Chapter 204: Farewell, Human Ancestor

"Chuan, my child."

In the haze, you heard a gentle call.

"Human Ancestor!"

Your once dim eyes were ignited at this moment, flames flickering within them, the darkness receded, and the space ahead suddenly brightened.

"Chuan, my child, you have come."

Amid green mountains and clear waters, the Human Ancestor, like a gentle mother, sat by the riverbank, smiling faintly and waving at you.

There was also a strikingly beautiful woman, lying on their lap, sleeping peacefully.

"Sangyu!"

You were overjoyed.

Sangyu is truly still alive!

At this moment, you felt that all the hardships to get here were worth it, as you saw the result you most longed to see.

As for everything else, no matter how difficult, there is still a chance to reverse it!

As long as she is still here!

You approached the Human Ancestor, and they gently stroked your cheek, full of compassion, "Child, you have suffered."

"Human Ancestor, what happened? Why are you here?"

At this moment, countless doubts swirled in your heart: "Where is that strange aura I felt before? Why has it vanished?"

The Human Ancestor smiled, "You need not see those; they are filthy and would tarnish your heart."

"I will not allow my child to be polluted by them."

"Sangyu is like this, and you as well; every one of my children will live well."

The Human Ancestor's words were filled with gentle love.

You asked, "Who are they? Are they other Ancient Gods?"

The Human Ancestor shook their head, "Those Ancient Gods have already been polluted by them; only polluted Ancient Gods would slaughter their own people."

Ancient Gods polluted?

You were profoundly shocked—so this is the predicament the Ancient Gods face?

The Human Ancestor clearly did not wish to tell you many details, fearing you would be demoralized and your spirit crushed.

You asked, "How are you now? How can I help you?"

You know clearly that the Human Race can still maintain peace because the Human Ancestor blocked all calamities here.

If calamities erupt, all living beings in the world will cease to exist.

"Child, all you need to do is cultivate properly."

The Human Ancestor smiled, "Before you become an Ancient God, think of nothing."

"Can I truly become an Ancient God?"

Even a single Divine Lord realm makes you suffer beyond words; the Ancient God realm is probably ten million times more difficult than the Divine Lord.

You have no concept of them at all.

"You will."

The Human Ancestor's tone was gentle, as if recounting something that had already occurred.

You asked again, "Did you foresee all this long ago?"

"Hmm."

The Human Ancestor nodded, "Not only I, but every Ancient God foresaw this scene; it is our beginning and also our end."

"We created a race to bring forth a New Ancient God, to help us escape destiny."

"They all failed; the Human Race is the final hope!"

The Human Ancestor's words made you fall into contemplation.

Thus, the birth of an Ancient God depends on the source of that terrifying, strange power you sensed.

They possess boundless might, yet cannot cut the connection between themselves and the strange.

They need a new Ancient God to help them out of the predicament.

You asked, "Can't they rely on devouring another Ancient God's Proof of Dao Treasure to break free?"

The Human Ancestor shook their head.

You asked again, "Then why do they command their people to vie for their Ancient God's Clan-Suppressing Treasure?"

"Prisoner's dilemma, a life‑or‑death gamble."

The Human Ancestor sighed lightly, "They have no other choice; they can only try this, and the final outcome is already clear."

You still didn't understand: "Isn't it because Sangyu brought the Elf Ancient God's Proof of Dao Treasure to you, giving you a sliver of chance over that Ancient God?"

"No."

The Human Ancestor said, "That is merely a fantasy of theirs in desperation."

"I can stay clearheaded because when I created the Human Race, I was already a step ahead of them in cultivation."

"Precisely for this reason, I can prevent them from deducing any trace of the Human Race."

"They are destined to lose."

"But I... can I win everything? The hope now lies with you all."

The Human Ancestor's words resolved all doubts.

"Human Ancestor! I will definitely become an Ancient God! I will save you!"

You made the pledge.

Will definitely become an Ancient God? If that phrase were spoken across heaven and earth, it would only be taken as a joke.

Just like an uneducated brat claiming to want to join the best cultivation sect in the whole world.

No one would believe it, except your mother.

Human Ancestor has never doubted you at all; in her eyes, you are the best child.

You ask, "Human Ancestor, how much longer can you endure?"

"Ten thousand years."

Human Ancestor says, "In another ten thousand years, they will be completely corrupted and will launch an attack on me; by then there will be too many variables."

Ten thousand years to become an Ancient God?

Too difficult, too difficult.

The step from Divine Lord to Ancient God will be ten thousand times more arduous than all the previous paths combined.

But you still answered Human Ancestor resolutely.

"Ten thousand years! I can do it!"

"Good child."

Human Ancestor gently strokes your hair, "All I can do is keep the calamities here from affecting you; everything else must rely on you."

You nod and look toward the sleeping Sangyu.

"Human Ancestor, Sangyu… how is she?"

"Sangyu's condition is very special."

Human Ancestor says, "She exhausted the Ancient God Source Power I granted her to come to me, and was nearly corrupted by a strange taint."

"I preserved a sliver of her life, but she can no longer leave here; she must stay by my side, unless you become an Ancient God to protect her life and take her away."

"Sangyu is a good child."

"Even as she sleeps, she calls your name, longing for you."

Sangyu sleeps, her life hanging by a thread.

For you, this is a great luck in misfortune.

"Human Ancestor, I have one final question."

You ask, "Why have the descendants of the Elf Race's bloodline not been affected? Their qi and blood were not devoured?"

Human Ancestor sighs, "After Sangyu delivered the Elf Ancient God's Proof of Dao Treasure, the Elf Ancient God gained a momentary autonomous control."

"Seizing the chance, it completely severed its bloodline link with the Elf Race, allowing the Elf Race's descendants to escape disaster."

"Having lost the support of its clan, the price it must pay is to become corrupted faster than its Ancient God."

"Its Ancient God tried to use the Elf Ancient God's Proof of Dao Treasure to escape, but it was of no help, so it abandoned directing its people to seize another tribe's Proof of Dao Treasure."

You ask again:

"After that Ancient God obtained the Proof of Dao Treasure, could it, like the Elf Ancient God, wield a momentary self‑control and cut off its bloodline link with the clan?"

"While they can still struggle, of course it can."

Human Ancestor replies, "But now, I'm afraid the result would be different."

"That is…"

"To let an entire clan be utterly destroyed!"