Chapter 313

Auspicious light and splendid colors spread across the world.

It was a true grand display of wealth, with the heavens filled with shimmering mysterious yellow merit, leaving all beings dumbfounded, almost doubting they were in a dream, feeling this reality was too dreamlike, too unreasonable.

Before stood Lady Nüwa and the Venerable of Morality; behind were the Four Saints. Every mighty being capable of sainthood was incredibly wealthy…… At this moment, the world implicitly grasped a truth.

To become a saint requires merit; this is the only proper path.

No merit?

Then you'd become a hammer‑wielding saint!

A Great Luo sat in his own cave dwelling, head raised, eyes wide open, with a faint ripple of water glistening inside.

When their disciples or attendants entered cautiously, asking what kind of performance art their master was up to…… they said it was because they had grasped the truth of life, understood that people differ from one another, and thus wanted to shed tears of envy, jealousy, and hatred.

Though being a Great Luo, they still retained a bit of personal pride and perseverance, so they lifted their head, preventing the tears from falling, waiting for the wind to dry them, then forcing a smile to greet the new day, believing tomorrow would be better.

"Disciple, you must believe——back in the day, even I, your master, could be considered a tycoon……" someone muttered, "Just after surviving the Grand Opening Heaven Calamity, I drifted as a corpse in Chaos, and upon waking discovered I'd been robbed; all the mysterious yellow merit I carried was gone."

"Then I heard there was something called Opening Heaven Merit…… I don't know exactly what it is, nor dare to ask, so I'll just assume I lost it by accident and can't blame the era."

……

"I feel so sad."

In the Houtu Holy Hall, the eyes of the Houtu Ancestral Witch were also brimming with tears.

She pressed one hand against her chest, clearly feeling her feeble heartbeat—that was the strongest expression of her sorrow.

Although it's said that Lady Houtu's mind is open and broad, for her there's no obstacle she can't overcome, able to face any tumultuous life.

But that doesn't mean she lacks her own thoughts and emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness.

Like now.

Houtu is feeling very sad and melancholy.

Fengxi stood with hands at his sides in the Houtu Holy Hall, gaze straight ahead, but his ears pricked up.

Yet he heard his Lady Houtu muttering nonstop, complaining for a long time.

"I've lost, I've lost…… My investment with the Three Pure Ones has suffered a huge loss!"

"Apart from the Venerable of Morality, the gains let me break even and even make a little profit…… But Primordial and Numinous Treasure's hasty sainthood failed to fully achieve the grand strategy for propagating humanity…… I'm bleeding losses!"

Lady Houtu manages the entire Wu Clan's wealth, and now, crucially during the great calamity, every big spender should see results…… Unfortunately, the Monster Clan Heavenly Court intervened, and most of the investments went down the drain.

After all, once a saint takes office, the Heavenly Dao's workload bears down, leaving no time to spare—how could they still stir up trouble everywhere?

That is, one can only rely on pre‑arranged Dao lineage arrangements to indirectly intervene, playing at the edges…… and can no longer personally take the field.

After all, not every saint can be as domineering and terrifying as Lady Nüwa, who, even burdened, still frolics about energetically.

"Let me calculate…… Without the Three Pure Ones overseeing the Dao sect, how many years would it take for me to hope to break even even a little?"

Houtu calculated and calculated, finally dejectedly tossing aside the pen, "No hope…… Right now, humanity's path is impossible."

"All we can do is hope for something else, see if any unexpected circumstance arises to let them display the value of being saints……"

"Sigh…… I have roamed Honghuang for years, and through relentless diligence and effort, I have today's fortune."

"But this time, I've lost a great deal."

"Ah…… I'm having such a hard time!"

Houtu muttered.

Fengxi blinked, opened his mouth, and pondered that it was time for him to speak up and comfort her.

Otherwise, if the superior's mood is sour, they're prone to think of playing fault‑finding games, checking subordinates for any embezzlement, or whether they often divert her private funds for personal investment and later make up the difference.

——Don't misunderstand.

He, Fengxi, is so upright and kind‑hearted, a subordinate who fears no crooked shadow—how could he have the misconduct or disloyalty described?

It's purely out of public‑spirited consideration, not wanting the Wu Clan to suffer a trust crisis.

Look at Fengxi's eyes—how sincere and reliable they are!

"Lady Houtu, don't worry…… victory and defeat are common in warfare." Fengxi said solemnly, "A temporary loss, as long as it doesn't hurt the foundation, is no big deal."

"I once heard a great sage say——the richer the capital, the faster wealth appreciates, thus creating all sorts of clear distinctions."

"And your private coffers are still in their prime, supreme across Honghuang, with wealth pouring in—even if your investment with the Three Pure Ones saints failed, it's nowhere near bankruptcy."

Fengxi's silver tongue soothed Houtu's sorrowful feelings.

"How could I not understand this principle?" Houtu sighed, "But you don't realize, the merit I once invested in the Dao sect……"

"That was Opening Heaven Merit."

"Never mind the amount—the key is its significance!"

"This is the first solid‑earned wealth I've ever made in my life, not relying on any information asymmetry or inequality."

"It is the perfect manifestation of my personal diligence and effort leading to prosperity."

I vaguely recall that, back then, I risked my life, during the time when Pangu opened the heavens and massacred three thousand demons, I was busy in the vast Chaos, groping... searching everywhere, before I earned this hard-earned money.

Immediately after, I sacrificed my life and death to petition for the people, fought on behalf of all beings, and defeated an evil demon...... only then was it recognized by the human way, granting me this special innate legal inheritance wealth of the merit of opening the heavens, placed under the account of Pangu Charitable Foundation, with the Wu Clan, as blood descendants, responsible for its operation—this is natural and proper, reasonable and justified.

Later on, we hired professional managers from the Daoist sect to manage it, and expanded and strengthened the Pangu Foundation……

Unfortunately, the expedition got off to a bad start.

Houtu sighed and groaned, saying a lot of shocking news, which made Fengxi click his tongue.

Alas!

Houtu heaved a heavy sigh, then covered her face with both hands and rubbed vigorously up and down, as if trying to wipe away all sorrow and unhappiness.

And this action seemed to work quite well.

When Houtu lowered her hands, her whole face swept away the gloom and became radiantly sunny.

Fengxi glanced at her, and secretly gave a thumbs-up in his heart.

——Truly a master-level figure in mindset management!

Such a terrible buildup of emotion, yet it can shift so quickly…… This kind of mental state is really worth learning.

Of course, we have to overlook some very subtle self-talk of Houtu the primeval witch.

I've had huge ups and downs, from being the richest in Honghuang to having nothing, losing family and property to the point of making the treasury bring tears to rats…… Having endured such misery, how could this little setback possibly defeat me?

I'm the best!

Houtu clenched her little fists, giving herself a pep talk.

Fengxi watched this scene, his mouth twitching…… but he would never dare to comment on it.

Houtu's confidence recovered to its original state, swelling enormously, and with astonishing confidence she said to Fengxi, 'As for support in discourse from the Daoist side, we can't expect it in the short term.'

However, the advantage they've beaten down still remains; we must press the attack and let the human side continually expand that advantage.

'Xi understands!' Fengxi nodded solemnly, then hesitated and said, 'But the Heavenly Court's such a forceful offensive, even with Donghuang personally moving to apply pressure, forcing all the Saints to return to their positions…… Xi worries that there will be major moves ahead, making our work very difficult, possibly leading to failure.'

He was making his words clear.

The longer the contact with the Demon Race and the Heavenly Court, the more information is understood, and the more Fengxi dares not be careless.

Because, that is a true colossus!

Mm…… this…… Houtu waved a big hand, 'Just do your best.'

My luck in wealth and business has always been good.

Often misfortune turns into blessing; even after great ups and downs, it will quickly rise again.

My divine life is just constant ups and downs, rising again and again……

Houtu patted her chest, letting Fengxi go ahead and do it.

With a leader as wise and martial as her, with invincible luck, she will surely laugh last and seize the fruits of victory.

'How come this feels a bit unreliable?' Fengxi muttered in his heart, 'It's just like before a big battle, when the strategist and the commander-in-chief collude to put on a show, burning a turtle shell, pretending it's heavenly mandate, to trick the troops into believing fate is on their side and this battle is sure to win……'

Although Fengxi felt Houtu was a bit unreliable…… soon, Houtu gave him the approval slip, granting rights to use various materials and manpower, making him feel the primeval witch was truly reliable.

Give people to people, give money to money…… Holding so many cards to contend with the Heavenly Court, Fengxi instantly felt his courage bolstered and his mindset a bit inflated.

We can fight!

Just that.

Before Fengxi could leave with the approval slip, a great witch burst in, full of vigor.

That great witch wore armor, his face stern and tense, saying, 'Primeval Witch, we have the most urgent intelligence!'

Instantly, Fengxi's steps halted, and Houtu's expression turned grave.

'Speak.' Houtu frowned.

Our informants report that those relatively neutral great beings—Red Yun, Zhenyuanzi, Kunpeng, and the Golden Mother—have brought their respective industries and reached an agreement with the Heavenly Court's emissaries to join the relevant pact with the Demon Race!

'What?!' The primeval witch Houtu's expression changed drastically, 'When did this happen?'

Haven't they been stalling, wavering between distance and closeness with the Heavenly Court?

They've been negotiating all along but never reached a deal; superficially they shout brotherhood, but when it comes to actually joining, they waver...

How could there be an actual result so quickly?

Before, there wasn't even a whisper of it!

No wonder Houtu is tense.

Indeed, such a variable is too disruptive to the situation.

The Monster Clan Heavenly Court's annexation of so many great beings' industries can launch macro-level regulation, and cohesion will receive an astonishing boost.

Just imagine.

Red Yun's cloud cultivation.

Zhenyuanzi's earth-immortal platform.

Kunpeng's communication and exchange platform.

Plus the Golden Mother's former woodworker Daoist career-transition system.

……

When these heavyweight organizations all stand with the Demon Race…… how dire will the Wu Clan's situation become?

Instantly, an atmosphere of wind and rain swaying arose.

According to reliable intelligence, the time these great beings agreed is roughly when the four Saints attained sainthood.

That great witch reported.

Houtu fell silent.

'This is a chain reaction.' Fengxi said solemnly from the side, 'The Three Pure Ones Heavenly Lords of the Daoist sect, plus the two ancient Buddhas of Mount Sumeru…… these five former Saint candidates can vaguely be seen as the banner of the neutral Great Luo faction, pivotal figures.'

'Because of their activity, they inadvertently give the remaining neutral great beings some leeway; facing the Heavenly Court's pressure, they can treat it as nothing and drag things out.'

'But now, the situation has changed.'

Fengxi analyzed, sighing as he spoke, 'The Heavenly Court dispatched Donghuang, forcing the four Saints to return to their positions, showing sufficient firm resolve, and crucially, they actually did it……'

'This dealt a heavy blow to the morale of the fence-sitters, releasing a dangerous signal.'

'Finally, it made beings like Red Yun dare not continue resisting the stalemate; they immediately chose compromise, joining the Demon Race and merging their industries with the Heavenly Court.'

'I can understand their feelings and thoughts; it's really forced by the situation.'

Fengxi shook his head.

Houtu remained silent, her fingers unconsciously tapping the table, her eyes shifting unpredictably, at times dangerous, at times tinged with mockery……

After a moment, she said to that great witch, 'Alright, you may go; strengthen the investigation and monitoring of this matter, and if there are any developments, report to me at once.'

'Yes, sir!'

The great witch bowed, then strode away swiftly and decisively, his actions clean and resolute.

After he left, Houtu suddenly rose, 'Come with me.'

「Convene the Ancestral Witch Council…… the situation has reached the most dangerous point. 」

「Some of our strategies need major adjustments. 」

Fengxi remained silent, following closely behind Houtu.

……

When the Wu Clan was troubled by the sudden change.

The Heavenly Court of the Demon Race, however, was full of joyous vigor.

「Fellow Daoist Donghuang, this trip can be said to have been a great success. 」

Báizé Yao Marshal congratulated, saying, "Forcing the Four Saints to return to their positions, eliminating several major obstacles, and incidentally intimidating those fence-sitters wandering outside, letting them make the wisest choice."

「Have they agreed? 」 Taiyi said lightly.

「Of course. 」 Báizé stroked his beard, "The main combat forms of Yao Marshals Yingzhao, Shangyang, and Citie met with them, and with Your Majesty Donghuang's flanking military power as deterrence, as long as Hongyun and his fellows aren't blind and can still read the situation, they won't put up a last-ditch resistance."

「Joining our Demon Race is their best choice. 」

「However, according to reports from the Yao Marshals still ahead, they also have their own demands. 」

「What demands? 」

Taiyi inquired.

「Hongyun and his fellows say, joining the Heavenly Court is not impossible, letting their industries follow the collective's arrangements is fine. 」 Báizé said, 「However, regarding personal gains, they do not want to suffer too many losses, and wish to retain their ownership. 」

「This is just profiteering. 」 Taiyi said thus.

(End of Chapter)