Rise of Humanity

by <unknown>

  The elders swarmed over and so did the human disciples. Shui Zian was surrounded by the crowd as they ask of the goddess’ identity and intention.

  “She is here for Elder Zhong? If Elder Zhong doesn’t come back, is she going to wait there forever?”

  The crowd was stunned. Shui Zian said, “Zhong Yue is really an animal, how can you destroy the future of another young lady. This brat, he is like a bee, always ducking in and out of the flower bushes. Sigh, Headmaster Jun is in danger now.…”

  The other elders nodded and concurred, “What a prick! Headmaster Jun and Elder Qiu are really in danger now!”

  “Which one of you will go and ask who she is? And why is she so sure that Elder Zhong will come back alive?" Shui Zian said.

  The crowd shook their heads in unison, they said, “Such a beautiful lady, I don’t think I am even brave enough to speak in front of her.”

  “I will!" Zuo Xiangsheng suddenly said and strode toward the little pavillion. The closer he was, the slower his pace became. Moments later, he seemed to have lost all his resolve as he weakly turned and walked back, “I suddenly lost the will to talk to her.…”

  “Elder Shui, you go!" The crowd quickly came out with a candidate, “Your face is the thickest among us!”

  Left with no choice, Shui Zian strode out like a soldier going to the war. A few moments later, he walked back to the crowd and said, “She said, the insect race gods and Ancestral Star gods are mostly dead. But Zhong Yue hid inside a lamp and survived. But she also said that she didn’t know where the lamp is now. As for who she is, she said she is a goddess from the moon.”

  “Goddess from the moon?" the Swords Gate disciples were stunned.

  “An innate god!?" Granny Tao suddenly shouted.

  Shui Zian nodded, his face was solemn as he said, “An innate god, a lady innate god! Headmaster Jun is in great danger… why is she not back yet?”

  He just passed the words to Jun Sixie not long ago. Even if Jun Sixie rushed back with all her strength, it would still take a few months for her to return.

  Meanwhile, on the far south of the Ancestral Star, there was an island in the middle of the ocean. The island was filled with desert and greenlands. There were many unique creatures that only lived here and were unseen to the outside world. One of them resembled a bird but didn’t seem to be able to fly. There was also a large two-legged creature with a large pouch in front of their bellies.

  There there was a mountain ridge that was charred black and was smoking.

  Suddenly, the dark mountain ridge glimmered with rays before crumbling away. Two huge claws protruded out from the ground below and fully tore the dark shells above into parts.

  A mother god flew out and her tentacles hovered above the island, sucking the living creatures on the island into the tentacles.

  “Cough, cough, cough. They are just ordinary creatures, I can’t even heal myself with them. I really want some Qi Practitioners now…”

  The mother god turned into a beautiful woman and sat on the ground. She was panting for breath and the airs she exhaled still reeked of blood.

  Mother Da Zhen then said, “But in comparison to the other gods, I could be considered very lucky already. Not only did I make it out alive, I still acquired such a good treasure!”

  Mother Da Zhen took out a shabby copper lamp from her Yuan Shen secret realms and said while laughing, “This copper lamp can withstand the aftermath of the innate god and Deity Overlord, it must be an incredible treasure! It might be the key for the rise of our insect race!”

  “Hehehe, I am the ancient god of the magic lamp!" A voice suddenly said within the lamp, “You found me. And for that, I can grant you three wishes!”

  TN: Aladdin and the magic lamp! :joy:

  Chapter 555: Three Wishes |

  Mother Da Zhen frowned as she looked at the copper lamp. Being able to live and hide for so long in the Ancestral Star, she had learned to not trust people easily.

  If it weren’t for her cautiousness, she wouldn’t be alive now.

  Three wishes? Is this lamp something like the Demon God Contracted Puppet?

  Mother Da Zhen thought to herself, she didn’t know about the Demon God Contracted Puppet before Zhong Yue used it in the Eight Barren. Ever since then, the world gained a glimpse of the abilities of the Demon God Contracted Puppet.

  After hearing that the lamp could grant her three wishes, Mother Da Zhen mind immediately went to the Demon God Contracted Puppet!

  Although the Demon God Contracted Puppet was precious, it would ultimately cause death after the three wishes were completed. The demon god contracted with the puppet eat the user’s soul.

  If the demon god was in the Deity Overlord or Deity Emperor level, even Mother Da Zhen couldn’t survive that.

  “Demon God Contracted Puppet? That kind of trash is not even worthy of being compared to me!”

  Inside the lamp, Zhong Yue was suppressed to only a bean’s size. He stood on top of the Divine Wing Saber and projected his voice out of the lamp, “I, the ancient magic lamp, am an undying existence and the lamp spirit left behind by the great emperors! The young human met me and achieved everything he got in just two wishes, doesn’t that show how mighty am I?”

  Zhong Yue didn’t expect that he would end up in the hands of Mother Da Zhen. His plan was to leave the copper lamp after the battle settled down. But with Mother Da Zhen carrying the copper lamp along with her, going out of the lamp would only kill him!

  If Mother Da Zhen had found out he was inside, she would certainly be happy to see him!

  “Lamp spirit left by the great emperors?”

  Mother Da Zhen was piqued in interest, she cleared her throat and said, “Lamp god, what did Zhong Yue wished for?”

  The ‘lamp god’ answered, “He said he wanted to be on the Legendary Board, so I pushed him to the first rank in that petty list. His second wish was to destroy the insect planet, and so I did.”

  “My insect planet, you!" Mother Da Zhen’s scalp tingled as she started to subconsciously believe the ‘lamp god’. Zhong Yue always claimed that he destroyed the insect planet, but it was just too absurd for a mere Qi Practitioner to done so. Even the insect race didn’t believe him much.

  However, with this copper lamp saying that it was the one that destroyed the insect planet… that explanation seemed to be much more acceptable!

  The ancient gods left behind many secrets, the Ancestral Star alone was buried with countless Heavenly Sovereign and Earthly Sovereigns!

  This was something even the brightest planet in the universe can’t have, only the Ancestral Star!

  Mother Da Zhen rolled her eyes, she asked, “Lamp god, did Zhong Yue make his third wish?”

  She was still having doubts, she wouldn’t believed the copper lamp so easily.

  “His third wish was to awaken the Innate Moon God to have her protect him." the lamp god said happily.

  A cold chill suddenly traveled down Mother Da Zhen’s spine as she exclaimed, “You are the one that awakened the innate god, how did you… Wait, no, no. If Zhong Yue made his third wish, why is he still dead?”

  ‘Lamp god’ guffawed smugly, “His third wish was to awaken the Innate Moon God. As for making her protect him… that would’ve made it his fourth wish.”

  The voice coming within the copper lamp sounded nefariously evil, as if relishing in Zhong Yue’s misfortune!

  Yet, Mother Da Zhen believed it.

  The Demon God Contracted Puppet could also grant three wishes, but after the third wish was fulfilled, the puppet would turn into a piece of trash right after. As for this copper lamp, it could be used numerous times. Clearly, its superiority to the Demon God Contracted Puppet was clear as day.

  Things like these were usually evil and wicked. The allure of wishes was oftentimes bait for the evil gods to devour those that fell to its temptation.

  Asking for a wish was tantamount to signing away one’s soul!

  Zhong Yue, how dumb are yo
u! Mother Da Zhen glanced at the lamp and a light of understanding flashed through her eyes. She thought, You didn’t realize that you had made two wishes together. You asked for death yourself! What an idiot child, you brought death upon your ownself! If I’m right, this lamp god must also be an evil god, his goal is to toy with its victims! But if you are smart enough and only wished once, you would’ve been able to gain a huge benefit from him!

  She made a decision that she would only ask for one wish. After the wish was granted, she would immediately throw the copper lamp away!

  Then, the voice from the copper lamp asked, “Now, what’s your wish?”

  Mother Da Zhen thought for a split second and she chortled, “My wish is simple, I want all of the gods in the Ancestral Star to die!”

  “You sure?" The ‘lamp god’ asked and suddenly smiled smugly.

  Mother Da Zhen was just going to answer but a thought flashed across her mind and she was greatly shocked, I am also a god! This wish will kill me as well!

  Cold sweat burst out from her forehead, she quickly said, “Wait! My wish is to kill all of the gods in Ancestral Star other than the insect race gods!”

  A snap of finger came within the magical lamp, the ‘lamp god’ smiled and said, “Your wish has been granted. Now, tell me your second wish!”

  Mother Da Zhen was shocked and overjoyed, she exclaimed, “The gods are killed already?”

  “Of course not." The lamp god answered, “But they will soon. Some will die of age and some others will die in various accidents and battles. None of them will be able to live eternally. You never added a time frame for the wish to be completed, so I simply took the path of least resistance. Now, tell me, what’s your second wish?”

  Mother Da Zhen was stunned for a second before erupting, “How can this be acceptable?”

  However, the ‘lamp god’ was placid in answering, “Don’t blame me for your idiocy. Now, your second wish.”

  Mother Da Zhen was discontent; she had wasted a wish for nothing!

  Seconds before, she had criticized Zhong Yue for being too dumb, but now, the same thing was happening to her as well!

  This lamp god is definitely an evil god! He liked to search for loopholes in the wishes and take advantage. Such an attitude is really like the evil and wicked gods.

  Rays of wisdom flashed across Mother Da Zhen’s eyes again as she contemplated her second wish.

  Now, all her focus was to come out with a perfect second wish.

  “Lamp god, my second wish is…" Mother Da Zhen pondered for seconds and said solemnly, “I want to recover all of my wounds and return to my peak stage, right here right now!”

  “You sure your second wish is to recover yourself to your peak state?" The ‘lamp god’ asked.

  Mother Da Zhen’s heart suddenly twitched in alarm, “Wait! I want to recover to the peak of my current cultivation level!”

  “Hehehe…" a series of nefarious laughters came within the lamp, the ‘lamp god’ said, “I was just thinking of reverting you back to the peak of your Spirit Nurturing level. You learn quite quickly. Pity, pity…”

  Mother Da Zhen’s scalp tingled as a sense of relief filled her body, Thankfully I stopped him from doing that before he granted me the wish!

  Inside of the copper lamp, worry began to creep across Zhong Yue’s face as he said, “The first wish is still fine, but this second wish is getting a little knotty… Xin Huo, I need your help with this!”

  Xin Huo winked his eyes and asked, “You mean…”

  A little flame rose within the copper lamp, it was small and had human features, but with a tail wagging behind its back.

  Mother Da Zhen looked at it and was shocked, Is this how the lamp god looks like?

  The little flame shot out a hologram and showed the image of an array of altars. These altars were made from the totem patterns, forming a bizarre array formation.

  Suddenly, the ‘lamp god’ said within the lamp, “Place the array formation here and stand at the center. After the altars are activated, the energy of heaven and earth will come flood through your body, helping you in remedying your wounds and recovering your injuries.”

  Mother Da Zhen heard the voice coming from the lamp and thought, So this little flame is not the ‘lamp god’.

  She asked later, “Lamp god, aren’t you the one that’s going to help me?”

  The ‘lamp god’ answered insouciantly, “Why? You never asked for it, so why would I waste my energy to help you? This array of altars is more than enough to handle such a minor task.”

  What an evil god, he truly is evil!

  Mother Da Zhen praised in her heart, He could’ve even found a hole in the wish! But if he did it himself, I would also be suspicious! But now, with me doing it myself, I will be able to know if the array formation has any hidden dangers! if the array formation is legitimate, I can learn it and use it the next time I need it!

  She stared at the hologram and started attaining the totem patterns and abstrusities in it. However, these totem patterns were on a higher level to what she had ever seen. She could only understand thirty percent of it.

  Even this thirty-percent was already stronger than anything she knew. The array formation presented in the hologram must have been an amazing art!

  The last suspicion toward the array formation in her heart was eradicated away. In a gravely wounded state, Mother Da Zhen surged her arcane energy and psyche out to carve the mountains and engrave the totem patterns, forming them into altars.

  Soon, the altars were ready.

  Just as Mother Da Zhen was going to enter the array formation, she suddenly stopped and formed a huge hand with her arcane energy. She grabbed one of the two-legged creatures with huge pocket in front of them and threw it into the array formation while she activated it.

  This mother god is really knotty, how cautious! In the copper lamp, Zhong Yue thought solemnly.

  Chapter 556: Oblation to The Heaven and Earth |

  “Xin Huo, will your sacrificial array formation be seen through by her?" Zhong Yue watched as the altars were activated and his heart tensed up in anxiety.

  Xin Huo laughed and comforted, “Don’t worry, definitely not! This sacrificial array formation is not a simple one. It’s called the 【Heaven and Earth Sacrificial Art】. When conventionally used, it will extract the energy in the heaven and earth and sacrifice the energy to remedy the wounds or help in increasing the cultivation base. When used in reverse, the user’s energy will be extract, meaning that whoever is in the array formation will be sacrificed to the heaven and earth!”

  Zhong Yue nodded softly, his goal was to let Mother Da Zhen place the array formation and sacrifice herself!

  Although Mother Da Zhen was just a step away from death, she was way too cautious, carefully probing the array formation before entering.

  The 【Heaven and Earth Sacrificial Art】 was cast to the end by Mother Da Zhen. The energy of the heaven and earth funneled down in the center and lit up the totem patterns carved on the altars.

  The altars glimmered brighter. Suddenly, the totem patterns engraved on the altars hovered in mid-air and flashed toward the center faster than lightning!

  In the center, an unsuspecting creature that was thrown in by Mother Da Zhen. Its huge tail curled around the body while the totem patterns surged right into its body.

  The creature was engulfed in great terror but its body was growing at an incredible rate. The muscles were bulging out and its psyche was also growing at an amazing speed!

  Monstrous Qi started to burgeon within its body. At just the drop of a hat, it turned into a monster beast, rapidly advancing into a monster cultivator!

  Not long after, the creature was already over forty feet tall, huge like a small hill while suffusing monster Qi!

  Mother Da Zhen was shocked and overjoyed at the same time. Even Zhong Yue was also filled with surprise, he mumbled, “Xin Huo, this 【Heaven and Earth Sacrificial Art】 is really amazing. With this array formation,
wouldn’t one be able to easily become a deity!”

  Xin Huo shook his head and laughed, “How can it be so easy? This art doesn’t borrow the power from the heaven and earth, it steals. There is a huge difference between the two, what’s borrowed will always need to be returned, but what’s stolen will be yours forever. It may sounds tempting now, but when the consequences comes right after....”

  “Steal the power of heaven and earth? Consequences?" Zhong Yue startled and asked, “What consequences?”

  As he finished his words, a flash of lightning made a beautiful arc across the sky and within a split second, struck right on the creature’s head. A wave of smoke rose from the center of the altars while a charred object was left on the ground!

  “That’s the consequence, it’s call the Karmic Retribution." Xin Huo explains, “Steal the power from the heaven and earth, and you will have to face Karmic Retribution. Even if you can escape it now, you will still have to face it in the future. Sometimes, it can come at the most unexpected or inconvenient timing. It might not even happen on you personally, your family and those who you care for aren’t necessarily exempt from the curse.

  “The creator of this 【Heaven and Earth Sacrificial Art】 had been evading the Karmic Retributions for all his life. He was a true talent, the brightest star among his peers. Yet, his friends and families all died in all kinds of horrible ways. Later on in his life, his last wife gave birth to a son. In order to protect his last son, he reversed the art and sacrificed himself to the heaven and earth. It was only because of that his son was able to grow in peace.”

  Zhong Yue suddenly thought of something and asked in panic, “But Qi Practitioners that cultivate the energy of heaven and earth... are they also stealing. Would it bring the Karmic Retribution to us?”

  Xin Huo shook his head, “The Qi Practitioners can be said as stealing but also borrowing at the same time. Cultivation is different to plundering arts like the 【Heaven and Earth Sacrificial Art】. The Qi Practitioners have a limited lifespan on them, even if they become a deity, they still cannot escape the ravages of time. They are all doomed to eventually return to dust. After their deaths, their cultivation base will disperse and return to the heaven and earth, thus, returning what was borrowed. But you are asking about cultivating to true immortality… then that is a different matter altogether.”