Chapter 465

The Heavenly Court began to act.

Soon, the human race felt it.

"You say, is the Heavenly Court giving me too much face?"

In the human king's court, the Wind Marquis gazed at the left and right Fire Ministers, laughing loudly, calm and composed.

If you only looked at his demeanor, you would never guess what predicament the human race now faces.

"You can still laugh?"

Hougang sat in the seat to the right of the head, now looking at Fengxi, feeling somewhat speechless.

At the same time, the Kingdom General on the left of the head seat, formerly a top shaman of the Wu Clan, You, flipped through the information in his hand and let out a long sigh, "I can't laugh... the pressure is too great."

"The Heavenly Circuit Stars shine upon the myriad worlds—except for the Sea of Blood and the Nine Nether realms, their light reaches every corner of Honghuang's mountains and rivers!"

"Back in the Dragon-Phoenix Era, the starry sky was the main base of the Phoenix Camp."

"Why? Because they saw the convenience this offered in warfare."

"Great You's eyes were deep and profound: 'Different realms, different levels, different ways of play.'"

"'Great Luo are beings that can be active in the temporal layer.'"

"'And the Heavenly Circuit Stars have shone upon Honghuang for countless years— their light falls upon the ages, appearing to silently give selflessly, yet one day they may become a deadly noose.'"

"'The starlight has now been continued!'"

Great You rose to his full height, turned his gaze beyond the king's court, ignoring all obstacles.

"'Whoosh!'"

He flicked his hand, and time rippled like water, revealing a deeper corner of reality.

There, the concepts of time and starlight were abstractly woven and linked together, layer upon layer, weak strength accumulating, small things gathering into great, ultimately forming a vast net never seen before!

Net of Time!

Net of Stars!

Net of Heaven!

Every thread of starlight accumulated in time together built a great marvel— even if that starlight had long been absorbed and digested, as long as it had existed, it could still exert, in the most subtle and ingenious way, forces multiplied, even tenfold or a hundredfold!

This power is the primal force of Honghuang, the ultimate mighty power of humanity's Dao!

Unbeknownst to them.

The vital energy of heaven and earth was drawn upon, the mana of Dao cultivators was conscripted— even if it was within the human race's territory, protected by formations; even if the cultivators of the human race's faction were unwilling at heart.

But this cannot be avoided just by whether you guard or are willing.

Even if unwilling in heart and emotion, one becomes an involuntary pawn in that vast star net, contributing force against one's will.

—except for Great Luo.

"'Sigh.'"

Many Fire Ministers looked toward the inside and outside of the human race, seeing their own people unknowingly linked by thread after thread of barely perceptible lines, their own essence and spirit cleverly borrowed, blended into an insignificant node of an endless, boundless grand formation.

Li Mu reached out and easily severed a strand.

But when his power was withdrawn, the endless net of starlight across time spread out once again.

"'Don't waste effort,' Hougang shook his head, 'unless you keep expending power, this influence will always remain.'"

"'This is a level-overwhelming suppression of Great Luo over Great Luo; unless another Great Luo acts… even if they act, they cannot fully resolve it.'"

"'The opposing side grasps the primal source of the Heavenly Circuit Stars; inherently, they are a step above you in judgment!'"

"'You must expend more power and more energy to offset it.'"

"'Dimensional strike, debt must be repaid.'"

Hougang sighed, 'Some say— all things are born to nourish humanity, yet humanity has no virtue to repay heaven.'

"'But what about in fact?'"

"'When there is a Great Luo, placing a piece on the interface of enduring time, the contract from myriad ages ago has long been written.'"

"'No one can owe a Great Luo money.'"

He said meaningfully, 'Debts must be repaid, sooner or later spitting out principal and interest.'

"'Now, it is thus.'"

Anyone who has been touched by starlight, or uses it as the source of their magical power, or as an external force to temper their cultivation, owes a debt to the Zhou Tian stars.

This debt normally lies dormant, never called in, and might even repay you… But once it's like this now, when the Heavenly Court's Daluo have need, one will be helplessly seized and hauled away.

Encompassing countless beings, commanding the vast Honghuang, finally laying out the stars like a chessboard, achieving—the Destiny Chessboard!

Hougang's voice bore a trace of vicissitude, and in a daze the Fire Master ministers present felt an immensely grand artistic conception—the roar and surge of the destiny flood.

This is the Heavenly Court's fundamental suppressive grand formation—the Zhou Tian Star Dipper Great Formation; the genuine, thorough way to activate it is a strategic means.

Unlike those earlier displays, which look mighty and fierce in combat, overbearing and domineering… those are merely tactical means.

In the grand scheme, we are innately lacking by one chip.

Hougang remarked.

"Then, looking at it this way, did the former Heavenly Court still have a hidden hand?" Feng Hou laughed, "And this method… always gives me a sense of déjà vu?"

"A hidden hand? It doesn't exist." Hougang scoffed, "The Heavenly Court didn't go to such extremes before because of Paoqi!"

"After all, who was the original designer of this Destiny Chessboard? It was Fuxi, who once worked in the Phoenix camp!"

"Di Jun must be mad to use this method against Paoqi..."

Hougang rolled his eyes.

All kinds of initial codes are held in the opponent's heart… Playing this big, is it for fear the other side won't invade?

"Now, Paoqi has retired to enjoy old age, the Xihuang in the Heavenly Court remains silent, no longer an obstacle, so the Heavenly Court naturally dares to play bolder." Hougang said indifferently, "As for you feeling déjà vu? Heh… are you thinking of those Buddhist lending and commission tactics?"

Fengxi first froze, then nodded.

"That's right……" Hougang clicked his tongue in amazement, "They used to be a gang!"

"Jieyin plays with lending, able to do it so smoothly, because he holds a senior position in the Heaven and Earth Bank…… and this Heaven and Earth Bank, which issues and manages qi luck merit, who designed it?"

"Fuxi!"

"The Heaven and Earth Bank, the Fate Chessboard, itself comes from one person's hand, the ideological lineage is continuous."

"The meaning of the Heaven and Earth Bank's existence is to issue currency, benchmark various cultivation resources, stimulate production, operate Honghuang…… saving money and loans are just routine operations!"

"The Fate Chessboard is also an extension of this form…… just that compared to it, some pits have been secretly buried."

"At the same time, the Fate Chessboard is many grades higher and far more threatening than the Buddhist sect's great vow credit lending."

Hougang said this, and he became serious, "Even if harsh words are spoken, it's this Fate Chessboard that has more force."

"Fengxi, I think you should be able to understand."

Fengxi narrowed his eyes, pondered briefly, then slowly nodded.

"Not bad."

"From a slightly higher angle, many things are visible at a glance, covering the big picture."

"The Buddhist sect's great vow lending, pressing it down isn't too difficult."

"The Fate Chessboard……"

"Fengxi only needs to imagine a similar scene——"

"Someone shouted, this platform provided how many how many people's employment, fed how many how many small enterprises, suppressed physical stores…… whoever dares to move against me, then nobody wants to live!"

"Tsk, a monopoly indeed."

Fengxi could only comment.

"Being a monopoly is being a monopoly, but when held in perfect condition by the Heavenly Court, it's still very useful." Hougang laughed, "The Supreme Heavenly Emperor, with this he can regulate the distribution of cultivation resources throughout Honghuang and the balance between various Dao lineages—just need to slightly adjust the mainstream cultivation system, making stellar qi a main pillar."

"Those who obey are allowed to receive Jieyin's starlight, assisting in accelerating cultivation; those who don't, get nothing and must endure the slow improvement speed."

"As long as the Heavenly Emperor puts public affairs first and retains a public heart, then all of Honghuang can steadily progress."

"What a pity…… now such power has become our opponent."

"You've just taken office, and the Heavenly Court has already opened this strategic threat for you…… tsk tsk tsk."

Hougang sighed.

"This way, what we have to face is not just the Heavenly Court's war power, but also Heaven and Earth! All beings!"

"Truly——starting with the forbidden move, to show respect!"

"Sigh……" Fengxi exhaled, looking very helpless, his face not too panicked, "This matter really puts me in a difficult spot."

"I admit, by myself I can't beat the other side."

He smiled, "But this shouldn't be the opponent I take on."

"Naturally someone will take over."

"The Fate Chessboard was once the peak technique of the Phoenix lineage…… then, the Dragon Clan faction that could contend with it back then should also have a few tricks, right?"

"Otherwise, it wouldn't be that the Dragon Ancestor was assassinated by Luo Hou the Demon Ancestor, with loyal elites exterminated by him, only then announcing the collapse and decline of this region's hegemon."

"That's right." Hougang nodded, likewise smiling, "The Dragon Clan also has the Killer's Trick."

"Moreover, the Wu Clan nowadays…… many are the top cores of the Dragon Clan faction from back then!"

"The Time Ancestor Witch Chu Jiuyin, the Water Ancestor Witch Gonggong, the Earth Ancestor Witch Houtu……"

Hougang turned sideways to gaze afar at the Wu Clan's main base in Mount Buzhou, his eyes inscrutable, "The path they walk is not like the Phoenix's flamboyant ways; the Fate Chessboard controls the human realm, involves all beings, arranges fate."

"It's pure control!"

"Control the most fundamental, necessary basic resources!"

"Uphold the core will as the main body, all layouts revolve around this, I alone am supreme, I alone am divine!"

"Inside this, there is the Dragon Ancestor Azure Dragon's hegemony, a great unification; also Nüwa's transformations, creating myriad things, resource reorganization and allocation, a great factory, a great system!"

"Actually, upon careful examination, the Phoenix lineage of old can be called the source of the Daoist path, carefree and spontaneous, a hundred flowers blooming; while the Dragon Clan, is the original divine path hegemony, system strict, hierarchy orderly!"

"The Dragon-Phoenix struggle can also be said to be a clash of ideas between the divine path and the Daoist path!"

Hougang's words had just fallen.

The vast Honghuang, innumerable human path beings, simultaneously in their ears like a phantom hearing, a surging intense heartbeat sound rang out.

Along with that heartbeat, Honghuang seemed to have undergone the most subtle change.

Ordinary beings don't notice.

But for the top cultivators—those of the Great Luo—everything is clearly before their eyes.

Like matters related to water……

The vast sea is roaring!

Clouds and mist are surging!

Rain and snow are scattering!

……

In the end, the water inside beings' bodies is also cleansing the subtle ripples of the Great Dao.

They were originally natural, following the rules set by countless ages of gods jointly, which is the Great Dao, operating.

But at this moment!

A representative of the highest authority has inserted, taking over!

And this is certainly not the only one.

Twelve kinds of authority, involving the foundational existence of the Honghuang universe, are the necessary basic conditions covering most beings' survival!

The Five Elements cycle, metal wood water fire earth proceeding together, touching many life's survival material foundations.

The time-space combination, arranging the six directions, determining front back left right up down, ordering light and dark, clarifying thought's cognitive growth, orderly self-improvement…… this is the necessary aid for life's thought cognition.

Wind, rain, thunder, and lightning weather, turning the myriad phenomena of the world…… There is a saying: the human body is a small universe, the universe is a large human body; under the unity of heaven and man, the changes of heaven and earth also affect all beings, subtly altering the spirit, changing emotions, quietly influencing the growth trajectory of life.

In a vague haze, the twelve kinds of authority encompassed a being's endless life.

This is the Wu Clan's strategic method!

With the activation of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, the river of time changed color; endless time-space tracing interfered and canceled the fate chessboard set by the Demon Race.

"Amazing."

Fengxi looked at this scene, "Really amazing."

I originally thought the Heavenly Court's Heavenly Stars and Dipper Great Formation was, in concept, peak and unmatched, but what I see now, the former Dragon Clan's formation also has a few tricks; our Wu Clan is even less simple.

Material, thought, emotion…… each has its layout, each has its placement, all are encompassed.

Material foundation cannot be separated from the Wu Clan's layout; cognitive thought, we also intervene; emotional cognition, similar to the cultural entertainment industry, likewise has traces left.

Victory is not simply relying on strength, but having one's own foundation.

Fengxi sighed, deeply realizing what is called 'foundation.'

This kind of foundation is not mere combat power, but a design on the level of time and ages.

Without relevant layout, one cannot afford to lose.

Because once lost, one can never get back up.

In the past, the Dragon-Phoenix conflict seemed like the Dragon Clan had fallen.

But how about now?

Many deities have picked up this shell, relaunched, and are competing for the pinnacle of the universe!

"No wonder Gonggong Ancestral Witch jumps so fiercely…… understandable, understandable."

Fengxi smiled, "If I'm not mistaken, the designer of this pattern should have been him…… now this system is flourishing in the Wu Clan; as the founder, he cannot be taken as Pangu, but rather may be making a bride for Lady Nüwa……"

"If it were me, I would also not be willing."

The Wind Empress said to the attendants.

"Exactly!"

The Fire Ministers all said, "As servants of the Lady, we must suppress this wretch's greedy ambitions!"

They spoke bluntly and decisively.

Fengxi watched, but secretly shook his head in his heart.

"I always feel…… somewhat unreliable……"

"The traces of the Wu Clan are too deep."

"Although it can be said that after absorbing the Wu Clan, the Wu Clan will belong to the human race…… but it would be best for the human race to still have its own forbidden techniques."

"The Five Emperors…… the Five Virtues……"

(End of chapter)