Chapter 48

The Fire-driller Clan, a very low-key and also very special existence.

Translation: "The Fire-driller Clan, a very low-key and also very special existence."

We need to keep the commas and structure. Chinese: "The Fire-driller Clan, a very low-key and also very special existence." Ensure we keep the meaning.

As the great one who kindled the fire of civilization, and also the ancestor of all surnames…… yet in human legend his aura seems somewhat dim, falling short compared to Fuxi, Nüwa, Shennong, the Yellow Emperor, and others.

Translation: "As the great one who kindled the fire of civilization and the ancestor of all surnames…… however, in the legends of humanity, his halo appears somewhat dim, slightly inferior to Fuxi, Nüwa, Shennong, Huangdi, and the like."

We need to keep the ellipsis and commas. Use "……" as is? We'll keep three dots.

Like the list of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, in all its various versions, Fuxi and Shennong are always present, permanent members.

Translation: "Like the roster of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, in various versions, no matter what, Fuxi and Shennong are always listed, permanent fixtures."

We need to keep meaning.

Suiren...

Translation: "The Fire-driller……"

The throne is unstable, facing a tremendous challenge from later contenders!

Translation: "The throne is unstable, facing a tremendous challenge from later comers!"

He is indeed one of the human kings, but does he ascend to the holy throne of humanity?

Translation: "He is indeed one of the human kings, but to ascend to the Saint Emperor throne of humanity?"

It looks quite uncertain.

Translation: "Seems quite uncertain."

Even Fengxi had at times overlooked this existence, merely lumping him together with ordinary human sovereigns such as Youchao, judging him deserving of respect—but only as a respected king.

Translation: "Even Fengxi had once overlooked this existence, simply grouping him with ordinary human kings like the Nest-builder Clan, deeming him worthy of respect, but only as a respected human king."

But now, the Great Sage Fuxi has taught him a lesson, revealing the extraordinariness of this low-key sovereign.

Translation: "But now, the Great Saint Fuxi gave him a lesson, letting him know the extraordinary nature of this low-key king!"

"Suiren takes fire..." Fuxi sighed softly, "He did not take ordinary fire."

Translation: ""Sui Ren takes fire……" Fuxi sighed softly, "He did not take ordinary fire.""

"Ordinary fire... what does it amount to in this primordial world?"

Translation: ""Ordinary fire…… in this Honghuang world, what does it amount to?""

"He ignited the fire of civilization, the fire of humanity, illuminating a dark age and enabling countless beings to find awakening amidst confusion!"

Translation: ""He kindled the fire of civilization, the fire of the human Dao, illuminating a dark age and letting countless beings in confusion walk toward awakening!""

"The sun can illuminate heaven and earth, but it cannot illuminate the human heart…… Suiren did!"

Translation: ""The sun can illuminate heaven and earth, but it cannot illuminate the human heart…… Sui Ren did it!""

"He left the most brilliant flame in the realm of humanity, planting a spark of fire in the heart of every being..."

Translation: ""He left the most brilliant fire in the human Dao, leaving a spark of fire in the heart of every being……""

"From then on, humanity seized the chance for eternal prosperity, opening the road to eternity."

Translation: ""From then on, the human Dao seized the opportunity of eternal prosperity, opening the road to eternity.""

Fengxi listened to the words of the Great Sage Fuxi, his expression moved.

Translation: "Fengxi listened to the words of the Great Saint Fuxi, his expression moved."

He could not imagine how grand and sweeping an epic lay behind this, how much stirring struggle and effort!

Translation: "He could not imagine how grand and sweeping an epic lay behind this, how much moving effort and struggle!"

At the same time, he also felt somewhat puzzled.

Translation: "At the same time, he also felt somewhat puzzled."

"Such a great and exalted figure—why is it that I hear so little about him?"

Translation: ""Such a great and exalted figure, why is it that I hear so little information about him?""

"In countless primordial legends, he is merely brushed over, not even willing to mention him more."

Translation: ""In countless Honghuang legends, he is always brushed over in a single stroke, not even wanting to mention him more……""

"With such achievements, he must surely have a supreme title in heaven and earth—what kind of mighty divine adept is he?"

Translation: ""Moreover, with such achievements, there must surely be a supreme title in heaven and earth—what kind of great supernatural being is he?""

Fuxi's face flashed a fleeting oddity; he remained silent for a while, then slowly said, "Suiren, the Suiren Emperor... I can't really say what his situation is."

Translation: "A fleeting oddity crossed Fuxi's face; he remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Sui, Sui Huang…… I cannot say exactly what his situation is.""

"He seems to both exist and not exist; perhaps he is a lingering mental remnant, or an obsession, enduring through eternity, indestructible."

Translation: ""He seems to exist and yet not exist; perhaps he is a mental remnant, or perhaps an obsession, enduring through all ages, indestructible through countless calamities.""

"Buried by the dust of time, interred and abandoned, a lone soul wanders, sighing at the changing ages—or feeling lament?"

Translation: ""Buried by the dust of time, interred, abandoned, a lone soul wandering, watching the changing eras sigh? Or feeling lament?""

Fengxi inexplicably feels a sense of desolation and sorrow.

Translation: "Fengxi inexplicably felt a sense of desolation and sorrow."

"But... perhaps this isn't so bad?" the Great Sage Fuxi stroked his chin, "Although he is rarely mentioned, those scarce traces and pieces of information about him are entirely positive, removed from worldly strife, leaving him a pure land of his own."

Translation: ""But…… perhaps this isn't so bad?" The Great Saint Fuxi stroked his chin, "Although rarely mentioned by people, his 'rare' traces and information are all positive, staying clear of worldly strife, retaining a pure land for himself.""

Xihuang chuckled, "Look, among those countless true-and-false legends, how many of us active divine adepts aren't blackened?"

Translation: "Xihuang chuckled, "Look, among those countless true and false legends, how many of us active great supernatural beings aren't blackened?""

"The Three Pure Ones, the Welcoming and Guiding, the Kun-peng... each of them is a victim!"

Translation: ""The Three Pure Ones, Jieyin Zhunti, Kunpeng…… all of these are victims!""

"And my sister... despite her great merit of creating humanity and mending heaven, she cannot escape slander; people view her through tinted glasses, slapping on a label—either a ruthless sage or a lovestruck fool."

Translation: ""And my younger sister…… despite her great merit of creating humanity and mending the heavens, she cannot avoid slander, still being viewed through tinted glasses, inexplicably given a label—either a ruthless Saint or a lovestruck fool.""

"That's why I'm somewhat better... I usually do good deeds and make friends; those famous and powerful divine adepts, when they talk about me behind my back, all give a thumbs-up and praise me."

Translation: ""That's why I'm somewhat better…… usually I do good and make friends; those famous and powerful great supernatural beings, when talking about me behind my back, all give a thumbs-up and praise me in unison.""

Fuxi sighed, lamenting the fickleness of the world—being a celebrity is no easy task.

Translation: "Fuxi sighed, feeling the fickleness of worldly affairs; even celebrities are not easy to be."

In response, the little phoenix beside him stared at him with a strange, weird gaze, continually staring.

Translation: "In response, the little phoenix beside him stared at him with a very strange, weird gaze, continually staring."

"Um... the topic has drifted a bit." Fuxi resisted the phoenix's gaze without changing expression, "Little one, after all I've said, I just want to tell you... even if we embody the infinite, exist across endless time and space, leaving legends and bloodlines."

Translation: ""Um…… the topic has drifted a bit." Fuxi resisted the phoenix's gaze without changing expression, "Little one, after saying all this I just want to tell you…… even if we incarnate endlessly and exist through infinite time-space, leaving legends and bloodlines."

"As for you, you may not be directly related to me—your branch might belong to the Suiren Emperor, thus diverging from me." Xihuang smiled, "Still, some of what you say isn't without reason... all who share the same surname are one family; so you could, albeit loosely, be considered my half‑descendant."

Translation: ""As for you, you may not necessarily have a direct relation to me—your branch might belong to the Fire Emperor, diverging from me." Xihuang smiled, "However, some of what you said is not without reason…… all under the same surname are one family; so you can barely be considered my half junior.""

"If you hadn't met me, it would be fine, but now that we've met and you're in such a sorry state... I clearly understand that not giving you, this junior, some help would be unjustifiable."

Translation: ""If you hadn't met me, it would have been fine, but now that we've met face to face and you're in such a miserable state…… I clearly understand that not giving you, this junior, some help would be unjustifiable.""

Never before has Fengxi felt that the Great Sage Fuxi is so handsome! Handsome! Wise and mighty! Great and sublime!

Translation: "Never before had Fengxi felt that the Great Saint Fuxi was so handsome! Heroic! Wise and valiant! Great and exalted!"

His gesture of bestowing a reward is so overwhelming that even if Fengxi exhausted all the words of the four seas, he could not adequately describe it!

Translation: "His gesture of rewarding was such that Fengxi, even if he expended the vast and myriad words of the four seas in praise, could not even describe a fraction of it!"

"Praise the Great Sage Fuxi!"

Translation: "【Praise the Great Saint Fuxi!】"

Fengxi's demeanor is sincere; he assumes the posture of a pilgrim.

Translation: "Fengxi's demeanor was sincere, making a pilgrimage posture."

Fuxi chuckled helplessly, "Actually, I think that with your thick‑skinned determination to seize every chance to improve and climb upward, no matter how you start, you'll end up doing fine."

Translation: "Fuxi chuckled helplessly, somewhat at a loss for words, "Actually I think, relying on your thick‑skinned spirit of desperately seizing every chance to improve yourself and striving upward, no matter the starting point, you'll eventually do fine.""

"Whether or not I grant you my favor is actually not important... it merely affects how soon you reach ultimate achievement."

Translation: ""Whether or not I bestow my gift upon you is actually not important…… it's merely a matter of when you reach the ultimate achievement.""

"If you can achieve it a day earlier, why wait a day longer?" Fengxi blinked, "This world is too dangerous; deep down I'm actually quite anxious, wishing I could hide away and cultivate until I reach the peak of Taiyi or even prove the Dao of Daluo before stepping out."

Translation: ""Why delay a day if you could do it a day earlier?" Fengxi blinked, "This world is too dangerous; deep down I'm actually quite anxious, wishing to hide away and cultivate nonstop until I reach the Supreme Ultimate Peak or even attain Great Luo before stepping out.""

"Too bad, the four necessities of cultivation—wealth, partner, method, and place—all require resources."

Translation: ""Alas, the four requisites of cultivation—wealth, partner, method, location…… each of these demands resources.""

"Without resources to accelerate, relying solely on inhaling and exhaling the world's qi, how long would one have to wait?"

Translation: ""Without resources to accelerate, relying solely on one's own inhalation and exhalation of the world's qi, when would that be?""

"The witch‑demon war could break out at any time—perhaps in tens of millions of years, or just a few days from now. This uncertainty forces me to improve as quickly as possible, achieving the greatest progress in the shortest time."

Translation: ""The Lich Great War could break out at any time—perhaps tens of millions of years from now, or just a few days later…… this temporal uncertainty forces me to hurry my improvement, to gain the greatest achievement in the shortest time.""

"That's settled; we must employ some unconventional enhancement methods—like the Time Secret Realm of Master Candle Nine Yin, where one day outside equals a single yuanhui inside."

Translation: ""This has decided that we must use some unconventional improvement methods—like Zhu Jiuyin's Time Secret Realm, where outside one day, inside one begins a yuan hui.""

"But the Time Secret Realm... that also costs money!"

Translation: ""But the Time Secret Realm…… that also costs money!""

The entire witch clan numbers in the hundreds of billions of minor witches; Fengxi doesn't have enough clout to have the ancestral witch waive his fees so he can enter to cultivate.

Translation: "The entire Wu Clan numbers in the trillions of little witches; Fengxi doesn't have much face to let the Ancestor Wu waive his fees, allowing him to enter for cultivation."

In an organization, the most important thing is fair rewards and punishments; we must not break the rules—though we may not speak of hidden backroom deals, we certainly cannot openly violate them!

Translation: "In an organization, the most important thing is fair rewards and punishments, not breaking the rules—though we don't speak of hidden backroom deals, openly we must not violate them!"

Only those with merit receive rewards, which yields more resources; otherwise, hearts will scatter and the witch clan's forces won't hold together.

Translation: "Only with merit do we earn rewards, and only then can we obtain more resources…… otherwise, hearts will scatter and the Wu Clan's forces need not be led."

This forces ambitious, aspiring elites to consider other ways to make money… merely staying in the witch clan's stronghold, living off dead‑end wages to train, seems safe.

Translation: "This forces elite individuals with ambition and aspiration to consider other ways to make money…… merely hunkering down in the Wu Clan's headquarters, relying on dead‑end wages to cultivate, appears safe."

But that will inevitably lead to mediocrity… once the witch‑demon calamity erupts, there's a great chance of becoming cannon fodder!

Translation: "But that would inevitably lead to mediocrity…… once the Lich Great Tribulation erupts, there is too great a chance of becoming cannon fodder!"

Precisely for this reason, Fengxi opened channels to earn a windfall outside the witch clan, thereby gaining unanimous support and acclaim.

Translation: "Therefore, precisely for this reason, Fengxi opened channels to gain a windfall from outside the Wu Clan, which would earn unanimous response and support."

Every witch possesses at least average intelligence, knowing what future circumstances they will face.

Translation: "Every Wu has intelligence at the baseline, knowing what situation they will face in the future."

Better to give it a all‑out effort than to suffer a slow death!

Translation: "Rather than a slow death, it's better to go all out!"

The Great Sage Fuxi shook his head, noncommittal.

Translation: "The Great Saint Fuxi shook his head, noncommittal."

"I can give you a little gift; as for how far you can go in the future, that depends on your own ability." He pointed with one hand, and a small cabinet beside him opened, revealing its interior to Fengxi.

Translation: ""I can give you a little gift; as for how far you can go in the future, that depends on your own ability." He pointed with one hand, and a small cabinet beside him opened, revealing its interior space to Fengxi's eyes."

At the moment the cabinet door swung open, a crackling sound rang out, and a heap of miscellaneous items tumbled out.

Translation: "At the moment the cabinet door opened, a 'crackling' sound rang out, and a large heap of miscellaneous things tumbled out."

Some of them were jade fragments, like the broken remains of some jade ware.

Translation: "Some were pieces of jade fragments, like the remains of broken jade ware."

Some are pearls with a Chaos hue, a large pile, rolling everywhere chaotically.

There are also many strangely shaped lotus flowers…… golden, green, and black.

Even more unusual are specks and clusters of light that emit radiance, blinding the eyes.

Wait.

Countless, too many to enumerate.

Fengxi watched this scene, feeling strangely bewildered, unable to make sense of it.

He hesitated, looking toward Fuxi the Great Sage, hoping he would give an answer.

"Pick one of these for yourself," Xihuang said, waving his hand generously. "These aren't mine to begin with; giving them to you doesn't pain me at all."

"These aren't yours?" Fengxi wondered.

"Of course." Fuxi nodded. "These items…… were all obtained from some time travelers."

"Some Great Nets, either stirring up trouble in the flow of time, or recruiting manpower from the future like the Ancestral Witches…… yet they end up acting sneaky and underhanded."

"Seeing this makes my hands itch; sitting here fishing for ages, I've caught quite a few."

"They're different from you conscripts recruited by the Ancestral Witches, who start out with a clean slate."

"Each one comes with a cheat—mass‑produced 'hacks' supplied by the behind‑the‑scenes Great Net, hoping to stir up wind and rain in this era."

Fengxi listened, his mouth twitching and eyes wide open.

"Coming with cheats, traversing the Honghuang…… he's so envious!"

But after a moment's thought, he's no longer envious.

"The cheats are all laid out here—so what about those time travelers…"

"Their fate is worrisome!"

Fuxi then spoke the following sentence, confirming his thought: ""Ah… I, Fuxi, am a god who does good to others.""

""I usually avoid killing and keep things harmonious.""

""If these time‑travelers harbor righteous intent and are willing to strive for a beautiful Honghuang, I'll wave my hand and set them free, letting them take their cheats to roam the Honghuang…… perhaps they could add a splash of splendid color to this era.""

""If they still cling to their past lives and don't want to cross over, I'll also do a good deed, sending them back to their original spacetime and granting them continued life.""

Fuxi the Great Sage sighed, ""Both outcomes are happy endings…… but there are always some folks who don't know life from death.""

""They come to this era just to cause havoc——either they obsess over burning, killing, looting, and enslaving the four directions, or they dream of opening a vast harem to collect goddesses from all quarters……""

""Tsk tsk, such boldness and ambition…… that's something I dare not even imagine!""

""So I simply send them straight to the object of their longing, urging them to launch an attack…… perhaps their hegemonic aura will scatter, causing the Great Net to kneel? Or perhaps a female deity will fall head‑over‑heels at first sight and throw herself into their arms?""

""Too bad……" Fuxi lamented, ""I've played matchmaker so many times, yet never once succeeded.""

Fengxi stared at Fuxi, trembling at this moment.

"How terrifying!"

""Ah, let's not dwell on the past……" Fuxi smiled. ""Come, pick whichever you like from these.""

(End of chapter)