Chapter 83

Qi, the youngster, will be confused, because the authority granted him is equivalent to the Four Seas, Four Rivers, and Three Waters water deities, making him among water system earth deities hold the position of the twelve earthly branches.

Even after possessing the Divine Water Subduing Staff, one could be called among the top ten deities of the wilderness, high in rank and power—so why are you?

You cultivate the art of divine mechanism calculation, yet you cannot understand these; your experience is too little, and in the end you must still join a heavenly-earth power, for only by cultivating within it and experiencing some intrigue and scheming can you make progress.

This line contains Fuxi and Taiyi, but Taiyi is not in the glossary, so only Fuxi is listed.

Yet you are also naturally combative; in the pursuit of the Dao, among those few you have the best talent, a pity you are not ruthless enough, otherwise they would hardly be able to catch up to you.

You are too prone to pour emotion onto things before you; for us innate divinities, it's unclear whether this is good or bad, but once you go astray, you may find it hard to turn back.

Yang Mei once considered taking Taiyi as his Dao lineage inheritor, but in the end he also knew this was impossible; one who continually walks the correct path will not be changed by external things.

Yang Mei then looked toward Di Jun and said: "I have come this time mainly to seek you; there is an inheritance whose nature—whether opportunity or calamity—I do not know, and I reckon that in the present world, only you are most suited for it."

This line contains Zulong, which is not in the glossary.

Di Jun stared blankly, wondering when an opportunity would fall upon his head.

This line contains Taihuang Daotong, which may not be in the glossary.

Once this Dao begins, there is no turning back; only success or failure lies ahead, one cannot halt or abandon it—are you willing to accept it?

Di Jun instantly reacted, immediately clasped his hands and bowed, saying: "Di Jun is willing to receive the Taihuang Dao lineage; please, Great Deity, transmit the Dao!"

This line contains Taihuang Daotong, the Three Emperors, and the Way of the Gods.

As for the consequences Yang Mei spoke of, Di Jun did not care; on the path of the Dao, in cultivation there is no retreat—if you do not advance, you perish, which is the norm.

no.

no.

This line contains Taihuang Daotong, the Heavenly Way, and immortals and demons.

After Yang Mei painstakingly failed to find the Ancestral Dragon, he had seriously pondered whether it was because the Ancestral Dragon lacked this affinity, or because he himself had no hope of accomplishing this Dao, and the world was unwilling to let him inherit the Dao lineage.

This line contains the Way of the Three Powers of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity.

This line contains the Heavenly Way, the starry sky, and the great wilderness.

It was also because of this discovery that Yang Mei became certain that the three clans would have no victor; he just did not know how this inevitably losing struggle would end.

This line contains Yangmei, the three tribes, and the great calamity of heaven and earth.

This line contains the clarity of heaven and earth, and chaos.

Nüwa stood beside, waiting intently for Yang Mei's guidance, or perhaps to give him some Dao lineage inheritance, an opportunity, etc.; her expression still held a hint of anticipation.

Seeing Nüwa's demeanor, Yang Mei felt somewhat puzzled and said: "Little friend, what are you doing?"

The astonishment on Nüwa's face could not be concealed, and she directly asked:

"Great Deity, what about me—do I have no guidance or opportunity at all!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Mei instead chuckled slightly, then said to Nüwa: "How strange—who would seek scolding themselves? You tread steadily and calmly, your mind has no flaw, your opportunities and fortune are likewise lacking nothing; the Dao of Creation is itself a path to the heavens, and I have little to advise."

Nüwa's disappointment was plain to see; this odd behavior eased the minds of Qi and Fuxi somewhat, and the atmosphere was no longer as heavy as before.

Qi was still recalling what Yang Mei had said, and realized he too seemed to have lost that former mindset, attaching too much importance to authority, thereby losing his former ordinary heart, which is unfavorable on the Dao path.

Qi involuntarily thought: "It seems that waiting until one's strength is sufficient, one must also find a new administrator for Yunmze Marsh, so that I can wholeheartedly pursue my own Dao; otherwise it will be hard to transcend."

"Since you all have listened, this humble Daoist will say no more; I have kept you company for so long—should we not set out a feast?"

Yang Mei's joking remark also reminded Qi, who let go of those extraneous thoughts, smiling and replying: "Indeed so; I, Qi, have been remiss—let us set out a feast to welcome the Great Deity."

A senior who is both teacher and friend has arrived; he ought to be well received. Some matters, after being pointed out, are enough to make them clear, and nothing else needs to be attended to.

This line contains Bai Ling, lotus seed mulberry fruit, fine wine, and song and dance.

In Yunmze Marsh, mist swirled, water rippled, accompanied by the sound of strings and bamboo; the gods reveled therein, forgetting worldly troubles.

After the song and dance ended, only Qi and five others remained gathered in the Heart-of-the-Pavilion, all flushed with wine, their spirits high.

Qi took out a jade xiao he had not played for a long time; its melody wrapped around the entire Yunmze Marsh, like an orchid in a secluded valley, the wind carrying its fragrance.

Fuxi played the qin in harmony; its tone was gentle, smooth, and clear, like jade beads scattering on the ground, as a hundred birds sang together.

Taiyi struck the bell; its sound shifted freely, ethereal and hazy, bright and distant, harmonizing with the two.

This line contains Nüwa, Emperor Jun, and Yangmei.

No one thought to use divine power to dispel the wine's effects; previously they had pushed themselves too hard, but now they simply enjoyed themselves.

Yang Mei liked this atmosphere; in his view, these people ought to be this happy—this is the proper state of companions on the Dao, living together in gathering.

Originally they were meant to support each other and walk together; since they are to follow the same Dao, they should not be in this pattern of mutual coercion.

Between Dao companions there should not appear such an abnormal state, nor should there be this silent atmosphere.

Yang Mei felt that restoring their condition to its former pattern was more important and more meaningful than his previous advice.

They are all outstanding talents; even if I did not remind them, they would eventually understand those things, but if this condition were affected, they might later stray from the Dao.

He, Hongjun, Rahu, and others were likewise; they too once had a period of harmonious and amicable time, but alas, after the Three Sovereigns fell into slumber, they ultimately changed.

Even now, if given the chance, Yang Mei believes that if he could settle both of them at once, he would certainly not show mercy.

He would only fear that they might not die completely cleanly, or escape, and continue to wreak havoc upon the wilderness.

In Yang Mei's view, the thoughts of these two are overly extreme; should they unite with the Dao, the harm they would bring to the wilderness would be greater than that of fierce beasts.

It's just that there is currently no opportunity; that Shen Ni is also a useless waste, and he vainly held back, letting water flow everywhere in the encirclement and suppression.

The power he left for him merely shattered the Jade Disc of Creation; if he could have eliminated one of them back then, regardless of who remained, I would surely slay them!

While Yang Mei was enjoying himself with everyone, he involuntarily thought of these matters; even now he still feels it a pity to have missed this opportunity, and fears it will never occur again.

(End of Chapter)