“So how did this come about? For the leader of a small tribe to be an immortal. Are cultivators of that magnitude so common among humanity?”

The Bear tribe had regained their compound. All its associated families were carried back by the combined efforts of Youxiong and Zhang Youren back to their place of origin. Located near Xuanyuan hill, it was a cosy place al things considered.

Youren had accompanied Youxiong back out of curiosity. Youxiong was hospitable enough to accept. He was also glad to have another powerhouse willing to stay with them, at least for a time.

On the way back, Zhang Youren got to see the charismatic young man in action. For someone who’d spent the majority of his life cultivating up the mountain, he was surprisingly skilled in administration. Not to mention the logistic of a successful yet hasty retreat, after arriving back to Xuanyuan hill, he quickly organized the people to their stations.

By the end of the day, he’d sorted the village back to how one would expect an undisturbed society to function. Woodcutters, fishermen, farmers were all organized back to their station, and builders set out to fix the damage the monkeys had caused.

An immortal like Youxiong could’ve resolved the issue with his magic, but he explained to Zhang Youren that if he did so, people would grow dependent and forget how to do things by themselves. To Youren, it seemed Youxiong was exited to have another immortal to talk to, or brag to.

“Didn’t I already say? I’m a disciple of Kunlun’s Jade Illusionary palace.”

“But how did that happen. I don’t think the immortals of Kunlun would accept anyone,” Zhang Youren probed. “So what is it? Virgin birth? Transparent stomachs? Intelligent at birth? Reinvented farming and the wheel at age 5?”

“Ahahahaha, you make me laugh friend.” Youxiong slapped his knee heartily. “None of that as far as I know. If I had a transparent stomach, I didn’t notice. And I’m fully certain I have a father.” He pointed at a gravesite just out the village.

“And I was most definitely a stupid child if all the stories are true,” he chuckled at the mention. “To be honest. I don’t know why master chose me to be his disciple. I was just out collecting firewood one day, and master rounded the corner of my vision. Our eyes met and I asked of he could help carry my wood.”

“That’s it? Hold on your master should be…”

“Guangchengzi, the Great Immortal Lord of Broard Accomplishments,” Youxiong bragged. “The chief disciple of the Jade Pure One too. You know, one of the Three Pure Ones?”

“Heavenly Venerable of the Primordial Beginnings,” Zhang Youren said. “I’m aware. You sure you didn’t have any chance encounter? No special large destiny for Guangchengzi to notice you?”

He looked around, making a show as if he expected Guangchengzi to teleport in any time. Yet unbeknownst to Youxiong, Zhang Youren did not detect the presence of any other powerful immortal in a large radius.

“If I do, he never told me. Though that’s not really important now is it? My job is to manage the Bear tribe.”

“I see. You wish for the prosperity of the Bear tribe?”

“Of course. Half the reason I descended the mountain. Had enough of endless practise anyway. I already surpassed the tribulation. I know there are stronger things out there but I just can’t anymore, that life wasn’t fulfilling. But here? The Bear tribe is my place of origin, my true home.”

He took a brief moment to look at the gravesite outside the settlement. “I just wish I realised quite how long had passed.”

“As immortals, we shouldn’t hold attachments to the fleeting.” Youxiong frowned as he heard Zhang Youren say. But then he heard a bitter chuckle that turned his opinion.

“Some natural processes…we cannot…stop.” His new friend said after a grim sounding chuckle. It made Youxiong wonder about him.

“Bad experience?” He asked. But before Youren could respond, he held up a hand. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I’m not the type to pry when it’s not wanted.”

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“Hm, let’s just say things happened.”

Youxiong suspected his new acquaintance was much older then he. Perhaps he was old enough to experience the catastrophe of the previous era. He’d only heard vague stories during his time at Kunlun. His seniors didn’t like speaking of it, and only his grandmaster and eldest martial uncle had written accounts. Those accounts of course, were in their private collection and he didn’t there pry.

“How long do you plan to stick around? I know immortals like us live busy lives. Seeking the Dao requires much opportunities and thought. For all my power, I’m just a tribal chieftain in the end.”

“Hm?” Zhang Youren appeared surprised. In fact, he hadn’t thought quite that far ahead. Youxiong just had this magnet about him that made others curious.

He was also charismatic, being someone easily fitting into the leader role his fellow tribesmen gave him. To Zhang Youren, he was an oddity that he felt compelled to tag along and see. Yet there was also another reason beneath that.

“I’m just curious is all. Don’t let my face fool you, I’m an old man with few things to do.”

As Youxiong turned around to think about options for his village, Zhang Youren observed him. Why had he tagged along exactly? He could’ve just stayed up that mountain and watched from a distance.

‘Was I charmed? Was his charisma that magnetic?’ He wondered. Youxiong was an immortal cultivator but didn’t carry himself with much pomp. There was certainly pride there, he could see the subtle arrogance of an immortal being’s disposition. But he talked with his people and thought about their living situations, problems, and feelings.

‘In that regard, he is different from my dis…his disciple,’ Zhang Youren carefully thought. He glanced at the sky and sighed.

“What was I thinking? Zhang Youren? Why that of all things? It’s not even funny anymore,” me murmured quietly.

Zhang Youren’s true name is Haotian. The disciple of Dao Ancestor Hongjun and one of the strongest Primal Zenith Chaos Immortals of the past. Standing there watching a small True Immortal do the work of a chieftain, he didn’t quite know what he was even doing here.

“Hey you,” an older man called to him. “Why aren’t you doing anything? Help the builders if you’re so free.”

Haotian raised an eyebrow. These people, how detached were they high society? The mortals of the past knew better than to talk to immortals of any kind so casually with being intimate with them.

Yet as he observed these people, dressed in beast pelts and linen, he gradually understood. These people are fundamentally mortals, they had some some who embarked on the immortal path, but their attainments were low. They couldn’t tell the difference between immortals and really strong cultivators. After all, from a mortal with no cultivation’s, what was the difference between a man who could obliterate a mountain to a man who could obliterate a mountain? Both were omnipotent beings with infinite power from their perspective.

These people regarded those Golden Core, and Nascent Soul elders as the same fellow tribesman. The Bear tribe was small, very communal based. So Haotian did not begrudge them. He didn’t mind moving a few pieces of rocks anyway.

He didn’t overtly use his strength, but they still got the job done quick. Those with cultivation were surprised at him being there. They of course, understood better the difference between them and an immortal like him.

“Hey Youren, didn’t expect manual labour out of you.” Youxiong approached holding a bamboo scroll.

“People ask and I have no reason to object,” Haotian replied. “Done with administration already?”

“We’re a tribe of a few hundred, there’s not much to manage,” Youxiong said heartedly. The scroll in his hand were a record of sorts, something to have a physical copy of all that he’d done written down. In the language he knew best, it was naturally the same script used by the Chaos Godfiends.

But that also came with the caveat that mortals couldn’t comprehend its meaning. It was simply too complex for the human mind to fathom, and even immortals struggle hard to read it. This was why compared to how Haotian will write, Youxiong’s writing were akin to a toddler’s.

The sun had set by this point, and both men found themselves on an elevated stone on Xuanyuan hill. They could see all of the recovering Bear tribe settlement from here. Even the Jing river nearby was visible. In its own simplistic way, it was very beautiful.

“Good thing those monsters didn’t trample it all,” Youxiong said. “I remember when my mom would take me down to the river. Right there.” He pointed at a sport curving into a U shape. “My father was a fisherman, inherited techniques Sovereign Fuxi taught humanity to feed.”

“Fuxi…he’s active again?”

“I mean, he hasn’t done anything major as of late. I’d love to meet him though. The legendary Heaven Sovereign of humanity whose led us since we left our cradle,” Youxiong said fondly. “Your cultivation is much greater than I, have you by chance…”

But he stopped that chain of thought. Even if his new friend Zhang Youren was a Heavenly Immortal, or even a Golden Immortal, it would still not be enough to be granted audience to one of the Three Sovereigns. A lowly Golden Immortal would be little more than an ant in front of them.

“You can say I’m familiar with Lord Fuxi.”

“Aren’t we all. Hahaha,” Youxiong chuckled. “Training at Kunlun, I’ve always heard about the deeds of my human ancestors. It’s quite strange, seeing everyone there talk about humans as their own thing despite looking identical to one.”

“It’s the opposite. Humans just happens to look like them,” Haotian denied. “Nuwa sculpted them in image to herself. She herself had obtained the Dao body as a sign of being enlightened in the Dao. At worst its a coincidence.”

“Ah but I was a child back then,” Youxiong added. “I didn’t know any better. Of course now I understand how we came to be.” He took a second to watch the rest of his people beginning to retire for the night. “Most of them never learn though.”

“Too many of them I wager,” Haotian said. “Looks to me like the human population spread out far and wide since my time.”

“True true, even the Three Sovereigns couldn’t imagine how much humanity would spread. They say all four continents house them in uncountable numbers. Even with all their might, the Three Sovereigns simply couldn’t manage them all. Just throw their names around as warnings. Of course, that means tragedies happen often.”

Youxiong thought back to the monkeys that would’ve annihilated the Bear tribe had he not coincidentally traveled back. “No one pays enough attention to small tribes.”

“I guess even Chaos Immortals like the three…” Haotian stopped realising what Youxiong just said. “Wait three? Three sovereigns?”

“Yes?”

“Three, as in Three active sovereigns. Not prophesied sovereigns?”

“Uh…yes? There are prophesied sovereigns? Youren, are you aware of some divination about humanity’s future?”

“No wait, go back, list the three active sovereigns of humanity to me.”

“You don’t know?”

Thinking fast, “I only remember two. Fuxi and Shennong.”

“Not Lord Suiren? I’m shocked, I’d think you’ll know him most of all.”

“I do know Suiren,” Haotian quickly said. “I just…you know what I think my memories aren’t in the best condition.”

“That’s terrible, did you suffer a heart devil? These things are dangerous. I can ask my master for a pill if you’d like.”

“No no, it’s fine. I’ve dealt with it.” Haotian hoped he’d buy that excuse. He decided he really needed to do some divination. He’s really behind on world news.