Just as the Red Hydrangea was about to smash into Taiqing, a seven-colored auspicious cloud appeared above his head.
"Bang!"
The Red Hydrangea slammed into the Heavens-Celebrating Auspicious Cloud, instantly causing the golden lamps and golden lotuses within the cloud to sway violently, as if they could fall off at any moment. This showed just how ferocious Nuwa's attack was.
"Eldest Brother, suppress the Human Race's Qi fortune with all your might. I will block Nuwa's attack!"
Upon hearing this, Taiqing immediately poured his full strength into suppressing the Human Race's Qi fortune within his body. In the distance, seeing that the opponent was trying to pull the Qi fortune back under control, Ling Wudao could not help frowning slightly!
Of the total Qi fortune currently possessed by the Human Race, Nuwa held half, and Taiqing held thirty percent, leaving the Human Race in control of only twenty percent themselves. If things continued this way, it would not be easy to reclaim the Human Race's Qi fortune.
It seemed he still needed to rely on the half of the Human Race's Qi fortune held by Nuwa.
Thinking of this, Ling Wudao called out to Nuwa, "Nuwa Niangniang, Taiqing currently holds thirty percent of the Human Race's Qi fortune. I cannot retrieve it by myself alone; I must ask for your help."
Hearing this, Nuwa immediately channeled her portion of the Human Race's Qi fortune into the Kongtong Seal. She, too, wanted to force Taiqing to cough up the Human Race's Qi fortune—after all, it originally belonged to her. If Hongjun hadn't stopped her from preventing Taiqing from establishing the Human Teaching back then, Taiqing would never have had the chance to attain Sagehood.
As a massive amount of the Human Race's Qi fortune gathered within the Kongtong Seal, the Human Race's Qi fortune on Taiqing began to strip away faster and faster. No matter how Taiqing tried to suppress it with the Taiji Diagram, he could not stem the outflow of Qi fortune.
Time drifted by unnoticed until the Human Race's Qi fortune on Taiqing was finally completely stripped away.
The moment the Human Race's Qi fortune entirely left his body, his cultivation realm began to plummet along with the vanishing Qi fortune. In just a brief moment, Taiqing dropped from the Three Heavens of Sagehood down to the First Heaven of Sagehood.
Witnessing this, Taiqing went completely mad.
"Ling Wudao, I'll have you die!"
With those words, he rose to charge at Ling Wudao.
At this moment, Yuanshi, standing nearby, spoke up, "Eldest Brother, do not be rash. Your realm is still falling; quickly stabilize your foundation and prevent yourself from tumbling down from the Sage throne, or we will be in grave trouble."
Hearing Yuanshi's words, Taiqing finally noticed that a hairline fracture had appeared in his Dao fruit. Thus, instead of immediately going after Ling Wudao, Taiqing pulled out a large quantity of Nine-Turn Golden Pills and used them alongside the Taiji Diagram to stabilize his realm.
On Ling Wudao's side, as the Human Race's Qi fortune returned, the Qi fortune within him grew continuously stronger, though unfortunately, it was still not enough to help him break through to the late stage of Refining Essence into Qi.
Even though the return of Qi fortune failed to bring him a breakthrough, it bestowed enormous benefits upon the Human Race. For instance, those who were injured found their wounds instantly and automatically healed, while those who were elderly and frail reverted to youthful appearances. Not only that, but their innate aptitudes improved significantly, and some human cultivators even achieved breakthroughs on the spot.
Seeing this, an uncontainable smile appeared on Ling Wudao's face.
The Human Race of today was the true Human Race; in the past, they had merely been tools kept in captivity by the Sages!
At this moment, seeing that Taiqing had nearly fallen from the Sage throne, Nuwa could not help bursting into hearty laughter.
"Taiqing, I never expected you to have such a day! In the past, you bullied the Human Race so ruthlessly; today, this Empress shall give you a taste of your own medicine!"
With that, Nuwa prepared to unleash her full strength to attack Taiqing and Yuanshi.
However, right at that moment, ten thousand miles of purple Qi emerged in the void, and a figure riding a seven-colored auspicious cloud flew in from afar.
Upon seeing this scene, the various Sages immediately understood that their teacher had arrived.
When that figure reached them, the Sages promptly knelt in unison.
"We pay our respects to Teacher!"
Hongjun looked at the Sages with a expressionless face. "Rise!"
"Do you know your crimes?"
"Teacher, what crime have we committed? Nuwa tried to block the Human Race's tribulation, and we simply acted in accordance with the Heavenly Dao to stop her. Where is our crime?"
"Taiqing, you were not wrong to stop Nuwa, but you should not have instigated a Sage battle. The current Primordial World cannot withstand full-scale clashes among multiple Sages."
"I have come here today precisely to put a stop to your fighting."
With a wave of Hongjun's hand, a surge of energy entered Taiqing's body, instantly preserving his injuries and securing his Sage fruit status.
Immediately afterward, Hongjun turned his gaze to Nuwa. "You should not have obstructed the Human Race's tribulation. You must understand that it is decreed by the numbers of heaven; the Human Race must grow through enduring tribulations."
Hearing Hongjun's words, Nuwa frowned slightly.
"Teacher, the Human Race has done no harm to the Primordial World since their birth. Why must they endure such a catastrophe? Could it be that the Heavenly Dao of the Primordial World cannot tolerate the Human Race and insists on completely eradicating them?"
"Disciple Nuwa, it is not that the Heavenly Dao cannot tolerate the Human Race, but rather that it is decreed by fate; the Human Race must undergo this tribulation."
"Now, all of you shall return to your respective abodes. The Human Race's tribulation will continue as before, and the Sages are strictly forbidden from intervening. Should any of you interfere in human affairs again, I will have no choice but to suppress you with my own hands."
Upon hearing this, Taiqing could not help feeling a secret thrill of joy.
Without Nuwa backing the Human Race, Ling Wudao alone had no way of defeating Dijun and Taiyi. Even though he could not personally execute Ling Wudao, driving the Human Race to extinction would still be enough to vent the hatred in his heart. As for Nuwa, he would have plenty of time to deal with her in the future.
Meanwhile, Nuwa clenched her fists tightly. The thought of the race she had created being driven to extinction was agonizingly painful; the Human Race revered her as their Holy Mother, yet she was utterly powerless to help them.
Just as Nuwa was silently blaming herself, Ling Wudao walked up to her, holding the Kongtong Seal.
"Nuwa Niangniang, you need not reproach yourself. All of this is merely a setup!"
"Dao Ancestor Hongjun, you wish to suppress the Human Dao and control the Primordial World, which is why you orchestrated the Monster Clan's slaughter of our Human Race—because the Human Race is the key to the awakening of the Human Dao."
"The Human Race cannot be destroyed; otherwise, the Great Dao will unleash its punishment."
Ling Wudao turned his head to look directly at Hongjun. "Am I wrong?"
At these words, Hongjun was taken aback in deep shock.
How did this person figure out his schemes? Logically speaking, a mere human ant should never have discovered his true purpose. Furthermore, the fellow even knew about the Human Dao. Could it be that the Human Dao itself had told him?
Thinking that this was possible, Hongjun cast a hostile glare at Ling Wudao.
"Talk no further nonsense! I am the spokesman of the Heavenly Dao; this tribulation of the Human Race is the will of heaven, not something purposely arranged by me. You dare to question me and question the will of heaven—your crime is unforgivable!"
Hearing Hongjun's words, Ling Wudao laughed. "What a fine 'will of heaven'! My Human Race has done nothing to harm the Primordial World; what reason does heaven have to subject us to such a calamity?"
"Do you truly believe no one knows of your scheming?"
"You wish to control the Primordial World and plot my death? Then today, I shall see if you possess the ability to do so!"