Chapter 455

"Donghua, the time when he became active and famous wasn't very early."

Houtu chatted away, introducing to Fengxi some secret historical details that ordinary means could hardly see: "Tracing back to the earliest time of proving the Dao, in the present Taiyi Daluo, after removing Donghuang and Tianhuang—those two fellows who have some puppet attributes—as well as the Heavenly Dao's disgraceful little brother type of cheat player, he is almost the latest."

"Even so, many of the Ancestral Witches and Yao Marshals who peaked at the Taiyi stage attained the Dao before him."

"In terms of seniority, he is at a disadvantage……but through his own efforts he truly elucidated what it means to be stronger and older, not merely older and stronger."

"By relying on his outstanding ability, he reshaped his own résumé, making many people feel inferior before him……I, Nüwa, have admired few in my life, but he can be counted as one." Houtu smiled faintly, "And it is precisely this living example of his that inspired and encouraged me, prompting me to resolutely walk a similar path, forever filled with fervent blood, returning home to practice with Fuxi."

"As for now, his cultivation level still lags far behind……but it is coming soon, for I have already seen a glimmer of hope ahead."

"Hahaha……"

As Houtu spoke carefree, the ancestral witches in the hall occasionally let out muffled laughs.

Fengxi also smiled faintly, silently shedding a tear of sympathy for the Great Sage Fuxi in his heart.

How miserable!

"Alright, you guys stop laughing." Houtu didn't mind this bit of "family scandal" being known—those present were all old friends, who wouldn't know about the things between Fuxi and Nüwa? But knowing is knowing, and if you all laugh so gleefully, it's not good.

Especially that so-and-so……oh right, it's Emperor Jiang.

Your smile makes the great Lady Nüwa feel extremely uncomfortable, an indescribable strangeness……gloomy and chilling, making goosebumps rise all over.

Following Houtu's request, everyone also gave face, suppressing their laughter, sitting upright with solemn, obedient, and convinced expressions.

Houtu felt satisfied, sensing her leadership at its peak, her attention turning to Fengxi and past memories.

Fengxi listened carefully to the grand secret of ancient history, while his brows unconsciously furrowed slightly……he pondered the recent situation, always feeling something subtle about Lady Nüwa's ruling authority.

That subtlety, hard to describe concretely, carries an atmosphere that can be sensed but not put into words.

That is he, Fengxi, who has been regent of humanity for years, still a human king who day and night engages in scheming and intrigue—internally, balancing the various totem clans of humanity, uniting under the banner of the Feng clan; externally, waging a war of public opinion and information with the Heavenly Court, fiercely contending for the high ground.

Over the years he has honed a set of skills—compared to Nüwa's frantic logistical buffing, his sense of smell in certain aspects is far sharper.

Now, a spark of inspiration flashes in his mind, and Fengxi suddenly detects a very subtle atmosphere among the Ancestral Witches……does Nüwa have ruling authority within the Wu Clan?

Yes!

But it is absolutely not the kind of authority Nüwa imagined; in Fengxi's view, it carries a very strange meaning.

This strangeness is not apparent in major decisions——because no one is anyone's vassal, each has independent judgment, understands striving for their own interests.

On the contrary, in some minor matters one can find a trace……just like now.

Some ancestral witches obey orders, like Xuanming, because they are convinced by Nüwa's personal charm.

Some ancestral witches obey orders, like Chujuyin, because they acknowledge Nüwa's personal ability and are willing to yield on small details.

Still some ancestral witches——for example, Gonggong, he obeys orders purely because he cannot win, and marching in step gets him meat……thus, giving you some face is no problem.

Above, all that is still normal.

But some ancestral witches……Fengxi's peripheral vision carefully observed Emperor Jiang, Qiángliáng, Jumang, and a few other ancestral witches.

"You……are willing to obey Lady Nüwa's orders on trivial matters, as if treating her as a mascot or lucky charm?!"

"This is quite outrageous……"

"If it weren't for the fact that I am about to be called 'father' in the eyes of my clansmen, considering the necessity of acting, I have polished tens of thousands of trumpets, honed my acting skills in the Myriad Heavens, so as to perfectly portray the image of a loving father……I might not even have grasped this subtlety……"

Those without experience in doting on others often find it hard to notice the subtlety of similar fellows.

Fengxi firmly believes he may have discovered something significant.

Within the camp of the Twelve Ancestral Witches……some members have serious problems!

Nüwa's authority over them is fundamentally different from what she imagined!

It is not the reverence and obedience of subjects to a ruler, but rather——

"Stupid sister/good daughter, seeing you are still young, I will indulge your wishes……that's all!"

Fengxi began to ponder whether, after this, he should give Nüwa a small report.

But then he thought again, feeling perhaps it wasn't necessary?

After all, this is purely a matter of personal conviction, filled with "I think" and "I believe" kind of baseless feelings; Fengxi cannot produce concrete evidence, and even if he spoke, Nüwa might not believe it.

Furthermore……

"Actually, this might be better, right?"

"At least it proves that Lady Nüwa is not merely capable of uniting hearts; her position within the Wu Clan is stable……having these ancestral witches who treat her as a mascot and lucky charm, even if they reach a dead end, they will still earnestly help her."

"Unlike Gonggong and his ilk, who are ambitious and constantly harbor thoughts of seizing the throne; they might just openly split."

"Not uniting these mascot-faction teammates would instead breed hidden grudges, destroy the foundation—something no wise person would do."

Fengxi suppressed the urge to gossip in his heart, decided not to give Nüwa a small report, and then happily squatted to one side to enjoy the show.

In silence, he made a major decision.

Meanwhile, Houtu continued recounting "Back then……", how it was, how it was.

According to her, she truly came into contact with Emperor Donghua as an old senior, almost having watched Donghua grow and rise, from an ordinary deity leaping to become a stunning Saint, surpassing many predecessors.

Hmm.

The inspirational process here is comparable to some gossip—like the life histories of the Two Western Sages.

Although these two Heavenly Dao Saints play with capital, toss the economy, advocate pre-consumption, hawk various afterlife insurances, thus being disliked by many, who secretly spread rumors, causing them to be blackened in many versions……but black is black, it's merely adaptation, not fabrication.

Setting aside the complicated surface, striking at the root, then describing it in another way……the depictions in those versions are simply the most inspirational myths!

True, and touching the heart.

Look——

The Two Buddhist Saints, born into poverty/Western barrenness, simultaneously because of this, went to the prestigious school—the Zixiao Palace—to study, their clothes tattered, appearance shabby, almost late.

Whether they are good people is temporarily not judged……just look at this fearless of hardship, eager-to-learn attitude; as a good teacher, Dao Ancestor Hongjun cannot but care for some?

Arranging two front-row seats—what's wrong with that?

No problem.

The pair of impoverished students studied diligently in the the Zixiao Palace, striving upward every day, and thus finally caught the eye of Dao Ancestor Hongjun; considering the barrenness of the Western lands, he let them, after completing their studies, return to their hometown to undertake a great endeavor, so that the various industries and economy of the Western lands could rise—this is support from the decree, care for the overall situation, and the brilliance of the human Dao shining throughout Honghuang!

Is there a problem with that?

Also no problem!

It is completely in line with the Heavenly Dao, the human Dao—Heaven and humanity see the West's hardship, letting others go there to start businesses and support development, yet no one wants to go, preferring to stay in comfortable places as reclusive immortals… If they refuse a toast, don't blame Heaven and humanity for jointly agreeing and using the decree to look after the West.

The two Saints of the Buddhist Sect did not disappoint… They came from poor mountains and remote lands, and after achieving some success, they actively returned to their hometown to establish an enterprise—the Buddhist Sect. Although there was a lot of trickery involved, they indeed did solid work, striving to develop their homeland and achieve the westward advancement of talent!

This is another interpretation of the little rumor that spreads widely throughout the Myriad Heavens.

Change the way of description, and the flavor completely changes.

Jieyin and Zhunti are practically the epitome of inspiration, vividly describing two grassroots figures who, starting from nothing, through boldness, meticulousness, thick-skinnedness, etc., helped build a massive enterprise capable of entering the top ten of Honghuang!

This process is practically a protagonist template, right?

That's exactly why.

Some Great Luo suspect that the rumors and gossip about the Buddhist Sect are so numerous, and the images of those two Saints are so blackened, perhaps a large part of it is actually the Buddhist Sect's own operation—building on others' smears, they suddenly intensified, fabricating a whole series of grudges and grievances to portray Jieyin and Zhunti as 'shameless'.

An ancient god muttered behind the scenes, this is a perfect PR propaganda method… First, it can selectively filter out blind followers who go with the flow and believe hearsay, allowing those insightful enough to hit the core to see the Buddhist Sect's strength from the darkness— the strength of a force relies on top-tier talent holding the fort!

On the other hand, waiting for those half-believing, half-doubting talents to tour and visit the Buddhist Sect, they then suddenly turn around, revealing the truth and clarifying many rumors— a series of moves that will turn even haters into fans, and even make their impression clearer and deeper.

This wave, exactly which level is it standing on?

Perhaps, aside from a few leaders of the Buddhist Sect, no one can clearly know the actual situation.

After all, too many Great Luo have been mixed in, muddying the waters.

However.

It's quite frightening…

The Buddhist Sect's such inspiration has a large false component… They have not a blade of grass growing, simply because they are located in the West, whose attribute is metal, which overcomes wood, yet they abound in immortal gold—there's a home in the genuine mines; the ancient Buddha Jieyin was active from the very beginning of the primordial era, even able to hold an executive position in the Heaven and Earth Bank, and now, with the era's activation, they instantly established a full-chain credit-loan industry, earning interest to the point of being stuffed.

But there is one person… He is a genuine, living inspirational myth, not fabricated!

——Emperor Donghua!

……Donghua, his wisdom, talent, vision, and big-picture thinking are all top-notch; many believe that if it weren't for his late arrival in walking the Honghuang era, he might not have been unable to contend with Fuxi for superiority!" Houtu narrowed her eyes, "Even so, starting against the wind, he also achieved brilliant accomplishments, pressing many predecessors into the ground and beating them.

He once represented a kind of great trend!

Houtu earnestly said, 'Fairness and justice, yet also giving people hope—this principle of support and steadfastness: according to each person's actual contribution and results, distribute the human Dao dividends to every individual, ultimately achieving—Everyone like a dragon!'

'Everyone like a dragon?' Fengxi's expression turned strange.

'This everyone is not a person of the human race…… but a person of the human Dao.' Houtu explained, 'It is the myriad spirits of the human Dao, all the beings under heaven!'

'All are as strong as the dragon clan, possessing a nobility and flawlessness that springs from the spirit!'

Houtu said, smiling, 'Indeed, back then Emperor Donghua, starting against the wind, chose to join the Dragon Ancestor's camp, offering strategies and providing ideological elevation and completion for the Dragon Ancestor's grand unification strategy.'

'After the grand unification, where lies the road?'

'The Dragon Ancestor himself hadn't figured it out back then, but Emperor Donghua had.'

'Later he proposed it to the Dragon Ancestor, thereby obtaining a channel for promotion…… In the end, he stood on equal footing with the Dragon Ancestor, relied upon as the core confidant.'

'The Dragon Ancestor bringing Emperor Donghua is enough to stand off against the phoenix that watches Fuxi play the qin under the parasol tree…… I still remember the phoenix camp's strategy back then.'

'Fuxi proposed that the human Dao's boundless clans each have their strengths; when a hundred flowers bloom, then under the Way of Change's big data, they achieve complementary advantages, enabling the human Dao's beings to clearly see their own hearts, like a phoenix continually undergoing nirvana rebirth, elevating from the past self to achieve a new, beautiful self.'

The Dragon-Phoenix great calamity has never been merely a martial contest…… Wouldn't that show that all those innate divinities, painstakingly nurtured by heaven and earth, are just brutish fools, lacking any wit?

Behind each of them lie collisions of thought and path, a struggle over support for the human Dao, including philosophical contemplation and so on.

In fact, the ultimate victor…… is actually not purely either side.

By absorbing the essences of both sides, we thus have the Heavenly Court as such an organization, and also the Heavenly Dao system covering the universe, with the widespread popularization of the concepts of qi fortune and merit.

It's hard to say which side's road ends up laughing last as the winner.

Of course.

If the road doesn't win, the divine who masters the road isn't necessarily so.

Some fall, some laugh while grasping great power.

'Later, the Dragon Ancestor fell.' Houtu said lightly, 'The core of the Dragon Clan collapsed, so there's no talk of competition.'

'However, the Dragon Ancestor died, but Emperor Donghua did not…… As the scribe of the 'Everyone like a dragon' idea, after the war he acted as agent for the Dragon Ancestor's teachings, and also joined Fuxi's Heavenly Court to work for him.'

'Although at that time the Dragon Clan's style dispersed and its power greatly diminished…… yet the strength of the teachings remained, able to support Emperor Donghua's continued progress, pushing out the new and discarding the old, ultimately establishing his own school and ascending to Taiyi.'

(End of chapter)