Primordial Era: From the Creation Lotus to the First Disciple of the Three Pure Ones

Chapter 122 Establishing Moral Norms and Discipline

The smoke of the Lich War and the heavenly rules set by Dao Ancestor Hongjun are like distant thunderclaps. Although their echoes can reach the shores of the East Sea, they can no longer shake the increasingly vigorous and almost wildly growing vitality on this land.

Thanks to the popularization of martial arts and the solid foundation of survival—fire, clothing, and shelter—humanity no longer faces large-scale natural enemies or existential threats that could overthrow the race. As a result, the speed of reproduction has reached a level that has astonished all the races of the prehistoric world.

It was an explosive growth that originated from the very essence of life and was driven to its extreme by a sense of security.

Ten thousand years is but a fleeting moment in the vast universe. Yet, for the human race on the shores of the East Sea, it is an immensely long period of time that has brought about earth-shattering changes.

What was once a population of tens of millions has swelled into an unimaginable, almost terrifyingly large number, spreading across the land like an ant colony.

The coast of the East China Sea, though known as a fertile land, appears unusually "crowded" at this moment.

As far as the eye can see, there are human villages and settlements everywhere: mountains, plains, riverbanks, coastlines, and even hilly valleys that were once sparsely populated.

The simple houses stand side by side, with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys day and night, almost forming a huge cloud of smoke.

The sounds of children playing, warriors shouting as they train their qi and blood, women spinning and weaving, men returning from hunting and gathering, and the clamor of bargaining between tribes—countless sounds intertwine and blend together, forming a tumultuous and vibrant torrent of humanity that roars across this land day and night.

Every moment, countless new lives are born, bringing joy and hope, but also an increasingly heavy burden of survival and management.

The problems brought about by the population explosion are spreading and entangling like vines:

The hunting and gathering areas needed to constantly expand outwards, leading to competition between tribes for hunting grounds, fishing areas, and orchards.

Friction and conflict arising from arable land are increasing, and small-scale armed conflicts have even broken out.

With frequent population movement and constant migration, management has become extremely difficult. Many new generations only know their mothers and not their fathers. Bloodline ethics are becoming increasingly blurred and chaotic, and the social structure is beginning to show signs of loosening.

With such a large population, even with martial artists at all levels striving to maintain order, crimes, bullying, theft, and robbery inevitably arise, and become increasingly difficult to investigate and punish.

A shadow of disorder, bloatedness, and internal friction began to quietly erode the foundation and cohesion that this newly formed group had painstakingly built.

The human race is like a giant that is growing rapidly but is somewhat overnourished and whose skeleton is about to break down.

Although the three ancestors, Suiren, Ziyi, and Youchao, had reached the realm of martial gods, their true spirits resided in the void, possessing near-infinite lifespans and the immense power to move mountains and fill seas, they still felt an unprecedented sense of powerlessness and bewilderment when faced with the ever-growing, increasingly chaotic, and complex problem of managing their clan, which involved the hearts and interests of hundreds of millions of people.

Their power can easily destroy mountains, intimidate foreign enemies, and open up new habitats, but it is difficult to sort out the intricate relationships among these billions of living beings, quell the increasing internal conflicts, and satisfy their seemingly endless needs for survival and development.

They possess immense power, yet lack the experience and wisdom to manage such a large population.

On this day, the three ancestors, with deep worries and furrowed brows, once again came to the cave of the Azure Lotus Saint Master, the last guiding place in their hearts by the sea. They laid out the enormous predicament their clan was facing and their inner anxieties in earnest, their words even carrying a hint of barely perceptible weariness.

"Holy Master, the flourishing and prosperity of our race is a great blessing, a blessing from the Holy Mother and the Holy Master."

However, the population is now too large and scattered across the land, making the previous management system, which relied on blood ties and geographical ties, was no longer sustainable. It was based on tribes and decisions made by chiefs and elders.

If government orders do not extend beyond our ancestral lands, rewards and punishments will be difficult to administer fairly. If this continues, it may lead to internal strife, self-depletion, and shake the very foundation of our human race!

We—we feel utterly powerless; please, Holy Master, teach us!

Suirenshi wore a deep look of worry, and the flame of civilization above his head seemed to flicker slightly due to his inner anxiety, its light dimming.

Qinglian sat quietly on the cloud bed. His divine sense covered the shore of the East Sea and he had already seen through the details of what the Third Patriarch had said. He even saw further than the Third Patriarch.

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze calm as still water, seemingly reflecting the complexities of the entire human race. He spoke calmly, yet his voice carried a power that could establish order and restore order to the world: "The propagation of a race and the progress of civilization are inevitable. Old systems and customs, like children's clothes, are no longer suitable for a grown body. When the old system is unsuitable, it must be reformed and new rules established. The core of this lies in establishing moral principles and setting forth these eight characters."

"Establish moral order and set forth principles?" The three patriarchs exchanged bewildered glances, their understanding of the concept somewhat vague, yet instinctively feeling its crucial importance, as if they had touched upon the key to solving the problem. "We are foolish and ignorant; we humbly beg the Holy Master for clarification!"

"So-called ethical principles,"

Qinglian's voice was gentle yet each word carried immense weight, as if she were enacting heavenly laws.

"The purpose is to establish the norms and rules of human relationships, to distinguish humans from animals, and to ensure that society operates in a basic and orderly manner."

First and foremost, marriage rites must be established. This will ensure that the union of men and women is no longer arbitrary and chaotic, but rather governed by rules and regulations.

A proper marriage is required, with the marriage announced to the community, and to receive blessings and recognition.

Only in this way can the union be considered legitimate, and the offspring born thereafter will be able to know both their mother and their father.

This ensures that the bloodline is passed down in an orderly, traceable, and rooted manner.

From this arises the family ethics of affection between father and son, distinction between husband and wife, and order between elders and juniors. This is the foundation of human relations, the beginning of the family, and the stepping stone to civilization. A stable foundation ensures a stable family; a stable family ensures a peaceful community.

Upon hearing this, the Third Patriarch's eyes suddenly shone with an unprecedented brilliance!

They were all exceptionally intelligent and virtuous individuals who instantly understood the profound meaning and far-reaching impact contained within it!

This is not merely a stopgap measure to resolve the current chaos in management, but rather a fundamental transformation of the social structure, moral values, and cultural foundation of the human race! This is about establishing the heart and soul of the human race!

"The words of the Holy Master were like the explosion of chaos, opening my eyes to the truth! Like sweet rain from heaven, quenching my thirst!"

Ziyi was so excited that her voice trembled. As the person in charge of clothing, she knew the importance of "distinction".

"However—Master, the population is now in the hundreds of millions, widely distributed, and customs have changed. How can we properly implement this marriage ceremony?"

How can we promote fundamental principles of human relations and make them deeply ingrained in people's hearts, becoming guidelines that all members of the clan consciously follow? Without enforcement and a clear system, it will likely be difficult to achieve results.

Qinglian nodded slightly, as if she had expected this question, and continued, "This is the establishment of principles and rules."

There needs to be a clear, easy-to-identify, and hierarchical system of identification and responsibility to effectively unite the hundreds of millions of people scattered like grains of sand into an organic whole.

It can emulate the principles of the division of heaven and earth and the movement of stars: taking the surname as the root to mark the original bloodline and to govern the largest tribal alliance;

Using "氏" as the main branch, it identifies important branches or titles obtained for merit under the surname;

Using the given name as the leaf, the specific family and individual under the clan name are identified. Surname, clan name, and given name are clearly distinguished and progressively arranged. In this way, even billions of people can be included in this system, trace their roots, have a place of belonging, and have clear responsibilities and rights.

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