about their respective duties.

The people of the tribe gradually cultivated their Qi sense, taking one foot into the threshold of Martial Dao.

The fastest-progressing young man has also cultivated the Spark Instruction to the fifth level, enabling him to initially draw upon the earth's energy.

At the current pace, it will take at least another year for everyone to fully master the Agricultural God Stance.

Yu Tunzhou was initially worried that he would stay there for too long.

But as the days went by...

His Daoist mind gradually returned to tranquility.

There is no disturbance, no worry.

On the External Scenery Fourth Layer, people would travel the world to hone their Martial Dao skills in order to break through to the Nature-Seeing Heaven and enter the realm of Grandmaster.

He did the opposite, using his long-awaited leisure time to quietly observe his own path and refine his Dharma Domain.

An Ruyu, on the other hand, seemed to have adapted to the mundane life here even better than he had.

Yu Tunzhou thought that the days would flow by slowly until everyone in the tribe mastered the Agricultural God Stance, the fields would yield a bountiful harvest, and the trial would end.

On this very day, as Yu Tunzhou was correcting the stances of several clansmen, a violent dragon roar suddenly came from the nearby mountains and forests, shaking the seedlings in the fields to the ground and causing countless creatures to tremble in fear.

"Dragon's Roar?"

Yu Tunzhou looks over in surprise.

There are indeed Demon Race in this area, but they are all of low cultivation level and are just ordinary Demon Beast. How could there be Dragon Race here?

He swayed and darted towards the mountains and forests.

When he arrived at the source of the sound, he did not see the dragon.

Only the young man who had once led the Human Emperor lay on his back on the ground, unconscious.

Yu Tunzhou quickly stepped forward, about to examine him, when he suddenly stopped.

On the young man's originally smooth forehead, a dragon horn more than an inch long had suddenly sprouted, as white as Ruyu and with faint golden patterns.

His expression was solemn as he bent down to examine the young man's body.

The latter was burning hot, with its blood surging and boiling, and a violent dragon aura rampaging through its meridians.

Fine golden scales were faintly visible on his exposed arms and ankles, and the dragon horn had become one with his skull.

"What a fierce, malevolent dragon's aura!"

Huntian descended from the sky, landing on Yu Tunzhou's shoulder, and frowned as he examined the young man before him.

"Bloodline awakening?" Yu Tunzhou asked doubtfully, "Do the people here have Dragon Race blood?"

He had previously examined the tribe members and found no hidden power within them.

"It doesn't seem like a bloodline awakening," Huntian said in a deep voice, "It's more like an acquired bloodline fusion."

Yu Tunzhou nodded, about to say something, but his expression suddenly changed. He abruptly turned to look in the direction of the tribe, and after a long while, he uttered two words: "Taicang ----"

Taicang Long Clan!

Yu Tunzhou's gaze returned to the young man, his expression more serious than ever before.

In the early days of High Antiquity, the Human Emperor led his people out of the Eastern Wilderness. Among his followers was a human-dragon hybrid who took the surname "Dragon" and was regarded as a close friend by the Human Emperor.

And he was the ancestor of the later Taicang Long Clan!