Primordial Era: The Three Senior Brothers of the Taiqing Clan

The other one was radiant with golden light, and it was—

"The Western Sect, Zhunti?" Chen Qing raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

Indeed, that golden figure was none other than Zhunti, one of the two Western Saints. At this moment, he was fighting two extraterrestrial saints against one. Although he was fighting two against one, Zhunti was not at a disadvantage, and even seemed to have the upper hand. His Seven Treasures Tree swung continuously, and each swing neutralized the attacks of the two extraterrestrial saints.

"This Zhunti is quite capable in combat," Xuanming said calmly.

Chen Qing pondered, "How come he's here? Isn't the Western Sect known for its cautious and self-protective approach?"

Xuanming said, "Who knows? Perhaps he came here seeking opportunities, or perhaps... he's colluding with people from beyond the realm?"

Chen Qing didn't reply, but just watched quietly.

On the battlefield, Zhunti forced one extraterrestrial saint to retreat, and then with a flick of his Seven Treasures Tree, he neutralized the attack of another extraterrestrial saint. The two extraterrestrial saints looked grim, clearly not expecting Zhunti to be so formidable.

"Zhunti, do you really want to be an enemy of my Demon God Realm?" a saint from beyond the realm said coldly.

Zhunti laughed loudly: "Enemies? You dare to run wild on my primordial territory and ask me if I want to be your enemy? Today, I, the humble Daoist, will teach you a lesson on behalf of the Dao Ancestor!"

Another sage from beyond the realm said grimly, "You're only relying on your sage realm. Without the blessing of the Heavenly Dao, you're no match for us at all."

Zhunti scoffed, "Whether I have the support of the Heavenly Dao or not, you'll find out if you try."

The two sides clashed again, and for a moment, light shone brightly amidst the chaos, accompanied by a series of loud explosions.

Chen Qing looked around for a moment, then said to Xuan Ming, "Let's go, there's nothing to see here."

Xuanming asked in surprise, "Not watching anymore?"

Chen Qing said, "Zhunti won't suffer any losses. Although those two extraterrestrial saints are also saints, their combat strength is mediocre. Zhunti can handle them alone. There's no need for us to expose ourselves."

Xuanming nodded. The two quietly retreated and returned to the primordial world.

Upon returning to Penglai Immortal Island, Chen Qing handed over the jade slip containing the spatial coordinates to the Three Pure Ones and recounted his encounter with Zhunti in the chaos.

Laozi pondered for a moment and said, "Zhunti going to Chaos may not be a bad thing. Although the Western Sect has some grudges against us, they still stand on the side of the Primordial World in their attitude towards people from outside the realm."

Yuanshi nodded: "That's right. People from beyond the realm are our common enemy. The fact that Zhunti could fight against a sage from beyond the realm in the chaos shows that his stance is not problematic."

Tongtian laughed and said, "That bald monk may be annoying, but he's reliable when it counts."

Chen Qing didn't say much. He had never had a good impression of Zhunti, but he had to admit that the two Western Saints had never chosen the wrong side when it came to matters of principle.

"Master, Uncle-Master, I plan to go to the Chaos Realm again to investigate the truth of that world," Chen Qing said.

Laozi frowned: "You have only recently attained enlightenment, and your realm is not yet fully stable. Rushing into the chaos might be dangerous."

Chen Qing said, "This disciple is well aware of the situation. Moreover, I have my inner world as a backup, so even if I encounter danger, I can escape into it for temporary refuge. Master, there is no need to worry."

Lao Tzu thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "In that case, you may go. But remember, do not act rashly. If you encounter a powerful enemy, return immediately."

"Disciple understands."

A few days later, Chen Qing set off again.

This time, he didn't bring Xuanming with him; he ventured into the Chaos alone.

Following the burned spatial coordinates, Chen Qing quickly located the chaotic region. This time, he didn't approach it, but observed it carefully from a distance.

That world was hidden deep within the chaos, shrouded in a thick layer of chaotic energy, appearing and disappearing intermittently. Chen Qing couldn't see the world in its entirety, but he could sense that its aura was completely different from the primordial world—more violent, more chaotic, as if pieced together from countless disordered energies.

"Is this the Demon God Realm?" Chen Qing murmured.

He recalled Lao Tzu's words—that world evolved from the corpse of the Chaos God, and was inherently opposed to the Primordial World. Now, seeing it with his own eyes, he realized it was indeed true.

As Chen Qing was observing, he suddenly sensed several powerful auras flying out from that world. He quickly concealed his aura and hid in the chaos.

The auras drew closer and closer, quickly passing by Chen Qing and flying off in another direction. Chen Qing recognized two of them—the two extraterrestrial saints who had fought against Zhun Ti back then.

"Where are they going?" Chen Qing wondered, and quietly followed them.

Several extraterrestrial saints flew all the way to a chaotic void. There, a figure dressed in black robes was already waiting.

"My lord." Several saints from beyond the realm bowed respectfully.

The figure in black robes turned around, revealing an aged and gloomy face. His aura was unfathomable, more powerful than any saint Chen Qing had ever seen.

"How is the situation?" the man in black robes asked.

A sage from beyond the realm replied, "Your Excellency, we have ascertained that the primordial world is governed by six sages and one Grand Luo Golden Immortal. The six sages are the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti, and the Grand Luo Golden Immortal is Chen Qing, who has just attained enlightenment."

A glint of light flashed in the black-robed man's eyes: "A Primordial Golden Immortal? Interesting. After Pangu, there is still someone who can prove the Dao through force."

Another sage from beyond the realm said, "My lord, Chen Qing is extremely powerful. Lord Soul Devourer died at his hands."

The man in black robes sneered, "That piece of trash, Soul Devourer, is dead, so be it. What I want is not his life, but the entire primordial world."

He paused, then asked, "What are Chen Qing's weaknesses?"

The sage from beyond the realm shook his head: "No findings yet. In his battle against the Ancestral Dragon, he withstood a sage despite being a quasi-sage. Now that he has attained the Primordial Chaos Realm, his strength is likely even greater."

The man in black robes remained silent for a moment, then said, "Continue to monitor. Do not act rashly without my order."

"Yes!" the several saints from beyond the realm replied in unison, then turned and left.

The man in black robes stood still, gazing in the direction of the primordial wilderness, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes.

"The primordial world... Pangu's world... one day, it will be mine."

He vanished into the chaos in a flash.

Chen Qing, hidden in the shadows, saw and heard everything. His expression was solemn as he turned and returned to the Primordial World.

Inside the main hall of Penglai Immortal Island.

Chen Qing recounted everything he had seen and heard in the chaos to the Three Pure Ones.

"That man in black robes is probably the mastermind behind the Demon God Realm," Laozi said in a deep voice. "His strength is probably no less than that of the Dao Ancestor."

Yuanshi's expression was solemn: "If that's the case, things will be troublesome. One Ancestral Dragon is already a headache enough, but adding the Demon God Realm on top of that makes the prehistoric world's situation precarious."

Tongtian roared, "What's there to be afraid of? We'll meet force with force, and we'll fight back against any challenge! If they dare to come, we dare to fight!"

Chen Qing said, "Uncle-Master is right. However, we must be prepared and not be passively attacked. I suggest that we establish outposts in the Chaos to monitor the movements of the Demon God Realm. At the same time, we should strengthen the defenses of various parts of the Primordial World to prevent their infiltration."

Laozi nodded: "This plan is feasible. Qing'er, you've explored the Chaos; are there any suitable locations to establish an outpost?"

Chen Qing thought for a moment and said, "There is a place that is not far from the Demon God Realm and is not easily detected. I can set up an array there and leave an avatar to guard it."

"Then let's do it this way," Lao Tzu said. "You will be fully responsible for this matter."

"Yes."

Chen Qing accepted the order and began to establish an outpost in the chaos.

He spent months setting up a concealment array in that chaotic void, and left an avatar to guard it. The avatar could sense the movements of the Demon God Realm at any time, and would report back immediately if anything unusual happened.

After everything was arranged, Chen Qing returned to Penglai Immortal Island to continue his secluded cultivation and consolidate his realm as a Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal.

The primordial world has temporarily returned to peace.

But everyone knew this was just the calm before the storm. The threat from the Demon Realm was like a sword hanging overhead, ready to fall at any moment.

Chen Qing was the strongest shield in front of this sharp sword.

Inside the main hall of Penglai Immortal Island.

On this day, Chen Qing was meditating when he suddenly sensed a familiar aura coming from the direction of the East Sea. The aura was gloomy and violent, carrying a strong sense of hostility—it was the Ancestral Dragon.

Chen Qing opened her eyes, a slight smile playing on her lips: "Finally here."

He stood up and walked out of the main hall.

Above Penglai Immortal Island, a ten-thousand-foot-long azure dragon rose from the sea, swirling among the clouds, exuding an overwhelming aura of power. The children on the island trembled with fear, and even Xuanming's expression was solemn, his hand gripping his ice spear tightly.

"Zu Long, why are you here on my Penglai Immortal Island instead of recuperating in the East Sea?" Chen Qing stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the azure dragon in the sky, his tone calm.

The Ancestral Dragon's figure flickered, transforming into human form, and landed atop the mountain peak of Penglai Immortal Island. His face was gloomy as he stared at Chen Qing, coldly saying, "Chen Qing, you stole my Chaos Pearl and insulted my Dragon Clan. This debt should be settled today."

Chen Qing said calmly, "The Chaos Pearl? Fellow Daoist Zulong, you gave me a fake Chaos Pearl. Although it contains a trace of the Chaos Pearl's essence, the real Chaos Pearl is still in your hands. As for insulting your dragon clan, it was your dragon clan that provoked us first, and I was merely acting in self-defense. If you are not satisfied, feel free to make your move."

Zu Long's expression changed slightly; he hadn't expected Chen Qing to have already seen through the fake beads. He gritted his teeth and said, "Since you knew they were fake, why did you still exchange them?"

Chen Qing smiled: "Because that wisp of the Chaos Pearl's essence was enough for me. What I needed was the laws of the Chaos Pearl, not the pearl itself. The fake one you gave me just happened to meet my needs. That wisp of essence allowed me to deduce all the laws of the Chaos Pearl, and my inner world advanced further, reaching the level of the boundless great world. Speaking of which, I should thank you."

Zu Long's face turned ashen. He finally realized that he had been outmaneuvered by Chen Qing from beginning to end. What Chen Qing wanted wasn't the bead itself, but the essence within it. He thought he had fooled Chen Qing, but little did he know that Chen Qing had turned the tables on him, giving away a sliver of the Chaos Bead's essence for nothing. Now that Chen Qing had attained the Primordial Chaos Realm and his strength had reached a new level, the Chaos Bead in his possession had lost a sliver of its essence, greatly diminishing its power.

"Chen Qing, you..." Zu Long gritted his teeth, but couldn't utter a word.

Chen Qing waved his hand: "Ancestral Dragon, there's no need to dwell on the past. The grudges between your dragon clan and mine are ultimately nothing more than a struggle for face and interests. Now that I have attained the Primordial Dao, and you are still recovering from your injuries, continuing the fight will not benefit anyone. How about we call it quits?"

Zu Long remained silent for a long time. His heart was filled with rage, yet he understood that Chen Qing was telling the truth. In his current state, he was no match for Chen Qing. Moreover, the Three Pure Ones were nearby, ready to provide support at any moment. Continuing the fight would not only bring no advantage but could also lead to the annihilation of the Dragon Clan.

"What do you want?" Zu Long asked in a deep voice.

Chen Qing said, "It's very simple. From now on, your Dragon Clan shall never set foot in the waters beyond the East Sea again, nor shall you be enemies with the Human Race or the Three Religions. In exchange, I will no longer actively seek trouble with the Dragon Clan. From now on, our two races will live in peace and not interfere with each other."

Zulong's expression shifted uncertainly. He knew this was the best possible outcome, but he was still unwilling to accept it. The Dragon Clan had once been the overlords of the primordial world, yet now they had to bow down to a junior—how could he swallow this insult?

"What if I don't agree?" Zu Long said coldly.

Chen Qing laughed: "If you don't agree, then let's fight. Although I, Chen Qing, don't like to cause trouble, I'm never afraid of it either. You want war, so let's fight. However..." He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, "You'd better think carefully. Once the war starts, I won't show any mercy. Whether the Dragon Clan can still exist in the prehistoric world is another matter."

Zu Long trembled, staring intently at Chen Qing. He saw not a threat in Chen Qing's eyes, but composure—the composure that comes with absolute power. He knew Chen Qing wasn't bluffing him.

"Alright." Zu Long took a deep breath, suppressing the humiliation in his heart. "I promise you. From now on, the Dragon Clan will never set foot in the waters beyond the East Sea again, and will no longer be enemies with the Human Race or the Three Religions."

Chen Qing nodded and smiled, "That's excellent. Fellow Daoist Zulong, please return."

Zu Long snorted coldly, turned around and transformed into a blue dragon, soaring into the sky. His figure disappeared into the depths of the East Sea, leaving only the surging waves behind.

Xuanming walked to Chen Qing's side and said calmly, "He just left like that?"

Chen Qing said, "What else can he do but leave? He can't beat me, and he doesn't want the Dragon Clan to be destroyed, so he has no choice but to back down."

Xuanming asked, "Aren't you afraid of his future revenge?"

Chen Qing shook his head: "Although Zu Long is arrogant, he is not stupid. Since he has made a promise, he will keep it. The Dragon Clan needs to recuperate and rebuild; he dares not start another war. Moreover, our enemy is not the Dragon Clan, but people from beyond the realm."

Xuanming nodded and said no more.

The news that the dragons bowed their heads and Chen Qing had reconciled with the Ancestral Dragon quickly spread throughout the prehistoric world.

Some praised Chen Qing's magnanimity, some admired Zu Long's pragmatism, and others lamented that this fierce battle hadn't actually taken place. But in any case, the situation in the prehistoric world had temporarily stabilized.

On this day, Chen Qing was cultivating on Penglai Immortal Island when he suddenly received a message from Laozi: "Qing'er, come to Shouyang Mountain immediately."

Chen Qing dared not delay and immediately transformed into a streak of rainbow light, flying towards Shouyang Mountain.

Shouyang Mountain, within the Eight Views Palace.

The Three Pure Ones gathered together, with Laozi seated in the center, Yuanshi Tianzun on the left, and Tongtian on the right. Their expressions were solemn, clearly indicating they had important matters to discuss.

"Disciple greets Master and two senior uncles." Chen Qing stepped forward and bowed.

Laozi nodded, gesturing for him to sit down, and then slowly said, "Qing'er, I called you here because of matters concerning the human race."

Chen Qing raised an eyebrow: "What happened to the human race?"

Lao Tzu said, "Of the Three Sovereigns, the Heavenly Sovereign Fuxi and the Earthly Sovereign Shennong have already returned to their positions, and the Human Sovereign Xuanyuan has also been in power for many years. Now that Xuanyuan has achieved his goal, he is about to abdicate. We need to discuss the selection of the next Human Sovereign."

Chen Qing suddenly understood. The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were the order of human destiny established by the Heavenly Dao. The Heavenly Sovereign Fuxi developed the Eight Trigrams and established marriage; the Earthly Sovereign Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs and taught agriculture; the Human Sovereign Xuanyuan fought Chiyou and unified China. The three Human Sovereigns each had their merits and performed their duties, together laying the foundation for humankind.

Now that Xuanyuan is about to abdicate, the era of the Five Emperors is about to begin.

"Master, Uncle-Master, I believe that the Five Emperors should not be appointed by the Sage, but should be nominated by the human race itself," Chen Qing said.

Lao Tzu was slightly taken aback: "Self-recommendation?"

Chen Qing nodded: "The human race is no longer the weak race it once was. They are intelligent, capable, and responsible. Letting them choose their own leader will not only hone their governance skills but also make them more united. We only need to guide them from the sidelines and not interfere too much."

Yuanshi pondered for a moment and said, "Qing'er is right. The human race should prosper, and we should give them more autonomy."

Tongtian nodded and said, "I also think Xiaoqingzi is right. If we're always pushing them along, the human race will never grow up."

Seeing that his two junior brothers agreed, Laozi said, "In that case, the selection of the Five Emperors will be made by the human race itself. However, Qing'er, you need to pay close attention to the situation of the human race and not let them go astray."

"Disciple understands."

After discussing matters concerning the human race, Chen Qing reported to the Three Pure Ones on his progress in refining the Chaos Pearl's essence from the fake pearl.

"A wisp of the original essence within that fake bead has allowed me to deduce some of the laws of the Chaos Bead," Chen Qing said. "Through this, my inner world has reached the level of the boundless Great Thousand Worlds, comparable to that at the beginning of the primordial era. Now, even without the real Chaos Bead, I fear no one."

Lao Tzu nodded with satisfaction: "Good. It is your own good fortune that you have this opportunity. However, the essence within that fake bead is ultimately limited. Although you have deduced the laws, you lack the true form of the Chaos Bead, and the world is still incomplete."

Chen Qing smiled and said, "Master, rest assured, I have my own plans. Although the Chaos Pearl is precious, it is not indispensable. I follow the Way of the World, and the growth of the world depends on itself, not on external things."

The three Qings exchanged a glance, all feeling gratified. Chen Qing's ability to gain such insight showed that he had truly embarked on his own path.

Human race, Bear tribe.

Xuanyuan stood on the altar, looking down at the dark mass of people below, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

During his many years in power, he worked diligently to rebuild the human race from the ruins of war. Today, human tribes are scattered throughout the wilderness, with a population of hundreds of millions. Their skills in agriculture, animal husbandry, metallurgy, and textiles are constantly improving, creating a thriving and prosperous society.

"Lord, the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven is ready," an old man stepped forward to report.

Xuanyuan nodded and walked up to the altar.

He knelt in the center of the altar, burning incense and praying: "The Human Race's Xuanyuan has reigned for many years, blessed by Heaven's favor, protected by the Holy Master, and supported by the people. Today, having achieved perfect merit, I wish to abdicate and yield the throne to a more worthy successor. May Heaven grant my request!"

As soon as he finished speaking, golden light shone brightly in the sky, and a huge golden auspicious cloud enveloped the altar. The golden light of merit descended and entered Xuanyuan's body.

Xuanyuan's aura rose steadily, breaking through from a Great Luo Golden Immortal to the late Quasi-Saint stage. The Golden Wheel of Merit slowly rotated behind his head, illuminating all directions.

A figure flew in from a distance and landed beside the altar; it was Chen Qing.

"Holy Master!" Everyone knelt down in worship.

Chen Qing waved his hand, walked up to Xuanyuan, and said with a smile, "Congratulations, you have achieved your goal."

Xuanyuan quickly bowed and said, "Thank you for your teachings over the years, Holy Master. I am deeply grateful."

Chen Qing said, "You've done very well. The human race's achievements today are largely due to your contributions. Go now, Fuxi and Shennong are waiting for you at the Fire Cloud Cave."

Xuanyuan nodded, turned, boarded the golden chariot, and flew towards the Fire Cloud Cave. Chen Qing watched the golden chariot disappear into the horizon, his heart filled with countless emotions. The Three Sovereigns had returned to their thrones, and the Five Emperors were about to rise; the era of the human race had only just begun.

Several days later, the leaders of the various human tribes gathered at the Youxiong tribe to elect a new overlord.

After intense discussions and competition, a young leader named Zhuanxu emerged victorious and became the new ruler of the human race.

Zhuanxu was the leader of the Gaoyang clan. Although young, he was exceptionally intelligent and highly respected. During his reign, he continued to implement Xuanyuan's policies while strengthening the management of various tribes, thus uniting the human race.

Chen Qing observed Zhuanxu in secret for a period of time and saw that he was indeed capable and responsible, so he felt relieved.

"The path of humanity must ultimately be walked by themselves," Chen Qing said to Xuan Ming.

Xuanming nodded: "Yes. We can't keep pushing them along forever."

The two smiled at each other and turned to return to Penglai Island.