“Impossible!”

A cry resounded throughout a depressed meeting room inside Youxiong’s palace. The human chieftain, his advisors, and his generals all stared down at a scroll detailing a missive. No, an order sent directly from the headquarters of humanity.

Youxiong’s pupils were dilated, his mouth gaping. He could not believe the order he had been sent. Many of his close advisors were all the same. Though some appeared contemplative, others gripped their fists into hard stone.

Leaning on the back wall, a close friend yet not an active participant in government, was Haotian. He sighed as he watched this scene unfold.

Previously, Youxiong had begun laying down plans to halt the advancing divinities. There was a strong confidence in him, a faith in his people that they will survive this disaster and continue to thrive.

“This has to be a fake!” Youxiong immediately said. His fist slammed down on the table, burning it and the scroll. But while the cheap wooden furniture was reduced to ash, the scroll remained unharmed. It merely dropped to the ground with a soft thud.

“Leather from a demon ox,” Haotian chimed in from the side. He felt the need to in order to avoid any confusion.

“Any powerful force can procure this material for disposable messages,” Youxong scoffed. “Brother Zhang, we need to get to the bottom of this.”

‘He thinks someone is falsifying this order.’ Haotian felt sorry for his friend. He stepped forward and grabbed the scroll from the floor. No one stopped him, for they knew his great cultivation.

“The same as that invitation to the humanity’s leaders meet. This is Shennong’s writing.”

In a tone that signified finality, the message was for Youxiong to migrate out of Xuanyuan hill. It was not even a personalized message. To Haotian, it resembled those automated messages from his source’s previous life.

Shennong’s own stamp was displayed on the bottom and carried a distinct smell to it. The message told that the divinities were too strong and for the human leaders to enter the Three Sovereign’s personal territories to avoid unnecessary blood shed. To avoid fighting Gonggong’s faction.

It was polite enough, if extremely impersonal. Haotian had guesses where Shennong’s goal was. He looked at the fuming Youxiong and placed the scroll into.

“Brother Zhang, we need to…I have a request to make.” Youxiong quickly corrected his tone.

Haotian perked up. “You wish to go to Gengfen? You know it won’t change anything right?”

“I need to see formyself,” Youxiong said with a huff. His face was flushed with anger, a deep sense of betrayal cut across his psyche.

It was one Haotian could somewhat understand. The man had been disappointed by a hero he’d looked up to his entire life. One whose influence in him somehow superceded any indoctrination from Yuxu Palace.

While Haotian was not fully in the know of the curriculum of disciples studying under the Heavenly Lord of The Primordial Beginnings. He did think he’d instil a sense of loyalty to the sect above all else. After all, were they not a united entity going to war with the Heavenly Lord of Numinous Treasure’s sect?

“Well, let us not waste time then,” Haotian said while motioning for Youxiong to follow him. Observer he may’ve decided to be. But if it were for a friend, he did not mind.

The trip to Gengfen was not long. Being a cultivator of such power, Haotian essentially teleported the two there. Youxiong did not show surprise at such a starkly different means then last time. His concerns leaned too much elsewhere.

When the two reappeared on the main street of Gengfen, its civilians glanced up in shock.

“Someone teleported in?”

“How did they bypass the defensive formation?”

“I thought people can only enter through the gate?”

The two payed them no heed. Haotian nodded at Youxiong. The latter wordlessly charged for Shennong’s palace.

“Who dares?” Haotian heard in his mind. He grumbled, finding Shennong’s attention annoying. “I’m only escorting a friend, please let him into the palace. He’s only a small Profound Immortal,” he informed the sovereign.

“I…I know you. You were here the other day.” Shennong’s voice sounded aggrieved.

“Come on brother Zhang. What are you waiting for?” Haotian heard Youxiong call out for him from several thousand meters away.

Catching up, the two entered the main palace without any issue. It would seem Shennong preemptively informed his guards to step aside.

The smell of the palace had not changed a bit. It was still a roasted soil combination. But the atmosphere was a lot more tense. Despite the urgency of their arrival, cultivators were very quick on the uptake.

Shennong’s officials and advisors all stood on the side stroking their beards or mustaches. Evidently guessing the reason.

While Youxiong was not a major figure with a legend behind him, he did have a respectable resume from his time leading the Bear tribe. What’s more, there was always the shadow of Kunlun behind him that made humanity’s leaders weary.

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“I’m here to…may I please see the Earth Sovereign,” Youxiong changed his tune to a more respectful tone. Even so, his posture was still shaking from high emotions.

“He’s expecting you,” the guard at the throne hall’s gate simply said. No one needed to push those doors for it to automatically open. Several ministers stepped out. Clearly, Shennong was holding court just moments prior.

The man himself was rubbing the bridge of his nose. A single one of his eyes stared right at Haotian, as if expecting something of him.

‘Why would you think I run anything? That’s you guy’s jobs,’ he chastised in his mind.

“Your majesty,” Youxiong spoke after kowtowing. “Please tell me this isn’t true.”

He spoke of the missive the Bear tribe received. In his heart, he begged for Shennong to deny it. For the old sovereign to implode in anger at the humiliation of the human race.

But instead, Shennong replied with something out of his expectations.

“Do you not see the logic in it young one?” Shennong said, taking his eyes off Haotian.

“The Earthly Divinities are pushing into humanity’s lands. They’re subjugating our people!” Youxiong said. “Your majesty, there is no logic in that.”

He took a deep breath. “Humans have inhabited Xuanyuan Hill and all the regions surrounding it for generations. When I was a boy, my mother told me stories of how Mother Nuwa and the Three Sovereigns protected our people while we spread from the land of our birth. Now our people are threatened. We must fight!”

“Did you put him up to this? Is this Kunlun’s stance?” Shennong grunted.

“What?” Youxiong became confused. Haotian merely sighed.

“Zhang Youren is my friend your majesty. He is not a member of Jade Illusionary Palace,” Youxiong corrected. “Your majesty I am arguing for humanity. You cannot allow us to be forced from our own homes. You cannot allow us, your people to be attacked by these foreigners!”

“Friend you say…how many of our human’s friends are just that?” Shennong muttered. “Child, if what you say is true then you need to understand my position and the position of my two brothers. We do not have the means to war against the Earthly Divinities.”

“You probably heard stories about Suiren, Fuxi’s, and mine own exploits. Yes we did many things during our cultivation journey. It was a long and arduous road for a minor species like us in a world dominated by mighty powers.”

Shennong’s nostrils flared and he slammed a fist onto his handrest. The room was engulfed in flame. For all his reputation among mortals as the Divine Farmer, his other name has always been Flame Emperor.

He was taught by Suiren and inherited much of early human cultivation techniques along with insight from Nuwa herself. His fire was no less powerful than ancient deities and even Suiren.

A Profound Immortal like Youxiong was shaken to his core. It was easy for Shennong to turn him into ash. Yet he did not do so.

“We made numerous sacrifices and compromises so children like you can have a safe environment to grow up. We fought hard against the Eastern Emperor, against the three Daoism sects, against the Divine Ancestors.

“But our power is just not enough against them all. Big brother Suiren dualed Zhurong and bested him. But what you didn’t know was that the Water Divine Ancestor, Metal Divine Ancestor, and Wood Divine Ancestor were all angered by the loss. The Heavenly Demons on high were watching you see and they thought this weakened their geopolitical stance.

“They would’ve launched a full invasion. It was just us few experts and a population in the quintillions. Were it not for the dragons stepping in as an intermediary…” Shennong stopped to calm himself.

“Impossible. What of Mother Nuwa…” Youxiong gasped.

“Oh she couldn’t solve this even if she wanted to. That blight of a monkey from prehistoric times casted a curse on our entire race. We’ve been paying for it none stop ever since. We had to play nice with our neighbors. We pick and choose our battles so that all of humanity can benefit. We fold and retreat so all of humanity don’t have to suffer. As a leader, you must understand this.

“I disagree your majesty!” Youxiong interrupted him. “We cannot fold in the this blatant attempt to bully our kind. They have no business deciding the fate of my race. I left Jade Illusionary Palace because I believed in the power of humanity in you my Three Sovereigns.”

“Naive.” Shennong sighed. “It’s just a small piece of land. We are only retreating eastwards for the race to grow. In time we can reclaim what is lost. Would that not be better than stubbornly fighting something you cannot possibly hope to defeat?

“You should know, Gonggong is most unkind and savage. Zhurong laughed off his defeat and negotiated with his family along with the dragons for hundreds of years for our sakes. It took alot of effort to avert an extinction wide war.

“This is a lesson for you. I see talent in you. Don’t squander it on losing battles. Take your people and go to the new holy land.”

“Grrrh,” Youxiong gritted his teeth. He abruptly stood up with his head hung low.

“Youxiong?” Haotian questioned.

“Let’s go.” the chieftain turned away.

Shennong shook his head but didn’t stop them from leaving. He hoped Youxiong would see reason. If he died, not only would a number of humans suffer but Jade Illusionary Palace may become displeased. Then they’d bee looking at a confrontation between the two with humans once again stuck in between.

If only Nuwa was here. Her saint level cultivation would’ve been the only thing keeping foreign parties in check. But unfortunately, she’d been unreachable ever since leaving to permanently deal with the curse in all their bloodlines.

Their entire path of reincarnation was discovered to be contaminated long ago. And there were numerous parties pissed off about it.

Outside, Youxiong suddenly stopped halfway through the courtyard. He noticed a figure that wasn’t there when he entered. A tall brutish looking beast built like an ogre.

He had bronze green skin and had his arms folded in front of his body. Ordinarily, one would assume they were a person who cultivated unique body cultivation techniques. But Youxiong noticed something off.

This man watching him, he only appeared to have one set of eyes. But he distinctly felt multiple. He stood on two legs but Youxiong saw numerous limbs with hoofs overlapping them. Those arms appeared to be a set of two, but the image of four distinct sets was also visible.

His face, rough and square shaped resembled that of a bull.

“That is exactly what you think it is,” Haotian said from the side.

When a demon took on a human form, they’d generally have perfect transformations as they’d become enlightened to Dao. They may choose some animalistic features to tack on but that’s generally up to their own discretion. In most cases one cannot even percieve the difference unless that demon expert showcased their aura.

But the green was not that scenario. His transformation was brutish and unrefined. As if he merely forcefully morphed his flesh into another state.

“You are from the Earthly Divinities,” Youxiong marched up to him.

“Hello there,” the green man met Youxiong’s glare with a smile. “I am Chi You, a dignitary from the trueborn children of Pangu.”

“This is a mockery,” Youxiong sneered at him. “You think you can just appear here, in my human’s heartlands so casually while you threaten our people?”

“Mockery? How is this so? We discussed the terms very clearly. You are free to stay in your lands too. You just need to worship us as rightful deities of the land. You do it for the beasts up high too.”

“Those lands are inheritances from our human ancestors and belong to humans,” Youxiong warned. “We…I will not give them up to the likes of you.”

“Foolish. Even your Sovereign recognizes the righteousness of his actions,” Chi You said. “I currently rule many humans in Jiuli tribe. That’s not far from the area being returned to us. Feel free to come to tour my capital. If you don’t vacate, you’ll be my civilians so you might as well get to know your ruler.”

“Don’t start a scene,” Haotian tapped Youxiong’s shoulders. “Let’s go.”

He teleported Youxiong away from Chi You. In a separate band of light, the two flew away and reappeared in the territory of the Bear tribe.

“For what its worth, I do agree with Shennong. It’s a bad idea to fight the a race as powerful as the Earthly Divinities.”

“Why don’t you fight?” Youxiong suddenly said. “Brother Zhang, you are an old human from ancient days too right? You have a spectacularly high cultivation. You can save us from this disaster.”

“I thought that way too a long time ago,” Haotian murmured.

“Fuck. FUCK!” Youxiong roared. “Why do you just watch? You hang around me every day, even helped my people in rebuilding. What is your aim in all this?”

Youxiong watched the city he built over the years below him. “Why are my people’s leaders bending over backwards? Why must humans kneel down for others that don’t care about us? Why must we need protection from outside sources?”

Haotian widened his eyes.

“No, I don’t care for that logic or whatever Shennong says. I will fight for my people’s place.”

‘His conviction is as strong as a genuine Dao fruit.’ Haotian felt himself gasping. ‘But he’s only a second order celestial lifeform. How could he form a Dao?’

“Thank you for all that you’ve done over the years. But if you’re not intendng to help my people, please leave. This isn’t me being rude to you Zhang Youren. I just don’t want you to see my and my people’s end.”

He turned away from the innate god and rejoined his people. There in the sky, Haotian found himself frowning.