The First Demon of the Chan Sect
Chapter 427 - 115 Emperor Yan

Chapter 427: Chapter 115 Emperor Yan

Above the boundless Cangqiong, it seemed there was an endless surge of Mystic Yellow Merit Qi.

Shennong absorbed it for a full quarter of an hour, yet only half of the auspicious cloud of merit in the sky had dissipated, which puzzled Li Qingming.

"How come there’s so much merit this time?" Li Qingming frowned and pondered for a long time, then his eyes suddenly brightened, saying, "That’s right! Not only did Golden Turtle nurture the Xuanwu clan and complete the Water Law between Heaven and Earth, but he also sacrificed his limbs to serve as the Heavenly Pillars. I was worried that the merit of the Human Emperor wouldn’t be enough to step into Primordial Realm, but it seems I was overly anxious!"

"Boom!"

Another quarter of an hour passed, and as the auspicious cloud of merit across the sky fully dispersed, Shennong, who was radiating boundless yellow radiance, gradually revealed his figure.

Compared to his previous simple and honest appearance, Shennong now possessed a bit of majesty and nobility. An incredibly powerful aura of a Saint instantly spread across the entire Huaxia Land.

Feeling the surging saintly mana within, Shennong found it incredible. He thought he had lost the chance to prove the Dao of Primordial Chaos, but unexpectedly, the position of a Saint had come so suddenly, stepping into the Primordial Realm within just half an hour.

The laws of Heaven and Earth, like colorful threads, were displayed before his eyes for the first time so clearly. It was truly magical.

"Congratulations to Earth Emperor Your Majesty for breaking the shackles of Heavenly Dao and proving the Dao of Primordial Chaos!"

"Congratulations to Earth Emperor Your Majesty on becoming a Saint!"

All the humans were excited, worshipping and cheering for Shennong’s attainment of sainthood.

Li Qingming helplessly shook his head and shouted loudly, "Shennong, now that you have achieved the position of Earth Emperor, why not head to Fire Cloud Cave for quiet cultivation? What are you waiting for?"

Shennong, suddenly realizing, looked at Li Qingming who was smiling beside him, instantly understanding what was happening! He then bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, Master, for this gift! Your disciple is leaving now!"

"Thank you, Brother!" Shennong also gave a bow to Fuxi on the Nine Dragon Chariot before boarding the chariot.

The two Human Clan’s Holy Emperors, watching from above, said to Xuanyuan below, "Xuanyuan, the future of the human race is entrusted to you. Your brothers await in Fire Cloud Cave for your splendid arrival!"

Xuanyuan looked at Fuxi and Shennong and said, "Xuanyuan will certainly not disappoint you two emperors! I will remain diligent, considering the welfare of all under heaven."

"Hahaha, let us depart also!"

Amidst the hearty laughter of Fuxi and Shennong, the Nine Dragon Chariot drew beautiful arcs in the sky, slowly disappearing from everyone’s sight.

With Shennong attaining sainthood and Xuanyuan succeeding the position, the Human Clan, having been nurtured and revitalized by two generations of Holy Emperors, was now showing great prosperous signs. However, with literature comes martial affairs, as this give and take is decreed by Heaven.

Both Fuxi and Shennong had crafted a splendid Chapter of civil governance, but across the vast Huaxia Land, there were Four Seas Barbarians who did not adhere to the Human Emperor’s rule.

These barbarians were the Eastern Yi, Southern Barbarians, Jiuli, and the Western Border. They remained unenlightened, each ruling independently, and though occasionally interacting with the central Human Clan, it wasn’t close.

Therefore, with Xuanyuan’s succession, the path he proved was the Way of Taihuang, which naturally involved using military force to conquer the world, heralding an era where martial and civil virtues aid the Human Clan. Only in this way could one unify the vast territories and lead the entire Human Clan to a flourishing peak.

Holy Father Li Qingming had designated Xuanyuan to succeed as the Human Emperor, and although Xuanyuan had long known the outcome, his heart couldn’t help but flutter with a slight fear and brimming excitement. Yet, on the very next day, Xuanyuan faced a severe blow.

It is said that Earth Emperor Shennong, with his wife, had two sons and one daughter, the daughter being Nuwa and one son called Jiang Ke.

After Shennong succeeded as the Human Emperor, he resigned from the position of Clan Leader of the Lie Mountain Tribe. Many years later, his son Jiang Ke was elected by the elders in the tribe as the new Clan Leader of the Lie Mountain Tribe.

Shennong was very fond of his children and was extremely delighted to hear Jiang Ke had become the Lie Mountain Tribe Clan Leader. He personally went to the Lie Mountain Tribe to hold a ceremony for Jiang Ke, proclaiming it to the world.

And Jiang Ke indeed lived up to the expectations, not only providing ample food and clothing for his tribe but also often aiding the surrounding tribes. He donated seeds of the Five Grains to them, teaching them the methods of cultivation.

Gradually, the name of Jiang Ke spread throughout the Northern Continent.

The entire Bu Continent knew that Jiang Ke was the son of the Human Emperor Shennong and was of unmatched virtue, so they came in droves to form alliances with the Lie Mountain Tribe. Soon, the entire Northern Continent united solidly around Jiang Ke.

Just one day after Shennong had secluded himself in the Fire Cloud Cave, Jiang Ke, spurred on by various tribes of the Northern Continent, broke away from the rule of the Holy City Chen Capital and declared himself as an Emperor.

Because the name of the Lie Mountain Tribe originated from the original Mount Lie, which symbolizes blazing fire, hence Jiang Ke was referred to by his people as Emperor Yan.

Human Clan’s Holy City, Chen Capital.

"Your Majesty, although Jiang Ke is the son of Earth Emperor Shennong, he has now left Chen Capital, making him no different from the Four Directions Barbarians. As the saying goes, ’to repel foreign enemies, one must first stabilize the interior.’ I implore Your Majesty to issue an order to dispatch troops to the Lie Mountain Tribe and subdue Jiang Ke!" This was said by an elderly man with white hair and beard, named Yu Hao, who emerged from the East Sea Water Vein. Since the reign of Fuxi Holy Emperor, he has served the Human Emperor in Chen Capital, and can be considered a veteran official of three generations.

Xuanyuan furrowed his brows, glanced at the silent Ling Chen and Luo He, and asked, "Fellow Daoist Ling Chen, what are your thoughts?"

Ling Chen opened his eyes, gave Yu Hao a glance, and said, "Emperor Shennong has just secluded himself in the Fire Cloud Cave. If we move against the Lie Mountain Tribe now, Xuanyuan Your Majesty will inevitably be branded as a tyrant who eradicates imperial descendants!"

Luo He also chimed in, "Indeed! Your Majesty has just ascended to the throne. If we act now, not only the Humans of Huaxia Land but also the Four Directions Barbarians will be tempted to make a move!"

Xuanyuan pinched his brow and said, "In that case, Luo He, go and convey my decree, inviting Jiang Ke to Chen Capital for a discussion!"

Hearing this, Luo He hesitated, then said, "Very well! I will convey the decree at once!"

Three days later, in Chen Capital.

Xuanyuan had set up a banquet early in the side hall of Chen Capital, quietly waiting for Jiang Ke’s arrival.

As noon passed, and just as their patience began to wear thin, a few auspicious clouds drifted across the sky, leading with Jiang Ke. Jiang Ke, standing nine feet tall with a physique like a tiger’s back and a bear’s waist and a square face with thick eyebrows, was surrounded by a massive fluctuation of Mana.

Seeing this, Luo He hurried forward to greet him and ushered Jiang Ke and his entourage into the side hall.

As soon as Jiang Ke entered the great hall, he saw Xuanyuan sitting steadily in the master seat, fully asserting his position.

Harboring resentment, Jiang Ke’s anger flared upon seeing Xuanyuan’s posture, and he bluntly stated, "Ji Xuanyuan, you are barely twenty, if not for being a disciple of a Saint, what virtues and abilities do you have to assume the position of Human Clan’s Shared Ruler?"

Xuanyuan was taken aback, not expecting Jiang Ke to be so rash, and a surge of irritation rose within him. He stood up and said, "Jiang Ke, I respect your Father Shennong, and have been mostly tolerant of your actions. Yet today, you speak so impudently, truly showing no respect!"

Jiang Ke scoffed dismissively and bowed to the sitting Elders, saying, "I, Jiang Ke, have been by Father Emperor’s side since I was ten, learning the ways of governance. And you, Ji Xuanyuan, barely twenty, think you can rule the Human Clan and manage its affairs just because you were under a Saint’s guidance? Hahaha, what a ludicrous joke!"

The Elders glanced at each other and started to whisper softly.

Indeed, Fuxi had arranged marriages and custom music, tamed livestock, established atmospheric laws, and created the Innate Eight Diagrams, earning Merit in the world.

Shennong, known for agriculture from the age of three, promoted the cultivation of grains, treated diseases of the Human Clan by tasting hundreds of plants, leading the Human Clan out of a primitive society of raw meat and blood drinking. With such virtues, it was natural for both to become Human Emperors.

Compared to these two Saint Emperors, Xuanyuan hadn’t shown much exceptional performance, thus in the hearts of the Human Clan, his position was indeed not as esteemed as Jiang Ke’s. After all, Jiang Ke had accompanied Shennong and carried out many actions beneficial for the people, making him well-known among the Human Clan.

If not for Shennong being highly virtuous toward the Human Clan and appointed by Holy Father Qingmingzi, he would not have been deemed a Human Emperor.

Despite this, a group of humans still felt somewhat uneasy.

Xuanyuan, understanding these sentiments, stared blankly at Jiang Ke and hoarsely said, "Then, Fellow Daoist, what should be done?"

Jiang Ke coldly smiled and responded, "The position of Human Clan’s Shared Ruler should be filled by one with virtue. You’ve just come of age, how can you speak of having virtues? I didn’t come here to force you to step down from the throne but to make a bet with you. If you fail to conquer the Northern Continent within three years, you must abdicate in favor of someone of virtue!"

"What if, within three years, we do conquer the Northern Continent?" Before Xuanyuan could reply, Yu Hao, who had always been by his side, spoke in a sinister tone.

"Conquer it? Hahaha, what a joke!" laughed Jiang Ke. "I’ll tell you, with me here, the Northern Continent is as impregnable as a wall of copper and iron; it cannot be conquered!"

"Have you lost your mind? There’s nothing absolute in this world, how can you be so sure we can’t conquer it?" Ling Chen, with a cold look, found Jiang Ke to be overly arrogant.

"Very well, if you can conquer the Northern Continent within three years, I, Jiang Ke, will gladly bow down as your subject, fight for you, Ji Xuanyuan, on the battlefield, and never regret it!" A hint of disdain flickered across Jiang Ke’s face, clearly not believing they could breach the Northern Continent.

"Agreed, let it be said!" said Xuanyuan thoughtfully after a moment, then finally presenting a final decision.

"Refreshing!" Jiang Ke laughed loudly, then promptly lifted a cup from the table, drank it down in one gulp, and turned to leave.

"Farewell, Fellow Daoist Jiang Ke!" Xuanyuan stood up solemnly, his hand holding a wine cup which he then smashed to the ground with a snap, murmuring almost inaudibly, "It seems our tribespeople will suffer again!"

Indeed, as the Human Clan has progressed to the present, selfishness has begun to emerge.

Since Jiang Ke has proclaimed himself emperor, he’s naturally considering the future of the Lie Mountain Tribe. After all, he witnessed firsthand how the Feng Yan Tribe, once an imperial tribe and the strongest among the Human Clan, fell.

He, Jiang Ke, is no fool. He understands the saying, "one must learn from the past to teach the future." He certainly does not want the Lie Mountain Tribe to completely deteriorate under his watch. (To be continued. If you like this novel, feel free to visit Qidian to cast a recommendation vote or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)