Chapter 556: I admit, there

With the sword formation in hand, the world is mine!

Fengxi's eyes shone bright, full of confidence.

This world is destined for a great bloody calamity.

The gods are lawless, their brutality unbearable!

Mountains of corpses and seas of blood are destined to fill heaven and earth.

This is all human blood, the blood of all beings!

Then let this blood flow over the Slay Immortal Sword Formation as an offering, so it may display its sharpest edge!

Human blood will not be shed in vain; after paying a painful price, the common folk will overturn the three thousand great mountains atop their heads, gaining ultimate independence and liberation!

Fengxi gripped the formation chart and made the most solemn vow from his heart.

One day, it will come.

The Human Dao must become our home, and we must be its masters!

"Lingbao." He looked toward Lingbao Tianzun: "Your achievements I will not forget; heaven and earth will not forget; all beings will not forget."

"Thanks to the formation's merit, the Jie Sect will surely have a chance to flourish; please act prudently."

"Ah? Haha… then first I thank Your Majesty!" Lingbao Tianzun bowed with a smile: "In truth, I merely did my small part."

"Although the sword formation is handed to Your Majesty, the true core method of commanding it still requires Your Majesty to pay a price, trading with Luo Hou."

"Moreover, it would be best to temporarily release Luo Hou; his innate destructive Great Dao is the perfect auxiliary tool to boost the might of the Slay Immortal Sword Formation."

"Alas, Daoist Luo Hou is now imprisoned, refined by Princess Nüwa into a grindstone…"

"Ha!" Fengxi laughed: "These are nothing but trifles."

"Xiao Wa is my younger sister… if I just play a little trick to take her grindstone, isn't that easy?"

"Quite right." Lingbao Tianzun clapped happily: "Thus I look forward to the day Your Majesty performs some astonishing maneuver to reshape the mountains and rivers."

"You will see." Fengxi said meaningfully.

Afterward, he shifted tone: "The matter of reincarnation is thus settled… I ask everyone to cooperate once more, together giving Xiao Wa a surprise."

"I'm curious what her expression will be like when she learns the truth—surely it will be quite entertaining."

"By the way, let her also fully understand—her brother will always be her brother!"

"Exactly this principle!"

Minghe Mozu, Jieyin Gufo, and Lingbao Tianzun all shouted praise in unison, utterly endorsing the order of seniority.

——Young Wa, always dreaming of rebellion to seize power, disrupting order and overturning the whole situation—such vigor is truly unfriendly to entrenched interest groups!

Still, it's good to help broaden one's horizons.

The four top experts rehearsed their scripts, figuring how to show open and covert rivalry before Nüwa, yet unite behind the scenes… truly giving Nüwa a headache.

At that moment, this ancient Buddha and that demon ancestor agreed to send capable agents to be reborn among the Ashura clan, assume new identities, and on some year, month, day declare 'rebellion,' vowing: 'If hell is not empty, I will not become a Buddha.'

Thus the two families fell into quarreling, you pulling my hair, me kicking your groin.

The next moment, that demon ancestor laughed and proposed how to be Buddha in one thought, demon in another, how to lure Buddhist sons and grandsons to fall, become demonic cultivators, and shoulder the great task of destroying Honghuang.

The Buddhist Dao's boss and the Demon Dao's chairman, you say a word, I say a sentence, our talk is fiery and lively, our chat joyful and smiling.

Yet this left Lingbao out… this sincere child couldn't get a word in edgewise from start to finish.

But he has an older brother!

At some point, Lingbao contacted his second elder brother—Yuanshi Tianzun—to find a reliable stand-in.

He himself became a mouthpiece, relaying whatever Yuanshi said, how to settle in the Underworld, act the part perfectly, and lay out Nüwa's arrangements clearly.

When all the scripts were set, the four great powers exchanged smiles.

"The grand plan is complete; we only await Nüwa's entry."

Fengxi spoke calmly: "I hope none of you drop the chain."

"It certainly won't!"

The three venerable powers solemnly guaranteed.

"Then it's settled… see you later!"

Fengxi called out loudly, his figure gradually fading in the vast downward flood of the Human Dao, until he vanished completely.

With the Creator's departure, this hidden spacetime grew unstable, crumbling bit by bit into nothingness.

Lingbao, Minghe, and Jieyin, the three venerable powers, exchanged rites and made their final farewells.

Their figures also faded away.

But……

When the fading reached a certain limit, Minghe Mozu suddenly halted the process, solidified his form, and with keen interest gazed at the spot where Fengxi had once stood, eagerly asking his companions.

"Hey… speaking of which, what do you think—does our Majesty, this Qi Luck Dao Lord, have any problems?"

"For instance… could he be a counterfeit?"

Such a doubt instantly pierced the curiosity of the other two Five Luck Dao Lords.

Instantly they stopped leaving, reversed their return, and all acted to suppress and stabilize this region of spacetime, so it would no longer collapse and wither.

While suppressing, they energetically joined the discussion.

"Do you think the same as I do?" Jieyin Gufo gave a thumbs-up, indicating me too.

But Lingbao Tianzun was not pleased.

Clearly it's a three‑person show, yet he doesn't deserve a name.

"Really? Really? No way!"

Lingbao Tianzun was quite shocked: "Minghe, you must speak with reason… spouting nonsense is irresponsible!"

"How so? You don't believe me?" Minghe gave him a sideways glance: "Is it that you dare not believe, or that you do not wish to believe?"

"You're right…… I can't believe it, and I don't want to believe it." Lingbao wore a bitter face, "I just handed over the Zhu Xian Sword Formation… and you hit me with this bolt from the blue."

"Anyone would find this unbearable!"

"Moreover……" Lingbao sought an excuse for himself, "Seeing how cunning he is…… no, so wise, so capable, aside from August Emperor Majesty, who else could there be?"

"You naive child!" Jieyin the ancient Buddha said calmly, "Your rank is too low."

"For you, once the level of cunning exceeds ten points, you can't tell high from low."

"Thirty points of cunning, fifty points of cunning, even a hundred points of cunning— to you they hardly differ."

"Then how could you discern truth from falsehood?"

Jieyin sighed.

Lingbao Tianzun, having heard that, was speechless.

——Is this the level of you lot?

Even the degree of cunning can be given a concrete numerical value?

Can't afford to provoke!

Really can't afford to provoke!

In comparison, Lingbao admitted that his cultivation in this regard was shallow.

Thus, he earnestly sought advice, "If so, the true identity of this 'Qi Yun Dao Zhu' is doubtful; it's very likely not August Emperor Majesty personally enacting it?"

"Hmm." Jieyin fiddled with a string of prayer beads, nodding, "I once didn't think anything was wrong, but after more contact, I personally sensed something off."

"At the very least, back then I was a longtime colleague and friend of Fuxi." Jieyin smiled, "I still know Fuxi fairly well."

"This 'Qi Yun Dao Zhu', although he truly resembles Fuxi very closely, I always feel…… he's a bit 'impure'."

"To put it concretely, it's as if Fuxi were mixed with something else, having a subtle distortion in the finest details, while also gaining a bit of immaturity, lacking Fuxi's battle-hardened nature."

Jieyin said this, then looked toward Minghe the demon ancestor, "Minghe, you'd say the same, right?"

"Exactly!" Minghe smiled, "In the past I was Honghuang's supreme judge and arbiter, executing punishments on beings, and I had considerable dealings with August Emperor in official matters."

"Now this 'Qi Yun Dao Zhu' gives me the feeling of being a bit immature, with many differences from August Emperor."

The two top experts each voiced their opinions, both rejecting the notion of a one-body-two-aspects relationship between the Qi Yun Dao Zhu and August Emperor Fuxi.

They concluded—— the Qi Yun Dao Zhu has a problem!

A fake!

"What?!" Lingbao Tianzun opened his mouth wide, "This…… this is intolerable!"

"If the people are fake, then aren't all our dealings meaningless?"

"And my Zhu Xian Sword Formation……"

Thinking of this, Lingbao Tianzun's mindset began to crumble.

Others are still fine.

He had invested a huge principal, and he had already handed over the Zhu Xian Sword Formation!

It's like buying a pre‑sale property, signing a pre‑sale contract, first pouring in huge sums of money, all of which were hard‑earned sweat and blood.

What if…… what if!

What if, the housing project turns out to be a dud, the bastard developer isn't human, runs off with 3.5 billion, taking his sister‑in‑law along……

——just like the Zhu Xian Sword Formation suffering some mishap, for example being suppressed……

Then Lingbao Tianzun even had the thought of hanging himself!

The sect's great weapon of suppression is just gone…… what's left for the Jie Sect to play with?

The Tianzun's mindset exploded.

I can't go on!

This is a scam targeting honest people!

In this cold, heartless world, is there still a bit of kindness and sparkle?

"Eh…… don't worry!"

Jieyin, however, tried to persuade, "It's not a big deal!"

"Even if the Qi Yun Dao Zhu isn't Fuxi, the two are absolutely closely, terrifyingly linked." This ancient Buddha smiled faintly, "After all, the Qi Yun Great Dao…… in this heaven and earth, only two beings have ever been able to wield and control this great Dao."

"One is Fuxi, the creator of the Dao, whose sovereignty is unquestionable."

"The other is humanity…… Qi Yun, at bottom, is plucking the wool of humanity; the wool comes from the sheep, so humanity can also be stirred."

"But humanity is ignorant and unaware, only possessing subconscious instinct, the aggregate of beings' instincts, which can be largely ignored."

"So it's clear: just that one Fuxi can toss it back and forth."

"Earlier, we were precisely because of this reason, we initially assumed the Qi Yun Dao Zhu was Fuxi…… only later did we react, realizing we might have fallen into a cognitive pitfall."

"——Fuxi can bestow this Dao upon another, arranging for someone else to take the shift!"

"But…… if that's the case, what difference is there from Fuxi holding it himself?"

Minghe took up the conversation, laughing, "After all, it's still Fuxi's own trusted aides who can fully represent his will…… otherwise, he wouldn't entrust such a heavy responsibility."

"From a practical standpoint, whether the Qi Yun Dao Zhu is Fuxi or not makes no difference."

"Because in the end, whatever the Qi Yun Dao Zhu does, the final interpretive authority belongs to Fuxi, who will honor the promises."

"On this point, I still trust August Emperor's character."

"Moreover…… I'm actually more willing to deal with this brand‑new Qi Yun Dao Zhu." Jieyin said with deep meaning.

"Um, why is that?" Lingbao Tianzun took out a notebook and wrote it down earnestly.

"Easy to talk to!" Jieyin smiled narrowly, "If it were August Emperor, this Pangu‑level powerhouse wouldn't set such a high price."

"Again reincarnation, again the Five Elders and Four Sovereigns."

"August Emperor values fairness above all, upholds fairness, and thus is often quite just."

He himself is Pangu, so he doesn't need to give anyone face.

So when he comes to set the price, don't expect too much profit.

Novices are different, though—they're more generous… I used to wonder if Fuxi had changed his nature.

After further speculation, upon considering this unimaginable possibility, making a bold assumption and seeking proof cautiously, I began to suspect that the Qi Luck Dao Master was not Fuxi, but had been replaced by a newcomer.

Novices, after all, are easy to negotiate with; ultimately lacking experience, they lose out in bargaining.

So I pretended to be ignorant and blind, acting as if I noticed nothing, never exposing it, and silently made a fortune.

Indeed.

The new Qi Luck Dao Master is still quite generous.

Helping him run errands, the promised benefits are astonishing; we can make a big profit.

Jieyin spoke frankly; he had been pretending to be foolish—seeing an advantage to be had, why bother showing off his cleverness?

What good would it do to expose the Qi Luck Dao Master's disguise?

The Qi Luck Dao Master left embarrassed and disheveled, all the business talks fell apart—is that good for him?

Impossible.

He might even offend the big boss behind the scenes—the August Emperor!

After all, who is the Qi Luck Dao Master and what does he do? To say Fuxi made no arrangements for this—who would believe it?

Even ghosts wouldn't believe it!

After all, the Qi Luck Dao Master has been quite active in the scheme against Nüwa.

Since then, Nüwa has continually raised the banner of opposition to Fuxi, and everyone can see it.

Given this special juncture, the Qi Luck Dao Master also promoted the formation of the Pit Nüwa Alliance, actively plotting it, perfectly aligning with Fuxi's stance and interests—

Not being proactive in scheming against Nüwa shows a problematic mindset!

Jieyin glanced, pondered a bit, then decided——

I'll just pretend to be foolish!

As a sensible person, sometimes one needs to be delightfully confused.

Being able to be confused is also a skill—it lets one survive the deadly clash of gods and live as a spectator eating melon.

Minghe, that demonic path's fellow, is the same.

Me too!

Mozu laughed and said, "Some things can only be understood intuitively, not taught in words."

"Those who understand, understand; those who don't just accept it—either way, the result is the same."

"But what if…" Lingbao took a deep breath, "You all said this isn't the August Emperor personally stepping in, but someone acting as a substitute."

"The substitute could be competent, or his actions could be moving."

"What if, unfortunately, it's the latter…"

"Then wouldn't we suffer a bloody loss, losing everything cleanly?"

"There's nothing to be done about it." Jieyin shook his head, then nodded, "I admit, in this matter I have an element of gambling."

"…" Lingbao Heavenly Venerable couldn't speak, nearly withdrawing into himself.

Good fellow.

You can say such things… gambling?

Damn!

Is there any justice left!

Lingbao withdrew into himself.

Only Jieyin and Minghe remained, still eagerly speculating——

If the Qi Luck Dao Master isn't Fuxi, then who exactly could have taken his place?

"First we must consider strength… other things are easy to say, but strength is hard to fake."

"I see the spacetime techniques here are genuine, unadulterated Taiyi Dao cultivation."

Minghe stroked his chin, "From this point onward, the suspects are few."

"Furthermore, consider one who could be relied upon by Fuxi to deal with Nüwa, confident in maintaining balance without harming Nüwa…"

"Di Jun? Not likely."

"Dragon Ancestor? Impossible."

"Taiyi? Too far-fetched."

"Candle Dragon? Seems unreliable too."

……

Minghe and Jieyin went through the list, and in astonishment realized——none seemed to fit perfectly?

Either they don't have a good relationship with Nüwa,

or their conspiratorial skills are insufficient.

They looked at each other.

"Your Majesty August Emperor, indeed still that remarkable figure…" Jieyin sighed, "He actually managed to produce such a piece beyond our expectations…"

"But it doesn't matter… eventually the truth will come to light."

"By then we'll stand in the audience and watch, see which protégé Fuxi puts forward, who could trip up Nüwa and become an obstacle in her path."

"Exactly, exactly!" Minghe laughed, "This is truly a grand drama of the ages, needing to be preserved."

"Whether Nüwa trips up or Fuxi is powerless to turn the tide… just thinking about it gets me excited!"

……

Fengxi went far away, leapt out of the distorted time, and returned to normal order.

That instant is eternity, and eternity is also that instant.

Though the conversation process was long, under his will, not even a moment of time passed.

An "evil" transaction has already been completed.

Around Nüwa, a "cunning", "despicable" alliance unfolds, inviting you into the urn.

Naturally, regarding this, Fengxi would not admit he had done bad things. If not for the environment not allowing it, he would certainly emphasize it repeatedly—

The reincarnation financing plan was devised by Nüwa herself!

It was a pit she dug herself, then she walked into it, then she buried herself properly, and finally she trampled her own grave mound firm!

Can this be blamed on Fengxi?

Obviously not!

He, Fengxi, remains Nüwa's loyal and good subject!

Person Feng tightened his cheeks, remained solemn, prevented himself from laughing, and continued to patiently listen to Nüwa's divine schemes, how she maneuvered laterally and vertically, established reincarnation, outstanding troops surged forth, directly breaking the Heavenly Court.

The Empress Nüwa pointed out the rivers and mountains, feeling extremely delighted.

Di Jiang and Fengxi lowered their brows and eyes obediently, occasionally offering praise, allowing Nüwa to advance unstoppably on her swelling path.

Until the end.

Nüwa swelled to the extreme, full of confidence, and transformed into a steadfast party of action.

"Matters should not be delayed!"

She said thus, "Now the witch-demon situation is tense, a great war is imminent, I will act immediately, raise funds and aid, and establish reincarnation."

"Good!" Fengxi solemnly nodded, "Your Ladyship, please go and discuss the alliance matters."

"On my side I will simultaneously follow up, drafting the edict for the crown prince's regency, and by the way preside over a grand wedding for Hou Yi, sending him to Chang'e's boudoir, sacrificing myself for the public good, thereby suppressing the chaos in the Dongyi camp caused by the death of Donghuang Di Jun, and pacifying the people's hearts!"

"You handle things, I'm at ease." Nüwa nodded satisfied, "Here, it's entrusted to you!"

Speaking, she took a step, making the ends of the earth within reach, crossing immeasurable ages of heaven and earth, intending to go one by one to three places to settle the financing matters.

The Sea of Blood.

Kunlun.

Mount Sumeru.

Nether River.

Lingbao.

Jieyin Buddha.

"Seeing off the Lady!" Fengxi gazed at Nüwa's back, saying it very obsequiously and reluctantly.

It seemed as if Nüwa's departure was stepping onto a no-return road, making it hard to turn back.

Even someday, a great catastrophe will befall, the pit-stricken Nüwa will be paralyzed on half her body, vomiting blood incessantly, lamenting sorrowfully in the Nüwa Palace and Hall of Peaceful Mind, crying out—

Regret not having done it earlier!

Old lady, how did I go blind in those eyes?!

……

Fengxi's performance was spot-on, seeming loyal, leaving nothing to criticize.

Even if Nüwa left, he still remained respectful, never speaking ill behind her back.

But Nüwa left, while Di Jiang remained.

This ancestral witch, even though present-day Fengxi cannot fathom his depths—no, or rather one could see through, but he instinctively feels that what he perceives is only the surface, with perhaps a faint veil of mist still obscuring, making the truth hard to see.

Not simple at all.

Very not simple.

Isn't that so?

After Nüwa left, Di Jiang's few words almost made Fengxi break his defenses; he barely managed to hold on with great effort.

"Not bad." Ancestral Witch Di Jiang praised, "Nüwa having a great loyal subject like you, he might even wake up crying in his dreams... no, slip of the tongue, it's laughing awake, waking up laughing."

"Regarding reincarnation, you're good at aligning and connecting, but personally I see there are still some areas that could be strengthened."

"What is Your Majesty Di Jiang saying? I can't understand." Fengxi looked confused, as if he truly didn't grasp what Di Jiang was actually saying.

"Very good, just like that, keep it up." Di Jiang nodded approvingly, indicating Fengxi's performance was not bad, and thoughtfully added the reason, "As for humanity, in terms of conduct, there are still some commendable aspects."

"The upper limit is sufficiently high, the lower limit sufficiently low."

"When high, even if divine, one should praise the flashes of humanity all the more."

"When low, that shameless appearance makes even us break out in a sweat."

"Now the situation is perilous, so discard scruples and employ the most shameless tactics, all for victory."

Di Jiang seems to understand everything, causing Fengxi's forehead to ooze cold sweat.

Fortunately, Di Jiang merely made a light comment, sidestepped the topic, and kept circling back to the matter of reincarnation.

"Often, only what is lost will be cherished."

"Only achievements earned through hardship will be valued."

"If Houtu could smoothly build the reincarnation team, how would she have enough patience and tolerance?"

Di Jiang smiled and pointed at Fengxi, "So in this regard, you still need to do one thing—raise the stakes!"

"Food, only when snatched to eat is fragrant."

"Find Houtu a rival, a tiger-eyed enemy lurking outside, enough to outweigh a thousand words, surpassing all balancing stratagems."

"For example, Hongjun is quite good."

Di Jiang chatted casually about heaven and earth, even when mentioning the Dao Ancestor, remaining composed and tranquil.

He was calm.

Fengxi couldn't stay calm.

"Di Jiang Majesty, this isn't reliable...?"

"Eh!" Di Jiang seemed to have three parts of hatred for iron not becoming steel, "You little guy, your guts are too small!"

"Be bigger!"

Since you're engaging in the riskiest trade, with death and no burial possible at any moment, why shrink back?

Don't be timid! Just do it!

After all, everyone's in the game; if you don't scheme against others, they'll still scheme against you.

If you don't seize the moment while you're still unknown to make big moves and dig deep pits, once you gain some fame and others start studying you, do you think you'll still have a chance?

If you want to overturn the situation, then lay the groundwork early!

Di Jiang earnestly instructed, making Fengxi nod repeatedly.

That makes sense!

"Like someone like Hongjun, if possible, let him join the game... not for anything else, just to give him something to do." Di Jiang said leisurely, "Don't look at him now, he's been locked back in the Zi Xiao Palace."

This is a restriction, yet also a blessing.

The confused are those involved; the clear are the onlookers!

He stays in the Zi Xiao Palace, studying the situation whether he has something to do or not, while you only watch the opponent's moves; over time, a flaw will naturally appear, and one day Hongjun will jump out and strike you down with a single move.

So, be bolder!

Throw out bait, actively sacrifice a pawn, let him focus his thoughts on a radiant figure... that way you can secretly make small moves.

Nüwa, she fits the bait role quite well.

Go report to Hongjun, say Nüwa wants to establish reincarnation, how ambitious, wants to first destroy the Heavenly Court, then destroy the Zi Xiao... Hongjun will then be busy, thinking about how to carry out sabotage and interference.

Like the restraint of a sage position, further force Nüwa to wear a shackle, continue weakening... With reincarnation, the Wu Clan indeed grows strong, but the leader is weakened, subtly returning. And when Houtu is weak, that's exactly the time for us to strive!

Fengxi heard, his face turned ashen.

——Thus line: "Di Jiang Zu Wu, what a huge traitor!

At first glance, his loyalty to Nüwa made him want to act.

But after thinking seriously, Fengxi held back.

This isn't timidity.

It's just following one's heart.

Yes, following one's heart.

And since we don't act, we can only speak.

"Reporting is risky..." Fengxi said with gritted teeth, "Besides, I am still a close minister of Lady Nüwa; doing this, if I were to be sold out..."

"Stupid!" Di Jiang shook his head, "Where has your usual cleverness gone?"

If it won't work openly, can't we secretly borrow a knife?

Like the Dragon Ancestor... this knife isn't bad!

Di Jiang coldly chuckled, barely grinding his teeth, a chilling dread, "Clearly it was the Dragon Ancestor who arranged the reporting; what does that have to do with you, Fengxi?"

As for how to pin the blame on the Dragon Ancestor's head? That's a rather difficult problem.

Thus line: "Di Jiang Zu Wu's words carried deep meaning, his tone too thought-provoking.

To deceive Hongjun, ordinary means absolutely won't work; one must have a direct connection with the Dragon Ancestor.

Difficult! Difficult! Difficult!

How should we proceed to obtain half of the Dragon Ancestor's origin, steal a thread of the Dragon Clan's authority, blur truth and falsehood, and report to Hongjun?

Di Jiang glanced at Fengxi, then continued unhurriedly, "If handled properly, we could even create a few more misunderstandings."

That little thing that secretly took half of the Dragon Ancestor's origin, using it to demand some titles and righteousness from the Heavenly Dao, such as overseeing wind and thunder, rain, and all the water spirits, water gods, and river earls, plus the four seasons, the Central Peak, the Central Land, the Yellow River, the Yangtze, the Han, the Huai, and the Ji waters...

An empty title sealed, I imagine Hongjun will be generous.

But the Dragon Ancestor, unaware of the inner truth, upon seeing this deity ennobled by Hongjun with the Heavenly Dao as backdrop, what would his feelings be? Wouldn't he badly think that the Dao Ancestor, full of wicked schemes, secretly stole half of his dragon body to provoke a Great Dao conflict?

This... has nothing to do with us!

Di Jiang coldly snorted.

Fengxi felt utterly unwell.

With great difficulty he swallowed a mouthful of saliva; Fengxi clearly felt his cultivation was shallow, being struck down by a higher master, his hand in sowing discord was masterful, leaving him far behind.

But this risk is truly too great, like dancing on a tightrope.

Fengxi whispered faintly, "Once the Dragon Ancestor and Hongjun sit down for calm negotiations, we'll be in trouble."

Then don't let them sit down, keep adding eye drops! Di Jiang sneered, "Completely destroy any possible trust between them, regard each other with the utmost suspicion and hostility."

I know, this is troublesome... but could it be more troublesome than someone's burdened mission?

I admit, this approach has a gambling element.

But kid... you only have those few cards, those few chips.

If you don't gamble, how many paths to survival do you think you have?

Don't think that preparing one or two Killer's Tricks means you can conquer the world.

Who doesn't have a few hidden trump cards?

Thus line: "Di Jiang Zu Wu patted Fengxi on the shoulder, "Plans can never keep up with changes."

To pin hopes on the premise that variables won't occur is itself the utmost folly!

PS: Qingming has passed, updates can resume normally, here are seven thousand six hundred characters.

(End of chapter)