Chapter 176: Oh no, my hand is shaking! By the way, do you believe it?

Heavenly Mechanism Easy Way, perceives the future, grasps the variables.

This Way, cultivated to the utmost, is absolutely terrifying like Xihuang.

It is not merely passively observing the future trend; once the heavenly mechanism is obscured, one becomes clueless, almost useless.

Applied in the combat domain, it can execute the finest, most exquisite subtle maneuvers, perceiving all enemies' intentions and the flow of all magical arts; then, like flowing water, it pours out, penetrating every gap, neutralizing all attacks at critical points.

If the opponent has even a slight imperfection and recklessly uses divine abilities, being repeatedly cut off at the key by this, a clash will surely be a great loss; with four ounces deflecting a thousand pounds, one mysteriously ends up at a disadvantage.

And even if the enemy is flawless throughout, with no shortcomings or weaknesses?

That also earns the qualification to exchange blows with equal strength.

I possess a hundred units of strength; if the enemy destroys me, they too must lose a hundred units.

As long as it's not an extreme disparity, an absolute overwhelm allows one to go up and fight, possibly without loss.

Then, does Pangu True Form overwhelm Xihuang?

Naturally, yes.

The two exchange a strike, hitting solidly…… Pangu True Form barely cracks the skin, but what about Xihuang?

Nüwa must immediately hold a funeral for her brother; in the mourning hall she wails aloud, tears dropping one by one, making people sigh, 'deep sibling affection.'

But, Xihuang alone being overwhelmed? Add the Zhou Tian Star Dipper Grand Formation, and it's different!

When there is a supreme grand formation for him to command and operate, Fuxi the Great Sage can openly stand before Pangu True Form and do battle!

'Is Pangu True Form very powerful?'

'Is its single-target attack unrivaled in the world?'

'Can it break a surface with a point, piercing all formations' defenses in the world?'

'That's something you won't do!'

'Get out of the way, let me Fuxi perform!'

'How to use the finest, most flamboyant operations to achieve the most direct and clear victory, dragging the battle into our most advantageous domain, then wearing down Pangu True Form there!'

Xihuang gazes into Pangu True Form's eyes, with an unparalleled brilliant smile and confident radiance, infecting all beings who can see him at this moment…… At this moment he is the sole protagonist on the stage of heaven and earth, bursting with the most splendid light.

"True Pangu is naturally invincible in Honghuang…… but this blood incarnation, conjured by Houtu Ancestral Witch leading the effort, is somewhat lacking in flavor."

Xihuang, while dealing with Pangu True Form, also casually sends a voice transmission to the Demon Race's remaining three Demon Emperors and ten Yao Marshals, explaining some principle.

"Of course, it's still terrifying."

"The Twelve Ancestral Witches are not Pangu himself, yet they can perform Blood Rebirth on such a great existence as Pangu…… This is the ultimate achievement of the Way of Creation; I don't know where it came from."

Whether a formation's power manifests as destruction or creation, that's secondary——the key is the logical support in its construction, which domain is playing the leading role?

When the All-Heaven Gods and Slaughter Grand Formation activates, Pangu essence blood forms the true body…… The core outline of this formation is quite interesting.

Blood Rebirth is actually an embodiment of Creation.

It is a deep understanding of the life system, a clear realization of creation and transformation.

It penetrates into the foundational systems of many body cultivators, or is a showy skill grasped by other cultivators at a slightly higher level through analogy.

Yes, it's showing off.

——After all, the opponent can beat you down to true remnant blood; what use is this skill? Reviving with remnant blood on the spot, only to be blown up again on the spot?

——The subtleties, we'll not mention for now.

——The significance of Blood Rebirth remains important.

——But the use of this skill is either on oneself, or a powerful one reshaping the flesh of a weak one. Who has seen a weak one give a strong one a reborn true body?

——This breaks common sense!

——It is the embodiment of the ultimate Creation method.

——Just like Fuxi the Great Sage, who opened the Heavenly Mechanism Easy Way, stepping into a realm unimaginable to ordinary people, even able to somewhat ignore strength disparities, perceiving the power trend and manifestation of an inferior Pangu True Form, and neutralizing it specifically.

"The Twelve Ancestral Witches are really not simple…… there's something strange behind the All-Heaven Gods and Slaughter Grand Formation." Xihuang's expression was serious and solemn, especially emphasizing to his sister: "Nüwa, you must be careful!"

"I suspect behind the Wu Clan there stands a great divine ability expert in the Realm of Creation who could rival you…… and this person has a wicked mind, malicious thoughts, and bears a grudge against us siblings——

"Look at that big axe, gleaming as it swings straight for my forehead…… how terrifying!"

Fuxi shows a degree of solemnity and worry.

Upon hearing this, Nüwa's facial expression does not speak.

Di Jun and Eastern Emperor, the two Demon Emperors, twitched the corners of their mouths slightly; the ten Yao Marshals' eyes darted about…… but in the end they also didn't express any opinion on this.

One by one, they acted as if they hadn't heard; all sound went in the left ear and out the right.

"Brother, your words are wrong." Standing behind the Zhou Tian Grand Formation, Nüwa, who seemed to be cheering on, slowly said a few sentences: "I don't think so."

"As an expert in the Way of Creation, I have the most say in this realm…… and in my view, the essence of Blood Rebirth behind the All-Heaven Gods and Slaughter Grand Formation is not necessarily presided over by some Grand Creator."

"More likely, Pangu is feigning death!"

Nüwa said faintly, "It's the manifestation of Pangu, after he opened heaven and earth and transformed all things, not yet completely dead, with a lingering soul or instinct causing trouble."

"After all, how great a being is Pangu?"

"He slew three thousand Chaos demon gods in sacrifice to heaven, opened the eternal Honghuang, and still could breathe…… what vast vitality does such a supreme powerhouse possess?"

"Perhaps the Wu Clan developed a method to fully activate the vital potential in the essence blood, allowing the lingering spirituality in each drop of blood to exert its instinct, spontaneously evolving into a Pangu flesh body."

"Is that so?" Xihuang chuckled.

"Of course…… brother, you must trust my professional expertise as a Realm of Creation expert; I will certainly not be mistaken." Nüwa spoke firmly, "Using this method to achieve Pangu True Form may require some creative ability, but it's actually not high, and does not need a Grand Creator to preside."

"As for why it blatantly shows killing intent toward you, brother,"

"Perhaps you recently offended an Ancestral Witch, brother; or it's also because your command in the Zhou Tian Grand Formation is crucial, making you a primary target from a military value standpoint."

"However, brother, don't worry too much; I, your little sister, will lend you a hand." Nüwa's tone showed little joy or anger, "Burying the remnant soul and instinct of this old era."

"Indeed, the merit of Pangu Great God opening heaven and earth and transforming all things is worthy of affirmation…… but this is already a new era."

"The era has changed!"

This is our era; we don't need the existence of those from the ancient era standing over our heads, pointing at the land and declaring who is the family's boss.

Facing the somewhat strange gaze of Xihuang, Nüwa raised her brows, "Honghuang is my home... What? Any problem?"

"No, no." Xihuang kept a smile on his face, "Just, elder brother I think, later some words you younger sister had better say in private."

"Otherwise, I'm afraid some people won't be able to restrain themselves and will act on their impulse to deal with you."

"Good, good, good... I know." Nüwa yawned, "I'll pay attention from now on, speaking in secret, speaking quietly, absolutely not giving certain people a chance to grab a handle—although I think with my strength, those who would come to deal with me for this reason, in a one-on-one fight none could beat me."

"Sigh... being too strong makes me feel lonely."

Xihuang looked at his self-satisfied, narcissistic younger sister, opened his mouth, wanting to say something more.

But in the end, he let out a light sigh and closed his mouth.

On one hand, it's because he didn't know what to continue saying.

On the other hand, it's also because the Wu Clan's condensed Pangu true form surged in combat power, seeming to break free of its shackles in the next moment and split Fuxi.

"Naive!"

"Ridiculous!"

Xihuang sneered, "Who is the Ancestral Witch commanding the main formation? Is it that kind of small fool who only knows to charge blindly?"

"A mere Pangu true form reborn from a drop of blood, do you really think you can sweep the world?"

Fuxi the Great Sage's stature grew ever more towering and imposing, "The true Pangu who opened heaven and earth, at the final moment even melted everything of himself into Honghuang. The origin of Honghuang is essentially the origin of heaven and earth itself plus all of such a supreme being."

"You, a counterfeit that can only exist for a short time, dare to act arrogantly?"

"If heaven and earth had no defensive capability, perhaps it would be pierced... but with this seat mobilizing?"

"Although it can only use the starry sky as a stepping stone, and still needs another turn of fortune, adding procedures, making it imperfect. But as long as we drag it to a showdown of origins, the Wu Clan will surely lose."

Xihuang said coldly.

Afterward, he emitted a Dao resonance, shaking past, present, future, and the Myriad Heavens' spacetime——

"Please... Summoning Demon Banner!"

As the words fell, a supreme treasure condensed from the supreme authority representing the creation of all beings flew out and landed in the Zhou Tian Star Dou Grand Formation.

Summoning Demon Banner, this is Nüwa's treasure, but not entirely hers.

It is also the treasure of the entire Human Dao and boundless beings!

This is a great and public artifact of Honghuang, of great significance.

When such a treasure is grasped and wielded by Xihuang, combined with the might of the Zhou Tian Great Formation, the beings of the Demon Race are moved by the karma of creation; whether they fly in the heavens, run on the earth, swim in the waters, or float in the void… their fates are held by a supreme black hand, directed to enact the future Xihuang needs.

Living beings…… can reshape the world!

They can ruin a realm of heaven and earth, and also forge an immortal ark that sails across eternity.

Reshape the world, for my use!

At this very moment, all beings are seized by the karma of creation, each turned into a puppet, reversing the Zhou Tian Star-Dou Great Formation.

The Zhou Tian Stars can direct fate…… but now, with the Summoning Demon Banner in hand, who decides the fate?

Xihuang!

Using puppets to designate the future to be reshaped, then feeding fate back into the formation to make starlight eternal; the vast power forces that future into enactment now, perfectly suppressing Pangu's true form.

In an instant, heaven and earth transform—vast mountains become abysses, boundless seas turn into plains… All these changes, in the unseen, form a strange momentum that responds to the Mysterious Wonderful Dao, as if the entire mass of Honghuang were borrowed and cleverly bolstered according to specific data onto the starlight threads of infinite numbers, binding Pangu's true form for the most direct and thorough clash of origins!

The erupting true form of Pangu was suppressed.

From afar, He had become a silkworm cocoon.

Incalculable threads weave a net, layered thousands upon thousands over His body; each starlight thread bears tremendous power, manifested through the Dao of hundreds of demon gods, constantly shifting, and at every infinitesimal moment, clashing a trillion trillion times with the divine power bursting from Pangu's struggling true form.

Such confrontation ultimately blurs the very concept of time.

The wisdom of the Twelve Ancestral Witches combined, rapidly shifting and fine-tuning, with myriad countermeasures…… but Xihuang is more terrifying, always anticipating the enemy, adjusting the power allocation of each thread, the Dao's laws; if that fails, he refreshes the Honghuang map, reconfiguring the buff support!

This is a very dreamlike scene.

A most towering and holy sovereign, with a thought turns the sea of stars; myriad Daos flow between his fingers, radiant light threads extend from his sleeves, reaching everywhere, transforming into an immortal heavenly net that ensnares all beings and locks onto Pangu.

"Merely possessing Pangu's fleshly body, yet lacking his realm; in terms of battle power, there is indeed a momentary brilliance that shines through the ages." Xihuang said softly, his voice echoing across the vast Honghuang, "Alas, before me, this Supreme Emperor of the Heavenly Mechanism Easy Way… how much room for display could there possibly be?"

"Therefore, all you Ancestral Witches, step back!"

"With me here, none of you can kill anyone."

Xihuang sighed, "Isn't harmony precious?"

"I respect you as the bloodline of the Great God Pangu, bearing the merit of opening heaven; I do not wish to harm you…… but some things cannot be undone, so think twice!"

"Before serious consequences arise, I hope you can turn back from the wrong path."

Fuxi the Great Sage, as if admonishing a child who has gone astray, earnestly instructs.

This left the Ancestral Witches piloting the Pangu mech looking at each other.

They gazed at each other, and finally unanimously turned their eyes toward the Houtu Ancestral Witch.

Deep doubt in the eyes of the eleven Ancestral Witches severely wounded the spirit of this most powerful goddess.

——What happened to the promise that Pangu's true form would slaughter all directions?

——What happened to the plan to first kill Xihuang, then slay the Eastern Emperor Di Jun, and thereafter dominate Honghuang?

Now we can't even pass the first minor goal!

"Cough cough cough…… this is the terror of having Xihuang preside over the Zhou Tian Star-Dou Great Formation, which is why we must kill him first!" Houtu forced calm, "The plan is fine."

"It's fine…… but our strength is off!" Di Jiang sighed, "At this level we can't kill Xihuang; when the big move's time ends and everyone's strength is mostly drained, we'll be in trouble."

"Although they are also consuming—draining stellar origin, demon god power…… their numbers mean the loss is spread thin, so it's not too much."

"Uh……" Houtu's face stiffened as he gritted his teeth, "There's something off here…… Xihuang's Heavenly Mechanism Easy Way is indeed mysterious, but it absolutely could not reach this degree, perfectly sealing our power and cutting all key points……"

"Originally, if we could break through the blockade even a thread, by employing 'One is the All, the All is One,' we could immediately reach him."

"But now…… he seems to have gotten our most detailed operational plan and is answering point by point——this makes me suspect there is a mole among us Ancestral Witches!"

"That problem is quite serious." Di Jiang sighed heavily, "What should we do? Retreat?"

"What retreat?" Houtu gritted her teeth, coldly smiling, "I still have a forbidden move I haven't used!"

"It's just a huge consumption… Normally, the true form of Pangu could maintain for a long time, but using that method, we lose eighty or ninety percent outright, and even after the battle we still need to rest a while."

"But this is the first battle of our ancestor witches; how could we retreat in disgrace?"

"When we display thunderous, domineering tactics, we will intimidate the Demon Race!"

Houtu no longer spoke of slaughtering in all directions or beheading Xihuang; she silently changed it to intimidation.

Actually putting it into practice, she realized——this dream is still somewhat distant.

First intimidate, to buy development time, and seek the key to breaking the stalemate.

"Perhaps we must wait for the reincarnation strategy and the Lesser Yang's immortal clan strategy to bear fruit, thoroughly shaking the foundation of the Demon Race, and seize the authority of the Demon Summoning Banner…"

Houtu pondered, while her will glowed, as she chanted something.

"It is said that before Chaos, apart from Pangu, nothing could be counted; in the void, desolate and without form, there was no heaven nor earth, no yin nor yang, no sun nor moon, no crystal nor light, no green nor yellow, no covering nor supporting, no destruction nor storage, no birth nor death, no form nor image, no measure nor bound…"

A supreme principle was spreading.

Nothing!

In the absolute nothing, after the most inconceivable change, thereby giving rise to being… through the primordial five extremes, the vast Honghuang came into being.

Nothing, that is the beginning of the five extremes——the Grand Simplicity!

At this moment, Houtu was elucidating the principle of the Grand Simplicity……this is a supreme and ancient truth of realm, also the level on which Pangu stood when he opened heaven and earth!

The ancestor witch Houtu had, in fact, touched a corner of this level.

Of course, she was still a Grand Luo.

Pangu was also a Grand Luo.

But not every Grand Luo could stand shoulder to shoulder with Houtu, nor with Pangu.

They are called Grand Luo merely because they all share the innate spiritual light as a common existence, but the actual difference in cultivation……is even greater than the gap between Grand Luo and mortals.

Among Grand Luo, to differentiate, they barely use the five extremes to rank superiority.

The five-extremes Grand Luo, the Grand Simplicity being the most exalted, are those truly standing at the very peak.

When Houtu drove Pangu's true form with the bits of supreme principle she grasped……instantly, everything changed.

This blood-forged supreme divinity broke convention, creating a Dao needed by the circumstances—something never before seen in Honghuang—and changed the original rules of the game!

All the threads were stretched open at this moment.

The primordial clash was halted outright, and the domain of contention was changed.

The illusory god‑axe of world‑opening condensed into substance, and then… it came down!

The fiercest, most vicious edge seemed to want to cleave the entire world!

No……it wasn't as if.

This is a blow that can truly shatter heaven and earth!

"From nothing comes being, no longer following the original rules……I hate this kind of directly overturning the board the most."

Xihuang sighed lightly, he raised his sleeve, the concepts of time and space blurred at this moment, his sleeve seeming able to contain the entire universe.

Innumerable starlight threads suddenly contracted into a clump the size of a fist.

And with this method, the vast Honghuang gave rise to transformation……countless mountains and rivers, voids, and seas of stars, as if all the key connections bearing them were drawn out, shattering into trillions of fragments.

But this fragmentation was not utter destruction……each fragment naturally gave rise to a spacetime barrier, guarding the interior mountains and rivers.

Trillions of fragments, rotating around the poles, were wondrous and dreamlike.

That blow capable of shattering heaven and earth and exterminating myriad spirits missed every fragment, harming nothing.

Only Xihuang and the Zhou Tian Star-Dou Grand Array remained as the sole obstruction on the way forward.

"However, since you've chosen this approach……might as well decide the victor with a single strike."

Xihuang spoke softly, his gaze condensing—first mist into water, then water into pearl; the Chaos was lustrous and profound, unfathomable, as if it could contain the world's sharpest blade.

The fist‑sized starlight cluster shattered, all its power swirling around his fingertips.

A single finger seemed to bear half the mass of Honghuang.

Then, a finger pointed out, a beam of eternal light struck toward the head of Pangu's true form, directly aiming at the will of the ancestor witch Houtu.

Meteors streaked across the heavens, gorgeous and unmatched!

The world‑opening axe's edge slashed Xihuang, the stellar divine finger killed Houtu……both were all‑out attacks, offense only, Absolute Kill!

Who could survive?

When the axe's edge was about to strike his body, off by a hair, Xihuang laughed.

And the ancestor witch Houtu, about to be struck by the stellar divine finger, also laughed.

Both laughed inexplicably, and then almost in unison they said——

"Oh no……my hand shook!"

The axe's edge veered.

The finger's light twisted.

Together they struck a point of void that appeared empty.

This was already utterly astonishing.

But even more astonishing was……

These two attacks, after undergoing some inexplicable friction and collision, not only failed to cancel each other out, but perfectly……merged together!

The combined power of twelve mighty beings forming Pangu's true form.

The immense power of hundreds of demon gods and several demon emperors driving the Zhou Tian Star-Dou Grand Array.

United, they shattered that void into utter nothing.

Then…

It blasted out a yellow sparrow.

(End of chapter)