Chapter Ninety-Five: Humanity's Fortune

"Greetings to the three leaders of the human race."

Seeing Suiren and the other two, Fuxi stepped forward and gave a slight bow with clasped hands.

"There is no need for such courtesy."

Suiren and the others did not dare act haughtily either, and quickly returned the salute.

"Since I am now of the human race, then when I meet its leaders, this is only proper."

Fuxi smiled. Knowing that the three had already recognized his identity, he did not continue to bow.

Those few words instantly improved the three leaders' impression of him.

They had come largely because of his status. As for Fuxi the man, they had not known much at all. But now, they found themselves deeply favoring him.

The group took their seats in the great hall of the Huaxu tribe, and after a period of casual conversation, the three leaders' eyes could not help but shine.

Fuxi truly was worthy of his title as the Xi Emperor of Heaven; he possessed exceptional talent.

At once, Suiren directly invited Fuxi to join the human race's governing council.

Fuxi considered it briefly, then readily agreed.

After all, once he had reincarnated into the human race, he had already intended to contribute to its development. Joining its governing council would clearly allow him to better realize the ideas in his heart.

And so, Fuxi formally entered the human race's leadership, and the three chiefs held nothing back from him. Whenever any confidential matter arose, they would also seek his counsel.

Fuxi did not disappoint them. The experience he had accumulated over countless years managing the Heavenly Court was quickly put to use. Large matters, small matters, and even the most trivial affairs were all handled by him with methodical ease.

Seeing this, the three leaders were greatly comforted and gradually entrusted more and more authority to him. Before long, Fuxi had become the person second only to the three great leaders in the human race, and his prestige rose rapidly.

With such a foundation, Fuxi began a series of reforms to the human race's imperfect systems.

For example, animal husbandry and livestock breeding.

Although the human race had long since begun raising animals and keeping livestock, it had never formed a truly complete system, nor any standardized methods. As a result, over countless years, some households prospered effortlessly in their breeding, while others lost more than they raised. Farming was no different: some enjoyed bumper harvests year after year, while others toiled through an entire year only to fail even to recover the cost of their seed.

After extensive investigation, Fuxi gathered together a wide variety of advanced methods for breeding and husbandry, compiled them into a single volume, and then spread them far and wide.

In addition, to make life easier for the people, he also created all manner of agricultural irrigation tools and more.

...

Thus, under Fuxi's guidance, the human race's standards in breeding, animal husbandry, and related fields advanced by leaps and bounds. Within a few short years, the people had all grown prosperous, and even in years of famine, they no longer had to fear going hungry.

For all that he had brought them, everyone felt deep gratitude toward Fuxi. As a result, his prestige soon approached that of Suiren and the other two leaders.

"Is the time ripe yet?"

Up in the Heavenly Court, Nuwa looked on and could not help but ask, "Should we send them a dream and have them pass the throne to my brother as soon as possible?"

"Let things take their course. It should not be long now," Li Tian replied.

"Very well."

Nuwa had no further objections.

...

As Fuxi's abilities became increasingly apparent and his prestige continued to rise, Suiren and the others gradually began to feel powerless.

That was because the vast majority of the human race's affairs were now handled by Fuxi, leaving the three of them as little more than ornaments.

Still, seeing Fuxi manage everything in such good order and watching the human race become steadily more prosperous, they felt deeply gratified.

"Perhaps we should pass the position of human leader to Fuxi," Youchao said slowly after much deliberation. "I believe he would do a better job than we have."

As soon as he said this, Suiren and Ziyi both felt the same insight, and the two of them nodded in unison.

They had labored for the human race for so many years. They were indeed tired. Moreover, they had a premonition that once they passed the throne to Fuxi, their own blessings would also be close at hand.

Not long after, all the upper ranks of the human race were summoned by Suiren and the others. In front of everyone, the three formally announced that the position of human leader would henceforth be passed to Fuxi.

"Leader, the human race still needs your guidance..."

Many among the higher ranks showed visible reluctance.

But Suiren and the others had already made up their minds and naturally would not change them lightly.

"Enough. From now on, we will live in the sacred lands of the human race by the Yellow River. If anything should happen to the human race, we will still come out."

When the others heard this, they could only agree, though they remained reluctant.

The great rite of offering sacrifice to Heaven soon began under the preparations of countless members of the human race.

Suiren and the others ascended the high platform and, before the eyes of innumerable human leaders and tribal chieftains, formally announced that Fuxi would from this day forward be the common sovereign of the human race.

The instant their words fell, a mass of merit suddenly descended from the sky and split into three. At once, the cultivation of Suiren and the other two surged upward, climbing again and again until it finally stopped at the very peak of the Quasi-Sage realm.

At the same time, their merit was complete, and they attained the rank of the Three Forefathers of the human race. From this day on, they would know neither calamity nor adversity; so long as the human race did not perish, neither would they.

"Congratulations to the three human forefathers on the completion of your merit."

Seeing this, the other human elders hurried forward with their congratulations, and even Fuxi, now the new Human Emperor, cupped his hands toward them in salute.

"Congratulations to all of us," Suiren and the others replied, equally delighted, smiling as they returned the greetings to those around them.

"Human Emperor, we trust that you will lead the human race well."

At last, Youchao addressed Fuxi with a final instruction, then cupped his hands lightly before he and Suiren and Ziyi flew away toward the sacred grounds of the human race.

From that point on, the human race officially entered the age of Human Emperor rule.

...

At the very same moment that Fuxi became Human Emperor, Li Tian and Nuwa in the Heavenly Court both sensed that Heaven's Court had gained another tenth of the human race's destiny.

Originally, the Heavenly Court had possessed eight tenths of the human race's total destiny. Because Laozi had founded the Human Sect and had preached tirelessly over countless years, he alone held one tenth. Yuan Shi, Tongtian, and Zhunti together held the remaining tenth.

But now, with Fuxi becoming Human Emperor, the Heavenly Court's share of the human race's destiny had risen by another tenth, reaching as much as nine tenths in total. As one rose, the others declined. The fortune of the other four sages was each cut in half.

This time, the sages were no longer calm.

"You have come."

In the Miro Palace, Li Tian and Nuwa both turned toward the palace gates.

"Senior Brother."

Without the slightest sound, Laozi, Yuan Shi, Tongtian, and Zhunti appeared together.

"Senior Brother..."

Tongtian looked somewhat awkward. In truth, given his pride, he had not wanted to come. However, since Laozi had personally come to seek him out, he had been too embarrassed to refuse. Besides, the human race's destiny was the foundation of the Intercept Sect, and it was very important to him as well.

"I know why you have come," Li Tian said, looking at the four sages with a calm expression. "For the remaining two Human Emperors, the Heavenly Court will not interfere. You may decide as you wish. However, when it comes to choosing the Human Emperor, I hope you will not meddle. It would be best not to disrupt the timing of their appearance, nor hinder the development of the entire human race."

Upon hearing this, Laozi and the others exchanged a round of spiritual communication, then nodded in agreement.

After all, what they wanted was only the human race's destiny. As for who the Human Emperor happened to be, they could not be bothered to care. Besides, the fate of the Human Emperor had already been fixed by Heaven; it was not something they could interfere with even if they wished.

Still, the ease of this visit had exceeded their expectations. They had originally thought they would need to contend in battle before obtaining the result they sought.

Of course, securing what they wanted with such ease was the best outcome for everyone.

"Many thanks to Senior Brother for your generosity."

Laozi led Yuan Shi and the others in a bow, then vanished in a flash.

...

After they had left, Nuwa could not help but look at Li Tian in confusion. "Why did you agree so readily to them?"

"Leave a line for others to retreat by, and you will not anger the many," Li Tian said with a faint smile. "Besides, the Heavenly Court's destiny within the human race is already extremely stable. For all these years, we have not interfered in the human race's affairs, yet we still firmly occupy eight tenths of its destiny. That alone speaks volumes..."

"And as for the next two Human Emperors, I already have plans for them..."

Shennong would naturally be the reincarnation of Hongyun, and as for Xuanyuan... Li Tian already had a general idea in mind.

However, it was not yet the right time to speak of it.

...