C22 Golden Crow Banquet

"Hmm?"

Without lifting his head, Zhang Yan responded, his hands deftly preparing the Golden Crow meat that was nearly ready.

"Now that Nuwa has attained sainthood, how did her elder brother, Fuxi, manage to become a saint?"

Fuxi posed the question cautiously.

Zhang Yan cast a curious glance at the uncomfortable Fuxi, "As I mentioned before, that Fuxi lacked the Purple Qi of Hongmeng and couldn't achieve sainthood."

"What if... what if he had the Purple Qi of Hongmeng?" Fuxi pressed on.

Zhang Yan was taken aback, "Where would he get the Purple Qi of Hongmeng from?" Had the myths of his past life been deceiving?

"Well, last time you mentioned the importance of the prayer mats at the Purple Heaven Palace. I... uh, I told him, and he just went and grabbed one."

"Then the Dao Ancestor bestowed the Purple Qi of Hongmeng upon him."

Fuxi explained, then looked expectantly at Zhang Yan, who wore a puzzled expression, "Doesn't that qualify him for sainthood?"

"Of course, it does!" Zhang Yan, momentarily startled, felt a thrill at the thought that the myths had shifted because of him, a sense of altering history that was exhilarating.

"There are supposed to be seven Sages. Whose place did Fuxi take? It couldn't be one of the Three Purities; they have Pangu's favor. Was it Hongyun? I'd hope it was Zhunti!"

"Those two from the west, they're no saints."

As Zhang Yan rambled, Fuxi's expression grew increasingly bewildered, "Big brother, this time there are eight streams of the Purple Qi of Hongmeng!"

"Eight Saints?" Zhang Yan couldn't believe it, his excitement quickly waning, "I thought I could change the course of Heaven's Will, but it seems we've just come full circle."

"Heaven's Will?" Even for someone of Quasi Saint Level like Fuxi, the concept was elusive.

"Once all the Saints are in place and the Immeasurable Calamity begins, you'll understand Heaven's Will."

Zhang Yan offered no further explanation, but his talk of Saints and calamities sent a shiver down Fuxi's spine. In a trance, he envisioned a sky filled with blood, where Saints and Dao Ancestors were forced to intervene.

"Since Fuxi possesses the Purple Qi of Hong Meng, handling this should be straightforward. His Saintly Dao resides within the Human Race as well!"

After a moment of reflection, Zhang Yan revisited the initial question posed by Fuxi.

Fuxi, being the progenitor of human culture, was someone Zhang Yan was delighted to assist.

"The Human Race?" Fuxi was perplexed. He had been present when Nuwa founded the Human Race but hadn't detected his Dao within them.

"Patience. Let Fuxi observe the Human Race for himself. He'll soon come to understand," Zhang Yan said with a knowing smile, offering no further explanation.

He had been too forthcoming last time, which led to Fuxi acquiring the Purple Qi of Hong Meng. If Zhang Yan's memory served him right, the last wisp of this Qi was the life force that had escaped into the Heavenly Dao.

The Heavenly Dao had suffered greatly, having relinquished its last reserves of the Purple Qi of Hong Meng. There was no assurance it wouldn't hold a grudge, so being overly cautious was justified.

As they conversed, the flesh of the Golden Crow had been transformed into an array of dishes.

Braised, steamed, marinated, and for the bone-in portions, Zhang Yan had crafted a rib soup.

When the fragrant Golden Crow dishes were served on the stone table outside, both Houtu and Dayi were astounded.

The Wizard Clan, in moments of joy, would feast on demon flesh, but it was typically just roasted. They had never encountered such a variety of preparations.

Nuwa, already familiar with Zhang Yan's culinary prowess, eagerly grabbed her chopsticks and began to eat. The braised Golden Crow meat was succulent, dissolving instantly upon tasting, with the heat of spices and the richness of the meat bursting forth in a symphony of flavors.

Nuwa blissfully squinted her eyes, savoring the sensation of the Golden Crow meat transforming into flowing Dao Law within her as she swallowed.

Although the Dao Law in the meal scarcely augmented her saintly cultivation, she mused over the disparity between her effortless indulgence and the arduous years others spent in seclusion seeking enlightenment. It was a difference beyond the comprehension of mere mortals.

"Dig in, everyone!" Zhang Yan announced as he brought over a steaming pot of rib soup.

This feast was sure to satisfy everyone's cravings, and Zhang Yan hadn't forgotten to place a dish of Golden Crow meat in the cage for the Kunpeng. After all, it was soon to become his own hunting falcon.

Tears streaming down its face, the Kunpeng gulped down the Golden Crow meat. It was raw, but it was a promising beginning. If it was Golden Crow meat this time, what might come next? Hong Qi, perhaps?

Inside the cage, the Kunpeng was already calculating its future, while Houtu and Dayi, upon tasting the Golden Crow meat, were visibly shaken.

Much like the tea Houtu had first sipped upon her arrival, all the meat they consumed transformed into a warm flow, soothing them inside and out.

"What's this?"

Nuwa's pupils narrowed, and Fuxi, too, sensed something amiss, his face registering surprise.

Houtu and Dayi, both Great Wizards and Ancestral Witches, had been previously introduced to Fuxi by Saint Nuwa.

They could immediately perceive the transformation occurring within these two members of the Wizard Clan.

"Origin Spirit, mana!"

Even the composed Saint Nvwa couldn't help but show a flicker of concern.

The Wizard Clan, born from the flesh and blood of Pangu, had never possessed souls, only formidable power that reached the heavens. Among them, the Ancestral Witches' strength rivaled that of Quasi Saints.

Thus, the Wizard Clan was already a formidable force in the current age.

But if they were to develop an Origin Spirit and cultivate mana, what then? Over time, could they even challenge the Saints themselves?

Fuxi's expression shifted as he instinctively glanced at Zhang Yan, who was busily engaged with a plate of roasted Golden Crow meat, seemingly oblivious to the changes in Houtu and Dayi.

At that moment, the concept of Heaven's Will, as mentioned by Zhang Yan, flashed through Fuxi's mind, and he grew solemn.

Nuwa was about to speak, but Fuxi gestured for silence. Though puzzled, she respected the gravity of Fuxi's silent shake of the head and continued her meal in silence.

Meanwhile, Dayi's eyes opened, and he gazed upon the world as if seeing new colors for the first time. An epiphany seemed to strike him, and he was filled with an overwhelming sense of excitement.

As a Great Wizard within the Wizard Clan, his rank may not have been on par with the Twelve Ancestral Wizards, but he was privy to certain secrets.

For instance, Houtu had acquired the coveted primordial spirit and magical powers that every member of the Wizard Clan aspired to possess. And now, did he possess them too?

His hands, concealed beneath the stone table, clenched fiercely. A ripple formed in the void, filling Dayi with immense excitement. This was a unique force, distinct from mere physical strength.

"Many thanks, Elder!" Dayi couldn't contain his gratitude and spoke up.

"Hmm?" Zhang Yan finally looked up, noticing that the others at the table had put down their chopsticks. He expressed his astonishment, "Is everyone done eating?"

"Hmm? Hmm!" Houtu and Dayi mistook Zhang Yan's question for a cue to depart, so they rose to take their leave.

Far from feeling upset, they were deeply appreciative. A mere offering of flesh and blood had yielded such abundant rewards. The Elder's generosity was truly boundless.

Zhang Yan watched Houtu and Dayi's retreating figures without much concern. He understood that a smaller clan had its myriad obligations. If they wished to depart, it was only proper not to detain them.