Chapter 490: Two Systems, Major Right and Wrong

So, Wind Marquis, do you understand?

Houtu was lonely as snow, "Efficiency and such, roughly enough."

The overall situation is under control; some things can be overlooked with an eye closed… even slightly satisfy certain groups' wishes.

For example, this reincarnation.

Back then, my elder brother—Fuxi didn't even give a glance; when people died, it was like a lamp going out, everything formatted.

As for immortal beings, they too cannot rest easy; they must periodically undergo evaluation, checking merit and karma.

When karma value rises, the First Executioner, Nether River Demon Ancestor, secretly rejoices, driving the cosmic calamity; under the Yuan Tu Avici Sword, another soul perishes—body dies, Dao fades, true spirit scatters, enters reincarnation, adding a trifling amount of his Dao merit.

Back when the Heavenly Court was at its peak, even my elder brother began devising the 'Three Calamities'—one disaster every five hundred years, the three calamities rotating, a reincarnation cycle every fifteen hundred years!

Houtu spoke at length, "Cultivating longevity may preserve youth and grant immortality, but one must not slacken or do evil…… From the moment one attains the Dao of longevity, merit is recorded on the ledger."

First, after five hundred years, a heavenly thunder disaster strikes. Thunder is upright and just, so one must speak and act cautiously, reflecting on the past.

If past evaluation is acceptable, use of heaven and earth resources is moderate, responding to the ancient gods' call, properly balanced—for example, not recklessly cutting down the forests that ancestors painstakingly cultivated to harmonize a region's climate and later nurture into pure lands—then this thunder disaster can be endured…… If endured, magic power becomes pure, Dao merit advances; if not endured, do not speak of it, one meets death here.

Another five hundred years later, a fire disaster comes to burn. This fire is neither heavenly nor mundane; it is the fire of the Human Dao, igniting from the bubbling spring cavity below, piercing the earthen walls palace, capable of reducing the five viscera to ash and limbs to rot, rendering countless eons of ascetic practice illusory.

Only by observing the rules of the Human Dao, dwelling in peace and happiness, refraining from evil, promoting positive energy, can this fire's power be greatly reduced, turning from calamity into cultivation aid, making the body lucid, as if a phoenix undergoes nirvana, gaining a sublimation of life's essence.

Finally, another five hundred years, yet a wind disaster comes to blow…… This wind is most extraordinary, the cosmic trust wind, also a ripple of the Great Dao. Born from the Dao-heart, passing through the primordial spirit, it tests the three outlooks on life within fifteen hundred years—whether one's body is upright and Dao straight, whether Dao and heart unite.

If there is a major shortcoming, it becomes a mental obstacle, sinking into the original heart, gradually walking toward the Dao's dissolution; do not waste heaven and earth's spiritual mechanism in vain, occupying cosmic resources; if only minor faults, it turns into golden wind jade dew, becoming the purest spirituality, bathing the cultivator's primordial spirit, helping them sort out their original heart.

Those who are outstanding, of lofty integrity and consistent word and deed, can serve as a model for all beings, bringing great benefit; a clear wind washes over their own Dao, helping to point out every omission, enabling cultivators to clearly understand how to check for gaps and fill them, how to perfect the Dao, preparing for future proof of the Great Luo.

These three calamities are a hanging sword for the wicked, a smooth path for the righteous…… Every fifteen hundred years a reincarnation cycle, cultivation endless, reincarnation boundless, until one proves the Great Luo, a single innate indestructible spiritual light shines eternally, only then can one escape calamity.

Houtu lectured, letting Fengxi listen entranced.

It's a pity that back then, only a draft plan existed; the most ancient Heavenly Court collapsed, went completely bankrupt.

Pangu retreated, transforming into heaven and earth; the innate divinities returned to their respective abodes.

As for Hongjun, he glanced at the plan twice, then added a bit of 'whimsical ideas' and cooked up the 'Three Corpses'… but the original intent was largely lost.

It was merely used to bribe a bunch of powerful cultivators, serving as a permit for cultivators to ascend to 'Heaven'; with the certificate one could become a Great Luo, without it one would be slapped to death…… Supervising the conduct of all beings? That's nonsense.

Speaking of this, Houtu changed the subject.

Many ideals are very great.

The original intention of the heart is likewise that beautiful.

Alas, reality has its own demands, forcing ideals to make way.

Once the Heavenly Court was united, Fuxi suppressed heaven and earth, yet still suffered the hidden loss of reincarnation…… I consider the current situation; to vie for votes among the Human Dao, I naturally need to turn a blind eye to a small group appropriately.

I wish to test the reincarnation system…… The primary beneficiaries are them.

'Which ones?' Fengxi's pupils shifted as he asked.

Naturally, those who have a bit of cultivation, have refined a primordial spirit, can back up life memories with the true spirit, yet have not proven the Great Luo cultivators!

Houtu chuckled lightly, 'Compared to the vast masses of common folk, although reincarnation also passes for them, they lack the ability to retain memories; even if reborn, it's all from scratch…… The previous life was a laborer, the next life likely still a laborer.'

What can compare to the former? Inheriting the predecessor's wisdom and insight, one is born already standing at the endpoint of countless beings.

Not to mention, the stronger one is, the more they give themselves cheat codes, burying one to five divine caches in life for their future self to retrieve, even solving the problem of cultivation resources.

With different starting lines, it's easy to appear as the strong ever-strong.

Accumulating life after life, constantly trial-and-error midway, adjusting Dao cultivation, enables one to go faster and farther.

Fengxi listened, somewhat stunned; after a while he softly sighed, 'Your Majesty, adjusting reincarnation thus, I know not whether it is good or bad.'

It sounds like it will bring endless calamity……

There's no helping it…… The Demon Race side promotes outright survival of the fittest, the strong rightfully possessing everything." Houtu spread her hands, "The Human Dao, sometimes it's like this: not learning the good, learning the bad."

I, to win hearts, gather votes, yet not abandon the pursuit of ideals, can only advance indirectly, promising to adjust reincarnation in the future, thus being able to stand equal to the Demon Race.

However…… Houtu suddenly snorted coldly, 'Your Majesty back then was also a decisive figure in slaughter.'

Now conceding is merely because there is no choice.

As for saying it will bring endless calamity?

I myself arranged the work; I myself will resolve the hidden dangers!

After reincarnation is adjusted, it is not easily repented…… But can I not yet apply a patch?

Houtu snorted.

When the time comes, each and every one who enters my territory will obediently take the medicine!

What past-life wisdom…… Just honestly take a hit of the womb's mystery!

Fengxi's eyes lit up, very much wanting to give a thumbs-up.

Fierce!

Force-feeding soup and medicine, past events are utterly erased!

Doing this, isn't there some suspicion of going back on one's word?" Fengxi hesitated, "Will there not be someone causing trouble? Disrupting the reincarnation order? Making a huge fuss over reincarnation?"

Even directly causing votes to leak away, running to the competitor's side?

You're usually clever, how are you muddled now?!" Houtu rolled her eyes, "Of course patches are applied after battle!"

After they've served their historical purpose, we can also abandon the bridge after crossing, dismantle the mill and kill the donkey.

As for causing trouble?

Houtu smiled lightly.

As long as I firmly hold the great army, controlling the most vital, fundamental portion of assets in the Human Dao, never letting those profiteering scoundrels lay a hand on……

This heaven will not be overturned!

At every junction of the yuan-hui, a grand review is held; the army sets out, all sides gather…… letting the world know whose heaven this is!

At this moment, Houtu is overbearing boundless, her spirit soaring to the heavens.

Eleven ancestor witches, one human king, they bow their heads and pay respects…… Yeah right.

Except for Xuanming, Tiānwú, Xizi, Rushou, Zhurong, Leize, and Fengxi, they looked at her with astonishment and reverence, giving her face.

The remaining Gonggong, Zhulong, Di Jiang, and Goumang, the four Supreme Emperors of Taiyi…… Obviously each had their own thoughts, they were just going through the motions with hesitant hums and ahs.

Gonggong, the rebel leader, not giving face—makes sense.

Di Jiang, deep in thought, seemed to be pondering something, almost forgetting the occasion for a moment.

As for Zhulong and Goumang, normally they ought to at least show some support, and even their pretended praise seemed genuinely heartfelt.

But……

When they heard Houtu's grand ambitions, that overbearing announcement, especially the last "Whose world is this?", their eyes were about to overflow with sympathy, like seeing a pitiful child about to have their home stolen.

That sympathetic gaze made Houtu feel uneasy; she glanced at them askance and said, "What's with your expressions?"

"Hmm..." Zhulong restrained his special gaze, sat upright, weighed his words, "Nothing, I'm just..."

"I just feel sorry for you, little sister Houtu, who has such grand ambitions but is now forced by circumstances to follow a twisted path to prove the Dao." Goumang said slowly, "Therefore my sympathy, nothing else."

"Yes, I see it the same way." Zhulong's eyes lit up, he followed the bridge Goumang had built, and let out a "Me too" sigh.

"Really?" Houtu eyed them suspiciously, "I feel like your sympathy is one thing, but you might be secretly laughing at me."

Nothing of the sort! Nothing of the sort! Jumang chuckled, eyes narrowed, "I don't get this Zhulong guy, but what's our relation? How could I laugh at you?"

Impossible!

I couldn't either! Zhulong stretched out his hand, clenched a fist, held it to his mouth as if suppressing some impulse, then naturally lowered his hand, acting nonchalant, "Nüwa, back then we were colleagues… our bond was ironclad, how could I laugh at you?"

Besides, I'm righteous as a deity, that's been recognized, that who… Di Jiang!" He shouted, "Don't overthink, come bear witness for me!"

Huh? Hmm!" Di Jiang first looked dazed, then seemed to understand, "Exactly, exactly, exactly, Fellow Daoist Zhulong, that's called high moral integrity, an upright deity—I vouch for him, he won't mock you!"

……" Houtu gazed with vacant eyes at the three ancestral witches, "How utterly bewildering…"

After thinking, she finally gave up pondering, no longer tending to those ancestral witches' flighty, neurotic demeanor.

After all, compared to Gonggong, that problem child, their little flaws are utterly trivial.

Back to the point!" she waved her hand grandly, "Firmly walk my path, while exporting ideology outward, the human sovereign must focus on building the ideological walls of humanity!"

Ensure that when setting fires, the flames won't scorch one's own home.

Disrupt the Heavenly Court's developmental steps, assist the Donghua Emperor in ascending the throne, then attack from within and without, hoping to utterly shatter the Heavenly Court!

Yes!

The heroes echoed in unison, all honoring Houtu's command!

……

The Wu Clan's ways—I see them crystal clear.

Under the Fusang tree, the Heavenly Emperor instructs his heirs, pointing them toward the strategic contests of the pinnacle figures.

I know exactly what Nüwa is thinking.

I must say, she's not simple either; in this world she belongs to the top tier, a truly formidable strategist.

But…

But compared to your father, Your Highness, we might still be a bit shy of the mark," the Ninth Imperial Prince said with a flattering smile.

That's right." Di Jun calmly accepted the child's flattery, "Back then, being looked after by Fuxi gave her some advantage, but in the realm of human deceit, she doesn't measure up to your father, who came up through hardship.

She wants to harmonize… but harmonizing is never easy.

If the measure isn't kept right, harmony will collapse." Di Jun slightly trembled the Witch-Slaying Sword in his hand; the blade hummed, a flash of great terror flickered across its edge, "This is also my true opportunity to slay the witches."

Those ancestral witches…" The Heavenly Emperor shook his head, "The plan is excellent, but it's merely a plan; it may not keep pace with change.

You see, even Fuxi, the Supreme Emperor of the Yi Dao, still needs to wield the Heaven-Opening Axe to let change follow the plan.

Nüwa has virtue, but her ability falls short… how can she control the situation?

Di Jun said, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes.

Just a wall—actually it's not flawless.

If harmony goes awry, the problem can be even more headache-inducing than the Demon Race's total metamorphosis.

The Demon Race has been afflicted, yet they've been thoroughly inoculated, becoming completely transformed.

From top to bottom, everyone follows a single set of rules.

The top-tier demon gods simply use their own capital to press down; those below can accept it, and they have a full set of adaptive survival methods.

Under this method, miracles can still occasionally occur.

There are ways to extort; the Tribunal of Fate also accepts reports from individual demon spirits against big corporations, and if successful, they can take a hefty bite.

Everyone pursues profit, and will stop at nothing to do so.

What about the human side, then?

Ha!

Di Jun chuckled.

That's where the problem lies.

Two systems, ideal and reality intertwined.

One side cries out for sacrifice in the name of ideal, driving many to surge forward with fervent passion.

On the other side, reality constantly lectures them, saying this is your blessing, no need to think about overtime pay… even some opportunists proudly claim, 'Three generations of effort, why should I lose to your lifelong toil?'

On one hand, the ideal's guidance tells them to dare to correct mistakes.

On the other hand, reality advises—no need, if kin die suddenly they just die; appealing upward is useless; beware of being imprisoned by a single hand that covers the sky, and having assets frozen.

Ideal and reality entangled, the situation is at its most complex.

Extremely hard to handle, placing too high a demand on the middle tier.

If the measure isn't grasped right and harmony falters… then leaks will appear.

When it reaches the point of no return.

My witch-slaying sword only needs a light thrust…

Di Jun chuckled lightly, "Nüwa can only hope that Fuxi will suddenly appear…"

(End of chapter)