Primordial Era: A Counterattack Against Hongjun Daozu at the Start

He recalled the verse his master, the Guide Daoist, had uttered three years ago: "When the Human Emperor appears in the world, the Six Realms will be transformed." At the time, he thought it was just an ordinary tribulation, but now, upon reflection, he was startled to realize its profound meaning.

"So..." Ksitigarbha formed a golden swastika seal with his fingertips, attempting to glimpse the secrets of heaven, "that so-called human genius battle?"

The shadowy figure suddenly transformed into countless ghostly faces, and voices echoed from all directions: "Three hundred and sixty-five trial platforms correspond to the celestial constellations, and the lifeblood of a million participants has been used to create a map of mountains and rivers. When the final victor receives the replica of the Xuanyuan Sword, the chains of destiny binding the entire human race..."

Before the words were even finished, the entire underworld trembled violently, and the Six Paths of Reincarnation Wheel actually rotated half a circle in the opposite direction.

Suddenly, a jade slip made of a blue lotus appeared in Ksitigarbha's hand. This was the token left behind by the black shadow before it disappeared. When he probed it with his divine sense, he was shocked to find that it contained an image of the oath made by the Nine Phoenix Great Witch and a human youth on the shore of the Blood Sea three hundred years ago.

Meanwhile, on the Fengchan Platform in the human realm, Zhou Yi awarded the champion a jade plaque inlaid with five-colored sky-mending stones.

The moment the boy received the reward, the mist that had shrouded Kunlun Mountain for a thousand years suddenly dissipated, revealing the Jianmu Divine Tree that pierced the clouds. This spiritual root of heaven and earth, which should have withered in the war between the lich and the demon, was now blooming with emerald-like new buds.

Zhou Yi was greatly pleased with the outcome of this grand competition among the human race's prodigies. The profound knowledge and skills displayed by the young cultivators even exceeded his expectations.

Compared to the first Heavenly Pride Battle a century ago, when only a handful of geniuses reached the peak of the Sendai Secret Realm and attained the Golden Immortal status, this year's grand event has seen the emergence of dozens of prodigies who have cultivated the Sendai Secret Realm to perfection.

What is even more remarkable is that three new talents at the Quasi-Emperor level emerged during the final battle, which is a symbol of touching the threshold of the Great Luo Golden Immortal in the prehistoric world.

This scene greatly inspired Zhou Yi and the elders of the clan, including Suihuang. What the human race lacked most at present was high-end combat power. In the prehistoric world where Golden Immortals were as common as pawns, only Great Luo Golden Immortals could make moves on the chessboard.

Looking back, the foundation upon which the Wu and Yao races dominated the prehistoric world was their tens of thousands of powerful cultivators at the Great Luo Realm.

Even though there are only a handful of Quasi-Saint level experts, the overwhelming core strength is the real capital that can intimidate all sides.

In contrast, although the human race has multiplied to hundreds of millions and immortal cultivators are springing up like mushrooms after rain, top-tier combat power is still in short supply.

Apart from the three Quasi-Saints Zhou Yi, Suihuang, and Youchao, there are fewer than ten Great Luo Realm experts, a gap as vast as clouds and mud between them and the Wu and Yao races.

The new generation is breaking free from constraints, like sparks in the dark night, indicating that a prairie fire is already beginning to spread.

Zhou Yi firmly believed that given enough time, the human race would be able to cultivate countless Great Luo Immortals, and one day they would be able to stand on equal footing with the ancient great races.

Just as Zhou Yi was preparing to continue his seclusion to comprehend the Dao of Heaven, a myriad of rays of light suddenly appeared in the direction of Kunlun Mountain. The Great Master Miaole arrived riding on a cloud, his plain Taoist robe shimmering with the ethereal light of the Supreme Purity.

Zhou Yi immediately interrupted his cultivation and, together with the elders, went out to welcome this disciple personally taught by the Sage of Taiqing.

"Ten years have passed, and the human race is even more magnificent than before." Miao Le stroked his long beard and sighed as he looked at the cultivators practicing battle formations in the distance.

"Fellow Daoist, you have created such a magnificent scene in a hundred years. Such a way of turning decay into magic is something that even your master in the Trayastrimsa Heaven would praise highly."

"You flatter me, Your Excellency." Zhou Yi returned the greeting with a cupped hand, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. "I wonder if there is anything the human race can do to serve you during this visit?"

Master Miaole stroked his long beard, his tone tinged with emotion: "Since the day we parted, I have tossed and turned for several days, and finally realized that my fellow Daoist's enlightenment is far superior to mine."

I then boldly recommended you to my master, but to my surprise, he was full of praise after hearing about your deeds! I have come here on my master's orders to invite you to the Taiqing Realm beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Zhou Yi's pupils dilated slightly, and he nearly overturned the teacup in his hand. The sacred site of the sages beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens had been hidden deep within the chaos since Pangu created the world, and could not be seen by anyone without great fortune.

At this moment, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Could it be that the Primordial Saint who controls Yin and Yang really wants to summon him?

"Forgive my abruptness, but I do not know what the Sage has to do with this?" Zhou Yi suppressed his emotions, his knuckles unconsciously gripping the edge of the table.

Miao Le's eyes sparkled with interest: "Although my master often speaks of governing through non-action, he is quite interested in your unique Dao of Covering the Sky."

He paused, took out the Tai Chi Yin Yang Fish Pendant and placed it on the table. "Brother Dao, do you know that since the Great Calamity of the Lich King, Master has not mentioned taking on any disciples for three thousand years?"

Zhou Yi remained outwardly calm, but his heart was in turmoil. When he created the Heaven-Covering Emperor Technique that day by taking advantage of the opportunity of Taiqing's sermon, he had already foreseen this cause and effect.

However, I never expected that the sage's thoughts would be so unpredictable. The day before yesterday, he sent Miaole to spread the Dao, which seemed to be a test. Then, the Taiji Diagram helped him, which showed his protectiveness.

"I am honored by the sage's favor, but..." Zhou Yi's gaze swept over the yin-yang fish moving on the table, and the Heaven-Covering Diagram in his mind suddenly trembled.

This cultivation method, which uses the body as a seed and reverses the Great Dao, is fundamentally contrary to the orthodox Xuanmen teachings passed down from the Taiqing lineage. If one were to become a disciple of a sage, the clash of their Dao foundations could lead to a fatal predicament.

Miaole seemed oblivious to the strange occurrence and remained immersed in joy: "In the lineage of the Three Pure Ones, the position of the Grand Master's first disciple has been vacant for a thousand years. If one could receive the Primordial Dao Fruit personally from a sage..." Before she finished speaking, the yin-yang fish on the table suddenly levitated and spun in mid-air, actually reflecting half a scroll of the Tao Te Ching in the void.

Zhou Yi understood immediately; this was clearly a sage demonstrating magic from afar.

The Way of Covering the Heavens emphasizes using oneself as a crucible for heaven, which is fundamentally in conflict with the Xuanmen's cultivation method of borrowing the power of the heavenly way.

He secretly channeled his inner energy, and a wisp of a chaotic blue lotus appeared between his brows, subtly dispelling the overwhelming Daoist aura.

As the sound of the jade chimes from the Eight Views Palace pierced through the clouds, Zhou Yi was inscribing an array at the human race's altar. The moment Miao Le landed on his green ox, he knew he couldn't avoid this summons from the sage.

"The Taiqing Realm is extraordinary. Brother, please wait a moment while I arrange some matters before I go with you." As Zhou Yi spoke, he patted three strands of Xuanhuang Qi into the human race's totem pole.

He specially left a Dao transmission jade slip for the Ancestral Witch of Houtu, instructing her to activate the emergency formation of the Six Paths of Reincarnation if she did not return within three months.

As Zhou Yi passed through the Thirty-Three Heavens, he noticed countless golden chains floating in the Gale Layer. These Heavenly Dao shackles were thirty percent denser than when he came a thousand years ago.

Miaole's purple robe with the Bagua symbol automatically opened a barrier, but it could not conceal the celestial stars that swirled in Zhouyi's eyes.

The Taiqing Realm hangs on the edge of the primordial wilderness, like an inverted glass lamp. When Zhou Yi landed, he shattered three lotus flowers formed from Xuanqing Qi, discovering that the spatial laws here were exceptionally fragile.

The aroma of medicine wafting from the alchemy room in the distance was mixed with the scent of blood vines used in witch clan rituals.

"The sages would rather build caves in the cracks than open up the world..." Zhou Yi stroked the Kongtong Seal in his sleeve and suddenly realized the key point: the primordial world was like the roots of an old tree, and its roots had long been embedded in the fruits of the sages' paths.

Forcibly creating a new world is tantamount to severing one's own spiritual veins.

Miaole pointed to the Taiji diagram floating in the sea of ​​clouds: "Master is waiting for you in the Eight Views Palace."

Before he could finish speaking, the Emperor's Sword at Zhou Yi's waist suddenly trembled as a warning, and the phantom of the Six Paths of Reincarnation appeared on the scabbard.