Chapter 417

Don't be impulsive! Don't be impulsive!

The Donghuang Emperor watched the Dragon Ancestor, who wanted to fight him to the death, waving his hands repeatedly, actively changing the subject, "Look, look!"

The results are about to come out there!

The victory or defeat is about to be revealed!

What could attract more attention than the gathering of the five peak powerhouses to discuss the Dao and compare strengths?

Nothing!

Even the Dragon Ancestor, a Great Luo who has reached the Great Simplicity level, upon Donghuang's reminder, immediately turned his gaze back there… perhaps because of his love and devotion to cultivation, to see how a cultivator who has gone further fights; or perhaps to prepare for the future, to learn in advance about the stumbling blocks on the Pangu road, so that when the day comes he won't be caught off guard.

……

The four top powerhouses clash at their peak, two versus two, with another one standing aside to dispel all destruction, like a referee to athletes or a guardian, preventing many Great Luo from being killed for no reason.

It is not due to insufficient finesse in power control.

But rather a tremendous infectious force, an assimilation of the Great Dao!

Because those fighting here are all the supremely hopeful Supreme Emperors of Pangu of this era; they have gone too far on their cultivation path, every move flowing with the supreme profundity of Great Simplicity, effortlessly conjuring nearly all qi, matter, even the Great Dao and concepts, all created by the mind… This is the pinnacle achievement in cultivation!

Among these profundities, the observing Great Luo become so enamored that they involuntarily feel the urge to imitate.

To hear the Dao in the morning is enough to die content by evening!

This is the attraction of a higher life stage to them, surpassing all temptations built from acquired worldviews, the most primal dream and pursuit.

Then they easily fall into it.

Who let Great Simplicity involve the cultivation of 'Nothing'?

If the foundation is insufficient, yet curiosity runs rampant… then a price must certainly be paid.

Failing to imitate even a one-two-three, they instead turned themselves into Nothing; with a wild maneuver they restored factory settings, formatting away the later-added data, leaving only a single innate immortal spiritual light drifting to and fro.

This is just that no one targeted them; it counts as an accidental encounter, otherwise to return they'd have to roll in the mortal world for who knows how many years.

Xihuang sighed, feeling compassion, and simply intervened—not to stop the fight, but to lightly place some checks, lest those newcomers just starting out be harmed.

Perhaps knowing such a supreme being had their back, Nüwa, Di Jun, Hongjun, and the human essence fought more gleefully, without restraint.

After all, they originally had to worry about their own people being Dao-ified… now they don't!

Thus.

The final, and most brilliant, burst of light!

Hongjun and Di Jun joined forces in tacit understanding, while Nüwa and the human essence united their power.

The ultimate collision of this era occurs.

Is it that human calculation falls short of heavenly calculation?

Or does human determination conquer heaven?

Both will be revealed here.

An immeasurable ocean of light, it floods and covers all spacetime, the limit of all language humanity can imagine to describe, and even the myriad divine powers cannot be fully expressed.

The four supreme powerhouses wage a bloody battle upon it, transcending the bounds of thought, breaking through the limits of concepts, an inconceivable battle.

In the midst, a big shot jumps up and down there… because he was once incredibly powerful, lonely with no rivals, now retired and taking up the role of referee.

As for this referee, Di Jun and the human essence are fine, having no major objections.

But Hongjun and Nüwa… these two were once persuaded by the doctrine of 'constant improvement', bought into the pie in the sky, working hard overtime, easily becoming model workers of millions of years; now a fire of malice burns in their hearts, wanting to temporarily abandon their opponents and knock that eyesore referee to the ground.

But considering the more important Pangu undertaking, they set aside this malicious thought.

Otherwise, if the referee, after being beaten, harbors resentment, shifts from his current ambiguous stance to firmly support the other side, and blows his black whistle wildly… the loss would be too great!

If one wants to strike the referee, it's best to do so when the Great Calamity is about to end and the outcome is already clear.

At that time, Xihuang could then pass away.

A ray of spiritual light slips away in disgrace, counting as loyalty to the Heavenly Court.

Occasionally their glances meet, each perceiving the other's ill intentions; Hongjun and Nüwa feel a slight mutual sympathy, for we are fellow Dao practitioners!

Then they both tacitly embellished their findings and secretly told Fuxi, hoping to draw this balance‑breaking chip into their own camp.

Hmm.

Indeed, fellow Dao practitioners, they do much the same thing.

Reporting, filing lawsuits—same world, same routine.

But disappointing them, Fuxi isn't very interested; a perfunctory verbal reply suffices.

Thus, Hongjun and Nüwa could only grit their teeth and deadlock with the opposing side.

But they didn't know that at one moment, Fuxi's eyes flashed with a strange light.

"Two traitors… heh…"

"Do I need you to help me purge the court?"

Xihuang slightly lowered his head, curled the corner of his mouth, and twitched his finger… This seems a purely unintentional gesture, yet also like some kind of covert signal transmission.

……

"Hum!"

The colliding ocean of light, that vast power capable of covering the Myriad Heavens and all ages past and future, finally must decide victory or defeat.

Is the combination of Heavenly Dao and the Demon Race the stronger side?

Or can the combination of Nüwa and the human essence defy heaven?

The answer will soon be revealed.

"Come!"

The Myriad Heavens trembled, the ages surged; with Hongjun's light shout, the force of the Heavenly Dao side gained a formidable support, becoming the straw that broke the balance.

Originally, the peak forces of the two camps were nearly equal. Yet at this moment the balance was pierced, tilting toward Hongjun, giving him the upper hand and wildly expanding his advantage.

I won't accept it!

Nüwa sighed sadly, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, "You're cheating!"

"No matter how you slander me, this is still my ability." Hongjun said softly, "Where there is a boundary, there is Heaven."

"You've been using me as a server for so many years... but being a server also has its benefits."

"Who let those years turn everyone into infrastructure maniacs?"

"Wherever we build servers, even in the most remote corners of spacetime, we always run a line of the Heavenly Dao's network in."

"From time to time we still do a hardware upgrade, even if it loses money, just to raise efficiency."

"This is good governance."

"But it's also the reason for your failure right now."

"When I decide to use this power, your opponent won't be just me... but also an even older remnant."

"With the Demon Race's cooperation, it will be perfectly executed."

"Nüwa!"

"What gives you the right to defeat me!"

Originally their overall combat strength was nearly equal, but one side was suddenly strengthened... how can we still fight!

Nüwa was unwilling, yet she could do nothing.

Hongjun is going to win!

Unless she immediately manifests Pangu's true form, there is still hope to turn the tide.

But... is it worth it?

Now we don't need to fish anymore.

A Vanguard war expanded to this extent is already insane enough... if it's just out of spite, betting on a momentary win or loss, throwing out two heavyweight pieces?

Nüwa felt this deal seemed to be a loss.

She watched helplessly as the sea of light rolled back, endless spacetime reappearing, infinite variables intertwining, guided by Hongjun's will, all the Myriad Heavens and realms, past, present, and future, honoring the Heavenly Dao's Supreme as highest.

Again she saw the vast myriad races, gaining spiritual awareness and intelligence, calling themselves the Demon Race, seeking to dominate the rise and fall of all realms beyond Honghuang.

This is the consequence of the Vanguard's defeat in battle.

Although it doesn't greatly affect the overall situation, it does give the enemy some fresh troops, expands the flow of fortune, and adds a useful card.

Just as the sea of light was about to sweep up to Nüwa's side, determining the final outcome.

The human essence reached out, seemingly wanting to pat her head to comfort her, but ultimately just lightly tapped Nüwa's shoulder.

Nüwa turned her head, looking at this being who had always charged forward, now covered in blood.

Compared to many innate deities who have lived for ages yet still act young and slick, this vividly proves that living forever without dying is just being a thief.

This human essence's will is merely a newborn baby. Yet he acts steadily and firmly, possessing many of the fine qualities Nüwa hoped he would have.

Daring to sacrifice, filial and pure—Nüwa is the creator of humanity, also his mother, so the injuries sustained in battle have mostly been borne by him willingly.

Such virtue, such spirit... if the circumstances allowed, Nüwa would want to personally instruct each god, urging them to learn from him.

Less slickness! More sincerity!

Let's learn more from the human essence comrade!

This is the conscience of the Human Dao!

The conscience of the Great Luo!

Indeed, having been shaped by the baptism of the Five Virtues' Great Dao, virtue truly is the most exalted!

"I'll go open a path."

The human essence spoke each word with pause, yet it outweighed ten thousand words.

"This..." Nüwa hesitated, feeling somewhat reluctant.

"The Heavenly Dao is mighty, the Demon Race numerous." The human essence coughed blood, "Their foundations are deep, this is beyond doubt."

"If we compete on foundations, we cannot match them."

"The only way to survive is to compete on spirit, on will, being able to sacrifice, daring to sacrifice..."

"Only by sacrificing can one's ambition be grand."

"It can make the sun and moon change the heavens!"

"We humans are born with a special talent in soul and will, surpassing myriad other races... Isn't this exactly what you, Mother, have already foreseen in the unseen future?"

"To defeat an opponent with deep foundations, only this basic condition can give hope to create a miracle."

"My people, I don't know how many will die in peace; they must all tread this endless road, making sacrifices, just to correct the era's mistakes, bringing hope and beauty to tomorrow."

"If my people are like this, how could I not be?"

The blood on the human essence kept flowing more and more... within his body, a splendid light shone, the most beautiful and pure radiance of the soul, now burning.

"Besides, even if I fill in, I won't die."

"It's merely restoring the initial settings... The people have poured countless efforts into cultivating me, forging my three views; that concentrated spirit of sacrifice, in this way, ignites the Demon Race's free pursuit."

"In the struggle for the protagonists of heaven and earth, we are enemies."

"But in the pursuit of dreams and beauty, we are friends!"

"We are all part of the Human Dao, so how could we endure being oppressed by the Heavenly Dao?"

"If there's no chance, then forget it."

"Once there is an opportunity, it will be earth-shattering... I will create this opportunity!"

The human essence laughed brightly, laughed purely.

His hand resting on Nüwa's shoulder was drawing something... that was the aura of Yandi's Dao fruit.

Nüwa remained silent, she did not stop.

When that breath merged with the human essence... he thus underwent the most subtle change, making Nüwa unable to see through completely.

A spark transmitted, seemingly triggering some kind of transformation—like fire burning out, leaving the most fertile land.

Nüwa could not explain that inexplicable feeling, and she had little time to savor it.

Because, the human essence has risen!

Under the astonished gazes of Hongjun and Di Jun, he plunged into the surging waves of that vast ocean!

In an instant, his form shattered.

Only a purest, most beautiful soul radiance remained.

In that wave sweeping away everything, it was so insignificant.

But, faintly, it was resonating and communicating with something.

Transcending the barriers of cognition, breaking the isolation of thought, this special life formed from countless human beliefs—like Hongjun's miraculous birth from communing with the Heavenly Dao—he returned to the vast torrent of the Human Dao, as if returning home.

As far as the eye could see, they were all kin, able to listen, able to speak.

He did only one thing: before being assimilated by the Human Dao, he poured out the dream of humanity.

Perhaps this chicken soup, once given, could only invigorate the Human Dao temporarily; the next day it would return to its original state—procrastination remained procrastination, lack of ambition remained lack of ambition.

But while the chicken soup took effect, he was the finest lad!

The Human Dao, composed of countless beings.

If each being gave him a hundred dollars, he would become the richest... ah, no, I mean if each being were willing to contribute a bit of strength, he could achieve a miracle, a dream.

"I want to... overturn this Heavenly Dao!"

Murmuring, he made his wish.

Thus the soul's radiance took on a hint of red, then shone, expanded, suffused, and spread!

In an extremely short time, it illuminated the Myriad Heavens, shone upon the epoch, made myriad ages change color, been assimilated, locked onto a single outcome!

"Stop him!"

Hongjun's avatar changed color, and said to Di Jun.

Di Jun's face showed great tension; in the name of the Demon Race's Heavenly Emperor, he issued an order to quell the power of the uncontrolled demons within the Human Dao.

But...

Useless!

I don't even know if it's truly useless or falsely useless.

Anyway, in the end reporting to Hongjun, Di Jun expressed that he had no recourse.

"We demons can't seize any advantage at all."

"Strong, yet also has weaknesses... this pursuit of freedom, nature loving mutation, I can't do anything about it, right?"

"Fortunately, this is merely able to release a moment's power... whereas war often lasts millions of years, no problem."

"You think it's no problem? I have a problem!" Hongjun's face darkened, he urgently dodged, while that vast light sea trembled, seeking to slash down this light born from within, overturning everything, but...

"Don't act as if I don't exist!"

A faint sigh, Nüwa stepped forward with a grim face to suppress, leaving Hongjun with no escape.

(End of chapter)