Chapter 707: with translation of chapter title

What is the grand scheme of the Human Dao?

How could we let humanity's own sacrifice go to waste!

At this moment, the generals of the Fire Corps are of one mind; they would rather have humanity bear the collapsing heavens alone than cooperate with a 'teammate' harboring ulterior motives.

Having crushed the Demon Race and shattered the Heavenly Court, humanity will face every challenge at its peak.

And by then, Empress Nüwa will surely return!

"After exterminating the Heavenly Court's laws, humanity's principles will cover the old heavenly rules, out with the old, in with the new."

A minister spoke in a low tone, and with a rumble that shook a realm of spacetime, "Three thousand Great Luo, three thousand heavens; the old heaven sinks, the new heaven conceives, and the era of witches and demons ends!"

"At that time, the contest between August Emperor Majesty and Human Dao Majesty must end, no matter what; the era's seal will vanish, and Empress Nüwa Majesty will return from outside."

"With our Jieyin, this speed will surely be swift, standing tall in heaven and earth at its peak!"

"At that time, how could the Demonic Sect possibly run rampant!"

"Even if the Nether River Demon Ancestor comes, he could not be a match for Empress Nüwa Majesty, for she commands creation, holds the cycle of rebirth, already controls life and death; with humanity as the foundation, she governs all myriad races of heaven and earth, truly taking charge of the entire process from birth to death."

"Slaughter is merely one way of death; it can indeed run rampant for a time, but not forever."

"Because the main theme of Honghuang Human Dao's development is ultimately rise and prosperity!"

"Once the anger subsides, the so-called killing fate must still submit and compromise to the greater situation; it could never surpass Empress Nüwa Majesty, who then represented the greater situation."

"What we must do is take up the sword for Empress Nüwa, level the mountains and rivers, shatter the Heavenly Court, swiftly end the era of witches and demons, and at the moment of victory become a beacon, with Human Dao as the flame, lighting the path for Empress Nüwa Majesty's return."

That minister believes that once the Heavenly Court collapses and Empress Nüwa returns, it will be enough to suppress all turmoil!

That is also natural.

After all, once the Heavenly Court falls, the Zhou Tian constellations will be altered by humanity's legal principles; August Emperor will fade, and the Grand Star Formation he commands will become an illusory bubble, collapsing on its own when faced with the stalemated Empress Nüwa.

The Dao Ancestor is also sealed within the Purple Cloud Palace, theoretically unable to emerge.

The fruits of this witch-demon wager's victory will all fall into Empress Nüwa's hands, and she will take the final step to ascend to the supreme peak!

Pangu!

That will be an invincible bearing!

Pangu suppresses the universe; who can contend with him!

"Exactly!"

The generals all echoed in agreement, saying 'yes'.

——Nether River Demon Ancestor, whose demonic might overwhelms the world, sweeping aside these little fish and shrimp?

——Ha!

——We admit, this is indeed true……but why bother entangling with you? We only need to strive to bring Empress Nüwa back!

——This great figure, though exiled by two inconceivable Pangu mighty ones to the origin of heaven and earth spacetime, will ultimately return through our efforts, sweeping away all demonic foundations.

——What Five Fortunes Grand Dao, what blazing demonic flames……Empress Nüwa Majesty even dares to draw her blade against the leader of her brother's qi fortune Dao, let alone your killing fate!

——Just press him to the ground and beat him, and it's done!

……

Many people place their confidence in Empress Nüwa.

Their discussions and deductions all start from the belief that Empress Nüwa's abilities are sufficient to handle the situation.

The Human Emperor sits in silent repose, unusually quiet now, his expression solemn and serious as he listens to the opinions of many divine generals and senior ministers.

He nods from time to time, showing his approval.

Only after the ministers had exhausted their enthusiasm, after discussing every aspect, did he summarize their remarks: "It seems you all have reached a consensus."

"This is good."

The Human Emperor sighed, his expression subtle.

Although many things behind the scenes cannot happen without his planning and promotion, he had already anticipated and arranged for this.

Yet truly witnessing this reality unfold still evokes sentiment, leaving him with mixed feelings.

He surveys the whole situation, a faint sigh in his heart, yet his countenance remains calm and composed as he speaks in an orderly manner: "Our future strategic path has thus been roughly set."

"Taking humanity's overall victory as the greater situation, we will reward those who support and promote with merit, granting the legal hope of founding a state to all who harbor dreams……"

"The encroachment and expansion of the Eastern Barbarians upon the Dragon Corps will become the first bell toll of such heaven‑shaking transformation, completing the procedures to become the greatest incentive exemplar……"

"Inspire the populace to strive forward on their own, with eliminating demons and evil as the main theme of the times to come; heroes need not ask about origin, the victor shall naturally become king!"

"In the end, the victorious forces will converge, then we will judge by ability—who shall be emperor, who shall be sovereign!"

Fengxi grasped the Eastern Hua Sword, reflecting humanity's fate; under the legitimate authority of humanity's righteousness held by the Fire Corps, he swung a single slash that carved across the ages of sky.

"Boom—"

If it were thunder, in the unseen depths humanity's war chariot advances, shattering all obstacles.

Horizontal timber forms the yoke, vertical timber the pole; intersecting and interlocking, they construct humanity's war chariot.

When the Eastern Hua Divine Sword, representing orthodox authority, descends upon this chariot, commanding humanity's future, it bestows upon the new era's humanity its mission……

Its name thus quietly changed.

It is——

Xuanyuan Sword!

……

"What?"

Chonghua was shocked for ten thousand years.

When he raised his army, he took over the Dragon Corps' territory, assumed the authority once belonging to Faxun, and additionally drove out Yinglong, sending her away in disgrace.

At that time, he had already prepared himself mentally to face the Central Royal Court—the Fire Corps' furious wrath.

Nothing more than sending troops to conquer……but is he afraid?

Not afraid!

Having come all this way, what formation has Chonghua not seen?

No matter how strong the enemy, he will not be afraid; he must fight first and then speak!

Thus, he readied his troops, kept his weapons at hand, and constantly prepared to repel the Fire Master's army.

In his reckoning, this step would never be wrong, no matter what.

Whether it be the Heavenly Court or the human race.

The Heavenly Court wants to linger, to recover from the Dragon Master's depredations by producing blood, so it must hold back the human race's advance—what better way than internal strife?

But if starting from the human race's foundation, seeking to surpass the Bird Master's position, the Fire Master is likewise an obstacle—targeting it is correct!

The two paths have reached consensus here.

Therefore, he boldly dispatched troops; the Eastern Yi lineage suppressed the Dragon Master and seized supreme authority.

Even though among them there are no shortage of ancient, mighty clans that once followed the August Emperor and Blue Emperor, whose loyalty to the human race is not low, yet under Chonghua's persuasion, many harbored designs to encroach upon the human race's orthodoxy, and they half-heartedly went along!

After all, they had all been prosperous before!

The human race's orthodoxy back then—these were the old ministers!

Alas, with a new sovereign comes new ministers…… the Fire Master rose to power, and the Blue Emperor, to make way, took many old minister strong clans into retirement, sparing later comers trouble.

This is good for the human race as a whole.

But those clans forced to garrison the borders together feel conflicted…… they dare not oppose the Blue Emperor.

As for their impression of the Fire Master…… it's not very good.

Occasionally they dream, wishing the human race's orthodoxy would return to their control…… this is also normal.

"The Blue Emperor Majesty is a bit too ruthless……"

"Ah, still this flavor…… we followed and conquered vast lands, yet afterwards we're not allowed to relax?"

There are always undercurrents.

When White Emperor Shaohao's accession is mixed in, and some other figures cloaked in the White Emperor's banner, the waters here of the Eastern Yi become even murkier.

Finally, under Chonghua's strong leadership, the Eastern Yi moved as one, taking the first step to provoke the Central Royal Court.

Nobles and generals—where does their kind come from?

The human race's orthodoxy—its fortune falls to my home!

Fortune turns, the Human Emperor takes turns…… the Fire Master has sat in the chief seat for many years; it's our turn now!

It is ambition.

It is also unwillingness.

The arrow has left the bow; there's no thought of turning back.

Chonghua leisurely prepared for war, while the Bird Master's main force gathered strength, awaiting an earth-shattering battle.

When war breaks out, death and sacrifice appear; at that point, notions of right and wrong, good and evil, who was originally at fault, no longer matter.

Because of blood and hatred, they will cover everything, becoming the sole thing.

However……

The plot had played out halfway, but the ending turned out contrary to his expectations.

When Wenming reported to him the Fire Master's movements and issued statements, he felt utterly unwell.

"Is it really like this?"

Chonghua stared fixedly at Wenming: "Fire Master…… actually did this?"

"How dare they?"

"But the fact is indeed so." Wenming calmly replied, "They acknowledged our occupation of the Dragon Master's territory and do not intend to send troops to attack."

"The reason is, our Eastern Yi lineage performed well in the previous human race's war against the Demon Race, especially comrade Dayi, who brought great glory to the human race."

"Shooting down the nine suns, even slaying the Heavenly Emperor's offspring—what a great feat?"

Wenming wore a half-smile, as if he were a truly clueless Eastern Yi heavyweight minister: "Therefore, even if his conduct later became somewhat overbearing, with minor shortcomings…… but considering his merits in the war against the Demon Race, it's also fine."

"We can't dampen the soldiers' hearts to achieve merit!"

Wenming said this and that, and began to smile.

"Therefore, to honor the Eastern Yi lineage for cultivating excellent talent, the human race's central authority recognized our takeover of the Dragon Master's defense zone, hoping we would press on and continue to contribute to the human race."

"Not only that."

"Throughout the human race, whoever can make an outstanding contribution to the war against the Demon Race, the Fire Master will acknowledge the merit and support allowing the establishment of a royal court, becoming a feudal lord!"

Wenming spoke with great enthusiasm.

Hearing this, Chonghua's cheek muscles twitched, somewhat losing composure.

He held it in for a long time before finally uttering a sentence.

"Nonsense!"

"Does Yandi not want to live on?"

"Those Fire Master ministers…… don't they advise?"

Chonghua could not understand.

"Who knows?" Wenming shook his head, then beamed, "But this is good for our Eastern Yi!"

"Before, when we all rose in arms to provoke the central Fire Master, many of the populace still felt anxious."

"The Fire Master represents the dignity of Goddess Nüwa, the creator of the human race; to oppose her orthodoxy…… everyone was actually quite anxious."

"But now it's different."

"The Fire Master has agreed!"

"Everyone also lifted a great weight from their hearts."

When I came here to report information to you, I saw many subjects who all planned to respond to the Fire Master's call and go work hard to slay demons, right!

Wen Ming spoke words that made Chong Hua's expression shift, "I plan to resign from serving you!"

Together with some like-minded comrades, I'll go out and accomplish a great deed… After myriad ages, who knows, my name might still be passed down, standing alongside the annals!

"……" Chong Hua actually didn't know what else to say at this moment, only able to react stiffly.

Finally, the exact time of Wen Ming's departure became unclear.

After a long while, Chong Hua finally came to his senses, his gaze deep and terrifying.

"Hah!"

His gaze was indifferent and icy, "Fire Master!"

"It's also truly something he can bear."

"And… Da Yi!"

Chong Hua rose, walked to the outside of the palace, looked up at the remnants of Da Yi's shooting of the sun, the arrow scar etched deep into the spacetime of Honghuang, stained with the blood of the Golden Crow.

No matter how many things were arranged by him, there are also hidden machinations.

But no matter what, this time he felt as if a slap had struck his face.

The Fire Master praised Da Yi's shooting of the sun, using this to respond to the result of the Eastern Yi's invasion of the Dragon Master's territory, which is like letting him lift a stone only to drop it on his own foot!

When striking someone, first strike the face!

Moreover, from Wen Ming's report, the Eastern Yi Bird Master's people are not united in heart.

——If one could gain respect and a career without opposing the central authority, why would one still meet kinsmen of the same origin in battle?

——Killing people is killing, killing demons is also killing!

——Killing people also entails bearing psychological pressure; whereas killing demons does not have such a problem!

Set aside disputes, everything outward.

The Fire Master, with his own concession, revitalized the whole board, steering toward a situation unfavorable to Chong Hua.

Of course, as a price, the current Fire Master has already lost absolute orthodox authority; perhaps one day its leading position will vanish—becoming a bridal gown for others!

"Is this intentional or unintentional?"

Chong Hua gazed toward the Fire Master's direction, murmuring softly, "Having thwarted my schemes, no one should think to profit; there is a trend of mutual loss."

"You think too highly of me……"

"But I will not give up easily……"

In a faint, lingering sigh, Chong Hua's figure faded away.

The Fire Master's response was beyond his expectation, but he still had a countermove.

Even if the path closest to victory was taken away, he still could not be knocked down.

Unable to take the path of covert scheming and division, he takes the path of open contention for supremacy—yet he fears nothing.

After all, whether spoken well or poorly, he has taken over the Dragon Master's territory.

Truly, the most tragic to lament are the members of the Dragon Master!

……

"We subjects were about to fight to the death, why does Your Majesty first surrender?!"

The Dragon Master's mindset exploded.

It really exploded.

On the day the Dragon Ancestor was suppressed, the Dragon Master's higher-ups wanted to play a fence-sitting trick.

Faced with the Responding Dragon holding the banner of righteous cause, they harbored doubts, unwilling to submit easily; considering personal interests only made them even less willing to bow.

Thus ultimately, the Responding Dragon slunk away in disgrace.

However, in their estimation, this is not considered concluded; there should still be a follow-up.

Having fled in such a sorry state, shouldn't they come back to fight?

Moreover, does the Fire Master not care about face? Even when people rebel against him, he doesn't intervene?

However, the result……

The Fire Master truly does not care about face.

Surprisingly, he agreed to let the Eastern Yi lineage govern and control the Dragon Master's defense zone!

Is there still any heavenly principle in this?!

(End of chapter)