Loud gasps could be heard across the throne hall of the newly self named Gongsun Xuanyuan. No one, not even his advisers, concubines, or fellow human leaders expected him to not only detach himself from the venerated Three Soveriegns, but also to name himself a rivalling lord. In the same breath, he’d also denounced his ancestors who’d ruled all of humanity before him.

  It was unthinkable to everyone, from daoism immortals, demons from the court, and rogue figures. Even the Earthly Divinities would’ve seen this act as unthinkable and the one performing it would be slapped to death.

  But Xuanyuan said it in such confidence that his people genuinely believed in him. Even his most ardent foes felt an effect on their bodies when he titled himself the human race’s emperor.

  “Seriously?” Fuxi felt incredulous. Ever since the reconstruction of his body as a human, he’d never had one of them behave in such a way.

  Fuxi remembered how Nuwa personally entrusted him with defending her children before she departed for the Heavenly Dao’s core. He felt a bitter bile build up in his throat.

  Why did this species make it so difficult? Their sheer numbers alone were a headache, but they’ve also branched out too much.

  “Brat!” It was an angry cry from the Demon Court representatives that sent a ferocious heatwave into the room. Their great prince Luya glared with Xuanyuan with venom.

  “You dare style yourself the same way as my father and uncle?” The golden crow felt his body itching to light on fire. Only the solar radiance in his pupils indicated his restraint.

  For his part, Xuanyuan did not give Luya any major attention. He never saw the sole son of Di Jun as anywhere near a threat to begin with despite his great cultivation.

  Luya was referred to as a Chaos Immortal, in the way of heaven, he is a Saint to Be. He was also the son of the previous Demon Emperor who was also the founding emperor. Despite never knowing Di Jun, Luya had long admired his father.

  Emperor was also a rarer title, used only by the Demon Heavenly Court. While it started off being an unpopular choice compared to the titular ‘sovereign’ used by others, over time, due to that exclusivity, it became a unique title.

  “The affairs of demons belong to the demon race. The affairs of humans belong to my human race. Why are you offended?” Xuanyuan scoffed at what he perceived as an overreaction. His dismissive attitude offended many demons who felt similarly to Luya.

  Yi Fei’e stepped out from the shadows beside Luya placing a hand on his shoulders. Her gaze never left Haotian who remained standing near a pillar watching this go down. She found herself unable to discern how he felt about this.

  “Xuannu, this bastard is mocking our name,” Luya said. “My demon race have afforded ample opportunities for the human race, who may I remind you all are an offshoot of our race, to return to their rightful place at our side.

  “But now you drag my father and uncle’s name through the mud. With a cultivation as weak as yours?” Luya turned to stare at the figures of the Three Sovereigns. “Are you three not going to say anything?”

  Suiren turned slowly to him. “Xuanyuan is right in one regard, the affairs of the human race belong to the human race. Prince Luya, I kindly suggest you vacate this venue before you do something you’d regret.”

  “It’s just a name,” Yi Fei’e whispered to his ear.

  Luya wanted to deny her. It was an exalted title that a mere human was not worthy of. But as Yi Fei’es finger pressed into his shoulder, he relented begrudgingly. “Gongsun Xuanyuan, what a joke. You shame your ancestors.”

  “Fellow demonkind, we have no business here. Let these humans deal with their own mess,” he said to his people. He gave a nod to Suiren, Fuxi, and Shennong as he brushed pass them and vanished in a beam of golden light.

  Yi Fei’e returned a grim look at Haotian’s way. “I hope you well and that we may meet again fellow daoist.” then she too slinked away in an azure blaze.

  It was just humans, daoism immortals, and Haotian left after their abrupt exit.

  Shennong looked around at the room to see the approval filled stares of his fellow men. A great anger arose with him.

  “Children, are you all so ignorant at the world that you think posturing will grant you salvation?” he said between gritted teeth. He thought back to his youth when he had assumed much the same regarding the strength of the human race.

  But he also remembered the dark days when his daughter was nearly lost. Where, had it not been for the intervention of the dragon race, he’d have permanently lost her.

  Their creator was not a human either but still venerated. Many human territories relied on the sponsorships of local daoism sects and shrines dedicated to demons residing up in heaven to exist. It grinded his gears to see how arrogant these, in his words, children were.

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  “Earth Sovereign, I have long voiced my issues with you,” Xuanyuan spat. “I once worshipped the ground you walked on. You sacrificed your very being to document all medicinal herbs for the sake of the human race. Where did that spirit go when you sold our freedom hm?”

  The Earth Sovereign’s expression remained impassive, but a shadow passed through his eyes. “In what way exactly, Xuanyuan? Free from war? Free from disease? Free from the beasts that lurk beyond the borders of our fragile civilizations?” His voice was calm, but beneath it lay an undercurrent of something deeper—resentment, or perhaps weary acceptance.

  Xuanyuan’s fists clenched. “At least we fought for our own fate! You would have us bow our heads and become little more than servants to those who look down on us as lesser beings.”

  The Earth Sovereign scoffed. “And if not for those beings, what would have become of us? Do you know how many human cities have survived only because of the protection of immortal sects, the patronage of divine beasts, the mercy of so-called demons? You call it servitude—I call it survival.”

  Xuanyuan’s expression twisted. “We are more than just beggars relying on their scraps! You once stood as a pillar of our people, a symbol of defiance against those who would see us crushed underfoot. And now, you justify subjugation?”

  “I did what I had to do.”

  “It was not an easy decision to come to,” Suiren spoke up. To many, as the first human to ever walk the earth he had a certain degree of gravitas that not even the other two could compare to.

  “Peace, Shennong, I don’t see him listening any time soon,” Suiren sighed, his gaze deep and contemplative. “What would be the point?” he said at last. “War is not a mere contest of strength, nor is the fate of our people something to be settled with fists alone. Xuanyuan believes in his path—so let him walk it.”

  “Big brother, you can’t be considering letting him do whatever he wants,” Shennong said.

  “Hmph, if this Xuanyuan wants to play emperor then I say let him,” Fuxi said. “His people are brainwashed by his delusions. Let him believe in his grand destiny. The weight of ruling will soon break his spirit," Fuxi continued, arms crossed as he gazed at the retreating figure of Xuanyuan.

  Off to the side, Guang Chengzi felt a desire to step in in his disciple’s defence. But he ultimately shook his head and stepped back. Kunlun would also have no part in this divide of the human race as it ultimately did not affect them nor the stability of the Three Realms.

  “No,” Shennong said. “I cannot just stand by as this fool leads a bunch of fools to their deaths.”

  “Very well then,” Xuanyuan said. “If the Earth Sovereign wants to fight, let’s fight. I’ll prove it to you right now.”

  All the immortals from Yuxu palace gasped at their former fellow disciple’s words. Had he lost his mind? Even with his great cultivation, it may not necessarily measure up to an old monster like Shennong.

  Suiren nodded while Fuxi scoffed. For the former, he was too old and just took what he got. He did not wish to fight Xuanyuan, for as much as he was an infuriating brat, he was still a powerhouse for the human race. It was better for him to experience his own mistakes.

  Xuanyuan’s ambition was not out of the imagination. It would only fester in the minds of other like minded individuals.

  Fuxi didn’t care what Xuanyuan did so long as it did not harm to overall lifeline of the human race. Ultimately, there as a detached style of thinking there as he was an innate god first. Despite holding a position as a leader of humanity, he was not truly one of them.

  Both Xuanyuan and Shennong rose up, both dressed in imperial regalia, accompanied by crowns. Xuanyuan’s manifested in a brilliant yellow colour. He was entirely different of Youxiong from mere minutes ago.

  “Lord Haotian,” a minister of the bear tribe whispered to Haotian. “Is this a good idea? I understand chieftain’s…sorry, his majesty’s cultivation had pierced the highest level. But this is a sovereign of humanity.”

  “He’d probably lose,” Haotian said. “It was a bit silly, but then again Youxiong isn’t someone who does half measures. Don’t worry, I’ll step him if he gets in too much trouble.”

  “Hm?”

  “What is that?”

  Haotian perked up as well having felt a divine presence manifesting far above, further then where Xuanyuan or Shennong. It was almost unpercievable, appearing only as a mix of golden and purple light. They swirled around a single point which ressembed an eye.

  “Heavenly Dao?” Haotian grew alarmed. He felt a strange tremor in the air, a testament to the Heavenly Dao physically manifest. Around him, he heard some people fall to their knees to pray.

  Daoism cultivators long since venerated the Heavenly Dao as the guiding principle. As such, wether it was Guang Chengzi, Perfected Cihang, or a lower disciple, they all began praying more to it than paying attention to the fight,

  “Hm, it would seem the heavens themself wants to witness our bout,” Xuanyuan said with a smile. “Very well then, today the Heavenly Dao shall witness why only I Gongsun Xuanyuan can be humanity’s emperor.”

  “Swearing by the Heavenly Dao, Youxiong you…” Haotian did not allow himself to finish, not show himself tensing. He pushed all those feelings deep into his subconscious so as to not be noticed.

  The divine presence breathed out some purple gas, as if amused. It remained steady, providing a backdrop to two contesting rulers. Nothing could be gleaned from it, and this made Haotian incredibly nervous.

  Why would the Heavenly Dao be bothered about this? He knew how arrogant and entitled that thing was. In this universe, his friend Youxiong started out as a normal human with no earth shattering destiny. The Three Soveriegns were already complete.

  Because of the ease he’d felt falling into a trusted friend and observer role, he had not considered that ‘thing’ in a long time. Deep in the recesses of his mind, the other end of his dual existence became epicentre of him processing his concerns.

  Above the skies, two titanic qi auras emerged. They engulfed the entirety of Xuanyuan hill and the vast lands beyond. The Eastern Shensheng continent, the Southern Shanbu continent both felt the brunt of this unleashing.

  The Heavenly realm seemed to tilt under the weight of two Chaos Immortal equivalent beings. Those dirertly beneath them felt it worse of all. Or at least they would’ve had it not been a massive seal appearing.

  The Overturning Heaven Seal was normally used offensively, but it’s current owner, Guang Chengzi used it to block out the crushing aura of the two. It allowed the far weaker humans and daoism cultivators to ease up and avoid being pulverised.

  Still though, they dared not look directly at the two fighters lest they be driven insane by the immensities of their Dao fruits.

  Though no one else payed attention, white barriers formed around numerous villages dotted around the era and further. As long as they were within the blast radius of Xuanyuan or Shennong, they became shielded.

  Invisible lines of qi flowed around Haotian’s palm, which he held in a strong grip. He did not wish to see enormous casualties caught up, even if the two were careful.

  The two started fighting immediately. To anyone below the Golden Immortal threshold, anything clear could be identified. To those above it, it was a myriad of strange phenomena. Only those at the realm of Saint to Be could clearly see whats going on.

  And they were shocked. Xuanyuan wasn’t losing.

  He wasn’t winning either, but he wasn’t falling apart from the first hit.

  To an extent, it was expected. Those at the Chaos Immortal realm in the past wouldn’t go down instantly even to a vastly superior opponent. It was the same in modern times with Saint to Be replacing that realm.

  But more experienced immortals still expected Xuanyuan to be unsettled by the flaming hoe of Shennong. Instead, Xuanyuan’s sword clashed without losing much ground.

  “His only new in this realm, but his Dao is so powerful. As a result, he empowered himself to match Shennong who’d been in that realm for millions of years,” Guang Chengzi muttered.

  “Unbelievable, the Earth Sovereign is over twelve yuanhui old, right?”

  While the two was in the middle of their feud, Haotian teleported himself away. He did so as discreetly as he could, unwilling to draw the Heavenly Dao’s ire. Though that ‘thing’ was more interested in how Xuanyuan would perform.

  Instead, he appeared atop a cloud ninety thousand kilometres away. That was were he, still holding the spell that protected innumerable villages, met a middle aged man dressed in cyan robes. In his left arm, he carried a clean jade ruyi. No clear presence was identifiable, else his disciples and grand disciples from Yuxu palace would've flown up to greet him.

  “I felt the pull of your qi just now,” Haotian said, hiding much of his internal stress. “Is there something you need Yuanshi?"