Chapter 609

Beyond many people's expectations.

Everyone originally thought the Heavenly Court side was already sufficiently radical, sending troops while the human race was still mourning the goddess's death, taking advantage of the danger without being too obvious; divine-grade items are despised.

But the human race's response afterward could be called 'crazy'!

——After the army was reviewed, they swiftly deployed troops, the killing intent soared to the heavens, and they became radical to the extreme!

"The Human Emperor is crazy!"

Many demon gods sighed, "To raise troops in anger, how unwise!"

"If the human royal court could stay calm and remain on this land of Mount Buzhou, we would not have any good methods."

"However, it is also understandable... the crown prince was killed, facing the Heavenly Court's weapons, the Human Emperor became flustered and defeated, which is indeed normal."

"Otherwise, after losing a crown prince and still swallowing one's anger... even if the clan avoids casualties, the depletion of essence, energy, and spirit is what truly harms the foundation."

"People can be reborn even if they die."

"If the spine is broken? Then one can only lie paralyzed, unable to stand for many years."

The demon gods commented freely, their minds quite relaxed.

Just as they said.

If the main force of the human royal court shrinks to that spot on Mount Buzhou, with the Wu Clan's layered protection, the demon race troops infiltrating there would at most dare to scout, not act recklessly.

But if they come out?

Then it gets interesting!

"Since the human race is so brave and even more radical than the Wu Clan, we shall give them a lesson to help them gain experience!"

Several demon god commanders personally went to the front, overseeing the linkage of the infiltrating demon troops, maneuvering back and forth, gradually forming a pincer movement, and encircled a main force of the human race.

"Please ask the East Emperor Marshal to act, sever spacetime, block spacetime reconnaissance, cover our forces, and heavily damage the human elite!"

"Very well." The East Emperor, dwelling in the Heavenly River, agreed to the Vanguard's request; the Chaos Bell rang, the Myriad Heavens trembled, shaking eternity.

Heavenly secrets fell into disorder, the river of years rose and fell... Chaos! Everything fell into chaos!

For a moment, the Zhu Jiuyin unit advancing into the River of Years and the Di Jiang unit battling the Void Sea both fell into a dire strait where even moving was difficult, forcing these two ancestor witches to act personally, stepping into their respective domains of the Dao they mastered, and standing far off against Taiyi.

Spacetime authority is the core to be contested in the Great Luo war, just like air superiority for ordinary mortals.

Whoever lacks it can only be passively beaten, allowing the enemy to come and go as if in an uninhabited land.

The Heavenly Court holds the Chaos Bell, an extremely special innate supreme treasure, derived from the Divine Axe of Creation; it is naturally one of the highest-tier permission dogs in the Honghuang world, possessing innate privilege over the Dao of spacetime.

Perhaps in reconnaissance, it is not particularly outstanding.

But as a troublemaker, it is exceptionally excellent.

——Drag the opponent down to my level, then defeat you with abundant experience!

With this cover, the Heavenly Court's troops infiltrating the Honghuang mountains and rivers completely broke free of their restraints and became wildly active.

Under the command of several demon gods, the troops operated nonstop, killing intent looming, seeking to exterminate the human elite.

However, such actions only earned a bland evaluation from the 'Yandi' in the royal court.

"Earthen chickens and clay dogs... not able to withstand a single blow!"

Afterward.

Strategist Hougang watched coldly from the sidelines, wondering how this Human Emperor managed to show off and soar.

"Encirclement, counter-encirclement... again encirclement, again counter-encirclement... then, all were raised!"

Not relying on overwhelming force, but purely on the sound use of tactics, it utterly destroyed the demon race vanguard that dared to tug the tiger's whiskers, without any doubt.

Moreover, this 'Yandi' has too much gall!

Repeatedly venturing deep into the encirclement, he actively led this human troop to jump into the trap!

In the situation of being deeply trapped in dire straits, isolated and helpless, with every soldier feeling disheartened and utterly demoralized, he casually turned the tide, breaking through the encirclement.

One experience brings familiarity, two bring skill; in the process of great destruction and establishment, he gradually cultivated in the human race a belief of not abandoning, not giving up, so that even if fighting to the last moment, hope is never forsaken!

Such methods both trained the troops and forged the human race's fighting spirit and resolve.

Furthermore, using victory after victory that seemed to reverse dire straits, he laid the foundation for boundless fervor to fight heaven and earth—no matter how desperate the death trap, one can still break out; what in this world could stop our human race?

One person can fight five demons!

But the human race has risen.

The several demon gods directing the encirclement, however, had their minds blown apart.

When they were blocked by Dayou, with no way to heaven or earth, left only to fight to the death, and then being slain on the spot, that doubtful little gaze never faded from beginning to end.

Not to mention them.

Even Strategist Hougang, following the army, likewise doubted life, and his gaze upon the 'Yandi' was not right.

This is absolutely not the Fengxi he knows!

Hougang has always been the closest contact, having deeply understood the style of the authentic Yandi; with preconceptions, when looking at 'Yandi', many doubts were magnified to the extreme, unlike outsiders who simply shout 'Yandi is fierce' and praise this human emperor as a rare military master and genius of strategy throughout the ages, invincible from the start, undefeated all the way.

Hougang admits that Yandi is not easy to deal with, and Fengxi is definitely not simple……With his years of experience drifting in the era's currents, he still hasn't seen through this human emperor, always feeling that there is some great secret hidden within him, forever able to bring surprises.

But Fengxi's not being simple shouldn't be expressed this way……It's a difference in style, a unique personal trait.

Even if Yandi repeatedly conceals and disguises himself, catering to his predecessor.

But before a historian……when he develops suspicion, irresponsible speculation can quickly pierce a layer of window paper.

Is this a substitute?

This is definitely a substitute!

Hougang rubbed his forehead and sighed long, 'This command ability faintly gives me a sense of familiarity……'

Little sis, you've already jumped in personally this quickly?

Still care about face?

Wait……something seems off?

Mr. Hougang felt a lingering fear, relieved that these days he had kept to his duties and hadn't uttered a single word, otherwise he would have literally become a delivery to the door, adding a dish of "braised Báizé meat" to Nüwa's feast.

Meanwhile, he pondered deeply, feeling that he had overlooked something.

Thinking and thinking, he finally figured it out.

"Nüwa is here, where is my Fengxi brother?"

"My big Fengxi brother…… where is he?"

"This, more or less, counts as important combat power; he wouldn't just disappear without a trace, alive unseen, dead unfound?"

Hougang pondered, his gaze drifting toward Mount Buzhou, his face odd beyond words.

"It can't be what I'm thinking, can it?"

"Well done, Fengxi, you thick‑eyed guy, actually having that much fun?"

Speaking of which…

"You play so wildly…… can you bring me some surprising performance?"

"To solve the problems facing this era and forge a brand‑new path?"

……

"The era is changing, and the problems are changing as well."

"We can't keep avoiding forever; someone has to solve the problem."

"So, I'm here."

In the underworld, Houtu descended.

"I have come not to conquer, not to oppress, but to give an account to the living and record the virtue of the netherworld."

His dharma form boundless, Houtu again displayed his divine might, proclaiming to all beings.

From Nüwa he temporarily took over the authority of reincarnation, able to alter the laws of the underworld…… At this moment, Fengxi was truer than the true Houtu!

No need to conspire and stir up trouble among Buddha, Dao, and demons; Nüwa herself simply handed over the authority, allowing him to freely exert his wisdom, so that all the painstaking research Fengxi had accumulated over the ages to solve the difficulties of reincarnation could be put to use, culminating in an extraordinary code that would achieve boundless yin virtue.

However, behind this opportunity lay the misfortune of his teammates—no one knew where things had gone wrong, but the Daoist, Buddhist, and demonic sects had all ended up on Lady Nüwa's suspicion list, making them untrustworthy.

Empress Nüwa looked around and, for the first time, noticed a shortage of usable hands—she had plenty of support from mid‑lower Great Luo beings, but at the Taiyi level, those she could trust were few and far between.

After great difficulty, a Fengxi appeared; although he had an unclear, dark history with her brother, they still pushed him forward, giving strong support, even temporarily lending him the authority over reincarnation, so that Fengxi could pursue his dream and test whether he could withstand the future Slaughter‑Witch Sword's edge.

Therefore, Fengxi acted cautiously, not wanting to betray this trust.

This test field—he was determined to turn it into a success!

Thus, he came.

As he stood here, holding the greatest dream and the grandest aspiration, the supreme yet ubiquitous power of the Human Dao also resonated with him, cheering him on.

In a haze, the place where Houtu stood became an altar, as if conducting the most inconceivable sacrifice, comforting the dead from ancient times to the endless future, filling the great pit left by the August Emperor, Heavenly Emperor, of the pre‑ancient era, and writing a perfect answer.

This moment.

The most intricate and mysterious runes were etched upon the void sea and the Suiyue Changhe; the ancient sacrificial chant rose, like boundless beings weeping in unison, as if earnestly praying, communicating with the unseen force, and updating the supreme rules and principles.

"Houtu offers sacrifice—to heaven, to the Dao, to all beings!"

"I intend to reset the order of the netherworld—may the Human Dao bear witness! May Honghuang bear witness!"

When Houtu finished speaking, he saw the heavens and earth of the netherworld in turmoil, the rules being altered—a rare move in past, present, and future, almost matching the grandeur when Houtu first opened the netherworld.

Amidst this grand movement, the first to change was none other than the Forget‑River that stretches across the entire netherworld and even links to the vast heavenly river—it began to diverge and crumble.

The Forget‑River severed, transforming into the Nine Springs!

The Nine Springs took shape, each with its duties—this refined the netherworld's rules, making the whole system run smoothly.

The Nine Springs—what are they?

They are Feng Spring, Office Spring, Yellow Spring, Cold Spring, Yin Spring, Secluded Spring, Lower Spring, Bitter Spring, and Dark Spring!

Beneath the Dark Spring lies the true foundation of the netherworld, the crucial ground of reincarnation.

Within each of the Nine Springs lies a prison, each wielding authority, specifically detaining all kinds of spirits and monsters, forming a system, dividing duties, strengthening the underworld's authority, and improving work efficiency.

The nine great registration windows encompass all beings of heaven and earth; a single register of life and death lies half‑hidden in the depths, using the water of the Nine Springs as ink to inscribe and record, determining the fate of the world.

Nine Springs, nine prisons.

The warden of Feng Spring Prison oversees the heavenly demons.

The warden of Office Spring Prison oversees the shrines of negligent officials.

The warden of Yellow Spring Prison oversees mountain sprites and specters.

The warden of Cold Spring Prison oversees the water monsters of rivers and lakes.

The warden of Yin Spring Prison oversees blood‑eating evil gods.

The warden of Secluded Spring Prison oversees the toxic evil of mountains and forests.

The warden of Lower Spring Prison oversees ancient buried corpses.

The warden of Bitter Spring Prison oversees rebellious priest‑witch ghosts.

The warden of Dark Spring Prison oversees those who met violent or unjust deaths.

The heavenly net is vast, wide‑meshed yet lets nothing slip through.

The earthly net is equally vast—no matter who, everyone must sign in and register!

A single Forget‑River links the heavenly river of the star sea above and the netherworld below, spanning heaven and earth; if it exerted no effect at all, how could it be acceptable?

Since it possesses a mystery and wonder no less than Mount Buzhou, it shall become the greatest Jieyin site.

At the same time, it is also a deeper embedding into the Honghuang operational system, becoming an indelible source of rule, awaiting the day when troops are sent out to conquer the world!

"Those who come are not kind; the kind do not come."

In the Heavenly Court, Heavenly Emperor Di Jun held a chess piece, originally about to play a game with Xihuang.

At this moment, however, he set down the piece, gazing silently at the earth‑shaking changes in the underworld, and let out a soft sigh.

Imperial Elder Brother, what do you say?

"Don't ask me, don't ask me." Xihuang chuckled, waving his hands repeatedly, "I have nothing to say about this."

However, speaking fairly, this is a good thing for the Honghuang world!

Before, there were many little sprites and monsters finding loopholes, thinking they could skip the reincarnation underworld.

Now it's fine.

The Nine Springs are divided; one should die at the third watch, not hope to last till the fifth—all sorts of body‑double death‑defying arts are banned and restrained, and trying to change identity to survive the tribulation is impossible.

This way, the operation of the world's rules runs more smoothly.

That counts as a bit of merit.

Xihuang commented.

"It's precisely because it's a good thing that I'm worried." The Heavenly Emperor smiled faintly, "If Houtu continues to do wrong, she will naturally die violently, saving me from having to act."

Nowadays, doing good deeds while sneaking in some personal gain… that's what gives people a headache.

Public spirit? Great righteousness? Hah!

Di Jun seemed to think of something, shaking his head repeatedly.

"Let it go, let it go." Xihuang advised, "In Honghuang, the human way is the greatest here!"

Since the human way is the greatest, everyone ought to follow its rules!

If there were no human way, this world wouldn't be so chaotic… because for us, there would be nothing to strive for.

Only with the birth of the human way do we have the best bridge to glimpse the realm of Pangu.

Now that the benefits are laid out, the corresponding rules must be obeyed, however reluctantly!

Otherwise, you'd end up like me, blacklisted… isn't that not worth it?

Xihuang said nonchalantly, "At least I managed to eat my fill, drink my fill, and run away—others don't have that ability; they're likely to be eternally suppressed."

So, speaking kind words and doing good deeds isn't a loss either.

Furthermore.

Since the human way is the boss, we should also understand the nature of the game's rules… often, power does not come from top‑down but from bottom‑up!

Whoever grasps the trend of the human way can roam invincibly.

Houtu, she is now on the right path… as for your demon race, don't fall behind, okay?

Saying that, Imperial Elder Brother, it's as if you just want to see your own sister beaten up—how cruel! Di Jun burst out laughing.

Of course I'm willing! Xihuang snorted lightly, "She's been too mischievous these years!"

(End of chapter)