Chapter 237: and the translation of the chapter title

237. Chapter 237 Rahu appears, I forgive you, you are blameless.

Brothers, please listen to me; this is just the elder brother's nonsense.

As the older brother, I'm only laying groundwork for what follows; why are you two younger brothers so eager?

Di Jiang swallowed his anger and spoke, but his brothers didn't appreciate his restraint. Instead, Gong Gong sneered, "It would be better for the elder brother to speak frankly. Though Pangu's Great Hall is safe, if things aren't kept secret and word leaks out, the Wu Clan will suffer utter ruin."

Di Jiang could only grit his teeth in response.

This is the elder brother's mistake; I'll remember it. Brothers and sisters, please listen to what I have to say next.

Hou Tu tried to calm things, speaking before Gong Gong and Zhu Rong could, saying, "Let the elder brother speak first; if it's reasonable, nobody will object."

Hou Tu then told Gong Gong and Zhu Rong, "You elder brothers should also speak less; we're one family—why start infighting when there's no outside threat? It would only make us a laughingstock."

When Hou Tu spoke, Gong Gong and Zhu Rong held their tongues, waiting for Di Jiang to continue.

Di Jiang, seeing the two finally composed, quickly took the chance to speak.

Brothers and sisters, hear me out: I've called this meeting because I see that the Wu Clan isn't strong enough for major expansion.

In this time of great change in the Primordial Wasteland, the immortal way is booming and all peoples are growing strong, but the Wu Clan, which does not cultivate the primordial spirit, is lagging behind.

Furthermore, the Wu Clan's population is growing slowly, so we can't maintain expansion under the present conditions.

So I suggest we discuss whether to reopen Pangu's Great Hall, harnessing the Father God's power to create a new generation of our people.

With these new people we could keep up our growth; otherwise, facing the myriad tribes of the Primordial Wasteland ahead, we'd likely have to retreat.

Having spoken, Di Jiang saw that everyone understood the gravity of the matter—it concerned the Wu Clan's future and couldn't be decided lightly.

Inside Pangu's Great Hall, murmurs arose as the Twelve Ancestral Wu began to confer among themselves.

In the Heavenly Realm, within the Divine Heaven.

Qi, Di Jun, and Fuxi took the places of honor, while a lone figure stood in the hall—tall, dressed in black robes, staring at the three without showing any fear.

Rahu the Great God certainly has clever tricks; even as the Outer Heaven collapsed, he managed to slip into the Heavenly Court unnoticed with a "hide the sky, cross the sea" scheme.

Even the Great Gods Yang Mei and Hun Dun didn't notice, being played by you in the palm of your hand; such scheming truly astonishes me.

I wonder what schemes the Great God has for the Heavenly Court, to the point of not hesitating to forsake the Outer Heaven and lurk within.

And how has your cultivation sunk so low, from a Primordial Chaos Great God to a mere Taiyi? I wonder if you could explain this change.

Rahu never imagined he'd be suddenly exposed before these Heavenly Emperors; in his original plan, meeting Qi and the others was expected only after the three lectures.

Unfortunately, he didn't expect such bad luck; while on duty, he happened to run into Qi inspecting the departments and was caught red-handed.

Qi said nothing then, just harboring a suspicion; he summoned this person today, and upon seeing his demeanor, confirmed his identity—undoubtedly Rahu.

Faced with Qi's questioning, Rahu stayed calm; since he'd been exposed, he bowed and said, "I, Rahu, pay respects to the Heavenly Emperor, Emperor Qi, and Emperor Xi; may the Heavenly Emperor's Great Dao flourish forever and endure through the ages."

His words and deeds were flawlessly courteous; every gesture showed respect, making one truly believe he was a mainstay of the Heavenly Court.

Qi, Di Jun, and Fuxi were at a loss for words; even in this situation, he still put on airs.

Rahu didn't care what Qi and the others thought; he simply continued to bow and say:

Since the Emperor has asked, Rahu will conceal nothing; I dare not deceive the Emperor—please let me explain the full details.

Whether the Emperor believes it or not, and what to do about it, is entirely up to him.

Qi had no hesitation and immediately replied:

The Great God's words left Qi feeling a bit ashamed; whether spoken or not, true or false, it's entirely up to the Great God, and Qi naturally trusts him completely.

Upon hearing this, Rahu silently cursed repeatedly:

You shameless upstart, saying it's not to be spoken—why won't you let me rise? And claiming total trust—if you had the slightest doubt, you'd surely expose me.

Although Rahu felt resentful inside, he kept an outwardly deferential manner; being in a weaker position, he naturally had to gauge the situation.

Rahu remained bowed, never straightening, and spoke with utmost reverence: "I thank the Emperor for his trust; please let me explain these matters in detail."

Even before the Outer Heaven collapsed, I foresaw a future calamity that might cost my life, so I kept some measures, giving me the present chance to eke out a living.

Surely Your Majesty recalls my past contention with Hun Dun, which also involved Yang Mei and others, thereby accruing much karma.

Although I later fled to the Outer Heaven, my cultivation and martial prowess are no longer what they once were.

Knowing those two would eventually settle scores, I kept a contingency; thanks to ample preparation, this is how I became the Star God Rahu.

By the time I am reborn, Your Majesty will already have unified the universe and become the hegemon of the Primordial Wasteland.

Moreover, the starry sky is where Your Majesty and the others first rose; since I have become a Star God, joining the Heavenly Court is only natural.

As for those schemes, they were mere coincidence; the exalted emperors dwelling above the nine heavens are divine beings—I would dare not harbor such thoughts.

Past glory is but fleeting clouds, long gone; now, before the exalted emperors, I am merely a lingering remnant of an ancient god, unworthy of such attention from Your Majesty.

Now, with the Heavenly Court's divine might at its height, Rahu's joining is merely to find a refuge, so as not to be purged by former enemies.

Di Jun didn't believe a word of Rahu's sayings, but seeing his earnestness and special status, he refrained from pressing further.

Di Jun decided to apprehend him directly and report to the Purple Cloud Palace to eliminate the hidden danger, yet outwardly he gave a fairly sincere pretense, saying:

Ah, I see; it appears the Great God has finally awakened and will no longer engage in those risky ventures—this is indeed a blessing for the Primordial Wasteland.

However, since the Great God has chosen to retreat, the Heavenly Court is not lacking in capacity; as long as he behaves and observes heavenly rules, it will naturally protect him.

Seeing Di Jun so amenable, Rahu's heart leapt with alarm, knowing that if he failed to demonstrate his worth later, he would surely be betrayed; after a brief hesitation, he decided that "better a dead Daoist friend than a poor Daoist," and spoke with a grateful expression:

The Emperor treats me as a valued statesman; I will naturally repay his grace, and my actions will surely not disappoint him!

Upon hearing this, Di Jun felt a strange mix of emotions and a bit of curiosity about Rahu's words; but seeing no further explanation, he realized the other party didn't trust him and wanted a promise.

Fuxi, standing aside, calculated; he wished to know what repayment Rahu's words would entail, but worried the trouble would outweigh any benefit; after a brief hesitation, he said: "The Great God is not someone an ordinary person can match; even with the Heavenly Court's present might, wanting to participate would be immensely difficult."

What of the statesman? And how should repayment be made? This lies not with the Heavenly Court nor with us, but depends on how the Great God chooses.

Rahu, whose waist was already bent, bent it further, knowing it was time to lay his cards on the table; having made his decision, he had nothing to hide and spoke frankly:

I do not know how Your Majesties view the current state of the Primordial Wasteland, nor how many could gain Your Majesty's favor.

Qi raised an eyebrow; Rahu's topic was expansive, and its nuances left several people unsure how to respond.

However, regarding the great situation of the wilderness, it was mostly Di Jun who made the decisions; he also couldn't overstep his bounds, and could only sit and watch how Di Jun would respond.

Di Jun listened to Rahu's words and thus knew that in the wilderness there still remained those unwilling to die, still dreaming of coveting the position of supreme ruler of heaven and earth.

After a brief calculation, Di Jun spoke: "Given the current wilderness, the Heavenly Court towers above all tribes, with none able to contend."

"Those who might possibly stand up are mostly those who, due to the flourishing of the Immortal Dao, have made friends with many primordial deities and Great Luo Golden Immortals."

"If I think about it, should those people wish to step forward and stir up trouble, there is nowhere else but the West."

"Moreover, those two in the West are also not law‑abiding, their ambitions enormous; if they were to involve themselves, it would be like trying to fill a bamboo basket with water."

"Such a rabble, how could they enter the eyes of my Heavenly Court? Anyone daring to show their head will surely face the Heavenly Court's thunderous wrath."

"The result will be either fleeting fame or a brief moment of notoriety, ultimately just bones in a grave, their actions like mayflies shaking a tree."

"As for the myriad tribes, they are even less worthy of notice; with the situation of heaven and earth already changed, to think one tribe could command the wilderness by its own strength is nothing short of laughable."

"If anyone truly possessed such reckless daring and short‑sighted vision, they would merely add to the laughter."

Rahu felt shocked by Di Jun's aura; although he thought Di Jun a tad overbearing, he also could not deny the reason in his words.

Upon reflection, the situation of the wilderness indeed was as Di Jun said; were it not for Rahu's fate‑star having a sensation, and an anomaly among the tribes, heaven and earth would have been under his rule.

"Your Majesty's words truly carry the force of swallowing mountains and rivers; the Heavenly Court is indeed worthy of its supreme position in the wilderness, and Your Majesty truly is the hero of the world."

Rahu first praised Di Jun's aura, seeking to suppress before elevating, then opened his mouth to refute:

"However, Your Majesty has also overlooked something: know that at present the wilderness is not beneath the Great Dao, and thus not fixed."

"The Great Dao is fifty, the heavenly derivation forty‑nine; all things seek life, even in a dead place a thread of vitality remains, let alone the wilderness."

Di Jun and Qi et al. felt a sudden alarm in their hearts, carefully considering whether they had missed any calculation, yet Rahu did not pause, continuing: "What I know also involves a few coincidences; Your Majesty naturally knows, and as a star god, my fate‑star senses the wilderness."

"The birth of the Rahu star is both due to my planning and promotion, and partly a response to the times."

"And this shift in the great situation precisely corresponds to the tribe linked to my fate‑star."

Qi turned his gaze to Rahu and asked:

"Please, great deity, explain in detail."

Rahu, seeing someone respond, continued: "I once carefully searched the wilderness, and with the aid of the World‑Grinding Cataclysm, I found the corresponding tribe; thus I sensed its future changes."

Di Jun timely posed a question, asking what tribe it was.

"I dare not deceive Your Majesty; it merely concerns the future change of the wilderness, and divulging it risks leaking heavenly secrets."

Qi and the others' faces darkened at once; at this critical moment they demanded a pledge.

"I, in the name of the Heavenly Emperor, pardon you of guilt."

Di Jun's voice rang out, bearing heavenly edict, causing the Heavenly Court's fortune to continually tremble, thunder echoing throughout the heavenly realm, making the outside sky seem on the verge of collapse.

This commotion instantly startled countless heavenly gods rushing to the God Sky Heaven, while ordinary mortals in the outside world trembled, thinking heaven and earth were angry.

Even Hongjun, seated in the Zixiao Palace, was startled awake, his eyes opening to pierce the primordial template of wilderness and heaven, the heavenly realm's restrictions, only to land in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Seeing Rahu standing in the great hall and hearing Di Jun's words, his complexion turned sallow as he cursed: "Truly a calamity hard to dispel; I do not know from where you escaped, able to deceive those few in the Heavenly Court, and yet you fear not provoking Fellow Daoist Yang Mei."

"As the Heavenly Court, today's protagonists of heaven and earth, I pardon you; the poor Daoist also finds it hard to act against you, but that does not mean Fellow Daoist Yang Mei will be unrestrained."

"Playing this clever trick, stepping onto the wilderness stage, I do not know whether to call you clever or say you are seeking your own death."

Having said that, Hongjun gave a cold snort, his finger lightly sliding in the air; a golden scroll appeared, and as Hongjun moved, it flew toward Chaos.

Now Yang Mei has long since left the wilderness, attaining the status of the Mixed Yuan Ultimate Luo Heavenly Venerable; affairs of the wilderness no longer affect him.

But Yang Mei not knowing does not mean Hongjun cannot proactively inform; Hongjun also finds Rahu hard to tolerate; although the outer heavens have been destroyed, the demonic path's fortune still tightly entangles the Immortal Dao's fortune.

The present wilderness is a paradise for the Immortal Dao, yet also a time when the demonic path can flourish; this is both coincidental and inevitable.

In the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, Di Jun sensed the loss of fortune, yet his heart remained unmoved; he simply refocused his gaze on Rahu and said: "I do not know if the great deity can speak frankly."

Rahu no longer hid anything, knowing Di Jun's patience had reached its limit; if the result failed to satisfy him, he likely could not escape this calamity today.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the clan corresponding to my star is precisely the Wu Clan."

"They disrespect Heaven and Earth, solely revere Pangu the Great God, do not cultivate the primordial spirit, and are akin to feral beasts; they are an anomaly in the wilderness! I implore Your Majesty to exterminate this anomaly!"

Rahu's voice rang out, containing endless killing calamity. (End of chapter)