Chapter 789: Off to Mount Tai to summon the old troops, with countless banners securing eternity!

Time sometimes flows backward, sometimes speeds up; at the end of the ages, a great slaughter is unfolding.

The girl hunts Wen Ming, searching heaven and earth, trampling past, present, and future, she has roamed through the Myriad Heavens and myriad worlds.

Ten years.

A hundred years.

A thousand years.

……

Wen Ming, relying on the River Chart and using extraordinary means, each time at the brink of being captured and suppressed, always manages to seize a sliver of life and escape.

The River Chart and Luo Book are indeed worthy of being the supreme treasure of the Yi Dao acknowledged by the August Emperor.

It both summarizes the Heavenly Dao's four-nine and holds a thread of life, seeking constancy amid change and seeking life amid constancy.

All the way fleeing, all the way brushing with death yet surviving, it has even startled the girl who pursues him.

She possesses cultivation of the Great Yi Dao, pursuing in a straight line, naturally unstoppable.

But Wen Ming, who has mastered the River Chart, makes the bends truly swift!

She gazes at the fleeing figure, just a hair's breadth from capture, and cannot help but sigh.

"No wonder!"

"Fuxi would value you so highly, letting you master the River Chart and sneak into the netherworld I control… Your insight into his path is indeed stunning, worthy of being his successor."

"What a pity!" the girl strides on, continuing the chase, "If you could wield the so‑called Opening Mountain Axe, you'd be somewhat interesting."

"I cannot say otherwise; there remains a sliver of hope to turn the tables against me."

"Too bad… too bad!"

"To hold long is to lose; to flee long is to perish."

"If you keep fleeing like this, there will come a time when you have nowhere left to run."

The girl remains calm, for she feels victory is in her grasp.

As time passes, her Dao traces and breath gradually seal off one kind of life variable after another, blocking the foundation that allows the River Chart to change.

Just as she said, one day Wen Ming will have nowhere to flee!

It is not that the River Chart fails, nor that the Yi Dao is inadequate.

It is merely that the gap in their cultivated abilities, as shown, is farther than heaven and earth, wider than the vast sea.

That Wen Ming has managed to escape this far is already a great merit of the River Chart!

Normally, a mediocre great divine‑ability cultivator facing the girl would by now be reduced to cold ashes.

"Surrender!"

The girl values talent, again urging surrender via sound transmission: "I won't kill you; I just want you to run errands for me."

"Dream on!"

Even while Wen Ming is a desperate fugitive, he does not forget to snort in defiance, preferring to suffer alive rather than die without saving face.

This makes the girl sigh.

— another stubborn fool who won't cry until he sees the coffin.

The ages drift on; this cop‑and‑robber pair stages a life‑and‑death high‑speed chase, a frenzy of speed and passion.

Until one day!

In a corner of boundless spacetime, on a tributary of the Suiyue Changhe, Wen Ming plants his feet.

Mist drifting from the River Chart envelops his form, the heavenly secrets are scrambled, making everything here look hazy.

"Huh? You're not running?"

The girl closely follows his descent, clicks her tongue, somewhat surprised yet also as expected: "Indeed, you too are nearly out of places to flee."

"How about it? Have you resigned yourself to fate?"

The girl rubs her little hands, her meaning profound.

This posture seems to express something——

"If you won't be dignified, I'll make you dignified!"

But Wen Ming couldn't care less.

"Resigned to fate?"

He chuckles lightly, offhandedly discarding his longtime reliance—the River Chart—and tosses it carelessly into the Suiyue Changhe, not knowing which fortunate soul it will strike.

"I think… this question… should actually be me asking you."

Wen Ming's demeanor has changed.

In the girl's eyes at this moment, he suddenly gains an immeasurable, mysterious nobility; the vicissitudes of time deepen his pupils… Under his gaze, the girl's hairs all stand on end, like a mischievous brat who has bumped into a stern elder.

"Great danger!"

The girl instantly shivers, her steps retreating, wanting to flee this place.

Yet, an inscrutable law has somehow enveloped this place, arising from nothing, coming from nowhere unnamed, its peril boundless, cutting off her fleeing steps.

"Other places are much the same… Hmm, it's also time to lay our cards on the table."

Wen Ming lifts his head, as if gazing at something, then mutters to himself, judging.

Such a posture.

Such an action.

He utterly does not put the girl in his eyes.

He indeed possesses this ability!

When a piece of hazy immortal light radiates from his surface, a splendid transformation occurs, making the girl stare wide‑eyed, gulp dryly, and deeply doubt her own life.

"How about it?"

"Unexpected or not?"

"Surprising or not?"

Wenming… no, it's the Donghua Emperor!

He smiled at the girl, his tone full of deep meaning.

"Not only are you not dead…"

"Actually…"

"I haven't completely died either!"

"Even if I die, I'll jump out of my coffin to find you… How about that?"

"Are you happy?"

"Are you excited?"

"Don't thank me… this is all I should do!"

The Donghua Emperor spoke gently, but the girl only felt as if she had fallen into the coldest, most hopeless place in the Yellow Springs Underworld.

Good heavens!

"Elder brother… you think too highly of me!" the girl said, tears welling up, "I'd even fake my death just to get back at you!"

"But I remember… it was clearly Di Jun wielding the Witch-slaying Sword, drawing on Human Dao's power to strike you down!"

The girl thought she should be a sensible ghost.

"Shouldn't you have noticed this earlier?" Donghua said with a half-smile, "August Emperor and Human Dao have been making secret deals; there's no grudge between father and son that lasts overnight…"

"Even if you killed Feilian, you could still be resurrected… If Human Dao killed me, how could there not be some hidden scheme?"

"After all, in these years of my death, cosmic order has been lost, people's hearts have gone astray… we still need someone as diligent as me!"

Donghua gave a light laugh, mocking himself.

The girl couldn't smile, she swallowed hard with a big 'gulp', "You said it… even August Emperor and Human Dao, father and son have no grudge that lasts overnight…"

"As siblings, that shouldn't be the case, right?"

"In theory, that's correct…" Donghua's eyes flickered, "but…"

"What does my beating you have to do with August Emperor?"

He let out a big breath, living up to his true nature of not being a proper person.

"I'm extremely vengeful… after all, I don't like delayed justice."

"We must punish those who don't know life or death!"

Donghua's words were full of killing intent, very frightening.

"Look… Di Jun killed me on Feather Mountain."

"As a result, I turned into Wenming and directly split Chonghua with a Mountain-splitting Axe!"

—Me! Donghua! Vengeful!

Just that straightforward.

"However, considering our relationship, I'm still willing to give you a chance, girl…" the Donghua Emperor said, lowering his hand with a smile, "You can run for a while."

"Then I'll catch up and suppress you."

"How about that!"

"Is that enough?"

"Really?" the girl's eyes lit up.

"Mm, really." Donghua nodded.

"Whoosh!"

In an instant, the girl moved.

Quite decisively, she began to flee, with no fighting spirit or determination.

It's not that she's cowardly or afraid of battle… she truly can't win; going up would just be giving herself away for free!

Yes.

Correct.

The girl's identity, which Nüwa poured much effort into, gives her considerable strength, enough to sweep aside ordinary experts.

But it also depends on who you're comparing her to!

The Donghua Emperor!

Active since the Dragon-Phoenix Era, he has served as Dragon Clan Chief of Staff, Heavenly Court Grand Judge, Demon Race Grand Minister of Destiny, supreme leader of the Eastern Yi of humanity, his title inscribed for all ages, known as the Duke of the East, the foremost of the Immortal Dao, king of all immortals!

Going up against him, the Azure Dragon Great Sage serves as a warning—he was literally beaten into floor tiles of the Great Simplicity, remained depressed for a long time before crawling back.

Such an opponent—if not the return of Nüwa or the descent of Houtu—cannot be fought at all!

With just the girl's puny arms and legs… better not bother.

The girl's first choice was to run away.

However…

She kept running and running, only to end up back in front of Donghua.

The girl felt a chill, sensing something was off.

At some unknown time.

The rules had long been rewritten, completely blocking any retreat.

Even trying to send a message was also suppressed!

"You're cheating!" the girl exclaimed, feeling like vomiting blood.

"Learned from you." Donghua just chuckled, "Who? Fishing in the Underworld?"

So… am I overdoing what I'm doing now? No, I'm not!

Playing mind games… can you out-trick me?

Donghua clicked his tongue in amazement, "What is 'luring the enemy into the jar'? This is it!"

Now, you've finished escaping, right?

Having escaped, then it's my turn to perform.

Donghua smiled, extending his demonic claw.

The girl's brave resistance—she broke the cauldrons and sank the boats, fought with her back to the water—it was actually so tragic and heroic!

Without beginning or end, in the hard-to-define past-future tributary of time, there was a historic reversal.

However, this is unknown to the world.

In the supreme being's decree over time, it might have happened in the past, or perhaps in the future… everything is decided by the winner!

The attainment of the Dao of Taiyi is inherently unreasonable.

A supreme emperor personally acted to seal and kill the heroine who sneaked into the new era by feigning death, making her pay the taxes she owed over the years, and enforcing it forcibly.

Those in the know silently blessed the girl, then leisurely descended into the underworld.

— Xuanyuan!

He left bloody footprints with each step, gravely wounded, and the chariot of the Human Dao had long since withered and been lost.

The girl had once guessed some things correctly, but also guessed some things wrong.

Indeed.

The examiners and examinees, that's indeed a gang.

Taking someone's quota, moreover, there's subtlety within it.

But!

At the crucial point, the examiners didn't go easy!

And the examinees… didn't cheat.

Just as the Witch‑Slaying Sword was drawn by Xihuang, pointing a stern question deep into the hearts of all beings.

— This cheating, can it deceive others, but can it also deceive one's own heart?

The Human Dao's heart is clear.

Although… it climbs onto roofs and tears off tiles, is mischievous and lively, changes mood as quickly as flipping a book, truly deserving a beating…

But!

It is still a good child!

Or rather, it hopes to become a good child!

So, it will face the storm head‑on, personally walking a path of self‑redemption.

It refused all saviors.

It wants to become its own savior!

For the mistakes it made when young, it will correct them itself!

'Making mistakes is not a problem.'

'Who can be forever correct, never making a mistake?'

'So, making mistakes is not scary.'

'What's scary is making mistake after mistake, persisting in error to the end, refusing to repent.'

The Human Dao looked back on the past, with Fengxi doing the reflection on its behalf.

If there were no mistakes, what would be the meaning of education?

This is so as not to fall twice in the same place.

The Human Dao wants to save itself, acknowledging past mistakes and facing a past life of failure.

Therefore, when the Witch‑Slaying Sword fell, when the Heaven‑Opening Axe sacrificed itself in explosion, when the trans‑era weapons descended, it neither fled nor cheated.

It went straight to face it, bearing boundless harm.

Xuanyuan bore the brunt, the chariots all shattered, solely to resolve a calamity for the world.

Otherwise.

The Nine Provinces Barrier—can it stubbornly protect a patch of pure land, or is that still a question!

However, this is only the beginning.

The Human Dao must also defeat the vestiges of the past, proving it is moving forward!

Moreover, it must be an upright victory, not a trick!

This time, Xuanyuan completely parted ways with Houtu.

Their paths differ; they do not conspire together.

Houtu killed its way to the source of time, deciding to rely on absolute force, to literally pound Xihuang to death, passing the examination by killing the examiners, thus avoiding ideological confrontation.

She chose the path of solving the problem by dealing with the person who creates it.

And the Human Dao?

It decided to stay grounded once more.

Thus, Xuanyuan came to the underworld.

His armor was stained with blood, but his steps remained steadfast.

In the vital ground of the source of reincarnation, this place has long been shrouded by the lethal light of carnage, perilous to the extreme—this is the norm.

Just as before, being able to step in safely under the decree of literature… this is purely the girl fishing.

Usually, that was indiscriminate bombardment!

Just that.

This time, as Xuanyuan entered, the endless killing light shrouded his body, yet it didn't harm him in the slightest; instead, there was a feeling of warmth and harmony.

It's only because he carries an aura…… that of the former Feng·Jiujiujiu·Xi, who once served as the Fengdu Great Emperor, leaving the deepest imprint in the Underworld!

Fengdu!

During the years Fengdu reigned, he bore countless human sins, felt the pain of myriad wandering souls, and rekindled a spark of goodness in them.

——Do not advise others to be good without having suffered yourself.

Then, if one has already felt that pain of all beings?

Could one then have the qualification to say a word, letting the wandering souls awaken to reason, briefly holding for the world and the era a tiny bit of goodness?

Fengdu's strength, in the Underworld, is not invincible, and the gap with Houtu is not small.

But he won over too many gods and ghosts, making them respect and honor him…… thus, he became king without being crowned!

In the Underworld, ghosts rule as masters…… therefore, Fengdu is the master of half the Underworld!

If Houtu does not appear, who can contend with him!

However, merely having a good intention is still not enough.

Just a 'Holy Mother', with impeccable conduct, earning respect and admiration from the world, yet of no use in the grand scheme.

Then, a long sword appeared.

Xuanyuan Sword!

Its predecessor was a divine sword forged by the Donghua Emperor with countless efforts, bearing the Way of Law.

It seeks to make the world reward good with good and evil with evil!

It quiets the last resentment in the wandering souls' thoughts, carries out hidden virtue, and etches it for eternity.

From then on, there was not only an ideal, but also action!

Fengdu Great Emperor, Donghua Emperor…… the two paths converge, both manifested in Xuanyuan's body.

He made the heaven of the Underworld…… change!

The vast slaughter and calamity power does him no harm; samsara, when near him, is unwilling and unable to hurt him in the slightest.

Even, it actively responds to his will, consciously helping him deceive the heavens and cross the sea, deceiving and obscuring the will of the little girl who fell here!

If the little girl knew this, she'd probably shout, 'You heartless little thing!'

Xuanyuan paid no heed to these trivialities, merely walking calmly.

He passed through countless palaces and gates, seeing familiar scenes, with a hint of emotion in his eyes.

A solemn pure land.

A sacred hall.

This is actually the place where, back then, Houtu fished out later-generation human heroes, now reappearing!

That was precisely then.

The flash of humanity's awakening was fished up by Nüwa, bringing an unprecedented shock to this era.

Thus, Nüwa opened the joyful divine life of great rises and falls, falls, falls, falls, falls.

She charged to the peak, but also stepped on empty air; below is an abyss of ten thousand zhang.

Xuanyuan's eyes held memories and remembrance as he entered the hall where Houtu conducted affairs.

He wasn't worried about being caught…… because he knew someone had already gone to fish in reverse.

He also wasn't worried about being detected by Houtu's will wandering the vast sky, because the gods, ghosts, and wandering souls, united, concealed Houtu's vision for the seed of that human hope he bore.

He pushed open the hall door, Xuanyuan silently gazed at the boundless splendid Underworld talisman, and reached out his hand.

However, just as he was about to touch it, he suddenly laughed and withdrew his hand.

"Now……"

"Why do I need this?"

"To gain the state must be righteous; after myriad battles, the remainder of life."

"For humanity and all beings, one must take charge of one's own destiny……"

"So……"

"Just a trifling talisman, just a trifling righteousness, just a trifling title……"

"Important?"

"Not important."

Xuanyuan sighed faintly, didn't glance back, turned and left.

His back was carefree, he looked down on this authority of the Underworld.

Whose authority could surpass that of the countless children of all beings under heaven?!

He fought for all beings, fought for the descendants of myriad generations…… when he made this decision, he further carried out this resolve into action.

At that moment, he was the most noble leader!

Why need the Underworld's sovereign——the endorsement of Houtu's seal and authority?!

He…… ought to be Houtu's superior!

Xuanyuan is the Lord Emperor, while Houtu is merely a subordinate deity!

"No talisman."

"No authorization."

"I can still lead all beings to win this battle."

"Borrowing troops from the Underworld……"

If there is no formal mobilization order, then let the dead souls and ghost gods volunteer to join the fight…… Let them decide the fate of the era, decide the fate of Honghuang, decide the fate of countless ages to come, the fate of future generations of all beings—where exactly will they head!

Heading to Mount Tai to summon the old troops, countless banners determine eternity!

(End of chapter)