Chapter 71

On the weathered, somewhat gloomy street of the ancient city, amid everyone's tense gazes, the black mist that had gathered ahead of the street dispersed, revealing a figure in dark robes.

On the weathered, somewhat gloomy street of the ancient city, amid everyone's tense gazes, the black mist gathered ahead of the street dispersed, revealing a figure in dark robes.

Make sure it's one line.

In front of the street where the black mist had cleared, the tall figure resembling Suirenshi had inexplicably vanished, as if it had never been there.

Translate: "And ahead of the street where the black mist had dissipated, that tall figure resembling Suirenshi had inexplicably vanished, as if it had never existed."

resembling Suirenshi

Seeing the familiar figure in dark robes, everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Translate: "Seeing this familiar figure in dark robes, everyone couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief."

Amidst this strange and gloomy dead city, unbeknownst to them, the dark-robed figure that had once displayed great power had quietly become the mainstay in everyone's hearts.

Translate: "In this eerie and gloomy dead city, unnoticed, this figure in dark robes that had previously displayed great strength had quietly become everyone's mainstay."

Especially after hearing the being resembling Suirenshi call this dark-robed figure Fuxi, realizing his true identity might be linked to the legendary ancestor god Fuxi, the crowd even came to regard this figure as their last lifeline for survival in this strange dead city.

We need to keep punctuation. Translate: "Especially after hearing that the powerful being resembling Suirenshi addressed this dark-robed figure as Fuxi, realizing his true identity might be linked to the legendary ancestor god Fuxi, everyone even came to regard this dark-robed figure as their last lifeline for survival in this eerie dead city."

He regarded it as

After all, the legendary Fuxi clan guided humanity from ignorance to prosperity as our ancestor, surely harboring great love; since this being is tied to that ancestor, as our descendants, he would hardly just watch us die in this strange dead city, would he?

Translate: "After all, the legendary Fuxi clan led humanity from ignorance to prosperity as the human ancestor; he surely harbored great benevolence, and since this being is related to that human ancestor, as a later generation of humanity, he would surely not stand by and watch us perish in this strange dead city, would he?"

We need to keep tone.

Amid everyone's expectant gazes, Xiao Chen stepped forward without hesitation, came to Feng Yi's side, and softly said, "Feng big brother, are you alright?"

Translate: "Amid everyone's expectant gazes, Xiao Chen stepped forward without a care, came to Feng Yi's side, and said softly, 'Feng big brother, are you alright?'"

Feng big brother

Hearing Xiao Chen's address, the crowd's faces all showed a hint of dazed expression.

Translate: "Hearing Xiao Chen's address, the faces of the people in the crowd all showed a hint of dazed expression."

What did they hear?

Translate: "What did they hear?"

Xiao Chen actually addressed this powerful being, resembling the human ancestor Fuxi, as his brother?

Translate: "This guy Xiao Chen actually addresses that powerful being resembling the Fuxi ancestor as a brother?"

Could this guy also have an extraordinary background?

Translate: "Could this guy also have an extraordinary background?"

After snapping out of it, a gleam sparked in everyone's eyes as they began to take notice of this previously unknown guy.

Translate: "After coming to their senses, a gleam flashed in everyone's eyes, and they began to take notice of this previously unknown guy."

Especially those cultivators who had prior grievances with Xiao Chen, their minds raced as they desperately thought about how to mend their relationship with him.

Translate: "Especially those cultivators who had prior grievances with Xiao Chen, their minds raced, desperately thinking about how to mend relations with him."

Meanwhile, upon hearing Xiao Chen's words, Feng Yi withdrew his spirit from the kindling fire within the book inside his body, and slightly shook his head.

Translate: "On the other side, hearing Xiao Chen's words, Feng Yi withdrew his spirit from the kindling fire within the book inside his body, and slightly shook his head."

Feng Yi withdrew his spirit from the kindling fire within the book inside his body, and slightly shook his head.

Not only was he unharmed, but he also received a gift from the ancestral god Suirenshi, gaining an unimaginable great fortune.

Translate: "He was not only unharmed, but actually received a gift from the ancestor god Suirenshi, obtaining an unimaginable great fortune."

Kindling fire!

Translate: "Kindling fire!"

Suirenshi is indeed one of the Three Sovereigns, one of humanity's most ancient existences.

Translate: "Suirenshi truly is one of the Three Sovereigns, one of humanity's most ancient existences."

In ages past, Suirenshi was the first to illuminate humanity's path; thus, this kindling fire can even be called the fire of human civilization.

Translate: "In ages past, Suirenshi was the first to illuminate humanity's path; thus, this kindling fire can even be called the fire of human civilization!"

This fire of civilization embodies Suirenshi's Great Way, holds the secret of kindling fire transmission, and can let Feng Yi temporarily wield his realm and vision.

Translate: "Within this fire of civilization lies Suirenshi's Great Way principle, possessing the secret of kindling fire transmission, allowing Feng Yi to temporarily possess his realm and vision."

Suirenshi's Great Way principle

With this kindling fire, at a critical moment Feng Yi can fully unleash the power contained within Fuxi's zither, displaying true Fuxi power, rather than merely receiving the zither's instinctive protection.

Translate: "With this kindling fire, at a critical moment Feng Yi can fully unleash the power contained within Fuxi's zither, displaying true Fuxi power, rather than merely receiving the zither's instinctive protection."

Fuxi's zither

In this situation, he finally possesses some genuine self-defense power in this extremely perilous world.

Translate: "In this situation, he finally has some genuine self-defense power of his own in this extremely dangerous world."

Moreover, after containing this kindling fire within the book transformed by the "Writer" trait, Feng Yi can ordinarily comprehend its secrets and easily wield its power.

Translate: "Moreover, after the book transformed by the 'Writer' trait accommodated this kindling fire, in ordinary times Feng Yi can also contemplate the secret of the kindling fire and simply employ its power."

"Writer"

Thus: "after the book transformed by the "Writer" trait accommodated this kindling fire". We'll need to escape quotes? In output we can just use straight double quotes.

Feng Yi had a premonition that this fire of civilization would also greatly aid him in the future.

Translate: "Feng Yi had a premonition that this fire of civilization would also greatly help him in the future."

As thoughts turned in Feng Yi's mind, Xiao Chen glanced at him, hesitated a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "Feng big brother, just now... that senior, is he truly the human ancestor Suirenshi?"

Feng big brother, just now... that senior, is he truly the human ancestor Suirenshi?

Translate: "At the moment Feng Yi's thoughts were turning, Xiao Chen furtively glanced at him, hesitated a moment, then couldn't help but ask: 'Feng big brother, just now... that... that senior, is he truly the human ancestor Suirenshi?'"

He instinctively nodded, Feng Yi pondered for a moment, then gently shook his head.

Translate: "He instinctively nodded, Feng Yi pondered a moment, then lightly shook his head."

Afterwards, ignoring the bewildered expression on Xiao Chen's face, Feng Yi glanced once more at where Suirenshi had vanished, then continued toward the street's end, heading for the center of the ancient city.

Translate: "Afterwards, ignoring Feng Yi's puzzled expression on Xiao Chen's face, Feng Yi glanced once more at the spot where Suirenshi had vanished, then continued toward the end of the street, walking toward the center of the ancient city."

Hum

Hum

Hum

At the same time, as his spirit connected with the power of the book inside his body, a gentle flame suddenly appeared beside Feng Yi.

Translate: "At the same moment, with his spirit linked to the power of the book inside his body, a gentle flame suddenly appeared at Feng Yi's side."

Though the firelight was small, it seemed to contain a warm, vigorous power that made everyone feel an unprecedented sense of peace and tranquility.

Translate: "The firelight was not large, yet it seemed to contain some warm, vigorous power, making everyone feel an unprecedented tranquility and peace."

On the street, watching that constantly flickering gentle flame, everyone fell into a daze.

On the street, watching that constantly flickering gentle flame, everyone fell into a daze.

In a daze, they seemed to see ancient scrolls, the shadows of human ancestors cutting through thorns, and a tall, majestic figure illuminating humanity's path, leading them from ignorance to civilization.

Translate: "In a daze, they seemed to see ancient scrolls unfolding, saw the shadows of humanity's forebears hacking through thorns, saw a tall and majestic figure illuminating humanity's path, leading humanity from ignorance to civilization."

In an instant, they felt their blood resonating with the firelight, with the faintly seen images and that tall, majestic figure, and a sorrow arose spontaneously within them.

Translate: "In an instant, they felt their blood resonating with that firelight, resonating with the faintly seen images and that tall, majestic figure, and from the heart felt a hint of sorrow."

"That is the scene of the human ancestor Suirenshi illuminating humanity's path."

Note the quotes and period inside. We'll translate: "'That is the scene of the human ancestor Suirenshi illuminating humanity's path.'"

We need to keep the quotes. Use double quotes.

This is the thought that spontaneously arose in everyone's hearts after seeing that image in the firelight, and a sense of respect welled up from within for the human ancestor Suirenshi.

Translate: "This was the thought that spontaneously arose in everyone's hearts upon seeing the image in that firelight, and simultaneously a respect welled up from within, reverence for the human ancestor Suirenshi."

Meanwhile, as Feng Yi ventured deeper into the ancient city, the flame closely followed at his side; its light was warm but not fierce, like the light of civilization, dispelling the surrounding darkness and eeriness, as if illuminating his path forward.

Translate: "Meanwhile, as Feng Yi ventured deeper into the ancient city, the flame closely followed at his side; the firelight was warm but not fierce, like the light of civilization, dispelling the surrounding darkness and eeriness, as if it were lighting his way forward."

The flame kept flickering, its warm, gentle light continually spreading outward, gradually illuminating the entire ancient city.

Translate: "The flame kept flickering, its warm and gentle firelight continually spreading outward, gradually illuminating the entire ancient city."

Originally a gloomy and eerie dead city, it now became tranquil and peaceful thanks to this firelight, turning into a serene ordinary town.

Translate: "Originally a gloomy and eerie dead city, it now, because of this firelight, became tranquil and peaceful, turning into a serene ordinary town."

The people, who had been terrified since entering this strange ancient city, now felt their fears soothed by the firelight, experiencing an inner sense of calm.

Translate: "The people who had been terrified since entering this strange ancient city now, under the firelight's glow, seemed to have their fears soothed, feeling an inner sense of calm."

This is firelight, also the light of hope, and moreover the light of civilization.

Translate: "This is firelight, also the light of hope, and furthermore the light of civilization."

Upon the holy mountain of the Dragon race.

Translate: "Upon the holy mountain of the Dragon race."

Upon the holy mountain of the Dragon race.

The ancient dragon ancestor, withered like skin and bone, had his eyes gleam as he looked upon the firelit, weathered ancient city, and he whispered, "Suirenshi, he actually still has a lingering obsession unextinguished!"

Translate: "Like a withered bone, the ancient dragon ancestor's eyes gleamed, gazing at the weathered ancient city bathed in gentle firelight, he whispered low: 'Suirenshi, he actually still has a lingering obsession not extinguished!'"

ancient dragon ancestor

"Moreover, even he thinks this youth is of the Fuxi clan; my perception and deduction seem correct, and it's time to meet this legendary most mysterious ancestor god!"

Translate: "'Moreover, even he regards this youth as that Fuxi clan; it seems my perception and deduction were not mistaken, and it's time to meet this legendary most mysterious ancestor god!'"

Fuxi clan

Beneath the ancient city illuminated by the firelight.

Translate: "Beneath the ancient city illuminated by firelight."

The journey through this strange dead city had, at this point, seemingly turned into a leisurely tour of the ancient city; soon, everyone safely followed the dark-robed figure to the city's center.

Translate: "The journey into this eerie dead city had, at this moment, seemingly turned into a leisurely tour of the ancient city; shortly, everyone followed the dark-robed figure safely to the center of the ancient city."

Here there is nothing particularly special, just an empty central square.

Translate: "Here there was nothing particularly special in terms of architecture, only an open central plaza."

And at the center of the square stands a stone tablet, ancient and simple, several hundred meters tall.

Translate: "And at the center of the plaza stood a stone stele of ancient simplicity, hundreds of meters tall."

Around the stone tablet are barriers resembling tombstones, enclosing its location, as if concealing something.

Translate: "Around the stele were railings resembling tombstones, enclosing the stele's position, as if concealing something."

"Heavenly Stele!"

Translate: '"Heavenly Stele!"'

Gazing at the ancient stone tablet standing in the center of the square, Xiao Chen froze outright.

Translate: "Gazing at the ancient simple stone stele standing in the center of the plaza, Xiao Chen froze outright."

Because this heavenly stele is not exactly the same as the one in the Yellow River, but hardly differs at all.

Translate: "Because this Heavenly Stele is not exactly the same as the one in the Yellow River, but hardly differs at all."

At this moment, under the firelight's illumination, the power of this heavenly stele also seemed to be stirred, emanating a vast, weathered aura that closely resembled that of the Yellow River's heavenly stele, yet with some subtle differences.

Translate: "At this moment, under the firelight's illumination, the power of this Heavenly Stele also seemed to be stirred, emanating a vast, weathered aura, extremely similar to that of the Yellow River Heavenly Stele, yet at the same time possessing some slight differences."

It is precisely these slight differences that let Xiao Chen realize this heavenly stele is not the one from the Yellow River of the Nine Provinces.

Translate: "It was precisely these slight differences that let Xiao Chen realize this Heavenly Stele is not the one from the Yellow River of the Nine Provinces."

"Hmm, I've heard of a divine stele that fell from the heavens, suppressing Dragon Island, sealing the Dragon race and stripping them of divinity; could this heavenly stele be that very divine stele?"

Translate: '"Huh, rumors say a heavenly stele descended, suppressing Dragon Island, sealing the Dragon race and stripping them of divinity; could this Heavenly Stele be that rumored divine stele?"'

Note punctuation: there is a period inside quotes? We'll keep as is.

"That must be it; no wonder the Dragon race's dragon kings are now desperately attacking the ancient city, likely aiming to strike this heavenly stele."

Translate: '"It must be; no wonder the Dragon Kings of all Dragon race lineages are desperately attacking this ancient city, likely aiming to strike this Heavenly Stele."'

"Look, the barrier resembling tombstones around it seems to have some writing."

Translate: '"Look, the railing resembling tombstones around it seems to have writing."'

"No, it's not just writing; there are also cultivation methods."

Translate: '"No, not only does it have writing, it also contains cultivation methods."'

Low murmurs arose intentionally, echoing repeatedly in the quiet street.

Translate: "Low, deliberately hushed discussion voices rose, echoing repeatedly in the quiet street."

Under the firelight's illumination, the journey through the ancient city seemed no longer perilous; the crowd's fear and panic faded, and they curiously examined the heavenly stele at the central square and its surrounding barrier, discovering some ancient traces of cultivation methods on the barrier resembling tombstones.

Translate: "Under the firelight's illumination, the foray into the ancient city seemed no longer dangerous; people's fear and panic vanished, and now they curiously surveyed the Heavenly Stele in the central plaza and its surrounding railings, discovering some ancient traces of cultivation methods on the railing resembling tombstones."

However, the people merely spoke in low voices, carefully memorizing the cultivation traces on the barrier, and dared not make any extra movements.

Translate: "However, everyone merely spoke in low voices, carefully memorizing the cultivation-method traces on the railings, and dared not make any extra movements."

At the same time, they also from time to time looked ahead with reverence at the dark-robed figure, curious about the purpose of the suspected Fuxi human ancestor's existence coming to this place.

He paid no attention to the crowd's movements, Feng Yi gazed at the ancient stele beside him, the firelight at his side flickered constantly, and his cultivation method circulated on its own, vaguely feeling a deeper connection forming with it.

Shortly after, his heart stirred, the Fuxi Qin sounded with lingering melodic notes, stirring the connection between his inner profound skill and the stele before him, and the firelight at his side instantly surged, illuminating the stele ahead.

Boom

In an instant, amid everyone's astonished gazes, a splendid flash of light suddenly blazed upon the stele, forming an ancient and inscrutable image.

It was the likeness of a solitary island, standing alone in the midst of the sea, with dragon roars echoing repeatedly.

An ancient city loomed faintly within it, and at the city's heart the Sea of Blood surged; countless figures of people, dragons, gods, and spirits let out mournful roars in the Blood Sea.

An ancient stele rose from the ancient city, suppressing all things, yet also seeming to guard everything.

"This"

Everyone stared blankly at the scene, subconsciously comparing it to their present surroundings, vaguely feeling they might have touched the secret of Dragon Island, about to unveil some extremely deeply hidden ancient mystery of heaven and earth.

"Dragon Island, Death City, Heavenly Stele, Seal, Suiren, and... Fuxi"

Countless thoughts turned in everyone's minds, giving the illusion of having stepped into a vast, tumultuous ancient historical scroll.

Among the crowd, Xiao Chen's mind involuntarily conjured the vast scene he had once seen on the stele in the Yellow River, and a ridiculous idea suddenly arose in his heart.

The Yellow River transformed from the Primordial Ancestor Dragon, the ancient city transformed from a mighty being above the Ancestral God.

Could it be that the stele has many faces, each suppressing a major secret of heaven and earth?

Before Xiao Chen's thought could fully rise, the next moment all the images on the stele coalesced into one, forming an ancient and mysterious Great Dao carving.

"That is."

Xiao Chen's eyes lit up, a hint of excitement he could not conceal flashing in his pupils, and he subconsciously focused on memorizing this brand‑new Great Dao carving.

Because this carving is precisely the continuation of his own cultivation of the Yellow River Heavenly Stele Mystic Law, perfectly matching the Heavenly Stele Mystic Law now within him.

On the other side, seeing the Great Dao carving appear on the stele, Feng Yi's eyes turned directly to a pale gold, his Yi Dao Heavenly Pupil—which embodies the insight to see through the essence of all things—naturally opened, instantly imprinting the carving's complex lines into his heart, and he instinctively began to comprehend the Daoist insight contained within.

Ding dong

The Fuxi Qin appeared above Feng Yi's head, sounding on its own without anyone prompting it; its lingering notes calmed mental distractions, causing his spirit to fall into a kind of vacuous clarity.

At the same time, the Qin's notes seemed to also stir a change in the stele, making its carving appear to come alive, carrying a hint of ancient, weathered Dao resonance, and vaguely evolving into a Dao pattern resembling a human body with a dragon's head.

Hum

As he contemplated the Daoist insight on the second face of the stele, the profound skill he cultivated within automatically began to supplement and perfect itself according to the stele's carving, making his internal cultivation path ever more profound and complex.

In an instant, a feeling of breaking free from shackles rose in his heart; the qi that had lingered at the Sixth Heaven due to an incomplete cultivation method suddenly shifted, naturally breaking through into the Seventh Heaven.

Phantom images of doors floated within Feng Yi's body, giving him an inexplicable sense of unreality, as if he were both here and in some distant, boundless place.

Boom

A rumbling sound rang out; the heavenly and earthly vital energy was drawn by the qi within Feng Yi's body, actively gathering toward him and directly forming a vital‑energy storm around him.

The next moment, the flame at Feng Yi's side, like the fire of civilization, twitched slightly, directly calming the tumultuous vital energy.

The firelight illuminated heaven and earth, as if refining the vital energy flowing around Feng Yi's side, making it purer, then naturally merging into his body, causing his qi to continually rise.

At the moment his cultivation broke through the Seventh Heaven, Feng Yi's mind and spirit sank entirely inward, instinctively circulating his profound skill, merging the concept of fate with his own profound skill to turn it into his third innate divine ability.

As Fuxi, mastery of fate is already one of his foremost divine laws; now it also counts as perfecting his path, making him even more in accord with the station of Fuxi.

Hum

The silver‑white ring on his finger instantly transformed into an illusory silver‑white giant serpent, merging with the faint heavenly‑stele phantom appearing within Feng Yi's body.

As the cultivation method circulated, the heavenly‑stele phantom turned into one after another Great Dao pattern, etched upon the illusory silver‑white giant serpent, as if forming a brand‑new texture on its body.

Around the central plaza, everyone stared blankly at the ever‑shifting aura of the mysterious‑robed figure, at the simple ancient qin hovering above his head that exuded a vast qi, and at the three characters inscribed on the qin's body that seemed naturally formed by the Great Dao.

Fuxi Qin!

"Fuxi Qin Fuxi"

Gazing at the ancient characters on that simple ancient qin, countless thoughts surged in everyone's hearts, growing ever more certain of the mysterious‑robed powerhouse's identity.

Just then, an inexplicable ripple swept over, seeming to carry some illusory uncertainty, causing everyone's mind and spirit to flutter dazedly, and they couldn't help but glance around.

In that dazed state, amid the crowd's vacant gazes, the space around the plaza seemed to turn somewhat illusory, and faintly the sound of flowing water could be heard.

The next moment, amid everyone's stunned gazes, a silver‑white illusory giant serpent appeared between heaven and earth, its head and tail joined to form a perfect cycle.

Beneath the serpent, an illusory river flowed ceaselessly, like the uncertain river of future fate.

And it seemed to be coiled upon the river of fate, forming a self‑contained cycle, an ancient serpent.

Gazing at that silver‑white illusory giant serpent bearing the sense of uncertain fate, everyone's eyes held a hint of dazed feeling; countless blurred images flickered behind their lids, as if they glimpsed some uncertain future of their own.

"The power of fate."

In the scene, only Lan Nuo, who mastered the Law of Time, remained unaffected, his eyes flashing as he gazed at the silver‑white giant serpent.

Hum

Just then, a humming sound rose, like a serpent's cry, instantly startling everyone awake.

After regaining their senses, everyone found the plaza before them still as it originally was, with no trace of a giant serpent.

Instinctively looking toward the mysterious‑robed figure at the plaza's center, everyone's mind and spirit jolted, vaguely seeming to behold a dignified silhouette of a human body with a dragon's tail.

(End of Chapter)