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

Is there a flaw in the Heavenly Dao? Is a great calamity imminent? Or... is the one behind Hongjun simply impatient?

"No matter what it is, strength is the foundation of everything." Xuanbao took a deep breath, suppressed the surging thoughts in his heart, and with a flash, he returned to the Lingxiao Palace of the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Seated cross-legged on the imperial throne, Xuanbao slowly closed his eyes. Behind his head, the Ten Golden Wheels of Merit silently appeared, slowly rotating and casting a warm, immortal radiance. In his palm, the Chaos Bell materialized from nothingness, trembling gently.

"Ten rounds of merit are already the limit of the primordial world. The Chaos Bell is a supreme innate treasure, combining offense and defense, and suppressing destiny. However, if one wishes to truly transcend and cope with unknown calamities, these... are still not enough."

Xuanbao knew that his advantage was his fast cultivation speed, after all, a single innate spiritual treasure could accelerate his cultivation speed as an innate saint.

But what I lack most right now is time. If I had been born a few eons earlier, I wouldn't have so many troubles.

Nowadays, most of the innate spiritual treasures in the primordial world already have owners. Even those that have not yet appeared in the world are extremely rare, which greatly limits the cultivation speed of these treasures.

Oh, right, Qiankun Peak!

If Xuanbao remembers correctly, the Qiankun Peak, a supreme innate treasure, can achieve the transformation from acquired to innate, and the Qiankun Peak is currently in Nuwa's hands.

Well, what's the difference between having it in Nuwa's hands and having it in your own?

However, even the Heavenly Reversal Technique of Qiankun Peak has its limitations, but at least there's a direction now. Xuanbao thought he'd go to Sister Nuwa later to ask for the Qiankun Peak; he needed to hurry and become stronger. ...

……

Just as Xuanbao was thinking about how to become stronger, the undercurrents in the primordial land had turned into a raging vortex.

In the West, deep within the sacred mountains, lies a "Formless Grotto-Heaven" that has never been revealed to the world.

There was no Buddha's light, no auspicious clouds, only boundless, churning, turbid demonic energy. Within the demonic energy, one could vaguely see countless hideous faces wailing and struggling, yet they were bound and refined by an invisible force, ultimately transforming into the purest negative emotions and the essence of the soul, which were then injected into the body of a pitch-black figure sitting cross-legged on twelve black lotuses in the center of the cave.

This figure bore a striking resemblance to Jieyin and Zhunti, yet was entirely different. His face was half sorrowful and half ferocious, one eye clear as a Buddha's, the other scarlet as a demon's. His aura was incredibly strange, sometimes holy and compassionate, sometimes violent and savage, as if two extreme personalities had been forcibly blended together.

It was the demonic nature that Zhunti had severed that led him to call himself the Formless Heavenly Demon.

"You all understand the message I sent, right?" The Formless Heavenly Demon spoke, his voice like the scraping of metal, or the murmur of ten thousand ghosts, utterly eerie. His scarlet eyes swept over the several figures crawling below. These figures possessed formidable auras, all having the cultivation of Great Luo Golden Immortals, but each had a strange appearance, some half-Buddha, half-demon, others with a mixture of demonic and Buddhist light—these were the secret agents cultivated by the Western Sect, agents who could not be exposed to the light of day.

"The Earthly Emperor is about to be born, and destiny will be determined. I failed to gain a title in the Purple Cloud Palace, but this 'fate' can be 'created' by us." The Formless Heavenly Demon's lips curled into a cruel smile. "The human race's fortune is surging, but it is also most prone to desire, suspicion, and fear. The Heavenly Emperor Xuan Cang is protected by Fuxi, the Kongtong Seal, and the fortune of the entire human race; harming him would come at too high a price. But the Earthly Emperor... has not yet been born, and his fate is uncertain. This is precisely our opportunity."

"My lord, what should we do?" a demon with eight arms and a face that was half a handsome monk and half a demon king asked in a hoarse voice.

"Find people, plant demons, cultivate power, seize destiny!" The Formless Demon King spoke each word slowly and deliberately. "Among the countless human tribes, there are always those ambitious, exceptionally talented yet unfulfilled, or those whose ideals clash with Xuan Cang's and who harbor resentment. You will disperse and infiltrate the human race, using methods such as 'transmitting magic in dreams,' 'enlightening opportunities,' and 'bestowing secret treasures' to contact, bewitch, and control these individuals. Teach them simplified versions of my Western 'Otherworldly Freedom Magic' and 'Great Vow Technique,' helping them quickly increase their strength, expand their influence, and win over hearts and minds. Furthermore, you must subtly instill in them a sense of doubt and ambition towards Xuan Cang, Fu Xi, and even 'Destiny'!"

"When the Earthly Sovereign's divine mandate manifests, regardless of which tribe he is born into, you must immediately guide those you control to 'join' and 'assist' him, doing everything in your power to help him grow and vie for key positions beside the Earthly Sovereign. If the Earthly Sovereign is destined by divine mandate and possesses overwhelming fortune, making him difficult to control directly, then you should resort to supporting his opponents, instigating a civil war within the human race, and splitting the human race's fortune! As long as the human race is thrown into chaos and humanity is tarnished, a gap will naturally appear between the Heavenly Way and the Human Way. At that time... I can then profit from it, and even forcibly intervene in the name of 'saving the world' to share in the merit!"

"Remember, you must act with utmost secrecy! Do not directly employ the fundamental Buddhist teachings of the West; instead, use unorthodox methods, ancient legacies, or even 'self-enlightenment' as cover. Although the Heavenly Court's surveillance is strict, the internal affairs of the human race are complex and chaotic. As long as you do not violate major karmic principles or directly attack the chosen one, you will not be easily detected. Even if you are exposed, you must immediately destroy yourselves and sever all ties with this deity!"

"We obey the Lord's decree!" The demons kowtowed in unison, their eyes flashing with fanaticism and cruelty.

"Go. Let's make this pot of boiling water for humans even more lively." The Formless Demon waved his sleeve, and the rolling demonic energy swallowed up the hidden minions, sending them out of the Formless Cave Heaven. He sat alone on the red lotus, his face, half sorrowful and half ferocious, revealing a strange smile that mixed greed, resentment, and expectation.

"Xuanbao... Sanqing... you have seized the initiative and control the overall situation. But this primordial world has never been a game played by any one family alone. I want to see who comes out on top!"

……

Shouyang Mountain, the ancestral temple of the human race.

Emperor Xuancang and Imperial Tutor Fuxi sat facing each other, with the Kongtong Seal, which carried the fortune of humanity, placed between them. The seal shone with the light of humanity, reflecting the scenes of various parts of the primordial human race. Most areas were peaceful and prosperous, but some remote tribes were shrouded in a faint gray-black aura, with restless hearts and occasional conflicts.

"Master," Xuan Cang said, a hint of worry in his eyes, "Recently, I've been using the Kongtong Seal to sense the human race's fortune and discovered signs of external evil invading some border tribes. Though not strong, it's like a leech, difficult to eradicate, and slowly eroding the tribes' hearts, breeding laziness, suspicion, and greed. I've sent trusted confidants to investigate, but the reports are mostly fruitless or lacking concrete evidence. Could it be... that the malevolent energy of heaven and earth hasn't been cleared after the Great Calamity, or...?"

Fuxi lightly tapped his finger in the air, the illusory image of the Eight Trigrams swirling, deducing the secrets of heaven. After a moment, he frowned slightly: "This is no ordinary malevolent energy, nor is it naturally generated by heaven and earth. This is a man-made matter, the method is highly skillful and extremely subtle, combined with the desires of living beings, making it difficult to detect and even more difficult to eradicate. It seems that someone is restless and has begun to target the human race. The target is probably the soon-to-be-born Earthly Emperor."

"Earth Emperor..." Xuan Cang's gaze sharpened. "Teacher, when will the Earth Emperor's destiny manifest? And how should we deal with this hidden force?"

"When the Earthly Sovereign descends to earth, there should be signs of 'great virtue sustaining all things and bestowing blessings upon all living beings,' which should occur within a hundred years," Fuxi said solemnly. "As for how to deal with it... the enemy is in the shadows, we are in the light. They seek to sow discord among the people, while we will solidify their hearts. You can use the power of the Kongtong Seal to mobilize the human spirit and establish 'Platforms of Enlightenment' at major tribes and transportation hubs, regularly preaching the principles of benevolence, filial piety, unity, and diligence, using the righteous energy of humanity to cleanse the evil atmosphere. At the same time, order all tribes to strengthen their vigilance, pay attention to suspicious persons and unusual events, especially those who suddenly increase in strength, behave strangely, or spread bizarre theories. Furthermore..."

A glint of wisdom flashed in Fuxi's eyes: "Perhaps we can... turn the tables on them."

"What does the teacher mean?"

"The Earthly Sovereign's mandate is naturally protected. Those in the shadows seek to disrupt the situation, cultivate proxies, or incite internal strife. We might as well observe secretly, identifying those corrupted by demonic thoughts or harboring disloyal intentions. Let us remain inactive for now, perhaps even... granting them some 'favors' to allow them to swell. Once they are fully exposed and have established close ties with their backers, we can then swiftly eliminate them along with their backers, and publicly announce this within the human race. This will not only quell internal troubles but also deter external enemies, and allow the entire human race to distinguish right from wrong and unite as one!"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Cang's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Disciple understands! However, is this action too dangerous? If we allow the demonic thoughts to grow unchecked, it may harm innocent clansmen."

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures," Fuxi said firmly. "With the Kongtong Seal and you and I in charge, the overall situation is under control. A little growing pain is worthwhile for the long-term peace and stability of the human race. Moreover, the Earthly Emperor is about to emerge, a crucial juncture for the great rise of the human race, which must not be lost! Anyone who dares to hinder the rise of the human race or wreak havoc on the prehistoric world is a mortal enemy of our human race!"

The master and disciple had finalized their plan and immediately began making arrangements in secret. On one hand, Xuan Cang, in the name of the Heavenly Emperor, issued a series of decrees to appease the people and strengthen education, and secretly mobilized human experts to form several elite forces to search for the exact trajectory of the Earthly Emperor's Mandate and any potential threats.

……

Beneath the calm surface, time, like a taut bowstring, has quietly slipped away for thirty years.

On this day, in the southern part of the prehistoric world, near the edge of the Ten Thousand Mountains, there was a remote medium-sized tribe called "Jiangshui".

At noon, the once clear sky was suddenly enveloped by boundless, auspicious, earth-yellow clouds! The clouds were thick and heavy, exuding a powerful aura that soothed all things and rejuvenated the earth. Within the clouds, the phantom of a Qilin traversed the clouds, the long cries of a phoenix spread the fragrance of grains, and countless phantoms of vegetation grew, blossomed, and bore fruit—a wondrous sight! Simultaneously, in the center of the Jiangshui tribe, within the residence of the chieftain "Shaodian," a mellow and gentle earth-elemental divine light, seemingly capable of encompassing all things, mixed with abundant life essence, soared into the sky, connecting with the auspicious clouds!

"The Earthly Emperor! This is a sign of the Earthly Emperor's descent!"

"Great virtue carries all things, nourishing the five grains! This is the Earthly Sovereign!"

"In the Jiangshui tribe! The Earth Emperor was born in Jiangshui!"

Exclamations of surprise echoed across the Jiang River, and, carried by countless cultivators and messengers who witnessed the extraordinary phenomenon, swept across the entire prehistoric world like a storm! Within the human race, chaos erupted instantly! Countless tribal leaders, elders, and sages, filled with excitement and trepidation, began preparing gifts and planning their pilgrimage to the Jiang River. Meanwhile, the gazes from the shadows sharpened suddenly, like sharks smelling blood.

Inside the residence of Shaodian in the Jiangshui tribe.

The newborn infant was brought out. Unlike Xuan Cang's strikingly beautiful appearance at birth, he was rather sturdy, with slightly yellowish skin that shone with a healthy glow. His dark eyes, full of curiosity, surveyed the world. His cries were loud and clear, brimming with energy. Most remarkably, each of his tiny palms bore a clear, golden line, like an ear of wheat!

"My son, may he be named Shennong." Chief Shaodian looked at the infant in his arms, then at the lingering auspicious signs of the Qilin and the fragrance of the five grains outside the window, his heart filled with excitement. Although he was only the chief of a remote tribe, he knew the legends of the "Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors" and understood what the infant in his arms meant.

Almost at the same moment that the strange phenomenon of the Earth Emperor appeared.

At Shouyang Mountain, the Eight Trigrams in Fuxi's eyes spun wildly before suddenly freezing. "Jiangshui, Shennong! The Earthly Sovereign has emerged!"

The extraordinary phenomenon of the Earthly Sovereign's descent lasted for three full days. Auspicious, earth-yellow clouds covered thousands of miles, the phantom of a Qilin roamed freely, the clear cry of a phoenix rang out, and the fragrance of grains permeated the heavens and earth. Grass and trees grew wildly, dry wells gushed forth springs, and even barren land shimmered with a fertile black light. Countless humans knelt and prayed, tears streaming down their faces, as if they had seen hope for food, clothing, and peace.

The news spread like wildfire, instantly reaching every corner of the wilderness.

On the vast, untamed land, undercurrents surged, while on the surface, it presented a scene of worship and celebration.

In just a few months, the Jiangshui tribe transformed from a remote, medium-sized tribe into the focus of human attention. Every day, teams from different tribes would travel long distances, carrying gifts, just to catch a glimpse of the infant whose birth was accompanied by the extraordinary phenomena of a qilin and five grains.

……

Shennong seemed to grow faster than ordinary children; he could babble after only three months, his eyes were clear, and he showed an extraordinary interest in the flowers, grass, soil, and grains around him. The golden patterns on the wheat ears in his hands appeared and disappeared intermittently. Near his house, the vegetation was exceptionally lush, and even sick people seemed to feel somewhat relieved after staying by his side for a while.

However, as Shennong grew, the Three Pure Ones naturally took the lead.

Three figures had quietly appeared under an old banyan tree three miles outside the Jiangshui tribe.

It was Xuandu, Guangchengzi, and Duobao.

Grand Master Xuandu, dressed in simple grey robes and holding a bamboo staff, nodded slightly as he gazed at the faint earth element energy emanating from the tribe. Guang Chengzi, in a jade crown and Taoist robe, wore a solemn expression, a jade talisman slowly swirling between his fingers. Daoist Duobao, grinning, squatted on a tree root, tossing several luminous pearls that emitted their own light.

This dragging on and on is not a good thing.

How about we make a three-point agreement?

Duobao, unable to contain himself, spoke first.

"What are the terms of the agreement?" Guang Chengzi asked, his gaze sweeping over.

Duobao chuckled and flicked his fingers: "Simple. We'll each use our own abilities to approach Shennong, but no force, and absolutely no underhanded tricks. Whoever gets him to willingly call them 'Master' first, the other two will automatically withdraw, how about that?"

Xuandu pondered, "Alright. But there's a time limit. If no one succeeds before Shennong turns ten, then we'll have to wait and see what fate has in store."

"Alright!" Duobao slapped his thigh and stood up. "Then it's settled. But let me make this clear from the start—" His smile vanished, and a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes, "If any outsiders try to interfere... we must unite against them."

"That's natural. No matter which of the three of us becomes the Earth Emperor's teacher, we're still brothers. If outsiders interfere, we'll naturally unite against them." x2

While the disciples of the Three Pure Ones Sect may not be exactly loving and harmonious, they are united as one thanks to the existence of Xuanbao.

Before the three finished speaking, they all sensed something and turned their gazes to the southwest horizon—where a faint aura of mixed Buddhist and demonic energy flashed by.

"It seems there are people even more anxious than we are," Guang Chengzi sneered.

"We'll see." Xuan Du lightly tapped the ground with his bamboo staff, and his figure faded away.

Duobao and Guangchengzi exchanged a glance, then each transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into the mountains and forests.

Smoke curled from the chimneys of the Jiangshui tribe, while Shennong, still an infant, babbled and blew bubbles, completely unaware that he had become the eye of the storm.