Tongtian heard Yuanshi’s shout and spoke without turning back, “I’m going to the Sutra Depository to see Taiyi. You two can chat slowly!”
With that, Tongtian instantly vanished into a beam of clear light.
Watching Tongtian depart, Yuanshi’s mouth twitched. He turned to Taishang and asked, “Big brother! Is third brother jealous?”
Taishang nodded speechlessly, “Most likely. We ignored him, perhaps he’s a little unhappy?”
Taishang and Yuanshi watched Tongtian leave, exchanging glances in silence, then shook their heads and smiled.
Within the Sutra Depository on Sanqing Mountain, Tongtian claimed to be visiting Taiyi, but instead found himself flipping through the scriptures.
In the cultivation room of the Sutra Depository, Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun saw Tongtian suddenly appear. Hong Yun asked Zhen Yuanzi, who was opposite him, “Brother Yushi, why has Fellow Daoist Tongtian come to our place? He seems quite unhappy! Should we go out?”
Zhen Yuanzi replied, “Let’s go. The Sect Master has arrived, and it’s only right that we go out to greet him.”
Hong Yun nodded, and the two approached Tongtian.
“Greetings, Sect Master!”
Tongtian waved his hand, “No need for formalities, fellow Daoists. I just came to see Taiyi.”
Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun exchanged glances. Tongtian claimed to be seeing Taiyi, yet his eyes were fixed on the *Daodejing* in his hands. This was hardly a convincing excuse. However, seeing that Tongtian didn’t wish to elaborate, they returned to their own quiet cultivation rooms, resuming their private world.
In the Southwest Great Alliance, although the human race was under Xuanyuan’s unified command, they struggled against the Wu clan. The Wu clan’s chieftain, Chiyou, was no ordinary opponent. After suffering a few losses at Xuanyuan’s hands, he immediately adjusted his combat style. Although Chiyou was not a master of military strategy, the individual combat prowess of the Wu clan far surpassed that of the human race, allowing him to fight Xuanyuan to a near stalemate.
What was particularly effective was a black and white, iron-headed beast Chiyou somehow acquired as a mount. The others, seeing its cute and harmless appearance, paid it no mind. Little did they know this would lead to a great loss. As everyone was围攻 Chiyou, the beast suddenly erupted, injuring all their mounts. If not for their quick reactions, they would have all perished under Chiyou’s blade. The leaders of the various tribes had never imagined the seemingly harmless beast to be so ferocious.
Xuanyuan was also unable to devise a solution for this iron-headed beast for the time being. The war between humans and Wu thus entered a temporary lull, all because of one beast.
The war between humans and Wu had barely ceased when Chiyou and the leaders of the various tribes began reorganizing their forces. Though the southwest region was calm, everyone knew it was the quiet before the storm. The leaders of the major tribes sent envoys back to their respective tribes to mobilize their people, determined to fight a decisive battle against the Wu clan. Xuanyuan also decided to petition the Fire Cloud Cave for the Heavenly Emperor Fuxi to intervene and involve the Four Symbols tribes in this great war. In an instant, the prehistoric land was abuzz with human activity.
In the Shennong tribe, Ting Yao had been waiting for Shennong’s return. However, instead of Shennong, she received devastating news. As Shennong did not return to the Shennong tribe, Ting Yao inquired about Shennong from the messengers sent by the major tribes. She chanced upon someone from the Wuming Shi tribe. Ting Yao, hearing they were from the southwest, asked about Shennong’s whereabouts. Upon learning that Shennong was unharmed, Ting Yao’s hanging heart finally relaxed. She then realized that these were the people from the Wuming Shi tribe that Shennong and Nuwa had previously visited. Ting Yao thought that Nuwa had been staying at the Wuming Shi tribe for quite some time and entrusted the Wuming Shi messenger to deliver a letter to Nuwa, urging her to return soon.
The people of the Shennong tribe echoed Ting Yao’s sentiment, “Yes, yes! If you see Nuwa, tell her to come back quickly. We miss her dearly too!”
The Wuming Shi messenger frowned, remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, “Benefactor Nuwa is dead. Did Senior Shennong not tell you?”
Ting Yao stood there, stunned, as if struck by lightning. The people of the Shennong tribe looked at the Wuming Shi messenger in disbelief, immediately exclaiming, “Don’t talk nonsense! Our chieftain Shennong said Nuwa was playing at your tribe for a while. How could she be dead? Did your tribe harm Nuwa?”
The Wuming Shi messenger immediately explained, “Please don’t misunderstand. Benefactor Nuwa has been kind to our tribe, how could we harm her? Senior Nuwa drowned after falling into the East Sea.”
After speaking, the Wuming Shi messenger quickly took his leave, as he had orders from his chieftain that could not be delayed.
The people of the Shennong tribe watched the dazed Ting Yao, unsure how to comfort her. Ting Yao stood there with vacant eyes, then suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed, losing consciousness. The others rushed to carry Ting Yao to the medical sect founded by Shennong. Fortunately, Shennong, fearing unforeseen circumstances in the tribe, had not taken all of his disciples to the southwest. The disciples left behind by Shennong’s face turned pale upon seeing their ‘teacher’s wife’ being carried in. After examining Ting Yao, they immediately shouted to the crowd, “Teacher’s wife is in danger! Hurry and fetch Master back. Teacher’s wife has no pulse, I cannot treat her! See if Master has a way!”
Upon hearing this, everyone quickly found a strong tribesman to go to the southwest and fetch Shennong back. The people had only just learned of Nuwa’s passing, and Ting Yao was now Shennong’s only relative. If Ting Yao also departed, they couldn’t imagine what Shennong would do. Yao Ji had just left Shennong’s sight, Nuwa was gone as well, and if Ting Yao also left, then their chieftain Shennong… The people dared not think further, and could only pray to the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa for Ting Yao’s safe recovery. The people of the Shennong tribe journeyed towards the southwest without rest day or night.
Within the Human Race Grand Alliance, at the very moment Ting Yao coughed up blood and fainted, Shennong, who was discussing matters with the leaders of the various tribes, suddenly clutched his chest with one hand. The others were greatly alarmed and immediately surrounded Shennong, looking at him with concern. As they crowded around, Shennong suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. Smelling the pungent scent of blood in the air, they were about to call for someone to treat Shennong. Shennong, however, shook his head. He was a physician himself, and he had no idea what was happening to him, let alone anyone else. Shennong only knew that he suddenly felt something extremely important in his heart was slipping away. Seeing Shennong shake his head and stare blankly, tears involuntarily welled up in his eyes.