After Xuan Yuan recounted his encounter with Nu Jie to Lei Zu in full, Lei Zu was furious. After thoroughly reprimanding Xuan Yuan, she finally agreed to the marriage.
Given the circumstances, Lei Zu could not think of any better solution. Since the event had already occurred, it was only fitting to grant the woman a proper status.
Xuan Yuan soon married Nu Jie.
As the Xuanyuan clan celebrated the grand wedding, Yao Ji, far away in the Shen Nong tribe, suddenly fell gravely ill.
Shen Nong tried every remedy he could think of, but none showed any effect.
Watching the increasingly emaciated Yao Ji, Shen Nong felt an unspeakable sorrow. He was helpless as he saw his own daughter suffer so intensely.
Ting Yu and Nu Wa watched Yao Ji, tears streaming down their faces.
In his desperation, Shen Nong suddenly remembered Hong Yun, his former master. He decided to travel to Kunlun Mountain to seek Hong Yun, hoping he could find a way to save his child.
Even if Hong Yun could not help, Shen Nong mused, the Three Holy Fathers would surely have a solution.
Shen Nong leaned down and whispered softly into Yao Ji's ear:
"Yao'er, do not be afraid. Your father will go to Kunlun Mountain now to find a cure for you!"
Upon hearing this, Yao Ji understood her condition. Her current state could no longer withstand Shen Nong's journey to Kunlun.
Yao Ji gently held Shen Nong's finger and shook her head slightly.
"Father, stay with me! You are always focused on the human race, you have never spent enough time with me and my sister!"
Shen Nong's mind reeled. He suddenly recalled that ever since Yao Ji was born, he had indeed not spent much quality time with her.
Even when teaching her agriculture, he would only show her briefly before letting her comprehend on her own, while he busied himself experimenting with dosages of various herbs.
Shen Nong felt a pang of guilt. He had failed to be a proper companion to his own child, leading Yao Ji to make a seemingly simple request in her hour of dire need.
Shen Nong wanted to cruelly refuse Yao Ji, deciding to go to Kunlun to find a cure for her. However, Yao Ji held onto Shen Nong tightly, her voice pleading:
"Father!"
Nu Wa also held onto Shen Nong's hand, looking at him pitifully. Even Ting Yu wept.
"Husband, please agree to Yao'er's wish!"
Seeing this, Shen Nong could no longer bear to be stern. His eyes filled with tears, and his voice trembled as he said:
"Alright! Alright! I will stay with Yao'er!"
Yao Ji looked at Shen Nong with happiness, and after a moment, she closed her eyes with a look of contentment. However, Yao Ji's bright and expressive eyes never opened again.
Shen Nong stared at Yao Ji in disbelief, feeling her life force slowly dissipate.
Shen Nong, in a daze, brought Yao Ji's hand to his cheek, feeling its gradual chill. Tears flowed uncontrollably from his eyes.
Shen Nong could not understand. He had saved so many humans in the world, yet he was powerless as his own child lay dying before him.
Shen Nong was filled with self-recrimination. If only he had noticed Yao Ji's condition earlier, even if he couldn't save her himself, he could have risked it all for a sliver of hope at Kunlun.
Ting Yu also did not expect her child to be gone so suddenly. She had been speaking just moments ago, and now her body was cold.
Ting Yu could still hear the echoes of Yao Ji's playful laughter in the room.
Ting Yu grabbed Shen Nong's clothes and cried out to him in a near-manic state:
"Shen Nong, can you save her? She is your child! Aren't you always researching these things? Why can't you save her?"
After speaking, Ting Yu collapsed onto Yao Ji's body, sobbing uncontrollably.
Shen Nong, as if in a trance, muttered:
"Yes, why can't I save her? Why am I unable to save her?"
At the very moment Yao Ji's life force ceased, Tai Shang on Kunlun Mountain awoke from his cultivation.
Tai Shang was perplexed by this sudden awakening. He performed a quick divination, looked towards the direction of the Shen Nong tribe, and sighed softly.
Tong Tian and Yuan Shi looked at Tai Shang.
"Elder Brother, what is wrong?"
Tai Shang gazed towards the Shen Nong tribe for a long time before speaking slowly:
"Shen Nong's daughter, Yao Ji, has perished!"
Tong Tian and Yuan Shi were startled. They also performed their own divinations and looked at Tai Shang with confusion.
"Elder Brother, what is happening? Shen Nong is an emperor of the human race. Although he has not yet ascended the throne, he is protected by the human race's destiny. How could Yao Ji, as Shen Nong's daughter, perish innocently?"
Tai Shang shook his head. "It is the will of heaven!"
After speaking, Tai Shang fell silent, leaving Tong Tian and Yuan Shi in a state of bewilderment.
They did not understand Tai Shang's meaning. Shen Nong was the Earth Emperor of the human race and crucial to their future. What heavenly mandate could lead to this?
After a moment of contemplation, Tong Tian vanished. Yuan Shi wished to stop him but was powerless as he had not yet returned to his Saintly position.
Yuan Shi looked at Tai Shang. "Elder Brother, Third Brother has left."
Tai Shang, without opening his eyes, replied:
"Let him be."
In the Shen Nong tribe, after leaving Kunlun, Tong Tian went directly to Yao Ji's body.
Shen Nong and Ting Yu, whose faces had been devoid of color, showed a flicker of life upon Tong Tian's arrival.
Shen Nong and Ting Yu immediately knelt before Tong Tian.
"We beg you, Holy Father, save our child!"
Tong Tian helped the Shen Nong couple to their feet and smiled gently.
"There is no need for such formalities. I have come for this very purpose."
Tong Tian looked at Yao Ji's corpse, his brow furrowing slightly.
Seeing Tong Tian frown, Shen Nong and Ting Yu felt a surge of dread.
"Holy Father?"
Tong Tian looked at the anxious Shen Nong couple and comforted them gently.
"Her soul has already left her body. I will go to the Netherworld to search for it."
In the Netherworld, after leaving the Shen Nong tribe, Tong Tian headed straight for the Underworld.
Upon sensing Tong Tian's arrival, Hou Tu immediately appeared before him.
"Daoist Tong Tian, your sudden visit to my Netherworld, what urgent matter brings you?"
Tong Tian did not waste time with pleasantries. He got straight to the point.
"Sister Hou Tu, I have come to ask you for a person!"
"Asking for someone?"
Hou Tu looked at Tong Tian in disbelief.
"I wonder who has such standing that Daoist Tong Tian himself would personally visit my Netherworld!"
Tong Tian ignored Hou Tu's jest.
"I am looking for Shen Nong's daughter, Yao Ji."
Upon hearing this, Hou Tu's brow furrowed. Why was Shen Nong involved? She knew how crucial Shen Nong was to the human race, and matters concerning the Three Sovereigns of humanity were never simple.
Hou Tu invited Tong Tian to the Samsara Hall and immediately dispatched the Emperor of Fengdu to examine the Book of Life and Death to understand the situation.
Emperor Fengdu returned shortly after, his face grim.
"Reporting to Her Highness, I cannot find her!"
Hou Tu acted as if she had misheard and looked at Emperor Fengdu in disbelief.
"Cannot find her?"
Emperor Fengdu also found it hard to believe that there was anyone who could escape the Book of Life and Death. He hesitantly replied,
"Indeed, I cannot find her. There is no record of her in the Book of Life and Death!"
Fearing that Hou Tu might not believe him, he quickly presented the Book of Life and Death.
Hou Tu took the Book of Life and Death and began to examine it. She refused to believe that there was anyone the Book of Life and Death could not find.
As she reached the end of the book, Hou Tu's face darkened. She was astonished that she truly could not find any record of Yao Ji.
Hou Tu handed the Book of Life and Death back to Emperor Fengdu and began to divine herself. However, her expression grew increasingly grim.
"My Netherworld has no record of this person's soul, and I cannot deduce her whereabouts!"
Hou Tu explained to Tong Tian with a dark expression. She was surprised that she, a venerable Sage of the Dao of Earth, was stumped by a mere human.
Tong Tian was at a loss and suggested they search through the souls that had been reaped in the Netherworld that day.
Hou Tu nodded helplessly. If this matter did not involve Shen Nong, she would not have bothered to entertain Tong Tian's folly.
The two of them swept their divine senses over the souls, and both their brows furrowed. They found nothing.
Tong Tian and Hou Tu were both puzzled as to where Yao Ji's soul had gone.