Chapter 155: The Queen Mother of the West, the foremost female immortal; the Demon Emperor seeks to forge a sword to slay shamans

You can imagine that.

In an era when the main interests have been divided up, leaving only scraps.

A newcomer manages to rise and reach the peak despite this background—would that be easy?

Houtu the Ancestral Witch's eyes flickered.

Vision, wisdom, and ability—none can be lacking.

With these, one can barely offset others' head start and gain a chance to develop at the same pace.

But it's merely a 'striving'.

As long as the game rules set by those who moved first remain, they can always keep you down… and the top spots are just those.

Want to truly break through the ceiling?

Too hard!

Besides vision, wisdom, and ability, one must also possess a 'city mansion'!

The Ancestral Witch sighed.

'City mansion?' Fengxi blinked, somewhat confused.

'Yes, that's the city mansion.' Houtu smiled. 'A deep city mansion, terrifying patience—waiting tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of years, just for a fleeting opportunity.'

Even a player at the pinnacle of heaven and earth makes mistakes… after all, sometimes it's not that they want to err, but the situation forces them into error.

At that point, as the trusted aide of that player, thoroughly taking over the superior's property and status, continuing to manage… isn't that a normal operation?

Fengxi listened, dumbfounded.

Although Houtu said only a few words, the information load was huge!

Taking over the big boss's property and status… sounds simple, but can it really be done in practice?

Too hard!

First, you must infiltrate their industry.

Then, have the superiors value you, entrusting all major affairs—at the very least, listening to your input when decisions are made.

This isn't just about being a sycophant who flatters.

You also need to be very capable.

——Without ability, why would the big boss entrust you with important tasks?

You need the ability to discern the overall trends of heaven and earth, capable of leading the company to grow and strengthen!

Having reached this point, is it over then?

Still not enough.

The time to test the city mansion has arrived.

How to resolve the problem of 'being too outstanding, thus arousing the superior's jealousy'?

Examples of being suppressed due to merit shocking the sovereign are countless.

Besides the internal intrigue above, external factors must also be considered.

After all, when a massive force falls into a state of dragons without a leader, how would the peer‑level predators outside let this chance pass?

They will surely move out, seize the 'market share', actively or passively dismantling and dividing the soulless force.

Then it's time for the accumulated depth of everyday city‑mansion scheming to take effect——

Internally, to unite hearts, using a prestige surpassing that of the former leader, to coordinate and integrate, stabilizing the situation.

Externally, to plan strategy, discern the relationship between the big boss and other peers, clarify their conflicting interests, decide whom to win over, whom to compromise with, whom to oppose… relying on a deep understanding of the overall context, employing vertical and horizontal alliances, shifting contradictions, forcing those who want to carve up the whole force to, after considering the broader long‑term trend, make appropriate concessions.

After a series of steps……

All right.

Then subordinates can justifiably seize power, changing from staff officer to leader, using a shell to go public and occupy the original niche!

From the brutal competition, they break free in a single leap, no longer the state of struggling in the mire.

Become a player, rather than continue the fate of a pawn.

……

'This Shaoyang deity harbors mountain‑and‑river peril in the heart, and a deep city mansion in the chest.'

Houtu the Ancestral Witch wore a solemn expression, frankly stating her wariness of the Shaoyang Emperor.

'In the Dragon‑Phoenix era, the Dragon Ancestor once valued him… but in the end, the Dragon Ancestor fell at Rahu's hands, while this one withdrew unscathed.'

'Moreover, after the fact, as the initiator of the 'Everyone Is a Dragon' slogan and the one who bolstered the Dragon Clan Group, he almost intactly inherited the Dragon Ancestor's entire legacy—connections, resources, power—and thus leapt to heaven, standing at the peak of all gods.'

'With such strength, one can debate the Ancestral Witch, wage war on the Demon Emperor, roam the Honghuang, and have few rivals!'

'Even I suspect that the Dragon Ancestor's death back then… is inseparable from this one.'

Houtu said.

Fengxi's face showed a look of surprise, 'My lord… is this true?'

'Hard to confirm… because evidence is scarce.' Houtu shook his head. 'But from a post‑event analysis of his personal gains, his suspicion is too great.'

The Ancestral Witch doesn't rely on evidence; she merely settles accounts afterward, seeing who profited most.

Whoever profited most is the one under suspicion.

'No matter what, a hat of disloyalty can be placed on him— as a direct line of the Primordial Dragon, after stabilizing the dragon clan's situation, he failed to pass the inheritance to the Dragon Ancestor's designated heir!'

As a leader, Houtu holds the most opposed view of such conduct.

——A mere worker, actually ungrateful for the superior's former favor, seizing the boss's assets and setting up a new stove?

So ruthless! So heartless!

So hateful!

Houtu criticized strongly.

While acting as a listener, Fengxi's heart gave rise to a somewhat different feeling.

Is it admiration?

Or is it respect?

It's quite complicated.

"Although according to Houtu Ancestor Witch, the Shaoyang Emperor very much needs to be criticized…… but?"

"In this way, he actually embodies a spirit that does not submit to reality…… a great victory of grassroots counterattack!"

Being able to counterattack from a grassroots position, breaking through all ceilings, and forcefully reaching the top in almost impossible circumstances……

What an inspiring story!

Nobles and generals, where does their kind come from!

A true man ought to be like this!

Fengxi's heart boiled with hot blood, and he wanted to shout a cheer for it.

After all.

How similar is the era he currently lives in to the situation faced by the Shaoyang Emperor?

All have predecessors occupying all the positions, dividing up the benefits, establishing the game rules, controlling the trends of the times, and sharing the profits almost equally…… what room do those below have to rise?

Just look at what happened not long ago!

How was a Great Luo who did not pay respects to a mountain head and broke through without certification made into an Innate Spiritual Treasure?

And the Shaoyang Emperor's deeds seem to be personally demonstrating the "correct way to counterattack"…… although the difficulty factor is higher.

"If we look at it this way…… among the various rumors, Zhunti, who has been harshly blackened, actually has some redeeming qualities in certain aspects."

"Even considering many versions, he is said to be unscrupulous, causing a ruckus…… but, he succeeded!"

"From a penniless, bare-bottomed grassroots loser, he mixed into having the same position and same achievements as Pangu's direct lineage…… who has the right to laugh at him?"

"The vast majority of people who chatter and laugh are just blowing hot air…… they themselves cannot remain unmoved by profit and honor, they would rather search three feet high for good things, and if an Innate Supreme Treasure smashed before them, their legs would be softer than anyone's, and they'd call 'dad' more affectionately than anyone."

Those who accomplish great things are not bound by trivialities.

Otherwise, no matter how flowery the speech, they will be taught a lesson by harsh reality.

Fengxi's thoughts turned, his train of thought became clear.

Tearing apart all illusory appearances, the true essence is nothing more than that.

The Shaoyang Emperor's actions are also not beyond understanding——after all, he never portrayed himself as a moral paragon, and in his conversation with Fengxi he revealed through and through an "opportunist" demeanor.

A more vivid description, this is——

Hero!

……

Regarding the Shaoyang Emperor, after a simple understanding of his past, Fengxi greatly admires his abilities and methods.

Of course.

In front of Houtu, he cannot express himself like that.

Otherwise, Houtu Ancestor Witch would start muttering in her heart.

——This little brat, what does he want to do?

——Let me look at the back of his head, is his rebellious bone especially prominent?

——Otherwise, why would he say such "incorrect stance" words?

——What "Nobles and generals, where does their kind come from"…… is this an opinion against me, the wise and martial great Houtu? Do you think we should be truly equal, not accept my rule and leadership? Do you not want to be exploited by me for intelligence and labor?

Unless Fengxi lives impatiently and hopes to go to the Eighteen Levels of Hell in the future, suffering where one cannot live nor die.

Otherwise, he would not do that.

So the present Fengxi, with a miniature Houtu radiance shining atop his head, his tone generous and impassioned, stands on the same stance as Houtu Ancestor Witch, conducting a just criticism of the Shaoyang, a moral duty.

Furthermore, he also expressed.

"Since the Shaoyang Emperor is so untrustworthy…… why not cancel our cooperation plan with him?"

Fengxi tentatively asked.

"That's not necessary." Houtu Ancestor Witch shook her head, "The reason we cooperate is for what? It's profit!"

"It's the big picture!"

Besides that, the moral character of the cooperation partner is not important.

"After all, even absolute loyalty does not exist before unparalleled profit, so why demand moral cultivation from the cooperation partner?" Houtu gave a faint smile, "And after all is said and done."

"I want to implement the 'Reincarnation Strategy'…… is the original intention necessarily good?"

Naturally not.

It's all to increase the Wu Clan's prestige, to sever the upper and lower relations of the Demon Race…… in substance, it's to make the war flames between heaven and earth burn more fiercely.

I myself am not some perfect, noble divinity.

Houtu let out a long sigh.

Fengxi heard, lowered his head slightly, "Although the adult's decisions are somewhat dark, in our hearts they are forever bright, great, and a…… hero!"

My hero is their foe…… just a matter of stance, adult need not worry.

"Rather, you little brat have comforted me." Houtu chuckled, "On this point, you can rest assured."

I sit and watch the rise and fall of the mundane world, the transformation of heaven and earth, countless billions of years of time flowing…… I have seen too many things, I will not so easily get hung up on trivialities.

It's just some feelings…… but it will absolutely not shake my resolve or change my original intention.

Houtu's gaze shifted, through the void, across endless distant time and space, gazing at what.

What I want to obtain, I will definitely obtain.

The great undertaking I want to accomplish is also destined to be accomplished.

No one can stop me……

But need to keep punctuation? The Chinese uses 「」 and ， and ……. We'll translate to English with quotes? Usually we keep the quotes as English quotes? The instruction: translate faithfully, not add. We can replace Chinese quotation marks with English quotes? Probably we should keep the meaning but not the exact punctuation style? Usually we translate the quoted speech into English with quotation marks. We'll output: "No one can stop me……" but we need to keep the line as a single output line with 【121】 prefix.

Thus: 【121】 "No one can stop me……"

But note the ellipsis: Chinese uses …… (two dots? actually three?). We'll keep as "……". We'll output same.

Houtu spoke each word with a pause, filled with a firm conviction that moved Fengxi.

But need to be faithful: "Houtu, word by word, paused, filled with a kind of firm conviction that moved Fengxi." Let's craft: "Houtu spoke each word with a pause, filled with a firm conviction that moved Fengxi." That seems fine.

So, cooperating with the Shaoyang Emperor, planning the Immortal Clan Strategy, and increasing our chances of overthrowing the Demon Race—this must be done.

So, cooperating with the Shaoyang Emperor, planning the Immortal Clan Strategy, and increasing the chances of overthrowing the Demon Race—this must be done.

Of course, considering the risks, the necessary checks and balances are indispensable. Houtu looked at Fengxi. Later, you will represent my will, serve as my envoy, and go to Kunlun Mountain to meet a great being.

We need to keep line as single output line. So combine: 【124】 "Of course, considering the risks, the necessary checks and balances are indispensable." Houtu looked at Fengxi. "Later, you will represent my will, act as my envoy, and go visit a great being in Kunlun Mountain."

But we need to keep the quotes exactly? We'll just use English quotes.

Please instruct me, my lord. Fengxi said respectfully.

Golden Mother… you go visit her. Houtu smiled faintly. Isn't the Shaoyang Emperor supposed to gradually build consensus among the Immortal Clan? Start with each concrete domain?

Isn't the Shaoyang Emperor supposed to gradually build consensus among the Immortal Clan? Start from each concrete domain?

Then, this female great being, Golden Mother, starting from the perspective of protecting the safety, dignity, and interests of all female beings among the myriad races, establishing a Female Immortal Alliance and buying shares in the Immortal Clan—wouldn't that be quite appropriate?

Heaven and Earth divide yin and yang, all beings divide male and female—this is the principle under normal circumstances.

Following it, carrying it out…… inserting a nail into the Immortal Clan, while strengthening the Immortal Clan and sharing Shaoyang's authority, shifting from a one-man dictatorship to a dual-power balance.

This will become the most suitable check and balance.

Houtu's eyes flickered.

She is not without cards to play.

My lord, wise and mighty, this plan is excellent! Fengxi praised, then immediately frowned, But Golden Mother… will she agree?

Don't worry. Houtu said meaningfully. The male gods of Honghuang spend all day scheming how to fight to the death, this one calls himself king, that one calls himself hegemon.

As for the goddesses…… they are not so cruel; they are very intimate with each other.

Uh…… if that's the case, my lord, you could directly discuss with Golden Mother; why go through me? Fengxi blinked.

Your envoy is just an excuse, placed on the surface for decoration. Houtu glanced at him.

Fengxi's mouth twitched.

"Alright."

"He is indeed just a tool."

…… -> "……"

"What do you think of the Shaoyang's Immortal Clan Strategy?"

In the magnificent and vast Demon Emperor's Hall, four supreme divine and holy strong beings were discussing.

—the Demon Race's decision-making layer, strategic planning team!

Xihuang, Báizé, Di Jun, Taiyi.

Three Demon Emperors, one Yao Marshal.

No Nüwa Emperor.

One does not know whether it is due to distrust of its planning and decision-making ability?

Or perhaps there are other reasons?

In short, this important meeting was convened without notifying her.

Furthermore, they strictly adhered to the law of meetings.

—Meetings with many people are unimportant; important meetings have few people.

Xihuang and Báizé took back the Immortal Clan Strategy in which the Shaoyang Emperor sought cooperation and plotted to kill the Wu Clan, for final review.

All participants in the meeting were very trustworthy.

Although…

Xihuang and the Qing Emperor have an unclear relationship.

Thus line: "Xihuang and the Qing Emperor have an unclear relationship."

Di Jun and Emperor Ku have an ambiguous relationship.

The term is Emperor Ku in pinyin. So "Di Jun and Emperor Ku have an ambiguous relationship."

Báizé writing the 'Báizé Classic of Strange Creatures' and such, possibly framing someone.

Taiyi and the Donghuang Taiyi of human sacrificial culture are completely a coincidental similarity in divine names.

But, things that haven't happened yet cannot be used as evidence!

They are still the wise leaders of the Demon Race!

Job-hopping and such…… do not exist!

Every single one of them strives hard to overthrow the Wu Clan and achieve Demon Race hegemony!

The Immortal Clan Strategy looks fine.

Di Jun carefully reviewed it, after a moment nodded, then shook his head.

But, placing all hope on it is somewhat inappropriate.

For the Wu Clan strategy, deceiving, luring the ancestral Wu into the ambush circle, and exterminating them completely——the whole process cannot have the slightest flaw, otherwise if discovered by the enemy's hidden agents, all prior efforts will be for naught.

The demands are too high.

Di Jun evaluated.

We can adopt it, but must not over-rely on it, placing all hopes of victory on it.

We also need another plan, a grand strategy that fears neither exposure nor revelation.

"Such a strategy……" Báizé frowned, "It's not easy to design."

It is indeed not easy to design. Di Jun nodded, "However……"

Having understood the Wu Clan's reincarnation strategy and the Shaoyang's Immortal Clan Strategy.

I have faintly gained some insight in my heart.

This highest heavenly emperor of the Demon Race said, 'Where is the root of the Wu Clan now?'

Among humanity!

Although the Wu Clan at present is flawless, from bloodline and flesh to spiritual core, they are excellent, nearly invulnerable.

But…… they still have a fragile root!

"You mean... the human race?" Xihuang mused.

"Not bad." Di Jun said, "It's just the human race."

"Slaughtering the human race is of no use." Xihuang said, "You can kill, but they can just make more."

"I never hoped that slaughter would be useful... I merely want to use all that happens here to shake the Wu Clan's heart. What can hurt people the most is never the enemy's swords and spears, but the doubt of those one protects behind them." Di Jun's eyes were clear.

"This strategy, I call it——"

"Slay Wu Sword!"

(End of chapter)