Chapter 297: Old-timers meet old-timers, same trade kills same trade! (Seeking subscriptions)

"You can rest assured about this!"

Xi slapped his chest hard, his voice sounding grand and heroic.

"Our human race has just been born; we still have no trade records, so we can't talk about honesty or breach of contract."

"But who's behind us?"

"It's Lady Nüwa!"

Saying this, Xi solemnly bowed toward the wondrous building at the heart of the human race—there stood a shining statue of Nüwa, depicting her vigorous appearance when she created humanity.

"Didn't you say that before?"

"If our human race merely nods, we could run into your Demon Race and enjoy top-tier treatment reserved for mighty clans—we are royal nobility, born with extraordinary foundations!"

"Could it be that, in your eyes, a mighty clan with no record of breach is actually untrustworthy?"

Xi retorted, "Especially this mighty clan, which still comes from the hand of your Heavenly Court's highest sovereign—there's no reason to doubt our human race; that is to doubt Lady Nüwa herself!"

Demon God Wei and Er Fu stared at each other; at this moment they deeply understood what it means to lift a stone only to drop it on one's own foot.

In fact, they very much wanted to say—

It is precisely because of Empress Nüwa that they regard the human race with a dangerous eye.

But some things…… can be done, but cannot be said.

So, the two envoys of the Heavenly Court could only force a laugh, barely getting by.

After all, a solemn-faced leader of the human race strode away, walked up to the Nüwa statue, picked up three sticks of incense, lit them, and offered a devout homage.

——It looked exactly like they were about to file a petty report!

Thus.

Who still dares to delve deeper into this sensitive matter concerning Empress Nüwa?

We can only skip it.

Demon God Er Fu emphasized repeatedly—

Regarding Empress Nüwa, the source of creation for all beings in heaven and earth, the nominal supreme holy mother of the Demon Race, they have always held her in great reverence.

"But precisely because Empress Nüwa is so pure and majestic, my Heavenly Court allows no one to tarnish her reputation, lest some scoundrels invoke her name to do evil……"

"Furthermore, we must exterminate the possibility of hidden dangers arising—nip trouble in the bud!"

"The leaders of the human race, regarding this principle…… surely you agree?" Demon God Er Fu sighed at length, "Therefore, what our Demon Race does is not to bully you."

"It's all for the sake of Empress Nüwa's reputation, so that you, the race most favored by her, won't go astray from the start."

"You say, does my Heavenly Court have any fault?"

This Demon Race's envoy seemed to be laying bare his heart, proving his conscience.

In response, the human race's Sages secretly kept complaining nonstop.

"Bullshit!"

"They just don't want to see our human race thrive, putting in effort to hold us back…… yet they can speak so righteously!"

Lady Nüwa's dual identity.

The Heavenly Court's Emperor.

The Creator of the Human Race.

At this moment it became a bargaining chip in the contest between the human and demon races, each wanting to wield this flag to silence the other and secure the greatest benefit.

The Demon Race uses this as a stepping stone to bewitch people's hearts.

The human race likewise wants to leverage its prestige to attract investment and commerce.

None are easy to deal with; in the end we'll see who has the higher skill.

……

This is a very arduous negotiation.

Everyone probes each other's limits, seeing how to maximally influence the opponent and reap benefits.

Finally, they barely reached a consensus was barely reached.

Regarding the human race's development, the Heavenly Court does not obstruct.

But likewise, they will continue to monitor whether the human race's development entails any unfairness, whether the Demon Race members invested in the human race have suffered grievance and injustice, sustaining spiritual harm.

If so? Then don't blame the Heavenly Court for, in Lady Nüwa's name, carrying out a righteous extermination of kin, issuing a stern warning that will have the entire Demon Race boycott the human race.

By then, even if the human race has Lady Nüwa's face, it will be of no use.

"We believe that Empress Nüwa Supreme Emperor distinguishes right from wrong most impartially."

After Demon God Er Fu bowed deeply before the Nüwa statue, he turned and smiled at the human race's Sages.

"Friends of the Demon Race, rest assured; our human race will not disappoint the Lady."

Xi's tone was heavy with meaning.

"Now that the main matters are settled, friends, please come this way so we can give you a proper hospitality."

"We, the human race, though personally crafted by Lady Nüwa, have inherited only a part of her special traits and advantages."

"As for other things, I cannot say."

"But in the way of culinary arts, we are truly blessed with natural talent!"

"Then we shall obey your command with respect!" The two demon gods clapped and laughed heartily, showing no trace of their earlier fury and hostility.

Thus, in a spacious hall, a banquet was set up.

……

"Tsk…… the Demon Race is indeed troublesome."

After the banquet, the leaders of the human race banded together, with a Sage sighing.

"I originally thought that with the Heavenly Court's hardline attitude, and us refusing so bluntly, they wouldn't be able to resist starting some small maneuvers and friction……"

But in the end, they actually managed to restrain themselves.

Haoying shook his head, "They also expressed a desire to cooperate with us humans in some fields, to a limited extent."

"Hey!" Yun Xiao poured him a cup of tea, and gave a light chuckle, "Perhaps this is the true purpose of the two demon gods representing the Heavenly Court, the goal they wish to achieve."

Those earlier strong and overbearing words were merely a prelude to the final demands, a case of suppressing first then elevating.

Many people, deep down, always like to compromise and seek a middle ground. For example, if someone says this room is too dark and we should open a skylight here, the group would certainly not allow it. But if one first proposes tearing off the roof, then after strong opposition steps back to say just open a skylight… that would be easy to agree on.

The demon race's tactics are much the same… first they bluff and bluster at us, shouting about resistance and suppression, but it's all just groundwork for the negotiation goals they want to achieve later.

Really large-scale friction? That's hard.

The demon race also has talented people… we know that one can gain confidence and flair from a war, don't they?

So, unless there is absolute certainty of victory, they will not lightly lend assistance.

After all, our human situation is special. On one hand, we have the shadow of the Wu Clan behind us; on the other hand, from the perspective of our people, we truly are not afraid of death!

Humans, how did they come to be?

Nüwa created them!

She could create the first batch.

Then she could create the second batch.

In terms of racial continuation, humans will not go extinct.

At the very least, there is no possibility of being exterminated for no reason.

If they had done no wrong, yet the weak humans were destroyed… the Wu Clan would not agree, nor would Nüwa.

It's not a matter of being convinced by defeat; some Great Net will surely want to take back their moves, even smash the chessboard! As for humans now, saying they are important is important, but saying they are not important… is also not important.

Important, because it is a convergence of many ideals, carrying various concepts.

Not important, because many investments have not yet been made; those Great Net Heavenly Intent who are optimistic about humanity have not yet fully staked their fortunes and lives, binding themselves to it.

Even if humans are now harvested by the demon race, the Heavenly Court cannot obtain the greatest benefit.

If you want to eat meat, you have to raise it first.

Moreover, with the Wu Clan present, harvesting is too difficult.

"Those Yao Emperors and Yao Marshals, I suppose, see it clearly as well…" Yun Xiao blinked her eyes, "An army that lacks righteousness, using strength to overcome weakness, if it defeats our humans, the gain is not great and it easily breeds a dispirited troop; if it loses, it looks even worse, our people's spirit and energy surge directly, giving rise to great confidence and fighting will."

If that's the case, we might as well steady ourselves and use a warm-water-boil-the-frog approach to subdue the enemy unseen.

Yun Xiao said, letting out a light sigh.

Our humans now are like barefoot people… barefoot, naturally we are not afraid of those wearing shoes.

When pushed to the brink, fighting life for life—what's wrong with that?

But what about when one has some possessions?

Wanting to let go and restore the most carefree, indifferent-to-gain-or-lost fighting spirit becomes difficult.

When that day comes, internal resistance will naturally arise. Having said that, he sighed, poured himself a drink, and said no more.

Fengxi took up Yun Xiao's words, his gaze deep and unfathomable, "If it's merely a spontaneously arising resistance, then it's nothing much."

We are confident that, relying on our own abilities to handle things properly, we can guide people's hearts through the way of teaching and transformation.

But the demon race's Heavenly Court has intervened… this is the greatest variable!

They do not wish for humanity to develop too smoothly, so they have turned their thoughts to our investment and promotion efforts… the surface morality remains, and they cannot find a reason to make things difficult for us humans.

They merely think to secretly arrange things to disgust people, raising the banner of fairness while committing unjust deeds.

Fengxi flicked his sleeve with one hand; due to his magical powers, the void before him shifted and refracted myriad rays of light, reflecting the mountains and rivers for billions of miles.

In the mirror formed from the void, looking down from above, one can clearly feel a dark surge surging.

Countless spirits of strange and bizarre true forms, dressed to look human, are heading toward Not Complete.

More precisely, they are coming toward the human race!

In the eyes of the many human sages present, the origins of these spirits cannot be concealed at all.

Their skin, flesh, blood, and bones… are all seen through and penetrated; even the essence of their souls is laid bare.

The lifespan and experiences of their souls, when traced to the root, hold no secrets.

This, is the gift the demon race has prepared for us.

Fengxi raised his eyebrows, a half-smile.

Hey… you really went to the trouble.

I see the wandering son return, my heart overjoyed, yet people's hearts differ; meeting is only for wealth.

He let out a long sigh, his sleeve sweeping against the mirror formed from the void…

Time and space shifted! Time was toyed with, space played with… even fate twisted.

The path one should take quietly changed course; those who ought to have missed each other got to meet, and moreover, under the guise of 'fortuitous coincidence,' they came to understand the other's thoughts…

All are tremendous 'fate'…

As the saying goes, after a long drought comes sweet rain; far from home one meets an old acquaintance… this was originally a good thing.

But now, it seems some subtle branches have appeared.

Hello, friend…

Hello hello!

Two spirits of considerable cultivation met.

From the first glance, they each recognized the other's extraordinariness.

Of course, this has nothing to do with eyesight; it is purely each one's 'golden finger' prompting, directly reminding the host that the opposite soul is different, yet from the same source.

If they were to devour each other, there would be a huge gain! Old fellows meeting old fellows… how does the saying go?

Thus, a bout of scheming and rivalry began.

They all had grinning faces, pretending to be normal in their contact with each other.

After a pleasant discussion, they became sworn brothers on the surface, wishing they could cut off a chicken's head and burn yellow paper to become brothers who don't seek to be born on the same year, month, and day, but only to die on the same year, month, and day.

They were all scheming, each fawning over the other while secretly hiding their backgrounds, hoping to rely on some underhanded trick.

But there was nothing they could do.

Upon seeing the tigers and leopards, the jackals all pondered how to kill each other.

Then.

As expected, they turned hostile and launched a surprise attack.

Moreover, they all failed in their surprise attacks, unable to succeed against each other, who had been on high alert.

Thereafter, a stalemate battle broke out.

Fighting while shouting at each other…… their sincere hearts were wasted, trusting the wrong people.

When they fought at their peak, their mana, divine abilities, bodies, souls, experiences… everything was brought to bear, weighing the weight of their lives, the essence of their existence.

This comparison brought about a very unexpected problem.

It turned out they were all from the same hometown, plainly exposed.

"Hahaha… what a coincidence!"

"I didn't expect it, we're fellow townsfolk!"

"Yeah, what a coincidence… actually we're fellow townsfolk!"

"When fellow townsfolk meet, both eyes well up with tears… how about we don't fight?"

"Excellent, excellent!"

"Before crossing over we were in one world, after crossing over we're still in one world—what a great fate this is!"

"We're all people who left our hometowns; why make things difficult for each other, robbing on the road?"

"Then I'll count one, two, three, and we all cease hostilities together?"

"Sure!"

The two beings reached an agreement.

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three!"

"Hold back!"

They shouted together, their voices shaking the heavens.

Then…

"Boom!"

"Thud!"

Brilliant light shattered millions of miles of mountains and rivers, shaking apart layer after layer of void.

This was indeed them each using their strongest forbidden arts, aiming to blast the other into pieces!

"There can be only one transmigrator—either you die or I perish!"

One of them, killing intent surging, said, "Looking at your heading for Mount Buzhou, you must be after the human race's merit, right?"

"This merit, these opportunities, are mine—only mine!"

His expression was manic, his killing intent shooting to the heavens.

"Each to each!"

The other, not to be outdone, said, "Pull off this job and I'll be honored as an ancestor… what's a fellow townsman? Just shoot him in the back!"

The two beings both regarded the human race's merit as something in their pockets, wanting to monopolize it.

Fellow townsfolk meeting, a shot fired from behind.

As for who provided that gun?

A certain Great Luo smiled without speaking.

……

Fact proves, meeting fellow townsfolk isn't necessarily a good thing.

Especially when they still have a colleague relationship between them.

Then it's even worse.

Fellow practitioners?

In a situation similar to a zero-sum game—where I have and you don't—fellow practitioners become enemies! They all hope to strike it rich with merit in the human realm; calling them fellow townsfolk, brothers, or fathers is useless.

From this moment on.

Those extraterrestrial heavenly demons heading to Mount Buzhou with ill intentions have too many pairs of sworn brothers fighting each other.

"Does the Demon Race want to send some riffraff to disturb the development of our human race?"

Xi's sleeve flicked casually, calm and composed, as if only doing a trivial thing.

"Then they must also be able to reach the human race's territory."

"Our human race has opened the gates of convenience; welcoming all guests is no falsehood."

"But if that guest meets with mishap along the way—various overturns, injuries—it's not really fair to blame us, is it?"

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(End of chapter)