Primordial Era: I am a treasure trove, full of magical treasures.

With the dust settled from the final war between the Lich King and the Primordial World, the myriad races of the primordial world were severely weakened. Countless powerful clans were silently licking their wounds, and the once bustling primordial land was unusually quiet. Only along the coast of the East Sea and the remnants of Mount Buzhou did scattered human tribes still wisps of smoke rise from their chimneys, teeming with life.

The human race, a race that has only existed for a few hundred thousand years, actually benefited from the Lich Wars because of its weakness.

When the demon race slaughtered humans to forge the Witch-Slaying Sword, Xuanbao's intervention prevented significant damage.

When Mount Buzhou collapsed and the sky tilted to the northwest, the human race, due to its scattered settlements and shallow foundations, did not suffer the heavy losses that those large, expansive races did. More importantly—the human race was incredibly prolific.

One child per year, two children every three years, and they can reproduce as soon as they reach adulthood. A human couple can reproduce for five generations in a hundred years, and in a thousand years, a small tribe can expand into a large settlement of tens of thousands of people. And what about other innate races? True dragons conceive once every few hundred years, phoenixes lay one egg every three hundred years, and qilins give birth once every five hundred years. As for those plant spirits and spirits of mountains and rocks, they take a thousand years to take human form and ten thousand years to attain enlightenment.

This difference in reproductive capacity was magnified to the extreme during the peaceful period of recuperation in the primordial world.

A hundred years is but a long breath for the primordial world. Yet, in this fleeting century, humanity has grown at a speed that leaves all ancient beings speechless.

In the past, along the shores of the East Sea, tribes were separated by vast wilderness and dangerous territories of demonic beasts. Now, smoke rises from chimneys, paths crisscross, and fortresses built of massive stones and spirit wood have sprung up. Human settlements have expanded and merged like a snowball, forming a vast "human realm" spanning hundreds of millions of miles and populated by countless people. The land is bustling with activity, its vitality burning like fire. The rich, almost tangible life force and the warmth of everyday life have dispelled the malevolent energy left over from the great calamity, making this land the most "lively" place in the primordial world.

Shouyang Mountain, the ancestral home of humankind.

The three progenitors of humanity, Suiren, Youchao, and Ziyi, sat facing each other. Their auras were deep and concentrated, indicating they had reached the peak of the Great Luo realm, with human destiny swirling around them like dragons. Below them sat dozens of powerful and sharp-eyed leaders of major human tribes, all of whom were at the Taiyi or Golden Immortal level. Further out, hundreds of tribal elders and sages filled the cave dwelling to capacity.

"This can't go on!" A burly man carrying a giant axe boomed in a voice like a bell. He was the leader of the "Lieshan Tribe" in the north, a Taiyi Golden Immortal in cultivation. "In the past hundred years, our tribe's population has increased tenfold! The monsters we hunt can't keep up with the rate of reproduction, and the spiritual fields and grains we cultivated are depleted in just three years! The children are crying for food, and the warriors don't have enough blood and flesh to cultivate. If this continues, even without external enemies, we will be eaten up and driven into internal strife!"

"Indeed!" another gaunt-faced elder, holding a bone staff, said in a deep voice, "Our 'Youyu Tribe' is situated in hilly terrain, with even less land available for cultivation. Now, our tribesmen have been fighting amongst themselves more than once over a slightly fertile hunting ground or a sacred spring. If this continues, the people's hearts will surely crumble!"

"It's not just about food!" A female chieftain frowned. "The population has exploded, leading to chaos. Merit goes unrewarded, wrongdoing goes unpunished, and theft, robbery, and even worse, are already occurring in the peripheral tribes. The ancestral system was tribal self-governance and mutual assistance, but now the tribes are like small countries, with millions of people. How can the chieftains and elders possibly manage everything? We need new rules! Stronger leaders!"

"Yes! We need a 'common ruler' who can govern all of humanity, lead us to open up more land, find more food, and establish stronger rules!"

The moment the words "Common Ruler" were uttered, the cave fell silent, only to erupt with an even louder roar.

"A sovereign ruler? Who is qualified? Who has the ability? Who can command the respect of the people?"

"I believe Suiren is capable of this task!"

"Youchao's ancestors were highly virtuous and respected!"

"The wisdom of the patriarch in black robes is profound!"

The three progenitors exchanged a glance, each seeing the solemnity and a hint of weariness in the other's eyes. They had led humanity from ignorance to where it was today, a pioneering journey marked by countless hardships and immeasurable merit. However, managing such a colossal entity was no longer their forte. They were better at guiding the direction and imparting skills than at specific governance and conquest.

Suirenshi slowly rose, and the cave fell silent instantly. His gaze swept over the crowd, his voice aged yet resolute: "We, the ancestors of humanity, were born into the humblest of humankind. To bring fire, build nests, and make clothes was ordained by Heaven. However, to rule over the billions of people of our race today, to explore the primordial wilderness, and to establish laws for all ages is not our true calling. Humanity needs a true 'Emperor' who can lead the race to its zenith! This is the will of humanity, and also the destiny ordained by Heaven."

"Emperor?"

"Excellent!" Youchao Shi interjected, his gaze piercing. "The three of us have recently sensed the will of Heaven, and in the darkness, we have received a profound revelation from the Great Dao. The human race will surely produce three sovereigns to establish moral order, transmit civilization, and lay the foundation for ten thousand generations; followed by five emperors to revitalize the nation, expand its territory, and forge the immortal soul of the human race! This is the opportunity for the great prosperity of the human race, and also the beginning of a new order in the primordial world!"

"The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors?!" The crowd exclaimed in surprise, then erupted in jubilation. Humanity's greatest desire was for high-end combat power. Currently, humanity didn't lack low-end combat power; compared to other races, it was terrifying. They could easily field millions or even tens of millions of low-level cultivators without batting an eye. However, in the primordial world, no amount of low-end combat power was of any use. A single Quasi-Saint could slaughter the current human race. But now, humanity also had a chosen "Sovereign" or "Emperor"! This was a sign that humanity was truly about to rise again!

"May I ask, Third Ancestor, when will this first 'Emperor' be born? And how can we find him?" The chieftain of Lieshan was excited and asked eagerly. This was the future emperor of the human race! If he could come from their own tribe…

"The secrets of heaven have been revealed, but not fully understood." The Ziyi Clan shook their heads. "The first emperor will be born with extraordinary signs, or possess the ability to resolve humanity's greatest current predicament. We, the ancestors, will constantly monitor the changes in humanity's fortune, and once the emperor is born, we will sense it. When you leaders return, you must also pay attention to whether any extraordinary individuals, or those with great fortune, wisdom, and virtue, will be born into your clans."

"Yes!" The chiefs responded in unison, each one eager to get started, though what they were really thinking was anyone's guess. They wished they could fly back to their tribe immediately and dig three feet into the ground to find the "chosen one".

……

Following the council at Shouyang Mountain, the news of the "Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, the Mandate of Heaven" spread like wildfire throughout hundreds of millions of human tribes. Countless people eagerly awaited the descent of the "Sovereign" who could lead humanity out of its predicament and truly rise to power.

However, the secrets of heaven are elusive, and emperors are hard to find.

Ten years, twenty years, fifty years... a hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The human race's predicament not only failed to ease but intensified with the continued explosive growth of its population. Food shortages, land disputes, tribal conflicts, and administrative chaos... all sorts of contradictions, like volcanoes under increasing pressure, were brewing throughout the "human realm." Some peripheral tribes even began large-scale armed battles over the control of spiritual veins and water sources, resulting in heavy casualties. Although the human race's fortune remained strong, it was faintly permeated with a restless and chaotic "red evil" aura—a sign of internal strife and disorder.

At this critical juncture, when people are restless and anxiously waiting—

On the coast of the East China Sea, there is a medium-sized tribe called "Fengyan".

On this day, the once clear sky suddenly changed color! It wasn't auspicious clouds of calamity, but rather endless auspicious purple mist descended from the heavens like a canopy, enveloping the entire Fengyan tribe! Within the purple mist, the phantom of a divine dragon snaked and roared, a colorful phoenix circled and danced, a qilin trod on clouds to offer blessings, and even golden lotuses sprang from the earth, with celestial maidens scattering flowers! In the center of the tribe, within the residence of the tribe chief "Shaodian," a dazzling nine-colored divine light shot into the sky, merging with the boundless purple mist to evolve into a grand phantom of mountains and rivers, the sun, moon, and stars!

"A divine phenomenon! Divine light soars into the sky!"

"It's Chief Shaodian's wife, Fu Bao! She's been pregnant for twelve years and is about to give birth!"

"This...this could be...?"

The Fengyan tribe, and indeed all the human beings within a radius of tens of thousands of miles, were awestruck by this earth-shattering phenomenon. They all knelt on the ground, devoutly worshipping in the direction of the divine light. The dense, innate spiritual energy, so rich it seemed to overflow, surged into the tribe along with the phenomenon. Countless tribesmen felt all their ailments vanish and their spirits refreshed after just one breath.

Inside the residence, Shao Dian stood anxiously by the bedside. His wife, Fu Bao, was currently giving birth, and a mysterious Bagua (Eight Trigrams) phantom appeared on her forehead, her body radiating Daoist energy.

"Wow--!"

A clear and loud cry resounded throughout the world!

As the cries rang out, the extraordinary phenomena reached their peak, ultimately transforming into a pure golden light of humanity, which entered the body of the newborn infant. The infant was not wrinkled; instead, its skin was like jade, its features clear and refined, especially its eyes. When the infant opened, the patterns of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, and rivers flashed by, radiating wisdom and insight. Its entire being possessed an innate Daoist aura, completely free of any acquired impurities!

"My son... my son..." Fu Bao looked at the child in her arms, weak but joyful.

Shaodian trembled with excitement, sensing the extraordinary aura emanating from the infant in his arms, and an unspoken resonance with the destiny of humanity. He carried the child out of his dwelling, facing the kneeling clansmen and the surrounding tribal leaders and elders who had rushed to the scene, his voice hoarse with emotion:

"This child, conceived for twelve years, was born amidst extraordinary celestial phenomena, his eyes piercing the universe! This is... a divinely ordained emperor for our human race!"

"Greetings, Emperor!"

No one knows who shouted it first, but the next moment, a deafening roar of worship echoed throughout the Fengyan tribe, and as the news spread rapidly, it quickly swept across the entire human realm!

"The Human Emperor has descended to earth! Born in Fengyan, the son of Shaodian!"

The message was relayed back to Shouyang Mountain at top speed.

The three ancestors, Suiren, Youchao, and Ziyi, sensed the strange phenomenon almost the instant it appeared, and at that moment, they were overcome with emotion and tears streamed down their faces.

"The Human Emperor... has finally been born!" Suirenshi's voice trembled. "Humanity is saved! The beginning of a great resurgence begins today!"

"Go to Fengyan immediately! Welcome the Human Emperor!" Youchao made a decisive decision.

However, before the three patriarchs could set off, ripples appeared in the sky above Shouyang Mountain. Xuanbao, dressed in a green robe, had already quietly appeared with Haotian and Yaochi.

"Greetings, Father God! Greetings, Two Immortal Lords!" The Third Ancestor hurriedly bowed. Upon seeing Xuanbao arrive, the Third Ancestor retracted the leg he had just taken.

"No need for formalities." Xuanbao nodded slightly, his gaze seemingly piercing through endless void, landing on the Fengyan tribe shrouded in auspicious purple aura on the shores of the East Sea. "The emergence of the Human Emperor is the destiny of the human race, and it also concerns the new order of the primordial world. I am greatly gratified."

He shifted his tone, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "However, the Human Emperor is not a delicate flower in a greenhouse. Born in hardship, he dies in comfort. Without trials, his true nature remains unseen; without weathering storms, he cannot become a pillar of strength. If, simply because he is ordained by Heaven, he is placed on a high pedestal, isolated from all worldly trials, what is gained is nothing more than a clay statue with a golden core. How can such a person shoulder the heavy responsibility of leading billions of people through thorns and brambles?"

Upon hearing this, the three ancestors were deeply shaken. They had indeed intended to immediately welcome the Human Emperor back to their ancestral land and dedicate the entire clan's strength to protecting and educating him, but they had not expected that Xuanbao had seen so much more deeply and far ahead.

"Father God, you are wise!" Suirenshi bowed, his face filled with shame. "It was our eagerness that led to our lack of consideration. The Human Emperor truly needs experience to understand the suffering of humanity and to comprehend the way to govern the world."

"Not bad." Xuanbao nodded, and with a flick of his palm, two ancient and profound treasures appeared. They were none other than the innate spiritual treasures—the Hetu Luoshu!

Xuanbao remembered that the original three emperors of the human race would comprehend the Hetu and Luoshu upon their birth. Now that the Hetu and Luoshu were in his hands, Xuanbao would naturally not be stingy. Moreover, the original first emperor of the human race should have been Fuxi, but now, because of his intervention, Fuxi did not perish. Therefore, this emperor of the human race is the true emperor of the human race.

"These are the Hetu and Luoshu, relics of Emperor Jun of old, containing the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, and the mysteries of all things." Xuanbao handed the two treasures to Suirenshi, "Give them to the newborn human emperor. There is no need to rush him to comprehend them; let him grow, and he will naturally be inspired. These items can help him observe the heavens and the earth, and deduce civilization. If he can comprehend from them the methods of regulating yin and yang and establishing ethics, it will be a blessing for the human race and the foundation of his imperial path."

The three ancestors excitedly accepted the Hetu and Luoshu, feeling the vast and profound Daoist wisdom within them, and were even more impressed by Xuanbao's foresight. With this supreme treasure by their side, the Human Emperor's path to growth would have an additional guiding light, and the heights he could reach might far exceed their imagination.

"Furthermore," Xuanbao looked at Haotian and Yaochi, "I hereby convey the decree of our Heavenly Emperor: The birth of the Human Emperor is ordained by Heaven. The Heavenly Court should naturally pay attention, but must not excessively interfere in his growth process. If external demons invade, or if any powerful beings disregard appearances and forcibly intervene, attempting to sever the imperial destiny of the human race... all departments of the Heavenly Court must strike them down with thunderous force!"

"We will obey Your Majesty's decree!" Haotian and Yaochi solemnly replied. This decree was both a protection and a red line. It told all forces in the prehistoric world that the Human Emperor could endure hardships, but he would never be allowed to be suppressed by the strong or oppressed. This was to create a relatively "fair" testing ground for the Human Emperor's growth.

"Go." Xuanbao waved his sleeve. "Keep an eye on things from the shadows. Unless it's a matter of life and death or a deviation from the Great Dao, there's no need to show yourself. The path of humanity must ultimately be walked by humanity itself. The crown of the Human Emperor must also be forged with the blood and fire of humanity."

"Yes!" The three ancestors bowed and accepted the order. Carrying the Hetu Luoshu and the Heavenly Emperor's decree, they transformed into streams of light and quietly headed to the Fengyan tribe. This time, however, they would conceal their presence and remain silent guardians.

……