Chapter 65: Ji's Divine Rebuke, the Innate Gods Must Shoulder Responsibility

As the many water gods conferred, Ancestral Dragon could only step forward, after all he was strong, high in status, and moreover the current leader of the world's water systems.

If he still wanted the Dragon Clan's scheme to succeed, he could only step forward and take the blame this time.

They also kept checking the accounts, trying to find out whose brain had malfunctioned, or who harbored ill intent, dragging Cloud Dream Marsh into this.

Unfortunately, in the end they never found out who the troublemaker was, couldn't deduce it, and no one admitted to it.

"Let's go, this Cloud Dream Marsh affair can't be delayed any longer; if we keep delaying, next time our calamity won't be so easy to bear."

With Ancestral Dragon's decision made, the crowd intended to head to Cloud Dream Marsh, but was interrupted by Qi Xiang, who only heard her say:

"Now that the person stepping forward to lead has been decided, how should the tidal changes and water volume data of Cloud Dream Marsh be handled?"

"You must know, we've already delayed our cultivation for a long time; if we lack ready data, the changes in the water meridians over the next dozens of yuanhui will be hard to summarize."

"Then how should we cultivate? Authority lies where it may, and cannot be avoided."

The gods fell silent.

They had previously avoided this topic precisely because once brought up, everyone would feel extremely embarrassed.

But Qi Xiang's words truly pierced their hearts.

Yes, originally connecting with the Dragon Clan's water vapor and gathering the fortunes of all beings was meant to make cultivation more convenient and smooth, but now it's stuck here.

Cloud Dream Marsh is so vast that without its water deity in charge, it's fundamentally impossible to compile data; past experience and data can no longer be used.

After all, the matter arose because of them; Ancestral Dragon has already stepped forward to take responsibility, and they have no face left to expect Ancestral Dragon to ask.

Thus, everyone's gaze turned to Bingyi and them, including the one who raised the question, Qi Xiang, who was also among those being watched.

The water gods of the Four Rivers and Three Waters wore solemn expressions.

After a moment, one of the Western Three Waters water gods, the Constant Water Deity, spoke:

"Although Cloud Dream Marsh connects two continents, its water deity Qi is ultimately an innate god of the Eastern Continent; Ji River, as the foremost of the Four Rivers, surely would show respect—why not have you ask?"

Ji's face turned ashen; he was indeed among the water gods, ranking just below Ancestral Dragon in status, and higher than Bingyi, Qi Xiang, and the like.

Yet he didn't want to go up and be scolded, especially since he himself hadn't participated—it was merely a tributary under his jurisdiction that was implicated.

As the main channel, though uninvolved, being able to come here and accompany them to Cloud Dream Marsh to make amends was already sufficient responsibility; he never expected them to be so shameless.

"This matter has nothing to do with me; the tributaries under my jurisdiction that participated will be punished afterward—anyone under my command who took part shall come to my water mansion to receive discipline."

Ji directly refused and stated his position: he hadn't participated, the tributary water gods would be punished, and he wouldn't lose face over this.

He is also the only water god among the Four Rivers whose authority over his tributaries is exceptionally deep, and even among the Four Rivers his influence is immense.

The Constant Water Deity's proposal is indeed the best solution for the current situation, but it still lets others bear the blame for their mistake.

"Having made a mistake, don't think others will always bail you out—whether someone harbored ill intent this time or greed clouded their judgment, you were wrong, plain and simple; don't be wrong yet refuse to admit it, merely losing the face of the innate gods!"

"Those who wish to go may go; I won't wait long—all under Ji River, follow me to Cloud Dream Marsh to admit fault and accept punishment!"

Ji no longer paid heed to these water gods, leading the way out of the Dragon Palace; about one-sixth of the water gods present followed his steps away.

Ancestral Dragon's expression was troubled; he sighed and said:

"Let's go, onward to Cloud Dream Marsh!"

He then led the way out of the Dragon Palace; the many water gods looked at each other, unable to do anything but follow.

Ancestral Dragon felt in his heart: "Yeah, having done wrong, could it be that even the courage to admit it is gone? After all, they are innate gods; they shouldn't lack even this bit of responsibility."

Ancestral Dragon also decided that after he admitted the greatest fault, he would go inquire of Qi about the current water data of Cloud Dream Marsh.

"Face" is something lost the moment a mistake is made; if you still grit your teeth and stubbornly hold on, that's truly having no face at all.

Hongjun, on Jade Capital Mountain, seemed to sense something; the Creation Jade Disc burst forth with pure light, and under its glow Hongjun wore a bitter sigh:

"Good, it seems I must make this trip; however, having gone, the karmic ties from the time of the divine rebellion are settled, but how shall the karmic debt of the ensuing immortal–demonic strife be repaid?"

Originally, according to his conception, the karmic merit from saving Qi earlier could just be used to repay him after his battle with Rahu, when the Western water system's destruction required Qi from Cloud Dream Marsh to fill the shortage.

The karmic burden of the Western Continent's water system destruction could also be greatly reduced; although the two are actually worlds apart in weight, that's how the way of karma works.

The cause of saving Qi back then could bear the fruit of making up for the Western water vapor.

But now, making this trip, the future karmic debt of repaying Qi for making up the Western water vapor will become great.

Yet he ought to go; he who has received the grace of the Heavenly Emperor Cangli Clan and follows his path should indeed carry this out.

Qi sensed that the heavenly and earthly water meridians had fully recovered to a normal state, and his heart also let out a long sigh of relief.

This time, Cloud Dream Marsh returning to normal, he also needed to regulate the water vapor, tidy the terrain, and re‑comb the water meridians.

Each of these is a huge project; at present Cloud Dream Marsh simply lacks the ability to continue bearing the heavy task of regulating the world's waters.

Because Cloud Dream Marsh itself hasn't even stabilized yet, where would it get the capacity to regulate the heavenly water systems?

If the gods truly fail to contribute, then the Primordial Continent will likely become a vast marshland.

"Just who is secretly scheming this? Those water gods couldn't possibly be unaware of Cloud Dream Marsh's importance; once something goes wrong, the damage caused could be even more terrifying than the demonic beast calamity."

"Under such karmic retribution, we gods might not even keep our divine posts; water and fire are merciless, and they won't care about the lives of living beings."

"If it really comes to that, let alone them being mere innate gods—even if the Three Sovereigns were alive and became the water god of Cloud Dream Marsh, they'd still end up dead and their Dao extinguished."

"Who dares to plot such a thing, truly unafraid of the heavenly reckoning when things go wrong!"

Qi gritted his teeth; this expedition had originally been expected to end perfectly, but he never imagined someone would dig him a great pit.

The West, Mount Sumeru.

Rahu also let out a sigh of relief; he hadn't expected the impact to be so huge.

Originally it was just a scheme, to make the Dragon Clan think that Hongjun, in order to retrieve the fragments of the Creation Jade Disc, was the behind‑the‑scenes black hand of this affair, thus driving them to enmity.

Yet they never imagined causing such a grand scene—even the proud and lofty innate gods of the Western Three Waters water deities ran to the East Sea to discuss this.

"The Earth Deity's divine power is tremendous, but it's really not easy to hold the position; I just don't know what kind of might those heavenly gods possess."

Rahu was quite curious; he recalled that the Phoenix Clan also possessed some fragments of the Creation Jade Disc.

PS: Chapter one presented, please show support.

(End of chapter)