Chapter 355

Taiyi's gaze was calm and undisturbed, as he serenely expounded his view.

The Heavenly Court's complete tactical system can certainly be studied—for it is the true crystallization of wisdom.

Too bad.

Outsiders who study it can at most grasp the surface; they cannot obtain the essence.

For those at the pinnacle of this system, there will always be a hair's breadth difference.

This is a line that usually looks insignificant.

But when one truly wages war to the end, they will discover this line is a matter of life and death, the most crucial straw that tips the balance.

Study.

It requires paying tuition.

It means going through the hardships the teacher once endured, but in another way.

Donghuang's tone was deep and inscrutable.

"Indeed!" Di Jun nodded and said, "The Heavenly Court's tactical system, when spoken of profoundly, contains the philosophical wisdom and thought patterns of the entire Demon Race; it is a metaphysical summary in writing. When spoken of concretely, it is a road paved with the countless white bones of an ancient era, from the bloody battles waged by the subordinates of the two great leaders, Dragon and Phoenix, to the wars against Rahu's chaos—these boundless, brutal battles have etched many traits deep into the bloodline of all Demon Race as inherited factors."

Yaohuang's face suddenly showed a bloody, cruel smile: "The memories of that era, though largely buried by time's power, leave no text, no inheritance."

But after all, there remains a little slip through the net that time cannot wear away.

The most brutal, most profound memories and potentials are a gift from the pioneers of the era to later generations, a precious accumulated wealth... usually unnoticed, yet constantly subtly influencing the Demon Race's thinking and conduct, becoming an accepted truth, then further elevated and internalized into the Heavenly Court's thought and philosophy for governing the universe.

Just like the Dragon Clan... the Primordial Dragon opened the Dragon's Way, carried out the strategy of great unification, achieved all rivers returning to the source, and ruled as sovereign.

This is ingrained into the soul of the entire Dragon Clan, needing no proclamation; all Dragon Clan members will spontaneously rush down that path... even when times are dire, the Dragon Ancestor lies dead, the clan torn apart, falling into the predicament of dragons without a leader.

But not long after, a Dragon Hero emerged, rallying himself with the cry 'Division must end in unity,' invigorating his talents, recondensing the clan's soul, pacifying the Four Seas, commanding the myriad water clans to tremble and submit, looking only to the dragon's head.

East, West, South, North... the Four Sea Dragon Kings.

Although they now appear before us as obsequious and slick, lacking the might of a great divine adept, back then each was a first-rate fierce figure.

In the Dragon Clan's most tumultuous period, the East Sea Dragon King, sword in hand, swept the vast seas, slaughtering without number, stabilizing the situation single-handedly, thereby ruling the east and becoming the most honored beneath the Primordial Dragon.

The North Sea Dragon King rose from obscurity; at the time the Kunpeng Great Sage was active in the Northern Dark Sea, its claws stretching a bit. He raised a call, carried a coffin, led the weak northern detachment forward, fearless of life and death, seeking to display the prowess of the entire North Sea Dragon Clan. Leading eighteen guards, he offered mysterious yellow dragon blood as a sacrifice to heaven and earth, regardless of victory or defeat incurring the utmost cruelty... This caused the Kunpeng to linger outside the North Sea boundary for a long while, finally deeming it not worth it, merely putting on a show before withdrawing.

Likewise, the West Sea Dragon King and the South Sea Dragon King also had astonishing exploits, comparable to a bright moon high in the sky of that era... Among the Dragon Clan, whoever ruled a sea and claimed kingship was never easy to get along with.

The Dragon Clan has risen and fallen, yet it firmly held the foundation laid when the Dragon Ancestor first established itself, even expanding somewhat, annexing myriad water clans of the Four Seas, all submitting to the Dragon Clan's command, so that from top to bottom only the Dragon Clan's voice is heard!

Why is that?

It is precisely the instinct engraved deepest in the Dragon Clan: division must end in unity.

The Dragon Clan is thus.

The Demon Race is even more so.

It possesses thought and wisdom that permeates the entire clan, becoming a true 'talent'.

This is something that pure study cannot attain.

Di Jun let out a long breath, his eyes deep, "Especially the human race, now a blank slate."

Blankness, certainly good for painting, can let Nüwa pull out troops, rally the Twelve Ancestral Witches, write one's own beliefs and ideals, and strive forward toward that goal.

But it also means a kind of gifted emptiness.

Especially in warfare, without enough time to settle, without the sacrifice of countless lives' weight to forge a path…… it's deadly.

The Demon Race has shed too much blood here.

Even if humanity has top Wise Men who can penetrate the principles of our Demon Race's entire tactical system…… but in the end they will discover——knowing it is of no use at best.

Because this is no longer merely an individual's wisdom, but the wisdom of the people.

What it needs is a complete set of the Demon Race's thought and philosophy, plus the 'talent' that the Demon Race has accumulated over ages.

Only thus can we stand on the same level as the Heavenly Court.

Otherwise, they will forever be competing with us in the war rules set by the Demon Race, inherently inferior by a head.

Di Jun gave a faint smile, "If we want to break the stalemate, it's actually simple—just let humanity also tread the path of flesh and bones that the Demon Race once walked, and that will do."

Self-researched and self-produced, crafting a strategic and tactical thought perfectly suited to one's own people's wisdom, philosophy, and reality, rather than merely importing and learning.

Put bluntly—this is using countless people's lives in the early stage to blaze a trail, in order to forge a perfect system later.

But…… can humanity muster such great resolve?

Most importantly, having resolve doesn't necessarily help…… the system thus created will likely be only on par with the Heavenly Court.

Even a slight misstep, with excessive early sacrifice, can cause a direct collapse, leaving no later stage.

It would be better to copy the Heavenly Court's tactical system—at least early losses can be greatly reduced, even if one must bear the price of later stagnation, accumulated problems hard to reverse, and inability to break free from shackles.

"This is a slow death." Dong Huang concluded.

"Yeah, a slow death." Di Jun nodded calmly, "Their learning of the Heavenly Court's tactics is also a process where the people's thoughts are gradually and covertly eroded and assimilated by the Demon Race's thinking, extending bit by bit from the army to other areas."

I let you give Nüwa the position of Lord of the Clouds; others might think I'm showing weakness, yielding…… but actually, this is also a dose of poison.

Moreover.

Having Nüwa, such a great rebel leader, sitting there.

The Heavenly Court's tactical system cannot truly be kept secret, not leaking at all…… rather than letting this person fuss over small moves, it's better to give her an empty title, to bind her abundant destructive energy, so as to specifically guard against her.

Through the Lord of the Clouds' actions, we can at least know which tactics the human side has copied from the Heavenly Court, right?

Thus, we can still grasp the initiative of war, gradually pulling the situation into our rhythm.

Boiling a frog in warm water.

Di Jun said leisurely, "The Wu Clan is not easy to deal with; when driven to desperation, they have no choice but to use countless lives of their people to blaze a path…… if they capsize, it would be bad."

Even if they don't capsize, if we win we will still vomit blood profusely…… the Dao Ancestor will laugh heartily.

I think it's better to show a stance of seeking stability, with operational advantages, gradually weakening, dignified and proper, seeking progress within stability— that is the right way.

For opponents that are too large in scale.

Dragging them.

Hanging them.

Only by slowly bleeding, assimilating, guiding, and mutating… can we concoct the most delicious dish.

After eating the dish and digesting it completely, we get a chance to sit at the Dao Ancestor's gambling table and wager a hand of 'guest-host reversal'.

Not wanting to be Pangu's Great Luo is just being a salted fish without ambition.

Di Jun said.

This demon emperor of his harbors a little thought toward his direct superior, the Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

Eager to try, he wants to overturn the Heavenly Dao's supremacy and place Pangu's laurel crown on his own head.

"Then my divine life would truly be complete."

"There is a pair of beautiful sisters at home."

"Outside is the Great God Pangu."

"Love and career both flourish."

I think it's overly idealistic.

At the crucial moment, Taiyi splashed a basin of cold water on his elder brother, saying, "We all understand this superficial-but-not-fundamental principle… Would the Wu Clan side be completely ignorant of it?"

Donghuang pondered and asked.

How could that be?

Di Jun shook his head.

I think few of the Wu Clan's leaders are simple… setting aside Houtu for now.

Those other ancestral witches might have been renowned commanders of a region in the previous epoch, commanding myriad tribes, laughing as they divided cosmic territories, running rampant across heaven and earth.

Like Gonggong and his ambiguous entanglement with the Dragon Clan.

And Jumang… the materials of Jumang's temple look like paulownia wood; who dares say the Phoenix Clan didn't invest in it?

Take another look at Zhu Jiuyin.

The most renowned Zhuguang deity of the ancient era is none other than Zhulong—the Candle God!

These background figures once roamed supreme in their domains, having extraordinarily glorious divine careers.

Now they have gathered together, banded as a group.

Even Hongjun needs to give them a serious look.

Not a single one is a fuel‑saving lamp.

Di Jun commented, very solemnly.

Since they are not fuel‑saving lamps.

Whether it's the human race or the Wu Clan's situation, they naturally know deep down… their physical quality is strong, their fighting will resolute, and from spirit to flesh they actually have no shortcomings.

The only thing dragging them down, even to the eggs, is the clan's sedimentation—a hard injury.

To deal with this shortcoming, there are only two solutions: either confront it head‑on and forcibly make up for it, or shift the burden, making up for it from elsewhere.

Di Jun told Taiyi his speculation, his eyes gradually narrowing as a divine light flashed and vanished.

Look at Yunzhongjun, so diligently replicating the Heavenly Court's full tactical system, posing as one who drinks poison to quench thirst, accepting even though he knows it's a slow death… most likely he has another trick prepared behind the scenes.

Indeed.

War is the most direct and explicit means of announcing victory or defeat.

But the road to victory is not only this one.

There are other methods, using off‑board moves outside the battlefield to win.

I think the Wu Clan's plan is likely to first stall the Heavenly Court's main forces, tug at the front lines to avoid a quick defeat, then wait for the situation to change, bringing in some previously prepared off‑board moves at the right moment.

The contest between Wu and Yao need not be about who is stronger; it could also be about who is less bad.

If we fall first and the opposite side, though weak, ends up laughing last, that still makes them the victors, able to pick up our corpses and profit.

"Is that so?" Donghuang sighed lightly.

Should be about right…" Di Jun's eyes grew dim, "Originally I wasn't too sure."

But lately Donghua has been jumping with joy, some hidden clues letting me connect them…" He grew solemn, urging Taiyi, "When you go onto the battlefield someday, remember to be careful."

The Wu Clan side is likely plotting the most terrifying assassination, heading straight for the command center to decapitate.

If the top command is taken out, even if the remaining tactical system and grassroots commanders are excellent, how could they withstand the strangulation of a group of strategic‑level experts?

I already understand." Donghuang said solemnly, "I will pay attention and guard against it.

Elder brother, you also need to be careful… you, holding the center, are the one who draws the most hatred.

If the other side is even a little careless.

Even if they can't do anything to you.

But they will definitely target your confidants and bloodline, disturbing your mind.

The later it gets, the closer to the end of the great calamity, the more likely the opponent will act radically.

Donghuang worried.

You can rest assured about that." Di Jun smiled, "They won't have a later stage.

"???" Donghuang was bewildered.

Didn't you hear me clearly?" Di Jun's laugh grew a bit louder, "I just want to 'show' a steady posture, relying on operations to exert dominance on the front battlefield, bleeding them little by little, to secure a decisive victory later.

But this is merely the signal I'm putting out.

Mid‑term… in the opponent's judgment of mid‑term.

I'm about to close the board!

Soldiers proceed by deceptive paths, striking unexpectedly!

Really, when it reaches the later stage, the opposition is ready, Hongjun is ready, our accumulated advantage is greatest, yet it is also the hardest to break open the situation.

Only in the mid-stage, sealing the board, Absolute Kill, is the most appropriate.

"This……" Donghuang was somewhat lost for words, "This is very difficult."

I know it's difficult…… so, I also prepared some small means outside the battlefield.

Just like that so-called…… extraterrestrial heavenly demon!

Di Jun's smile is now very radiant.

The human race, having crossed time and space, did not merely accomplish the Wu Clan.

There are also some, which are very useful pawns for me.

They haven't learned much of their good qualities.

But when they play dirty, they come up with one set after another.

Among these pawns, many have been infected by the Demon Race's ideology, subtly changing their thinking…… though they have human souls, they have demon hearts.

I have already secretly operated many.

Let them gradually infiltrate back into the human race…… unexpectedly, they remain unaware, thinking they have returned having completed their studies, bringing the gospel to humanity.

These people will become the most piercing hidden arrows, waiting for the right moment to burst forth.

Yun Zhong Jun, this little brat, messed up a bit of my Demon Race's logistics, and thinks he's quite excellent?

Heh.

I need to give him a lesson.

Let him know what is truly——

The enemy is within the heart!

(End of chapter)