Chapter 38

As Di Jiang Zu Wu's words fell, Phoenix Nest Mountain experienced an anomaly.

Translation: As Di Jiang Zu Wu's words fell, Phoenix Nest Mountain experienced an anomaly.

As Di Jiang Zu Wu's words fell, Phoenix Nest Mountain experienced an anomaly.

Streams of splendid radiance burst from the mountain range, shooting straight into the firmament!

Translation: Streams of splendid light burst from the mountain body of the entire range, shooting straight into the firmament!

The firmament!

This was like a signal; the sovereign guides the situation. Besides the divine birds already soaring in the firmament, countless strange birds surged from the mountains, joining the flock in flight.

Translation: This was like a signal, with the sovereign guiding the situation. At this moment, besides the divine birds already soaring in the heavens, countless strange birds surged out from the mountain ranges, joining the flock in flight.

The sovereign guides the situation.

Those with deep cultivation who can pierce the void sea and discern the great secret of space would find that these newly appeared divine birds and strange birds are not only surviving and active on the Honghuang land, stationed in the Phoenix Nest Mountain Range, but many more lie dormant and hidden in dimensional small realms.

Translation: If one of profound cultivation could see through the void-world sea and perceive the great secret of space, they would discover——these later-appearing divine birds and strange birds are not only surviving and active on the Honghuang land, occupying Phoenix Nest Mountain Range, but many more lie dormant hidden in dimensional small realms.

Honghuang land, Phoenix Nest Mountain Range, dimensional small realms.

Of course, although they are called small realms, in substance they are not small.

Translation: Of course, although they are called small realms, in substance they are not small.

They were all opened up by mighty adepts of the Dragon-Phoenix Era in ancient times, who split Chaos, refined earth, water, fire, and wind, and fashioned the three thousand great worlds.

Translation: They were opened up by mighty divine beings of the ancient Dragon-Phoenix Era, who split Chaos, refined earth, water, fire, wind, and shaped the three thousand great worlds!

The Dragon-Phoenix Era, Chaos, earth, water, fire, wind, and the three thousand great worlds.

Every realm's mountains and rivers are boundlessly vast, far exceeding the expanse of the Phoenix Nest Mountain Range—countless worlds provide the Avians a place to proliferate and to train troops.

Translation: Every realm's mountains and rivers are boundlessly vast, far exceeding the expanse of the entire Phoenix Nest Mountain Range……countless worlds provide the Avians a place to multiply, and——to train troops!

The Avians train troops.

Even a starved phoenix is larger than an earth chicken.

Translation: Even a starved Phoenix is larger than an earth chicken.

earth chicken.

Moreover, the phoenix lineage has not yet utterly declined and perished!

Translation: Moreover, the Phoenix lineage has not yet completely declined and perished!

Although the Heavenly Overlord's beautiful dream shattered into dust, unable to match the Wu Clan and the Demon Race, it withdrew from the stage of the times, powerless to take the lead.

Translation: Although the Heavenly Overlord's beautiful dream shattered into dregs, completely incomparable to the Wu Clan and the Demon Race, having withdrawn from the stage of the times, unable to bear the leading role.

The Wu Clan and the Demon Race are the Heavenly Overlords.

Its protective strength remains—a great army, a force once wholly loyal to the phoenix clan, which, half‑destroyed in the cataclysm unleashed by Luo Hou, retreated and took up position in the Phoenix Nest Mountain Range, standing guard over the phoenix progenitor.

Translation: Yet the power to protect oneself remains——a great army, a force once wholly loyal to the Phoenix Clan, which retreated half-ruined after the cataclysm sparked by Rahu, withdrew and stationed itself in the Phoenix Nest Mountain Range, guarding the Phoenix progenitor.

We need to use Rahu, Phoenix Clan, Phoenix Nest Mountain Range, Phoenix progenitor.

At this moment, they reappear, soaring together across the horizon.

Translation: Now they reappear, soaring together across the horizon.

Such a number is terrifying beyond measure, boundless and endless, limitless and vast!

Translation: Such a number is terrifying beyond compare, boundless and endless, limitless!

The Avians' great army, their breaths united……numbered in the hundreds of millions of True Immortals, with Great Ones counted in units of ten thousands and hundreds of thousands, causing the Wu Clan's ceremonial troops to stand solemnly, feeling an awesome pressure.

Translation: The Avians' great army, their breaths united……counts of hundreds of millions of True Immortals, calculated in tens of millions and hundreds of millions of Great Ones, cause the Wu Clan's ceremonial army to stand solemn, feeling an awesome pressure.

The Wu Clan numbers hundreds of millions of True Immortals, with Great Ones counted in tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands.

"Listening to the ages, illuminating history……Back then, the phoenix lineage's progenitor went on an inspection, his entourage vast and boundless." Di Jiang let out a soft sigh, he paid no mind to the display arrayed in Phoenix Nest Mountain—before the administrator, no matter how many beings below the Great Luo came, in the blink of an eye they could be wiped clean.

Translation: "Listening to the ages, piercing through history……back then, the Phoenix lineage's progenitor went on an inspection, its entourage vast and boundless." Di Jiang let out a light sigh, he paid no mind to the display arrayed in Phoenix Nest Mountain——before the administrator, any number of beings below the Great Luo could be wiped clean in the blink of an eye.

The administrator wipes clean the beings below the Great Luo.

The ancestral witch still had the heart to sigh, speaking of an ancient era: "People often say a hundred birds pay homage to the phoenix……but when the Phoenix progenitor moves, how could there be only a mere hundred birds?"

Translation: The ancestor witch still had the heart to sigh, speaking of an ancient era: "People often say a hundred birds face the phoenix……but when the Phoenix progenitor moves, how could there be only a mere hundred birds?"

Phoenix progenitor.

"A hundred billions, a hundred million billions—still far from enough!"

Translation: "A hundred billions, a hundred million billions, are still far from enough!"

"At their peak, the Avians' nine great armies ruled over half of the Honghuang world. Alas, now we can only field a ragged remnant of defeated troops, no longer the countless

Translation: "At its peak, the Avians' nine great armies ruled over half of the Honghuang world. Alas, now only a ragged remnant can be fielded, no longer the countless divine birds that once filled the skies, making the Honghuang heavens and earth lose sun and moon……that was the true obscuring of the heavens and the sun!"

The Avians in the Honghuang world obscure the heavens and the sun.

Fengxi's eye twitched; he wanted to say, "We don't need nine great armies—right now we're already obscuring the heavens and the sun!"

Translation: Fengxi's eye twitched; he very much wanted to say——don't speak of nine great armies, even now it already obscures the heavens and the sun!

We need to use Fengxi.

Heaven and earth……are in darkness!

Translation: Heaven and earth……are in darkness!

Divine birds piled up, thick and endless……their numbers surged by thousands upon thousands, turning the once‑bright, dreamy sea of light born from sunlight into a dim, vanishing haze.

Translation: Divine birds piled up, too thick and too dense, endlessly flowing……their number exceeds the former by thousands upon thousands, causing the once‑dreamy, iridescent sea of light produced by sunlight to grow dim and vanish.

Obscuring the heavens and the sun……indeed it is obscuring the heavens and the sun!

Translation: Obscuring the heavens and the sun……indeed it is obscuring the heavens and the sun!

But soon, a new light source was born.

Translation: But soon, a new light source is born.

Every one of those countless divine birds possesses cultivation.

Translation: Those countless divine birds, which one does not possess cultivation?

Even the weakest can absorb the essence of sun and moon to cultivate their innate divine abilities; the strongest are Great One divine birds, whose wings can cause boundless minute worlds to arise and cease, stirring the sea of the void world.

Translation: Even the weakest can inhale the essence of sun and moon, refining their innate divine ability; the strong are Great One divine birds, a flap of whose wings can bring forth and annihilate boundless minute worlds, stirring the sea of the void world!

Great One divine birds, boundless minute worlds, the sea of the void world.

At this moment, the feathers on their bodies began to emit light, shining in all directions.

Translation: At this moment, the feathers on their bodies begin to emit light, shining in all directions.

Countless divine birds, like countless stars and great suns, burst forth in radiance together!

Translation: Hundreds of millions of divine birds are like hundreds of millions of stars and great suns, together bursting forth radiance!

countless divine birds.

However, after a moment of blinding brilliance, the feathers' light—either faint like starlight or blazing like the great sun—underwent a completely new change—

Translation: However, after an instant of blinding brilliance, the light of their feathers—either faint like starlight or blazing like a great sun—undergoes a wholly new change——

They intertwined and overlapped, ultimately……fusing!

Translation: They intertwine and overlap, ultimately……fusing!

Various strange lights and colors did not, as before, appear as a colorful sea of light; instead, under a subtle and mysterious regulation, all colors eventually faded, or rather were elevated to the utmost, smelted into a pure, flawless color—white!

Translation: Various strange lights and hues, instead of forming a colored sea of light as before, under a subtle and mysterious regulation finally see all colors fade away, or rather are sublimated to the utmost, smelted into a pure, immaculate hue——white!

The pure white light, far surpassing the great sun, spread and shone upon heaven and earth. In a daze, Fengxi saw a phoenix standing in the void, spreading its wings—as if embracing the whole world.

Translation: Pure white light, far surpassing the great sun, pours down to illuminate heaven and earth. In a dazed moment, Fengxi saw a Phoenix standing in the void, spreading its wings……as if embracing the whole world.

This scene seemed merely an illusion, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Translation: This scene seemed merely his illusion, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

And disappearing along with it were the divine birds that had originally obscured the heavens and the sun in such numbers.

Translation: And disappearing along with it were the original divine birds whose numbers had obscured the heavens and the sun.

Yes, now not even a single divine bird can be seen……only white light remains, nothing but pure white light.

Translation: Yes, now not even a single divine bird can be seen……only white light remains, nothing but pure white light.

It seems those divine birds have completely melted into this light, becoming one with the light.

Translation: It seems those divine birds have completely melted into this light, mingling with light as dust.

To be with the light, to walk with the Dao!

Translation: To be with light is to walk with the Dao!

Light, while shining, also flows and condenses.

Translation: Light, while shining, also flows and condenses.

The reason I say this is because at the end of Fengxi's sight, the white light evolves, naturally splitting into seven colors, shaping——

Translation: The reason I say this is because at the end of Fengxi's line of sight, white light evolves, naturally splitting into seven colors, shaping what——

That is an endless, continuous cluster of palaces!

Translation: That is an endless chain of palaces!

It seems to reenact the wonder of the ancient era, forging the peak of the phoenix's power……millions of magnificent halls rise, suspended in the firmament, together guarding a supreme hall.

Translation: It seems to re‑create the marvel of the ancient era, forging the peak grandeur of the Phoenix forces……millions of magnificent halls rise, suspended in the firmament, together guarding a supreme hall!

Millions of magnificent halls rise, suspended in the firmament, together guarding a supreme hall.

That seems to be the hall where the gods confer, the highest divinity gathering within, discussing the cosmos' great trends, a single thought deciding the rise and fall of eras.

Translation: That seems to be the hall where the gods confer, the highest divinity gathering therein, to discuss the cosmic situation, with a single thought deciding the rise and fall of eras.

«All the gods…»

Translation: "Myriad gods……"

Fengxi's sharp ears caught something.

Translation: Fengxi's ears twitched, hearing something.

He couldn't help but turn his head, only to see the Great Witch—Yi, who seemed somewhat lost and melancholy, thus uttering that word.

Translation: He involuntarily turned his head, only to see the Great Witch——Yi, who at this moment seemed somewhat absent‑minded and wistful, thus uttering that word.

Great Witch Yi.

Sensing Fengxi's gaze, Great Yi glanced at him with a faint smile, as if his earlier demeanor had never been.

Translation: Sensing Fengxi's gaze, Great Yi glanced at him with a faint smile, as if the earlier display had never happened.

Great Yi.

Fengxi felt somewhat strangely wonderful, scratched his head, and stopped thinking about it.

Translation: Fengxi felt somewhat odd, scratched his head, and stopped thinking about it.

Because he also had leisure to think about it.

Translation: Because he also had leisure to ponder.

The towering, magnificent palace formation spontaneously moved and arranged itself, revealing a boundless majestic road before the Wu Clan's ceremonial troop, and spontaneously extended and expanded beneath their feet.

Translation: That towering, magnificent palace cluster spontaneously moved into formation, facing the Wu Clan's ceremonial troops, revealing a boundless, majestic road, and then spontaneously extended and expanded beneath their feet.

majestic road.

This road is like a heavenly path.

Translation: This road is like a Heavenly Road.

It stretched from the distant horizon, reaching beneath the feet of the Wu Clan's visiting team, inviting them to step upon it.

Translation: It stretched from the distant horizon, reaching beneath the feet of the Wu Clan's visiting party, inviting them to step upon it.

At the end of the heavenly path, two towering figures stood waiting, gazing into the distance toward this place.

Translation: At the end of the Heavenly Road, two towering figures stood still, waiting there, gazing toward this place.

"What a grand welcome ceremony……or perhaps a demonstration?" Di Jiang Zu Wu rose from his carriage, his eyes flashing, looking toward the end of the heavenly path, smiling softly, "Fuxi and Nüwa, these two fellow Daoists, our welcome is also quite thoughtful and fervent."

Translation: "What a grand welcome ceremony……or perhaps a show of force?" Di Jiang Zu Wu rose from his carriage, his eyes flickering, looking toward the end of the Heavenly Road, smiling softly, "Fuxi, Nüwa, these two fellow Daoists, our arrival's 'welcome' is also quite 'thoughtful' and 'fervent'."

Fuxi and Nüwa, these two fellow Daoists.

"Birds flock to the phoenix, myriad gods pay homage……revealing a corner of the ancient era's grandeur, inviting us to advance along a road formed by countless Avians."

Translation: "A hundred birds face the phoenix, myriad gods pay homage……re‑creating a corner of the ancient era's grand magnificence, inviting us to advance along the road formed by countless Avians."

road formed by countless Avians.

"Immeasurable True Immortals, hundreds of millions of Great Ones……such a lineup for show; if a fragile, inexperienced spirit came here, they'd likely go weak‑kneed and unable to take a step."

Translation: "Immeasurable numbers of True Immortals, hundreds of millions of Great Ones……such a lineup for display, if beings inexperienced in the world and fragile of mind came here, they'd likely go weak‑kneed and unable to take a step."

hundreds of millions of Great Ones.

The two sovereigns of the Demon Race gave face to the ancestor witch's visit.

Translation: The two sovereigns of the Demon Race gave the ancestor witch's visit plenty of face.

sovereigns of the Demon Race.

Fielding a heavyweight army to greet a Wu Clan troupe of only a few ten‑thousands……who would dare say their etiquette is lacking!

Translation: Fielding a heavyweight army to keep up appearances, greeting a Wu Clan contingent of only a few ten‑thousands……who would dare say their etiquette is lacking!

a few ten‑thousands.

If time and conditions allowed, they might even have borrowed the Chaos Bell to strike ninety‑eighty‑one times here, and borrowed the Taiji diagram to unfold a golden bridge as the heavenly path.

Translation: Had time and conditions not been restrictive, they might well have borrowed the Chaos Bell to strike ninety‑nine times here, and borrowed the Supreme Ultimate Diagram to unfold a golden bridge as the Heavenly Road.

We need to use "Chaos Bell", "Supreme Ultimate Diagram", "golden bridge", "Heavenly Road".

Look!

Translation: Look!

The Demon Race's Xihuang and Nüwa, in their visit to the ancestor witches, how solemn and earnest they are!

Translation: The Demon Race's Xihuang and Nüwa, regarding the ancestor witches' visit, how solemn and earnest they are!

the Demon Race's

Almost everything they had was laid out; they wished they could pull out a sincere heart, so the ancestral witches would feel the enthusiasm of this brother‑sister pair.

Of course.

Of course Fuxi and Nüwa's enthusiastic welcome is genuine, but if the Wu clan here falls short of standards, anyone who hasn't seen the world would be terrified, trembling, numb, pale with fear, performing terribly, and then be laughed at by the innately divine and Great Luo Supreme Emperors who are intensely watching this place……

Then, if certain unnamed demon gods spread the word, all kinds of pictures and rumors fly everywhere, saying the Wu clan is weak and incompetent……

That can't be blamed on them, right?

Well-intentioned but causing harm, Fuxi and Nüwa are also helpless!

"Nüwa is immensely powerful, but not particularly skilled in strategy and scheming. So this probably wasn't her plan." Di Jiang furrowed his brows, "If not her, then it must be the handiwork of the Great Sage Fuxi."

"Hmm... wanting to subdue the enemy without fighting?" He pondered slightly, "As expected of Xihuang, his strategies are profound, coming up with such a soft nail."

"Upright and aboveboard, yet hiding a sharp edge... extraordinary! extraordinary!"

He clapped his hands in praise, feeling that meeting a worthy opponent and finding a capable general is one of life's great joys, "Fortunately, I am not lacking either... I had anticipated this move earlier and made some small preparations."

Di Jiang suddenly laughed loudly, "It's rare that Xihuang and Nüwa welcome us with such a grand display; our Wu clan's youths should naturally put forth their best spirit and show it to them!"

"Beat the drum!"

"Boost our military might!"

A large drum was instantly erected.

A Great Wu personally held the drumstick and struck out a drumbeat that shook heaven and earth.

"Boom!"

That drumbeat sounded like thunder, as if the divine thunder that split heaven and earth in ancient times had exploded.

Each Wu clan honor guard soldier, under the drum's influence, had their blood surge... spirit and will were lifted by an unseen force, their already resolute and shining souls becoming even more indestructible.

With a hint of battle intent in their hearts, accompanied by the drum's rhythm, they stepped onto that Heavenly Road!

……

The Heavenly Road appears smooth, but actually hides great danger.

It's not that someone would set up ambushes and lethal traps there to carry out covert attacks——

When the Wu clan travels and visits, they constantly pay attention to the Great Luo beings here—there are not a thousand, but eight hundred.

Even if the demon race's strong ones wish this team to meet disaster and all die horribly…… they would not openly use underhanded tactics to carry out covert attacks on such a welcoming occasion as Phoenix Nest Mountain.

Whether it could succeed or not aside…… even if it succeeded, such behavior would be exposed to the eyes of those great divine-ability users who would love to examine this place with a magnifying glass, and thereafter the demon race's reputation would be ruined.

Reliance on covert schemes is the only way to defeat enemies; such a clan and such a force will have no future!

The demon race's high-ranking members all have a scale in their hearts—damaging reputation yields little gain, so no one is willing to engage in such business.

But without covert ambush tactics, this Heavenly Road is also not easy to travel.

Because its essence is a terrifying great army condensed into one…… their wills merge into one here!

Even without actively attacking, the inherent will and power present there are enough to shatter a Golden Immortal's spirit, causing Supreme Ultimate experts to lose heart and courage, displaying all sorts of ugly states.

However, Di Jiang Zu Wu's divine foresight had already anticipated this possibility; he had brought a war drum in advance, whose beating can stir the heavenly thunder!

Such a battle-array drum specializes in breaking all mysterious spiritual arts and divine abilities.

The drumbeat can sustain the vast, boundless will's pressure, and also stir the soldiers' blood, making their spirits highly concentrated, perfect and flawless, unmoving and unshaken.

At this moment, hundreds of thousands of Wu clan soldiers, with each step they take, an iron-blooded killing aura rises upon them.

Their spirit and will are burning and manifesting, reflected between heaven and earth, and in people's hearts.

This era is the age of the Wu, the years of the demon!

A Phoenix clan army, remnants of the old era, how could they be made to bow their heads or retreat?!

Golden spears and iron horses, their aura devours mountains, rivers, and the cosmos!

The Wu clan, never fearing challenges!

No matter if the road ahead is a mountain of blades or a sea of fire…… as long as it is what the heart desires, as long as it lies where the great vow resides, even if we discard our broken bodies, we must forge a path!

Hundreds of thousands of Wu soldiers, their fighting spirit fierce; the Great Wu commanding the troops, eyes gleaming bright; the Ancestral Wu seated cross-legged on the carriage, straightened his body.

An exalted will, capable of cleaving all obstructions and opening a new era, condensed into a sharp edge, slashing down upon the Heavenly Road!

"Hum!"

The Heavenly Road trembled slightly; this was a clash of two wills in the void.

In the end, the Heavenly Road returned to stability, oppression gone.

The Great Wu who had been beating the war drum set down the drumstick.

All pressure and phantom phenomena vanished completely clean.

Afterward, the road was peaceful and tranquil, without a ripple.

Fengxi silently watched all of this.

He knew…… the Wu clan's power and will, from top to bottom, had already earned the acknowledgment of the master of Phoenix Nest Mountain, who listened to their voices and ideas.

Stance can be hostile.

But respect for power is mutual!

A weak state has no diplomacy; only by displaying sufficient will and sufficient power, placing both sides on equal footing, can there be a fair and equal exchange and cooperation.

……

All the way smooth, safe and sound.

Crossing an immeasurably long distance, the Wu clan entourage arrived at the end of the Heavenly Road.

This place is very strange, a landscape of condensed white light overlapping with real objects…… Indeed there truly exists a vast and magnificent palace complex, and a supreme main hall surrounded and guarded by stars encircling the moon.

When they set foot here, the Heavenly Road shattered, the white light dispersed, and transformed back into countless terrifying feathered clans fluttering and swirling in all directions.

Some retreated into the Phoenix Nest Mountain Range; others re-concealed themselves and returned to their small worlds.

Also, some underwent bodily transformation into humanoid Dao forms, descending to receive the Wu clan's honor guard, guiding them onward to another place to rest.

Only the Ancestral Wu and the Great Wu can participate in the true discussion.

In this process, two majestic and towering divine figures came side by side…… One had a dragon tail, the other a snake tail.

One of them was Nüwa, so the other was easy to guess——it was Fuxi!

The two innate deities, the rulers of the Demon Race, went up to meet Di Jiang and Houtu, these two ancestral witches…… This is a historic meeting, destined to be recorded in the ages!

As the driver, Fengxi, who had not yet driven the dragon carriage far off, was fortunate enough to witness it.

The Demon Race and the ancestral witches drew near; after exchanging ceremonial greetings, Xihuang spoke, and it was astonishing.

(End of chapter)