Day by day, year by year. Before anyone knew it, another thousand years passed peacefully.

The people of the settlement changed. Mortals, long lived as they were in this era could not suffer the ravages of time. Generations went by with only a few successfully becoming cultivators. Under Youxiong’s management, they entered his service as civil servants and military personnel.

Haotian did not have to advice him any on such matters. In fact, the white robed youth more or less watched him work. He couldn’t help but compare him to rulers of old, the countless small clans vying for power in the original East Continent.

Xuanyuan hill was not a particularly wealthy region. It was suitable for mortals, yet lacked a powerful enough spiritual vein to kick start a cultivation renaissance. As such, Youxiong utilized methods his forefathers’, The Three Sovereigns, imparted and farmed the land and river.

In this way, the population had grown to a staggering amount.

From Youxiong’s central administrative building, which also served as his palace home, Haotian watched servants walk pass him. His own presence so limiting that only Nascent Soul stage, elders who’d already awakened their consciousness to a higher realm could notice.

‘Look at them go. It wasn’t that long ago when this place was a bunch of straw huts. Now it resembles a feudal state.’

Haotian often pondered on the changes. Where in spite of it all, everything was so quiet.

Two guards, both Nascent Divinity realm experts followed behind a general at the Wordly Saint realm passed by. They all payed their respects to Haotian unlike the maids.

“At ease. He’s in his office,” Haotian told them.

“Thank you great immortal.”

Although he said this land was incapable of a cultivation renaissance, that wasn’t to say it stayed weak. Over the past thousand years, more and more tribes had decided to move to Xuanyuan hill from further western, or southern regions.

Mass migrations were getting more and more common and along with them came cultivators of greater experience. This was how Youxiong managed to employ cultivators on the cusp of immortality into his service.

Haotian couldn’t help but subconsciously compare this to how Zulong did things.

He cast his gaze outside Xuanyuan hill and sighed. Youxiong would know from reports outside his lands, but his own senses cannot pierce as far as Haotian’s. A great distance away, Haotian watched as gigantic divinities march into former human territories. The population that didn’t leave knelt down in worship while the former leadership fled.

A great battlefield pay beyond that where Human Immortals had perished in an attempt to resist the Earthly Divinities’ advance.

Haotian casted his gaze in another direction. There, temples depicting the Demonic Celestial Emperor, the Eastern Emperor was upheld. The Solar Goddess Xihe, and various Heavenly Demonic Immortals were widely worshipped across humanity.

Mortals were naturally inclined to worship the mighty. To look to them for salvation and guidance. Wether it be the Three Sovereigns and Nuwa, the Heavenly Demons, or the Earthly Divinities. In a world of immense magic, the game of geopolitics never ends.

“My lord. Dire news from the Nanhua tribe.” He heard the Earthly Saint say to Youxiong from within his work office.

“Hm.” Haotian did not need to see him to know of Youxiong’s troubled expression. Things were often like this for the immortal ruler. He began making his way to his friend’s office.

“How could they? I remember Nanhua kind during the Earth Sovereigns banquet. How could he submit to the their rule?” He overheard Youxiong grumble.

In the period since that incident. Haotian had seen Youxiong grumble countless times about the friends he made abandoning their lands or submitting them to the Earthly Divinities.

Those titanic gods were having a resurgence under their current leadership. Human tribes surrendered to them by the dozens, shrinking the massive territory humanity as a species occupied.

But the Earthly Divinities were not consistent in how they dealt with humans. Some factions wanted them permanently out. Others offered them protection in exchange for worship and servitude.

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Either way, it lead to humans seeking shelter through other means. The Demon Court in the stars, the various Immortal sects set up by ancient beings, even the Three Sovereigns appeared to do battle.

Haotian softly pushed the door open. He did not wish to startle them, but he asked anyway. “So what are you going to do?”

Youxiong perked up, but ultimately unsurprised. “Thats the question isn’t it. I’m just a small man in a large world. Tell me what you think of these gods brother first.”

He tossed the scroll over to Haotian who scanned its contents.

“Gonggong’s descendants push closer to Xuanyuan hill every day. Soon your neighbours won’t be the border to foreign lands, you will. It would be unwise to confront them, even with your status as a disciple of Jade Illusionary Palace. Yet you are not the type to abandon your fellow man.”

Haotian sighed. “You are nothing to the Water Court of the Earthly Divinities, nor to Gonggong. Knowing you, you’d petition for help.”

“That’s right. My Xuanyuan hill is close enough to the inner states of humanity that it’ll become endangered should it become the new border. So I will pen a letter to the Three Sovereigns to lend me support. I did make a good impression last time.”

Youxiong seemed optimistic about what he said. Haotian nodded slowly while the three officials watching marvelled at how casually Haotian uttered one of the Divine Ancestor’s name.

“Not going to ask your master? Or even me to fight?” Haotian questioned.

Youxiong was momentarily stunned. After a slight silence, he motioned for his general and officials to leave. Left in isolation, he then rubbed his nose ridge with a grown.

“Asking me the hard question here.”

“The most obvious. As far as I’m aware you are a personal disciple of Guang Chengzi. With his standing in the world, even Gonggong will have to give him face.”

In truth, Haotian knew nothing of what Gonggong was like after so many years, much less what Guang Chengzi was like. But he felt like this was an appropriate conclusion based on what he knew.

“My master and I…we did not part on the best of terms,” Youxiong revealed. “My sect did not wish for me to take up post as leader of my tribe.”

He chuckled reminiscing the past. “I didn’t want to remain on the mountain practising the Dao. I wanted to be what my father, and his father, and all my ancestors were. What the Three Sovereigns were. A leader of humanity paving the way for our survival in this world. I know cultivation is a lonely path as everyone continues to seek the Dao. So I ask you brother, do you even comprehend what I’m saying?

‘How could I not?’ Haotian mentally scoffed.

“But as for you? Well I can’t exactly ask someone of your status to solve all my troubles?”

“What?”

“You haven’t exactly been discreet about your disinterest in my people. I also can’t exactly trouble an exalted immortal like yourself now can I?”

Haotian didn’t reply. He really was only here because he enjoyed hanging out with Youxiong. It fulfilled an empty void he’d felt for a long time. But now he couldn’t help but think back to the anti-devil war and the empires before that.

His utter failure back then.

“It’s going to be difficult,” he said. “You rule over millions. Should a battle start, even if you evacuate, you’re still bound to find many caught in the crossfire.”

Youxiong slouched back. “I’m fully aware. Yet we are still humans…”

“So that’s where you’re coming from. It’s fine,” Haotian replied.

“Don’t worry though. I’ve already drafted my letter in my mind. Besides, lord Suiren once defeated the Flame Divine Ancestor in a bout. I have faith in the sovereigns.” Youxiong reassured him. “Do you mind helping me send it? I don’t exactly have a means to reach their residence quickly.”

“It’s fine. It’s the least I can do,” Haotian said.

Youxiong penned the letter, and Haotian folded it into a paper crane. As the greater immortal, Haotian warped space time to send it on its way, crossing immense distances that no True Immortal could ever manage.

“Thank you brother Zhang, now I am reassured,” Youxiong told him. That same night, the peace in mind allowed him to achieve the Earth Immortal realm after thousands of years. People were optimistic, celebrating a human in doing so.

And though Haotian congratulated his friend too, gifting him a spell worthy of an Earth Immortal(which he made mere minutes prior). He’d disagreed with Youxiong’s words.

“Faith. Thats not something you can afford.”

“What even is wrong with living under a stronger power?”

“Even your sovereigns understand that need.”

Bear tribe of Xuanyuan hill would face its first real disaster since reforming under Youxiong. The Earthly Divinities of current year was unlike what it was during the immediate aftermath of the anti-devil war. It had long since recovered.

Zhurrong, Rushou, Jumang, and Gonggong had reformatted it in Di Jiang’s absence. It’s four courts represented each of their descendent along with the remaining branches that lost their ancestor.

In order to compete against the Demons, the immortal sects, and remaining visages of the previous era’s empires, the Divinities have expanded out from the ruins of Mt Buzhou once more and began expanding their influence.

Wether it was to dominate the universe like how the dragons and phoenixes once tried, or just to provide a strong foundation for their species was unknown. Haotian also could not predict which either. Not only was he not familiar with their divine family in the first place, having barely spoken to them. Time also changed people.

No one would assume hot headed muscle brain Zhurrong to peacefully manage his people like a proper dignified minister, yet here we are. The Demon court now contended with their earthly counterparts. However, their method was just to demand religious worship rather than any direct occupation.

It was like a protection racket. One that had many bases inside humanity’s territory.

It did get him thinking. Zhurrong in the present day was depicted as riding two dragons. The same two dragons he was in a partnership with millions of years ago. That meant he was at least still in an acceptable relationship with the Primrodial Celestial Dragon clan as those two dragons were not low ranking nobodies.

He didn’t tell Youxiong, but he’d identified dragons in Shennong’s presence in what was supposed to be a human leaders gathering. They certainly didn’t seem like they snuck in either.

“Dragons and humans, dragons and divinities. What could Zulong’s descendants be planning? Just a coincidence perhaps? With Gonggong’s faction advancing aggressively, is Shennong reaching out to Zhurrong for aid?

“Mycologically, Zhurrong and Gonggong were opposed. But that depiction and the Twelve Divine Ancestors are completely separate. Is something more going on?”

…

Sitting in a chamber away from mortal eyes. Shielded by the barriers grafted onto Firecloud cave. The Three Human Sovereigns sat around a simple wooden table lit by torches.

Dressed in cheep beast linen was a middle aged Suiren. Next to him, in expensive daoist robes sat along bearded Fuxi. Shennong, the most junior of the three sat in between Suiren and Fuxi.

“It’s settled,” Shennong said. “The Rainbow Dragon King has informed me that this area of the Eastern Shore is ours.”

“That’s Good,” Fuxi said. “I’ll set up an Eight Trigrams Perfect Ultimate formation there. So you two will have to manage the exodus.”

Suiren and Shennong sighed. Few knew how dire humanity’s situation truly was. Divinities were a difficult crowd to deal with. And the Demons high in heaven doesn’t want all out war for humanity’s sake.

“With this, the center of our foundation will move as well. I’ll notify the border chieftains to migrate east,” Shennong said. “I guess Youchao’s disciples will have new designs to mass produce now too. Thank heavens dragons look beautiful.”

“Since we have a proper trajectory, I will take my leave. Thank you brothers.” Shennong’s incarnation dissipated in a cloud that smelled of burnt soil.

“Is there any news on mother?” Suiren asked Fuxi after Shennong left. But the latter shook his head.

“You know her hands are tied,” Fuxi said. “This is for the best. None of us can contend with them anyway. Not now at least. More time is needed for our people to develop. When more third order celestial lifeforms inevitable appear, we can make a grab for these old territories.

“This is for the best Suiren.”