Chapter 458: Seizing Power Underway…

Gonggong the ancestral witch had justification and evidence, issuing a solemn warning.

— Donghua this scoundrel, most likely hides great secrets behind him!

One who could give up the near‑supreme status he held in the Dragon Race camp—under one dragon, above all—who twice reversed his divine stance, ultimately becoming pivotal to Fuxi's ascent to the supreme position… such a person, claiming he and Fuxi are completely innocent?

Gonggong said — my former ignorant self is forgivable, but now I'd believe… absolutely that my brain is broken, having slammed into Mount Buzhou, causing the most severe concussion!

"Of course." Gonggong flicked his sleeve, and the damaged halls, tables, and teacups reversed time to restore; the teacup in his hand, his expression instantly returned to utmost calm, as if the earlier anger and resentment had never existed—this self‑adjusting mindset is truly terrifying, "perhaps it's just repeating old tricks, recreating the pattern of the sibling dark manor?"

"Between siblings, they seem like water and fire… but who knows, perhaps behind it lies a tacit understanding?"

"If that's the case, then my opposition now is probably useless."

"Huh?" Houtu's face changed instantly, very dangerous, "What are you saying?"

"Those who understand, understand." Gonggong said lightly, "Take a look at the current situation."

"Fuxi, at first glance seeming to hedge his bets, in the human realm he is the first Wind Lord, in the Heavenly Court he serves as the Demon Sovereign." He narrowed his eyes, his tone even, "But interesting… that Wind Lord among humans is actually called Paoxi."

"Thus, aside from insiders, how many common folk know—Fuxi is Paoxi? Paoxi is Fuxi?"

"In the eyes of the world, Fuxi is merely the Demon Sovereign!"

"Especially, he will abdicate and retreat into seclusion… leaving only the steadfast Demon‑race Xihuang."

"Then," Gonggong glanced at the surrounding ancestral witches, gave a light smile, "And Nüwa?"

"The external excuse is that Hongjun confined her to the Purple Cloud Palace, forbidding her to go out. This excuse works well, cleverly explaining Nüwa's total disconnect in the Heavenly Court during the Wu‑Demon Great Calamity."

"But, the identity of the human Holy Mother she has always retained… the crucial point is that her true essence entered and took charge of the Wu Clan, which counts as placing a bet."

"Taste! Everyone, savor it!"

Gonggong clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "One has secured the Heavenly Court, the other has secured the human realm."

"Regardless of the final outcome, it's a guaranteed gain." He gazed meaningfully at Houtu, "If the Heavenly Court loses and humanity wins, with Nüwa as guarantor, the Demon‑race Xihuang can smoothly shift his wealth into the human realm—for the most exalted and noble human emperor Fuxi, isn't that only natural?"

"But if humanity loses? Then Fuxi, this nail, keeps watch over Nüwa's share in the Heavenly Court; afterward, the Nüwa Empress wanting to return to power and plot the next era would be easy."

"In this process, Donghua serves as that crucial straw, nothing could be more perfect—he himself is the leader of the reforms, the uncrowned emperor of the Heavenly Court; and for the Wu Clan to win him over, they must likewise offer a price, show their chips."

"What does that mean?"

"Dual identity largely determines the future's course…… if he is truly related to Fuxi, then everyone has missed a move!"

Gonggong's smile now, in Houtu's eyes, is hateful beyond measure.

"So then?" Houtu said coldly, "What do you mean to express?"

"I want to say… are some of these players in this game too unscrupulous in their conduct?" Gonggong sighed faintly, "That's not good!"

"Most of us seated here are on the Heavenly Court's blacklist. If we ultimately lose the battle, we're likely to get nothing good."

"If we can only pay compensation, cede and sell important shares, and withdraw intact, that's fine… but we fear one mishap—people would end up corpses, turned into innate spirit treasures to be driven for ages."

"But what about someone?"

Gonggong smiled and said, "Perhaps just turning around, bowing to Fuxi, yielding, apologizing, would turn big things small and small things nil."

"One could rest and recuperate, continue holding great power, pondering how to make a comeback in the next era."

"This is not good… really not good!"

"Teammates have no retreat, all fighting desperately forward for victory… yet the leader, while having a subtle link with the enemy's high ranks, can still preserve wealth and retreat intact even if defeated."

"Houtu."

Gonggong's tone was heavy and forceful, "No fear of ten thousand, just fear of the one chance."

"You say, to guard against that one chance… should some details within the Wu Clan be fine‑tuned?"

"Although you have contributed much merit, being the biggest shareholder, yet to this day we also have much of our own effort invested."

"What we do must be worthy of that effort."

Gonggong's true intent is revealed!

At this moment, Fengxi's mind seemed to flash with lightning, understanding much.

'Gonggong… or rather the Dragon Ancestor, lays bare his old scars, vividly reenacting them, with no guard on his mouth…'

'It looks like he's seeking death, but actually he's openly cursing Donghua and covertly striking Nüwa!'

'This is the rhythm of seizing power!'

'He covets the Lady's position, thus fabricating the baseless sibling dark manor claim to shake her authority.'

'That's indeed true.'

'How can we believe a leader with an escape route would stake everything, fight to the death just to carve a bloody path for all humanity?'

'Especially, her elder brother is still Pangu, capable of awaiting the next era to make a comeback and fight heaven and earth.'

'Can others do it?'

'Once this era ends as a loser, vital energy will inevitably suffer greatly, and Pangu's hope will diminish too much.'

'Gonggong the ancestral witch's sow‑discord tactics aren't very clever, but admit it, they do have some use…'

Fengxi looked around, and as expected, saw some ancestral witches showing hesitant expressions.

Houtu—Nüwa, she lacks no supporters.

Among these Twelve Ancestral Witches, many in their true forms are renowned female great adepts of Honghuang.

They are willing to support Nüwa… they're like close girlfriends!

However, close relations are close—if you want to undertake a great venture, seeking investment and talent everywhere, we can help you gather them; but shouldn't you also show the proper regard, not treat it as a mere game?

Everyone wants to win, only you have the chance to act… isn't that not quite right?

The hall fell silent for a moment.

"Hehe." Houtu's eyes narrowed, coldly staring at Gonggong, "Are you speaking indirectly, scolding me for being a connection‑based hire?"

"Alas… then I too am quite helpless…"

Houtu's expression suddenly shifted, as if the frozen cosmos turned to spring on earth, her face breaking into a warm smile as she lazily stretched, "What else can I do?"

Who let me be born with a brother as an accessory, and he's quite reliable?

So I've had smooth sailing all the way; even if I fail, someone has my back—it's just that my family status keeps dropping.

And you?

You only get backstabbed, framed, and suffer endless tribulations.

All this, just because I have a brother and you don't.

Now you say I'm a connection-backed hireling with wavering fighting spirit... tsk, I have nothing to say.

After all, I can't prove my innocence—what, should I take you to righteousness and slaughter kin? First beat Fuxi down?

Houtu snorted, looking at Gonggong with a disdainful gaze.

At this moment, though she was at a disadvantage in the power struggle, she somehow exuded a carefree, unrestrained aura that involuntarily inspired admiration.

She laughed brilliantly, she laughed unrestrainedly.

If I could single-handedly beat Fuxi, would I need to found the Wu Clan, create humanity? Exhausting every means, emptying the family coffers, sending merit, sending cheats?

I've been on it long ago!

Houtu lifted her head proudly.

Besides, dealing with Fuxi is my business as Nüwa—what's it to you?

Back then, during the great war of witches and demons, I will personally suppress Xihuang—none of you may interfere!

Whoever dares to intervene, don't blame me for turning hostile—I'll kill them first!

Houtu looked around, her kingly aura bold and unbridled, making Fengxi want to shout '666'; this Nüwa goddess, so unlike her usual self, was truly cool!

You say our sibling black manor... I can't be bothered to argue. After Houtu dissed everyone, her gaze turned back to Gonggong: "Proving that something happened is purely coincidental—it wastes effort and means nothing."

You just want to expand your power and seize the hope of this era's Pangu, don't you? Houtu coldly stared at Gonggong: "Even Hongjun can tolerate Di Jun causing trouble—am I supposed to lose to him?"

Fine, lay out your terms!

What do you want, that you won't hinder my plan to win over Donghua?

But since you've brought up the sibling black manor as an excuse... heh, then I'll just borrow that phrase.

If I can't get by, I might as well go over to Fuxi.

So if you go too far... then we'll part ways, and you won't get anything!

At this moment, Houtu Zuwu's gaze was nine-tenths similar to Di Jiang's.

Both were that cold and heartless.

Good. Gonggong didn't mind, happily said, "My demands are few."

I know you've been backing the Fire Master behind the scenes, suppressing the Dragon Master—this isn't proper.

Dragon Master, you have meaning and value... I need your approval as the Lord of Creation to merge the origins of all totems, becoming the ancestor of totem sources!

How?

Gonggong countered, "This is also mutually beneficial."

Totems and sacrifices are a perfect match, able to strengthen the human royal court's rule over all clans.

I also benefit, bringing the great unity a step further.

As for who ultimately gains more... it'll depend on our abilities!

Gonggong did not hide his dreams and resolve.

If not for Pangu, how would he have invested such a huge capital?

Houtu's eyes were deep, as if pondering something.

After a moment, she nodded, indicating agreement.

Yes.

As Houtu's words fell, Di Jiang Zuwu slightly lowered his eyelids.

……

Come.

You all take a look.

This is a speech by a certain dragon at the meeting.

In a secluded spacetime, three radiant figures that span past, present, future, and the Myriad Heavens eternally sit opposite each other.

One of the figures fumbled to take out something, placing it before the other two for them to see.

This is an intercepted fragment of a time-image.

The hasty words in a narrow passage, the overbearing demeanor, the great heroic dragon bullying a little girl—all are displayed there in detail.

Those two figures listened and watched, both seeming thoughtful.

After a while, one of the spectators spoke.

Cang... he's made progress.

But his progress isn't enough, and it's gone awry.

As for his performance, my summary is only—his cart, no, his dragon head is heavy.

But it's understandable—after all, they mainly dwell in water, so getting water in the brain is quite normal.

When there's too much water in the brain, at the crucial moment of teaming up, he'll fumble and make mistakes.

Therefore, although his strength is strong, he doesn't understand people's hearts; plus, in this Honghuang, the sky is dark, the road slippery, hearts are complex, with many twists and turns.

Every time he enters the scene, he unintentionally acts as if he knows too much, spouting blunt truths, not knowing which god he can't offend, saying and doing incorrect things... this is a serious problem!

Unless he overcomes this problem, he cannot defeat our trio.

Yeah! another voice sounded, softly saying, "At least we once had some acquaintance, so I should do my part to help him reduce the water in his brain a little."

This is no easy task... it's like many mentally ill people who refuse to admit they're ill. The earlier person replied.

"That requires even more effort from us, to help him undergo forced treatment," said the devoted audience.

"Treatment... isn't easy either."

"Cang, although he's got water on the brain, his illness is serious."

"But his strength is there to be seen."

"Especially, he is now attempting to become Pangu, and has actually made some headway."

"Longshi, Longtu Teng…… as the future human race grows stronger, he will also grow stronger."

"We can't just go ahead and kill him—such a good fighter gone, how would that work?"

"We have to keep him until the end."

"But when the end truly comes, he will definitely be in his strongest state." The first person sneered, "At that time, I'm afraid all the other Taiyi will have died in battle, yet he will still be able to stand."

"Besides becoming one of the two major Pangu candidates, Hongjun and Nüwa, he is the only remaining high-ranking Wraith with combat power!"

"That gives him the qualifications to be a troublemaker."

"Anyone who wants to kill him will find it not easy."

"Three figures, exchanging words, deducing the future, an unspoken tacit understanding exists invisibly."

"Actually, it's not that there's no way."

"I set a trap, laid a killing calamity, lured him into it…… I think it can still be done."

"One person spoke, 'After all, he holds a deep longing for me.'"

"That works out well too."

"I will offer my blood to Xuanyuan, inscribe the law in Honghuang, shedding the greatest blood…… a Great Ultimate sacrificial offering, which can also be said to be unprecedented and unmatched."

"Before death, I will lay a foreshadowing, ultimately bringing along a backup……"

"Even on the road to Yellow Springs, he won't be alone."

"You say, isn't that so?"

"This figure spoke and laughed, his radiance slowly fading, revealing his true form—indeed, it was the Eastern Heavenly Emperor!"

"(End of chapter)"