Chapter Thirteen: Shennong Ascends to the Throne, Xuan Yuan Takes Office

  After Gong Sun Xuan Yuan made Guang Cheng Zi his master, he would practice Taoism with Guang Cheng Zi at night and handle clan affairs during the day. He managed everything in an orderly manner, and under his leadership, the bear tribe gradually developed and grew stronger. Nearby tribes heard that he was a virtuous person, so they flocked to join him, gradually forming a powerful tribal alliance led by the bear, wolf, leopard, tiger, eagle, and other clans. The bear tribe also became one of the strongest tribes in the Central Plains region.

  At that time, the fields were endless and the farming was countless. Xuan Yuan developed agriculture on the basis of Shennong's achievements, using a step-by-step approach to prevent disputes, re-allocating land among tribes, coordinating labor, and greatly increasing grain production for the Youxiong tribe. With sufficient food supplies, Xuan Yuan also vigorously trained his troops, governed them strictly, and their military strength suddenly increased greatly.

  Chen Du's Shen Nong heard that Xuan Yuan had great talent, and also heard about the strange phenomenon at the time of Xuan Yuan's birth. He thought to himself: "When I, Fuxi Sheng Huang, was born, there were divine dragons surrounding the beam to celebrate, and now I hear that when Gong Sun Xuan Yuan was born, there were also divine dragons coming to congratulate him. I reckon he must be the co-ruler of our human tribe after me!"

  Shennong then issued an edict summoning Gong Sun Xuan Yuan to Chen Du, and after receiving the edict, Gong Sun Xuan Yuan came with Guang Chengzi's accompaniment, driving clouds towards Chen Du, arriving only a day later.

  Shennong received the report from the gate guard and personally went to the city gate to welcome Xuan Yuan. He saw that Xuan Yuan was nine feet tall, with eyebrows like swords, a pair of bright eyes shining like stars, standing there with an aura of royalty emanating from him, with a hint of overbearing air hidden within. Shennong sighed in his heart: What a magnificent and refreshing young man!

  Xuanyuan saw Shennong coming to welcome him in person, and was shocked in his heart. He quickly knelt down and bowed, saying: "The head of the Xiong tribe, Gong Sun Xuanyuan, pays homage to the common lord!" Guang Chengzi also bowed his head to Shennong and paid respects, saying: "I, Guang Chengzi, pay my respects to the Human Emperor!"

  Shennong smiled and helped Xuan Yuan up, saying: "Xuan Yuan, no need to be so polite! I've heard that you are a virtuous person of the human tribe. Today, I finally get to see you, and indeed, you are a dragon among men!"

  Xuanyuan humbly said: "The Lord is overpraising! Xuanyuan dare not accept it."

  The Divine Farmer invited the two of them into the grand hall for discussion, and after they took their seats, he spoke to Xuan Yuan: "Since I ascended to the throne after Emperor Fu Xi, it has been several decades. Over these years, I have been cautious and fearful, not daring to make any mistakes, lest I weaken our people. Now, I have finally lived up to the expectations of my holy father, and our people have made progress under my rule. However, as I am old and weary now, I am willing but unable to handle tribal affairs. Xuan Yuan, you are a man of both virtue and talent, and I wish to pass on the throne to you."

  Xuanyuan heard this and hastily stood up, saying: "What virtue or ability does Xuanyuan have, how dare he become a co-ruler?"

  Shennong shook his head and said: "Xuanyuan, you don't have to belittle yourself. I know what you're capable of. I hope you'll put the great cause of our people first and not decline!"

  Xuanyuan nodded solemnly and said: "Since that's the case, Xuanyuan will definitely not disappoint the expectations of our lord!"

  Shennong smiled and said, "That's right!" He then convened a grand assembly of the human tribe, where he announced that he would ascend to immortality in a month's time and pass on the throne to Xuan Yuan. All the ministers present had no objections, for Shennong was the co-ruler, and they had also heard that Xuan Yuan was a man of great virtue and talent, making him suitable to inherit the throne.

  Guang Chengzi was overjoyed and Emperor Xuan Yuan ascended to the throne. At that time, he would be the emperor's teacher, and his merits would not be lessened.

  A month later, on the high platform of Zhongtai in Chendu, the three holy statues still stood steadily above, as if overlooking everything in the world. Chendu was again crowded with people, bustling and extraordinary.

  The bell rang, and Shennong pulled Xuanyuan into view before the crowd. The crowd immediately fell silent, quietly waiting for Shennong to speak.

  Shennong did not rush to abdicate, but instead stood under the high platform and waited. Having had the experience of Fuxi's abdication last time, everyone knew that Shennong was waiting for Taichu's decree, so they all accompanied him in waiting.

  Before long, a nine-dragon imperial carriage flew down from the thirty-third heaven, and on it sat Tian Huang Fu Xi. Beside him stood Xuan Dou, the great master of human teachings.

  The imperial carriage stopped steadily in front of the crowd, and when they saw that Fuxi had arrived in person, they all knelt down and shouted repeatedly. Shennong led the crowd forward to pay respects to Fuxi, smiling and saying: "Today I, Shennong, have verified the Tao, and it is truly my good fortune that my imperial brother has come!"

  Fuxi laughed and said, "It's been a lot of hard work for the emperor these years. Now that he has attained the Tao, it's truly something to be congratulated! He then turned to the Xuan Du Grand Master beside him and said, "Please read out the Taiching Decree!"

  Xuantu Dafashi personally made a bow, then took out the Taiching Imperial Edict from his sleeve, unfolded it and read it aloud. Shen Nong saw this and led everyone to kneel down on the ground, respectfully listening to the Taiching decree.

  Only then did the Grand Master of Xuandu chant: "The Decree of the Supreme Lord of the Taoist Virtue Heaven: Jiang Ziya, the common master of the human race and the God of Agriculture, has been in charge since becoming the Human Emperor. He has governed the world with benevolence and has no desire for reward; he does not covet the wealth of the world, yet the world is shared in prosperity; he does not value his own intelligence above others, yet the world respects him together. Now that he can attain the Tao, he will ascend to the Fire Cloud Palace and transcend countless kalpas without destruction! Furthermore, the public grandson Zhuanxu shall succeed him. Obey this decree!"

  Shennong bowed nine times, took the Taichu Imperial Edict with both hands, pulled Xuan Yuan up to the high platform, and made an offering of incense to the three sacred images. He then turned around and said loudly: "Since I became the co-ruler, I have not dared to slack off in the slightest. Fortunately, the next co-ruler has emerged, and I can finally leave with peace of mind. Today, I abdicate the throne, and all under heaven will know!" After finishing speaking, he took out the Human Emperor's Supreme Treasure, the Zhongtian Seal, from his sleeve, held it up in front of Xuan Yuan, and said seriously: "Xuan Yuan, today I entrust the future of humanity to your hands. You must lead our people to prosperity, and do not disappoint the expectations of the Holy Father!"

  Xuanyuan took over the Kunlun Seal with both hands, held it high above his head, turned around and came to the front of the three holy statues, knelt down on the ground, and said loudly: "Today, Gong Sun Xuanyuan takes over the throne, I will not disappoint the expectations of the Holy Father and Holy Mother! Heaven bless our human race!"

  The people below shouted in unison: "Heaven bless our human race! Heaven bless our human race! Heaven bless our human race!"

  A majestic aura burst forth from the seal of the King, five nine-clawed golden dragons danced and swirled in the air above Chen Du, humming continuously. Heavenly merit descended without limit, with one tenth falling upon You Chui Shi and Sui Ren Shi, and the remaining nine tenths falling upon Shen Nong. Instantly, Shen Nong burst forth with a five-colored aura, illuminating the entire city of Chen Du. The heavenly music resounded, boundless golden lotus flowers surged forth, and Shen Nong ascended to the Great Luo Golden Immortal in an instant, attaining the fruit of the Earth Emperor's Dao!

  Shennong mounted the nine-dragon carriage and said to Xuanyuan, "Imperial brother, from now on, humanity is handed over to you. I'm leaving!" Then he laughed loudly with Fuxi and rode the nine-dragon carriage away, going to the Fire Cloud Palace.

  Everyone saw Shen Nong verify the Tao and leave, Xuan Yuan ascended to the throne as the common master of the human race. Just as they were about to come forward to congratulate him, they saw that the remaining Xuandu Dafashi took out another Taicheng Imperial Edict from his sleeve and shouted: "Human Public Sun Xuan Yuan received the edict!"

  Xuanyuan was taken aback, Guang Chengzi pulled his sleeve and he came to himself, hastily going forward to kowtow and say: "Gongsun Xuanyuan humbly requests the Holy One's decree!"

  The Great Master Xuan Du unfolded the imperial edict and read: "The Supreme Ruler of the Taiqing Heaven decrees that Gong Sun Xuan Yuan, a member of the human tribe, is the predestined co-ruler of the human tribe, possessing both virtue and talent. Now, we bestow upon him the sacred sword Xuan Yuan, with which he shall protect the human tribe. Obey this decree!" After finishing reading, he took out a sword from his sleeve, three feet three inches long, with its light contained within, one side engraved with plants, trees, fish and insects, and the other side inscribed with the teachings of the saints.

  Xuanyuan was overjoyed and thanked him, immediately taking the Xuanyuan Holy Sword from the hands of the Great Master of the Mystic Capital. He asked, "May I ask, venerable one, what is the use of this sword?"

  Xuantu Dafashi smiled and said: "This sword has not been fully tempered, I beg the Human Emperor to temper it with blood!"

  Xuanyuan hesitated upon hearing this, but saw Youchao say by his side: "Xuanyuan, you can try it!"

  Xuanyuan nodded upon hearing the words, and with a slash of his blade, he cut his hand. In an instant, the sword absorbed the fresh blood, and a bloody glow burst forth, shooting straight up to the sky, stirring up the floating clouds for thousands of miles. The wailing of countless ghosts and wolves echoed through the heavens, moving people to tears! Before long, the strange phenomenon dispersed, and upon looking again, the sword was emitting a majestic aura, with golden light shining in all directions, unapproachable by any evil, and unperturbed by any malevolent forces!

  Xuanyuan was overjoyed, feeling the surging power transmitted from the sword body. A heroic passion rose from his heart. I will definitely rely on this sword to kill gods and demons, and never allow anyone to harm my human race!

  Xuantu Dafashi was also secretly shocked by the power of Xuan Yuan's holy sword, and after calming his mind, he said: "This sword is what our teacher refined with the butcher's sword in the Bagua furnace, and then used the blood of the human emperor to refine it, from then on it became a sacred instrument of merit for the human race!"

  "Zu Wu Sword!" The You Chao and Suiren clans exclaimed in unison, then burst into tears, speechless for a long time! Everyone was shocked, Xuan Yuan stepped forward and asked: "I dare to ask the ancestors, is this Zu Wu sword particularly different?"

  You Yu looked at the crowd and said with a sad voice: "My human race was born for only ten thousand years, but the demon emperor Dong Huang Tai Yi led millions of demon soldiers to slaughter my hundreds of millions of human race. This extermination sword was forged by Dong Huang Tai Yi using the blood of my hundreds of millions of human race. It's just that I didn't expect it to become a sacred instrument for my tribe today. Alas, the will of heaven is hard to predict!"

  Everyone was shocked by the words, and they looked at Xuan Yuan's holy sword with complex eyes. Xuan Yuan's hand shook, almost unable to hold the holy sword steady. He suddenly turned around, came before the three holy statues, held the Xuan Yuan Holy Sword high above his head, and said in a firm tone: "The ancestors of the human race are above, Gong Sun Xuan Yuan will surely hold this holy sword to protect the human race, sweep away the universe, and bless it!" The voice echoed through every corner of Chen Du, and people shouted in unison: "Sweep away the universe! Sweep away the universe! Sweep away the universe!"

  That sound, firm and resounding, echoed far and wide, as if speaking to the heavens and the earth, as if proclaiming the unyielding spirit of humanity, the majesty of humanity, the dominance of humanity!

  It is: Shennong attests to the Tao, Tai Huang emerges, Xuan Yuan's sacred sword astonishes ghosts and spirits!