Chapter 582

"Ah—"

Nüwa spoke slowly, her tone revealing an ultimate chill that made the five Saints shiver without feeling cold.

The five Saints lowered their eyes to their noses, noses to their hearts, naturally shrinking their presence, so as not to draw fire upon themselves.

Fortunately.

Over these years, as the supreme leader of the Wu Clan, Nüwa had seen all manner of demons and monsters, lofty and hideous, all kinds of scenes appearing before her, which forced her cultivation of nurturing qi to make great progress.

After a brief anger, she quickly calmed down, the dangerous aura in the Reincarnation Holy Hall vanished completely, as if she had never been angry.

However, this is actually more frightening.

Because, this clearly shows she holds a grudge, the kind of grudge etched in her heart, written in a little notebook, the situation is very serious—

A gentleman's revenge, it's never too late even after thousands of millions of years!

"Sorry to have startled you all." After Nüwa regained her surface composure, her manner was calm and magnanimous, her bearing proper, "It's my fault."

"To express my apology."

"Regarding our reincarnation equity partnership agreement, you can quickly settle the specific execution details and manpower, also making it easier to gain his trust on Hongjun's side to assist in completing the inside-outside cooperative work."

"Feel free to act as you wish!"

Nüwa said leisurely, "So that the Dao Sect's Saving Suffering Heavenly Venerable Charitable Foundation and the Buddhist Sect's Hell-Eliminating Resentment Great Vow Organization can be established as soon as possible."

"On these matters, tell me what conditions you need, what kind of help you need, just speak up!"

"I will give whatever I can."

"Help you achieve results before Hongjun, earn enough merit... only then will a future defection strike have sufficient lethal power."

Nüwa casually flipped open a ledger, that was a list of supplies, indicating to fill it out at will.

"Your Highness is so generous!"

Several Saints sang praises.

Magnanimous!

Too magnanimous!

Speaking of generosity, Nüwa's demeanor is even more carefree than Hongjun's.

The check is here.

Fill it out as you like!

Who wouldn't love such a friend?

"Ah!" Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable and Jieyin Ancient Buddha exchanged a glance, the flicker in their eyes understood only by each other.

"If it weren't for all those matters concerning the Qi Fortune Dao Lord..."

"Speaking reasonably, Princess Nüwa as a collaborator is actually quite good..."

"Past this village, it's hard to find such a shop again..."

"Looking across Honghuang, how many such magnanimous and trustworthy leader-deities could there be?"

The Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable genuinely feels some regret for Nüwa.

In this world, good people don't necessarily end up laughing last; ultimately, those who succeed through sinister schemes are many.

"This is indeed a problem."

Jieyin agreed.

"However, although this world is quite subtle, it's not completely rotten."

"In my opinion, Nüwa's ending may be heartbreaking, but her treatment cannot be said to be bad."

"Even if the Qi Fortune Dao Lord is arrogant there, afterwards shouldn't we return what belongs to Nüwa to her?"

"Nüwa is a banner."

"A banner of good deeds bringing good rewards."

"No one will let her fall."

"Kind-hearted people won't."

"Those with ill intentions... certainly won't!"

Kind-hearted people sincerely bless that good people will receive good rewards.

Those with ill intentions... actually don't even want the world to be too terrible.

After all.

If the world were full of deceivers, with no honest people... who would the deceivers deceive?

As a wicked person, what they probably most hope for—perhaps—is that the world is all white, and only they alone are black!

Everyone in heaven and earth is good, only I am a wicked person who can do as he pleases—how wonderful is that?

Even a wicked person can have a "noble" ideal.

Therefore, Jieyin the ancient Buddha deeply believed——

In the end, Nüwa might be so angry that smoke pours from her seven orifices, she'll go mad and shout, her mindset exploding.

But.

The material and status treatment will not be much different.

After all, this world is full of evil gods who want to have their cake and eat it too, setting up a memorial archway while indulging without shame… Nüwa is simply the best memorial archway to be hung up!

"This can also be considered a blessing in misfortune."

Jieyin concluded.

"Hey! What is all this?"

Lingbao was speechless, "Does having good intentions have to be so stifled?"

"There's nothing to be done… who let Nüwa have such high principles?" Jieyin remained calm, "These days, a god must be shameless to roam the universe!"

Two well-informed members of the Five Fortunes Dao Lords Alliance freely discussed the future, enjoying exchanging glances.

However, after all, they were under Nüwa's watch, so they remained quite restrained.

The action wasn't too big, the time was very brief, and it passed in an instant.

Nüwa didn't know that those two Saints felt sympathy for her, and she continued to arrange some preparations.

"Of course..." she continued her previous words, "We know that we are acting between ourselves, but outsiders don't know."

"So, in terms of outward appearance, everyone still needs to put on a full show of conflict."

"The acting traces must not be too heavy; you need to show enough resourcefulness and strategy, wage a high-level public opinion and diplomatic intrusion counteraction here in the Netherworld, and then, 'reasonably and lawfully,' take root in the cycle of reincarnation, making it hard to be displaced."

Nüwa gave instructions.

——Regardless of how it actually is.

——The audiovisual effects displayed outwardly must be splendid and also tragic.

——Demonstrate competent-level ability, so people don't think this is acting.

——There must be sufficient conflict, huge twists, and spot-on acting… the Dao Sect and Buddhist Sect taking root in the Netherworld must have the most shocking united sacrifice, and a difficult expansion of every inch of land and every inch of flesh!

These demands are not low.

After all, so many people are watching out there.

Each ancient god and great sage, their eyelashes are empty.

If the act is too fake, it can't deceive the spectators who are just there to gossip.

Are you bullying people's intelligence?

So, the act must be genuine——even though the core is fake, the big shots of both sides are actually in cahoots.

All the maneuvering, whether victory or defeat, is merely shifting resources from one hand to the other.

"We understand."

Several Saints all nodded.

Acting, who can't do it?

Especially those two pretty ones among them, that goes without saying.

Simply put, every word and deed they make before Nüwa right now is actually acting.

"No, you still don't understand enough." Nüwa smiled, "Only you, and I…… that's not enough."

"We must also count the master of that Sea of Blood outside."

She raised her voice, "Right! Nether River!"

"Exactly!"

Outside the hall, a loud response rang out; the Nether River Demon Ancestor strode into the palace with vigorous spirit.

"You've come to the Netherworld to cause trouble; how could my Demon Sect just stand by?"

The Demon Ancestor, heroic and vigorous, said, "Not only must we manage, but we must manage aggressively!"

"Aggressive enough to start fighting!"

"The conflict among Buddha, Dao, and Demon thus opens the curtain!"

"Let those high-and-mighty friends watch a good show for a while and enjoy themselves."

"Especially you——the Buddhist Sect."

The Nether River Demon Ancestor laughed loudly, "You'd better help me out."

"I created the Ashura Clan, with billions of elite soldiers and tens of millions of generals."

"Looking across Honghuang, it also counts as a weighty force."

"What then?"

"They've been hostile and blockaded by the Witch-Demon Two Clans for far too long."

The Nether River Demon Ancestor once had grand ambitions, mass-producing an invincible iron army via assembly line, born knowing the One Element Slaughter Great Technique, with an innate Slaying Dao Seed, seeking to showcase his prowess in this era and establish a career.

Unfortunately, his luck was poor.

Before he could even stir up trouble or cause mischief, a huge chamber pot was dumped on him, accusing him of colluding with the Rahu Demon Ancestor!

Fuck!

At that time, the Nether River Demon Ancestor's whole mindset was not good.

Yes!

He did collude with Rahu, no mistake.

But to catch a thief you need evidence!

The result turned out fine.

Without evidence, the Witch-Demon Two Clans, just spouting nonsense and fabricating lies, directly slapped the hat on him.

Then, two strong brutes forcibly locked the Ashura Clan in the Sea of Blood, unable to take a single step out.

Is there any heavenly principle left?

Is there any royal law?

Is there any martial virtue?

Before anyone even rebelled, they first slapped on the charge of rebellion.

This time, justice not only wasn't late, it came early!

Nether River was unwilling.

He tried every means to break free of the shackles.

Now, the opportunity has arrived.

"Now, although there are the blue heavens and yellow springs, one can go forth to conquer the universe, directly strike the Heavenly Court."

But it can be imagined that the Heavenly Court side is also surely prepared with defensive fortifications, guarding so tightly that not even a drop of water can leak.

Therefore it can be used as a surprise force, but it cannot be the proper way.

So, I need a channel to transport the Asura war troops out.

And in my view, the Buddhist sect is quite suitable.

Minghe laughed and said.

Jieyin was initially startled, then immediately understood, his face showing some worry.

Ah... this... Demon Ancestor, what are you saying? I can't understand.

He was shirking responsibility.

However, Minghe didn't give him much room to delay, stepping forward a few steps, putting an arm around his shoulder.

Ah! Aren't we good friends on the same side?

We're all people on the same boat of reincarnation!

Isn't it just letting you do a smuggling business? Stay calm! Stay calm!

Minghe the demon ancestor gestured, saying: "Your Buddhist sect, because you have fought my Asura clan and won victory after victory, converting many Asura people, making them Dharma protectors."

On the Heavenly Court side, they can oppose my Asura war troops; could they also oppose your Buddhist sect's Dharma protectors?

Isn't that just slapping the face of your Buddhist sect?

Who is the Buddhist sect currently mixing with?

Hongjun!

Roughly speaking, that's slapping Hongjun's face!

Minghe's fallacious arguments went on and on: "Your Buddhist sect works for the Dao Ancestor, meddles in reincarnation, takes great risks, barely manages to scrape together some resources, gathering a few little brothers and Dharma protectors, but as the orthodox officialdom—the Heavenly Court under the Dao Ancestor—actually doesn't recognize it?"

Is there still any Hongjun in your eyes?

The demon ancestor incited Jieyin, making this ancient Buddha unable to speak.

But as the saying goes, one thought Buddha, one thought demon; these Dharma protectors scattered about, if one day they encounter some mishap, revert to their original hearts, rise in rebellion... that's also something you can't foresee!

By then, you just bow, apologize, and muddle through.

Anyway, I have also scattered the Asura clan and broken out.

Minghe's arrangement is clear and explicit.

Jieyin the ancient Buddha's mouth twitched: "Friend, this operation of yours puts all the risk on me."

As a Daoist sect, I'm drawn into this vast struggle; I worry that if something goes wrong, the whole Mount Sumeru will be overturned.

What's more, the Lady is still here!

Jieyin the ancient Buddha showed extreme reluctance, occasionally using his eyes to signal to Houtu.

——Nüwa, you understand me.

——Minghe is acting like this, you handle it as you see fit!

Nüwa, however, gave a meaningful silent look for a moment, then smiled and said: "This, I actually think can be had."

Hongjun harbors great ambition, the Heavenly Court's killing intent is fully revealed, the dragon clan harbors ill intentions... In such a situation, having more Asura clans, I think it's not unacceptable.

So, I have no objection.

Look! Minghe laughed loudly, "Nüwa doesn't care either, so just go along with me!"

Otherwise... the demon ancestor said meaningfully, "I'm considering, using my status as the master of my karma, to inspect the reserves in the Buddhist sect's Eight Treasures Merit Pool, audit the accounts... that would also be reasonable, right?"

Minghe's tone was not lacking in threat.

Jieyin the ancient Buddha's face instantly turned ugly, he grunted and couldn't speak for a while.

Finally, he reluctantly nodded, "Only this once."

All old accounts, wiped out in one stroke!

At this moment, Jieyin's attitude underwent a great change, as if he were greatly dissatisfied with the demon ancestor Minghe, their contradiction clearly visible.

Although they are still people on the same boat of reincarnation, they have now become strangers.

Good! Good! the demon ancestor, however, acted as if he didn't see, merely smiling and nodding, maintaining the appearance of friendship.

Nüwa, seated at the main seat, coldly observed this scene, her eyes subtle, the corner of her mouth slightly raised, seeming quite satisfied with this situation.

After all...

If Buddhism, Daoism, and demons were as close as family, she might then feel troubled.

The various saints plotted in secret, meticulously planning the layout.

Until at some point, they had thoroughly agreed, and the grand show began.

Boom—!

The Sea of Blood exploded!

The demon ancestor roared angrily, wielding twin swords, bellowing across the Honghuang.

The five Saints manifested their dharma forms, exerting awe over the firmament; they seemed to want to continue conquest, yet also showed visible apprehension.

Finally, Yuanshi Tianzun spoke indifferently and softly, announcing a brief intermission.

Minghe the demon ancestor, you can block for a moment, but not for eternity!

The matter of reincarnation is the prevailing trend... next time, we will come again!

Now, let the juniors have a go first!

The Heavenly Sovereign pointed with a wave of his hand; a beam of immortal light pierced through the Netherworld and Kunlun, where a Daoist clad in feathered robes arrived leisurely.

——Taiyi Zhenren!

Exactly! Jieyin the ancient Buddha said solemnly, "The juniors are sparring; just treat it as an opening."

His words fell; in Mount Sumeru there is a little sand spreading steps walked into reincarnation, undergoing rebirth tribulation, fell into the territory of the Ashura clan.

「Let's discuss the superiority of Buddha and demon; it's also a great pleasure…… Ultimately, did Buddha save the demon? Or did the demon taint Buddha? 」

「I'm quite interested……」

Jieyin Saint's Zen chant echoed far and wide, reverberated through Honghuang, becoming the final scene imprinted in the eyes of all beings.

……

「Little Fengxi, what do you think? 」

In the Underworld, Nüwa suddenly turned back, asking a figure who had arrived here at some unknown time.

「I think, whether it's Buddha, Dao, or demon, none of them are good people…… borrowing is fine, but over-reliance is not。」

Fengxi answered solemnly.

「Not bad。」

Nüwa clapped her hands, saying, 「So I want them to check and balance each other, none can become too strong, only then can I easily control the situation of Samsara. 」

「Alas…… a time of many troubles! 」

「These years I have neglected Hongjun; I never expected he would give me such a big surprise. 」

Nüwa let out a soft sigh, 「There's also that old dragon…… this time it really stabbed me in the back twice solidly. 」

「Hateful! 」

Fengxi listened, straining to keep a smile from appearing on his face.

(End of chapter)