The primeval forest was dense with ancient trees and intricate paths, teeming with countless ancient behemoths.
Under Fuxi's guidance, they avoided the giant beasts and successfully hunted several fine animals, including an ancient deer and a few creatures whose names he couldn't recall, resembling wolves yet also sheep.
The animals of this era were incredibly fierce, far surpassing the tigers of the future.
However, Fuxi and his companions were incredibly powerful, their strength immense, capable of killing these beasts with a single punch.
Zhou Yan observed that their hunting methods were rudimentary, relying almost entirely on brute force.
He then turned to Fuxi and said, "I actually think there are faster and more efficient ways to hunt animals."
"Oh? How so?" Fuxi asked, intrigued.
Zhou Yan proceeded to describe several common methods, such as luring, traps, and encirclement—very standard techniques.
Yet, in this ancient setting, these methods were considered profoundly wise.
Fuxi's eyes lit up. He quickly grasped the ingenuity of Zhou Yan's suggestions and laughed heartily, "The tribe members all consider me exceptionally intelligent. I think you are the truly wise one. When we return, I must recommend you as the shaman!"
Shamans held an extraordinary status within the tribe, generally appointed only to those with great wisdom.
Zhou Yan hastily declined Fuxi's offer. He wasn't here to become a shaman in a primitive society.
This was, after all, merely a trial ground. Upon completing the trial, he intended to leave.
At Fuxi's request, Zhou Yan shared these methods. Fuxi then began to implement them one by one.
Before long, they successfully lured a leopard into a trap.
Crucially, Fuxi hadn't personally intervened; the other tribesmen were able to hunt the leopard entirely on their own.
This brought them immense joy.
The leopard was dozens of times more ferocious than a deer, yet they had managed to capture it. This commanded great respect for Zhou Yan.
They finally acknowledged Zhou Yan's intelligence, offering him friendly smiles and no longer viewing him as a burden.
After a considerable time, they returned with bountiful spoils, bringing great happiness to the entire tribe.
The quantity of their hunt far exceeded any previous expedition. Most importantly, not a single tribesman was injured or lost.
In past hunts, casualties were common. This time, it was thanks to Zhou Yan, who had shared simple insights with Fuxi, thus preventing injuries and deaths.
The entire tribe was filled with admiration for his wisdom.
Only Zhou Yan himself knew that he had merely spoken of common sense.
He now understood the profound importance of 'knowledge' and 'culture.'
Later, Zhou Yan moved to a dwelling closer to Fuxi.
To his surprise, Nuwa also had a sister, who was also human-headed and serpent-bodied, and equally beautiful, no less than Nuwa herself.
This woman was very curious about Zhou Yan. Hearing of his extraordinary wisdom, comparable to Fuxi's, she enjoyed listening to him recount interesting tales in her spare time.
"What is your name?" Zhou Yan asked.
"My name is Nu Di. I am from the demon race. Nuwa sister and Fuxi brother rescued me."
Nu Di was very endearing and intelligent. From her, Zhou Yan learned that the Great Desolation Continent was home to many races. Her own race had been annihilated by a great demon, and her people had scattered. Nuwa and her husband had saved her and brought her here.
One day, the Feng tribe members were dancing around a bonfire. Zhou Yan initially assumed this was their usual activity, only to learn from Nu Di later that they were doing so to commemorate the significance of 'fire.'
Indeed, since humanity discovered fire, they transitioned from consuming raw food to cooked meals.
It also marked the end of their lives shrouded in darkness without light.
The 'fire' was undoubtedly a day worthy of remembrance.
Zhou Yan stayed there for several days, unsure of how to complete the trial. He could only guide Fuxi step by step, introducing him to more knowledge.
Fuxi also frequently sought him out with many perplexing questions. Some were truly beyond Zhou Yan's knowledge, as Fuxi's inquiries were exceptionally profound and complex. He could only offer knowledge about the universe.
Unfortunately, his own knowledge was also limited, only grasping the general concepts.
Even so, Fuxi benefited immensely and gained considerable inspiration.
Zhou Yan couldn't help but sigh, "This is talent."
Fuxi's destiny as the progenitor of humanity naturally stemmed from his exceptional intelligence and way of thinking. Zhou Yan was merely helping Fuxi unlock this potential earlier.
Later, Zhou Yan discovered a river not far from the tribe's settlement. Tribes of this era always established themselves near water sources.
Therefore, he guided Fuxi, suggesting they try fishing to supplement the tribe's food supply.
"What is fishing?"
Fuxi seemed very curious.
Zhou Yan then proceeded to guide him on how to use ropes to make nets, not only for fishing but also for catching birds. He also successfully helped them construct simple bamboo rafts, allowing them to fish on the water.
One day, Zhou Yan and Fuxi were by the river, discussing the philosophical principles of heaven and earth.
Fuxi, with his sharp intellect, understood many things with just a hint from Zhou Yan, grasping them instantly. Even Zhou Yan benefited greatly, learning much from him.
Suddenly, a turtle shell emerged from the river and walked onto the bank, approaching Fuxi. It looked at him with remarkable sentience before lazily stretching out to bask in the sun.
"This Xuan Turtle is quite interesting," Fuxi said, picking up the Xuan Turtle and examining it closely.
Zhou Yan observed this and remarked, "The Xuan Turtle's shell seems rather extraordinary."
"Turtle shell?"
Upon hearing this, Fuxi carefully examined the shell on the Xuan Turtle. His heart strings seemed to vibrate intensely, and he fell into a state of profound contemplation once more.
Zhou Yan watched, thinking, "This is a child of destiny. With just a casual hint, he can understand the heavens and the earth. Truly a person of great fortune."
Fuxi meditated on the shell for several days.
At that moment, the yin and yang of heaven and earth converged, forming a Tai Chi Yin-Yang diagram that enveloped the land. An ineffable Daoist melody filled the surroundings.
Zhou Yan had remained there for these few days, never leaving. Nu Di brought him food.
Therefore, the moment the Tai Chi diagram formed, the purest yin and yang energies between heaven and earth descended upon him.
Zhou Yan closed his eyes, feeling as if he had entered a chaotic void, devoid of anything, much like when he first awakened his Lord's Heart.
A colored light appeared ahead. Zhou Yan exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't that the Lord's Heart!"
He drifted towards it curiously. The colored Lord's Heart was enveloped by the yin and yang energies, forming the Tai Chi diagram. A profound and unfathomable mystic melody swirled around the colored Lord's Heart.
Zhou Yan couldn't understand the meaning of this melody, but he sensed its exquisite and unfathomable nature.
Yin and yang energies transformed into Tai Chi, and the Tai Chi diagram evolved into the Eight Trigrams.
The colored Lord's Space transformed into a stream of seven-colored light, entering the diagram. A surge of seven-colored auspicious light appeared. Zhou Yan closed his eyes. Afterward, an ancient scroll descended from the sky, emanating a colorful glow.
Zhou Yan was filled with curiosity. Had the colored Lord's Space and the yin and yang energies formed this scroll?
He took the scroll in his hands, but upon looking at its contents, he was utterly bewildered.
The scroll was blank, completely empty.
"What... how can this be?"
He genuinely didn't understand its meaning. A blank ancient scroll, what could it signify?