Chapter 464

How is that possible?

The Heavenly Emperor said leisurely, "You don't care? I care a lot!"

A brainless hothead—that's a reckless fool; I certainly don't care.

But this one has brains.

Di Jun smiled, "A reckless fool? I can wait quietly, for him to make blunder after blunder, throwing his own formation into chaos."

But a brave one who is both clever and magnanimous……that definitely calls for a ruthless strike, giving it all, cutting him down to the bone!

Even a lion fighting a rabbit uses all its strength!

Otherwise, once he has an epiphany, he won't just be a wise and responsible opponent; he'll undergo a true qualitative change, extending the Way, reaching the utmost exaltation from humanity's standpoint……that would be hard to bear.

Even if we could win then, the losses would be great.

After all, our Heavenly Court's opponents are not just the human race; there's also a Dao Ancestor of the Ziwei Palace above us.

Di Jun held Xihe's hand and spoke slowly, "As the ruler of the Heavenly Court, if we cannot reign over all under heaven and have sovereign supremacy, we would instead have to tolerate the rise of myriad Daoist states on earth, each carving out its own fief……what flavor would there be left for a ruler?"

Therefore, for the sake of final victory, any opponent showing signs of dangerous potential must be nipped in the bud as early as possible.

Di Jun overlooked the vast expanse of Honghuang's mountains and rivers, gazing at the place of the human royal court on Mount Buzhou, wanting to see clearly the Wind Lord……but there, endless crimson clouds swept across, blazing light consuming divine sense, isolating everything from scrutiny.

Even as mighty as the Heavenly Emperor, a hero who has reached the Taiyi realm cannot break through the isolation in a short time to perceive reality.

Tsk……regardless of his actual skill level, this Wind Lord is now able to sit in the strategist's seat.

Di Jun commented.

Fengxi ascended to the position of Wind Lord, the Fire Master officially took charge of the royal court, the entirety of human forces became his backing, his Way and power were not lacking, letting his combat power step onto the threshold of an ineffable realm.

Taiyi!

This is the level of a strategist.

Fengxi's current state is wonderfully analogous to that of a Heavenly Dao Saint.

A Saint, working for the Heavenly Dao, is a professional manager of the Heavenly Dao system.

Fengxi, working for humanity, is a professional manager of the human system.

The Heavenly Dao is very strong, forged by the primordial divinities working together, representing the ultimate authority over the Honghuang cosmos……Even though it is now in a state of feuding and division, with many shares frozen by the Wu Clan and the Heavenly Court not of one mind with it, it can still confer the title of six great Saints, letting them subtly experience the Taiyi realm beforehand and exert considerable combat power.

Humanity is immature, currently only a part of the great human family; even the Wu Clan has not fully digested and absorbed it, nor have they installed the Pangu essence blood plug-in specially arranged by Nüwa, yet it is sufficient to serve as a main pillar, allowing Fengxi, judging solely by combat power, to leap into the true strategist tier—unlike Saints, who have hidden flaws and suffer against demon ancestors and ancestral Wu, with attribute counters.

Even Fengxi can make further progress in a short time—for example, purging the dross and retaining the essence of the Fire Master system, erasing the imprint of the founder and major shareholder Nüwa, truly becoming his own form, which he can arrange as he wishes, thereby expressing his own wisdom and writing his personal Dao……

However, taking it slow is also fine……as long as he spends enough time immersed in the Wind Lord's position, digesting the abundant experience rewards gained from early entry into high-level monster grinding, accumulating and completing his wisdom insights, then he will truly be a Taiyi Supreme Emperor, rather than relying on humanity's support to roam the world unchecked.

Such a method, concretely described, is——first board the vehicle, then buy the ticket!

Pretending to cultivate with falsehood, then refining the false into the true……are routine operations for a Great Luo.

But when such operations become commonplace and everyone understands them, it becomes troublesome——each side is contending, each is gaming, using this to distinguish superiority and inferiority.

"Your Majesty, does this mean you are resolved to move troops?" Xihe asked with a smile, while at the same time Changxi also pricked up her ears, listening carefully, "Dispatching the great army to conquer humanity—the sooner the better, taking advantage of the newcomers who have just set out, before they can become veterans?"

"That's right." Di Jun's expression turned serious, he nodded solemnly, seeing the two ladies also become solemn, his expression then softened a bit, "Of course, not immediately……before conquering humanity, my Heavenly Court will first settle some internal affairs, then pick a suitable time to strike."

Di Jun said meaningfully, "Like the two ladies……they are still pregnant."

"Not waiting for you to give birth to princes and princesses, then properly recuperate and restore your bodies……my rashly launching war would also be inappropriate."

"Oh?" Xihe and Changxi exchanged a glance, responding in unison.

"Because once we let go, if it becomes a full-scale war." Di Jun merely said, his smile inscrutable, "The rear will not be at peace."

"How can I be at ease with you pregnant?"

"You are also the Heavenly Empress and Heavenly Consort, important targets for the opposing side……if something goes wrong, an ancestral Wu might come knocking and force you to join the war."

"A little carelessness, and you will be hurt, and our children will suffer terribly."

"As a husband and father, how could I bear it in my heart?"

Di Jun said affectionately, "I cannot give you a tranquil, leisurely life; instead I would drag you into the peril of war."

"Your Majesty's sweet words make us sisters feel uneasy." Xihe laughed and shook her head, "Holding heaven as sovereign, you now bear the title of Heavenly Emperor; words of love between children should be spoken less."

"Moreover, in your true intentions, our safety is merely an insignificant part."

"Ha." Di Jun glossed over the detailed questioning, gave no answer, and shifted the topic, "The prince must be born first, and the heir's position must be arranged."

"That way, even if war erupts and I am held up at the front, the heir can act as regent and continue implementing the Heavenly Court's strategy."

"The heir is immature, needing the two ladies' assistance, even ruling from behind a curtain, to consolidate his authority……I suppose you won't let the children suffer, right?"

"The treatment of the Heavenly Court's heir cannot be surpassed except by the ranks of Saint, demon emperor, human emperor, and ancestral Wu."

"Once lost, it would be terribly difficult to regain."

"A true opportunity must not be missed, for it will not come again."

"Ladies, please then exert the strength of motherhood, stabilize the rear, and block the incursions from humanity."

Di Jun said.

Xihe and Changxi looked at each other in silence.

——One feels as if they are being used as tools.

Even more, the struggle behind this……

"If the heir is truly chosen to be their child……at that point, are they still just themselves? Can they freely steer their own fate? Win or lose, they wouldn't care, as long as they are happy."

"You really have given us a problem." Xihe sighed lightly, her emotions complex, "Is the whole family scheming?"

"Where in the world is there no scheming?" Di Jun chuckled, "If it's an outsider, scheming means harming others for self‑gain……but for family, scheming is still scheming, and the benefits are still given."

"Nüwa keeps shouting about what she wants to do to her brother, merely because she once suffered from a wicked older brother's scheming, worked overtime to the brink of death, and had her petty cash emptied……but essentially, how could she deny that behind this lies great effort?"

"Overtime is overtime, yet it is all work that hones talent and ability, drills governance skills; stealing home is stealing home, yet it is to correct the petty‑minded mindset that rushes into money's eyes, making them reflect behind closed doors, purify the spirit, and through great ups and downs not be swayed by external things——without this experience, how could the present Nüwa emperor not look lightly on wealth, wield a lavish hand, and have united all unitable forces, just for a single gamble with Pangu?"

"So afterward, Fuxi cannot blame his sister for swearing to the heavens that one day she will personally give him a beating——the reason being that she thinks Xihuang is too flighty, has forgotten the principles of pride brings loss and humility brings benefit, and wants him to be humble as a god." Changxi covered her mouth, "Husband, you're doing this now—be careful, one day we might domestically violence you!"

"Fine!" Di Jun was very calm, "If your decision lets our family's enterprise maintain a wholesome upward development, then domestic violence is just domestic violence—I don't mind, and as long as you can beat me."

Among our own, behind closed doors we can make any noise we want; as long as we don't damage the relationship, it's all just fun.

"Sigh..." The two sisters both sighed, expressing helplessness toward such a thick-skinned partner.

One set of fallacious arguments after another made them feel, no wonder he once worked as a Censor.

For a moment they couldn't counter it, so they had to shift the topic: "Can we make it in time?"

Yes. Di Jun calculated on his fingers, nodded, "Your production period is not far off; it will not exceed an elemental meeting."

And as this term's Wind Lord, with the Fire Master at the helm, stabilizing the position will take a considerable amount of time.

After all, he has the Dragon Master restraining him.

If I act swiftly, facing a common external threat, the Dragon and Fire Masters might set aside their grudges, cooperate fully, and present a united front.

And if I delay, hold back, only pressuring the Fire Master's side while deliberately indulging the Dragon Master... you say, wouldn't that be interesting?

At a crucial moment, we can sacrifice a pawn to gain advantage, flank and stir up discord!

Di Jun's tone was cold.

Minor friction—we concentrate our elite, target the Fire Master, force the Wind Lord to focus his strength, draining resources and energy.

On the other side, we "give a boost" to the Dragon Master's system, letting them score some glorious "victories" like "one dragon defeats a thousand demons, ten thousand demons".

Then we can launch the public opinion offensive.

Spread rumors, tell the people of humanity—look!

Your new leader is no good!

Laboring in vain, besides wasting resources, it serves no other purpose.

Or perhaps the Dragon Master left by the previous leader is reliable, winning battle after battle... although they are only small victories, it's also because of the sovereign-minister relationship that the current Wind Lord envies talent and ability, refusing to tilt resources.

The Wind Lord is virtue-less! Incompetent! Should step down! Let the capable take over!

Only the Dragon Master can lead humanity to victory!

This is a yang plot.

Di Jun said with a cold smile, moving the two listeners present.

Indeed. Chang Xi pondered, "The upper echelons all know the root of the conflict between the Dragon Master and the Fire Master, and also understand the main reason for the rotation here."

But the populace below, and those supporters, neither understand nor can they untangle these complicated relations; they can only judge who is capable based on the most intuitive battle-loss victory reports, each becoming a loudmouth champion.

If the Heavenly Court intentionally manipulates, they will draw a wrong conclusion, gradually losing faith in the Fire Master—even if the Fire Master's contributions are truly many, many, if they cannot fight, it's wrong!

They don't know that the celestial troops the Fire Master faces are few, but they are the Heavenly Court's most elite forces, with the most splendid magical armaments.

Once perception goes awry, will shifts... the people's will leaves little room for the Wind Lord. Xi He interjected, "Either we go all in, take a risk and fight, winning a splendid battle."

Or else we must attend to popular sentiment, transferring some resources and authority to the otherwise declining Dragon Master, igniting their ambition.

Not bad!

Di Jun looked approvingly at his own wife, "That's exactly the effect we want."

No matter what the opposition chooses, we won't lose.

Taking the initiative, undertaking a risky gamble, we will meet fatigue with rest, using home advantage to crush them.

Transferring resources, the Dragon Master will raise his head, internal hidden dangers for humanity will increase... even at this point we look to the Wu Clan side, to see whether the Dragon Ancestor will toe the line.

Will nurturing bandits for self-preservation work? Will holding troops for self-preservation work?

Everyone acts together, swapping chips.

We of the Heavenly Court have the Yao Clan's advantage in numbers, unafraid of death... we can send some as pawns, weakening ourselves.

As an exchange.

If the Dragon Clan cooperates, they also impose a bit of self-weakening on the human faction... but this weakening had best fall on the Fire Master.

This is the pawn-sacrifice tactic.

The Fire Master's path is obstructed; who suffers most? Of course, Nüwa.

She is slow; we, who were originally behind, can then speed up to catch up... this is vying for momentum.

Di Jun set up a scheme, interlocking ring by ring.

Xi He and Chang Xi exchanged glances, both feeling lament in their hearts—

Nüwa, trouble.

When humanity initially decided to bring in the Dragon Clan as a model of cooperation, to strengthen the faction's strength... this move is actually not bad. Di Jun commented leisurely, "It just depends on who carries it out."

Fuxi held the piece, all gods subdued, the Dragon Clan dared not leap.

As for Nüwa... she lacks a bit of flavor, unable to suppress the Dragon Ancestor's ambition.

Thus we have room to operate.

After training them over a hundred or eighty rounds, stirring up conflict between Dragon Master and Fire Master, guiding the base populace to spontaneously protest the human kingdom's authority... heh, can a single spark start a prairie fire?

Also, I don't know... who lit this fire?

Di Jun chuckled darkly, "When the time is ripe, and the Dragon and Fire Masters' conflict becomes irreconcilable, we will strike again, launching a total all-out war to crush the Fire Master's main force!"

Huh? Compared to the Dragon Master, do you value the Fire Master more as an opponent? Xi He asked.

Not bad. Di Jun nodded, admitting, "I look at the Wind Lord's divine career—all sorts of mischievous operations along the way, too many to count... this is a very dangerous deity."

One misstep, and the Heavenly Court might capsize there... this is my intuition.

So I've decided to follow my intuition—when the time comes, I'll first kill the Fire Master, then the Dragon Master!

(End of chapter)