Primordial Era: A Counterattack Against Hongjun Daozu at the Start

Zhou Yi gazed at the primordial world so close at hand, then turned and headed straight for the Fire Cloud Cave outside the Thirty-Three Heavens.

As his robes fluttered, he clenched his fists and made a silent vow: "No matter how difficult it is to attain sainthood, I will give it my all."

In this world, one who doesn't become a saint is ultimately just an ant, not even qualified to stand on equal footing with those great powers. Only by crossing this insurmountable chasm can one be qualified to contend with the Hongyuan Dao Ancestor and even the rules of the Heavenly Dao.

Zhou Yi was well aware of the deeper meaning behind Chaos Bell's alliance with him. This innate treasure was extremely shrewd; if he failed to attain enlightenment, Zhong Ling would merely have lost a favor.

If it succeeds by sheer luck, it will be able to enjoy the boundless fortune of the human race. No wonder when the Tongtian Sect Leader tried to subdue it, this treasure pretended to be deaf and dumb and fled.

Back in the Fire Cloud Cave Secret Realm, Zhou Yi calculated that this trip to the Chaos Sea had taken more than a thousand years.

Fortunately, the ancient land has been unusually peaceful during these years, and the human population has grown rapidly in a stable environment, while the Western religion has remained unusually quiet.

His contingency plan, which he specifically laid out against the Six Paths of Reincarnation, now seems to have been a waste of effort.

There is no sun or moon in the cave, and nine thousand years have passed in the blink of an eye. When Zhou Yi opened his eyes again, the human race was no longer what it used to be.

The population of tribes scattered throughout the prehistoric world exceeded 100 billion, truly becoming the protagonists of heaven and earth.

Gazing at the magnificent scene, he stroked the trembling Chaos Bell at his waist, knowing that the decisive moment was about to arrive.

The human race has seen a surge of talent over the past ten thousand years. Although no unparalleled master has yet emerged who can rival a saint, the number of top combatants has more than doubled.

In fact, if Zhou Yi hadn't deliberately held back his resources and stopped investing in magic weapons, the number of experts could have surged even higher.

With over four hundred top-tier experts currently in charge, all the races of the prehistoric world would avoid them.

Mid-level combat power is springing up like mushrooms after rain, with Golden Immortals and Taiyi Immortals running all over the streets, and they are about to firmly establish themselves as the protagonists of heaven and earth.

However, when there are many people, trouble is bound to arise, and brawls and disputes between tribes over territory occur every few days.

The days when the I Ching was worshipped as a deity are long gone. Now, the younger generation hears the title of "the common ruler of humanity" as if it were a myth.

Even the Heaven-Covering Emperor's Law, which supports the human race's cultivation system, is not remembered by many younger generations as being created by Zhou Yi.

This situation was exactly what Zhou Yi wanted. The more he and the Suihuang ancestors faded from view, the more peacefully the Dao Ancestor in the heavens could sleep.

If we're really serious, we could just hold an annual ancestral worship ceremony; how could it be so easily forgotten?

On this day, the Fire Cloud Cave was suddenly filled with chaotic light, and hundreds of rainbow bridges stretched straight into the primordial land.

Before the onlookers could react, the leaders of various human tribes, as if by prior arrangement, led tens of thousands of Golden Immortals in a grand march towards the outer reaches of the Thirty-Third Heaven.

As soon as the cave entrance opened, Zhou Yi stood with his hands behind his back. Below him, a sea of ​​men knelt, the leader's eyes red-rimmed: "Greetings, Ancestor of Humanity!"

"We made a ten-thousand-year pact back then, and now the time has come." Zhou Yi glanced at the familiar faces of his old subordinates. "Those who want to leave, turn around now. Those who stay, be prepared to live in seclusion and cultivate asceticism."

"The entire Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain Army is here!" The earth-shattering roar shook the cave. "We swear to follow you to the death!"

More than four hundred Great Luo Golden Immortals simultaneously drew their weapons, their cold light illuminating the Fiery Cloud Cave as bright as day.

The crowd inside the Fire Cloud Cave remained motionless, with hundreds of pairs of burning eyes fixed on Zhou Yi, their deep-seated reverence like an indelible mark etched into their very blood.

Younger generations who haven't experienced the arduous pioneering spirit of the early human race can never imagine how fanatical their faith in this ancestor was. It was an era when Zhou Yi could rally thousands of people to risk their lives, an era in which a single word from him could rewrite the fate of the entire race.

"Very good! From now on, you will follow me in cultivation, severing the ties of your past lives, and creating a new world for the human race."

Zhou Yi's gaze swept over these weathered faces.

That decision ten thousand years ago changed the fate of humanity.

Zhou Yi appointed these cultivators as tribal leaders, leading their people to migrate to various parts of the prehistoric world.

It was their presence guarding all directions that supported the foundation of humanity's existence in the perilous wilderness.

The promised ten thousand years had arrived. When Zhou Yi summoned everyone back to the Fire Cloud Cave, these powerful figures who had once held authority showed no reluctance whatsoever. They removed their crowns swiftly and decisively, as if shedding only an old garment.

Zhou Yi knew that these tempered souls would become the hidden weapons of humanity, and the trump card to fight against the Heavenly Dao in the future.

However, as this core group retires, some of the legends surrounding them will fade away.

Tens of thousands of years from now, even a three-year-old child probably won't remember that it was this forgotten ancestor who once supported the entire human race.

Master Tiandao always loves to make these kinds of jokes. Those who personally create brilliance will eventually become dust in the annals of history.

"It's time to make a trip to the Nuwa Palace," Zhou Yi thought to himself.

He planned to transfer this elite force to Gouchen Star, deep within the Chaos Sea, since Huoyun Cave was too close to the eyes and ears of the Heavenly Dao.

However, that star has a deep connection with the saint Nuwa, and without her approval, it will ultimately be a hidden danger.

Before the Nuwa Palace beyond the Thirty-Third Heaven, Lingzhuzi was already jumping and looking around on the steps. Upon seeing the familiar figure, the boy excitedly spun around in circles: "Brother Yi, you've finally arrived! Quickly tell me what the new sugar figurines at the human market look like!"

The two chatted all the way to Nuwa Palace, where the cloud-patterned hall door at the end of the jade steps slowly opened.

When Lingzhuzi led Zhou Yi into the side hall where they had met before, Goddess Nuwa was already waiting inside.

As the boy in blue bowed and withdrew, Zhou Yi was about to speak when the beauty reclining on the cloud couch raised her fair wrist: "I thought you should have come looking for me a thousand years ago, but you are much more composed than I expected."

Her light purple eyeshadow accentuated the sparkle in her eyes, and she played with the wisps of smoke rising from the bronze incense burner with her fingertips.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi's heart stirred slightly, but he smiled and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty's wisdom is truly remarkable, saving me a lot of trouble."

"Don't try to talk your way out of this." Nuwa snorted and sat up, the silver bells on her wrist jingling. "Back then, you ventured alone into the Chaos Sea to find that old fox, the Roc, and it was only natural that you discovered Gouchen Star. The fact that you managed to keep quiet for ten thousand years without coming to me for an explanation has made me look at you in a new light."

These words completely confirmed Zhou Yi's suspicions. The sage's plan was indeed far-reaching; it was likely that the demon ancestor's spiritual sense had already detected something the moment Zhou Yi set foot on that star.

"Since this is the way out that Her Majesty has left for the demon race, how dare this junior be presumptuous?" Zhou Yi sat down on the futon, and the immortal peach on the table rolled to his side. "There is indeed something to discuss with you today."

Nuwa traced the star map on the table with her slender white fingers, and the location of Gouchen Star suddenly lit up: "That place is merely a place to preserve the incense offerings for the demon race; it can't cause any trouble. Now, it is the will of Heaven that the human race should prosper. Tell me, what are you plotting now?"

Zhou Yi held the peach pit in his hand, pondered for a moment, and then laid out his plan to cultivate human cultivators. The clouds in the hall suddenly froze, and the star map on the table flickered.

"As long as it doesn't damage the foundation of the demon race..." Nuwa suddenly chuckled, breaking the silence. Her jade fingers lightly tapped the table, and the star projection transformed into a picture of ten thousand demons paying homage. "You certainly know how to find a place. Borrowing my demon race's treasure land to train your troops, I'm afraid you'll be threatening the Heavenly Court's interests later, won't you?"