Chapter 463: The Era of Wood Has Ended; the Age of Fire Has Officially Arrived!

The thing you just did, the opinion you raised at the meeting—I've already heard about it……

In the human royal court, the Acting Retired Emperor Baoxi summoned Fengxi, who had just concluded the highest human council, his tone very gentle.

Glug.

Fengxi swallowed hard, revealing an embarrassed yet respectful smile. "Your Majesty, what do you mean?"

"I mean your sneaky arrangement of where I go after retirement, using me as a blade." Baoxi chuckled, casually picking up a document whose ink was still fresh—obviously just obtained.

Fengxi glanced furtively; cold sweat poured down his forehead like a waterfall—the document detailed everyone's remarks, including the specific scheming of a certain dog-headed strategist for Nüwa.

"Your Majesty, hear me out—no, let me prove my innocence." Fengxi felt he should try to struggle a bit—perhaps he could still salvage things.

"All right, I don't mean to blame you—why are you panicking?" Baoxi shook his head. "I still want to praise you… you're good, very good."

"Although your methods aren't quite proper, even the old leaders are pondering how to direct and scheme." This heavenly emperor, sovereign of humanity, now bears an indescribable grace and bearing, his chest open and vast, making people involuntarily admire him. "But publicly, you've brought an ally to humanity and checked the dragon clan's ambition to possess and restore power within humanity; privately, Nüwa is my sister… I bullying her is just sibling fun, but others? Hah!"

Baoxi's gaze was contemptuous; a flash of lightning flickered, and in a daze he saw myriad ancient chaos demon gods lying slain, heads severed—the ultimate terror.

I'll hack him to death!

——I, Fuxi, bully my sister Nüwa, so be it! ——Anyone else bullying Nüwa? No way! Die, old man! —— Fengxi listened, repeatedly wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, while inwardly he kept complaining nonstop.

"By the way, Your Majesty, you're really the one who's over the top, aren't you?"

"Although the Dragon Ancestor puts on airs, spouting nonsense and spreading rumors about sibling darkness…… but he does things his own way, daring to act and take responsibility, openly forcing the palace, upright and aboveboard, laying everything out in the open."

"You…… secretly invested in my consort's trusted minister, the Chief Strategist……"

"Who exactly has a conscience completely rotted away? Vast ages, long history—later generations will judge……"

Fengxi thought, when it comes to bullying Nüwa… does the Dragon Ancestor even rank to compare with Fuxi? But considering the cultivation strength of the two present, Fengxi knew better than to spout blatant truths, fearing that if he went in upright, he'd come out sideways.

Hmm.

Not necessarily.

Quite likely none of us will get out.

We'll be ground to ashes and scattered, killed cleanly!

Fengxi followed his heart, striving to be a good, obedient child.

Baoxi didn't mind Fengxi's silence much, merely saying to himself, "I observe your performance and find that you now qualify as a competent Sovereign of Humanity."

"I have decided that in three days we will hold the abdication ceremony, and you will officially succeed to the position of Wind Empress, no longer needing to act as regent as heir apparent."

"Uh…" Fengxi was somewhat startled, eyes wide. "Your Majesty… please reconsider!"

"Fengxi's virtue is shallow, his learning thin; he still needs tempering, making it hard for him to suddenly ascend the great treasure—this would be irresponsible toward all of humanity's people……"

"You're actually pleased inside, so stop acting like this." Baoxi casually interrupted Fengxi's modest remarks, "I've judged that you're mature enough, your performance in all aspects satisfies me, sufficient to maintain and even control the overall situation."

"The Sovereign of Humanity, the Emperor of Humanity—what an exalted position!" Baoxi smiled faintly, "One ought to grasp the mountains and rivers, laughing as they divide heaven and earth."

"Strength is secondary; the key is one's spirit and breadth."

"One must break the walls in one's heart, have the courage to face any opponent, dare to set schemes against all enemies, be able to wield a blade against stronger foes—that is the bearing and breadth a ruler should possess!"

"What about the Taiyi? Different paths, clashing ideas—why be humble? Trip him! Kill him!" A mighty vigor gathered in Baoxi's brows and eyes, "The ruler is the bones of the clan, the heart of the people—must be arrogant, must stand tall!"

"Even if it costs one's life!"

"Because while the clan members can retreat, you cannot—you must die on the road of charging forward."

Baoxi spoke word by word, like thunderclaps shaking and echoing in Fengxi's heart-field.

"That Dragon Ancestor bastard, spouting nonsense, dragging out rubbish about "sibling darkness"…… does he not realize that right now he can't beat me, nor can he beat my sister?"

"Yet he still provoked and challenged the palace before the public."

"Di Jun and Taiyi, wanting to crush the Heavenly Dao Hongjun and replace him—this idea was never concealed from the start…… they wouldn't know that back then Hongjun wanted to kill them, a single hand would suffice?"

"Yet they never gave up their dreams, refusing to compromise, unwilling to be puppet emperors."

"Even Nüwa… though she has a lazy, salted‑fish nature, she dares to shout, first to destroy the Heavenly Dao, then to attack my throne—rebellion, great disrespect."

Baoxi pointed at the mountains and rivers, recounting each mighty one bearing a ruler's aura: "Even the Phoenix, though now lazy and gluttonous, back when she built forces and conquered the world, she was in the vanguard, charging forward countless times, madly absorbing the enemy's fire—piling up the most blood, stacking the thickest armor, taking the deadliest blows, dead then alive, alive then dead."

……

"This, is the bearing of a ruler."

Baoxi let out a long sigh, "It's something the others lack."

"In the Heavenly Court, Báizé and the vast roc are not weak; among the Wu Clan there's also a hero like Zhu Jiuyin…… they are all Taiyi, though they may not hope to rival Pangu, they lack this astonishing breadth."

"Your previous self, I actually wasn't too sure about." Baoxi glanced back at Fengxi, "But now you've proven yourself, daring to reach out to the Taiyi—not a mindless brute force, but knowing how to leverage the situation, using circumstances to guide, letting the four Taiyi gather to play a game, checking each other……"

When he said "checking," Baoxi suddenly laughed—a strange laugh, as if he'd seen some century‑long joke.

It's as if the four Taiyi gathered to play a game—not a fair 1‑vs‑1‑vs‑1‑vs‑1 contest, but rather 2‑vs‑1‑vs‑1, or even outright 3‑vs‑1, a bottomless pit.

Fengxi listened to Baoxi's laughter, somewhat puzzled, feeling a glimmer of insight surfacing, yet unable to grasp it…… he must have missed something.

Before Fengxi could ponder further, Baoxi shifted tone: "Some of your arrangements, in the end, yield results better than what I originally expected—better, superior, excellent."

"Originally, regarding the strategy for Nüwa versus Pangu, my expectation was no more than a thirty percent chance of victory."

"But now, it's up to forty percent."

"If you try a little harder, give Nüwa proper planning, reasonably let her move stones…… strengthen herself, send two waves of assistance, adding another twenty percent chance of victory……"

"Then I'll be even more satisfied."

Baoxi's smile was bright, yet Fengxi felt a chill despite the warmth.

These words sound fine…… but upon careful tasting, they always give a sense of dread.

However, Baoxi brushed all this aside, saying, "For my dear sister Pangu, I've racked my brains—more exhausting than when I worked for myself back then."

"Now you're fit for great use, and I happen to be concluding my chapter, retiring to enjoy my old age…… from now on, all of humanity will be under your command."

"Before I leave, I'll conveniently cooperate with your layout a bit."

Baoxi looked at Fengxi, "After handing the throne to you, I'll immediately set off for the Eastern Yi, bearing the title conferred by the court, as the Humanity's Eastern Green Emperor, to carry out the great eastern development."

"With me as an example, it can also save you effort in your layout, making it easier to see through the work over in the Eastern Splendor."

"Thank you, Majesty!" Fengxi was moved, performing an extremely solemn bow.

Not minding being schemed against, and even paving the way for Fengxi's plan... what a great leader!

"Hey." Paoqi gave an indifferent smile, waved at Fengxi, gesturing him to come closer.

When Fengxi approached, Paoqi reached out to straighten his attire, making him more dignified, then patted his shoulder. "Very good, very much bearing my former demeanor."

"The road ahead is yours to walk... I sincerely hope you can blaze a splendid and glorious path."

Paoqi's mouth curled in a smile, his eyes clear and bright.

Within it lay the vast Myriad Heavens shining through the ages, composing the splendid colors of a prosperous human era!...

Fengxi ascended the throne.

It seemed hasty, yet also seemed as natural as water flowing to its channel, a matter of course.

The scene was monotonous, the procedure dull, with no extravagance or waste whatsoever; the human commoners witnessing the ceremony were pitifully few.

But! Speaking of the protagonist on stage and the avid viewers of the live broadcast, that is absolutely a myth shining through the ages, a page in history that cannot be bypassed, a brilliant gem in the flow of time.

Paoqi personally placed the crown upon him.

Three thousand divinities from past, present, and endless future jointly witnessed the ceremony.

Even the passive Dao ancestors who conformed to the Heavenly Dao drew a line that day, eyes narrowed, watching.

"The succession of the Human Emperor portends great change!"

All the Great Luo possessed such foresight.

Paoqi is Fuxi, once the Supreme Heavenly Emperor of the Honghuang world, titled August Emperor, awing all gods—who would dare not respect, who would dare not disrespect! Even those fearless sovereigns who fear neither heaven nor earth must show him the utmost reverence—even his own sister!

Nüwa's desire to overthrow Fuxi is not a matter of a day or two... yet she has also stated more than once that even if she were to weaken Fuxi, only she could do it.

Whoever dares to show disrespect to him must first get past her! Paoqi, in his position, governing the human race, is the greatest deterrent both outwardly and inwardly.

The Dragon Race harbors ill intent; the Dragon Masters infiltrate the human interior, and when facing him they must lower their heads and honestly labor; the Demon Court seeks to exterminate humanity, making the Demon Race the sole protagonists of heaven and earth, yet facing Paoqi they dare not openly speak of war, merely lingering in the Heavenly River...

Now he has stepped down! The successor is the new Wind Lord—Fengxi! How capable is he?

Everyone is eager to gauge his abilities.

You contribute ideas, I contribute thoughts... when combined, they become a tremendous disaster.

As the saying goes, true gold fears no fire.

The great calamity is the greatest furnace.

The will of each Great Luo is the furnace fire.

Fengxi ascended to the Human Emperor's throne, as the supreme sovereign of humanity, facing myriad wills of praise, indifference, or hostility, he is like a lump of gold fallen into the furnace, destined to endure countless trials.

In the furnace, will he be burned to ash?

Or will he ultimately shine forth, illuminating myriad mountains and rivers? "I will give you an answer."

Fengxi watched the ceremony end, Paoqi's aloof figure turning and striding eastward, and silently made a vow in his heart.

After the vow was made, he stood composure on the high platform, when suddenly behind him the holy fire of humanity rose.

Burning!

Burning!

Madly burning!

The light of civilization shimmered, the clamor of humanity's ideals rose, Fengxi resonated with the collective consciousness of the entire human race, his spirit surged throughout Honghuang, uttering his own cry.

"Fire!"

"Fire!"

"Fire!"

……

At this moment, Fengxi is not fighting alone! He upholds righteousness, the perseverance of countless years, his achievements among humanity supporting him, causing countless people to love and respect him, willing to entrust their strength and trust.

He commands the core team, whose loyalty over countless years has pleased the Human Race's Holy Mother—Nüwa—who has specially assigned a large portion of her trusted aides to serve under him.

All this combined forms the path Fengxi now displays! "Boom!"

The blazing flame burned in the void, stinging the gods' sight and spiritual sense; in a daze, they saw a benevolent and magnanimous sovereign figure standing behind Fengxi, releasing the greatest power.

That figure's visage was blurred, but whenever it appeared, it was identical to Fengxi.

In the void, the roar of the Great Dao and the eulogy of myriad ages all sang that name—

Yandi!

At this moment, Fengxi also gave a soft shout, echoing through the Myriad Heavens, chanting the ages.

"The era of wood has come to an end."

"The age of fire descends here."

"A single spark can start a prairie fire!"

"I am right here, waiting for you!"

Fengxi proclaimed his declaration, revealing his will and resolve.

In the surging spiritual flame, the benevolent sovereign's phantom grew stern.

The flame entwined, overwhelming the vast expanse, surging toward the firmament, toward the ages, toward Chaos...

At this moment, all divine wills hostile to humanity were incinerated, even struck back to their sources!

"Mm!"

The weak demon god grunted, gritting his teeth, feeling as if struck by a blunt stick.

The powerful mighty ones have their own ways to ward off harm, yet simultaneously they lost their attention and perception of the human royal court.

"This lad, he's got a violent temper... but it fits his Yandi background quite well."

On the sun star, Di Jun leisurely withdrew his gaze and said to the pair of sister-wives at his sides.

「A personality that would rather break than bend…… Such a firm stance, is it telling us that when friends come we offer wine and meat, when hostile guests come we burn the place down? Does it show that the human race has already prepared, ready to spare no cost in a bloody battle to establish prestige」

「But he doesn't know…… Am I someone he cannot afford to provoke」

Di Jun chuckled lightly.

「Majesty's divine power overwhelms the world; surely He would not care about such a hotheaded youth. 」 Empress of Heaven Xihe covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, her gaze very gentle, one hand stroking her own abdomen.

(End of chapter)