"What the human race urgently needs is Hunyuan," Cao Ya murmured.
At the time of the fall of the Zhou Dynasty, the entrance to Huoyun Cave was blocked, and the Taoist deity and Nuwa were also confronted.
These powerful beings above the weak Hunyuan realm were unable to descend to the lower realm when they encountered formidable enemies.
The situation in the Southern Continent can only be resolved by the human race itself.
Therefore, there are also many experts of human origin who travel around and slay demons.
But given the current situation, it's ultimately a drop in the ocean.
If facing a weak Chaos Scorpion, one is more likely to die instantly!
In the central and eastern parts of the Southern Continent, a certain order could still be maintained, dominated by the human race. The Zhou royal family, which had moved east to Luoyi, and the feudal lords from all directions were still able to fight against the demon army.
However, the western lands have already fallen, great demons have risen, evil spirits are rampant, and the people are suffering.
Many sects were destroyed, and battles between Grand Luo Immortals and Quasi-Saints frequently broke out.
Even if the Qin state received rewards from the Zhou emperor, its chances of conquering the former Zhou territories, such as Qishan, were slim.
The only saving grace was that the Chaos Mayfly appeared and managed to force back several weak Primordial Chaos beings.
Nuwa did not abandon the human race. When the Hunyuan sealed her off, she left behind the Lotus Lantern, allowing it to recognize Yang Chan as its master. This lantern could suppress demons, cleanse the land, and protect the human race.
"The three emperors of Huoyun Cave are all veteran weak Hunyuan cultivators with unparalleled talent. They should have the potential to become saints, right?" Yang Chan asked hesitantly.
She had never been to Huoyun Cave, but she had interacted with some ancient sages, though none of them were the Three Sovereigns.
Therefore, our understanding of Huoyun Cave is still insufficient, and we also lack knowledge about the Three Sovereigns.
“There are no outsiders here. The Three Sovereigns have reached the extreme of the Weak Primordial Chaos Realm, but the last step is very difficult to cross. Their intention is to unite the Three Sovereigns and forcibly prove the Saint Realm,” Cao Ya sighed.
"Isn't this too risky?" Yang Chan was startled.
Even if the three weak Hunyuan beings trust each other completely, problems are bound to arise during their fusion.
Yang Jian's expression was grave, but he understood even more clearly that Huoyun Cave had been forced into this desperate measure.
If we can be blocked at the gate today, without Hunyuan, we will be blocked a second and a third time in the future...
“The Five Emperors, Suiren, and Youchao should have reached the peak of Quasi-Saints, at least the Ninth Heaven, right? They should be close to the Weak Primordial Chaos Realm soon. If a few more unconventional Saints emerge, the power of Fire Cloud Cave will definitely rise to a new level!” Yang Jian said slowly.
"Hmm." Cao Ya nodded. Although the five emperors Zhuanxu, Di Ku, Di Yao, Di Shun, and Da Yu were behind the three emperors of Heaven, Earth, and Man, they had still reached the ninth level of Quasi-Saint and touched the weak Primordial Chaos realm.
Ancient sages like Suirenshi and Youchaoshi were also at the pinnacle of near-sainthood.
The subsequent Xia Qi, Shang Tang, King Wen, King Wu, and others were all experts at the Quasi-Saint realm, with at least a cultivation level of the fourth heaven or higher!
Without these experts, how could we even talk about the "great prosperity of the human race"?
After all, this is a cultivation world where the strong are respected. Without a powerful figure to suppress the foundation, it is just a castle in the air.
Of course, outside of Fire Cloud Cave, there are also powerful beings in other regions who care about the human race.
In the Heavenly Court, there are figures such as Jidu Star Lord "Cao Ya", General Zhenwu, and the Great Emperor of the North Pole Ziwei.
The great religion of sages also has powerful figures such as the Grand Master Xuandu, Yang Jian, and Guanyin Bodhisattva.
In the Immortal Realm, the four directions are ruled by powerful lords, most of whom are Grand Luo Immortals. Powerful kingdoms also have newly entered Quasi-Saints to deter formidable enemies!
It is indeed very difficult for those at the Quasi-Saint level or above to appear; they are all great rulers who have left their mark on history!
Thanks to the efforts of the powerful forces who launched successive attacks, displaying their magical abilities and unparalleled supernatural powers, the human race was able to avoid being trampled by demons and still maintain stability over most of the Southern Continent.
Despite numerous internal disagreements, no one wanted the market to decline and be replaced by another group.
“I can’t control other places, but I will not allow the Huashan area to be invaded by demons.”
Yang Chan gently bit her red lips, her mind made up; she would remain in the Immortal Realm. Having reached the first level of Quasi-Saint, and possessing the Precious Lotus Lantern—a first-class spiritual treasure—she was confident she could hold off all forces while stationed at Mount Hua.
She looked at her second brother with trepidation, but to her surprise, Yang Jian, who had always doted on her, did not object.
"As a quasi-saint with a Chaos Treasure, he should indeed shoulder certain responsibilities," Yang Jian said in a deep voice.
Yang Jian understood very well that his younger sister had grown up and would eventually have to be independent. No matter how powerful he was, he shouldn't protect her forever. Otherwise, Yang Chan would be like a flower in a greenhouse, unable to grow strong without experiencing wind and rain.
As before, Yang Chan had many opportunities, and Yang Jian also found many treasures to give her, but she was still stuck at the peak of the Great Luo realm and made no progress.
It wasn't until this time, when he descended to the Immortal Realm to intercept and kill the demons who were harming the people and the rebel army that was killing innocent people and claiming credit, that he was truly moved and began to understand the mysteries of a Quasi-Saint.
This is a prime example that Yang Jian cannot ignore.
Moreover, in the Huashan region, people respected Yang Chan and revered her as the "Third Holy Mother," attracting a great deal of faith, which also helped to leverage the geographical advantage.
And then there's the Lotus Lantern... Yang Jian pondered, even if a high-level Quasi-Saint launches a surprise attack, Yang Chan can focus on defense without any problems.
It wouldn't be surprising if the Lotus Lantern displayed its divine power and even killed a powerful quasi-saint.
With his younger sister needing experience and now protected by a treasure, what else could Yang Jian possibly worry about?
Anyway, he would come down from the heavens from time to time to support his sister.
Immediately afterwards, Yang Jian, accompanied by his celestial hound, left Mount Hua and continued on to other places to ambush and kill demons.
Cao Ya also took his leave. With Yang Chan by his side, there was nothing to worry about in the Huashan area.
This period of chaos lasted for decades, and countless masters clashed with each other.
Even among the fallen Quasi-Saints, there are nearly a hundred! The number of Great Luo Immortals is even closer to four digits!
Almost all factions suffered losses, with some experts dying.
Ultimately, the overall situation gradually stabilized. There were still some chaotic moments, but no large-scale wars; instead, there were small-scale conflicts in localized areas.
Demons and monsters fight, humans fight each other, and there are also gods, monks and the like, making it a complete mess.
The Zhou royal family moved east to Luoyi and basically established itself. However, the fall of Haojing greatly weakened the Zhou royal family, and the feudal lords from all directions became restless and wanted to challenge the Zhou royal family's position.
The first to step forward was Zheng Guo!
The states of Jin, Wei, Qi, Lu, and Chu were all observing the situation.
As for the situation in the western and northern parts of Jambudvipa... we don't have time to deal with it.
Those places aren't devoid of people, nations, and sects; let them struggle on their own.
During this period, Cao Ya's cultivation also improved, reaching the fifth level of Quasi-Saint.
This improvement in overall combat capability is not significant; it's better than nothing.
Having spent a long time in the mortal realm and seeing that the situation was becoming clearer, Cao Ya decided to return to the Star Sea.
Before leaving, he went to check on the situation in the Qin state. As expected, Duke Xiang of Qin died in a war against the demon race. His son succeeded him as Duke Wen of Qin, who worked hard to govern the state and strengthen the military.
Furthermore, Duke Wen of Qin led his army into battle and was invincible. He defeated the Quanrong, subdued the former territory of Western Zhou—Qishan, and even annexed the Western Shen state, greatly increasing the strength of the state.
Of course, the demons' counterattack inevitably hindered Qin's expansion.
Duke Wen of Qin was not in a hurry. He consolidated the borders and also integrated the people of Qishan and Xishen, so that they would recognize him as one of the Qin people.
Cao Ya nodded secretly. Blind expansion was not a good thing for the Qin state.
Internal instability is a ticking time bomb, not to mention external hostility!
The demons who have been killing each other may unite again to attack the Qin state!
"Without Quasi-Saint level or peak, the strongest is only just entering the Quasi-Saint realm. The rise of the Qin Kingdom is still a long and arduous journey."
Cao Ya shook his head, but still showed up and spoke with Duke Wen of Qin, pointing out part of the route from a "God's-eye view".
I didn't dare say too much, for fear of attracting the attention of weaker Hunyuan and Hunyuan.
That will be the real disaster, when their souls will be searched and their spirits stolen!
They also left behind some cultivation techniques, which enhanced the foundation of the Qin state, for which Duke Wen of Qin and others were naturally grateful.
"The State of Qin will forever remember the great kindness of Lord Jidu!" Duke Wen of Qin bowed.
He ordered his attendants to retrieve the treasures from the national treasury and present them to the Star Lord Ketu.
Cao Ya glanced around, took some things to avoid making the Qin state uneasy, and then got up and left.
"I have not come here for treasures." As Cao Ya walked out of the main hall, he turned to Qin Wengong, who was seeing him off, and said, "I also said this when your father was alive."
"I only hope that your Qin state can gain a foothold in the western frontier, unite the human race, and fight against evil spirits and great demons!"
"The Zhou royal family moved away, and most of the feudal lords were located in the central, eastern, and southern regions."
"The revival of the western border can only rely on yourselves... Well, there are some small countries that are still surviving in the cracks. When I attacked and killed Quasi-Saints and Great Luo Immortals, although I solved their predicament, it was only a temporary solution."
"You could seek an alliance."
Duke Wen of Qin seemed to be deep in thought and also felt a sense of emotion. People like Ketu, who are so devoted to the public good, are extremely rare across the four continents.
Even he was not as good as him. His diligence stemmed largely from his unwillingness to disappoint his ancestors!
"However, rather than letting the small states in the west face the threat alone, it would be better for our Qin state to annex them, unite the surrounding regions, and let the people work together to fight against external threats!"
"Forget all the high-sounding words, I just want Qin to be strong!"
"The struggles of our ancestors over the generations finally enabled the establishment of the Qin state and gave it a solid foundation."
"How can I sit back and reap the benefits without continuing to work hard and improve?"
Duke Wen of Qin had a change of heart, but he quickly sighed again.
After conquering Qishan and Xishen, it would take a long time to gain the acceptance of the people of Qin.
At the same time, in order not to provoke the surrounding demons, they had no choice but to recuperate and wait for the future before launching another attack.
After leaving Qin, Cao Ya did not go to Luoyi again; the decline of the Zhou dynasty was already inevitable.
How could the feudal lords be willing to have another Zhou emperor above their heads? At most, they would show them superficial respect.
Given the opportunity, they would tear down the dignity and sanctity of the Zhou emperor.
Otherwise, how can I rise to power?
Which lord wouldn't yearn for the feeling of becoming the overlord of the four seas, and subjugating the world with a single word?
Not to mention, the fortune of humanity is also closely related to national strength. With the blessing of the fortune of humanity, their cultivation and combat abilities can be greatly enhanced, making them stronger!
The more prosperous a nation is, the more rapidly its ruler's cultivation increases, like riding a rollercoaster!
It's not impossible for someone to attain quasi-sainthood within a thousand years!
Of course, such convenience comes at a price. One must be responsible to the people. If one acts recklessly, the people will be disgusted and even hateful. Even if they respect authority and dare not speak out, the human spirit will decline rapidly. Not to mention the rapid decline in strength, the entire country will perish!
Furthermore, if one controls the flow of human fortune for too long, it is easy to lose oneself.
Therefore, abdication became inevitable! However, after abdication, without directly controlling the fate of humanity, his strength would also decline.
This is why so many monarchs longed to enter the Fire Cloud Cave.
As a sacred place for humans, Fire Cloud Cave can largely maintain their cultivation.
Even if there is still a decline, it is acceptable.
Furthermore, by not directly possessing the fortune of humanity, the risk of losing one's true self is greatly reduced.
Huoyun Cave does not accept just anyone. Only wise and capable rulers are allowed to enter. Their personal character is secondary; at the very least, they must have made achievements in both civil administration and military affairs, and have taken responsibility for the people. Even if they have made mistakes, they must have made great contributions that the people acknowledge before they can enter Huoyun Cave.
A monarch who has made great achievements but has not made any major mistakes is an even better choice!
******
Meanwhile, Cao Ya returned to the Celestial Realm, but instead of going to the Heavenly Court, he went directly back to the Northern Starry Sky.
On the way, they met up with the Arctic Purple Emperor, General Zhenwu, Marshal Tianpeng, and others who were also returning home.
The gods chatted for a while, and all sighed with regret.
"Although I know that there is no eternal dynasty in the world, I have witnessed with my own eyes the destruction of the Great Zhou Dynasty, which my father, my brother, and all the civil and military officials, civilians and soldiers had built together..."
The Great Emperor of the North Pole sighed. The memory of the Western Zhou army conquering and destroying the Yin Shang Dynasty was still vivid in his mind. Now, the Great Zhou was corrupt and beset by internal and external troubles, and was directly overthrown.
The only good thing is that the Zhou dynasty was not completely destroyed; the branch of King Ping went to Luoyi.
However, what happened next was obvious to anyone with a discerning eye.
The Great Emperor of the North Pole Ziwei felt somewhat uneasy, after all, he was one of the ancestors worshipped by the Zhou Dynasty.
Of course, the Zhou dynasty was so corrupt that it was better to destroy it, so as to save the people from suffering.
However, the invasion of demons, which many people did not anticipate, triggered an upheaval in the Southern Continent.
The number of dead and injured in this turmoil is in the hundreds of millions.
Fortunately, the underworld still exists. The Black and White Impermanence, Ox-Head and Horse-Face appeared and took away the souls of the dead. The judges would then examine their past lives and decide their future lives, either allowing them to be reborn in a certain realm or sending them to the eighteen levels of hell.
Unfortunately, powerful demons and evil spirits, if strong enough, can directly annihilate a soul!
Then there's no chance of reincarnation.
None of the human gods in the lower realm would show mercy to such an executioner.
They were all instantly blasted into dust!
"The fortunes of humanity have weakened somewhat," General Zhenwu said softly.
The gods' expressions turned somber when this matter was mentioned.
Clearly, the scheme of those weak Hunyuan cultivators had succeeded, and this upheaval had indeed dealt a blow to the main body of the human race.
"Things will get better," Cao Ya whispered. During the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the Hundred Schools of Thought clashed, and cultures debated. That was an extremely brilliant golden age for the human race!
"Sigh." Cao Ya sighed suddenly. In such times, life was not easy for ordinary people.
"It's still our human race that lacks the most crucial element, the Primordial Chaos..."
Marshal Tianpeng smiled wryly and looked towards the Earthly Immortal Realm. The two saints who had blocked the entrance to the Fire Cloud Cave made no attempt to hide their true feelings as they also departed one after another.
Even the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, all of whom were in the Fire Cloud Cave, could use the terrain to their advantage and put up a fight against a Primordial Chaos Realm expert.
However, how can we withstand the combined attack of two powerful beings?
They were trapped in the Fire Cloud Cave, unable to intervene in outside affairs or inquire about the great changes in the Southern Continent.
This was still achieved by powerful beings like the Demon Ancestor, who managed to defeat Nuwa and the Moral Celestial Venerable.
Otherwise, Fire Cloud Cave would be in danger of destruction!
The Great Emperor of the North Pole, General Zhenwu, and others also wore bitter expressions.
A weak Hunyuan, relying on spiritual treasures, formations, and the combined strength of heroes, can barely manage to put up a fight.
However, once a sage appears, who can rival him?
"At this point, we can only hope for the Three Sovereigns..." Cao Ya said.
The three emperors of Heaven, Earth, and Man are all at the extreme of weak Hunyuan, and are only one step away from the Saint Realm.
If a perfect integration can be achieved, then reaching new heights is not just wishful thinking.
However, how difficult it is to reconcile three different lives into one.
Even among the three emperors, there was complete trust.
They all stepped forward, determined to lead the Fire Cloud Cave and hold up a sky for the human race!
The difficulties remain numerous.
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