Chapter 182: Immortal Ancient Being

Another decade passed, and humanity still struggled with a lack of new talent. Following the previous occasion, the Human Ancestor had once again absorbed the cultivation of various human cultivators, leading to another period of decline. It was a vicious cycle, seemingly impossible for new blood to rise, and it was fast approaching its end.

Xu Younian could no longer endure his severely wounded body. He stood up and looked around, saying, "I am going for the last time."

"Ancestor Xu!"

People from their tribe emerged—strong men in animal skins and women holding children, their faces gradually turning grim. Another group of young people slowly stood up and said, "Take our cultivation, even though we've only cultivated for a little over ten years..."

Xu Younian looked around, his expression once again serene.

On that day, an ordinary-looking, white-haired old man ascended to the heavens. The sky was overcast with dark clouds, and heart-rending roars echoed. Light cast from the Jianmu tree mingled with fine streaks of blood.

"The Human Ancestor!"

The tribal humans across the land wailed. For centuries, Xu Younian had been the guardian deity of the entire land, protecting generations of human tribes through their transitions. Everyone stared fixedly at the sky for a long time, but this time, the Human Ancestor did not return from the heavens.

The Human Ancestor, Xu Younian, had ended his life.

This was the most arduous period for the tribal humans on the ancient land. The Human Ancestor had endured immense pressure. In his more than two-hundred-year life, he fought from birth until his old age. In his youth, he led the tribe in battles against mighty beasts. In middle age, he was fortunate enough to ascend to the heavens and listen to the Dao Sovereign preach. However, in his twilight years, he faced the most tragic and lonely period. One by one, cultivators of his generation, and even his descendants, entrusted their cultivation to him, as he contended with the nine great Sun Ancient Gods in the sky until old age and infirmity.

In later generations, there was little record of this foundational history before this epoch. It was difficult to imagine the despair they faced back then. And Emperor Xu could indeed be called the first and most ancient Human Emperor. Although in the eyes of later generations, his realm was only the seventh level of the Void Cavern, he had listened to the Dao Sovereign's teachings, stood alone blocking the Sun Temple, fought his entire life with no one to accompany him, and pioneered the Core Condensation and Primordial Spirit realms. Originally, his achievements could have been greater, perhaps even attaining the Primordial Unity Dao, but it was a pity he was born at the wrong time.

The Nine Golden Crows were severely wounded. After a long period of recuperation, they still harbored a faint lingering fear.

"Xu Younian was indeed troublesome. Humanity's potential is terrifying; their numbers are vast, and they do not fear death. They can gather the cultivation and lives of their entire race upon one person."

"They are just mortals. We, the Primordial Ancient Gods, were born with heaven and earth. If we hadn't wanted to avoid a mutually destructive fight with him, we would have killed him long ago."

"This outcome is also good. Before his death, he couldn't defeat us, only delaying us for several decades. It's acceptable."

"Then, the Ancient God Heavenly Court shall be established!"

On this day, the Ancient God Heavenly Court was established. The nine Sun Ancient Gods became the Nine Heavenly Emperors, each presiding over and governing a region. The nine suns were the strongest, and the nine brothers were of one mind. The other four ancient gods could only submit. Thus, the era of ancient gods ruling the world began.

Due to Xu Younian's 'draining the pond to catch the fish' approach, humanity's tribes were left without any strong individuals; they were all ordinary tribal people. The gods in heaven harbored anger but had no one to vent it upon. In the time that followed, although the ancient gods had poor reproductive capabilities, their descendants gradually came to rule the entire land. River gods, earth gods, and mountain gods were ubiquitous. They demanded that the major tribes regularly offer virgin boys and girls as tribute for rain and blessings, turning humanity into their sustenance. Furthermore, humans became commodities for the new generation of ancient gods to seize bodies and cultivate their forms. Long Hong, the First Prince of the Golden Crows, also suppressed the world. He was revered by the world as: "His Imperial Majesty, the Supreme and True Golden Sun, Long Hong," residing in the Sun Temple.

Another fifty years passed. On the land, a group of deformed humans gradually emerged: human heads with snake bodies, and flesh wings on their backs. Some ancient gods began to suspect their identities, but they released their ancient god true forms from their Sea of Consciousness, proving that they were indeed ancient gods. Another fifty years, and this type of ancient god gradually expanded their power.

"It's time to begin," Tian Tu chuckled softly, looking at the former woodcutter before him. "Woodcutter, you—"

"Call me Di Qi."

The woodcutter who once sat on Changyang Mountain had transformed from a young man into the most powerful leader of the Witch Tribe. Within the Sea of Consciousness of these Witch Tribe members were the secretly slain ancient gods, with strange birds and divine sparrows serving as their primordial spirits. For years, leveraging their disguised ancient god identities, they had taken on various responsibilities in the Heavenly Court, managing the order of heaven and earth, and bringing clouds and rain.

"A spy within a spy, infiltrating the Heavenly Court, lurking in the shadows, even stealing divine positions!" Tian Tu laughed again. "The Nine Sun Heavenly Emperors are just about to begin! Prepare to shoot down the suns!"

The woodcutter nodded. He was no longer the weak human he once was. His goal today was to shoot down the suns, usurp the divine authority of the sun, and transform an ancient Primordial Sun Deity into his own primordial spirit—a Golden Crow Primordial Spirit!

"When heaven unleashes killing intent, stars shift their abodes; when earth unleashes killing intent, dragons and serpents rise from the land!"

The woodcutter, Di Qi, looked at the sky, suddenly lost in thought. After countless years of torment, everything was about to begin here. He couldn't help but murmur, "Monsters, demons, spirits, fiends, Buddhas, immortals, gods — only by destroying the 'witch' can one become human."

He looked around, and the surrounding Witch Tribe members smiled. They had waited for this day for far too long. Humanity had provided cover for them, and it was precisely by adopting these non-human forms that they found their opportunity to rise.

"But in the end, we are no longer human..."

He led the Witch Tribe, striding away from the mountains. "Human Ancestor Xu Younian, they opened up heaven and earth... the era of the Primordial Ancient Gods is fading away."

A great calamity of heaven and earth rapidly brewed. The twelve strongest Witch Tribe members had already reached the preliminary level of the Seventh Void Cavern Realm. Moreover, over the years, human cultivators and Witch Tribe cultivators had successively transferred their cultivation to these twelve Witch Tribe members. These twelve individuals amassed the entire destiny and momentum of both races, the great trend of heaven and earth.

"Ancient God Shiyun, you dare to rebel?"

"True Monarch Caiyun, you actually...?!"

The Nine Great Primordial Sun Emperors were all assassinated. On this day, people witnessed an unforgettable scene in the sky. Nine suns hung in the sky, soaring across it, while terrifying Ancestral Witches, wielding great axes and bright moons, pursued them one by one.

"We, the Demon Race, have allied with humanity and the Witch Tribe to expel the old Primordial Gods, the great evils of heaven and earth. All beings shall strike them down." Qinglian strode forward, rising into the air.

Later records from "Ancient Gods" state: Before the Western Era, more than three hundred years after the creation of heaven and earth, the Dao Sovereign established the cosmic order and then retreated. The Ancient God Heavenly Court was established, and less than a century later, the Great Tribulation of Ancient Gods began, leading to widespread devastation.

This battle was far too protracted. The Witch Tribe, carrying the great momentum of heaven and earth, with each hero enduring hardship as they advanced, contended for destiny against the thirteen exalted Primordial Ancient Gods. This was a struggle between Primordial Ancient Gods and Post-Heavenly beings. No god could remain exalted forever.

Another full century passed, and devastation spread across heaven and earth. The nine great Primordial Sun Ancient Gods fell one after another. The remaining three ancient gods could no longer remain stable and successively joined the fatal struggle. Only the Moon Goddess remained aloof, ignoring the conflict.

After a long time, the nine Primordial Sun Ancient Gods all perished, and the three remaining ancient gods were also executed, their divine consciousness erased, leaving only their physical bodies. In the ancient era, the twelve Primordial Beings who created heaven and earth, with the exception of the Moon Goddess, were utterly annihilated. Their essences were integrated as primordial spirits into the twelve most powerful Witch Tribe members, who were later known as the Twelve Ancestral Witches. They replaced the twelve Primordial Ancient Gods, taking charge of their divine offices. The woodcutter from the mountains back then was now named Di Qi, the chief of the Ancestral Witches.

"We have finally won."

Di Qi stood amidst the spilled blood, looking at the Witch Tribe warriors bathed in it. "From today onward, with our primordial spirits manifested, we can govern the order of heaven and earth!" Di Qi brought forth the sun primordial spirit from his Sea of Consciousness. A scorching sun hung in the sky, its radiance illuminating his resolute face, as if searing itself into eternity, transforming into the most ancient of legends. He cultivated the "Great Sun Primordial Unity Scripture," using the sun as his primordial spirit.

At this moment, an Ancestral Witch beside him couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, should we not destroy the Thunder God's Hammer, cut down the Jianmu tree, and rescue our Witch Ancestor, the War God Tian Tu?"

Di Qi shook his head. "Witches are rebels against gods! Humans must break their cages to be free. If we allow an old ancient god to remain above us, we would betray our original intention. Let him remain suppressed beneath the mountain, receiving daily food and offerings."

The surrounding Witch Tribe members nodded in agreement. The lands of the Heavenly Realm were steeped in blood, saturated with the corpses of countless humans, Witch Tribe members, and ancient gods. The group then proceeded to the Sun Temple.

An Ancestral Witch, looking at the vast land, suddenly said, "Your Majesty Di Qi, I just had a terrible thought. Today, we have overthrown the old Primordial Ancient God rulers and taken control of the Heavenly Court. So in the future, perhaps we will become the next Primordial Ancient Gods, to be overthrown by new gods of the future."

Di Qi paused slightly, taken aback. The powerful Ancestral Witches beside him remained silent, quietly awaiting His Majesty Di Qi's response.

After half a day, Di Qi opened his eyes. "Your words indeed made me ponder the next thousand years of future generations. We, in the future, might become corrupt. Today, we strive for humanity's welfare, clearing the path for post-Heavenly beings in the world, overthrowing the rule of the Primordial Ancient Gods, spilling our blood and lives. But what about tomorrow?"

"We will transform into the next generation of Primordial Ancient Gods."

Di Qi's expression grew solemn, then he suddenly let out a low chuckle. "Yes, then, should we commit suicide?"

Those around him exchanged glances.

"No! This is a new era, an era belonging to our Witch Tribe!"

Di Qi's low chuckle gradually turned into unbridled laughter. "What is there to fear in the future?! I shall stride forward! If one day we become corrupt, if we no longer consider the well-being of all beings under heaven, if we become truly exalted ancient primordial existences, then naturally, successors will rise again to overthrow us, these old gods!"

He proclaimed loudly: "I was not born for an imperial throne; why then should I fear being cast down to the mortal realm?"

This scene was recorded for eternity. The last page of "Ancient Gods" records: Before the Western Era, the Primordial Demon Court was destroyed, the age of Primordial Ancient Gods ended, and the Witch Tribe established the 'Kaiyuan Witch Court,' becoming the protagonists of heaven and earth. Thus, the prosperous Western Era began.

The wounds on the land were gradually healed by time. Emperor Di Qi and the Twelve Ancestral Witches each replaced the responsibilities of the twelve Primordial Ancient Gods. As for the last Moon Goddess, who was detached from worldly affairs, she escaped the fate of death and continued to reside in the Moon Palace, holding the divine office of the Moon Goddess of heaven and earth.

Another year passed, and Di Qi ascended to the imperial throne. He was historically known as "Emperor Kai Tianming Wu Tianqi." He ascended the imperial throne and, on the day of his coronation in the Sun Temple, married the most beautiful woman in the world, the Moon Goddess. She was also the sole surviving Primordial Ancient God from the old era.

After a series of elaborate heavenly rituals, the Heavenly Realm outside remained bustling, adorned with lanterns and streamers, red lanterns hanging everywhere, and mighty witches sprawled about, completely drunk. Inside the bridal chamber, Di Qi slowly approached, lifting the bride's veil to reveal the Moon Goddess's breathtaking beauty.

"Do you know how long I've waited for this moment?" Di Qi revealed a smile.

The Moon Goddess, Ruyun, trembled, her heart filled with extreme complexity. She had originally been the Empress of Long Hong, the First Prince of the Golden Crows, after the Primordial Heavenly Court was established. She hadn't expected that the Ancient God Heavenly Court would be overthrown in less than a few years, and that she would actually be married by a Witch Tribe human, a post-Heavenly being.

Di Qi suddenly sat down beside the bridal bed. "Ruyun'er, don't be afraid, it's me..."

The Moon Goddess's body stiffened. That tone of voice belonged to a certain deceased ancient Primordial Being.

"You're not Di Qi, you're Long Hong, the Golden Crow!!!"

She looked at the Witch Tribe Heavenly Emperor before her, unable to stop trembling as a terrifying thought rapidly blossomed in her mind.

"Who said I'm not Di Qi? My origins are pure; I am Di Qi of the Witch Tribe, born of humanity," Di Qi gently kissed her lips and whispered with a soft smile into her ear, "I am that woodcutter, the first Witch under heaven."

A thunderclap exploded in the Moon Goddess Ruyun's mind. This was a terrifying scheme that had begun centuries ago. In the era when the Dao Sovereign was distributing divine offices, no one knew that the First Prince of the Golden Crows had already secretly infiltrated the mortal realm, transforming into a woodcutter to meet the War God Tian Tu, who had just been suppressed. He wasn't just fighting for the ancient gods' rule; he was also preparing a fallback on another front. Whether the ancient gods won or humanity won, he would be the sole victor. He originally had contingencies on both sides, but upon seeing the great momentum of heaven and earth gradually shift and Xu Younian opening the path of Primordial Spirit cultivation, he understood that Primordial Ancient Gods were no longer irreplaceable!

From that moment, he completely transformed into a member of the Witch Tribe, becoming its leader as that woodcutter, dedicating his entire life's energy and effort to opposing the Primordial Ancient Gods. Indeed, the exalted Primordial Ancient Gods were so easily overthrown because he himself had personally overturned his own former rule!

Di Qi smiled. "My brothers were too foolish. For centuries, they were arrogant and conceited, believing themselves to be Sun Ancient Gods, indispensable to heaven and earth. They thought no one would dare kill them, nor could anyone kill them unless the world was destroyed. They left no retreat for themselves. As for the other ancient Primordial Beings, Zi Qing Shuangyun and Feng were extremely clever. Perhaps after me, they also perceived the great terror and successively descended to the mortal realm, becoming members of the Witch Tribe, leaving contingencies to escape the Great Tribulation of Ancient Gods. Even now, they have infiltrated the ranks of the Twelve Ancestral Witches. Even I don't know who they truly are..."

The Moon Goddess broke out in a cold sweat. No one knew how many old Primordial Ancient Gods were truly hidden among the twelve exalted Ancestral Witches in the newly established Kaiyuan Witch Court.

"Was the era of ancient gods truly overthrown?"

The Moon Goddess pondered with growing horror, looking at the Witch Tribe man whose appearance had changed, but whose primordial spirit was still that of a Sun Golden Crow. All the efforts of the Witch Tribe, humanity, the Demon Race, and even the Human Ancestor Xu Younian, had been absorbed by him.

"I made you worry and fear." Di Qi smiled, his face filled with deep affection. "Ruyun, no matter how heaven and earth change, even if the world is destroyed, as long as we can survive, I will live on with you, always."

He suddenly recalled an earlier time, when he was a young woodcutter, carrying a stone axe, walking through the mountains, looking at the head suppressed above and below. The passionate words of that young man: "I want to learn the wondrous methods of Great Freedom! To overthrow the rule of the Primordial Ancient Gods in the heavens, so that in this world, the gods above only maintain order and serve humanity, not enslaving them!"

"Xu Younian, that terrifying man..." Di Qi's expression was calm, and in his eyes flashed the image of his lifelong adversary. He suddenly chuckled to himself, "Yes, as you see, you succeeded... I overthrew myself."