Chapter 269: with translation of chapter title

269. Chapter 269: Sincerity and Righteousness, Sin and Karma Become Habitual

You lot have quite the temperament; I've only just left seclusion, and already I hear this laughter with no attempt to hide it.

Di Jun, Qi, Primordial Purple Qi, Grand Unity Infinite Luo Heaven Honored God

According to common sense, most cultivators would be like this, and Di Jun is a prime example; yet this time it happened so quickly, truly catching people off guard.

Di Jun glanced at Qi and voiced his doubt: "The Primordial Purple Qi is the supreme treasure for comprehending the Dao in the world, tied to a saint's fruition, on par with the Primordial Non‑Peak Luo Heaven Honored God, and no different from proving the Dao."

Dao Ancestor, Three Cycles Period

Seeing everyone react to Di Jun's words and turn their gazes toward him, Qi smiled and said bluntly: "We five are one body—what's there to discuss about worth or not? Besides, it's not a matter of giving up; I simply encountered a deviation in my cultivation and need to ease up and rest."

"Back then, when the three of us—you, me, and Nüwa—were in seclusion, I couldn't grasp it in my cultivation, while Nüwa herself had it; given the limited time, there was nothing I could do for you."

Although Qi said that, Di Jun still kept Qi's kindness in mind, and the others merely smiled without speaking, feeling it was Qi's comforting words.

Fuxi merely glanced around, then spoke: "Now that the five of us are gathered, Di Jun has made progress in his cultivation; looking at the present, we have all attained the Primordial Dao—how can we waste this time without holding a feast to celebrate?"

The crowd exchanged glances and then in unison said, "Good!"

Di Jun, Grand Unity Dao, the world

Divine Sky Heaven, the Emperor

Di Jun, Responding Dragon, the Wasteland, the Heavenly Court

For a time, the Heavenly Court was unrivaled in the wilderness; the presence of the six Primordial Dao great deities once again proclaimed to the wilderness who truly ruled this land.

Those who cannot see the situation have never been few in the wilderness, especially under the scheming of those with ulterior motives, and it is all the more so.

Longevity Mountain Five Manor Temple, Zhenyuanzi, East Sea Penglai Fairy Island, Hongyun, Purple Cloud Palace

Penglai Fairy Court, the Assembly

"The Heavenly Court has never shown its stance; the renowned deities of the wilderness are all watching, and even if they made a breakthrough, they dare not expound the Dao."

"What's the reason? Simply that they don't want to draw outsiders' attention in this chaotic situation."

"You, on the other hand, while everyone stays silent, fearing to draw fire upon themselves, you insist on stepping forward, becoming a pawn in human strife, and walking straight into the fire pit!"

Facing Zhenyuanzi's advice, Hongyun merely brushed it off, feeling his going was irrelevant and even thinking Zhenyuanzi was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Heavenly Court Assembly, Five Manor Temple

Coincidentally, an old friend summoned him, a rare opportunity, and Hongyun naturally wouldn't let it pass, thus he spoke in their defense:

"Brother Zhenyuanzi, nothing should be over‑calculated; though they once felt guilty toward me, they later made amends—did they not also join us in the encirclement?"

the Assembly, Fairy Court, the world, loose cultivators

Dao Ancestor, Immortal Dao, merit

"Moreover, they are also my friends; they would surely not harm me. If friends still harbored suspicion, how could Hongyun enjoy his present situation?"

"Furthermore, times have changed; you and I have both entered the Primordial Dao and are capable of being great deities of the wilderness."

"With our cooperation, where in the vast world could we not go? Even if they schemed against us, they could certainly not harm us."

the Heavenly Court, the Assembly, heavenly rules

Hongyun's defensive, comforting words angered Zhenyuanzi enough to snap; Hongyun is a sincere person, and Zhenyuanzi has never doubted that—this is the fundamental reason they could become friends.

At least when facing Hongyun, Zhenyuanzi never worries about those schemes and can speak freely about heaven and earth.

However, Hongyun is overly sincere, friendly to others, and places great emphasis on righteousness—these were the qualities Zhenyuanzi originally valued in him.

But now these strengths have suddenly turned into flaws; given that the two are inseparable friends, Zhenyuanzi cannot stand by and watch Hongyun walk straight into the fire pit.

Looking at Hongyun laughing carelessly, his attitude frivolous, still unaware of the gravity of the world, Zhenyuanzi could only urge again: "The Heavenly Court naturally values rules; it does not normally break them, and its heavenly regulations are worth trusting."

"But right now the conflict between the Heavenly Court and the Immortal Court is no ordinary dispute; it is a struggle of great trends, a contest of fortune!"

"Why has Yinglong become a lackey of the Heavenly Court, working for them? Isn't it because the Heavenly Court can provide vast amounts of fortune, allowing them to cleanse the karmic debts the dragon clan bears?"

"Otherwise, it is merely a dragon‑transformation method; no matter how great its drawbacks, sealing or destroying it would not be difficult for Yinglong."

"A centipede, even when dead, does not collapse; the dragon clan's situation, no matter how dire, still wields influence over the wilderness that cannot be underestimated."

"Moreover, the Three Pure Ones, though pure and noble, are not necessarily benevolent; their friendship with the Heavenly Court is merely because the exalted Heavenly King likewise allows them to share in a great deal of fortune!"

the Heavenly Court, the Wasteland, heavenly gods and earthly spirits, the world

Three Powers of God and Dao, the Wasteland, the Heavenly Court

"The very existence of the Immortal Court is a provocation to the Heavenly Court's foundation and core interests; under the prevailing trend, how could there be any room for sentiment?"

"Your going to attend the conference—how is that merely answering a friend's invitation? In the Heavenly Court's view, it is clearly just to give the other side a platform!"

"Brother Hongyun, you have many friends in the wilderness and enormous influence; given the current situation, you shouldn't be hiding—why are you actively jumping into the fire pit?"

It's a pity that no matter how sincerely Zhenyuanzi spoke or how much he considered Hongyun, he ultimately missed one point—he overlooked Hongyun's personality.

Zhenyuanzi is a pure cultivator who has rarely taken part in wilderness affairs, devoting himself entirely to secluded practice.

Such people are not uncommon among the innate deities; most live in solitude, trying to avoid entanglement in wilderness karma.

Three Pure Ones, Gouhui, Minghe, Dao Chang

Their own cultivation is strong, and they do not readily form karmic ties; although the wilderness has many innate deities, they do not casually come into conflict with them.

Zhenyuanzi originally belonged to that group, but he took a dao partner—simply because he felt Hongyun's sincerity, a genuine wish to befriend him. Hongyun's sincere heart, however, has now become the source whereby others scheme and exploit it, and facing Hongyun's sincerity also leaves Zhenyuanzi feeling somewhat helpless.

Hongyun looked at the emotionally agitated Zhenyuanzi, his face calming considerably, and he spoke slowly:

"My reason for going this time is first that I am a lively person, by nature fond of movement; I cultivate the Way of Flowing Clouds, so how could I stay long in one place?"

"Second, you and I met through sincerity and righteousness, and our friendship is likewise based on that."

"Today, because you treat me with sincerity, our mutual obligation makes you worry for me, not wishing to see me take risks—this is the duty of an elder brother."

"Yet when friends invite, even knowing it is not good, they were also once friends of Hongyun; since they are Hongyun's friends, Hongyun ought to meet them with sincerity."

"If one refrains from going because of danger, is that not abandoning sincerity and righteousness? That is not Hongyun's way."

"Isn't Brother Zhenyuanzi also friends with Hongyun because of his sincerity and righteousness? Now, regarding this friends' matter, Hongyun's willingness to go can fulfill the elder brother's sincerity and righteousness."

Hong Yun spoke up to this point, with a faint smile, quietly looking at Zhen Yuanzi.

Looking at Zhen Yuanzi hearing Hong Yun's words, he also seemed somewhat lost and disoriented, murmuring in his heart: "If that is the case, Hong Yun is no fool; how could he not know the danger therein? This time he goes, not for those so-called friends, but for the sincerity and righteousness in his heart."

Zhen Yuanzi silently gazed at Hong Yun; after a long while he said, "Forget it, I cannot stop you. Since you wish to jump into the pit of fire, go ahead. My earnest advice has only made me the villain."

Since you are willing to devote your whole heart to sincerity and righteousness without hesitation, what can I do?

You treat me with sincerity and righteousness; how could Zhen Yuanzi merely become a villain? Wait a moment, I will tidy up, and then we shall go together.

Zhen Yuanzi let out a long sigh, turned and walked toward Wuzhuang Temple; meeting such a friend, he did not know whether it was fortune or misfortune.

Hong Yun silently watched the scene, offering no dissuasion, just as he had said before: with the two of them working together, there is nowhere in the world they cannot go.

At most it is life with a few more twists; just take it as the heaven and earth granting one's cultivation. Sincerity and righteousness are nothing more than this.

After the two had gathered what they lacked, they calmly flew toward the East Sea; what cannot be avoided, why fret over it? The East Sea Dragon Palace.

Ying Long looked at the person before him, his heart filled with unending sorrow; at last he could only whisper, "Ao Yuan, have you truly decided?"

Ao Yuan resembled a survivor of the dragon clan from the Great Calamity, wearing a golden robe, crowned with a pearl diadem, and a coral pin holding his hair high.

He was tall and sturdy; his face still bore traces of his former handsomeness, yet now carried a hint of alteration.

Though he appeared middle-aged, a faint aura of death pervaded his whole being; his gaunt face was covered with disordered white hair and beard.

Yet in his cloudy eyes now gleamed a flash of divine light; that resolute look made Ying Long seem to see the Ao Yuan he first met.

Alas, the Ao Yuan of old had that steadfast gaze to slay enemies on the battlefield, to behead the ferocious beasts that caused the myriad beings of the wilderness to suffer and despise.

But the present Ao Yuan's steadfast gaze is directed toward Ying Long in plea, hoping to offer his own life as justification for Ying Long to act when driving away Penglai Island.

"My lord, I have considered this clearly; were it not for my being a member of the dragon clan, a warrior, I ought to have died when the Great Calamity ended."

"Even back then, I had already been thinking of merely surviving; now I linger on, only wishing to contribute a bit more to the dragon clan."

"Now that I have finally obtained a chance to be liberated, how could I not cherish this fate? I beg my lord to grant it."

Ying Long silently watched the scene, his eyes full of reluctance; as one of the extant Great Luo Golden Immortals of the dragon clan, he had personally witnessed Ao Yuan's gradual growth.

From being able only to command a naval squadron, controlling the turbid currents and contending with ferocious beasts, to standing alone when the war neared its end.

One Great Calamity enabled Ao Yuan to grow from an ordinary Golden Immortal to Great Yi, and subsequently become a commander who opposed the Great Luo in the War of the Three Clans.

The hardships of these steps might be felt deeply only by those of the dragon clan; only those who have experienced the dragon clan's glory can understand why it is so.

Meanwhile, Ao Yuan on the ground, having long awaited Ying Long's reply, involuntarily lifted his gaze, only to see Ying Long's eyes blood-red, unable to restrain himself.

Ao Yuan merely let out a long sigh, waved his hand to dispel his concealment, and Ying Long keenly sensed a faint stench emanating from him.

Ao Yuan merely gave a wry smile and said, "My lord surely knows the reason; I may as well speak plainly—I am no longer the vigorous, righteous sort I once was."

"In the War of the Three Clans, I have already accrued grave sins, and the dragon clan is no longer the benevolent teachers of old."

Saying this, Ao Yuan unfastened his robe, revealing a massive wound on his chest and abdomen, rotted beyond repair, with maggots even moving in and out of the flesh.

Ao Yuan casually took a maggot from the rotted wound; it was entirely bluish-black, exposed to the air, and stiffened to death within moments.

To this Ao Yuan was accustomed; he could even show a faint smile and say:

"Though this thing looks horrifying, it is the key that has allowed me to survive to this day; I specially went to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains to obtain it, a treasure to ease my own suffering."

"Without them, I would likely have collapsed long ago, dying in my own karmic sins just like my former clansmen."

"My lord may not know: when the calamitous qi entered my body, it clouded my mind, and at first I felt nothing amiss; but after the war ended, I could hardly fall asleep."

"Formerly I was accustomed to entering tranquility as a matter of course; now I long for it but cannot obtain it."

"Gazing at Ying Long before him, Ao Yuan pointed to his own head and said, 'I have nearly eighty aeons without entering tranquility practice, without sleep, without closing my eyes!'"

"Whenever my heart relaxes even slightly, the deeds I performed during the Great Calamity entwine in my mind, vivid as before, and I have long become a demon."

"If my lord is compassionate, remembering that I once served under your command and jointly slew ferocious beasts, please understand my hardship and let me be liberated."

Ying Long looked at Ao Yuan before him, his heart a tangle of myriad feelings, not knowing what to say.

Meanwhile Ao Yuan remained in the palace, silently waiting, not urging; for a moment the hall contained only the sound of maggots crawling and devouring within the flesh.

The air was filled with a deathly silence; Ying Long had no words for the scene before him, while Ao Yuan was accustomed to it.

PS: Today is the last day of double monthly tickets; if you still have any, please cast a vote. The poor author has never yet received a thousand monthly tickets in a month and wishes to experience it! Feng Wang here offers thanks! (End of chapter)