Chapter 161

How could that be?

Hongjun smiled faintly, speaking nonchalantly, "I am full of righteousness——"

The demon god of the Chaos Era acts within the Honghuang universe…… Referring to the behavior of the demon ancestor Rahu, who gathered the residual thoughts of demon gods, we roughly judge that it harbors nefarious schemes, dreaming of overthrowing Honghuang.

I, who enforce the Heavenly Dao and bear the duty of protecting Honghuang, investigate and even slay the myriad evil demon gods on the spot—how could that be said to be abandoning public duty for private interest?

Chaos demon gods—everyone can punish them!

The Dao Ancestor had already justified his own actions.

Although it may not be reasonable, it is absolutely understandable!

"Protect Honghuang, slay demon gods?" Yangmei blinked, "You're so dissatisfied with the Chaos demon gods? But then… why didn't you say this when you convened the Three Thousand Great Luo Assembly in the Purple Cloud Palace?"

"I just don't know—if you had said that back then… could you have withdrawn from the Purple Cloud Palace intact?" He said with deep meaning.

Instantly, Hongjun's mouth twitched, unable to utter a word.

He knew all too well.

Usually shouting slogans, using Rahu as material, pointing at mulberry to curse locust in condemning the Chaos demon gods—this is no problem.

But if one truly took the slogan as reality……

Huh?

Such a suicide move—even if one commands the Heavenly Dao and rivals creation, no one could save him!

After all, what is a Great Luo?

One verification, eternal verification; one achievement, eternal achievement; within endless spacetime, eternal freedom.

This endless spacetime, however, is not limited to the chronology belonging to Honghuang…… it also includes Chaos!

The beginning of the Primordial Five Tais: from nothingness, the oldest Taiyi evolves into Taichu, giving birth to the outflow of spirituality.

Afterward, Taichu encounters qi, Grand Tutor encounters form, Taisu encounters substance, Taiji encounters body…… after the Five Tais have passed, the Chaos Era is considered complete.

Finally, when the Chaos Era reached completion, a Pangu appeared.

He broke open Chaos, elevated into Honghuang, and proved the supreme Great Dao.

From then on, the Chaos era ended, and the Honghuang era began.

And under this premise, the term 'Primordial' has a clear and accurate concrete referent.

Prior to the Honghuang heavens and earth!

Primordial things are substances born before Honghuang.

Primordial beings are those whose conscious spirituality arose before the completion of Honghuang's creation.

Great Luos are all Primordial—even if they were born and attained the Dao in the Honghuang era, when they trace the origin of the Dao, transcend the ages, and elevate their own Dao-fruit will to achieve an immortal spiritual light, they lock onto the instant when Taiyi gives birth to spirituality, existing together with the Dao!

Having broken free from the shackles of time, roots, and everything else evolved from the Dao, from an NPC identity they transcended dimensions to become administrators, become players…… relying on their own technique, their grasp of the Dao, hacking the backend system is a breeze, and in secret they refresh their roots and redefine their origin.

The Great Dao is indifferent, the Great Dao is formless; thus there is no subjective suppression or restriction…… as long as your skill is high enough, able to break through the system firewall and the Dao's contaminating backlash, you can do as you please, with no taboos.

Of course, this is established on the condition that no other administrator interferes.

If someone said he wanted to brush his roots into the benevolent father of all Great Luos, to develop a paternal affection…… surely many would covet his Primordial spiritual light.

Great Luos are supreme and noble; no matter the era, they must stand at the peak, their trumpeter avatars endless, exceeding the limits of human imagination.

In Honghuang, they are the will of heaven.

In Chaos, they say it's none other than the Chaos demon god!

Reversing chronology, scrambling causality…… this is the dreamlike and strange wonder belonging to the Great Luos.

As for speaking.

What kind of hidden secrets have there been?

Having the Three Thousand Demon Gods rush forward one after another to stop Pangu from opening heaven, they were ultimately hacked by Pangu's axe into demon god paste, their flesh and blood turning into feral beasts that ravaged the Honghuang world, led by the Wise Beast Emperor——Shen Ni, who swept across Honghuang until the Dragon-Phoenix era, when one celestial deity after another arose, proving their great brightness by slaying feral beasts, thus embarking on the road to becoming leaders of myriad peoples, gathering boundless fortune into one.

This is an open secret among the oldest Great Luos——or the kind of secret that is seen through but not spoken.

What whitewashing, what going ashore, what asset transfers, what passing the left hand to the right……

Nonexistent.

Impossible.

Everyone is a good deity!

Chaos demon god, what relation does it have to us Great Luos and the will of heaven?

Someone's pointing at mulberry to curse locust, even indicating they want to launch a heavy strike…… we now give you another chance to reorganize your words and actions!

Usually shouting slogans, criticizing the atrocities of the Chaos demon god…… this is irrelevant.

But if the matter is seriously discussed, placed on a meeting to deliberate the future development of Honghuang, then it necessarily demands a result.

Either the heavenly will with unclean hands, colluding with demon gods, must die……

Or the very existence of one who raises this topic must die.

The Dao Ancestor usually looks upon those Great Luos, privately discussing——'The Dao Ancestor should sit back and do nothing, while we worthy ministers govern Honghuang'; his inner fury is immeasurable, secretly pondering how to draw up a list to suppress all treacherous ministers and usurpers, concentrating all power in himself.

Unfortunately……

"If I were Pangu…… that would naturally be the first outcome."

Before Pangu, the Chaos demon god cannot withstand a single blow; even together they are only fit to die.

"But…… I am ultimately not that."

"Recklessly moving troops, the outcome is worrisome!"

This truly vexes the Dao Ancestor.

And now, facing Yangmei's heart‑wrenching words, Hongjun feels his spirit wounded, with an urge to vomit blood.

After barely suppressing this impulse, the Dao Ancestor forced a smile: 'I don't bring it up in the Purple Cloud Palace; I merely wish to keep divine hearts at ease, placing stability first.'

But now, the great calamity is brewing, turmoil arises frequently…… Against you, this sneaky wretch, there's no need to be so particular anymore.

Capturing you and slowly gathering evidence is also a good option.

"Turbulence keeps arising…… aren't you being particular?" Yang Mei repeated, then suddenly laughed, "I'm afraid you'll have to be particular."

If your actions are a little too big, people will make a big fuss, saying the Heavenly Dao doesn't look like a Heavenly Dao, relying on power to act without restraint……

"Oh?" Hongjun's eyes narrowed, "You're so confident… it seems there's still a force behind you supporting you, directing you to do this?"

Who is it? Who gave you such great courage?

The Dao Ancestor muttered to himself, not waiting for Yang Mei to speak, when suddenly a flash of enlightenment crossed his face, as if he had figured out something crucial: "You managed to escape intact from Pangu's grasp…… that's it!"

You can survive not because you're strong enough, but because Pangu thinks you have value in staying alive……

But your value to Pangu seems utterly useless…… wrong." Hongjun sighed long, "I understand…… you have no value to Pangu, but to the Wu Clan it's different."

You…… are you representing the will of the Wu Clan?

Blocking me from discerning the information hidden in that variable…… is this a secret vital to the Wu Clan?

Could it give the Wu Clan the confidence to win in the Lich Great Tribulation and overturn the rules of the chessboard I set up?

Hongjun looked toward Yang Mei.

This ancient era's demon god, his smile unchanged, yet a fleeting surprise flashed in the depths of his eyes, proving his inner unrest.

The Dao Ancestor caught that hint of surprise.

Originally it was just speculative probing, with accuracy at most fifty percent, but now it's surging.

"Looks like that's correct……" Hongjun sneered, "Who is the true core of the Wu Clan…… seems to be Houtu?"

This "Most Benevolent and Kind", "Most Divine and Sacred", "Greatly Compassionate and Merciful" Houtu Lady, who wishes to forge a resting place for all souls and establish reincarnation…… is the core around which the Wu Clan's strategy revolves!

And behind her…… tsk!

No wonder, back then Pangu gleefully hacked down anyone, slaying chaos demon gods as sacrifices to heaven to gain boundless mana…… yet you, this hollow willow, managed to escape unscathed.

"Fellow Daoist, you're joking……" Yang Mei couldn't help but interject, "Clearly it was Pangu the Great God pitying my difficult growth, and not giving me too much trouble, that gave me a sliver of life…… any conspiracy, any transaction, are completely nonexistent.

You say that—do you expect me to believe it?" Hongjun noncommittally replied, "Now I'm even more interested in the variable information you're covering up."

One last time—will you step aside or not?

Yang Mei remained silent, then finally gave a wry smile, "Sorry, I can't obey."

"Never mind." Hongjun nodded, "Since words can't settle this, let's settle it with strength!"

Once I suppress you, everything will become clear.

"Want to suppress me?" Yang Mei shook her head, "If you could completely detach yourself from the duties of Heavenly Dao management, act as you please, I'd turn and leave…… as long as you're in Honghuang for a day, I won't stay here a day."

But if you don't use your full strength……

You're overthinking it." Hongjun said calmly, "Dealing with you, even without using all my strength, is doable."

As he spoke softly, a temporal force undulated, a thread of years condensed, and a vague figure emerged from illusion into reality.

"Draw out a span of time to fight me?" Yang Mei exclaimed in surprise, "Just with that, I'm afraid it won't work."

Whether it works or not, what you say doesn't count, what I say does." Hongjun's side began to flash with strands of spiritual light, brilliant radiance shining eternally, "The many innate spiritual treasures in my hand say…… that's what counts!"

Those strands of spiritual light were all innate indestructible spiritual light!

However, among these spiritual lights, there was no consciousness fluctuation, only the rhythm of the Great Dao.

Amid the brilliant radiance, they each evolved into wondrous forms……

Some turned into earth-yellow banners, flowing with an indestructible, heavy, condensed solidity, gathering the vast, profound essence of the earth.

Some turned into twenty-four treasure beads, whose interiors sometimes showed chaos hues, sometimes depicted scenes of the Myriad Heavens…… destruction and creation, endlessly marvelous.

Some turned into a bowl, inside which rippled seven-colored waves, that being the gathering vessel of the seven innate true waters, exhausting the transformations of water.

Some turned into a scroll, in which mountains, rivers, and the state were fully displayed——the map of the entire Honghuang!

Some turned into……

One after another innate spiritual treasure surrounded and guarded Hongjun's person.

And this wasn't the end.

Because atop the innate spiritual treasures lay the ultimate existence—the innate supreme treasure!

At this moment.

At this moment.

The Pangu Banner appeared, grasped in the hand of Hongjun, the trumpeter about to go to war against Yang Mei.

A Taiji diagram rotated behind him, a golden bridge extended, suppressing eternity.

The Jade Disc of Creation rose and fell, directly borrowing the primal power of Honghuang heaven and earth, transforming into a light pillar, empowering the trumpet——this is the most terrifying!

Honghuang, this universe meticulously forged by Pangu.

No one would believe, dare to believe, that the power hidden in such a magnificent creation could be inferior to the chaos that overthrew it……

If that were so, the chaos demon god would weep, Pangu would weep——each generation worse than the last, what's the point of creating heaven?

Creating heaven and earth, what for?

Yang Mei deeply understood this principle.

So, he was very solemn.

Although the Heavenly Dao management—Hongjun—had secretly diverted only a trifle of primordial power, a mere hair on nine oxen for the whole Honghuang, he still held no contempt for it.

"I, a humble daoist, don't have much else."

"Just a few thousand innate spiritual treasures, plus a few innate supreme treasures." Hongjun said nonchalantly, "Sparring with a fellow daoist, I suppose I can still manage."

I hope fellow daoist, you'll be satisfied with my hospitality.

As he spoke, the trumpet rose up, charging toward the source of time to do battle with Yang Mei…… thousands of innate spiritual treasures encircling, fully displaying the "lavish" ancestor's grandeur.

Amid the brilliant spiritual light, it split the boundless chaos, evolving into infinite void.

Various Great Daos, various wondrous methods, intertwined to construct a brand-new spacetime, transcending Honghuang's temporal law, waging war in the most special timeline.

Trumpet Hongjun fiercely attacks, continually pulling and dragging the opponent, falling into this special spacetime, seeking to sever ties with the Honghuang universe, becoming a battle unknown to the world.

But we must be faithful, not add extra. Let's translate each line precisely.

We need to ensure we don't add explanatory words not in source. We'll translate meaning but not add.

Let's go line by line.

Trumpet Hongjun launches a strong offensive, continually pulling and tugging the opponent as he falls into this special spacetime, intending to sever ties with the Honghuang universe, turning it into a battle unknown to the world.

Trumpet Hongjun launches a strong offensive, continually pulling and tugging the opponent, falling into this special spacetime, intending to sever ties with the Honghuang universe, becoming a battle unknown to the world.

We'll keep it concise.

At the same time, Tuba Hongjun reaches out again, grasping toward the source of all conflict and strife.

Translation: "At the same time, Tuba Hongjun reaches out again, grasping toward the source of all conflict and strife."

At the same time, Tuba Hongjun reaches out again, grasping toward the source of all conflict and strife.

Boom—

Boom—

Yangmei opposes Trumpet Hongjun, suffering a frantic bombardment of thousands of innate spiritual treasures, yet still not forgetting to interfere and conceal, unfolding a vast expanse of spacetime, using massive information to offset.

Translation: "Yangmei opposes Trumpet Hongjun, suffering a frantic bombardment of thousands of innate spiritual treasures, yet still not forgetting to interfere and conceal, unfolding a vast expanse of spacetime, using massive information to offset."

Yangmei opposes Trumpet Hongjun, suffering a frantic bombardment of thousands of innate spiritual treasures, yet still not forgetting to interfere and conceal, unfolding a vast expanse of spacetime, using massive information to offset.

We could use "sea of spacetime", but the term means "space sea"; we'll translate it as "vast expanse of spacetime".

If you hold on too long, you will surely lose; how much longer can you delay?

Translation: "\"Holding on long will surely be lost; how much longer can you delay? \""

We need to keep the quotation marks? The line includes Chinese quotes. We'll keep English quotes. So: "【125】 \"Holding on long will surely be lost; how much longer can you delay? \""

Hongjun just stands in the Zixiao Palace, his tone calm: "I only need to succeed once… this confrontation, I will win."

Translation: "Hongjun just stands in the Zixiao Palace, his tone calm: \"I only need to succeed once… this confrontation, I will win. \""

Hongjun just stands in the Zixiao Palace, his tone calm, saying, "I only need to succeed once… this confrontation, I will win."

We need to decide on punctuation. We'll output: 【126】 Hongjun just stands in the Zixiao Palace, his tone calm: "I only need to succeed once… this confrontation, I will win."

"Is that so? Then I'll wait and see." Yangmei shakes off the opponent, a gleam flashing in his eyes.

Translation: "\"Is that so? Then I'll wait and see. \" Yangmei shakes off the opponent, a gleam flashing in his eyes."

Yangmei shakes off the opponent, a gleam flashing in his eyes.

We'll output: 【127】 "Is that so? Then I'll wait and see." Yangmei shakes off the opponent, a gleam flashing in his eyes.

"Don't worry, that moment won't be far off." Hongjun said, "the Wu Clan… heh!"

Translation: "\"Don't worry, that moment won't be far off. \" Hongjun said, \"the Wu Clan… heh! \""

"Don't worry, that moment won't be far off." Hongjun said, "the Wu Clan… heh!"

"Pangu himself chose to transform into all things, burying everything… why then be falsely named and suffer another bloody calamity?"

Translation: "\"Pangu himself chose to transform into all things, burying everything… why then be falsely named and suffer another bloody calamity? \""

"Pangu himself chose to transform into all things, burying everything… why then be falsely named and suffer another bloody calamity?"

"After all, it's just some people's selfishness, wanting to get more, to obtain more, stirring up the calamity."

Translation: "\"After all, it's just some people's selfishness, wanting to get more, to obtain more, stirring up the calamity. \""

"After all, it's just some people's selfishness, wanting to get more, to obtain more, stirring up the calamity."

"If that's the case, then let me crush their ambitions."

Translation: "\"If so, then let me break their ambition. \""

We'll output: 【131】 "If so, then let me break their ambition."

Hongjun's words were faint, yet they harbored immense confidence and resolve.

Translation: "Hongjun's words were faint, yet they harbored immense confidence and resolve."

His words were faint, yet they harbored immense confidence and resolve.

We'll output: 【132】 Hongjun's words were faint, yet they harbored immense confidence and resolve.

"Selfishness? Ambition?" Yangmei laughed, shaking his head, "You think so, but in others' hearts it may not be."

Translation: "\"Selfishness? Ambition? \" Yangmei laughed, shaking his head: \"You think so, but in others' hearts it may not be. \""

Yangmei laughed, shaking his head, saying, "You think so, but in others' hearts it may not be."

We'll output: 【133】 "Selfishness? Ambition?" Yangmei laughed, shaking his head: "You think so, but in others' hearts it may not be."

"Everyone has their own views and ideas."

Translation: "\"Everyone has their own views. \""

We'll output: 【134】 "Everyone has their own views."

"Perhaps only after this calamity ends can we make a final judgment on everything that has happened."

Translation: "\"Perhaps only after this calamity ends can we make a final judgment on everything that has happened. \""

"Perhaps only after this calamity ends can we make a final judgment on everything that has happened."

Two mighty beings locked gazes.

Translation: "Two mighty beings, their gazes locked."

Two mighty beings locked gazes.

We'll output: 【136】 Two mighty beings, their gazes locked.

The distance in spacetime is trivial to them; only the divergence in ideals makes an unbridgeable chasm between them.

Translation: "The distance in spacetime is trivial to them; only the divergence in ideals makes an unbridgeable chasm between them."

The distance in spacetime is trivial to them; only the divergence in ideals makes an unbridgeable chasm between them.

A confrontation lasting through long ages is underway.

Translation: "A protracted confrontation is underway."

We'll output: 【138】 A protracted confrontation is underway.

For some chess players and pieces, to vie for the most precious development time.

Translation: "For some chess players and pieces, to vie for the most precious development time."

For some chess players and pieces, to vie for the most precious development time.

Wu, Yao, Xian, and Ren — four factions.

Translation: "Wu, Demon, Immortal, Human—four camps."

We'll output: 【140】 Wu, Demon, Immortal, Human—four camps.

The bewildering twists of the situation unfold—who is scheming against heaven and earth? Who is plotting for eternity?

Translation: "The murky situation's direction—who is scheming heaven and earth? Who is plotting eternity?"

We'll output: 【141】 The murky situation's direction—who is scheming heaven and earth? Who is plotting eternity?

And who will end up laughing last, the ultimate winner?

Translation: "And who will be the final laughing victor?"

We'll output: 【142】 And who will be the final laughing victor?

Original: ……

We need to output the ellipsis as is. Probably just three dots. We'll output: 【143】 …

"Huh… how did Yangmei and Hongjun come into conflict?"

Translation: "\"Eh… how did Yangmei and Hongjun come into conflict? \""

We'll output: 【144】 "Eh… how did Yangmei and Hongjun come into conflict?"

In the Houtu Holy Hall, the majestic Houtu Ancestral Wu blinked and gazed into the distance.

In the Houtu Holy Hall, the majestic Houtu Ancestral Wu blinked and gazed into the distance.

We'll output: 【145】 In the Houtu Holy Hall, the majestic Houtu Ancestral Wu blinked and gazed into the distance.

"Perhaps it's because of some old matter?"

Translation: "\"Perhaps it's because of some old past events? \""

We'll output: 【146】 "Perhaps it's because of some old past events?"

The visiting Tiānwú Ancestral Wu said, "This is a good thing for us; no need to investigate too deeply."

Translation: "The Tiānwú Ancestral Wu, a guest in this hall, said: \"This is a good thing for us; no need to investigate too deeply. \""

We'll output: 【147】 The Tiānwú Ancestral Wu, a guest in this hall, said: "This is a good thing for us; no need to investigate too deeply."

"Exactly." Houtu withdrew her gaze, smiling with brows relaxed, "Yangmei, you're amazing!"

Translation: "\"Also right. \" Houtu withdrew his gaze, brows relaxed and eyes smiling: \"Yangmei, what a god! \""

We'll output: 【148】 "Also right." Houtu withdrew his gaze, brows relaxed and eyes smiling: "Yangmei, what a god!"

"I hope he can hold out a bit longer to help ease Hongjun's pressure." Houtu muttered, "so that my reincarnation endeavor can proceed smoothly…"

Translation: "\"I hope he can last longer, to help me share Hongjun's pressure. \" Houtu muttered, \"So my reincarnation undertaking can proceed smoothly…\""

We'll output: 【149】 "I hope he can last longer, to help me share Hongjun's pressure." Houtu muttered, "So my reincarnation undertaking can proceed smoothly…"

"Otherwise, as soon as I finish building the cycle of reincarnation, that heavenly essence will leisurely block the door, insisting that doing good deeds must be carried to the end, asking me, for the sake of all beings, to eternally seal reincarnation—preferably filling in the identities of all the ancestral Wu—wouldn't I just be sitting idle?"

Translation: "\"Otherwise, after I just completed reincarnation, the Heavenly Dao essence will leisurely block the door, saying doing good deeds must be done to the end, for the sake of all beings, asking me to eternally guard reincarnation, best to fill in the identities of all ancestral Wu… I wouldn't just be sitting idle? \""

We need to be faithful. Let's translate: "Otherwise, after I just built reincarnation, the Heavenly Dao essence will leisurely block the door, saying doing good deeds must be done to the end, for the sake of all beings, asking me to eternally guard reincarnation, best to fill in the identities of all ancestral Wu… I wouldn't just be sitting idle?" We'll output: 【150】 "Otherwise, after I just built reincarnation, the Heavenly Dao essence will leisurely block the door, saying doing good deeds must be done to the end, for the sake of all beings, asking me to eternally guard reincarnation, best to fill in the identities of all ancestral Wu… I wouldn't just be sitting idle?"

"Now it's actually better; there's less trouble, and I don't need to worry too much about this."

Translation: "\"Now it's fine, fewer troubles, no need to worry too much about this. \""

We'll output: 【151】 "Now it's fine, fewer troubles, no need to worry too much about this."

"Sigh… I just don't know whether the promotion of reincarnation can yield a result that satisfies me."

Translation: "\"Sigh… I just don't know if the reincarnation publicity can have a satisfactory result. \""

We'll output: 【152】 "Sigh… I just don't know if the reincarnation publicity can have a satisfactory result."

Houtu sighed and turned to look at Kunlun Mountain.

Translation: "Houtu sighed, turned and looked toward Kunlun Mountain."

We'll output: 【153】 Houtu sighed, turned and looked toward Kunlun Mountain.

It is where she has allocated the most resources before and after, the front line against the upper echelons of the Yao clan, and the key point to break open the situation.

Translation: "That's the place where she has tilted resources the most, the frontline against the high-level Demon Race, the key point to open the situation."

We'll output: 【154】 That's the place where she has tilted resources the most, the frontline against the high-level Demon Race, the key point to open the situation.

If successful, proving its feasibility with actual results, then the next step is to replicate this template, causing the entire Honghuang to blossom everywhere.

Translation: "Once successful, using actual results to prove feasibility, then next is to replicate this template, the whole Honghuang will blossom everywhere."

We'll output: 【155】 Once successful, using actual results to prove feasibility, then next is to replicate this template, the whole Honghuang will blossom everywhere.

Although, for now, the lower-level Yao who long for the birth of reincarnation cannot overturn the Yao clan's structure.

Translation: "Although currently, those low-level Demon Race who yearn for reincarnation's birth cannot overturn the Demon Race's pattern."

We'll output: 【156】 Although currently, those low-level Demon Race who yearn for reincarnation's birth cannot overturn the Demon Race's pattern.

But gaining an extra chip is always a good thing.

Translation: "But being able to have one more chip is good."

We'll output: 【157】 But being able to have one more chip is good.

A Fengxi loyal to Houtu now faces the greatest test.

Translation: "A loyal Fengxi toward Houtu will now face the greatest test."

We'll output: 【158】 A loyal Fengxi toward Houtu will now face the greatest test.

(End of chapter)