A thousand years passed in a flash.
On this day, outside the Thirty-Third Heaven, the newly established Heaven Gate opened wide.
Amidst the swirling clouds and mist, countless palaces stretched endlessly, resplendent and magnificent, with Immortal Qi permeating the air, far surpassing any blessed land in the Primordial Land.
Dijun and Taiyi intended to declare the establishment of the Yao Race here, inviting all the great powers of the Primordial Land to observe the ceremony.
Outside the South Heaven Gate, dazzling lights shimmered, and powerful auras arrived one after another.
The Sanqing from Kunlun Mountain arrived together.
From the direction of Wuzhuang Temple, Zhenyuanzi also arrived with Fellow Daoist Hongyun.
Hongyun looked at the vast Heavenly Court and couldn't help but exclaim in wonder, "Goodness! Dijun and Taiyi, those two, actually managed to create such a grand spectacle! This place is much grander than my Huoyun Cave!"
Zhenyuanzi merely watched calmly, gently swaying the whisk in his hand.
From the Sea of Blood, Old Ancestor Minghe quietly arrived, standing in an inconspicuous corner, his Evil Qi restrained, his gaze deep.
Then, Jieyin and Zhunti from Mount Sumeru in the west also arrived. Jieyin had a bitter expression, while Zhunti's eyes flashed with brilliance, as if he was calculating something.
...
Just as the various great powers were preoccupied with their own thoughts, a wild and overbearing Evil Qi surged up from the direction of Buzhou Mountain, heading straight for the Heavenly Court!
"The Wu Race has arrived!" a great power whispered.
Twelve towering figures descended outside the South Heaven Gate.
It was precisely the Twelve Ancestral Witches!
Their auras were powerful, surrounded by Law, causing the surrounding space to tremble slightly.
And before the Twelve Ancestral Witches, Wu Ming's figure appeared much more peaceful, but no one dared to underestimate him.
Above the Heavenly Court, the Yao God Bai Ze, who was in charge of receiving guests, quickly stepped forward, a polite smile on his face, "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, Fellow Daoists, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, please come in."
Zhurong casually glanced at the magnificent South Heaven Gate and snorted, "All this fancy stuff! Isn't it just copying us establishing our race?"
Gonggong grumbled, "The spectacle isn't small, but I wonder if it's sturdy."
Dijiang glared at them, signaling them to calm down.
Wu Ming nodded slightly to Bai Ze, saying nothing more, and led the Twelve Ancestral Witches into the Heavenly Court.
Inside the Heavenly Court, guests had already gathered like clouds.
The arrival of the Wu Race undoubtedly attracted everyone's attention.
"Fellow Daoists of the Wu Race have also arrived," Yuanshi said indifferently, as a greeting.
Laozi nodded slightly.
Tongtian chuckled, "Friends of the Wu Race, you've come at just the right time. Let's see what kind of spectacle this Yao Race can create."
Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun came forward to greet them.
"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming."
"Greetings, Fellow Daoists, the Twelve Ancestral Witches."
Wu Ming nodded in return, "Fellow Daoists, you've also arrived."
Hongyun leaned in and whispered, "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, Dijun and Taiyi certainly have quite a grand display. Look at this Heavenly Court, tsk tsk, it's truly a good place!"
Zhenyuanzi lightly coughed, "Hongyun."
Hongyun smiled sheepishly.
Just then, the sound of a bell rang out, vast and melodious.
Clang—
Dijun, dressed in imperial robes and wearing an imperial crown, appeared side by side with Taiyi, who held the chaos bell, inside the South Heaven Gate.
Nuwa and Fuxi stood slightly behind them.
The Ten Great Yao Sages and billions of Yao Race members were arrayed behind them, their Demonic Qi soaring to the heavens.
"Welcome, Fellow Daoists, to my Heavenly Court, to observe the grand ceremony of the Yao Race's establishment!" Dijun's voice spread in all directions.
After some polite remarks, the establishment ceremony officially began.
Dijun's voice was clear and resonant, echoing throughout the Primordial Land.
"Above the Dao!"
"Above Great God Pangu!"
"Above the Heavenly Dao!"
These three shouts were exactly like those made during the Wu Race's establishment.
Dijun continued to proclaim, "Today, I, Dijun of the Yao Race, and Taiyi, along with Empress Nuwa and Emperor Xi Fuxi of the Yao Race, and billions of Yao Race members, hereby swear an oath in this Heavenly Court!"
"When the Primordial Land first opened, all beings were ignorant, the strong preyed on the weak, and order did not exist, which went against the virtue of Heaven and Earth's nurturing!"
"Our Yao Race is willing to follow the will of Heaven, establish order, govern all beings, enlighten the ignorant, manage the stars of the Zhou Tian, and stabilize the operation of Heaven and Earth!"
"All those with scales, feathers, beasts, or plants that become spirits shall be of the Yao Race!"
"Our Yao Race shall establish the Heavenly Court above the Nine Heavens, holding the authority of Heaven!"
"This oath is witnessed by the Dao, witnessed by Great God Pangu, and witnessed by the Heavenly Dao!"
"The Yao Race—Established!"
"Boom!!!"
As the oath fell, the sky above the Nine Heavens changed color once again!
A Karma Qi, even larger and purer than when the Wu Race was established, transformed into a golden pillar of light that was almost solidified, crashing down!
Most of the Karma surged into the bodies of Dijun, Taiyi, Nuwa, and Fuxi. Their auras surged, and their pressure intensified!
The remaining Karma transformed into golden rain, showering down upon the Yao Race army inside and outside the Heavenly Court, as well as the many Yao Kings who came to observe the ceremony.
Countless Yao Race members felt their Bottlenecks loosen, and their Luck soared!
Inside Purple Cloud Palace, Hongjun Taoist Ancestor nodded slightly. Under the operation of the Heavenly Dao, supporting the Yao Race and balancing the Wu Race was exactly as it should be.
The great powers observing the ceremony looked at the Karma that almost dyed half the sky golden, their hearts filled with unparalleled shock.
"This... this Karma is even more than when the Wu Race was established!" Hongyun couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.
Zhenyuanzi's expression was solemn, "The Yao Race swore to govern all beings and establish order. Is this action... more in line with the operation of the Heavenly Dao?"
The Sanqing frowned slightly. Laozi's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, Yuanshi's face showed displeasure, and Tongtian curled his lips.
Minghe's eyes showed even greater greed, almost unable to suppress it.
Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged glances, their bitter expressions deepening, but also mixed with a hint of something else.
On the Wu Race's side, Zhurong couldn't help but mutter, "Damn it, why do they have more Karma than us? Aren't we doing great Karma by clearing Evil Qi and managing the earth's veins?"
Gonggong grumbled, "Exactly! This Heavenly Dao is too biased!"
Houtu's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she looked at Wu Ming.
Qiangliang, Shebishi, and the other Ancestral Witches also looked indignant.
Dijiang and Zhu Jiuyin exchanged glances, both seeing the solemnity in each other's eyes.
Only Wu Ming remained calm.
He had long anticipated this.
The Heavenly Dao needed the Wu and Yao Races to contend for supremacy, to push forward the Great Tribulation.
The Wu Race's establishment, swearing to protect the Primordial Land and clear Evil Qi, was a great Karma, which the Heavenly Dao could not withhold.
But the Yao Race's establishment, proclaiming to establish order and govern all beings, was more in line with the Heavenly Dao's intention to push forward the Great Tribulation and make the two races fight.
Therefore, the Heavenly Dao would grant the Yao Race more Karma, support them, and give them enough power to contend with the Wu Race, even subtly suppressing them.
This was the grand trend of the Heavenly Dao, an overt scheme!
Wu Ming sneered inwardly, "Supporting the Yao Race to contend with my Wu Race? Unfortunately, I won't let you have your way."
The ceremony ended, and the banquet began.
Dijun, Taiyi, Nuwa, and Fuxi came forward to offer toasts.
"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, Fellow Daoists, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, thank you for coming to observe the ceremony." Dijun raised his cup, adopting a very humble posture.
Wu Ming nodded slightly, "Fellow Daoist Dijun, Fellow Daoist Taiyi, Fellow Daoist Nuwa, Fellow Daoist Fuxi, the establishment of the Yao Race and the descent of Karma from Heaven are truly joyous and commendable."
Dijun's face carried the smile of a victor, "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming is too kind. Our Yao Race follows the will of Heaven and responds to the people, establishing order, and thus naturally enjoys the favor of Heaven."
Taiyi's face showed arrogance as he looked at Wu Ming, "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, now that our Yao Race is established and controls the Heavenly Court, from now on, this Primordial Land will be jointly governed by our Yao Race and your Wu Race."
His words, though seemingly equal, actually carried a hint of provocation.
Zhurong, however, couldn't help but speak, grumbling, "Hmph! Joint governance? Since when did the Primordial Land become something decided by our two families?"
Gonggong echoed, "Exactly! Our Wu Race clears Evil Qi and manages the earth's veins, that's doing practical work! You Yao Race say you want to govern all beings, but I think you just want to be the boss and bully the weak!"
As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere immediately became a bit stiff.
"What did you say?!" Taiyi was furious, the chaos bell hummed, and Sun True Fire almost burst forth.
"I said you want to be the boss and bully the weak, are you deaf?" Zhurong showed no weakness, flames rising around his body.
"You're asking for death!" Taiyi was about to make a move.
"Taiyi!" Dijun stopped him, but his face also darkened.
"Zhurong!" Wu Ming also spoke, his voice not loud, but it instantly extinguished the flames on Zhurong's body.
Wu Ming looked at Taiyi, "Fellow Daoist Taiyi, please calm your anger. Zhurong is just straightforward. Today is a day of great joy for the Yao Race, it's not suitable for conflict."
"However, what he said is not entirely without reason."
"The Primordial Land was formed from Great God Pangu's body, and it is only right for our Wu Race to thrive and multiply here."
"Your Yao Race establishing the Heavenly Court, controlling the Zhou Tian stars, and managing the order of Heaven and Earth, our Wu Race has no objection."
"As for joint governance of the Primordial Land... hehe, our Wu Race doesn't have such great ambition. We only wish to fulfill our oath to our father god and Heaven and Earth."
Wu Ming's words were neither humble nor arrogant.
He both clarified that the Wu Race did not want to contend for supremacy in the Primordial Land, and acknowledged the Yao Race's position in governing the heavens, while also gently glossing over the sensitive topic of "joint governance of the Primordial Land."
Nuwa's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She looked at Wu Ming, then at Dijun, and said nothing.
Fuxi's fingers moved slightly, as if he was calculating something, his expression solemn.
Hongyun watched from the side, heart pounding, and quickly tried to smooth things over, "Oh, everyone is doing this for the good of the Primordial Land! Harmony brings prosperity, harmony brings prosperity! We'll all be neighbors in the future, so we should help each other!"
Zhenyuanzi also said, "Exactly, exactly. Today is a day of great joy for the Yao Race, let's not let words harm our harmony."
Dijun looked deeply at Wu Ming, then drained the wine in his cup, "Good, Fellow Daoist Wu Ming is indeed a man of great insight!"