Chapter 328

Wind Dawn

August Emperor

How many Daluo are startled and sighing at this moment.

The human envoy was resolute, offering a dog woven of grass—though odd, none of the divinities present had envisaged such a scene.

But when Di Jun applied pressure, the legendary future human Yandi seemed to transcend time and space to face him—beyond imagination.

Yandi, one of the Three Sovereigns of humanity, and also the Southern Heavenly Emperor that humanity could become if they ruled the Heavenly Court of the Honghuang era!

Flame Emperor

Compared to Di Jun, this demon sovereign, even if there is a difference, it's only slight; he can be considered a leader of the same rank.

The Four Great Demon Sovereigns, the Five Directional Heavenly Emperors—these are all benchmarks and exemplars on the road to becoming a Holy Emperor.

At present, each stands in the Heavenly Court's hall, facing off—indeed a rare grand event to witness.

One after another, the Daluo who love watching the excitement and fear no trouble stay silent on the surface, their mouths tightly shut.

the Heavenly Court

the Great Wasteland

Of course, there are also some perceptive great beings who sigh softly.

"Will Yandi really act? Perhaps not… at most it's just a brief clash of vital energy and spirit."

Monster Clan Heavenly Court

"But this is ultimately the demon race's home ground; this era is the era of the Demon Clan Heavenly Court; the timing is completely wrong, and the Dao Ancestor hasn't yet fully united with the Dao, posing a huge threat."

"Even if Yandi wanted to wage war, he couldn't do so under the identity of Yandi; he'd have to change his title. I just don't know, among the myriad gods gathered in this Heavenly Court, who would be his backup."

Southern Heavenly Emperor

"Among the demons he is Xihuang; among humans he is the Qingdi; openly and aboveboard, even as a rebel leader he could be that carefree and unrestrained…"

Hearing some great beings whispering privately, Fuxi, seated beside Nüwa, playing with his wine cup and tasting loneliness, burst out laughing.

That demon sovereign slightly shook his head, set down his wine cup, glanced at the tightly clenched little fist of Nüwa, who seemed about to shout 'Little Yan, go bite him!'—his smile gradually turned strange and unfathomable.

Dao Ancestor

Five Virtues Great Dao

However, at this moment, those sounds seem to have completely drifted away from Xi, eternally separated from him.

Under the impact of the demon race's vast and boundless fortune, under the oppression of Di Jun's hegemonic imperial Dao, the human fortune represented by Xi, and the Wu Clan fortune authorized to be mobilized, they all linked together.

After all, humanity and the Wu Clan are originally one.

Goddess Nüwa

In that vast and boundless fortune, miracles blossomed.

Fengxi felt his spirit and will being lifted by some unknown mighty power; the Five Virtues Great Dao was surrounded by the human race's fortune, constantly stirring, as if about to hatch something, undergoing a peculiar sublimation.

In a daze, he seemed to perceive all the world's hidden secrets, condensing the splendid crystal of the human Dao, reaching the lofty level of Pangu, knowing everything.

Yet in that daze, Fengxi forgot everything again, unable to retain the slightest insight and feeling of that special state.

Only a certain divine charm pulled him, making him seem half-asleep, half-awake, yet his spirit and will were exuberant, flowing freely, complete and lucid.

At the same time, a mark that had once fled in luck under the licentious might of the ancestor witch Houtu reappeared in his true spirit, a probing head eager to test.

Nine-colored, bewildering grain ears, flames that burn heaven and earth yet nurture hope…… These are the traces of Yandi.

Fengxi watched coldly, allowing that mark to undergo strange changes.

This was originally a very dangerous matter.

After all, as far as Fengxi knows, he should be Yandi's Trumpet, right?

Acting so recklessly, wouldn't it trigger a chain of dangerous consequences, such as a formatted deployment setup, or the assimilation of will and self, tending toward singularity?

However, Fengxi in that special state, although unable to retain anything, felt exceptionally keen.

Following the feeling, he let his self soar, indulging Yandi's mark to resonate with the human race's fortune and the Five Virtues Great Dao.

Under the deepest entanglement, Fengxi faintly perceived some secret.

He made a somewhat unexpected discovery——

'Yandi, entangle with me.'

'But it seems, yet you have no absolute authority over me?'

'The relationship keeps changing; one moment it's close, the next it's distant……'

'But it's interesting? Even if it grows distant, it's still like brothers and sisters.'

'Only when it's like siblings does the struggle for primacy intensify greatly…… but it's not a father‑son situation, rather like brothers.'

Fengxi's eyes gradually deepened, bearing the light of wisdom.

Yandi cannot encroach upon or usurp his sovereignty.

The Yandi personally descending as outsiders speculate, naturally cannot be spoken of.

However, some gifts are quite fitting, bestowing Fengxi with an aura that becomes ever more unfathomable and lofty, able to stand against Di Jun, unmoved despite the impact of the Demon Race's vast fortune, bearing the aspect of equal standing.

Moreover, a unique radiance of Virtue shines forth, a supreme sage‑king's spiritual light, a concrete manifestation of the beautiful hope for the human Dao and boundless achievements, matching Di Jun's overbearing aura.

Between existence and non‑existence, a road is forged and extended in the void.

It reaches the distant, beautiful shore sought by the human Dao, crossing the raging winds and waves of all hardships and calamities, condensing into an eternal bridge.

This bridge can bear the myriad common folk, enabling them thereby to achieve the sublimation of life and the fulfillment of the spirit.

This is the dream of the human race.

It is the notion pursued and practiced by all human sovereigns.

This road can resonate with the human Dao and make all beings believe.

Notion and confidence—these are a kind of power.

The Human Emperor wields this power, this power that can overturn heaven and earth!

When even the heavens can be changed, the earth overturned…… what is that seemingly lofty, domineering Heavenly Court, in the Human Emperor's heart?

The radiant brilliance of the ceremonial robes on Xi's person shone dazzlingly, enhancing his bearing to become ever more outstanding and towering.

At this moment he was like the lofty, supreme Heavenly Emperor Sacred Sovereign, yet also like an utterly ordinary member of the human dao; like a wisdom boundless and vast, transcending the ages Sage, yet also a pair of feet planted on the soil, an unremarkable worker.

Opposing yet perfectly harmonious and unified in one trait, it let him carry an ineffable aura that shook the soul, as if in a flash he wielded a divine sword forged from reason and belief, slashing toward Di Jun's heart and spirit!

Xi was silent.

Yet in substance he was already questioning the Dao of the Monster Clan Heavenly Court, Di Jun's heart.

We humans have never hoped for a savior, nor do we much need the Demon Emperor's pity; we walk our own road, create our own fruits of labor…… what is imperial power to us?

In soundless and formless silence, Xi's aura expanded boundlessly, charging toward Di Jun.

Di Jun stared coldly at him.

By virtue of the Demon Emperor's seat, his position is high enough.

Even if Xi had embellished his own height, Di Jun could still look down on him slightly.

When Xi uttered a soundless query, the golden crow dharma manifestation spreading its wings in the void became ever more active.

And Di Jun's eyes were like two great suns, radiating endless light…… corresponding to their positions, just as the sun hanging high illuminates the mountains and rivers of Honghuang and the myriad beings of the human dao.

This, then, is Di Jun's answer to Xi.

The Heavenly Court, like that great sun, holds the vital capital for the survival of all living beings and myriad spirits.

Whether you humans accept it or not, these are rules and laws you cannot defy!

"What are all living beings?"

"What are the common folk?"

"Through countless ages, endless change…… only these mountains and rivers endure, only that sun hangs eternally."

"Only our Heavenly Court is supreme, governing the mountains and rivers!"

"All races are merely the result of choice and game; having more of you doesn't matter, having less doesn't matter—don't be sentimental!"

Di Jun said nothing.

Yet his spirit and will conveyed his inner voice, expounding the Heavenly Court's concept.

This stood in direct opposition to the Human Emperor's concept.

The Human Emperor, chasing after an illusory future.

The Heavenly Court, representing present power.

When the two collide, even if only a clash of spirits, a confrontation of ideals…… it is destined to be world-shaking.

"Boom!"

The majestic and splendid palace of the Heavenly Court trembled; the glorious sea of stars was no longer mere description, as the starry sky shook and rippled.

Each of the great Luo in that hall also felt it; at this moment their hearts seemed to have a muffled thunder explode, shocking their fingertips with tingling numbness, sensing the anticipation and dread of soul and will……

When the spiritual throbbing passed, they realized that this moment's clash of ideals had not decided a victor, leaving them in a stalemate.

"Is this the lofty view of your human race?"

Amidst many sacred, taut nerves, Di Jun spoke with an expressionless face, his tone revealing little joy or anger.

"Not bad." Xi said indifferently.

"You humans do not submit to my Heavenly Court." Di Jun raised his head slightly, his gaze growing more downward upon Xi, "You think my Heavenly Court's principles clash with yours, and thus you have nurtured ulterior motives?"

"Truly disappointing…" A flicker of inscrutable color passed through the Demon Emperor's eyes, "Are humans just this sort of lot? Your Holy Mother Wa Huang still serves in my Heavenly Court, and I have never oppressed or attacked you, offering much support in resources…… Now that you have developed, your wings grown strong, you devour everything clean and seek to burst forth?"

"And you send up straw dogs, to mock?"

"Humans, are you thus ungrateful and treacherous?"

Di Jun's voice grew gradually louder as he stood on a high point, shouting at the human race.

"Heavenly Court, when did you become a one-man hall, intolerant of other voices?" Xi calmly retorted, "The hues of heaven and earth are myriad and bewildering; the myriad sounds of the universe rise and fall in harmony."

"The peoples number in the billions, the Dao in the tens of millions, never the same."

"Heavenly Court, you grasp heaven and enforce the Dao, oversee all living beings, yet your pattern is only this small?"

Xi rebutted Di Jun, "Our human race's principles differ from yours—how could that be impermissible? Yet you claim to oversee such a vast scope?"

"Or perhaps you, this Demon Emperor, can launch heavy-handed strikes against us, the myriad living beings and common folk…… while turning a blind eye to those weighty individuals who spout nonsense?"

Xi suddenly stepped forward, "Is this the present doctrine of the Heavenly Court!"

With that step, his aura grew stronger, pushing back against Di Jun's oppression.

But Di Jun is not simple either.

"The way of loyalty and treachery, the Heavenly Court itself makes clear; no need for others' false words to deceive." Di Jun said coldly, "Merit high or low, there is its own proof."

He extended a finger, pointing to a side where a wondrous treasure shone brightly, then pointed at that very conspicuous straw dog.

"So it's 'no money, no entry' for those in the right?" Xi threw back his head and laughed loudly, "This is quite amusing!"

"Right and wrong, justice lies in the heart of the divine." Di Jun's eyes deep and dark, "See who acknowledges your principles?"

"They simply do not know the meaning of this straw dog." Xi flicked his sleeve, "I offer this straw dog, not to belittle the Heavenly Court."

"Quite the opposite—it is precisely because my human race is presently very satisfied with the Heavenly Court that we have presented this gift with solemn reverence."

He lifted the straw dog with both hands from Di Jun's desk, holding it high.

"Do you know where this comes from?"

"From the altar where my human race worships heaven and earth!"

"Each year, if my human race has no worries about food and clothing, and living conditions keep improving…"

"Then, at year's end…"

"We will hold a tribal sacrifice, worshipping heaven and earth, worshipping Pangu the ancestral god!"

"Thank you, we are fortunate to live in a beautiful world."

"On the contrary."

"If we don't even have food and clothing secured, worrying about the next meal after eating the current one, where would we find the energy to bother with any sacrifices?"

"If we do it forcibly while starving."

"It would be strange not to curse the Heavenly Dao a few times for its injustice."

Fengxi set the straw dog down again.

"You see… it's precisely because the Heavenly Court did well that we humans have the spirit to offer sacrifices to heaven, right?"

"So, how can offering the straw dog be said as the human race bullying the Heavenly Court?"

"We offer this straw dog for the heavenly sacrifice; it is precisely an acknowledgment of your Heavenly Court's recent work, representing the affirmation of countless masses!" Fengxi's face bore a half-smile, "Its body bears the year‑after‑year joy of humanity and gratitude to heaven and earth, making it the finest backdrop for the Heavenly Court's praises and virtues… Though the straw dog is light, how could it not surpass myriad spiritual treasures in the present moment?"

Fengxi spoke with confidence.

Even if many Demon Race Great Nets heard it.

Although they felt it was somewhat forced reasoning.

Yet they could find little room to rebut.

After all, one simply cannot say——

After all, we're just trying to make the human race bleed heavily and force them to bow their heads?

Everyone hasn't yet torn faces; some matters must be handled tactfully.

But this gave Fengxi room to maneuver and handle things with ease.

"The birth of the Heavenly Court carries the great will of Pangu; it looks forward to a beautiful future of humanity, draws upon humanity's boundless wisdom to stride first onto the eternal path, and serves as a tool to give back to the myriad peoples."

Fengxi said solemnly.

"Heavenly Court, myriad peoples, mutual benefit."

"Heaven's will turns the Honghuang, skimping a bit of residual value to gain fortune and merit."

"The myriad peoples trust Heaven's will's wisdom, willingly handing over the power of operation, tacitly accepting the cutting of a few leek shoots within acceptable limits."

"But the Heavenly Court must not forget its roots."

"You are pleased with your past achievements and want to sing praises of virtue?"

"That is only human nature."

"But one must not indulge in empty glory."

"One must pursue substance."

"We humans now present this straw dog: first, to acknowledge the Heavenly Court's work; second, to advise the Heavenly Court's Demon Emperor, to make clear our original intention."

"You say, I speak like this… is the reasoning sufficient?"

……

"This Yandi is truly not simple!"

"Nüwa, face beaming with delight, whispered to Fuxi, 'So quickly you've turned the guest into the host.'"

"Who says that, in theory, humanity and the myriad peoples are the masters of the Heavenly Court?" Fuxi replied with a smile.

"(End of chapter)"