Primordial Era: The Three Senior Brothers of the Taiqing Clan

"Here, junior brother, this pill is for you. Take it and see what effect it has." Chen Qing casually handed over a golden pill, his face clearly saying, "I'm very generous."

Xuan Du almost burst into tears. His senior brother's talent and ability were indeed remarkable, but who knew if the pills he refined for the first time were reliable? If he were to consume them, wouldn't he be using himself as a guinea pig?

Seeing Xuan Du's face contorted in agony, Chen Qing's lips curled into a slight smile. He was only teasing his junior brother, of course. He himself didn't know much about pills, and who knew if the stuff he'd concocted would cause any problems if consumed?

With a smile, Chen Qing withdrew his hand and turned to look at his master, Laozi, sitting at the head of the table.

In the primordial world, no one could surpass Laozi in the art of alchemy. He even doubted whether there were any other masters of alchemy in the primordial world today—in any case, he had never seen one in all these years.

Of course, the "great power" mentioned here refers to the top level. Ordinary cultivators will dabble in alchemy and weapon crafting to obtain cultivation resources, but they cannot be considered experts.

However, it's also possible that some people are hiding their true abilities, since no one wants to embarrass themselves by showing off something they can't present.

Laozi met Chen Qing's gaze and naturally understood his meaning, so he said directly, "Bring it here so I can take a look."

Chen Qing respectfully presented the pill. Laozi took it, his eyes gleaming, and examined it carefully for a long time before withdrawing his gaze and slowly saying, "This pill is fine. Not only that, its medicinal power and Daoist essence are stronger than ordinary Nine-Turn Golden Pills, and it faintly possesses the aura of innate creation. I suppose it's because of your Qiankun Cauldron."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Du, sitting below, was dumbfounded. How could he have been so foolish? His senior brother offered him the pills; he should have just accepted them! Now, he had missed out entirely. Xuan Du regretted it so much he wanted to bang his head against the wall.

"Then... Junior Brother, do you still want this pill?" Chen Qing's voice suddenly rang in his ears. Xuan Du was startled and looked up to meet Chen Qing's smiling gaze.

"Yes! How can I refuse what my senior brother gave me? That would be disrespecting him! I, Xuandu, admire my senior brother the most!" Xuandu said without hesitation.

Chen Qing's lips twitched. Just a moment ago he seemed unyielding to the death, but now he's incredibly impatient. He handed the pill to Xuan Du, who treasured it as if it were a precious gem and carefully put it away.

Chen Qing took out the remaining two ginseng fruits and said to Laozi, "Master, these ginseng fruits were brought back by Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi for you to try."

"Yes, Zhen Yuanzi is very thoughtful." Laozi nodded.

At their level, ginseng fruit is of little use, but their disciples still need it. Of course, Chen Qing is an exception—unless he eats the entire ginseng fruit tree, it might still have some effect.

After spending some time at Shouyang Mountain, Chen Qing bid farewell to his master and headed towards the East Sea. Zhen Yuanzi had given him a total of fifteen ginseng fruits, five each for his master and two uncles. He had to deliver the ones to his Uncle Tongtian.

Western sacred mountain.

Jieyin looked distressed at Zhunti beside him and sighed, "Junior brother, are you really sure? Once you take this step, there's no turning back. If it succeeds, all will be well, but if it fails... not to mention the Three Pure Ones and the others, even that one won't let us off the hook."

Zhunti's expression shifted between light and shadow. After a moment, as if struck by a thought, his gaze hardened: "The Three Pure Ones are going too far. If this continues, when will our Western Paradise ever prosper?"

Seeing Zhunti's expression, Jieyin knew that his obsession had run deep, so he sighed deeply and stopped trying to persuade him.

How the two plotted will not be discussed for now.

On the vast, ancient land, after years of recuperation, the human race had long since recovered its vitality. Its population was even greater than at its peak, with tribes of all sizes scattered across the mountains and plains.

There was a tribe called Huaxu, whose chief had a daughter named Huaxu. This woman was dignified, virtuous, and kind-hearted. She assisted her father in handling the tribe's affairs and was well-loved by the tribespeople.

One day, Hua Xu went out for a stroll and unknowingly wandered into a distant Thunder Swamp. The Thunder Swamp covered hundreds of miles in circumference, shrouded in mist year-round, and filled with swamps. It was rumored that a great demon lurked there, and the clansmen usually dared not approach it.

Hua Xu should not have gone too deep, but something seemed to be calling to her, making her involuntarily walk into the depths of Leize.

As she walked, she suddenly saw a huge footprint on the ground ahead. The footprint was about ten feet long, deeply embedded in the soil, with faint flashes of lightning along its edges, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.

Driven by curiosity, Hua Xu stepped forward as if possessed, stretched out her foot, and stepped into the huge footprint.

The moment she stepped on it, a tingling sensation spread from the soles of her feet throughout her body, as if she had been gently struck by lightning.

Hua Xu felt a tremor run through her body, but then she returned to normal. She didn't pay any attention to it and turned to leave Lei Ze.

However, several months later, Huaxu's waistline gradually thickened, indicating that she was pregnant.

After repeated questioning, Hua Xu, the leader of the Hua Xu tribe and Hua Xu's father, slowly recounted what happened at Leize that day.

The tribespeople were horrified upon hearing this. Lei Ze was not far from them, and legend had it that a powerful demon lurked there. Hua Xu Shi had become pregnant after stepping on the demon's footprint—wasn't she carrying a child of a demon?

The deep-seated hatred between humans and demons has been passed down through generations and is etched into the bones of every human. The horrific massacre of humans by the demons, though many years have passed, has never been forgotten.

Now that they heard that Huaxu might be pregnant with a demon's child, the clansmen were immediately enraged and vowed to kill the unborn child to prevent future troubles.

Hua Xu Shi naturally refused. He was her own flesh and blood, and no matter his origins, she would protect him. With her belly growing larger each day, she resisted desperately, and the two sides were locked in a stalemate.

With a life on the verge of being taken, the leader of the Huaxu tribe was torn between his daughter and his clansmen.

Left with no other choice, he had to ask several of the most experienced elders in the clan to step forward and preside over the meeting.

After learning the reason, the elders discussed it for a while, but they dared not determine whether it was the child of a demon or a sage sent from heaven.

If it is the son of a demon, then kill him. But if it is a sage or the son of an immortal, then it is a great fortune and opportunity for the tribe.

Ultimately, everyone agreed that Huaxu should give birth to the child first. Whether it is a monster or a sage, we will know when it is born.

However, as time passed and month after month went by, Huaxu's belly grew larger and larger, but there was still no sign of her going into labor. One year, two years, three years... more than ten years passed, and the child was still not born.

Rumors began to circulate among the tribe. The tribespeople's gaze towards Huaxu changed from initial pity to suspicion, and then from suspicion to disgust.

They began to ostracize and isolate her, as if she herself were an omen of misfortune.

Left with no other choice, Huaxu, with her father's help, built a thatched hut on a hillside not far from the tribe and moved out on her own.

She lived there alone, relying on her father's support and gathering wild fruits from the surrounding area to make ends meet, silently waiting for the birth of her child.

Over the past decade, she has endured cold stares and loneliness, but she has never regretted it.

Penglai Fairy Island.

Chen Qing awoke from his seclusion, did some quick calculations, and his expression immediately changed. He had almost missed the appointed time! Fuxi's reincarnation was imminent, and there was still a tribulation before his birth. If no one helped him, his life would be in danger.

He immediately transformed into a streak of rainbow light and sped towards the primordial land.

On this day, Hua Xu, heavily pregnant once again, walked with difficulty to the edge of Lei Ze. She stared blankly in the direction of the large footprint from years ago.

She reached out and stroked her high, protruding belly, a motherly smile on her face, and whispered to herself, "My child, the people of the clan say you are the child of a demon, but your mother believes you are not."

I can sense that you'll be a good child... Sigh, it's been over ten years, and I still don't know when you'll be born.

Just then, a deafening roar suddenly came from the depths of Thunder Swamp in the distance, followed by a burst of wild laughter: "Hahaha! Great Luo! I have finally broken through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm!"

The voice was filled with smugness and arrogance, making the surrounding trees tremble.

Hua Xu's expression changed drastically. She knew there was a great demon in Lei Ze, but she never expected to actually encounter one.

She turned around hastily and dragged her heavy body as she ran desperately into the distance.

Although the Wu and Yao races no longer dominate the primordial world, lesser demons and wild beasts still roam the mountains and fields. How could she, an ordinary woman with no strength to even kill a chicken, possibly be a match for those monsters?

"Haha! I didn't expect to be so lucky. I just came out of seclusion and I ran into a blood feast delivered to my door!" A black-clad man with a fierce expression hovered above the Thunder Swamp, his body crackling with lightning, and grinned as he looked at the Hua Xu clan who were fleeing in panic in the distance.

Hua Xu was filled with fear and despair. She was already having difficulty walking due to her large pregnant belly, and years of malnutrition had made her extremely weak. This situation was now even worse.

In her panic, she stumbled and tripped over something, falling heavily to the ground. She clutched her stomach in pain, tears of despair streaming from her eyes.

"Am I really going to die here today? I don't care if I die, but my child has suffered this misfortune before he was even born... I'm so sorry!" She lay on the ground, tears streaming down her face.

A bolt of lightning descended from the sky, landing not far from Hua Xu Shi. As the lightning dissipated, it revealed the man in black—a black snake spirit who had cultivated for a thousand years.

He stared at Hua Xu's high, swollen belly, his eyes filled with greed. With his cultivation level, he could clearly sense the immense and pure power contained within that belly. If he could devour the fetus, his cultivation would surely advance to another level.

"My lord, please spare the child in my womb! He hasn't been born yet and shouldn't suffer this calamity..." Hua Xu Shi endured the pain in her abdomen and the fear in her heart, kneeling on the ground and pleading in a trembling voice, her eyes full of supplication.

"Hahaha! Spare the child in your womb?" The black snake licked its lips, its greed intensifying. "Do you know how much benefit I'd gain if I ate this little thing in your belly?"

He stretched out his right hand, his five fingers gradually transforming into sharp claws covered in black scales. The gleaming fingertips slowly reached towards Huaxu's stomach, as if admiring a delicious dish about to be devoured.

The light in Hua Xu's eyes completely disappeared. She finally understood why her ancestors had hated the demon race so much. It wasn't a baseless grudge, but a blood debt etched deep in their hearts.

Just as the sharp claws were about to pierce Huaxu's belly, resulting in the deaths of both mother and child—Fuxi was about to perish at the hands of the demon race before he was even born.

Ironically, in his previous life, Fuxi devoted himself to the demon race, nearly losing his soul in the war between the Lich King and the demons. In this reincarnation, however, he is about to have his life taken by the demon race again.

"How dare you—"

A thunderous roar erupted from the distant horizon, like rolling thunder. Immediately afterward, an overwhelming and powerful aura swept down, causing all living beings nearby to tremble and prostrate themselves in fear.

In the distance, a dazzling rainbow streaked across the sky, flying towards them at a speed too fast for the naked eye to perceive. It was Chen Qing, who had come from Penglai Immortal Island.

He calculated that there would be a calamity before Fuxi's birth, so he dared not delay and rushed on his way. Despite his best efforts, he was still almost late.

The black snake was startled by the loud shout, and then was so overwhelmed by the terrifying aura that it could hardly breathe.

His expression changed drastically as he stared in disbelief at the rapidly approaching figure in the distance. Who was that person? How could they possess such terrifying cultivation!

Seeing that Chen Qing was still some distance away, he hardened his heart and instead of retracting his claws, he increased his speed and viciously clawed at Hua Xu's stomach, wanting to succeed before the person arrived.

"Hmph! You're asking for it!"

Seeing that the snake demon still dared to attack, Chen Qing snorted coldly. A flash of light appeared in his hand, and the Purple Lightning Hammer materialized, crackling with electricity.

With a casual toss, the Purple Lightning Hammer transformed into a bolt of purple lightning, tearing through space and crashing towards the black snake.

Wherever the hammer passed, ripples spread through the void, as if even the heavens and earth were trembling.

In the blink of an eye, the Purple Lightning Hammer traversed dozens of miles and struck the black snake with pinpoint accuracy.

"ah--"

A piercing scream tore through the air. Half of the black snake's body, along with an arm, exploded into a bloody mist under the ferocious power of the purple lightning hammer.

If Chen Qing hadn't been worried about accidentally injuring Hua Xu Shi, this hammer blow would have been enough to obliterate the black snake.

With a top-grade innate spiritual treasure and Chen Qing's immense and unparalleled magical power, this snake demon, who had just broken through to the Great Luo realm, was simply no match for him.

The black serpent felt the murderous intent that threatened to crush him, and his heart trembled with terror. He endured the excruciating pain, dragging his mangled body as he transformed into a streak of blood-red light and fled into the distance.

"Trying to run?" A cold glint flashed in Chen Qing's eyes as he stretched out one hand and made a grabbing motion.

An invisible wave emanated from his palm, enveloping the heavens and earth.

The streak of blood-red light that was about to disappear into the distance suddenly seemed to be pulled back by an invisible rope, and it rushed back.

"Bang!"

The black snake's mangled body crashed heavily to the ground, creating a shallow crater. Deep terror still lingered on his face—he had clearly escaped, so how had he suddenly been dragged back?

Chen Qing ignored the snake demon on the ground and turned to look at Hua Xu Shi, who was standing not far away with a stunned expression. He smiled slightly and tried to keep his voice gentle: "Don't be afraid, I am Chen Qing, a disciple of the Human Sect."

Hua Xu stared blankly at the Taoist priest before her, then her pupils suddenly dilated, and tears welled up in her eyes. She struggled to kneel, repeatedly kowtowing, "Hua Xu of the human race pays respects to the Holy Master!"

Although Chen Qing has rarely appeared among the human race over the years, everything he did for the human race back then has long been engraved in the hearts of every member of the race.

From the time the new generation of humans becomes aware of things, their elders will tell them about the Holy Master's achievements. On every important festival, every household will go to the Holy Master's temple to worship.

In the hearts of humanity today, Chen Qing's status has long surpassed that of the Holy Mother Nuwa. Nuwa created humanity, but Chen Qing is the one who truly ensured humanity's survival.

Upon seeing Chen Qing, Hua Xu Shi finally felt relieved after more than ten years of tension. She knew she was safe, and so was the child in her womb. With the Holy Master here, no one could harm them.

Chen Qing frowned slightly as he looked at Hua Xu's extremely weak appearance. He raised his hand and cast a gentle spell, lightly enveloping Hua Xu.

The magic power nourished her body like spring rain, and Hua Xu's complexion regained its rosy hue at a visible speed, and her previously weak aura gradually stabilized.

"Thank you, Holy Master!" Hua Xu bowed again, tears of gratitude streaming down her face.

Chen Qing nodded, and after calming Hua Xu Shi down, he turned to look at the black snake on the ground. The killing intent in his eyes was undisguised.

If he had arrived any later, Fuxi might have died in the womb. How could he explain that to his master and the goddess Nuwa?