Chapter 168: Holy Fire Burns Money; For the Flame Emperor!

The Games have truly begun.

At Fengxi's command, all work had long been ready; now it unfolded in an orderly manner.

First, delegations from various races entered the field and walked a lap, announcing their presence.

Then, all competitions started simultaneously; the best viewing angle was activated, and the most convenient and comfortable betting screen was ready……

The entire stadium instantly entered a fiery, noisy, boiling atmosphere.

But these had little to do with Fengxi.

After delivering the opening address, he no longer needed to stand on the table and face all beings; all that remained was to grasp the big picture and guard against tricks cooked up by the high-level demons.

This will be an ongoing covert clash.

Of course, before that, Fengxi still needed to carefully place that hard-won bit of holy fire.

It truly was hard-won.

——If it weren't for the holding of the Games, almost all the tribes and civilizations of the Kunlun Mountain Range would be wiped out in one net, luring them to walk into the trap and deliver themselves…… Fengxi would probably have to run his legs off to collect the thoughts of their members across all civilizations and tribes.

The key is.

Without the opening address, the grand and righteous propagation of an idea would evoke the strongest resonance, allowing many to simultaneously acknowledge a certain idea, a certain ideal…… Even if gathered thoughts ignite into fire, it would still be hard to truly represent the human beings of Kunlun Mountain.

Only with favorable timing, location, and harmony among people can this bit of holy fire exist.

"Is it easy for me?"

Fengxi felt deep emotion in his heart.

If it weren't for the strong demand of Jiujiujiu, considering their hard work and filial piety over these years, and also taking into account that this 'holy fire' is indeed a rare thing…… he wouldn't have been so careful.

"But what use is this thing?"

Fengxi scratched his head, somewhat confused, somewhat puzzled.

He moved behind the scenes, carefully placing the holy fire, his heart still feeling a faint pang.

Because this holy fire is damn tricky!

Since it's fire, it must burn something as fuel.

Since the holy fire is formed from gathering beings' beliefs, its fuel naturally also has some relation to beings.

—It burns luck! Burns merit!

More specifically.

To nurture this fire, Fengxi needs to use the 'Empress Big Head'.

Is there a more vivid example of 'burning money' than this?

Absolutely not.

Fortunately, this holy fire burns slowly; one 'Empress Big Head' is enough to burn for a long time.

Otherwise, no matter how much Jiujiujiu insists, he would definitely just extinguish the fire.

He can't be that wasteful!

Although during this time in Kunlun Mountain, Fengxi is quite wealthy.

From time to time he can pick up good things, and there are many kind-hearted people who appreciate art……

"Tsk."

Yuchen sighed beside him, 'I think from now on, perhaps I need to change my stingy impression of you in my heart.'

"Being able to spend so much capital to raise something like this."

Yuchen watched Fengxi properly place and preserve the holy fire, 'Just a pity, it's not living up to its name, hard to make great use of.'

"Oh?" Fengxi turned, his eyes somewhat curious, "You know quite a bit about this?"

"I know a little about it." Yuchen casually sat on a chair, "Such existences that gather beings' beliefs, the greater the proportion of the sentient beings they represent in the human realm, the more they can achieve miraculous feats—by mobilizing human realm power, they refine things that exist only in imagination into reality."

"Can it really reach that extent?" Fengxi's eyes instantly brightened.

"In the eyes of a Great Net, it's just that." Yuchen pursed his lips, "Because so-called miracles are for beings below the Great Net, but the Great Net itself is a miracle."

"So that's it."

"This thing is actually, to a certain extent, equivalent to a single strike from a Great Net... and sometimes even less."

"Like what you have now, a product formed from gathering all the races and civilizations of Kunlun that have acknowledged it, even if it explodes after burning everything, turning into lethal force, it can barely fend off an ordinary Great Net for a moment."

"That's not bad... multiple life-saving trump cards!" Fengxi was quite pleased.

"Moreover, the Games will be held not just once in the future, but will be held all over Honghuang... I want to start a fire relay!" He shouted loudly, "Each edition, held in different locations, must involve a long journey to Kunlun here, receive a bit of holy fire and then return, to light the local holy fire altar!"

Under sufficient tempting motivation, Fengxi's mind became active, his IQ greatly increased, and he immediately found a reasonable excuse for his demand.

"This is, on one hand, to promote publicity along the way, spreading the image of my great Wu Clan; on the other hand, it's to show that all of Honghuang is one family, and to prepare for the ultimate Games……"

His abacus clacked loudly.

"When all of Honghuang comes to understand and recognize my Games spirit... wow, isn't that the whole human realm acknowledging it? What kind of inconceivable power would that have?"

Fengxi widened his eyes, seeming to be immersed in fantasy.

Yuchen, however, looked at him strangely.

Fengxi felt uncomfortable all over from that glance, gave a dry cough twice, "What are you looking at?"

"You don't even know the specific limits and secrets? And you went and tossed up this thing for yourself?" Yuchen laughed helplessly, "What were you thinking back then?"

"I just felt that the earlier background was so fitting, that all beings' thoughts were interfering with reality... so I casually gave it a push, to see what would happen." Fengxi blinked, "But after this thing was made, hearing your explanation made me realize it actually has such a wonderful use... it seems destined that I myself will later go up to heaven!"

"You're not much to look at, but you look handsome when daydreaming." Yuchen didn't hold back, "Think about it—if such a good thing really existed, would it ever come your way?"

"It's long been arranged for me by the heavenly wills!"

Fengxi blinked, suddenly realizing, feeling somewhat disheartened and cool-hearted, 'Could it be that there are still some hidden conditions?'

"Of course." Yuchen said firmly, "This must match one's status and position—specifically one's standing in the human realm."

"For example, the Ancestral Wu."

Even if they make all the sentient beings of Honghuang's human dao acknowledge the ideological slogan they fabricated, they are limited by their status and position—that is, the scope of the luck they govern—and can only resonate with this portion of beings, thereby producing an actual effect of turning the false into the true.

And how would you describe this effect?

It is one major tier lower than their true strength.

Yuchen spread his hands, "What use is this still?"

For trivial matters that one can easily resolve oneself, why go to such trouble, running around to promote them?

Aren't you tired?

Fengxi understood.

This holy fire and similar things are somewhat useless for an ordinary Great Luo, leaving them in an awkward, neither-here-nor-there situation.

You're saying they're useless, right?

Not exactly.

But how useful are they, really?

That would be too hypocritical.

Fengxi's thoughts turned, and a bitter taste rose in his mouth.

Such things that require substance to match their name to work—are they not even more useless for him?

Does he have any actual authority worth speaking of in the human dao?

Just like the imperial seal, only when held in the emperor's hand does it possess supreme authority.

Otherwise, it's merely a display piece.

Therefore, even if one day the spirit of the Sports Games covers all of Honghuang, making beings acknowledge it… but Fengxi lacks true authority to rule Honghuang or the human dao, so what good would this holy fire do?

Unless he achieves the stature of a Heavenly Emperor, then he could still pull off some tricks.

But becoming a Heavenly Emperor…

Fengxi thought for a moment and felt the urge to wash up and go to sleep.

In a dream, it's good.

In a dream, anything is possible.

Once in a dream, let alone a Heavenly Emperor…

Even Pangu, he dares to dream of becoming.

Wielding the Heaven-opening Divine Axe, he cuts through the entire Chaos era—Fengxi is the coolest guy!

And don't even get me started.

I don't know if it's because of the markings of the Twelve Ancestral Witches on his body, or because his Pangu dharma manifestation acts like a cheat.

Sometimes, during deep meditation, half-asleep half-awake, Fengxi has indeed dreamed of becoming Pangu.

But in the dream, when he was slaying the Chaos demon gods, he cried so bitterly, big tears streaming down.

The only thing off was that the corners of his mouth twitched slightly upward, as if he were smiling.

Laughing while crying, Fengxi then woke up.

After waking, he was merely a handsome but not powerful little witch.

Compared to the dream, he couldn't laugh, only wanting to cry.

……

"So… this thing…" Fengxi gave a bitter smile.

"My condolences, my condolences."

Yuchen comforted him insincerely, "No matter what you say, it's quite a rare trinket—especially since you still have the chance to make it cover Honghuang."

"By then, you'll keep it well as a memento, which is also not bad!"

Fengxi's face fell long.

This is going to burn money!

Over time, you'll have to burn lots and lots of small change!

"I just don't get it." Fengxi scowled, "I devote myself to doing evil, and at the last moment I spout a few nonsense lines, yet somehow this special product comes about?"

"What's so strange about that?" Yuchen laughed, "The key here isn't your motives or your original intention."

But rather, it lies in how the beings regard it.

They accept your nonsensical ideology, so you've been lifted onto the divine altar.

If they instead curse and vilify you together… even if you once had merit from saving the world, you would still be embarrassed and slink away in disgrace.

The actual original intention isn't important.

As long as you can deceive those beings for a lifetime, you can keep this holy fire burning forever.

But if you truly deceive them for a lifetime… then it isn't really deception.

When the false is made true, the true becomes false; where there is nothing, something arises, and where there is something, nothing remains.

Yuchen's words were weighty and profound, like a wise elder imparting life lessons to Fengxi.

"I've been taught." Fengxi sighed lightly, "But I just want some quiet… so I'll take my leave for now."

Yuchen smiled and nodded, indicating understanding.

—The hope was too great, and the blow suffered was too great.

Wanting to find a secluded corner to self-soothe and vent a little—isn't that also quite normal?

Understandable, understandable.

……

After parting with Yuchen, Fengxi also didn't pay attention to the progress of the Sports Games competition.

Turning around, he headed straight for his luxurious private villa.

Inside there, he had a dark face, dialed his own trumpet—Feng·Jiujiujiu·Xi, and asked it to give a reasonable explanation.

If not……

Extinguishing the fire is actually also not a bad choice?

"Tuba, we need to look ahead!"

Jiujiujiu advised Fengxi, "Don't worry too much about temporary gains and losses."

"Sorry, I now only see the loss, not the gain…… Even if there is gain, compared to the loss it is too insignificant." Fengxi shook his head repeatedly.

"That's right, now it's a loss." Jiujiujiu admitted, "but Tuba, what do you think?"

"Wait for the big big horn to come out…… then wouldn't this be useful?"

"Huh?" Fengxi's eyes lit up.

Who is the big big horn?

It's Yandi!

Fengxi did obtain a Yandi trumpet personally certified by Houtu…… although their relationship was cut off as soon as it was exposed, Yandi came and enacted "righteousness exterminates kin", letting the trumpet Fengxi fend for itself.

But, even though the lotus root is broken, the threads still remain…… Heaven knows when this relationship could be tied up again?

"You really have creative ideas." Fengxi praised, "coming from an angle I hadn't considered."

"Maybe it's because our situations differ." Jiujiujiu transmitted, "You keep bringing up the fortune transfer account, constantly reminding me of my trumpet's situation, making me often consider problems from the perspective of caring for the tuba."

"And the big big horn hasn't contacted you for a long time, letting you let loose…… I estimate you're about to forget you even had that?"

"Cough cough……" Fengxi coughed twice, embarrassed.

As for this problem, he is neither answering nor not answering.

"This holy fire, our coming here is of no use." Jiujiujiu said, "but what about Yandi?"

"If it falls into Yandi's hands, such a human holy emperor using it could perhaps become a sufficiently powerful bargaining chip."

"But Yandi…… is far from this era!" Fengxi rolled his eyes, "the Wu Clan and the Demon Race have only just begun…… Heaven knows when the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors will arrive?"

"Even more, it's uncertain whether there will be Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors." They sighed, "the Wu Clan versus the Demon Race, the odds are fifty-fifty; it's hard to say the Wu Clan will definitely win."

「The Wu Clan can't defeat the Demon Race, or drag the Demon Race into mutual destruction—where would the chance for humanity to rise come from? 」

The more one understands this era, the less one dares to jump to conclusions.

All so-called destiny is illusory; nothing is predetermined.

Only the result of the Grand Luo game can determine everything!

Although it is cruel, for the lower classes it is filled with an involuntary sorrow.

That said,

This is more humane than a world where everything is predetermined.

After all, you can fight for that sliver of a chance to overturn!

And if everything is predetermined… there's no need to struggle; the whole world is dead water.

「We'll just assume the Wu Clan wins and humanity rises. 」 Nine Nine Nine is optimistic, 「Now we're saving up cards for the big tuba… opportunities always go to the prepared. 」

「With our current move, adding this card…… maybe someday we can help the big tuba defeat Huangdi? 」

He explained this to Fengxi, a perfect, reasonable, dignified excuse to state openly.

Correct.

It's an excuse.

Yandi's trumpets, painstakingly preparing for the future Yandi, beating the holy fire and desperately spending money to expand…… all for Yandi's victory in the Yan‑Huang battle—isn't that perfectly normal?

Who would investigate the lofty heavenly will?

Perhaps they'll just smile at their naïve ideals.

This chapter makes up yesterday's missing update.

(End of chapter)