If it weren't for being pushed into a corner, who would willingly abandon the Great Dao they had long believed in? If it weren't for being driven by rage, who would want to let go of their long-held persistence and give up their expectations for the future?

The Dao of the Stars.

Wu Wang, filled with longing, had been convinced of his own Dao's superiority over that of the Star God ever since their confrontation.

But now, even now…

In this world, what perfection is there?

Wu Wang, wielding his spear, leaped into the sky, his figure closely pursuing the Gold God ahead. His spear unleashed torrents of Fire Dragons which, under the protection of the Stars, charged towards the Gold God, only to be continuously shattered by her weapons.

That one strike just now had greatly drained the Gold God. She was nearing the end of her strength, while Wu Wang felt surging Divine Power welling up inside him.

The Star God's divine body appeared outside the firmament, standing above the starry sky. A star disk was held in his palm, and one hand was raised before him, his terrible wound on the abdomen concealed by a silver-white battle skirt.

That ancient, unchanging starry sky, that eternal and constant Dao.

How mysterious, yet how superficial.

In the end, the Star God's Dao was just an explanation of the changes in the starry sky, unaware of the starry sky's true nature.

The Dao that Wu Wang was originally intent on pursuing delved into the essence of the Stars and the Great Wilderness World. It sought to unravel the true nature of the intersecting milky ways and to explore why this world appeared as it does.

Regrettably, he had imposed a layer of resistance upon this Great Dao. For the sake of temporary pride, he gambled the possibility of firmly stepping into the pinnacle in the future, making his own advancement several times more difficult...

But Wu Wang did not regret it in the slightest.

He continued his relentless attack, the spear in his hands releasing a sky filled with starlight. His heart was devoid of sorrow or joy, his Primordial Spirit shining transparently, reflecting in his Dao heart every action of the Gold God.

Suddenly, numerous 'moves' emerged from the depths of Wu Wang's heart. No sooner had these moves surfaced than his body involuntarily executed them, each movement incredibly skilled. Postures his body had never made before flowed seamlessly, without a single pause.

Although the Gold God displayed a myriad of changes, the Divine Power she had seized was somewhat illusory. Depleted too much by the previous strike, she was forced into retreat by Wu Wang's fierce onslaught.

However, what brought a sense of frustration to Wu Wang was his own mount…

The Serpent suddenly returned from a distance, charging directly at the Gold God.

Anger filled the Gold God's eyes as she huffed a few times, her figure freezing motionless in mid-air.

With a sweep of Wu Wang's spear, the Gold God's shell instantly shattered, a streak of golden light soaring up like a firework towards the heavens.

The Serpent and Wu Wang, going all out, chased after that golden light. Even the Serpent's judgment of the situation was extremely accurate. Without Wu Wang's instruction, it had already sealed the Heaven and Earth of the area in advance.

But that golden light ignored the Serpent's Divine Skills, piercing through Heaven and Earth, lighting up the sky, vanishing in an instant, leaving behind only a cold voice:

"Wu Wangzi, offspring of the Star God, I will remember you."

Wu Wang still pursued into the high skies, breaking through the clouds, all the way to the void of the Outer Sky, but could not find any trace of that golden light.

A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes. But soon, he removed the flame from his forehead, retracted his Divine Power, wrapped himself in the Yin Yang Qi, and turned his head to descend towards the ground.

Yun Zhongjun sighed lightly. "You were a bit impulsive just now. Having broken the seal, you could have held out until the Serpent returned. Why forsake your own Dao to forcefully embrace the Star God's Dao?"

"I wanted to kill her," Wu Wang replied in a muffled voice.

"Well then, if the youth aren't passionate, what would we call them? You've done quite well." Yun Zhongjun smiled and said no more. The fate of Fire Plume was of no concern to him. From beginning to end, he only cared about Wu Wang's life and death, weighing the consequences and effects of his own exposure.

On the ground, a group of figures gathered.

The Serpent followed Wu Wang down, shook its sleeve, and an aged figure fell out.

It was Mu Wei, the Innate God whose Divine Power had been drawn away by the Gold God.

"Master..."

"Stay in the air and guide the Immortals from the Human Domain who come to aid."

Wu Wang calmly answered, and the Serpent immediately bowed respectfully, maintaining its half-human half-snake, double-winged form, and stood silently in the air.

On the scorched earth, Fire Plume lay upon a Daoist robe, her battle skirt torn and tattered, her long hair half burnt. That brave face was filled with tranquility, her hands carefully arranged on her chest by two kneeling female Immortals beside her.

Her life's glow had already faded.

Just like that, she died?

Just like that, she died.

She died under the Gold God's calculations. She had pulled back Wu Wang, who intended to forcefully resist the Gold God's offensive, and sacrificed her own soul while already covered in wounds and extremely exhausted.

All the cultivators were silent, with many female cultivators' eyes turning red.

Ironically, most of the injuries on their bodies were caused when Wu Wang sent them flying.

"Wuwang Palace Lord!"

"Wu Wang, you shouldn't have protected us..."

"Wuwang Palace Lord, Commander Fire Plume, she, she...!"

Xu Mu at the side kept making gestures, stopping everyone from speaking out.

Wu Wang fell straight down from the sky and stood beside Fire Plume, gazing at the face he wasn't very familiar with, and let out a slight sigh.

Not worth it.

Wu Wang felt it wasn't worth it for Fire Plume.

He didn't blame the cultivators here, but everyone understood that in terms of value to the Human Domain, these eight hundred cultivators naturally couldn't compare with Fire Plume. But the reason the Human Domain is the Human Domain, and why Fire Plume is Fire Plume, is this: neither the Human Domain nor she measured human life in terms of value.

Wu Wang took a light breath, and a pale green Divine Light began to radiate around him; the power of the God of Spring's divine authority had already been activated by Wu Wang. But just as his palm was about to align with Fire Plume, the power of Spring dissipated on its own. This wasn't interference in secret by the Heaven Palace; the divine authority of the Heaven Palace must be assigned to each specific God position. Wu Wang was the God of Spring, and others had no way to obstruct his use of the God of Spring's Divine Power. The power of Spring dissipating on its own could lead to only one conclusion: the divine authority was too weak. Even if Wu Wang gave his own life, he wouldn't be able to resurrect a powerhouse like Fire Plume.

Wu Wang had anticipated this outcome and was just a bit unwilling to let go.

Wu Wang slowly crouched down and placed that long spear beside Fire Plume.

"Brother Wuwang."

Ling Xiaolan softly called from the side, her slightly reddened eyes and the unconcealed concern in them causing the people beside her to step back again.

"How are your injuries?"

"I'm fine," Wu Wang replied, turning his head to look at her and raising his hand towards her ear.

Ling Xiaolan instinctively stepped back half a step, but Wu Wang's palm had already touched her ear, removing her veil.

Wu Wang said, "In the future, don't make strange promises, saying things like waiting for the next time we meet to take it off."

"Oh," Ling Xiaolan lightly pursed her lips, her fatigue showing on her face before she looked down at Fire Plume, her eyes still slightly red.

Xu Mu said in a deep voice, "We should not stay here long... let's take the Commander back first."

"Don't move her, let me think," Wu Wang suddenly spoke up, then lowered his head to gaze at Fire Plume.

The cultivators exchanged glances but stepped back as he had said. Most of these cultivators had military backgrounds, and almost instinctively, they saluted with hands clasped, and "Yes" rang out sporadically around them.

In the distance, streams of Liu Guang shot through the air, emanating the unique pressure of the Transcendent Realm.

Wu Wang felt the tension in his heart relax significantly.

He slowly sat down cross-legged, right beside Fire Plume, pondering deeply for a while, then discussing with Yun Zhongjun.

Was there any way to save Fire Plume?

Wu Wang thought of the elixir of life, but Yun Zhongjun said the conditions for the elixir's use were very demanding. Fire Plume actually died from exhaustion, with both her spirit and body like burnt ash.

"But she's clearly still here."

Wu Wang murmured, opening his left hand where the flame had solidified into a pale white seal.

The Yan Emperor's command.

The cultivators around could only maintain their silence.

In the sky, figures flew by but were kept at a distance by the Divine Light cast by the Serpent.

Xu Mu sighed softly and immediately went to explain to the experts from the Human Emperor Pavilion who had come to aid what had happened.

The news of Fire Plume's death rapidly spread back to the Human Domain.

Gradually, only a few figures remained beside Fire Plume, including Wu Wang and Ling Xiaolan.

Ling Xiaolan spread a soft cushion on the ground and knelt beside Fire Plume, wiping the scars on her skin.

Wu Wang's hands were interlaced and pressed against his forehead, and he said nothing for a long time.

Senior Shen Nong did not offer assistance, likely detained by the Heavenly Emperor in secret; otherwise, there was no reason such a great general as Fire Plume would fall for nothing.

No matter how gravely injured the Gold God was, after a period of silence, she would be active again.

And now, Wu Wang was wholeheartedly considering how to kill this Five Elements God, even if that meant sending her to the Divine Pool for recreation, he would repay her for this 'mercy' of not killing.

These were all things to do later.

For now, he should figure out a way to bring Fire Plume back…

Why did Wu Wang have such a thought? Actually, it was quite simple. Fire Plume's Divine Thought had been led into the Yan Emperor's command. Once it relied on the Dao of Fuel and Fire, it became the kindling that fed the flames, becoming power that successors could borrow. How many experts from the Human Domain, how many cultivators, if they do not die a natural death, will eventually end up just like this.

Then, is there a possibility to rescue Fire Plume's Divine Thought from the Dao of Fuel and Fire?

Wu Wang couldn't accept that Fire Plume died in the attempt to save him.

He had already made all the preparations, but because he overestimated the limits of the Gold God…

This was something Wu Wang found hard to accept as well.

The self-esteem of the strong?

That's nothing but a joke.

If he stood before Emperor Fu Xi, who was about to hurry to the Heaven Palace, Wu Wang would truly advise Emperor Fu Xi: 'Destroying the Heaven Palace and rebuilding the order wouldn't be a bad idea.'

He couldn't get emotional, nor could he be distracted. The longer he delayed, the lower the chances of rescuing Fire Plume would be.

Suddenly, it seemed as if a streak of Liu Guang crossed the depths of Wu Wang's heart.

He did not get excited, but immediately adjusted his posture and sat down, holding his Primordial Spirit in both hands, actually meditating and seeking Enlightenment beside Fire Plume's corpse.

He even began a brief retreat.

Seeing this, the cultivators didn't know what to say.

Ling Xiaolan tidied up Fire Plume's dress and then got up to stand aside, holding a Jade Flute in her hand and quietly waiting for Wu Wang to awaken from his retreat.

「At Central Mountain.」

Those dozen top experts from the Human Domain had burned themselves out. Additionally, the Heaven Palace had suffered heavy casualties after the turmoil caused by the Gold God. Consequently, the armies of the Human Domain began to withdraw from the war completely. The Innate Gods of the Heaven Palace did not pursue at this time, and those tired experts from the Hundred Races could only watch the armies of the Human Domain depart confidently.

Just as the Human Domain cultivators were invigorated, shouting the names of those dozen top experts, the news of Fire Plume's death spread rapidly.

A wave of somber sentiment began to spread both inside and outside the Human Domain.

There were old people standing on the hills, shouting, "May the soul return home!"

There were cultivators dressed in white, sighing continuously towards the direction of the southwest territory.

There were also cultivators who felt that the loss of a future mainstay of the Human Domain meant the war had not brought much benefit to the Human Domain. They considered it somewhat unworthy.

Of course, more of the Human race had only heard Fire Plume's name a few times and weren't even clear about her position, yet they began to mourn incessantly.

Wu Wang stayed by the side of Fire Plume's corpse for three days and three nights.

Fearing they would disturb Wu Wang's cultivation, the Human Domain dispatched many experts to guard the surroundings. However, the area around Wu Wang, Ling Xiaolan, and within ten zhang of Fire Plume's body remained empty.

Only the Serpent stayed in the high sky.

'Fire Plume is dead.'

Wu Wang silently recited these four words in his heart, and upon opening his eyes, he fixed his gaze on Fire Plume's face which had not changed at all.

At his side, Xu Mu hurriedly stepped forward. Relying on the friendship he had with Wu Wang from earlier days and his understanding of Wu Wang's personality, he began to persuade him:

"Wuwang, it's not your fault… This, this... Although Fire Plume is dead, she will live forever in our hearts."

Wu Wang looked at Xu Mu, at this former teacher of Ji Mo, and said softly, "I'm fine. I'm just unavoidably sad; she was also an old friend of mine... Have the people from the Human Emperor Pavilion and the forbidden army arrived yet?"

"They have, I'll have them come over now!"

"What did you just say, Brother Dao?" Wu Wang suddenly stood up, grabbed Xu Mu by the arm. "She will live forever in our hearts?"

"Ah, ah!" Xu Mu immediately nodded.

Wu Wang looked down at his chest, slapped it with his left hand, and pulled out the Yan Emperor's command which had reverted to its flame form.

'Some people are still alive even after they're dead.'

Wu Wang's mind was filled with flickering Spirit Light. It seemed as if he had grasped something, but the bridge of clues had not yet emerged from the sea of logic.

The Dao of Fuel and Fire.

The Dao of Fuel and Fire collects the power of living beings. Using the Dao of Fire as a guide, it embodies the desire of countless beings for survival and their hope for the future, all entrusted to this Great Dao!

So, what is the essence of the Dao of Fuel and Fire?

It is to conjure a God from collective thoughts!

It is actually a variant of conjuring a God from collective thoughts, a mysterious Dao created by the Ancient Emperor of the Suiren Clan!

Hadn't he been contemplating how to conjure a God from collective thoughts within the Human Domain…

The Divine Thought of Fire Plume was preserved within the Yan Emperor's command. This was a coincidence. Because the Yan Emperor's command was too close to Fire Plume when her consciousness collapsed, most of the fragments of her Divine Thought were absorbed by it.

Wu Wang released Xu Mu's arm and immediately stepped back several steps.

He stood next to the corpse of Fire Plume, constantly thinking and pondering, sorting through the complicated thoughts in his heart.

The sea of his mind sparkled with a brilliant light.

Thunderous roars suddenly emanated from Wu Wang's Immortal Mansion's divine platform.

That's it!

That's it!

The Dao of Fuel and Fire should have an accompanying Great Dao!

The Dao of Fuel and Fire was created by the Ancient Emperor of the Suiren Clan. It centered on the principle of 'sacrifice oneself, forge the Fire God.' This Dao constantly gathered the Power of Living Beings through sacrifice, amalgamating that power onto an individual. This allowed the individual to possess the strength to protect the Human Domain.

This individual is the Human Emperor.

What if the endpoint of the Dao of Fuel and Fire were separated from the Human Emperor?

Could the method of collecting the thoughts of all beings for the Dao of Fuel and Fire be optimized?

Is it necessary to have people sacrifice to generate 'kindling'? How does the Heaven Palace collect the thoughts of all beings?

The Divine Pool!

Then, could he create a Divine Pool in the Human Domain? No, that wouldn't work. The Divine Pool is an annex of the Divine Court, and it's only possible to create one after the confluence of the Great Daos of Heaven and Earth.

What should be done?

What should be done?

At this moment, Wu Wang subconsciously paced back and forth.

In truth, this was not a thought that had suddenly sprung into his mind. Rather, it was a question he had been constantly pondering ever since he saw Jiayi turn into a jade statue in the Western Wilderness. Especially recently, with the establishment of the Heavenly Dao, its three core members—himself, his esteemed mother, and Yun Zhongjun—had repeatedly brought up the method of forming gods with collected thoughts.

The future of Heaven and Earth will inevitably belong to living beings.

But how can this process be realized?

One could form gods with collected thoughts, creating Acquired Gods. These Acquired Gods would defeat Innate Gods to forge a new order. The strength, and even existence, of Acquired Gods would, in turn, be controlled by living beings.

Suddenly, a phrase leaped to Wu Wang's mind:

Belief, Buddhism, the cycle of reincarnation, the endless sea of suffering with salvation upon turning back…

"What is this nonsense?"

Wu Wang muttered to himself and shook his head vigorously; immediately another set of words appeared in his mind.

Belief, ancestors, worshiping ancestors, forming gods with collected thoughts.

Cultivators cultivate; those with exceptional talents become Immortals and enjoy freedom. Living beings exist; those with outstanding virtue build temples to create gods. This is the way of Immortals and Gods, or known as Gods and Immortals. Above the Immortals and Gods stands the unsympathetic Heavenly Dao. It is impartial and free from desire, maintaining the order of Heaven and Earth and regulating the balance between living beings and the world. Yes, the future of the Great Wilderness, suited to the unsympathetic Heavenly Dao, will not be the Innate Gods but the Acquired Gods, the Dao of Gods and Immortals!

But this goal cannot be achieved overnight, nor can it be easily completed. A detailed plan must be formulated, and there must be gradual 'steps' to follow.

Moreover, the term Acquired Gods is really likely to provoke the hostility of the Heaven Palace.

The most crucial thing to remember is that Emperor Shun also has the power to overturn the table at any time. It is only because Emperor Shun currently has the largest piece of the cake and the most benefits that he has become the table's guardian.

Once Emperor Shun feels a fatal threat, the situation will become extremely complicated and unpredictable.

"Senior... Your Majesty!"

Wu Wang suddenly called out and then immediately turned to shout in his heart.

"Hmm." Shen Nong responded, his voice tinged with an indescribable weariness.

This emperor had just bid farewell to more than ten friends and then faced the bad news of Fire Plume's demise.

Usually, Wu Wang would comfort Shen Nong with a few words, but this time, Wu Wang got straight to the point.

"Senior, didn't you ask me how exactly to implement the plan of forming gods with collected thoughts? Now I can answer you! Build temples, perform sacrificial rites, pray, and keep the incense burning. I'll explain these terms to you one by one later, but the most important thing is that we can use this method to try and revive Fire Plume. The Dao of Fuel and Fire should not belong to the Human Emperor, but to the Human Domain, to the Human race! The final product of the Dao of Fuel and Fire should not only be forging the Fire God. Indeed, I intend to reform the old system of the Human Domain and perfect the flaws in the Ancient Emperor of the Suiren Clan's plan."

"What?" Shen Nong's voice was also full of confusion.

Wu Wang took a deep breath and slowly uttered two simple yet profound sentences, while a brilliant Divine Light surged from the Immortal Mansion's divine platform.

"I want to open the Way of Heroic Spirits! With the thoughts of all beings in the Human Domain, summon the Heroic Spirits, seal gods to oppose the Heaven Palace!"