Chapter Nineteen: Journey Through the Primal Wilderness

Now, let us return to the story. The Lord of Salvation managed to block Jumang’s attack with his treasured banner, struggling to free himself from the entangling vines and escape. Yet, when he glanced back by chance, his eyes widened in disbelief—he had never imagined that his junior brother would abandon him and flee at the moment of danger!

Boom!

Jumang’s assault landed, forcing the Lord of Salvation to endure it head-on. He fell, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, his expression growing more desolate.

My fate is sealed.

“It seems you have been forsaken,” Jumang’s eyes flickered, but he did not press the attack any further.

...

Li Tian, together with Nuwa, Fuxi, and Zhun Ti, flew for tens of millions of miles before finally coming to a halt. As soon as they descended from the clouds, Zhun Ti began beating his chest and stomping his feet, wailing toward the direction they had come from. His cries were enough to move any listener to tears, yet Li Tian and the others merely watched with cold eyes.

Eventually, Zhun Ti ceased his lament, even his notoriously thick skin now somewhat embarrassed. After all, it was he who had chosen to follow; no one had forced him. To display such grief now was hardly dignified.

“That’s enough, friend Zhun Ti. You saw for yourself how formidable that monster was. Had we stayed, it would only have meant needless sacrifice. I believe the Lord of Salvation would not wish to see that,” Li Tian stepped forward to comfort him. It was not yet time to sever ties, so he could only offer some consoling words—after all, a kind word costs nothing.

“You speak truly, my friend. But pity my elder brother…” As he spoke, Zhun Ti donned another look of utter despair.

Li Tian could hardly bear it. Realizing his objective had been achieved, he said, “Friend Zhun Ti, I have recalled some important matters that require my attention. Perhaps we should part ways for now; if fate allows, we shall meet again.”

“But, my friend, how can…” Zhun Ti was startled, forgetting his sorrow. He had already counted Li Tian as an ally of his Western faction. Now, hearing Li Tian was leaving, how could he not be alarmed? If there were truly matters to attend to, surely Li Tian could bring him along.

“There is no need to say more, friend. If fate permits, we will meet again.”

Li Tian smiled, waved his hand, and turned away, calling Nuwa and Fuxi to follow. He soared off atop a cloud without looking back, unwilling to entangle himself further with Zhun Ti.

As Li Tian and his companions vanished from sight, Zhun Ti was left alone, his heart sinking into despair. He replayed his actions in his mind, unable to understand where he had erred. Was it abandoning his elder brother to escape alone? Yet it had been the suggestion of the Supreme Celestial!

He could not fathom it—Li Tian had planned to outmaneuver them from the very first day they met.

...

The trio flew onward, soon unable to sense Zhun Ti’s presence. Ahead lay blue skies and white clouds, green mountains and clear rivers below. Li Tian’s mood soared.

Truth be told, he had grown weary of playing games with Zhun Ti and the Lord of Salvation. Still, it had all been worthwhile; with the Lord of Salvation out of the picture, a sacred seat would be spared, greatly increasing his own chances of attaining sainthood.

Regarding the tales from the novels set in the Great Desolation—that one could become a saint simply by seizing the seat—he remained uneasy. After all, sainthood was ordained by heaven, and each of the six saints had their own unique destiny.

The Three Pure Ones inherited Pangu’s legacy; Nuwa was fated to create humanity; as for Zhun Ti and the Lord of Salvation, it was because Hong Jun owed a debt of karma to the West and had to repay it.

Li Tian surmised that those unable to attain sainthood would be removed from the seat for various reasons. For example, Hong Yun relinquished his seat in a moment of doubt, while Kunpeng was excluded by many… but why were others not excluded?

At that time, Yuan Shi remarked, “Those born wet and from eggs, how can they sit with me?” Yet Nuwa, too, was born wet and from an egg—why did nobody oppose her? Not only was she so born, but she was also a woman...

“Brother Tian, did you plan to scheme against those two from the start?” Nuwa asked as they flew, unable to suppress her curiosity. She wondered why Li Tian did not simply kill those two if he disliked them—why go to such lengths? Their cultivation did not seem particularly high.

Fuxi looked over, equally curious about Li Tian’s methods.

“You’ll understand in time,” Li Tian replied with a vague smile. He did not know how to explain; he certainly could not reveal he was a transmigrant who knew their future.

Nuwa and Fuxi exchanged enigmatic glances, but seeing Li Tian’s reluctance, they did not press further.

Thus, the three embarked on their journey through the Great Desolation. With the three clans just fallen and the Wu tribe yet to rise, it was the perfect time to travel the primordial world.

...

“So this is the sea—how magnificent!” On this day, the trio arrived at the shore of the Eastern Sea. Nuwa spread her arms in wonder at the boundless blue stretching ahead.

All three were seeing the sea for the first time, for the Dragon Clan’s lair lay within, and they had offended the dragons from the outset.

“Let’s refrain from using our powers this time. Let’s enjoy ourselves as mortals do,” Li Tian suggested. In both his previous and current life, it was his first visit to the seaside, and he was eager to savor the experience.

“Yes, that sounds wonderful!” Nuwa agreed without hesitation, a radiant smile lighting her face.

Seeing this, Li Tian gently took Nuwa’s hand. As she did not resist, he walked with her across the sands, hand in hand, towards the waves.

A surge of spray drenched them both, prompting laughter as their eyes met.

After frolicking in the sea for a while, Li Tian produced a fishing rod. The three sat on rocks by the shore, fishing. Lacking proper bait, they substituted spiritual materials, which made their catch abundant—sometimes hauling in several fish at once.

Nuwa and Fuxi, experiencing this for the first time, soon became immersed in the joy of it.

They cordoned off a small section of water to hold their catch, and soon the area was teeming with fish. Yet, when it was time to leave, Nuwa released them all.

Soaring atop clouds, the three flew over the sea, basking in the ocean breeze, delighting in the jewel-like waters below.

After wandering the sea for several months, they moved on. Li Tian had hoped to find the immortal isle of Penglai, but it eluded him, and he left empty-handed.

Time was the least valuable commodity in the Great Desolation, and so, unconsciously, the three traveled for over a thousand years. During this period, Nuwa broke through to the early stage of Golden Immortal, Fuxi to the mid-stage. Stimulated by their progress, Li Tian resolved to push himself, and decades ago, he too advanced to the peak of Golden Immortal. All were well pleased.