Shennong grew older day by day, and he saw that once his tribesmen were injured after entering the great mountains, most of them were practically doomed!
Only a small number of humans, lucky enough, could recover!
Shennong, watching the injured humans in the tribe suffer, made up his mind that he must find something to heal humans for the sake of his people!
Shennong had heard in the tribe that when he was born, the Saint Father of the human race and a Daoist in red had descended upon the tribe!
In the end, the Saint Father left and vanished without a trace, but the Daoist in red stayed in the great mountains!
Shennong thought that someone who could travel with the Saint Father of the human race could not be ordinary! Thus, Shennong decided to enter the great mountains to seek out the Daoist in red and ask for a method to heal his tribesmen!
Hong Yun had been living in these great mountains, waiting for Shennong to grow up, ever since he and Taishang had arrived at this human tribe!
This matter was related to Hong Yun's path to sainthood, so Hong Yun could not afford to be careless!
Hong Yun constantly monitored Shennong's whereabouts. Seeing Shennong enter the great mountains, he curved his lips upwards!
Shennong's entry into these great mountains meant that it was time for him, the Teacher of the Earth Emperor, to begin his work!
Hong Yun's divine sense remained locked onto Shennong. The mountains were home to many venomous insects and fierce beasts, and it would not be good if Shennong were harmed!
However, it was clear that Hong Yun was overthinking. The venomous insects and fierce beasts in these great mountains all avoided Shennong, as if by some unseen destiny!
Hong Yun couldn't help but sigh:
"Truly worthy of being a great sage of the human race, protected by heaven and earth!"
Shennong wandered through the great mountains, but in the end, he arrived at Hong Yun's dwelling!
Seeing Hong Yun sitting cross-legged on the ground, clad in red, Shennong knew that the person before him was the one he had been searching for!
Sensing Shennong's arrival, Hong Yun feigned ignorance and asked:
"Who goes there?"
Shennong, hearing this, dutifully stated his origin:
"I am Shennong of the Jiang clan tribe, greetings, senior!"
Hong Yun nodded and raised his hand. Shennong, who had been kneeling, involuntarily rose to his feet!
Hong Yun spoke again:
"You have found me, which means we are fated. What is it you seek?"
Upon hearing this, Shennong obediently replied: Su Dan Novel Network
"Senior, I heard from my tribesmen that you and our Saint Father once descended upon our tribe. I believe you are a person of great power. I beg senior to teach me a method that can allow my people to survive!"
Hong Yun nodded gently and said:
"Shennong, since you are fated with me, I shall offer you some guidance!"
Hearing this, Shennong immediately bowed repeatedly in excitement. Hong Yun then said:
"Shennong, you must know that all things have their counterparts and their counters. Why not take nature as your teacher and seek the creations within it!"
Shennong looked at Hong Yun with a confused expression and asked:
"Please elaborate, senior!"
After speaking, Shennong looked at Hong Yun with anticipation. To his surprise, Hong Yun shook his head and said:
"Child, there are some things I cannot explain too clearly, as it would not benefit you. You must gain enlightenment yourself. Go!"
Although Shennong did not understand why explaining clearly would not benefit him, he understood that Hong Yun was asking him to leave. If he stayed any longer, he might become unwelcome!
As Shennong left, he pondered the meaning of Hong Yun's words, but could not grasp their essence!
Suddenly, Shennong had an epiphany! He muttered to himself:
"Take nature as my teacher! Take nature as my teacher!"
Shennong suddenly realized that he understood Hong Yun's meaning!
Shennong joyfully ran back to the Jiang clan tribe!
After Shennong left, Hong Yun looked in the direction of Shennong's departure and murmured:
"Child, it is not that I am unwilling to teach you, but you carry the destiny of the human race. If I were to interfere, you would be a sinner of humanity!"
Although Hong Yun was the Teacher of the Earth Emperor, he could only guide Shennong, not directly teach him. Otherwise, Shennong's merits would be incomplete, and the destiny of the human race would inevitably be harmed!
Upon returning to the tribe, Shennong took some dried meat from his kin, carried it on his back, and then turned back towards the great mountains!
As Shennong walked, he suddenly noticed a monster with eight legs on a tree trunk ahead!
Shennong was overjoyed. This creature was one of his targets. His tribesmen had taught him when they went hunting!
This creature was called a spider, and it was venomous. His tribesmen had told him to avoid it as much as possible, as no one who had been bitten by it had ever survived!
Shennong recalled Hong Yun's words: "Take nature as your teacher!" After a moment of hesitation, Shennong stepped forward and placed his finger on the spider's back!
The spider, which had been leisurely crawling, suddenly felt itself being touched. Out of instinct, it bit down!
After being bitten, Shennong felt a sharp pain spread from his hand. At the same time, the world spun, and he lost his footing, falling to the ground!
Simultaneously, the bite mark on his hand turned purple and quickly spread towards his arm!
Shennong remembered Hong Yun's words about the balance of nature. Thinking that since this spider was active here, there must be an antidote nearby. He wondered if his luck would hold!
Shennong pulled out a small, verdant green grass, chewed it for a while, and then swallowed it!
Before Shennong could react, he felt his head become heavy and, with a slump, he lost consciousness!
After Shennong fainted, Hong Yun appeared beside him. Looking at Shennong lying on the ground, Hong Yun sighed!
The road ahead for this Shennong was still very long!
After an unknown amount of time, Shennong, who had been unconscious, slowly regained consciousness!
The first thing Shennong did upon waking was to look at his arm. Seeing that its color had returned to normal, he breathed a sigh of relief, realizing his luck was good!
Shennong got up from the ground and turned to find Hong Yun, clad in red!
Shennong quickly bowed and said:
"Greetings, senior. Why have you come? Did you save me?"
Hong Yun shook his head and said:
"I did not save you. You saved yourself!"
Hearing this, Shennong breathed another sigh of relief!
Seeing Shennong's expression, Hong Yun felt a flicker of annoyance. He asked:
"What do you mean by that? You breathe a sigh of relief upon hearing that I did not save you! Are you afraid of owing this humble Daoist a favor?"
Shennong immediately explained:
"Senior, you misunderstand. The reason I breathed a sigh of relief is that it proves the small grass I ate can indeed neutralize this spider's venom!"
"It proves that my efforts were not in vain. If senior had intervened, Shennong would have suffered more hardship!"
Hong Yun smiled slightly and said:
"Young one, the lifespan of your human race is limited! You could have simply accepted your fate like the rest of your tribe, why must you endure such hardship!"
Shennong smiled slightly and replied:
"Senior, someone must take the first step, and I am willing to be that person!"