Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Ascension of the Flame Emperor

Xuan Daozi could never have imagined that the person before him was actually the Flame Emperor. Yet, he remained somewhat skeptical; hadn’t it always been said that the Flame Emperor had a dragon’s head and a human body? Why, then, did his true form appear as a bull-headed man? Here, Xuan Daozi was at a loss. The Lie Shan clan revered the sheep, and the sheep’s head bears a resemblance to the dragon’s, which is how the legend of the Flame Emperor as “dragon-headed and human-bodied” arose.

The Flame Emperor was also known as "Shennong." The meaning was something like "divine transformation brings benefit to the people, thus called Shennong." When Xuan Daozi thought of Xianghe and Yiqi discovering ginger, it struck him: so that’s why the Flame Emperor’s surname is Jiang—it must be partly due to this. Yet, he misunderstood; the Flame Emperor’s surname Jiang came from his birth by the River Jiang. People of that era chose surnames freely, and to commemorate the river, the Flame Emperor took the surname Jiang.

At that moment, Xuan Daozi suddenly understood his own value among the human tribe. He had often wondered whether revealing some things from the future to humanity might improve their living standards, but after the past few days, he realized that though humans grew stronger, they lost the experience gained from personal trials.

Seeing the confidence in Yiqi’s eyes, Xuan Daozi suddenly announced to the crowd that Yiqi could inherit the great task of humanity. Furthermore, unless there was an urgent matter, they should no longer disturb Xuan Daozi. If a fledgling eagle wishes to soar freely in the sky, it must take its first step; only through enduring wind and rain can one see the rainbow.

Standing beside Xuan Daozi, apart from Fuxi, everyone exclaimed, “What’s happening?” For a tribe to survive, it must continually innovate its way of thinking, or else be swept away by the harshness of this world.

Xuan Daozi spoke these words with careful consideration. Who was the Flame Emperor, after all? The ancestor of the Huaxia people—his contributions could hardly be few. Thus, Xuan Daozi’s words carried profound meaning.

The spread of the cold was swift, but with proper control, the epidemic could be curbed. In less than half a month, the entire human tribe had recovered, no longer plagued by illness. To prevent a recurrence, Xuan Daozi and Yiqi distributed ginger among the people, so they might fend off disease.

Because of the epidemic, the tribe’s “decennial gathering” was postponed. Not only that, but the coronation of the new emperor kept Fuxi and the others busy as well.

Fuxi knew his and Nuwa’s mission was soon to be fulfilled, which was why he was so eager for Yiqi to take his place.

While Fuxi and Xuan Daozi were busy with their affairs, Yiqi pursued Tingyao, who stood nearby. Fuxi and the others silently approved of Yiqi’s actions; after all, humanity could not go a day without a mother. The happiest among them were Yiqi and Tingyao.

This day was extraordinary for the human tribe—it marked the enthronement of the new emperor, the emperor’s marriage, and the completion of Fuxi and Nuwa’s great merit. For this day, everyone had been busy preparing.

The sun shone brightly, the sky was clear, but the sunlight was gentle rather than dazzling. Silk banners fluttered softly, and people stood in orderly formations in a plaza that could hold a hundred thousand. All eyes were fixed upon the high platform above the sacred mountain, where the leaders of humanity convened and deliberated. The towering palace gleamed in the sunlight, astonishing the young men who had never before climbed the sacred mountain.

“Oh, look at the palace! How beautiful, how splendid!” exclaimed one youth, reverently to his companion.

“If only I could touch it,” said another, “I don’t need to live there—just a touch would be enough.”

“With your attitude, you think you’ll get to touch it?” the first teased, raising his eyebrows.

“In fact, everyone who comes each year can experience the wonders of the sacred mountain firsthand,” their chieftain said, gently patting their shoulders.

It would be a shame for people to come all this way and do nothing before leaving. In addition to official matters, Xuan Daozi had arranged many methods within the palace to help people relieve stress.

At that moment, a voice rang out across the crowded plaza, causing everyone to unconsciously stand straighter and listen intently, afraid they might miss something and later regret it.

“Today, I must announce to you all that a new emperor of the human tribe shall be chosen,” Fuxi’s voice echoed throughout the plaza. The people below frowned in surprise. How could Fuxi, the emperor, simply hand over his position so suddenly? It was a shock to everyone.

Since their king was to be chosen, everyone felt they had a right to speak. Someone called out, “Yiqi, Yiqi, Yiqi,” and the call grew louder, rising like waves.

Yiqi’s name was known throughout the land—not only for his promotion of the five grains cultivation method, but also for his compassion during the great illness among the tribe. Many people admired Yiqi deeply; a person so virtuous and capable was surely fit to lead humanity.

“Let Yiqi guard the human tribe,” declared Fuxi, pulling Yiqi out from where he hid nearby. Yiqi, wearing a crown and dragon robe, radiated kingly presence before the eyes of a hundred thousand.

The Great Dao, to compensate for the innate three clans—the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin—had the emperors of the human tribe wear dragon robes as a mark of respect. Whenever it rained, dragon cries would echo from the heavens, revealing the dragon’s true form. With Xuan Daozi’s tacit approval, the people revered the dragon clan, so the emperor’s robes were adorned with dragon motifs, expressing their longing for the dragon.

As for the Phoenix clan, rulers must have a queen to govern alongside them—yin and yang, the true principle. Xuan Daozi had the phoenix motif added to the empress’s robes.

And the Qilin seal? Everyone remembered the Kongtong seal—that was the Qilin’s mark. With humanity’s supreme reverence toward the three innate clans, their fortunes grew steadily.

“From today onward, I vow to lead my tribe toward prosperity, ensuring no one suffers from cold, hunger, or other tragedies—”

Yiqi spoke exactly as Xuan Daozi’s “speech” had instructed him, eloquent and unceasing before the crowd. Perhaps the people of that era were especially earnest; they memorized Yiqi’s words and later made them the regulations by which he governed, which Yiqi would come to regret.

“Yiqi, Yiqi, Yiqi!” the crowd cried out, full of excitement. On the high platform, Fuxi and Nuwa let out a long, heavy breath.