Chapter 145: with translation of chapter title

For world peace?

Moral and Primordial, the two Heavenly Venerables don't know whether to laugh or cry.

"How? Not acceptable?" Shao Yang Emperor leaned back, "How could you two doubt my original intentions and think I harbor ulterior motives?"

"Where, where? Not at all." Primordial waved his hands repeatedly, "How could we doubt you, fellow Daoist? I'm just worried that, even if you act selflessly, your actions causing harm to the Wu Clan and Demon Race's high-ranking members will make them view you with suspicion!"

"If one wants to accuse you of a crime, what lack of excuse is there?" Moral Heavenly Venerable also earnestly said, "They've slapped you with the black pot of trying to destroy the Honghuang world, claiming you're colluding with the demon ancestor Rahu... Fellow Daoist, aren't you just sitting tight? Moreover, Shao Yang Daoist, though your original intention is world peace, fully displaying truth, kindness, and beauty, you ultimately truly became the fuse of this era's great tribulation, igniting incessant bloody battles across Honghuang heaven and earth."

"In that case, all this good intention ends up doing harm... Please reconsider!"

The two Heavenly Venerables took turns urging the Shao Yang Emperor.

In fact.

Persuasion is still secondary.

Distancing oneself from this matter is what's most important.

There's nothing to be done.

The Daoist sect's current puny state, facing the Wu Clan and Demon Race... lacks confidence!

"Who knows which damned bastards are up to no good." Moral and Primordial glanced at each other, both somewhat helpless.

"They spread rumors outside, saying how formidable we Three Pure Ones are, how we can become saints, how one of us can single-handedly fight a whole race... several people join forces to besiege Nüwa's Palace."

"Alright."

"We're still okay."

"Only Zhunti is truly unlucky."

"The biggest schemer!"

"They plotted to kill Di Jun's children, causing the ten suns to appear together, igniting the Wu-Demon bloodbath."

"In Morning Song, they enticed King Zhou with poetry, making him aroused over a super-large 1:1 scale Nüwa figurine, declaring the figurine his wife and wanting to take her home... That's forgivable. The key is that he was also seen by Nüwa, who went to the Fire Cloud Palace to pay respects to Fuxi, Yandi, and Xuanyuan the Three Sages, thus triggering the Investiture of the Gods Great Tribulation."

"Zhunti now walks outside cautiously."

"I'm afraid Di Jun or Nüwa might suddenly appear before him..."

"Although everyone knows this is just a rumor of uncertain truth... if someone wants to make a fuss, Zhunti won't die but will surely lose a layer of skin."

Both Heavenly Venerables feel a shared sorrow.

This world is truly in chaos!

Rhythmic, chaotic turmoil... too many to count.

Now Shao Yang has come to discuss what the "Immortal Race" is?

Forget it, forget it; if we can push it, let's push.

After the Lich Great Tribulation ends, and after the murky waters clear, that will be the time for the Daoist sect to roam freely.

Otherwise...

"In this era, too many of those who meet their end are black-hearted and cruel-handed... If we dare to venture in, and make a misstep, what if we end up being sacrificed?"

That's too likely.

"For example—since heaven faces the danger of damage, why not now stockpile materials to mend the heavens? I see that you three Daoists have an affinity with the pure heavenly qi; I implore you to sacrifice yourselves for heaven and earth!"

What?

The three Daoists are unwilling?

They must have gone astray!

They've been bewitched by the ancient demon ancestor!

They want to sit idly by while heaven and earth shatter and the common folk suffer!

Since it's come to this, let's not worry about heavenly and earthly principles... Shoulder to shoulder!

——Above.

Guaranteed by the life experience of the Three Pure Ones Heavenly Venerables, who have lived through countless ages and endured the brutal Dragon-Phoenix Era.

These things could very well happen—as long as they dare to take a special leap.

So the best, best thing is to stay in Kunlun, quietly watch the smoke of war across heaven and earth, and daily mutter—"You can't see me... you can't see me."

Hopefully we can survive to the grand ending.

Of course.

Shao Yang certainly understands the mindset of the Three Pure Ones Heavenly Venerables.

But since he has come calling, he surely has a plan in mind and can persuade these three, who are loosely affiliated outside the Wu and Demon clans, the great divine beings.

"This is my forte..."

The emperor's deep eyes held a hint of mist, as if recalling his past life, the brilliant splendor of the Dragon-Phoenix Era... although those events have faded with the wind, but when he gets serious?

"I am still the strongest strategist of the dragon clan!"

Shao Yang Emperor's mouth curled slightly with a faint smile as he began to persuade and win over the two Heavenly Venerables.

"What you two worry about is indeed reasonable."

"If my ideal is realized, those two great factions will be up in arms..."

"Who let the Wu Clan and Demon Race now rely on the concept of race to unite their people?"

"Without defining a race concept, how could they reasonably drive and exploit their members?" Shao Yang's grin grew more wanton, "Without such a concept, we cultivate the threefold outlook needed by the elite—loyalty to the group as honor, not contributing to the group as shame... how to control hearts and send them charging into battle?"

"Because so-called righteousness means nothing if you haven't reached Great Luo, no matter how peerless your talent or how brilliant your ability."

"At the group's command, one must contribute strength, even life..."

But then?

"For the group's benefit, heroes die one after another... If victorious, it's fine; we can also console the spirits with the realized ideal."

And if we lose?

A lifetime of glory, splendor, and sacrifice, all buried in dust.

What's laughable is, those Da Luo high-ups, as soon as they turned around—switched jobs! Ran away!

Carrying the remaining capital, they changed their appearance, altered their title……

Prosperity! The common folk suffer! Death! Myriad spirits grieve!

The so-called great calamity, the so-called struggle for hegemony…… are nothing but a fleeting dream!

Shao Yang sighed sorrowfully with a long lament, letting the air of the whole hall become deathly still.

Both Heavenly Lords were silent.

The Emperor paid no heed, merely talking to himself.

It is precisely because I know the suffering of the common folk and the cruelty behind the great calamity…… that I have the idea of establishing the immortal clan.

This immortal is distinct from the Wu Clan and the Demon Race.

As for the Wu Clan and the Demon Race, let's not speak of the behind-the-scenes of their rise for now.

Let's just talk about the reasons they put forward openly.

One talks about the present, about following the Heavenly Dao's order, about the survival of the fittest……

One talks about man conquering heaven, elaborately discussing future beautiful ideals……

In my view, both of them have problems.

The Demon Race is too cruel; ethnic hatred and killing spread, and due to food-chain relations, various so-called natural and righteous hunting laws permeate higher realms…… possibly even grudges between a few mortal-level sprites spread and spread, even dragging in Taiyi cultivators.

From the standpoint of the clans, immortal cultivators wage war against each other…… at the drop of a hat, the aftermath slays myriad spirits, and plants new seeds of hatred.

The Wu Clan is too illusory, claiming to make the human way flourish, letting all clans live in harmony, achieve utmost prosperity and strength, and have minds perfectly content and free……

What a pity!

Before they achieve this, they must first stain Honghuang with blood." Shao Yang sighed long, "The Wu Clan wants to overthrow the current Heaven…… this is no dinner invitation!

No matter how sweetly they speak.

After the Emperor had trampled both the Wu Clan and the Demon Race, he then turned back to his own immortal-clan concept.

The Demon Race is too cruel, the Wu Clan unrealistic…… therefore I establish the immortal clan, wishing to take a middle path.

If successful, it could both avert the world's bloody great calamity and curb the wanton vengeful bloodshed between clans, suppressing the intensity and giving the common folk a breathing space.

Immortal and mortal are distinct; heaven and man are separate!

Shao Yang earnestly explained his design.

This is a conceptual group defined according to the characteristics of life's levels.

What matters most is——the refinement of commonalities!

For example, mortal survival requires ordinary food supply, along with a series of supporting industries.

Do immortals and gods need it?

They can need it, but it is not necessary; having it or not is fine.

Different levels pursue different things.

Once cherished and hard to part with…… but when standing in a brand-new heaven and earth and looking back, there is only a smile, nothing more.

Generally, because of struggles over survival conditions, the fighting stops at the level of true immortals." Shao Yang said, "Let the clashes between clans not expand endlessly…… thus the destruction caused won't be too severe.

What about the problem of cultivation resources? Each realm has its demand." Yuanshi Tianzun shook his head, "If you take a bit more, I have a bit less.

This is not a big problem." The Emperor smiled, "Why do I set the lowest limit of this clan at true immortals?

Because as long as they do not encounter calamity, true immortals share the same lifespan as heaven and earth!

True immortals who have attained the Dao!

True immortals have understood the Dao, although their comprehension is not particularly profound.

Nevertheless, they inherently possess some of the mysterious traits of the Great Dao, existing together with the world!

Because they are immortal and undying, and because they have freed themselves from the state of ingesting resources for survival, they can have patience and can undertake long-term endeavors.

Mortals die after a few days without food; immortals and gods do not.

Moreover, because of their long lifespan, they can make long-term plans——similarly, as long as others give them a reasonable arrangement, there will not be too much resistance.

Moreover…… what is the purpose of raising one's cultivation above true immortality?" Shao Yang asked the two Heavenly Lords, not waiting for their answer, then said himself, "Besides a few who are truly passionate about exploring the essence of heaven and earth, the vast majority do so because they lack a sense of security.

If we could provide them with a sense of security?

In a secure environment, there is no need to plunder resources like a swarm of locusts…… everyone can sit down and earnestly operate the resources and capital they control, breaking free from the original cycle of struggle—seizing resources—advancing—then struggling again, which is a vicious cycle against heaven and earth and the individual, and enter a model of development where each tends to their own duty, like farming.

Shao Yang said this, then suddenly laughed.

Speaking of sudden bursts, the cultivation progress of our immortal clan's cultivators naturally cannot compare to that method of raising gu.

But if long-term operation works well, stretching the timescale to tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of years?

Who is strong and who is weak—then it's not necessarily certain.

The most crucial point is.

Which person, confident, will surely be the last one surviving in the gu-breeding ground?

Where the people's hearts point, our immortal clan will surely be able to greatly promote its Way!

……

Shao Yang is not merely a passing whim.

He, after thorough deliberation, finally determined a clan's positioning, thought, ideology, and program—how it could endure long in the Honghuang world.

Just as he once did, shaping the soul for the Dragon Clan, finally making the dragon's vital force undergo a qualitative elevation, engraved into the origin of Honghuang.

——If all myriad clans can transform into dragons, then the Dragon Clan will never perish!

Now, this Emperor once again takes the field.

He intends to create the 'Immortal Clan'!

Morality is silent, the Primordial is speechless.

However, in secret, the two Heavenly Lords' divine thoughts surge, their communication unceasing.

After a long while, only then did the Heavenly Lord of Morality speak.

"Friend of the Dao, great talent." The Heavenly Lord sighed, "The design of the Immortal Race, I can hardly find many flaws……"

"However, a sound design is a sound design…… but that doesn't mean it will make it to the end."

The Heavenly Lord of Morality spoke frankly.

"If the Immortal Race could succeed, perhaps it could in one fell swoop drain the middle-tier strength of both the Wu Clan and the Demon Race…… This is something the great powers of those two camps cannot tolerate; they will surely unleash a thunderous strike."

"That, however, is my honor—to prove their model's failure." Shao Yang smiled faintly, "The Immortal Race, compared to the Demon Race, has a bit more warmth; compared to the Wu Clan, it considers reality more…… If they truly dare to ignore it completely, I could overturn the board of the Lich Great Tribulation, pluck the victory's laurel, the greatest fruit."

"Friend of the Dao, you might win, but you are more likely to perish." The Heavenly Lord of Morality shook his head, "Our Daoist sect's capital is too small; we cannot partake in such a gamble."

"You are being overly modest." Shao Yang said, amused, "With Pangu's merit of opening the heavens upon you, your capital is actually not small."

"The Daoist sect's connections involve many great powers…… If we could also recruit one or two neutral great powers, we could also hold up the scene."

"Even if we cannot truly match the Wu Clan and the Demon Race, we can still make them wary."

"Yes!"

"If either the Wu Clan or the Demon Race goes all out, they could wipe us out."

"But the side that takes action would also have to pay the heaviest price, and would surely lose the fruits of victory in the Lich Great Tribulation."

"That is enough."

The Emperor calmly analyzed.

This is to become the most troublesome third party.

"If we become a third party, we too can get a share of the final victory's fruits."

The Heavenly Lord of Morality continued shaking his head.

——Not optimistic about this investment.

However, as he kept shaking, the Heavenly Lord paused.

He hesitated and asked, "Besides our Daoist sect, which great powers can you be sure to win over, Friend of the Dao?"

"I can't say about others." Shao Yang hesitated a moment, then spoke frankly, "The two Friends of the Dao, Hongyun and Kunpeng, I think there should be no problem."

"After all…… we share a common language, and have some insights we can exchange."

"They are all legendary figures who were unlucky, kicked out before the Lich Great Tribulation broke out—either killed or captured."

"When mentioning 'being killed,' Shao Yang was quite candid, not overly worried about such a fate."

"If that's the case, I think we'll get along well."

The Heavenly Lord of Morality listened, and his heart felt even more empty.

This is totally a losers' alliance!

"Friend of the Dao, rest easy." Seeing the Heavenly Lord's hesitation, Shao Yang smiled, "I don't actually need the Daoist sect to charge into battle…… just some behind-the-scenes cooperation will do."

"If things turn bad, you can also promptly withdraw your investment and flee. As far as I know, the Daoist sect's PR skills are top-notch."

"We can have connections with the ancestral Wu, and friendships with the Demon Emperor…… even the human kings, like Yandi and Huangdi, we can tie relations with."

"Paying some price, withdrawing completely is not difficult…… but if we succeed?" Shao Yang's lips curled upward, "Then the victory of the Immortal Race, whose core ideal is the Daoist sect's pursuit of the Great Dao, will surely have its most delicious fruit shared with you."

Shao Yang was tempting the Heavenly Lord.

Morality and the Primordial, at this moment, both fell into an intense psychological struggle of Heaven versus Man.

Must be admitted.

Emperor Shao Yang's skill at verbal sparring is top-notch.

After a long while, the Heavenly Lord of Morality took a deep breath, "This will require us to consider carefully afterward…… at the very least, we must inform the various Great Luo within the Daoist sect."

"Good." Shao Yang nodded, quite composed, "I can wait; time is not urgent."

The Heavenly Lord of Morality gave Shao Yang a strange look, then suddenly sighed.

"Friend of the Dao, you truly have a good mindset."

"Regarding the investment in the Immortal Race, what we've said has stirred us somewhat…… yet you, Friend of the Dao, remain so calm."

"Because I have confidence in my plan." Shao Yang smirked, "Only things uncertain cause hesitation and wavering……"

"I firmly believe in my path, proceeding without hesitation…… I will not change, nor waver."

"How could such a mindset be bad?"

Shao Yang's smile on his face grew ever more radiant.

Some words, he did not speak aloud, fearing to scare the investors.

——He doesn't even care about life and death, so why would he care about the Immortal Race's profits?

What's more……

"'The Immortal Race's plan is merely a beginning……'"

"'I'm still digging a bigger pit…… let's see how many people we can fill it with.'"

Beneath that radiant smile lies a heart intent on doing great things.

"Friend of the Dao, with such confidence and bearing, I cannot help but be influenced." The Heavenly Lord of Morality sighed lightly, after a slight hesitation, he said slowly, "If you need manpower in building the Immortal Race…… you could just go around Kunlun Mountain."

"Perhaps it could meet the need."

"Our Daoist sect has many graduated disciples; each has their own aspirations, and many wish to go out and venture."

The Heavenly Lord gave support in a tactful way.

Although, he cannot openly show up to endorse the Immortal Race, as he must bear responsibility for the entire Daoist sect's orthodoxy.

But then?

Those disciples who have already graduated, having been pulled by Emperor Shao Yang into the Immortal Race's camp…… even those acting as masters would find it hard to object, right?

You can't just block people's futures, can you?

Likewise, because they were worried that the Sect Disciple would head far off to the Eastern Sea, for reasons like 'water and soil incompatibility' that even ghosts wouldn't believe…… As teachers, because they missed their disciples, they sent over quite a few magical treasures, pills, and such……

That's also quite normal, isn't it?

The Moral Heavenly Venerable was hinting.

The Lesser Yang Emperor naturally could understand.

「Moral Heavenly Venerable, fellow Daoist, you've been thoughtful…… I thank you here. 」

「Ah…… I only hope those disciples can return alive as much as possible. 」 The Moral Heavenly Venerable sighed.

「On this point, fellow Daoist, you can rest assured. 」

Lesser Yang made a promise.

After the promise, he gave a light laugh, "Regarding the strength and upper echelons' response tactics of the Wu Clan and the Demon Race, I couldn't be clearer; naturally I know what's important."

"Knowing exactly when to act, so as not to overly stimulate their nerves, allowing natural development and growth."

"At the very beginning, I also wouldn't directly shout out a slogan of challenging the Wu Clan and the Demon Race to a duel."

"Won't give those guys an excuse, and will directly launch a decapitation operation."

"I also care a lot about my own little life!"

「Oh? 」 The ever-listening Yuanshi Tianzun became interested, "Fellow Daoist, could you tell me how you initially planned to proceed?"

"First, naturally establish a community that leans toward a certain direction." Lesser Yang gestured with his hands, "Under the watch of the Wu Clan and the Demon Race, the Immortal Clan cannot achieve everything in one step…… but I can first lay the foundation, and also dismantle and conceal the complete institutions that the Immortal Clan should possess, completing them one by one via smuggling."

"Starting from production, from trade…… establishing regional cooperation organizations, with the slogan of avoiding vicious competition, first using benefits to unite part of the immortal collective."

"Afterward, from management, cross-investment, cooperative shareholding, etc., gradually increasing cohesion……"

"You have to eat rice bite by bite, walk the road step by step. The Immortal Clan lacks the advantages of the Wu Clan and the Demon Race to build from the top down, so we must build from the bottom up!"

"Moreover, this can also avoid direct conflict competition—I, as a great power, out of public spirit, for the myriad creatures of the world, do some practical deeds…… Who could use this as a reason to find fault with me?"

Lesser Yang spread his hands.

"I'm just establishing an 'Immortal Dao Community', that's all—for the vast Honghuang immortal collective, leaving behind a benefit, an insurance, an investment-profit channel outside the clan…… What's the big deal?"

"Just that……"

"My channel turned out a bit too big, accidentally letting profits exceed the clan's aspect, and without having to risk my life fighting people……"

"As a result, everyone ended up coming to me, and then the 'Immortal Alliance' appeared…… I'm pretty helpless, right?"

"Since it's what the people want, I also have no choice but to follow public sentiment, unyieldingly raise my banner, make my voice heard in this heaven and earth, and participate in planning the future's great trends……"

"For example, changing the names of realms and such."

"Like that Taiyi, it can be changed to Taiyi Golden Immortal."

"Great Luo, can be changed to Great Luo Golden Immortal."

The Lesser Yang Emperor's ambition is great.

Adding 'Golden Immortal' after Great Luo seems insignificant at first glance.

But in substance, when the definition of the Immortal Clan includes Great Luo…… it truly stands on the same level as the Wu Clan and the Demon Race.

When the Immortal Clan defeats the Wu and Demon clans, fully grasps the right to speak, and transforms Great Luo into Great Luo Golden Immortal.

Then, what would be the sole Immortal King of the Immortal Clan established—Lesser Yang?

The strongest of Great Luo?

Or surpassing Great Luo?

Hard to imagine!

Yuanshi Tianzun marveled at the Lesser Yang Emperor's wild ideas, indeed living up to being the former Dragon Clan's strongest strategist, the highest Strategist.

"I only have this bit of strategy that can be brought to the table."

Lesser Yang said humbly.

"As for the words 'strongest', better not mention them—I feel unworthy of this honor…… If I were truly strong, the Dragon Clan wouldn't have lost the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity and failed to secure final victory."

Yuanshi Tianzun's mouth corner twitched for a moment.

However, he quickly covered it up with a dry cough.

"This can't be blamed on you, fellow Daoist—after all, who could have expected that Rahu the Demon Ancestor would be so powerful, and so cunning and deceitful!"

"Using spies and schemes, peerless. In the end, they even nearly exterminated us innate divinities, burying the entire Dragon-Phoenix era!"

Yeah, yeah!

Lesser Yang repeatedly sighed, "Fortunately, in the end evil does not prevail over good, the demon ancestor Rahu has fallen……"

As he spoke, he laughed, as if delighted to fill Honghuang with righteous vigor.

The Moral Heavenly Venerable, Yuanshi Tianzun, also accompanied him in laughter, cheering the great victory of justice triumphing over evil.

For a moment, there was quite a bit of a host-and-guest reveling atmosphere, both sides were very happy.

(End of chapter)