Chapter 801: Human Way Autonomy, Five Virtues of the Way of Change

Yandi's life was very bitter.

Especially the nine-nine-nine—Qingjia, this Yandi.

He rose from an inconspicuous trumpet, gradually being valued by Fengxi, but... this favor was also too burdensome.

He underwent reincarnation, bearing the departed souls.

He burned away his true self, buried and destroyed Di Jun.

……

He worked diligently, rose early and retired late; all his thoughts, ideas, actions, and deeds were almost entirely for the myriad beings under heaven and for the dream of the Human Way.

In the end, he fell on this road, dying a fitting death.

Meanwhile, all beings have somewhat blurred the symbol of Yandi, only respectfully calling him Shennong.

What does he seek?

There is nothing to seek.

He is not like Fengxi, a spokesperson for the Human Way, enjoying the highest authority and power.

Even if he attained the position of Yandi, he was merely a stand-in.

Sometimes he even had to act against his conscience, performing in front of Houtu.

All his pursuits and plans in life ultimately amounted to nothing but a single blessing.

He blessed the Human Way, using his own life to strive to open a path for the myriad beings.

Until he collapsed midway, at that time he still did not see the end!

He hardly enjoyed any blessings, always on the busy, rushing road.

It seemed like a microcosm of the countless myriad beings of this era.

Struggling in the mire of the era, striving in the predicament of the epoch, accepting the gifts of predecessors, to open a path for descendants... selfless dedication, yet in the end descendants cannot even clearly know their surnames and given names!

Like a monument in the annals of history, it is both special and not special!

The silent, unheralded sacrifice is to speak for the 'silent majority'!

The firewood burns long, illuminating the annals of history.

Lying across the road ahead where August Emperor pushes forward the Human Way's myriad centuries, gentle yet surging, it made even this Heavenly Emperor pause, stop his steps, and a flash of approving light crossed his eyes.

However, his expression did not reveal it, he assumed a transcendent posture.

"How if calculated? How if not calculated?"

"August Emperor Heavenly Emperor calmly said, 'I have seen plenty of such things as sacrifice.'"

"Pacify the demon calamity, establish Honghuang... to campaign against Chaos, the Great Luo goes to the rescue."

"I am the Heavenly Emperor, yet I do not feel capable of reaching any great height."

"Sacrifice, no need to hype."

"Any era that needs heroes, any epoch that needs to incite the people to sacrifice, are obviously not good eras."

"August Emperor has long been emperor, thus having his own views and cognition: 'Incompetence, weakness, selfishness, natural disasters, human calamities... in the end one cannot escape these.'"

He rebuked the surging, tumultuous waves of the Human Way, and supreme divine power shattered one wave after another.

The light of sacrifice is splendid, yet difficult to approach his person.

"You guess, why would I open up the Way of Change?" August Emperor said leisurely.

Fengxi remained silent.

August Emperor also ignored him, merely saying to himself, 'Seek good fortune, avoid misfortune, look far ahead... all that is done and sought is simply not wanting to sacrifice.'

"This is the way of the Heavenly Emperor Sage King; you... are still far from it!"

Why sacrifice?

Why not pass with a single life?

The ancient Heavenly Emperor traced the trajectories of all things' development between heaven and earth, perceived the subtle mechanisms of the universe's myriad phenomena, grasped the trend of the Human Way's myriad beings, and ultimately opened up the supreme Way of Change.

What the Way of Change seeks is to know fortune and misfortune, clarify good and bad, avoid risks, lead the people out from the thorns everywhere onto the safest path, exchanging the smallest cost for the greatest result.

If one can avoid sacrifice, then do not sacrifice... August Emperor respects those with great hearts who dedicate themselves to benefiting all beings, yet does not demand that everyone be so.

He only believes that one should do as much as one's ability allows... everything is well arranged and calculated.

To the innate divine sage with infinite energy and boundless thought, he entrusted important tasks; to his own exceptionally talented sister with limitless potential, he further rigorously tempered her... but as for the ordinary Human Way myriad beings? He does not demand so much of them. As long as the Human Way can fulfill its duties and achieve August Emperor's plans... he is sufficient to lead the whole universe to soar!

In his eyes.

The Human Way is a child, and forever merely a child.

But...

The Human Way no longer wants to be a 'child'.

"Perhaps I am still far off."

Fengxi's eyes were gloomy: 'The Human Way's myriad beings are also not mature.'

"But... we still want to open up our own sky."

"We... want to become responsible people!"

"For this..."

"We will make mistakes, we will get hurt, we will feel sad, we will cry, we will curl up in a corner, licking our own wounds..."

"But we do not regret."

"Because... we... are growing."

"Sacrifice is the tuition we pay, the blood and tears left on the path of growth."

"Reincarnation is the root of our pursuit of dreams, the thought to make up for regrets..."

Fengxi's gaze shifted from sorrow to calm, speaking for the Human Way to the August Emperor; from initially lacking confidence, he gradually gained his own courage.

Humanity facing the August Emperor is too difficult.

It's truly a father‑son dynamic; there's simply no way to contend.

If the August Emperor were to lose virtue, that would be preferable.

That is a father with a vicious character and domestic violence; for Humanity to raise the banner of rebellion is natural and just.

But now, it's a direct reversal: the August Emperor has become a strict father; his actions, though harsh, are all for Humanity's benefit.

"For your own good"—these three words make people's faces pale.

How should we respond?

It's too difficult.

Even if the August Emperor does some shady things, playing with Humanity.

But Humanity holds the estate built by the August Emperor's hard work; even if this old father is very strict, demanding Humanity become what he wants, endurance is required.

However, there is a turning point.

When Nüwa, with some of her own ideas and some sympathy for Humanity, gave Humanity a chance to practice and develop its unique potential…

Humanity's wings have hardened.

The experience of the demonic era gave Humanity a new insight, allowing it to try not to be the August Emperor's shadow, to inherit Pangu's spirit and path, but to forge its own distinctive way!

As Fengxi said.

Sacrifice is tuition.

Reincarnation is chasing dreams.

Having come this far, Humanity may still be imperfect and immature, but it wants… it should be able to stand before the August Emperor to discuss growth issues!

"Affected!"

The August Emperor's face is indifferent, showing no joy or anger, making it impossible to gauge his mood.

Only a cold remark expresses his view.

Too affected!

Isn't that so?

Not copying the standard answer, but trying to be original and ending up making a mess.

Not wanting to inherit the family business, but insisting on struggling on one's own, the era of toil withers!

To suffer the consequences of one's own actions and be called "affected"… is quite reasonable.

"There's some truth to that." Fengxi nodded calmly, accepting the comment without much rebuttal, "but it's quite interesting… isn't it?"

"Moreover, Your Majesty August Emperor… you are too obstinate."

"Unknowingly, you seem to have strayed from your original intention."

"You established the world with the Yi Dao, mastering change and constancy, and set the rule: 'Great Derivation Fifty, its use Forty‑Nine, there is a sliver of life.'"

"When you cleaved heaven and earth, you struck fifty blows, leaving only forty‑nine axe marks; the final one split the ages, forever advancing, never falling…"

"You place such great hopes on the future, so why are you unwilling to let Humanity persist in selfhood once?"

Fengxi sighed long, "Humanity… has already striven hard."

"I only wish to break free from the burdens—whether glory or excess—imposed by predecessors, and freely pour out my dreams…"

"To walk this path is destined never to coincide with your Dao… after all, it simply doesn't fit!"

"The Yi Dao tests one's wisdom and talent too greatly… and among the vast multitudes of heaven and earth, how many can tread this path to its end?"

Fengxi, for the myriad beings and for all ages, strives to set the trend of Humanity for each successive era, standing in opposition to the August Emperor.

The August Emperor Heavenly Emperor's path is top‑down.

The wisest sages, mastering the Yi Dao, correct the ages' origins, develop and advance, leading civilization to unprecedented heights.

This path ultimately indeed was victorious.

But it's hard to say whether this is an individual's victory or Humanity's multitudes' victory.

Perhaps it harbors some flaw, merely concealed beneath the benefits of era development.

Otherwise, back then, the Heavenly Court of an era would not have collapsed so swiftly due to the reincarnation issue.

Fengxi, after myriad ages, goes against the current, speaking for Humanity, but walks a bottom‑up path.

Since it is bottom‑up, one naturally cannot choose the Yi Dao.

In the end, he chose the Five Virtues.

As Humanity, acknowledging that the world's multitudes universally face problems—certainly they will make mistakes.

To be human is to have flaws.

Having flaws leads to mistakes.

When the multitudes of the world take charge and make mistakes, the cost will be great.

Thus, we need the transformation of reincarnation, the shaping of rebirth in the netherworld, to make up for regrets.

Likewise, we need sacrifice, to speak of dedication, which is the manifestation and promotion of 'virtue'.

Sage virtue, moral virtue, hidden virtue, blessing virtue, merit… the Five Virtues cycle, enduring through myriad ages!

This is the choice of the world's multitudes, and Humanity's own pursuit!

Once, Humanity as Pangu had neither its own heart nor its own way, following and using the path the August Emperor employed for Pangu.

Thus came the Heavenly Court, with myriad gods standing together, ruling the world and planning development.

But now, Humanity wishes to try, to step out onto its own path.

Even if the cost of doing so is great.

But Humanity ultimately did so.

No resentment, no regret.

Only the five virtues turning, merit and fault clear, life and death merging, reincarnation endless... is the path most in tune with the human Dao and myriad beings.

Fengxi's tone was filled with all his insights from the Wu-Yao era.

"It seems the human Dao wants to walk a single path to the end." August Emperor's eyes were playful; he glanced lightly at Fengxi: "Rejecting my kindness, you will surely regret it one day."

"One day you will come to beg me."

"The human Dao has no regrets." Fengxi said calmly.

After his words fell, this region of spacetime suddenly fell into utter silence.

The aura was tense as a drawn bow, giving a feeling of endless oppression.

Brilliant flames burned long, the will of sacrifice boiling.

Representing the two Pangu, they faced each other in terrifying confrontation.

"Boom—"

A bolt of lightning exploded, above the Myriad Heavens' sea and the Suiyue Changhe, boundless terrifying phenomena burst forth, causing blood rain to drift, utterly horrific.

A peak Supreme Ultimate giant has fallen!

Dazzling light filled the era, passed through the ages, and streaked across the hearts of myriad beings.

Countless demons, at this moment inexplicably burst into tears.

"Your Majesty, the Eastern Emperor!"

Through all ages, white mourning; the universe shares grief!

A demon emperor blossomed to the utmost peak, falling amidst splendor!

This death is radiant, this death is brilliant.

At the final moment of life, Taiyi ascended to the peak.

He truly approached Pangu without limit, gaining the qualification to strike that level.

Yet precisely at this moment, he abandoned his cultivation achievements.

He ended in laughter, leaving a precious spiritual wealth for the human Dao and myriad beings.

And his fall and passing were also terrifying.

The sacrifice of a supreme being completed the true meaning of sacrifice for the human Dao, letting Fengxi, who stood opposed to the August Emperor, feel as if he'd received a great tonic, instantly blowing the horn of counterattack!

And, it's not just him!

"Boom—rumble!"

In a brutal battlefield, here the fighting had already reduced to ruin.

Houtu faced off against Xihuang, seemingly intent on smashing the opposing dog's head.

The ringing zither notes blocked Houtu's advancing steps.

Originally, it would be hard to decide victory or defeat in this short time.

Houtu was strong, but Xihuang was too slippery.

A person with Pangu's insights—how could he be easily dealt with?

However, when the Eastern Emperor fell, bestowing gifts upon the human Dao and myriad beings, Houtu paused.

She is special, having secretly gained great benefit.

After all... she is still Nüwa, the holy mother of creation for the human Dao and myriad beings.

The human Dao was strengthened, and she too directly benefited.

Although, it was by means of sacrificing teammates to heaven.

But... sacrificing teammates to heaven brings boundless power!

"Taiyi..."

Houtu let out a soft sigh, her tone inexplicable.

……

Time rewound a little.

The Eastern Emperor returned to his peak, regaining his most splendid bearing.

He, a lone god, blocked the combined armies of humanity and the Wu Clan.

"Taiyi! Don't be obstinate! If you surrender, we can still grant you a noble position, letting you be prominent for a while!"

An ancestral Wu shouted loudly.

Seeing the Eastern Emperor clearly ready to fight to the death, they still felt some apprehension.

"No need to say more." Taiyi, bare-handed and without his supreme treasure, became even more fearsome; the chaos cloud sea surged, permeating the Suiyue Changhe and Myriad Heavens: "Come."

"See me off on my way."

"By the way... I'll also take a few fellow Daoists with me."

"Let the world know that there once was a demon emperor who died in splendor."

"Let them forever understand that for the sake of one's conviction, one can fight to the end!"

"I just don't know which fortunate few... will serve as my burial companions."

Taiyi finished speaking with a smile, then moved.

His body burned with piercing blood-light, the divine life's final song resounded!

"Dao! Dao! Dao!"

In a daze, endless spacetime and boundless beings heard from the void the echoing howl that reverberated past and future; myriad ancient histories trembled, the Eastern Emperor's true form became the ultimate vessel of the Great Dao, seemingly the embodiment of the source of order for all Myriad Heavens and worlds!

He expounded the mysteries of Chaos, integrating the principles of the Chaos Bell, even reaching the pinnacle, achieving his own path.

At this moment, vaguely he replaced something, arriving at the source of Honghuang, as if he had achieved Honghuang's Chaos—both adversary and creator… all origins of the Dao, the beginning of all things, the opening of heaven and earth, all stem from him!

(End of chapter)