Zi Wei experienced a sudden, total clarity. The fog of doubt had lifted.
Gather the Luck of the Human Race (Human Race Luck). Walk the Dao of Destiny.
"You can use the Qilin Seal (qilin seal) as the vessel for your Luck," Ling Xiao added, providing a clear path forward.
The Qilin Seal was the foundational treasure of the Qilin Clan, the lifebound artifact of the First Qilin. It possessed the inherent power to suppress and stabilize Luck. In the current era, the Qilin was a symbol of auspiciousness and providence; as a treasure of Luck, it was peerless.
Furthermore, Zi Wei's inherent "Emperor Fate" was a perfect match for the regal power of the Qilin Seal.
"I understand now!"
Zi Wei was ecstatic, his thoughts sharper than ever. He was so moved he could hardly contain his excitement.
Ling Xiao then began to break down the profound intricacies of the Dao of Luck (Luck之Dao), dissecting its principles and feeding them to Zi Wei. Among the three thousand Great Daos, any path could lead to Sainthood (achieve sainthood). Whether it was Luck, Karma, or Law, all were valid routes to Attaining the Primordial Chaos (Attain the Primordial Chaos). The difficulty and methodology simply differed.
After a long duration of teaching, Zi Wei achieved a state of Great Enlightenment. He realized that what he previously thought was "understanding" was merely scratching the surface.
However, as the old problems vanished, a new, pressing crisis emerged.
"Master... the protection period for the Human Race is nearly over. I don't have much time left. I fear that when the Yao Race strikes, I won't be able to hold them back. The humans will be plunged into an abyss..."
Zi Wei's brow furrowed. He had performed a calculation: of the ten-thousand-year period granted by Nuwa, less than a millennium remained. A thousand years in the Honghuang World was the blink of an eye. Even if he granted the humans a thousandfold increase in cultivation speed, they could never bridge the gap between themselves and the ancient, monstrous beings of the Yao Race in such a short time.
Ling Xiao's voice remained calm, a steady anchor in the void.
"It matters not. Focus on your duty. I have my own counter-strategy."
"Uh... alright."
Zi Wei hesitated, but his deep-seated trust in Ling Xiao won out. He pushed his doubts to the back of his mind. It was the same feeling he had when he carried the Hongmeng Cauldron into battle against the Two Sages of the West—if Master said he had a plan, then the world was as good as saved.
Is Master going to strike personally? Zi Wei wondered. If Ling Xiao moved, not just the Yao, but the Witches too would be swept away. Even the Saints wouldn't stand a chance.
The Starving Wolves
Elsewhere, Kunpeng and Guiche returned to the Yao stronghold. The suspicious Kunpeng immediately tested the human Essence Blood (Essence Blood) he had gathered to see if it truly bypassed the Witches' physical defenses. He even kidnapped a lone Witch warrior from the East to act as a test subject.
"Excellent. It works exactly as described. The Yao have hope!"
Kunpeng's announcement sent a wave of electric excitement through the Yao ranks. Human essence could not only forge Spirit Treasures (Spirit Treasure) to counter the Witches, but their flesh and souls were also a potent supplement for cultivation. After the heavy losses sustained in the war, the Yao needed a quick way to bolster their numbers and strength.
"Hahaha! Empress Wa truly looked out for us. The Human Race she created is nothing more than a feast prepared for the Yao!"
"Less than a millennium remains of the protection period. Once it expires, the banquet begins."
"Pass down the order: until we have forged the Witch-Slaying Sword, avoid all friction with the Witches. Hide! Do not strike back, do not talk back—stay out of their sight!"
Kunpeng's orders rippled through the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. The Yao vanished into the shadows, many of them creeping toward the borders of the human lands surrounding Shouyang Mountain (Shouyang Mountain). They hovered on the periphery, watching with predatory hunger.
"Hiss! The scent of fresh meat... I can't wait. Once the time is up, I'm eating my fill!" "Don't just think about eating! We need their souls for the weapons!" "There are so many of them now. Honestly, we could eat for an age and not run out."
The demons watched the human tribes, already picking out their "seating" at the table. To them, a few hundred years was just a long nap. They were happy to wait in line to be the first to feast.
The Vultures' Satisfaction
At the coast of the East China Sea, Jieyin and Zhunti watched the Yao's mobilization. They shared a look of profound satisfaction.
"The Yao are preparing. My heart is at peace."
"The beasts aren't as stupid as I feared. Our hard work wasn't in vain," Zhunti chuckled, looking like a proud pet owner whose dog had finally learned to roll over.
"Heh. Once the millennium passes, the Human Race will meet their doom," Jieyin said, his eyes deep with strategic insight. "At that moment, Nuwa and Laozi will be trapped. If they help the humans, the Yao will fail to forge the weapon, and the Witch-Demon Calamity (Witch-Demon Calamity) will fail. The consequences of defying the Trend would be catastrophic."
"If they don't help, they will lose the faith of the people, their Luck will plummet, and their standing will be ruined. No matter what they choose, they lose."
Jieyin smiled. This was the perfect setup. While the Eastern Saints were paralyzed, the Western Sect (Western Sect) could step in to "save" the remnants, spreading their influence and seizing the Human Race's Luck for themselves. This tied directly into their Forty-Eight Grand Vows to "save all living beings."
"Senior Brother, this plan is truly magnificent," Zhunti praised, giving a mental thumbs-up.
Jieyin merely smiled humbly. He knew this move would anger Laozi and Nuwa, but he didn't care. They weren't friends to begin with. Besides, the Western Sages were acting to "repay" their debt to the Heavenly Dao. Since their actions served the Great Trend, no one could legally touch them. It was a "righteous" genocide.
The Ticking Clock
Time flowed like a weaver's shuttle. In the blink of an eye, several centuries vanished.
The long-dormant creatures of the world and the hiding Yao began to stir. On Shouyang Mountain, the divine majesty left by the Saints began to fade.
The protection period for the Human Race was coming to an end.