Chapter 395

At this moment, Fengxi and Kui Niu, locked in a bloody battle and wishing they could beat the opponent's brains out, are unaware that they are being casually evaluated by someone.

However, even if they knew…… it would actually be of no use.

After all, the Donghua Emperor and the Dragon Ancestor Ancient God are beings standing at the pinnacle; with a flip of the hand they can overturn ordinary great powers, possessing that strength and also that qualification to comment on their lives.

At the very least, that's how it is now.

Later?

Then it's hard to say.

In the era of the Great Calamity, it is filled with danger as well as opportunity.

Some have taken the right side, survived to the end, and casually seized the losers' property, thus advancing triumphantly into a new level.

Some die early in battle; even if their strength does not diminish, various hidden losses—reputation, influence, and so on—will add many obstacles to future advancement, depriving them of considerable important cultivation resources.

Such as luck and merit!

For those at the Great Luo level, standing at the peak of the Dao, there are too few things that can still affect them and aid their cultivation.

Luck and merit are a very important accelerator.

Without it, do you still want to improve?

It's not impossible.

Great Luo can cultivate and verify themselves, continuously improve, and go further on their chosen path.

But that is far too slow.

Perhaps only after tens or hundreds of Great Calamities have passed can a newly promoted Great Luo barely manage to reach the level of a great divine ability—that is, the threshold of a quasi-Saint.

Grand Simplicity Great Luo, Saint Supreme Emperor?

Hmm.

If we multiply that foundation by a thousand or eight hundred times, there should be a glimmer of hope.

This is the situation of self-study.

To achieve such efficiency through closed-door development is something to be grateful for.

Fortunately, in Honghuang there are many innate deities, and those who prove the Dao as Great Luo keep appearing.

When everyone gathers together, it's like having a study interest group: they discuss, each tries and errs, exchange experiences—in short, it's discussing the Dao… which can greatly shorten the time needed for improvement and speed up progress.

Discussing the Dao can be peaceful, you say a sentence, I say a sentence; it can also be intense, starting from military competition, mutually pushing each other to improve.

A companion on the Great Dao is of considerable benefit.

But such a companion ultimately cannot compare to wealth!

Luck and merit are the wealth of Great Luo.

This precious thing refined from the human realm is essentially the wool sheared from Honghuang, this Pangu-level Great Luo, and is the currency recognized by Honghuang.

Wealth can connect with the divine!

With this luck, one can directly interact with the origin of Honghuang, with this Pangu…… which is equivalent to inviting a perfect private tutor.

The study group crushes closed-door development, and the private tutor likewise crushes group discussion.

That effect is perfect, except it costs more.

Having a renowned teacher give remedial lessons works well, but it also costs a lot.

Of course, remedial lessons are voluntary—as long as one can endure loneliness, watch others make rapid progress, graduate from elementary school (ordinary Great Luo), enter middle school (senior Great Luo), then continue advancing triumphantly to become an outstanding high school student (ordinary great power), further sublimate, achieve a breakthrough in some field, becoming a college student (top-tier great power)…

College is not the end.

One can continue advanced study to become a graduate student, able to meet the trends of the times and engage in large-scale social practice…… this is the realm of the Grand Simplicity Great Luo!

After becoming a graduate student, with further effort one can become a scholar renowned in the age, the highest achiever in a field, honorably evolving into a professor academician, able to wield enormous influence in this Honghuang 'school'—that is, Pangu!

The later it gets, the lower the private tutor's effect, after all the knowledge level is quickly catching up.

But if the early stage is gone, can we still hope for the later stage?

Also it's fine, for Great Luo are like students—there's no problem of demotion; a third-grader can't just study and fall back to second grade, at most they repeat a year.

By slowly grinding over time, one way or another can reach ninth grade, achieving perfection in the senior Great Luo level.

After all.

Honghuang's rules are still quite humane, with a compulsory education stage that counts as a benefit for every Great Luo, allowing them to receive basic support.

But if one wants to stand out?

One still needs to start with a renowned teacher, break through high school and college consecutively, to become a person above others.

Wealth, companion, method, land… in that order is the importance of various cultivation resources in Honghuang.

Land is useless, for anyone can open up vast cosmic rivers of stars and create myriad heavens and worlds.

The method's usefulness is minimal; no matter how good another's Dao is, it is ultimately not one's own.

A companion's effect is remarkable; discussing the Dao together gives rise to inspiration, allowing one to see the path ahead.

Luck and merit constitute the greatest royal way of Honghuang!

And together with the Great Calamity.

It is a great reshuffling of wealth, where grassroots have hope to seize the opportunity and rise against the tide, taking advantage of the fact that the former school bully is being severely punished by the school, placed under observation and held back a year, freezing much of their property, then redistributing it… allowing oneself to achieve a splendid transformation.

Everything is possible.

Just like now.

On the battlefield, the two opposing sides, with thousands of Great Luo deities locked in intertwined slaughter…… perhaps someone could seize this opportunity, a splendid turn, and become a future person above others, a terrifyingly great figure.

Of course, as for who could hope to stand out?

The old-guard powerhouses basically all know the score.

After all, the best era has already passed; it is no longer the age of dragons and phoenixes running rampant, when opportunities were everywhere.

Right now, the major pits have all been occupied; simply daring to fight and struggle is no longer effective.

There must be someone behind to support the initial capital.

To stand out in this era, one more or less needs a patron's support; old aristocrats and new tycoons have reached an agreement of interests—you carry on my will, and I will give you aid.

Without doubt.

In the eyes of Emperor Donghua and the Dragon Ancestor, Fengxi is the quintessential representative of the new model.

This is a man with a background.

The eyes of the vast divinities are as bright as snow.

This candidate for Wind Lord, besides having behind him the uncertain Mandate of Yandi, his skill at sponging off others is first-rate, having received Nüwa's strong investment, truly makes the gods envious.

As for whether this sponging can be done securely?

It's still quite a test of one's ability.

When the Dragon Ancestor conversed with Emperor Donghua, his tone carried a hint of sourness.

He watched the Novice rise so quickly… then, comparing it to his own early entrepreneurial days, with all sorts of vexing matters, his mood became very complicated for a moment.

'Traitor!'

'A great traitor!'

The Dragon Ancestor glanced at Donghua beside him, then again calculated the ruler‑minister relationship between Nüwa and Fengxi, silently muttering in his heart, not knowing whether he was aiming at someone or cursing someone.

On the contrary, Emperor Donghua had little prejudice; he even slightly thought highly of Fengxi, and at the same time praised Nüwa's vision, believing that this lady's talent was outstanding and her wisdom supreme, that in selecting and employing people she would certainly not miss the mark.

Fengxi surely has the ability to live up to Nüwa's wholehearted investment; he will reach the peak of the Great Luo and, together with the top echelon, look down upon Honghuang.

"Do you think he can become a Taiyi Great Luo?" the Dragon Ancestor mumbled, "On the same level as us?"

"That's quite a high evaluation."

The Dragon Ancestor said as such.

"Taiyi… I guess that counts."

Donghua gave a slight nod.

"That's not so good for the Heavenly Court, is it?" the Dragon Ancestor clicked his tongue, "If you don't act, won't you suppress him a bit?"

"The Heavenly Court has plenty of talent; why would I need to act?" Emperor Donghua shook his head, "Besides, Kui Niu also enjoys Taiyi's favor; over these years in the Heavenly River navy he's been promoted like crazy, and is no longer what he once was."

"This young man still has to pass this hurdle before he qualifies as a major strike target of the Heavenly Court."

"My current task is still to guard against an ancient god."

"Oh? Who? Please tell me more." the Dragon Ancestor smiled.

"Naturally, it's Gonggong, who recently caused a great disturbance in my Heavenly Court." Donghua patted the sword at his waist, grinning brightly, "That Gonggong fellow is indeed a skilled Taiyi practitioner."

"I've drawn the Heavenly Court's salary for many years; at a critical moment I naturally cannot lose the chain… If Gonggong dares to show up today, I will surely thrust a thousand or eight hundred swords into him, making him remember it for a long time."

Instantly, the Dragon Ancestor's pupils contracted and the smile on his face vanished.

"I never expected that Daoist Donghua would have such loyal devotion to the Heavenly Court." the Dragon Ancestor said with hidden meaning, "But you must be careful, Daoist friend!"

"The world is in chaos, and petty people cause trouble."

"It is suspected that Daoist friend once had overly close contact with the human race and also frequently interacted with Nüwa… At that time, slanderers might pour dirty water on you and label you a traitor."

"No fear! No fear!" Emperor Donghua said calmly, "Is there any evidence for these things?"

"Without evidence, it's just framing and entrapment… even if it goes to court."

"Who dares to sue this official below?"

"My loyalty as the Grand Minister of Fate to the Heavenly Court is something that can be shown under heaven and day!"

If there is deeper meaning in Donghua's words, "Once one reaches my position, it's no longer something that mere rumors can overturn."

"Don't say it's just rumors."

"Even if it's true."

"Selling out one's faction's interests can be cloaked in the guise of love and peace."

"Guiding buyers, likewise, can style oneself as the radiance pursuing freedom."

"Calling black white."

"Calling white black."

"Old Dragon."

"After all these years, your study of the thick‑black art is still not thorough enough."

Emperor Donghua's tone suddenly turned indifferent, "If you use such tricks against me, you are underestimating me."

"Likewise, you are underestimating Di Jun."

"That is also an emperor with deep scheming."

The Dragon Ancestor fell silent.

After a while, he finally sighed, "All right."

"In this Wu-Yao Vanguard War, the ancestral Wu of Gonggong appears to be constantly on horseback rushing here."

"However, I am quite curious."

The Dragon Ancestor stroked his chin, "Your attitude has shifted so decisively, your stance so firm, that in the blink of an eye you've become a great loyalist of the Heavenly Court… What secret deal have you struck with Di Jun and Taiyi?"

"Look at what you're saying." Emperor Donghua shook his head, "I, Donghua, have lived my life openly and uprightly; how could I have any covert conduct?"

"Hmph!" the Dragon Ancestor gave a cold snort.

Donghua also didn't mind, saying leisurely, "Di Jun has yielded."

"My reform demands will be approved in the near future and implemented from top to bottom."

The Dragon Ancestor's pupils instantly contracted, "He truly has resolve."

"Of course, Di Jun is very decisive." Donghua nodded, "With war imminent, he wants to squeeze every ounce of strength from the Demon Race to pour into the war against the Wu Clan."

"He plants a stimulant beforehand, dangling the bait of hope before countless Demon Race folk to lure them into active action… standard procedure, standard procedure."

Since the reform can pass, then logically I should naturally be a loyal subject of the Heavenly Court, right!

No need to scheme, go to a brand‑new place, plant the seeds of reform…… I love the Demon Race, I love them deeply!

The Eastern Splendor Emperor spoke solemnly.

Hearing this, the Dragon Ancestor wanted to speak but held back, really not knowing how to evaluate.

What a loyal subject!

He clenched his fists, gazing at the great collision battlefield; the Wu Clan's vanguard forces were somewhat at a disadvantage—after all, they had suffered a slight numerical disadvantage, and Nüwa was also being jointly restrained by Di Jun and Taiyi, so there was no hope for the moment.

The Dragon Ancestor wanted to intervene, join the battle, but seeing the Grand Marshal who had always been on strict alert, whose fate had condensed the supreme heavenly regulations and wove the heavenly law net, wanting to break through this blockade…… the hope was really slim.

"Ah."

He sighed inwardly, yet he wasn't too discouraged.

After all, there are still many top experts who have joined the Wu Clan.

He cannot act, but someone else will take his place!

"Buzz!"

Time and ages began to undulate slowly at this moment.

One venerable deity who had dominated the ancient Dragon‑Phoenix era and reigned supreme over Honghuang…… stirred!

It has a human face and a serpentine body, red, its eyes open straight. Its closed eyes are darkness, its open eyes are light. It eats not, sleeps not, rests not; wind and rain are its audience; it is called…… the Candle Dragon!

The vicissitudes of ancient time rippled, sweeping toward that battlefield.

This primordial being who had shaken the universe since ancient times is that mighty and terrifying…… its colossal true form, billions of li tall, stands firm in Chaos; the traces of time cut through the ages, defining Chaos's evolution.

The Primordial Five Extremes, in order from Grand Simplicity to Supreme Ultimate, are the free elaboration of something from nothing.

And if reversed?

Then it is the cultivation of pursuing the realm of Pangu as a Great Luo!

At this moment, the most ancient time deity undulated the wheel of time; its mighty, awe‑inspiring presence left all the gods trembling.

With Its advance, even Chaos began to turn faint and illusory!

All returns to nothing, tracing back to the state of Grand Simplicity!

If he succeeds, the Wu Clan's disadvantage can be wiped out in one fell swoop!

After all, if we truly returned to the very beginning, we would all be a single stream of indestructible primordial spiritual light; wanting to tear each other apart then…… would be far more difficult.

One must first go through several steps, personally drive the evolution of the Primordial Five Extremes, then have each other lock onto spacetime dao markers…… it's all rather troublesome.

But It did not manage to exert Its full power.

"Candle Dragon Great Sage!"

At the critical moment, the Heavenly Court's Strategist, who usually looks frail and weak, the Yao Marshal Báizé stepped forward.

He put down his brush, took up his weapon, and in an instant the entire divine capital changed, gaining an aura of stern dignity.

"Why bother getting involved?"

"It's just a squabble of little fellows; what does winning or losing matter? It's no harm to the great elegance."

"Better to just keep me company on the side and watch the show!"

(End of chapter)