Year 1603 of the Ancestral Witch Era.
It has been nearly a hundred years since the fall of the third-generation Emperor Qin Xiao.
In today’s era, all beings engage in Qi Cultivation, cultivation of skills, and Artifact Refining, existing in an age without an emperor, where races vie for dominance amid chaotic turmoil.
Though the Human Race’s Celestial Emperor has perished, the Emperor’s Weapon, composed of the souls of Human Emperors amassing a Spiritual Artifact will, won’t be lost, returning autonomously to the Human Race’s ancestral grounds.
Yet, with the fall of their Human Emperor, this generation has not produced any remarkable talents capable of rivaling, despite their vast numbers they are unable to suppress other Longevity Races, thus retreating to the confines of the Ten Countries of the Human Race, continuing to develop. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novel_fіre.net
In the South Sea Abyss, in the southern coastal waters near the Isle of Life, resides the little-known Shell Race.
After all, though this land doesn’t contain myriad races, there are thousands, and with the constant inter-species love, these thousands continue to increase.
"Unfortunately, the Human Race’s Ten Countries, Ancestral Witch’s Twelve Countries vie for dominance, even the Beast Race in the third rank is acknowledged by the world, yet only our Sea Race remains obscure, with no one rising to prominence or being known."
"Our Sea Race also has ancient beings dwelling deep in the Ancient Abyss, ignoring us younger generations. Otherwise, we too might have a rise to power!"
"Alas! That distinguished being once transmitted the Seven Divine Skills, ushering in the Artifact Refining Era, where our race excels in the art of artifact refining! The Qi Gathering Shell is a Natural Pill Furnace, with pearls within as Innate Treasures!"
"We are born with Natural Pill Furnaces, Innate Treasures, possessing everything innately, yet remain cramped in the deep sea, unknown to others, even fearing other races discovering our potential."
Upon a red coral reef on the ocean’s floor, a few young Shell Maidens murmured wistfully.
They are the ones with the highest artifact refining talents in their tribe, grumbling here, full of resentment.
Their Sea Race has clear divisions of labor.
All males are Warriors, robust and muscled, with shells resembling immense mouths, possessing a terrifying bite force.
While females are gentle, all are Artifact Refiners, as only females of this tribe can nurture pearls.
Men venture out to hunt, women craft tools and cook, forming a well-organized marine clan.
This tribe truly desires to rise, but develops covertly.
Regrettably, skillful hands can’t make bricks without straw; their tribe is weak, lacking even Immortal Herb’s foundation, how could they cultivate?
They can only gather the thin air to cultivate, waiting for the rare moment when the blazing sun occasionally patrols the sky, rising to the surface, hastily cultivating, just barely being initiated.
"Alas! It was a shame that the great human man who developed the Divine Skill had an elusive presence in his last years! Our tribe has always attempted to find him, hoping he values our race’s qualities, perhaps accepting one or two as disciples! At worst, we could follow him as aides, becoming Living Pill Furnaces, like a living weapon akin to Chang’e Palace."
"Indeed, in such a manner, should one achieve enlightenment, all domesticated creatures ascend!"
Their racial traits suit them well for alchemy.
If they were enslaved by others as tools, they’d be naturally unwilling, yet if it were that being, they couldn’t help but have some thoughts.
"Alas, what’s the use of saying this now?"
"That being aged and departed, passing away naturally, leaving us with no opportunity, never knowing when to rise? Without the Immortal Herb, there’s no door to rise forever."
"No, I believe that being did not die!" a stubborn Shell Maiden insisted earnestly while reclining centrally within a shell.
"What are you talking about?"
"Indeed, those humans have short lifespans, unlike us Longevity Race, even if brilliant, surely died of old age."
Other companions within the shells conversed, their voices crisp like bells.
Yet this Shell Maiden had her own theory, "No, I remember the Divine Spirit would always look upon those illustrious Great Emperors, but in this era... the Divine Spirit hasn’t appeared, I don’t think even such an extraordinary being wouldn’t draw divinity’s presence... So, I presume that being isn’t dead."
The others considered this reasoning plausible.
Though, perhaps the Divine Spirit simply chose not to appear?
"In any case, I believe they’re not dead, such a great power can’t perish silently; they must have countless contingencies. Our tribe should still attempt searching for that legendary being." She pledged passionately.
The others paused, perhaps clinging to hope.
"That man indeed lives, surviving in some corner."
Just then, a suave and mysterious youth with a teardrop mole and a warm magnetic voice appeared, observing them calmly.
Upon seeing this presence for the first time,
Their minds roared as if witnessing the essence of the universe, a torrent of information flooding in, like a singular being seated atop the highest throne of the world was gazing down upon them.
Frightened, they instinctively retreated, closing their shells.
All hid inside, acting like ostriches, thinking they were hallucinating.
After all, meeting the legendary Ghost Witch Doctor who created the Seven Divine Skills would already be a miracle, how could an even more mysterious Divine Spirit appear before them?
After a while, they slowly opened their shell gaps, peeking out and exclaiming, "Sisters, it truly is a god."
"Gods are merely powerful beings."
Zhu Zhengwei dismissed it casually, continually inspiring others with "work hard to become like me" motivation.
He viewed this weak tribe, revealing his palm, where a juvenile scallop lay, a successfully transformed creature.
Fashioned from a plump scallop in reality.
"This is... our tribe."
Several women exclaimed in unison, "But we have our own kind, always residing in seclusion, how could any of our tribe be wandering outside?"
Zhu Zhengwei smiled, explaining, "She indeed is of your kin, but originated from another world... somewhere in the celestial cosmos."
All Shell Maidens were petrified by this alarming revelation, simultaneously deeply puzzled.
Though we’re so weak here, there are kin in other worlds? Surely living just as miserably, perhaps lacking discreetness, becoming abject slaves.
Yet, an incomprehensible thought emerged: perhaps those kin in fact are exceedingly strong, or the Divine Spirit wouldn’t deliberately bring kin here, crossing worlds.
"What intention do you hold by bringing our kin from another world to us, Divine Spirit?" she dared ask.
"She is the descendant of a departed old friend," Zhu Zhengwei explained softly, with frank candor, "Every summer, I gather with her over drinks and provisions."
All Shell Maidens stiffened, heads trembling as if struck with great impact.
Our oceanic ancestor turns out to be a friend of the Divine Spirit!
Does this mean our tribe holds tremendous potential, once thriving in the age of myths, with ancestors perhaps equating to god-like figures?
Zhu Zhengwei’s next words left them entirely frozen, "I intend for her to grow up among your kin, enjoying a childhood with kin companionship, instilling in her your accumulated knowledge and culture... In time, I will take her away, accept her as a disciple, returning to another world."
These divine words utterly jubilated the Shell Race before him.
This moment held for them a chance to rise to empowerment; if this kin is accepted by the Divine Spirit as a disciple, even crossing worlds, their tribulation would surely be utterly transformed!
"In other words, this child of our tribe... is the Divine Son of a mighty ancestor!"