Chapter 780

Fengxi

Yinglong

August Emperor Heavenly Emperor

Human Dao

- Note: glossary does not have humanity.

Even under the backdrop of being surrounded by wolves! Bearing boundless pressure, gradually operating, conspiring with the August Emperor, the Heavenly Emperor... Even so, he still threw himself in, filling the source of the Human Dao.

Merit the Great Dao

Over the long passage of time, the new and old leaders of the Human Dao were in tacit understanding, ultimately pushing the Five Virtues Great Dao hard to the brink of perfection.

Moral Virtue the Great Dao

Blessing Virtue the Great Dao

Hidden Virtue the Great Dao

Novice

Sage

the Heavenly Court

Kunlun

All we can say is that we have gained insight, we have experience... But when one truly reaches the gate of Pangu and needs to make that ultimate leap, this Dao fruit must be walked out by oneself! One must rule the world, a single word can become law for myriad ages! However, in this era, demon emperors rise together, ancestral witches stand side by side; they are all ancient great supernatural beings, like old cucumbers painted green, pretending to be novices, pressing the true Novice into the ground and rubbing them, blocking the channel for upward promotion, leaving hardly any space for newcomers to stand out.

Houtu

To stand out, to surpass one competitor after another, how many times have I risked life and death? Too many to count!

Pangu

Entering Kunlun to stretch one's fists and feet, promoting the Reincarnation Divine Sect, holding the All-Sports Games, and even proposing the earliest idea of a cloud cultivation platform... and so on and so forth.

Yandi

But this also got him onto the Heavenly Court's death list; a mad cow disease demon god, actually having a psychotic episode, wants to kill him!

Heavenly Emperor -> Heavenly Emperor (glossary) (though not appearing as standalone? but we have it in glossary; we can include if appears; but we didn't see standalone Heavenly Emperor. However we have Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Emperor Jun. We'll still include if appears? It didn't appear alone. We'll only include if appears. So skip.)

Dragon Ancestor

East Heavenly Emperor

Heavenly Emperor

However, later Fengxi worked diligently, managed the construction of humanity, gained the people's recognition, only then did he secure his position and lay the foundation of his own sage virtue.

Haotian -> Haotian (glossary) (not appearing)

Chonghua

Dragon Master

He also supported Yinglong, struggled unceasingly, becoming the new master of the Dragon Master! The Bird Master likewise underwent a complete upheaval, Chonghua stepped down, and his own person, the East Heavenly Emperor, ascended! Unbeknownst to him, humanity had completely taken on Fengxi's form.

Cloud Master

Fire Master

Chiyou

Dao Ancestor

Hongjun

Purple Cloud Palace

To achieve the grandest goal, the Human Dao even went down to fight the August Emperor; the two Pangu conquerors called many masters out of the game, and they also needed to factor in the idea of that Dao Ancestor sitting in silent meditation in the Purple Cloud Palace, using him to pitilessly trap the Dragon Ancestor! Only then did we have today.

Ancestral Wu

Feng clan

litter scooper

the Great Dao

Sage Virtue Dao

Sage Virtue

Moral Virtue

East Heavenly Emperor entered the fray, personally contending with Heavenly Emperor Di Jun, using intention against unintention! Thus, he successfully suppressed Di Jun, seized the Heavenly Emperor's research on 'fairness', integrated and comprehended it, helping the Human Dao fill the last brick of morality and blessing.

Hidden Virtue

Heavenly Emperor Di Jun

But he could be recognized by the Dao Ancestor Hongjun, confirmed as the helmsman of the Heavenly Court... Obviously, his ability was worthy of this position! However, he encountered a mistaken opponent and also suffered a blow from an information asymmetry club, leading to such an easy loss.

Heavenly Emperor

Di Jun

August Emperor

the Great Dao

Merit the Great Dao

Sage Virtue the Great Dao

Moral Virtue the Great Dao

Blessing Virtue the Great Dao

Hidden Virtue the Great Dao

Five Virtues the Great Dao

Sage Virtue Dao

"The point is, those who ought to be hooked have already been hooked; the fulfillment of the Great Dao of Yin Virtue is already a foregone conclusion..." Wen Ming's gaze was subtle, with a distinctly playful hue, "Speaking of which, it's interesting."

The Five Virtues Great Dao, the other few virtues, more or less, I have exerted effort here; it is quite an important facilitator.

Merit, I gave it.

Sage virtue, blessings virtue, morality—I made the main assist.

As for this yin virtue… it is humanity itself stirring it up.

I contributed little, merely going through the motions.

After all, this does not align with my beliefs… I do not really agree with this soul reincarnation cycle.

Not turning hostile now is already quite good.

Wen Ming's tone was light.

Back then, the August Emperor turned against humanity over the issue of reincarnation.

And yin virtue is clearly a path rooted in the reincarnation of the underworld; how could he possibly help?

Not sabotaging the stage is already good enough! So.

The Yin Virtue Great Dao—this is mainly humanity showing off.

From it, one can also see some of humanity's innate traits.

"Humanity, this brat, is not a good thing."

"His belly is full of bad water."

"Entrapment for law enforcement, lacking virtue smokes."

Wen Ming's series of evaluations had not a single positive one.

"Ah-ha?" Ying Long was somewhat puzzled.

"Look at the changes in the underworld." Wen Ming merely said, prompting Ying Long to peek and observe.

"What has been added… it feels like déjà vu?"

Ying Long surveyed the epoch, following Wen Ming's guidance to investigate.

At first, he found nothing; it seemed everything was normal.

However, she believed Wen Ming would not let her do useless work, so she carefully and repeatedly investigated; with determination, she finally caught some clues.

Someone concealed it well, set up a grand scheme, covering and distorting all heavenly secrets.

But no matter how well the game is played or how clever the stratagem, everything must eventually fall back to reality.

Just as even the most unexpected "vanguard" requires prior arrangement of troop deployment and provisions… an even grander plan could not possibly be launched silently and without trace; inevitably it leaves some trace.

As long as one is not so strong as to be invincible, where a single ordinary strike wipes out all enemies, there must necessarily be a method to the moves, and inevitably there will be clues detectable by others.

However, these clues can be concealed or covered… letting the opponent stand in the upper layer while one stands in the lower layer.

Now that the person in the dark has been exposed, their level naturally cannot rise. Such tactics are frightening before being revealed, but after exposure… they become just ordinary.

"Commodity prices and circulating currency… seem not quite right?"

Ying Long muttered, "Some are idling… this makes me think of the Buddhist gate."

"But who would be so bold? To play such tricks in the underworld?"

Ying Long's killing intent surged.

The underworld is half her home!

The big boss Nüwa who opened the company, the dung‑official's trumpet serving as general manager… all these are closely related to her, so she early regarded the prosperity of the underworld as part of her mission work.

Now, someone is causing trouble in there… can this be tolerated?

I must go and give a petty report to Lady Houtu!

There are wicked people harming her!

Ying Long's emotions surged; she leapt three feet high, and the light of justice shone upon her.

"Enough!" Wen Ming ruthlessly snuffed out the light of justice, "Just stay put."

He oversees the law, but that does not mean he is a just person.

As for the law, you may slap a golden edge of justice onto it… but it truly is not equivalent to justice.

——It is the embodiment of the ruling class's will!

"Subordinate Ying Long, you dare to report Judge Houtu?" Wen Ming smiled faintly, "Has the flood washed away the Dragon King's temple?"

"Ah?" Ying Long stared blankly.

"How novel a thing?" Wen Ming shook his head, "The issuance of spirit money is managed by Houtu herself… and theoretically this is related to the underworld's output and its stake in humanity."

"Even this can go wrong… who is the problem, any more doubts?"

"Besides the authority of the Fengdu Ghost Emperor and the master of reincarnation rules, Houtu herself who combines both identities… who else could cause the present situation?"

Wen Ming pointed out the situation, letting Ying Long suddenly understand.

After the realization came shock.

"No way! How could the lady play such tactics?"

Ying Long felt her worldview shatter.

It is like seeing Fuxi bow and pay respects to Nüwa, calling her "Nüwa sister, invincible in the world"! Too unimaginable! Nüwa!

The moral benchmark among the three thousand deities of the Honghuang heavens and earth!

By one person's effort, she raised the moral bottom line that her brother had dragged down!

She acts openly and aboveboard; aside from the means used when entrapping and slaying Yao Marshals, which draw criticism, there are hardly any dark spots.

But for Ying Long, who knows the truth, Nüwa is utterly noble in that matter… she too was framed and set up!

But now…

The underworld is madly printing money, overdrawing the future… you tell me, is this Nüwa secretly doing it?

Heavens!

The moral integrity of Honghuang has collapsed! "People being driven to desperation is understandable..." Wenming said calmly, "The pressure Fuxi put on her was too great, forcing her to take an unconventional approach."

"But, taking an unconventional approach doesn't mean acting recklessly... one must follow the basic law."

"Ideally, there should be a precedent to refer to."

"There are many outstanding talents in this era."

"But for Nüwa nowadays, given her conditions... the examples she can refer to are just a few."

"Thus, Jieyin's Buddhist sect was selected."

"This is also the most suitable for Nüwa's current situation."

Wenming smiled.

"The Buddhist sect's grand vow lending method can be called peerless; it excels at shearing the wool of humanity, overdrawing the future to reap the present, moving huge sums with minimal capital, turning them into astonishing wealth."

"Before being punched in the face by an iron fist, it could be said to have dominated the era, unrivaled."

"But the problem arises."

"What is the precondition for this method to succeed?"

"It is... the foolishness of the human path!"

Wenming said leisurely.

"In the eyes of the gods, the human path is foolish, so everyone can act freely without fear of supervision... they stand on the first layer."

"Jieyin took advantage of this situation, thinking deeper and looking further; not only arranging this era, but extending to countless future eras... this is standing on the second layer."

"But what is the truth?"

"The human path... is it really foolish?!"

This is a chilling problem.

Perhaps, the human path was once foolish.

But it is obvious!

Nowadays, the human path is not foolish at all! As for the so-called past and present, to beings like the Great Luo, or even Pangu...

Is the past truly just the past? The human path is actually a fruition of Pangu's Dao!

As long as it becomes fully awakened...

Then perhaps, past, present, future, endless spacetime, all become awakened! But merely appearing outward, before the gods... it seems foolish.

Yinglong's hairs stood on end all over its body.

This is a problem that one cannot and dare not ponder deeply.

Because it's too terrifying!

And if...

If the human path is not foolish...

Then why was it so easily deceived by Jieyin and the Buddhist sect, swindled out of countless riches? Yinglong's teeth feel sore.

At this moment she felt she had seen the darkest secret of this era.

"Just think about it."

"How much wealth did Jieyin bribe the 'Qi Luck Dao Lord' with for the Buddhist sect's approval? That's practically dry shares!"

"The remaining part, Jieyin couldn't just pocket it safely... isn't it supposed to give a large sum of money to this enforcer, the River of the Underworld?"

"The funds for the Five Fortunes Dao Lord's scheming were gathered all at once... and it's quite reasonable."

Wenming chuckled softly, "Little girl, the dirty water in the human path's belly runs deep..."

"If we say the Demonic Sect is a shared pot for everyone, and any shameful deeds done are announced under the Demonic Sect's guise to take responsibility..."

"Then, could the Buddhist sect be a white glove for the human path?"

"Wuu... I can't hear! I can't hear!" Yinglong had both hands over her ears, eyes brimming with tears, shaking her head wildly, proving she heard nothing.

——Is this insider information she now has the right to hear?!

Knowing that the poop-scooping official has such a dark side...

Or what if, one day she steps out the door, lifts her foot and walks into the battlefield of the creation of heaven, dying for no clear reason? "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid." Wenming smiled and comforted, "Being afraid is useless."

"As a member of our black hand gang, you'll eventually have to deal with this... knowing beforehand is no big deal, I'll vouch for you."

Only then did Yinglong reluctantly put her mind at ease.

"Jieyin's wealth myth has far-reaching influence."

"Isn't that so?" Wenming continued, "Nüwa has learned it..."

"What a pity!"

"This is someone fishing!"

Wenming sighed, no longer looking down on the human path... this kid of the human path is not pure at all! If he ever slips up, he could be like the preceding wave slapped to death on the beach by the following wave, covered in dust, his momentary brilliance all lost.

"Huangdi will have a battle with Houtu to determine superiority..."

"And that day is not far off..."

Wenming spoke softly.

(End of chapter)