Chapter 39

"Di Jiang, fellow Daoist, please hear my words."

But we need to include the quotes? The source line includes quotes. Should we keep them? The instruction: translate faithfully, not add or omit. The quotes are part of the text; we should translate the meaning, not necessarily keep the quotation marks. Usually we can omit them as they are punctuation. But we should keep the meaning. I think it's fine to omit the quotation marks as they are not content. However to be safe, we could keep them as English quotes. The source uses 「」 which are quotation marks. We can translate to English double quotes. But the instruction says "Render onomatopoeia / sound effects... as English sound words, never delete them." It doesn't explicitly say to keep quotation marks, but they are punctuation. I'd say we can omit them as they are not content. Many translations drop them. I'll omit for simplicity.

Thus line 1: "【1】 Di Jiang, fellow Daoist, please hear my words."

Check: we used "fellow Daoist". Good.

Need to translate: "Fuxi the Great Sage's face wore a beaming smile, seeming an extremely humble and kind old good person, but the content of his speech, upon coming out, was like rolling heavenly thunder, bombarding the Wu Clan's top experts."

We need to ensure we used "Fuxi". Good.

Let's write: "【2】 Fuxi the Great Sage's face wore a beaming smile, seeming an extremely humble and kind old good person, but the content of his speech, upon coming out, was like rolling heavenly thunder, bombarding the Wu Clan's top experts."

"【3】 Wu Clan, ah, has no future."

"【4】 Fellow Daoist, rather than wasting time there doing useless work, it would be better to defect and surrender with courtesy."

Need to translate: "I, Fuxi—Xihuang of the Demon Race, guarantee with my personal reputation." Fuxi the Great Sage patted his chest, "If fellow Daoist wishes to join the Demon Race, I will surely spare no effort to recommend you, granting you a marquisate and overseeing the boundless Honghuang mountains and rivers!"

Let's craft: "【5】 I, Fuxi—Xihuang of the Demon Race, guarantee with my personal reputation. Fuxi the Great Sage patted his chest, 'If fellow Daoist wishes to join the Demon Race, I will surely spare no effort to recommend you, granting you a marquisate and overseeing the boundless Honghuang mountains and rivers!'"

Check: we used "Fuxi the Great Sage" twice; okay.

"【6】 Xihuang's words made the Wu Clan's great witches and ancestral witches present feel uneasy, as if lost in the wind."

"【7】 ——What the hell is going on?" We need to keep the dash? We'll output "【7】 ——What the hell is going on?" Keep the em dash? We'll just use "——". We'll copy.

"【8】 Right off the bat, trying to lure surrender and pry open the corner of the Wu Clan's top combat strength?"

"【9】 Directly persuading Di Jiang to switch sides……Could this be Xihuang's response and counterattack to the previous situation where Nüwa was left speechless by Di Jiang?" Need to keep ellipsis? We'll use "……". We'll output.

"【10】 His sister was bullied, and the brother stepped up to seek justice——well, quite normal and reasonable."

"【11】 'Fuxi fellow Daoist, are you looking down on me?' Di Jiang ancestral witch chuckled, 'If I were greedy for power and pursuing pleasure, why would I wait until now to surrender?'"

"【12】 'With my strength, applying to join when the Demon Race intends to be established would naturally make me a lord of a region.'"

"【13】 'Since I have chosen the Wu Clan's path, it is naturally because it harbors my dreams and ideals……allowing me to spare no cost to put them into practice.'"

"【14】 'Di Jiang fellow Daoist's dreams and ideals?' Fuxi gave an ambiguous smile, 'Could you share them?'"

"【15】 'Inheriting Pangu's spirit, fulfilling Pangu's great vow!' Di Jiang said solemnly, 'Pangu, in Chaos, opened heaven and earth……at the final moment of heaven and earth's accomplishment, he even did not hesitate to sacrifice himself, merging his flesh and blood into the universe, thereby creating this colorful, beautiful world!'"

"【16】 ——Pangu opened heaven, exhausted and perished."

"【17】 After death, His flesh and blood turned into mountains and rivers, His eyes shone as sun and moon, ancient stars revolved, His breath stirred wind and thunder, balancing yin and yang……He created a beautiful Honghuang!"

"【18】 'This heaven and earth is beautiful.' Di Jiang said movingly, 'As descendants of Pangu's bloodline, we ancestral witches must continue this beauty……'"

"【19】 'Let the sentient beings living in this universe build an ideal era, achieving great harmony under heaven!'"

"【20】 'In that era, there would be no meaningless slaughter, all races would coexist peacefully……the sentient beings' innate need for predation could be satisfied by a fully developed cultivation civilization.'"

"【21】 'Not like the Demon Race today, which follows the law of the jungle.'"

"【22】 Di Jiang ancestral witch's words were resonant and powerful, causing Fengxi not far away, who was leading a dragon carriage and hesitating, taking three steps back for every step forward, to almost burst into applause."

"【23】 However, Xihuang remained smiling in response to Di Jiang's speech, showing no sign of being swayed."

"【24】 Finally, he only gave a reluctant 'oh,' indicating he understood, then gave a lukewarm evaluation: 'Fellow Daoist, your ideal is truly great, truly shocking.'"

"【25】 'But this is your ideal, the Wu Clan's ideal……and only yours.' Xihuang shifted tone, 'Do the myriad beings of the world acknowledge you? Do they need your ideal?'"

"【26】 'To impose your ideal upon the world, forcing them to accept it……no matter how well-intentioned you are, this itself is a trampling upon others' spirits.'"

"【27】 'You may believe you hold a lofty conviction to change the era……but the sentient beings of this era may not necessarily accept your goodwill.'"

"【28】 'Perhaps you also understand this reasoning. So the Wu Clan has built its own military strength……intending to use force to drive the era's change?'"

"【29】 'But do you know——how many sentient beings will die in such a process?'"

"【30】 Xihuang's face bore a hint of sorrow, feeling pity for the sentient beings who will face a cruel calamity in the future, somewhat melancholic……that slight upturn of the mouth corners is the expression of this Demon Race sovereign unable to control his own surging spirit, his visage appearing twisted and distorted."

"【31】 'Myriad myriads of sentient beings will perish because of the Wu Clan's ideal……and then the Wu Clan's loudly proclaimed ideal slogan claims it is for a better world?'"

"【32】 'Ha!' Fuxi the Great Sage gave a mocking laugh, 'Is there anything more ridiculous than this?'"

"【33】 'Di Jiang fellow Daoist, wake up! Turn back from the wrong path, lay down the butcher's blade——that is what you truly ought to do!' He earnestly advised, 'The Wu Clan should disband its forces, withdraw from the state of being opposed to the Demon Race, and even join us……'"

"【34】 'Let the future of Honghuang heaven and earth not be shrouded in gunpowder and war, let the world be peaceful……isn't that wonderful?'"

"【35】 ……"

"【36】 Fuxi, evaluated by Di Jiang ancestral witch as one of the most troublesome existences among demon sovereigns, is not without reason."

"【37】 Compared to Nüwa, he is more capable of reasoning with people——before the option of subduing by force appears."

"【38】 At this moment, Xihuang, starting from the sentient beings, used the grand righteous slogan of myriad spirits' lives to refute the ancestral witches' stance and even the foundation of the entire Wu Clan, prying at their cornerstone."

"【39】 Magnificent and proper, reasonable and logical, it makes it hard for people to refute or pick faults."

"【40】 Houtu ancestral witch frowned, and the several accompanying great witches exchanged glances."

"【41】 Fortunately, at the critical moment, Di Jiang, as reliable as before, rebutted."

"【42】 'As the saying goes, long pain is worse than short pain.' He spoke solemnly, 'Indeed……war will indeed bring great casualties.'"

"【43】 'But!'"

"【44】 'War, however, is also the most capable of shackling-breaking the old era's fetters, building a more glorious future upon the wasteland!'"

"【45】 'We can certainly reckon an account.' Di Jiang said calmly, 'In such a backdrop, due to hunting up and down the food chain, and due to the strong acting without restraint or sanction, how great is the sentient sacrifice occurring every moment?'"

"【46】 'Under such a backdrop, even existing for a day means continual bleeding, a slow march toward death!'"

"【47】 'And if we establish a perfect order and then pursue great development……even if countless sentient beings die in war, after ages we could compensate for this loss.'"

"【48】 'Then, we will overtake!'"

"【49】 'In the long run, how could the Wu Clan's path and ideal be said to be incorrect!'"

"【50】 Di Jiang spoke passionately, while Fuxi listened and nodded along."

"【51】 Finally, this Xihuang even clapped for him, 'Reasonable, reasonable.'"

"【52】 'Fellow Daoist's heart, I deeply admire……' Fuxi the Great Sage said, 'Let's do this.'"

"【53】 'Wait a moment, I will activate my authority and connections as Demon Race sovereign to conduct a survey for you, fellow Daoist.'"

"【54】 'Rest assured, I will certainly be impartial and report everything truthfully.'"

"【55】 'Ask the vast myriad beings whether they are willing to sacrifice momentarily for the welfare of future sentient beings.'"

"【56】 'Hmm...' Xihuang pondered a moment, 'A survey of the myriad beings seems somewhat difficult?'"

"【57】 'Honghuang is too vast, the number of sentient beings too great!' He sighed, 'Moreover, many sentient beings are ignorant and oblivious……fundamentally unsuitable as survey targets, right?'"

"【58】 'No choice……it seems I must define the survey targets.' Xihuang sighed, 'For example, some cultivators with ability, some innately wise spirits, some sentient beings who have received good education……'"

"【59】 'These, when measured against the whole of Honghuang's base, can already be considered excellent talent……you'd agree, right?'"

Their wise gaze, I suppose the choices they make are also smart and far-sighted, right!

Besides, the demon gods of the Demon Race, the great divine abilities in the world—each and every one of them—I will send the questionnaires into their hands!

Xihuang, while muttering to himself, had already arranged the plan for this questionnaire survey.

This action, which seems to be colluding with the enemy and considering the Wu Clan, cannot bring even a hint of joy or a smile to Dijiang's face.

"Xihuang…… your so-called survey lacks any sincerity at all." Dijiang softly sighed, "You go ask the current era's order's vested interests, ask the benefiting exploiting classes, let their voices speak for all beings of heaven and earth…… Is such an answer meaningful?"

"How is it not meaningful?" Xihuang smiled and countered, "I'm not telling you——who is your enemy?"

"I don't take your money, that's already pretty good, yet you can't even recognize my good intentions?"

"You Wu Clan, reforming heaven, reforming earth, reforming the Dao…… since you've embarked on this path, you must be fully prepared mentally—truly, the whole world will be your enemy!"

"All beneficiaries will stand in the same camp, exerting pressure on you——this is natural and just." Xihuang leaned forward slightly, "Natural and just…… what else is it called?"

Without waiting for the ancestral witch to answer, he himself spoke up, "Called——heavenly numbers!"

"Wu Clan, your ideals may look grand, but they don't match the current trend, cannot align with the wishes of those beings who now hold power in this era."

"Like a lunatic talking in dreams, absurd…… Wu Clan, not knowing the heavenly numbers, you'll likely meet a bad end." Xihuang shook his head, seeming to pity the Wu Clan.

"Know the heavenly numbers?" Dijiang suddenly burst out laughing, "There's no such word in my life."

"The so-called heavenly numbers are merely a beautification by those with great power of their own will choices, borrowing the name of heaven's fairness and justice to carry out personal desires."

"Advising people to know the heavenly numbers is just another way of telling them to accept fate and bow their heads…… a casual mention of heavenly numbers has crushed how many people's determination to strive."

"Facing powerful enemies, facing harsh environments, not raising fists of resistance, but instead using heavenly numbers to define everything, going along with heaven's will……"

"Anyone who advises others to know the heavenly numbers, most of them are either lackeys for tigers or indifferent onlookers."

Fuxi the Great Sage listened to Dijiang's accusations, unmoved and unshaken, instead taking great interest in letting him vent, watching how he unleashed his tirade.

"What are the heavenly numbers of this era? We top-tier great abilities, who doesn't know?" Dijiang said, "After all, it's merely Hunyuan's idea, Hunyuan's will."

"He wants to unite with the Heavenly Dao, master the Heavenly Dao, and thereby advance."

"In such a process, he needs to eliminate some hidden dangers." The ancestral witch said in a chilling tone, "This hidden danger is not a single person…… but a will!"

"A kind of human defiance of heaven, remaking the world, letting heaven and earth turn for me—a great aspiration!"

"He wants to nip this risk in the bud…… therefore, he will tacitly allow the Demon Race to appear, tacitly allow the up-and-down ordering of each stratum."

"Let many strong ones be content with this situation, becoming his blades—lackeys for tigers…… even though countless lower beings are sacrificed here."

"But, these beings live and die…… how could he care?" As he spoke, Dijiang sneered, "If Hunyuan obtained the essence of the Heavenly Dao, that would actually be good. For the true Heavenly Dao is impartial and emotionless, yet utterly fair and just."

"It never concerns itself with gains or losses, silently maintaining the world's operation——an existence like an intelligence."

"Alas, Hunyuan, as a sentient being, instead has his own thoughts and desires, not only wanting the position of the Heavenly Dao, but also wanting to modify the scope of authority!"

"Moreover, the Heavenly Dao is incomplete!"

"Many innate divinities born in accordance with fate, crafted by Pangu, each possess a share of the Heavenly Dao, manifested externally as qi luck."

"If the deities' authorities were to combine, Hunyuan could never achieve absolute control of the Heavenly Dao…… that's why he convened the meeting at the the Zixiao Palace."

"In the the Zixiao Palace, with all deities present, it is his intention to buy shares and make himself the leader!"

Dijiang directly revealed the secret known only among top-tier great abilities, not caring how many Daluo onlookers are present, live broadcast.

"And as part of this interest exchange, he must also tacitly allow the gods to divide the benefits of Honghuang heaven and earth." Dijiang said, "Therefore, saints emerge, executing heaven's Dao on its behalf."

"With the Monster Clan Heavenly Court emerging, it rules the world."

"Such interest exchange, binding the strong's intentions, accomplishes the so-called great trend, the so-called heavenly numbers."

"But, this heavenly number originating from primordial chaos is nothing more than poison wrapped in honey."

Dijiang's gaze was cold, "Do you dare guarantee that you can forever stand on the same battle line with him?"

"primordial chaos advances greedily, his desires insatiable…… his greed absolutely exceeds your imagination."

"The River of Time, listening to the notes of the future……"

He seemed like a song, like a chant.

"Under the heavenly numbers, the Wu Clan's sorrowful end comes, I remained silent——because I am not of the Wu Clan."

"Under the heavenly numbers, saints take drugs to withdraw from the world, I also remained silent——because I am not a saint."

"Under the heavenly numbers, the degenerate age arrives, the cultivation path is cut…… I wanted to speak, but now no one can stand up to respond to me."

"Only a single heavenly thunderbolt, crashing down, shattering all gods and forms."

Dijiang sneered, "Oh, dying by lightning strike might not be suitable…… the traces of the Heavenly Dao's hand are too heavy."

"It should be said, it is a demonic calamity of the present age……"

"When the Dao rises, demons fall; when the Dao falls, demons rise, right?"

"Rahu, shall reappear in the world!"

"Huh?" Xihuang blinked, blinked again, "Wait…… Rahu isn't dead? I heard he self-destructed and died, possibly to sink into immeasurable time."

"primordial chaos, the big winner who seized the last victory fruit of the previous era, what a terrifying existence!"

"One who has sworn to revenge his enemies, how could he let things take their course, pretending they don't exist?"

"Waiting for him to secretly do things later, rally opponents, secretly raise the banner of rebellion?"

"If it were you, would you have such a heart?"

Fuxi listened, thought seriously for a moment, then shook his head, "Letting the tiger return to the mountain…… of course not."

"That's it!" Dijiang clapped his hands, "As far as I know……"

"Not long after the demon ancestor Rahu swore his oath and died, primordial chaos exerted immense divine power, scoured the ages, summoned souls and spirits, bringing this demon ancestor back to life, looking at him with a ferocious grin——"

"Are you surprised or not? Unexpected or not?"

PS: I'll tell you a scary story——once there was a group of people who loved spoilers, and then

(End of chapter)