Chapter 568

"Commanding the myriad races of heaven, earth, and humanity in Honghuang, uniting under the same ideal banner, taking the construction of the Netherworld as the focus of the era, concentrating strength to reform reincarnation, to meet the ever-growing spiritual needs of the vast human populace…"

"Taking humanity as the best learning template, referencing and drawing on its self-reliant development model, using the newly revised reincarnation as a powerful spiritual driving force, inspiring the realization of hard work and arduous labor, thereby building the entire era into a surpassingly splendid and glorious form, achieving the great sublimation of human civilization!"

"At that time, everyone loved the era, everyone's spirits were uplifted, everyone was a later wave, using the finest posture to look down on the departed former waves, proving that each generation is stronger than the last, and humanity walks on the most correct path!"

Nüwa - from glossary

In her design, the updated reincarnation, with the added mechanism of the Netherworld's operation, will bring a leap‑forward improvement to the growth of all humanity.

On the spiritual level, first, it can dispel the confusion and bewilderment that often linger in the hearts of Honghuang's people—where does one go after death? Does this life of mine have any meaning at all?

Second, the change in reincarnation powerfully fills the void of the spiritual world, establishing the loftiest goal for every living being, solidifying the mindset, giving sufficient cohesion to the era, to Honghuang, and to humanity, thereby truly loving heaven and earth, loving the era, loving civilization.

Besides that, on the material level, the stimulus of reincarnation can greatly inspire humanity's masses to strive and struggle, even to ignite the passion for entrepreneurship and hard work, stimulating the currently slowed development of human civilization to quicken its pace, producing positive effects…

Thus carried out, the flourishing of humanity and eternal prosperity for myriad generations are imminent!

Human Dao

When Nüwa fully unfurled the blueprint, evolving over the ages into the grandest and most vast civilizational scroll, humanity was stirred, was exhilarated.

That ocean of true spirits, which ought originally to be ignorant and unconscious, merely a single point of the purest, most holy spirituality that, through immeasurable accumulation, has formed a vast and pure ocean, now rolls up boundless waves, fervent and surging, as if dyed by Nüwa's "Dao," to become the shape she desires!

Grand Simplicity

Responding Dragon

If Fengxi were to stand here, he could not help but sigh—

"I never expected that the Lady Nüwa, who usually seems unable to speak human language and can drive people to the brink of arguing with her to death, would, at the critical moment, also be quite capable of reasoning and raising a big flag!"

Dao Ancestor

Hongjun

Nüwa, she has sufficient talent as a leader.

A leader, whether good or bad, must ultimately be able to stay grounded, to the greatest extent mobilize the body and mind of even the tiniest, most insignificant individuals—because these minuscule individuals, when they can gather together, become a great power capable of overturning heaven and earth!

This power is also called Human Dao!

Whoever fully masters Human Dao fully masters the age.

Except for Pangu, even the strongest divine beings, when facing this power, must silently yield, unwilling to confront its sharp edge—Isn't it better to stay alive?

To offend Human Dao, a single slip-up will get you hung on a streetlamp, and you'll be infamous for all eternity; even if you somehow return to life one day, you must change your appearance and start anew.

Can't afford to provoke.

All one can do is hide and leave.

—This is the mindset of ordinary divinities.

But those titans capable of leading the gods do not yield; instead, they try to harness it.

Perhaps saying 'harness' is not accurate; it should be said as 'cooperation'.

Using one's own ideas to attract and gain the favor of Human Dao, standing on the same front… I'll provide the plan, you provide the funds, and together we'll undertake a great undertaking!

At this moment, Nüwa is doing just that.

She used her own reincarnation reform plan to attract Human Dao's gaze, causing this usually muddled power that merely surges abundantly between heaven and earth to condense, to surge, transforming into a roaring torrent that howls as it sweeps across the Honghuang universe, leaving the gods shocked and moved.

—How many years has it been since this last happened?

Um… that's not right either.

It hasn't been long since Human Dao was last this unrestrained.

But that time of unrestrained activity caused the biggest bloodshed in the history of the Witch-Demon era so far.

—The death of Donghua!

A titan of the Taiyi with an incredibly terrifying background, after repeatedly resisting and struggling, was ultimately slain on the spot; before dying, the greatest damage he inflicted on the Honghuang world was merely to bloodily abuse the Dragon Ancestor—Dragon Ancestor, beating him up, reducing him to a novice in the Taiyi, and even to this day he is still painfully making amends.

It's not easy being a dragon; the Dragon Ancestor sighs.

At this moment, facing the renewed vigor of Human Dao, this old dragon's unnatural instinct twitched his body, he unconsciously kept a lower profile, lest he suffer some heavenly misfortune.

However, the power that the Dragon Ancestor failed to avoid caught the eye of another supreme titan.

Moreover, he not only had his eyes light up, he also muttered, mentioning Dragon Ancestor—this is a bizarre development that the Dragon Ancestor, no matter how imaginative, could never have imagined.

Cang, he ought to be thanking the whole Yinglong family.

"Cang, you really are a fine comrade!"

In the Purple Heaven Palace, the Dao Ancestor clapped his hands and laughed loudly; due to his day-and-night toil, his flowery white beard trembled, and scattered white hairs from his slightly balding head fluttered; though the scene was bleak, it could not hide the joy on Hongjun's face.

"You didn't deceive me."

"The timing and location of Houtu establishing reincarnation are absolutely certain."

"In that case, the means I hastily prepared for her now have a use——"

The Dao Ancestor laughed heartily, waving his sleeve and throwing out two jade talismans—one tore through space and fell toward Kunlun, the other inverted the myriad worlds and fell onto Sumeru; the two great holy lands of the Daoist and Buddhist sects were both involved.

On the other side, as the horsetail whisk swept over, a plot nurtured not long ago but usable sprang into action; three thousand silver threads followed an inscrutable trajectory, seeping in and taking root, piercing through to some level interface in the darkness.

This process was somewhat arduous, requiring Hongjun to mobilize the power of the Heavenly Dao before he could barely accomplish it.

—Because he was interfering with Human Dao!

Hongjun intended to release a rumor that he had previously mentioned to Yinglong, letting it sprout in the hearts of all beings, distorting and transforming truth and falsehood, reality and illusion.

In the shortest time, with the most explosive spread, to strive to form a situation hardest to reverse, to lift 'Houtu' high up, then slam her down hard!

—Houtu sacrifices herself to become reincarnation!

Such a rumor, if too early it's absurd, if too late it's useless; only when just right can it yield a sliver of miraculous effect.

Of course, even if it has miraculous effect, it cannot overthrow Nüwa—Hongjun knows this deep down.

He is merely continually adding obstacles for Nüwa… perhaps one day, looking back suddenly, he will find this is the final straw that breaks the camel's back, who knows?

After all, one must give it a try!

When the attempt is over, the vast will of the Heavenly Dao descends and seeps in, adding a barely noticeable impurity to the surging, vast power of Human Dao, which follows Nüwa's summons and stirs, awaiting the most splendid scene to unfold.

Translation: "Hongjun had just taken back his whisk, the smile in his eyes undiminished."

Hongjun had just taken back his whisk, the smile in his eyes undiminished

Today, if we succeed, I will definitely give the Dragon Ancestor a big award

Alas...

These years, Cang has been so devoted and tireless, busy without cease, first eliminating Donghua, then scheming against Houtu—though his merits go unspoken, his labors are immense

This makes me hesitate

One day he will break Mount Buzhou, throw the Human Dao into chaos, and violate his oath

Should I still choose him to be that pivotal pawn

The Dao Ancestor seems to have come down with decision paralysis, murmuring his inner turmoil, recalling how he once craved the Dragon Ancestor's body, wanting to use it to do some great deed

Everyone like dragons... this slogan is really a good thing

The cornerstone most capable of shaking the Human Dao—since everyone is like a dragon, there naturally ought to be great freedom, great liberation, no longer needing something like Mount Buzhou that props up the heavens; upon its collapse, every mountain rabbit must bravely venture to the ends of the earth

Moreover, Cang, that lonely fellow, among the banded liches, always seems out of place, unlike Di Jun and Nüwa, making him too hard to factor into calculations

After all, Cang is actually the most suitable for my plan... charging headfirst into Mount Buzhou, the Great Calamity awaits

Just giving it up like that seems a shame, doesn't it

After much thought

Finally

The Dao Ancestor decided—

Forget it, still the Dragon Ancestor's scent

No change!

After all, there's really nothing to be done

What's more suitable than the Dragon Ancestor isn't easy to figure

What's easier to calculate than the Dragon Ancestor also can't deal with Mount Buzhou

The Dao Ancestor did a finger count—Gonggong Ancestor Witch is sure to suffer a disaster of an iron head

As an incarnation of the Heavenly Dao, how could he possibly go against heaven

Even if the Dragon Ancestor's contribution is enormous

At most, at most, we can only give him a lavish burial after the Dragon Ancestor dies

Hongjun reckons, this is already enough to give face

Alas... I am truly a benevolent Heavenly Dao

If heaven had feelings, it too would grow old; the righteous way of the world is vicissitudes... No wonder I've aged so quickly these years

I'm too sentimental!

Hongjun touched his slightly cool forehead; a sense of soreness suddenly welled up in his heart, then was instantly cut off

But...

Soon... soon!

The Dao Ancestor murmured

…… => "..."

Nüwa was unaware of the vexing situation she would face, which would leave her frazzled

She was still immersed in joyful emotion

The result of the proposal to reform reincarnation was a success

When her Underworld blueprint unfolded, the Human Dao showed the greatest interest

Reincarnation, the Underworld...

This might also be considered a heart ailment of the Human Dao!

Back then, the Human Dao already had considerable ideas about reincarnation

Only that term's holy leader, the Supreme Heavenly Emperor, held the line and refused to relent, and besides had his own reasons; his secret talks with the Human Dao were a past unknown to the gods—'Reincarnation, a matter of life and death, must above all be kept conservative and simple; no overly complicated steps may be mixed in, and it must be made so clear and straightforward that even the simplest-minded beings can understand it.'

'Within reincarnation, every added step brings a future disaster. When the process involves interests, and rule interpretation becomes so convoluted that not even a book could finish writing it, the common folk cannot grasp its content without systematic study, requiring hired experts to interpret...'

'This has already reached the most dangerous state—evil forces are breeding, the space for profiteering and speculation up and down is infinitely vast; even with the purest intentions, good deeds will be turned into bad!'

'At that time, the situation will be dire, and the price to pay will be grievous.'

'To remedy it, one must fill the role with a peerless mighty one, permanently stationed in reincarnation, so that the Great Calamity cannot gain freedom or liberation; in reincarnation, they must toil thanklessly, maintaining the utmost impartiality, handling every detail with the utmost patience... This, however, is merely a desperate stopgap.'

'Does Honghuang still have such a mighty being?'

'Yes, and also no!'

'Even the sprites nurtured by the Heavenly Dao dream only of not working, of being happy salted‑fish lounging.'

'Other divinities qualified to preside over reincarnation—who would be willing to make such a grim sacrifice?'

'No more talk of changing reincarnation!'

August Emperor rejected the Human Dao's proposal, and so they parted unhappily

Just, they dispersed and that was that

Yet the Human Dao never ceased to yearn for reform of reincarnation——

Could things really be that serious?

I don't believe it!

Without trying it out, just relying on one‑sided words, how can we know the outcome?

It's like a being in the troublesome‑child stage

No matter how much the parents nag, the trouble that ought to be stirred up is always inevitable

Without a profound lesson, one cannot clearly recognize the mistake.

Over these years, the gods have all kept to their duties, no one daring to meddle with reincarnation; they seem to have tacitly regarded this as a taboo.

Until this moment...

Nüwa stepped forward!

In August Emperor's eyes, this too was a brat's affair, and the Human Dao issue gathered together with these children!

Instantly, it was like dry tinder meeting a blaze, and everything went racing down the road to losing control and derailing.

Nüwa clapped, and the Human Dao converged.

And then...

For the Underworld, cheers!

"Boom!"

The mightiest, vast flood of power surged through the boundless heavens and earth, pierced the realm of reincarnation, converged upon Nüwa, and became the strongest support.

At the same time, a divine tone echoed from the void, reverberating in Nüwa's heart.

——The Underworld?

——Let's get one for us!

——We've got money if we need it, strength if we need it!

——Come on, Wa Wa, it's decidedly you!

The flood of the Human Dao's mighty power surged and swept over, activating the Dao fruit of all Honghuang, bestowed upon Nüwa, augmenting her strength and expanding her spirit.

Houtu's Dharma form appeared, and though only for an instant, it filled the realm of reincarnation, manifested above Honghuang, and endlessly expanded, seeking to stand heaven-high and earth-broad.

At this moment, Nüwa bore a trace of Pangu's bearing.

The vast heavens and earth turned according to her will.

The sky had been drizzling, clouds filling the firmament… this was the leakage of the Heavenly Court gods' intentions, their worry and anxiety over the changes in reincarnation, which outwardly interfered with the world's operation.

But at this moment, Nüwa's mood was bright and splendid…

And so, the skies cleared, the rain ceased, and the world became beautiful.

The sky cleared, the rain stopped, and Nüwa felt she had done it!

With boundless power added, her battle strength surged, making Nüwa eager to try; she thought that, in the midst of an inadvertent mistake while building the Underworld, she might accidentally kill some Heavenly Emperor, East Emperor, or Dao Ancestor with the aftershock… if possible, she'd also like to give Fuxi a playful pat on the head.

Don't ask!

Asking means it's an accident!

Too bad.

Nüwa's dream of realizing this will be somewhat difficult.

"Too lewd!"

"Each one is too indulgent!"

Houtu's Dharma form split the heavens and earth's primordial yin and yang, suppressed the eight wildernesses and six unions, and as its gaze turned, all of Honghuang entered its mind.

At a glance, she saw the Heavenly Court busily turning the celestial poles and stars, and the the Zixiao Palace driving the Heavenly Dao's protection… among them, her rivals were all versed in the art of self-preservation by following their hearts, making them hard to deal with.

At another glance, she sought the lone Fuxi, wanting to give him a sister's caress, but suddenly felt a chilling chill from beyond Honghuang fall upon her, making Nüwa's heart feel icy cold.

She looked back.

Oh wow!

Pangu's August Emperor was staring deeply at her.

It seemed to be warning Nüwa not to act recklessly at all costs.

If you dare call it an accident, I dare call it negligence!

Be good!

Look closely—who now is the barefoot one?!

Instantly.

The wind rose, the sky dried, and Wa also felt she was wilting.

"I endure!"

Nüwa said to herself in her heart.

"Small lack of patience ruins great plans!"

"I will put up with him for now!"

"When the time comes, I too shall become Pangu..."

"See if he still dares to glare at me? Let's have a full reckoning!"

Nüwa murmured to herself, cheering herself on.

Wa, never admit defeat!

(End of chapter)