Chapter 247: Promotion, a Thousand Layers of Schemes!

"I%#@……"

Fengxi's mood was complex, and also close to breaking point.

At the most crucial point, the video was cut off, leaving endless suspense…… How should this be described?

Utterly conscienceless!

"Qiao li ma…… Qiao li ma……"

He muttered to himself, his heart feeling as if ten million alpacas were galloping together.

"Just cut off like that?"

"At least tell me a result!"

"This is really important to me!"

Fengxi was disheveled in the wind.

To others, perhaps it doesn't matter.

But who made him, little comrade Fengxi, a freak who leaps left and right between Fuxi and Nüwa?

Unfortunately, even though he now strains his eyes, gazing eagerly at the endless temporal variables downstream, his thoughts searching the boundless cosmic light, he still couldn't find an image to continue what he had seen before.

Fengxi knew this was because his strength was too weak.

In the Honghuang universe, there are too many Great Luos, too many administrators, checking and balancing each other…… The water is really too deep, not something this newbie of his can see clearly.

Fengxi vainly expended much energy, ultimately returning empty-handed, and had to dejectedly withdraw his gaze, his expression calm and solemn——

Listening to his brand-new personnel appointment, the upcoming position adjustments in time.

The Great Luo realm is profound and unfathomable.

Even if he was wildly distracted, he still watched an epoch-making epic, even having Pangu himself take the stage to star, a pair of siblings in a great melee.

But in terms of the normal spacetime flow of Honghuang, the whole process actually amounted to merely an insignificant instant.

The comparison of time's flow is entirely defined by Fengxi's own will——when no other Great Luo forcibly intervenes.

He pondered eternity versus a moment, and thus overlooked the endless consumption of future ages, which was twisted into a moment.

Amidst the vast heavens and earth, the voice of the Ancestral Witch still echoes, reading the edict, announcing to the universe——Fengxi fulfills his duties and meets the hardware foundation, thus promoted from Junior Witch status to become the new Grand Witch of the Houtu Department!

Honghuang gains another Great Luo, the human race's talent foundation grows ever stronger and terrifying; all beings should celebrate together!

Thus, the myriad peoples shout…… They are all filled with an inexplicable joy, naturally offering prayers and congratulations.

Some are because, influenced by humanity, they know Honghuang's overall strength is greater, and the civilization of cultivation advances a small step.

Some are obsessed with cultivation, delighted to see a living being attain the Great Dao and become a Great Luo today.

——The future is bright!

Of course, what they are not clear about is:

At this critical juncture, each additional Great Luo makes the future great calamity that much more brutal.

And…… what about the so-called bright future?

To have a bright future, to become a Great Luo of the Great Dao, one must 'slay the three corpses', must pick a side and find a backer, must have a Great Divine Ability expert evaluate one's three views and conduct, then sign and stamp, endorsing and guaranteeing it!

Without these?

When one becomes a Great Luo of the Great Dao, that is the time of death.

The hero Fengxi once saw, who established himself in the River of Time and proved the Dao, cannot be denied as stunningly brilliant…… but what was the result?

Not to mention all beings celebrating together…… even your ashes are scattered, leaving only a strand of innate indestructible spiritual light, to be driven by others for who knows how long an eternity.

Unless one day the supreme ruler of Honghuang issues a new policy, amending the 'Three Corpses Slaying Method' established by the Hongjun Dao Ancestor, then perhaps there would be a chance to turn things around.

But that seems too far away.

In this era, this age monopolized by many ancient gods and sages, the lone Great Luo's path to defend his rights is truly too long and too difficult.

……

Fengxi attentively listened to the Ancestral Witch's edict.

Aside from those lofty and righteous announcements on the surface, there are also not a few hidden intentions.

These details, however, are not heard by the myriad beings; they are arrangements aimed at him.

That concerns the position Fengxi will assume afterward.

In view of his past excellent performance, even before becoming a Great Luo he had the ability to act as substitute for many positions; now it is to make him permanent, even promote him.

Accumulated across all aspects, it is truly astonishing.

A small part of participation and management rights in the Wu Clan's finance department.

Second-in-command of the Reincarnation Strategic Work.

Also intelligence, foreign affairs…… all sides qualify for the Councillor position.

All together, they are not much different from the benefits granted to an ordinary Great Divine Ability expert joining the Wu Clan.

Moreover, among these is Reincarnation, a promising prospect…… although now there are only a couple of big and small cats, it will inevitably receive the bulk of the Wu Clan's resources in the future, becoming the sharpest weapon for attacking the Demon Race!

Destined, this department's future will be a crazy expansion.

Standing at the windfall, even pigs can fly.

What more for someone like Fengxi?

"Xi, yes sir!"

When the appointment ended, Fengxi bowed solemnly, expressing his attitude: 'In his position, he plans his duties, fulfills his responsibilities, dares not forget.'

His expression was serious, his countenance solemn, without a trace of sudden elation at his high position, letting the observing Ancestral Witch Houtu be very pleased.

"Very good."

Houtu nodded, 'Later you come to my hall, I will personally instruct you.'

Fengxi listened, then rose and bowed again.

Yes!

……

Time shifts, space changes.

Fengxi stands in Houtu's Holy Hall, facing Houtu once again.

However, unlike before, when the huge gap in life levels forced him to be nervous and trembling, this time he straightened his back, calm and composed.

Across from him, Houtu still moves her mouth and her hands——

Eating delicious snacks, flipping through a book she somehow acquired, she is completely leisurely and at ease.

Fengxi gazes at Houtu, his thoughts unintentionally drifting, his gaze also becoming unfocused.

He recalls what he had seen before, a possible time variable that unexpectedly manifested.

Fengxi, looking at Houtu, thinks of the woman who, holding a stalk of green lotus, shouted that she wanted to be Pangu's mother—Nüwa. Thinking of Nüwa, he can't help but think of the one who contended with her on the stage, Fuxi. Thinking of Fuxi, the Five Directional Heavenly Emperors naturally cannot be omitted……

After thinking and thinking, he finally landed on the Flame Emperor, who is absolutely entangled with Fengxi and even looks exactly like him.

If one were to ask Fengxi to give a summary evaluation of that vision……

Then, regarding that Flame Emperor, Fengxi can only say——

He is a tragic figure, a tragic and heroic hero!

"Gods and demons all show off, only the Flame Emperor gets beaten!"

He sacrificed too much, gave too much; among the Five Directional Heavenly Emperors, he shed the most blood— the other four combined cannot compare.

In the end, he even gave his own life for Nüwa's cause……

"Unbelievable!"

Fengxi sighs inwardly.

"Although I once wrote a book called the \"Classic of Licking, \" I know the principle of cutting losses……"

"Lick, lick, lick…… what is the point of licking to the end? It's to have everything one should have!"

"How could one possibly stake everything like that?"

"That vision…… the earlier part, I can understand."

"Believing in equivalent exchange, willing to repay Nüwa's kindness to me with effort…… even if it means hard‑taking a blow from the Yellow Emperor's sword, it is still normal."

"But after that…… the Fire Cloud Cave?"

"It gets a bit strange……"

Fengxi's eyes are deep and unfathomable—'That's a losing business…… more importantly, I owe a favor to the Xihuang Heavenly Emperor; how could I possibly go all out?'

"Could it be that, over the endless ages, I have been subdued by Houtu and Nüwa with their noble virtue?"

"Not likely!"

"I think the being with the highest virtue in this world should be none other than me, this Five‑Virtue Great Luo…… only I have the capacity to subdue others; how could others make me fall for them?"

Fengxi racks his brains but cannot figure it out.

The bewildered Fengxi unconsciously furrows his brow.

Yet this scene was noticed by the occasionally attentive Houtu.

She raised an eyebrow, interestedly asking, "What's wrong? Any worries? Any troubles?"

"You can tell me…… I attained the Dao who knows how many years before you; I am well‑versed and experienced, maybe I can help you resolve your doubts."

Houtu smiles.

"Uh……" Fengxi blinks.

He wants to speak, but doesn't know where to begin.

First, let's not mention some of those doubts.

Just the Flame Emperor's conduct……

In the vision, that scene truly showed enough loyalty to be moving.

But now?

None of that has even happened yet!

Fengxi muses that his skin is thick enough; even taking an innate spiritual treasure head‑on is no problem.

But to have him say here——I will live and die for you in the future……

The feeling of being moved is gone.

But the comedic effect is top‑notch.

A vague sense of embarrassment arises.

But facing Houtu, whose interest has been piqued by his silence, Fengxi can only steel himself and say, "After attaining the Dao as a Great Luo, I accidentally saw some extremely strange variables…… but they flashed by and vanished; now, even if I search, I cannot find them."

"Oh." Houtu understands, "So you're troubled by this issue?"

"I thought it was something else…… but it turns out this is a common situation for many novice Great Luos." Houtu smiles narrowly, "Actually, once you spell it out, it's nothing."

"Great Luo Dao Contention——you must be familiar with it?"

"Yes." Fengxi nods.

"Not being unfamiliar is good." Houtu says leisurely, "With many Great Luos, everyone is dragging down their opponents…… thus no one can make heaven and earth turn according to their will."

"Everyone now has an extra procedure, requiring a game of strategy."

"Only the victor can do as he pleases."

"Since it's a game…… you surely hold some pieces, I hold some chips, mutually checking each other."

"Over time, each side's strategies are roughly known…… the wiser one sees farther, and the situation tends to lean toward him."

"Everyone has already entered the game; we are all insiders."

Houtu picks up a piece of dried fish meat, "However, sometimes small problems do arise."

That is——a new variable has joined in!

Yes, that's your kind.

She looked at Fengxi, smiling as she said, 'Each addition of a Great Luo means there is one more player in the Great Luo Dao contention... In the short time after proving the Dao, you will essentially stir up some water.'

Because you were originally not in the game, but now you've entered... Novice, everyone still hasn't figured out your chess route.

At this moment, you have a fleeting chance to see a variable possibility that your current cultivation absolutely cannot perceive—a fragment of one layer of the thousand-layer schemes hidden beneath the surface of Honghuang.

Houtu explained it in detail.

The surface development of Honghuang appears ordinary.

But heaven knows how many layers of schemes are prepared in the dark!

The more powerful the powerful being, the more scheming the powerful being, the more layers of schemes they prepare.

Ordinary living beings can only see the first layer.

Generally, a Great Luo can see about three to five layers.

But in reality, they stand waiting for you on the thousandth layer!

Even some powerful beings, full of wicked schemes, let opponents have the illusion, thinking he only stands on the second layer.

Honghuang has a hint of darkness.

However, for novices, for newly entered Great Luo players, the game rules still offer a sliver of care.

Before other powerful beings figure out your scheme layers, you have one chance to access information beyond your own specifications.

"Great Expansion fifty, its use forty-nine, leaving one line of life."

Houtu chuckled, "This is basically a backdoor specially opened for your promotion."

"If you don't want to accumulate over endless time, using resources from work to boost your Dao cultivation, but instead want to take a chance?"

"That backdoor is the specially reserved admission ticket."

"In essence, it gives you a chance to hop on the vehicle of schemes prepared by the peak powerful being for themselves... others eat meat, you might get to drink the soup."

"Of course, this information cannot be fully trusted."

"After all, powerful beings adept in the information domain... even if you have first-move permission, they can easily counter."

"For example, like Fuxi, Zhu Jiuyin, Báizé, and their ilk."

"The variable possibility you see might be true only at the beginning... the subsequent scene, after being invaded and altered by them, is a half‑true, half‑false image."

"Reference? Sure."

"But to treat it as gospel? You might not even know how you got killed."

Houtu explained some of the ways, leaving Fengxi stunned.

In the vast expanse of Honghuang, ancient god sages have roamed for who knows how long, devising countless schemes, each harboring evil in their hearts, devouring people without spitting out bones.

"But you don't need to worry too much." Houtu glanced at Fengxi, smiling reassuringly, "Generally speaking, the variable possibilities a novice Great Luo can see are mainly related to his backing and his karma."

"So, they usually won't be tricked."

"Your backer, your karma... aren't they all me?"

Houtu said calmly, "I guess the protagonist in the scene you saw is definitely me!"

"Perhaps Yandi will also appear."

"You say... am I right?"

Fengxi blinked, feeling Houtu's description wasn't quite accurate; some details were subtly off.

As for those discrepancies, he also wasn't entirely sure.

After all, it ends with Nüwa running rampant.

According to the theory of the strongest protagonist... Nüwa is the protagonist, no problem!

So Fengxi loudly praised.

"Yes... you're absolutely right."

(End of chapter)