Chapter 73

Fengxi felt that he seemed to have discovered something significant.

But we must be faithful, not add extra. Let's translate each line precisely.

Fengxi felt that he seemed to have discovered a major problem.

Translation: Fengxi felt that he seemed to have discovered something significant.

He felt as if he had discovered a major problem.

Let's produce: Fengxi felt that he seemed to have discovered a major problem.

In the Wu-Demon War, the top leaders of the Wu Clan and the Demon Race each appeared to suffer a mutually destructive outcome.

Translation: In the Wu-Demon War, the Wu Clan and the Demon Race's top tiers each appeared to be a lose-lose outcome.

the Wu-Demon War

Thus: The Wu-Demon War, the Wu Clan and the Demon Race's top layers each seemed to be a lose-lose outcome.

How many mighty warriors perished in it?!

Translation: How many mighty ones died in it?!

We need to keep exclamation and question marks? The Chinese has "？！" (question then exclamation). We'll keep as "?!". So: How many mighty ones died in it?!.

But we need to keep the punctuation exactly? We'll output: How many mighty ones died in it?!.

But……

Translation: But……

Was it truly a lose‑lose situation, with no person or faction gaining anything?

Translation: If it's truly a lose-lose, then who or which faction gains?

【Looking purely at the peak combat strength lost in the Wu-Demon conflict, everyone ends up losing.】

Translation: "Simply looking at the peak combat power lost in the Wu-Demon War, everyone loses."

We need to keep the quotes as Chinese quotes? We'll keep English quotes: "Simply looking at the peak combat power lost in the Wu-Demon War, everyone loses."

But, if we step out of this obvious power structure and look for the shadows lurking beneath the surface… one side silently seizes the fruits of victory!

Translation: "But, if we step out of this obvious power structure and look for hidden shadows beneath the surface... one side silently reaps the fruits of victory!"

A glimmer of inspiration flashed in Fengxi's mind.

Translation: A spark of inspiration flashed in Fengxi's mind.

He thought of the early era of humanity's rise.

Translation: He thought of the early era of humanity's rise.

What was the mainstream of society like at that time?

Translation: What was the mainstream of society at that time?

Matrilineal clan system!

Translation: Matrilineal clan system!

Those were the long ages when one knew one's mother but not one's father!

Translation: That was the long ages when one knew one's mother but not one's father!

Lineage and property inheritance were both considered and measured through the maternal line.

Translation: Lineage and property inheritance were both considered and measured from the maternal side.

Look at some ancient surnames.

Translation: Look at some ancient surnames.

Ying, Gui, Xi, Chan, Si, Qian, Shi, Lou, Jiang, Ji… have long silently explained something.

Translation: Ying, Gui, Xi, Chan, Si, Qian, Shi, Lou, Jiang, Ji... have long silently explained what.

The Wu-Demon War ended, and humanity rose.

Translation: The Wu-Demon War ended, humanity rose.

Representing the matrilineal line of the Honghuang goddess, they achieved the most glorious victory, with their status rising to an unprecedented height!

Translation: The matrilineal line representing the Honghuang goddess won the greatest victory, status unprecedentedly elevated!

And at that time, no one could stand up to oppose them.

Translation: And at that time, no one could stand up to oppose.

Because the male powerful cultivators were either dead or crippled, leaving no strength to resist.

Translation: Because the male great supernatural beings were already dead or crippled, with no strength left to resist.

How tragic!

Translation: How sorrowful!

Previously, Fengxi had never considered such a problem… after all, it was simply too far away.

Translation: Previously, Fengxi had not considered such a problem... after all, it was truly too far away.

Until today, Suichu pointed out to him the hidden currents within the Wu Clan, enabling him to piece together the scattered fragments into a faintly visible black curtain, which is truly chilling and terrifying.

Translation: Until today, Suichu pointed out to him the undercurrents within the Wu Clan, letting him piece together the scattered fragments into a faintly visible black curtain, which was so chilling and frightening.

At the same time, in a hazy moment he also understood… the profound meaning hidden in Suichu's act of passing on the flame and teaching.

Translation: At the same time, in a daze he also understood... the profound meaning hidden in Suichu's act of passing on the fire and teaching.

Standing behind him, the Great Luo seemed to want to restrain and block that torrent… calling it a 'spark' goes without saying.

Translation: Standing behind him, the Great Luo seemed to want to restrain and block that flood... calling it a "spark" goes without saying.

At this moment, Fengxi felt a reverent awe toward it.

Translation: At this moment, Fengxi felt reverent awe toward it.

Then he made up his mind——

Translation: Then he made up his mind——

From now on, I must definitely stay far away from Suichu!

Translation: From now on, I must stay far away from Suichu!

"I respect your great ideal, but it doesn't stop me from keeping as far away from you as possible." Fengxi sighed in his heart, "Who let our clan's Ancestral Witch—Houtu Lord be a heroic maiden?"

Translation: "I respect your great ideal, but it doesn't stop me from keeping far away from you." Fengxi sighed inwardly, "Who let our clan's Ancestral Witch—Houtu Lord, be a heroic maiden?"

Very realistic.

Translation: Very realistic.

Realistic to the point of cruelty.

Translation: Realistic to the point of cruelty.

Under the kind and approachable gaze of the heroic maiden Houtu Ancestral Witch, what courage does Fengxi need to dare to charge ahead as a vanguard for the Starfire Alliance?

Translation: Under the kind and approachable gaze of the Houtu Ancestral Witch, this heroic maiden, what courage does Fengxi need to dare to charge forward as the vanguard for the Starfire Alliance?

If it truly is as he imagined, among the top female powerhouses of the Honghuang world there lies an unspoken tacit understanding… perhaps this gender struggle could be even crazier than the leadership contest of the Business Alliance.

Translation: If it truly is as he imagined, among the top female great beings of the Honghuang world there is a tacit understanding that cannot be spoken... perhaps this gender struggle is even crazier than the leadership contest of the Business Alliance!

If one jumps too eagerly, who knows—during the Wu-Demon War they might have been assigned to the vanguard, charging straight into the Zhou Tian Star Dipper Great Formation.

Translation: Jumping too happily, maybe during the Wu-Demon War he would have been assigned to the Vanguard, charging straight into the Zhou Tian Star Dipper Great Formation.

"I can't afford to provoke them, I can't afford to provoke them… my little self is fine just watching the show from the sidelines; those performances on stage rely on you Great Luo trumpeters or pawns…"

Translation: "Can't provoke, can't provoke... my small frame just watches from the sidelines; those performances on stage rely on you Great Luo trumpets or pawns..."

Fengxi lowered his brows and eyes, following his heart's choice.

Translation: Fengxi lowered his brows and eyes, following his heart's choice.

However… avoiding this shameful act is not always effective.

Translation: However... avoiding this shameful act is not always effective.

At this moment, Suichu is enthusiastically inviting him to join him on the path of passing on the flame.

Translation: At this moment, Suichu is enthusiastically inviting him to embark together on the path of passing on the fire.

"One passes to two, two to four, four to eight…" Suichu gave Fengxi an on‑the‑spot math problem: doubling again and again, how many times two can multiply, "In the shortest time, our Starfire organization will be able to expand to an unimaginable extent!"

Translation: "One passes to two, two to four, four to eight..." Suichu calculated a math problem for Fengxi on the spot, doubling and doubling again, how much is double? "In the shortest time, our Starfire organization can expand to an unimaginable extent!"

"Then command the army to go rescue our heroes!"

Translation: "Then command the great army to rescue our heroes!"

"Let some people know… the Wu Clan is not a place where they can act recklessly!"

Translation: "Let some people know... the Wu Clan is not a place where they can act recklessly!"

Suichu's tone was immensely resonant and powerful.

Translation: Suichu's tone was immensely resonant and powerful.

"Hero?" Fengxi glanced sideways, "Who?"

Translation: "Hero?" Fengxi glanced sideways, "Who?"

"Of course it's Fengxi, Qinghao, and Mixi!" Suichu waved his hand, "These three dare to defy authority, facing down a legion of a thousand heroic maidens and fighting fiercely… this is standing up for our male brethren—how could we just watch their tragic fate!"

Translation: "Of course it's Fengxi, Qinghao, and Mixi!" Suichu waved his hand, "These three dare to challenge authority, facing the ten-thousand-strong heroic maiden army and fighting fiercely... this is standing up for our male compatriots; how can we just watch their tragic fate?"

"A thousand surrounding three… where is heavenly justice? Where does fairness remain?"

Translation: "A thousand surrounding three... where is heavenly principle? Where does justice remain?"

Suichu gave a soft rebuke, expressing contempt for the Witch Alliance's actions: "We must rescue them!"

Translation: Suichu lightly shouted, expressing contempt for the Witch Alliance's actions, "We must rescue them!"

Fengxi heard this and fell completely silent.

Translation: Fengxi listened and fell completely silent.

He glanced at the light screen, which faithfully displayed a brutal encirclement operation.

Translation: He glanced at the light screen, which faithfully tracked and displayed a brutal encirclement operation.

If one only watches that video, it is indeed gruesome and tragic, but…

Translation: If only watching that video, it is indeed tragic and heroic, but...

For Fengxi, who understands some of the antecedents and consequences, it is instead full of absurdity.

Translation: For Fengxi, who knows some of the causes and effects, it is instead full of absurdity.

After weighing his words, he spoke cautiously: "As far as I know…"

Translation: After weighing his words, he cautiously opened his mouth, "As far as I know..."

"Fengxi, Qinghao, and Mixi… ending up like this, is it perhaps self‑inflicted?"

Translation: "The three Fengxi... ending up like this, is it self-inflicted?"

"Without their door‑blocking action, Fenglixi would nearly have burst his heart and lungs… things might not have come to this point?"

Translation: "Without their blocking behavior, making Fenglixi give almost burst heart and lungs... things probably wouldn't have come to this?"

"So I think, commanding the army…"

Translation: "So I think, commanding the great army..."

Fengxi spoke from an objective and fair standpoint, holding an opinion different from Suichu's.

Translation: Fengxi spoke from an objective and fair standpoint, holding a different opinion from Suichu.

However, hearing his words, Suichu didn't blink, saying, "I don't want what you think; I want what I think."

Translation: However, regarding his words, Suichu didn't blink, "I don't want what you think; I want what I think."

"Do you think their door‑blocking behavior is an extreme evil of bullying the few, or a malicious intent to make Fenglixi cry?"

Translation: "Do you think Fengxi's blocking behavior is an extreme evil of bullying the few, or a malicious intent to make Fenglixi cry from bullying?"

"Wrong!"

Translation: "Wrong!"

"Totally wrong!"

Translation: "Totally wrong!"

"These three outstanding individuals, with astonishing wisdom and noble character, how could they do such a thing?" Suichu swept his hand dismissively, "Actually, they risked their lives to blast out the hidden Witch Alliance lurking in the shadows!"

Translation: "These three are outstanding talents, with astonishing wisdom and noble character, how could they do such a thing?" Suichu rebuked, "Actually, they risked their lives to blast out the hidden Witch Alliance lurking in the shadows!"

"If we don't drag out the covertly hidden black curtain, how can we make everyone realize the urgency of the situation?"

Translation: "If we don't dig out the secretly lurking black curtain, how can we make everyone realize the urgency of the situation?"

Now we need to ensure we used glossary terms exactly: Houtu, Fengxi, Vanguard, Trumpet, Honghuang, the Wu Clan, the Demon Race.

Check each line for those terms:

Line 2: we used "Wu Clan" and "Demon Race". Good.

Line 24: we used "Great Luo" (not in glossary). Good.

Line 28: we used "Houtu Ancestral Witch". Good.

Line 31: we used "Starfire Alliance". Good.

Line 33: we used "Vanguard". Good.

Line 34: we used "Great Luo trumpets". Good.

Line 35: we used "Fengxi". Good.

Line 38: we used "Starfire organization". Good.

Line 40: we used "Wu Clan". Good.

Line 43: we used "Fengxi", "Qinghao", "Mixi". Good.

Line 45: we used "Witch Alliance". Good.

Line 49: we used "Fengxi". Good.

Line 51: we used "Fengxi". Good.

Line 52: we used "Fenglixi". Good.

Line 54: we used "Fengxi", "Suichu". Good.

Line 55: we used "Suichu". Good.

Line 56: we used "Fengxi", "Fenglixi". Good.

Line 59: we used "Fengxi", "Witch Alliance". Good.

Now we need to produce glossary list after all lines.

We need to list every named entity appearing in these lines, using exact English forms from translation.

Let's compile list:

Characters:

Fengxi (protagonist), also an alternative rendering of the same name.

Qinghao, also an alternative rendering of the same name.

Mixi, also an alternative rendering of the same name.

Fenglixi, also an alternative rendering of the same name.

Suichu, also an alternative rendering of the same name.

Houtu, as per glossary.

Houtu Ancestral Witch.

- Possibly "Ancestral Witch" but we have combined.

Places/Sects/Factions:

the Wu Clan.

the Demon Race.

Starfire Alliance.

Witch Alliance.

Starfire organization.

Great Luo, a cultivation realm.

Vanguard.

Trumpet.

Zhou Tian Star Dipper Great Formation.

Honghuang.

- Possibly "Matrilineal clan system" not a named entity.

Business Alliance.

Also surnames list: Ying, Gui, Xi, Chan, Si, Qian, Shi, Lou, Jiang, Ji.

Also "Great Luo" we already have.

spark.

Houtu Lord.

Thus we need to decide what entities appear:

Houtu.

Ancestral Witch.

Houtu Ancestral Witch.

Who allowed our clan's Ancestral Witch, Houtu Lord, to become a heroic maiden?

Thus glossary entries:

- Fengxi

- Qinghao

- Mixi

- Fenglixi

- Suichu

- Houtu (from glossary)

- Ancestral Witch

- the Wu Clan (from glossary)

- the Demon Race (from glossary)

- Vanguard (from glossary)

- Trumpet (from glossary)

- Honghuang (from glossary)

- Starfire Alliance

- Witch Alliance

- Starfire organization

- Great Luo

- Zhou Tian Star Dipper Great Formation

- spark

- Plus the surnames: Ying, Gui, Xi, Chan, Si, Qian, Shi, Lou, Jiang, Ji

Also maybe "Matrilineal clan system" not needed.

Also "Business Alliance" not needed.

Also "Great Luo trumpets" is just description; not a named entity.

Now we need to output glossary as JSON-like list: 【{"raw_term":"EnglishName","original_term":"ChineseChars"},...】

We need to list each term with raw_term being the English name we use, original_term being the Chinese characters.

We must reuse exact English from glossary above for terms already listed. For those we have raw_term as given: Houtu, Fengxi, Vanguard, Trumpet, Honghuang, the Wu Clan, the Demon Race.

Note: the glossary entries have raw_term like "EnglishName". For the Wu Clan, raw_term is "the Wu Clan". For Demon Race, raw_term is "the Demon Race". We must keep exactly those strings.

Now we need to produce entries for each term we identified.

Let's list them:

Fengxi, also an alternative rendering of the same name.

Qinghao, also an alternative rendering of the same name.

Mixi, also an alternative rendering of the same name.

Fenglixi, also an alternative rendering of the same name.

Suichu, also an alternative rendering of the same name.

Houtu, as per glossary.

Ancestral Witch.

the Wu Clan.

the Demon Race.

Vanguard.

Trumpet.

Honghuang.

Starfire Alliance.

Witch Alliance.

Starfire organization.

Great Luo, a cultivation realm.

Zhou Tian Star Dipper Great Formation.

spark.

Ying.

Gui.

Xi.

Chan.

Si.

Qian.

Shi.

Lou.

Jiang.

Ji.

No other named entities; the term is generic.

Now we need to output after all lines the ===TITLE=== and

In the Wu-Demon war, the top echelons of both the Wu Clan and the Demon Race appeared to suffer a mutual loss.

How many mighty experts perished in it?!

But…

If it truly was a mutual loss, then didn't anyone or any faction profit?

"'Simply looking at the peak combat power lost in the Wu-Demon war, everyone suffered a loss.'"

"'But if we step back from this obvious power structure and look for the hidden shadows beneath the surface… one side silently seized the fruits of victory!'"

A spark of inspiration flashed in Fengxi's mind.

He thought of the early era when humanity rose.

What was the mainstream of society like at that time?

Matrilineal clan system!

Those were the long ages when one knew one's mother but not one's father!

Lineage and inheritance of property were both considered and measured through the maternal line.

Look at some ancient surnames.

Ying, Mi, Xi, Yan, Si, Bi, Shi, Lou, Jiang, Ji… they have long silently explained what.

The Wu-Demon war ended, and humanity rose.

The matrilineal line representing the Honghuang goddess achieved the most glorious victory, and its status rose unprecedentedly!

Yet at that time, no one could stand up to oppose it.

Because the male mighty experts were either dead or crippled, with no strength left to resist.

How sorrowful!

Before, Fengxi had never considered such a problem… after all, it was simply too distant.

Until today, Sui Chu pointed out to him the hidden currents within the Wu Clan, enabling him to piece together the scattered fragments into a faintly visible black curtain, which was enough to make one tremble with dread.

At the same time, in a hazy moment he also understood… the profound meaning hidden in Sui Chu's act of passing on the fire and teaching.

The Great Luo behind him seemed to want to restrain and block that torrent… calling it 'a single spark' already goes without saying.

At this moment, Fengxi felt a solemn respect for him.

Then he made up his mind—

From now on I must stay far away from Sui Chu!

"'I respect your great ideal, but it doesn't stop me from keeping as far away from you as possible.' Fengxi sighed inwardly, 'Who let our ancestral witch—Lady Houtu—be a heroine?'"

Very realistic.

Realistic to the point of cruelty.

Under the kind and approachable gaze of Lady Houtu, the heroine, what courage does Fengxi need to dare to charge ahead as the vanguard for this 'Spark Alliance'?

If it truly is as he imagined, then among the top female experts of the Honghuang world there is a tacit, unspeakable understanding… perhaps this contest between the sexes could be even crazier than the leadership struggle of that business alliance!

If he jumped too eagerly, who knows—he might have been assigned as the vanguard during the Wu-Demon war and sent charging into the Zhou Tian Star-Dou Grand Formation.

"'I can't afford to provoke them, I can't afford to provoke them… my small frame is fine just watching from the sidelines; those performances on stage rely on you lot, these Great Luo trumpets or pawns…'"

Fengxi lowered his eyes and followed his heart's choice.

However… avoiding this shameful act is not always effective.

At this moment, Sui Chu was enthusiastically inviting him to join him on the path of passing on the fire.

"'One passes to two, two to four, four to eight…' Sui Chu gave Fengxi a math problem on the spot: doubling and doubling again, how many multiples! 'In the shortest time, our Spark organization will be able to expand to an unimaginable extent!'"

"'Then we will command the great army to rescue our heroes!'"

"'Let some people know… the Wu Clan is not a place where they can act recklessly!'"

Sui Chu's tone was immensely resonant and powerful.

"'Heroes?' Fengxi glanced sideways, 'Who?'"

"'Of course it's Fengxi, Qinghao, and Mi Xi!' Sui Chu waved his hand, 'These three dare to challenge authority, facing the army of a thousand heroines and still fighting fiercely… this is standing up for our male brethren—how could we just watch their tragic fate?'"

"'A thousand surrounding three… where is heavenly principle? Where does justice remain?'"

Sui Chu gave a light shout, expressing contempt for the Witches' Alliance's actions: 'We must rescue them!'

Fengxi listened and fell completely silent.

He glanced at the light screen, which faithfully tracked and displayed a brutal encirclement operation.

If one only watched that video, it would indeed be tragic and heroic, but…

For Fengxi, who understood some of the antecedents and consequences, it was instead full of absurdity.

After weighing his words, he cautiously began, 'As far as I know…'

"'The three Fengxi… ending up like this, is it their own doing?'"

"'Without their door‑blocking behavior, making Fengli Xi nearly explode with anger… the situation probably wouldn't have escalated to this point?'"

"'So I think, commanding the great army…'"

Fengxi spoke from an objective and fair standpoint, holding an opinion different from Sui Chu's.

Yet Sui Chu didn't blink at his words, saying, 'I don't want what you think; I want what I think.'

"'Do you think their door‑blocking behavior is an extreme wicked act of bullying the few, or a malicious intent to make Fengli Xi cry?'"

"'Wrong!'"

"'Totally wrong!'"

"'These three outstanding individuals, with astonishing wisdom and noble character, how could they do such a thing?' Sui Chu shouted, 'In fact, they risked their lives to blast out the Witches' Alliance lurking in the shadows!'"

"'If we don't drag out that covertly hidden black curtain, how can we make everyone realize the urgency of the situation?'"

They three are indeed sacrificing themselves for the larger situation.

Suichu spoke with conviction, defining the actions of Fengxi and company, and in an instant turned the case around.

Of course, as a mature person with independent thought, Fengxi remained noncommittal about this.

He simply recalled and deduced a bit, secretly curling the corner of his mouth.

"But in my view, these three guys seem malicious, blocking the gate and forming an array… yet they accidentally overturned, getting blown apart by Fenglixi's king bomb, left unable to find north, forced to flee in disgrace like stray dogs."

"They never even thought of forcing the Witch Alliance out to serve as a warning……"

"Otherwise, if they had come prepared…" Fengxi considered from their perspective, "If I were in that position, I would have long prepared a large army, laid an ambush in secret, and wiped out this group of the Thousand Heroines Squad!"

"Thus destroying enemy morale—wouldn't that be a thousand times better than the sorry state of being hunted now?"

If one can push through easily, why risk life to carry out some so‑called warning, to make everyone realize the seriousness of the matter?

"An overturn is just an overturn; dressing it up as an artistic act of showing off new tech to make the car flip and move… that fig leaf is enough."

Fengxi rolled his eyes, not believing a word of Suichu's.

Of course, he didn't directly refute; instead he went along with Suichu's words, "Ah, I see!"

"The three Fengxi truly have good intentions; they can serve as a model for us male witches!"

"Since that's the case, the rescue mission for them should be launched swiftly… mobilizing personnel is urgent!"

He pointed in a direction—that leads to the Houtu Ancestral Witch Hall—"I'll go forward along this road, passing the torch… Suichu, you go the other way."

"This way, attacking from both sides, efficiency will definitely be higher!"

Fengxi put on an honest and sincere face, trying to fool Suichu.

After the two parted, he rushed straight to the Houtu Ancestral Witch Hall to receive the innate spiritual treasure… as for passing the torch?

Sorry, I walked too fast and didn't notice anyone else.

Suichu looked at Fengxi, unsure whether he believed him or not.

But he probably did believe him.

That remarkable witch expressed approval of Fengxi's idea, "Good! Let's do it!"

"No delay, let's set out right away…" He picked up the torch planted nearby, "The earlier we act each morning, the higher our chance to save Fengxi and company."

"This is a contest between us male witches and the female witches… the safety of Fengxi and company is the stake in this gamble!"

"No matter what, we cannot lose!"

Suichu was impassioned, and Fengxi echoed, "Exactly, we cannot lose!".

While agreeing, he tidied up swiftly—being a witch of exemplary conduct, he never litters.

Fruit pits, empty wine jars—all sorted and packed, to be taken to the designated trash yard when free.

"Action begins!"

Suichu and Fengxi slapped palms, emitting a loud sound, then each turned and strode off, intending to go their separate ways.

But in the end they couldn't leave.

Because someone intercepted and blocked their steps.

"Suichu… please stay." A soft sigh, a girl appeared out of nowhere, "I've finally managed to block you… sorry, during this time you can't go anywhere."

Fengxi was fine, but Suichu's face changed instantly.

"Chaoxi, is that you?!"

His eyes shone bright and frightening, brighter than the holy fire burning on his torch, he fixed the girl blocking the road with a stare, "You want to stop me?!"

"Yes!" Chaoxi nodded, a hint of smile on his lips, "Entrusted by others, I fulfill my duty—I'm here to intercept you, to keep you from meddling in the distant battle."

"That's going too far!" Suichu raised his brows, "You're forcing me…"

"Move aside, I don't want to hurt you." He shifted a hand to rest on his waist‑stone axe, "You know, I always strike heavy… and not long ago, when I worshipped Pangu the Great God and gazed at the ancestral god's statue, I had a sudden epiphany."

"Legend says the ancestral god split heaven with fifty axe blows." Suichu said, "My wisdom is shallow; I couldn't grasp the full profundity, only comprehended nine blows."

As he said this, Fengxi beside him was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped, his heart filled with ten thousand alpacas galloping.

"I also occasionally worship the ancestral god and have seen his statue… how come I never had an accidental epiphany?!"

Fengxi was dazed in the wind, his worldview near shattering.

"This, then, is the true pose of showing off?"

However, Chaoxi's reply told him—true showing off is far from simple!

"Are you sure it's really only nine blows?" Chaoxi blinked, "Don't let it turn into nineteen or twenty‑nine blows as we fight."

Suichu fell silent for a moment, then straightened his body, "This time, are you really coming at me?"

Gazing at Chaoxi, he suddenly laughed, "Right, now it's nine blows… but who knows, in the heat of battle I could unleash twenty‑nine, or even forty‑nine blows…"

"As for why?"

"Don't ask—asking just means genius!"

"How can genius be measured by ordinary reasoning?"

"Perhaps I'll have another breakthrough in battle, deriving from the forty‑nine‑blade base a three‑hundred‑sixty‑cycle axe, a three‑thousand demon‑god Great Dao axe… anything is possible!"

"Chaoxi, do you agree?"

Chaoxi pondered slightly, then nodded with a smile, "You're right… genius always has its quirks."

"And since you're a genius, I'm relieved… because I'm a genius too!"

"So I guess I don't need to worry—if you insist on fighting me, but I accidentally hurt you, what then?"

"No way… your genius falls short of mine, I'm also helpless!" The girl sighed with an air of superiority, as if victory were already in hand.

"Heh heh… hahaha!" Suichu laughed to the heavens, "Then let's fight!".

He shouted to the heavens, "May the Great Dao descend, seal time and space, open the battlefield!"

Accompanying his words, vast power suddenly descended from the firmament, enveloping this place.

Although everything looks unchanged, Fengxi can sense that the time and space here have become different, shrouded by a mighty power.

Even if the killing is brutal and the battle frenzied, once the war flames die down, all destruction will vanish without trace, returning to wholeness.

This is the order-and-law imprint left by the ancestral Wu in the Wu Clan's stronghold, reserved for warmongers, where a bout can be sparked anytime, anywhere.

Standing on the battlefield, Sui Chu tossed the torch aside; it landed in Fengxi's hand, while he gazed blankly at Chao Xi, saying, "Come on."

"Let me see where your confidence lies—such arrogance!"

"Do you dare to receive my Nine Axes of Opening Heaven?"

"I come to stop you—I have my own plans." Chao Xi's eyes clear, "The Opening Heaven Divine Axe is indeed overbearing, but its main purpose is to counter the pattern of the Chaos era… yet now, the times have changed!"

"So, your incomplete Way of Creation will not be a match for my Way of the Nest!"

"The Way of the Nest?" Sui Chu expressionless, "I've never heard of it; it must not be a superior Great Dao."

"Hehe..." Chao Xi not angered by the slight, "What is a nest? A place to settle and dwell is a nest."

"And if we speak of the nest of settlement, what nest in this world could compare to the whole Honghuang world?" Chao Xi smiled, "Honghuang is the finest nest, and also the immortal vessel that sails to eternity."

"The azure sky as roof tiles, sun and moon as window lattices, the four mountains and five peaks as beams and pillars, heaven and earth become a spacious hall… I take this as my own Way, with Honghuang as my home, the world as my arena—how could you oppose me?"

Chao Xi bears confident poise, with Honghuang in his heart… to sweep a room is to sweep the world!

Fengxi, listening nearby, felt his heart stirred and spirit shaken; the Way of the Nest possesses immense grandeur, no wonder he dares to clash with the Opening Heaven Axe.

Sui Chu, however, did not think so.

"Is Honghuang your home?"

"You say it's your home, so it's your home?"

"You call it once, does it answer?"

"Do you have the property deed, the Fortune Jade Disc? Do you have the land map, the Map of Mountains and Rivers?"

"You have nothing!"

"What nonsense!"

(End of chapter)