Chapter 216: with translation of chapter title

Old Daoist, what opinion could I have?

A soft laugh rang out, and the daoist in dark robes and white hair spoke leisurely, 'According to the rules originally set, just do as they prescribe.'

Since Rahu the Demon Ancestor has broken out of prison, we should handle him as an escapee.

But...

As they spoke, the venerable Dao Ancestor honored by the world—Hongjun—glanced at Fuxi the Great Sage, then at the Lesser Yang Emperor, his expression deep and meaningful, 'Personally, I have a small suggestion.'

Although Rahu Daoist is essentially a pot ancestor... we should also respect his profession.

We will certainly not wrong a good deity, nor let any sin go unpunished—at the very least, on the surface, catching a thief requires the stolen goods.

Even if the evidence is fabricated or forged... it must still exist.

We cannot cross the bottom line and convict based on baseless accusations.

What the Dao Ancestor Hongjun said was all reasonable, causing many great powers to nod silently in agreement.

Of course, there are also those who disagree.

These destructive sword auras containing the essence of the Slaughter Immortal Sword Formation—aren't they the best evidence?

Is this not enough?

A deity with a big dragon head gritted his teeth, 'Besides, even if we questioned Rahu, the answer would surely be stubborn and he would never admit to escaping.'

This great power's tone was full of resentment and anger, seemingly having a strong opinion against the demon ancestor, thus giving some people a boost.

Tsk... Is it really that hard to imitate the sword aura of the Slaughter Immortal Sword Formation, logically speaking?

Those who have done some deep research into the Great Dao of Destruction can forge a sword aura indistinguishable from the real thing, unless Rahu the Demon Ancestor personally verifies it.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun laughed and shook his head; with a flick of his fingertip, a sword light rose slowly, bone-chilling killing intent flashing, 'What's more, let alone imitation.'

Even if it's genuine sword aura... if you want it, I can give it to you.

As long as one masters the Slaughter Immortal Sword Formation and studies it for a while, it's not difficult to achieve.

Fuxi Daoist, what do you think—is what I said correct?

He smiled at the corners of his mouth and asked Xihuang.

Fuxi the Great Sage raised his brow, his smile undiminished, nodded in agreement, 'These words are reasonable.'

Speaking, he flicked his sleeve, and a heap of miscellaneous things fell out.

The gods looked over, their gazes all extraordinarily strange.

If Fengxi were also here and saw this... he would surely feel deeply moved, nostalgic for the passage of time.

Because, this scene seems familiar.

——The things that fell to the ground are all sword formations!

Or rather, the Slaughter Immortal Sword Formation!

Except, one needs to add a 'false' character in front.

False·Slaughter Immortal Sword Formation!

These things, I suppose everyone is familiar with them, right?

Fuxi smiled narrowly, 'It wouldn't be surprising if some of these were made by certain people present.'

Upon hearing the first part, many great powers nodded involuntarily.

When the second half was spoken, their heads shook like a rattle drum, accompanied by a triple denial.

I didn't do it! I have none! Don't spout nonsense!

Hey!

Xihuang gave a heh laugh, 'As for why those time-traveling travelers didn't drown in the River of Time, I won't say.'

Some clueless folks bring their own golden fingers—things like the Qiankun Cauldron, the Kunlun Mirror, the Slaughter Immortal Sword Formation, and so on...

It makes one suspect there's a big black hand behind the scenes pulling the strings... I wonder what the owners of these spiritual treasures have to say.

Xihuang again flicked his sleeve, throwing out a heap of inferior spiritual treasures, scanning the assembled great powers, especially the owners of those treasures.

As expected, they received a series of triple denials plus one.

It must be that someone forged them!

The Great Dao counterfeiting our spiritual treasures!

This is framing! This is entrapment!

A series of vigorous shouts rang out, as if to prove their innocence and purity.

Copying the Great Dao laws of the spiritual treasures in one's hand, arranging time-travelers to go against the era as pawns—could that be the big mastermind behind the scenes?

Impossible!

Forging the Great Dao of others' innate spiritual treasures? Framing and entrapment directed at others?

That's also impossible!

We are so pure, so kind, perfect and flawless, innately divine beings of high virtue—how could we do such things that at first glance only demonic sect masters would do?

Then, according to that, behind this there must be a very evil schemer who planned all this?

Fuxi the Great Sage stroked his chin, looking thoughtful.

Exactly! Exactly! Exactly!

All the gods nodded in agreement, expressing that it was indeed so.

Hongjun also wanted to nod... but he keenly sensed something amiss.

'Although this Fuxi fellow's words now seem to support my view... why do I still feel something's off?'

The Dao Ancestor instantly became alert.

Then he heard Xihuang say in a worried tone, 'In that case, that behind-the-scenes black hand is no simple matter!'

To be able to forge so many innate spiritual treasures in one go—those that you all cherish—and reach the point where true and false are indistinguishable... that's terrifying!

Merely having broad knowledge and experience is not enough; it's best to also grasp all spiritual treasures in hand and conduct meticulous, serious research, so that aside from the innate indestructible spiritual light, every construction can reach the point where false and true are indistinguishable.

And just now, I recall someone saying, not to mention fakes, even genuine ones could be produced?

Fuxi's face showed a look of sudden realization, as if about to solve the case.

Oh wow! Now I see! Now I see!

The Lesser Yang Emperor followed along, nodding repeatedly, playing the straight man.

With this rhythm, the mighty ones present found their heads somewhat uncontrollable, all wanting to tap along.

Fortunately, their eyesight was good; in the corner of their vision they saw a certain Dao Ancestor unwilling to reveal his name silently roll up his sleeves and clench his fists……

At this moment, a strong desire to survive made them suppress their original impulses and decide to follow their hearts' choice.

Passing the buck also depends on the target.

"Now I see what?"

Hongjun Dao Ancestor wore a somewhat forced smile; beneath it lay murderous thoughts, wishing he could smash the Chaos Jade Disc onto these two people's faces, flattening them—how hateful!

"I merely thought of a key clue……"

The Lesser Yang Emperor earnestly said, "Through Fellow Daoist Fuxi's speculation, I thought of Fellow Daoist Hongjun."

Before Hongjun decided to bring out the great killer weapon known as the Separating Treasure Rock brick, this emperor made a sudden turn.

"But!"

"I wonder how Fellow Daoist Hongjun, as a hardworking, meritorious steward of Honghuang, could have such random PS, framing and blaming behavior?"

"So, Fellow Daoist, you are impossible…… However, I immediately thought of a figure closely related to your origin, who also gathered the three thousand Great Dao, albeit somewhat incomplete."

"But even if incomplete, they are still genuine goods!"

"Reaching the point where true and false are indistinguishable is also quite normal…… Everyone, isn't that the principle?"

The Lesser Yang Emperor looked left and right.

"Yes yes yes…… exactly like that!" Jieyin Ancient Buddha pressed his palms together, "It must be that after the Demonic Ancestor successfully broke out of prison, he lurked in the shadows, plotting a great conspiracy, tossing transmigrators from various times and spaces into the primordial Honghuang as extradimensional demons, and moreover bestowing the so‑called golden finger, framing us, seeking to realize his unspoken plot."

He set up a ladder for everyone, and then he himself went down it first.

There was no sign of the previous amiable discussion among the Five Fortunes Dao Lords.

This practiced maneuver……

He's a ruthless person.

The ruthless one took the lead, and the followers, each and every one, promptly followed.

They all said, "This might be the start of a new round of evil actions by the Demonic Ancestor; we divine beings must be cautious, patrol Honghuang, and not let evil monsters wreak havoc."

"How should we judge the Demonic Ancestor?"

"He's still in prison…… It seems the jailbreak attempt just now failed, merely startling us, but in the end he didn't escape."

Nether River Old Ancestor pondered, "Besides strengthening the seal, it seems we can't impose any further punishment on him."

"After all, he is to be imprisoned until the day the Great Calamity arrives, truly sitting through the bottom of the prison…… Adding any sentence would be useless."

"But if we don't punish him at all, how can we show our methods are just, guaranteeing punishment for offenses?"

Nether River Old Ancestor let out a light sigh.

"There are myriad punishments; surely one fits…… Is extending the sentence the only option?"

Accompanied by the grating of teeth, a divine female voice rang out; the graceful goddess stretched her limbs…… Whether intentional or not, a series of teeth‑grating bone‑joint friction sounds arose, making listeners pale and conjuring something terrifying.

"Um…… Fellow Daoist Nüwa, this isn't right, is it?" The Lesser Yang Emperor blinked, "The pot…… the Demonic Ancestor, after all, is a mighty being, not a punching bag for martial arts practice……"

"Huh?!" Nüwa looked at him, then at her brother Fuxi, speaking from her nostrils, "I am a very reasonable goddess; force employed must have a cause."

"Regarding the matter of Rahu's jailbreak just now…… Although if this fellow wholeheartedly hides, I might not really find solid evidence, there's always room for him to shirk responsibility."

"This is not good, very not good."

Nüwa moved her hands; a pair of delicate jade hands were exquisite, but her motions were not particularly ladylike, occasionally clenching fists and striking the void.

Her punch was incredibly condensed and also incredibly overbearing.

In the void she struck a small hole, impacting the Suiyue Changhe; peerless power spread and swept across, causing the vast river to tremble, nearly cutting off its flow!

"Fortunately, someone has stepped forward to face him off…… This can help us indirectly verify the truth of events."

Nüwa looked at the Lesser Yang Emperor, her eyes gradually narrowing, "If what that person said about a certain matter is true, then it proves the person is honest…… His words become highly credible, able to conclusively prove that the Demonic Ancestor Rahu harbors ill intent, bears a grudge against us, and constantly thinks of storming the prison to break out from here."

"Otherwise, he is a sly and deceitful lot; everything he says must be marked with a doubtful question…… We should set aside judgment on Rahu for now, and I still need to have a good talk with him."

"See if he's colluding with some 'brother' figures, even so brazen as to openly use others' mouths in front of me to fabricate me?!"

"Rahu's pot is not omnipotent either!"

"Some things he cannot bear, and I must investigate them thoroughly!"

Nüwa stared intently at the Lesser Yang Emperor, and——Fuxi.

Fuxi froze, then put on a full‑face hurt look, as if misunderstanding his rebellious sister.

The Lesser Yang Emperor froze, then immediately adopted a look of myriad feelings, "Well then…… I am willing to confront Fellow Daoist Rahu face‑to‑face, using this as a prelude so that everyone may, through this introduction, glimpse the scene of those days."

"Just a heads‑up…… Please, the several Daoists present, maintain calm and restraint, don't lose your dignity, be ladylike, gentle, and kind."

He shook his head, his hands shifting hand signs, resonating with this world…… Slowly, a vast expanse of spacetime unfolded.

That is the final convergence point of the eighty‑one chains.

It is the most forbidden place for suppressing a Demonic Ancestor.

Here there is a disheveled figure, bound in form by the eighty‑one chains…… yet his heroic spirit remains undiminished, still standing firm.

Demonic Ancestor——Rahu!

As spacetime shifted, violent fluctuations erupted; this once‑unparalleled mighty being slowly lifted his head, revealing a wild and untamed countenance.

"How? You've come to decide to release……"

Before the Demonic Ancestor could finish speaking, he was interrupted.

Nüwa waved her hand, "Did you break out?"

"Then you failed, setting off everyone's alarm?"

Rahu stared, somewhat confused about the situation, but he instinctively said, "Setting off everyone's alarm? That still counts as a prison break? Would I really be that lacking in technical skill?"

"Besides, if I broke out, where could I run to? The Honghuang waters are so deep, there's more than one Pangu; not choosing to reform but choosing to break out—do you want to be chopped by that Pangu?"

The demon ancestor spoke clearly, his logic distinct.

But someone sinisterly said, "Look, he won't admit it... and still can try to brush you off with reasoning."

"Some people, you can't go by what they say; you have to look at what they do."

"You're right."

Nüwa nodded, both jade hands extending at once—one toward Rahu, the other toward Shaoyang—touching their timelines, drawing forth a shared, genuine segment of history that actually happened.

Rahu couldn't resist; he was suppressed by the eighty-one ancient god sages—where would he find the strength to resist?

As for Shaoyang, he smiled and opened a certain span of time, so that someone could lose hope.

Amid the tense, expectant, curious gazes of the gods, the two timelines intertwined for a moment, revealing a segment of past history.

In that history, the two mighty beings sat opposite each other.

Shaoyang and Rahu!

The emperor carried a small basket, coming to this forbidden land, as if... to visit a prisoner?

The emperor sat on the ground, laying out small dishes; opposite him sat Rahu with a sullen, blackened face, silent.

The demon ancestor, watching this scene, had a flash of insight, instantly recalling that memory in full, everything as vivid as if it were before his eyes.

Then his expression shifted abruptly, gradually turning dark and green.

"Demon ancestor, you've lost."

"And having lost, you must admit it."

Shaoyang poured himself a cup of wine, then another for the demon ancestor; beside him, several small dishes were filled with green plums.

"How can such a vast world, full of heroes, tolerate your reckless behavior?"

"Is this okay now?"

"Being suppressed here, you cannot escape the boundless calamity!"

The emperor seemed to be mocking.

And the demon ancestor, who had just endured a brutal beating, was arrogantly defiant, resentment filling his chest, as he blurted out:

"Though I lost, defeat can still be heroic!"

"A bunch of incompetents also deserve to be called heroes?"

(End of chapter)