Chapter 790

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The drumbeats rose to the heavens, trembling atop Mount Tai, reverberating through the Myriad Heavens and all worlds, across past and present reincarnations.

This is the drum mustering troops, the drum summoning generals, and today it was struck by Huangdi himself!

The drumhead made from the hide of a one-legged ox, the drumsticks from its bones...... That divine being who briefly held the Yao Marshal position also burned his last glimmer of light.

Accompanying the drumbeats was Xuanyuan's intent to convey, sent into the hearts of countless common folk, making their blood boil and their fighting spirit surge like a flood.

Even those buried souls that had entered reincarnation...... now, shaken by the thunderous drumbeats, lightning swept over their hearts, shattering confusion, dispelling the era's gloom, and awakening them!

Innumerable gazes, at this moment crossing time and space, looked afar toward Mount Tai.

From confusion to clarity, from silence to eruption...... in this era, the common folk of humanity have never had a moment with such resolute will.

——Fight for oneself! Fight for the age! Fight for ten thousand generations!

The hearts of the common folk burn, they boil!

Past, present, future...... countless sacrifices, at this moment pierced through, resonating together, becoming a force, a mighty trend for all ages!

Sacrifice...... at this moment given a wholly new definition unlike that of past eras.

And reincarnation, too, has been elevated, becoming a symbol of humanity's tempering and forward march.

Once, when the common folk sought to change reincarnation, they were condemned as a sign of decadence...... because those seeking survival disregarded the lives of those to come, selfishly preserving their own existence at the expense of future potential.

But today...... reincarnation too has awakened! It is dedication!

At the moment the era overturns, at the crisis when all beings wither, facing the trial sent down by the ancient epoch, blaming the later generations for reckless turmoil, the result was that even the Honghuang cosmos was left shattered......

When the living common folk of today doubt themselves, questioning whether all past sacrifices had any worth, whether they could answer to the comrades who fell in battle along the way......

Xuanyuan pierced the rules of reincarnation, handing the microphone to the souls, so they could voice their own thoughts.

As those who sacrificed in the age's conflicts, some gave their lives for great undertakings and ideals, some wrote loyalty, some enacted survival...... in the end, they were buried in the dust of ages, fallen on the battlefield.

Regret or not regret?

The living beings witnessed past glory; many felt remorse in their hearts, someone outstanding coughed up blood, and there were heroes filled with sorrow.

And the departed......

They took the microphone offered by the Humanity's Holy Emperor, amidst the wavering thoughts of countless most sincere sacrifices, under the bewildering emotion of being originally one yet slaughtering each other, after the road resonated with Xuanyuan, gathering Fengdu and Donghua to achieve......

Yet they became enlightened.

"Regarding death, there are some regrets."

"But......"

"Thinking that the future could be better, the original heart of humanity stirred, not forgetting us these souls, personally reincarnating again and again, initiating blessings, acknowledging that we too are members of humanity, enjoying the benefits of the societal age......"

"Suddenly, we no longer regret......"

"I merely want to say sorry to the living beings who once died under my hand......"

"This is the error of the age...... originally a clash of consciousness, yet it led to blades meeting, finally forging an immortal blood feud between the two camps."

"But, we think...... we still bear some responsibility!"

"The mistakes we forged, we ourselves shall end, paving a way for those who come after, a way proving the good fruit of reincarnation!"

The vast thoughts of the souls boil!

They eagerly act, following the road opened by the drumbeats in the darkness, volunteering to join a most grand campaign, to accomplish a most great undertaking!

In this voluntary action, regardless of their pasts or their former backgrounds, at this moment they become one!

Having discarded the grudges between demons and fiends, they follow the steps of a brand-new Humanity's Holy Emperor, this sovereign commander of boundless virtue, proven by his experience in Fengdu, recognized by the judge of Donghua who spans heaven, humanity, and fiends, to openly face the trials of past eras!

Xuanyuan, standing in for the deceased living beings, crossing time and space, dialogued with Xihuang's questioning, helping the living common folk answer the exam.

"You ask if I regret or not?"

"That is certainly a bit."

"Having died pointlessly for so many, how could there be no regret? No remorse?"

"However, with reincarnation existing, there is ultimately a safety net."

"Xihuang, you only ask the living's intent, not listen to the dead's hearts...... this is wrong."

"Now I, on behalf of the souls, comfort the struggling living beings, hoping they may live well, remember our existence, and pass on our civilization."

"Don't be sad, don't be upset, also don't blame yourself."

"Because they, too, are victims...... the deep-seated grudges of the age, where could they possibly turn things around?"

"They cannot forgive the enemies on behalf of the souls, nor do they have that qualification; they can only move forward firmly, carrying out the past road."

"Only those who can truly bring change are to be seen among us heroic spirits!"

"We forged the age's errors, so let us ignite the last remnants of soul to carry out correction and compensation!"

"From now on, reincarnation is not escape, not selfish...... but humanity's common folk's final safety net, the last foundation of a civilization!"

"Correct errors, make up shortcomings...... while alive, if the heart holds regret, after death there can still be a chance for compensation...... then there is no regret!"

A resolute will pierced the pulse of time and space, surging upstream from the lower reaches of the Suiyue Changhe, bombarding the ancient splendid civilization.

This is the voice of humanity in the new era.

The troubles entangled with reincarnation are the source of turmoil; humanity advances in a faltering manner, proving its path.

By today, they have realized that along the way there have been too many mistakes, major strategic failures have occurred, too many common folk have been sacrificed...... regret is certainly present.

However, humanity has also strived to make amends.

Feeling the suffering of the common folk, seeking correction of the laws, moreover the Holy Emperor unites with humanity, turning all things into equality and justice.

Thus......

"Making mistakes isn't scary; correcting them is enough."

Regret isn't scary; making up for it is enough.

In the Dragon-Phoenix era's Heavenly Court, you forged a splendid civilization, laying the radiant foundation of the cosmos… We admire your prosperity and brilliance, acknowledging your excellence and flawlessness.

But!

This brilliance, this flawlessness… could never hope to cover the meaning of our existence!

We will ultimately surpass you!

Now, in this fair-and-square peak showdown, no one deceives anyone.

The Human Dao of the new era, facing the ancient brilliance of the Human Dao drawn by Xihuang, gave its answer.

Peak showdown!

Clash of the new and old Human Dao!

This is no empty talk.

Because reincarnation buries all, and the departed souls return to the Underworld.

No matter how long one has been dead, they leave a trace in the Underworld.

Now, these traces have revived, manifesting the departed souls of old!

What are these departed souls? They are the living beings buried by this era, the gathering of all who have died.

Here lie countless once-elite soldiers: the Wu Clan, the Demon Race, the human race, the Dragon Clan… the core forces of these factions!

It can be said that the essence of this era is mostly gathered here!

When adding the still-living batch, it becomes the total combat strength of the Human Dao of the Wu-Yao era!

And what of the Dragon-Phoenix Heavenly Court era imprint pulled back by Xihuang?

What it has evolved into is also the peak combat strength of that era after its great unification!

Each has discarded the 'wise' innate divinity and eternal Great Luo, to engage in a most exhilarating slaughter.

This battle will demonstrate the value of reincarnation.

——Is it merely a burdensome baggage of the Human Dao, a tumor of the era?

——Or is it the bedrock of civilization, a cure that makes up for regret.

All will be revealed!

Myriad banners seal the ages!

Xuanyuan beats the war drum; at this most special moment, he accomplishes the greatest undertaking.

This is something even Nüwa cannot accomplish.

Because Houtu's form is that of the ancestral Wu; once belonging to the Demon Race's departed souls, she admires her bearing the sacrifice of reincarnation, yet lacks resonance.

As for Nüwa's form, her panel is extremely complete, revered by both the Demon Race and humanity, and even the Dragon Clan holds her in respect… Yet, limited by internal strife, she cannot wield the legal path of Emperor Donghua, nor will she lower herself to demand it—thus the hierarchy is set!

In the end, it is still the Human Dao that loses face.

Bearing the sin of the myriad beings, the grudge of departed souls, inheriting the law of Donghua, integrating and penetrating…… When the gods are out, he personally steps forward, gathers all beings, and engages in the peak showdown!

"The girl has a chance…… really."

"Resurrection is truly an unexpected move, beyond expectation, yet it genuinely leaves an opportunity to decide the outcome."

Xuanyuan drums, countless departed souls rush like moths to flame toward this light of hope; they break through the Gates of Ghosts, from bottom to top collapsing the Underworld's system, gathering beneath the banner of the Human Dao…… All peoples look toward him; at this moment he is righteousness, he is orthodoxy!

Houtu?

Just a worker!

Painstakingly turning the reincarnation Underworld, in the end it became the base for Xuanyuan's troop buildup, becoming the logistics regiment commander.

When the gods convened on Mount Tai, the hierarchy was set…… Thereafter, Xuanyuan is lord, Houtu is vassal!

Like lord and vassal, like siblings…… and perhaps even father and daughter!

"I'm sorry, Milady!"

Xuanyuan sighs in his heart, "Alas, who let Milady repeatedly miss good opportunities?"

"After all, she just isn't wicked enough."

"She actually had several chances to turn the tables, which would have prevented me from reaching this point……"

"The girl faking her death is indeed a brilliant move, with plenty of room to maneuver."

"If she were sufficiently wicked and lazy, like the Dragon Ancestor's reckless daring, she could directly seize the authority of the Dao of Law, combined with her role as founder of the Underworld, then she would be the one commanding troops now."

"She would become the undisputed supreme sage-emperor of the Human Dao!"

"Even someone like me, a seed personally chosen by the Human Dao, could not oppose her…… As long as Houtu does not lose virtue, I can only submit to her rule."

But… Houtu, or rather Nüwa, will she lose virtue?!

Too hard!

That is the conscience-bearer among the gods, her integrity surpasses even Fuxi's by far!

Too bad, there are no 'ifs'.

Nüwa missed the opportunity…… her high integrity ended up trapping herself.

She disdains to touch the legacy of Emperor Donghua——she was originally the first in line to inherit!

Nüwa thinks, what's inheriting worth? Isn't that tantamount to admitting defeat to Fuxi?

She wants to rely on herself to strive!

And she nearly actually succeeded by striving!

The girl faked her death!

She was lying in wait in the Underworld!

She even lay in wait for Donghua's reappearance!

If at this moment she could suppress Donghua, everything would return to the right track, enter Nüwa's rhythm, and slaughter the entire field.

Too bad.

Donghua entered in full vigor, he and the girl…… who suppresses whom is uncertain.

However.

Xuanyuan later reconsidered, feeling that Nüwa actually still had a chance.

After gaining this girl's combat power, as long as Houtu doesn't get carried away, personally going out to meet Xihuang in battle, but instead letting the girl disguise herself as Houtu to go out and stroll, to restrain Xihuang, while Houtu's person squats in the underworld waiting…… Donghua Emperor is likely to bite the dust.

So……

Nüwa has learned bad things, but her learning bad is not thorough.

In the end, tears are inevitable.

But this can't all be blamed on her…… After all, who could have imagined that Donghua also faked his death?

Fishing, he caught a big fish…… no, he directly caught a huge mythical fish!

Directly overturned Nüwa's small skiff, causing the fishing net she had painstakingly turned over to tear.

"Xihuang will most likely meet his end in Houtu's hands, while the girl…… actually comes to grief at Donghua's hands."

Xuanyuan calculated, "Looks like a one-for-one exchange, but the target was swapped…… one misplaced piece, and the whole board loses."

"Switching it around, using the girl as a sacrificial pawn, a brief burst of release, to hold back Xihuang until suppressed; then with Houtu's person presiding over reincarnation, fighting on home turf, slaying Donghua, and then directly leading the troops of the human realm, that would be the overwhelming momentum…… breaking the Dragon and Phoenix Heavenly Court, then going on to suppress and kill Xihuang, this era could then be declared over ahead of time."

Houtu slaughtered wildly, reaching the pinnacle!

Once Xihuang falls, the Monster Clan Heavenly Court is doomed to collapse, and the human realm achieves great unification.

Afterward, what Five Fortunes Dao Lord, what Heavenly Emperor's return, what Dragon Ancestor's return…… who could surpass the Nüwa who holds sway over the human realm?

Even if Hongjun could personally descend, his head would be twisted off!

Truly…… Nüwa is only a step away from victory, only a hair's breadth off.

The facts prove, her brother is ultimately her brother.

No…… she might even have another older brother, who knows.

Xuanyuan raided the home, the underworld was completely emptied…… suppressing Houtu has become inevitable!

Then what?

Waiting for Fengxi's return in the human realm…… Nüwa and Pangu also have foes!

Too unlucky!

"I really don't want to cross swords with you, Lady!"

"What a pity, it's the time and fate!"

"Your chessboard, in the end, was overturned by me…… not overturning it just won't do."

Xuanyuan gathered countless troops, turning into this era's most invincible military force.

Who could match him?

Under his command, witches, monsters, humans, and dragons are all present!

However, this is invincible, yet not yet complete.

After all, there is indeed a talented girl who follows the girl's will, issuing orders over the world, compiling an illustrated catalogue of spirits and monsters within the boundary of the Nine Provinces, and restoring the mountains and rivers.

By the way, he also ascended the throne, indulging in the addiction of being a human king.

"I!"

"Hougang Jie!"

"Shi Huangshi!"

"Having received the River Chart, I am the emperor of all living beings!"

"Cangdi!"

"From now on, I am Cangjie!"

Recounting his achievements, he indeed has the qualifications of a human king.

Once, he recorded history, created characters, compiled the compendium of myriad races' civilization, guiding humanity…… becoming a human king makes sense.

Too bad.

Born at the wrong time.

Bad luck can't be blamed on society, a bitter fate can't be blamed on Pangu, can it!

Therefore, Huangdi sent troops to conduct a friendly visit on him.

(End of chapter)