Emberflame City—this ancient city bore the hope of the human race: to pass down its eternal flame across the ages, never extinguished.
"This Emberflame City is anything but ordinary. I can sense a presence... one that feels as if it stems from Eternity itself." A flicker of surprise flashed through Yi Tianxing's eyes. Within this city, he sensed a faint aura reminiscent of the Eternal Heaven Ark. It was subtle and elusive—whether it was truly the same, he could not say for certain.
"Come now, the Human Ancestral Court already knows you've arrived. They're waiting for you inside. They likely have matters to discuss. I won't be joining you." Nuwa gave him a meaningful smile and spoke calmly.
As her voice fell, her figure vanished without a trace. It was clear that her sole purpose in coming had been to escort Yi Tianxing to the Ancestral Court. The notion of simply "being on the way" had merely been an excuse.
Yi Tianxing paused in thought, then smiled lightly without saying anything more.
He strode forward, heading toward Emberflame City and stopping at its grand gates, where a young human was already waiting for him.
Upon seeing Yi Tianxing, the young man bowed respectfully and said, "Holy King Yi, the Three Emperors and other sages are already waiting for you in the Ancestral Temple."
Clearly, he had known of Yi Tianxing's identity well in advance.
"No need for formalities. Please, lead the way."
Yi Tianxing nodded.
"Please follow me, Holy King."
The youth smiled and led him inside.
As they moved through the city, Yi Tianxing saw a vibrant, bustling metropolis. The city was vast and teeming with life—numerous human cultivators wandered the streets, trading and going about their business. These were all ancient human ancestors, their auras primal and untamed, steeped in the wild age of antiquity. Some were vendors; others strolled casually. It was a sight that suggested this was their normal way of life.
Indeed, Emberflame City served as the gathering place for countless ancient human clans within the world of Huoyun Cave. It was a major trading hub, where goods and resources were exchanged freely.
After weaving through the city for a short while, they arrived before a grand, towering temple—the Ancestral Temple.
"Holy King, this is as far as I may go. This is the Ancestral Temple. You may proceed on your own."
The youth smiled.
The area occupied by the temple was immense. It was the sacred place where the human race worshipped their ancestors. Moreover, it was where the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns resided. Though called a "temple," it looked more like a majestic imperial palace.
Stepping inside, Yi Tianxing immediately noticed there were no ancestral tablets. Instead, at the center stood a colossal obelisk, upon which eight bold characters were engraved:
"Human Heroes, Eternal Glory!"
Beneath these words were names—each one representing a legendary figure of the human race who had made monumental contributions. This was the Monument of Heroic Spirits, the spiritual anchor for all fallen heroes. Worshipped by billions of humans over countless years, it served as a conduit of reverence and remembrance.
But more than that—it was a supreme treasure, one that suppressed and stabilized the destiny of the entire human race.
In front of the monument was a large incense burner, with several sticks of incense inserted into it. Each stick was nine feet long, a rich golden hue, and emitted curling golden smoke that wrapped around the monument, gradually merging into it.
"This is the Heroic Spirit Monument. The incense is called Celestial Incense, a top-tier spiritual incense. It calms the mind and nourishes the soul. Each stick is crafted by expert incense masters using the finest ingredients—truly priceless. Since you've come to the Ancestral Temple, you should pay your respects to the fallen heroes of our race."
A tall middle-aged man stepped forward as he spoke. Though he exuded an aura of imperial majesty, it didn't invoke fear but rather reverence. His tone carried kindness.
"So, it is the Heavenly Emperor himself."
Yi Tianxing instinctively recognized him the moment he appeared. His royal robe, adorned with the innate patterns of the Eight Trigrams, confirmed his identity beyond doubt.
"How could one stand before our heroic ancestors and not bow in reverence?"
Without hesitation, Yi Tianxing picked up three sticks of Celestial Incense. With a wave of his hand, he lit them. Wisps of blue smoke rose into the air as he bowed three times toward the monument. Only then did he insert the incense into the burner.
"Younger generation Yi Tianxing greets the Heavenly Emperor."
After the tribute, he formally saluted Fuxi.
"No need for excessive formality. At this point, I am merely the keeper of this Ancestral Temple. In this new era, the future of the human race depends on you all. Whether we rise again among the myriad races of the heavens—bathed in glory or drowned in blood—will be decided by your hands. We are but guardians of the path."
Fuxi smiled and said, "Come, let's sit. You've arrived just in time—my Eight-Aspect Spirit Tea has matured and been processed into proper tea leaves. Let's chat over a cup."
He led Yi Tianxing toward the back of the temple.
There, they entered a courtyard. It was modest in decoration—just a simple pavilion and a small garden, where various spiritual herbs grew. At its center stood a unique tea tree: the Innate Eight-Aspect Tea Tree.
This tree was no ordinary plant. It was born when Fuxi created the Innate Eight Trigrams. The convergence of divine will and heavenly merit birthed this top-grade innate spiritual root. Fuxi considered it a personal treasure, something he could live without wine, but never without tea.
Within the pavilion, a tea set was already arranged—an exquisite zisha (purple clay) teapot, refined from high-grade materials. The tea set was itself a precious treasure, enhancing the tea's effects by thirty percent. Fuxi was clearly fond of it, often handling it with care.
He lit the tea stove and placed the teapot on it, adding eight tea leaves inside. Each leaf was unique—one crackled faintly with the essence of thunder, another shimmered with firelight.
"Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Dui, Gen—these are the essences of the Eight Trigrams," Yi Tianxing murmured, his eyes flashing with recognition.
"Haha! As expected of our human race's supreme talent. Your insight is extraordinary. My brother's Eight-Aspect Spirit Tea contains the full Dao Rhythms of the Eight Trigrams. To truly taste its essence, one must infuse eight different leaves, each containing a unique principle. Miss even one, and the insight is incomplete. To drink this tea is to touch the mysteries of the trigrams, even awakening the legendary Heavenly Fate Aperture. Normally, my brother only ever uses a single leaf per brew. For you, he's being most generous."
A bold, hearty voice rang out. A figure strode in—his presence dignified, his gaze sharp with a trace of killing intent, radiating an unstoppable aura.
"Sovereign Xuanyuan."
Yi Tianxing's pupils contracted slightly—he immediately recognized the man. The foremost of the Five Sovereigns, Xuanyuan's achievements rivaled even the Three Emperors. The Emperors laid the foundation for humanity; the Sovereigns brought its civilization to life.
The Three Emperors established morality, food, and script. The Five Sovereigns ushered in human prosperity.
"You've already tasted my Eight-Aspect Tea, Xuanyuan. Only the first time can one awaken the Fate Aperture. Any more would be a waste."
Fuxi smiled.
"Well, I'm only here in a Dharma body anyway—it's not like I'd benefit even if I drank it," Yi Tianxing said with some regret.
This tea could awaken the Heavenly Fate Aperture, a legendary ability that let one glimpse destiny itself. One could perceive the fate of others at a glance. Once awakened, one's own fate would vanish from Heaven's sight, making future divinations nearly impossible—a peerless fortune. And yet, as he was only here in a projection, he couldn't benefit from it.
"No need to worry. Dharma body or true self—it's all the same. This tea works by conveying divine will. Once consumed, its insight will flow back to your original body and open your aperture. Otherwise, I wouldn't have brought out the Eight-Aspect Tea."
Fuxi reassured him with a smile, dispelling Yi Tianxing's concern.
"He speaks truly, little friend."
At that moment, another figure appeared—a middle-aged man in green robes, embroidered with patterns of herbs and plants. His presence was calming and full of life.
"Greetings, Earthly Emperors."
Yi Tianxing respectfully saluted again. His reverence for Shennong was entirely genuine.
"No need for courtesy. The others are in seclusion. Only the three of us came to welcome you to the Ancestral Court."
Shennong smiled warmly, his presence as serene and comforting as a forest breeze.
"The tea is ready," Fuxi said.
Above the teapot, steam rose and formed the image of the Eight Trigrams. Then, the illusion sank back into the pot. Fuxi picked up the teapot and poured the tea with graceful precision. The tea was eight-colored, each hue swirling within the cup. As it spun, a faint Eight Trigram diagram formed within each cup, Dao Rhythms flowing in silent harmony.
"Drink it while it's hot. You'll discover its wonders."
Yi Tianxing didn't hesitate. He lifted the cup and drank. The tea's fragrance was long and deep, its flavors shifting endlessly. Within it, he felt a mystical will pass through him—leaping into the void, reaching some unknown realm.
Yet when he tried to recall it, nothing remained.
"Little friend, do you feel disappointed by the Human Ancestral Court?" Fuxi asked with a gentle smile.
"How could I be? To step into the Ancestral Temple and pay homage to the ancestors—that alone is a blessing beyond measure. And to meet all of you... If word of this got out, countless people would envy me." Yi Tianxing responded with a smile.
Though he had yet to see the full heritage of the human race, what he said was true.
"Don't hold it against us for ignoring the humans of the Eternal World," Fuxi said slowly. "Even knowing that humanity was being suppressed, even slaughtered as blood offerings, we did not intervene. Whether the human race can rise in this era—that's up to you. We are remnants of a bygone age. Our true enemy is not the myriad races. Even as conflicts rage, the strongest among each race do not intervene. Just as we have an Ancestral Court, so too do they. This ensures the battle remains within a controllable range—preventing total chaos."