Kong Xuan instantly waved his hand, and a five-colored mystical light swept towards Guangchengzi.
Guangchengzi didn't react to Kong Xuan's sudden attack, but his Zishou Immortal Robe lit up with a purple glow, blocking the mystical light.
However, Guangchengzi was also staggered and fell from the cloud. After all, the Five-Colored Divine Light was no ordinary power.
Xuandu and Duobao were stunned for a moment. One caught the magically summoned Guangchengzi, and the other stepped in front of Kong Xuan.
Xuandu frowned, "Fellow Daoist, why did you attack and injure someone?"
Duobao caught Guangchengzi, whose face was extremely grim, and glared at Kong Xuan with furious eyes.
Kong Xuan snapped back to reality, realizing he had acted out of unwarranted anger. But the pride of being the first peacock in the world would not allow him to bow his head.
"Ridiculous! If Guangchengzi's words had been directed at a passerby, and if he were not a disciple of a Saint, countless people in the Primordial World would have taken his life long ago!"
Kong Xuan calmly took a step forward, and a wave of menacing aura erupted into the sky. The killing intent forged through countless eons of struggle in the ancient era was like a blade, chilling the hearts of the three chief disciples of the Three Sects.
Decades of Yuanhui ago, he had emerged as a great demon saint from among countless corpses of witches and demons. Every move and every technique he possessed was executed with absolute certainty. Though their cultivation realms were similar, their combat power differed significantly.
The three were momentarily subdued.
Kong Xuan subtly retracted his demeanor and said, "Although we are disciples of Saints, we should not merely live in the light of our masters. You three should be more mindful in the future."
With that, he transformed into a streak of light and vanished in the blink of an eye.
Xuandu fell silent for a moment, then sighed, "Indeed. In the past, I only sought the Dao from my master and cultivated Qi in the mountains. The Great Dao lies between heaven and earth, not within a single mountain, a single room, or a single being."
Guangchengzi regained his composure and grumbled, "What an arrogant Kong Xuan, bullying others with his status."
Duobao, however, was deeply moved. *We should not only live in the light of our masters. My name and my Dao should stem from myself, not just because I am a disciple of a Saint.*
Kong Xuan returned to the mountain with a heavy heart. Outside Fuluo Palace, he saw Hua Ze and called out, "Hua Ze, come here!"
Hua Ze hopped out from a path among flowers, smiling, "Uncle-Master, what's wrong?"
Kong Xuan whispered, "How has Master been feeling lately?"
Hua Ze looked confused, "What's wrong?"
Kong Xuan coughed lightly, "Children shouldn't ask too many questions. Just tell me."
Hua Ze replied with an "oh," "Master just returned not long ago. I saw he was in a very good mood. He even pointed out some disciples with a rare smile."
Kong Xuan was relieved to hear this. He patted her head and said, "Alright, it's nothing."
He then walked into Fuluo Palace and bowed, "This disciple pays respects to Master."
Qing Ling smiled, "Rise. Have you caused trouble?"
Kong Xuan felt a little embarrassed and chuckled, "Master, you already know?"
"What happens within the Primordial World, how could I not know?" Qing Ling said with a smile, "Don't worry. No matter how protective Yuan Shi Daoist is, he won't be bothered by such a trivial matter.
However, you must remember that the era you now inhabit is an era of Saints, an era of law and order. The past era of witches, demons, and primal wilderness is gone. It is no longer an era of constant fighting."
Kong Xuan humbly agreed.
Qing Ling continued, "But you spoke well to Xuandu and Duobao. You must always be cautious, no matter when or where. Beneath the superficial peace of the Primordial World lies the unpredictable knife of heavenly will. The disciples of the Three Sects have become too comfortable, possessing cultivation and realms but lacking worthy opponents."
Seeing that his master was not blaming him, Kong Xuan felt at ease and smiled, "May I shamelessly ask, Master, where would my strength rank among the disciples of the Three Sects? So that I don't bring shame to you when I am out."
Qing Ling playfully chided, "You shameless one.
But I'll tell you the truth. In terms of combat power, you are the foremost among the second-generation disciples of the assembled Saints. However, in terms of profound Dao, you are no match for Xuandu. In terms of wisdom, you are no match for that old fellow in the Southern Pole. And in terms of Dao attainments, you are no match for Duobao."
Kong Xuan was astonished, "The chief disciples of the Three Sects truly live up to their names."
Qing Ling added, "Furthermore, in the West, in terms of magnanimity, Maitreya, a disciple of Zhun Ti, is ten thousand miles ahead of you. And in terms of compassion, Yaoshi, a disciple of Jie Yin, surpasses you."
Kong Xuan was perplexed, "What use is that?"
Qing Ling shook her head, "If one Dao is mastered, all Daos are mastered. If they can tread a unique path, they are already invincible in their own domain. Your combat power is strong, but others can win without fighting, or they may not be able to fight, or even if they lose, they win."
Kong Xuan was silent for a moment, then bowed, "This disciple understands! Among the disciples of the assembled Saints, just as among the Saints themselves, there is no number one, nor will there be a number one."
Qing Ling nodded, "Indeed. This is a game between the Saints, and a game of the great forces of all living beings.
Now, go and work hard for your junior brother. Have Shen Nong return to take charge. The Human Race is about to undergo a great change!"
Across the Primordial land, the Heavenly Emperor's tribe began to withdraw back to Nanzhanbuzhou.
In the Youxiong tribe, within the Heavenly Emperor's territory, an ordinary woman chanced upon a star orbiting the stars of the Southern Pole. The starlight then descended, and this woman conceived and gave birth to a son. He could speak within ten days, walk within three months, understood Yin and Yang at five years old, and knew the Tiangang and Disha constellations. At fifteen, he was chosen by the tribe as their leader and was known as the Youxiong clan.
A Saint, Lao Jun, transformed into Guangchengzi and took him as his disciple, bestowing upon him the name Xuanyuan. He cultivated the Golden Elixir Dao, achieved immortality within a hundred years, became a Celestial Immortal in a thousand years, a Golden Immortal in ten thousand years, and a Grand Unity Immortal in one hundred thousand years. He led the Youxiong tribe, which gradually grew stronger.
From then on, the Heavenly Emperor ordered a return to the southeastern lands of Nanzhanbuzhou, ceding the Eastern Continent.
The various tribes within the Eastern Continent began to govern themselves independently, engaging in mutual attacks, marking the first civil strife in human history.
Shen Nong returned from the Heavenly Court and, following Qing Ling's guidance, dispatched a portion of his tribe into the Eastern Continent, beginning to contend for land and resources with the other tribes.
However, they were forbidden to provoke the Xuanyuan tribe.
When Shen Nong asked why, Qing Ling told him that the Xuanyuan tribe was backed by the three Saints of the Three Sects, and even Nuwa would yield to them.
This was because although the Human Race was flourishing, the Three Sects had not, and they had not received the destiny of the Human Sect.
Therefore, they intended to support an Emperor for the Three Sects.
The Heavenly Emperor had appeared, the Earthly Emperor had appeared, so now they would establish a Human Emperor!
Nuwa yielded, and the Heavenly Emperor's tribe withdrew from the Eastern Continent. While this seemed simple, it was not without the efforts of the Three Pure Ones. Moreover, Nuwa did not care about one Human Emperor; even if ten more appeared, she would always be the Saint Mother of Humanity and would never be shortchanged in her share of destiny.
The Three Sects had not yet fully flourished, and their interests were still intertwined. But once they flourished and their interests diverged, there would be much to see.
Nuwa wished to watch the show, while Qing Ling sought to profit. However, neither conflicted with the Three Pure Ones establishing a Human Emperor.
Thus, the Xuanyuan tribe rapidly rose to prominence. In the 15th Yuanhui, 42765th year of the Heavenly Emperor's calendar, Xuanyuan's leader attained the Dao and became a Grand Luo Golden Immortal.
Lao Jun taught Xuanyuan, but it was Guangchengzi who bore his master's name, allowing Xuanyuan to possess great talent without arrogance, and divine strength without ostentation.