Chapter 247

Could it be that this venerable one has been targeted by such an existence......

Translation: "Could it be that this venerable one has attracted the attention of such an existence......"

Could it be that this venerable one has been targeted by such an existence......

Thus: "Could it be that this venerable one has been targeted by such an existence......"

We need to keep the quotes? The source includes Chinese quotation marks 「」. Should we keep them? The instruction: translate faithfully, never skip, summarise, or merge paragraphs. It didn't say to remove quotation marks. Usually we would translate the content, not keep the Chinese quotes. We should translate the meaning, not keep the Chinese punctuation. So we output the English sentence without the Chinese quotes. We'll just output the translation.

Thus line 1: 【1】 Could it be that this venerable one has been targeted by such an existence...... (note ellipsis three dots). Keep the ellipsis as three dots.

Damn it!

Translation: "Eggache!" but it's slang meaning "annoying" or "pain in the balls". Usually translated as "Damn it!" or "What a pain!" but we must not add explanatory words. The literal is "egg painful!" but we should translate as an English exclamation conveying same feeling. The instruction: render onomatopoeia/sound effects as English sound words. This is not sound; it's slang. We need to translate meaning naturally. The common translation is "What a pain!" or "Damn it!" but we must not add explanatory words not in source. The source is just two characters meaning "egg painful". The natural English equivalent is "What a pain!" but that adds "what a". Could also be "Eggache!" but that's not English. Better to use "Damn it!" but that adds meaning not exactly same. However the instruction says: "Natural, fluent English prose — not stiff, not word-for-word literal, but never verbose." So we can translate idiomatically. So "What a pain!" is fine. But we need to ensure we don't add extra info. "What a pain!" conveys the feeling of annoyance. It's acceptable.

Alternatively "Eggache!" is not English. So we go with "What a pain!"

Thus 【2】 What a pain!

At this moment, Minghe Old Ancestor's expression was undeniably a pain.

Translation: "At this moment, Minghe Old Ancestor's expression was undeniably a pain."

At this moment, Minghe Old Ancestor's expression was undeniably a pain.

We'll output: 【3】 At this moment, Minghe Old Ancestor's expression was undeniably a pain.

His tone also revealed an undisguised tremor.

Translation: "His tone also betrayed an undisguisable tremor."

But need to be faithful: "In his tone, there was also an undisguisable tremor." Let's do: "His tone also revealed an undisguisable tremor."

Better: "His tone also carried an undisguisable tremor."

We'll choose: 【4】 His tone also carried an undisguisable tremor.

Obviously, the 'such existence' Minghe spoke of was not Zhulong, but something even more terrifying.

Translation: "Obviously, the 'such existence' Minghe referred to was not Zhulong, but a far more terrifying existence."

We need to keep quotes? Not needed. So: 【5】 Obviously, the 'such existence' Minghe referred to was not Zhulong, but a far more terrifying existence.

As a top-tier primordial supreme expert, Minghe naturally knew more of the ancient secrets, etc.

Translation: "As a top-tier primordial supreme expert, Minghe naturally knew more of the ancient secrets."

As a top-tier primordial supreme expert, Minghe naturally knew more of the ancient secrets, etc.

As a top-tier primordial supreme expert, Minghe naturally knew more of the ancient secrets, etc.

Thus: 【6】 As a top-tier primordial supreme expert, Minghe naturally knew more of the ancient secrets, etc.

At this moment, his heart surged with turmoil as he recalled some unknown matters.

Translation: "But at this moment, his heart surged with waves, and he recalled some unknown matters."

Better: "But at this moment, his heart was in turmoil, and he recalled some unknown matters."

We'll do: 【7】 But at this moment, his heart was in turmoil, and he recalled some unknown matters.

The more he thought, the graver and uglier Minghe's expression became.

Translation: "The more he thought about it, the graver and uglier Minghe's expression became."

We'll do: 【8】 The more he thought about it, the graver and uglier Minghe's expression became.

The great battle subsided.

Translation: "The great battle subsided."

【9】 The great battle subsided.

The awe of all beings continued, and they kept discussing incessantly, unable to calm down.

Translation: "The astonishment of all beings continued, and they kept discussing heatedly, unable to calm down."

We'll do: 【10】 The astonishment of all beings continued, and they kept discussing heatedly, unable to calm down.

Meanwhile, at the foot of Buzhou Mountain stood the Pangu Holy Hall.

Translation: "Meanwhile, at the foot of Mount Buzhou, stood the Pangu Holy Hall."

We'll do: 【11】 Meanwhile, at the foot of Mount Buzhou, stood the Pangu Holy Hall.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches and others had already returned.

Translation: "The Twelve Ancestral Witches and others had already returned."

【12】 The Twelve Ancestral Witches and others had already returned.

"Hmph, that old bastard Hongjun is truly hateful!"

Translation: "\"Hmph, that old bastard Hongjun is truly hateful! \""

We need to keep the quotation marks? The source has 「」 around the spoken line. We'll translate the content, and we can keep English quotation marks for dialogue. We'll output: 【13】 "Hmph, that old bastard Hongjun is truly hateful!"

"If it weren't for his interference, the demon race would surely have been destroyed, and we would have already unified the wilderness."

Translation: "\"If it weren't for his interference, the Demon Race would surely have been annihilated, and we would have already unified the primordial world. \""

We'll do: 【14】 "If it weren't for his interference, the Demon Race would surely have been annihilated, and we would have already unified the primordial world."

Zhurong muttered angrily, his aura blazing like fire, intensely radiant, captivating the heart.

Translation: "Zhurong muttered angrily, his aura blazing like fire, intensely radiant, captivating the heart."

Zhurong muttered angrily, his aura blazing like fire, intensely radiant, captivating the heart.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jiang, Chijiuyin, and others all fell silent, their faces turning dark.

Translation: "Upon hearing this, Di Jiang, Zhu Jiuyin, and others all remained silent, their faces dark as iron."

We'll do: 【16】 Upon hearing this, Di Jiang, Zhu Jiuyin, and others all remained silent, their faces dark as iron.

After a moment, Houtu spoke up to console:

Translation: "After a moment, Hou Tu still spoke up to console:"

We'll do: 【17】 After a moment, Hou Tu spoke up to console:

"Brothers, there's no need for this."

Translation: "\"There's no need for you all to be like this. \""

We'll do: 【18】 "There's no need for you all to be like this."

"For now, we should quickly rest and recuperate; restoring our condition is urgent."

Translation: "\"For now, we should quickly rest and recover; restoring our condition is urgent. \""

We'll do: 【19】 "For now, we should quickly rest and recover; restoring our condition is urgent."

Houtu, however, was exceptionally clear-headed.

Translation: "Hou Tu, however, was exceptionally clear-headed."

We'll do: 【20】 Hou Tu, however, was exceptionally clear-headed.

Everything has already been decided; further worrying cannot change it.

Translation: "Everything had already been decided; further worrying would change nothing."

We'll do: 【21】 Everything had already been decided; further worrying would change nothing.

Earlier, the phantom of Pangu was shattered, and the Twelve Ancestral Witches were all severely wounded.

Translation: "Earlier, Pangu's phantom was shattered, and the Twelve Ancestral Witches were all severely wounded."

We'll do: 【22】 Earlier, Pangu's phantom was shattered, and the Twelve Ancestral Witches were all severely wounded.

Thus, she clearly realized that, for now, restoring their own condition was the most important matter.

Translation: "Therefore, she clearly realized that, for now, restoring their own condition was the most important matter."

We'll do: 【23】 Therefore, she clearly realized that, for now, restoring their own condition was the most important matter.

Upon hearing this, the originally grim faces of Zhurong and the others eased slightly.

Translation: "Upon hearing this, Zhurong and the others' originally grim faces eased slightly."

We'll do: 【24】 Upon hearing this, Zhurong and the others' originally grim faces eased slightly.

But they had not yet fully relaxed.

Translation: "But before they could fully relax,"

We need to keep meaning: "But before they could fully relax," The line ends there; it's a fragment leading to next line. We'll translate as: 【25】 But before they could fully relax,

Just then, one of the Eight Great Witches, Jiu Feng, suddenly arrived.

Translation: "Just then, Jiu Feng, one of the Eight Great Witches, suddenly arrived."

We'll do: 【26】 Just then, Jiu Feng, one of the Eight Great Witches, suddenly arrived.

"Report to the esteemed Ancestral Witches!"

Translation: "\"Reporting to the esteemed Ancestral Witches! \""

We'll do: 【27】 "Reporting to the esteemed Ancestral Witches!"

"We have returned, yet we do not see the figures of Houyi and Kuafu, our two elder brothers."

Translation: "\"We have returned, but we do not see the figures of our elder brothers Hou Yi and Kua Fu. \""

We'll do: 【28】 "We have returned, but we do not see the figures of our elder brothers Hou Yi and Kua Fu."

"After searching everywhere... we only... only found large bloodstains they left behind."

Translation: "\"After searching everywhere... we only... only found large traces of blood they left behind. \""

We'll do: 【29】 "After searching everywhere, we only found large traces of blood they left behind."

Upon saying this,

Translation: "Upon these words,"

We'll do: 【30】 Upon these words,

The Twelve Ancestral Witches' faces changed dramatically, and they rose abruptly.

Translation: "The Twelve Ancestral Witches' faces changed dramatically, and they rose abruptly."

We'll do: 【31】 The Twelve Ancestral Witches' faces changed dramatically, and they rose abruptly.

The two great witches vanished without a trace, leaving only a huge pool of blood?!

Translation: "The two Great Witches vanished without a trace, leaving only a large pool of blood?!"

We'll do: 【32】 The two Great Witches vanished without a trace, leaving only a large pool of blood?!

In an instant, the same thought surfaced in the minds of all Twelve Ancestral Witches.

Translation: "In an instant, the same thought surfaced in the minds of all Twelve Ancestral Witches."

We'll do: 【33】 In an instant, the same thought surfaced in the minds of all Twelve Ancestral Witches.

"Damn it!"

Translation: "\"Damn it! \""

We'll do: 【34】 "Damn it!"

"This must be the work of the demon race."

Translation: "\"This must be the work of the Demon Race. \""

We'll do: 【35】 "This must be the work of the Demon Race."

"That Emperor Jun still bears a grudge against Houyi and his brothers for slaying the nine golden crows."

Translation: "\"That Di Jun still bears a grudge against Hou Yi and his brothers for slaying the Nine Golden Crows. \""

We'll do: 【36】 "That Di Jun still bears a grudge against Hou Yi and his brothers for slaying the Nine Golden Crows."

"Therefore, taking advantage of our inattention, he dealt a lethal blow to the two brothers."

Translation: "\"Therefore, taking advantage of our inattention, they dealt a lethal blow to the two brothers. \""

We'll do: 【37】 "Therefore, taking advantage of our inattention, they dealt a lethal blow to the two brothers."

Gongong spoke up, making this speculation, which could be said to be reasonable.

Translation: "Gonggong voiced this speculation, which could also be said to be reasonable."

We'll do: 【38】 Gonggong voiced this speculation, which could also be said to be reasonable.

The ancestral witches remained silent, having nothing to say.

Translation: "The Ancestral Witches remained silent, having no reply."

We'll do: 【39】 The Ancestral Witches remained silent, having no reply.

"Nothing else!"

Translation: "\"Nothing else! \""

We'll do: 【40】 "Nothing else!"

In everyone's view, only this explanation makes sense.

Translation: "In everyone's view, only this explanation makes sense."

We'll do: 【41】 In everyone's view, only this explanation makes sense.

"Furious beyond control!"

Translation: "\"Furious beyond control! \""

We'll do: 【42】 "Furious beyond control!"

"Eyes nearly bursting!"

Translation: "\"Eyes about to burst! \""

We'll do: 【43】 "Eyes about to burst!"

An oppressive atmosphere spread to the extreme.

Translation: "An extremely suppressed atmosphere spread."

We'll do: 【44】 An extremely suppressed atmosphere spread.

You should know, the previous battle, though terrifyingly abnormal,

Translation: "You should know, the previous battle, though terrifyingly abnormal,"

We'll do: 【45】 You should know, the previous battle, though terrifyingly abnormal,

but from start to finish, both sides only lost ordinary living beings.

Translation: "but from beginning to end, both sides only suffered ordinary casualties of living beings."

We'll do: 【46】 but from beginning to end, both sides only suffered ordinary casualties of living beings.

Yet if great witches like Houyi and Kuafu were to perish, it would be an excruciating loss for the witch clan.

Translation: "But if Great Witches like Hou Yi and Kua Fu were to perish and vanish, for the Wu Clan it would already be an agonizing loss."

We'll do: 【47】 But if Great Witches like Hou Yi and Kua Fu were to perish and vanish, for the Wu Clan it would already be an agonizing loss.

Meanwhile, another great witch, Chitiant, prostrated himself and pleaded.

Translation: "On another note, Xingtian, also one of the Great Witches, even more so bowed to request orders."

We'll do: 【48】 On another note, Xingtian, also one of the Great Witches, even more so bowed to request orders.

"Demonic beasts, what a vicious method!"

Translation: "\"Demon Race beasts, what vicious methods! \""

We'll do: 【49】 "Demon Race beasts, what vicious methods!"

"My lords, I wish to avenge the two brothers and will surely find their corpses."

Translation: "\"My lords, I wish to avenge the two brothers and will surely find their corpses. \""

We'll do: 【50】 "My lords, I wish to avenge the two brothers and will surely find their corpses."

"Even if it means slaughtering the heavenly court, I will spare no effort."

Translation: "\"Even if we must storm the Heavenly Court, we will spare no effort. \""

We'll do: 【51】 "Even if we must storm the Heavenly Court, we will spare no effort."

As fellow great witches, Chitiant was obviously closer to Houyi and Kuafu, with a deeper brotherly bond.

Translation: "As fellow Great Witches, Xingtian, Hou Yi, and Kua Fu are evidently closer, their brotherly bond deeper."

We'll do: 【52】 As fellow Great Witches, Xingtian, Hou Yi, and Kua Fu are evidently closer, their brotherly bond deeper.

Unable to suppress his grief and anger, he immediately prepared to strike.

Translation: "He could not suppress his grief and anger, and was about to act immediately."

We'll do: 【53】 He could not suppress his grief and anger, and was about to act immediately.

"Not bad!"

Translation: "\"Not bad! \""

We'll do: 【54】 "Not bad!"

"In life, see the person; in death, see the corpse!"

Translation: "\"In life, demand to see the person; in death, demand to see the corpse! \""

We'll do: 【55】 "In life, demand to see the person; in death, demand to see the corpse!"

"We will surely reclaim this justice."

Translation: "\"We will surely reclaim this justice! \""

We'll do: 【56】 "We will surely reclaim this justice!"

Zhurong also spoke up, sharing Gongong's eager-to-try expression.

Translation: "Zhurong also spoke up, and he and Gonggong both looked eager to try."

We'll do: 【57】 Zhurong also spoke up, and he and Gonggong both looked eager to try.

But just as several people were preparing to set out,

Translation: "But just as several people were preparing to set out,"

We'll do: 【58】 But just as several people were preparing to set out,

The leader, Emperor Jiang, suddenly spoke in a deep voice:

Translation: "the leader, Di Jiang, suddenly shouted in a low voice:"

We'll do: 【59】 the leader, Di Jiang, suddenly shouted in a low voice:

"Wait!"

Now, we must not cause any further incidents.

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhurong, Gonggong, and the others stared at Di Jiang in disbelief.

"Elder brother, how could Hou Yi and Kuafu, the two brothers, only die pointlessly?!"

"But we are not moved at all?"

Zhurong countered.

This time, without waiting for Di Jiang to speak, Zhu Jiuyin beside him responded angrily.

"It's not that we are unmoved!"

"Rather, Hongjun has already set a cease‑fire period, which must not be violated."

"If hostilities resume, it will only bring greater trouble."

It must be said that Zhu Jiuyin, like Di Jiang, considers things more deeply.

Hou Yi and Kuafu have perished; how could they not be filled with great grief and burning hatred?!

But as Zhu Jiuyin said.

Hongjun's decision cannot be changed by them.

For now, everyone can only suppress their anger.

Seeing that Zhurong and the others were still unwilling, Di Jiang added.

"After the Yuanhui, we will surely slay the Demon Race!"

"By then, this blood debt of the two brothers will surely be repaid a hundred‑fold by the Demon Race!"

Since Di Jiang had already said that, nobody felt like saying more.

"Sigh..."

Zhurong flicked his sleeves in anger and let out a wistful sigh.

The crowd ceased stirring up war and began to restore their own conditions.

But there is no doubt that the disappearance of Hou Yi and Kuafu has left everyone holding a grudge.

When the Yuanhui ends and all breaks out completely, it will surely be a earth‑shaking horror.

Beyond the thirty‑third heaven, within the Heavenly Court!

The mighty ones of the Demon Race have also returned.

Kunpeng, the Ten Great Demon Saints, and even more ordinary beings of the Demon Race all wore grim faces, a picture of sorrow and gloom.

Although this war, Hongjun preserved the Demon Race from extinction.

But they have also witnessed the Wu Clan's overwhelming power.

Even now, the phantom of Pangu still leaves the Demon Race's beings with lingering dread and shock.

At the highest point of the thirty‑third heaven.

On Yulinglong's exquisitely beautiful face, large tears rolled down, her weeping like pear blossoms in rain, evoking pity.

"Your Majesty, such a deep grudge of the Sea of Blood cannot go unavenged."

"The Ten Golden Crows were born of my palace, yet now nine of them have fallen."

"Only Lu Ya remains, yet his very origin has been corroded by the power of space, leaving him unable to awaken."

"Ah... the sorrow of my palace."

Yulinglong was once dignified and magnificent, supremely splendid.

But today she repeatedly lamented, her heart torn apart.

Although she is the Empress of the Demon Court, she is also the mother of the Ten Golden Crows.

Now, having witnessed her nine sons perish in resentment, reduced to ashes.

How can such immense suffering be ignored?!

Even the smallest Golden Crow, Lu Ya, though he has preserved his life,

but within him the power of space has eroded his essence, plunging him into slumber; he now lies silently beside Yulinglong.

This sight fills Yulinglong's face with tender pity.

Hearing Yulinglong's lament, the faces of Di Jun and Taiyi sank like water.

"Blood debt must be repaid in blood!"

"One day I will certainly make the Wu Clan's entire populace bury my nine children with them."

Di Jun's face also turned ferocious, grinding his teeth, his hatred bordering on madness.

Before this, he regarded the Ten Golden Crows as the Demon Court's inheritance.

Therefore, Di Jun's present grief is no less than Yulinglong's.

But he also knew that such impotent rage is useless.

What matters most now is to purge the spatial power from Lu Ya's body so that he may awaken.

"It seems... only by appealing to the Saint Nüwa is there any hope."

Di Jun immediately thought of this.

No way!

As for the power of space, they are utterly ignorant.

Only the Saint Nüwa, who can act to aid the Demon Race, could possibly wield such divine power.

Just then.

Taiyi at the side, however, wore a contemplative look.

"How strange..."

"Tanggu originally had a formation protecting it; the Ten Golden Crows could absolutely not break through."

"Could it be that some other powerful figure made a move, deliberately causing the Ten Golden Crows to appear, thereby bringing about today's events?"

The Supreme One's words were light.

But upon hearing these words, Di Jun's heart jolted, and his expression changed drastically.

Yes!

Before this, he had been filled with boundless resentment, and thus overlooked this point.

Initially, out of concern for the safety of the Ten Golden Crows, Di Jun once set up an impregnable formation in the Hot Valley.

Those capable of breaking such a great formation can be said to be exceedingly few.

But the Ten Golden Crows appeared silently and without warning, which is what sparked this great war.

Even at the moment of their emergence, not even beings such as Di Jun and the Supreme One sensed anything at all.

If one claimed there was nothing strange about this, even ghosts would not believe it.

Di Jun's face turned dark as iron, he remained silent, pondering something.

At one moment, the Supreme One's expression shifted, as if he had thought of something.

"Hiss..."

The Supreme One drew a sharp, cold breath.

Obviously, he already had some shocking conjecture in his mind, enough to unsettle even the Supreme One, the war god of the Demon Race.

Beside him, Di Jun looked at the Supreme One in surprise, as if waiting for him to speak.

But the Supreme One did not say much more.

His gaze deep, he locked eyes with Di Jun for a moment.

"We had best quickly bring Lu Ya and go seek the aid of the Sage Nüwa."

The Supreme One said thus.

Upon hearing this, Di Jun also finally reacted.

Exactly!

Now is not the time to dwell on other matters.

Nodding, Di Jun said no more.

Several people immediately exerted great magical power, sweeping up the Little Golden Crow Lu Ya.

Then they left the Heavenly Court and headed for the Great Simplicity Heaven.

At the same time.

In the Great Simplicity Heaven, within the Palace of Nüwa!

After the earlier battle ended, Fuxi followed Nüwa and returned together to this place.

In Nüwa's beautiful eyes, a profoundly heavy expression appeared.

"Sigh..."

She suddenly spoke, letting out a soft, wistful sigh, its meaning ineffable.

Hearing that sigh, Fuxi beside her showed a look of puzzlement.

In his impression, his sister had never before shown such a worried, sorrowful expression.

Next, Nüwa solemnly looked at Fuxi and then spoke:

"Elder brother, from now on you must absolutely not meddle in the affairs of the Wu and Yao."

Hearing this, Fuxi immediately furrowed his brows and also showed a hint of doubt.

"Sister, I have already said that I am bound together with the Demon Race, with no way to retreat."

Fuxi responded thus.

He could faintly feel that Nüwa today seemed unprecedentedly forceful.

Even when facing this elder brother of hers, she possessed an added measure of indisputable domineering aura and dignity.

Only hearing Nüwa continue to respond:

"Elder brother, I naturally understand the matter of cause and effect."

"But the struggle between the Wu and Yao has already become more terrifying than we anticipated."

"If you continue to intervene, elder brother, you could very well perish because of it."

This time, Fuxi could not help but change color.

These words, spoken from Nüwa's mouth, were obviously full of pressure, and also made Fuxi feel an unprecedented crisis.

"Sister, what do you mean by saying this?!"

Fuxi became even more puzzled and continued to ask.

In fact, the reason Fuxi previously dared to share weal and woe with the Demon Race was also that he had some confidence born of having something to rely on.

During the previous battle, the Twelve Ancestral Witches did not dare to move against him in the slightest, which is the best proof.

In Fuxi's view, his sister being a Sage, who would dare to truly slaughter him?!

But this time, Nüwa gave Fuxi a meaningful glance.

"The Dao Ancestor has already merged with the Dao, revealing himself only during a Great Calamity..."

Nüwa's words seemed somewhat cryptic.

But in an instant, Fuxi understood her implied meaning.

"Only revealed during a Great Calamity?!"

"Then, conversely, the fact that Hongjun the Dao Ancestor previously manifested means that the struggle between the Wu and Yao has already developed to the point of being a heavenly-earthly Great Calamity."

Fuxi's heart was greatly startled!

Before this, he had not yet realized this, merely thinking that it was nothing more than a contest between the Wu and Yao for heavenly authority.

And as a top-tier innate expert, Fuxi also fully understood the terror of the Great Calamity.

Were the ancient beastly Great Calamity and the Long Han Initial Calamity not the sort that left less than one in ten of all living beings alive?

In that case, what Nüwa said was not false.

If I continue to intervene, I will truly face the danger of falling.

But Fuxi still did not give up his identity as the Xi Huang of the Demon Race.

"If that's the case, we should remind Di Jun, Taiyi, and the others about this."

"If both sides were to restrain themselves, could we weaken the terror of the Great Calamity?!"

Regarding Fuxi's proposal, Nüwa merely shook her head.

"Between the Shaman and Demon tribes, the grudges are extremely deep, and the karmic debt is too great!"

"There is no longer any room for easing at all......"

Upon hearing this, Fuxi's brows furrowed even tighter.

But he still said, somewhat unwilling to give up:

"Then what exactly should we do?!"

"Even setting aside karma, I cannot bear to see the Demon Race destroyed."

"Those countless living beings—must they all die filled with resentment?"

The words fell.

Nüwa had no further response.

The two fell silent, facing each other.

The atmosphere within Nüwa's Heaven also grew more oppressive.

And just at that moment.

Outside the Great Primordial Heaven, Di Jun's voice also suddenly came.

"Reporting to Saint Nüwa, we, the people of the Demon Court, have come specially to seek audience with the Saint!"