Chapter 678

This is a historic moment.

Translation: "This is a historic moment."

The human emperor and the dragon ancestor are about to team up.

Translation: "The human emperor and the dragon ancestor plan to wear the same pair of pants."

Faced with Hongjun's trump card, that blatant show of force leaves them little room to choose.

Translation: "Facing the trump card left by Hongjun, that blatant military deterrence... Actually, they don't have much room to choose."

Fengxi may still have some wiggle room, but the dragon ancestor has no way out.

Translation: "Fengxi might still have some room to wait and see, but the dragon ancestor truly cannot escape!"

Thus, even though the Human Emperor's opening offer is brutally harsh and his vision equally ruthless, he directly demands the Twelve Golden Dragons he has fully elevated and evolved—a pinnacle summary of the Twelve Ancestral Witches' Dao, which could be called the utmost wisdom of the entire witch clan.

Translation: "Therefore, even if the Human Emperor's opening bid is extremely harsh and his vision equally vicious, directly demanding the Twelve Golden Dragons he has fully elevated and evolved—this pinnacle summary of the Twelve Ancestral Witches' Dao can be said to be the highest wisdom crystallized throughout the Wu Clan."

Aside from falling short of the Pangu true form manifested by the Zhou Tian God-Slaughter Grand Formation, there's hardly any gap left.

Translation: "Apart from not being as good as Pangu's true form as deduced by the All-Heaven God-Slaying Great Formation, there is hardly any difference left."

Even at such an exorbitant price, the Azure Dragon Great Sage agreed.

Translation: "Even at such a heavenly price... the Dragon Ancestor Great Sage also agreed."

Of course, Fengxi does make some valid points.

Translation: "Of course, there is also some truth in what Fengxi said..."

Those Twelve Golden Dragons aren't really the Dragon Ancestor's to keep, after all.

Translation: "Those Twelve Golden Dragons, after all, are not really the dragon ancestor's property!"

It's merely that the other Twelve Ancestral Witches granted him temporary, free access to the Dao, which must be returned later.

Translation: "It's merely that the remaining Twelve Ancestral Witches opened the Great Dao's permission to him, a temporary gratuitous aid... which must be returned afterward!"

Does the Human Emperor want it?

Translation: "Does the Human Emperor want it?"

Go ask the Twelve Ancestral Witches!

Translation: "Go find the Twelve Ancestral Witches!"

—Whether they accept it is another story.

Translation: "——Whether they acknowledge it or not is another matter!"

—As for the Dragon Ancestor? He has no money, only his life; if you're capable, take it.

Translation: "——As for the dragon ancestor? No money, just a life; if you're capable, just take it!"

The Human Emperor's careful analysis proposed a way to deflect the triangular debt, which the Dragon Ancestor found reasonable.

Translation: "After the Human Emperor's thoughtful analysis, he proposed a way to deflect the triangular debt, making the dragon ancestor feel it reasonable."

And so they did it.

Translation: "So we just did it!"

Actually, the Azure Dragon Great Sage knows full well—despite everyone now united, righteous, and friendly, helping him through the crisis...

Translation: "Actually, the Dragon Ancestor Great Sage also knows it deep down—don't look at how now everyone is united, each righteous and full of friendship, helping him overcome the crisis..."

But after the crisis?

Translation: "Afterward?"

They'll have to turn against each other eventually.

Translation: "It's time to turn hostile!"

The heavenly and earthly foundation, the cosmic basis of these Twelve Golden Dragons, will be reclaimed; they won't be allowed to keep them forever.

Translation: "The heavenly and earthly foundation, the cosmic basis, of constructing these Twelve Golden Dragons will be taken back; they won't be allowed to keep them permanently!"

Especially that someone... yes, Nüwa!

Translation: "Especially that so-and-so... yes, Nüwa!"

Everyone is a direct rival of the Pangu Dao fruit; helping the enemy couldn't go on forever.

Translation: "Everyone is a direct competitor for the Pangu Dao Fruit; aiding the enemy... how could that continue?"

"Since it's like this, if you don't use your right, it expires..."

Translation: "'Since it's like this, having the right but not using it, it expires...'"

"I need to survive this immediate crisis before I can discuss anything else."

Translation: "'I must first get through this immediate crisis before I can talk about other matters...'"

The Dragon Ancestor sighed and reached a full agreement with the Human Emperor.

Translation: "The dragon ancestor sighed inwardly and reached a thorough agreement with the Human Emperor."

"Everyone like a dragon, the dragon's spirit..." This is the support the Human Emperor offers on behalf of humanity.

Translation: "Everyone like a dragon, the dragon's spirit... this is the support the Human Emperor gives on behalf of the human race."

And the Twelve Golden Dragons serve as collateral, becoming humanity's property—no, they'll be called Twelve Golden Humans then!

Translation: "And the Twelve Golden Dragons, serving as collateral, become the human race's possessions... no, they should be called Twelve Golden Persons at that time!"

"Very good." The Human Emperor smiled satisfiedly and said something the Dragon Ancestor couldn't yet understand: "You made the right choice; all under heaven will not forget you."

Translation: "\"Very good. \" The Human Emperor smiled satisfiedly and said a sentence the dragon ancestor couldn't understand now: \"You made a correct decision; the myriad beings under heaven will not forget you. \""

"Therefore, from now on, even if you suffer misfortune or fall low, there will always be a chance to rise again."

Translation: "'Therefore, in the future, even if you're unlucky again, down on your luck again, there will always be a chance to rise again...'"

"Of course... you may have earned a bit more hatred... after all, you carelessly sold off all your allies, giving humanity a big lever."

Translation: "'Of course... maybe the grudges you've attracted will be a bit more... after all, you muddledly sold off all your teammates, handing the Human Dao a big handle...'"

The Human Emperor sighed inwardly.

Translation: "The Human Emperor secretly sighed in his heart."

At last... he finally got this day, and also secured a legitimate lever to handle the witch clan in the future.

Translation: "Finally... he finally waited for this day, and also obtained a legitimate handle to deal with the Wu Clan in the future!"

It's no easy feat!

Translation: "It's really not easy!"

"This way, when humanity acts to suppress the witch clan, it won't be a case of punishing without teaching."

Translation: "'Thus, my Human Dao's future actions, suppressing the Wu Clan, will no longer be punishing without instruction!'"

"With the creditor's note in hand, the hierarchy between humanity and the witch clan flips—normally the debtor is the boss."

Translation: "'Holding the debt IOU, the primary and secondary relationship between the human race and the Wu Clan is reversed... normally, naturally, the debtor is the big boss.'"

"But in this primordial realm, is there a greater power than humanity?"

Translation: "'But on this Honghuang land, is there a bigger big boss than the Human Dao?'"

"You think you owe humanity money, but you actually owe humanity's Dao—and if you dare to owe it, you'll have to pay with your life."

Translation: "'You think you owe the human race's money, but actually you owe the Human Dao's money! Those who dare to owe the Human Dao's money... must pay with their lives!'"

Humanity starts with a blank slate, and everything looks promising.

Translation: "The human race's opening is a blank slate, good for drawing anywhere."

But there's one thing you can't avoid—the witch clan.

Translation: "Only one thing cannot be avoided: the Wu Clan!"

Even upon close examination, the witch clan's members are humanity's future elite, who theoretically should submit to the greater good of the clan.

Translation: "Even with detailed analysis, the specific members of the Wu Clan are the future elite of the human race, theoretically needing to submit to the clan's greater good."

But!

Translation: "But!"

But not all the great and ancestral witches are like that!

Translation: "Those great witches and ancestral witches are not all like that!"

Especially, there's a glitch—Goddess Nüwa!

Translation: "Especially, there's a bug in here—the Goddess Nüwa!"

Humanity were personally crafted by this Lady—how could we act against her?

Translation: "The human race were all handcrafted by this goddess... To act against such a figure?"

We might not even be able to get past it in our own hearts.

Translation: "Maybe one can't even get past one's own mental barrier!"

Facing the empress dowager is truly tough for the emperor—unless we can expose her misconduct and instability, we can't respectfully ask her to withdraw and become a figurehead.

Translation: "For an emperor to face the empress dowager is really difficult... Unless one can expose evidence of the other's lack of virtue and instability, only then can one 'respectfully invite' the empress dowager to retire behind the scenes, becoming a mascot."

Can't strike, can't curse.

Translation: "Can't hit, can't scold."

Moreover, Nüwa's emperor is relatively virtuous among the innate ancient gods—aside from being a bit greedy, he hasn't done anything truly heinous; his heart is still fairly upright, so expecting him to lose virtue and err is unrealistic.

Translation: "Moreover, Nüwa's moral integrity is relatively high among the innate ancient gods; aside from being a bit gluttonous, she hasn't done anything heinous against heaven and reason, her heart is still fairly upright... Waiting for her to lose virtue and make a mistake is also out of the question."

Dealing with such a figure is extremely difficult—especially for humanity's Dao as it pursues its current endeavors.

Translation: "Handling such a figure is the most difficult... Especially for the Human Dao's current undertaking."

—Strip the ancient god sages of their heavenly mandate, severing heaven and earth!

Translation: "——Completely stripping the ancient god sages of their heavenly mandate privileges, severing heaven and earth!"

Yet even more challenging is the position of the ancient god sages represented by the witch clan's Nüwa emperor, who outwardly support humanity's Dao in setting things right.

Translation: "However, what's even more difficult is the stance held by the group of ancient god sages in the Wu Clan represented by Nüwa, which on the surface ultimately supports the Human Dao's undertaking to set the world right."

Even if behind the scenes they're tangled in private family power struggles...

Translation: "Even if behind the scenes, it's mixed with many private matters of family throne struggles..."

This brings no glory, only toil.

Translation: "This has no merit, but also hard work."

Thus, after victory, as humanity's Dao's conscience, should we consider granting some privileges?

Translation: "Thus, after victory, as the conscience of the Human Dao, should we consider opening some privileges?"

Isn't this just back to where we started?!

Translation: "Isn't this just back to square one?!"

If those ancient god sages could just be honest, that would be fine—but we fear not just one mishap but countless, causing history to spiral upward, solid-state rebirth, and humanity's mindset to explode.

Translation: "If these ancient god sages could just be honest... But fear that a myriad—no, ten thousand—will arise, making history spiral upward, solid-state re-emergence, causing the Human Dao's mindset to explode."

Humanity faces a positional disadvantage vis-à-vis some ancestral witches...

Translation: "The human race faces a positional disadvantage against some ancestral witches..."

Humanity's Dao is recentralizing all privileges...

Translation: "The Human Dao's re-consolidation of all privileges..."

The trials of ages have left behind problems that need reform and resolution.

Translation: "The transformation and resolution of all problems left by the vicissitudes of ages..."

These all require Fengxi to find sufficient balancing methods.

Not seeking thorough suppression, but the necessary shackles must be put on—peaceful coexistence is a sunny day; if anyone rebels, produce the IOU and directly suppress and kill!

It's easy to say, but hard to do.

If we are to reason, we cannot punish without teaching…… This is a major matter that could worry the Human Dao's conscience to death.

Fortunately, Fengxi also has helpers…… He is not fighting alone!

There is a god-level teammate assisting, and some clueless opponents are also 'assisting'!

——This is not the Human Dao's lone struggle, but a tacit conspiracy between the two Pangu!

Opening Heaven and Earth, August Emperor…… This former supreme Heavenly Emperor displayed the qualities expected of a grand master of the Dao of Change, a consummate expert in schemes and stratagems, creating the most perfect opportunity for Fengxi's entry.

From the initial secret plot with Hongjun, they reached an agreement.

Then, turning to coax Nüwa, joining hands to oppose the Dao Ancestor…… The stage of the three people, yet it is a strong-strong union, keeping the Nüwa Emperor in the dark.

The vague arrangements allowed the Human Dao's conscience to leap forward, directly achieving the Taiyi Dao realm, laying a solid foundation for Nüwa Dao's mass slaughter, letting him see the dawn of victory, deciding to wipe out the whole family in one sweep.

Then, the Dragon Ancestor went all-out superhuman, finally forcing the Dao Ancestor to play that trump card, unleashing a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering, god-terrifying Absolute Kill!

In order to preserve itself, letting the currently tallest Dragon Ancestor bear the falling sky, the Wu Clan's Twelve Ancestral Witches, setting aside past grudges, in tacit unity, reasonably assisting the Dragon Ancestor…… "Coincidentally", among them, the thick‑eyed, big‑eyed, righteous and outspoken Di Jiang is the one taking the lead in support.

Support was in place, yet not fully sufficient…… Faced with the combined strike of the Creation Jade Disc and the Heavenly Dao's order, the Dragon Ancestor still could not prevail.

At this moment, finally letting the Human Dao's conscience enter the field to reap!

Using human support as leverage, to obtain the final interpretive authority over the Wu Clan's Twelve Ancestral Witches' Great Dao…… Even if it's only a triangular debt!

But is this a problem?

No problem!

The Human Dao's blade is the sharpest!

Just because there's an old dragon in between, does that mean we can't collect the debt?

When there's no reason, they dare to defy Fuxi.

Not to mention that now we can barely claim some reason…… When the time comes, we can unleash mass slaughter!

As for when the time comes, if the suppressed ancestral witches have any objections……

Fengxi can then produce today's agreement and expound a principle——

Don't blame me; if you must blame someone, blame the Dragon Ancestor!

He sold you, causing this "fund" to be disputed…… Naturally, I, representing the Human Dao, will freeze it—this is quite reasonable, right?

Who let the Dragon Ancestor look down on going incognito, as the Human Emperor's own seat?

They actually dared to sign such a bold contract…… Isn't this a gamble that I won't be able to collect payment afterward?

This corrupt trend, I will definitely have it killed!

If you have any objections…… Then let's meet on the battlefield!

The final interpretive authority will surely belong to the Human Dao!

'Perfect!'

Fengxi organized and summarized, finally cheering for such a layout.

This is the two Pangu fighting side by side, an asymmetrical confrontation at the information level.

They opposed the ancient god sages of all the monster and demon camps, forging a path in the chaotic age.

Of course, although this path has already shown a prototype, it might not be able to go all the way.

But doubts still remain.

Simply because wherever one goes, traces are left.

The more places one has passed through, the more likely they are to be caught by those with intent.

Even though Fuxi the Sage, this worldly wise man of note, hides himself very well.

However, the wise may think a thousand times and still make one mistake; the foolish may think a thousand times and still gain one advantage!

Someone has already begun to suspect!

——Nüwa!

Houtu listens in the underworld, using reincarnation—the most special channel closest to the source of the Human Dao—to investigate the Human Dao's movements, to verify his own doubts——whether the Human Dao has merged with the August Emperor.

If it truly merged, it is a grand fishing scheme……

Then, where should the most critical node of this be? Or perhaps…… on whose body should it be?

Nüwa's cold brows and cold eyes, arms crossed, the corner of her mouth curling into a chilly smile, making onlookers feel chilled.

This is the moment that decides the azure fate of the Human Dao.

All future developments will have their rough framework set today.

Compared to sages like Fuxi and Fengxi, Nüwa naturally can only become a wronged fool.

But that doesn't matter…… As the two Pangu who each have serious problems, whether it's the August Emperor or the Human Dao, they're embarrassed and unable to act directly, only able to borrow strength to strike.

After a thousand consecutive rounds of setting up schemes, they cannot afford to lose even once.

And Nüwa……

Even if she loses nine hundred ninety-nine times, as long as she hits the mark once, she will be able to turn the tables with an Absolute Kill, slamming the game board with a 'pia' onto the faces of the Human Dao and Fuxi!

And the most subtle part is, Nüwa has already come infinitely close to the truth…… only lacking to lock onto the target!

She will prove it with actual actions——

Don't look down on people!

What about the foolish?

They can still be the masters, smashing the dog heads of you lot, those troublesome scoundrels!

Amidst surging killing intent, Nüwa doesn't care about the Dragon Ancestor's tragic, life‑risking charge livestream; all she does is secretly scour the world to see which talented youth bears that fishing mission.

Nüwa is very angry——the scoundrel brother treats her like a monkey for fun, which makes her very unhappy, so the consequences will be severe.

Such determination and will were unknown to others, and Nüwa never spoke of them.

Until she received contact from her subordinate's first 'loyal minister,' 'great general,' her killing intent-filled mindset momentarily became confused; Houtu, in the underworld, tilted her little head and uttered a doubtful sound.

"Eh?"

I ultimately cannot be heartless.

Fengxi, who personally cooperated with Dijiang to effect the transfer of the Wu Clan's and humanity's debt rights, suddenly let out a soft sigh; after a brief hesitation, he ultimately contacted Nüwa to make a report, rather than acting first and reporting later, directly turning raw rice into cooked rice.

He chose to only partially inform Nüwa, letting the current humanity's largest shareholder and highest chairperson, Nüwa, know of this major move.

This is Fengxi's conscience coming to light.

He strove for humanity and the myriad beings, colluded with Xihuang, acted decisively in slaughter, schemed everything, including Nüwa, to whom he owed gratitude for her recognition.

But deep inside, he also secretly hoped that Nüwa would awaken and timely stop him... In short, that's such a complicated mindset.

Many past vague hints and veiled indications mostly stem from this.

But, all these schemes here can only be said as 'those who understand, understand; those who don't, no matter how they think, won't understand'...

This morning, it is the critical moment that determines the primacy of humanity and the Wu Clan, an important juncture of future major turning points… and also the beginning of the project where Fengxi personally fills in the pit he dug for Nüwa herself.

Fengxi felt he had a duty to finally inform Empress Nüwa.

Even if he thought Nüwa still wouldn't understand...

Of course, as usual, he speaks rather obscurely… the same matter, when spoken through his mouth, always ends up feeling somewhat altered.

"Your Majesty, the Dragon Ancestor has been driven to a dead end."

"The only thing that can still help him now is the wagering agreement you set up back then!"

"The dragon's spirit enters humanity, becoming the eternal principle passed down through myriad generations..."

"The Dragon Ancestor just expressed this meaning to me as well, and can use the elaboration of the Great Dao of the Dragon from the Twelve Golden Dragons as collateral..."

"I'm hesitating now… isn't he just freeloading?"

"Your Majesty, you say… should I agree or not?"

Fengxi roughly summarized his own role in this, then relayed it to Houtu.

Nüwa, who was wholeheartedly waiting for humanity to reveal its flaw, was dumbfounded by the question.

How should she answer?

Not only that.

Because the humanity-dragon wagering agreement from the past was personally plotted by her, precisely to trap the Dragon Ancestor!

Now, it seems to have become the final straw that breaks the camel's back?

Nüwa immediately perceived the profound subtlety, and suddenly realized—if one were to ask where humanity's entry and counterattack should occur, this is the place!

With the merging of humanity and dragon, the Dragon Ancestor can justifiably grow stronger, and advance further!

But this way, the one who manually pushed for humanity's entry space becomes a suspect… isn't that just her, Nüwa?

What is this called?

—The undercover agent is actually me?!

Nüwa somewhat doubts life.

How could she possibly trap herself?

An illusion!

It must be an illusion!

"No… not right…"

Nüwa thought it over, decided not to put a dubious-intelligence hat on herself, and swiftly passed the buck.

"The parties involved, plus the Dragon Ancestor!"

"This guy, so sinister… maybe he's pulling strings! He's made a deal with Fuxi!"

(End of chapter)