Chapter 36: Emperor Jun and the Eastern Sovereign Arrive!

Upon hearing the words of the Twelve Ancestor Gods, Fuxi, and Nüwa, Di Cang pondered for a moment before replying respectfully, “The Ancestor Gods and both elders speak with reason. The matter of the Purple River Star Sand is not of great consequence; as long as we proceed with caution, there will be no trouble.”

“However—”

Di Cang continued deferentially, “What I wish to discuss is not only the matter of the Purple River Star Sand, but also the previous founding of a doctrine by the Ancestor Gods, and the choices made by Dijun and the Eastern Emperor Taiyi.”

“Oh?” Fuxi and Nüwa exchanged glances.

Fuxi said after a moment’s thought, “Dijun and the Eastern Emperor did indeed imitate the ancestral teachings of the Wu Tribe to establish the Celestial Court, which seems questionable. However, Dijun once explained to my sister and me that he and the Eastern Emperor had long been planning, in secret, to create a Celestial Court. Their original intention was to gather Kunpeng, the ten innate gods and demons, and other peers of the primordial world to jointly found the Celestial Court.”

“But unexpectedly, the Wu Tribe harbored similar ambitions, and even acted first!” Fuxi said, “It was merely a matter of timing; both sides happened to clash by coincidence, but it wasn’t truly shameless behavior.”

“Elder Fuxi’s words are wise!” Di Cang replied respectfully. “Dijun and the Eastern Emperor had the idea of establishing a Celestial Court from the very beginning—our Wu Tribe had heard whispers of it. It was indeed a coincidence of fate and not the fault of Dijun or the Eastern Emperor.”

“However—” Di Cang’s tone shifted, and he continued, “The Ancestor Gods and both elders must know that we cultivators, especially those who have reached the realm of Primordial Demon Gods, such peerless beings—how could they not care about their own reputation?”

“If they truly had a choice,” Di Cang smiled, “even the smallest stain on their honor is something few would willingly accept.”

“Yet Dijun and the Eastern Emperor knew that establishing the Celestial Court in this way would surely invite criticism, but still pressed on without hesitation, enduring pressure from all sides to found the Ninefold Celestial Court that governs all under heaven. Why is that?”

The Twelve Ancestor Gods, Fuxi, and Nüwa were all surprised.

Nüwa smiled and said, “Dijun has always been patient, yet he still desired to found the Celestial Court. We once speculated that he was a man of great ambition, perhaps seeking to use the Ninefold Heavens as his foundation to rule all, and become the sole master of the world. I wonder if our guess is correct?”

Houtu spoke with concern, “If Dijun truly harbors such intentions, then would our Wu Tribe not become irreconcilable enemies with him?”

The Ancestor God Zhujun Yin declared on the spot, “Since we know that Dijun and the Eastern Emperor are a great threat, how can we allow them to act unchecked, waiting until the day they become our enemies?”

“Why not seize this opportunity, while they are still weak, join forces with all our strength to slay them? Let us see what kind of ambition they truly possess, and what they are capable of achieving!”

“This is unwise, most unwise!”

As Zhujun Yin’s words fell, Fuxi, Nüwa, and Di Cang all spoke at once in objection.

Di Cang smiled and said, “Although the Ancestor God’s suggestion has merit, there are three major disadvantages.”

“First, although Dijun and the Eastern Emperor seek to compete with us, they have committed no obvious evils. Were our Wu Tribe to slaughter them for no reason, all living beings would see us as unrighteous; managing all under heaven as an unjust tribe would be nigh impossible.”

“Second, Dijun and the Eastern Emperor preside over the rising and setting of the sun, the alternation of night and day. By their very nature, they possess great merit. If the Wu Tribe were to kill them, we would incur immense karmic backlash. Our tribe is already burdened by karma—how could we bear even more?”

“Third, Dijun and the Eastern Emperor are but individual cases. The boundless world is full of peerless beings as ambitious as them, who dream of founding their own Celestial Courts. What do you all think of those two in the distant West—Reception and Quasi-Mention?”

Di Cang smiled, “A struggle between the ancestral doctrine and the Celestial Court would only result in mutual harm, benefiting others for nothing.”

Fuxi and Nüwa exchanged secret glances, both inwardly astonished.

When Zhujun Yin suggested slaying Dijun and the Eastern Emperor, the siblings immediately thought of the merit that surrounded those two, and knew it could not be done.

But surprisingly, with merely a turn of thought, Di Cang not only reached the same conclusion, but considered the matter even more fully and thoroughly than they.

It was truly extraordinary!

Moreover, both of them could vaguely sense from Di Cang a resonance—one that blended with their own blood, as if they shared the same origin.

Fuxi silently used the divination of Heaven and Earth, but no matter how he tried, he saw only nothingness, as if this person did not exist at all before them.

Or perhaps—this was a being who did not belong to this time and space?

“How could such a thing be?” Fuxi pondered, “A being not of this time and space is far too outrageous—surely impossible. If that’s the case, there’s only one possibility: someone far more powerful than myself has concealed his fate. Of course, it might not even be a living being; perhaps it is the Heavenly Dao, or even the Dao itself!”

“Whatever the case, it proves this member of the Wu Tribe is not ordinary, but possesses great fortune and destiny. In the future, he may well stand alongside the Ancestor Gods, and even us!”

At this thought—

Even when facing a great Wu, Fuxi treated him with the utmost kindness.

Of course, even when facing ordinary juniors, Fuxi was never the type to flaunt his seniority; now he merely behaved with added solemnity.

…

After some thought, Ancestor God Dijiang looked perplexed and said, “We know they are a threat, yet cannot slay them. Are we then to simply watch and do nothing, waiting until the Celestial Court makes a mistake before we act?”

“Not so!” Di Cang smiled. “Just now, when I spoke of the many powers lurking in the primordial world, perhaps you all did not take it seriously. But not long ago, the great battle in the West drew forth many hidden powers—this is but one example. These beings remain in the shadows, waiting for us to exhaust ourselves, seizing the opportunity to act, whether to refine treasures through us or to snatch our divine artifacts.”

“What?” The Twelve Ancestor Gods, Fuxi, and Nüwa were all visibly moved.

It was unimaginable that such things could occur in the primordial world.

But on reflection, was that not exactly what happened with the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin tribes?

The world is full of schemers!

They remain hidden most of the time, only to strike when least expected.

If there is still a Demon Ancestor Luohu lurking in secret, the consequences would truly be disastrous.

Di Cang smiled, “Dijun and the Eastern Emperor are ambitious, seeking to establish the Celestial Court and unify the world. In reality, this is a boon for our Wu Tribe, not a threat.”

Houtu, the Ancestor God, was stunned. “How do you mean?”

Di Cang replied, “In the past, only our Wu Tribe stood at the forefront, resisting the vigilance of many hidden powers single-handedly—a perilous situation, where the slightest misstep could spell catastrophe!”

“But now—” Di Cang smiled, “Dijun and the Eastern Emperor have arrived!”