Chapter 318: with translation of chapter title

Taiyi appeared inside Qi Emperor's Palace at an unknown time, without reporting, and rushed in first.

Seeing Qi still seated with eyes closed in thought, he couldn't help but ask:

"It's only an edict; you shouldn't be like this, Qi. What has preoccupied your mind?"

Qi had long sensed Taiyi's arrival, knowing his rest was over, and he voiced his displeasure: "Given your nature, you shouldn't be watching the battle in Chaos; why have you come here to find me?"

Taiyi merely laughed and said:

"Such a grand event, we ought to watch it together; how can one enjoy it alone?"

"Moreover, watching others fight naturally makes one restless; without companions, it's truly lonely."

What can Qi do about it? He can only go along with it.

Seeing Taiyi rise, Qi also had to speak:

"Let's just watch them together; both are formidable. Shaohao has survived two great calamities, gaining much from them; whether facing fierce beasts or the three clans, he has established a mighty reputation and emerged unscathed."

"Given the current might of the White Tiger Clan, Shaohao being able to suppress the Snake and Hawk types makes him rightfully the foremost great clan of the Primordial Wilderness."

"If the Heavenly Court were gone and the Wu Clan ceased to exist, and the Primordial Wilderness fell into foreign hands, Shaohao's chance would be to become the foremost in the Primordial Wilderness. Of course, given the current situation, such a possibility is minuscule."

"However, we should also pay attention to it. With the Heavenly Court present, they dare not harbor ill intentions. As for the Demonic Path, I am seeing it for the first time and know little about it."

Taiyi scoffed at this, his tone full of disdain, as he heard him say: "Those Demonic Path scoundrels are mostly related to the Six Heavenly Old Ghosts and Five Viscera Evil Qi; even earlier in the Demonic Path there were renowned figures like Yanjianxi and others who must also be involved."

Wait we skipped 【17】 because missing. Actually after 【16】 the next is 【18】. So we need to output 【18】 line.

Translation: "【19】 \"Those Demonic Path scoundrels previously lingered between the Eastern and Western Continents; they likely harbor thoughts of ambush and plunder, though truth and falsehood are unknowable. \""

"【20】 Qi, upon hearing this, felt a spark of interest."

Qi heard the words and his interest was slightly piqued.

He hadn't realized that such an interesting event could occur in the wilderness, and he wondered about the background of that demonic cultivator.

Suddenly, Qi thought of someone connected to the demonic path, who must know something about it.

Having something in mind, Qi didn't hesitate and shouted: "Summon the Division of Stars and Lodges; let Luo Hou Xingjun come to the hall to discuss."

As you command.

Soon after, Luo Hou entered the hall; upon seeing the scene of two figures evolving on the ceiling, he immediately understood the purpose of his summons.

Before Qi and Taiyi could ask, he spoke first: "Your Majesty, did you summon me for those two figures in the heavenly canopy?"

Qi nodded but remained silent; Luo Hou didn't mind and explained: "As for Shaohao the Great God, I'm sure Your Majesties are already well aware, so there's no need for me to elaborate."

"As for the person who faced Shaohao the Great God, I do have some understanding, and it seems this person also shares a karmic bond with me."

Qi and Taiyi were somewhat surprised, given that this person's reputation is obscure, and a check of his past reveals no trace in the wilderness.

Yet upon asking Luo Hou, they learned that this person shares a karmic bond with him, which naturally surprised Qi and Taiyi even more.

Luo Hou didn't delay and directly explained:

"I'm sure both of Your Majesties know that I once acted recklessly and debated the Dao of immortals and demons with Hongjun Daozu on the Xifang Dalu."

"After much debate, no clear victor emerged. This person was the sole observer of the Dao, aside from Yangmei and others, present during my discussion with Hongjun Daozu."

"If we judge by this person's transformation, then in the debate over the Dao of immortals and demons, I would be the victor."

At this point, Luo Hou showed a hint of self-satisfaction and continued: "Back then, this child loudly proclaimed attaining the Dao; in the debate over immortals and demons, he relinquished the six consciousnesses, the five viscera and six bowels, gaining the notion that the five aggregates are empty, with no abandonment or desire."

"Later, when this person entered the lecture of me and Hongjun Daozu, the resulting phenomenon—looking back now—indeed counts as having attained the Dao at that time."

"However, I also do not know how this person escaped from that phenomenon; attaining the Dao is easy, but relinquishing it is hard—such perseverance is truly extraordinary."

"It's a pity that I am no longer the leader of the demonic path; otherwise, with this person's talent, they would surely join my demonic sect and inherit my lineage."

"What a pity, what a pity." Taiyi asked doubtfully:

"I observe that although this person's aura is not yet complete, it still reveals profound cultivation. Even without guidance from a Star Lord, they could attain the Dao—so what is there to regret?"

Luo Hou's self-satisfied expression grew even stronger as he lightly flicked his sleeve and laughed: "If I were still here, protecting his Dao, I could help him subdue the six consciousnesses and attain the final perfection of his nature, rather than now, where idle fantasies lead him into calamity."

"Your Majesty Donghuang, please observe: if this person did not entertain idle thoughts or invite lethal calamity, how could they now be blocked at the gate by Shaohao the Great God?"

"This may seem like a momentary oversight, but it was actually predetermined; his nature cannot be perfected, his goals cannot be fulfilled, and today is his tribulation."

"Although I have not united with the Dao, I stand before the Heavenly Dao as well. This person may appear awake, but in truth the tribulation energy has already entered their body—this is heavenly fate."

Qi's brows furrowed sharply as he realized he had previously underestimated Luo Hou; his divinity had faded, leaving only a mortal heart, which he thought he could ignore, but today he was taught a lesson.

His knowledge and experience far surpass that of Tongji, making him exceedingly rare in the world.

Qi couldn't help but think that he would need to inquire further later, for although Luo Hou has not yet attained the Hongyuan realm, saying he is the one closest to achieving the Dao in the wilderness is not an exaggeration.

Taiyi, standing aside, once again asked:

"Could it be that heavenly fate is truly so perilous? Even at the present level of the Hongyuan Dao, one would not sense having been tainted by tribulation energy."

Luo Hou laughed:

"Your Majesty Donghuang, that statement is mistaken. Although people now say that supernatural powers cannot defy heavenly fate, those who seek the Dao inherently go against heaven, and one should not entertain such thoughts."

"Moreover, if one avoids karma and does not enter the mortal world, what use would heaven and earth have for you?"

"Of course, given the current state of the heavenly court, this approach cannot be carried out; only by forcefully overcoming great calamity is it the path for us."

"Or, like me, one could leave many retreats in one's actions, thus surviving multiple great calamities unharmed, but ultimately proving the Dao still requires personal advancement."

"Otherwise, I would be like this—taking the final step of the Heaven-Reaching Great Dao, focusing solely on retreat, ending up now, fallen into the mortal world, which is a grave mistake."

Qi couldn't help but reflect on himself, realizing he too had left a retreat; when the time comes to prove the Dao, will he truly be able to proceed as before?

Qi immediately shook his head, thinking that Luo Hou likely had guessed something and deliberately stirred his heart; he had transformed heaven and earth, his Dao fruit was complete, his mind unblemished—how could he possibly halt now?

Gazing at Luo Hou before him, Qi spoke out:

"Let's not dwell on the past; those former glories are merely fleeting clouds. To cling to them only distances one further from the Dao; Luo Hou Xingjun ought to look forward."

Luo Hou, not embarrassed by being called out by Qi, simply bowed and said:

"I, your servant, have received your instruction."

Qi immediately asked again: "Since the heavenly decree is thus, who should be chosen as the leader of the Demonic Dao? I have surveyed the wilderness; since the ruler stepped down, aside from this person, there is no one capable of bearing great responsibility."

Luo Hou's eyes flashed with a hint of disdain for the heavenly fate, and he spoke frankly to Qi: "Your Majesty is too fixated on the present; this person may die, but it is not absolutely without a chance of survival."

Moreover, given the way the Heavenly Dao and Hongjun act, it's hard to say that the Demonic Path Lord's position will die because of this and be born because of this.

As soon as Luo Hou spoke these words, countless thunderclaps exploded in the horizon, as if dissatisfied with Luo Hou's words, and Qi also frowned.

Upon Luo Hou realizing his own thoughts, he immediately began courting death; now that the Dao Ancestor and the Heavenly Dao are united, he still acts respectfully in front but arrogant behind.

Only then did Qi understand why the past gods had targeted Luo Hou so; it was truly deserved.

In the midst of Chaos at this moment, Shaohao and the Great Devil finally began to confront each other directly; their auras continually spread, and although separated by the heavenly membrane, a few omens manifested in the Great Wasteland.

Qi also turned gaze to the heavenly canopy; seeing that the two had lost interest in talking, Luo Hou neither spoke further nor left, and the three remained in the great hall, silently watching the contest.

As their qi collided, countless chaos qi flows began to boil; the chaos phenomena rarely seen in the Great Wasteland now spread everywhere as if free.

PS: I'll stop here today; it's so cold, my fingers can't exert any strength, I seem to be catching a cold, poor thing! Still 400 characters short of 6000; I'll see how I feel tomorrow and make up the rest if it's not serious. (End of chapter)