Chapter 219

Hongjun was somewhat surprised by Yangmei's words, but he had no time to pay attention to them at the moment, having already found a loophole in Yangmei's attack.

Translation: "Hongjun was somewhat surprised by Yangmei's words, but at this moment he had no time to pay attention to those; he had already found a loophole in Yangmei's attack."

He was somewhat surprised by Yangmei's words, but at this moment he had no time to pay attention to those; he had already found a loophole in Yangmei's attack.

"Yangmei Fellow Daoist, we may not meet again."

The phrase translates to "Yangmei Fellow Daoist, we may not meet again." We'll keep the quotation marks.

Thus: "\"Yangmei Fellow Daoist, we may not meet again. \""

The moment is fleeting; Hongjun has no intention of wasting time sparring with Yangmei, as Yangmei said—the heavenly mandate is limited, and he cannot squander precious heavenly mandate on some irrelevant tidbit.

Translation: "The opportunity was fleeting; Hongjun did not want to waste time sparring with Yangmei, as Yangmei said, heavenly mandate is limited, so now he could not waste precious heavenly mandate on news unrelated to him."

We should translate the term as "heavenly mandate"; it's a concept, so we translate it by meaning.

Thus: "The opportunity was fleeting; Hongjun did not want to waste time sparring with Yangmei, as Yangmei said, heavenly mandate is limited, so now he could not waste precious heavenly mandate on news unrelated to him."

Wielding the Heaven-Measuring Ruler, he swept aside the fine willow branches blocking him; Hongjun stood on the Golden Bridge under Yangmei's gaze, and his figure disappeared.

Translation: "Wielding the Heaven-Measuring Ruler, he brushed aside the fine willow branches that blocked him; Hongjun stood on the Golden Bridge, under Yangmei's gaze, his figure vanished."

Wielding the Heaven-Measuring Ruler, he brushed aside the fine willow branches blocking him; Hongjun stood on the Golden Bridge under Yangmei's gaze, and his figure vanished.

"Damn it! You can't escape!"

Translation: "\"Damn it! Don't even think of escaping. \""

Yangmei turned into an escape light and swiftly gave chase, searching Chaos for a long time, yet he could never find Hongjun's trace.

Translation: "Yangmei turned into an escape light, quickly pursued him; searching in Chaos for a long time, he still could not find Hongjun's trace."

He turned into an escape light, quickly pursued him, searched Chaos for a long time, but alas, he still could not find Hongjun's trace.

"Heavenly mandate is so vexing that even I am swayed by it, losing focus in battle—could my divine powers truly be no match for destiny?"

Translation: "\"Heavenly mandate is so troublesome; even I would be affected by it, getting distracted in battle—are divine abilities truly no match for heavenly numbers? \""

We need to keep punctuation. The Chinese ends with "？。" maybe a typo. We'll keep as "?".

Thus: "\"Heavenly mandate is so troublesome; even I would be affected by it, getting distracted in battle—are divine abilities truly no match for heavenly numbers? \""

Yangmei's face fell; he had lost his sense of Hongjun, and despite his current cultivation, he struggled to enter the Primordial Wasteland, causing him to frown.

Translation: "Yangmei's expression darkened; he again lost sense of Hongjun, and despite his current realm, he found it hard to enter the Primordial Wasteland, which made Yangmei frown."

Despite his current cultivation, he found it hard to enter the Primordial Wasteland.

"Fine, once I have attained the Dao of Mixed Origin, I'll settle the score with you then; I don't believe the Primordial World can withstand that godly Dao of Mixed Origin power."

Translation: "\"Alright, after I attain the Dao of Mixed Origin, I will settle karma with you then; by that time, I do not believe the Primordial Wasteland can block this godly Dao of Mixed Origin. \""

Attaining the Dao of Mixed Origin yields the power of the godly Dao of Mixed Origin.

Yangmei closed his eyes to sense; his powerful divine sense swept over the surrounding Chaos qi, and upon discovering the moment a newly formed small world appeared, he followed the azure-green willow branches into it.

Translation: "Yangmei closed his eyes to sense; a powerful divine sense swept over the surrounding vast Chaos qi, and upon discovering the moment a newly born small world appeared, he followed the azure-green willow branches into it."

His powerful divine sense swept over the surrounding vast Chaos qi; upon discovering the moment a newly born small world appeared, he followed the azure-green willow branches into it.

The Primordial World's membrane lay before him, but Lao Ji felt a surge of despair as Hongyun and his companions appeared before him.

Translation: "The membrane of the Primordial Wasteland was before his eyes, yet Lao Ji felt a sense of despair; before him were Hongyun and his companions."

Yet Lao Ji felt a sense of despair; before him stood Hongyun and his companions.

"Fellow Daoist, I, Hongyun, believe I have a modest reputation in the Primordial Wasteland; I have made few enemies and have never met you before."

Translation: "\"Fellow Daoist, I, Hongyun, reckon I have a little reputation in the Primordial Wasteland, have made few enemies, and have never met you before. \""

He reckons he has a little reputation in the Primordial Wasteland, has made few enemies, and has never met you before.

"Fellow Daoist, you have singled me out in the the the Zixiao Palace; I don't know why—could it be that I inadvertently offended you before?"

Translation: "\"Fellow Daoist, you have targeted me thus in the the the Zixiao Palace before; I do not know why—could it be that I inadvertently offended you in the past? \""

Seeing that the situation was settled, Hongyun stepped forward to clarify his doubts.

Translation: "Seeing that the situation was settled, Hongyun stepped forward to answer his doubts."

He has always been kind in the Primordial Wasteland, never offending anyone; even those who dislike his behavior should not openly scheme against him.

Translation: "He had always been kind in the Primordial Wasteland, never offending anyone; even those who disliked his conduct should not openly frame him."

He had never encountered Lao Ji before, yet for some reason Lao Ji singled him out in the the the Zixiao Palace, pressing him aggressively.

Translation: "He had never seen Lao Ji before, yet for some reason Lao Ji targeted him in the the the Zixiao Palace, pressing hard."

The Three Purities usually stay in seclusion yet are renowned; it's normal for detractors to promote them, as their noble nature makes them reluctant to act.

Translation: "The Three Pure Ones usually remain in seclusion yet enjoy great fame; those who dislike them may recommend them, which is normal, for their purity makes them reluctant to act."

But Hongyun is different; his fame stems from having many friends, and although he does have some enemies, most were settled long ago and could not have lasted to this point.

Translation: "But Hongyun is different; his fame comes from wide friendships, and although he indeed has some enemies, those enemies were mostly settled early on and could not have lasted until now."

Why would Lao Ji single him out in the the the Zixiao Palace? This makes Hongyun wonder secretly if there is some hidden grudge he doesn't know about.

Translation: "Why would Lao Ji target him so in the the the Zixiao Palace? This made Hongyun secretly wonder whether there was some hidden shame he did not know."

Lao Ji was also perplexed by Hongyun's question, feeling as if he had lost his senses, his eyes dazzled by the lecture, and he lost his former calm.

Translation: "Hongyun's question also left Lao Ji deeply puzzled; he felt as if he had lost his mind then, beguiled by the lecture, losing his former calm."

Facing a strongman with many friends and great renown in the Primordial Wasteland, it's a pity that no matter how he explains now, it amounts to mere excuse-making.

Translation: "Facing a strongman with wide connections and fame abroad in the Primordial Wasteland who pressured him, alas, no matter how he explained now, it was just sophistry."

Lao Ji could only offer a bitter smile and say:

Translation: "Lao Ji could only smile bitterly and say:"

"Hongyun Fellow Daoist, I say I also don't know the reason; do you believe me?"

Translation: "\"Hongyun Fellow Daoist, I say I do not know the reason either; do you believe me? \""

Hongyun frowned slightly, feeling that Lao Ji, on the brink of death, showed no remorse and was still trying to wriggle free.

Translation: "Hongyun frowned slightly, feeling that Lao Ji, on the brink of death, still showed no remorse and was still trying to wriggle free."

Seeing Hongyun's disbelief, Lao Ji gave a grim smile; he felt he had gained much from this lecture, thinking the future Dao was clear, initially thinking this endeavor was not a loss, but now ending up like this, he couldn't help but sigh:

Translation: "Seeing Hongyun not believe him, Lao Ji gave a grim smile; this lecture had also gained him much, he felt the future Great Dao was clear, at first he thought this endeavor was not a loss, but now he ended up thus, and could not help sighing:"

"I suppose you don't believe me either; after all, even I think these words are excuses. But if you want to kill me, you'll have to break a few of your teeth first."

Translation: "\"I suppose you don't believe me either, after all even I think this is sophistry; but if you want to kill me, you'll have to knock out a few of your teeth first. \""

Lao Ji's body began to burn with a faint qi aura, his life force swelling and aflame, his aura instantly rising noticeably, prompting Hongyun to frown and say:

Translation: "Lao Ji's body began to burn with a faint aura of qi, his life force swelling and aflame, his presence instantly rising noticeably, making Hongyun frown and say:"

"Even a cornered beast still fights."

Translation: "\"A cornered beast still fights. \""

Lao Ji gestured, summoning a small hammer in his hand, and beside it a banner bearing the characters for wind and thunder.

Translation: "Lao Ji extended his hand and summoned a small hammer; beside it appeared a banner inscribed with the characters for wind and thunder."

The hammer's light shifted endlessly; its head was locked by a golden band, and the handle bore cloud-patterned engravings.

Translation: "The small hammer's spiritual light underwent myriad changes; its head was firmly locked by a golden band, and the attached handle also bore engraved cloud patterns."

That banner was no ordinary thing—its appearance was superb, with streamers like clouds at the edges, and auspicious vapors swirling around it.

Translation: "That banner was no ordinary thing; its appearance was superb, with streamers like clouds at its edge, and rosy aura naturally surrounded it."

The flagpole was smooth like white jade, its tip like a spear point, secretly gathering wind and thunder; all myriad phenomena obeyed its command.

Translation: "The flagpole was lustrous like white jade, its tip like a spearhead, secretly gathering wind and thunder, and all myriad phenomena obeyed its command."

Top-grade innate spiritual treasure: the Myriad Phenomena Hammer; top-grade innate spiritual treasure: the Jade Wind-Thunder Banner.

Translation: "Top-grade innate spiritual treasure, the Myriad Phenomena Hammer; top-grade innate spiritual treasure, the Hidden Jade Wind-Thunder Banner."

Lao Ji waved the small banner, and it instantly elongated in the wind into a twelve-foot spear that he grasped.

Translation: "Lao Ji waved the small banner, and instantly it lengthened in the wind into a twelve-foot spear, which he grasped."

Moreover, wind and thunder followed his movements, drawing countless currents in the Chaos and transforming them into wind and thunder forces for his use.

Translation: "Moreover, wind and thunder followed his waving, being drawn; instantly in the Chaos, countless currents were drawn by it, transformed into wind and thunder's might, for his use."

Lao Ji held the spear in his right hand behind his back, and with his left hand gripping the Myriad Phenomena Hammer, he aimed a strike at Hongyun's head.

Translation: "Lao Ji held the spear in his right hand behind his back, and with his left hand grasped the Myriad Phenomena Hammer, aiming to strike Hongyun on the head."

No spiritual light fell, yet Hongyun suddenly felt his head about to split, as if his primordial spirit had been struck hard; stars flashed before his eyes, his head swelled and ached, and his whole body swayed in the Chaos, on the verge of collapsing.

Translation: "No spiritual light fell, yet Hongyun suddenly felt his head about to split, as if someone had struck his primordial spirit hard; stars flashed before his eyes, his head swelled and ached, his whole body swayed in the Chaos, on the verge of collapsing."

Beside him, Zhenyuanzi saw this, turned pale with fright, summoned the Earth Book to protect everyone present, and isolated Lao Ji within it.

Translation: "Beside him, Zhenyuanzi saw this and turned pale with alarm, summoning the Earth Scripture to protect those present, isolating Lao Ji within it."

He had thought the situation was settled, so he had not intervened, unaware that the treasure Lao Ji wielded could injure the primordial spirit invisibly.

Translation: "He had thought the situation settled, thus had not acted, yet he did not know what spiritual treasure Lao Ji wielded, which could injure the primordial spirit invisibly."

As Lao Ji's hammer fell, his aura dimmed slightly, then brightened again, becoming even more vigorous.

Translation: "As Lao Ji's hammerhead fell, his aura dimmed somewhat, but then brightened again, becoming even more vigorous."

"Attack together, do not get entangled with him; his treasure is sinister, so everyone be careful not to fall for his tricks."

Translation: "\"Attack together, do not entangle with him; this person's spiritual treasure is vicious, everyone be careful not to fall for his tricks. \""

Beside Hongyun, a deity with a human body and deer's head spoke, urging everyone to attack together, and immediately unleashed a divine ability straight toward Lao Ji.

Translation: "Beside Hongyun, an innate divine sage with a human body and deer head spoke, calling everyone to attack together, and immediately released a divine ability straight toward Lao Ji."

Note: the term is likely a typo for Lao Ji; we translate it as Lao Ji, so the phrase means "straight toward Lao Ji".

That divine ability swept up countless Chaos qi, midway transforming into flowing five-element spiritual light that formed five-colored ropes seeking to bind him.

Translation: "That divine ability rolled up countless Chaos qi, in mid-course transformed into flowing five-elements spiritual light, becoming a five-colored rope seeking to bind him."

Lao Ji paid no heed; pointing the twelve-foot spear conjured by his wind-thunder banner at the five-element light rope, he instantly summoned a gale of wind and thunder that shattered it.

Translation: "Lao Ji paid no heed; pointing the twelve-foot spear formed by his wind-thunder banner at that five-elements spiritual rope, instantly wind and thunder thundered, instantly shattering it."

But soon after, several innate deities descended with divine abilities, the light of yin-yang and the five elements flashing, and the powers of earth, water, fire, and wind erupting frequently.

Translation: "But soon after, several innate divine sages descended divine abilities, the light of yin-yang and five elements flashing, the powers of earth, water, fire, and wind erupting frequently."

Even though Lao Ji had burned his life force, he was still beaten back repeatedly in a short time.

Translation: "Even though Lao Ji had burned his life force, for a moment he was also beaten back repeatedly."

Lao Ji lamented: "The situation is too unfavorable; the gap between us is already minuscule, and even if I fight to the death, the numerical disparity is too great—it's merely a drop in the bucket."

Translation: "Lao Ji sighed inwardly: \"The situation is too unfavorable; the gap between us and them is already minuscule, yet even if we fight to the death, the numerical disparity is too great—ultimately just a drop in the bucket. \""

"It seems I am destined to die here today!"

Translation: "\"It seems I will perish here today! \""

While Lao Ji was distracted, a golden whip lashed down hard, striking him directly into the Chaos qi.

Translation: "At the moment Lao Ji was distracted, a golden whip lashed down, directly striking him into the Chaos qi."

Lao Ji turned back but saw no attacker; he only heard someone curse: "Fighting us while outnumbered, you still dare to distract yourself, looking down on us—don't even bother to see your sorry state…"

Translation: "Lao Ji turned his head but saw no attacker, only hearing someone curse: \"Fighting us, yet being outnumbered, you dare to be distracted, despising us, and not even looking at your sorry state…\""

This strike sent Lao Ji's blood and qi surging, and the qi flame on his body dimmed considerably.

Although Lao Ji had not seen it, relying on instinct he casually flung the Myriad Phenomena Hammer toward the direction the voice came from; the speaker's voice instantly ceased, and then he heard someone howl: "It hurts me to death!" Lao Ji secretly smiled, feeling he had vented some spite, though he did not know whether he had hit the person who had just attacked him with a golden whip.

Suddenly Lao Ji felt a pain in his chest, spat divine blood, and his whole body was flung backward; without time to think, he swept the Wind-Thunder Banner in his hand behind him, but it was again blocked by the golden whip.

"Your reaction is quite fast; I have a rosy‑cloud cape to conceal my form, and I used the Black Tiger Biting Golden Whip for a sneak attack, yet you still managed to block it—no wonder you dare to scheme against my friend."

When that person came before him, Lao Ji finally saw his face clearly: he wore a yellow robe, had a pair of wind‑swept ears that were not conspicuous, and his eyes were a dark green, extremely ferocious.

"To fight many against few and still carry out a sneak attack—such shameless scum, no wonder you ally with Red Cloud."

Lao Ji showed a sneer, speaking mockingly: although he knew Red Cloud was naturally not the sort of person he referred to, but now, on the brink of death, he naturally wanted to have his say first.

As soon as these words were spoken, countless people were instantly enraged, and in the ensuing clash they no longer held back; Lao Ji's situation immediately deteriorated.

Just then he was blown away by a divine ability, and then a treasure pierced through a gap in his defenses, shattering his divine body and sending flesh and blood flying.

Within seven days, Lao Ji met a miserable death, his breath dissipated, and even his true spirit could not remain.

However, everyone's state also looked somewhat disheveled; Lao Ji this bastard went berserk at the end, directly withstanding everyone's damage with the Wind Thunder Banner, then seizing the moment, he used the Myriad Symbol Hammer to specifically break people's primordial spirits.

For a moment, everyone was actually suppressed by his reckless fighting style; if not for Zhen Yuanzi's protection with the Earth Scripture, they would have been worse off than merely disheveled.

After all, everyone still succeeded completely; in the Chaos outside the Primordial Wilderness, only Lao Ji's two spiritual treasures remained, the Wind Thunder Banner and the Myriad Symbol Hammer left in place.

Looking at the two somewhat damaged spiritual treasures before them, everyone present felt a bit embarrassed; there were only two treasures, but there were about thirty or forty innate divine beings present, making it impossible to divide them.

Lao Ji's collection had long been destroyed by him; if it weren't that innate spiritual treasures cannot be destroyed, those two innate spiritual treasures probably wouldn't have remained either.

When everyone was in a dilemma, Zhen Yuanzi spoke first:

"Fellow Daoists, right now Hong Yun has not yet recovered and lacks any protective treasure; why not use these two spiritual treasures to guard him?"

"As for your losses, I still have some spiritual root fruits; though they cannot compare, they can at least compensate you fellows a bit."

Seeing that Zhen Yuanzi was doing this for Hong Yun's sake, no one wanted to say more; after a brief hesitation, they all agreed, each taking some from Zhen Yuanzi's collection, and then went their separate ways.

Finally only Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun remained, and then they returned to the Primordial Wilderness.

"Since you took the lead in surrounding and killing him, yet you neither knew his methods nor took any precautions beforehand, your behavior leaves me wondering how to describe you."

Zhen Yuanzi supported the dazed Hong Yun, murmuring constantly on the way back to the Five Zhuang Temple; Hong Yun only occasionally grunted, unaware whether he heard or not.

Mount Buzhou.

The twelve ancestral witches all sat beside the fire, a huge beast resembling a goat being roasted on the spiritual fire; only Zhurong spoke while eating: "I'm not going, never again; that old man Hongjun's words are pleasant to hear but incomprehensible, too soporific."

"If you ask me, we shouldn't have gone in the first place; we don't cultivate primordial spirits, and Hongjun is famous as an innate divine being, so his lecture must be about the primordial spirit Great Dao."

"Anyway, we can't understand it; going would just waste time—better to spend that leisure eating two more bites of meat."

Beside him, Gonggong, who rarely objected, agreed and said:

"Exactly; going there just means sleeping, so why not sleep in the Primordial Wilderness instead of running around in Chaos looking for things?"

The Xuanming Ancestral Witch then shouted, cursing: "You two are now pushing responsibility onto each other—wasn't it you two who had the loudest voices saying we should go?"

"Although it was the eldest brother who made the decision, you two didn't object either!"

Seeing his brothers' strong opposition and resentment, Di Jiang pondered a moment, then said: "Since none of you want to go, we won't go anymore; although Hongjun is a great god of the Primordial Wilderness, since his teachings are useless to us, we might as well ignore him."

Hearing this, Hou Tu worriedly asked: "We also have some reputation in the Primordial Wilderness, and Hongjun is a famous great god; we attended his lecture once—would it be bad if we didn't go again?"

Di Jiang also frowned slightly upon hearing her; her concern was exactly his worry, but he ultimately decided not to go, saying: "Hongjun is a great god of the Primordial Wilderness; he surely won't be so petty, and besides, if we went we'd just be sleeping, which would actually disturb his lecture."

Zhurong beside them chuckled and interjected: "Maybe he doesn't want us to go either, after all, if we go and sleep, it wouldn't make his lecture look bad."

Hou Tu was very hesitant; although she felt not going was somewhat improper, seeing her brothers' expressions—clearly they deeply despised going to listen to the lecture—she didn't dare say more.

Although she also found listening to the lecture drowsy, in the end she decided to go alone; after all, she had managed to endure it, and even if she didn't understand, Hongjun surely wouldn't blame her.

Heavenly Realm.

After Qi returned, he announced his decision to enter seclusion again; he had never felt the path ahead so clear—entering the Primordial Unity Dao is exactly now!

Taiyi's gains were not as great as those of Fuxi, Nüwa, and Qi, but his solitary path of supremacy had different requirements for life cultivation compared to others.

He too entered seclusion, seeking not to enter the Primordial Unity Dao, but to complete the accumulation needed before entering it.

Nüwa then entered the Primordial Wilderness to walk, wanting to reobserve the beings of the Primordial Wilderness as reference for creating a completely new race for themselves; they already had a vague direction regarding this.

"Fuxi, it seems the vast Heavenly Court now has only you and me left; this lecture everyone gained quite a lot, going into seclusion—you should surely accompany me."

Di Jun looked at Fuxi with hopeful eyes; this lecture he naturally gained a lot, but his future path is already set, and Hongjun's lecture has little effect on his cultivation progress.

Fuxi then smiled slightly, shook his head slightly, and said:

"I've let you down; now I've seen the way ahead. Once I have organized the various departments and delegated authority, I too will go into seclusion."

"After I leave seclusion, heaven and earth will naturally bear my mark, Fuxi; I will certainly not let just a few of you monopolize the spotlight."

Speaking, Fuxi's eyes shone with divine light, showing extreme confidence; just as he said, after this, Fuxi has already perceived all the mysteries of heaven and earth's changes.

All that remains is for him to leave seclusion; then the whole world will surely speak his name, Fuxi thought to himself.

As for Di Jun, his face grew dark; in the end he could only give a helpless smile, slumped over his documents.

(End of chapter)