Li Changshou walked alongside the army, watching the overlapping shadows with a hint of reluctance in his eyes.

Behind him, Chang’e searched through the crowd with slight confusion, seeking the missing piece of her dao heart.

At the army’s forefront, Elder Suiren’s figure trembled like a candle flame about to extinguish, yet he stood proudly against the wind.

The horn’s sound ceased. In this seemingly endless tunnel of space and time beneath Elder Suiren’s feet, only the uniform footsteps and the creaking of turning wheels echoed.

So many years had passed…

“Chief, there’s no food left here. Everyone can barely hold on.”

“How much longer can we last?”

“Six or seven meals at most. It takes seven days to reach the next cave, and if we don’t move now, we might starve here.”

“Don’t worry. The demon army hasn’t withdrawn yet. I’ll think of something about the food.”

The hunched figure sat in the damp cave, staring at the wooden sticks before him, slowly rubbing them together.

Back then, he always wondered when this life of hiding would end…

“This is the only path left, isn’t it?”

The old man gazed at the inscription illuminated by his torch, running his hand over the lines of text.

“Chief, let us do it!”

“I am the strongest, with the highest cultivation in the tribe. Only I can resist the Demon Ancestor’s remnant soul…”

The old man spoke softly, his gaze filled with determination.

“Chief, this is too dangerous! If you can’t resist it!”

“Then kill me, turn my corpse into spiritual energy, and nurture the next chief.”

That large hand pressed against the stone tablet, crushing it directly. Though darkness engulfed his body, his eyes remained steadfast and unyielding.

Mere demon flames…

Beneath the sky, endless palaces stretched out, while boundless demon armies shrouded the entire heavens.

On the ground, countless men, women, elderly, and children stood silently with weapons in hand, their anger seeming to pierce the sky.

At the very front, at the forefront.

There were thirty thousand figures wrapped in dark qi, consuming endless light, burning with scorching red flames, their frenzied gazes fixed on the elderly figure at the front.

My children…

Give me your lives, leave your beliefs to those who follow.

Let demon qi enter my soul, let blood stain the demon god’s weapon.

The sky belongs to the demon race, the earth to the shamanic tribe. The human race has only companions, only you and me left. We march forward so our descendants won’t need to hide, so our posterity can stand proudly on this land and gaze at the sky!

The flame shall never die!

The flame shall never die…

“Right, where’s the sword?”

In the flame tunnel torn from space-time, the elder at the front reached for his empty waist, then seemed to remember something.

Ahead, the Chaos Sea stirred with waves upon waves. The memories in the elder’s eyes gradually receded.

Suddenly, thunder roared as boundless lightning surged forth, easily scattered by the flames that erupted before the elder.

Then came the winds of annihilation from all directions. The elder raised his hand and drew a simple yet mystical symbol. The wind ceased, returning to silence.

Behind him, countless heroic spirits marched forward in silence, weak flames igniting on their foreheads, making them fearless of the chaos of qi’s tearing and the compression of space-time.

Their gazes remained determined, just as when they had faced death.

Streams of dao rhythm that could inspire demon hearts filled the passage, yet they couldn’t shake these heroic spirits in the slightest.

They lived for a single belief.

They had only their final spirit and obsession remaining.

Just like the elder in front, lying at the lake bottom gazing at the sky, they constantly watched that elder’s back, waiting for his call to arms, waiting for his direction.

On the war chariot, Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan coordinated from the center, transmitting streams of thoughts downward, the battle formation constantly changing as they advanced.

The Purple Jade Palace lay ahead.

What they faced would be the strongest will in this world and heaven;

What they fought for was to voice the human race’s rightful cry!

Sacrifice meant nothing – they were already ancient figures in the books.

Elder Suiren’s steps never faltered as he continued blocking the attacks appearing in the tunnel, using flames to resist the endless pressure from outside.

Li Changshou’s eyes showed some unease. His figure flashed as he appeared directly before the army, quickly catching up to Elder Suiren and walking beside him.

“Elder…”

“No need to speak, I roughly know,” Elder Suiren smiled warmly. “You have your difficulties, and being able to speak for the human race already makes me very gratified.

Since the Human Emperor has become the Human Emperor, he is the backbone of our human race. The Heavenly Dao’s unreasonable suppression is like slaughtering our human race.

Our race has never owed the Heavenly Dao anything, so why must we suffer such humiliation?

We must fight.

Just remember, no matter what happens later, protect yourself.

Also, the Dao Ancestor ultimately cannot be trusted.”

Li Changshou clenched his fists slightly and boldly reached out to support Elder Suiren’s arm, quickly transmitting streams of information.

Those were his true feelings, and also part of his calculations and plans regarding human race matters.

Elder Suiren frowned deeply, turning his head to look at Li Changshou, his steps faltering.

But then he continued forward, suddenly letting out a light laugh, then patted Li Changshou’s shoulder.

“You’ve done well, go do it.

Remember not to take action today, proceed according to your plan. We old ones will go first.”

“Elder, this junior feels guilty.”

“Don’t be sentimental, the human race doesn’t need this. Go, the path ahead is for your later generations to walk.”

Elder Suiren’s arm broke free from Li Changshou’s support.

From behind, Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan pointed out a white cloud. Li Changshou sighed and bowed his head, stepping onto the cloud and falling back to the Yellow Emperor’s chariot with Chang’e, standing behind the Yellow Emperor.

This legendary emperor leading the army of heroic spirits turned his head to look at Li Changshou with a hint of a smile, then continued gazing at the palace at the tunnel’s end.

“The elder is going to risk his life again.”

Li Changshou remained silent, closing his eyes to calm his mind.

In the Heavenly Court, Linxiao Palace.

The white-robed Jade Emperor sat quietly on his throne, wearing golden armor and holding the Jade Emperor’s sword, with a hundred proper gods standing silently below.

A treasure seal slowly rotated before the Jade Emperor, emanating endless heavenly might. Below the seal, a scroll was projected, showing the human race’s heroic spirit army walking through the endless tunnel toward the Purple Jade Palace.

Below, the crowd of proper gods maintained their silence. At this moment, they could only remain silent.

Minister Wood gazed at those figures with complex emotions…

Once upon a time, he had been one of them, only fortunately surviving in the end, placed in the Heavenly Court by a certain sage.

Alas, today he no longer had the blood and spirit of those years, but human race blood still flowed through his body.

“Your Majesty,” a proper god said softly, “The Heavenly Dao summons us to guard the Purple Jade Palace with heavenly soldiers. If we don’t move now, we might miss the opportunity for battle…”

“Your Majesty!”

Minister Wood’s legs bent as he knelt, saying firmly: “The Heavenly Court’s rules, with the divine authority bestowed by the Heavenly Dao, establish the Three Realms’ order and protect heaven, earth, and living beings!

There is no mention of guarding the Purple Jade Palace!”

The palace officials were all startled.

Minister Wood tightly closed his eyes, his whole body trembling slightly, his dao heart twisted into a knot.

He… he was simply risking his life!

Dong!

The white-robed Jade Emperor planted his treasure sword before him and said calmly:

“Wait for the Dao Ancestor’s orders.”

The crowd continued to maintain silence, and the martial official who had spoken earlier also lowered his head and knelt, his body motionless.

Beside him, the Queen Mother gazed at the Jade Emperor’s face, a warm smile appearing at the corners of her mouth.

At the sage’s dwelling, Jade Void Palace and Azure Toured Palace, streams of light shot forth as the top disciples of both schools gathered, but were told similar words by their respective teachers.

The Primordial Heavenly Lord said: Do not move rashly.

The Heavenly Lord of the Way and its Virtue said: Don’t get excited, this is karma between the human race and the Heavenly Dao, and even if you intervene it would be useless.

In the Holy Mother’s Palace, the Holy Woman Nu Wa sat in the main hall, reclining in her throne, fingers pressed against her smooth forehead, her eyes revealing some anxiety.

In the dragon palace, at the sea eye, many old dragons raised their heads to gaze at the seemingly peaceful sky, watching those figures defying heaven, their gazes mostly complex.

In the space-time tunnel.

The path ahead suddenly became spacious, and the heavenly soldiers and generals who should have appeared here were nowhere to be seen.

Jade Emperor…

Li Changshou silently expressed his thanks in his heart, when Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan before him suddenly raised the Xuanyuan Sword high!

Roar!

The low roars of countless heroic spirits sounded like the growls of ancient fierce beasts.

Elder Suiren raised his trembling hand and drew another character. A flame spread out, directly driving away the chaos qi.

The fire had the momentum to spread everywhere, actually enveloping the seemingly distant Purple Jade Palace within its flames.

It was unclear whether Elder Suiren had pulled the Purple Jade Palace closer or had sent them to its front.

Endless earth spread beneath their feet, chaos qi receded like the tide, and a low “sky” appeared overhead, with people standing between heaven and earth.

Elder Suiren’s steps never faltered as he approached the Purple Jade Palace.

“Sigh…”

A light sigh and a meditation cushion ten zhang in diameter appeared first, followed by streams of flowing light encircling it. The figure of the imposing old Dao appeared before the Purple Jade Palace, frowning as he watched Elder Suiren.

The Dao Ancestor, Hongjun!

Dao Ancestor Hongjun asked slowly: “Why has the Human Emperor come today?”

“To fight heaven.”

Black and red flames intertwined around Elder Suiren’s body. His withered form, facing such a strongest being in heaven and earth, showed not the slightest weakness.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun frowned deeply and said in a heavy voice: “The human race is now the protagonist of heaven and earth. Looking around, all lands under heaven and earth belong to the human race. What more dissatisfaction does the Human Emperor have?”

Elder Suiren slowly clenched his fists and said: “Why does the Heavenly Dao bully our race’s later Human Emperor? Why does it humiliate our race’s Holy Mother Nu Wa?”

The Dao Ancestor remained silent.

“When you asked me to give up the position of Heavenly Emperor, you said the Heavenly Dao was supremely fair and impartial, that the human race’s destiny was already established, telling me not to worry.

When the Heavenly Dao arranged for many primordial beings to reincarnate as our human race’s Human Emperors, you said the human race’s foundation was insufficient and should be supplemented.

Today, what more can you say?

Dao Ancestor, you are the teacher of living beings, transmitting the methods of cultivation, embodying the Heavenly Dao!”

Elder Suiren took a step forward, flames erupting around him, his voice like hundreds shouting in unison, rough and magnificent!

“Then Dao Ancestor, are you the Heavenly Dao, or are you a living being!”

Dao Ancestor Hongjun said calmly: “This poor Dao is both the Heavenly Dao and a living being.”

Elder Suiren remained silent, stepping forward as flames pointed directly at Hongjun!

“So be it,” Dao Ancestor Hongjun sighed, “Every sip and peck is predestined. The Heavenly Dao has flaws, human hearts are restless. This poor Dao only asks you, how does the Human Emperor intend to fight heaven?”

“Destroy Purple Jade Palace, break the Heavenly Dao.”

Dao Ancestor Hongjun spoke:

“The Heavenly Dao gathers as dao, activated by Pangu God’s will – formless, colorless, without dao, without body, thus neither born nor destroyed.

The Heavenly Dao now has desires and obsessions, their roots ironically coming from the human race. Mortal desires are uncontrolled, desires contaminate the Great Dao, and the Great Dao benefits the Heavenly Dao.

Yet the Heavenly Dao’s obsession is merely for heaven and earth’s stability, its desire merely for heaven and earth’s peace.”

Elder Suiren replied: “I only know that heaven is unjust, earth is uneven, and humans must speak out.”

Thunderlight brewed in Dao Ancestor Hongjun’s eyes as boundless lightning transformed into hundreds of thunder dragons, dancing and writhing behind him as magnificent heavenly might slowly mobilize.

Just then!

A trace of dao rhythm appeared as black and white qi circulated, hovering directly above the human race’s heroic spirits.

An old Daoist came from chaos, his face withered and form shrouded in streams of dao rhythm, eyes half-open, sitting to the right of the human race’s heroic spirit army.

“Heaven’s way benefits without harm.”

Taiqing, Laozi.

Two more figures stepped forth from the chaos.

The one on the left had his hands behind his back, middle-aged in appearance, emanating righteous dao rhythm, his face stern yet kindly.

He smiled and said: “Teacher, the Heavenly Dao should be without personal desire or emotion, only then will it not lose fairness.”

The young Daoist on the right held his sword and smiled lightly: “It’s not just the human race that’s anxious about this. Teacher, I too am somewhat unconvinced by such a Heavenly Dao.”

As they spoke, the two figures stood one left and one right behind Laozi.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun sighed: “This matter has nothing to do with the sages’ great teachings.”

“But Teacher,” Lord of the Way and its Virtue replied, “We all established our teachings to educate humanity. Though we haven’t done much since then, we still have some karmic ties.

Before this great calamity, I ask Teacher to consider the misfortunes of living beings and give the human race a chance.”

Elder Suiren said: “Fighting heaven is a task for one person.”

The space-time here instantly fell silent, without any movement of wind or grass, without even the sound of breathing.

Li Changshou lowered his head with furrowed brows, raising his hand to pull Chang’e beside him.

Chang’e understood, knowing it was time for her to act, but faced with such heavenly might and the pressure of such powerful beings, her heart was quite nervous.

But that emptiness in her heart, that sense of void brought by long years, now surged forth.

She stepped forward and slowly knelt before the Dao Ancestor, crying out in pain, and sobbing uncontrollably.

“I beg the Dao Ancestor, return to me that missing piece of my puzzle…”

The Dao Ancestor’s eyes fixed on Li Changshou, traces of anger crossing his face; Li Changshou just lowered his head in silence, pretending not to notice the Dao Ancestor’s gaze.

“So be it.”

Hongjun closed his eyes with a light sigh, raising his left hand. As his sleeve waved, Chang’e directly fell unconscious, and the chaotic space-time here suddenly changed appearance.

Countless great daos materialized as pillars of light, crisscrossing to weave a huge grid that encompassed the egg-shaped primitive heaven and earth within it.

Right above this grid, an old Daoist with somewhat blurred features sat quietly, now letting out a cold snort.

Elder Suiren’s eyes focused, his face fierce as his form, wrapped in flames, shot skyward.

The old Daoist’s blurred face seemed to sneer as he raised his hand to scatter countless thunderbolts, instantly enveloping Elder Suiren!

Just as Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan was about to point his great sword forward, Elder Suiren’s roar transmitted everywhere:

“The chief fights first!”

Within the sound waves, demon flames erupted like a thousand-li diameter lotus, endless thunder shattering like sheets of glass!

Elder Suiren burst out of this endless fire lotus, his form like a heaven-splitting sword, penetrating the dome of the sky, straight to where the Dao Ancestor had materialized the Heavenly Dao’s form!

This battle…

This battle!

Li Changshou looked up.

He watched countless dao projections bloom between Elder Suiren and the Heavenly Dao’s shadow, watched the rolling demon qi and endless flames’ brutality and dominance as they broke through and tore apart everything.

For some reason, a sense of melancholy arose in his heart.

Elder Suiren’s flames grew increasingly intense.

But Elder Suiren’s vitality was gradually withering.

That Heavenly Dao shadow had endless divine abilities and spiritual power, raising its hand to create countless flowing lights, opening its palm to control space-time years.

But all dao and methods could not stop Elder Suiren’s thin figure from charging forward!

The Heavenly Dao’s shadow was retreating!

It could only retreat!

In this instant, across primitive heaven and earth, countless humans’ foreheads released weak points of light. Golden-red flames burned on Elder Suiren’s forehead as endless, uncountable figures appeared behind him!

Men and women were jumping and crying by the mud pond where Nu Wa sat quietly;

This elder was bowing his head, drilling wood for fire, his eyes filled with deep sorrow;

There was the gentle elder sitting by the river, head lowered calculating anomalies, measurement tools placed before him.

There was a middle-aged man wearing beast hide, looking at spiritual herbs by the road, using a brush to carve several lines on a stone tablet, then carefully putting the herb in his mouth.

The dashing king was raising his long sword, commanding endless human armies to clear out remnants of the past;

The strong man was carrying an ax, rushing through surging floods, fighting to the death with evil dragons!

There were even more figures.

They wore beast hide clothes while gathering and hunting, galloping across the earth;

They held weapons, facing the powerful beings of heaven and earth, protecting the elderly and weak behind them;

They recited sages’ chapters aloud, rushing about crying out for all beings’ suffering…

At this moment, they were all here, all within those flames, all behind that elder!

The Heavenly Dao’s shadow snorted coldly as endless chaos surged, thousands of light pillars bombarding down!

Elder Suiren roared lowly as the countless figures behind him were scattered but instantly regathered, using anger as flame, gathering all beings’ will, just to block the Heavenly Dao’s desires!

“Changshou.”

A call sounded in his ear as Li Changshou looked up at Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan before him, who was smiling at him.

Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan said: “Three things.

First, Heaven, Earth, and Humans – these three paths should be balanced, only then will primitive heaven and earth be as they should be.

Second, the elder just transmitted to us that Fire Cloud Cave will listen to your arrangements from now on. I don’t know what you just told the elder, but you’ve undoubtedly succeeded.

Third, in this heaven and earth, besides divine abilities and treasures, there is another path possessing endless power, this is what the Heavenly Dao fears most. Today it can only be used on this Heavenly Dao’s avatar, which is somewhat regrettable.

The Heavenly Dao cannot be erased, this is something we’ve long known. What’s fighting with the elder now is merely a thread of the Heavenly Dao’s thoughts.

But this thread of thought is the source of disaster, the Heavenly Dao’s desire can also be considered the Heavenly Dao’s true self.

Watch carefully, the time is almost right.”

Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan paused, as the Kongdong Seal slowly floated before him. He threw aside that great sword and made seals with both hands repeatedly.

On both sides of the war chariot, Fu Xi and Divine Farmer leaped up from their carriages, their forms transforming into comet-like lights, crashing toward where the flames were densest in the void.

Elder Suiren raised his hand to cover the sky as light burst forth from his forehead, his whole body’s skin turning golden-red!

Countless points of light quickly gathered behind Divine Farmer and Fu Xi as they transformed into two ‘arrowheads’.

Just then!

That heroic spirit army all flew up together, their forms directly transforming into golden light, condensing into chains connecting after those arrowheads, connecting after Elder Suiren’s form!

Chains of humanity!

Wanting to lock heaven!

The Three Pure Ones remained silent as Dao Ancestor Hongjun frowned.

Li Changshou clenched his fists tightly, constantly activating his void-bright dao heart!

Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan lowered his head and spat out a mouthful of blood, his hands virtually supporting the Kongdong Seal as he leaped up, throwing it far toward that battlefield!

The Heavenly Dao’s shadow suddenly broke free from Elder Suiren’s flames’ entanglement, its form immediately about to flee toward the Chaos Sea.

In a flash, a figure came from the Chaos Sea, wrapped in five-colored divine light, the Taiji Treasure Chart above his head, left palm pushing, right fist clenched, smashing down toward that Heavenly Dao shadow with one punch!

Mysterious Capital Grand Master of Human Teaching… No!

He was humanity’s Sacred Teacher, Nameless!

Light erupted as the Taiji Chart’s black and white radiance dimmed. The Grand Master’s form was directly knocked flying as he lowered his head and spat out a mouthful of blood.

But that Heavenly Dao shadow was struck back by his punch, instantly enveloped by flames, plants, and tortoise shells!

The Kongdong Treasure Seal emitted waves of dragon roars and phoenix calls!

Across the Three Realms, weak flames appeared on humans’ foreheads, but mortals did not notice, and immortals did not know what was happening.

In that place beyond the sky, Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan held blood in his mouth as his hands rapidly formed seals, bringing countless golden lights to reinforce the three already immense, endless chains, finally opening his right hand toward the Heavenly Dao’s shadow and fiercely clenching.

This was!

The human race’s will!

Heaven’s shackles!

“Suppress!”

Hum—

…

This power.

Li Changshou looked up, watching those rapidly repairing, orderly great daos in the void.

Watching those three shackles that had transformed into endless seven-colored flower petals scattering into formlessness, feeling the Heavenly Dao that was originally like an uneven dune become smooth and gentle after being smoothed by a great hand.

It seemed the Heavenly Dao’s thoughts had been suppressed.

But the heroic spirit army behind had not returned – they had transformed into shackles, branded onto the Heavenly Dao.

This must be the power that the Heavenly Dao feared.

The Dao Ancestor had vanished, the Purple Jade Palace returned to peace, and the Three Pure Ones had also left.

Around Li Changshou, those carriages were turning into specks of golden sand, scattering in the wind, with only the carriage under his feet still maintaining stability.

Chang’e was drawn back into the carriage by Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan, continuing to sleep.

Endless chaos Qi surged back, extinguishing a small flame. Li Changshou instinctively rushed out, reaching where the flame had extinguished simultaneously with several other streams of light.

He was skilled in escape techniques and had studied escape methods in the Chaos Sea. He hadn’t taken any action before, his magical power was full, and he had the Eight-Nine Mysteries Skill…

He reached Elder Suiren’s side first, supporting that swaying figure, yet felt this figure had a weight he could not bear.

Li Changshou knelt down, tightly embracing Elder Suiren who was struggling to breathe, wanting to inject immortal power, yet found he was only holding onto stubborn stone, dry bones.

In his heart, Elder Suiren’s voice came intermittently, this was a heart voice only they could hear between themselves.

‘I… these old bones of mine… did they help you?’

‘They helped, they helped…’

Elder Suiren showed a slight smile, closing his eyes with a light sigh as his body slowly became transparent.

The Grand Master, Divine Farmer, and Fu Xi landed nearby, either sighing with hands behind their backs or lowering their heads in silence.

Elder Suiren instinctively grabbed the edge of Li Changshou’s robe. When he opened his eyes, that light of old appeared in them.

‘Sorry, descendant.

Back then, fighting the Demon Emperor had already exhausted all my strength, I couldn’t do anything else.

If I could have thought of a better method, or if there had been a more excellent chief who could replace my position then, completing the final human race’s heaven, perhaps today’s predicament wouldn’t exist.

Still have to place the human race’s future flame on your shoulders.

You can stand outside the human race, beyond the Heavenly Dao’s influence – this is something we old ones couldn’t achieve.

From now on, even if there’s failure it doesn’t matter, even if this flame is extinguished it doesn’t matter, it will always be lit again.

Don’t be afraid, it will always be lit again.’

‘We won’t fail! We won’t fail!’

Li Changshou’s hand tightly gripped that rapidly withering arm, seeming to use a bit too much force. Elder Suiren’s form silently shattered like a flash of firelight, turning into a handful of ashes, scattering into the chaos mist.

A candle-like flame flew out from the ashes, entering Li Changshou’s chest.

The mist was hazy, unknown who was sighing softly.

People walking on the earth followed scattered fire points, searching for hidden caves…

In those deep, damp depths of the earth, a hunched figure rubbed the wooden rod in his hands…

Before the ominous inscription, that large hand crushed its restrictions, fastening himself to darkness…

Before the all-overwhelming demon court, layer upon layer of flames ignited, tearing apart the demon race’s sky.

Later generations…

The sky belongs to the demon race, the earth to the shamans, but we can stand on the earth, shoulder to shoulder gazing at the sky.

The flame never dies, the will never extinguishes.

The human way is eternal.