Journey to the West: I have Nine Golden Crows Inside Me-Chapter 1361 - 922 Xuandu: I’m here to make an end of it

However, what sets him apart is that while other significant figures are Innate Saints, Zhuang Zhou was born in the Human Race.

He is the incarnation of a powerful figure from the Ancient Human Race.

The true name of that Human Race powerhouse has been lost to time and is now untraceable; only his Taoist name remains.

Master Xuan Du!

Indeed, Zhuang Zhou is an incarnation of Master Xuan Du, a direct disciple of the Saint of Taiqing and his only disciple. He now presides over the Human Sect on behalf of his mentor.

As a disciple of a Saint and one of the rare members of the Ancient Human Race, Master Xuan Du’s position within the Human Race goes without saying; he is also considered a sage.

Such a figure, if he were to betray the Human Race and stand against it, the blow to the Human Race would be immeasurably demoralizing.

It could be said that even if the leaders of the Law Palace and the Martial Palace were to betray the Human Race together, their impact would not be as profound as that of Master Xuan Du’s betrayal.

During the Demon Clan’s slaughter of humans, Master Xuan Du, wielding the prestige of the Saint of Taiqing, saved many of his kin. Why is Shouyang Mountain revered as one of the ancestral lands of the Human Race? It’s because Shouyang Mountain offered refuge to many Humans.

Indeed, upon tracing their roots, one would find that about one-third of today’s Human Race ancestors came from near Shouyang Mountain.

And these people had survived that catastrophe thanks to the protection of Master Xuan Du.

Furthermore, despite Master Xuan Du normally keeping a low profile, he is the leader of those in the Human Race who cultivate the Immortal Dao; he is essentially the leader of the Immortal Dao of the Human Race.

Master Xuan Du merely keeps a low profile, but his influence within the Human Race is significant; his potential betrayal could shake the very foundations of the Human Race.

The Martial Dao is indeed the foundation of the Human Race, but the Immortal Dao is equally crucial. Since the Saint of Taiqing established the Human Sect and created the method of cultivating the Golden Pill, the Immortal Dao has advanced hand-in-hand with the Martial Dao.

However, in the Ancient Era, the Ancient Martial Arts were more prominent, overshadowing the Immortal Dao, which seemed almost nonexistent then.

But by the late Ancient Period, the Immortal Dao became as critical as the Martial Dao for the Human Race.

In times of weakness, the Human Race pursued survival, thus the Ancient Martial Arts came into being. But by the late Ancient Period, the Human Race had become the dominant forces of Heaven and Earth, facing no threats.

At that time, people’s aspirations changed; they no longer sought great power but pursued immortality instead, naturally advancing the Immortal Dao, which gradually became the mainstream.

Master Xuan Du, as the leader of the Immortal Dao of the Human Race, holds a significant position. Although not comparable to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, his status surpasses that of the Human King, placing him at the true apex of the Human Race.

...

Jiang Chen spent a day in Luoyang City without sighting Master Xuan Du. However, he was not in a hurry but continued to wait patiently.

By the next morning, as the first ray of sunlight fell, an expanse of purple qi spread across the distant horizon, stretching over three thousand miles.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen knew that Master Xuan Du had arrived. The Eastern Purple Qi is a sign of a Saint, indeed the protector of the Human Race during great calamities.

Master Xuan Du, a sacred sage of the Human Race!

Beneath the enveloping purple qi, a Taoist in purple robes rode slowly on a green ox.

This Taoist was none other than Master Xuan Du, appearing to be seventeen or eighteen years old, yet his eyes were filled with vicissitudes, and his whole being emitted a mysterious aura, constantly blending with Heaven and Earth.

His mount, the green ox, was no ordinary creature either; it was an Innate Green Ox, transformed from an Innate Sacred Wood. The green ox was not a true ox but a manifestation of a sacred tree after its essence had leaked out.

"Master Xuan Du, I am honored to meet you!"

Jiang Chen stepped forward and paid his respects to Master Xuan Du.

"Human King is too courteous," Master Xuan Du dismounted the green ox and returned the gesture.

"Everyone says that my fellow disciple is the foremost among the second generation disciples of the three teachings; now that I have met you, Master, I realize that you are certainly not inferior to my fellow disciple."

Jiang Chen praised Master Xuan Du sincerely. This praise came from deep within, for like the Buddha, Master Xuan Du had reached the full consummation of the Quasi-Saint level.

This was truly remarkable, as Duobao Taoist was no ordinary individual—his original form was the Treasury Rock outside the Purple Void Palace, bearing the fate of the majority of the Innate Spiritual Treasures from the Prehistoric World.

Such a background naturally contributed to Duobao Taoist’s exceptional nature, hence, his cultivation significantly surpassing his contemporaries was quite normal.

But Master Xuan Du was different; he was an ordinary member of the Human Race, with inherent deficiencies, and in his era, he was the weakest of all living beings.

If not for his inherent deficiencies precluding him from practicing the Martial Dao, why would he have gone to such lengths to cultivate the Immortal Dao?

Yet such a feeble being, revering mountains and rivers, moved the Saint of Taiqing with his great perseverance and was taken as a direct disciple.

Also, this same being quietly achieved the full consummation of the Quasi-Saint level and became one of the rare masters between Heaven and Earth.

Compared to Duobao Taoist, Master Xuan Du’s background was truly insignificant, like a firefly to the sun and moon, yet he achieved a realm at par with Duobao Taoist.

Such talent is indeed astonishing.

In terms of treatment, although Master Xuan Du was the only disciple of the Saint of Taiqing, Duobao Taoist was said to be a disciple of the Upper Qing Saints but was co-taught by the Sanqing and had even listened to teachings from the Taoist Ancestors. How could Master Xuan Du’s experience compare to that?