Primordial Era: Cultivation level equals the sum of the Jie Sect's total; the Three Pure Ones a

Xuan Du raised his eyes and met her gaze directly.

A faint ripple finally surfaced in the depths of those eyes, which were as calm as an ancient well.

The fluctuations were subtle, yet they carried a profound understanding that saw through everything.

"Since Your Majesty has asked, this disciple will speak frankly."

He spoke slowly, his voice calm:

"This disciple helped the Earthly Dao to reach perfection; this is for the Earthly Dao, and also for..."

"humane."

As the two words fell, a sudden stillness descended before the Wheel of Reincarnation Seal.

Houtu's pupils constricted slightly.

She gazed at Xuandu, at his calm yet profound eyes, at his young face that exuded boundless composure.

Thoughts raced through my mind.

humane.

Xuan Du speaks of the way of humanity.

She should have thought of that sooner.

Of the three paths—Heaven, Earth, and Humanity—Heaven is the strongest, Earth is next, and Humanity is the weakest.

The Heavenly Dao has been awakened since the beginning of the primordial world. The Dao Ancestor Hongjun merged with the Heavenly Dao and ruled the primordial order for billions of years. His foundation was profound and unshakable.

She slept in the underground passage for countless years until she was reborn and truly awoke.

However, despite the awakening, the Earthly Dao remains incomplete and cannot be perfected under the suppression of Heaven.

Now that the Book of Earth has been returned to its rightful place and the Earthly Way is complete, Houtu can finally break free of her shackles.

But what about humanity?

Where is humanity?

Humanity has existed for only a few million years since Nuwa created humans.

In the vast river of billions of dollars, it is but a fleeting moment.

How can humanity be revived in such a short time?

How can one defy the will of Heaven?

Houtu gazed at Xuandu, her eyes narrowing slightly:

"What does Fellow Daoist Xuandu mean?"

Xuan Du stood with his hands behind his back before the Reincarnation Seal, his gaze piercing through the netherworld and falling upon the distant primordial land.

It fell towards the shore of the East China Sea, beneath the Martial Arts Heavenly Stele.

It descended upon the scene of countless human beings practicing martial arts.

"Your Majesty."

He spoke slowly, his voice calm:

"Disciples have taken in hundreds of millions of human disciples, created martial arts laws, and passed on human martial arts for a hundred years now."

"Over the past century, the human race has cultivated martial arts, resulting in a surge in their cultivation levels and the emergence of numerous powerful individuals."

He paused, his voice turning deep:

"But what about humane treatment?"

Humanity remains asleep and has not yet awakened.

Houtu remained silent for a long time after hearing this.

She naturally understood the meaning behind Xuandu's words.

Humanity may be strong, but its humanity has not yet awakened.

If humanity does not awaken, the human race will forever remain just one of the myriad races of the primordial world.

They can never be on equal footing with the Way of Heaven and the Way of Earth.

They will always be at the mercy of others and at their mercy.

"Heaven's will suppress."

Houtu spoke slowly, her voice tinged with bitterness:

"I've experienced it."

"Trapped in the netherworld, unable to take even half a step out."

"My brothers have fallen, and I was unable to even see them off on their final journey."

"This taste is etched in my memory."

She looked towards Xuandu, her gaze complex.

"Humanity is even more unbearable than the earth."

"At least the underground passage was forcibly awakened by my own reincarnation."

"But what about humane treatment?"

"Humanity has never truly awakened since its inception."

"Nuwa created humans simply to achieve sainthood and merit."

"Humanity has existed for millions of years, rising and falling on its own."

"If it weren't for your sudden appearance, your teachings, the erection of the Martial Arts Monument, and the gathering of human fortune, the human race would still be barely surviving in the mouths of the demon race."

"With such a foundation, how can it contend with the will of Heaven?"

Xuan Du's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this.

He simply gazed silently at Houtu, at the solemn expression on her beautiful face.

a long time.

He spoke slowly:

"Your Majesty is absolutely right."

"Humanity's foundation is shallow, and it cannot contend with the Way of Heaven."

"But Your Majesty, don't forget."

He paused, his voice turning deep:

"Why should a disciple assist in the perfection of the Earthly Dao?"

Houtu was taken aback.

Xuan Du continued:

"The three paths of Heaven, Earth, and Man are originally one."

"The way of Heaven is strong, the way of Earth is weak, and the way of Humanity is insignificant."

"If the earthly path remains incomplete and is constantly suppressed by the heavenly path, then the human path will never have a chance to rise."

"But if the Earthly Path is perfected, and the Empress breaks free of her shackles, then the Earthly Path and the Heavenly Path will stand in opposition..."

He slightly raised his gaze and looked directly at Houtu:

"At that time, will Heaven still have the power to suppress humanity with all its might?"

Upon hearing this, Houtu's pupils contracted sharply.

She got it.

Xuandu helped the Earth Dao to reach perfection, not only for the Earth Dao, not only for Zhen Yuanzi, and not only for Hongyun.

It is also about humanity.

To fight for a glimmer of hope for humanity.

Humanity seeks a chance to catch its breath under the extremely powerful suppression of the Heavenly Dao.

To pave a path for the revival of humanity's future.

"Fellow Taoist Xuandu..."

Houtu spoke slowly, her voice carrying an uncontrollable sense of awe:

"You actually foresaw this?"

Xuan Du smiled slightly:

"Your Majesty flatters me."

"This disciple is merely taking one step and thinking three steps ahead."

"For humanity to be restored, relying solely on a disciple or the inheritance of martial arts is far from enough."

"We must have the help of a local savior."

"We must have the Empress's help."

Houtu remained silent.

She gazed at Xuandu, at his calm yet profound eyes, at his young face that exuded boundless composure.

An indescribable emotion surged within me.

Who exactly is this person?

A century of enlightenment to the Primordial Chaos, a century of breakthrough to the Second Heaven.

He abolished the Human Sect, beheaded Nuwa, gathered fortune, and awakened humanity.

To help the earth achieve its goals and to provide livelihoods for humanity.

Every step, every game, every piece.

All of them are interconnected and progressively build upon each other.

All of this was within his calculations.

All of this is paving the way for that ultimate goal.

At this moment, Houtu finally vaguely guessed what that goal was.

Humanity is recovering.

The three principles of Heaven, Earth, and Man are in balance.

At that time, the primordial order will be reshaped.

The era of absolute supremacy of Heaven's Way will never return.

"Fellow Taoist Xuandu."

Houtu spoke slowly, her voice solemn:

Do you know what you're doing?

Xuan Du's gaze remained calm.

"This disciple understands."

Houtu stared at him:

"You are going against the will of Heaven."

"You are making an enemy of Hongjun Daozu."

"You are making an enemy of the supreme being who controls the billions of primordial beings."

Xuan Du smiled upon hearing this.

The laughter was soft, yet it carried a fearless and open-minded quality.

"Your Majesty."

He spoke slowly:

"This disciple has never intended to be an enemy of anyone."

"I only want to prevent that human race from being slaughtered at will."

"This disciple only wishes to prevent the primordial world from being solely ruled by the Heavenly Dao."

"I only wish to give those living beings a glimmer of hope, a tiny chance of survival."

He paused, his gaze fixed on Houtu:

"This is the path of a disciple."

As the sound faded, a deathly silence fell before the Reincarnation Seal.

Houtu gazed at him, at those calm yet resolute eyes, at that young face that exuded boundless composure.

a long time.

a long time.

She smiled slowly.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a sense of relief and ease.

"What a profound truth."

She spoke, her voice carrying a hint of approval:

"What a magnificent Xuandu."

"I finally understand why you were able to attain enlightenment over a century, and why you were able to plan every step of the way with perfect strategy."

"Because you hold all living beings in your heart."

"Because the path you walk is the supreme path."

Xuan Du bowed slightly:

"Your Majesty flatters me."

Houtu shook her head:

"This is not an overstatement."

"I have presided over the Reincarnation Billion Yuan Association and have seen countless geniuses, countless great powers, and countless self-proclaimed saints who seek the well-being of all beings."

"But they're just talking."

"You're the only one who's actually doing it."

She paused, her gaze deep:

"Don't worry."

"Now that the tunnel is complete, I will certainly lend you a hand."

"On the day humanity is restored, I will do everything in my power to protect it."

Xuan Du nodded emphatically upon hearing this:

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Houtu waved her hand:

"No need to thank me."

"By helping you, I am also helping the earth, helping the primordial world, and helping..."

She paused, her gaze falling on the six realms of reincarnation:

"It also helps countless true spirits to be reborn as humans one day."

"To live in that primordial world after the restoration of humanity, where it is no longer arbitrarily suppressed by the Heavenly Dao."

Xuandu remained silent.

He gazed at Houtu, at the compassion that appeared on her beautiful face, and his heart was slightly moved.

This saint who is in charge of the Reincarnation Billion Yuan Society, what is in his heart not all sentient beings?

She was trapped in the underworld, unable to take a single step out.

She watched helplessly as her brother perished.

She sits in the cycle of reincarnation, day after day, year after year, through countless cycles of rebirth.

But she never complained, never hated, and never gave up.

Because she knew that what she was guarding was the final resting place of countless true spirits.

They are the last hope for all living beings in the primordial world.

"Fellow Taoist Xuandu."

Houtu spoke slowly, her voice calm, yet carrying an undeniable certainty:

"Later, I will use the Earthly Dao to break free from the restrictions of the Heavenly Dao."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Du's gaze narrowed slightly.