Chapter 541

"The corpse of Donghua, you cannot take it away."

The Heavenly Emperor wielded the Witch-Slaying Sword; its blade light stark and cold, reflecting the evil in people's hearts, blocking Nüwa's boundless aura.

Fearless and undaunted, Di Jun straightened his waist, hardened his wings; after years of struggle, he now stands up!

Sword pointing at the Empress, the Heavenly Emperor remained composed.

At this moment, his tone was no longer negotiable but straightforwardly drew his own Dao, establishing his own rules!

"I know, Empress, your powers of creation are unparalleled under heaven and earth, earning the world's admiration."

"Donghua's corpse lies in your hands… What if you revive him—what then?"

"Since you've withdrawn, you should withdraw completely… Ladies and gentlemen, am I right?"

the Heavenly Court

Primordial Wilderness

Nüwa coldly surveyed Di Jun from head to toe, her gaze finally settling on the Witch-Slaying Sword, her eyes icy.

Chaos

The History of Pangu

The Empress's tone held neither joy nor sorrow, yet it evoked a great fear in the listeners' hearts.

She slowly clenched her fist; the sword scar on her palm had vanished, replaced by a terrifying might that made the starry sea tremble, the mountains and rivers shake, and the ages cease to flow…

Purple Cloud Palace

Nether River Demon Ancestor

What's more, in this great calamity where demons and ghosts run rampant, she is, apart from Pangu, the second strongest of the present age—only second to the Dao Ancestor imprisoned in the Purple Cloud Palace.

Great Summoning Technique

the Human Way

"I believe in my own work," Di Jun said leisurely, "and I also believe that I am no longer what I once was."

"Don't even say, Daoist friend Nüwa, that you are still partially restrained by the Heavenly Dao's holy position… Even if you stand at the peak, in a one‑on‑one battle I might lose, but before defeat I could strike you down with a hundred‑odd swords."

"In terms of Dao cultivation, I am quite ordinary," the Heavenly Emperor smiled, "but in terms of battle prowess… I am the third strongest in this world."

Kunpeng Demon Master

Azure Dragon God Lord

Candle Dragon Ancient Sage

All are of the Great Simplicity; the distances traveled in pursuing Pangu differ, allowing one to distinguish the heights of one's Dao… but what about battle prowess?

Heaven-opening Divine Axe

Chaos Bell

Just for ordinary people, by this point they won't have many external aids that can boost battle prowess at hand.

But Di Jun…… he is the Heavenly Emperor of the Heavenly Court—how could he be an ordinary person?!

Supreme Heavenly Emperor

Residing in the Heavenly Court's great fortune, also the hidden emperor of the Eastern Yi, wielding the Slay‑Witch Divine Sword, and previously bolstered by the Human Dao that let him grasp the pinnacle… without realizing it, Di Jun could already be smug.

As for Dao cultivation, it's still uncertain whether he can break into the top five.

But speaking of combat power?

Now only second to Hongjun and Nüwa, third on the Dao cultivation ranking, the Ming River Demon Ancestor who secretly aided the Wu‑Yao slaughter calamity's great surge, madly rushing forward, helplessly and enviously relinquished his rank, then shifted a bit.

He is truly helpless, and truly envious.

——At this moment, on the edge of the great Wu‑Yao tearing‑apart scene, the Ming River Demon Ancestor loiters there, not leaving, from time to time glancing at Di Jun's hand holding the Slay‑Witch sword, drool almost flowing out.

This sword suits him quite well, even more suitable than the Primordial Slaughter Avici.

Unfortunately, not mentioning Di Jun's own combat power, as the lord of a faction, one usually has an innate skill that enhances combat power, called——Great Summoning Technique!

The Heavenly Emperor waves his arm—'My little brothers, go up!'—and the Heavenly Court will all rise up and attack!

Donghuang, the Yao Master, the Historian……several Taiyi great powers came over and got right in his face!

The Ming River Demon Ancestor is alone; if he doesn't run, he's just waiting to die.

Such game rules are very unfriendly to lone‑wolf cultivators.

However, that is precisely where the fun lies.

If one cannot attain the Dao of Pangu, one cannot talk about roaming the world alone; there will always be checks and balances.

Whether it's manpower or equipment, it can make one feel helpless and frustrated.

In terms of manpower quality, it's a gang‑up of peers at the same realm.

In terms of numbers, it's being able to borrow the great power of the Human Dao.

And as for equipment, it's even more dangerous.

There are the Chaos Bell, the Taiji Diagram, and the Pangu Banner, all originating from the God‑splitting Axe, divided into three.

There is the Slay‑Witch Sword, blessed by the Human Dao, tempered by Honghuang, its ferocity boundless.

There is the History of Pangu, signed by the Supreme Heavenly Emperor, a Honghuang‑only edition, astonishingly powerful.

……

Any equipment that can be called a cheat is directly or indirectly related to Pangu; for those below Pangu, it's practically a dimensionality‑crushing blow!

Comparing wealth is also a contest among leader‑level powerhouses.

In this matter, the Kun‑Peng Yao Master, the Dragon Ancestor God‑Lord, the Candle Dragon Ancient Sage, and others all showed looks of envy, jealousy, and hatred.

In particular, the Dragon Ancestor God‑Lord deserves mention.

Formerly, he still had his own cultivation to rely on, having gone far in the Taiyi realm, all the while expounding and developing his own Pangu Dao.

Unfortunately.

After toiling for millions of years, in an instant I returned to BC!

Being pursued by Donghua and hacked to near death, I was whittled down to a blank slate, just a hair's breadth from falling out of the Taiyi realm!

How miserable is it?

The present human king—Fengxi little comrade, leader of underground intelligence work; this one who just entered Taiyi, in discussing the Dao and practicing cultivation should have been the worst rookie, yet actually rose one rank, becoming second-to-last!

Furthermore, Fengxi can receive the great fortune of the human race, the will of the Human Dao favors him, his combat power surges up…… In single combat, Fengxi can already chase and beat the Dragon Ancestor!

The most pitiful Taiyi Great Luo is none other than the Dragon Ancestor.

Speaking from the heart…… Dragon Ancestor, he's too hard!

But, who made the people he offended all so fierce?

There's nothing to be done about it.

Heaven's self-inflicted misfortune can still be avoided; self-inflicted misfortune cannot be survived, right!

Those keeping his little blacklist include not only the bigwigs who were once his opposing camp, but even Nüwa, once his 'comrade-in-arms', is secretly giving him a list!

Of course, Nüwa currently has no time to bother with him…… she's still troubled by the frequent mishaps lately, too many factors beyond the plan.

Hongjun bullies her, Di Jiang bullies her, Fuxi bullies her…… these we can let slide.

By now, even Di Jun dares to thumb his nose at her and draw his sword!

He even utters wild boasts——just so-so, third in Honghuang!

However, Nüwa has to admit, Di Jun really does have a couple of tricks, not easy to deal with.

"Negligence…… let Di Jun forge such a sword."

"On my side, while advancing the strategy, the Heavenly Court wasn't doing nothing either."

"One must not underestimate others."

"Perhaps I need to win over some more allies."

In the flash of lightning and sparks, Nüwa's thoughts turn endlessly.

"The dragon race, once a help, now has become a hidden danger."

"We can no longer rely on it."

"When another alliance is built, we will add new blood."

"It seems I should lift the old ban, no longer support the suppression of the Sea of Blood line…… the joint sanction of the Asura race by the witches and demons, let it return to dust, to earth, buried in the ages of history."

Nüwa thought of many things.

But in reality, it was only a brief moment.

Di Jun's confident remarks had just ended.

Nüwa then used concrete action to show her stance.

—Strike!

Whether to fight or die is one matter, but whether to fight or not is another!

Di Jun is so aloof, if he doesn't go up and hack a couple times, he'll just hand over Donghua's tomb…… he can't even take back his own brother's grave, so what face does Nüwa have to live in this world, what face to command the gods!

"What does it matter if combat power is third?"

Nüwa said coldly, "Your reliance is this sword, right?"

"Then I'll use some strength, aiming to blast you and your sword to pieces!"

Having said that.

Step!

Throw a punch!

The killing move for attacking Hongjun reappears!

"Boom!"

Creation forges heaven and earth, the universe turns in great cycles!

Although Nüwa is a goddess, she is too violent in battle and slaughter.

With a swing of the fist, the universe resonates, ancient history scrolls, the heavens strike together, time thus changes course, countless possibilities are buried, and infinite futures are created.

In the void, Chaos bursts open, the eternal breath flows, washing over the whole world.

All the Great Luo feel endangered, yet amidst the shock there is also longing.

And they merely sense that kind of offensive aura, already this terrifying, let alone Di Jun?

At this moment, it seems as if countless 'Honghuang' are pressing down on him, seeking to crush his form and spirit to oblivion!

Having sensed danger, the Heavenly Emperor's smile instantly retracted, he focused his mind, sword light blazing, piercing the gap between being and non-being, he cut out the most inscrutable sword, clashing tip-to-tip with the supreme divine ability of creation's cycles!

No.

Not a tip-to-tip clash.

But rather assimilation, it is pollution.

The Slaughter Witch Sword, this represents the depravity and darkness of the human heart.

If we say, Hongjun's means of opposing Nüwa, is to start from heaven and earth, loudly proclaiming 'independence' and 'freedom', causing Nüwa in her cycle of parallel spacetimes to lose control of her divine abilities, thereby binding herself.

Then Di Jun wielding the Slaughter Witch Sword is the darkness and depravity of the human heart, letting the convergence of cause and effect favor his will, from inside out, backstabbing Nüwa!

"Boom—rumble!"

A surging river roars, this is the phenomenon evolved from Nüwa's divine ability, past and future overlap, cause and effect cycle inverted, spacetime turns round into a circle.

A handful of river water, a ray of faint light, is a miracle, a possibility, opening a world, a span of spacetime, adding a trifling bit of combat power to Nüwa.

When the quantity becomes vast to the point of inconceivable, Nüwa bends it, ends meeting, thus achieving her own Pangu foundation.

However, at this moment……

The human heart went wrong!

Parallel spacetime was originally meant to bestow infinite choices.

Any insignificant thought will, under Nüwa's support, open up a brand‑new future.

Nüwa, in this, bears the greatest, most benevolent creator's authority, treating every living being equally and respecting each of their choices.

She is anticipating.

In the expectation of infinite future possibilities, myriad beings can rely on their beautiful pursuit of life, strive to blossom themselves, forge the finest dreams, and after countless reincarnations, find the best, most correct path that can realize their highest achievement!

That is the achievement of reaching the upper Great Luo, only a line away from Li!

Granting every living being the opportunity for such achievement is Nüwa's dream.

She fulfills others' dreams, and in doing so fulfills her own.

When such a dream moves toward reality, it naturally becomes the most terrifying conquest.

It is equivalent to countless Honghuang worlds crushing together, the innumerable peak Great Ultimate dancing together, frenzied for her, driven by her, shattering every obstacle on the road ahead!

What a pity.

When the Slayer Witch Sword thrust forth, it abruptly sank into this divine ability…… the dream, awoke.

Startled awake by a nightmare.

Just because of a single sword, good and evil are divided!

Just as the gods' understanding of the human way is still unclear, a divergence between good and evil has appeared, and it goes even further.

The process of forging this sword is not mentioned.

The key to great accomplishment lies in the aid of the human way…… in the dark, some inheritance has already been received.

For example——

Betray the master!

Even to the point of…… killing the master!

A pitch‑black demonic shadow emerged at the crucial point of the convergence of Creation Samsara, splitting the final fruition of this divine ability—it is darkness, it is depravity, it is indulgence, it is self‑destruction!

The bewitching demonic echo reverberates through the ages, resounds throughout the Myriad Heavens, whispers incessantly, sometimes clear, sometimes vague.

It makes people deprave, makes them indulge, and is responsible for pouring countless bowls of toxic chicken soup.

——"The world is born unfair; only through countless choices and efforts is there a sliver of hope for success, painstakingly catching up to others' starting points—what good is that?"

——"Effort isn't necessarily hard, but not efforting is definitely easy, so please give up effort and enjoy in time……"

——"Admitting one's mediocrity isn't bad…… if you want to live well but find it hard, you can choose to suppress others, make them live poorly, and by contrast you'll look better—this is even easier……"

……

Malevolent thoughts pile up, spread invisibly, the corrupt Nüwa's divine ability fruition.

It transforms in myriad ways, hard to restrain.

Because ultimately, it is not mere staining, but the manifestation of injustice!

It is the fuse that already existed; the Slayer Witch Sword lightly added a tiny spark, turning it into a heaven‑shattering, earth‑destroying explosion!

In an instant, Nüwa's divine ability was severely weakened!

Good and evil divided, the fruition torn apart; instantly, combat power dropped by sixty percent, leaving only forty, still struggling forward, sweeping across Honghuang, shattering mountains and rivers.

By this time, it was already within Di Jun's capacity to bear.

He faced Nüwa's fist, pressed down with a palm, and emitted brilliant light that illuminated eternity.

"Heh……ha!"

Di Jun laughed loudly, his stature staggered backward, his face pallid as he coughed twice, yet it did not harm his foundation, and he instantly recovered.

One sword, one palm, exchanged for Nüwa's fist, sustaining a slight loss, yet no great harm……

At this moment, the gods know——

From today onward, they need to completely change their memory of Di Jun.

This is no longer a puppet emperor who needs Hongjun to back him from behind in order to sit securely on the throne!

He himself is strong enough to uphold a sky!

Nüwa's expression was solemn.

Di Jun, meanwhile, was laughing——

After striving and struggling to this day, he finally guarded the clouds to see the moon bright.

One side, he equivocated with Hongjun; another side, he strove to develop and manage the Heavenly Court; another side, he colluded with Donghua, joined the human race, and sold part of the Demon Race's interests……

Spare no expense, strive upward, and he finally attained today's achievement.

Rapid progress, from a mere upper‑mid‑level great divine ability wielder, he has come to his present achievement……

Asking throughout the world, who can still compare with him?!

He, Di Jun, is the legend of the most effort (open) power (hang) in this era's cultivation history!

Regarding this, Fengxi smiled without a word.

(End of chapter)