Chapter 653: Dragon Ancestor's Beautiful Dream, Fengxi's Original Intent

After careful thought, Fangxun's arrangements were clear and obvious.

He sensed that the situation of the human race's Fire Master was dire, likely to suffer an unprecedented devastating blow, on the brink of destruction… At this moment, it was the key to taking chestnuts from the fire.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

He wants to be that oriole!

Of course, being that oriole isn't easy these days.

After all, the power balance between the Dragon Master, Demon Court, and Fire Master is not arranged in the order of oriole, mantis, cicada.

Considering pure combat strength, the Demon Court is the king of one-on-one duels among the three.

Trying to land a backstab critical hit on such an opponent is not an easy task.

The timing must be just right!

The situation must be judged with exquisite precision!

It's not that acting slowly leads to the Demon Court wiping out the Fire Master, then the Dragon Master arriving late, then crashing into the Demon Court cleaning the battlefield, losing the surprise effect.

Nor can one act too early, lest the Demon Court notice, delay the original plan, resulting in the Dragon Master mobilizing forces in vain, embarrassingly… even worse, the Demon Court decides to set a counter‑ambush, leaving the Dragon Master in a terrible state.

This is a judgment of timing, a consideration of the situation among humans, dragons, and demons—not an easy task.

However, Fangxun still had some confidence.

This confidence was not based on himself, but on the Fire Master.

After all these years, he has often dueled with Yandi from afar, deeply knowing how difficult this person is.

Therefore, the Dragon Ancestor holds Yandi in high regard.

Before becoming Human Emperor, Fengxi's belly full of bad ideas made him frown constantly… though back then the problem wasn't too serious; on the battlefield, commanding troops, merely being scheming made him just a useless strategist, unable to amount to anything.

But now Yandi commands the Fire Master's great army, standing at the front lines, excelling in every aspect—from war command to logistics to ideological construction… This has already surpassed the role of a staff strategist; he is a true leader! Commander!

Coupled with his own not‑shabby cultivation, he can be considered a top‑tier figure of the present age.

The Dragon Ancestor calculated the possible moves the Heavenly Court could make, and could roughly determine——even if the Demon Race laid out their plans with utmost meticulousness and struck with the force of Mount Tai crushing an egg, Yandi would still be able to struggle for a while.

That is a large margin for error!

This allows Fangxun to find a good angle and deliver a blow that pierces the Demon Court's heart.

The Heavenly Court's Imperial Prince leaping about, together with ten little golden crows, looks like a quite suitable target for a strike in Fangxun's view.

He believes that if sufficient gains can be made here, the spiritual damage to Di Jun will certainly be considerable.

This understanding of his kind lets the Dragon Ancestor make such a judgment.

He and Di Jun actually share a similar situation.

In the Wu Clan's camp, the Dragon Race is subtly suppressed by the circle represented by Houtu… In the Demon Race's camp, Di Jun likewise faces the orthodox pressure of Hongjun.

The appearance of the ten Imperial Princes and the arrangement of heirs is a way to break free of shackles, transferring assets and prestige… As a leader familiar with such operations, Fangxun understands completely!

He also has ten sons!

If someone were to sever his roots, killing or deposing them one by one, Fangxun's mindset would surely explode, and he would have a desperate, fighting spirit.

This is a shaking of the foundation!

So…

"I still need a scapegoat—not someone unlucky to share the Demon Court's pressure, but an assistant."

Fangxun lightly explained the reason to Dan Zhu, then said, "The mastermind is me, but the heavy task of wielding the knife goes to the Bird Master's friend!"

"That way, when Di Jun flies into a rage seeking revenge, I can also have another target to share the firepower; the Bird Master steps forward to take the blows, letting me borrow this merit to lobby left and right in the Wu Clan for time."

"This isn't me trying to screw over an ally……"

The Dragon Ancestor said slowly, "Really, those people closely tied to Houtu and the ancestral Wu are just clueless!"

"I propose using the Four Seasons Shatter the Big Dipper, employing the passage of time to sever the might of the Heavenly Grand Formation, thereby breaking the foundation of the Heavenly Court, after which we can freely charge forward and seize strategic initiative."

"What a grand plan! What a move that looks after the overall situation!"

"Besides that, I have a tiny bit of personal interest here—I want to grasp the initiative of action, thereby completely shifting the Wu Clan's ideological leadership to me, with the Dragon Master's spirit as the guiding principle… then nothing would be wrong!"

Fangxun felt wronged and sighed repeatedly, "Those people always beat around the bush and never give a straight answer."

"What are they thinking…… I'm not unaware either!"

The Dragon Ancestor snorted, "Isn't it just grabbing time to ponder, seeing if we can borrow and modify it, letting a Dragon‑led plan become human‑led, and working out a human‑styled four‑season cycle?"

"For this, Chonghua has been jumping around here these years, with the shadows of certain human and Wu Clan figures frequently appearing behind him—isn't he just here to trip me up?"

"I could tell at a glance that Chonghua is no good bird!"

"Just……"

"Naive!"

"Those people are too naive!"

"If the Four Seasons Strategy could be so easily borrowed, would I still put it out for them to know?"

"It's been covered up tightly from the start!"

Fangxun lamented, some people truly don't understand things, not knowing to welcome the King Master, letting the Dragon Ancestor Grandfather laugh proudly for ages, yet stubbornly placing hope in the Fire Master, unable to see the situation, making futile struggles.

"But once the Fire Master is destroyed!"

"Then they'll have no choice!"

"This is the highest realm of interacting with people…… making others have only one path to walk, or even no path at all!"

"At that time, I will arrive with great merit, forcefully seize power in the palace, and the Wu Clan's supreme authority will surely fall into my hands!"

"The various ancestral Wu will shift their stance, obey my commands, and counter‑attack the Star Sea…… Di Jun, no matter how much resentment and grudge he harbors, will have to hold it in against me!"

"Thus, the eternal imperial undertaking can be accomplished."

The Dragon Ancestor exclaimed proudly, "Having sacrificed the Fire Master and Bird Master as stumbling stones, I have cleared the Wu Clan's internal turmoil of hearts; no choices remain—only obedience to my Grand Unification Way!"

"When we break through the Star Sea again, shatter the Heavenly Court, and blend heaven and earth……"

I will be this era's biggest winner!

Fuxi opened his arms, as if to welcome the legendary era that belonged to him.

……

Look——

I'm not wrong, am I?

Dead people, or those who look like they're about to die, everyone is always reluctant to pay attention.

Whether you're not dead yet or you're the Great Emperor of Fengdu, you're treated like air, unnoticed.

In the netherworld, the nether sun hangs high, shining upon the ten directions, gradually easing and clearing the deepest, most malicious grudges hidden in every departed soul's heart; it is a supreme virtue of the yin world.

However, at some point, a faint, illusory figure stood beside this nether sun, warping spacetime, isolating the surrounding heaven and earth, and speaking with it.

If you don't care, then you don't care!

Anyway, the power is still there.

Qingjia's thoughts turned, and he replied, "What I say still works in the underworld."

He indifferently watched his own origin burning, turning into warm radiance, the pain plain and natural, "I've taken care of the matter you entrusted me with."

The underworld's system is stable; the completion of yin virtue and Dao is imminent.

And the way of blessings... I also, in passing, plucked the wool of the underworld's gods, keeping them busy with this, implementing it with overtime.

The Lady is a good boss!

Qingjia let out a light sigh, "These days, she must feel guilty deep down... the promised Yandi is gone, and I am still 'certain to die,' so she looks after me everywhere, giving me the greatest authority in Fengdu."

Originally, spanning my hand across the yin-yang realms was somewhat taboo.

But she tacitly allowed it, supported it, and let me act as such.

Blessings will also be fulfilled!

It's a pity, she doesn't know......

Qingjia kept talking, then fell silent.

"You won't die." Fengxi smiled faintly, "You have me behind you, and behind me is the Dao."

"Blood transfusion is endless...... how could you die?"

"I wonder what expression the Lady will have when she learns the truth—how ridiculous!" Qingjia sighed, "This is a deception!"

"Alright, alright...... we're just forced to use a kind lie."

Fengxi comforted, "The situation is dire; the war of the liches is not limited to the suffering of living beings, gamblers at the table lose their eyes red, and will surely overturn the board!"

Hongjun! Dragon Ancestor!

Each of them has a Killer's Trick, a move that either succeeds or results in benevolent death; Mount Buzhou is perilously precarious.

To deal with them, and bearing the human Dao mission on our shoulders, we are sometimes destined to become solitary wanderers.

It's not deliberate deception, just a kind concealment.

As Fengxi spoke, his face bore a helpless expression, "After all, once some things are laid bare, even the closest people will oppose and fail to understand them."

Rather than that, facing our own people with weapons, it's better to stay silent for now, and only let them know when the outcome is settled.

I understand the principle...... Qingjia sighed, "Conscience should hurt, and it does."

But no matter how painful, what needs to be done must be done. Fengxi paced, "Once the influence you leave in the netherworld is profound and unshakable, and the systems of yin virtue and blessings have no time to operate, you can temporarily retire having achieved success in the position of Great Emperor of Fengdu."

By then, you will appear as if your origin is nearly burned out, your mind dazed, having lost yourself, letting the underworld grant you honor in retirement, then come to take over my post.

Take over my post as the Yan Emperor. Fengxi added, "With experience in the position of Great Emperor of Fengdu, and the essential elevation from that trial, you can play me perfectly."

After all, you are originally a part of me.

Lady Nüwa, with a trumpet ascending to the human emperor's throne, still has the confidence to slaughter in all directions.

You, having been tempered by the Fengdu trial, and with the aid of the human Dao, should be fine, right?

I'll do my best. Qingjia could only guarantee that.

Do your best to be the best. Fengxi demanded, "Give me a guarantee of a good retreat...... then I can become a nonexistent person, with intent and without intent, to thwart the opponent."

Some people can't afford to lose; if they lose, they'll overturn the board...... so I've pressed down this board for them, so they can't overturn it!

Even if they could overturn it, that board would smash into their own faces!

Fengxi's voice rang out strong and powerful, carrying a determination of death without life.

Hope you're careful. Qingjia let out a light sigh, "You are the greatest hope of the human Dao."

But I also hope...... that after walking this road to the end, you remain yourself. Qingjia felt somewhat sentimental, "Don't change too much, or in the end no one will recognize you."

Huh...... Fengxi stared blankly for a moment, then laughed helplessly, "Actually, I've already changed a lot."

Think back to when I first entered this era, what was my original intention?

To merely survive...... hmph!

To merely preserve one's life in troubled times, not seeking fame among the feudal lords!

Fengxi recited two lines of poetry, feeling myriad emotions, "The prosperity of the human Dao has not yet reached its midpoint when the middle way collapses; today the world is divided, the common people are exhausted, this truly is the critical autumn of survival and peril."

Lady Nüwa, of noble stature, and the Great Sage Fuxi, with wisdom for myriad generations, personally toiled, exhausted their efforts, not minding my ordinary plainness, promoted me many times, only then did I have today.

All along the way, I have been deeply moved, greatly grateful...... eventually stepping onto this special path.

Perhaps in others' eyes, I have changed.

But I myself know, this is growth!

Growth, after all, always requires giving up something......

Fengxi slightly raised his head, a bright smile appearing on his face, "Even if I have already sensed......"

When this road reaches its end, Hongjun's treatment will be my future treatment!

The Purple Cloud Palace imprisons a Dao ancestor.

There would also be another palace that had restrained a human ancestor!

But I won't regret this!

As his words fell, Fengxi stood tall, hands behind his back, walking toward the distant Houtu Holy Palace.

He still had to act, waiting for the opportune moment.

"Hopefully that's the case..." Qing Jia muttered, "You really don't regret it."

If by then, Nüwa flies into a rage, specially rushes in to keep you confined, just to eat, sleep, and beat up your brother... I hope you can still laugh.

Fengxi, who was striding like a dragon and tiger, suddenly staggered a step... Looking at his back, he actually appeared somewhat flustered and panicked!

Qing Jia landed a successful critical hit.

However, he felt little joy, rolling his eyes, feeling somewhat helpless and sentimental, deeply feeling the irony of fate.

"In the midst of going around in circles, I've become confused..."

"Yandi is both me and not me, having dug many great pits."

"Who exactly is the clown..."

"I hope that when the time comes, Nüwa will accept reality calmly, be ladylike, be dignified."

"Best of all, just ignore me."

"I'm just an ordinary worker too!"

Qing Jia sighed softly.

Indeed.

He felt that, compared to Tuba, he was truly true to his original intention.

To preserve one's life in troubled times, not seeking fame among the feudal lords!

To live... is the best!

(End of chapter)