Chapter 473

Phoenix birds arrived, drawing all eyes.

The phoenix descended with auspicious signs, blessing the Dongyi camp with unending fortune, causing the governing Shao Hao to be overjoyed; he promptly decided on the corresponding political system and civil customs.

Different from the faded dragon masters who switched trades to promote totem origins, and also distinct from the fire masters who wield power and bestow blessings in the human royal court, the Dongyi forces have bird masters bearing bird names as their officials.

Bird masters, with phoenix birds being the most noble, are tasked with the calendar, overseeing numerology and correcting the heavenly seasons.

The Xuan Niao clan handles division; the Bo Zhao clan handles arrival; the Qing Niao clan handles initiation; the Dan Niao clan handles closure.

Zhu Jiu clan, Minister of the People; Jiujiu (jūjiū) clan, Minister of War; Ju Jiu clan, Minister of Works; Shuang Jiu clan, Minister of Justice; Gu Jiu clan, Minister of Affairs… these are the five Jiu clans.

Furthermore, there are five pheasants, serving as the five masters of works: in the west is the Shan zhi pheasant, engaged in woodworking; in the east is the Li zhi pheasant (zīzhì), engaged in pottery; in the south is the Di zhi pheasant, engaged in metalworking; in the north is the E zhi pheasant, engaged in leatherworking… the five-colored works benefit tool use and standardize measurements.

Furthermore, there are also nine attendants, who serve as the nine agricultural officials…

……

This is a vast system that encompasses all aspects.

Taking the phoenix as a mascot, it holds the highest honorary title but actually does nothing, only performing lofty, pure work… The true overseers of Dongyi affairs are the tribes that have a cooperative relationship with the Honghuang divine birds, abstracting the birds' traits to hold concrete posts, thereby supporting the political power of the entire human Dongyi system, encompassing everything, its framework not inferior to that of the human royal court in the slightest!

This is a great alliance of divine bird totems!

Each has its own strengths… When united, they can match up against the dragon clan's dragon masters and dragon totem system.

In a daze, the era seemed to have gone awry, reverting to an even older age—that was the time of the dragon-phoenix struggle!

Countless Great Luo divine beings witnessed this scene, all showing interested expressions, and then they all sighed.

——After all, it is past.

Once, the dragon and phoenix were the overlords of Honghuang, commanding the universe, with all gods submitting, none daring to disrespect.

Now?

But they are merely two hilltops within the human faction.

Of course, this hilltop is still quite competitive… Well-informed Great Luos know the secret backing behind each of the dragon and phoenix.

Seeing the Wuya forces now powerful, one cannot speak carelessly, for the dragon and phoenix might just strike back.

For example, if everyone succeeds in becoming like a dragon, the dragon clan's spirit assimilates human will, infusing it into the dragon's soul, thereby stealing the fruits of victory.

Another example: the Dongyi, supported by the phoenix, openly defeated Nüwa, and according to the agreement, gained control over humanity.

Anything is possible.

Thus, many ancient god sages sigh——

No wonder they are the old overlords, with deep foundations; even in this era, they can still secretly hold the seat of power, tough characters!

This also makes the Pangu struggle of this era full of suspense and mist.

However…… these suspicions, this mist, for certain deities, a large part of them simply do not exist.

They perhaps cannot predict everything, but……

Regarding their own life and death, however, they are clearer than anyone.

……

"Donghua, you say, have I boarded the wrong ship?"

The Heavenly Court, the Office of the Grand Minister of Destiny.

Two ancient god sages sit opposite each other, discussing the profound and the Dao.

Suddenly, one of them sighed and said to Emperor Donghua:

"The wind and rain are about to come."

"Although some people have arranged things very secretly, I still sensed something amiss."

"They…… want to kill me, Hongyun!"

The current master of the cloud cultivation system, a top-tier figure among the ancient gods—Hongyun, spoke in a faint tone, recounting his recent discoveries.

He is a god with keen perception, adept at seizing opportunities.

Otherwise not.

Back then, he also couldn't manage to, in the brief gap after the dragon ancestor was slain by the Luo Hou demon ancestor, seize the opportunity in one fell swoop, inherit the dragon ancestor's legacy, gain authority over the Water Dao, elevate his own Cloud Dao, and leap into the peak stratum.

Even so, Hongyun offended many people—unfair competition, exploiting loopholes, hoarding benefits—this is highly despised.

Yet Hongyun does not regret it.

——The windfall is right there; he doesn't rush to jump on board, waiting for you?

Dreaming!

He is exactly such a god with merchant traits, fond of winning big with small stakes, eager for rare goods, unwilling to yield…… come bite him!

Based on the opportunities and business chances he secured by his own ability, why should he compete fairly with you, advocating what anti-monopoly?

I just play the cloud-water integration, eating up everything from source to channel to downstream, creating a closed industrial chain…… ask you, are you angry? Are you angry?

Relying on such ability, Hongyun has reached his present achievements.

Infinitely close to the realm of the Taiyi Great Luo!

This is an achievement he is relatively satisfied with.

After all, for a pure Cloud Dao, or rather a Merchant Dao, to reach such a high level is truly extremely difficult.

That is, the Taiyi Great Luo can still overwhelm him…… but what are those figures playing at?

Out of ten, six or seven follow the path of commanding Honghuang's politics, which truly cannot be matched.

They are either the sovereigns of the past or the emperors of the present.

Even the phoenix, which the dragon ancestor jokingly called a mascot, was once a co-ruler of a realm.

Besides that.

Furthermore, the most fundamental and necessary dual masters of time and space, Di Jiang Zhu Long…… their corresponding authority is too special, and they have never been displaced, from beginning to end walking the broad road, which truly cannot be compared.

Just think about it and you'll understand how terrifying the combination of these two fellows can be.

They've set up whatever transportation ministry, communications ministry, railway ministry… and so on, all the related departments; even if it's the perfect Heavenly Court, one must be cautious about this—at its peak they themselves are just a small clique, the kind of existence that requires great effort to carefully and cautiously dismantle.

Hong Yun can't compare.

After looking at these things that make one's teeth ache, he turned back to look at the Minghe Devil Ancestor, Hongjun the Dao Ancestor, and the Heavenly Dao Saint with a strange state…

Hongjun the Dao Ancestor, who communicates with the Heavenly Dao, aside from Pangu, is invincible under heaven—as it should be.

Minghe the Devil Ancestor, who oversees karmic retribution, can use the entire human realm to hone his sword.

As for the Saint?

Backed by the Heavenly Dao, overseeing the education of the human realm, writing and establishing doctrines, his situation is special.

Hong Yun once dreamed of attaining the Saint's position—this is a fast track!

Too bad.

He failed.

He could only settle for a standby role, slowly waiting… not knowing when he might get a chance to become official.

Regarding this, he reluctantly set it aside and turned his focus to other matters.

That is—cloud cultivation.

After all.

Although the road ahead is full of obstacles… aren't there still a few ways to get through?

Like Kunpeng, and also Dong Hua!

Dong Hua, such a tough guy, can wield his sword decisively and govern to improve the human realm; Hong Yun asks himself, but he still falls short.

But Kunpeng, this guy… Hong Yun feels he can still measure up against him.

Kunpeng can achieve the Great Simplicity realm; he too has hope!

Especially after teaming up with Zhenyuanzi, a glimmer of hope has gradually appeared ahead.

Everything is so beautiful.

Too bad.

One such day, he suddenly became aware—

At some point, layers of nets were laid, gradually sealing off, cutting off his vitality!

Such secrecy, such a terrifying trap.

If he weren't an expert in the Way of Commerce, the most sensitive captain of capital, he might not have noticed—

Because, this was set up for the Great Simplicity!

It was set up for Dong Hua!

As a great divine ability wielder at the peak of the Grand Beginning, Hong Yun could sense something amiss; he should feel proud of himself.

But at this moment, he has no pride.

All he can feel is regret and helplessness.

At a life-and-death juncture, Hong Yun calmed himself to think and ponder, roughly guessing the cause—simply put, after the incident, the Heavenly Court and the Wu Clan noticed something wrong and wanted to suppress them, these third-power aspirants seeking independence.

He even guessed again… who among them was jumping with the most joy, he could picture even with his eyes closed!

"Cang… sigh, Cang…"

Hong Yun shook his head, then shook his head again.

Across from him, Dong Hua glanced at Hong Yun.

"You guessed about right." Dong Hua didn't explain the true reason in detail—he had revised the initial cooperation agreement with Nüwa, specially giving Hong Yun a grand gift as heir apparent… it was meant kindly, but someone misunderstood and lumped Hong Yun into the attack target.

Regarding this kind of well-intentioned mistake, the Emperor said… he actually feels a bit embarrassed to say it outright.

After thinking a bit more.

Hmm.

Everyone subjectively wanted to rebel, and objectively they had been engaging in rebel activities for years; now, due to a yin-yang mix-up, they are being punished for the grave crime of rebellion according to the rules of the game…

Subjective and objective are barely unified, and the verdict and enforcer differ little… just turn a blind eye and call it that, to keep Hong Yun, little brother, from overthinking.

After all, overthinking is useless!

Not only is overthinking useless… Dong Hua seriously pondered, and also plans to dispel Hong Yun's overthinking by fabricating a reasonable explanation to get by, lest he be exposed later.

If he really gets exposed… how can the legacy of cloud cultivation be hidden from heaven and crossed the sea?

"Relax, don't wild-guess so much, because it's useless."

Dong Hua lifted his teacup, took a light sip, feeling very leisurely and content.

"In a few days, not only will you be in trouble, I'm also in grave danger—maybe we'll have company on the road to the Return to the Ruins."

"…" Hong Yun looked speechlessly at Dong Hua, rubbing his forehead, "Can you still be so open-minded?"

"How is being open-minded? How is not being open-minded?" Dong Hua smiled faintly, "The opposition has laid out their plans to this point; it can already be said the tide has turned, they've calculated every aspect, and they've blocked off your paths of survival almost completely."

"Moreover, some things… are really worth talking about."

Dong Hua said meaningfully, "Back then, we already offended the Dragon Ancestor… I won't say more, you—you played the hoarder, and played it right onto their heads."

"On his little notebook, the Dragon Ancestor doesn't know how many times he's written down your name."

"If the Primordial Dragon doesn't kill you, it's because his own thoughts are not clear!"

"Hey."

Dong Hua chuckled, "As for the Dragon Ancestor, we two are definitely the gods he remembers most deeply."

"Glory is because of us, shame is also because of us."

"I carry out reforms, you handle commerce…"

"Our entanglement with him is too deep, too deep!"

"Settling accounts is also inevitable."

Well...

Donghua shifted his tone—seeing Hongyun's unsightly expression, he felt he couldn't damage teammates' morale that much; at least give some hope, give some motivation.

Even if we fall, it doesn't mean we've completely lost this round... believe me!

We have a chance—a chance to turn the tables!

Donghua paused word by word.

"Oh?" Hongyun straightened up solemnly, "What do you mean?"

"Our death can be made into a scheme." Donghua concealed this spacetime, a world where only the two of them could communicate, "It's a strategic death, a major breakthrough, a great shift!"

"Because... people usually only fear living opponents; for dead enemies, who would even give them a proper glance?"

Donghua had full confidence, he told Hongyun leisurely, "Only after we die can the rest of our teammates 'live' in this lich's grand chessboard!"

"They'll smuggle us, carrying us over the remaining road!"

"Finally, let us feign death and return, continue the fight, seize the fruits of victory!"

Donghua spoke earnestly, "Listen to me, you won't be wrong!"

"Really?" Hongyun somewhat doubtful, "I always feel it's a bit unreliable."

"You can rest assured about this." Donghua very serious, "I won't joke with my own life."

"Also, my reputation... you should try to believe a bit."

"Alright, I believe you..." Hongyun pressed his brow, "But I need to know the general outline of your plan..."

"No problem!" Donghua readily agreed, not sparing effort to answer teammates' doubts, firming their battle resolve.

"You've always been troubled by your identity, not wanting to be a private merchant, but wanting to go legitimate and take charge of Honghuang's wealth, right?"

"When our grand plan succeeds, I can make you a true 'God of Wealth'!"

Donghua patted his chest, promising, "As long as we do this this... that that..."

The Emperor Lord spoke many detailed steps, telling Hongyun one by one, "Take these years of our secret collusion with Kunpeng, the Three Pure Ones... link the society's clues, sever them all, transfer them onto ourselves, and finally die."

"Let them, with clean identities, stay outside the scheme."

"Like that."

"When we die, the Three Pure Ones... will come to collect our corpses."

Donghua urged, "Like you, it's the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable who will collect your corpse... but actually, secretly, he will dissolve your origin, awaken your spirituality, break free of shackles, and take the stage under a new guise!"

The Emperor Lord said, thinking, "Right now, the Dragon Ancestor runs rampant; your Water Dao currently has no hope."

"Without water, only having clouds, your path will be hard to walk."

"However..."

"Kunpeng is one of our own."

"When the time comes, we'll make peace and let him give you the Wind Dao, helping you cultivate the Wind-Cloud Dao... wind formless, cloud shapeless, that should be a way out."

Donghua arranged everything for Hongyun.

"Then... what about you?" Hongyun asked, "What will you do?"

"Me? At that time, it will be the Morality Heavenly Venerable coming to protect a sliver of my true spirit." Donghua grinned, showing a bone-chilling smile, "I, have never been a god who doesn't strike back!"

"If the Azure comes to take revenge on me?"

"After I feign death and return, change my guise, I will delineate all the mountains, rivers, and waterways of Honghuang, finally drive down a Divine Needle of Calm Sea, suppressing the four seas for countless years!"

"Good!" Hongyun shouted in approval, "Then count me in... I'll also go seek the objects of Calm Sea, so the old dragon won't get complacent!"

(End of chapter)