Chapter 581: Your Majesty, you know me!

Nüwa made a judgment.

Without the traitor's betrayal, Hongjun couldn't possibly know it in such detail!

Time, place, steps…… This sale is really clean!

Nüwa's eyes narrowed, still unable to hide the immense fury in her gaze, her killing intent vast.

She hated traitors the most!

Back then, it was just one traitor who betrayed her, causing her grand plan to skip class to fail repeatedly.

Later, she seized the opportunity, decisively taking the traitor's fish head and bird wings, turning them into a human delicacy.

"This traitor…… who is it?"

Nüwa let out a long sigh, "I recall that the matter of reincarnation was entrusted to only a few parties."

Her gaze shifted, landing on the five saints before her, her eyes full of deep meaning.

"Aside from within the Wu Clan, it's you saints."

"Inside the Wu Clan, they're all ancestral witches who've invested heavily; there's little meaning in betrayal… the other side can't offer a higher price."

"And you……"

Nüwa let out a light sigh, the little boat of friendship now facing a violent storm, as if it would capsize at any moment.

She wasn't just guessing.

After all, those in the Wu Clan who know the truth are mostly ancestral witches who've staked most of their fortunes on the Wu Clan.

Unless the Wu Clan is on the brink of collapse, needing to defect to cut losses, otherwise there's basically no meaning in betraying the organization.

But saints……?

Are those who joined midway really reliable?

"Your Majesty, this matter is indeed suspicious, but please stay calm and don't wrongly accuse the innocent."

Morality Heavenly Venerable spoke calmly, "Your Majesty, you know me—I take morality as my banner, value reputation above all, and would never do such a treacherous thing… Moreover, if I were to act, the severity of moral blackmail would be far greater than now!"

Morality Heavenly Venerable removed himself from the suspicion.

Nüwa looked at him, tilted her head in thought, then nodded.

For now, let's consider it believed.

Afterwards, Nüwa shifted her gaze onto Yuanshi Tianzun.

"Your Majesty, you know me." Yuanshi Tianzun stood tall, chest out, "Please trust my expertise… If I wanted to play tricks, I wouldn't need such lowly methods."

"As a talent in the legal system, I need to point out that in the tampered contract clauses used to frame you, there are too many loopholes that can be exploited to let you escape mortal sanctions."

"This proves it's unrelated to me… If I were behind the scenes stirring trouble, you couldn't possibly be sitting here so calmly."

Yuanshi Tianzun solemnly declared——

He's not that incompetent!

"Screwing people over with contracts is his forte—how could he make such a low-standard after-sales demand?"

Nüwa's mouth twitched; not knowing what to say, she eventually just brushed off this Heavenly Venerable.

She turned her gaze to Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable.

"Your Majesty, you know me!"

Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable blinked, "I also know you… We all have humble family positions, honest and straightforward, never engaging in those devious, scheming ways."

"So I won't do backstabbing; if it's a head‑on clash, it's always head‑on!"

"Your Majesty, your heroic bearing in the earlier battle against Hongjun still fills me with admiration and respect!"

Numinous Treasure said many nice things.

Nüwa thought it over, then nodded firmly.

Exactly!

"This Lingbao kid is so stubborn, he couldn't be the one who betrayed her!"

But the problem arose.

"The Three Pure Ones aren't the masterminds behind this, so……"

Nüwa narrowed her eyes, looking at the two Buddhist saints, Jieyin and Zhunti.

"Your Majesty, don't look at me like that!" Jieyin, the ancient Buddha, said solemnly, "Back then I was alongside your elder brother and Báizé, together known as the three supreme strategists of Honghuang… If I were behind this, you wouldn't have escaped so easily from the Purple Cloud Palace."

Jieyin made his threat clear, very directly.

Nüwa sized up Jieyin a few times, pondered, gave a slight nod, then shifted her gaze to Zhunti.

"Hiss!"

If a substantive gaze fell on Zhunti, this saint would draw a sharp breath, barely keeping composure, and stammer: "Your Majesty, you know me…… I don't have that much courage or ability to pull off such a big deed."

Zhunti shrank his neck, "I attained the Dao as an Innate Spiritual Root Bodhi Tree; strictly speaking, I never personally struggled through the Dragon‑Phoenix era, my mindset is still young, barely counting as a child…"

"How could a child possibly do something so unimaginable? You agree, right?!"

Zhunti muttered, "At most I just have the guts to watch a show."

Zhunti admitted his shortcomings, indicating he couldn't play in such high‑stakes games.

Nüwa chuckled.

However, that smile flashed and quickly turned into a solemn expression.

"I suppose I've heard that each of you has your own specialties and unique skills."

"Moral blackmail, contract tampering, head‑on confrontation, killing without compensation, naive honesty……"

Nüwa said lightly, "Either you could make my situation worse, or you simply lack sufficient motive."

"Heh heh… hoho… haha…" The five saints laughed together, indicating that was indeed the case.

"But…… why are you blocking my door?" Nüwa shifted the conversation, bringing up a serious problem.

The betrayal issue, even if it can be temporarily set aside.

Then… what about the matter of blocking the door?

Who is it?

Blocked outside the Sea of Blood, it became a barrier, the power of Jieyin to the Heavenly Dao!

Nüwa coldly regarded Jieyin the Ancient Buddha and Yuanshi Tianzun.

The atmosphere instantly became oppressively heavy.

However, these two Saints are not pushovers.

Or rather, they can act as representatives of their respective factions, fully empowered to handle reincarnation negotiations; what is prized is their knack for speaking to people like people and to ghosts like ghosts!

"Because we do this, we still have hope of turning things around later!"

Jieyin the Ancient Buddha solemnly answered, "I am friends with Fuxi, and you are Fuxi's sister… roughly speaking, I also treat you as a sister…"

"I also care about your Pangu accomplishment and want to lend a hand."

"And reincarnation is a crucial point."

"Just imagine."

"Given that there is a leak in the reincarnation project, and Hongjun comes again to win me over, what should I do to be appropriate?"

Jieyin sighed, "After thinking it over, I feel it's better to go with the flow and infiltrate the enemy's interior."

"The secret has been leaked, and the great reincarnation undertaking has fallen into a passive state."

"What we have left to do is damage control."

"Hongjun contacted us, proposing a win‑win condition that we have no reason to refuse outright—he has calculated all of your processes, Nüwa, and we only need to show up and make an appearance, after which we will receive generous rewards."

"Emotionally and logically, we cannot refuse… because if we refuse, it would be tantamount to openly telling Hongjun that we have taken sides, supporting you, Nüwa."

Jieyin pointed out that he is not betraying, merely compelled by circumstances to compromise.

Compromise is not weakness or evasion, but preparation for a better attack next time!

"Given that the great reincarnation undertaking has suffered a setback, if we can hide a card, we will hide a card."

"If we can muster an extra extraordinary force, we will muster an extra extraordinary force."

"Fortunately."

"Hongjun knows the secret, but not fully."

"He knows the time, place, and steps of the reincarnation reconstruction, yet he does not know that we Saints have already made a prior agreement with you, Nüwa."

"This will become an important breakthrough in the future."

Jieyin concluded.

"Not bad!" Yuanshi agreed, "I will come to block the door, precisely out of the same idea."

"Your Ladyship need not be too angry with us… after all, without us, would the Heavenly Court not exist?"

"We Saints are merely an insurance in the Dao Ancestor's plan; at most we are accomplices, not the main culprits."

Yuanshi was exonerating himself, and incidentally advised Nüwa to recognize the primary and secondary contradictions, there's no need to fixate on these small fry.

Without the Saints, the Heavenly Court going all out, sealing the Zhou Tian Star Dou Great Array, could still intercept Houtu in the netherworld.

Although the cost would be severe.

"If that's the case, we might as well change tack… we will go with the flow and infiltrate the Heavenly Dao system; on the surface we are mingling with the Dao Ancestor, we are a nail driven by the Heavenly Dao into reincarnation, helping Hongjun continuously pour in power."

"But!"

"The covenant we once made remains valid!"

"What belongs to you is surely yours!"

"Wait until the time comes!"

"If we join forces and strike with a betrayal, using intent against the unintentional, it will be enough to gloriously counter‑kill Hongjun, overturn the blood and sweat he has poured into reincarnation, and inflict unprecedented heavy damage upon him!"

Yuanshi Tianzun raised his palm like a blade and fiercely swung it down, expressing his resolve.

Body in Hongjun's camp, heart with Nüwa!

Inside and outside cooperate, what fear that Hongjun will not be defeated!

Nüwa narrowed her eyes, looked back and forth at these few Saints, and after a while broke into a smile and said: "Several… thank you, you all have good intentions."

"Having allies like you who uphold righteousness and keep promises, the day when peace returns to the world is not far off!"

"I guarantee it!"

"When I fulfill my lifelong dream, your efforts will surely reap ample reward!"

Nüwa verbally promised benefits.

The future is bright!

Nüwa and Pangu, everyone's benefits are indispensable!

For a moment, it seemed all the oppressive atmosphere had vanished, and the Saints were happily harmonious.

Of course, this requires ignoring the few small supplementary clauses that Nüwa added on the spot when re‑signing the reincarnation cooperation agreement, and written in the margins——

The final interpretation right belongs to Nüwa alone!

The five Saints acted as if they hadn't seen it, each calmly signing their own names.

The agreement was thus concluded.

Nüwa, in the course of things, turned the topic back to the "traitor".

"—Only a thousand days of being a thief, where is the reasoning for a thousand days of guarding against thieves?"

Traitor, must die!

Using "insider" against others is quite interesting; all kinds of perspectives are laid bare.

But when others use "insider" against you, every move is fully visible to the enemy, all maneuvers become a brain‑dead performance… can this be tolerated?

Therefore, Nüwa values this immensely.

=> So, Nüwa attaches great importance to this.

Several sages also agreed, and they all expressed their willingness to lend Nüwa a hand.

=> Several Saints also approved, expressing willingness to assist the Empress Nüwa.

Note: The term referring to Nüwa as Empress should be translated as "Empress Nüwa" or simply "Nüwa". According to the glossary, Nüwa is the correct term, so we will use Nüwa.

Their attitude was very sincere, their will very clear; each was open and aboveboard, with a clear conscience, which dispelled many of Nüwa's unspoken doubts that had been weighing on her mind.

=> Their attitude was very sincere, their will very clear, each open and guiltless, which dispelled many of Nüwa's doubts that she did not voice but had accumulated in her heart.

'Really, it's not them...'

=> "Really not them......"

A little figure in Nüwa's heart rested its chin, deep in thought.

=> The little person in Nüwa's heart rested his chin, deep in thought.

If Yuanshi and Jieyin could know Nüwa's thoughts, they would surely nod.

=> If Yuanshi and Jieyin could know Nüwa's thoughts, they would surely nod.

Exactly!

=> Exactly!

Speaking of the transfer of shares in reincarnation and the hollowing out of the board of directors, they do feel somewhat guilty—because they really haven't done anything good.

=> If we say, in the transfer of shares of reincarnation and the hollowed-out board, they indeed feel somewhat guilty—because they really didn't do any good deeds.

Then, as for whether they sold Nüwa to Hongjun, they are completely open and innocent.

=> Then, regarding whether they sold Nüwa to Hongjun, they are completely innocent.

After all... they really didn't do it!

=> After all... they really didn't do it!

Indeed, it was Hongjun who first came to their door!

=> Indeed, it was Hongjun who first came to their door!

Then they went with the flow, letting the situation develop to this point.

=> Then they went with the flow, letting the situation develop to this point.

Here comes the problem.

=> The problem arises.

Who is betraying Nüwa?

=> Who is betraying Nüwa?

Lingbao Tianzun and Jieyin Gufo exchanged a glance.

=> Lingbao Tianzun and Jieyin Gufo exchanged a glance.

They had some subtle suspicions.

=> They had some subtle speculations.

'The Master of Fortune's Dao... could it be him?'

=> "The Master of Fortune Dao... is it him?"

'If it's him, how would he clear his own suspicion and frame someone else?'

=> "If it's him, how would he clear his own suspicion and frame others?"

'If it's not him... then the matter seems even more interesting?'

=> "If it's not him... then the matter seems even more interesting?"

The Masters of Severing Fortune and of Calamity Fortune are very curious.

=> The Masters of Seizing Fortune and Robbing Fortune are very curious.

At the same time, several sages actively cooperated with Nüwa to investigate this matter in detail.

=> At the same time, several Saints actively cooperated with Nüwa to investigate this matter in detail.

They did their utmost, fulfilled their duties, and tried to dispel the suspicion on themselves.

=> They did their utmost, fulfilled their duties, to eliminate suspicion on themselves.

Although, this actually turned into the biggest cover.

=> Although, this actually turned into the greatest cover.

Yuanshi Tianzun and Jieyin Gufo are open and aboveboard, with nothing they cannot speak of.

=> Yuanshi Tianzun, Jieyin Gufo, open and aboveboard, with nothing unspeakable.

They are truly sincere.

=> They are truly sincere.

Because they even opened up a period of their own time, when Hongjun the Dao Ancestor came to consult them on how to drive nails into reincarnation—a fragment of vision.

=> Because they even opened a segment of their own time, a fragment of vision where Hongjun the Dao Ancestor consulted them on how to drive nails into reincarnation!

They held nothing back, fully displaying their open-mindedness, thereby earning Nüwa's trust.

=> Nothing held back, fully displaying their broad-minded openness, gaining Nüwa's trust.

Nüwa, moved, expressed her gratitude while seriously examining the details of each sage's conversation with the Dao Ancestor, noting the different pieces of information revealed in Hongjun's various encounters, in an attempt to reverse-engineer the truth and pinpoint the real culprit.

=> Nüwa, while moved to express thanks, also solemnly examined the details of each Saint's dialogue with the Dao Ancestor, extracting different information revealed in Hongjun's various encounters, attempting to reverse-engineer the truth and pinpoint the real culprit.

Finally.

=> Finally.

Unexpectedly simple, Nüwa reached a conclusion.

=> Unexpectedly simple, Nüwa reached a conclusion.

Because some information is known only to a very few individuals—it was exchanged at the highest core meeting of the Witch Clan, a kind of coded language that outsiders cannot easily understand.

=> Because some information is known only to a few individuals, exchanged at the Wu Clan's highest core meeting, a kind of coded language; those not participating find it hard to know clearly.

This is already enough to pinpoint certain specific targets.

=> This is already enough to lock onto certain specific targets.

Furthermore, consider which of these people might be likely to part ways with her and actually have the possibility of betrayal.

=> Furthermore, consider which of these people might possibly part ways with her and truly have the possibility to betray her?

Then the answer seems to be on the verge of emerging.

=> Then the answer seems to be on the verge of emerging.

Gonggong!

=> Gonggong!

Gonggong!

=> Gonggong!

Or rather, it's damn Gonggong!

=> Or it's still fucking Gonggong!

Nüwa remained silent.

=> Nüwa remained silent.

Suddenly.

=> Suddenly.

She pulled out several floor tiles from her sleeve.

=> She pulled out several floor tiles from her sleeve.

Nüwa brushed her hand over them, and countless threads sprang from the tiles.

=> Nüwa waved her hand, and thousands of threads emerged from the tiles.

Each thread is a different wisp of breath, inseparable yet tangled.

=> Each thread is a different aura, inseparable, tangled.

'What is this?' Lingbao Tianzun asked curiously.

=> "What is this?" Lingbao Tianzun asked curiously.

'This is a little something I picked up after smashing the Zixiao Palace.' Nüwa said lightly, 'Geese leave traces, wind leaves sound.'

=> "This is a little something I gathered after smashing the Ziwei Palace." Nüwa said lightly, "A goose passing leaves a trace; wind passing leaves a sound."

'When divine beings pass through, unless they deliberately hide, they will always leave something behind.'

=> "When a divine being passes, if not deliberately concealed, it will always leave something behind."

'And in the Zixiao Palace, who would deliberately hide like a thief?'

=> "And in the Ziwei Palace, who would deliberately hide like a thief?"

'I demolished the Zixiao Palace and, in passing, picked up a few bricks, intending them as souvenirs.'

=> "I tore down the Ziwei Palace and casually picked up a few tiles, originally intending them as souvenirs."

'Now it seems they might still serve an unusual purpose.'

=> "Now it seems they might still serve an unusual purpose."

Nüwa said indifferently, patiently unraveling them, arranging those breath-threads one by one in chronological order.

=> Nüwa said indifferently, patiently unraveling, arranging those aura threads one by one in chronological order.

This method does not yield a very clear result.

=> This method yields results that are not very clear.

But determining a general range is not difficult.

=> But determining a general range... is not difficult.

It is quite unfortunate, or perhaps quite fortunate...

=> It's quite unfortunate, or perhaps quite fortunate...

Azure Dragon, it's on the list!

=> Dragon Ancestor, makes the list!

One thread twists and turns; the dragon's aura is the clearest and most palpable.

=> One thread twists and turns, the dragon's aura is the clearest and strongest in presence.

Quite obvious.

=> Quite obvious.

In the chronological order, he is the last one!

=> In chronological order, he is the last!

At the very least, that is how it appears to Nüwa.

=> At least, in Nüwa's view, it is so.

The dragon's aura of the Taiyi level is fierce and domineering—like a firefly in the night, it draws all attention.

=> The aura of the dragon of the Taiyi level, fierce and domineering... like a firefly in the night, attracting all attention.

'Azure...'

=> "Dragon..."

Nüwa narrowed her eyes.

You are very good... quite good.

You... really always manage to give me such a big surprise!

I don't understand... selling me now, is the benefit really that great?

(End of chapter)