Chapter 457: with translation of chapter title

As Gonggong Zu Wu spoke boldly, the atmosphere in the entire hall froze for a moment. - OK.

Many of the ancestral witches present first held their breath, stared at each other, then looked toward Gonggong, their gazes strange. - OK.

Life is boundless, lifespan has no end; why would you set a limit for yourself? - OK.

You're still taking shortcuts? - OK.

Haven't you seen the expressions of the other Taiyi ancestral witches? - OK.

Dijiang gave you a deep look, his gaze as if admiring your remains, as if saying — what a fine dragon, a shame you can speak. - OK.

All of the above is still fine. - OK.

After all, this ancestral witch's true identity lies within the range of Gonggong Zu Wu's venomous verbal attacks, making her the primary target! - OK.

At this moment, Houtu's face is dark, her gaze more subtle… according to Fengxi's observation, that little gaze is ninety percent similar to Dijiang's ancestral witch nearby, yet with an extra touch that surpasses the blue, expressing the thought — I hold a grudge like crazy! Wait for me! I've already written you down in my little notebook! - Need to ensure no Chinese. "Houtu" is a transliteration but it's a name (ancestral witch). According to rule, we keep pinyin for person names. "Houtu" is a name (the ancestral witch). So it's fine. "Fengxi" also a name. "Dijiang" also a name. The phrase "ninety percent similar" is fine. The quote inside the thought: "I hold a grudge like crazy!" is English. Wait for me! I've already written you down in my little notebook! - OK.

Compared to Zhukuang Yin's helpless sigh, Dijiang's silent speechlessness, and Jumang's schadenfreude… Houtu can actually speak. - OK.

Translate: "Many of the ancestor witches present first held their breath, stared at each other, then looked toward Gonggong, their gazes very strange." Keep meaning.

— Friend, you really dare to say anything, huh?

Translate: "——Friend, you really dare to say anything?" Keep punctuation.

Life is boundless, lifespan has no end—why would you set a limit for yourself?

Translate: "Gods' lives are boundless, lifespans have no end—why do you set a limit for yourself?" Keep meaning.

Well, setting an endpoint is fine.

Translate: "Setting a limit is fine enough." Or "Just setting a limit is okay." We'll translate: "Just setting a limit is fine."

You're still taking shortcuts?

Translate: "You still take shortcuts?" Keep.

Such a suicidal method... Even if you're a Taiyi Daluo, a peak powerhouse of the wilderness, I'm afraid you might one day just vanish in a daze!

Translate: "Such a self-destructive method……Even if you are a Taiyi Daluo, a peak expert of Honghuang, I still fear that one day you'll just disappear in a daze!" Keep meaning.

Haven't you seen the expressions of the other few Taiyi ancestor witches?

Translate: "You haven't seen the expressions of the other few Taiyi ancestor witches?" Keep.

Zhuku Yin rested his hand on his forehead and let out a deep sigh.

Translate: "Zhu Jiuyin rested his hand on his forehead and let out a deep sigh;" Keep semicolon.

Di Jiang gave you a deep look; his gaze seemed to admire your remains, as if saying, 'What a fine dragon! Too bad you can talk.'

Translate: "Di Jiang gave you a deep look, his gaze as if admiring your remains, as if saying——What a fine dragon? Too bad you can talk;" Keep.

Ju Mang wore an amused expression; he no longer flared up over whether Gong Gong's earlier words were slanderous toward the Phoenix, as if taking pleasure in others' misfortune.

Translate: "Gou Mang wore a playful expression, no longer bristling over whether Gonggong's earlier words slandered the phoenix, as if taking pleasure in others' misfortune;" Keep.

All of the above is still fine.

Translate: "Above all, these are still fine." Or "All of these are still okay." We'll translate: "All of these are still fine."

The truly serious one is the Houtu ancestor witch.

Translate: "The truly serious one is Houtu Zu Wu." Keep.

After all, this ancestor witch's true identity lies within Gong Gong ancestor witch's poisonous-tongue verbal attacks, making her the main target.

Translate: "After all, this ancestor witch's true identity lies within the range of Gonggong Zu Wu's venomous verbal attacks, making her the primary target!" Keep.

At this moment, Houtu's face was grim, her gaze even more subtle. According to Fengxi's observation, that little gaze was ninety percent similar to Di Jiang ancestor witch's, yet with a hint of 'blue out of blue, surpassing blue,' expressing the idea—'I hold a grudge like crazy! Wait for me! I've already written you down in my little notebook!'

Translate: "At this moment, Houtu's complexion darkened, his gaze grew more subtle……According to Fengxi's observation, that little gaze was ninety percent like that of Di Jiang Zu Wu not far away, yet with an extra ten percent surpassing the blue, expressing the notion——I hold a grudge like crazy! Wait for me! I've already written you down in my little notebook!" Keep.

Not only that.

Translate: "Not only that." Keep.

Compared to Zhuku Yin's helpless sigh, Di Jiang's silent speechlessness, and Ju Mang's schadenfreude, Houtu actually can speak.

Translate: "Compared to Zhu Jiuyin's helpless sigh, Di Jiang's silent speechlessness, Gou Mang's schadenfreude……Houtu, however, can speak." Keep.

"Cang Long, do you have the guts to say that 'brother‑sister…' again?" She no longer used the title 'Gong Gong', but addressed him by name directly, which is as formal as it gets—this shows she's really angry.

As Gonggong Ancestor Witch spoke boldly, the atmosphere in the entire hall froze for an instant.

Many of the Ancestor Witches present first held their breath, exchanged glances, then turned their gaze to Gonggong, their looks strange.

——Friend, you really dare to say anything, huh?

Gods are boundless in lifespan, originally having no end; why do you set a limit for yourself?

Setting a limit would be okay.

You're still taking shortcuts?

Such a suicidal method... Even if you are a Taiyi Daluo, a peak powerhouse of Honghuang, I fear you might one day just disappear in a daze!

Haven't you seen the expressions of the other few Taiyi Ancestor Witches?

Zhu Jiuyin raised a hand to forehead and let out a deep sigh;

Di Jiang gave you a deep look, that gaze as if admiring your remains, as if saying——What a fine dragon! Too bad you can speak;

Goumang wore a playful expression, no longer bristling over whether Gonggong's earlier words slandered the phoenix, as if taking pleasure in others' misfortune;

All of the above, still fine.

The truly serious matter is Houtu Ancestor Witch.

After all, this Ancestor Witch's true identity lies within the range of Gonggong Ancestor Witch's venomous verbal attacks, making them the primary target!

At this moment, Houtu's face was grim, their eyes more subtle... As Fengxi observed, that look was ninety percent like Di Jiang Zu Wu's, yet with an extra ten percent that surpassed it, expressing the thought: "I bear a grudge! Wait for me! I've already written you down in my little notebook!"

Not only that.

Compared to Zhu Jiuyin's helpless sigh, Di Jiang's silence, Goumang's schadenfreude... Houtu, however, can speak.

"Dragon Ancestor, you have the guts to say that 'brother-sister...' again?" She no longer used the title 'Gonggong' but called the name directly, the most formal of negotiations—this shows she is furious!

"I certainly have the guts!" Gonggong, emotions surging, opened his mouth without hesitation, indicating he really had the guts: "The dragon clan is all about spreading seeds across the world! I'm the forefather—how could I lack guts?!"

Today's Wu Clan decision, because it involved that man—Donghua—who gave him half a life of glory and half a life of failure, repeatedly reopened Gonggong Ancestor Witch's scars, already making his emotions like a powder keg, ready to explode at a touch.

Thus, in speaking, many reservations were shed, speaking freely and openly, holding nothing back.

Of course, this is not a baseless outburst, but rather voicing many doubts that have settled in the heart over time.

"I said brother-sister black market, so what? Isn't that allowed?" Gonggong stuck out his neck, tone hard, facing the admiring gazes of many Ancestor Witches, like a truly fearless warrior: "Although I have no evidence, I can still reason backward from the results... In the previous era, the biggest beneficiary wasn't Fuxi, was it?"

"That guy, majoring in the Yi Dao, is the unparalleled greatest diviner of Honghuang, the founding master of all those pretentiously profound god‑swindler sects!"

"You say, with his abilities, could he divine the future trend, place bets early, put his money on the faction that will succeed in divination?"

"Just right!"

Gonggong spoke confidently, and his words unexpectedly made the inconspicuous Fengxi nearby feel——Damn, that actually makes some sense.

"In the two major camps of dragon and phoenix, the two siblings each choose one side…… Isn't that reasonable?"

"Fuxi is a penniless fool, but smart‑minded, so he joined the phoenix faction, startling the phoenixes repeatedly, eventually securing the second‑in‑command position, earning deep trust—he could even occasionally cut branches from the phoenix's parasol tree to make a guqin."

Goumang heard this, chuckled lightly, and offered no rebuttal.

Gonggong continued to chatter on, "Nüwa is far inferior to her brother in brains!"

"Although far from being an idiot, but scheming people's hearts? Hehe!" Gonggong, oblivious to Houtu's glare that wanted to devour him alive, said, "But she's lucky, possessing the top‑grade innate spiritual treasure, the Qiankun Cauldron, that came to her on its own!"

"The Qiankun Cauldron can reverse acquired into innate, mass‑produce strategic supplies…… Thanks to this, she naturally became the logistics chief and gained the support of many dragon faction members, becoming second‑in‑command!"

"A pair of siblings, both second‑in‑command on their respective sides…… heh!"

Gonggong smirked.

At this moment.

A dragon's life is brief, like a mountain path…… He might as well take a shortcut, yet he deliberately chooses the dangerous, narrow road.

"The construction of the Heavenly Dao system is a project that the dragon and phoenix camps rarely set aside their prejudices to undertake." Gonggong said offhand, risking his life to reveal the secret: "After fighting for so many years, no one can simply crush the opposing side; our own people's livelihood is somewhat awkward, and dangerous elements like Rahu appear and disappear intermittently; under the overall trend, all primordial divinities need such a supreme strategic armament."

"Thus, everyone laid down their weapons, joined forces to build the Heavenly Dao, and agreed that after the Heavenly Dao intelligent system is completed, each will contend for the position of chief based on ability."

"Originally." Gonggong narrowed his eyes, "The first candidate for chief should be each faction's top leader, the one holding the largest share of Heavenly Dao stock!"

"But you say…… coincidence or not?" Gonggong burst out laughing hahaha, yet though laughing, he could not hide his inner sorrow: "When the two sides' second‑in‑commands are added together, they instantly become the first‑in‑line heirs, with a considerable share!"

"Precisely for this reason, when Hunyuan triggered the AI crisis, they were the representatives sent to suppress it…… there was no choice!"

"The only ones the two camps can trust are these two; adding their combined management authority, they also rank first."

"What situation is this?"

"This is all the divinities working for them, ah!"

"I say they are a sibling black market…… am I wrong?!"

Gonggong shouted loudly, eyes wide open, mighty and imposing.

"Such tacit understanding, such coordination, such coincidence…… if they aren't a black market, who is?!"

"If it's a black market, it's a black market; siblings, though I don't accept it, I can understand." Gonggong gritted his teeth, "Without this black‑market operation, we wouldn't even talk about what comes next—Hunyuan rebels, and everyone gets wiped out."

"With the Heavenly Dao governing Honghuang, nobody can play anymore…… together we shout blessings to the Dao Ancestor's longevity, and in the Ziwei Palace just obey orders—then it's over."

"But just… just!" Gonggong's emotions grew even more agitated.

"Nüwa is utterly useless!"

Gonggong's voice is huge, the trembling hall on the verge of bursting.

"Huff… huff…" Houtu panted wildly, staring fixedly at him, "Dragon Ancestor, you're great!"

She looked at Gonggong, the killing intent slowly fading——perhaps not lessening, but possibly turning inward, deeper and more terrifying.

"I'm just great, speaking plainly!" Gonggong raised his head proudly, "Someone with such a big heart, after Fuxi's wheedling, gave away their Heavenly Dao shares, management authority, and power‑dao fruits entirely to Fuxi, letting him suppress the Heavenly Dao rebellion while they just stood aside shouting '666'…… If you weren't such a salted fish, if you had at any point actively applied to participate, broadened your horizons, or even strongly demanded that the leading role be given to you, you wouldn't have suffered that later tragic fate!"

"If it weren't for your weakness, how could you have been ransacked by him, with the Nüwa Realm Properties declared defunct at his word, while you, besides lying on Buzhou Peak with a pout and crying, could do nothing?"

"Serves you right!"

Gonggong had his fill of talking.

A dragon's life is bitter and short. - OK.

Some dragons not only take shortcuts, but deliberately choose narrow paths; even if the path is narrow, they still speed. - OK.

However, although Houtu is extremely angry, she also now has a somewhat dejected, lowered head. - OK.

After all, some dragons seeking death may say things that are harsh to hear, yet they still have a grain of truth. - OK.

Isn't it that Nüwa, because she once slacked off like a salted fish, ended up completely oppressed, unable to even turn over? - "Nüwa" is a name, keep pinyin. OK.

Houtu's gaze suddenly became deep. - OK.

"Such a mistake, I won't make again… past mistakes, I want to correct…" - OK.

She secretly made some resolutions. - OK.

Meanwhile, Dijiang the ancestral witch casually turned his head, taking in her performance, a glimmer of insight flashing in his eyes as if he guessed something… then, as if nothing happened, he shifted his gaze, unintentionally circling around Gonggong's head. - Need to check: "Dijiang" is a name, "Gonggong" is a name. OK.

Meanwhile, Gonggong continued to nag. - OK.

Wait until Fuxi defeats Hongjun, fully grasps control of the Heavenly Way, accumulates countless wisdom and experience, truly having no rival—even the Phoenix cannot limit him—so he must be allowed to establish his own lineage, laying the foundation for him to eventually become the King of All Gods, worthy of being honored as the Heaven‑Opening, Earth‑Parting August Emperor Emperor.

"Establish the heavenly court, awe heaven and earth, achieve the Dao of Pangu… until in the human realm he capsized, suffering a terrible fall." - OK.

Gonggong said, "This guy's glorious achievements are inseparable from his sister's cooperation… when I say 'sibling Heizhuang,' I'm not talking nonsense!" - Need to check: "Gonggong" is a name. "Heizhuang" we kept as pinyin. OK.

"What if I add a bit more conspiracy theory?" - OK.

"Hah!" - OK.

"I'm watching!" - OK.

"Donghua's series of miraculous operations back then might well be closely related to him!" - "Donghua" is a name. OK.

"The two factions have fought for so many years; even a Daluo god dies again and again, the grudge runs deep, not easily resolved… even if resolved, it ultimately falls under the authority of the supreme leader over the long ages." - "Daluo" is a term but we can keep as is; it's not Chinese characters. OK.

"Only if one side completely dies out in the shortest time, while the other side performs poorly, do some people get a chance!" - OK.

Gonggong chuckled, "If I die, the dragon clan will decline, Luo Hu will be mighty and fierce, and he'll slaughter his way to the phoenix." - "Luo Hu" is a name. OK.

"Someone just happened to be at the crucial moment of suppressing the heavenly way's chaos, unable to attend to him, and even took away a significant portion of his power, thus making the phoenix faction struggle to resist, their performance weak." - OK.

"Finally, another person descended with divine troops, strategized, achieved great merit in rescuing the emperor, causing a certain phoenix's act of overriding the sovereign to be impossible to sanction, ultimately forcing abdication." - OK.

Gonggong coldly looked at Jumang, "Not abdicating would be impossible… who let Nüwa back then be a salted fish, lacking fighting spirit, just wanting to win by lying down?" - OK.

"After all, following my death, she became the focus of the remaining dragon clan's hearts." - OK.

"The dragon clan surrendered, and the phoenix faction then took them in…" - OK.

"Nüwa at that time had little desire for power, and simply handed it over to Fuxi." - OK.

"Moreover, there is Donghua's group of problematic defectors from darkness to light." - OK.

And Fuxi served as the Phoenix faction's chief strategist for many years, commanding Bai Ze and Jieyin, that bunch of troublemakers, exercising the authority of a chancellor.

With such abundant wings, how could the Phoenix not abdicate?

Aren't you afraid that one day, after performing the Fengshan sacrifice on Mount Buzhou, you'll suddenly drop dead on the way home?

Gong Gong said coldly.

"Not afraid." Ju Mang replied calmly, leaving Gong Gong speechless.

"The Phoenix isn't some ambitious male god; walking the Pangu path isn't about unifying the world…" Ju Mang ancestor witch said calmly, "Contending for the world is just a means, not the only one."

"The Phoenix's nirvana burns away the old, sheds the old form, is reborn… What she seeks is a splendid, beautiful cultivation civilization across the wilderness; only thus can she continually gain new, useful wisdom and knowledge."

"Fuxi said he could govern the world better, gain countless experiences to feed the Phoenix… Moreover, considering the Phoenix's nature, she shouldn't end up in a place without treasures; she needs the best living environment."

"The position of CEO of the Heaven‑Earth Bank is given to the Phoenix, so she can live a life of counting money every day…"

"Then let's just abdicate; what's the big deal?"

"On this matter, the Phoenix and Fuxi have reached a consensus."

Ju Mang ancestor witch is very carefree.

"Also."

"Fuxi was originally born on Mount Buzhou; he is a native deity here."

"But in the end, he moved to Phoenix Nest Mountain… So, Gong Gong, what do you say?"

Ju Mang's gaze was aloof: "In the Dragon‑Phoenix era, although the dragon clan lost, the phoenix clan didn't win either."

"But… the Phoenix might not necessarily be a loser!"

"After obtaining something precious and valuable, being ungreedy and non‑contentious, one can naturally withdraw intact, sit high on the shore, and laugh at right and wrong, success and failure."

"The road must be walked step by step; food must be eaten bite by bite."

"Opportunities are always there; don't always think you can reach the heavens in one leap… that would make you fall."

Ju Mang spoke with deep meaning.

At this moment, his orientation is very subtle.

In Fengxi's viewpoint, the only one standing up and thus overseeing the whole scene, he is half‑turned sideways facing Gong Gong, while the other half unintentionally faces Houtu.

It seems these words are not only for Gong Gong, but also advising someone.

"Is it an illusion?"

Fengxi shook his head, trying to shake off that strange flash of inspiration.

However, since suspicion exists, how can one just say it's not there?

Fengxi inexplicably recalled such a piece of information.

"Among the Five Directional Heavenly Emperors, the Eastern Blue Emperor's associated deity is Ju Mang…"

……

"I've said what I needed to say!"

Gong Gong revealed the past, spouted a bunch of blunt truths; in short, he just wanted to express a point.

I don't trust this guy Dong Hua!

Even if Houtu comes to mediate!

Houtu! I also advise you a sentence! Gong Gong coldly said, "Be careful not to invite the wolf into the house!"

A lesson from the past! I suspect that Dong Hua and Fuxi have a very secret connection—back then, the situation was that someone went undercover by my side, rose to such a height, was my only trusted minister, possessing all power and status, yet ultimately without hesitation betrayed and backstabbed me, submitting to Fuxi's command—what kind of trust and bond is this!

You only thought of using Pangu to oppose Fuxi... but what if Dong Hua has a problem?

When the time comes and you get stabbed in the back, you must absolutely not regret it!

Gong Gong said.

At this very moment, Di Jiang Zu Wu glanced over indifferently, that gaze emotionless and devoid of feeling, as if having made some decision.

(End of chapter)