Chapter 852

Hongjun had struggled for so many years, yet in the end he still had to board our pirate ship.

The long river of ages surged vast; Fengxi manifested the Huangdi form, grasped the order of heaven and earth, and became the Human Dao Heavenly Emperor of one realm.

By now our lineup is complete, with no weaknesses left.

"Will Hongjun really lower his head?" the White Emperor said lightly, "He's such a proud person."

"Not lowering his head is fine... we have a backup." Xuanyuan said calmly, "Perhaps the Dragon Ancestor will be willing; we're not lacking people."

I just thought the Ancestral Dragon could shoulder more.

With his resolute, stubborn nature and uncompromising heart, his achievements would surely be more than just a regional Heavenly Emperor...

Times will change; who can tell whether today's outstanding heroes will one day rot?

We must find a hero capable of overthrowing us, who will constantly sound the alarm for us, forcing our respective lineages to forever advance.

If he really can't be helped up the wall, then let him replace us!

No matter what, the meat... will rot in the pot of the Human Dao!

The Huangdi was obstinate to the extreme, not even caring whether he himself would be overthrown.

"As the Central Heavenly Emperor, as the Human Sovereign of the Heaven-Earth-Human Three Sovereigns, just be happy." the Qingdi said indifferently, "The Human Dao has grown; I no longer need to guide the realm."

What I worry about now is nothing more than giving Nüwa a few knocks, to make her behave for a few years.

"Hahaha..." the Huangdi laughed loudly, "Imperial Elder Brother will get what he wishes for!"

Then let's act!

Strip Nüwa's emperor of her wings, subdue the divine beings that follow her... those Ancestral Wu, Great Wu, such military groups must be cleaned up!

"Quite right." the White Emperor nodded, "Zhurong Ancestral Wu, together with the surrendered remnant demon gods, I will take charge."

"Leize, Goumang, and Tiānwú are handed to me!" the Qingdi clapped his hands, "They will no longer be active as Ancestral Wu!"

Moreover, those Great Wu will lose thirty percent, to purge the false and restore the true.

If the Wu Clan can be established, Nüwa can receive half of my military merits.

This Eastern Heavenly Emperor showed a subtle smile, quite thought-provoking: "Without me, where would the Wu Clan get such tremendous momentum?"

It was I who disbanded my own retinue, hinting to have them join Houtu's command.

I arranged her clearly and plainly!

If it weren't for the recent mishap...

The Qingdi spoke and spoke, feeling regret.

One round of operations was fierce as a tiger!

He was originally capable of wanton slaughter!

It's just a pity...

Nüwa forged ahead all the way, with the Dragon Ancestor's divine aid; she could be said to have broken the cycle of fate, freed herself from the shackles of the Yi Dao, made a ultimate leap, transformed, and attained the Dao!

From that moment on, it was the sea wide for fish to leap, the sky high for birds to fly.

The Qingdi was quite embarrassed, having to, while Nüwa had not yet realized herself, hurriedly expand and strengthen... otherwise the game board would be overturned and smash his face.

Fuxi muttered, blaming Gonggong's mess of a handiwork, what a fine operation to show off!

The botched project, yet they still have to have them clean it up!

The Huangdi glanced at him, observing the nose, observing the heart, remained silent on related matters, did not expose Nüwa's secret—Nüwa's emperor had already fully comprehended herself, ascended to Pangu!

Yandi made a move, activating the Slay Immortal Sword Formation, attacking the Dao Ancestor; this method reasonably concealed Nüwa's power... Fengxi saw it, acquiesced, and even lent a hand in minor cover.

He was preparing to seize power, to take back the Human Dao's interpretive authority from the Wu Clan's ancient god collective represented by Nüwa... but he also did not want to obstruct Nüwa's steps toward fulfilling her dream!

Even, he actually still wanted to go watch a show while eating melons and drinking tea!

Just that worldly affairs are helpless; he too is a person in the play, unable to avoid having acted in a scene.

"Alas!"

"Am I lifting a rock only to drop it on my own foot?"

"On one hand weakening Nüwa's sister, on the other hand protecting her to strengthen?"

He sighed inwardly, took over the topic: "I am the Second Generation Di Jiang, having inherited the legacy... moreover, Xizi Ancestral Wu, I can also push forward externally."

Having fought the Demon Race for many years, attacked the Heavenly Court, I have always been at the forefront, narrowly escaping death.

Under my command, there are quite a few followers.

Moreover, with the girl still in my hand, I hold her to command the mighty; no matter how you say it, people will hesitate to act against me for fear of harming her.

Thus calculated, joining forces, we can accomplish great things.

Let's act!

The Huangdi personally rang the bell of the era's end.

The three Heavenly Emperors walked side by side; at the end of the era, they sundered the collective of the ancient gods and great sages, causing those who followed them, the Daluo, to break free from their original primordial divine identities and stride toward the myriad beings of the Human Dao.

They will become "representatives", no longer the "Heaven's Will"!

The surging fortunes of the Human Dao— at this moment a heaven‑earth‑shaking change occurred!

It manifested at the moment Houtu struggled; this sovereign of the underworld, the Ancestral Wu, was about to have tears wiped away by Dihong's oppression.

After a string of defeats, the right to reincarnation is about to be lost, trapped by Di Hong.

Even a rabbit will bite people when it's anxious.

What's more, she is a supreme, overbearing goddess.

"Di Hong! You're bullying people too much!"

She shouted angrily, "You must know, Nüwa must not be insulted!"

"The Underworld has a gap; you took advantage to invade, followed up with an attack, luckily seized an advantage, suppressing me—for now I'll count it as your ability."

"But this is only a small matter, not yet a major turmoil and great change."

But if you press your advantage, greedy and endless, seeking to usurp the foundation of reincarnation, the cosmic authority… forcing me to fury, then heaven and earth will be overturned, and ages will collapse!

She was furious, stamping her feet, "This deity wages war for the Way of Humanity and all beings, defending against external foes—this is supreme virtue."

"And you, the Human Emperor, yet commit backstabbing—disgraceful!"

Houtu angrily rebuked Xuanyuan.

But Dìhóng was indifferent, calmly responding, "Backstabbing? Perhaps."

"Yet your military merits also contain a share of mine."

"It was I who severed the fate of the Wu Clan, led humanity to its zenith, offered sacrifices to heaven and earth, becoming the protagonist of the age."

"It was I who spanned the ages, marched toward the Dragon-Phoenix epoch, redefined humanity's origin, ancient and noble."

"Even the Executioner Immortal Sword Formation!"

"Do you think who has been brewing this for myriad ages?"

"It was me!"

The last few words were a mental transmission from Dìhóng to Houtu, indifferent and transcendent.

"How could that be?"

Houtu's face changed.

"How could you enter the essence of Mount Buzhou?"

She did not understand.

"It's all thanks to your excellent support, Lady."

Dìhóng spoke the truth, yet did not tell the whole truth: "You guided Pangu's essence blood into humanity, and Mount Buzhou serves as Pangu's spinal column… since blood and marrow share the same source, it is naturally as easy as walking on level ground."

"Not possible!" Houtu's pupils contracted, "The amount of Pangu's essence blood within each human is too little; they are unqualified!"

"But I…" Dìhóng said faintly, "It is humanity's subconscious spirit communication!"

"I am equivalent to the entirety of humanity gathered; is not this quantity sufficient?"

"The Three Pure Ones have actually invested in me."

"What I have obtained has never been merely the Taiji Diagram and Pangu's Banner, but also the Executioner Immortal Sword Formation!"

One thunderclap after another blasted, making Houtu's head buzz.

However, if one speaks of surprise, it is not overly shocking, for in her youth she had already harbored some suspicions about Huangdi's origins and how he came before her.

She even tried to arrange a few things to control the situation.

But plans can never keep up with changes.

The chessboard shifts, versions update; over time, even Nüwa herself finds it hard to cope—either confined to the netherworld or kicked out of the arena.

There was a long stretch of time, the post-Wu Clan era, when humanity lost Nüwa's protection and had to rely on its own wisdom and strength to overcome hardships.

If humanity had gained spirituality and it began to develop in that period… who could stop it?

Now, Dìhóng laid his cards bare; Houtu sighed, feeling it unexpected yet reasonable.

There are people, there are events; his appearance, its occurrence—deep down there is a trend of the times.

If it serves the interests of the vast majority, then he will become the settled state.

Just like now.

Nüwa single-handedly brought about Xuanyuan.

If time could be reversed, all cause and effect pushed back to the start, and Nüwa knew in advance what Xuanyuan would say.

What could she do?

Leave a backup plan, strangling Xuanyuan in the cradle?

No.

In the grand undertaking against the Heavenly Court, Xuanyuan contributed too much.

Without such a hero, at each crucial juncture… humanity's undertaking would collapse!

Weighing pros and cons, Nüwa must to some extent show tolerance.

Even, she must also provide protection!

Until when can we discard the grindstone and kill the ox… only then is it considered concluded.

——Just like this moment!

But Dìhóng also grew up.

Moreover, the truest situation is…

Even if Xuanyuan were killed, it would not matter.

Because…

The true undercover agent is Fengxi!

Killing Xuanyuan cannot solve the problem… perhaps another Xuanyuan would emerge!

The source of everything must begin with Nüwa's original intention in creating the Wu Clan, which is her Pangu beginning.

A hint of competitiveness arose… when she began to act, influencing the Way of Humanity for myriad generations, condensing beauty and resolve, leaving a deep and vivid mark in this era, the wheel of history began to turn!

Across the ages, the traces of the Human Way overlapped; self-awareness became clear, a tendency emerged, spontaneously healing mental maladies, and a representative was put forth.

This representative, bound to Nüwa from birth, is a trusted aide, a loyal minister!

This is a karmic cycle.

It is the Human Way and Nüwa, huddling together for warmth under the bullying of the August Emperor, this Pangu overlord.

Of course, in the end they will part ways.

Their wings have hardened; each flies solo.

This deepest intrigue appears as a conspiracy, yet is also an open-and-aboveboard scheme.

Because I simply don't care whether Nüwa can guess it or not!

So what if I know?

As long as Nüwa thinks of Pangu and fights for a breath of her own… she must take a shortcut and overturn the Heavenly Dao that has seized the initiative.

And to undertake such a great undertaking, how could it be done without external help?

After all the twists and turns, only the human Dao can help her!

As long as she needs to make something of the human Dao, she will eventually walk this path.

Nüwa and the human Dao have a honeymoon period of cooperation, and likewise will have a stage of hostility.

When the myriad beings awaken, it is destined to take back the right to wage war from the hands of the gods.

Thus, they will eventually face off, and one side will have to compromise.

The shift of the principal contradiction changes with the times.

By now, Emperor Hong has revealed secrets to Houtu, disclosing part of the truth.

Houtu fell silent, then grew angry: "Humans were created by me, you became a spirit of human fortune, yet you dare to rebel?!"

Utterly rebellious and unjust!

Unfilial wretch!

At this moment, Houtu's heart was filled with profound sorrow, and her grief burst forth.

But if she hadn't spoken, it would have been fine; once she did… Emperor Hong's mood wasn't so wonderful either.

Oh, come on!

Emperor Hong sighed, "I haven't even blamed you yet!"

Mother's debt, son's repayment!

I almost got killed by your scheme!

You created humanity; as the Human Emperor, I am deeply grateful.

But your investment… better not mention it.

You were sold by Fuxi, yet you're still counting his money for him!

Thinking of this past, he feels like vomiting blood.

Merit for opening heaven, merit for creating humans…

Passed down in a single line, yet the result is actually being in debt!

Do you know how, as the Supreme Emperor, I rushed to the Dragon-Phoenix era full of vigor, only to be pressed to the ground and beaten by the August Emperor Heavenly Emperor, with a puppet Earth Emperor lending a hand… what was my state of mind back then?

My mindset was about to collapse.

The investment humanity received… is poisonous!

The tragedy is, he can't even blame Nüwa… after all, Nüwa was also unaware, right!

However, after learning this lesson, Xuanyuan also made up his mind——

Nüwa, Your Majesty, just be a mascot.

Play mind games with those scheming top-tier gods?

Or just leave it to him.

——Although the Nüwa Emperor rules by doing nothing, governing Honghuang, we still need to look at such a wise and outstanding person!

Otherwise, not knowing when one will be thrown into a pit, the loss would be too unjust.

Houtu was instantly speechless.

You follow your own Dao, I will control Honghuang.

Emperor Hong laid out the path for Houtu, revealing everything: "So I will give you the Slay Immortal Sword Array, so you can face Hongjun and have a chance to win."

As for the authority over life and death of the human Dao, I must grasp it no matter what, to fulfill the autonomy of the human Dao!

If you won't give it, I'll just take it myself!

Houtu hesitated upon hearing that, wavering in the fragment of time and space of the secret deal.

She is not a person greedy for power and status, nor does she particularly value this authority over life and death.

Just……

If you do this…… how will those divinities who follow me fare?" Houtu asked, "Their era has repeatedly experienced life and death, endless battles, now they have finally won…… how will you handle them?"

Reward merit, punish fault.

I know their contributions; I also know their mistakes.

Emperor Hong was indifferent: "Reward those who deserve reward, kill those who deserve death."

Then let them relinquish their military power and properly go into retreat.

But some people committed wrongs only because of my orders……" Houtu hesitated, "And there's also the matter of military authority……

I have spared you and helped you attain the Dao—this is already great leniency." Emperor Hong chuckled lightly, "How, do you still want to spare those divinities as well?"

The ideological struggle between witches and monsters is still fresh in memory; the dead spirits, mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

If we still indulge, it will merely be another cycle of witch and monster.

So, there's nothing to discuss!

Really, nothing to discuss? Even if we prolong the handling?" Houtu frowned.

Yes! Nothing to discuss!" Emperor Hong declared decisively, "We shall sweep away the remnants of the era with thunderous force, and open an age of peace for all generations!"

I disagree." Houtu said solemnly.

Then don't blame me—I'll take care of you too!" Emperor Hong issued the final ultimatum, "I help you with Pangu; this is a toast, respecting the elders… but don't toast and then refuse to drink, or you'll be punished!"

He said it coldly, his words icy.

Houtu heard this, her eyes also turned cold: "I don't need your help."

A toast? A penalty drink? Hah! I don't want either!

"Your Highness, you really are the type who won't turn back until hitting the south wall...... I hope there will come a day when you don't regret this." Emperor Hong's tone was gloomy.

(End of chapter)