Chapter 266: with translation of chapter title

266. Chapter 266: Bai Ze's Acceptance, Pingyi's Flair

At this moment, the Turtle Chancellor's discussion of the karmic debts owed by those in the Heavenly Court is certainly not baseless.

He had existed since the founding of the Dragon Clan, long held a high position, every action had its purpose, and he constantly sought to succeed at once.

He pointed out Bai Ze to Yinglong not because there was no other way to know the Heavenly Court's attitude, but because he wanted Yinglong to take a side in the Heavenly Court.

Now, in the Heavenly Court, aside from the five sovereigns, the two leading forces are Kunpeng and Bai Ze; Qiming and Yinglong, though high-ranking and powerful, basically do not participate.

Qiming does not participate because the Thunder Division is too special, being an absolute elite strategic department.

They, like their controller Qihuang, maintain an isolated and exalted position.

Qiming had already followed the five sovereigns before the Heavenly Court was established, and is the representative of the star-god collective, the core strength of the Heavenly Court.

He has the ability and strength to guarantee his own and the star-gods' interests without participating in Heavenly Court politics.

As long as he remains independent, the five sovereigns will not suspect him, and his attitude also represents the will of the star-gods.

Conversely, Yinglong's non-participation is purely because he has shown no closeness, which gives the Battle Division a certain independence.

Bai Ze and Kunpeng do not know whether this is Yinglong's attitude or whether the Battle Division's independence is the sovereigns' idea.

Therefore they have not intervened, but they will not act for the benefit of the Battle Division and Yinglong either.

However, at the Heavenly Court assembly earlier, the rewards given to each department showed the sovereigns' attitudes; the richness or lack thereof indicated their merits and also represented the sovereigns' closeness and attention.

And Yinglong's refusal to take a side immediately attracted Kunpeng and Bai Ze's attention; otherwise, for such a major matter, neither side would have failed to send even a hint of news.

The Turtle Chancellor realized this, which is why he began discussing the Dragon Clan's karmic debts, and this also represents his choice.

In the Turtle Chancellor's view, compared to the currently dominant Kunpeng, Bai Ze, who owes the Dragon Clan karmic debt and has fallen into defeat in the struggle, is undoubtedly a natural political ally for Yinglong.

The addition of the Battle Division and Yinglong would give Bai Ze tremendous support, and Bai Ze would certainly not refuse.

As for Kunpeng, he possesses a strand of Hongmeng purple qi, being a disciple of the Dao Ancestor; in the Turtle Chancellor's eyes, he will ultimately pursue the sage's fruition and relinquish his position in the Heavenly Court.

Bai Ze is also the one who, after Kunpeng's departure, took over most of his political legacy, and the karmic debt originally owed was precisely the stepping stone for the Dragon Clan and the Battle Division to seek refuge.

What Yinglong thought of the Turtle Chancellor's considerations is unknown; he was still pondering the use of Dong Wanggong's karmic debt when a fleeting inspiration let him seize this opportunity, but his low political skill left him unsure how to exploit it.

Seeing Yinglong still agonizing thus, the Turtle Chancellor could only sigh helplessly and then instruct:

"The Heavenly Court wants to drive out Penglai Island and have them leave the Eastern Continent; their demand amounts to only two points."

"First, because the Eastern Continent is too important, being the essence of the Primordial Wilds and the Heavenly Court, they fear that after the Immortal Court is established, it will affect the East."

"Whether good or bad, this influence is hard for the Heavenly Court to accept; a bad influence would add uncontrollable factors to the Heavenly Court's tax revenue and administration."

"A good influence would shake the foundations of the Heavenly Court's administration and damage its prestige, which is undoubtedly intolerable for the Heavenly Court."

"Leaving aside distant concerns, if the Immortal Court abandons tax collection and uses this method to win over the Eastern tribes, what do you think those tribes would think, and how would the Heavenly Court respond?"

"As for Dong Wanggong's karmic debt, if the Dragon Clan and the Immortal Court come into conflict and we step forward to drive them away, that debt can be used at that moment to strike at their prestige."

"After all, now that you have joined the Heavenly Court, Dong Wanggong's karmic debt can surely not be reclaimed, nor can it be used to make the other side withdraw voluntarily to avoid conflict."

"It would be better to use this useless karmic debt to strike at the Immortal Court, perhaps even eliciting extra compensation from the Heavenly Court to offset losses."

"After all, the Dragon Clan has utterly offended the Immortal Court, chosen to side with the Heavenly Court, leaving no retreat; no matter what, the Heavenly Court will set the Dragon Clan up as a model for all the myriad races of the Primordial Wilds."

"As long as the Four Seas' authority is not lost, even if the Heavenly Court loses in the ensuing struggle, the Dragon Clan will at most shed some blood and then lie low for a while longer."

"But if the Heavenly Court continues to maintain its hegemony, then the Dragon Clan stands to gain much more."

After the Turtle Chancellor finished speaking, he said no more, clasped his hands in a bow, and slowly withdrew, giving Yinglong ample time to digest.

Political deliberations and wagers always require giving someone accustomed to military thinking some buffer and adjustment time.

The Dragon Clan and the Turtle Chancellor have absolutely ample time to let Yinglong grow until he stands tall, becoming a Spirit Mountain that can shelter the Dragon Clan from wind and rain and lead it forward.

After hearing the Turtle Chancellor's words, Yinglong felt a sudden sense of enlightenment, wanted to thank him, but discovering he was already gone, he couldn't help laughing and cursing:

"This old turtle, clearly having a solution in mind all along, yet keeps beating around the bush, speaking in vague terms, making me vexed and troubled, not behaving like a person."

At this moment, the Turtle Chancellor was already in his own palace, beginning to write a spiritual note inquiring of Bai Ze.

Otherwise, if he knew how Yinglong viewed him, he would not continue to tremble as he tugged his beard, simultaneously striking Yinglong's head with his heavy, forceful cane, scolding him as uncarveable rotten wood.

After the Dragon Clan's elders dispersed, they began orderly letting Dragon Clan members wander in Penglai, intentionally or unintentionally stirring up some disputes.

These disputes are extremely minor, sometimes even started by small aquatic tribes, with each side occasionally suffering loss, but they hardly enter the notice of golden immortals and great Luo, being seen merely as ordinary scuffles.

After receiving the Turtle Chancellor's inquiry, Bai Ze in the Heavenly Court first felt somewhat annoyed, feeling whether this matter bore the Heavenly Court's name was irrelevant.

Given the Heavenly Court's present strength, whether the myriad beings of the Primordial Wilds notice or not, this is fundamentally a trivial matter; after all, any pretext suffices, and the Heavenly Court hasn't even acted personally.

But Bai Ze quickly sensed something unusual about it and immediately reacted.

If Yinglong had come to inquire, Bai Ze would not have given it a second thought, merely considering it help for a colleague to clear up confusion; but the sender happened to be the Turtle Chancellor.

That old turtle in the East Sea is no simple figure; having assisted the Ancestral Dragon in achieving great deeds, he would certainly not fail to understand the reasoning here.

"How interesting; I really thought you had given up, intending to spend the rest of your life in the Four Seas."

"But upon reflection, that's right; one who follows the ambitious Ancestral Dragon in conquering the world would hardly resign himself to fate and waste time."

"Just the Dragon Clan plus the Battle Division? That's also a hot potato, hard to handle; this old turtle is still as sharp as ever, giving me a thorny problem."

Bai Ze lamented that the Turtle Chancellor's post had already shown the Dragon Clan's attitude, deeply bound up with the Battle Division and Yinglong, and moreover involved the past karmic debt.

This left Bai Ze feeling he had no grounds even to refuse, for Kunpeng is now powerful; if the Battle Division joins, Bai Ze in the Heavenly Court could only humble himself. Although Bai Ze also feels Kunpeng will eventually leave the Heavenly Court to pursue sagehood, who can estimate that time? Even though the other's status and authority will someday be his, why wait if he could have it sooner?

Moreover, waiting entails too many variables; Bai Ze considers himself clever, and clever people never pin their hopes on waiting.

"Just as you wish; as for what you can achieve, that depends on your means."

While Bai Ze murmured, his pen did not stop; he also began to gauge the intentions of Qi and others, trying to guess the attitudes of several sovereigns.

After all, the method of this undertaking is not important to the Heavenly Court, but it is an extremely rare opportunity, a rare chance to gauge superior intent without fear of criticism or consequence.

These will serve as valuable experience he can reference when later inferring changes in the Heavenly Court's situation to make decisions.

In Yunmeng Marsh, Qi also summoned Pingyi, awaiting the divine generals who were about to set out for the West.

Seeing the few people before him performing rites, Qi extended a hand in a gesturing lift, used divine power to raise them, and said, "Going west, the purpose ought to have been made clear by Xihuang long ago; since you have come to pay your respects, I need add only a few words."

"I merely hope that you, in times of peril, can preserve your useful selves, and in your actions not be overly hasty, lest you fall into outsiders' traps."

The map of Xifang Dalu needs to be as accurate as possible; the population and strength of each ethnicity within it must be carefully examined and assessed.

Regarding the conflict between the Wu Clan and the Western beings, you must not intervene; simply providing some information to both sides is enough.

Furthermore, you need not intensify their warfare; as members of the Heavenly Court, you must maintain proper neutrality in Xifang Dalu.

After all, although Xifang Dalu is nominally under the Heavenly Court's rule, it is essentially a fiefdom, and in practice has little connection with the Heavenly Court beyond taxation.

Remember, in any situation, prioritize self-preservation; if you can avoid acting, do so as much as possible.

Ping Yi and She Zhe, Teng Hao, Feng Zhe, the three divine generals, immediately nodded and said:

We will surely keep Your Majesty's words in mind; upon going to Xifang Dalu we will be cautious and avoid conflict with outsiders.

Qi saw that their attitude was sincere, seemed to have taken it in, and then spoke again:

Of course, if someone ignorant offends the heavenly majesty, we may punish them lightly to make them understand that this Xifang Dalu ultimately falls under the Heavenly Court's jurisdiction.

Understood.

The four spoke in unison; Qi then dismissed the three divine generals, letting them rest and recuperate first, leaving only Ping Yi behind.

Your Excellency, I wonder what matters you have for leaving Ping Yi behind?

Ping Yi felt doubtful, not knowing why Qi would have him stay; after all, it was merely to go to Xifang Dalu to draw a map and then provide the Wu Clan with some information about Xifang Dalu, which posed no danger.

Qi merely stared at Ping Yi in silence for a while before speaking: "Your status is different; you will have great use in the future; the authority of Cloud Dream Marsh will ultimately be entrusted to you; this time sending you west is merely for training."

In any situation, be cautious, do not act recklessly; if there is danger, preserving your life is paramount; as the heir to Cloud Dream Marsh's authority, your role is of great importance and cannot be lost.

Otherwise, your death would be trivial; after I transcend, if Cloud Dream Marsh's consciousness has no one to share the burden of the Heavenly Dao, then you would truly be unable to escape a hundred deaths.

We both exist within Cloud Dream Marsh; as brothers, the marsh water is our mother; you know the gratitude and obligation, so you must not be arrogant and abandon your mother.

Ping Yi saw Qi's solemn expression, his own demeanor also became solemn, and he promised:

Your Excellency's words, Ping Yi will keep firmly in mind; in any situation he will prioritize self-preservation and will not take risky actions.

Qi then nodded, feeling relieved, but upon seeing Ping Yi's current cultivation, he could not help but feel frustrated and said:

Moreover, you should devote more thought to cultivation; can those divine maidens really make you so infatuated?

It is merely the pleasure of fish and water; cultivators ought not be controlled by desire, but should regulate body and mind.

Severing love and emotion is not advisable, but indulgent excess without restraint is likewise wrong; look at your current appearance, reeking of perfume and powder.

In these few epochs, I have heard that aside from refining Golden Core, you have been frolicking among the wine-water goddesses, and even the time you devote to cultivation has greatly diminished.

Although you are an innate divine sage, you should not thus waste yourself; otherwise how could you hope to glimpse the Great Dao and undertake the heavy duty of being the God of Water of Cloud Dream Marsh?

Faced with Qi's earnest advice, Ping Yi's first reaction was to wonder which petty person, taking advantage of his inattention, was slandering him behind his back.

If he were to find out, he would certainly make that person understand the consequences of spreading rumors behind one's back.

But seeing Qi's piercing gaze fixed upon him, Ping Yi could only wear a bitter expression and reluctantly promise: "I understand; from now on, Ping Yi will certainly devote more thought to cultivation."

Immediately thereafter, Ping Yi feigned indifference and asked: "Your Excellency, you have seldom been in Cloud Dream Marsh lately, and I have often sent greetings, yet I never imagined I would have the indulgence you spoke of."

I do not know if Your Excellency can tell me who is behind the scenes slandering Ping Yi's reputation; although it is the act of a petty person, it is also for Ping Yi to focus on cultivation.

Your Excellency, please tell me that person's name; Ping Yi swears he will not pursue responsibility, and will also properly thank them.

Upon hearing this, Qi gave Ping Yi a sideways glance and said:

Don't act like a child; your reputation is well known throughout Cloud Dream Marsh—do you really need outsiders to file complaints?

Within Cloud Dream Marsh, if one randomly asks an ordinary farmer, there's no need for me to deliberately inquire; your tales of romance and flowers have already drifted into my ears on their own.

Entering dreams of goddesses, the clouds and rain of Wushan—such allusions are countless!

Ping Yi heard Qi's clear words, not knowing how to defend himself, and could only speak embarrassedly:

Your Excellency, you know me; I merely enjoy playing around a bit, with no ill intent.

But I truly find it hard to refuse the pleasure of fish and water; those goddesses also gladly indulge, and we are deeply compatible—refusing would be a waste of heavenly bounty.

Qi looked at Ping Yi's shameless demeanor, not knowing how to express himself, fell silent for a moment, then shouted angrily: "Get out of my sight, don't dirty my eyes!"

Ping Yi fled in panic, and under Qi's gaze, he ended up at the house of some goddess or other. (End of chapter)