This Human Immortal Is Too Serious-Chapter 459 - 457: The Eastern Emperor Battles the Ancient God! [Mid-Cup]
Wu Wang truly hadn’t expected that this group of old gods would actually dare to make such a request.
After the Heavenly Emperor’s chariot arrived at the Kunlun Ruins, to show respect for the Queen Mother of the West, Wu Wang only brought Zhu Rong Fire Plume and the twelve gods of Heaven Palace to enter the Nine Heavens Gate.
The Nine Heavens Gate corresponds to nine small worlds, each with its own Heaven and Earth, each with its own unique characteristics, but Wu Wang clearly had no time to visit each one individually.
He exchanged pleasantries with the Queen Mother of the West upon meeting, and when she hinted that they could have some time alone, Wu Wang simply got straight to the point.
"The Queen Mother of the West knows why I have come," Wu Wang said earnestly. "So let’s move on to this important matter now. Once it’s settled, we can chat at leisure without it being too late."
The Queen Mother of the West smiled and nodded. Her dress, which seemed woven from condensed Immortal Light, swayed gently as she softly said, "In that case, Your Highness the Eastern Emperor, please follow me. There’s no need for the rest to come along."
"Why needn’t they come?" Wu Wang said with a smile.
"All the gods here are my dear friends and loved ones, and even my brothers in arms. Half of this Heavenly Emperor’s throne was given to me by Emperor Shun, and the other half was earned with their efforts. Do you perhaps feel that this matter is somewhat unsuitable for public view?"
"This..." The Queen Mother of the West’s smile faded as she frowned and looked intently at Wu Wang, whispering, "Your Highness the Eastern Emperor, please reconsider. Some matters are better kept from the public to prevent widespread panic."
"Your Highness!" Yun Zhongjun stepped forward spontaneously. "Seeing that the Queen Mother is in a difficult position, how about Fire Plume and I accompany you?"
Wu Wang pondered with an expression of discontent.
Yun Zhongjun gave an embarrassed smile, looking helplessly towards the Queen Mother of the West.
The ’Monarch and Minister’ drama—a highlight of the Great Wilderness, unfolding anytime, anywhere.
The Queen Mother of the West sighed inwardly but could only smile and say, "If Yun Zhongjun is going, I can make that decision. However, this newly appointed Fire God might not yet have a thorough understanding of Heaven and Earth."
Fire Plume stood silently behind Wu Wang, making no comment.
"Enough." Wu Wang swept his sleeve. "Queen Mother of the West, please lead the way."
Fire Plume, from beginning to end, had not understood what they were all talking about.
How could the Queen Mother of the West not know that Wu Wang and Yun Zhongjun’s exchange was a setup? But in the face of Wu Wang, the Queen Mother of the West found herself utterly lacking the confidence she had when facing Emperor Shun. Even after Emperor Shun later mastered the Dao of Time, the pressure he put on her was less than a tenth of that from the young Heavenly Emperor before her.
The Heavenly Dao.
Emperor Shun was merely a figure who rose against the odds to become the new Heavenly Emperor. However, this man from the Human Domain, a member of the Human race, had already established an unprecedented new order.
"Your Majesty, please proceed. God of Air, you too," said the Queen Mother of the West.
She slowly stood up, both hands held in front, her demeanor unspeakably gracious and elegant.
Nearby, Lu Wu immediately stepped forward with several other Divine Spirits, offering to entertain the remaining Celestial Court Divine Spirits on behalf of the Queen Mother of the West.
Thus, not long after Wu Wang and Yun Zhongjun entered the main hall, they were led away by the Queen Mother of the West.
The Celestial Court Divine Spirits who remained were puzzled but dared not ask any questions. The Queen Mother of the West, possessor of the Divine Punishment Dao, was someone they did not dare to provoke. It seemed that the Kunlun Ruins must be hiding some secret, a secret closely related to the Queen Mother of the West and His Highness the Eastern Emperor.
Although the Queen Mother of the West had a certain reputation, it was highly unlikely, in this context, that their meeting was for frivolous pleasure.
Inside a small world within the Kunlun Ruins, the Queen Mother of the West maintained her silence throughout the journey.
But when Wu Wang exchanged glances with Yun Zhongjun, they could both see a hint of laughter in each other’s eyes, along with an unavoidable sense of tension. No one knew how many tricks up their sleeves these old gods had.
Wu Wang had insisted on bringing a companion as a precaution. If a fight broke out, he would have someone to coordinate with and help avoid any traps. Speaking of old gods, Brother Yun Zhongjun was certainly old. He just wasn’t as ancient as the old gods of the Kunlun Ruins.
Interestingly, the way to this secret realm was completely different from the last time.
The Queen Mother of the West led them to a dense forest. After wandering through it, making several turns, a giant tree requiring at least ten people to encircle appeared before them. A rich essence of wood washed over them, making Wu Wang suspect that this place might secretly house half of the Great Dao of Wood.
The Queen Mother of the West walked slowly forward. The tree trunk rippled like the surface of water. Wu Wang and Yun Zhongjun exchanged glances, then walked side by side, following closely as they stepped into it.
The light before them twisted, but this distortion caused them no sensation. As they took a few steps forward, the feeling of distortion completely vanished.
They arrived back at the Guixu.
On that low, desolate, boundless yellow earth, the circular ’arena’ once again appeared in Wu Wang’s sight.
’Be careful.’ Yun Zhongjun’s voice resounded in Wu Wang’s mind. The ancient God, who usually wore a smile, now looked extremely solemn.
The three of them reached the ’gap’ in the wall. The portal, over a hundred feet deep, still made Wu Wang feel somewhat oppressed.
The gracefully walking Queen Mother of the West had already turned around. She nodded slightly to Wu Wang and said, "Eastern Emperor, God of Air, please enter on your own."
"Thank you." Wu Wang cupped his hands. The Queen Mother of the West bowed her head in respect, her form already dissolving into a stream of light that flew inside, naturally returning to her seat.
Yun Zhongjun had intended to scout ahead, but before he could take a step, Wu Wang had already clasped his hands behind his back and begun to stroll forward. His expression, his demeanor, and his unhurried pace were like someone taking a leisurely, contented walk after a meal.
Walking through the passage and into the dilapidated ruins, the forty-nine figures reappeared on the surrounding walls, with the Queen Mother of the West still seated on her throne.
Yun Zhongjun looked around, making no effort to hide the curiosity in his eyes.
The forty-nine figures embodied the forms of innate deities. They varied in height and build, old and young, male and female, encompassing all. Similar to his previous visit, Wu Wang sensed an ’all-encompassing’ nature from these old gods, as if their very images concealed endless wisdom. Yun Zhongjun felt it too.
"Eastern Emperor."
Ahead of Wu Wang, the grey-robed crone spoke once more, her gaze even more complex than before.
She said, "We never imagined you would bring us so many surprises, completely deviating from our predictions and effortlessly dealing with Emperor Shun."
The remaining forty-eight gods spoke one after another, their voices echoing from all directions. Each voice was unique, yet they created an illusion of a single, unified entity.
The ancient gods said:
"Your Heavenly Dao aims to encompass all Great Daos—a bold design, indeed, but it also harbors many hidden dangers."
"If the Heavenly Dao develops consciousness, does that not mean Heaven and Earth themselves will have developed consciousness?"
"Could this lead to the tragedy of the First God Era? Eastern Emperor, can you elucidate how you intend to prevent the Heavenly Dao from developing consciousness?"
"It seems you are being influenced by another force, a force from the future, transcending time and Heaven and Earth, guiding you in a certain direction."
"Guiding the upper reaches of the River of Time from its lower reaches was a forbidden act in the First God Era. Of course, that prohibition holds no power now."
"This seems to be a matter of fate. Don’t all conscious beings in this world delight in defying fate? Why would you submit to it?"
...
"Everyone!" Wu Wang suddenly interjected. "If you all ask so many questions at once, my only answer can be this: your voices are too soft, I can’t hear you."
All forty-nine ancient gods fell silent.
A divinely beautiful God, reclining on a jade stone, gazed at Wu Wang and said softly, "Eastern Emperor, are you saying that we no longer have any influence over you?"
Her beauty was unsettling, as if it were the product of intricate calculations and verifications, the ultimate expression of the art of beauty—yet it felt somewhat contrived.
"Influence?" Wu Wang feigned thoughtfulness and laughed. "I’m somewhat unclear. Why would you want to influence me, and how could you do so?"
The ancient gods spoke in succession:
"Is the Eastern Emperor here to provoke us?"
"Or perhaps, Your Majesty the Eastern Emperor, do you feel that since you gained no benefit from us, you now refuse to grant us even the slightest respect?"
"Has His Majesty the Eastern Emperor forgotten the great formation we bestowed upon you?"
Wu Wang nodded slightly, his expression easing as he smiled. "The Great Formation of the Cosmic Stars indeed aided me greatly. If not for it, Yun Zhongjun and I wouldn’t be standing here today. Instead, a million Heavenly Soldiers would be forming that array, turning the Kunlun Ruins into a back garden for the Celestial Court."
"What do you mean by that?" the old crone asked sharply. "Do you view us as a threat, Eastern Emperor?"
"Are you not?" Wu Wang’s gaze remained tranquil.
"When the Celestial Court was newly established, the Queen Mother of the West sought me out, presumably representing the collective will of all of you here. If I haven’t misunderstood, your intention was to offer a small portion of the Great Daos you command to help complete the Heavenly Dao. In return, you would require significant authority within the Heavenly Dao from me. Knowing your methods, this authority would likely mean the power to oversee the Heavenly Dao itself, and through it, the power for the Heavenly Dao to monitor all living beings. Am I mistaken?"
The ancient gods once again fell silent.
Wu Wang looked towards the Queen Mother of the West in the corner. Her eyes were slightly closed, her long eyelashes intermingling, as if she had fallen asleep.
The grey-robed crone in front said, "Is this not what we deserve? When the Eastern Emperor had yet to rise, we lent our aid, which put considerable pressure on Emperor Shun."
"It also created tremendous difficulties for me, forcing me to constantly consider how to conceal the similarities between my experiences and those of Emperor Shun." Wu Wang raised his hand to rub his temples, speaking lightly, "Do you still remember the Great Dao interrogation last time? You asked me why I chose this path. You should still remember my answer."
A Goddess said, "The sublimation of self-worth."
"That was merely a platitude," Wu Wang said indifferently. "I desire to create a perfect order, usher in a perfect era, and become a perfect Heavenly Emperor. The Heavenly Dao is my answer, and you should have felt its power. Did any of you offer even the slightest assistance during the formation of the Heavenly Dao?"
The ancient gods’ expressions turned unsightly.
Wu Wang smiled. "You only gave me a formation, which augmented a part of my own strength. You didn’t even offer the slightest suggestion towards establishing a new order. And now, you wish to claim the fruits of victory? Based on this formation, I could, in a personal capacity, grant you bodies—this would consume a vast amount of merit from the Heavenly Dao, merit that I personally possess. But merely for using the Great Daos you command to predict my ascension to Heavenly Emperor, and then, once peace is established, you expect to stand above me and all other beings? Isn’t that a bit too arrogant?"
"Audacious!" An ancient God, towering three zhang, bellowed angrily, unleashing a powerful suppressive force that bore down upon Wu Wang.
Wu Wang didn’t even blink. A faint golden light emanated from around him, and the imposing authority instantaneously dissipated into nothingness, becoming a light breeze and a few flower petals that drifted past him.
"You are the truly audacious ones." Wu Wang slightly lifted his head. "The imagination stemming from the First God Era is truly astonishing."
"Or perhaps, we can each adopt a more sincere attitude."
The circular platforms around them suddenly began to shift. A tall, middle-aged man replaced the old crone, appearing directly in front of Wu Wang. This old God wore an intricately designed robe, his eyes as sharp as swords, seemingly capable of piercing Wu Wang’s mental defenses.
But similarly, the faint golden light surrounding Wu Wang acted as an absolute barrier, shielding him and Yun Zhongjun from the pressure the old gods were attempting to exert.
The old God spoke in a measured tone, "The Eastern Emperor, as the architect of the Heavenly Dao, should be able to perceive the enormous peril inherent within it. If the Heavenly Dao were to develop its own consciousness and deceive the Eastern Emperor, imagine the damage it could inflict upon Heaven and Earth. The Heavenly Dao has now spread throughout the entire Great Wilderness World. It weaves through it like a vast net, slowly infiltrating every aspect. This is tantamount to attempting to control Heaven and Earth."
Wu Wang remained silent.
This issue was actually quite complex, especially after his lengthy discussion with Zhong in the Human Domain. Zhong’s words served as a constant reminder to Wu Wang. If Wu Wang hadn’t pondered and subsequently questioned Zhong on those few points, he might indeed have been misled by the old god’s words now, perhaps believing the Heavenly Dao to be the prime culprit behind the potential collapse of Heaven and Earth.
The timelines Zhong had deduced, and even experienced, were essentially various ’control groups.’ The results of these comparisons showed that the existence or absence of the Heavenly Dao, the Celestial Court, and the Eastern Emperor did not affect the ultimate end of Heaven and Earth at that particular moment.
However, Wu Wang was eager to obtain all the information these old gods possessed. He wanted to see if they knew the secret behind the ’inevitable end’ of Heaven and Earth. This was also the main reason Wu Wang had hurried to the Kunlun Ruins.
Wu Wang suddenly asked, "Why would the Heavenly Dao seek to control Heaven and Earth?"
The old God replied, "How do you know that, once the Heavenly Dao develops consciousness, it will not try to control Heaven and Earth?"
"If the Heavenly Dao develops consciousness, it will be a consciousness influenced either by me or by other living beings," Wu Wang said slowly.
"I understand your fear of the Will of Heaven and Earth, but does this world itself already possess a consciousness we cannot understand? Furthermore, can all the creatures within this world be considered manifestations of this Will of Heaven and Earth? And most importantly, if the Will of Heaven and Earth were to be born, would it necessarily desire to destroy Heaven and Earth?"
The old gods pondered individually.
Soon, one of them shook their head slightly and explained in a gentle voice, "If Heaven and Earth were to produce a consciousness we cannot comprehend, then this consciousness would be incompatible with us. Heaven and Earth, in themselves, are chaotic and without order; if we do not intervene, they will evolve on their own."
"We have made deductions. Without the birth of the earliest Divine Spirits, the world would be barren, containing nothing but earth, wind, qi, water, and fire. Most of the Great Daos today are the primal ones—the fundamental rules."
"Then, after existing for an extended period, this world would gradually crumble and sink into the void. Perhaps many worlds have been born and then extinguished in this way. Time would pass through all, yet time itself would not be imparted with meaning."
"The Will of Heaven and Earth that we fear is, in reality, this world itself learning to think. If that happened, how would it regard the living beings residing within it? It would likely cleanse them away."
"For Heaven and Earth, an initial state of barrenness, undisturbed by any consciousness other than its own, seems to be the most ideal."
Yun Zhongjun appeared thoughtful at the side.
Wu Wang’s eyes, however, filled with deep disappointment.
These old gods... mighty though they were, they didn’t have the answers he sought. The Will of Heaven and Earth they described sounded more like a living being or a god who had exchanged its own body for this world. They never escaped the confines of ’self.’
"That’s not the answer I’m looking for." Wu Wang shook his head and asked directly, "What are your thoughts on the future calamity of Heaven and Earth?"
The old gods gazed at Wu Wang, their expressions largely unchanged.
An old God asked, "Is the Eastern Emperor asking who will replace you in the future?"
"No," Wu Wang said. "I’m asking if there are hidden dangers within this world that could cause it to collapse at some future point."
"That’s impossible." The man in front said calmly, "This world is already exceedingly stable. The Heavenly Dao you created has added another layer of protection. The Great Dao is formless and boundless; it will continue to provide stability."
An old God spoke up, "Unless there exists a power capable of shattering the Great Wilderness itself, and this power suddenly goes out of control."
"Could this power potentially exist within the void," Wu Wang asked, "in a form we cannot comprehend?"
The forty-nine old gods showed varying expressions, then began to discuss in low voices.
Quickly, they provided a precise answer:
"Based on all the knowledge we possessed in the First God Era, we can tell you responsibly that the void is simply the void; there is no strange energy."
"The ultimate question of this world can be understood as the connection between the world and the void, or as the mystery of how the world came into being."
"Enough. Your answers have given me a rough understanding." Wu Wang let out a long sigh.
"You explained the demise of the First God Era very clearly last time. It was due to the interlinking of all consciousnesses and the abandonment of lies, after which all consciousness gradually lost its vitality. At that time, you said Heaven and Earth had died. Actually, that’s not quite right. It was the collective consciousness of the First God Era that, after merging, began to fade into extinction. You are merely the last survivors. Brother, do you have anything else to ask?"
"Your Majesty, this servant has a question for the old gods." Yun Zhongjun, upon hearing this, bowed with hands clasped, then slowly stepped forward, smiling as he said, "I am the God of Air. Compared to all of you, my qualifications are likely far inferior, and I shouldn’t speak carelessly. However, I am somewhat curious."
"The Second God Era was initially very desolate. One by one, the Great Daos gained spiritual intelligence, and the spirits of these Daos became the early gods of the Second God Era. This included the Third God King, Candle Dragon, Emperor Shun, Nuwa, and so on; all were born in the early Second God Era. This also includes this humble god as well."
"My question is actually very simple: what exactly did you do to Heaven and Earth? Why was the Second God Era so desolate, the land between Heaven and Earth nothing but a vast desert? It’s as if someone had exhausted all the Spiritual Energy in this world, and traces of great battles were everywhere."
A group of old gods stared at Yun Zhongjun.
"Correct," the man said slowly. "We had disagreements. The interconnected consciousnesses fractured once more, and ultimately, a great war erupted, leading the First God Era to its destruction. This was merely the process of our decline. We did not lie about this matter, but rather made appropriate omissions."
Yun Zhongjun nodded, then continued, "So now I roughly understand. The Second God Era was actually built upon the ruins of the first. The gods of the Second God Era were mostly the second generation of spirits born from their respective Great Daos."
"The God of Air can understand it that way."
"I have finished my questions, Your Majesty." Yun Zhongjun took a half step back, his eyelids drooping, and said indifferently, "If these fellows want the authority to supervise the Heavenly Dao, they absolutely must not be given it. They’ve already botched things once."
"God of Air!"
"Eastern Emperor, did you come here today with sincerity? Why do you constantly try to make things difficult for us?"
"Sincerity?" Wu Wang laughed. "Before I came, I did indeed bring sincerity. Although it would be impossible to grant you authority over the Heavenly Dao, I was prepared to offer you some honors, some substantial benefits. But unexpectedly, as I arrived, I overheard this conversation through the Heavenly Dao."
He gestured lightly with his hand, and a ball of golden light blossomed. From within it came voices all too familiar to the forty-nine old gods.
It was their own voices:
"The Eastern Emperor will not easily hand over control of the Heavenly Dao to us."
"The Heavenly Dao is a magnificent concept. Why didn’t we conceive of such a nearly perfect system of order back then?"
"Unfortunately, he established the Heavenly Dao too quickly; we couldn’t do much."
"Use the great formation to trap the Eastern Emperor and force him to hand over the Heavenly Dao."
"We command the Dao of Heaven and Earth from the old world. With this Great Dao’s suppressive power, we can surely trap the Eastern Emperor."
"Or, there might be other methods."
"Possession? Or assimilation?"
"Possession is prone to failure. Assimilation could work. Make him a part of us, and assimilate his control over the Heavenly Dao into our own."
"With the framework of the Heavenly Dao and our accumulated power, we might truly be able to construct an eternal order."
...
Those words came to an abrupt halt as Wu Wang crushed the ball of golden light.
A touch of helplessness appeared in his eyes. "Assimilation? Aren’t you all going to make your move?"
The faces of the old gods were now uniformly cold and indifferent.
"Why was this matter not discussed with me?" The Queen Mother of the West suddenly spoke, her closed eyes opening once more. "I am the guardian of this era, and the current order is beneficial to Heaven and Earth."
The man in front of Wu Wang said indifferently, "Only by controlling the Heavenly Dao can we prevent this world from straying again."
"Is the Queen Mother of the West unaware of this?" Wu Wang laughed. "Well, that’s even better."
"Your Majesty Eastern Emperor," Queen Mother of the West said, having risen to her feet. "They must be under some misunderstanding. I think..."
Wu Wang raised his palm, halting Queen Mother of the West’s words.
A sharp light flashed in his eyes, but he still wore a slight smile as he slowly said, "Everyone, please allow me to demonstrate a key function of the Heavenly Dao—or, you could say, a minor divine skill of mine."
SNAP!
Wu Wang snapped his fingers. A soft Immortal Light surged around him, coalescing into a white-robed ’Wu Wang’ that slowly rose into the air. A six-pointed star appeared on this white-robed Wu Wang’s forehead.
"I have condensed an avatar using the merit of the Heavenly Dao. This avatar can draw upon the Great Daos currently controlled by the Heavenly Dao, infusing them into itself to temporarily possess mastery over these Great Daos. Take note, this is mastery; it means that through the Heavenly Dao, I can freely manipulate these Great Daos."
Wu Wang raised an eyebrow. "Coincidentally, I recently acquired an interesting Great Dao in Yu Yuan. This Great Dao..."
That white-robed Wu Wang suddenly opened his eyes. Layers of Treasure Wheels emerged behind him, emitting a potent pressure from the Great Dao that suppressed the entire hall. At the very center of these Treasure Wheels, there seemed to be a swirling mass of grey mist. Suddenly, a vertical eye opened within it, its pupil darting left and right.
The Reincarnation Dao of the former King of Netherworld!
The old gods suddenly showed expressions of discomfort. Nearly half of them even instinctively recoiled from the vertical eye’s gaze.
Wu Wang’s laughter came once again. Continuing from his words "This Great Dao," he said, enunciating each word clearly, "Against remnant souls, wandering spirits, and non-corporeal consciousnesses, it is an absolute counter."
