Chapter 512

Time rewinds a bit, just as the Eastern Emperor begins to show his might.

"Very good, very good."

The two supreme beings who had been coldly watching exchanged glances, both showing a smile.

"At last this day has come……" a huge dragon head, panting heavily, his voice filled with endless excitement, "Not easy…… really not easy!"

"The Zhou Tian Star-Dou Grand Formation, now rightly opened, can suppress the troublemakers."

On the other side, it's the heavenly emperor of the Demon Race, the leader of the Heavenly Court, "Dragon Ancestor Daoist, do you want to join the war against the Eastern Emperor now?"

"No…… I'm not in a hurry." A flash of ferocity passed through Dragon Ancestor's eyes, "After all, the Eastern Emperor is the Great Simplicity, not easy to kill."

"I'll go kill an easy target first!"

"Hongyun!"

Dragon Ancestor uttered each word with a pause, killing intent boiling.

That day, he had waited for a very long time.

When the opportunity arrived, he suddenly realized——the years of cultivating his qi he had practiced were so insignificant.

All this tolerance and forbearance, all this peaceful coexistence…… are bullshit! Only gratifying vengeance!! Dragon Ancestor harbors hatred for Hongyun.

Back then, Dragon Ancestor died violently at Rahu's hands, with the Eastern Emperor being the main contributor, and the hatred is fully justified.

But on another note, there was also an ancient god who likewise firmly attracted attention, whom Dragon Ancestor had long kept in mind.

It's Hongyun!

If one says that Dragon Ancestor fell into the Eastern Emperor's hands due to inferior skill and being deceived…… even if he lost, there's nothing to complain about; one can only say he was blind.

As for Hongyun? He just makes Dragon Ancestor sick.

He picked up the corpse! Seizing the moment when Dragon Ancestor died violently, he leapt up, gleefully taking over the waterway authority Dragon Ancestor held, gulping down and nibbling away all its market share…… Such behavior is simply adding insult to injury! This is something even the Eastern Emperor didn't do, but Hongyun made it happen.

Although the Eastern Emperor is ruthless, each serving his master, with the task of destroying the Dragon Clan's camp, naturally opposed positions, he can use any means, appearing as a traitor but actually a rebel.

Hongyun…… is just a traitor posing as a loyal minister, who stabbed his own boss in the back and took over his company.

After the reckoning, the Eastern Emperor's pain is short-lived; although it stings at first, once the pain passes it's over, with no prolonged legal disputes.

Hongyun?

Until Dragon Ancestor, relying on the Wu Clan's might, forcefully reclaimed the waterway authority, he had been struggling to entangle things endlessly! Long-lasting pain!

Between Dragon Ancestor and Yun Ancestor, the conflict has risen to the level of a Great Dao struggle.

——mainly because the authority over the waterway is too tempting.

The Dragon Clan's system thrives wherever there is water—rivers, lakes, seas—its reproduction and spread cannot be separated from the water system.

Accumulated water becomes an abyss; therefrom the flood dragons are born.

As for Hongyun? He values the Way of Water even more, regarding it as his lifeline.

Accumulated water forms clouds; moving clouds bring rain. By mastering the discourse over the Way of Water, Hongyun can enforce a monopoly—he can make it rain where he wants, and cause drought where he wants.

And once lost?

Then he's just a worker.

Even as a porter, he remains firmly grasped by the source, unable to guarantee his own independence——clouds are formed from water!

If water has a problem, the cloud still wants to be independent? Dream on!

This is a dead knot.

As long as Hongyun retains a bit of ambition and can get his hands on the waterway authority, he will not give up hope.

Moreover, in fact, back then he truly did wait for the opportunity!

As soon as Dragon Ancestor breathed his last, he gleefully went to take over; the whole process was swift, with less than an hour between his departure and arrival.

From this we can see, his mind is deep as an abyss, his thoughts profound——

Hongyun clearly knows that the Eastern Emperor has a problem!

Otherwise, when the incident occurred, it couldn't have been so efficient——this requires daily readiness to take over, waiting only for the Eastern Emperor to trap Dragon Ancestor, become a worker, and then he himself would step in.

Regarding Dragon Ancestor, the Eastern Emperor wants him dead, while Hongyun hopes for his death.

The former is the execution of a strategic objective, quite time-bound, and will not persist indefinitely.

The latter…… really is just venting frustrations on effigies, praying to gods and buddhas for Dragon Ancestor's misfortune.

The former feels hatred, the latter feels disgust.

Of course, regardless of which——

are not good people.

Whenever he can find an opportunity to kill any one of these two, Dragon Ancestor feels quite happy…… his waist no longer aches, his legs no longer hurt, and in one breath he returns to youth, radiant again.

What's more, now? He can dispatch both in one breath!

However, the more crucial the moment, the more composed Dragon Ancestor remains.

He is a mature hunter, very patient, and quite rational.

Who to kill first? Dragon Ancestor wants to kill Hongyun first!

"Killing Hongyun first would easily alert the snake." Di Jun reminded, "Even if Nüwa is slow-witted, she should sense something's wrong."

"I suggest you focus on the big and let go of the small…… better to concentrate fire on the Eastern Emperor, the chances of victory might be higher."

"No……" Dragon Ancestor bared his grim-white teeth, firm in his original resolve, "Hongyun, I can kill him swiftly."

"Moreover, killing him brings me extra gains."

Dragon Ancestor has his own reasons.

Both are settling personal grudges, but there is a difference.

Killing the Eastern Emperor belongs to suppressing the Eastern Yi forces, cutting out a competitor on Pangu's road.

And killing Hongyun? That is simply strengthening himself.

Because... wind follows the tiger, cloud follows the dragon.

Dragon is a water creature, cloud is water vapor; therefore, the dragon's roar brings forth clouds, they complement each other.

Red Cloud constantly thinks of the Dragon Ancestor's water authority... but the Dragon Ancestor also never stops thinking of Red Cloud's origin?

The Dragon Ancestor reveals the secret——

If he obtains Red Cloud's true form and adorns the dragon's body, his combat power will be elevated.

This is also why, in the past, the Azure Dragon relied on Red Cloud... but unexpectedly, it was inviting a wolf into the house, planting the seeds of disaster.

Now, the Dragon Ancestor no longer relies on it——if he cannot win your heart, then he will kill you and take your body.

"I killed Red Cloud, refined his Dao fruit, my combat power will increase slightly." Dragon Ancestor said softly to Di Jun, "At that time, joining the main battlefield, attacking Donghua, the chances of victory could be greater."

"If possible......"

"I hope I can personally slay Donghua and settle that old grudge!"

"Is that so?" the Heavenly Emperor slightly nodded, "I understand."

"Do you need me to provide cover, or even directly help?"

"Just provide cover, no need to act directly." Dragon Ancestor said firmly, "Killing a Red Cloud doesn't require a gang attack."

"The Zhou Tian Star Dou Grand Formation will slightly conceal my movements; until Red Cloud's death, that will be enough!"

"The struggle of the Great Dao began in the past and ends today!"

The Dragon Ancestor slowly rose, his might began to rise without limit, bearing the aura that could shake ancient, present, and future.

"Mm, right."

Just as Dragon Ancestor was about to stride forth valiantly to kill the clouds, he suddenly seemed to think of something and consulted with Di Jun.

"Di Jun fellow Daoist, I want to borrow your name for a moment."

"Oh? Oh!" Di Jun first puzzled, then quickly understood, "You're worried about Nüwa?"

"I suppose so." Dragon Ancestor smiled faintly, "Although no one knows exactly what happened, everyone knows in their hearts."

"But at least on the surface, we still need to put up a fig leaf; it's not suitable to openly break relations."

"You, Di Jun, killing Red Cloud, removing treacherous ministers, is justified and proper."

"I, Dragon Ancestor, killing the heir of the human Eastern Yi tribe... that's a big deal."

"Although I'm not afraid, it's better to have fewer things than more."

"Haha..." Di Jun chuckled, "Fellow Daoist, you have a good idea, but I fear Nüwa won't listen to reason when the time comes."

"If she doesn't listen to reason, then I won't either." Dragon Ancestor showed no concern, "When it comes to that, we'll see who is more shameless."

"I'd fear her? Hah!"

The Dragon Ancestor gave a meaningless sneer, his form gradually fading.

Walking through the void, crossing the vast heavens and earth, he directly rushed to the abode of the ancient god Red Cloud.

At this time, the Heavenly Court's campaign against Emperor Donghua had just begun.

"Take your life!"

The Dragon Ancestor growled, about to slap out a palm, when suddenly he froze.

"Hmm?"

"No one here?"

Dragon Ancestor first halted his form, then rushed into the hall.

With his divine sense sweeping, he saw the place already empty of people.

Only on the central hall's table lay a note, as if the owner had already anticipated this scene.

The Dragon Ancestor, face grim, seized the note; at a glance, his pupils slit vertically, his hair stood on end with rage.

"Cao is a great blunder... Old Ancestor I, with divine foresight, already knew your tricks!"

"Want to kill me?"

"I think I can at least struggle a little!"

"If it weren't for the Zhou Tian Star Dou Grand Formation activating quickly, catching me off guard, Old Ancestor I would have already escaped; you wouldn't even get to eat dirt!"

"Now, guess where I am!"

"Take your time looking, don't rush!"

"Great mockery, silently poking at the Dragon Ancestor's heart."

Red Cloud, the ancient god, is a very slippery deity.

Seeing the situation turn bad, he immediately tried to flee! If it weren't for the Zhou Tian Star Dou Grand Formation being truly fierce, and Donghuang being prepared, having locked down the Heavenly Court from start to finish, and he not being as strong as Donghua, able to carve a path of life, he could only hide in the range of the covering strike, cowering... perhaps, the Dragon Ancestor truly can't even eat dirt.

Even so, he was the first to hide, acting like a Voldemort, trying to survive the poison circle.

"You brat, bullying others too much!"

The Dragon Ancestor snorted angrily, clenched his fist, the note turned into calamity ash, drifting down.

"You can't escape!"

"With a cold tone, Dragon Ancestor turned and rushed out of the hall, seemingly to begin a carpet-like search."

"——Even if we scour the entire Heavenly Court, we must drag out Red Cloud! After he left."

The ashes of the notes covering the ground suddenly gathered together, then transformed, manifesting the ancient god Red Cloud!

Only to see his face pale, indeed his vital energy greatly wounded, yet he wore a satisfied smile, not without pride.

"Cao, you're still so easy to deceive... Old Ancestor I am bold and meticulous, deeply knowing that the most dangerous place is the safest, and I have deceived him once again!"

"Tsk tsk... Old Dragon, you don't learn your lesson!" Red Cloud ancient god restrained his aura, activating mockery mode.

He laughed at Dragon Ancestor's low intelligence, being played by him in the palm of his hand.

"Mm, my 'Formless Cloud' method seems able to continue developing, ever-changing, created as I wish."

Today I tricked a stupid dragon; someday, will I be able to trick a foolish Pangu?

Hong Yun muttered, still in the mood to ponder and research academic matters of cultivation; facing the life-and-death struggle outside, he was remarkably bold, appearing completely unconcerned.

After all, this place should already be safe… right?

Really? Am I that stupid? Don't I have a good memory?

A sudden, low voice sounded, making Hong Yun stiffen all over.

He closed his mouth, fell silent, struggled to turn around, and saw that very familiar figure.

Dragon Ancestor!

He's returned!

No! He never left!

What left was merely an illusionary avatar!

His true body remained hidden, coldly observing Hong Yun's transformation! This round, this round is a trick within a trick—the clown is actually me!

How is it?

Surprised or not surprised?

Unexpected or not unexpected?

Dragon Ancestor spoke coldly, and as he stepped forward, a supreme Dao rhythm sealed this heaven and earth, turning it into an isolated, self-contained spacetime.

As starlight fell again, the sealing bonds tightened, adding a layer of protective shell.

"You…" Hong Yun's ancient god visage gradually bore a bitter smile, "Ah, this time I've miscalculated."

I never expected… truly never expected, you, Dragon Ancestor, have actually mastered it.

Thanks to your teachings. Dragon Ancestor's tone was very calm, but that calmness was terrifying, making one's scalp tingle.

After all, the tuition was paid with our lives—how could we not remember?

Not only did I remember, I also integrated and comprehended it fully.

Then…

I applied it bit by bit to you all, thanking you for teaching me how to grow back then!

Dragon Ancestor paused word by word, a bloody aura filling the heavens and earth—these are his killing intent! "Dragon Ancestor, don't act rashly!" Hong Yun sucked in a breath of cold air, "No matter what, don't we now share a common enemy?"

We're all opposing the Heavenly Court, right?

The enemy's enemy is a friend… isn't that so?

If you wish to achieve great things, you must have tolerance, be able to gather talents from all directions, can spend a thousand gold to buy a horse's bone, not holding past grudges…

You strike down allies so harshly—who will ever cooperate with you in the future?

Hong Yun chattered on and on, saying much.

He felt he might still be able to make a rescue.

But, things went contrary to his wishes.

What you say makes sense. Dragon Ancestor first nodded, showing approval, "If I killed you, it would damage my reputation."

If a dog bites a person once, can the person then bite the dog back?

He sharply shifted his tone: "But… is it now me who kills you?"

That's wrong!

It's clearly… Di Jun who killed you!

Dragon Ancestor laughed, and a layer of skin crawled over his body.

He changed.

He transformed into the Demon Race's heavenly emperor—Di Jun! Although this layer of skin was added, any Great Luo familiar with Di Jun could easily see through it; once he acted, flaws would abound… yet Dragon Ancestor never truly intended to become that emperor to fool everyone.

As he had previously said—

It's merely a fig leaf!

—Look closely, everyone! —It was "Di Jun" who killed Hong Yun, who killed the crown prince of the human Dongyi forces! —It has nothing to do with Dragon Ancestor! —Don't just slap on big hats, claiming Dragon Ancestor is a suspect!

—How could that be? —I am clearly in the Wu Clan, discussing with Ancestor Witch Houtu the major matter of rescuing Emperor Donghua!

—Don't slander the good dragon, keep the evil dragon's innocence!

"Hu…" Hong Yun narrowed his eyes, analyzed the situation, confirmed he truly had no rescue this time, and let out a long breath.

At death's door, he instead grew calm, his bearing composed, unflustered.

"Alright, wandering the world, there will always be a day of reckoning."

"This time, Old Dragon, your skill exceeds mine by a notch; I accept defeat."

"But next time… tsk."

Hong Yun said, laughing, shook his head, then took the initiative to attack, facing Dragon Ancestor.

He wanted to decide his own manner of death, to die on the charge.

"Next time? Hah, I'll be waiting!"

"No… you won't have a next time!"

Dragon Ancestor didn't think so, and also struck out.

Time condensed, an instant as if eternal.

The battle of those transcending time erupted, they shattered chronology, broke the Great Dao, and emitted the most transcendent radiance.

Thousands of years, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of years…

The endless temporal conquest and slaughter, when corresponded to the outside world, amounted to merely a brief moment.

The authority of the Water Dao rose, both masters had deep karmic ties to it, their aura too strong, so Dragon Ancestor thus devised the most special rule: only the sole victor could leave this spacetime, forging the cruellest death-duel arena.

This is the Great Simplicity!

If you say an ordinary Great Luo, playing with permissions, within the rules, can do whatever they want.

Names: Great Luo is a cultivation realm? It means 'Great Luo'. According to the rules, cultivation realms must be translated by meaning, not romanized. 'Great Luo' is a realm, so it should be translated as 'Great Luo'. However, the glossary does not yet have it; we need to add it to the names list as the English translation 'Great Luo'. Also, 'rules' is generic, not a name, so we add Great Luo.

That Great Ease means breaking the rules, creating rules…… it's lawless, heavenless, and boundless!

Regarding the name Great Ease (Taiyi): it is likely a cultivation realm beyond Daluo. The term means "Great Ease" (also "Supreme Simplicity"). Following the rule that cultivation realm names should be translated by meaning, we will render it as "Great Ease". Consequently, later references to the level of Great Ease will be rendered as "the level of Great Ease", and the generic term "rules" is translated as "rules".

Even against such a mighty being, even a primordial ancient god at its peak, once drawn in, would only meet a dismal end.

Names: Great ability/powerful being is generic? Might be a title for a powerful cultivator. Could be considered a name? It's a description, not a proper name. Probably not include. Primordial is a realm? Meaning 'Primordial'. Could be a cultivation realm: we'll translate as 'Primordial'. Peak is generic. Ancient god is generic? Might be a type of being. Not a proper name. So we add Primordial.

This is a battle with no suspense.

Bang!

Amid brilliant fireworks, Hongyun's body burst apart into a blood mist.

He was still fighting.

But it was useless.

Soon after, even his primordial spirit was ripped apart into countless fragments, too many to reassemble.

But this was not the end.

Dragon Ancestor said, he won't get another chance.

Dragon Ancestor, he says what he does.

In Hongyun's true spirit's perception, finally a great hand came down, an endless shadow spreading over his entire life, the coldest fate, letting him fall into eternal slumber.

When and under what circumstances can the data be restored?

Well... it really comes down to luck.

Sigh...

At the end of his divine life, Hongyun the ancient god was surprisingly open-minded, not caring about his own life and death or slumber, merely admiring Dragon Ancestor's peerless combat power, sincerely praising him.

Is this the level of Great Ease?

I have pursued this realm for so long...

Unfortunately, I couldn't step into it.

However, to die under such power, perhaps my divine life was worth it.

I have cultivated the Dao all my life, practiced it for an age…… how fortunate! how joyful!

Hongyun departed with a final smile!

When his will collapsed, his immortal primordial light completely lost its vitality, the mystery of the Dao remained undiminished, yet he could no longer subjectively reshape the world…… the Honghuang universe poured forth blood rain, mourning his passing.

Alas! My vast Honghuang, one less high-level worker! Every Great Luo is a tremendous wealth.

Despite them, they always take various advantages from the common folk…… but their contribution to wisdom is not in vain.

Moreover, they are periodically taxed by the Honghuang universe! Now it's settled.

During the corpse-standing period, he became a vegetable, unable to create wealth for heaven and earth, and could no longer pay taxes.

Just how great is the loss to the Honghuang universe?! The icy blood rain falls, it is humanity's way of mourning, with music and deep sorrow, hoping Hongyun can be resurrected and return.

But Dragon Ancestor won't give Hongyun the chance to fake a resurrection right away.

With a cold expression, he raised his hand and seized Hongyun's origin and primordial light, forcibly refining it into an auspicious cloud.

Cloud follows dragon…… at this moment it was proven.

Even after death, they are not let off, continuing to shine and heat!

Very good, very good.

Dragon Ancestor quietly felt that killing Hongyun was worth it.

The auspicious cloud complements the true dragon, which is not without reason.

Crack! He seized Hongyun the ancient god, taking away his Great Dao foundation, and a transformative spiritual light shone in his heart.

This is astonishing.

You should know, he has already reached the level of Great Ease, a top-tier expert of the present age! Now he is making further progress……

I now compare to Nüwa; I estimate the difference is not far……

He smirked, looking down invincibly, his will spanning boundless time and space, merging with his avatar in the Pangu Holy Hall, he directly faced the furious Nüwa.

The War God returns!

The Dragon King smirks!

From this moment on.

Please call him——

Cang·War God·King·Dragon! 'Cang!'

Houtu the ancestral shaman directly overturned the table, his eyes blazing, he stared fixedly at Gonggong, not hiding anything, calling him by name.

Even Minghe can see the problem; what she sees will only be more.

What are you doing?!

Her furious roar, an unprecedented loss of composure.

What am I doing? Heh… haha! I have no need to speak with you, woman!

Dragon Ancestor drifted away, he no longer even knew his own surname.

(End of Chapter)