Chapter 226: The Deepest Scheme, Painstaking Effort, Editing Genius

With the least effort, the most glorious image, to gain the greatest harvest.

Those who could sit as the overseers of the Honghuang world as supreme beings, Fengxi did not dare to underestimate them even a little.

Especially, they could keep everything on track despite having too many teammates with hidden agendas watching them... Their ability to grasp balance and distribute benefits must be the utmost in the world!

Therefore, he did not hesitate to use the most dangerous thoughts to speculate about such people.

Though the world is mire and all sides are tigers and wolves, he could still sit high on the throne of the Heavenly Emperor and Holy Emperor, said to have conquered everyone with lofty virtue and noble personal charm...

Tsk.

Fengxi recalled the tragic fate of a certain demon ancestor, reduced to the era's pot king... He now wants to know which untouchable small group the ancient god sage who first proposed this plan belonged to.

Who could not accept such clear-cut arrangements? Who would dare not accept?

Even the demon ancestor was arranged, and finally he even casually staged a grand drama of a 'Honghuang Daluo Society Moral Responsibility Lecture'...

Fengxi doubted the words of the Great Sage Fuxi about the thousand hardships spent pacifying subordinates... Was it that this Holy Emperor figure was magnanimous, choosing a bloodless contest of wisdom?

Or was everything already plotted and prepared in advance, deliberately digging a huge pit?

'If not so, it cannot explain how the settlement could be so clean... This gives me a sense of déjà vu, as if it were a very familiar routine.'

Fengxi's face showed no change, only his eyes flickered slightly.

'The emperor mistakenly trusted treacherous ministers, giving them the chance to gorge themselves, plundering the wealth of the masses, fattening those he nurtured... Then, when enough was enough, he would suddenly repent, declare he would mend his ways, and confiscate the homes of that group of corrupt officials...'

'On the surface it's like that, but in reality everything is under control.'

'Every penny they gain, the emperor knows it clearly, his inner ledger remembers it exactly... When the time comes, he sends out his hounds to reap!'

'Afterward, he not only gained face but also substance... The masses rejoiced, crying that Heaven had eyes; the emperor himself was delighted, for all the illicit funds went into his pocket.'

Fengxi's eyes flashed again, 'Moreover, if one is more ruthless...'

'Familial affection can also be used as a chip.'

'After all, this method brings money fast, but it also means great risk and fierce backlash!'

'A slight mistake can easily lose control... So even if indulging subordinates' ambition, one would surely pick those they can confidently restrain, who can grasp the lifeline, letting them become the biggest leader, gathering the most wealth!'

'Fuxi... Nüwa...' Fengxi suppressed his change in expression, 'An elder brother tidying up his own sister—isn't that easy?'

'In a situation where one schemes against the unsuspecting, with seniority suppressing... No matter how great Lady Nüwa's undertakings, they ultimately become a dowry for Fuxi, easily taken away.'

'Even in this process, Lady Nüwa's understanding of her own gains might not be as clear as Emperor Xi's...'

Fengxi was guessing maliciously.

Fattening up the sister, then when her tail points to heaven——

Directly drain all the fat!

Explode on the spot!

In an instant falling from the position of Honghuang's richest, possibly even to the tragic extent of mice running through his personal treasury, to the point where even the mice would weep...

Fengxi recalled the gathering of the Five Yun Dao Masters, where several great beings casually revealed explosive news; combined with Emperor Xi's half-hidden account... He felt he had touched upon some truths.

If that is truly the case, then...

Fuxi, this is truly a ruthless god!

However, this ruthless god seemingly capsized at the end, being counterattacked in kind by a certain sister figure.

Fengxi thought of the Ancestral Witch Houtu, her aura of wealth as if she had emptied a bank, almost needing to write 'I lack no money' on her face, plus the various strange merits of the legendary human race, he pondered.

Lighting a fire? Merit.

Building a house? Merit.

Creating characters? Merit.

All kinds of bizarre ways, all kinds of bizarre merits rain down from heaven—only what you cannot imagine, nothing you cannot do.

If we regard the so-called heavenly-sent merits as a creator's policy support to attract investment, or simply as tipping...

Perhaps this could explain why there are so many civilizations and races on Honghuang, yet merits favor the human race—even when they were weak and just sprouting.

Fengxi guessed something, vaguely grasping the direction of the chessboard of the Honghuang great beings' game in the Witch-Demon epoch, the overall trend.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Fuxi kept sighing, summarizing the past era.

"On Pangu's path of cultivation, I actually must thank my good teammates."

"Without their tempering effect on me, forcing me to continually develop wisdom, exhausting my mind in struggle, never daring to relax... How could I have achieved final sublimation so swiftly, reaching Pangu's level?"

That's what he said, but Emperor Xi's tone always lets one hear a feeling of gnashing teeth.

However, this feeling is fleeting, a flash that's gone, easily making one think it's an illusion.

"My achievements can be said to be one-third my own effort, one-third due to people's hearts, and one-third forced out."

Emperor Xi sighed languidly, "Effort? Actually, being able to prove it to the Grand Luo level, in this regard they're all about the same."

"Among the innate divinities, in comprehension, origin, and aptitude, they are actually the same level, with little difference."

"But to prove the Dao of Pangu, mere effort is not enough."

"I was able to stand out in the first era, actually because the era then was wildly pulling strings, supporting me—because my decision to open the Yi Dao determined that I was most helpful to human development."

"I can see far."

"I can also determine the best plan, greatly boosting productivity, prospering the human way."

"Other divinities, like those who *** pass through time, but are not good at development."

"Those who have a bit of talent in production, yet cannot see as far as I do."

"The human way has an innate nature, being gentle and obedient to me, and moreover my achievements of overturning chaos with qi fortune... To be able to become Pangu is actually quite normal."

"Even reelection is highly possible."

"It's just a pity that I ultimately failed to secure reelection."

Emperor Xi sighed.

Fengxi shuddered, moved, "Why?"

"Decision error, the Human Dao no longer draws near to me." Fuxi the Great Sage spread his hands, "Actually, there's not much to say about the details inside."

"Ultimately, the construction of Honghuang back then was still lacking; many preparations were not made."

Fengxi was first doubtful, then thought of something: "Is it... reincarnation?"

"Indeed." Xihuang nodded.

"Back then, my concept didn't align with reincarnation; I thought it wasn't needed... but the final result told me that all beings expressed a strong desire for reincarnation."

Fuxi the Great Sage helplessly shrugged, "I didn't handle it well, so I had to step down."

"But stepping down doesn't matter."

"I, Pangu, have been accomplished; once proven, forever proven; once accomplished, forever accomplished; the true realm will not regress—it's just that my authority isn't as great as before."

"The actual loss is not great."

"Many innate deities, the Great Luo Heavenly Will, still hold great respect for me, Fuxi."

He laughed and said, "You see, there are not a few famous powerhouses in this world who have been slandered and defamed quite severely, right?"

"But, look at me."

"The amount of dirty water splashed on me is now small."

"At the very least, for the position I hold, it's insignificant."

Fengxi had to nod.

Indeed.

Counting the many positions and titles of Fuxi the Great Sage—what the Demon Race Xihuang, what the Human Race Heavenly Emperor, what the Qingdi Fuxi of the Five Direction Heavenly Emperors……

Sometimes, there are also claims that he is the elder brother of Saint Nüwa……

Everyone says that when a person becomes famous, right and wrong abound.

Such great fame and prosperity of Fuxi the Great Sage, theoretically, right and wrong are certainly not few.

But in practice?

The reputation that people spread is called spotless.

Compared to other powerhouses, it's truly a portrayal of rising from the mire unstained.

At most, at most, there are sometimes rumors of "eating one's younger sister's soft food".

But the source of this rumor... tsk, Fengxi finds it quite suspicious.

"Pangu is truly amazing... even though he's become an old leader, outdated, his status remains transcendent."

Fengxi felt envious.

"But that's just how it is." Xihuang seemed to see through Fengxi's thoughts, shaking his head with a smile, "People leave, the tea grows cold; everyone respects me, but that's just a face-saving project when I don't affect their interests... at the very least, it's like this until the next century BC."

"And this era?"

Fuxi stroked his chin, "To let the Human Dao develop on its own and determine the most suitable path for itself, I find it hard to interfere directly; many things I can only accomplish by borrowing others' strength."

"So, have you chosen me?" Fengxi said solemnly, "You granted the Three Virtues Dao Fruit and the Fortune Dao Fruit?"

"Is this a task I need to carry out?"

"Talking to smart people is easy." Fuxi chuckled lightly, "Knowing to make one's position clear... switch to someone muddle-headed, and they might harbor resentment deep down, feeling their fate is being manipulated by me, and for freedom they'd shout, 'My fate is in my hands, not heaven's!'"

"Hehe..." Fengxi gave a dry laugh, "Perhaps it's because I have a bit of self-awareness."

"Hmph." Xihuang shook his head, "Alright, let's not talk about these."

"What I want you to do was actually made clear when I granted you the Three Virtues Dao Fruit."

"The reason I'm meeting you now is merely to give you a calming pill... so that you, this suspicious little fellow, won't wander off in thought and mull over nonsense."

"Honestly accept my employment, work for me; after success, you'll surely reap benefits."

"To be honored as an ancestor is easy."

Fuxi patted Fengxi on the shoulder.

"But we still have to keep it from Nüwa... no, is it from Adult Houtu?"

Fengxi hesitated.

"That's right." Fuxi nodded with an air of nonchalance, "Between us there are some misunderstandings; she cannot understand my painstaking efforts... so for many things, I cannot openly help her, only able to assist indirectly."

"You're helping Adult Houtu..." Fengxi, however, was somewhat doubtful.

"Of course, after all, she's my sister!" Fuxi said leisurely, "The new Pangu's ascension; among this term's competitors, only two have the greatest hope: either Nüwa or Hongjun."

"I have a bit of selfishness here, wanting my sister to take office... that's normal, right?"

"The reason I cultivated you is to produce a Five Virtues Saint Emperor... just to help her stabilize the Human Race." Fuxi sighed, "My sister is too pure, too kind; her talent for scheming is truly lacking, so we need a sufficiently wicked yet loyal subordinate to assist her."

Fengxi's complexion changed—

"I feel like this is scolding me?"

"Originally, I wanted to take the position myself." Fuxi said, "Although I'm not wicked enough, I can't think of too many schemes to counter the opponents' endless calculations, but my upright scheming ability is high enough to naturally resist all plots and stabilize the situation."

"But first, my sister is very wary of me, always inexplicably worrying that I'll repeat my past behavior—once she becomes powerful, I might reach out to pluck her fruits, so I can't act openly; second, this era will have more of that thing called reincarnation compared to before; to act in accordance with the times, I need to obtain the authority over reincarnation, which also prevents me from acting covertly."

"So, little buddy... you, will be put to use."

Xihuang said meaningfully, "Back then, I noticed you when you could so frankly ask me for a cheat."

"This is the thick skin needed for great undertakings."

"And all your various tossings and turnings in Kunlun Mountain, I have seen them all."

"Therefore, I ultimately selected you as the cultivation target from among a hundred thousand candidates, granting you the Three Virtues Dao Fruit at the appropriate time."

"The appropriate time—if too early, there's a chance Houtu might notice something amiss, causing sibling rifts; if too late, Fengxi might already have attained the Great Luo Dao, making conversion to Five Virtues difficult and greatly reducing its value."

Everything is fully arranged.

Fengxi suddenly felt that Fuxi the Great Sage is also not easy.

He cares deeply for his sister, but because he fears she won't understand, he thus makes such covert plans.

The image of a great brother who lovingly protects his sister was fully displayed in this process.

Fengxi admired, and his heart settled into his stomach.

Since it doesn't harm the ancestor witch Houtu, there's nothing unacceptable.

After all, although everyone's goals differ, their direction is the same.

Nüwa succeeded Pangu, Fuxi's goal was achieved, Fengxi could face his conscience, and humanity could also realize the position of the protagonists of heaven and earth... This is a win-win!

Everyone was satisfied, and everyone obtained happiness.

Fengxi immediately patted his chest and promised, he would give his all, for Nüwa's cause he would sacrifice his head and shed his blood, devote himself utterly, until death!

「Oh, right. 」

He suddenly thought of something: "I've been thinking, according to your saying, past era events aren't necessarily invisible?"

「Why, when I trace back time, can I not see the true picture? 」

「Only the final condensed edited version? Which great talent edited it like that? 」

「Magnifying the dragon-phoenix conflict, but instead your great achievements were cut down, leaving only a trifle? 」

Fengxi had doubts.

「You guess which great talent? 」 Fuxi's mouth corner curled up.

(End of chapter)