Chapter 80

Upon hearing Shennong's words, Fuxi's body trembled slightly.

"Imperial Brother, let us go," Shennong said.

He seemed not to have noticed Fuxi's unusual behavior.

Seeing the sincere smile on Shennong's face, Fuxi paused, and then a look of relief appeared on his own face as well.

"Very well!" Fuxi said as he stood up.

As Fuxi rose, Shennong could feel the aura about him suddenly become much more steady, which caused a faint, almost imperceptible smile to appear on Shennong's face.

Regardless of what Fuxi's previous identity was, he was now the Heavenly Emperor of the human race and Shennong's Imperial Brother; that was enough.

Wuzhuang Temple.

After returning from the Jiangshui Tribe, Zhenyuanzi began to make preparations. A very happy smile remained on his face, which made Qingfeng and Mingyue feel quite curious.

It seemed that ever since Master Hongyun fell, their master had rarely smiled; what was the situation now?

"Qingfeng, Mingyue, go and pick ten fruits. Today, I am going to host an honored guest," Zhenyuanzi instructed them.

"Yes, Master." Qingfeng and Mingyue nodded.

When Qingfeng and Mingyue returned with the Ginseng Fruits, they heard Zhenyuanzi's laughter. Besides his laughter, they also heard the voices of others; it appeared the honored guests had already arrived.

"Master, the Ginseng Fruits have been picked." Qingfeng and Mingyue walked into the reception hall carrying a tray.

"Place them here. You may wait outside; I will call you if there is anything needed," Zhenyuanzi waved his hand at them.

"Yes, Master!" Qingfeng and Mingyue nodded and then exited the reception hall.

"Taste them and see if there is anything different from before. Fellow Daoist Fuxi, you should taste one as well," Zhenyuanzi said, pushing the Ginseng Fruits toward Shennong and Fuxi.

Fuxi was still a bit reserved, but Shennong was not at all; he picked up a Ginseng Fruit, wiped it twice on his clothes, and took a bite.

The juice of the Ginseng Fruit flowed down the corner of Shennong's mouth, but he did not care in the slightest.

"I am already prepared," Chiyou nodded.

Watching Shennong's demeanor, a smile appeared on Zhenyuanzi's face.

After Shennong attained the Dao, his appearance had returned to that of a young man. Looking at Shennong now, Zhenyuanzi felt a bit dazed.

Hongyun back then was just like this now; although his appearance had changed, his personality remained the same as before.

"Fellow Daoist Fuxi, how does it taste?" Zhenyuanzi asked Fuxi.

"It is indeed worthy of being one of the ten great innate spiritual roots," Fuxi nodded.

"Fellow Daoist Shennong used to love this taste," Zhenyuanzi said with a smile.

He did not say the name "Hongyun," because Zhenyuanzi knew that the current Shennong did not wish to mention that name; he was now the human race's Shennong, not the rogue cultivator Hongyun.

After reminiscing, Zhenyuanzi pulled Shennong and Fuxi into a discussion on the Dao.

The reason Zhenyuanzi wanted to discuss the Dao was to reminisce about the past and, incidentally, to find closure with those bygone days.

Hongyun's fall had always been a knot in Zhenyuanzi's heart. Now, seeing Hongyun's reincarnation become the co-lord of the human race and attain the Dao as the Earth Emperor, Zhenyuanzi felt happy for him.

This discussion on the Dao lasted for three hundred years.

Three hundred years later, Shennong and Fuxi took their leave. After they departed, the obsession regarding Hongyun in Zhenyuanzi's heart finally vanished.

After the obsession with Hongyun disappeared, the aura about Zhenyuanzi suddenly became a fraction more solid, and his cultivation improved by a small margin, which brought a smile to his face.

After returning to Huoyun Cave, Shennong went into seclusion to meditate, while Fuxi looked toward the direction of the Wahuang Palace, his eyes lost in thought.

"The most exciting part of the Three Sovereigns era is about to arrive. This time, it is not internal strife among the human race, but an internal cleansing. I just wonder how the myriad races of the Primordial World will respond," Pan Huang said, looking at the increasingly powerful Youxiong and Chiyou tribes, a smile appearing on his face.

The Human Emperor is the master of weapons and war; their mission is unification—to unify the voices within the human race and, at the same time, to unify the entire human race itself.

Currently, there are still too many human tribes, and the people live too scattered, which is not conducive to management or the implementation of government decrees. This is the direction in which the Human Emperor needs to strive.

The development of the human race required not only soft power but also hard power, and the Human Emperor's duty was to be responsible for hard power.

"Not yet, it is still lacking a little; it is still missing a fuse," Chiyou shook his head.

"Hmm!" Upon hearing Chiyou's words, the old chieftain nodded. It was good that Chiyou had his own ideas.

Over at the Youxiong Tribe, Shaodian and Xuanyuan also sensed the subtle atmosphere within the human race.

"I never expected that it would eventually come to this," Xuanyuan said, muttering to himself as he looked toward the direction of the Chiyou Tribe.

As he said this, Xuanyuan thought of the days when he and Chiyou were together at the Jiangshui Tribe, following by Shennong's side.

But there could only be one co-lord of the human race; they were destined to meet with blades drawn.

"Regardless of who wins in the end, you will always be my brother," Xuanyuan muttered to himself again.

In truth, Xuanyuan was also waiting; he was waiting for a fuse. As long as this fuse could be lit, the war for the Human Emperor between him and Chiyou would begin.

And the winner would be the final co-lord.

In the tenth year after Shennong attained the Dao, Xuanyuan and Chiyou began to expand their military forces.

Their speed was very fast; in just twenty years, they had unified ninety percent of the human tribes. Finally, only the Youxiong Tribe, the Chiyou Tribe, the Jiangshui Tribe, and the Huaxu Tribe remained in the entire Primordial World.

Because of Fuxi and Shennong, Xuanyuan and Chiyou did not touch the Huaxu and Jiangshui tribes.

The people of the Huaxu and Jiangshui tribes also knew that their tribes would not exist for much longer; the unification of the human race was inevitable. Once the co-lord was chosen, they would be unified by the new co-lord's tribe.

Soon, the fuse for the great war between Xuanyuan and Chiyou was lit.

The cause was the assassination of Shaodian. After Shaodian was assassinated, all clues pointed to the Chiyou Tribe, because they had discovered ironware unique to the Chiyou Tribe at the scene.

This ironware existed only in the Chiyou Tribe throughout the entire Primordial World, and the Chiyou Tribe had never exchanged ironware with people from other tribes.

Therefore, Xuanyuan subconsciously believed that this was the work of the Chiyou Tribe.

Meanwhile, the old chieftain of the Chiyou Tribe was also assassinated, and all clues pointed to the Xuanyuan Tribe.

"So they couldn't sit still anymore? To actually use such a method to light the fuse for the great war between me and Xuanyuan." Compared to Xuanyuan's anger, Chiyou was much calmer.

"Since it has come to this, then let us fight. I might as well grant their wish," Chiyou's gaze turned cold.

Mount Shouyang, Sheng Huang Hall.

"Ruyi, set off!" Pan Huang said, looking at Ruyi.

"Yes!" Ruyi nodded, and then led the members of the Spirit Treasure Clan away from Mount Shouyang.

To ensure the purity within the human race, Pan Huang would personally act as the pusher of this great war, exterminating all those "unclean" humans.

As for how to find them, that would depend on Ruyi.

Soon, the friction between Chiyou and Xuanyuan had begun. At first, it was just probing by both sides, with no substantial casualties.

As the friction escalated, casualties began to appear. However, anyone with a discerning eye could see that there was an invisible black hand behind the war between Xuanyuan and Chiyou, but the myriad races of the Primordial World kept it to themselves.

"Clan Leader, we have already replaced all the personnel participating in the war from the Chiyou and Xuanyuan tribes. The great war can begin." In the shadows, Ruyi listened to the report from their subordinates, a cold glint flashing in their eyes.

Just like that, under the guidance of Ruyi and the others, the Battle of Banquan broke out. Xuanyuan actually had no idea that this was deliberately orchestrated by Chiyou, Pan Huang, and everyone else.

As the Human Emperor, one must be magnificent and upright; let others do the dirty work in the shadows.

"Chiyou, I never thought we would reach this point. I still remember the scenes of us studying together at the Jiangshui Tribe, but everything can never go back," Xuanyuan said, sighing as he looked at Chiyou.

"There can only be one position of co-lord. Are you willing to give it up?" Chiyou asked, looking at Xuanyuan.

Hearing Chiyou's words, Xuanyuan fell silent. Yes, there could only be one co-lord; if one must blame something, blame this era.

There was only one Fuxi in the Heavenly Emperor era, and only one Shennong in the Earth Emperor era, but in this Human Emperor era, there were two people—Xuanyuan and Chiyou—two very outstanding individuals.

"Let us fight!" Seeing that Xuanyuan did not speak, Chiyou said indifferently.

"Fight!" Hearing Chiyou's words, Xuanyuan also restrained the smile on his face.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!" After Xuanyuan's voice fell, the human soldiers behind him roared.

Seeing this scene, a sneer appeared on Chiyou's face: "Kill!"

A few breaths later, Xuanyuan's men and Chiyou's men collided. For a time, severed limbs flew, blood splattered, and screams echoed across the entire battlefield.

Ruyi and the others were observing the battlefield from the shadows. Their task was to protect those in the human race who were not meant to die, and to help those who were meant to die, die.

In fact, besides Ruyi and the others, there were many others observing the battlefield in the shadows; these people were the races coveting the human race.

After one round of charging, both the Xuanyuan Tribe and the Chiyou Tribe suffered losses, but overall, the Xuanyuan Tribe's men were at a disadvantage.

After all, the Chiyou Tribe had always advocated individual martial prowess and emphasized team coordination within that prowess, while the Xuanyuan Tribe's men focused on group combat and did not place much importance on individual martial prowess. Therefore, the Xuanyuan Tribe suffered during the first wave of impact.

After the second round of charging began, Xuanyuan adjusted the rhythm of the battle, fighting steadily. Although they still did not gain any advantage, their losses were reduced significantly.

When Chiyou took over as the leader of the Chiyou Tribe, he had been reforming their weaponry. While the Xuanyuan Tribe was still using bone and stone weapons, Chiyou had already begun using bronze and iron weapons. The disparity in weaponry kept the Xuanyuan Tribe at a disadvantage in both rounds.

Guang Chengzi, who had been closely watching the battlefield situation, had a smile on his face. Although he had not taught Chiyou much, he was, after all, Chiyou's master. If Chiyou could become the Human Emperor, he would also be able to obtain the corresponding merit.

Looking at the people behind him, and then at the people behind Xuanyuan, a smile appeared on Chiyou's face. This smile was captured by Xuanyuan, who perceived it as the smile of a victor. After all, he had been at a disadvantage in both charges, which made him feel quite uncomfortable.

"Kill!" Chiyou shouted again, riding his iron-eating beast as he charged toward Xuanyuan.

"Hmph! Well come!" Xuanyuan snorted coldly. Although he was currently at a disadvantage, he could not lose in terms of momentum.

The subsequent charge made Xuanyuan's eyes widen, and it also made everyone observing from the shadows widen their eyes, because this time, Chiyou's side actually lost, and they lost very thoroughly and very strangely.

During this charge, the Xuanyuan Tribe was clearly inferior to the Chiyou Tribe, yet in the end, all the men of the Chiyou Tribe died at the hands of the Xuanyuan Tribe's men, dying in an inexplicable way.

"Retreat!" Ruyi said to the people of the Spirit Treasure Clan, and then disappeared into the shadows. Upon hearing Ruyi's telepathic message, the other members of the Spirit Treasure Clan also vanished from the spot.

To be honest, even Chiyou himself was stunned for a moment. Although he knew the result, this result came all too suddenly!

"Retreat!" Chiyou took a deep look at Xuanyuan, and then led the people of the Chiyou Tribe away.

After Chiyou fled, Xuanyuan still had not recovered, because this matter was simply too strange, and it happened too fast; he had not even reacted.

"Damn it! Someone actually dared to interfere in the struggle for the Human Emperor!" Seeing Chiyou fleeing in defeat, Guang Chengzi's face turned livid.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that someone had secretly intervened to help Xuanyuan; otherwise, Xuanyuan would have been defeated. Chiyou had likely realized this as well, which was why he had fled.

"Very well!" Guang Chengzi said viciously, and then vanished from the spot.

When he appeared again, he had already arrived at the Chiyou Tribe. Seeing Chiyou in a daze within the tribe, the gloom on Guang Chengzi's face deepened by another degree.

"Master!" Upon seeing Guang Chengzi, Chiyou stood up and bowed to him. Although it was an act, one must perform the act completely; in order to scheme against the Chan Sect, Chiyou was willing to call Guang Chengzi "Master."

"Today's events were suspicious; someone secretly intervened to help that Xuanyuan, so do not have any psychological burden," Guang Chengzi said with a smile after seeing Chiyou.

Chiyou nodded, appearing somewhat distracted. Guang Chengzi saw this and felt pain in his heart—not for Chiyou, but for his own merit.

If Chiyou could not take the position of the human co-lord and attain the Dao as the Human Emperor, he would not be able to obtain the merit of being the Human Emperor's teacher. Without merit, everything Guang Chengzi had paid would be in vain.

"You should reorganize the tribe well; I will return to Mount Kunlun to report to Master," Guang Chengzi said again, seeing that Chiyou did not speak.

After saying this, Guang Chengzi disappeared directly from the spot.

After Guang Chengzi left, Chiyou raised his head and looked at the place where Guang Chengzi had vanished, a look of mockery appearing in his eyes.

Mount Kunlun.

As soon as Guang Chengzi returned, he was summoned to the Yuxu Palace by Yuanshi Tianzun.

"I already know the result of the great war between Xuanyuan and Chiyou," Yuanshi Tianzun said upon seeing Guang Chengzi.

"Master, who exactly was responsible for this?" Guang Chengzi asked.

"I do not know; the heavenly secrets have been scrambled, but I can guess a few races," Yuanshi Tianzun said coldly.

"A few races?" Upon hearing this, Guang Chengzi's eyes widened.

He had thought that someone was secretly helping Xuanyuan, but he had not expected there to be several forces. It seemed that all these people acting in the shadows wanted a share of the pie from the human race!

(End of chapter)