Primordial Era: A brick knocks Hongyun unconscious, and he seizes the throne at the start.

Xuanyuan attained the Dao and became the Human Emperor. With his accumulated merits, his cultivation level skyrocketed to the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal. Wielding the Xuanyuan Sword, he unified the various tribes of the human race, established his capital at Zhuolu, and founded the first dynasty of the human race—the Xuanyuan Dynasty.

But the throne of the human emperor is not the end, but a new beginning.

According to the predetermined destiny of Heaven, after the Three Sovereigns, there will be five more emperors ruling the world before the human race's fortune can be completely stabilized and the true "Human Race Era" can begin.

These five emperors are: Zhuanxu, Emperor Ku, Yao, Shun, and Yu.

Lu Chen squatted in the cave of the pillar supporting the sky, looking at his little notebook, and began to plan how to "arrange" these five people.

"Zhuanxu severed the connection between heaven and earth, cutting off free interaction between humanity and gods and demons, making humanity truly independent." He circled the first name, "This position should be given to Senior Hongyun. Severing the connection between heaven and earth requires great courage, and also... someone to take the blame."

After all, severing the connection between gods and demons and the human race is tantamount to offending all the forces in the prehistoric world. Since Hongyun's Dao foundation was damaged anyway, he might as well do this dirty work.

"Emperor Ku established the calendar and promoted rites and music, which can be considered a civil administration." Lu Chen circled the second name, "This one can be done by the people of the Fire-Burning Tribe. They were reincarnated as humans and hate the demon race to the bone, but they are obsessed with the inheritance of human culture, so they are suitable for this."

"The abdication system of Yao and Shun was an innovation in political systems." Lu Chen stroked his chin. "This is a bit troublesome. We need to find two people of 'high moral character'... How about we choose from the underworld's ghost messengers? They have long been in contact with reincarnation and have a clear understanding of life, death, cause and effect. They should be able to understand the meaning of abdication."

"Finally, there's Yu the Great, who tamed the floods, divided the land into nine provinces, and established the human race's territory." Lu Chen's eyes lit up. "This position is the most important, and also the most difficult. We need to find someone with a talent for flood control and who can endure hardship... Does Chenlong (Fuxi) have a suitable candidate?"

He descended to the mortal realm using a brick-like magic, first going to Zhuolu City.

Xuanyuan had become the Human Emperor and was handling state affairs. Upon seeing Lu Chen in the form of an old man with a white beard, he quickly dismissed his attendants and respectfully bowed, saying, "Old man, you've arrived."

"Yes, I came to see you." Lu Chen sat down. "How's your role as Emperor going?"

Xuanyuan smiled wryly: "There are too many trivial matters, more tiring than fighting a war. There are constant conflicts between tribes, and natural disasters such as floods and mudslides occur frequently... I really miss the days when we were fighting."

"That's how you govern a country." Lu Chen patted him on the shoulder. "By the way, do you have any people under you who are good at water conservancy? I mean, people who know how to manage water."

Xuanyuan thought for a moment: "There are a few, but they are all small-scale operations. They are fine for managing a ditch, but for controlling a major flood... I'm afraid they are not enough."

"Then let's train them." Lu Chen took out a roll of animal hide from the Qiankun Diagram. "This is 'Basic Hydraulic Engineering,' covering everything from digging canals and building dams to dredging and diverting water. Find a few smart people and have them learn it."

Xuanyuan accepted the animal hide as if it were a priceless treasure: "Thank you, old man!"

"Do a good job. You are not only the Human Emperor, but also the founder of the future of humanity," Lu Chen encouraged. "The Three Sovereigns have been established, and the Five Emperors will emerge. What you need to do is ensure a smooth transition of power and prevent internal strife within the human race."

Xuanyuan nodded emphatically: "This junior understands."

After leaving Zhuolu City, Lu Chen went to Wuzhuang Temple.

Hongyun was ready—he separated a wisp of his true spirit and sealed it within a fragment of the Nine-Nine Soul-Scattering Gourd, waiting only to enter the cycle of reincarnation.

"Senior, the throne of Zhuanxu is crucial to the great plan for the independence of the human race." Lu Chen explained the plan in detail. "The first thing you need to do after your reincarnation is to 'sever the connection between heaven and earth.' I will secretly cooperate with you to cut off the tentacles of those gods and demons reaching out to the human race. But in this process, you may... bear a bad reputation."

Hongyun laughed: "Infamy? I've already lost my sainthood, why would I care about that? As long as it helps the human race rise, let them curse me."

"What courage!" Lu Chen gave a thumbs up. "Then this junior will send you into reincarnation."

He took out the Reincarnation Decree and communicated with the underworld.

A moment later, a beam of light descended from the sky, guiding the wisp of true spirit that enveloped the red cloud towards the underworld.

"Take care, senior."

"Thank you, young friend."

The true spirit of the red cloud has dissipated.

Lu Chen put away the Reincarnation Token and went to the Underworld without stopping.

Empress Pingxin personally received him.

"Fellow Daoist Hongyun's true spirit has been arranged to reincarnate in the Zhuanxu tribe," she said. "As per your request, some of her memories and cultivation insights have been preserved, but her past life identity has been sealed."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Lu Chen cupped his hands in greeting. "Furthermore, I also have some thoughts on the selection of the four emperors: Emperor Ku, Yao, Shun, and Yu..."

He explained the plan.

After listening, Pingxin frowned: "A ghost messenger from the underworld reincarnated... this is against the rules. Reincarnation has its own order; forcibly interfering may incur a backlash from the Heavenly Dao."

"Therefore, 'reasonable' intervention is needed." Lu Chen was prepared, taking out a jade slip. "This is a 'Special Talent Introduction Plan' drafted by this junior. The underworld ghost messengers have long been in contact with reincarnation and have a deep understanding of cause and effect, life and death. After being reincarnated as humans, they can better govern the human race and maintain the order of heaven and earth. Does this... count as 'reasonable'?"

Pingxin took the jade slip, looked at it for a long time, and then his lips twitched slightly: "Your reason... is quite high-sounding."

"So, what does Your Highness mean?"

"Okay." Pingxin finally nodded. "But there can't be too many people. Each position can have a maximum of three 'candidates' to ensure fair competition. Ultimately, who gets the position will depend on their own fate."

"Three? That's enough!" Lu Chen laughed.

With pre-selected spots available, why worry about not getting in?

For the next month, Lu Chen was extremely busy.

He first went to the Fire-Burning Tribe (which has now developed into a secret organization), selected three of the most cultured avengers, and arranged for them to be reincarnated near the Di Ku tribe to become "prodigies".

They then went to the underworld and selected six ghost messengers (three each for Yao and Shun) who were of noble character and knowledgeable in management, and arranged for them to be reincarnated into the Yao and Shun tribes.

Finally, he found Chenlong (Fuxi) and asked him for three young men skilled in water conservancy, sending them to Xuanyuan for training as "reserve candidates" for Yu the Great.

Everything was arranged six months later.

Lu Chen returned to the Pillar of Heaven Cave, looked at his densely detailed "Arrangement Chart of the Five Emperors," and breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Finally done."

Next, it's just a matter of waiting for time to ferment.

Zhuanxu (Hongyun) will activate "Severing the Connection Between Heaven and Earth" after reaching adulthood, cutting off the interference of gods and demons.

Emperor Ku (of the Firewood Tribe) established the calendar and promoted rites and music, laying the foundation for human culture.

Yao and Shun (the underworld messengers) would promote the abdication system and establish a relatively fair political system.

Yu the Great (the one recommended by Chenlong) will successfully control the floods, divide the land into nine provinces, and completely solidify the territory of the human race.

These five, under the influence of his dark hand, will usher in a golden age for humanity.

"However..." Lu Chen suddenly thought of a problem, "The Western Sect will definitely not let this go."

Having suffered a loss with the Xuanyuan Sword, Jieyin and Zhunti will surely make up for it during the Five Emperors era.

"We need to be on guard."

He took out the Chaos Brick, which had been "imprinted" with Buddhist restrictions, from the Qiankun Diagram and began to study it.

The core of Buddhism's "conversion and restraint" is to use the power of faith to erode the soul. But what if we reverse this and use a purer form of faith to challenge it?

Lu Chen's eyes lit up.

He remembered that he still had something else in his possession—the merit of reshaping the earth's veins.

Merit, in a sense, is also a kind of "faith," and it is the purest faith recognized by the Way of Heaven.

"If I refine my merits into a 'merit amulet' and have the Five Emperors carry it with them, will it grant them immunity to Buddhist conversion?"

Just do it.

Lu Chen secluded himself for three months and used his remaining merits to refine five "Human Emperor Merit Pendants".

The jade pendant is about the size of a palm, golden in color, and contains a vast amount of merit. The wearer is protected from all evil and untainted by any dharma.

"Done."

After he left the pass, he used a brick to descend to the mortal realm and gave the jade pendant to the "candidates" of the Five Emperors.

Of course, he presented it as a gift from a "destined person" in the guise of a "white-bearded old man".

Only after doing all this did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Now, things should be stable."

But what Lu Chen didn't know was that while he was busy arranging for the Five Emperors, Jieyin and Zhunti were also plotting in the Western Spirit Mountain.

"That scoundrel Lu Chen ruined our grand plan." Zhunti's face was gloomy. "The matter of the Xuanyuan Sword has caused us to lose a vital part of Buddhism. This debt cannot be left unpaid."

"Of course we have to consider it." Jieyin closed his eyes in thought, "But Lu Chen has already reached the Hunyuan realm and is protected by many supreme treasures. It would be unwise to fight him head-on. We must start from within the human race..."

"What does Senior Brother mean?"

"The era of the Five Emperors was a time when the human race's fortunes were flourishing." Jieyin opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing within them. "We can plant 'Buddhist disciples' around the Five Emperors, subtly influencing them. When the time is right, we can then bring the human race's fortunes into Buddhism in one fell swoop!"

"But what about Lu Chen..."

"He always makes mistakes," Jieyin laughed. "Moreover, we can not only plant 'Buddha's disciples,' but also... fake 'miracles.'"

Zhunti understood: "Senior brother, are you saying that we are using the name of 'divine revelation' to interfere in the internal affairs of the human race?"

"Exactly." Jieyin nodded. "For example, when Yao and Shun abdicated, we could have the 'Buddhist disciple' step forward and say it was 'the will of Heaven'; when Yu the Great controlled the floods, we could send down 'miracles' to help him succeed... In this way, the human race will gradually believe that Buddhism is their 'protector'."

Zhunti's eyes lit up: "Brilliant! No matter how cunning Lu Chen is, he couldn't have predicted we'd intervene in this way!"

"However, we must be cautious in this matter," Jieyin cautioned. "Lu Chen is cunning; we must proceed with utmost care."

"Junior brother understands."

The undercurrents of Western religion are quietly stirring.

At that moment, Lu Chen was squatting on top of the pillar supporting the sky, looking down at the thriving human tribe below, and yawned.

"I feel like... I've forgotten something."

He scratched his head, unable to remember, and simply gave up on thinking about it.

"Forget it, I should go into seclusion and cultivate first. Breaking through to the peak of the Primordial Chaos Realm is the most important thing."

"Once the era of the Five Emperors ends and the human race's fortune stabilizes, I will be able to truly live a carefree life."

He activated his brick-escape technique, returned to his cave, and began seclusion.

In the grand game of the primordial world, he has already made his move on the human race's side.

But an even bigger storm is brewing deep within the chaos.

That was his true stage.