Bright and obscure, but for what purpose does ti exist?
The trinity of Yin and Yang, from whence do they arise and transform?
— *Heavenly Questions*
...
What on earth does Emperor Shun want to do?
In the southeastern region of the Great Wilderness, just south of Jiuhuang City, atop the vast marsh, a white cloud floated quietly by, only dozens of feet above the water’s surface.
Not far ahead, at the edge of the great marsh, lay a continuous stretch of military tents.
This was the Human Domain’s temporary ’supply camp’ set up in the southeast, which stored not only a large quantity of Immortal Armor and Treasures but also countless Spirit Stones, Elixirs, and a large number of reinforcents.
Even the center of the marsh had been set with the "Escaping Spirits Formation," and the Spiritual Energy of water contained within was constantly being extracted and sent northward, raising the density of Spiritual Energy for thousands of miles around.
Against the great battle with the Heaven Palace, the Human Domain had long developed a complete set of counterasures.
And the Beast Tide that erged every few days kept the fighting spirit of the Human Domain vibrant and high.
Internally, Cultivators might be subservient, but externally they were resolved to strike hard.
On the white cloud above, Wu Wang had set up a short table and a cushion. At this mont, he was sitting there, resting his chin on his hand, drinking and musing to himself.
The Heavenly Emperor, Emperor Shun, loved to manipulate everyone within his grasp, reveling in the thrill of being high above all; moreover, today’s situation in the Southeastern Region was very likely not a sudden whim of the Heaven Palace but rather a long-planned sche by Emperor Shun, progressing on layers unseen by all.
Still lacking in levels.
Wu Wang murmured to himself, looking up at the Ming Snake standing behind him, and once again marveled inwardly.
These Ancient Gods didn’t study much other than how to control creatures and weaker Divine Spirits.
Wu Wang had imposed a Divine Spell on the Ming Snake using the power of the Star God, and while the Ming Snake seed unchanged on the outside, Wu Wang could distinctly feel that everything about this Evil God was changing.
Now, the starting point of all her thoughts revolved around the word ’master’.
Whether an action was beneficial to her master, whether a powerful being was the master’s enemy, even when the Ming Snake started to move using her Heaven and Earth Divine Skills, she would consider whether her master could withstand the tearing force generated by the movent.
And so on.
Even one’s own father, no, one’s own son, couldn’t possibly consider things so thoroughly!
And as long as it didn’t involve Wu Wang, the Ming Snake still thought like a beast and Evil God, coldly indifferent at her core, whether she regarded the Human Domain or the Heaven Palace.
What was this? A mix of cold and warmth?
Wu Wang turned to look at the Ming Snake, chin in hand, and beca montarily lost in thought.
The Ming Snake showed a thoughtful look but did not avoid Wu Wang’s gaze, accepting her master’s scrutiny with equanimity.
Her usual attire had also been considerably changed by Lin Suqing.
Today, the Evil God Ming Snake was dressed in a black robe with a black skirt underneath, and her previously praised waist was confined by a wide purple belt.
The expression of the Ming Snake was always sowhat cold, and those slender eyes were the most morable feature of her human form.
At the mont, she had styled her hair in cloud buns, a common sight in the Human Domain, which didn’t add much softness to her appearance but made her look less fierce at first glance.
Such an Evil God—praising her beauty would be an understatent.
She possessed a level of power that could potentially rewrite local duels, which was also the sole reason Wu Wang hesitated for a long ti but eventually decided to subdue rather than kill her.
The false Dao of Heaven and Earth was just too enticing.
Wu Wang was unsettled, his gaze lingering on the Ming Snake a little too long.
"Master."
The Ming Snake suddenly said, "If master needs to do sothing that he does not wish His Highness, the Fairy Immortal, or Miss Suqing to know, please just command ."
Wu Wang: ...
It seed he really needed to reflect. How had he co to have such an image in the eyes of his subordinates! Ahem, it’s all Ji Mo’s fault!
"Have you mastered the Grand Elder’s Cloud Mirror Technique insights?" Wu Wang asked warmly.
Ming Snake replied in as gentle a voice as she could muster, "Master, I have grasped those and integrated them with my Divine Arts."
Wu Wang said, "Open the Cloud Mirror, observe as far a range as possible, and don’t wear yourself out too much."
"Yes," the Ming Snake softly complied.
She closed her eyes, slowly spread her hands, and gradually pushed a palm forward, quickly condensing a mist into a Water Mirror, within which a clear image erged.
This Water Mirror floated in front of Wu Wang, with the figure of ThreeOld Daoist Sanxian traversing the endless mountains taking center stage on the screen.
"Master, I am unable to capture the traces of the Human Emperor and his party."
"There’s no need to capture them, this is quite good."
"Yes," Ming Snake responded.
Just as Wu Wang began to feel that Ming Snake’s Divine Skills were nothing special, rely seeing farther and clearer than the Grand Elder’s Cloud Mirror technique, Ming Snake’s hands pushed forward again...
Another Water Mirror slowly ford and floated in front of Wu Wang.
Then a third, a fourth... Nine Water Mirrors, like nine peepholes into the heavens and earth, unfolded different environnts and different situations within them.
Behind Ming Snake, the faint shadow of her true form surfaced; evidently, she was putting forth her real effort with such Divine Skills. She always wanted to show off a little before her master.
Wu Wang’s gaze slid swiftly; he was absorbing and processing information not as rapidly as the veteran Evil God Ming Snake and found it sowhat taxing at the mont.
But he also asserted the authority of a master, forcefully multitasking with a single mind.
The focal points of the images in the nine Water Mirrors were different, with three mirroring from high above, monitoring the ’buffer zone’ where forces of the Human Domain and the Heaven Palace were closest;
Five other mirrors separately surveilled the central military camps of the Human Domain, the Divine Guard of the Heaven Palace, the gathering places of masters from the Hundred Races, as well as locations where both sides were mobilizing large numbers of troops.
The central mirror, naturally, was intently focused on ThreeOld Daoist Sanxian.
Wu Wang watched for a while, calmly lowered his head to rub his eyes, and asked, "What are your thoughts on the matter of Senior Sanxian?"
"It’s curious and problematic."
Ming Snake took a mont to think, choosing her words carefully, and softly answered: "Master, although I can’t sense anything unusual about Daoist Sanxian, the intuition I’ve developed over many years of surviving in the Great Wilderness tells that there is an issue, and it lies within him.
He seems to know so key information, but he has not disclosed it to the master."
In saying so, Ming Snake even felt sowhat indignant on Wu Wang’s behalf.
"The master has treated him genuinely, yet he has always kept one hand guarded against the master."
"Alas!"
Wu Wang said in a gentle voice: "Such things should not be said; Senior Sanxian must have his difficulties.
Moreover, if he indeed is the remnant soul of an ancient emperor, he must have so discomfort himself.
It’s human nature to be so; nobody wants to be treated as another person. After my interactions with Senior Sanxian, I can feel that he is an honest elder.
That is enough."
Wu Wang picked up his cup, raised it toward the central Water Mirror, and drank it all in one go, head held high.
"Let’s not talk about this... Does maintaining these Water Mirrors tire you out ntally?"
"Master, this is not my limit; I feel quite comfortable at the mont."
"That’s good," Wu Wang nodded. Comfortable? What the devil is that supposed to an? He then began to focus intently on observing various locations.
This was entirely different from looking at a map in the Annihilation Sect.
He could see that the current battle situation was like a ga of chess after only a few moves had been played, with both sides engaged in a constant struggle across the ’Chu River and Han boundary’.
The Heaven Palace wanted to move its knights, but their legs were restrained;
The Human Domain wanted to deploy cannons, but any shot might not return once fired.
Beneath the seemingly calm confrontation, a constant exchange of moves was underway, and if either party revealed even a slight flaw, they would lose so advantage.
And the accumulation and establishnt of advantages were critical.
Wu Wang laughed and said, "Unexpectedly, Master Liu has such a move, truly impressive."
Ming Snake listened attentively, and soon said, "A large group of Human Domain experts is gathered together, constantly discussing counterasures. It’s Master Liu who is responsible for synthesizing everyone’s suggestions."
Wu Wang smiled and said, "That is very good."
Ming Snake said, "On the Heaven Palace side, if I have not misheard, it is the Earth God who is arranging all the battle plans."
"Then the likelihood of the Heaven Palace making a blunder should be greater than that of the Human Domain."
"But it seems that the Human Domain does not wish to start a war in this place without good reason; they prefer to push back the Heaven Palace."
"Indeed," Wu Wang breathed out a breath of murky air and said slowly, "This lack of decisiveness on a grand scale is sothing not even an abundance of details can make up for.
If the Human Domain wishes to fight, there is no need to wait for any conspiracies to surface; they could simply drive away the Heaven Palace, pay a price, and consolidate their influence in the Southeastern Region.
In doing so, the Southeastern Region would beco the backyard of the Human Domain, bringing significant benefits.
If they do not wish to fight, then they should simply temporarily give up their plans in the Southeastern Region. Whether the Heaven Palace plunders or bullies, they should endure as much as possible.
Of course, I can understand why this situation has developed. It’s not that Master Liu and the others aren’t decisive enough; instead, they’ve been dragged into this situation step by step by the Earth God."
Ming Snake seed to be deep in thought and nodded lightly, about to offer praise to her master.
Wu Wang said, "You can just agree."
"Yes," Ming Snake responded, but still couldn’t help expressing, "Actually, Master is the most suitable person to command the central army."
"I’m just a slacker who lies low," Wu Wang grinned, gesturing to Ming Snake to turn off the two Water Mirrors, and sat sowhat absentmindedly upon the clouds.
In the dense forests below, an old daoist of the Ascending Immortal Realm was flying through the air with full force, as if following so profound guidance, changing directions continuously and strangely avoiding patrols from both the Human Domain and Heaven Palace.
In the Northern Region of the Southeastern Region, various powerhouses from the Hundred Races sat with downcast heads around several ’bonfires.’
These bonfires emitted an aura akin to Divine Power, slowly making them stronger.
But no matter how the light of the bonfires flickered, they could not ignite the dull gaze in their eyes.
Not far from Wu Wang, on the defense lines of the Human Domain, the faces of both the young and the old were tense. Their eyes burned with hatred, yet also with longing and hope.
Due to the advanced state of ’formation-related Great Dao’ in the Human Domain, trying to observe their side with a Water Mirror was always affected by the formation’s light barrier.
Gradually, Ming Snake grew dissatisfied by this and her eyes began to flicker with golden light.
Soon, a sowhat blurry scene appeared in one of the Water Mirrors. Wu Wang projected his Immortal Consciousness onto it and could clearly hear a group of elders arguing there.
The high echelons of the Human Domain were in disagreent, endlessly debating between advocating war, retreat, or maintaining the status quo.
At this mont, the Human Emperor indeed needed to co forward, unite all opinions, and make the necessary decisions.
But Elder Shen Nong went to tail Senior Sanxian...
Could it be? Wu Wang suddenly realized why Elder Shen Nong, when setting off separately from him, had asked if he ’needed the seal and command arrows.’
Emotions stirred, as Elder Shen Nong, in front of Jingwei, still intended to push him out to bear the brunt... That old rascal! His intentions are truly... punishable! Punishable indeed!
An hour later, a streak of sword light crossed the blue sky, filling the world with sharp Sword Dao intent.
There was no need to say who had arrived.
And behold:
The sword’s shadow danced like a dragon, the man drunkenly wielded his blade, not a drop of blood spilled as the heavens were cut clear.
Born of the sword, the man’s body glead like glass. With a slight smile upon sheathing his blade, he turned his back on all living beings.
Arriving was none other than the figure of Xiao Jian Daoist, still adorned in Battle Armor and carrying three Longswords on his back, the very sa Scissors Man.
"Wu Wang? How co you didn’t say a word when you arrived?"
"Daoist brother... why the sudden change in appearance?"
"Ah," Xiao Jian Daoist chuckled, "Each of the three swords has its use; this way they’re easier to wield. But let’s not dwell on these trivial matters for now. Let’s head to the central camp; it’s about to kick off there."
"It’s about to kick off?"
Wu Wang signaled to Ming Snake to retract her Divine Skills and stood up from the clouds, brushing off the sll of liquor from himself.
"They’re not fighting outside, they’re fighting amongst themselves? What kind of rule is this?"
"It’s just that they can’t agree," Xiao Jian explained with a look of helplessness. "It cos at a ti when the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion is undergoing restructuring, and the Human Emperor Pavilion has just been established. If His Majesty does not show up now, it’s as if the Domain lacks a core.
But His Majesty couldn’t possibly show up now; this isn’t the Human Domain, and we don’t have much to rely on. As long as His Majesty doesn’t show himself, he could deter the entire Heaven Palace. Should he appear, the deterrent effect would actually be insufficient.
There’s a lot of trouble now; let’s talk on the way."
"Rest easy; His Majesty has already arrived."
"That’s good, that’s good," Xiao Jian clearly relaxed, and his speed of speech slowed down a lot.
They then, with Ming Snake using her Heaven and Earth Divine Skills, hurried with Wu Wang and Xiao Jian towards the central army camp of the Human Domain. On their journey, Xiao Jian recounted the current predicants faced by the Human Domain and so news that Wu Wang had not previously heard.
Xiao Jian cursed, "The Earth God of Heaven Palace must be out of his mind to have suddenly pulled such a stunt.
It’s not just us who are in the fog about what the Earth God is up to; the whole of Heaven Palace is also utterly confused.
The Four Seas Pavilion has activated its sleeper agents after many years, and the ssages they relay back indicate that the gods of Heaven Palace are quite dissatisfied with the Earth God’s abrupt attack on the Southeastern Region.
This place could easily be cut off as a retreat by us.
Those strong beings from Heaven Palace who were previously ordered by the Earth God to keep appearing are already cursing the gods in secret."
"It has nothing to do with the Earth God," Wu Wang said slowly. "He’s just the scapegoat chosen by Emperor Shun."
"Right," Xiao Jian whispered back. "What on earth is going on, and why has Heaven Palace deployed its forces... If you have any information, could you let in on it?"
Wu Wang thought for a mont. More people an more ideas. After all, three unskilled cobblers are better than one Zhuge Liang who’s been knocked out by his wife!
He grabbed Xiao Jian Daoist’s wrist and said via voice transmission, "This is top secret for now. I can only tell you a little: Senior Sanxian, Emperor Fuxi’s divine aura, the Heavenly Emperor threatening Senior Sanxian in a dream... in that dream, the Heavenly Emperor told Sanxian that the ti has co."
Xiao Jian was taken aback and his head filled with even greater confusion.
Wu Wang asked, "What’s the commotion here about? Tell in as much detail as you can."
"Alright, fine."
Xiao Jian clasped his hands behind his back and succinctly went through several points of dispute within the upper echelons of the Human Domain, which were not too far off from what Wu Wang had anticipated.
This ti, thankfully, it didn’t involve any conflicts of interest.
At this mont, what the old subordinates of the senior were most worried about was the fear that the forces gathered in the Southeastern Region of the Human Domain would be swallowed in one gulp by Heaven Palace.
The central military camp of the Human Domain was built upon the continuous white clouds.
Rows of Immortal Soldiers stood silently, and as Wu Wang’s Immortal Consciousness swept across, he couldn’t estimate how many immortals and mortals were present.
He had the Ming Snake slow down and had Xiao Jian deliberately release his aura, to draw the attention of the squabbling group of ’old n and old won’ to their presence.
Soon, Wu Wang figured out a thod of response.
Without a doubt, unity within the Human Domain must be achieved at this mont, and the most effective way to unite the interior of the Human Domain was...
"Your Majesty, I need a token."
Wu Wang called out to the Yan Emperor’s command.
Before him, Heaven and Earth suddenly displayed a cluster of orange-red flas, with a twelve-petal Fire Lotus about to bloom within.
It should be suitable for Brother Xiao Jian to wield; I shouldn’t speak directly, Wu Wang added in his mind.
The Fire Lotus disappeared with a WHOOSH, and Wu Wang didn’t even see what treasure was contained within.
Heaven and Earth displayed another slight fluctuation, as another cluster of flas burst forth revealing a nine-petal Fire Lotus, solidifying into a Treasure Sword covered in golden patterns, landing in the palm of Xiao Jian Daoist.
In his excitent, he faintly felt... as if he had just been snubbed. Since when did Fire Lotuses have ranks?
The Treasure Sword humd, and Xiao Jian Daoist’s own aura suddenly increased by a notch; a bit of enlightennt arose in his heart as he called out loudly, "The Emperor decrees! Stop the quarreling! Please, take your seats in the military camp."
Having said that, Xiao Jian Daoist turned and ushered Wu Wang out.
"Wu Wang, what’s next to say?"
Wu Wang glared at Xiao Jian, understanding that Xiao Jian Daoist had done so on purpose. Yet he hadn’t expected Xiao Jian Daoist to refuse even voice transmission, not caring if people thought he was just a puppet or a mouthpiece, so long as he dragged him into this ss!
In his heart, Wu Wang called out to Shen Nong, trying to understand Shen Nong’s intentions, whether to fight, to retreat, or to leave the decision to the senior.
Soon, Wu Wang smiled calmly, "Just say, the Emperor instructs us to strike a big one; everyone get ready."
"Excellent!"
Xiao Jian perford a flourish with his sword, slinging the Treasure Sword behind his back.
「anwhile, in the Heavenly Palace Faction, within the floating earthen-yellow Temple,」
The burly figure watching over the topographic map ford by Divine Power sneered slightly, muttering to himself, "Wu Wangzi? Although that young whelp is hardly a threat, I still need to guard against any unexpected tactics from him.
Hmm, I should prepare several contingency plans."
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