Chapter 164

Fengxi enjoyed the tea respectfully offered by Hou's younger brother, then hurriedly left the arena that was being set up.

Left behind was Hougang with a deep, solemn gaze toward the sky, pacing back and forth there.

Hougang was somewhat doubtful about life, needing to calm down and think carefully for a while.

"Even a single trumpet of Yandi is this terrifying!"

Hougang sucked in a breath of cool air, murmuring softly, "If it were replaced by the Tuba's personal arrival……wouldn't that send us straight to heaven?"

"What's even more terrifying……"

"Yandi even lost to Huangdi?!"

"Suddenly realizing, the core holy kings of humanity, who seem unremarkable……are actually each more terrifying than the last!"

"Facing such a lineup, even if the Twelve Ancestral Witches defeat the Demon Race, can they truly smoothly reap the victory's fruits and laugh last?"

"I think that's plenty arrogant!"

"When the ancestral witches face the human kings, considering everything, even if they could surpass them somewhat in raw strength, looking at just this tip of the iceberg, inferring the human kings' ability to form alliances……they might capsize in the blink of an eye."

Hougang blinked and asked, "Do the Twelve Ancestral Witches understand that?"

"Especially Houtu……with subordinates of such background, do you really feel at ease in your heart?"

"I estimate that the more impressively Fengxi performs, the more wary he will be of Huangdi, who might stand above him and throw his weight around."

Hougang imagined that scene, and a smile spread across their face.

As they laughed, their expression suddenly stiffened.

"Huh……that's not right."

"If the Wu Clan defeats the Demon Race and completely seizes hegemony, it would achieve supreme dominion over all matter and spirit in heaven and earth, absolute control over time and eternity, the leader would hold the right to dictate all rules, becoming a truly unchecked, fearless supreme administrator; at the peak of glory, they would possess strength and authority comparable to Pangu who split heaven and earth."

"The defeat and submission of the Demon Race means that all sentient beings of this era's humanity have utterly offered everything……the authority to interpret the power of creation henceforth belongs entirely to the Wu Clan."

———The Wu Clan itself does not belong to this era.

They are a people who exploit loopholes.

They draw on the blood of Pangu from a more ancient epoch, and use souls from the future.

They transcend era boundaries, belonging to the cycle authority overseen by Houtu.

The war between the Wu Clan and the Demon Race is both a clash of ideologies and a cross-era struggle for the Great Dao.

Now pitting past against future, the creation of living beings against the cycle of rebirth……whichever side wins, by drawing upon everything of the loser, they will attain completion and undergo a qualitative elevation.

However, on the Demon Race's side, there is also the Dao Ancestor Hongjun sharing the fruits of victory—after all, the Demon Race wishes to be established, to build the supreme Heavenly Court, and must file an application with him.

This means that the righteous cause is held in someone else's hands.

Even if victorious and able to share in the profits, there is a strong suspicion of being reduced to labor.

The Wu Clan is different.

They revere only Pangu, and are so bold as to dare to slay even the departed Hongjun!

Of course, as the price, this path is arduous, requiring every step to be fortified, allowing no margin for error, lest they be prematurely condemned and punished by Hongjun with just cause.

———If they haven't developed well and still can't defeat Hongjun, there's nothing to be done.

But if they can achieve victory in such a perilous situation, enjoying the fruits of victory alone will forge a truly supreme, ultimate terror.

"Although sometimes layout design and forming alliances are important, after all this is a world where cultivation flourishes, and strength is the core foundation."

A slight edge in strength can be compensated for by influence.

But if the advantage is overwhelming……the will of the stronger side becomes an unstoppable tide!

Just like Xihuang's aspiration.

One who practices the Yi Dao and tells fortunes for people, constantly yearns for the heaven‑splitting axe……as for divination? Forget it!

I want to wield the axe and hack people!

Holding the heaven‑splitting axe, I can't say much about anything else, but when it comes to calculating whether a fellow Daoist will encounter blood‑light disaster, I am absolutely spot‑on every time!

……

"So, looking at it this way……the ancestral witches hold the initiative, firmly seated at the Diaoyutai?"

Hougang's complexion was quite strange.

"Even if Yandi and Huangdi have ideas, they must grit their teeth and strengthen the Wu Clan, lest they lose to the Demon Race……"

"Before the Demon Race is defeated, the human kings and the ancestral witches form a united front. Once the Demon Race is defeated? The ancestral witches of the Wu Clan are bolstered to the limit……with such great odds, how could they lose?"

"No matter how transcendent Huangdi's wisdom, facing a situation akin to a chaos demon god squaring off against Pangu……going up there is just a death sentence!"

"Alas."

"The Houtu ancestral witch……great wisdom appearing as foolishness! Great wisdom appearing as foolishness!"

Hougang let out a deep sigh and began to give serious thought.

———Should we call upon the hidden strategist behind the scenes and make a small additional investment in him, increasing our stake in the Wu Clan?

Hougang, too, has a powerful backer as a Wu cultivator!

……

On this side, Hougang is torn.

On the other side, Fengxi's will is conveyed, and within the shortest time, an adept proficient in the spiritual realm will act on its behalf.

Every detained troublemaker, one by one, has their true intentions discerned and is sorted into categories.

The death‑sworn who accept orders.

The hired assassins.

Those whose minds are filled with despair, left with nothing but hatred— the avengers.

"The death‑sworn and the assassins will be handed over to Deputy Chief Hougang later, for Hougang to arrange."

"Leave the avengers to me; I will handle them."

Fengxi gave the order.

Soon, his diligent subordinates got it done, without any delay or fuss.

That's the benefit of being a leader.

No matter what ideas, if they are too beyond common sense, they will be properly handled.

No wonder so many people are greedy for power and status... it's simply too tempting!

"I, a minor minister of foreign affairs, only responsible for the Wu Clan's work in Kunlun, already have such authority... let alone Houtu?"

Fengxi sighed over his own authority and deeply envied the ancestor witch Houtu.

Houtu's authority and prestige must be how many times greater than his?

With Fengxi's shallow understanding, he could not possibly speculate or describe it concretely.

All he knew was that it absolutely crushed him by a trillion times.

"A true man born into this world should wield power while awake and rest on beauties' laps while drunk... now his reputation is ruined, beauties are temporarily out of reach, so he can only ponder authority."

Fengxi muttered, "I hope after I finish the promotional work for the sports meet and reincarnation, Houtu will give me a raise and promotion."

"Hmm... for future ideal planning, let's first set a small goal."

"For example... reaching the same status as Houtu?"

Fengxi harbored aspirations and, for a moment, felt full of vigor.

When interrogating the avenger, his eloquence seemed strengthened, able to move hearts more.

……

"Clan?"

"Danshen dog."

"Age?"

"Eleven thousand one hundred eleven years old."

"Reason for the radical action?"

"That bastard... he, he actually openly abused my Danshen dog clan!" The person being interrogated, his emotions instantly became agitated: "Countless kinfolk have thus sorrowfully wailed and collapsed in pools of blood!"

"As if the hatred could not be washed clean even by exhausting the four seas: 'Ten thousand years! Since I came of age, it's been a full ten thousand years!'"

"Never resting, barely surviving in the most horrific environment... but I can't endure it any longer."

"I want revenge!"

"To avenge my fallen kin! To avenge myself!"

The Danshen dog waved its arm.

Its arm is thick and strong; a slight shake theoretically could perfectly bind a True Immortal's chains, yet they tense violently, on the verge of snapping.

——It has only just barely entered the True Immortal stage!

Thus, this is also a kind of innate talent.

"Revenge..."

The will avatar split from Fengxi rubbed his chin and said, "I understand you."

"I not only understand you, I also strongly support you!"

He said thus.

This left the emotionally agitated Danshen dog somewhat stunned for a moment.

"Huh? You support me?"

"Why wouldn't I support you?" Fengxi countered, "To repay grievances with grievances, to repay vengeance with vengeance—this is natural and just; how could I abandon it?"

He first emphasized his stance, firmly standing with the Danshen dog, expressing profound sympathy for its past tragic experiences.

"Then why are you stopping my revenge?"

"Because before this, we didn't know your situation!" Fengxi spoke in an official tone, with conviction: "We could only see you holding a torch, burning the Great Sun True Fire, while your other paw clutched a bucket of something very dangerous."

"Combined, their power undergoes a qualitative change... have you considered what terrible consequences it could bring?"

"Whether your revenge target will be harmed is uncertain, but it will inevitably injure many innocent spirits around... how could you bear that?"

"Likewise."

"How could we just stand by and watch such a tragedy unfold?"

"We must intervene and suppress you on the spot!"

Fengxi explained this clearly.

"Then... what if I don't take revenge in public, but choose a secluded place—would that be okay?" The Danshen dog's eyes filled with anticipation and longing: "Can you let me go from here?"

"I... I have nothing left, living solely for this goal."

"Yes! Of course!"

Fengxi readily agreed.

"We the Wu Clan are not some rulers enforcing law in Honghuang... as long as you don't cause trouble on our turf, we won't hold it against you."

"Regarding your desire to take revenge, we express understanding."

"Regarding your worthless act of throwing away your life, we express deep condolences."

Fengxi spoke these heart-wrenching words, causing the Danshen dog's body to shudder violently.

He does not fear death, but fears a death that is utterly useless.

"How... how is this to be said?"

"Because, you know nothing about your opponent." Fengxi sighed, "Or rather, the information you have is superficial, lacking deep understanding of its essence."

"The target of your revenge recently broke through to Golden Immortal—this means that even if you launch a mutual-destruction strike, in his completely unprepared state, managing to injure even a hair would be no small feat."

"Moreover, he is deeply favored by the Grand Unity realm elder ancestor of his clan, possessing a defensive treasure that can be passively triggered..."

A very miserable reality.

Don't even speak of dying together with your opponent—you can't even touch it.

"……" Danshen Gou was speechless, his eyes dull and lifeless, utterly gloomy.

However, soon, amidst the deep despair, he once again gathered his resolve and fighting spirit.

Fengxi glanced at him, and with his transcendent realm, every thought and idea in his heart manifested in his eyes.

"Tsk… what a crazy idea."

"You actually intend to walk a forbidden path of transformation to exact revenge?"

"Drain all your blood and replace it with the tainted blood of ferocious beasts?"

"Sacrifice your soul to summon and draw the ferocious warrior spirits that have fallen between heaven and earth throughout the ages?"

"In the end, nothing that belongs to you remains; it could be said that everything is already dead, leaving only a questionable obsession to carry out a single strike of vengeance?"

"Truly, even if I sacrifice my life, I will splash blood across your face!"

The gap is too great; I can only choose this way to vent the accumulated hatred.

"What a ruthless heart toward oneself… a talent that can be forged! A talent that can be forged!"

Fengxi greatly appreciated this ruthless determination.

However, on the surface, I still need to grind his edge, to play a round with him.

"Seeing your miserable experience, I'll give you a heartfelt word." Fengxi made a sympathetic sighing expression, "Even if you have the ability to touch, or even harm, your opponent, I still wouldn't advise you to use it now."

"Why… why?"

"Because your recklessness will bring great harm to the clan behind you." Fengxi said lightly, "After your death, the enraged opponent will surely vent their fury and madly retaliate with slaughter."

"I know you don't even care about yourself anymore, harboring a death wish, not caring what happens after death."

"But I hope you will seriously think it over."

"If such a bloody disaster were to occur, and by chance one of your clansmen survived it."

"Faced with a situation similar to what you once endured, he would hate… but who exactly should he hate?"

"Or perhaps…"

"This possible him, facing such a situation, is exactly you now…"

"The culprit behind your miserable life… is it really just as simple as the surface you see?"

Fengxi said with deep meaning.

Danshen Gou's lips trembled, yet he couldn't utter a single word.

He followed Fengxi's words in his thoughts.

The more he thought, the more his body hunched over.

He was very confused.

And also very desperate.

Being led astray by Fengxi, he couldn't turn his mind, and was about to be played to ruin.

Take revenge?

Cannot take revenge.

Not even able to go take revenge.

What meaning is there in living like this?

Danshen Gou's myriad thoughts all turned to ash.

Fortunately, at the critical moment, a heavenly sound rang out.

"I think, instead of pondering the logic of who the true enemy is and facing the results of your powerlessness, you'd better seriously consider how to rescue your departed loved ones."

"You should know that in the Honghuang cosmos, there are billions of divine abilities, myriad Great Daos, and all kinds of unimaginable means."

"To let the dead return from the realm of death… isn't that a thousand, ten thousand times more important than seeking revenge for them?"

Fengxi said leisurely.

At this moment, he seemed like the supreme divinity granting salvation, yet also like the most evil demon tempting.

"Resurrection… resurrection?!"

In Danshen Gou's dim eyes, a spark of hope instantly ignited.

He longed for it immensely, yet gazed at Fengxi with cautious trepidation, his voice trembling as he asked: "This… is it truly possible to achieve?"

"Of course."

Fengxi smiled narrowly, "What status do I hold?"

"Is there any need to deceive you?"

This is the bonus chapter for a reward… the rest will be made up tomorrow.

(End of chapter)