Chapter 571: Other Shore Flowers, the Ledger of Life and Death!

The Heavenly Emperor worries, and the Heavenly River will be busy from now on.

However, this 'River of Forgetfulness' is merely an ordinary step in Nüwa's patch to update reincarnation, a small action of making an excuse.

——She could no longer continue to wage grand warfare.

After all, the power Nüwa used was that of 'Honghuang', and there is still relevant oversight in the human realm.

Given a legitimate reason, one can be somewhat extravagant, using public resources for private gain, but not too much.

Opening a River of Forgetfulness, improving the Netherworld's terrain, introducing the Heavenly River to neutralize the Netherworld's stillness, preventing lone yin from not giving birth and cutting off vitality, the human realm gladly accepts.

But, excessive behavior—such as wanting to stuff the heavenly realm's starry sky into the Netherworld ghost domain—is over the top.

After all.

Within the heavenly starry sea also dwell countless beings, constituting part of the human realm.

They also willingly support reincarnation's reshaping and the underworld's construction, but they hardly have any notion of 'splitting the family as a boundary'.

As long as the foundation isn't harmed, offering modest support is fine; but to truly donate one's entire starry celestial homeland… the living would not stand for it!

Thus, Nüwa had to reluctantly withdraw and proceed to the next step.

In this process, her thoughts spread unintentionally, spiritual light flickered, she grasped the dynamics of the human realm, and pondered some ineffable subtleties.

The evolution of 'Azure Heavens and Yellow Springs', the direction of human hearts, seemed…… to open a brand-new world's door for Nüwa.

'Mm.'

'Perhaps this also counts as a 'wonderful strategy'?'

'For gods unwilling to change the mechanism of reincarnation, this is not a bad way to shift blame, eh?'

Nüwa blinked, then blinked again.

——Under the pretense of requisitioning a piece of land for free, preferably the most populous and prosperous, raising the banner of sacrifice for the age, for heaven and earth, for all beings, forcing the beings there to yield to reincarnation……

Making the expression uglier, the means more radical, arousing the strongest resistance, then conveniently pinning the blame on those hoping to establish reincarnation, shifting the conflict, while she herself withdraws.

Raise the flag, oppose the flag!

Let the common folk fight the common folk, let the human realm fight the human realm, sow discord, split and collapse, while she sits high on the shore, looking down upon all beings as they throw themselves into chaos.

If one does not want to solve the problem, then one must solve the people who create the problem…… ah, no, it is to create an entirely new problem, letting those who raised the original problem kill each other, leaving no time to weigh the primary and secondary of age-old contradictions, shifting the problem's focus.

This move, this move is called 'relocating disaster eastward', lacking virtue and smoking!

Although it cannot substantively solve the root problem, its essence is avoidance…… but, avoidance may be shameful, yet it is useful!

'Sigh.'

Thinking of these, Nüwa sighed, feeling moved by her own noble character.

'I am still too kind.'

'I went to solve the problem, striving to achieve both benefits.'

'Not like those gods who ignore the problem, and even when they see it think only how to gloss over it……'

Nüwa thought, deliberately noting in her heart——

All these thoughts have nothing to do with her elder brother Fuxi!

'I feel my conscience has grown a little bit more.'

A nonsensical thought flashed in her mind, her actions continued unabated; after 'Azure Heavens and Yellow Springs', Nüwa created rules, evolved the Great Dao, conjuring from nothing the hardware for memory storage, so as to preserve each lifetime of every being that passes through reincarnation.

One after another strange and gorgeous flower burst from the soil, visible everywhere on the vast Netherworld, adorning the lifeless environment with specks of vitality and vigor.

In the reshaping of reincarnation——

Other Shore Flowers bloom!

In the world, for every living being, from the moment of their birth, there corresponds a blossoming Other Shore Flower in the Netherworld.

Yang-world life, Yin-realm flower.

The Other Shore Flower will keep growing—sprouting roots, sprouting shoots, maturing, yet not blooming.

Until, the person it corresponds to dies!

At the moment of death, the Other Shore Flower bursts forth, beautiful beyond compare.

This flower carries a living being, all of its past life.

One person dies, one flower blooms.

One side is life's end, the other side is life's furious blossoming.

Life and death are separated by the Other Shore, the greatest opposition…… yet there is a moment when they overlap, composing a hymn to life.

Such a method, only Nüwa could enact.

After all, this requires sufficient prerequisites——

To grasp the foundation of every common folk, is to be their Creator!

Thus, only then can the service of the Other Shore Flower be implemented upon all beings, becoming the cornerstone of the new version of reincarnation.

Just this alone—aside from Nüwa, beneath Pangu, who else could achieve it?

Nüwa, the Heavenly Mandate's Lord of Reincarnation!

Creation, reincarnation…… are acknowledged by the myriad gods as a straight path pointing to Pangu, not without reason.

Pearls paired, jade matched—peerless in the present age!

——Fengxi gave it a thumbs-up.

"Marvelous! Marvelous!"

He swayed his head and shook his brain, feeling a certain context in the human realm become much clearer; many knots were now grasped by him.

Other Shore Flowers bloom, life's record.

Vast Honghuang, Myriad Heavens and all realms, even past, present, future…… all joys and sorrows can be seen in these flowers.

Real-time recording, synchronized upload.

Speaking of which.

Is there a big data database more wonderful and more perfect than this?

Automatically updated, perfectly stored.

The strong union of the Creation Great Dao and the Reincarnation Great Dao possesses infinite possibilities, derived from the netherworld.

By carefully analyzing the situation inside, theoretically one can grasp the mental dynamics of all beings in the human realm, thereby identifying the causes of the myriad ailments that have arisen in the human realm so far, and then prescribe the right remedy!

Nüwa perhaps did not intend this; she merely achieved it unintentionally.

But in substance, her merit in helping the human realm's self‑salvation is boundlessly vast!

Nüwa, forever dripping with divinity!

Moreover, this deity of hers is quite 'selfless'.

After all.

In ignorance and oblivion, she gave away control of reincarnation for nothing… she appointed commanders and generals; the three major factions—demon, Dao, and Buddhist—were all selected, intending to check and balance each other, while she sat high on the shore, unaware that this bunch were actually in cahoots!

She gave away the chance to surpass herself, toiling busily, yet ended up making wedding clothes for the human realm.

Nüwa·the worker·Nüwa!

Workers, worker souls, workers are all superior people!

Fengxi happily and painfully considered that he must definitely confer a great medal upon Lady Nüwa to praise her indelible contributions to the human realm over the years.

Of course.

He, feeling somewhat vain deep down, silently scheduled the award ceremony for after the Lich Epoch… at that time, he would either fail to save the human realm from dire straits and die leaving not even scraps, or reach the pinnacle and possess supreme power and authority.

Then, when the inside story was exposed, come what may, he wouldn't be chopped to death by the enraged Lady Nüwa, would he?

Fengxi praised his own cleverness, while continuing to develop in secret, witnessing the marvelous creation of the other‑shore flower's blossoming.

……

Nüwa, utterly unaware of the world's treachery, would one day, despite her strength, also have something given to her for free.

She was still striving to build the reincarnation system, strengthening her own advantage.

Flowers bloom on the other shore; life and death are vast and boundless.

Although Nüwa's understanding of the wickedness of human hearts is insufficient, her strategy is not particularly problematic.

Fengxi greatly valued the effect of the other‑shore flower; she too could recognize it, and furthermore, based on it, she condensed the ultimate fruition of the Reincarnation Great Dao.

"The Way of Creation, I have the demon‑summoning banner, capable of summoning the myriad beings of the human realm."

"The Way of Reincarnation, I also want a similar great implement, and even go further!"

Nüwa's pretty face tensed; at this moment she shook the Myriad Heavens, stirred the myriad ages, selected boundless other‑shore flowers as the foundation, and in the darkness each drew out a minuscule wisp of breath.

It is known that each other‑shore flower can illuminate a lifetime, corresponding to a living being……

Then.

When all the other‑shore flowers have their breath extracted and refined with supreme spellcraft…… what will be the result?

Life and death, give and take!

"Those fellows think that by sealing my demon‑summoning banner and not letting me use this creation great implement to do anything, I am helpless, right?"

Nüwa's mouth corners rose wildly, she was very pleased.

"A joke!"

"And you don't even check who I am?"

"Just a mere game rule, I still can't get around it?"

Boundless breaths gathered and refined; under Nüwa's displayed supreme divine ability, it continually transformed its form, with inconceivable might surging.

Finally.

In a path of deep, endless mysterious light, an artifact was forged by creation, also achieving the grandest, most sacred marvel.

A thick, ancient‑looking book projection floated above the heart of every living being.

At the instant that projection appeared, all beings of the human realm naturally understood——what a powerful artifact this is!

Life and death are destined——

Book of Life and Death!

Lifespan and fate are all recorded therein; merits and demerits are all contained within.

If someone holds this book, they can decide the life and death of all beings.

Cross out a name, and they will not enter reincarnation, their lifespan boundless.

If the lifespan is altered, written smaller, it can also cause a heaven‑favored one to die violently, to die early and transcend early.

Recording every sentient being in the world, judging life and death, giving and taking life……

The Book of Life and Death, merely by its existence, is the greatest deterrent of reincarnation and the netherworld!

You may disrespect 'Heaven', for Heaven is busy and may not have time to watch you, let alone strike you with lightning.

But you cannot disrespect 'Earth', for the netherworld truly has recorded your name, written in a little notebook!

——Houtu's little notebook!

——Book of Life and Death!

Those unafraid of death can go ahead and be wanton!

Netherworld, in charge of killing!

Also in charge of burial!

And also in charge of your reincarnation!

All‑in‑one service, who dares to offend?!

"Hehe!"

Nüwa smiled, gripping the Book of Life and Death; even if achieving this great weapon caused the Human Dao's supporting power to gradually fade, she felt not the slightest regret.

Worth it!

So worth it!

The Demon Race's Wu-Slaying Sword made Nüwa worry for a while, giving her a headache over its attribute—it can shatter ideals, topple faith, and is the most powerful means of mass striking.

As for the Wu Clan?

There once existed a great weapon, the Summoning Demon Banner… but when Empress Nüwa did not appear, this weapon was also banned; under the default rules everyone accepted, it could not be allowed to show its might.

Until now.

Nüwa, taking advantage of the moment she oversaw the revision of reincarnation, in one go forged the Book of Life and Death.

Once the Book of Life and Death appeared, it was sufficient to counter the Wu-Slaying Sword, even surpassing it.

——Are you the evil reliance of the Human Dao? Possessing the most powerful destructive attribute?

——I can still command life and control death!

——People can do away with you; who still cares about that so‑called ideal?

This is the ultimate weapon for overturning the table.

Even if that table might not be overturned—when it is, the Human Dao's self‑preservation instinct might perhaps offset this authority over life and death.

However.

Some weapons you may not use, but you cannot lack!

The Book of Life and Death is precisely such.

Although achieving this heavyweight weapon consumed a great deal of Honghuang power, it also caused the Human Dao to become tumultuous, with suspicion spreading.

Suspected of illegally installing surveillance equipment—this is a very dangerous accusation.

When the myriad folk learn that their names are recorded in the Book of Life and Death, able to log merits and demerits and to do many bad things… to say they feel no unease? That is impossible.

However, Nüwa has always behaved well, and the Human Dao places great trust in her—far more than it does in the August Emperor.

Although Nüwa has overstepped a bit now, the Human Dao still forgave her, believing she will restrain herself and not act recklessly.

Not even actively demanding, they let Nüwa hand over the Book of Life and Death to the Human Dao, tacitly allowing her to grasp this vital point.

Of course.

Forgiveness is forgiveness, but suspicion remains suspicion… for a time, support for Nüwa declined, the privileged era was about to pass, which is only natural.

"Ah!"

Nüwa held the Book of Life and Death, then let out a soft sigh.

She felt the unstable power bolstering her whole body begin to wane, that invincible combat strength fading, somewhat reluctant, "Happy times are always brief."

"But I have no regrets, after all……"

"The only thing somewhat regrettable is that the remaining power is not enough for me to perfect the construction of the Netherworld……"

"Enough! Enough! Enough!"

"However much we can build, that will be enough."

Nüwa straightened her face and began the final work.

Wielding Honghuang's mighty power, creating something from nothing, shaping the void, evolving mountains and rivers, enriching the entire Netherworld—this ghostly pure land, in terms of domain size, is not much inferior to Honghuang.

But in the end, as the Human Dao shifted from fervor to calm, the Netherworld did not become much more prosperous or splendid; desolation remained the dominant theme.

Living on this land will be arduous, equivalent to pioneering from utter poverty.

Unlike Honghuang.

From the start, it was varied and colorful, splendid and beautiful.

Actually, this is also normal.

Honghuang began so lofty because there was a Pangu sacrifice, his body transforming into myriad things!

In this Netherworld…

Nüwa thought it over, but decided against it.

Self‑sacrifice is impossible; the situation does not allow it.

Even though she has always been kind‑hearted, wielding creation, evolving the myriad folk, within her lies a nature of great love for all under heaven.

But when raised to the whole picture, it is no longer a matter of kindness but of mind.

As the leader of the Wu Clan, wielding authority and bearing responsibility, she cannot be allowed to act on whim.

In the Wu‑Demon struggle for supremacy, the showdown of the world's protagonists has reached this point, with each side having staked every possible chip.

At this moment, for the main pillar of the most important combat power to go awry—just because of a fleeting benevolent thought—would send countless Wu Clan and Human Race members spiraling to the heavens together, leaving billions of citizens, due to a single thought's difference, unable to escape a fate of corpses strewn across the wilderness.

Even neglecting her own directly governed subjects, she still dares to speak of kind heart, benevolent thought, and love for all beings?

This is practically protecting the enemy while striking down allies!

Kindness is truly kindness.

Folly is truly folly.

Therefore, no matter how the kind heart flares up, one should set the idea aside for now, to be raised only after giving one's all to overthrow the Heavenly Court.

Then, however one wishes, one bears responsibility for one's own life and death, and others will have nothing to say.

"Let's leave it at that for now."

Nüwa looked at her achievement, somewhat dissatisfied, yet also chose to accept it.

"Afterward, temporarily assign some Wu Clan personnel to enter this place, to pioneer, to orderly the mountains and rivers, and incidentally raise the banner of the Netherworld, using the Book of Life and Death as the foundation for suppressing the qi‑fortune."

Without self‑sacrifice, without giving up the body to accomplish the Netherworld, this is the best course.

As the leader of a faction, Nüwa's forces never lack manpower.

"Reincarnation reshaped, the Netherworld's foundation set—thus the work is complete."

Nüwa chanted slowly, the Daoist sound spread throughout heaven and earth, becoming the sole presence of this era.

"Heaven and earth, behold!"

"Human Dao, behold!"

"Time, behold!"

(End of chapter)