The universe extends in all directions; time flows from ancient past to distant future. A brilliant river of stars stretches across the void, light and shadow flickering in eternal dance. Gaze upon it—no beginning can be found. Probe its depths—no end can be reached.
Since Pangu split heaven and earth with a single axe, separated clear from turbid with one breath, and established the cosmos with his strength, the world has known division. It has weathered the Primal Beast calamity and the Dragon-Han tribulation epoch. Now, the Primordial World was entering an age of unprecedented prosperity.
This was the era after Dao Ancestor Hongjun attained sainthood and concluded his three Dao lectures at the Purple Cloud Palace—before the Wu-Demon Tribulation Epoch would descend.
Heaven and earth now sundered, clear and turbid parted. The essence merged into rivers and streams, coalesced into mountains and peaks. Some rose to join the stars above; others descended to hide within celestial grottos. Among them were Ten Great Grotto-Heavens, Thirty-Six Lesser Grotto-Heavens, and Seventy-Two Blessed Lands—the very foundation of the Immortal Dao.
After Dao Ancestor Hongjun's lectures, the Immortal Dao flourished across the world. Among its practitioners, those who had received the Primordial Violet Qi—the foundation for attaining sainthood—stood at the eye of the storm. The Three Pure Ones, the Two Sages of the West, Nuwa, and Hongyun found themselves scrutinized by all. The countless beings of the Primordial World speculated endlessly: which of these seven would be the first to achieve sainthood?
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Mount Fengqi.
As the conflict between the Wu Tribe and DemonTribe intensified, Nuwa—the Heaven-determined Saint—had relocated from Mount Buzhou with her brother Fuxi. She established Mount Fengqi as her cultivation ground, entering seclusion to comprehend the Primordial Violet Qi.
One day, under a clear sky, Nuwa sat cross-legged beside a riverbank. She wore a flowing robe of azure and white. Around her, three thousand clay figures stood vivid and lifelike. Creation Qi swirled about her, and boundless wondrous phenomena manifested—she seemed on the verge of enlightenment.
" Heavenly Dao above, I, Nuwa, observe that the living beings of the Primordial World have dwindled, and the Three Talents remain incomplete. Now, using the Three Radiances Divine Water and Nine Heavens Breathing Soil as my medium, fashioning them after the Primordial Dao Physique, I create a race called 'Human.' Thus I complete the Three Talents. The Human Race is established."
Nuwa raised a finger to her lips, bit into her fingertip, and squeezed out a drop of essence blood.
Her jade hand gestured, long sleeves dancing through the air. The essence blood transformed into streams of light, precisely merging into the center of each clay figure's brow.
Then she invoked the supreme divine ability—Art of Cosmic Reversal and Creation. Boundless power of creation condensed between heaven and earth, merging with the essence blood she had just released.
The Art of Cosmic Reversal and Creation held the power to pivot heaven and earth, to mystically appraise creation, to create something from nothing, to transform death into life. It stood as the foremost among the Thirty-Six Heavenly Constellations Divine Arts passed down by Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
The clay figures were already Nuwa's creation. With her own essence blood infused into them, they harmonized perfectly with the power of creation.
As the power of creation merged into them, the three thousand clay figures instantly grew in the wind. Whether male or female, each appeared simple and unadorned, yet their eyes shone with remarkable spirit—each gaze carrying unfathomable wisdom.
These clay figures had just attained life. Confusion played across their faces as they continuously surveyed their surroundings, filled with curiosity about everything around them.
Until they saw Nuwa seated nearby. The many newly born humans, as if blessed with sudden understanding, realized that this goddess before them had created them. They bowed in unison and cried out:
" We greet the Holy Mother!"
One among them reacted a beat slower. But within the multitude of newly born humans, no one noticed him. Even Nuwa herself, immersed in the joy of creating an entire race of beings, detected nothing amiss.
" Not enough."
Though she had created these three thousand Primordial Humans, Nuwa felt something still lacked. It remained incomplete.
She drew out a vine tendril, stirred it through the pit where she had mixed her clay. Creation Qi surged magnificently. Then she flicked the vine—countless droplets of mud sprayed outward, combining with the Creation Qi permeating the air, instantly transforming into naked humans one after another.
With the vine's assistance, Nuwa ceaselessly flung mud droplets, repeating the process over and over. Only when the newly born humans reached one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred—matching the number of a Kalpa Cycle—did she stop. These newly born humans also cried out without cease:
" We greet the Holy Mother!"
As the one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundredth Primordial Human took their place, celestial flowers rained from the heavens. Golden lotuses surged from the earth. Boundless violet qi swept forth in majestic waves. Endless Heavenly Dao Merit descended from above, accompanied by ten thousand fathoms of radiant light and brilliant spectacles. In the blink of an eye, Mount Fengqi was enveloped.
The Heavenly Dao Merit then divided into three portions. One tenth merged with the vine Nuwa had used to create humanity, transforming into the Acquired Merit Supreme Treasure—the Creation Whip.
Two tenths fused into the one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred newly born humans. Though no obvious change appeared, careful observation would reveal that these new humans' eyes had grown even more spirited and luminous.
The final seven tenths of Heavenly Dao Merit merged into Nuwa's body. Instantly, countless golden Dao Runes manifested around her. The merit entered her form and combined with that strand of Primordial Violet Qi deep within her Primordial Spirit, urging her Primordial Spirit to anchor itself to the Heavenly Dao. A terrifying saintly might radiated from Nuwa, sweeping across the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, looking down upon the Four Seas and Eight Desolations.
In this moment, across the Primordial World, whether ordinary living beings by the millions or Quasi-Saint Powerhouses like the Three Pure Ones, the Two Sages of the West, the Demon Emperors, or the Twelve Ancestral Witches—all understood. The Primordial World's second Saint had been born. They bowed and spoke in unison:
" We congratulate Empress Nuwa on attaining sainthood. May the Empress enjoy boundless saintly longevity."
As Nuwa's Primordial Spirit anchored to the Heavenly Dao, her form was reflected across the Myriad Heavens and Cosmos—utterly pure, utterly good, utterly divine, utterly sacred.
" I, Nuwa, have today created humanity and attained sainthood. I shall establish the Heaven of Great Simplicity within the Primordial Chaos beyond the heavens. I wish to emulate Master Hongjun and preach the Dao to all beings. Those with destiny may come to listen."
" Furthermore, the Human Race is my creation. Within thirty thousand years, no person of any race may harm the humans."
She then flew toward the Primordial Chaos beyond the heavens.
Nuwa's words had barely fallen when the beings of the Primordial World reacted variously. Some rejoiced wildly; others fell into deep contemplation.
Those who rejoiced were mostly of low cultivation. After all, a Saint's Dao lecture was rare—occurring only once in ten thousand years. Previously, there had been only Dao Ancestor Hongjun's three lectures at the Purple Cloud Palace.
Those who contemplated were largely the Primordial World's supreme powerhouses. There were the Three Pure Ones, formed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit; the Twelve Ancestral Witches, formed from his essence blood; as well as Di Jun, Taiyi, Hongyun, Zhenyuanzi, Minghe, and numerous other great beings.
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Mount Kunlun.
" I never imagined that among us six fellow disciples, the first to attain sainthood would be Junior Sister Nuwa. Truly makes us look bad!"
Laozi gazed at Nuwa's Dharma Form reflected across the heavens, seated on his prayer mat, speaking indifferently.
" Merely a fortunate lead, nothing more."
The speaker was Yuanshi—his words perfectly matching his arrogant nature. As one who proclaimed himself the orthodox inheritor of Pangu, how could Yuanshi tolerate falling behind a mere woman?
" Eldest Brother, why worry so? We need only pursue her with all our strength. A step ahead does not mean every step ahead."
Tongtian, who often held opinions contrary to Yuanshi's, this time unexpectedly agreed with him.
" Two younger brothers speak wisely. It seems I thought too much." Laozi turned to address Yuanshi and Tongtian.
" Then—Eldest Brother, shall we attend Nuwa's lecture this time?" Tongtian asked.
" Go. Why would we not go? As the saying goes—those who achieve first are teachers. Since Junior Sister Nuwa attained sainthood before us, she surely possesses exceptional qualities. We will attend her lecture. Perhaps it may inspire our own paths."
" Good."
" Good."
The three then rose and departed Mount Kunlun, flying toward the heavens beyond.
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Demon Court.
Demon Emperor's Palace.
" Fellow Daoist Nuwa's attainment of sainthood is a good thing for our Demon Tribe. Years ago, when you and I invited Fuxi and Nuwa to join the Demon Tribe, Fellow Daoist Fuxi agreed. Though Fellow Daoist Nuwa gave no explicit answer, she did not refuse either. With Fellow Daoist Fuxi's connection, Fellow Daoist Nuwa will surely stand on our Demon Tribe's side. The destruction of the Wu Tribe is but a matter of time."
Demon Emperor Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi gazed at the wondrous phenomena of Nuwa's sainthood, silent for a long while. Finally, Eastern Emperor Taiyi spoke first.
" It seems my state of mind has not yet matured—I have made my younger brother witness my failing. Though we lack the Primordial Violet Qi, if we destroy the Wu Tribe and our Demon Tribe unifies the Primordial World, gathering the entire realm's fortune, we may yet achieve the Primordial Chaos Saint realm."
" Let us prepare generous gifts and journey to the Heaven of Great Simplicity to congratulate Fellow Daoist Nuwa on her sainthood."
Di Jun finished speaking. He and Eastern Emperor Taiyi exchanged smiles, then flew together toward the heavens beyond.
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Mount Buzhou.
Pangu's Divine Hall.
" Eldest Brother, that woman Nuwa has always been close with the Demon Tribe. Her brother is the Demon Celestial Court's Fiery Emperor. Her attaining sainthood is greatly disadvantageous for our Wu Tribe."
The speaker was Zhurong, one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches. Zhurong's true form bore a beast's head on a human body, draped in red scales, ears pierced with fire serpents, feet treading upon fire dragons. He was revered as the Ancestral Witch of Fire. Though always hot-tempered and implacable toward evil, he possessed a certain rough cunning. At this moment, transformed into a Primordial Dao Physique, he appeared as a middle-aged man.
" Brother need not worry. I too attended the Purple Cloud Palace lectures in years past. The Dao Ancestor stated beforehand—Saints may not interfere with the great trends of the Primordial World. Though Nuwa has attained sainthood, she cannot aid the Yao Tribe."
The speaker was Houtu, the Ancestral Witch of Earth. Houtu's true form had a human body with a serpent's tail, seven hands behind her back, two hands at her chest gripping the Coiling serpent. She was the youngest and most intelligent of all the Ancestral Witches. Now, transformed into a Primordial Dao Physique, she appeared as a young maiden clad in a beast-skin skirt.
" Correct."
Di Jiang spoke slowly. The Wu Tribe had ever revered only Pangu. Even with Nuwa's sainthood, the Twelve Ancestral Witches showed little reverence.
" Setting aside whether Nuwa would act—once we comprehend the grand formation Father God left behind, even a Saint may not be beyond our ability to oppose."
The Twelve Ancestral Witches were born from Pangu's essence blood. They battled heaven and earth, fearing nothing. However, the Twelve Ancestral Witches were innately deficient in their Primordial Spirits. A Dao lecture held little use for them—they had no intention of joining such a commotion.
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Netherworld Blood Sea.
This was a forbidden land for living beings within the Primordial World. Within the Blood Sea, no fish or shrimp thrived. Above the Blood Sea, no bird could cross. Yet all things birth yin and yang together. Sometimes yang peaks and births yin; sometimes yin peaks and births yang. The Blood Sea too had birthed a great being—one who called himself Daoist Minghe.
" Nuwa is indeed one of the Heaven-determined Six Saints—truly a supreme destiny. But I wonder—where does the path lie for us powerful beings?"
Minghe gazed at the scene beneath Mount Buzhou. A trace of sorrow flickered in his eyes, touched with envy. But in the next instant, a thought flashed through his mind. Nuwa could prove the Dao and attain sainthood because she had created a race. Though he knew not why Heavenly Dao Merit had descended, this alone was sufficient.
" Why should I not use this Netherworld Blood Sea as my foundation and create a race as well?"
Speaking, he too rose and flew toward the heavens beyond the heavens.
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Setting aside the various great beings' reactions to Nuwa's sainthood—the hundreds of thousands of humans at the foot of Mount Fengqi watched their Holy Mother depart. They stood in place for a time before beginning to observe the world around them, then scattered in all directions.
But one newly born human stood rooted in place for two or three hours. Only then did he seem to come back to himself, mumbling:
" Holy shit! I got hit by something and now I've transmigrated? And into the Primordial World—starting right at Nuwa creating humans!"
He surveyed his surroundings, then looked down at his own naked body.
" Whatever. First things first—gotta find something to cover up."