Chapter 639

"One day, when we settle accounts with this Kunpeng scoundrel!"

Yandi wiped the blood from his lips, killing intent flashing in his eyes, he pointed to heaven and swore, his voice resonant and powerful, indicating that from now on he would never forget the Kunpeng demon master.

Kunpeng leapt into the sky, colliding with him at his peak, creating the best opportunity for the Slaughter Witch Sword and the Zi Iron Yao Marshal to escape, letting the cooked duck fly away easily… This is naturally something to "care about" for myriad generations.

Yandi's face bore three parts unwillingness, as if he still wanted to pursue the fleeing duo to the ends of earth, to completely leave behind the Slaughter Witch Sword and the Zi Iron Yao Marshal… but when the matter came to a head, the Yinglong divine general suddenly turned, loudly advising him, "Majesty!"

"Don't pursue a desperate foe!"

This divine general was quite cooperative, working with Yandi·Nüwa, continuing to go through the motions, providing a way to step down.

—Even though Fengxi and Nüwa swapped identities, the Human Sovereign and the Ancestral Witch playing along, yet it was impossible to hide from Yinglong… she was too special.

Naturally, in the confusion, Yinglong also became one of the actors, responsible for covering up places unsuitable for Yandi to perform, cooperating with the overall plan's execution.

Just like now.

Yinglong, observing Yandi's expression, spontaneously understood the lines and spoke them.

—If Yandi wanted to pursue and kill but hesitated, needing someone to make the decision, then Yinglong would naturally shout, "It is proper to pursue the desperate foe with remaining courage!"

—If Yandi was merely putting on a show, displaying the inviolability of the Human Sovereign's dignity, but in substance still needed to lay groundwork for fishing, after consecutively battling the Slaughter Witch Sword and the Kunpeng Yao Marshal, he shouldn't still be so vigorous… then the wording should change to "Don't pursue a desperate foe!"

After all, the Human Sovereign cannot be cowardly, but can humbly accept advice.

At this moment Yinglong stepped forward, providing a way down, so Yandi readily accepted the advice, no longer expending energy on the two fugitives, the reason being to avoid a lone army advancing carelessly into a trap, which would not befit a sovereign, to be ranked alongside the past black history of the Dragon Ancestor Great Sage, and be nailed to the pillar of shame.

Back during the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity, the Dragon Ancestor died exactly like this!

To counter the challenge of the Dao Ancestor and Demon Ancestor, the innate divinities formed a great alliance, the Dragon and Phoenix reached a truce, jointly resisting external foes, and indeed achieved a stage victory; the Dao Ancestor was suppressed, not to mention, the Demon Ancestor fled wounded, and moreover suffered a group beating and was hunted in the Chaos.

However, at the critical juncture, the Dragon Ancestor's greed took hold, wanting to exclusively enjoy the fruits of slaying the Demon Ancestor, he rashly advanced, resulting in himself being "isolated", being counter-killed by the Demon Ancestor Rahu, encircled by the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, and on the spot the dragon was gone.

Past events not forgotten are lessons for the future.

Yandi and Yinglong, after deliberation, decided to settle the matter of the current warfare, concluding here.

One day, if there are some with unclear relations to the Dragon Master who harbor ill intentions, questioning the Human Sovereign as overly steady, missing battle opportunities, unfit to lead in wartime… then it is only natural to drag out the "Dao Friend" Dragon Ancestor Great Sage, prop him up, and practice "may the Dao friend die, not the poor Daoist!"

Correct.

Yandi has openly declared that he will not erase the achievements of Faxun, nor will he deliberately suppress the Dragon Ancestor in this regard, losing the essence of fair competition.

But!

Yandi has never said……

Nüwa won't, through indirect means, dig up the Dragon Ancestor's dark history and expose it!

No need to say it too plainly.

Just hint at a few keywords, and the gossip mongers will eagerly discuss, stripping the Dragon Ancestor's underwear clean.

The Dragon Ancestor still can't say anything!

—That gossip is about the Dragon Ancestor, and it doesn't affect your Faxun career!

—Moreover, the discussion content is not fake!

Yandi·Nüwa, the plan settled, exchanged a smile with Yinglong, everything understood without words.

No one comes to provoke her, ruin her plans, naturally you're good, I'm good, everyone's good.

If someone deliberately comes to give her eye drops, then don't blame her for retaliating with a spiritual critical strike, airing some dragon's dark history.

"Zi Iron escaped, the Slaughter Witch Sword got away, these two biggest targets weren't captured, what a pity……" Yandi treaded through myriad realms of time and space, continuing his commander's work, his gaze cold and aloof, decisive in slaughter, "Then let's eat some small fish, for now counting as offering flags for future blood battles."

He stood arrogantly in the void, one hand already extended, boundless, covering the vast mountains and rivers…… This battlefield from this moment on is ruled by Yandi!

One palm pressed down, heaven and earth dimmed, myriad paths returned to void, this is the ultimate slaughter, a means capable of slaying a Great Luo!

Yandi's target is clear…… aimed at the Great Luo demon god!

Speaking of which.

Those demon gods are also very vigilant and keen.

Upon witnessing the Kunpeng demon master's mighty charge, they already sensed something amiss, realizing that in that peak battle, the Zi Iron Great Sage likely suffered a great loss, either heavily wounded or defeated and fled, top-tier combat power already imbalanced!

Thus they began a cunning strategic shift, for this they did not hesitate to abandon many hard-to-rescue demon court soldiers, each gathering only part of their elite guard, then paying a small price, fleeing hastily, escaping smoothly, all fearing delay would bring change.

Their worry was also not baseless.

The Zi Iron Great Sage ran, the Slaughter Witch Sword got away, Yandi really used them as a first strike!

But at this time, many demon gods also fled, leaving only a solitary back view.

But, there are always those who couldn't escape.

They either have short legs, or as opponents the intercepting divine generals are strong enough, desperate enough, ultimately at this most deadly checkpoint they drew a line between life and death.

Death beneath their feet, life ahead, seeming as if a single light step could cross, but in reality everything is already too late.

When Yandi covered the sky with one hand, escape had become a luxury, a life destined to be accounted for here.

"I won't accept this!"

A demon god cried out in sorrow, "Yandi!"

"You, a titan whose strength equals the Taiyi, personally come to slaughter me, an ordinary Great Luo…… you lack martial virtue! You're excessive!"

He was resentful, unwilling, and powerless.

"The Donghuang Majesty has commanded troops for years, yet never done such an overstep!"

"I think, that's because he lacked the opportunity." Yandi lowered his gaze, saw the demon god's struggle, responded in a calm tone, as a sign of respect for those who could achieve Great Luo and prove the Dao eternally, "Dijiang and Zhu Jiuyin are blocking him."

"The war of clans, the collision of ideas, I believe…… there has never been any so-called boundary between us."

"Only life and death!"

Yandi said indifferently, and then that palm completely came down!

The movement of this strike was vast.

But when that palm pressed down firmly, it was very tranquil, causing all the previous war's clamor to vanish, the entire battlefield shifting from previous bustle to absolute silence!

One hand covers the sky, one palm annihilates the world!

Yandi, after letting the fire master's troops personally undergo the fiercest carnage and temper their spirit and energy, personally stepped forward and put an end to this battle.

When he withdrew his palm, the bleakness of the battlefield appeared before the eyes of many human divine generals, making them shudder; for the first time they directly sensed Yandi's power over life and death, which was overly domineering and terrifying.

With a single palm, the myriad demons were beheaded!

Only their souls remained, congealed like amber in the Dao's rhythm, awaiting reception by the Underworld of Reincarnation… this, for now, is the last trace of mercy.

"Clear the battlefield!"

Yandi calmly announced, letting the human army that had just undergone the blood-and-fire trial clean up the aftermath, gather the remains of their fallen comrades, so that their souls could return home; thus, even when they went to the Netherworld, they would not fear being unfamiliar with the ghostly realm and being bullied by strange ghosts.

"Record merits, tally casualties, act swiftly!"

Hougang shouted, taking the lead in busying himself with these trivial matters.

Under his arrangement, the remaining human soldiers acted in silence, their eyes carrying a hint of sorrow, gathering the remains of their comrades and arranging their belongings.

Some fighters had fought to the point of leaving no remains; perhaps only the memories and impressions of their comrades, as well as the names recorded on the conscription rolls, could prove they had existed.

Based on the last memories of fighting side by side in the ranks, they lingered near where they roughly fell, doing their utmost to find objects that could represent the brave warriors' existence in life, so as to erect a memorial tomb for them.

If that proved impossible, perhaps they could only dig up a handful of earth, accompanied by the humans' unique crimson vital energy, to prove that they had fought to the death for the defense of their homeland!

Upon completing these trivial tasks, the main force of the human royal court seemed to have undergone an immense transformation that words could hardly describe.

They were silent, resolute, fearless, great……

Blood and fire perhaps damaged their battle-worn armor, dulled their spears, making them no longer indestructible or unstoppable; yet at the same time, their spirits were tempered and forged, beginning to emanate an ineffable radiance!

They were already very strong.

Battle armor stained with the enemy's blood, some bearing purple-black bloodstains, served as proof of their exploits, highlighting their strength.

But their future will be even stronger!

Bearing the hopes of fallen comrades, bearing the weight of life, they verified the human Dao between life and death……

Perhaps one day they will become the ideal beings the Creator most wishes to see, proving the true existence of a path, allowing humanity to ascend to the supreme heights of the Honghuang cosmos!

"The army's morale is usable."

Yandi dwelled in the tent; amidst the heaviness of sacrifice, there was no lack of praise, acknowledging the growth of humanity.

Afterward he raised his head, gazing toward the distant horizon, as if examining his opponent.

"I have displayed everything that needed to be displayed."

Yandi·Nüwa murmured to himself, in this tent devoid of outsiders, pondering his plan: "Di Jun, Taiyi… how will you respond now?"

"Please, please… don't let me down!"

"I am so cautious, and not particularly strong; it seems sending just two Yao Marshals would be enough to achieve a restraining effect…"

"And yet you're not bold enough to launch an attack?!"

"Moreover…"

"The now-defeated Ziri troops, plus the earlier destroyed Gui Che units—two elite forces of the Yao Marshals have been annihilated; according to the rules of reincarnation, they will enter the Netherworld, awaiting arrangement."

"If we also count the Jimeng and Shangyang units that suffered heavy losses against the dragon clan, we already have four major armies that have entered the Underworld!"

"As long as we can gather our forces in the Netherworld and then embark on the campaign, it naturally presents a great opportunity for chaotic upheaval in the Netherworld."

"The contest for the title of Fengdu Great Emperor, the apportionment of supreme authority in the Underworld……"

"I don't believe you would have no ideas."

Yandi·Nüwa's face, at some unknown moment, broke into a smile.

"If there is no opportunity, I will create one for you… sigh, I am still too kind, too considerate."

"But the opportunity has been prepared for you."

"A surprise… I have also prepared it for you!"

"Little Fengxi…"

Nüwa's eyes were deep and distant, "I hope he can achieve an outstanding record of battle, leaving behind a Yao Marshal who might lurk and enter."

"In that case, my painstaking arrangements would not have been in vain; I have directed a grand drama of the age."

Nüwa let out a soft sigh.

"Everyone in the world misunderstands me."

"That fellow Fuxi is even worse—he takes the lead in ruining my image."

"They all take me for a simple-minded, witless salted fish……"

"Heh!"

"Today I will turn the salted fish over and tell everyone——"

"This sovereign, great wisdom appearing as foolishness!"

……

"Many have died above."

Qing Jia wandered alone in a patch of the deepest darkness.

In this darkness, he seemed to have lost the ability to observe time; his sense of time became blurred, and he forgot the passage of years.

Only in occasional violent upheavals did he have a vague awareness, able to perceive something.

For example, now.

He then noticed that the changes in this darkness were even more profound, and it was filled with even more…… despair.

Here, the sins of humanity converge; it is a concentration of countless sorrows and regrets!

The contest for the Fengdu Great Emperor has already begun.

Any wandering soul that harbors designs on this position can go and compete.

And the process of that competition is also very "gentle," very "harmonious."

It does not require the contestants to slaughter each other; one only needs to be able to bear the weight of all beings' deaths, shoulder the sins of eternity, and prove capable of resolving them—then one is fit to ascend to the throne of the Fengdu Great Emperor.

This looks simple.

But in reality, it is the most difficult.

Immersed in the darkest, most hopeless darkness, to walk through the sorrow and pain of all lost souls…… Only by personally plunging into it and then transcending out can one ascend the throne of the City of the Dead, to achieve salvation for humanity!

Without having suffered others' hardships, do not urge them to be good.

If you cannot understand the sorrowful past of each lost soul and feel empathy, how could you have the qualification to become the Clan Leader of all ghosts and gods, truly command all lost souls, and gain their trust?

This is the greatest trial.

Qing Jia has been lingering here for a very long time, a very long time.

Having personally endured countless hardships, in a moment he seemed to take the place of lost souls, wandering through countless lives, all manner of bitterness welling up in his heart…… This is putting him on the path to psychological distortion!

Moreover, the difficulties are far more than just this.

After all.

Some opponents, interfering from outside, crazyly increasing the difficulty, are truly inhumane.

"Again, many people have died; the despair here is even more intense……"

Qing Jia sighed faintly.

War and death are the greatest catalysts of sin, aggravating the hardship of the trial.

He, here, towards the chief culprits of the life-and-death struggle outside, shows a hundredfold concern.

(End of chapter)