Chapter 562

Hongjun smiled, having arranged "fate" for Houtu.

Yinglong, however, remained silent.

Having stayed beside Fengxi for so long, I've seen every sort of deceitful heart.

Now, it too is a clever dragon; a quick turn of its mind, and everything becomes clear.

"This plan... is quite vicious."

"In the rush, it turned out just right, delivering full effect... the smallest cost for the greatest damage."

— Houtu is dead.

— She sacrificed herself for the sake of humanity and all living beings!

— Her death is meaningful…… For a god, one death may be lighter than the Weak Water or heavier than Mount Buzhou…

— Without doubt, Houtu's death far outweighs Mount Buzhou; it birthed a new era!

However, in fact, Houtu didn't die…… which is rather awkward.

"Heroes and men of virtue, singing tragically while sacrificing themselves grandly… many people enjoy watching such a spectacle and even move themselves emotionally."

"Because giving and sacrificing go against the innate nature of life to survive and persist; in other words, this is something the vast majority of beings cannot do most of the time—a brilliant transcendence of life and death, a radiant moment of humanity, and because it is rare, it is necessarily precious."

"Thus, at such times, people spare no words of praise, offering them to the divine altar, becoming the perfect embodiment of morality."

"And if…"

Hongjun's smile remained unchanged: "A twist appears, the hero didn't die…… not only didn't die, but seems to be engaged in the trade of eating human blood steamed buns, doing the same kind of reaping as some tyrants and bullies, appearing with an evil face."

"Given this contrast, the more they once liked and admired, the later they will despise and scorn."

The Dao Ancestor slowly explained an interesting phenomenon of humanity.

Heroes are suited for sacrifice.

If a hero, besides sacrificing, dares to talk about profit, and the acquisition of that profit is tied by rumor to the masses, then there is suspicion of eating human blood steamed buns.

Then, all the praise once received will become the foundation for infamy.

Quite strange.

Many people, when oppressed by evil's claws sucking their marrow, can feign ignorance, pretend not to know, and silently endure.

But once the hero does something, earns a little money that doesn't violate the rules…… he is instantly pointed at by thousands, grumbling that he shouldn't act that way.

People always say "the dragon-slaying hero ultimately becomes a new evil dragon," endlessly discussing the hero's fall, pointing at the world, whipping human nature, yet often instinctively selectively ignore the evil dragon that has long been active, pretending to see nothing.

Because they know that evil dragons really do eat people!

Heroes can also consider moral blackmail, one or two.

— One must admit that this indeed contains an element of gambling, betting that the hero still possesses noble virtue, conscience intact, and will not quibble with ordinary beings.

"Noble heroes are always short-lived."

"Vile villains, however, can live forever."

Yinglong let out a light sigh: "When a bad person does a good deed, they are called reformed, conscience intact; when a good person does a bad deed, they are called exposed in their true form, unforgivable of the ten evils."

"So, when Houtu is lifted onto the divine altar, if one wants to bring her down, one must consider the scenario of falling face-first…… right?"

"Exactly!" Hongjun clapped his hands, "Speaking of which, this method is still something I came to understand by reviewing the past, the grudges and entanglements between humanity and the August Emperor."

"During the years August Emperor served as Heavenly Emperor, he could be said to have been wholeheartedly public-spirited, even going so far as to sacrifice family ties, hanging his wayward sister up and beating her, ransacking her home until it was spotless."

"But because he refused to compromise on the issue of reincarnation, insisting on a 'one-and-done' style—people die like lamps extinguished, no more talk of rebirth, all souls must be cleansed by heaven and earth to pristine purity, all memories must be thoroughly formatted, restored to factory settings."

"Thus, the August Emperor's divine court collapsed!"

"Its collapse left all the Great Luo sovereigns and innate divinities unable to comprehend, feeling they could not figure it out alive or dead."

"Because the departed souls are unwilling, not wanting to face a fated formatting, they sought to negotiate." Yinglong sighed, "By using the Honghuang's world-wide uprising to prove the Dao and become a Great Luo, which was also the special juncture where August Emperor achieved Pangu, a time when past, present, and future are fully connected, all the departed gathered together, holding marches and demonstrations!"

"It became the most terrifying Dao calamity!"

"Attaining the Dao as a Great Luo inherently involves no tribulation, but tribulation arises from one's own heart." Yinglong let out a long sigh, "Apart from those basic hard requirements, the achievement of a Great Luo is merely about having a heart without regret, past, present, and future, all the various 'selves' being one."

"Lowliness is me, pride is me, elation is me, destitution is me…… encompassing all the 'mes', neither humble nor arrogant, sincerely accepting, with no regret nor resentment."

"One must not, looking back from the future, regard past hardships as a shame, regretting and wanting to alter them…… for at that time one truly possessed such divine powers, able to cross time and reshape the past!"

"Once the past is stirred, the foundations fall into disorder, and the Dao fruit collapses!"

"A lifetime of cultivation turns into nothingness."

"This is the tribulation of the Great Luo!"

"Because of this tribulation, Honghuang nearly faced annihilation…… those ghosts deserving of death sought to drag all living beings down with them, pushing heaven and earth to the brink of danger."

"Yes!" the Dao Ancestor lamented, "I myself experienced this back then—'The situation was perilous…… ultimately, it was only by the three thousand divinities paying a huge price, risking the consequence of ten thousand tribulations without return and total submersion, offering their own indestructible spiritual light to delay the calamity number of heaven and earth's collapse.'"

"Then, relinquishing the Dao fruit, concealing the true-self consciousness, inviting them into the vessel, giving those 'rioters' a chance to seize a body…… thus the three thousand innate divinities turned into three thousand Chaos demon gods!"

"They aren't wanting to live? Then let them live!"

"Wielding a knife, they went to negotiate with the August Emperor, comparing fist sizes, using violent means to seize Honghuang's authority!"

"If they prove spirited, defeat the August Emperor, and alter a mere reincarnation rule, what would that amount to?"

Hongjun said this, shaking his head, "Just… they were given a chance, but they turned out useless!"

"They were slaughtered by the August Emperor like cutting melons and vegetables, lying dead all over…… being fierce was useless, selling the realm was useless, begging for mercy was useless; their demon god bodies were completely slain."

"Finally, still making use of the waste, the August Emperor condensed their resentment and the Great Dao, allowing Daoist Rahu to emerge transformed, shouldering the cauldron of ten thousand ages."

"Having been subdued and frightened, the August Emperor, axe in hand, sat down calmly to negotiate with those 'rioters'…… those 'rioters' also became sensible, under the August Emperor's guarantee—'Don't rush, reincarnation will be changed, rebirth will be arranged,' etc. —they reunited in unity, Honghuang proved the Dao as a Great Luo, and the August Emperor ascended to Pangu!"

Hongjun said this, his expression strange, "Then the August Emperor just ran away."

"His later words, I still recall—'Change the reincarnation rule? Change the laws he himself established? Dream on!'"

"If nothing was done wrong, why should one admit fault?"

"It's a pity that such conduct is seen as going back on one's word, the greatest evil deed of a lifetime of a benevolent Heavenly Emperor, viewed with hostility by humanity, and called 'unforgivable of the ten evils'!"

"The August Emperor's merits surpass all ages, yet he still ends up in this situation……" Hongjun said with deep meaning, "So what does Houtu rely on to break out of this predicament?"

I want to send her to stand on the altar!

To become a selfless, great-love, utmost-good, holy-virtue, perfect, most benevolent goddess!

And since she possesses so many fine qualities, they become the primary impression in the hearts of the masses, filling their mental filter; then, using the news of her 'death', they craft an infinite sublime virtue… So, when she reappears and claims she didn't die, what awkward situation will she fall into?

Hongjun smiled and asked Yinglong.

Hmm… she says she isn't dead; the masses should initially be happy and delighted." Yinglong pondered, then replied, "This is a beautiful ending—at least in many people's eyes."

But life doesn't have a beautiful ending; it continues in a very realistic way.

After many people finish being happy and delighted, they have to face the problem of reincarnation… Yinglong thought a bit, drawing on the knowledge he got from his master, and instantly came up with seven or eight devious ideas: 'Putting Houtu on the altar is tantamount to binding her hands and feet.'

Because she is selfless, it seems she shouldn't monopolize reincarnation.

Because she has great love, in reincarnation the Wu and Yao should be equal.

Because she is utterly good, there should be no discrimination in reincarnation.

Because…

Yinglong did a finger count and immediately knew there were many problems.

Fellow Daoist, you are truly a like-minded person.

Hongjun praised.

Yes, there are many problems.

Moreover, every problem is deadly serious.

Even normal handling gives one a headache.

What's more, there are people outside watching covetously.

Whenever someone seizes on a mistake in the work of the reincarnation underworld, they come spraying.

On one hand they say supervision is inadequate, that all representatives should enter and conduct supervision—has the Monster Clan Heavenly Court just reached its hand in?

What?

Not give?

No way!

Wasn't Lady Houtu the one who, out of great love for the masses, opened this reincarnation?

How is it that now she exposes such an ugly, discriminatory face?

I'm off!

The advertisement doesn't match the actual product!

Houtu thus fell into a moral dilemma.

Even if Houtu doesn't show up and pushes this matter to the Wu Clan for PR… the navy troops will spread rumors without hesitation.

They directly stir up waves, criticize the Wu Clan's monopolistic hegemony, and in the reincarnation underworld they push a three-six-nine rank system, denying ghost rights… and so on and so forth!

First, establish a persona for Houtu.

Then move to destroy that persona.

Shake its foundations, ruin its reputation—either way is an effective method to influence reincarnation.

"Pointing out problems, stirring up conflict—this is just the beginning." Hongjun talked at length, "Barely counts as a first step."

"The second step is to leverage this conflict‑public opinion momentum to mobilize the power of the Human Dao…… Houtu pondering reincarnation—isn't it for the Human Dao?"

Little does she know, this will also become a noose around her neck.

"Let public opinion fly for a while, then have three or five wise scholars join forces, claiming to consider justice for all under heaven, and ask Houtu to hand over reincarnation to the Human Dao, to place it under regular supervision channels, to drive a nail firmly into the underworld…… The advantages Houtu gained from remodeling reincarnation will thus largely be lost."

Hongjun waved his whisk, relaxed and content.

"Are there still such enthusiastic wise scholars?" Yinglong murmured.

"Of course there are!" the Dao Ancestor chuckled, "The Saints of the Heavenly Dao—it's time to put them to use!"

"The Six Saints of the Heavenly Dao, aside from Nüwa, there are also Five Saints; they all hold the reins of education and transformation."

"As for education and transformation, what matters most? Good seedlings."

"Reincarnation is the greatest selector of good seedlings."

"They can't help but be moved!"

Hongjun said lightly, seeing clearly, able to explain with reason and evidence.

What does a cultivation academy rely on to develop?

On talent! A constant stream of top talent!

They leave the academy, wander between heaven and earth, expand their influence, and only then can the Dao lineage shine brilliantly.

As for this, is it that renowned teachers produce outstanding students, or outstanding students become renowned teachers?

It should be the latter.

People differ from one another more than people differ from dogs; this needs to be clearly recognized.

Wisdom root, comprehension, talent, wisdom, inspiration… so much potential, no one can calculate it all.

Renowned teachers and schools, via teaching methods, can usually raise only the lower limit of a student's personal achievement, not the upper limit.

The upper limit can only be reached by the student themselves, even surpassed.

There's a saying that puts it bluntly——

The master leads you to the door; cultivation is personal.

Cultivation is a lifelong endeavor; which teacher can manage it for a whole lifetime?

In the end, whoever can bring about a student's success is forever the student themselves.

Thus, individual innate talent becomes very important.

On this, genius will always be more valued than mediocrity.

Even if it's the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable who teaches without discrimination, who from time to time holds open lectures, they also must, according to the progress of coursework, secretly divide into an inner and outer door system, giving those inner-door Sect Disciples whose Dao progress is fast enough a special tutorial.

As for ordinary students... in the outer door they each form study groups, ask the yearly three-good students to help and guide, taking over the teacher's lectures, and that's it.

After all... the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable's own time is also very precious!

Then, the problem comes back.

If one wants to expand the Dao lineage, there must be a continual influx of talent.

As for talent, how to handle it?

Just sitting and waiting for enrollment each year? It's not impossible, but too passive.

There are many famous academies under heaven, not just yours.

After all considerations, it's still best to start directly at the source!

"Reincarnation is a good thing... when living beings fall, their souls return here."

Hongjun said to Yinglong, 'This place was once covered by the will of the August Emperor; no rash movement is allowed.'

"So nobody will worry about it anymore... nor is there any need to worry."

"Everything will be formatted, and the fairest start will begin anew."

"Now, Nüwa intends to cater to part of humanity's call, to act on reincarnation, to carry out reform, to rewrite part of the regulations... this leaves a loophole to exploit!"

"Ten-lifetime virtuous ones, heaven-defying perceptive talents, children of fate, reincarnated great powers... all are clearly visible, their spiritual aptitude maxed out."

"Innate Dao body, strongest race, heaven-and-earth holy spirit... can give an unfortunate deceased or benighted Sect Disciple a good rebirth, so that in the next life they possess the greatest physical talent."

"There are many ways to play with it, messing up reincarnation... I hardly doubt it!"

The Dao Ancestor sneered, 'So then I will rub and rub, reach an agreement with the Buddhist and Daoist schools, and together take root in the netherworld... Heck, even if I cannot overthrow Nüwa, I can make her a thorn in the throat, making her life uncomfortable.'

Yinglong heard this, and his expression turned slightly odd.

(End of chapter)