Chapter 285: Great Wall and Chidao, the Human Race Will Emerge!

Immortal vessels and anti-aircraft fire together form a three‑dimensional defense line against sudden strikes from the starry sky.

With this defense line in place, this war…… can still be fought.

Fengxi let out a light sigh, then spoke.

At most we'll suffer minor losses, lose a bit of the initiative on the battlefield, and consume more resources.

Building fortifications costs money…… We know the demon race can launch air strikes, but we don't know when or where; to be fully prepared, should we spread the fortifications everywhere, blanket the ground?

Likewise, each immortal warship cannot rely on local materials like the demons do; it must also counter the star‑sky demon army's overhead bombardment and carry enough firepower—this is a bottomless pit.

Put together…… every snap‑of‑the‑fingers moment, mountains of gold and seas of silver worth of Xuanhuang merit coins pour in.

A military budget for one yuanhui is pulled out.

Even ordinary top‑level powerhouses, upon seeing it, would find their legs trembling and going weak.

Even if the Kunpeng Great Sage and Hongyun Divine Sage, who are quick to max out money‑making skills, poured all their enterprises in, it would only add a few more bubbles, buying a little more time.

That is, Nüwa…… crossed out, it's Houtu.

She manages the household with wisdom, generates wealth with skill, and combined with the other eleven ancestral witches' forces and assets complementing each other, only then can we cover this bottomless pit.

Moreover, we can even point out some very special skills——

Attack without spending? Spend to defeat the enemy!

Just spend and it's done!

The Wu Clan's military budget is far higher than that of the demon race…… relying on this advantage, we can go all‑out to build the three‑dimensional layout.

"Lady Houtu has already ordered the Zhurong Tribe: the anti‑air and counter‑missile artillery emplacements, the more the better…… ideally they should cover all the mountains and rivers under the Wu Clan's rule——no, not ideally, it's necessary."

Fengxi rubbed his brow, then relayed the information he'd gathered from attending the most crucial strategy meeting.

"This is open strategy—we'll fully exploit our strengths."

Hougang nodded, his eyes glinting, "The demon race now employs an open and aboveboard strategy, relying on the depths accumulated over endless ages to trade damage for victory with a swift strike."

"Our Lady Houtu, on the other hand, responds in kind, using money to offset our disadvantages."

Both sides are open strategies, fit to be put on the table; they fundamentally don't care whether the opponent knows.

Whether you guess it, or confirm it through intelligence, or are completely ignorant…… I fight the same way.

Launch this open‑and‑above‑board combo punch; if you can withstand it, then we can talk about any other conspiracies and tricks.

Everyone is a Great Luo, not a fool…… even if someone were truly innocent and naive, after countless ages of witnessing and gaining life experience, a spirit would have been polished to clarity, wise and clever.

When choosing a strategy, the ordinary won't take risks, pinning hopes on the opponent suddenly becoming mentally disabled…… it's definitely a matter of staying stable however stability comes.

Only after repeated probes, once we've thoroughly grasped the opponent's patterns, will we cautiously consider the "surprise troop."

Meet with the orthodox, triumph with the surprising!

Indeed, we might not even use surprise troops, but instead directly overwhelm with open might, nibbling away at the opponent bit by bit.

After all, it's simply that each side's stamina is too high and too thick.

Even if we could strike the unwary with a surprise troop, how great the victory would be…… truly remains to be debated.

If we're not careful, a slip‑up could turn that surprise troop into abandoned fodder, swallowed whole by the enemy.

"Yes."

Fengxi sighed, "Lady Houtu chose to respond in kind with resources."

"Those artillery emplacements meant to withstand star‑sky strikes, following Lady Houtu's wish, are to be spread as far as possible…… in the end not limited to the lands we rule."

"We want to become nails driven into the Honghuang world, advancing step by step, spreading toward the demon race's stronghold—the Zhou Tian Star Sea!"

"Steady and solid, plant a nail, seize a plot of land, rule over a multitude…… we'll push the word 'steady' to its utmost."

Fengxi said this, his face looking somewhat strange.

His direct superior—Houtu—usually fiery and fierce, shouting to overturn the demon court, thrash Hongjun, and make Fuxi bow low and act small.

But when it truly comes to opening hostilities, his performance is steady and composed, matching the divine name "Houtu" perfectly.

Regarding this, Houtu once explained——

"Although kindness doesn't command troops…… but this Wu Clan was raised by me from scratch; I therefore bear responsibility, striving to let you live onto the battlefield and walk away alive."

"Moreover…… the demon race opposite has too many sneaky fellows, their means of seeking an opponent's weakness are too terrifying."

"I must tread each step carefully, leaving no opening."

Houtu the Ancestral Witch considers many aspects.

She possesses both a benevolent nature and the most rigorous, meticulous, responsible attitude.

This makes Fengxi sigh——

With such a leader, how could she fail to win people's hearts?

Her personal charm is too high.

……

Fengxi's emotions fluctuated for a brief moment, then settled, and he spoke again.

"On Lady Houtu's proposal, Gonggong the Ancestral Witch also voiced his opinion, and it was passed with the consent of more than half of the ancestral witches."

"Oh? Hougang raised his eyebrows, "Gonggong the Ancestral Witch…… what did he say?"

"He has some ideas about building the artillery emplacements." Fengxi said, "The artillery emplacements, especially those on the frontier line and even extending outward, need to be upgraded as much as possible…… and…… we must plan the optimal route, linking them together!"

"Creating two systems that affect the whole situation——the Great Wall! The Chidao!"

Hougang and the painter listened, their expressions varied, each lost in thought.

Fengxi continued, "The Chidao focuses inward, with meticulous design; it must be able to guard against enemy scouting, thereby undertaking the transport of resources and troops."

"And the Great Wall? It faces outward."

"After setting up emplacements at each hard‑won perilous point, we forge an eternal Great Wall linking them, becoming a solid barrier that keeps the enemy outside, buying time for the development of the lands and rivers under our internal administration."

"The Chidao is fine, but this Great Wall……" Hougang shook his head, "Its cost is too great, for one thing."

On the other hand, trying to hold a full defense isn't very realistic.

Don't worry… Gonggong Zuwu already said this." Fengxi smiled, "He frankly admitted that the original intention behind proposing to design and build this Great Wall wasn't defense.

It was for offense!

It isn't the front line of defense; rather, it's the starting line of attack and a transport route.

Relying on this city, when we need to launch an offensive, the options become much broader… even if the attack fails, it's easy to reinforce and rescue, shifting to an active defensive posture.

From a grand strategic perspective, Gonggong Zuwu's proposal has considerable merit.

When we can't win quickly against the opponent, stabilizing this move is still quite necessary.

Fengxi expressed admiration for Gonggong Zuwu.

"Tsk…" Hougang's eyes darted, he muttered, "They say suffering makes you grow, being beaten brings progress… I never expected it to actually be true?"

What was he murmuring about?

This made Fengxi curious; he craned his neck and asked for details.

Hougang leaned back, speaking evasively, "Gonggong Zuwu has strong resolve, intention, and tactics… but sometimes, no matter how brilliant the plan, once on the battlefield the outcome is still uncertain."

"Whether it's the Demon Race opposite us or our Wu Clan, we've each devised strategies we think are promising… but in the end, we still have to prove it in action, seeing whose execution skills are superior."

"Against the astral demon army, we can counter with celestial ship clusters; for meteor strikes, we can use artillery emplacements… but when the five Yao Marshals personally take command, leading troops, roaming freely, scouting for resources to attack our Wu Clan, we can only meet them head-on."

If something goes wrong in this stage… it might become the fatal cause of total collapse.

"Exactly!" the painter added, "This is the chip pressing down at the center of the scales… whichever way it falls, their opponents will suffer."

"Meanwhile, our Wu Clan's twelve supreme marshals must also form the Great Array of Heavenly Gods and Slaughter to counter the Zhou Tian Star Array… unlike the Demon Race, after the demon emperor leaves, there remains a second-tier Yao Marshal level that can fully command battle formations."

"As for who will lead, the ancestors will arrange it in due time." Fengxi waved his hand, "We mainly need to explore how to deal with the armies under those Yao Marshals' command, so they can't stir up wind and waves on the Honghuang lands, maneuvering and harassing our key strongholds."

Moreover, we must be wary: the Demon Race might secretly reinforce the other flank when the astral demon army fails to break the situation, launching a feint east, strike west.

Fengxi felt wistful, "We can't underestimate them… after all, the Demon Race also has far too many followers on the land of mountains and rivers."

"Some groups mix with our Wu Clan, but many also mix with the Demon Race… they can find auxiliary strength."

"Or even simpler, dissolve the army into individuals and blend into ordinary Demon Race members… then telling them apart becomes difficult."

"Gathering and dispersing formlessly, like droplets into the sea… we unite hearts with ideas, while they can blur existence through physical mingling."

"Once they find an opportunity and erupt suddenly… we'll be in quite a bind."

As Fengxi said this, the entire think‑tank team fell silent.

A group led by the Kunlun Three Heroes each fell into deep thought, seeking a way forward for the future.

After a long while.

Fengxi's eyes lit up first.

Then Hougang and the painter's eyes also flashed bright.

They looked at each other, exchanging nods of understanding.

"The battlefield is merciless; troops never tire of deceit."

"Now that it's come to this, we must contrive something in thought… tsk, another shady task."

Hougang clicked his tongue repeatedly.

"Besides doing that, we also need auxiliary and supervisory personnel to form a system…" A gleam of wisdom passed through Fengxi's eyes, "What do you think… of mountain gods and earth deities?"

"Not bad." The painter nodded, "But just having these isn't enough."

"The first method is too biased and heretical."

"The second method treats symptoms, not the root."

"We still need a third method, which is also the most crucial, to suppress the overall situation."

"That method rests upon the Great Houtu."

"Exactly." Hougang nodded.

"Leave it to me!"

Fengxi slammed the table, "Everyone help me summarize the strategy; I'll submit it to the Great Houtu shortly."

……

After squeezing his subordinates into mental labor, Fengxi swiftly went to see Houtu.

He submitted the plan, helping to complete the Wu Clan's grand strategy, assisting in perfecting the three‑dimensional defense line, seamless from outside to inside, capable of resisting the Demon Race's three‑fold strike.

Even if the situation develops as desired, it could instantly shift to offense‑defense reversal, the Wu Clan seizing the initiative, pushing the front toward the Demon Race, and seizing a vast expanse of mountains and rivers.

"Not bad."

Houtu glanced over the plan and gave a slight nod.

"The first method—you just go ahead and do it yourselves."

"As for those mountain gods and earth deities…"

Houtu thought for a moment, then produced a thick register from somewhere, flipped through it seriously, occasionally marking one or two.

When she finished marking, she casually wiped, and the selected names were neatly copied onto another sheet.

"Take this list, visit each one in turn, and have them provide you with manpower."

Fengxi took it, somewhat hesitant.

Houtu glanced at him, smiled, and said, "Don't worry, they'll obey orders."

"Back in my day, I oversaw nearly all land construction planning across the Honghuang cosmos; my engineering teams were too many to count, making me the greatest leader in architectural development."

Houtu was very domineering.

Other places are hard to say.

On this Honghuang land, her prestige is truly strong!

Land chief!

Which land deity of the great mountains dares not give her face?

Not give face?

Tomorrow I'll tear down your house!

「Right. 」 Houtu, lost in thought, said, 「Besides the mountain gods and earth deities, we can also consider constructing the River Earl and water god system. 」

The ancestral witch said, while taking out a sheet of paper, casually writing on it and sealing it with a stamp.

With a casual flick, it arrived in Fengxi's hand, and beside his ear echoed Houtu's instruction, "Later you take this, go to Gonggong's place for a trip……those vast waters, you won't have to worry too much."

「Gonggong will go……uh, he will go contact the ancestral dragon——they have a pretty good relationship. 」

「Although the dragon clan's current might is not what it once was, spreading across the world……but after they decided to go to sea, they have taken deep root in the waterway system. 」

「Pulling out the water god system is practically as easy as it gets. 」

「As you command. 」

Fengxi happily accepted the order.

「As for your third plan………」

Houtu's fingers unconsciously tapped the table as she seriously pondered.

From time to time she lifted her gaze toward the starry sky, then after a moment toward the River of Time, perceiving the illusory mist and calculating all manner of secrets.

After a while, Houtu slowly nodded.

「Indeed. 」

「The human race……should emerge. 」

After saying those words, she suddenly rose to her feet.

「Nüwa, it's time to create humanity! 」

With those words spoken.

At that moment, thunderous claps exploded throughout the Honghuang cosmos, shaking every high-level cultivator.

「Boom! 」

The thunder rumbled continuously, as if foretelling the arrival of some great upheaval.

The River of Time surged incessantly, gales and towering waves sweeping in, disturbing many future variables and letting more mist flood the river.

「The human race……is it about to be born? 」

(End of chapter)