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

Time flies, and ten years have passed since Chi You and the Western Religion reached an agreement.

Over the course of ten years, the world was in turmoil and undercurrents were surging. But the most significant and remarkable changes were the rise of the Jiuli tribe in the southwest and the emergence of a young man in the Central Plains—Xuanyuan.

Jiuli tribe

Nestled among the mountains of southwest China, the Jiuli tribe's sphere of influence has expanded to an astonishing degree.

More than a decade ago, the Jiuli were merely a medium-sized tribe confined to a corner of the southwest, possessing an army of a million and an territory spanning thousands of miles. But now, the Jiuli's iron hooves have trampled across the wild southwestern lands, reaching the Yunmeng Marsh in the east, the Buzhou Mountain ruins in the west, the Shiwan Mountains in the south, and the Central Plains in the north, directly or indirectly affecting a quarter of the human race!

Tens of thousands of tribes, large and small, were swallowed up by the Jiuli. Chiyou adopted a strategy of "combining kindness and severity": he treated the tribes that were willing to submit well, preserved their customs and habits, and even promoted the talented people among them to become generals; as for the tribes that resisted to the end, he used swift and decisive means to wipe them out, making an example of them.

This ruthless and efficient method of governance made the Jiuli tribe's cohesion unprecedentedly strong. In just ten years, the Jiuli population exploded from hundreds of millions to trillions! The number of skilled and brave soldiers under their command reached a terrifying hundreds of millions!

All of this is inseparable from the covert support of Western religions.

On that day, Maitreya visited the Jiuli tribe again, and this time, he brought a gift that moved even Chiyou—

A knife.

The sword was about four feet long, with a broad blade, its entire body a dark red, as if forged from congealed blood. At the hilt was inlaid a fist-sized amber gem, within which the faint image of a roaring tiger could be seen. The blade gleamed with a cold light, as if capable of slicing through any obstacle.

"This blade is called 'Tiger Soul,' a mid-grade innate spiritual treasure." Maitreya held the blade with both hands, a hint of pride in his voice. "It contains the essence of a quasi-saint level demonic tiger. The blade's killing intent and sharpness are comparable even to a high-grade innate spiritual treasure!"

Chi You received the Tiger Soul Blade; its weight was immense. A fierce and domineering aura instantly surged into his body, resonating powerfully with his own battle intent. He casually swung it—

"Sizzle—!"

A dark red blade of energy roared out, cleaving a crack over ten thousand feet long and bottomless in the stone wall of the council hall! The edges of the crack were as smooth as a mirror, without even a speck of stone dust falling, demonstrating just how sharp it was!

"What a fine blade!" Undisguised delight shone in Chi You's eyes as he stroked the blade as if caressing a beautiful woman's skin. "Truly a fine blade!"

Seeing Chi You's obvious delight, Maitreya was secretly pleased, but outwardly remained calm: "It's good that Chief Chi You likes it. This sword is a gift from the Sage to the Chief. May the Chief wield this sword and achieve great things soon!"

Chi You laughed heartily, tucked the Tiger Soul Blade into his waistband, and cupped his hands, saying, "Many thanks to the two sages for their generous gifts! Chi You will certainly not disappoint!"

After seeing Maitreya off, Chi You returned to his residence, closed the door, and the smile on his face gradually faded.

He drew the Tiger Soul Blade and examined it closely. The blade was dark red, with a faint glow of blood flowing within it. In the Tiger Soul Gem at the hilt, the phantom of the white tiger seemed to come alive, pacing back and forth within the gem, exuding a ferocious aura.

"A mid-grade innate spiritual treasure... The Western Sect is certainly willing to spend money." Chi You sneered, "Unfortunately, no matter how much you calculate, you can't predict who stands behind me, Chi You."

Chi You took a deep breath, placed the Tiger Soul Blade flat on the table, closed his eyes, and communicated with the mysterious treasure statue enshrined in the secret chamber.

A moment later, a gentle voice echoed in his mind: "Chi You, what is it?"

"Father God, the Western Sect has sent us a knife, claiming it to be a mid-grade innate spiritual treasure called Tiger Soul. Chi You suspects there's something strange about this knife, and requests your inspection, Father God."

A faint golden light emanated from the statue, sweeping across the Tiger Soul Blade. After a moment, Xuanbao's voice rang out again: "There is indeed something strange about it. A quasi-saint level demonic tiger has been forcibly sealed within this Tiger Soul Blade. If you use this blade for a long time, it will subtly influence your mind, making you increasingly irritable, bloodthirsty, and dependent on the blade's power."

Chi You gasped, secretly relieved: "What a treacherous scheme! Luckily, I was on my guard!"

"It's alright." Xuanbao's voice carried a hint of amusement. "Although it's well-concealed, it's just a small trick to me. I'll help you refine it, and then we'll turn the tables and make them think you've already fallen for it."

Having said that, a burst of golden light shone forth, enveloping the Tiger Soul Blade. Chi You only heard a faint "crack" sound, like shattering glass, coming from within the blade, before everything returned to calm.

To be precise, it was that quasi-saint level demonic tiger that was subdued. Xuanbao ordered it to be completely loyal to Chiyou, otherwise it would pay a heavy price. The threat of a Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortal was quite effective, and even the already dead demonic tiger did not want to experience it again.

The golden light faded, and the Tiger Soul Blade lay there quietly, its appearance unchanged. But Chi You could sense that the faint, unsettling aura within the blade had vanished without a trace.

Instead, a purer and sharper sword intent formed a closer connection with his mind.

"I have completely subdued the Demon Tiger. Now, this Tiger Soul Blade can truly be considered a mid-grade innate spiritual treasure." Xuanbao's voice carried a hint of teasing. "Moreover, I left a disguise so that Luo Hou would believe the demonic seed still exists. You can use it with peace of mind, without worrying about being harmed by the backlash."

Chi You was overjoyed and immediately kowtowed, saying, "Thank you, Father God!"

"No need to thank me." Xuanbao's voice became serious. "Chi You, your recent movements have already attracted the attention of all parties in the prehistoric world. From now on, you must be more careful. You can slow down the pace of expansion and instead consolidate your existing territory, train your army, and accumulate strength."

"Chi You understands!" Chi You replied solemnly.

In the days that followed, following Xuanbao's instructions, Chiyou slowed down his expansion and shifted his focus to internal development. He reorganized his army, trained his soldiers, stockpiled grain and fodder, and forged weapons, transforming the Jiuli tribe into an impregnable fortress.

At the same time, he also began to work on another important matter—forming sworn brothers.

Chi You knew that he could not accomplish anything alone. He needed a group of trustworthy and capable generals to rely on. Therefore, he visited heroes from all over the southwest, treating them with sincerity and befriending them through martial arts. He successively became sworn brothers with eighty-one powerful and reliable cultivators.

These eighty-one brothers were all extraordinary individuals, each a leader of a powerful tribe. A total of 81 large tribes were completely bound to Chi You's war chariot.

Moreover, among these eighty-one people, the lowest cultivation level has already reached the Golden Immortal realm.

With these capable generals, the Jiuli tribe's strength was greatly enhanced. Chi You incorporated them into the army, appointing them as generals at various levels, responsible for training soldiers and commanding battles. The eighty-one brothers each performed their duties, transforming the Jiuli army into a disciplined and formidable force.

When the Western Religion learned that Chi You had sworn brotherhood with eighty-one people, they were not wary at all; on the contrary, they were even more delighted.

"Excellent! Excellent!" Rahu clapped his hands and laughed as he watched the scene in the mirror of light where Chi You and his eighty-one brothers swore a blood oath. "This Chi You is indeed a man destined for greatness! With these capable generals, his chances of seizing the throne of the Human Emperor have increased even further!"

Jieyin, however, was somewhat worried: "Senior, Chi You's strength is growing too fast. I'm worried that he might slip out of our control?"

"Don't worry." Luo Hou waved his hand confidently, "The demonic tiger in the Tiger Soul Blade has already penetrated deep into his primordial spirit. The more he uses this blade, the more unpredictable he will become. Once it develops a weakness, we can control it more easily."

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips: "At that time, he will think he is the hunter, but he will not know that he is the prey."

Hearing this, Jieyin felt a little relieved and said no more.

However, what he didn't know was that the demonic tiger within the Tiger Soul Blade had already been completely subdued by Xuan Bao. Those people thought they were in control, but they didn't realize that they were the ones being kept in the dark.

……

Meanwhile, the Youxiong clan lived on the banks of the Ji River.

As dawn broke and a thin mist veiled the land that had given birth to countless legends, a young man in the central square of the tribe slowly finished his practice, facing the rising sun.

The boy was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with striking features and a commanding presence. He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, and despite his youth, a certain composure already shone through his brow. He wore a simple hemp robe, with a straw rope tied around his waist, appearing no different from any other human boy. But his eyes were exceptionally bright, as if they contained the stars and the sea, and as if they could see through all the illusions of the world.

Xuanyuan.

Fifteen years ago, when he was born, extraordinary phenomena appeared in the sky: two dragons and two phoenixes came to congratulate him, hundreds of birds paid homage to the phoenix, and plants flourished prematurely. At that time, the entire prehistoric world knew—the Human Emperor had been born.

Now, fifteen years later, the baby has grown into a spirited young man.

Moreover, he had already become a disciple of Duobao 10 years ago, becoming a third-generation disciple of the Xuanmen sect.

Moreover, in just ten years, Xuanyuan's cultivation level reached the mid-stage of the Profound Immortal realm with the support of a massive amount of human fortune, a cultivation speed that was simply astonishing.

This is why Xuanyuan, who was only 12 years old at the time, became the leader of the Youxiong tribe. The surrounding tribes naturally knew that Xuanyuan was the future human emperor, and they all flocked to the Youxiong tribe. This has led to the fact that Xuanyuan, who is only 15 years old, has already controlled nearly 1/4 of the human race. The other half of the human race is still in a wait-and-see state, after all, the current situation is very delicate.

Leaving aside Xuanyuan, the chosen human emperor, Chiyou's actions were still too terrifying. In just over 10 years, he had already dominated a region, and his desire for the position of human emperor was so obvious that even a blind person could see it.

……

The expansion of the Jiuli tribe was like a surging torrent, sweeping across the southwest and shaking the prehistoric world. Chi You's fearsome reputation, along with the cold light of his Tiger Soul Blade, spread to every corner of the human race.

Strangely, however, the human race's high-ranking members, those who truly held the power of discourse, seemed to have collectively gone blind, maintaining an eerie silence regarding Chi You's rise.

Emperor Xuancang, after attaining the peak of Quasi-Sainthood, secluded himself for many years, rarely concerning himself with worldly affairs. Emperor Shennong, after achieving perfect merit, focused on promoting medicine and agriculture, his footprints covering all the major tribes of the human race, yet he remained silent about the expansion of the Jiuli. The older generation of powerful figures who followed the Emperor and Emperor also kept quiet, as if Chi You's actions were not worth their attention.

This silence has made many people uneasy and even more people confused.

"Strange... Why are the Heavenly Emperor and the Earthly Emperor turning a blind eye to the expansion of the Nine Li?"

"Yes, Chi You conquered so many tribes and killed so many people, didn't they care at all?"

"Could it be... that they tacitly approve of Chi You's actions?"

"Impossible! How could someone as brutal as Chi You gain the approval of the Heavenly Emperor and the Earthly Emperor?"

Various speculations circulated among the people. Some said that the Heavenly Emperor and the Earthly Emperor remained silent because they feared the power behind Chi You; some said that they were waiting for the right opportunity to take down Chi You in one fell swoop; some even said that they had actually abandoned the human race and only cared about their own cultivation, ignoring the suffering of the human race.

However, none of these speculations have been confirmed.

Those who truly understand the inside story—the powerful beings at the top of the human race—are fully aware of it.

They knew that the silence of the Heavenly Emperor and the Earthly Emperor was not cowardice, nor was it surrender. Rather, it was because they knew that Chi You's rise to power had been tacitly approved by someone.

That being who single-handedly created the Heavenly Court's golden age and brought all the races of the primordial world under his control, his affection for humanity far surpassed that of other saints. If he truly wished to stop Chi You, a single word would have been enough to annihilate the Jiuli tribe. But he did not.

What does this tell us?

This shows that Chi You's rise was part of a plan from the beginning.

If that's the case, why should they worry about it?

Thus, the human race's leadership remained silent. They watched coldly as the Jiuli tribe grew stronger, as Chi You's iron hooves trampled across the southwest, and as the Tiger Soul Blade drank countless lives. They neither stopped nor supported it, but simply watched quietly, as if observing a drama that had nothing to do with them.

This silence made the observing tribes even more hesitant.

The human race occupies a vast territory with tens of thousands of tribes. Although the Heavenly Emperor and the Earthly Emperor are the common rulers of the human race, not all tribes are directly under their jurisdiction. In particular, those tribes located in remote areas and with greater strength often maintain a high degree of autonomy, and while they superficially obey the orders of the Heavenly Emperor and the Earthly Emperor, they actually act independently.

Today, two new centers have emerged in the human race—one is the Youxiong clan in the Central Plains, the tribe where Xuanyuan resides; the other is the Jiuli in the southwest, the tribe ruled by Chiyou.

Xuanyuan, the Mandate of Heaven, was born amidst extraordinary celestial phenomena. He became a disciple of the Daoist Duobao, and his cultivation progressed at an astonishing speed. He was benevolent and kind, treating all men with respect, attracting countless talented individuals to his cause. Under his leadership, the Youxiong clan grew increasingly powerful, becoming a core force in the Central Plains.

Chi You, a half-human, half-shaman, cultivated for a hundred years to reach the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, ruling over the Jiuli tribe and becoming a powerful force in the southwest. He was brave and skilled in battle, decisive in his actions, and his eighty-one brothers were all capable of taking on ten thousand men. Under his leadership, the Jiuli tribe expanded rapidly, becoming the dominant power in the southwest region.

One is benevolent, the other is domineering; one is destined by fate, the other is exceptionally powerful.

These two individuals seemed to represent two different futures for humanity. As a result, the various human tribes were plunged into an unprecedented dilemma regarding which side to take.

"Whom do you think we should support?"

Inside the council hall of a medium-sized tribe, several elders sat together, their brows furrowed in worry.

"Support Xuanyuan? He is the chosen emperor, born amidst celestial phenomena, and has become a disciple of Duobao. His future is limitless. Following him is definitely the right thing to do."

"But Xuanyuan is only fifteen years old! Although his cultivation has reached the Xuanxian level, he is still a child! Can he defeat Chiyou? Chiyou is a Taiyi Jinxian! He has eighty-one brothers under his command, each of whom is a Jinxian or higher! The Jiuli tribe has hundreds of millions of soldiers, a powerful and well-equipped army! What can Xuanyuan use to fight Chiyou?"

"That's not how it works. Although Xuanyuan is young, he has the backing of Daoist Duobao, Grand Master Xuandu, the Three Pure Ones, and His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor! No matter how strong Chiyou is, can he be stronger than a sage?"

"Even a sage cannot directly intervene in the struggle for the Human Emperor! This is an internal affair of the human race. If a sage were to intervene, it would be interfering with the workings of humanity and would inevitably incur the backlash of the Heavenly Dao! Therefore, in the end, it still depends on Xuanyuan's own abilities!"

"What if Xuanyuan loses? If we've chosen the wrong side and Chiyou wins, won't we be in trouble?"

"What if Xuanyuan wins? If we miss this opportunity, we'll never have a chance to rise again!"

The argument went on and on, with neither side able to convince the other. Finally, the tribal chief slammed his fist on the table: "Alright! Stop arguing! We won't support either side; let's observe for a while and then make a decision once the situation becomes clearer!"

Similar scenarios played out repeatedly among the various human tribes. Those tribes with strength and ambition were all watching and waiting, waiting for a clear signal, waiting for an opportunity that would allow them to make a decision to take sides.

Thus, a strange situation arose among humanity—two major powers stood side by side, while the large tribes in the middle remained neutral, neither offending nor approaching either. The entire prehistoric world watched humanity closely, awaiting the impending storm.