Chapter 735: with translation of chapter title

Then you also need to be able to come out first.

Yangmei the Great Immortal halted the hostilities, speaking thus.

Facing the opponent's harsh words, he appeared completely unafraid.

If your true form can't emerge, then relying on this illusory shadow from the ages... uh, you might as well spare yourself.

Speaking words that could easily provoke anger, the great figure standing opposite Yangmei couldn't hold back.

You've got quite the nerve.

In a low tone, his words extremely unfriendly: 'It's true that I am in harmony with the Heavenly Dao, but that doesn't mean I will forever bear this burden.'

Yangmei, you... are you truly not worried about my settling accounts afterward?

The Dao Ancestor snorted coldly.

'Exactly!' Yangmei said openly, repeatedly hopping sideways at the edge of being hit.

However, even so, after all these years, the Dao Ancestor could do nothing to him—they had been waging war for many years!

In the past, to investigate the cat grease on Emperor Donghua's body, Hunyuan exerted great magical power and great divine abilities, his true form still seated in the Zixiao Palace, bearing the Heavenly Dao, yet he extended his hand, peeling away layers of secrecy to probe deeper information.

However, just before success, he was blocked by Yangmei.

This one was fortunate enough to survive intact from the Pangu axe of the Chaos era, and lived through the ancient mighty beings of the Dragon-Phoenix era, becoming the final obstacle for the Dao Ancestor to learn the truth, the greatest interception.

Hunyuan, in great anger, struck out with a phantom body... Unfortunately, they have been entangled until today, with no result.

As they fought, they even lost the meaning of conquest... because Emperor Donghua has already kicked the bucket!

But...

I can't swallow it in one breath!

Furthermore, Yangmei, in the posture of a dog-skin plaster, clings tightly... mastering the supreme Dao of space, perhaps his combat prowess isn't top-tier, his ability to disgust people... yet undeniable.

From the time of lecturing the Dao in the Zixiao Palace, they have been fighting all the way to the later Wu-Hou era, becoming a pair of adversaries.

Nowadays, the Dao Ancestor is weary, tired, and no longer has the desire to act.

With version updates and era changes, everyone has already been eliminated; at best they can be spectators, unable to intervene and change anything.

Hunyuan looked at Yangmei with a blank expression: 'The good enforcer Houtu found, able to wholeheartedly carry out tasks, has obstructed me for so many years.'

'Goddess Nüwa possesses both civil and military virtue, her grace extends to all beings, for thousands of ages she unified Honghuang... To serve her is my honor.'

Yangmei said humbly: 'It's merely to restrain part of your strength, Dao friend; this is really no big deal—if you were at your peak, I'd probably just turn and leave.'

'Heh!' Hunyuan gave a cold laugh, noncommittal: 'What benefits has Nüwa ever given you? To make you work so hard, aren't you afraid of offending me to death?'

I hope Dao friend can clear up my doubts a bit.

The Dao Ancestor's gaze was blazing, carrying an indescribable penetrative power.

'Well...' Yangmei made a thoughtful pose, 'Dao friend... I think with your insight, you shouldn't fail to see the crux of this.'

'What is my origin? An innate spiritual root!'

This ancient Chaos demon god spoke leisurely, carrying an indescribable sense of loneliness and vicissitudes: 'Unlike ordinary demon god Dao friends... they are mostly ancient due to strength, relying on postnatal cultivation to change fate, resetting their origin, brushing out the Chaos root.'

'And what about us innate spiritual roots?'

They are genuinely ancient, a product of Chaos serendipity... like the primordial Honghuang, they can be called Chaos spiritual roots.

However, once the August Emperor Haotian conquered Chaos, sweeping all this into Honghuang's history, the term Chaos disappeared, and I became an innate spiritual root.

It's the same for success and failure.

Postnatal cultivation of beings is arduous, yet self-verifying the self is easy; a short life can make the will's fire flourish brilliantly.

But we old antiques are thus miserable.

Using a trendy word to describe... our innate nature is 'losing self'; the traces of chaos from the Chaos era suppress the formation and coalescence of our self-will, possessing the most vast and noble life essence, yet drifting without reliance, lacking a foothold.

Therefore, innate spiritual roots are strong because they truly bear the imprint of all era changes' Dao trajectories, having reserves equivalent to a Great Luo, equal in rank... yet they are equally pitiful, strong yet without self.

Old friend.

'Look at this vast Honghuang, how many innate spiritual roots are there?'

'Among them, how many have managed to embark on the cultivation path?'

'Besides me, there's only a bodhi tree... he still has to thank Jieyin.'

'It was Jieyin who, before his sitting-transformation, turned his entire fruition of the Dao into enlightenment, pointing it at him, thus freeing him from his shackles.'

'Once the shackles are gone, the accumulated silence becomes aid to cultivation... Zhunti's eventual luck in attaining a Saint's position is not without reason.'

Yangmei spoke at length, giving an example.

'Look.'

'The shackles on an innate spiritual root are so great that enlightening a single bodhi tree once caused a great being to sit and pass away.'

'And I managed to break free of the shackles... you guess, is there someone behind this pulling strings?'

'If so, who then?'

Yangmei guided Hunyuan with patient persuasion.

'I see.' Hunyuan's eyes flickered subtly, 'Perhaps I now understand... Nüwa!'

'Also... only she has this ability; with little cost, she can help innate spiritual roots break free of their shackles.'

'After all, she is the Lord of Creation, the Holy of Reincarnation!'

Nüwa, the Sovereign of Creation, the Holy One of Reincarnation!

As the Empress Nüwa, she held sway over the creation of all beings.

As Houtu, she governed the cycle of human reincarnation.

In the study of life's body and consciousness, this goddess is supreme above all ages!

'Your reasoning is fine.'

Yangmei smiled, 'Dao friend Nüwa, indeed possesses such ability.'

I am also indebted to her blessing, which allowed me to reach today and stand before you.

So you accepted her summons and came to block me? Hongjun's face turned cold and grim.

Yangmei smiled and said nothing.

Ha... Hongjun suddenly laughed, "Do you really think I'd believe that?"

In the past, I would have believed your answer without doubt. Hongjun said each word firmly, "You are doing this to repay Nüwa's grace and to advance Houtu's undertaking, thus becoming a sufficiently weighty bargaining chip in her hand to restrain me."

But now...

The Dao Ancestor's eyes were immeasurably deep, like two dark abysses.

I don't believe it anymore.

Hongjun's tone was very calm, terrifyingly calm.

You are not her person.

You are merely pretending to be her person.

You have your own calculations.

The Dao Ancestor said.

Old friend Hongjun, what nonsense are you spouting? Yangmei smiled, "Don't talk nonsense without evidence."

Fine, let's say I'm talking nonsense. Hongjun snorted, "Why would Nüwa enlighten you?"

With her abilities, achieving this wouldn't be easy.

Is it just to block me?

Before things developed to this absurd state, what is my measly illusory body worth?

At most it can handle an ordinary Grand Simplicity!

Hongjun sneered, "Under the pressure of the Heavenly Dao, the liquid assets I can mobilize are only this much, not much stronger than the little girl of old."

But now... heh!

By the time the era evolved to today, the August Emperor's contribution is not small.

The only one who could have foreseen this in advance would be him!

Di Jiang is dead!

Hongjun changed the subject, "I saw from afar, he died cleanly, thoroughly."

Don't tell me he, an ancient god merely allied with humanity, would sacrifice himself so thoroughly just for an ideal.

I still don't know what kind of person Di Jiang was back then.

An old god who followed the August Emperor and Fuxi to make their way, at his peak he oversaw the entire Honghuang's transportation and logistics.

Is there anything that cannot be seen through or broken?

To face death so calmly, there must be someone arranging it behind the scenes—actually not hard to guess.

Nüwa should also know.

Perhaps that is why you have succeeded.

But...

Hongjun's mouth curled slightly, showing a half-smile, "You... will you really obey her?"

Or rather, you... only obey her?

I have experienced Fuxi's scheming before.

His schemes are layered, and no one knows which level he stands on.

The matter of Donghuang Di Jun back then deceived many people!

As an outsider, just watching makes my heart ache!

Yangmei, you say... should I file an anonymous complaint against Nüwa? Let her open her eyes? Beware of being schemed by petty people.

Hongjun said this, and Yangmei remained silent.

His eyes shifted, as if he had fallen into a speechless silence.

Of course. Hongjun suddenly withdrew all his coercive momentum, "I actually don't want to do something that harms others and brings no benefit to myself."

What good would it do me to ruin the August Emperor's plans?

So... as long as I can gain some benefit, I can remain silent on certain matters.

This... depends on your sincerity.

Hongjun raised a hand, rubbing his thumb, index, and middle fingers together as a gesture.

Yangmei narrowed her eyes, her gaze dark.

What kind of sincerity do you want? After a moment of silence, he asked.

My portion of fighting strength will leave; you can't keep entangling me—nothing more. Hongjun said calmly, "You needn't fear what I might do... look, in this Honghuang world, the times are chaotic, the version updated; we who were previously outsiders now cannot enter at all."

So even if I had some ill intentions, I couldn't carry them out... right?

He tried hard to convince his opponent.

That seems to be the case. Yangmei pondered for a while, then slowly nodded, "Alright then."

He seemed to believe Hongjun's words.

The once vast, boundless, surging void sea gradually disintegrated, no longer entangled with the Dao Ancestor's temporal projection.

Thank you, Dao friend. Hongjun smiled, "Then I will naturally keep it secret... after all, I also worry that the August Emperor will smash the pot and give up, so I might as well fulfill the Nüwa Empress, willingly letting Nüwa turn the tables and dominate, bullying and oppressing an era or even several eras."

I, Hongjun, actually don't have such a great will to fight... I just want to find a stand-in to detach from the position of the Heavenly Dao.

Like the Three Pure Ones merging into one... I think that's not bad.

Between me and the August Emperor Majesty, there is actually no irreconcilable conflict, nor do I really want to be a blade in humanity's hand to settle scores with the August Emperor.

The Dao Ancestor spoke solemnly, saying things he himself seemed to believe.

"Hopefully so." Yang Mei gave Dao Ancestor a deep look, his form gradually fading—he seemed to have transcended this place, merely for a moment, then he broke through eternity and never saw Hongjun again.

After waiting a while, Hongjun's mouth curled into a subtle arc, "How could that be?"

"My lost youth…… how did I ever come to use a dragon-head cane back then?"

"This breath…… I can't calm it!"

After Dao Ancestor's projection exhaled a breath, he then departed.

He followed an inscrutable trajectory, walking upon a mysterious path.

In the Honghuang cosmos, with the version update, those not in the game at that moment cannot return to it now.

However, this does not mean Hongjun is incapable of doing anything.

At that time, he still kept a backup plan.

"Azure……"

Hongjun chanted the name taboo of a mighty being, a smile appearing on his face.

We are both wanderers fallen upon hard times.

Everyone has been eliminated.

But there is a difference between being eliminated and being eliminated!

At that time, the two Pangus engaged in a chaotic slaughter; the aftermath cleared the field of Nüwa and Di Jun.

Dao Ancestor, who constantly resides in the Purple Cloud Palace, need not even be mentioned.

However, besides those who exited normally, there is another mighty being whose exit was not so normal—

Dragon Ancestor!

He was deliberately targeted and suppressed by Hongjun, pressed down beneath the era's version!

An innate supreme treasure—the sacrifice of the Jade Disc of Creation—manifested supreme divine power, pinning down all the vital variables of Dragon Ancestor; it was not merely that player accounts were frozen, but the players themselves were thrown into jail!

Beaten to the brink of death, pounded until their lives hung by a thread, then all assets frozen—how could a single word "tragic" suffice?

Now, the Dragon Master Association's such tragedy—how could it not be related to this!

However.

It is quite obvious.

The utilitarian value of the Azure Dragon Great Sage is still great.

In an absolutely void spacetime, Dragon Ancestor licked his wounds, cultivating in seclusion, yet was sought out by a malevolent guest who had already marked him.

"Hongjun!"

A mournful cry echoed here, yet it was of no avail.

An evil big hand reached out, unleashing heavy blows upon the old, weak, sick, and disabled, bullying the injured and ill; evidently a single projection was more than enough.

"Old Dragon!"

"Don't struggle…… it's useless!"

"Back then I planted a foreshadowing, just waiting for today!"

"I have an important task to entrust to you."

"Does Mount Buzhou know about this?"

"Yes, that's it."

"Please, when you go out, knock it down for me!"

"What?"

"You're unwilling?"

"This is not up to you!"

A faint sigh sounded, accompanied by the tone of fists striking flesh, "Heaven and earth lack nothing; the dread of the boundless Great Calamity does not come—how could the prison of my Purple Cloud Palace be broken?"

"Resign yourself to fate!"

……

A terrifying event is unfolding.

And the distant Yang Mei Immortal, sensing something, turned his head.

Suddenly, he laughed.

"Black Emperor…… shall return to his throne!"

"Five Emperors…… at last all together!"

(End of chapter)