This is so dishonest!

Chapter 499 Xuanyuan and Chiyou

Ji River is no ordinary river.

This is a water dragon vein that runs underground from the Kunlun Mountains. Its water is clear and contains wisps of innate spiritual energy.

The dragon vein meanders to this place and settles here, forming a vast and fertile plain.

The Youxiong tribe thrived and multiplied under the nourishment of this water dragon vein.

If a person with great supernatural powers were to look down from the clouds at this moment, they would find that the sky above the entire Youxiong tribe is filled with myriad phenomena and auspicious clouds rising.

That was no ordinary cooking smoke, but rather an extremely rich mixture of worldly dust and the ever-growing fortune of the Youxiong clan, condensing and not dispersing, transforming into auspicious clouds like a canopy.

Within the auspicious clouds, the enormous, dark yellow phantom of a bear was fast asleep.
With each breath it takes, the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathers like a tide.

This is the totem spirit that embodies the faith and power of the entire tribe.

Within the tribe, the houses, seemingly built of ordinary stone and wood, are all marked with faint protective runes on their walls, emitting a barely perceptible aura of dark yellow light, enough to ward off the invasion of evil spirits.

The crops planted in the fields are the five grains cultivated by Shennong.

These grains are full of spiritual energy; when ordinary people eat them, they can strengthen their bodies and prevent all kinds of diseases.

Several tamed beasts were obediently pulling heavy stone plows in the field. Their massive bodies were bulging with muscles, full of explosive power, yet without a trace of ferocity.

The entire tribe was working, and the sounds of their labor were numerous yet orderly.

In the center of the tribe, on a high platform carved from a single block of stone.

Xuanyuan stood quietly.

His presence was like a stabilizing force, making the tribe's vibrant and immense fortune incredibly stable and cohesive.

After Xuanyuan came of age, Shaodian, the chieftain of the Youxiong tribe, began to delegate authority to him, intending to groom him as his successor.

Because of Xuanyuan's outstanding abilities and excellent performance, he managed the Youxiong clan very well, which made Shaodian very happy.

When Shaodian arrived in Chendu to report on his duties ten years ago, he asked Shennong for permission to retire early and have his son succeed him.

Shennong agreed.

Thus, Xuanyuan officially became the chieftain of the Youxiong tribe.

Shao Dian, on the other hand, happily retired with his wife to the ancestral land of the human race, where they lived a carefree and leisurely retirement life.

Xuanyuan, who became the clan leader, worked diligently and tirelessly for the development of the tribe.

Therefore, he followed the example of Fuxi and occasionally traveled around, hoping to find some like-minded and capable people.

During his travels...

He really struck gold.

For example, Cangjie, Limu, and Qibo.

Cangjie was skilled in literature, Li Mu was adept at military strategy, and Qi Bo was skilled in medicine.

"Jie, where exactly has your 'Wen Dao' progressed?" Li Shou held a handful of counting rods made from animal bones in his hand. His gaze was focused, and his fingers moved rapidly, performing some extremely complex calculation.

After a moment, he seemed to have hit a bottleneck. He shook his head slightly and turned his gaze from the counting rods to Cangjie beside him.

At this moment, Cangjie was completely focused on his work and seemed oblivious to the inquiries from the outside world.

His brows were furrowed, as if he were pondering a problem that had long troubled the world.

He held a sharp bronze engraving knife in his hand and was intently engraving something on a carefully polished wooden tablet.

The carving knife in his hand was as steady as a mountain, each stroke sending up tiny wood shavings and leaving a profound and mysterious symbol.

"It is too early to tell me this now!"

After a long while, Cangjie finally responded in a low voice, which could be considered an answer to Li Shou's question.

Upon hearing the chieftain's question, he didn't even raise his head, but instead pulled out a handful of dried yarrow from his wide sleeves.

He casually handed over the yarrow stalks and continued, "If you want to divine matters concerning heaven and earth, you still need to use this."

"This is a divine object that the Holy Emperor Fuxi once obtained by chance on the banks of the Luo River. After the Holy Emperor spent a lot of effort, it was able to cultivate and promote it to the entire human race."

“I often use this to make divinations in my spare time, and it is indeed much more convenient and accurate than other divination methods. Why do you always abandon it?”

Cangjie's words were filled with boundless admiration and respect for the ancient sage emperor Fuxi.

It was because of this reverence that he was determined to emulate that great emperor, follow in his footsteps, and accomplish a great undertaking!
He was not only exceptionally gifted in observing the heavens and the earth and creating written characters, but also mastered the profound principles of the Eight Trigrams by studying the classics left by Fuxi.

Cangjie had long admired the story of Fuxi, the Holy Emperor, who, before attaining enlightenment, was a powerful figure with unparalleled martial prowess and who dominated an era.

He has already decided to dedicate some of his time from studying the ultimate principles of heaven and earth to systematically learning martial arts, in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the Holy Emperor's realm.

The official opposite him was the scribe of the Youxiong tribe, responsible for recording, statistics, and calculations.

He was an expert in the principles of evolution.

This brilliant calculus expert was also "picked up" by Xuanyuan from a small tribe during his travels.

Li Shou looked at the yarrow stalks that Cang Jie handed over and grinned as he took them.

"Things promoted by the Holy Emperor Fuxi are naturally extremely useful; this is a consensus among the human race, how could I not know that?"

"But those are ancient things that happened hundreds of thousands of years ago. While we humans should remember our ancestors, we cannot be complacent. Someone must try to innovate and explore other paths."

The words of the head of the official family reveal a spirit of daring to challenge authority and being innovative.

Upon hearing this, Cangjie finally stopped carving.

He raised his head, his strange four eyes staring intently at Li Shou for a long while, as if trying to see through his true thoughts.

Then, his gaze fell upon the ancient-looking counting rods in the chieftain's hand.

“What you say makes sense in principle; our human race does indeed need to keep moving forward.”

"But as it turns out, what you have is far from enough. You should continue to improve it."

Although Cangjie spoke directly, he did not show any contempt.

He knew perfectly well that the theory of evolution that Li Shou had studied was also an inheritance of the profound principles of the Eight Trigrams of Fu Xi.

However, Li Shou is still very immature on the path of the Great Way and has shortcomings.

When Li Shou is able to truly forge a profound path based on the principles of mathematics, it will not be too late to say those words again.

When Li Shou heard Cangjie's fair assessment, he simply smiled gently and did not refute it.

He knew his path would be long and arduous, and he understood the cautious attitude of Cangjie, a rigorous scholar.

He no longer insisted on using his own counting rods, but instead casually picked up the ancient yarrow stalks and began to predict good or bad fortune for the Youxiong tribe in the near future.

Under his manipulation, the yarrow stalks quickly revealed a mysterious hexagram.

"This is an auspicious sign!"

A loud voice suddenly came over, and Li Mu leaned in to look at the divination image.

He stared with his big, round eyes, examining it carefully for a long time. Although he couldn't understand its deeper meaning, just looking at the harmonious arrangement made him grin and reveal a hearty smile.

Sitting in the main seat, Xuanyuan saw his scribe, Lishou, nod with a smile, confirming the results of the calculation, and a look of joy also appeared on his face.

The tribe's good fortune was the best news for him, the chieftain.

He then turned his head and looked at Qi Bo, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, exuding the fragrance of herbs.

"Qi Bo, recently the sovereign has shown the intention to select promising young talents and entrust them with important responsibilities."

"This suggests that the selection of a new emperor has probably already been put on the agenda."

"If we can complete the compilation of that medical book as soon as possible, we may be able to win the first place in the future competition for the position of Emperor."

Xuanyuan's tone carried a hint of undisguised regret.

As the most outstanding tribal leader among the younger generation of humans, Xuanyuan can definitely be called an all-rounder.

He possesses extraordinary talent in many fields, including military strategy, mathematical planning, internal administration, medicine and pharmacology, farming, calendar making, and music composition, which is difficult for ordinary people to match.

Especially after meeting Qi Bo, a natural-born healer, Xuanyuan's interest in medicine grew stronger, and he often discussed and researched with him.

The two hit it off immediately and, based on their respective knowledge, collaborated to write half a volume of a medical book that shines with wisdom.

This half-volume medical book already encompasses the treatment and prevention methods for most diseases in the world. Once it is promoted, it will surely benefit countless people.

However, the remaining half of the scroll involves a higher level of the ultimate truth of life, and even touches upon the Great Luo Dao, which is beyond their current realm.

Xuanyuan knew in his heart that he would probably not be able to complete this medical classic before he truly attained the Great Luo Dao Fruit.

Faced with Xuanyuan's regret, Qibo simply responded with a gentle smile. He spoke slowly, his voice as refreshing as a spring breeze.

"Chief, the way of a healer lies in helping the world and saving people."

"This book concerns the lives of all people under heaven. Every word in it must be carefully crafted and cannot be neglected or rushed."

"Writing medical books cannot be rushed."

Li Mu interjected, "Chieftain, when we went to Chendu to pay homage to the sovereign a few years ago, I saw many leaders of the various human tribes."

"In my opinion, among the new generation of young leaders, none of them have the talent and aptitude to compare with you, Chieftain."

"Therefore, clan leader, you don't need to worry about the so-called position of the Human Emperor at all."

Li Mu's words were full of absolute confidence and admiration for Xuanyuan. In his view, it was a sure thing that Xuanyuan would become the next Human Emperor.

Cangjie, who had remained silent, smiled upon hearing Limu's almost flattering words and offered a reminder:
“Limu, you cannot underestimate the heroes of this world just because you wholeheartedly support our chieftain.”

"Now is a time of great prosperity for humanity and flourishing fortune. Countless gifted individuals born under this great destiny are emerging in various places."

"We cannot be narrow-minded and think that all the heroes in the world are here."

"Putting aside other things, just take Chi You, the new leader of the Jiuli tribe. I saw him from afar at the last grand court assembly and I felt that he was no ordinary person."

"He will definitely be an extremely strong competitor among the candidates for the next Human Emperor."

When Xuanyuan heard Cangjie's words, he also remembered that strong man with a simple and honest face, but a body as strong as an iron tower, who was at the grand court assembly in Chendu where thousands of leaders gathered.

"You guys are talking about Da Niu!"

Xuanyuan smiled and said, "This is indeed a formidable opponent."

Perhaps it was the mutual attraction between two geniuses.

When Xuanyuan first went to Chendu to report on his duties, he took notice of Chiyou.

They hit it off immediately and had a very pleasant conversation.

Since then, Xuanyuan and Chiyou have maintained contact.

The two had a lot to talk about.

They would occasionally exchange experiences in governing their tribes, share the results of their spiritual practice, and even once invited each other to visit their own tribes.

Just then, Xuanyuan sensed something.

He looked up at the sky.

Several dazzling streaks of light shot through the clear blue sky.

In a short while, the light disappeared.

Above the Youxiong tribe, several priests appeared, dressed in black robes with gold patterns in the official robes of the human race, wearing white feather crowns that symbolized their status, and exuding an aura as deep as the sea.

Their every move naturally exuded an aura of profound imperial authority. "Are they envoys from Chendu?" Xuanyuan and the others were slightly moved.

The leading priest, with a calm face and extraordinary demeanor, was none other than Duobao, a high-ranking official under the sovereign who had met Xuanyuan once in Chendu.

Duobao and his group did not rush in directly, but hovered above the tribe and slowly descended from mid-air, giving the tribe enough time to react and showing respect.

"Look, the aura above the Youxiong tribe has condensed into the shape of a canopy, and the spirit of their tribal totem, the giant bear, has almost materialized!"

One of the accompanying priests beside Duobao sharply surveyed the thriving scene of the Xiong tribe below and couldn't help but send a telepathic message to his companion.

"The hearts of the people have already turned to them, and their common will has come together, faintly revealing the supreme aura of 'the people's hearts are the hearts of Heaven'!"

The other priest was equally shocked, knowing full well what this meant.

This means that the local leader's governance ability is far beyond what can be simply described as "outstanding".

This is a true manifestation of "kingly demeanor"!

Compared to the several trembling accompanying priests, Duobao, the head of the delegation, was noticeably calmer, as if everything before him was within his expectations.

He watched the young man slowly walk from the high platform in the center of the tribe, leading a group of subjects to greet him from afar, and a hint of approval flashed in his deep eyes.

Then, with a slight nod, Duobao solemnly announced:

"Ji Xuanyuan, leader of the Youxiong tribe."

"I have been ordered by the decree of Shennong, the contemporary sovereign, to tour the tribes of the world and examine the leaders of all directions. Today I have arrived at the banks of the Ji River. Please cooperate."

Xuanyuan led Cangjie, Limu, and others to greet them.

With a calm expression, he led his subjects in a respectful but not arrogant bow and replied in a loud voice, "Welcome, Your Majesty's envoy."

"The Youxiong tribe will certainly cooperate fully with Chen Du's assessment."

"I invite you, esteemed envoys, to accompany me on a tour of my territory and see for yourselves what is truly happening."

~~~~
Meanwhile, on a completely different land in the East, hundreds of millions of miles away from the Youxiong tribe, an inspector also arrived.

This place is Jiuli.

In the sky, a magnificent five-colored phoenix soared through the clouds, its clear and melodious cry echoing across the land.

On the back of the phoenix sat a female immortal dressed in palace attire, with unparalleled beauty, noble temperament, and a hint of sharpness.

She is the Golden Spirit Mother, a direct disciple of the Saint of the Jie Sect.

She was also sent by Shennong to examine another top candidate for the Human Emperor, Chi You, the leader of the Jiuli tribe.

As the Golden Spirit Mother looked down from the clouds, a strange light flashed in her eyes.

Unlike the orderly and agriculturally vibrant scene of the Youxiong tribe, the Jiuli tribe below exudes a fierce and wild atmosphere, like a volcanic eruption.

Within the vast tribal alliance, towering columns of black smoke could be seen everywhere, representing countless enormous smelting workshops tirelessly forging something day and night.

The deafening clanging of metal merged into a torrent of steel, as if to forge this entire world into an unparalleled divine weapon.

The Jiuli people, bare-chested and muscular, wore fierce and fanatical expressions on their faces.

Everyone gathered in the vast training ground to fight and hone their martial arts skills.

The air above the entire tribe was thick with an intense, unyielding aura of war and menace.

If an ordinary immortal or deity were here, their very mind would likely be shaken by the awe-inspiring power of the Jiuli tribe.

This place doesn't resemble a tribe engaged in production and daily life; it's more like a massive military camp built for war.

The five-colored phoenix let out a clear cry and slowly landed in front of the altar in the center of the Jiuli tribe, which was built from the bones of countless giant beasts.

Almost the instant she landed, countless wary and battle-ready gazes came from all directions, and countless Jiuli warriors gripped their weapons tightly.

The Holy Mother of the Golden Spirit paid no attention to this; her gaze was fixed only on the figure slowly descending from the altar throne.

He was a man as imposing and powerful as a demon god.

He was Chi You.

At this moment, Chi You was no longer the simple and honest man he had been in Chendu.

He was clad in animal hide armor, his bronze skin covered with ferocious totems, and his eyes burned with burning ambition and the fire of war.

He simply stood there, and an overwhelming aura of dominance, as if he were to trample the heavens and earth under his feet, arose spontaneously, causing the surrounding space to freeze.

"The Jiuli tribe, led by Chiyou, respectfully welcomes the envoy."

Chi You's voice was deep and resonant, with a metallic quality. He nodded slightly to the Golden Spirit Mother as a gesture of respect.

But Chi You's spine stood straight, like an unyielding spear.

The Holy Mother of Golden Spirits gracefully descended from the back of the phoenix. She looked at Chi You before her and the eighty-one equally fierce brothers behind him, and slowly spoke.

“I have come here by order of the sovereign to investigate the people’s livelihood and moral character under the rule of the Jiuli.”

Upon hearing this, Chi You grinned, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth.

His smile was full of powerful confidence.

"The envoy was free to observe."

~~~~
Night falls quietly.

The Youxiong tribe gradually quieted down from the daytime hustle and bustle, and thousands of lights adorned the land like stars.

After seeing off the delegation led by Duobao, Xuanyuan returned alone to the stone chamber where he usually handled government affairs.

The conversations and patrols with Duobao and others during the day seemed calm on the surface, but in reality, they consumed a lot of mental energy, making it even more tiring than going through a major battle.

But Xuanyan also knew that this great test, which would sweep across the entire human race, had officially begun.

Xuanyuan walked to a desk made of a single piece of polished bluestone and pondered for a moment.

He took out an ancient-looking bronze token from his pocket. The token was engraved with mysterious runes, and there was a faint flow of spatial power.

This was a token used in his communication with Chi You.

He slowly infused a wisp of divine thought into the token, and a faint halo immediately appeared on the surface of the token, like the surface of a lake rippled by a gentle breeze.

The Jiuli tribe, hundreds of millions of miles away.

The place was still brightly lit, and the huge furnace illuminated half the sky in a crimson glow.

Inside the central council hall of the tribe, Chi You, shirtless, was engaged in a heated discussion with his eighty-one brothers around a huge sand table.

The sand table depicts mountains and rivers, representing the topography of the ancient Eastern Continent, and is covered with flags representing various tribal forces.

Suddenly, a bronze token hanging from Chi You's waist, which was also ancient in appearance, began to vibrate slightly without warning and emitted a gentle light.

Chi You, who was talking at length, suddenly stopped, a hint of surprise and joy flashing in his eyes, which were as big as copper bells.

Without hesitation, he waved his hand and said in a deep voice to his brothers, "Today's meeting is over. You may all step down."

Although the eighty-one brothers were somewhat puzzled, they never questioned their elder brother's orders. They bowed respectfully and left the hall in an orderly manner.

Soon, only Chi You remained in the vast hall.

He strode to his throne, picked up the glowing token, and sent a powerful divine thought into it.

The token's light suddenly intensified, and a clear and gentle voice resounded directly in the depths of his mind.

"Brother Chi You, how have you been?"

The voice came from Xuanyuan.

A rare, genuine smile appeared on Chi You's usually hardened and domineering face. He sat down cross-legged and responded with his divine sense:
"Brother Xuanyuan, I'm perfectly fine! But you, you must have experienced quite a scene today, right?"

From the other end of the token, Xuanyuan's soft laughter came, tinged with a hint of helplessness.

"The news travels fast. It seems you've also received an envoy from the sovereign."

"Indeed, a female immortal has arrived, and she has a very strong aura, but she has been intimidated by the formation of my Jiuli warriors."

Chi You's tone was filled with powerful confidence and pride.

Xuanyuan could almost picture that scene. He shook his head, knowing that Chi You was exaggerating.

He didn't expose it, but continued, "The person who came to my side is the High Priest Duobao. He has thoroughly examined my Youxiong tribe from the inside out."

"This inspection is more rigorous than any other one."

"Hahahaha!" Chi You's hearty laughter echoed in Xuanyuan's mind.

"So what? Everything in Jiuli can withstand the scrutiny of anyone!"

"I'd really like to see for myself what a magnificent sight your Youxiong tribe has become under your rule."

Xuanyuan's tone also became solemn: "I am equally curious about just how magnificent your steel city, born for war, truly is."

The two were silent for a moment, processing everything they had experienced that day and the information they had gleaned from each other's words.

“Brother Xuanyuan, you and I both know that this assessment is just the beginning.” Chi You broke the silence first, his voice becoming deep and magnetic.

"Yes, the sovereign is about to return to his throne. Before heading to the Fire Cloud Cave, he will surely choose a successor. This is the general trend of humanity and an inevitable development for our human race," Xuanyuan said with emotion.

"We both aspire to this goal, and a battle between us is inevitable in the future." Chi You's words were direct and frank, without the slightest concealment.

"Yes, this battle is unavoidable." Xuanyuan's voice was equally calm, yet it contained an undeniable determination.

"But I hope that until that day comes, we can still be friends."

"Of course!" Chi You answered decisively.

"It is my honor, Chi You, to coexist with a hero like you, Brother Xuanyuan, in the same era!"

The two chatted about the present and the future using small tokens.

Their interactions were devoid of conspiracy or scheming, filled only with the openness and heroism that belong to heroes.

This is a pure feeling based on mutual respect and appreciation, transcending the impending competition and hostility.

The two chatted for a long time.

As night deepened and the sky filled with stars, the night continued.

Xuanyuan put down the token in his hand.

He was deeply moved after his conversation with Chi You.

He knew that there was a great opponent ahead of him, someone he was determined to defeat with all his might.

This is not a burden, but rather a tremendous motivation.

Meanwhile, in the distant Jiuli Palace...

Chi You also put away the token.

He stood up, walked outside the hall, and looked up at the same starry sky he shared with Xuanyuan, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.

"Xuanyuan, you'd better be prepared, because I won't show any mercy from now on."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

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(End of this chapter)