Chapter 102: Fighting for the Human Race

Jiang Yuan thought his Shennong father was truly too domineering. Yet as a mere true immortal trash, would it not backfire if he went to the Heavenly Clan and spoke these words directly to the Heavenly Emperor? If showing off failed and he instead got slapped in the face, that was definitely not the outcome Jiang Yuan desired. It was obvious that if he went to the Heavenly Clan, uttered such words before the Heavenly Emperor, he would clearly be provoking the latter. Heaven forbid that he failed to bring out Yang Jian's mother and instead found himself trapped in trouble.

"Senior," Jiang Yuan said somewhat embarrassedly, "if I say this in front of the Heavenly Emperor, won't it be considered provocation? What if my insignificant status is casually slapped to death by him?"

Shennong glared at him and retorted, "If you cannot even handle this, how can you be my human race emperor? If you cannot, then do not be one. Back in my day I beat the Heavenly Emperor with three whips and he did not dare complain."

"What's the harm in saying a few words to him?" Shennong sneered.

Jiang Yuan was momentarily stunned. Say a few words? This was merely saying a few words? It was like rubbing salt into his wounds. You, after beating him with three whips, would then pat your bottom and walk away, like a scumbag. You should beat him to death! If you had done that back then, would there be so many troubles now?

"Senior is joking. I am a true immortal human emperor; the Heavenly Emperor could kill me with a casual sneeze. Such provocation, he would never tolerate it." Jiang Yuan smiled bitterly.

"Are you afraid?" Shennong looked at him with contempt. "Do not worry. The Heavenly Emperor's clan is greedy for life and fears death. You bear the human emperor's destiny. If he killed you, he would bear the karma of his actions, so he would not dare."

Jiang Yuan inwardly scoffed. You are the big shot, of course you are not afraid. If I had your strength, I would not even dare let the Heavenly Emperor lick my shoes. If Shennong were a villain, Jiang Yuan felt he should have said the old saying "thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, do not bully the young." But he could not, for this was his father in his heart, and how could he offend Shennong's father?

Seeing that Jiang Yuan had been mocked yet still smiled and flattered, "Senior, the junior is not afraid of these things, but is it a bit too perfunctory for you to tell the junior only this one sentence? Moreover, the junior's visit this time is not merely to deal with the Heavenly Clan and its Heavenly Emperor, but also hopes to obtain some treasures from you to return and pacify the great turmoil in the human race."

Shennong raised an eyebrow and asked calmly, "Old man knows you little brat has not been holding back. Say what you want to say. Have you taken a fancy to something here?"

"Hehe, senior is wise," Jiang Yuan said with a shy smile.

"The junior wishes to take something that should belong to the junior from here."

"Oh? A treasure that should belong to you? When did old man ever have a treasure that belongs to you?" Shennong's brow lifted.

"Is not the Xuanyuan Sword here?" Jiang Yuan asked doubtfully.

Upon hearing this, Shennong's expression changed. He looked at Jiang Yuan with a puzzled frown and asked, "Who told you the Xuanyuan Sword is here?"

"Is it true? It seems the junior guessed correctly," Jiang Yuan laughed.

Only then did Shennong realize he had been tricked by Jiang Yuan. Good boy! You even guessed this.

Since the matter had been exposed by Jiang Yuan, Shennong naturally would not deny it any longer. He looked at Jiang Yuan and smiled, "Old man will not hide it from you. The Xuanyuan Sword is indeed here, but you may not be able to take it away."

Jiang Yuan would not believe such words. Can or cannot take it away? As long as it appeared before him, he would beg shamelessly even if he had to. This was a chaos treasure; even if he could not use it himself, he could still exchange it with the system for many tyrant values.

The junior is also a human emperor. Why can I not bring the Xuanyuan Sword?" Jiang Yuan said in obvious confusion.

Shennong saw that Jiang Yuan had misunderstood and smiled while explaining, "Do not misunderstand. What old man means by you cannot take it away is not that old man is unwilling to give you the Xuanyuan Sword, but that you cannot pull it out."

"After Shun brought the Xuanyuan Sword to this heavenly abyss, the sword rooted itself here and never left. The last human emperor to come here was Shun; after him came Yu the Great, who established the Xia Dynasty and turned public land into private ownership. After that the Xuanyuan Sword no longer actively flew out of the heavenly abyss to seek the next human emperor. Previously, whenever a new human emperor appeared, the Xuanyuan Sword would fly out to find him. But since the Xia Dynasty was founded, the Xuanyuan Sword has remained in the heavenly abyss, seemingly not recognizing the identities of the emperors outside. That is why old man said you cannot take the Xuanyuan Sword."

"Isn't the Xuanyuan Sword the sword of the human emperor? Why cannot a human emperor hold it?" Jiang Yuan was puzzled.

"Probably after Shun, the human emperors began to grow selfish. They can only inherit the human emperor's destiny and the blessing of heaven and earth, but cannot be acknowledged by the Xuanyuan Sword."

"The Xuanyuan Sword was forged by the first human emperor, Fuxi, with the purpose of protecting the human race. At first it was merely an innate treasure, which old man once held as well. The subsequent Xuanyuan Sword was empowered by successive human emperors, with its grade constantly upgrading until Emperor Xuanyuan, when it became a chaos treasure. This is also the origin of its name." Shennong explained slowly.

"If old man says it this way, do you understand why?"

Jiang Yuan was stunned for a moment before replying, "Senior is right. Since the founding of the dynasties, successive human emperors have placed their own interests first, even enslaving the human race. Having the human emperor's destiny, so what? If they do not protect the human race, they naturally will not be recognized by the Xuanyuan Sword."

Upon hearing this answer, Shennong nodded in satisfaction and said, "You still have some foresight, little brat. As for you younger human emperors, old man and Sui Ren are very disappointed in you. As for this Xuanyuan Sword, do not even think of taking it away. Old man also hopes this Xuanyuan Sword will return to the world, but unfortunately you younger generations are unworthy."

"Senior, may the junior get to see the Xuanyuan Sword?" Jiang Yuan said after a long silence.

He no longer mentioned taking the Xuanyuan Sword out. If he was qualified to obtain it, there was no need for him to demand it from Shennong; it would come to him itself.

"Of course you may," Shennong nodded.

After all, the Xuanyuan Sword had been placed here for thousands of years and was no longer used much. If possible, Shennong hoped the Xuanyuan Sword could appear in the human race again and fulfill its mission of protecting the human race.

Under Shennong's guidance, Jiang Yuan followed him to the backyard of the thatched cottage, which was also filled with luxuriant vegetation. After all, there were flowers and grass, along with several already well-grown ancient trees. These flowers and trees emitted dense spiritual energy, competing in beauty. No explanation was needed; these flowers and trees must be extraordinary treasures. An ordinary person picking one flower to brew tea could gain longevity and endless benefits.

In the very center of the backyard, sure enough, a sword stood upright. Jiang Yuan could only judge it was a sword by the hilt, for the body of the Xuanyuan Sword was completely buried in the ground. The hilt was not the golden hue Jiang Yuan had imagined but somewhat dark and black. Jiang Yuan knew it was a blood-drinking sword.

It did not drink the blood of others but the blood of foreign tribes! Jiang Yuan could sense that desolate and ancient aura even from a short distance. The ferocious look of the exposed hilt alone made him feel its sharpness was exceptional. Besides the bloody aura from the hilt, Jiang Yuan also sensed a strong sense of unwillingness on the Xuanyuan Sword. It was unwilling to be buried here, unwilling for the outside human emperors to be so selfish, unwilling for the human race to fall, unwilling not to be able to drink blood.

Jiang Yuan suddenly felt an impulse. He wanted to pull out this unwilling sword! This sword that had followed generation after generation as a guardian!

"Senior, may the junior try?" Jiang Yuan asked solemnly, looking at Shennong.

He was unwilling for such a peerless divine weapon to be buried in dust.

Shennong glanced at him somewhat unexpectedly. He could confirm that after the previous words, Jiang Yuan had already given up on taking the Xuanyuan Sword. Yet why had the impulse to take it reemerged upon merely seeing the hilt? Could it be that this little brat had resonated with the Xuanyuan Sword? That should not be. This brat was also a human emperor like Yu the Great. If one were to speak of human emperor destiny, Jiang Yuan's was far inferior to Yu the Great's. After all, Yu the Great had made many contributions to the human race. His governance of floods had earned the human race's faith on par with Yao and Shun. If not for being deceived into establishing the Xia Dynasty and seeking death, perhaps he would have stayed here guarding the heavenly abyss with him. Even such a Yu the Great had not been able to summon the Xuanyuan Sword, let alone a merchant lord at the end of his road. This was unreasonable...

"You may try. If you can pull it out, that would of course be best," Shennong smiled and nodded without refusing.

Although the Xuanyuan Sword was precious, it also depended on it being able to fulfill its role. If it could do nothing, it was merely a sword. Moreover, if it could not protect the human race, the Xuanyuan Sword would lose its fundamental value.

Jiang Yuan, upon receiving Shennong's approval, felt a surge of excitement. He then suspiciously looked at Shennong and asked, "If senior pulls out the Xuanyuan Sword..."

Shennong looked at him with some impatience and said, "Pull it out and you can take it! Old man is not that petty. If you can take the Xuanyuan Sword, it proves you have the qualification to obtain it. Old man naturally does not wish to block the Xuanyuan Sword from returning to the world."

"Hehe, good. Senior, watch," Jiang Yuan grinned.

He then clapped his hands and walked toward the Xuanyuan Sword that only exposed its hilt. He felt the Xuanyuan Sword's pull toward him. As Jiang Yuan and the Xuanyuan Sword drew closer, this pull grew stronger, just like the previous pull from the heavenly abyss.

Jiang Yuan reached the Xuanyuan Sword and did not rush to pull it out. Instead, he stared at the Xuanyuan Sword seriously and solemnly and said, "Come out with me. Fight for the human race."

This sentence made the Xuanyuan Sword begin to tremble uncontrollably!