Chapter 148: Human Sovereign's Drama, Foundation of the Demon Race

Want to board the Wu Clan's ship, but not wanting to be completely tied down there, always ready to run away.

Fengxi glanced sideways.

— This Great Luo's integrity, how could it be……

So low?

He had no doubt.

Once the situation between the Wu and Demon races trembles slightly, this "Song" might just liquidate and flee!

He might even switch to holding shares in the Demon Race!

This is an opportunist faction!

At this moment, Fengxi showed his eyes opened wide.

He pondered a bit and sincerely advised, "Um... Mr. Song."

Your approach will stimulate the nerves of my Wu Clan's Ancestral Wu.

Wallgrass, shifting with the wind... it's easy to be surrounded and beaten!

Better to keep watching, wait until the situation is clear, then commit and go all the way.

Hah... watch what?" Song waved his hands repeatedly, "You think I don't want to?"

Really can't keep watching any longer!

If we watch a bit longer, the Wu Clan and the Demon Race will surely strike deadly at this neutral great adept who originally had no worldly disputes.

You were right about what you said earlier.

This era belongs to the Wu and the Demon... either Wu or Demon!

Facing this great trend, what can I do?

All I can do is first pick a side, just go through the motions!

Fengxi opened his mouth, but found he didn't know what to say.

Being a wallflower, doing it so reasonably... what talent!

Then why don't you go to the Demon Race?

After a long while, Fengxi finally retorted, "You didn't say you had some grudges with certain Ancestral Wu of my Wu Clan, did you?"

That's exactly why I'm involved with the Wu Clan." Song gave a half-smile, "If I went to the Demon Race, those few Ancestral Wu would shout—'Better to cut off one finger than injure all ten; that lesser yang over there must die'—and it would be reasonable to concentrate all firepower on me, what then?"

Song... no, it should be Shaoyang; he himself revealed his true identity, leaving Fengxi stunned for a moment.

Also correct.

Song, that is the Wood Lord.

Of course, even after being revealed, Shaoyang himself didn't really care; he calmly took a sip of tea before continuing, 'But mixing into the Wu Clan's forces is different.'

Those guys either dislike me or they don't.

But from the big picture, from the perspective of a united front... no matter what, they must first swallow that anger!

Perhaps they might even have to lure me, such a great adept, with heavy benefits, as a symbolic example.

As the saying goes, those who accomplish great things are not bound by trivialities.

Not mentioning the boundless ages and the rise and fall of endless civilizations, even in your own world, aren't such examples few?

Shaoyang set down his teacup, his gaze clear and cold, possessing a transcendence that sees through worldly affairs and human hearts.

When someone's children are killed, a general is killed, facing the enemy commander who caused all this and later surrendered, isn't it still suppressing boiling anger to say past grievances are forgiven? And then entrusting them with heavy responsibilities.

This is the mindset a hero capable of great deeds should have.

Those who act on emotion, even if they hold a good hand, if they act impulsively, in others' scheming that good hand gets burned to ashes.

Many principles are spread in the world, alas, only one in ten thousand can put them into practice.

Fengxi listened with a bewildered face.

But after listening, he thought seriously... huh?

What he said seems not wrong, eh?

The way to secure the state, mobilize the army, and prosper the nation lies in: not moving without profit, not using without gain, not fighting without danger... A ruler must not raise troops out of anger, a general must not initiate war out of resentment. Act when it is beneficial, stop when it is not. Anger can turn to joy, resentment can turn to pleasure; a fallen state cannot be restored, the dead cannot be revived. Hence a wise ruler must be cautious, a good general must be vigilant.

Now the situation is unclear; a great adept who verbally declares he wants to join the Wu Clan, even if the Ancestral Wu don't find him pleasing... it's not good to directly shout for battle and killing!

At most, find an opportunity to let him 'die accidentally,' then wail loudly, squeeze out a few tears as we collect his corpse, dress it up, to show our 'spending a thousand gold to buy a horse's bone,' our eager desire for talent.

Anyway, a dead person won't object!

However, if a great adept becomes cautious... how difficult would it be to want an 'accidental' death?

I am fully confident that those qualified to be my opponents each fully understand this principle." Shaoyang smiled faintly, "So even if someone wants to settle scores with me, they must wait until they have victory in hand, until the time of internal purification and elimination of dissidents, before it will erupt.

Before that, they must show they have the demeanor of a wise ruler and a broad, tolerant heart... although everyone knows they are just acting.

But if they don't even want to act? Others wouldn't dare hold even a sliver of hope, believing that after victory, rewards will be distributed according to merit.

To be a Human Sovereign, one must win people's hearts—even if that heart is obtained by deceiving through acting. But no matter what, it must surely exist!

Life is like a play, all depends on acting skill.

Acting well, you can toy with your subordinates amid applause, also lead your superiors by the nose, sell them off and still happily help count the money.

Young man, you still have much to learn!

Shaoyang patted Fengxi on the shoulder.

Fengxi deeply agreed.

Afterwards, he shuddered.

Wrong!

What acting skills is he studying?

He, Fengxi, a laborer working for the Houtu Ancestral Wu, what's the point of learning such a dangerous skill?

"Heaven and earth's conscience…… I am so loyal to Lord Houtu!"

Fengxi repeatedly murmured in his heart several times before confirming his loyal stance, dispelling the demonic whispers.

Having come this far, he didn't dare to keep wavering over the so-called fence‑sitter issue… afraid that after spending several million years learning goodness, he might turn bad with just a few words.

Fengxi promptly changed the subject, saying, "If you are willing to join the Wu Clan, I would be delighted."

'However, what exactly do you mean by this indirect cooperation you mentioned?'

Fengxi was very curious.

The Less Yang Emperor gave a mysterious smile.

'Of course, it's to help you infiltrate the Demon Race more quickly, expand your influence, win more vassals and cannon fodder, and become a pawn to tip the balance in the future great war.'

'Oh?' Fengxi frowned, 'I'd love to hear the details.'

'You must understand——the Demon Race is utterly vast!' The Less Yang sighed, 'Thanks to the era before, when the three thousand deities rose together in the most inconceivable miracle, the discovery of qi fortune and the inevitable guidance it gave led to the flourishing management of Honghuang's myriad clans, making the cultivation civilization brilliantly radiant.'

'Even after the great calamity's wear, the remaining wealth is still enviable.'

'And when some ancient deities truly gather all sentient beings with self-awareness and emotional consciousness into one race, once the Demon Race is officially listed, they will rightfully inherit all the legitimate legacy rights of the previous era.'

'This is wealth enough to make any Daluo salivate, and also a source of qi fortune that can be transformed into something that makes any opponent's scalp tingle.'

'So, the ancestor witches of your Wu Clan have tried every means to seize this wealth to relieve their own poverty, strengthen themselves and weaken the enemy at once.'

'Therefore, the reincarnation strategy will be given importance, with policies and resources tilted toward it, aiming to get a foothold in the Demon Race's food chain at the bottom.'

'But how so?'

'This strategy is quite good…… but can relying on it alone secure victory?'

'Still lacking quite a bit.'

The Less Yang said slowly, 'Because the chosen targets are somewhat off‑target, hurting the tendons but not the bones.'

Fengxi instantly perked up.

'Your reincarnation strategy is built on the very harsh foundation of the Demon Race's lower strata—they stand at the bottom of the food chain, either being hunted by this or preyed upon by that… hence the basis for reincarnation's existence.'

'Rather than suffer in this harsh reality, it's better to place one's hopes in reincarnation, in the next life.'

'So, have you ever considered——before the idea of reincarnation was even raised, those demon spirits already had to face this harsh reality for a long stretch of time?'

'But why hasn't a spark ignited the lower‑level demons' inner fury and madness, uniting them to recklessly strike against the heavenly laws etched into this era?'

'Why is there no demon crying out——'Heaven is dead, a new heaven shall rise!''

The Less Yang inquired.

Fengxi pondered, 'Perhaps it's because the high‑level architects of this rule hold the decisive power?'

'That's not wrong…… but it isn't the main reason.' The Less Yang Emperor smiled faintly, 'Over all these years, have you ever seen or heard of the top‑tier clans taking action to suppress lower‑level demon rebellions?'

'Not a single instance!'

Fengxi listened, falling into deep thought.

'They look down on all this with cold indifference, utterly transcendent…… what gives them that right?' The Less Yang smiled, not waiting for Fengxi's reply, he already gave the explanation: 'It's because countless beings serve them, dividing and suppressing rebels from all sides.'

'Even if a spark is buried or even lit, it is soon extinguished completely, leaving not a ripple.'

'This is all because of the Demon Race's vast middle‑layer strength!'

A powerful being slowly revealed some deeply buried information.

Within the Demon Race, different groups are divided into different tiers.

Those whose potential is fully developed yet cannot attain longevity, needing to rely on their own wisdom to make up the shortfall, and whose wisdom‑information transmission lacks universal applicability within the clan—these are the low‑tier groups, standing at the bottom of the food chain.

And those above them, whose members, after fully developing their potential, can obtain lifespans equal to heaven and earth, allowing them ample time to explore the Great Dao—these are the middle‑tier groups.

As for the high‑tier groups?

The definition requires them to be the highest.

Their members generally can probe the essence of the cosmos.

——meaning they at least brush against the Taiyi level.

'In theory, the higher you go, the fewer the clan members; combined with the numerical base, the amount of qi fortune they can generate should also be pyramid‑shaped.'

The bottom layer creates the greatest value and is indispensable; if it is drained, the faction will immediately suffer devastating destruction and can be declared dissolved.

'But I must tell you some unfortunate news.' The Less Yang looked at Fengxi, 'Although purely by numbers, the low‑tier groups still hold an advantage.'

'Even if you truly manage to drain them, it would be a huge blow to the Demon Race, but not fatal.'

'This…… this shouldn't be the case?' Fengxi frowned tightly, somewhat puzzled.

'This certainly has a reason…… immortality!' The Less Yang Emperor sighed, 'Because the great heaven‑earth environment favors them, and because entering the realm above True Immortal brings limitless lifespan and enhanced survivability……'

'Those demon folk at the bottom are replaced batch after batch.'

'But the long‑lived, far‑seeing few are growing ever more numerous.'

Fengxi suddenly realized.

'The temporal foundation of the Honghuang world…… is profoundly deep!'

'This vast expanse of heaven and earth has endured how many long ages; those stranded in the middle have undergone how many long ages of development and growth.'

'Nowadays, the ratio of immortals to beings below them, though still disparate, has actually shrunk considerably.'

'Taking into account the weight of cultivation and the Demon Race's contribution…… the qi fortune and value created by the middle‑tier groups have far surpassed those of the bottom layer by leaps and bounds!'

'They are what truly constitute the Demon Race today!'

Fengxi's face grew somewhat gloomy.

He looked toward the Less Yang and received an affirmative evaluation.

'It seems you understand.'

This ancient emperor chuckled softly, 'Although it is so, these middle‑tier groups still must endure exploitation and pressure from those above; the value they create is siphoned off by higher‑tier groups through the subtly imposed rules of the game.'

'But then.'

They also have a lower-ranking group that can be used to oppress, to vent their impotent anger, and gain spiritual satisfaction... After repeated training and polishing, they naturally become the shape required by those demon gods who establish the rules.

Will the lower classes be angry? Of course they will!

But even if they united and resisted at this point, what would it do? The middle class, grown to the extreme, can easily suppress them—they will not give up this tool for venting and shifting contradictions.

Even more so, if in this process the Demon Race's upper echelons become even more shameless?" Shao Yang sneered, "They can still put on show after show, standing in the high heavens to give the lowly, dust‑bottomed lower classes so‑called support, displaying an image of justice.

The upper echelons disdain to oppress the lower classes—it's too troublesome and would dirty their hands.

Doing the opposite, just give them a light lift, then whip those middle‑ranking groups from behind… that's all!

The beings of the middle class will themselves take action, diligently doing the dirty work… in the end, they will even offer up the value they created.

This Exalted One said leisurely, 'The Demon Race follows the principles of heaven and earth, writing the rules of high‑and‑low predation; the structure of those layer upon layer food‑chain nets actually explains many things.'

Will a male eagle soaring in the sky go nibble grass seeds?

No.

Those that will nibble are only mice and rabbits… they do the labor, fattening themselves up.

When the time is right, the male eagle will lightly pounce and grab——

All right.

Delicious, right to the mouth.

Besides that, they can also earn a fine reputation—guardians of ecological balance.

The ancient whisper of heaven's will explains everything.

(End of chapter)