Ling Xiao sat cross-legged within the Reincarnation space. He manifested ten thousand incarnations, experiencing ten thousand lifetimes of Reincarnation to temper his cultivation. He had now reached the Second Heaven of Grand Unity Golden Immortal (Saint Realm).
At this level, his cultivation speed was frighteningly fast. In the Nine Heavens of Grand Unity Golden Immortal, every single stage was a qualitative transformation, and the gap between each "Heaven" was a vast chasm.
The long-silent voice of the System echoed in his mind, bringing his consciousness back to reality.
"Nuwa has achieved Sainthood..."
Ling Xiao looked at the two choices, falling into deep thought. His eyes were unfathomably deep; he already had his own plans. At his current level, a Supreme Grade Innate Spirit Treasure was like a drifting cloud—practically useless. However, the Immortal Apricot (仙杏), one of the Ten Great Spiritual Roots, piqued his interest.
"System, I choose Option Two."
Ling Xiao didn't hesitate. Asking him to listen to Nuwa preach was a joke; at this point, it would be more appropriate for him to preach to her. Of course, if the reward had been the God Slaying Spear, a Chaos Treasure, or a top-tier Law Fragment, he would have gone and waited there early.
Ling Xiao stepped out of the Reincarnation cycle. He could ignore Nuwa's ascension, but he couldn't ignore the Human Race. They were not just a personal bond from his past life, but a critical piece on the cosmic chessboard.
With a thought, he entered the Chaos Pearl (Chaos Pearl) and planted the newly acquired Immortal Apricot. He then glanced over at the Yellow Middle Plum tree.
"This batch is almost ripe..."
He observed the Yellow Middle Plum tree, which was entwined with Chaos Qi and radiating an immeasurable divine light. Its nine massive fruits flickered with Innate Indestructible Light, containing a terrifying amount of power. Over the eons, he had used the spirit water from the Sky-Swallowing Gourd to nourish it, causing it to grow at an incredible rate. He had lost track of how many harvests he had gathered.
"The Human Race was born late, but I can use 'cheats' to make up for it..."
Ling Xiao smiled. In the original timeline, the Human Race was wretched—supposedly the "Protagonists of Heaven and Earth," yet in the early stages, they were mere tools, cannon fodder, and "rations." During the Witch-Yao War, they were slaughtered by the billions just to forge the Witch-Slaying Sword. Beyond that, they were manipulated and used by the Saints at will.
In Ling Xiao's view, no "Protagonist" should be that pathetic. Usually, protagonists followed the "Dragon Invincible" template, crushing everything in their path. Why is the Human Race so weak here?
As these thoughts crossed his mind, indescribable anomalies flashed in his eyes as he began to deduce the future.
Shouyang Mountain
Nearly a thousand years had passed since Nuwa's ascension. Her temporary Dao-site at Shouyang Mountain was packed with a sea of people. Congratulations echoed from every direction as the famous great powers of the Honghuang World arrived in droves.
The giants of the Yao Race were all present, basking in the glory of their Emperor opening her sermon. For this past millennium, they had held their heads high, anticipating the day they would dominate the world. They expected that after this sermon, their Saint would surely move to exterminate the Wu Clan.
Nuwa stood at the mountain peak, draped in her nine-colored feather robes. After becoming a Saint, her aura was not just ethereal but glowed with a "Mother of the World" majesty. With phoenix eyes and a noble bearing, her grace was beyond words.
Just then, she saw three Daoists approaching through the air. Nuwa stepped forward and nodded slightly. "Greetings to my three Senior Brothers (Senior Brother)."
"We do not deserve such a greeting. Junior Sister is now a Saint; we cannot allow such formality," Laozi said with a smile, acting humble. The Nuwa standing before him now gave him the same feeling the Dao Ancestor (Hongjun) once did; he didn't dare act superior. Even Yuanshi lowered his profile, dropping his usual arrogant act.
They presented their gifts—carefully prepared treasures—and Nuwa accepted them without objection.
Next, accompanied by auspicious light, Jieyin and Zhunti arrived. They were shrouded in mist and rainbows, the divine wheels behind their heads exceptionally prominent.
"Greetings to Saint Nuwa!" "Congratulations to the Empress for Attaining the Primordial Chaos (Attain the Primordial Chaos)!"
Their voices could be heard from miles away—enthusiastic and sincere, without a hint of embarrassment. The Sanqing looked displeased; the Western Duo's over-the-top display made their own gifts seem insincere by comparison.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoists," Nuwa said with a faint smile.
Soon, Zhenyuanzi, Hongyun, Queen Mother of the West, and even the reclusive Styx (Styx) arrived. Styx had come specifically to find an opening to ask Nuwa for advice on "creating a race," sharing the same goal as the Western Duo. Nuwa was pleased with the turnout; her first sermon would have been a loss of face if the "big names" hadn't appeared.
As the immortals were exchanging pleasantries, two scorching auras descended from the horizon, illuminating Shouyang Mountain with golden radiance.
Nuwa was surprised. She had assumed Di Jun and Tai Yi followed Ling Xiao's lead and would ignore her sermon. Yet, here they were. Their arrival drew thousands of stares. The Sanqing and the Western Duo, in particular, gave them looks that were anything but friendly.
"Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Nuwa on achieving Sainthood," Di Jun and Tai Yi said, coming forward with poise. They produced two ordinary immortal fruits as their "congratulatory gift."
Nuwa glanced at the gift, unsure whether to laugh or cry. Among all the treasures presented today, theirs was the most perfunctory.
In the distance, Jieyin and Zhunti watched coldly, their minds already spinning with schemes behind their warm smiles.
"Senior Brother, the Sanqing are here, and they have a deep grudge against the Crows. After the sermon, we might be able to 'operate' together," Zhunti transmitted mentally. He felt this was a golden opportunity. Alone, they were no match for the two brothers, but with the Sanqing, it was a different story.
They had assumed the Crows would never leave the Sun Star, but here they were, walking right into a trap. As the saying goes, their time has come.
"I was thinking the same," Jieyin replied covertly. He had coveted the Crows' Innate Supreme Treasures (innate supreme treasure) for a long time. His goal was simple: kill them and take just one treasure. That alone would be enough for the West to flourish.
A long time passed, and Nuwa saw that the auspicious hour had arrived. She opened her eyes, a flash of golden light passing through them, and spoke with a melodious Dao-sound.
"I, a disciple of Teacher Hongjun, have achieved Sainthood. I shall now open a Dao-site beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens (Thirty-Three Heavens). You may all follow and observe!"
The great powers were overjoyed. To witness a Saint "Opening the Heavens" was a supreme opportunity. The act of creation itself would manifest the highest Dao, offering profound insights to those on the verge of a breakthrough.
With a wave of her sleeve, Nuwa blurred the vision of the assembly. When they opened their eyes again, they were already within the Chaos.